An article in an advice column, Dear Libby, draws Marcia's attention. In the article, an anonymous person is in the same situation as Mike and Carol is in and this particular person is unhappy. This leads Marcia to draw the conclusion that Mike or Carol wrote the letter. She later shows the article to the other kids and they devise a plot to keep their newly formed family together.

No longer feeling needed around the Brady household, Alice makes up a story about an ailing aunt in Seattle in order to leave. Later the family finds out the truth and put "Operation Alice" in effect in an attempt to make her stay.