Ep 15. The Car

Raymond Barone is a successful sports writer living on Long Island with his wife Debra and their three children. Raymond's overbearing parents, Marie and Frank, often pop in uninvited, as does his equally meddlesome brother Robert, who recently moved in across the street. Debra decides they need a new car and suggests they go shopping for one. Raymond has reservations about the purchase, but reluctantly agrees to join her. When they arrive at the dealership, Raymond spots a flashy convertible and decides he wants it. Debra insists on a more practical car, but Raymond is convinced they can afford the sports car. As they sit in the salesman's office, Raymond gets a call from his father Frank, who tells him he needs a ride to the doctor's office. Raymond agrees to pick him up, but when he returns Debra has already made the deal and purchased the practical car without Raymond's approval. Raymond is furious that Debra went behind his back and bought a car without his input. He decides to punish her by taking the new car instead of the old one to pick up their children from school. However, when he arrives, he struggles to find a parking spot for the larger car and ends up getting stuck in a tight spot thanks to his reckless driving. When he finally does get the car parked, he accidentally hits another vehicle. Raymond returns home with a dented car, but Debra is still happy with her purchase and disregards Raymond's complaints. Meanwhile, Robert showers them with praise for the new car. Raymond is unhappy with the car and decides to take it to the dealership to trade it in for the convertible he really wants. When he arrives, he learns that their original salesman has been replaced by a new one who is a little too eager to please. The new salesman agrees to give Raymond a great deal on the convertible, but when they go to look at it, Raymond discovers it's a lemon. As Raymond tries to get out of the deal, the salesman becomes increasingly aggressive. Finally, Raymond storms out of the dealership in a huff, vowing never to buy a car from them again. Afterwards, Raymond returns home and apologizes to Debra for his behavior. He realizes that he was being selfish and that Debra was only trying to do what was best for their family. They decide to keep the practical car, but Raymond is still a little disappointed that he didn't get the convertible. The episode ends with Frank and Robert coming over to admire the new car, but Raymond surprises them by taking them on a ride in the old car instead. Raymond realizes that what really matters is spending time with his family, whether it's in a flashy sports car or a more practical one.