Episode 2 of Rooster unfolds with Greg checking on Katie, who is not doing well. He brings her a matcha and informs her that the police need them for questioning. However, Katie doesn't feel guilty for burning Archie's house down, and she's confident that no one will convict her. The scene shifts to the police station. The cop takes note as Katie confesses that she burnt the book, but burning the house wasn't intentional. Archie is visibly angry that she burnt his favourite book, but it turns out he still has Katie's back.
Mistakenly, the cop spills coffee on Archie's pants, which are the only ones that survived the fire. **Archie asks Katie if her father knows that Sunny is pregnant**. Outside, Greg tries to convince the cop that Katie is a good girl. They get back to the room and find Katie punching Archie, and she storms off.
Later, Shepard engages in an awkward interaction with the students. Greg visits Mann to ensure Katie's job is still intact. After engaging Mann, he says he's there to ensure Katie's job is safe. However, Mann says her job isn't safe because she burned down a historic faculty house and assaulted a professor. Greg says that was an accident. Just then, Mann informs him that Katie resigned. Greg asks him to let him talk to Katie. He also says he thinks Dylan found him charming, and that excites Mann.
In the meantime, Archie catches up with Sunny, who informs him that she's keeping the pregnancy. **Archie seems confused by this decision**. Sunny says she's having an internship interview and leaves.
Later at the Ludlow, Archie meets Gina, one of the students, who starts flirting with him while he's ranting about his life. Greg tries reasoning with Katie and asks her not to give up so easily. She turns out to be a bit insensitive, but later apologizes to her father.
Elsewhere, Greg encounters Mann and informs him that Katie has reversed her decision to resign. Mann suggests that he should speak with Katie and write an apology letter to the board, suggesting that she could attribute her actions to 'women's stuff,' such as hormones or medication. After a brief suspension, she'll be good to go. Mann then offers Greg the position of writer-in-residence. Initially, Greg declines the offer, but later accepts it, realizing that it's not just an offer but a deal to keep Katie's job secure.
Meanwhile, Archie attends his class with stained trousers. He informs his students that his former classmate wants him to be a talking head on BBC News the next morning, and the majority of students encourage him. The scene shifts to an eatery where Tommy works, serving his friends leftovers. Greg discusses how Katie is in a situation she's not handling well. Shepard walks in and asks if Greg told Mann that she hit on him. Greg apologizes, and the conversation turns to Katie. He muses that always being there for Katie has made her handle issues poorly. Shepard then narrates her story about her dad and choosing colleges, asking Greg to be like her dad and find a way to fight for his daughter.
To this end, Greg steals the weathercock vane that Katie mentioned she regretted not hiding, as is the custom for new professors joining the institution. Meanwhile, Archie reveals to Sunny that it was Katie who punched him. She also says that his decision to sleep in a hotel rather than her apartment makes people view it awkwardly. She feels there's nothing wrong since they're expecting a baby. She calls him a coward and leaves since she has an exam.
Greg carries the clock to Katie, noticing her obvious admiration for the place. He encourages her to be brave and suggests she write a letter of apology. She requests his help in drafting it. In the meantime, the Elizabeth Stoddard Student Center officially opens. Mann expresses his dislike for the building, which he feels has adopted a mismatched Neo-Gothic architecture with a greenhouse attached. This apparent disdain stems from a strained dinner with Dean Riggs. Unfortunately, it appears that his budget is being cut. Shepard assures him that this won't hold him back.
It turns out that Mann has to discontinue supporting The Ludlow Review online, which is part of the Green initiative. Shepard notes that if he does so, many people will be upset. However, the decision has already been made.
Meanwhile, Greg assists Katie in writing the apology letter. She also mentions that she'll hide the clock vane and watch Mann suffer. Elsewhere, Greg learns that Sunny is pregnant and interrupts Archie during a live BBC interview, resulting in a chaotic and entertaining scuffle. Archie moves in with Sunny after the interview, though her roommate doesn't seem to like him.
The episode concludes with Greg saying goodbye to Katie and quickly mentioning that he'll be back on Monday. She is surprised but he leaves before she can ask any further questions.
