Mr. and Mrs. Pembroke are fighting and Charles needs to get a term paper done by the next morning while avoiding the many distractions that the house provides.

The Pembrokes' irresponsible cousin Elliot has decided to run for student body president on campus. With Gwendolyn's urging, Charles runs against him in an effort to do the responsible thing.

Mrs. Pembroke gets a promotion at work leaving less time to spend time at home with the children and more responsibility for Charles who has a date.