When the Simpson family takes a road trip to a cabin in the woods, a series of flashbacks depict Homer and Marge's blissful courtship and their early married years. They recall their first encounter with Flanders and Maude twenty years prior at the very same cabins, where Flanders insisted the unmarried Homer and Marge stay in separates rooms. Later, they recall when they each met distracting members of the opposite sex who nearly wooed Homer and Marge away from each other. Bart and Lisa also reflect on happier times from their early childhood. Despite the obstacles and the passing of time, Homer and Marge attempt to see the forest for the trees.

The Simpson family takes a trip to the Mapple Store at the Springfield Mall where Lisa get her very own Mypod, and Bart interrupts an announcement from Steve Mobbs with his own voiceover, causing pandemonium to break loose in the store. On his way home from the mall, Bart narrowly escapes punishment and befriends a Muslim boy named Bashir. Homer becomes suspicious of Bart's new friend and invites Bashir, his mother (guest voice Shohreh Aghdashloo) and his father over for dinner so he can investigate their supposed anti-American sentiments. Having already offended Bashir and his family at dinner, Homer goes to their home to apologize, but he instead snoops around their house, a la Jack Bauer, and uncovers what he believes to be a terrorist plot to blow up the Springfield Mall. The race is on as Homer tries to warn the residents of Springfield about the impending disaster. Blackboard 'Prosperity is just around the corner'.