The opening episode of "Single Drunk Female" kicks off with Samantha Fink, a 28-year-old New Yorker, staggering into her workplace, late and clearly under the influence. Her boss, a keen observer of human nature, detects the telltale signs of intoxication and promptly terminates her employment. As Sam refuses to vacate the premises, he summons security, only to have her retaliate with a phone-swinging assault on his head. Thus, our intrepid heroine faces charges of reckless assault.
Thirty days later, the scene shifts to Sam's mother, Carol, collecting her daughter from a rehabilitation center. Sam's not just returning home to her mom's embrace; she's also mandated by her probation officer to attend daily Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for the next 90 days.
At her first meeting, Sam encounters Olivia, a woman who has been sober for a decade and exudes a sense of composure and stability. Olivia offers Sam her contact information, emphasizing that nobody should brave the journey of recovery alone. Among the other attendees, Sam also comes across James, who reminds her of their fleeting encounter (and subsequent romantic interlude) at a bar during Thanksgiving.
With these newfound connections, Sam's outlook seems to brighten. However, this positivity is soon overshadowed when she runs into her friend Felicia at a bar. Despite Sam's adamant assertions that she won't drink, the allure of alcohol is too much to resist, and she succumbs to temptation, indulging in drinks and revelry. It's not until she spots Brit, her former best friend, celebrating her bachelorette party at the same venue, that Sam's mood darkens. Brit's impending marriage to Sam's ex-boyfriend is the reason for the festivities.
Brit attempts a heart-to-heart outside, but Sam's anger gets the better of her. She stumbles into her car, completely intoxicated, and collides with the party bus that brought Brit and her friends. Fortunately, Olivia steps in to bail Sam out of jail and offers to become her sponsor. Even more fortunately, Sam avoids jail time, though she's assigned additional community service and mandated to take a driver's education course. To add to her woes, her mother insists she find a job and start paying rent.
With Olivia's help, Sam connects with another sponsor, Mindy, who oversees a grocery store. As the episode draws to a close, we find Sam, four days sober, dressing for work with a renewed sense of determination.
