In the opening of Episode 1 of Margo's Got Money Troubles, Margo sits down to journal about her life, wondering if she's cursed to repeat her parents' mistakes. Afterward, she heads to school where her Literature professor, Mark, orders her to stay behind. He asks if she plagiarized her recent paper, and she vigorously denies the accusation. He then complements her writing skills, saying that she should be at Harvard.
Later, Margo video calls her friend Becca, who reminds her that Mark is behaving inappropriately. He is married and flirting with her. Becca warns Margo to be careful and not to sleep with him. Despite this advice, Margo ends up sleeping with Mark multiple times over the next few weeks. He even writes her a poem entitled "Hungry Ghost." Unfortunately, Margo continues to ignore Becca's concerns about Mark's behavior.
Meanwhile, Shayanne, Margo's mom, is disappointed when her religious boyfriend Kenny fails to propose. She acts pleased by the cross necklace he gives her, even though she was expecting a ring. Later, Margo meets with her mom and raves about Mark. Shayanne immediately realizes that Margo is sleeping with her professor and is not pleased.
Over the next few days, Margo updates Becca through their numerous video calls about her affair with Mark. In the meantime, one of Margo's roommates, Susie, reveals her love for wrestling and the wrestler known as Jinx.
At her waitressing job, Margo starts feeling nauseous, and her boss suggests she take a pregnancy test since she has been complaining a lot. The situation is further complicated by the knowledge that her professor may be using his position of authority to manipulate and seduce her, while her mother's disappointment in her choices adds another layer of complexity to the already tangled web of emotions swirling around Margo's life.Margo undergoes the test, and the results come back positive. Determined, she takes three more tests and receives the same results. Evidently, she drops by Mark's office, where he subtly attempts to persuade her to abort the pregnancy. After her doctor's visit, Margo decides to keep the baby.
Shayanne warns her that being a single mother won't be easy and advises her to be prepared. She expresses disappointment in Margo and worries about how to break the news to Kenny. Margo reveals that she's desperate for the child and wants to inform her negligent father about this latest development in her life.
Shayanne narrates how she became a single mother after a one-night stand with Jinx, who was happily married but she only discovered his marital status after becoming pregnant. Meanwhile, Margo's roommates try to be supportive, although two of them feel she shouldn't keep the baby. They throw a baby shower for her, and Shayanne tries to fake her joy at being a grandmother.
Over the next few months, Margo's belly grows, and she prepares to be a mother. She even gets Shayanne to buy her the stroller she wanted. While shopping, they run into Mark with his wife and kids. She asks about her grades, and the wife excuses herself. Mark accuses Margo of stalking him and claims he tried his best to dissuade her from keeping the baby. Margo tries to confront him but he questions the paternity of the child and checks out Shayanne.
Margo is angered and claims she wants nothing from him. She also gets mad at Shayanne, even though she did nothing wrong and didn't confront Mark as she would have liked. It turns out Margo is also angry that her mom isn't happy about the pregnancy.
Shayanne calls it a tragedy and reminds Margo that her past life is over. She's worried that motherhood at this age will break Margo, and no one tells women the truth about having babies. She asks Margo to get out of the car and give her time to scream.
The scene shifts to Margo giving birth at the hospital, with Shayanne panicking.
