The family dog, 17-year-old Murray is ailing and the family engages in a dogfight over whether or not to put the dog to sleep, something Willie is dead set against. Meanwhile, a fallen tree has caused damage to the house, damage that Valerie and Michael can't afford to pay for at the moment.

Mark's volunteer job at the hospital sets the scene for a documentary that David and Burt are filming. However, during shooting, David runs into his old pal, Rich and discovers his old friend is now battling AIDS. Meanwhile, Willie decides to take a home economics course in order to meet girls.