Sam scores a victory when she lands a job interview in New York with an unlikely ally, only to discover how scary it is to write while sober. Concerned her daughter needs help, Carol breaks a boundary and introduces herself to Olivia.

In this flashback episode, an inebriated James meets a drunken "Katrina" (Sam) in a bar on Thanksgiving. After getting kicked out, the two embark upon their own one-night holiday celebration. James' time with Sam spurs him to make a change.