After work, Blake buys nonprescription cortisone cream to treat his escalating rash, since he has no health insurance. Arriving at the brownstone, he is stopped by neighbor Mr. Zimmerly, who scolds him for leaving empty garbage cans on the curb and for dirty front steps. Overwhelmed and itching intensely, Blake angrily rips off his shirt in the street, wheels the bin back, and storms inside.

Seeing Whitney’s shoes, Blake goes straight upstairs to confront her about the likely cause of his allergic reaction. He bangs on her door, and when Whitney answers, he shows his inflamed chest and tells her to stop using fragranced detergent containing limonene, insisting she use the laundromat if necessary. Whitney responds flippantly about wanting her clothes to smell fresh, so Blake threatens to kick her out if she continues.

Whitney counters that, under New York law, even without a lease, Blake cannot summarily evict her, and she closes the door in his face. Blake realizes she is correct about tenant rights and that his outburst worsened their already tense dynamic, but he still needs her rent and must find a way to coexist.

Turning back, Blake discovers Krista on the stairs, having seen Whitney shut the door on a shirtless Blake. Krista is visibly hurt and suspicious, and Blake hurriedly explains that they were arguing, not flirting, and that he removed his shirt because of his rash.

In the dim hallway light, Krista sees the extensive rash across Blake’s chest and arms. Blake blames Whitney’s fragranced detergent residue in the shared machine and says he needs to scrub the washer and rewash his clothes. Krista’s demeanor softens; she offers help, including applying cortisone to his back, and Blake feels relieved that she believes him amidst mounting stresses.