Episode 2 of Single Drunk Female commences with Sam, her face etched with exhaustion, stacking cereal boxes at her fresh job. She cautiously surveys her surroundings, then slides into the shelf's depths, constructing a barricade of cereal boxes as a makeshift fortress. Soon, she succumbs to the pull of slumber.
However, Mindy, the sharp-eyed manager, soon detects Sam's slumber. Sam confesses that it's been nine long days since her last drink, and her sleep has been fragmented and fleeting. Mindy, who attends AA meetings herself, refuses to let Sam sit beside her due to Sam's lack of sophistication. James, observing the situation, offers Sam tips on securing a seat to save her from future awkward moments, much to Sam's suspicion that he's flirting with her.
At the supermarket, Sam's day goes from bad to worse when she runs into Brit and her ex, Joel. Brit informs her that she owes $5,000 for the damage done to the party bus. Sam's attempts to secure a promotion at work are swiftly dashed, leading her to seek Olivia's guidance. Her sponsor sternly reminds her that navigating such challenges is part of the journey to adulthood.
Dejected, Sam returns home to find her mother on a date with Bob. An argument ensues, as Sam fumes over her mother's eagerness to evict her in order to spend more time with Bob. Carol insists that Bob isn't the issue; she just needs some time to herself.
After this tumultuous confrontation, Sam halts outside a liquor store, tempted to enter. But she resists and calls James instead. They head to a cozy café, where he offers her words of encouragement. Sam suggests they rekindle their intimacy, this time sober, but James refuses, declaring her "untouchable" until she remains sober for a year.
The episode draws to a close with Sam receiving her maiden paycheck. Immediately after sending Brit her first down payment, she accidentally drops her phone, shattering the screen, a fitting metaphor for the cracks in her already fragile life.
