Imperfect Women Episode 7 Features Affair Revelation and Family Turmoil as Elisabeth Moss Reflects on Motherhood

Episode 7 of 'Imperfect Women,' now streaming on Apple TV, depicts Mary confronting her husband Howard Simpson about an affair with her best friend Nancy, who was murdered. Mary, portrayed by Elisabeth Moss, finds an obscure Latin translation of Howard’s in Nancy’s notebook and realizes Howard and Nancy were having an affair before Nancy’s death.

She then discovers Nancy’s ring in Howard’s closet and realizes Howard lied to her about his ex-wife years ago.

Mary flees to Eleanor’s house after these revelations. Howard, portrayed by Corey Stoll, calls Mary to inform her their daughter is in the hospital, unconscious after overdosing on Adderall, which Mary had secretly stashed earlier in the episode and left on the cabinet’s highest shelf.

Police hand Mary an emergency protective order demanding no contact with her children until the investigation is over.

Howard and Mary have an explosive fight in the hospital, where Mary accuses Howard of murdering Nancy and deliberately providing their daughter with Adderall. Howard denies any involvement with Nancy. Howard provides the cops with a box of Nancy’s belongings, and Mary admits to stealing them; it is revealed that Mary and Howard used to role-play as Nancy and her husband Robert, portrayed by Joel Kinnaman.

Mary returns to her home to look for further evidence, but Howard finds her and convinces her she has nothing concrete against him. Mary agrees to keep quiet in exchange for the ability to be with her kids, telling Howard, 'I won’t say a word. ' Eleanor, portrayed by Kerry Washington, calls in a favor with Robert, leading to Howard being taken in for questioning regarding Nancy’s murder.

Mary tells Howard she had nothing to do with his arrest, while Howard tells the police to call the Department of Children and Family Services. Mary says goodbye to her kids as they are taken away by authorities, seconds before TV news reveals a new suspect in Nancy’s murder case. Nancy, portrayed by Kate Mara, is Mary's best friend and Robert's wife; Eleanor, Mary, and Nancy form a trio.

Mary is married to Howard Simpson, a presently unemployed professor, and has three children. 'Imperfect Women' is an adaptation of Araminta Hall’s novel by Annie Weisman for Apple TV, with rights optioned six years ago. Elisabeth Moss serves as an executive producer for 'Imperfect Women,' the first project she picked up with producing partner Lindsey McManus after launching their Love & Squalor production banner in 2020.

' Moss had her first child in 2024. The article detailing these events and Moss's comments was published on April 22, 2026 at 3:30pm PT, as @Variety reported.