As they do every year, many of the WKRP staff members attended Mr. Carlson's church charity auction on their Sunday off, this year in support of Jerry's Kids. Herb's sole purpose in attending any year is to buy something - anything - to get in good with the Big Guy, this year which he was going to do 50/50 with Les. But when Les ended up not showing, he instead deciding to spend his Sunday in Dayton with his mother, Herb was forced to buy the last auction item, an oil painting, he does not like or want for $100 on his own. Herb learns that Bailey, who loves the painting, wanted to buy it at the auction but could not afford it. Using his sales sense in not telling any one party the entire story, Herb tries not only to get half the $100 from Les, he threatening to throw Les under the proverbial bus with Mr. Carlson in not having attended the auction, but tries to unload the painting to anyone who is willing to buy it at the highest price possible, Bailey the most obvious candidate. Herb's juggling act takes a turn when he gets wind that that the painting may be worth much more than he paid for it.
—Huggo