Liberty High deals with the issue of censorship when a substitute English teacher encourages students to write liberal poetry for the school paper.

Brian's life is a constant struggle over what he wants to express and the ramblings that escape from his mouth; everyone feels like the outsider at the ""World Happiness Dance"" at school; Patty pressures Graham into taking a continuing education cooking class.

The Chase's Christmas is more complicated than usual when Angela's anxious search for Rickie leads her into the world of runaway kids where she encounters a mysterious homeless girl.