Plum discovers that Gavin is the new teaching assistant assigned to her class; Valerie comes to the rescue when an attractive divorced friend tries to seduce Frank; Plum convinces Paulie to sit for the sergeant's exam, despite his lack of confidence; Lydia meets Gavin in the library and, unaware that he's Plum's ex-boyfriend, invites him to be her ""non-date"" for Plum's birthday party.

Lydia's parents grow concerned about her continuing friendship with J.T.; Paulie gets the wrong idea about Plum when she rescues him by paying for their dinner.

To Dolly's dismay, Frank quits his job at the tollbooth without consulting her; Lydia tries to help J.T. get his G.E.D, despite his resistance; Victor proposes to Jackie.

Lydia learns that a physical-therapy aid is assisting the football coach in getting an edge over the competition; Jackie has an unpleasant encounter with Victor's mother; Paulie and Plum elope when Dolly won't accept their engagement.

Jackie's conflict over leaving for Mexico with Ray or staying in New Jersey with a visiting Abigail puts a strain on her friendship with Lydia; Frank has difficulty in accepting a generous gift from Plum; Lydia is charmed into getting Mack's irresponsible brother a job at the sports clinic.