Plot

The family decides to throw an engagement party for Kitty against her wishes. Saul meets an old friend recently divorced from his wife. Justin spends time with his brothers and sisters before going to Iraq, but Nora refuses to say goodbye.

The family decides to throw an engagement party for Kitty and Robert against Kitty's protests, and Robert's family turns out to be a handful. Kevin meets Jason McCallister while planning the party, and they make progress on their otherwise strained relationship. Saul meets an old, recently divorced friend, who tells him he has come out of the closet. Nora and Kitty fight about Kitty moving out of the house, but Nora's thoughts are with Justin, who is trying to spend time with his brothers and sisters before going to Iraq. Nora refuses to say goodbye, and when Justin is called up for duty early, he decides to leave goodbyes behind.—Peter Brandt Nielsen

Justin and Tommy are at the beach getting ready to go surfing. Tommy points out many pretty girls in bikinis as they pass by, but Justin doesn't find any of them appealing, as he will be going to the war in Iraq in ten days' time. He becomes wistful as he remembers that the last time he went surfing, his father was still alive. When he asks Tommy about Julia, Tommy replies that she is just fine. They grab their surfboards and head toward where the waves are crashing.

As the Walker family settle down for dinner, Rebecca can't help but notice that Kitty, who she is sitting next to, is wearing a large engagement ring. Rebecca asks when she and Senator Robert McAllister are having their engagement party, to which Kitty replies that with everything that has been happening she doesn't want a party, and besides that Josh will fly to Iraq in ten days. The rest of the family tell Kitty that they need to celebrate and she has to get over it. Nora volunteers to manage the planning.

Tommy returns to his home at 8:30pm and finds Julia curled up in the bed. more listless and dull than usual. When she admits to Tommy that she didn't make much progress with decorating the nursery, he suggests that perhaps Nora could take over that task. Tommy advises that Julia should conserve her energy until their daughter gets home from the hospital, to which Julia replies that she just wants the daughter's room to be pretty.

In Senator Robert McAllister's ranch in Santa Barbara, he and Kitty are making out on the bed, but it distracts Kitty by troubling her neck. Robert tells Kitty that when she moves out to the ranch, she can bring her own mattress in.

Next day at the Walkers' house, Justin receives a phone call. The call is from Sergeant Hurrell of the Department of Combat Medic Training to remind Justin that he is due to report on Sunday the 20th. This makes Justin frantic because he thought he was supposed to report on the following Tuesday. He pleads with the Sergeant to give him more time so he can attend the party his family is throwing for him, but Sergeant Hurrell is inflexible, telling Justin that the party's over.

Downstairs in the kitchen, Nora is going through the guest list for the engagement party. When Kitty walks in to grab her morning coffee, Nora complains to her about the number of people that Robert has invited and accuses him of turning the party into a campaign event. Kitty explains that all of the people on the list are actually related to Robert. When Nora queries whether one of the invitees, Major Weiner, is actually a joke, Kitty points out that he is Robert's favorite uncle, and the name is pronounced like "Whiner", which leaves Nora unsure as to whether or not that is worse. Kitty tries to broach the subject of moving out, but Nora is distracted by how much work is involved with planning the party.

Rebecca then walks into the kitchen and is asked by Nora to invite Holly to the engagement party, a request that makes both of them look stricken. When Kitty mouths "No" to Rebecca, she tactfully tries to beg off, but when Nora insists on inviting Holly, Rebecca agrees. After Rebecca leaves, Kitty vents to Nora about Holly's invite, wanting to avoid another pastry smackdown like the one that happened at their vineyard, Walker Landing, but Nora assures Kitty that things have settled since then. Kitty again tries to talk about moving out, but Nora suddenly realizes that she needs to find a venue for the engagement party.

Later in Robert's office, Kitty vents to Jason McAllister about how the party is going to be a nightmare and she hasn't yet had a chance to tell her mother that she is moving out. Jason replies that she shouldn't worry because the right opportunity will present itself. Robert walks in and says "Ten Hut!", before apologizing and explaining that he sometimes forgets that he's no longer in the military. Robert suggests to Jason that he should offer to help with the party planning, and Jason is happy to admit that he is brilliant at planning parties and offers to lend a hand. This makes Kitty jealous that Robert's brother is so nice, and she describes her own brothers as Larry, Curly and Moe, to which Robert points out that Jason has already met Moe, referring to their previous blind coffee date that ended in a disaster. When Kitty says that at least she is marrying into a nice and normal family, Jason and Robert exchange funny looks.

While stuck in traffic, Kevin talks on the phone to Nora while she tries to put the nursery room furniture for Tommy and Julia together. Nora asks Kevin for help with planning the engagement party because she has overextended herself. Kevin rubs it in, but then agrees to help. Nora tells him to check out a banquet hall downtown which she has booked online. She also asks him to come over to her place and help her with all of the guests, but Kevin turns the idea down because he and Justin are going to see the musical Wicked, convinced that it will change Justin's hatred of musicals. When Kevin explains that it was Justin who asked Kevin to see it, Nora begins to smell something fishy.

Later on at the Walkers' house, Nora confronts son Justin about taking Kevin to see Wicked. He has already taken Tommy surfing, taken Sarah and the children to the zoo and has asked Nora to go to the museum tomorrow, which leads Nora to tell Justin that she knows that he is trying to say goodbye to everyone. Justin replies that he is going to a place where people die every day and there is a very real possibility that he may not come back. Nora tells Justin to stop, not wanting to hear that he thinks he could die, and begins to choke up. Nora continues that if Justin goes to Iraq believing that something is going to happen to him, something is going to happen to him. Justin asks Nora if she wants him to pretend that he's invincible, to which Nora answers that all she wants him to know as surely and as deeply as she does is that he is coming home, to which Justin responds that he doesn't know that. Nora reminds him about how he told her about the talk he gave to the soldiers on the battlefield, when he looked them in the eyes and told them they were going to live, and asks him why he can't give himself the same benefit of the doubt. Justin answers that he was lying - not all of the soldiers made it. Nora then turns down his offer of going to the museum, instead wanting to go after he gets back. After she tells him that she won't say goodbye, she breaks down and cries and hugs Justin.

Kevin is touring the downtown banquet hall that Nora has booked online for the engagement party with its manager. Kevin is not impressed, thinking that the place is a fuchsia eyesore. The manager points out that their Bougainvillea Court can comfortably hold up to 200 people. When Kevin says that it is colorful, the manager compares it to the bougainvillea because it is bright and pink, Kevin remarks that it is more like antacid pink. The manager tells Kevin that his mother fell in love with it on the virtual tour, but Kevin doubts that it included a picture of the carpet. His trash-talking leaves the manager feeling a little put-out and starting to get a little testy. Jason then shows up, expecting to meet Nora and surprised to find Kevin in her place. It's their first meeting since the blind coffee date that Kevin ruined. When Jason asks Kevin what the problem seems to be, he replies that the place is like the first fifteen minutes of Extreme Home Makeover, before they tear the house down. The manager has heard enough trash-talk from Kevin and tells him to consider his mother's reservation null and void.

After he is back at the Walkers' kitchen, Kevin breaks the news to Nora that he lost them the banquet hall. Nora initially gets upset, until Kevin assures her that she doesn't have to worry, because he found another venue that is nice and homey. When Nora realizes that he is talking about the Walkers' mansion, she protests that there is no room for all of the guests. Kevin does some quick thinking before telling Nora they will rent a tent. When Nora asks who "they" are, Kevin explains that he and Jason have been working together on planning the party. His explanation is heard by their uncle, Saul Holden, who then argues with Kevin about whether or not the Senator's brother hates him. Kevin tells Saul he needs to relax, and that Jason and Kevin share the same gay party-planning gene. Nora relents, then says that she forgot to tell Saul that Milo Peterman called, and she has invited him to the party. The news makes Saul nervous and leads Kevin to ask who Milo Peterman is, to which Nora explains that he is an old friend of Saul's. When Saul complains that they already have too many guests and the party is no place for Milo, Nora doesn't understand why her invitation to him leaves Saul feeling put-out, but when she asks him what one more guest is at this point, he replies that it will be two more if he brings his wife Elaine, to which Nora answers that he will not be bringing Elaine because they got a divorce.

Sarah then enters and tells the others there that she doesn't want to be the one to give the toast at the engagement party. Normally, Sarah would be the one for giving speeches, but with her current situation, she thinks that giving a toast about marriage feels just like bad luck. When Tommy enters with some take-away pizza and tells them that Julia isn't coming to the party, Nora has had enough bad news and tells everyone to shut up unless they have something good to announce, which Justin answers by telling her that he and Kevin are going to see Wicked. After Justin and Kevin leave for the theater, Rebecca arrives and says that Holly has accepted the invitation. Not surprisingly, this news leads Sarah to have a cow, resulting in Nora telling her to get over it because they have all moved on. Kitty then shows up before Saul gives everyone a list of guests to call, but before they can get to their phones, Kitty finally gets to tell Nora that she will be moving out and living with Robert after the wedding. Nora doesn't receive this news well and she and Kitty have a fussy, loud fight over it, leading Sarah to remark that it is like the Passive Agressive Olympics.

The day of the engagement party arrives, and Nora is putting some flower arrangements together in the kitchen. Kitty and Jason arrive, with Kitty in a white dress and Jason looking dashing. Kitty and Nora are still bickering about Kitty's decision to move out, with Robert trying to mediate. Their squabbles are interrupted by the arrival of Major Weiner, who proves to be very grabby with Nora. More guests arrive, including a colorful collection of juvenile delinquents, kleptomaniacs, sluts and drunks. Ironically, the new guests make the Walkers look comparatively dignified.

Milo arrives and finds Saul in the dining room. He apologizes for losing touch, and is constantly thinking about their Florida Keys trip. Saul asks Milo about Elaine, even though he already found out from Nora that they were divorced. Milo tells Saul that he is single now. Milo explains that the reason why he left Elaine is because he found out that he is gay, which leaves Saul feeling awkward. After telling Milo that what he did was brave, Saul leaves for the kitchen to prepare the appetizers.

In the study, Holly and Cooper are playing hide and seek when Sarah arrives. Despite their previous hostilities, Holly and Sarah are polite to each other. Sarah admits that she is nervous about making a speech, and Holly advises her that weddings can be simultaneously hopeful and terrifying. When Sarah asks why Holly is being so nice, Holly replies that she is tired of hating and being hated by Sarah.

Kevin lurks in the kitchen pantry drinking a margarita and browsing through Nora's tea collection. Jason arrives and says he is looking for a bandage because one of his cousins has cut himself. They start to snipe at one another, with Kevin making fun of Jason's family and Jason making fun of Kevin's drinking. Soon they start passionately kissing and bump into the pantry shelves as they do.

Inside the party tent, a now completely drunk McAllister family start to make fools of themselves by doing things like dirty dancing and stealing floral arrangements. Nora and Robert stand next to each other as they take in the sight. Sighing, Robert apologizes, but Nora tells him that he never has to apologize for family, and besides she finds it refreshing to be the tame ones for a change. Robert asks if Nora is still mad at Kitty, and she replies that she is mad at everyone at the moment, and simply taking it out on Kitty. In reality, it is Justin that she is truly upset with, and she refused to say goodbye to him. This leads Robert to tell Nora the story of how his father died when he was away fighting the First Gulf War. Although the way it happened was bad luck, the point is that he regrets that he never got to say goodbye to his father. He tells Nora that if her son wants to say goodbye, she should let him. A Macarena train led by Major Weiner then sweeps by, with the Major demanding that Nora join him. She accepts as long as Weiner keeps his hands off the caboose. Kitty then comes up to hug Robert, they look around the room and the motley crew of party guests that are assembled there. Robert asks if Kitty thinks he's still electable, to which Kitty replies "Probably not". At that moment, Major Weiner's macarena train dislodges a tent pole, causing the whole structure to crash over the party guests. Kitty and Robert kiss as the tent falls around them.

Rebecca has retreated to an upstairs bedroom, where she is startled by Justin walking in. She tells him she needed a little breather. When Justin asks her what's wrong, she tells him that Joe was not the only older man who has been in her life, launching into a sad story about an affair she had with one of her high school teachers. When the teacher's wife found out about it, she was pressured into pressing charges, but Rebecca begged the wife not to. Later, the teacher and his family moved to Chicago, but he resumed contact with Rebecca and she ran away to Chicago, where he provided accommodation in a hotel for her. Again, the teacher's wife found out, and this time the teacher killed himself. Finally, Rebecca admits to Justin that she and Joe were equal participants in their kiss. Justin advises Rebecca to come clean with Sarah. Rebecca asks if he can be there for moral support, but he replies that he can't because he will be flying to Iraq that night, and makes her promise not to tell anyone. After Rebecca tells Justin that she is really going to miss him, the two hug before Justin slips away to the airport unnoticed.

Downstairs, the time has come for the speeches. Sarah begins with a heartfelt speech about families. When it is time for the guests to hear from the McAllisters, Robert says that he has asked his brother Jason to lead the guests in prayer. The news comes as a big shock to Kevin, who grabs Kitty by the wrist while the other guests have bowed their heads and pulls her into the kitchen. He tells her about his encounter with Jason and that he blames her for not telling him Jason was a minister, and accuses her of being the worst communications director ever.

A short time later, Nora has her feet up in the study as she tries to retreat from the crowd, when Kitty pokes her head in and asks Nora what she is doing. Nora explains that she is resting and trying not to think of the collapsing tent as a metaphor for her life. Kelly apologizes for wanting to move out, and Nora tells her that it is all right and she is glad that Kitty is moving in with Robert. They hug each other, commiserating on the year that they have had, which Kitty describes as the worst and best year of her life. Rebecca then pokes her head in and tells Nora that although she promised not to say anything, the Army had pushed Justin's report date up, and he has to go back early. Nora asks where he is now, and Rebecca answers that he's at the airport. Realizing that she never gave Justin a chance to say goodbye, Nora tells Kitty that they have to go and find him now.

Nora and Kitty race through Los Angeles International Airport and arrive at the security line. There, the air transportation security guard asks them for tickets, which they don't have. In tears, Nora begs the guard to let them through because her son is off to Iraq and she didn't get a chance to say goodbye. The guard refuses to budge, saying "No ticket, no entry". Nora and Kitty are forced to step out of the line. Suddenly they see Justin, and it turns out that he hadn't gone through security yet because he stopped at a bathroom to change into his Army uniform. Kitty and Nora take turns to hug Justin, with Kitty telling him that although she doesn't know what she believes in anymore, she does know that she believes in him. Justin says his final goodbyes before heading to the security line. The guard tells other people in the line to make room, allowing Justin to cut to the front.

Meanwhile, at the engagement party, Kevin stumbles upon Jason outside and asks him about his earlier prayer session. Jason explains that he is a Methodist minister. His family had been raised up as Catholics, but he needed a friendlier audience. He has a congregation downtown, and although he's not Republican, he does vote for his brother, which leads Kevin to tell him that his sister is about to marry him. Jason thinks that the two families deserve each other, and Kevin suggests that they could have lunch at his offices downtown. When Jason points out that he is a very traditional person, and that his behavior earlier at the party was extremely atypical from him, Kevin answers that he could use some tradition in his life.

In the kitchen, Milo taps Saul on the shoulder in order to say his goodbyes to him. He tells Saul that he bought a little house in Nicholls Canyon and would love him to come for lunch or dinner. When Saul replies that his life is very busy at the moment, Milo answers that he and Saul are too old for excuses. Milo puts his arm across Saul's trembling hand, and as he meaningfully holds it there, Milo tells Saul to call him. After Milo leaves, Saul looks as if his world is about to come crashing in.

Kitty and Nora have returned to the engagement party from the airport, and the rest of the Walker family are looking worn out, as if they can't wait for the party to be over, but the McAllisters are even more drunk and unruly than earlier. Nora is not amused that the riff-raff are trashing her backyard. Robert apologizes and offers to write a check for the Walkers to pay for all of the damage the McAllisters have caused, but Nora dismisses the idea. Major Weiner invites Nora to come and have a tequila shot with him, and tells the Walker family that they don't want to be wallflowers. Nora ponders on this remark for a while, then she attracts the Major's attention again, and takes off her coat before saying "Last one in the pool is a Major Weenie". She descends the steps, removes her shoes and jumps in the swimming pool, to the surprise of the rest of the family. When Holly asks what is going on, Kevin answers "Pool party", before he joins the line of other Walker family members following Nora into the pool. Rebecca convinces Holly to come with her into the pool. Kitty asks Robert if he is coming or are the Walkers too much for him. Robert initially protests, but ends up following Kitty in leaping into the pool as well.