Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage

Picking up from the end of Young Sheldon, newlyweds Georgie Cooper and Mandy McAllister, along with their infant daughter CeeCee, are living with Mandy's parents Audrey and Jim and her younger brother Connor. Georgie works at Jim's auto and tire shop, much to the disdain of fellow employee Ruben, who believes Georgie does not deserve authority over him. Mandy and Audrey argue when Audrey implies that, since CeeCee is not talking yet (despite being less than a year old), she could be dumb like Georgie. As a result, Georgie and Mandy decide to move out to a small place near the train tracks. They are given some housewarming gifts by Georgie's mother, Mary, and grandmother, Connie. After talking with Jim, Audrey apologizes to Mandy, and they return to the house. As Georgie starts to confront Audrey for insulting him, CeeCee says "Dada"; her first word through the baby monitor.

Title quotation from: Georgie, at the dinner table, announcing the train that's passing by his and Mandy's new home.

Georgie visits his father George Sr.'s grave. He claims he can handle the responsibilities of both his old family and his new family with Mandy. Ruben taunting him, Audrey undermining him, Mandy's job search, and his younger sister, Missy, all add to his stress. Missy has him pick her up after she is suspended from school for pulling the fire alarm to skip a test. At home, Mandy suggests they may move for her job prospects, which sets Georgie off, and he accuses Audrey of the idea. He storms out but goes to the hospital, believing he is having a heart attack. The doctor says it is actually a panic attack. He returns and tells Mandy. They make up, and the next day Georgie apologizes to Audrey. Georgie returns to George's grave and admits he does not have it all under control, and admires how George coped. He later brings Missy to the grave, where she lets out some of her grief.

Title quotation from: Georgie's reaction when the doctor explains what a panic attack and anxiety are.

Georgie receives his first credit card, leading Mandy to reveal she is in credit card debt of about $12,000 from an irresponsible past. Among her most expensive purchases is a hospital visit for an ex-boyfriend, Nick. Georgie decides he should get the money owed to her and gets Nick's address from Jim. Nick is apologetic and writes a check for the amount he owes, but when Georgie attempts to cash it at the bank, it is found to be invalid. Nick then shows up at the bank and tells Georgie he is about to get his money by robbing it, and Georgie flees. Mandy returns to her former waitressing job to start paying off her debt, while Audrey watches CeeCee. To help out and make more money at work, Georgie has the idea of using his credit card to buy softball uniforms for the local police department; in turn, they will page Georgie when people need a tow truck from Jim's store.

Title quotation from: Jim, commenting on the amount of Mandy's old hospital bill when Georgie confronts him about it.

Tired of always hanging out with her parents, Mandy goes to a bar with another waitress, Beth (Casey Wilson), who wants to have fun after her divorce. Taking Georgie to Beth's house, everyone is surprised when Beth's son, Todd, recognizes Georgie from high school and is only a year younger than him. Todd invites Georgie to go dirt biking with his friends. Mandy says it is too dangerous, but Georgie accuses her of acting like his mother and goes anyway. He enjoys it but ends up acting like a parent himself when the other guys try to add alcohol to the mix. Mandy goes back to the bar with Beth, and Beth ends up making out with Mandy's dentist. Mandy pages Georgie, and they return home together. Meanwhile, Audrey and Jim get competitive trying to guess the answer to a game of 20 Questions with Connor.

As the first Thanksgiving since George Sr.'s death approaches, Georgie and Mandy offer to spend it with Mary. Mary declines, saying she wants to be alone (giving Missy permission to go to a friend's house), and not do anything for her first holiday without her husband. Seeing that Georgie is hurting, Mandy convinces Connie and her boyfriend, Dale, to come to the McAllister house for dinner. Missy also agrees after Mandy takes her to get a dolphin tattoo on her ankle. Mary still refuses. On the day, Mary decides to come after all, but gets emotional as she hears Audrey argue about Jim's drinking, which reminds her of her and George. Georgie has the idea to take Mary and Missy to have pie at George's grave. Mary discovers the tattoo. Back at the house, Connor plays the accordion, and Dale plays his guitar.

Georgie tows the car of successful real estate agent Valerie (Kelli Goss), who attributes her success to God wanting her to be prosperous. She invites Georgie to her church, and he decides to go, thinking that the congregation would be a good source of new customers for the auto store. Mandy and the rest of the family are uninterested. Georgie cuts a deal with the church's reverend to repair all the church's vehicles; Jim is impressed and decides to give him a higher cut, which angers Audrey. Georgie likes how welcoming the church is and decides to spend more time there, which upsets Mandy. Audrey tells her that she needs to confront Georgie if this bothers her. After a Bible study session, Valerie kisses Georgie, who immediately pulls away. This is seen by Mandy, who punches Valerie and leaves with Georgie.

Title quotation from: Georgie downplaying helping Valerie with her car when he is called a good Samaritan.

Jim has had an old Mustang convertible in the garage for years, so he and Georgie decide to start working on it to potentially sell it. Georgie also invites Connor to work on it with them, but he declines. Georgie tells Mandy he sometimes wishes he had tried to understand Sheldon better, and so insists that Connor join him and Jim on a road trip for a part for the car. With Connor in his own world of music, Jim admits to Georgie that he is worried about Connor's future. Connor tells Georgie that he feels Jim sees him as a failure for never having had a job, and that everything he does seems to make Jim angry, while Georgie says he is just worried about him. Stopping for lunch, Georgie tells Jim about the time George took him and Sheldon to NASA for a rocket launch that was rained out. While there, Connor gets a job as a busboy to prove his father wrong. Georgie is able to get Connor to return with them, saying he has a feeling Connor will be alright. Meanwhile, Mandy and Audrey try to turn Audrey's office into a nursery without arguing. Audrey admits she wants CeeCee to stay in school, unlike Georgie, but she is also worried that Mandy has given up on her dreams and is stuck; Audrey, too, gave up her dreams to have a family. Returning home, Connor tells Audrey he is glad Georgie was there, as Georgie is a kind person.

After Georgie gets $1,200 from a sales commission, Mandy feels insecure about her own financial contributions. After hearing a radio advertisement, she convinces Georgie to allow her to spend the commission on diet vitamins, shakes and nutrition bars to sell. Her first day going door-to-door at an apartment building does not go well. In front of a grocery store, Georgie takes over and makes sales, angering Mandy and confusing him. He goes to a bookstore to buy Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus and runs into the high school librarian Ms. Hutchins. Taking CeeCee to a doctor's appointment, Mandy commiserates with the other women about their work and husbands and makes her first bunch of sales, also succeeding at the apartment building with this strategy. Meanwhile, Jim does not want Connor to be coddled as much and asks that he do chores. Connor has no issue with this, he was just never asked before. He does them well, surprising his parents.

Title quotation from: Jim suggesting to Audrey that they should consider purchasing some of Mandy's 'diet crap' to get her started.

Jim prepares to go to an annual tire convention in New Orleans and Georgie wants to tag along. After being convinced by the family, Jim agrees. On the way there Jim tells Georgie he actually goes to a casino for the weekend and has done so for ten years. At home, Audrey tells Mandy she has known from the start but also likes a weekend to herself. Georgie strongly dislikes the idea of lying to Mandy, and Mandy expects Georgie would tell her the truth. At the hotel with Jim listening, Georgie keeps up the lie. Audrey and Mandy go to a bar, leaving Connor to entertain CeeCee with his music. Audrey tells Mandy that Georgie is a good husband and goes a little wild while drunk. Jim tells Georgie that small secrets are normal in a long marriage, though Georgie doubts this. Georgie wins big at blackjack and uses the money to buy Mandy diamond earrings. Upon their return, Mandy privately gloats to Audrey about this.

While Mary is over at the McAllister house, Audrey finds that Mary has snuck in a photo of herself in the photo album Audrey made for CeeCee. Mary says she did this because she did not want to be excluded, while Audrey claims it was only because she has no photos of Mary. The two women become irritated with each other, and initially Georgie and Mandy each side with their respective mothers. After talking with Jim, Audrey goes to apologize but offends Mary who believes Audrey is just apologizing out of pity since George died. Georgie respects Audrey for trying to apologize, but Mandy believes Mary had reason not to accept, leading to the spouses' feuding. Georgie visits Mary at the church and is soon joined by Audrey and Mandy. Pastor Jeff tries to unsuccessfully counsel the four feuding family members. Georgie and Mandy decide to take inspiration from Sheldon and get their mothers to sign a Grandmother Agreement. The McAllisters then include Mary when getting a family portrait taken.

Title quotation from: Pastor Jeff, in a counseling session with Mary, Georgie, Audrey and Mandy quoting Matthew 12:25.

Jim refuses to sell Korean tires that Georgie insists are better and would give the store an edge. Georgie goes behind Jim's back to get some on consignment for free to sell. Georgie walks out, insisting he quit while Jim claims he fired Georgie. He goes to the other auto store in town, run by Fred Fagenbacher (Matt Letscher), Jim's business rival and Audrey's ex-boyfriend from high school. Fred hires Georgie to annoy Jim. With their husbands stubborn, and Georgie mentioning Fred still likes Audrey, Mandy asks her mother to talk Fred into firing Georgie, so Georgie will apologize to Jim. Going to the other store, Audrey is hit on by Fred but she rejects him. Fred refuses to fire Georgie. After she leaves Fred speaks disrespectfully about Audrey to Georgie, so he quits. Jim admits to Audrey that Georgie was right about the Korean tires selling very well. Georgie apologizes to Jim, and Jim hires him back. Later while Jim and Audrey are eating at Mandy's restaurant, Fred comes in and annoys Jim by arguing over which business is doing better.

While working, Georgie comes down with a cold but insists he is well enough to stay, and that he is following his father's example, as George only missed work for his first heart attack. Jim makes Georgie go home, where Connor looks after him. Georgie has a dream where George mocks him for missing work and then turns into a zombie, demanding he go back. Georgie tries to, but Connor forces him back to bed; hinting that George might still be alive had he taken better care of himself. Georgie has another dream and tells George he wants to be around for his daughter. George expresses pride in Georgie. Meanwhile, Mandy is given a fill-in role as the weather girl at a local TV station. Audrey takes her shopping to buy a fashionable outfit. Mandy slightly panics, imagining if this goes well and they need to leave Medford. Audrey calms her down, though later tells Jim if Georgie and Mandy move, they will go with them. Mandy does well, impressing the family.

Title quotation from: Ruben's nickname for Georgie after Georgie accidentally sneezes on him.

After Mandy expresses being uncomfortable at the hardware store, Georgie thinks the auto store could be more welcoming to women to get more customers. Jim, Georgie and Ruben initially try themselves, though Audrey says she has some ideas and offers to come work with them. Both Jim and Mandy are nervous about the idea of Audrey and Georgie working together. Surprisingly, they work well together, with Georgie supporting Audrey's cleaning and changes to the front of the store and Audrey complimenting Georgie's sales skills. Jim feels left out and reminds Georgie that he has supported Georgie far longer. At dinner, Georgie starts agreeing with Jim but Audrey catches on and is upset by Jim. That evening Georgie tries to apologize to them both as it is his fault, though Jim and Audrey have already made up, saying small fights are part of marriage. Audrey decides to return home and Jim has all the changes reverted, except the new toilet seat. Meanwhile, Connor makes music from the sounds around the house.

Title quotation from: Georgie trying to convince a male customer to bring his wife to the auto store.

Mandy finds out Connie is a bookie for an illegal sportsbook betting on high school sports. Connie invites George Sr.'s coworker Coach Wilkins to the diner, hoping for inside information but he gives her nothing. Mandy wants in, so Connie gives her a pager to take bets, as she is keeping it a secret from Dale. Georgie does not like it but Mandy points out he used to work in Connie's illegal casino before it was busted. Dale visits the auto store and Georgie tells him the truth. Dale breaks up with Connie and she moves into a hotel. Dale goes to the McAllister house with some of Connie's stuff. Audrey and Jim find out about the sportsbook as Dale gets drunk. Connie takes Mandy with her to collect a debt from a man hiding it from his wife. He gives them his Rolex, which Mandy's parents see her wearing. Dale tearfully apologizes to Connie and they get back together.

Connor approaches Georgie for advice on how to ask Chloe, who works at the music store selling instruments, out on a date. Georgie takes him to visit her and Connor does surprisingly well on his own, giving Chloe a cassette of instrumental music which she says she will write lyrics for. Mandy and Jim are excited for him, though Audrey is overprotective and everyone tries to get more information from Connor. A few days later he brings her to the house and she sings the lyrics in his room. She kisses him and spends the night with him. Mandy sees her leave the next morning. Mandy later tries to talk to Connor into being careful, but he says been out with women before and he has no plans on having a baby yet, not wanting to ruin his life like Mandy.

Title quotation from: The title of Connor's song for Chloe.

After taking CeeCee to the doctor, Georgie and Mandy get into an argument about having another baby. Georgie wants another and soon so that there would not be too big of an age difference between the kids. Mandy is uncertain, wanting to focus on her career at the moment. Georgie apologizes but tries to seduce Mandy and ends up sleeping on the couch. Georgie tells Pastor Jeff and Mary, spending the next night at his mother's. Audrey and Connor like the idea of another baby. Jim tells Georgie to wait and that Mandy may change her mind when CeeCee is a bit older. Mandy apologizes for bullying Connor when they were kids. Georgie and Mandy later talk and find out they have very different ideas for their futures. They agree to leave the door open on another baby someday. Mandy gets another fill-in opportunity as the weather girl, but does not enjoy reporting in a major rainstorm.

Mary tells Georgie she caught Missy in her bedroom with a boy; Mandy later learns it is Todd, the son of her co-worker Beth, and tells Georgie. Georgie threatens Todd, resulting in Mandy and Beth brawling in the restaurant. Missy persuades Todd to run away on his dirt bike to Mexico to get married. Mary and Beth both call Georgie in a panic, and Georgie, guessing that Missy and Todd will head for the border crossing at Los Indios, sets out with Mandy in his truck to find them. Audrey calls Mary to check in but they end up annoyed at each other. At a gas station, Missy and Todd break up after arguing about not having taken enough cash even to buy gas. Georgie tells Mandy he feels he is letting his father down, having promised him to look after Missy, and they worry that one day this will happen with CeeCee. Next morning, Missy returns home, to Mary's relief and then fury. Georgie and Mandy, not yet knowing and still heading for Mexico, run out of gas in the desert.

Title quotation from: Mandy's description of Missy and Todd when looking for them.

Mandy gets paid for her TV work and decides to go on a spa day. This upsets Jim who feels Mandy is not financially responsible and does not show appreciation of her parents. He tells Audrey and Georgie. When Mandy hears, she writes her father a check and is surprised when he takes it. Audrey is surprised too and points out she and Georgie will never leave if they have to keep paying him. Jim tries to give the money back to Georgie, who refuses to accept it. Audrey talks to Mandy about the difficulties and unappreciated labor of being a working mother. After Jim is insensitive, Audrey and Mandy go to the spa and leave Jim to watch CeeCee alone. Meanwhile, Chloe needs a place to stay and stays in Connor's room. This stresses him out, as he is not used to being around someone for so long and believes his weirdness will drive her away. Chloe admits she is actually recently homeless and does not see anything wrong with Connor. They enjoy making music together.

Title quotation from: Mandy explaining to Jim how she'll pay for the spa.

Connie tells Mandy that Jim owes $1,200 from betting with her. Mandy confronts Jim, and he tries to pay off in $50 installments so Audrey will not find out. Unwilling to wait, and unmoved by Georgie's attempt to use CeeCee to soften her up, Connie calls Audrey and explains. Audrey is furious at Jim for gambling, Mandy for working with Connie and Georgie for not telling her about this. Audrey manages to scare Jim straight away from gambling. Audrey confronts Connie saying they will not be paying and that she will turn Connie into the police. Connie threatens she will take Mandy down with her. Audrey goes to the police station but has a change of heart and leaves without reporting the crime. Georgie comes home and says he fixed everything by paying Connie with his own stash of money, angering Jim, Audrey and Mandy.

Title quotation from: Jim and Mandy's insults for each other when arguing about the gambling debt.

Georgie and Mandy try to make plans for Mother's Day, though both of their respective mothers also want to spend time with them. Audrey also asks Connor if she can meet Chloe. Connor agrees, but asks that Georgie and Mandy also be there as a buffer. To spend time with everyone, Georgie suggests a brunch for all the mothers at the McAlister house. With Missy grounded again, Mary agrees to get some space. The brunch initially goes well, and everyone likes Chloe as she tells the story of her ex-boyfriend abandoning her in Medford. Audrey is upset when Chloe seems to connect more with Mary, leading Mary and Audrey to snipe at each other once again, making it awkward for everyone. Audrey asks Mary where Missy is and that starts the fight again. Georgie and Mandy spend time together that night.

Title quotation from: Georgie explaining how he will convince all the mothers to come over for Mother's Day brunch.

Mandy accepts a full-time position as the early morning weather reporter. Her boss, Scott, (Christopher Gorham), is her former boss and ex-boyfriend from her last reporter job in San Antonio. She has not told Georgie this, despite filling in at the station for months, and so she buys him gifts to assuage her guilt. Both Audrey and the local priest tell Mandy she must be honest. Meanwhile, Fred Fagenbacher offers to buy Jim's store, which would give Jim enough money to retire. Georgie is upset, as Jim had spoken of leaving the store to him one day. He unsuccessfully tries to talk Fred out of it and turns down a job from Fred. Jim tells Mandy he is torn, but has in mind that Georgie's father was younger than him when he died at work. Jim asks Audrey's opinion, and she tells Jim it is his choice. Jim tells the family he's decided to take the offer. That night, Mandy decides to tell Georgie about her and Scott.

[Note: The weather map behind Mandy on the TV shows the fictional town of Medford as being about two-thirds of the distance between Dallas and Lufkin.]

Title quotation from: Ruben commenting on the alligator boots Mandy gave Georgie, saying she must feel guilty about something.

Georgie is upset by Mandy's news and goes to Mary's house. He thinks Mandy should not work with an ex-boyfriend, and that both Mandy and Jim have broken his trust. Audrey surprises Mandy by supporting her. Georgie asks Jim to give him 48 hours to come up with the money to match Fred's offer. When Mandy questions the potential debt, he points out her credit card debt and that he must make decisions for his career like Mandy is, but he is rejected at the banks in town. Fred gives Jim only one more day to respond. Mary offers her house as collateral for Georgie to get a loan. After visiting George's grave, Georgie goes to Jim with his offer which is still short of Fred's, so Ruben offers to make up the difference as Georgie's business partner. Jim accepts and is excited to retire. Mandy is promoted to weekend evenings by Scott, and she tells Georgie she has quit the waitressing job. Georgie and Mandy talk and reconcile. The next day, Fred comes into the store and warns Georgie and Ruben he intends to drive them out of business.

Title quotation from: Mandy saying she and Georgie have both been making big decisions on their own without each other.

Georgie and Ruben start the business together but cannot agree on anything. Georgie wants to spend money to make money and sees them eventually expanding under the name "Doctor Tire." Ruben wants to be more cautious as they are both under a lot of debt. The feud becomes centered on buying a new computer to automate their inventory. Jim stops by and suggests they lease one to see if it's worth it. This leads to another argument between the co-owners about hiring an accountant. Georgie and Ruben have a foot race around town as a tiebreaker. Mandy bandages Georgie's feet as he gloats he won. Meanwhile, now retired, Jim quickly does everything he wanted around the house. He annoys his other family members while bored. He drives around town in the Mustang but it breaks down, forcing him to walk home while sunburnt.

Title quotation from: Georgie explaining to Mandy how he and Ruben cannot agree on anything and his worries about owning the store.

Mandy gets out of a speeding ticket after the police officer recognizes her as the weather girl. Audrey loves that her daughter is a local celebrity, bringing her picture to several local businesses. However they do not recognize her and decline the picture. While out to dinner a man sends a drink to Mandy right in front of Georgie. He is very jealous and thinks Mandy likes the attention. Mandy points out women flirt with Georgie at times too. Ruben sympathizes with Georgie and they go to a bar. Georgie tries to step in when a man hits on the bartender and ends up with a black eye. Audrey tells Mandy she is good at her job and should use every advantage she has. Both Mandy and Audrey are disturbed by a piece of fan mail. Meanwhile, Connor has been asked to perform the music at the high school baseball game. His first time doesn't go well as he doesn't understand sports, playing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" at the wrong time, and hyping up the opposing team. Jim explains things to Connor and tells him to have fun. At the next game Connor is booed for playing a techno version of The National Anthem.

Having dinner at the Cooper house, Mary says that Connie is trying to set her up with a man from bowling. Georgie is surprised by this feeling his mother isn't ready. Mandy points out it has been a year and a half since George died. Missy likes having her mother out of the house, but also sincerely tells her she supports her dating if she wants. Mary goes on the date and meets Joseph. Mandy finds out about this but hides it from Georgie. He calls the house only for Missy to be throwing a party and tell him she went on another date. Georgie confronting Mary about this at the church does not go well. He even rats Missy out for throwing a party. Pastor Jeff points out The Bible seems to support widows remarrying after a death. After hearing Mary struggle and pray on it, Missy passes on a message onto to Ruben, to admonish Georgie. The McAllisters support Mary and point out this is brave of her. Still struggling, Georgie goes to the house but leaves silently when he sees Mary talking with Joseph in the kitchen. Meanwhile, Jim points out he and Audrey don't have wills. Jim is against leaving things to either Mandy or Connor as they are both financially irresponsible. He claims Georgie would be the best choice, Audrey agrees but hates it. They consider spending everything on luxuries for themselves instead.

After Pastor Jeff tells Georgie that Fred Fagenbacher has started repairing the church buses for free, Georgie and Ruben confront him over the phone. Fred again states he will drive them out of business. Ruben is worried how he will pay his rent. Georgie suggests they play dirty and sabotage Fred's tow trucks. Georgie and Ruben lie to the McAllisters that things are great and they may expand the business. Mandy suspects they are lying. That night, they sabotage the trucks by putting bleach in the fuel tanks, though Ruben is bitten by a guard dog when climbing back up the fence. Georgie refuses to tell Mandy anything but insists it is not an affair. Ruben also tells Mandy nothing. The scheme works to increase Georgie and Ruben's tow business but Georgie feels guilty and discusses it over a drink with Jim, who tells Georgie he got his hands dirty when starting out and never told Audrey; and that Georgie is a good man. Georgie gives Ruben money for his rent. Fred comes in saying he knows what they did and that it's not over.

Mandy wants to take on more assignments at work so Scott offers her coverage of a meteor shower. He will be producing the piece so the two of them and some crew will be going away overnight. Georgie doesn't like this and Mandy says Georgie doesn't trust her. Georgie says it is about not trusting Scott. Ruben agrees with Georgie at the store. Georgie goes to the news station to confront Scott in person. Scott apologizes for causing them problems and offers to make another arrangement if Georgie wants. This calms Georgie and he accepts the trip. Mandy is annoyed Georgie went to her work. Mandy apologizes to Scott and he apologizes to her for how they broke up a long time ago. Mandy doesn't see any meteors and bores her coworker with facts about them instead during the segment. Meanwhile, Audrey finds a pregnancy test in the trash of Connor's bathroom. It is negative and Connor is angry with her about invading his privacy. As Jim goes to talk to Connor about apologizing to his mother, Connor admits Chloe broke up with him, relieved she wouldn't have a baby with him. Jim gives Connor a hug.

Connor is still depressed about Chloe dumping him. Georgie tries to talk him through it, remembering how it felt back when Mandy dumped him. While watching movies late at night with him, Georgie falls asleep. Connor calls Chloe and it doesn't go well. Connor asks for Mandy's help in making a resume but he has no experience and minimal schooling. Instead, they start day-drinking together. Jim joins them and relates his first heartbreak before he was with Audrey. Audrey comes home to them playing beer pong and joins in. Georgie comes home and they all get drunk and eat pizza together. Connor decides to move on by focusing on his music. He writes a song about the Axolotl salamander, which can regenerate its heart. Though his family doesn't understand it, Connor sends a tape to Dr. Demento who likes it.

Needing help with the store's accounting, Mandy suggests Georgie ask Mary. He does and Mary agrees so Audrey cannot do it. Audrey finds out and is upset as she did the books for years. Mary finishes and tells Georgie and Ruben they are struggling and need to cut expenses and that Georgie cannot afford to take an ad out on a bus bench at the moment. Georgie goes to Audrey and she reviews the books and has Georgie record a loss for a tax refund. Mary is furious when she sees the bench ad and realizes what Georgie did. Mary goes to talk to Audrey as Georgie can be overconfident with her house on the line. Mary and Audrey briefly get along, though start insulting each other again when they confront Georgie together. Meanwhile, Jim must renew his driver's license but fails the vision test. While driving with Mandy he's in a small fender-bender and gets a ticket for the expired license. Mandy takes him for driving glasses after threatening to tell Audrey. Jim easily passes the vision test afterwards.

CeeCee has started biting people. Mandy refuses to bite her back, despite Audrey saying it worked on Mandy at that age. Georgie and Mandy trying to put on a puppet show doesn't work. Mandy is horrified to learn Audrey did bite CeeCee after another incident at the park. Mandy moves herself, Georgie and CeeCee into Mary's house. Mary privately disapproves of Mandy cooking multiple meals so CeeCee will eat. CeeCee later throws a block at Mary's forehead. Mandy is against spanking, surprising Georgie, as Mary spanked him as a child. Mary tells Georgie that CeeCee lacks boundaries and he should talk to Mandy to reconsider parenting methods. Mandy is upset they were talking behind her back. The next day, Mandy calls into a family therapist's radio show in Chicago. Audrey also calls in when Mandy starts criticizing her. Jim is forced to join the call when Audrey learns he lied and never spanked Mandy as a child. Mary joins the call when Mandy also criticizes her, prompting Georgie to call in as he listens from the store with Ruben.

Someone has been sending Georgie on fake towing trips and ordering winter tires to the store. Georgie suspects Fred who warns them over the phone to watch themselves. Georgie and Ruben cannot afford security cameras, so they start taking turns staying at the store overnight. After supporting Georgie, Mandy confronts Fred and he tells her what happened to his trucks. Mandy is furious Georgie could go to jail if Fred had proof. Jim tries to tell Mandy that Georgie's heart is in the right place. The next night, Fred offers to buy Ruben out, and he is tempted by the stability. Georgie ignores Ruben's concerns and Ruben storms out. Mandy tells Georgie he sometimes does what he wants without thinking of others. Georgie goes to Ruben's house, meeting his grandmother and apologizing. Ruben stays with Georgie, bringing in his grandmother to visit the store and act as a tiebreaker for business decisions.

Mary plans on taking Missy to California to visit Sheldon for Christmas. This inspires Audrey to surprise everyone with a Christmas trip to Miami beach. Both Georgie and Mandy are initially uninterested, wanting to work. They start to reconsider, offending Ruben who had cancelled being with his family in Mexico as Georgie wanted to be open on Christmas. The news station wants Mandy to fill in on weekdays which would be good for her career. She convinces Jim to cancel and rebook the trip for two days later, despite the massive expense. Mary calls Georgie asking if Missy can spend Christmas with him as Missy is driving her crazy and Pasadena is not near a beach like Missy thought. Georgie convinces Jim to pay for Missy to join them. Everyone is stuck in traffic on the way to the airport and their first day on the beach has a major storm, while Missy unexpectedly bonds with Audrey. Connor sings to CeeCee in the hotel about various misfortunes on the trip that happened to everyone else. Back in Medford, Ruben shuts the store and leaves for the holidays to be with his family.

Jim has nothing to do, and is driving Audrey and Mandy crazy. He tries bird-watching but is mistaken for a pervert. He hints he would like to come back to the store part-time and for free. Despite Georgie being uncomfortable, the women and Ruben see no problem with it. Georgie shows Jim the new computerized inventory system. Jim accidentally deletes everything. After arguing, Jim leaves. At home, Georgie apologizes and Jim agrees to take a computer class, returning to the store as Audrey demands.

Mary and Pastor Jeff ask Mandy to cover the upcoming church carnival on the news. Georgie uses the broadcast to promote the store by placing his booth in view of the camera. During the broadcast, Mandy entertains the idea of God being a woman, leading many of her viewers to believe that she is mocking their faith. After receiving many angry phone calls, the news station considers suspending Mandy. She convinces them to let her issue a live apology. However, she does not retract her comments and instead says that she is sorry if her audience misunderstood her. Mandy is suspended and begins receiving hate mail while business slows down at the store. Georgie asks Mary to talk to Pastor Jeff, and he agrees to talk with Mandy on air. Audrey finds a letter from a young girl who found Mandy's comments inspiring, causing Mandy to think about the example she's setting for CeeCee. While on air with Pastor Jeff, Mandy realizes that she would not want her daughter to have to apologize for having an opinion and quits her job.

For Georgie's 21st birthday, he agrees to a quiet dinner with Mary and Missy. Ruben insists on taking him to a bar afterwards with Connor. Mandy is depressed without her job and takes Audrey's gift idea of a silver money clip shaped liked Texas. Mandy drinks heavily at Mary's and the bar and has no memory the next morning. Piecing it together, she acted drunkenly and called Scott at his home, to unsuccessfully beg for her job back. Georgie drove her home and she vomited on him and his truck, lamenting how Georgie has his life together when so young, and she must start over her career, again. The money clip was stuck in the plumbing in the morning. She goes to the store and apologizes and Georgie says he works hard and his life isn't easy. Mandy returns the money clip, but unknown to anybody, it was actually CeeCee who flushed it.

Mary is upset when she finds out that Missy has had sex with a boy who was using condoms in Missy's possession. It is later revealed that Mandy bought the condoms because she thought that Missy needs to be safe, and could not talk to Mary or Georgie about it. When Mary finds out about Mandy's involvement, she tells Georgie when she goes to confront Mandy. Georgie at first feels protective of Missy and is furious with Mandy for not being honest, but then becomes less certain. The four of them meet at the Cooper house with Pastor Jeff as mediator, but the meeting devolves into an argument that ends with Georgie deciding to take Mandy's side. Afterwards, they have sex in their car.

CeeCee loses her stuffed monkey Beanie Baby and cannot sleep without it. As Connie returns from a vacation with Dale, Mandy goes to Mary and asks that Mary sew a new monkey for CeeCee. Mary does so but at the park, Connie realizes they are worth a lot to desperate mothers who want them for their kids. Mandy and Connie lie to Mary to get her to make more by telling her they're for a charity helping sick children. Mandy and Connie make a lot of money, though Ms. Hutchins the high school librarian realizes they're fakes. After Mary runs into a mother and child with one, she gets the idea for the Sunday School children to help make more. Meanwhile, Dr. Demento plays Connor's song and Chloe leaves him a message. Connor brings her to the house again, but rebuffs her trying to kiss him.

Fred is using the backlash against Mandy's God comments to draw business to him with a TV commercial. With Georgie and Ruben struggling, Mandy goes to Pastor Jeff to apologize for leaving their interview. Pastor Jeff has gotten backlash from young women and his wife for how he treated Mandy. A negotiation between Pastor Jeff, Mary, Georgie and Mandy results in the family going to the church twice a month and CeeCee will attend Sunday School when she's older. In exchange Pastor Jeff gives the church buses to Georgie, tells the congregation to go to his store, and to pray for Mandy. Mandy gets a job at another news channel that likes her controversy, Georgie and Mary believe the prayers worked. Meanwhile, Jim is stunned that Audrey still gives Connor allowance money. Audrey refuses to stop and they start a spending war. They offer to pay Connor to make his music but he doesn't make art for money. Jim storms off. Connor offers to find a job but Audrey says she cannot let Jim win.

Georgie gets the idea to use business money to join Medford's Country Club to gain access to wealthy people for the store. He is allowed to do this after promising Ruben's grandmother access to the Club perks. Audrey is interested in joining and teaches Georgie how to golf. Jim has no interest in it. While there, the manager says their policy is that only men are allowed to join, with their wives allowed in with them, so Audrey cannot join without Jim. Audrey wishes to storm off but Georgie and Mandy join anyway. Audrey calls Mandy a hypocrite and makes Jim understand why the sexism bothers her. Mandy's new boss wants her to focus on a women's centered story, so Mandy exposes the policy despite knowing that she and Georgie will get kicked out.