'Pretty Little Liars' Recap: 'FrAmed'

On this week’s episode of Pretty Little Liars, Rosewood High considers banning the PLLs from prom, Hanna continues to remain skeptical of the origins of her scholarship, and Aria’s art exhibit is sabotaged by –A.

The PLLs watch a news update naming Charles DiLaurentis as their kidnapper at Aria’s house. Ali has a hard time believing her brother could grow up to be their tormentor, which angers Hanna, causing her to leave.

Cue opening theme.

Having left Aria’s house, Hanna and her mom discuss her scholarship from The Carissimi Group once more. Hanna still doesn’t feel right about accepting the money, because of the connection to Radley and Charles, but Ashley doesn’t want to turn the money over to the police until they hear back from Ali’s dad. Since Ken hasn’t returned their phone calls, they decide to pay a visit to his office, but the media is camped right outside waiting for Ken to comment on Charles. Seeing the frenzy unfolding, Hanna and Ashley choose to keep their distance.

At The Brew, Aria and Clark chat about the PLLs’ failed attempt to catch Charles but Aria suddenly becomes uncomfortable with Clark’s slew of questions and asks him to change the subject. They talk about Aria’s photos being displayed at the gallery that evening and Aria’s inability to attend due to security concerns following the arcade incident. When Clark leaves, Aria notices Ezra lingering nearby and calls him out for eavesdropping. Ezra says he doesn’t trust Clark and thought he asked too many questions. He also encourages Aria to go the gallery, because he knows how much having her work on display means to her. Aria says she’ll ask Lieutenant Tanner if she can get a police escort there to give her mom peace of mind.

Ali shares her frustrations about Charles with Lorenzo. She says her friends don’t get why she has trouble believing he’s responsible for their torture and is tired of her dad shutting her out. Lorenzo thinks Ali deserves answers about Charles and tells her that her dad has been cooperating with Lieutenant Tanner. Ali also apologizes that Lorenzo injured his arm in the arcade incident before the two share a brief smooch.

Hanna is upset that her mom won’t go to the cops about the scholarship money while Spencer tries to search for more information about The Carissimi Group online. She and Hanna need an “in” if they want to gain insight about the money. After a failed search, Spencer suggests that she and Hanna just return the money to the company’s headquarters themselves.

At the Montgomery house, Aria shows some of her photographs to Tanner as a ploy to convince her mother to let her attend the exhibit at the gallery. Tanner offers to have officers on site in unmarked cars, however, Ella still isn’t sure letting Aria go is a good idea. Tanner suggests they think it over some more before they make a final decision.

Meanwhile, -A watches the art gallery from a remote location with Red Coat.

Later, Emily helps Aria choose an outfit to wear to her photo exhibit, which leads them to talk about prom. Emily mentions an email from Mr. Hackett, which raises concerns about letting the PLLs attend the event. Aria is shocked to hear this, but Emily reassures her friend the girls will fight to go to the dance.

Hanna and Spencer meet with Rhys Matthews at The Carissimi Group to discuss returning Hanna’s scholarship.

Lorenzo updates Ali on Charles’ case and tells her Lieutenant Tanner has been recording her meetings with Ken. He hasn’t had a lawyer present and a profiler has been called to fill in some of the blanks about Charles. Lorenzo also mentions the transcripts of the meetings are off limits to him. When Lorenzo has to take pain medication for his arm that will make him drowsy, he tells Ali she can leave if she wants, though she offers to stay and do housework for him.

Back at the Montgomery house, Aria and Emily continue debating what to do for prom. Emily wants to ask Sara, but doesn’t want their first real date to be “loaded,” while Aria frets over asking Clark since she feels like he’s always interrogating her every time they talk. Aria suggests they make prom a group date, so things aren’t as tense and everyone has fun.

Meanwhile, Hanna and Spencer sit down with Rhys and explain that Hanna wants to give back her scholarship since her mom wasn’t aware she had other options to pay for college. Rhys says the company will be able to take back the money, but they’ll hold off on giving it to another candidate for a while, since the group is very selective about who they offer financial assistance to. The girls hope to speak to Mr. Carissimi himself, but Rhys tells them that’s not possible. Getting a shady vibe from Rhys, Hanna discreetly snaps a photo of him from below the table. When they get out of the office, both Hanna and Spencer note that Rhys could pass for a DiLaurentis, because he shares similar facial features to Jason and Ali.

Simultaneously, Ali folds laundry while Lorenzo sleeps, then steals his Rosewood PD key card to go snooping down at the precinct.

Spencer and Hanna arrive at the gallery for Aria’s exhibit and contemplate whether or not they should keep their encounter with Rhys to themselves. When Emily catches up with them, they fill her in on what they found, but ask her not to tell Aria.

Meanwhile, Aria is surprised to see Ezra and decides to ask him to prom as a friend, though her plans are sabotaged when Nicole shows up, too. Diffusing the tension, Aria spots Clark and they chat until the exhibit is officially opened to everyone in attendance.

When Aria and the girls go to view her pictures, they are shocked to see that –A has replaced her shots with photos of them while they were unconscious inside the dollhouse. Later, the police investigate the scene and Ella freaks out on Lieutenant Tanner, knowing that going to the gallery was a mistake after all.

Meanwhile, Ali sneaks into Rosewood PD with Lorenzo’s key card.

Following the gallery mess, Hanna, Emily, and Spencer watch the Rosewood Forensics unit take the dollhouse photos from the gallery and Hanna notices Rhys hanging out across the street. They follow him and track him down to an abandoned doll factory. They also spot Clark there and inform Aria that her friend might not be who he says he is.

At Rosewood PD, Ali rifles through evidence connected to Charles’ case and is caught by Tanner who informs her that Charles will be brought to justice no matter what. She also confiscates Lorenzo’s key card.

Aria and Ezra talk outside the gallery. Ezra says Nicole’s just a friend. Aria says Charles switched the photos because he wants her and the other PLLs back.

Ali sneaks back to Lorenzo’s and he’s awake and knows what she did. They fight, because he thinks she used him. Ali says she would have crossed the line anyway.

Ella visits Ashley and tells her the police aren’t doing enough to keep their daughters safe, while Red Coat spies on them from outside.

Back at Rosewood PD, Tanner watches someone who looks a lot like Rhys on a computer monitor.

-A loads the trunk of a car with various items, including six syringes. He or she has tickets to Rosewood High’s prom. Red Coat is the car’s driver.

End of episode.

Image Credit: Jennifer Graylock/INFphoto.com.

Pretty Little Liars airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. on ABC Family.