On Millie Accardi’s Thursday morning off, Ada and Nico walk alone to the bus stop as they have since the day before. Millie watches from a front window with new blinds Enzo installed, noting Janice at the stop may be unsettled but deciding the kids are fine and trying not to parent from fear.

In the quiet house, Millie starts to make a healthier breakfast, but the doorbell rings. She opens the door without checking first and finds Martha, Suzette Lowell’s cleaning woman, standing there in an apron and gloves, announcing she is there to clean. Millie tries to refuse, but Martha insists Millie’s husband asked her to come.

Millie wakes Enzo and demands an explanation. Enzo admits he hired Martha, arguing Millie has spent her life cleaning for others and deserves help; he says Martha will come only twice a month and that he has also told Nico to take out the trash and Ada to do the dishes. Millie resists at first because of cost, then reluctantly accepts, though she remains bothered that it had to be Martha.

Back downstairs, Martha immediately begins cleaning with silent efficiency, repeatedly staring at Millie in a way that makes Millie feel judged and uncomfortable. Millie abandons cooking, eats a banana, deletes a flood of school emails, and considers leaving the house to give Martha space.

When Millie stands to go, Martha is suddenly motionless at the kitchen entrance, startling her. Martha finally explains she did not want to bother Millie and only needs to know where the oven cleaner is. Millie answers, but the unnerving staring lingers; she debates the awkwardness of firing Martha and decides, for now, to let it continue because the rates are reasonable and Enzo insists Millie deserves the break.