It's a program that rarely gets pushed through, on the show anyway, but that hasn't stopped the OITNB prisoners from asking for furlough. The timeout from prison is open for reasons such as a sick relative or death in the family. Fellow prisoners speculated that Piper Chapman was approved for 48 hours on the outside to say goodbye to her sick grandmother because of her skin colour. The displeased chatter is apparent, so Chapman addresses the elephant in the room in the cafeteria. That doesn't go so well, and Crazy Eyes launches food at her head, which leads to a food fight.
Chapman's grandmother passes away before she's able to go home, but she's still able to leave to attend the funeral. Although she's not supposed to drink alcohol while out on furlough, that doesn't stop her from downing white wine and trying to hook up with her ex Larry in the bathroom at the funeral reception.
Being able to see Chapman outside prison walls was a telling episode for her relationship. It's when we realise that she really might never get back together with Larry. Plus, we feel that taste of freedom she got during those two days before returning back to Litchfield.