Laura gives Rob an expensive watch at a birthday party attended by several family friends, but when the watch goes missing shortly after the party, Rob reluctantly concludes that one of his close friends may be a thief.
New Rochelle politicians approach Rob to be their next city councilman. Flattered, Rob considers it but soon finds his life under their complete management.
As election day approaches, Rob finds his political rival extremely knowledgeable, well-prepared and well-suited for the job of councilman. Rob's strengths: a winning smile and physical height.
Laura accidentally drops a recently bestowed Petrie family heirloom (as ugly as it is priceless) down the garbage disposal and tries to cover up the mishap before anyone notices.
While in an out-of-town wedding party with Laura, troubles plague Rob in trying to watch a TV show for Alan Brady, making his ability at even attending the wedding reception dubious.
When Rob, Sally and Buddy have to dig through building trash containers for a lost script, Rob finds a network memo to Alan Brady saying he must fire one writer. Rather than be split up, they seek a new gig together.
A film crew takes over the Petrie house during Mille and Jerry's wedding anniversary party for an Alan Brady documentary that aims to show the megalomaniac's "human" side.
For the Petrie-Helper fishing trip, a cold sidelines Laura. Home alone, every little bump in the night raises fearful eyebrows. Millie's return to keep her company makes things worse.
After five years of struggle, Rob finally finishes his first book. As Laura reads it, she discovers its about their life from marriage proposal to a point shortly after Ritchie's birth.