'How to Get Away with Murder' Recap: 'Anna Mae'

On this week’s episode of How to Get Away with Murder, Annalise visits her mother in Memphis, Wes reveals his father’s identity to Laurel, and new developments arise involving Phillip and the Hapstall’s case.

The next morning, the Keating Five are concerned when they can’t find Annalise. The group appeals to Wes for help, since he was the only person Annalise didn’t kick out, but he refuses to discuss their conversation with the others. From there, the group contemplates hacking her credit cards and even calling the police, though Frank is quick to step in and stop them. Enter a hung-over Laurel, who realizes Annalise is gone because she accidentally let slip that Sam asked Frank to kill Lila while drunk the night before. Laurel pulls Frank aside to fill him on this development and he recalls an offer he received ten years prior in Ohio. A woman he met at the hotel bar was willing to give him money to “change his” life and leave his career with Annalise behind.

In the present, Bonnie informs the group that Annalise bought a plane ticket to Memphis to visit her mother.

Meanwhile, in Memphis, Annalise is woken up by her sister, Celestine, who’s surprised by her homecoming, and Annalise’s mom tells her they’re having a homecoming party.

Cue opening theme.

Annalise is apprehensive about her mother’s party, but Celestine re-assures her that any drama-seekers will be kicked out. Still unsure, Annalise greets her relatives and finds herself overwhelmed by their questions. Moments later, Annalise retires to the kitchen to help her mother and tries to convince her that she’s doing okay. Simultaneously, Annalise is shocked to come face-to-face with her estranged father, walking off when he tries to approach her, and subsequently upsetting her mother.

Ten years earlier, Frank exercises in his hotel room and paces back and forth while he makes a decision. Later, he visits an annoyed Annalise and tells her he’s sick of her abuse. She chides him, saying she hired him as a favor to Sam. Before Frank goes, he slips a recording device under Annalise’s sink.

Nate informs Bonnie and Frank that the D.A. plans to arrest Annalise. They’re confused, as Annalise received immunity for the night of A.D.A Sinclair’s death. To make matters worse, Nate learns that Annalise has “jumped ship” and went home to her mother’s. From an adjoining room, Michaela eavesdrops and shares news about the warrant with the others. When the group suggests that Oliver hack the precinct’s database for a copy of the warrant, Connor shuts them down. Using Oliver to help them in the past has led to their conflict with Phillip.

Annalise questions her mother about her re-kindled relationship with her father and wonders if he will walk out on their family again.

Laurel and Wes talk and Wes reveals his father’s identity to her. Not sure if Annalise was being truthful with him, Wes wants to go to New York to seek answers, but Laurel advises against this. The pair are about to share a moment when Frank suddenly barges in.

Later, Laurel and Frank drink and she admits to kissing Wes in the past. She also shares Wes’ news with Frank.

The next morning, Annalise wakes to find her mother gone and Celestine says it’s Annalise fault for getting angry about their father being back; their mother is happier with their father around. Later, Annalise’s mother returns and Nate visits. He and Annalise talk while Annalise’s mother and sister spy on them from inside.

Nate tells Annalise the warrant hasn’t been issued yet and suggests she come home, but Annalise worries what her family will think. Soon after, Annalise mother interrupts their conversation, asking Nate to join them for dinner. Annalise tries to tell her mother Nate has to leave, but she dismisses her, encouraging him to stay.

Frank tells his new female friend he completed her request and she’s pleased. Later, he stares blankly at his reward: a suitcase full of money.

Asher tells Michaela that Oliver went rogue and is tracking down a copy of the warrant. He also suggests they discuss their hookup. After both agreeing it never happened, the pair decides to go in for another round, until Michaela comes to her senses and stops herself from making the same mistake twice.

Annalise’s family grills Nate at dinner, much to her dismay.

Oliver finds the arrest warrant, but most of it is redacted. Michaela determines that it’s possible the warrant is redacted due to an informant. The next step is to identify the rat.

Annalise’s mother laments that she doesn’t have any grandchildren. Later, she continues this conversation with Annalise in private, telling her that her babyish ways caused her to lose Sam. Annalise ignores her and joins her siblings in the living room for a spontaneous dance party, complete with drinks.

Bonnie worries that Annalise will off her next, but Frank says she won’t. Frank is Annalise’s hitman, so he’d know what she was planning. In addition, Bonnie makes Frank look her in the eye and promise not to do anything else stupid. He complies after some initial resistance.

Annalise joins her mother in the kitchen and her mother tells her to lighten up after what happened at dinner. Annalise reveals that she gave birth to a son, who died. Her mother is stunned.

Nate and Annalise chat. He says he had a good time and anticipates what will happen when Annalise meets his family, before taking off.

Annalise’s mother questions why she never mentioned her dead baby and chides her for making things harder by handling them alone.

The Keating Five pace back and forth, weighing their options. From across the room, Frank recalls his friend listening to Annalise and Eve’s conversation and their new plan on how to handle the case. Later, she calls Wallace Mahoney, who instructs her to take care of things, prompting Annalise’s car accident. In the present, Frank continues to watch Annalise’s students from across the room, saying nothing.

The Keating Five watch video footage from the precinct and are able to locate the rat.

Back in Memphis, Annalise’s mother wakes her up in the middle of the night to have a ceremony for her dead grandson. She takes Annalise outside on her front lawn and instructs her to write the baby’s name on a piece of paper, dig a hole, and bury it. Annalise does, and both women break down. Annalise also reveals that her son’s name was Sam.

In the morning, Annalise rebuffs her father’s attempt to apologize. When she recovers her phone that her mother hid, she has several messages, including one from A.D.A Denver: he’ll be sending the Tennessee P.D. to arrest her if she doesn’t turn herself in by 5 p.m. Seconds later, she accepts a call from Michaela, who sells out Caleb as the rat, and makes a call from Nate, she needs his help.

Later, Annalise says goodbye to her family.

Annalise meets with A.D.A. Denver. She’s being held on various charges, including obstruction of justice. Annalise says Denver’s allegations rely on Caleb, a sociopathic liar. In a flashback, Phillip tells Annalise Caleb killed his mother, Elena Hapstall and he has proof: Caleb’s fitness tracker. Simultaneously, Nate visits Catherine in prison and gives her a cell phone to take a call from Phillip urging her to tell the cops the truth. Back in the present, Annalise argues that Catherine protected Caleb, because she was blinded by her love for him, and that Phillip’s DNA was planted at the crime scene to frame him. Denver, however, isn’t so convinced. Annalise counters him, saying Phillip is already in police custody. News reports confirm this.

The Keating Five watch the same news reports and Oliver remarks that Annalise is brilliant. Michaela’s not doing okay, because of Caleb, and Bonnie shoos everyone out, including Frank. She claims Annalise left because her students annoyed her and she won’t want to see them first thing when she gets back. Everyone complies, and when Bonnie is alone, a trail of blood seeps from Annalise’s bathtub. Caleb is dead.

Oliver attempts to impersonate Connor and decline his acceptance to Stanford while Connor showers, but Connor hears him, and decides they can settle their conflict in a more interesting way.

Annalise arrives home and Bonnie explains Frank was just doing as he was told. In the past, Frank confesses his indiscretion to Sam at the hospital and apologizes, but Sam dismisses him. Frank wants to come clean to Annalise, though Sam won’t let him. Then, when Sam needs Frank to get rid of Lila he guilts him into doing so by saying that Frank “owes him one.”

Annalise scolds Bonnie for believing Frank and claims he and Sam are both responsible. She also asks where Frank is, saying he needs to go.

Laurel goes to Frank’s apartment and cries when she walks in to find it completely empty.

Wes visits New York and approaches Wallace Mahoney while he’s taking a phone call. When Wallace asks him what he wants, Wes confesses that he thinks he’s his son. Wallace asks him where he got such a crazy idea, and Wes begins to explain about Annalise, when Wallace is suddenly shot. Wes gets caught in the blood splatter.

End of episode.

How to Get Away with Murder airs every Thursday at 10 p.m. on ABC. The series will return with new episodes this fall.