We have four main characters in this story. We have Sharon, Ben, Ben's wife and Sharon's mother.
I admire what Sharon's mother was trying to do. I realize it might be a divided opinion. Lot of people might watch this episode and say Sharon's mother should've minded her own business. Just be there when your daughter's shattered once she sees Ben's NOT going to leave his wife. Sharon's mother wasn't being malicious or even trying to stir things up. I think she was a good mom trying to help her daughter from getting hurt.
Sharon's mother is the one I felt most sympathetic towards, even more so during one particular scene. More on that later.
Sharon's mother attempts to reason with Sharon one more time and Sharon's not having it. She loves Ben and Ben's also been spreading it on thick when it concerns the lies he's telling Sharon. He tells Sharon he put everything he has in his wife's name. Turns out his wife is the rich one.
Sharon's mother goes off to Ben's office to try and reason with him about Sharon. He's not listening either. He drama queens to Sharon about it not being an easy experience having to deal with Sharon's mother talking about this subject. Robert Alda plays a perfect slimeball.
Sharon's mother makes the trek to Ben's house. Perhaps she could reason with Ben's wife? Jeanette Nolan really does a terrific job in this scene. She's talking to Ben's wife about Ben and Sharon and she realizes Ben's wife was in the dark about Ben's cheating. The camera is centered on Ben's wife but you can hear Sharon's mother crying in the background. I appreciate little touches like that tbh.
We have a scene that focuses on Ben and his wife. Ben's wife is sitting in the dark and pretty much looks like her world has been crushed to oblivion. Ben's wife lays it on the line and delivers a perfect smackdown when it concerns freedom. He'll be free of HER money as well.
Meanwhile Sharon's mom has been walking around and goes to Sharon's apartment. Sharon's not in the room when the phone rings. Sharon's mom picks it up and it's Ben. Ben's a slime ball to the very end. He's murdered his wife and expects Sharon to be his alibi. He just doesn't know he's talking to Sharon's mother. Sharon's mother purposely twists what Ben wanted to say around so her daughter would be spared more pain and trouble. Ben wanted Sharon to tell the police he was in her apartment the whole time. Sharon's mother tells Sharon he said to tell the police he wasn't with Sharon.
This is an excellent episode that I'd highly recommend.