Mallory arrives alone at the Maxwells’ large Victorian house in Spring Brook and is greeted first by Teddy, then by Caroline Maxwell. Caroline immediately puts Mallory at ease by speaking openly and kindly about Mallory’s recovery, then brings Mallory into the kitchen, offers her food and seltzer, and presents a typed list of house rules. The rules show the Maxwells’ strict preferences about substances, language, food, privacy, and science, but Caroline also emphasizes flexibility, kindness, and fun.

As Caroline explains the job, Mallory shares a little of her background without having to revisit the worst parts of her addiction history. Caroline then introduces Mallory to Teddy in the den. Teddy is shy at first, but Mallory wins him over by taking his drawings seriously and praising them sincerely. Caroline explains that Teddy only became obsessed with drawing after the family moved into this house, and one drawing introduces Anya, Teddy’s unsettling imaginary friend. Teddy says Anya sleeps under his bed and sings at night, which embarrasses Caroline but signals that Teddy may be struggling with loneliness, the move, or something stranger.

When Ted Maxwell comes home, the difference between the parents becomes clear. Teddy is eager to stay with Mallory, but Ted insists on a formal interview. After Caroline quietly warns Mallory that Ted is looking for reasons to reject her because of her addiction history, Ted questions Mallory about education, languages, arts, travel, and her current job. Ted’s line of questioning shows that Ted wants a more conventionally accomplished nanny, and Mallory can see that Ted ranks her below other applicants despite Teddy’s clear affection for her.

Caroline then shows Mallory the guest cottage where the nanny would live. The cottage is small but beautifully prepared, and Caroline’s care makes the job feel almost real. Ted interrupts again and privately explains his central fear: because Teddy became deeply attached to a dying bird after the family moved in, Ted does not want to take another emotional risk on someone he sees as unstable. Mallory responds by offering to take random weekly drug tests at her own expense, hoping to remove Ted’s doubts, but Ted rejects the offer because he does not want a nanny whose sobriety must be monitored.

Mallory waits while Ted and Caroline argue, then leaves believing the interview has failed. At the door, Teddy gives Mallory a drawing as a present and hugs her, and the gesture deeply affects Mallory because it confirms the connection she felt with him. On the walk back through Spring Brook, Mallory envies the town’s comfort and stability and wishes she could stay. But when Mallory finds Russell waiting at Starbucks, Russell reveals that Caroline has already called: Caroline wants Mallory to start as soon as possible, despite Ted’s objections.