Edith eagerly anticipates surprising Stephanie with a party for her tenth birthday, but their celebration is put in jeopardy when Stephanie develops appendicitis. Archie is outraged when he learns that she is going to be operated on by the son of their regular doctor, who Archie knew all too well as one of Gloria's childhood friends.

Archie finds himself in the middle of a bad situation when a suicidal Barney calls him to announce that Blanche has run off again, this time with the furnace repairman. Archie concludes that Barney needs a new woman in his life, and sets him up with Edith's rich widowed, albeit obese, friend.