Annie is furious when Terry stays out all night. To give him a taste of his own medicine, Annie leaves Terry home alone with the kids and bonds with Kate on a cross-country road trip. With their mum miles away, and their dad preoccupied by his demons, Peter and Pattie run wild.

Terry is forced to confide in Arty and Ron over a business venture. Annie ignores their problems by accepting an invitation from Nick. Back at the hostel, Stevie convinces Pattie to spend the day with him, and Kate leaves her hut behind in pursuit of a suburban address.

With everyone preoccupied, Peter gets forgotten.