Slums of Beverly Hills

In the year 1976, the backdrop of Beverly Hills serves as both a glamorous and stark contrast to the everyday struggles of the Abromowitz family. Fourteen-year-old Vivian Abromowitz makes her way through a landscape filled with luxury while grappling with her own family's significant poverty and social stigma.

Vivian’s family finds themselves in a continual state of flux, moving between dilapidated apartments as they seek a means to provide a better education for Vivian and her siblings. Their transient lifestyle highlights the ongoing financial instability they face, exacerbated by Murray's struggles to sell Oldsmobiles during a challenging energy crisis.

The family's situation is alleviated somewhat by the financial assistance provided by Vivian's wealthy uncle, Mickey. His support is critical in helping the Abromowitz family maintain some semblance of stability amidst their ongoing troubles.

Murray invites his niece, Rita, to live with them after she escapes from rehab, aiming to provide her support while securing financial help from Mickey. Vivian now takes on the dual role of caretaker, responsible for ensuring that Rita focuses on her nursing studies and stays away from her detrimental habits.

As Vivian adapts to her new responsibilities, she wrestles with her emerging feelings of sexuality and develops a crush on her neighbor, Eliot. Simultaneously, the embarrassment stemming from her family's financial difficulties complicates her attempts to fit in with peers.

Vivian's older brother, Ben, harbors dreams of entering the show business arena, seeking an escape from their challenging home life. His ambitions reflect the creative aspirations that often arise from difficult circumstances, mirroring the family's overall desire for a better life.

The youngest sibling, Rickey, yearns for a more comfortable life and expresses a wish for basic necessities, such as actual furniture. His dreams highlight the stark contrasts between their current home life and what he envisions as true comfort.

Despite Vivian's efforts, Rita's true passion becomes evident when she reveals her desire to reconnect with a romantic interest from rehab rather than commit to her nursing studies. This decision creates tension as Vivian struggles to keep her cousin on a productive path.

During a tense family meeting, Mickey confronts Murray regarding Rita's progress, leading to an intense outburst where he claims that Murray acts as their real father. The episode escalates, resulting in Vivian's shocking reaction as she plunges a fork into Mickey's leg in defense of her family.

The family drama reaches a boiling point when Rita reveals that she is pregnant, prompting her parents to angrily prepare to leave while taking her with them. This revelation further destabilizes the already fragile familial relationships and future.

Following the upheaval and departure of Rita, Murray faces the daunting task of maintaining his family's unity and strength. He gathers his children, though the future seems unclear and fraught with obstacles.

In a bid to lift Murray's spirits amid the chaos, Vivian suggests a nostalgic breakfast at Sizzler, a place that symbolizes comfort within their shared struggles. This small yet significant act of taking a moment for the family provides a glimmer of hope during troubling times.