In the opening of Episode 3 of "The Rooster," Greg is shown alone in Florida, setting the stage for a fresh start. The scene then shifts to Greg and Katie riding to his new house on campus, where Katie inquires about his weekend. Greg brings up his favorite TV show, sparking a conversation that touches on his new life chapter.
Upon entering the new house, Greg is amused by the gift hamper on the table, noting that it's too big for one person. However, Katie quickly clarifies that she's not moving in with him, revealing that she's been trying to break free from her mother's shadow. With her marriage collapsing and suspension, she now has her own life and needs the space.
The scene then shifts to Greg preparing for work, wearing his new, shiny but slippery boots. He meets Dylan and walks to the compass block, while Sunny starts making plans for her summer internship while also dealing with the rivalry between her roommate, Mo, and Archie. Archie is working on his book and needs a quiet working environment, but Mo doesn't care about his needs.
Regarding her internship, Sunny says she'll speak with President Mann, who is always at the gym. However, Archie advises her against it, claiming that Walt is the biggest gossip on campus and that he shouldn't be rooting around in their lives. Meanwhile, Dylan is upset that Walt has hired Greg to fill the position her friend Ruby was supposed to fill. She asks Walt to handle the situation with grace and sensitivity and warns Greg to check his back since Walt can stab him in the back.
Greg reveals that Walt told him to take the writer-in-residence job so that Katie could keep hers. Later, Walt gives Greg a tour of his office, which is next to his own. Elsewhere, Sunny and Mo are at the gym, where Mo is complaining about workouts. Sunny approaches Dean Riggs to help her with her internship but is declined.
Walt, a keen eavesdropper, urges Sunny to engage with someone she genuinely connects with. Later, Archie reveals that it's a characteristic of Walt's - he once told Cristle about having a dog, and then, out of nowhere, Walt showed up at his doorstep with a dog named Roscoe.
Greg barges into Katie's house, eager to check if she saw his email. She quickly hands over the cigarette to Lily, and Greg admits that he gets nervous speaking in front of people unless he has a solid plan. He invites her to a hockey game that night, and she agrees. He leaves, taking a hilly shortcut that, unfortunately, turns out to be unsafe for him.
Afterwards, Greg enters the class, and the students notice that he's bleeding. They complain about his last email regarding their classwork. Most of the students feel that his organizational requirement will make the class less enjoyable. Greg disagrees and, during the disagreement, his words land him in front of the disciplinary board. It turns out that what he said was pretty much body-shaming, which is intolerable on campus.
Archie talks about how everyone makes mistakes but, after all, they're nice people. Cristle, however, calls Greg a bad boy. Riggs tells Greg that the school didn't have a disciplinary board ten years ago. He invites Greg for a drink at his place, and Greg agrees to go.
As students protest outside Dylan's office, Archie converses with Riggs about his book. He presents him with a bottle of whisky, unaware that Riggs has relocated the free speech zone to her doorstep. Riggs begins to cough, but Dylan refuses to offer him a glass of water. He collapses on the ground, prompting Archie to snatch the bottle back and call for medical assistance.
Meanwhile, Greg enters Riggs' house to find his wife leaving, asking him to drive. Walt informs Dylan that Riggs has suffered a heart attack but is not in critical condition. In an awkward moment, Walt reveals that Dylan has been appointed the new dean. The scene shifts to the lecture hall where Archie is delivering a speech, with Katie peering through the window. Students notice her and she hurries away, knocking another student's drink.
Back in the dean's office, a student requests an urgent response for their philosophy curriculum proposal. Katie storms in, expressing her frustration at being confined to her home. Dylan leads her to her office. Meanwhile, Greg awakens late in the hospital and rushes out. Elsewhere, Katie questions Dylan about lifting her suspension and observes Archie's happiness, wondering why he is not suffering as she is.
Archie is admiring photos with Katie when Sunny enters. He lies about checking Roscoe's photos. Sunny expresses her need to secure an internship before her pregnancy becomes apparent, fearing she may not receive one due to her condition. Archie assures her that discrimination will not be tolerated.
Greg runs to class, late according to the schedule, but he decides to be creative. He shares that he writes his books wishing he were someone else. Students contribute to their writing, and Maya shares hers. Greg slips and accidentally touches her breasts, leading to his appearance before the disciplinary board again. Greg attempts a humorous defense but fumbles his words completely.
At the gym, Archie discusses helping Sunny secure an internship with Walt. Meanwhile, Greg watches hockey and calls Katie, who informs him that she is out with Lily and other friends. She accuses him of being selfish for taking the job. Shortly afterward, Dylan joins Greg to reprimand the drunk hockey coach. She urges Greg to get his life together.
Greg rants about his daughter's lack of interest in him and his struggles with life's challenges. He storms off, leaving Dylan to observe the coach's hysteria from afar. The episode concludes with Greg alone in his house, tossing coins in a jar.
