The episode uses an on-screen counter to track Alex's dwindling funds, highlighting the "pulse-pounding" reality of poverty where every dollar spent on supplies or fuel is a major loss.
After a grueling day of cleaning and personal setbacks—including her mother, Paula, losing track of Maddy—Alex's car is totaled in a crash, leaving her stranded. Key Themes and Depictions [S1E1] Dollar Store
Alex meets with a social worker who explains that to qualify for subsidized housing, she must first secure employment and provide two pay stubs. The episode uses an on-screen counter to track