- Ray's already in the dog house for not showing more affection, but Debra really gets mad when he talks about their problem with his parents.
- The episode begins with Ray interviewing Tommy Lasorda over the phone. While he's on the phone, he's yelling at Ally for eating a cookie. This short opening sequence has no real relevance to the main story of the episode. Later, Ray and Debra are out at Nemo's Pizza with their friends Bernie and Linda Gruenfelder. With all the kissing that goes on, it's obvious that neither Bernie nor Linda are afraid to show their affection for each other in public. When Debra tries to be affectionate with Ray, Ray doesn't play along. He's too shy to do that kind of stuff in a public place. That night after they get home, Debra mentions that they don't even say "I love you" to each other anymore. The next day, Ray gives a card he bought for Deb, saying 'I love you' amidst a greeting-card saying. Debra notices the effort, but says she actually wants the words spoken, organically. Later, Ray talks to his parents, Frank and Marie, about the situation. He tries to figure out why he is afraid to say the words "I love you". It turns out, Frank stopped saying it to Marie, thus, she stopped saying it to her kids. After a huge "I love you" fest, Debra is upset, not having wanted the entire family knowing about her feelings. Later, before Ray leaves on a road trip with the New York Mets, he notices the unmade bed, and does his best to make it. Debra notices and is touched. Then, noticing the moment-- Ray holds Debra in his arms and tells her he loves her. After a couple seconds of silence, Debra laughs at him for being so serious when he said it.
- Ray is interviewing Mr Lasorda for his newspaper column. But the kids keep interrupting him and Ray is not able to complete his interview with Mr Lasorda.
During dinner with their friends, Bernie (Tom McGowan) and Linda (Maggie Wheeler), Ray and Debra witness public display of affection. Ray is embarrassed and realizes that he has never kissed anyone in public, including Debra.
While Ray and Debra are at dinner, Marie and Frank are in charge of the kids back home. Frank is teaching Marlon Brando impressions to Ally. Debra was fiddling in Ray's office and found his drawer to be locked. She tried to pry it open with a knife. Ray keeps it locked specifically to keep Marie out. Robert is taking a bath at Ray's, as Frank and Marie are there, and he doesn't like to be alone in his own house. Robert is huge and breaks the shower head while taking bath. As a kid, Robert was not allowed to pet the cat, as he was gigantic.
Later Debra is dying to know why Ray can't do the same for her as he doesn't even say, "I Love You" anymore. Ray keeps thinking that Debra is upset with his parents' behavior. Ray says that Bernie and Linda have been married only 2 years. He calls their display a free Playboy channel. Ray says that he communicates "I Love You" with his eyes. Yelling it during sex does not count. The next day Ray gets Debra a greeting card and that's not what Debra wanted. The card said, "To a Special Wife: Love like ours is real and true, as a lily hold the morning dew". "Everyday finds joy anew, and in every way, do I love you". Ray thinks he should have got the pop-up card, but then realizes that Debra wanted the talking. Ray is worried that somebody is going to laugh at him if he says that "stuff". Perhaps she wanted Ray to be more spontaneous. Yet Ray cannot bring himself to say the words "I Love You" to her even in front of the kids. That's the way he is and says that that's the way his parents were as well. He doesn't want to pass this trait on to his kids.
Frank fixes the shower, but hot is now cold. It takes 2 hands to get the water running. Water comes out really hot at first, but this hot water needs to be saved for later. Ray involves his parents and gets everyone upset. Ray asks Frank about the last time he said "I Love You" to anyone. Frank is offended and thinks Ray is turning gay. When Ray clarifies, Frank responds that Debra is nice. That's when Marie comes along and gets involved in the discussion. Marie says she was a loving and caring person when she first got married but turned bitter after years of no love from Frank. Marie and Frank start saying "I Love You" to everyone in the family. This snowballs into an emotional opera and Debra feels everyone is making fun of her. Marie realizes that it's a problem between Ray and Debra and that Ray is blaming his parents his inability to say "I Love You" to Debra.
Raymond finally understands what Debra wants and spontaneously says I love You to Debra, and she bursts out laughing at him.
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