Carol learns that her overbearing mother, Blanche, and memory-challenged father, Bud, are making a surprise visit for the Christmas holidays. Fearful of her mother's wrath, Carol recruits the family into covering up their failed relationships and presenting a happy façade for the entirety of her parents' stay. Nathan's lie gets even more complicated when he discovers that Janice is "Christmas horny" and wants to get back together with him. When Nathan starts to believe his own lie, Carol realizes that she has to tell the truth to save Nathan from further heartbreak. When Bud hears the truth, he decides to leave Blanch, ala Tom leaving Carol, but he forgets that plan a few minutes later and they wind up staying together.
