Jess decides to throw Cece a surprise bachelorette party while Nick and Winston awkwardly take her fiancé, Shivrang, out for the night. Then, as Schmidt desperately tries to find a real girlfriend in time for the wedding in order to get a “plus one,” he is forced to seek out his old girlfriend from his “fat Schmidt” college days.

Jess hires, then must immediately fire Coach as her school’s new volleyball coach. Meanwhile, Schmidt gets sued and enlists Nick and a procedural television-loving Winston to represent him at the deposition. Also, Cece catches the eye of a much younger man.

A class trip turns disastrous when Jess tries to avoid showing favoritism to Ryan; Schmidt develops an ulcer; Winston becomes fixated on wearing a crystal.

When Jess is served a restraining order by her ex-boyfriend, Sam, she sets out to clear her name with Winstons help. Nick and Schmidt plot against the owner of a trendy new bar that opened on their street.

Jess struggles to keep the loft's Secret Santa gift exchange afloat. When Winston believes his online gift order for Cece won't be delivered in time, he and Schmidt must endure going to an actual store to find a replacement gift. Meanwhile, Reagan surprises Nick, who helps makes Jess' Christmas one to remember.

When Jess gets nervous about starting her new position as principal, Nick and Schmidt decide to take her on a relaxing day trip to Solvang, which quickly goes "sideways." Meanwhile, with Cece's help, Winston tries to finalize his divorce from Rhonda, but finds that he and Aly are caught in a series of never-ending pranks.