Archie, Edith, & Stephanie arrive in Santa Barbara to spend Christmas with the Stivics. However, the happiness they are greeted with is merely an illusion, as Mike and Gloria try to hide the major change in their personal lives to avoid ruining the holiday.

Edith agrees to sing with Stephanie during a parent/student recital at her school's next PTA meeting, much to Archie's chagrin. However, all of their practice appears to be for naught when Edith develops laryngitis on the eve of their performance.