The Lawrences adjust to an addition to the family when 11-year-old Annie Cooper comes to live with them after the deaths of her parents, friends of Kate and Doug.
Buddy's boyfriend Zack pressures her to have sex, and she contemplates sleeping with him to keep him from turning to a pretty rival. Doug considers buying a sports car.
In the hospital for a physical, Kate befriends weary rock star Caddy Wilde, who's recovering from a drug overdose. Annie seeks Doug's acumen as a magician to help her learn tricks for school.
Doug and Kate draw battle lines when Doug lies for a friend who's having an extramarital affair. Annie spies on a neighbor and believes he might have murdered his wife, as in the film Rear Window.
Kate's friend, a professional actress, pushes Buddy to replace an ingénue in her play. Annie accepts a part-time job selling disco lessons to fund a new bike she wants to buy.
Buddy's invitation to a sorority becomes a sore point in her friendship with Audrey when Audrey isn't invited to join. Willie sleeps with Kate's musician friend, leading to a serious mother-son rift over casual sex.
Volunteering at the hospital, Buddy befriends a high school basketball player recuperating from a broken leg, unaware that he is being biopsied for cancer. Annie and rival Emmy Sheldon vie for class president.
Buddy learns the price of competition when an overachieving classmate commits suicide after losing a history competition to her. Annie's cookie-selling strategy is a riot.
After she steals his parking space and hits his car, Willie insists on having coffee and more with an attractive ballerina. Doug buys a Flex-O-Ciser, a mail order home gym.
Willie hires Bambi Deering, the stripper he met on his 21st birthday. Doug attempts to save hefty plumber's fees by repairing the household pipes himself.
