Lila receives a call from the school just as she has finally begun writing again, informing her that Celie missed first register and has been excused multiple times recently with supposed dental appointments. Shocked and panicked, Lila confirms there was no appointment and fails to reach Celie by phone.

After texting, Celie replies that she needed “me-time,” which shifts Lila’s panic to anger. Lila contacts Dan, who has no knowledge of any arrangement, and then tracks Celie using Find My Phone.

On the way, Lila recalls her own childhood attempt to run away and how Francesca gently defused it with calm distraction, underscoring the gap Lila feels between her mother’s wisdom and her own anxiety.

Lila finds Celie sitting in a shopping precinct and approaches softly. Celie refuses to talk, and they sit in uneasy silence. Bill calls to ask about silver polish for Francesca’s tea set, briefly derailing the moment.

Lila tentatively asks if the truancy is about the divorce; Celie snaps that it is not. Lila smells cannabis and confronts Celie about smoking weed. Celie accuses Lila of hypocrisy, revealing she can smell Lila’s own nighttime weed from her bedroom window. Lila denies it, then minimizes it as insomnia-related; Celie retorts that she uses it to relax.

Bill calls again, requesting Bar Keepers Friend and commenting on kitchen grime, further fraying Lila’s focus. Lila tries to seize Celie’s bag to confiscate the weed; they briefly tussle before Celie wrenches it back, furious and embarrassed.

The argument peaks as Celie storms off toward the bus stop while Lila calls after her that it is her job to intervene. Bill phones yet again to request coasters and beeswax furniture polish, punctuating Lila’s sense of being pulled in all directions as Celie disappears.