Annie plans a traditional Christmas at home with her dad, but but she find out the he had sold the old family house, in which she grew up in, she must finally face the facts of life and try to let go of the past. Annie fears that Christmas won't be as magical if she's not in her family home, so to make the holiday seem more traditional, Annie's dad buys her the biggest tree he can find without considering the true size of her apartment. Annie finds out that her dad has changed some of his old ways. He takes a train that's 3 hours earlier than his usual time. Insteed of his ""Bommer"" suite, that he has worned for years, he has bought a more fancy suit to wear to the China Grill, the most extravagant restaurant in town. Annie's brother went skiing for the holiday. Elliot and his wife Gail, on advice from their marriage counselor, stay away from his parents this Christmas.

After the heating system stops working for 2 weeks in the building, Annie organizes a rent strike with the other tenants in the building. When that backfires and the water and electricity get turned off, she goes to The New York Hall of Records, room 702-A, to try and find the name of the owner of the building from the supervisor, Mrs N. Bradstock. Meanwhile, Elliot and Gail realize their marriage is over, so Roger invites Elliot to stay at his new apartment, but the odd couple living situation is more than Roger bargains for when he ends up being mother and maid to sloppy Elliot.