Ep 4. Return of the Shirt

Ted is on a mission to win back an ex-girlfriend, Karen. He believes the key to doing so is giving her back a shirt she left at his apartment five years ago. Meanwhile, Marshall and Lily are in an argument over a $5 bet during a game of "Intervention." Barney, meanwhile, is on a quest to find the perfect strip club for his birthday celebration.

Throughout the episode, Ted reminisces about his relationship with Karen, specifically about how things went wrong during their one-year anniversary celebration. Ted had given Karen a nice locket and took her to a fancy dinner, but when Karen gave him a shirt she made herself as a gift, Ted was unimpressed. He criticized the handmade shirt, which ultimately led to their breakup.

Now, Ted realizes the error of his ways and wants to make things right. He goes over to Karen's apartment to return the shirt, and although Karen is initially confused by his gesture, she eventually agrees to give things another shot.

Meanwhile, Marshall and Lily continue to argue over their $5 bet during interventions. Marshall believes interventions should be reserved for important matters, while Lily thinks they can be used for anything. The argument escalates when they bring their friends into the discussion, with each person taking a side. In the end, they make up and Marshall pays Lily the $5.

Barney, on the other hand, is trying to find the perfect strip club for his birthday celebration. He enlists the help of his friends, who accompany him on his search for the perfect establishment. They visit several clubs, each with their own set of quirks and issues. Finally, they arrive at their favorite club, only to find that it has closed down. Disappointed, they head back to Ted's apartment where they celebrate Barney's birthday with pizza and beer.

In the end, Ted and Karen's relationship fizzles out once again, as Ted realizes that he was only holding onto the past and not truly moving forward. Marshall and Lily make up, and Barney realizes that his friends are the most important thing to him, strip club or no strip club.