The episode's cold opening shows Frank lugging in an expensive baby crib to replace the one he had, which was deemed unsafe. The episode's framing device is Frank recalling a stressful week to Big Bill. Frank and Smokey help Rosie's campaign in the last days before the election when the city employs voter-suppression tactics against the residents of Rosie's ward. Inspired by his improving relationship with Big Bill, Frank tries to help Bill out with his hockey and Maureen out with her play, but it backfires in both instances. Frank also attends Lamaze classes with Sue, but struggles with the class due to a mutually reciprocated dislike of Samantha, the teacher, as well as his own difficulty with physical intimacy.
Tropes:
- Election Day Episode: The special election for alderman takes place. The city's mayor and all-white city council deploy voter-suppression tactics aimed at preventing Rosie's constituents from getting to the polls by closing all of the local polling places and moving them across town to the suburb of Whitesboro. Frank and Rosie come up with the solution of having Smokey's fleet of trucks drive the voters to the polls. This tactic is successful, and Rosie is elected the first Black alderman in Rustvale's history.
- Gone Horribly Right: As Frank admits to Big Bill, Maureen and Bill took his advice a little too well.
- He instructs Maureen to be the best "Convict No. 4" she can be, even though she has only one brief line, "Ouch." Maureen improvises, saying that she is being executed for "sticking a hot poker up an old bastard's shit-kitchen" (which was Bridget's idea). Maureen ends up being demoted to a backstage role.
- He instructed Bill to be more assertive on the hockey rink, but is horrified when Bill openly attacks the other players, causing serious injuries. After the game, he tries to explain to Bill that there's a difference between playing well and playing dirty, to which Bill responds, "Jesus, Dad. First I'm a pussy, then I'm a bully? Make up your mind. What kind of disappointment am I?"
- He almost develops a rapport with Kevin, who is ironically the only one of his kids who isn't angry with him at the time, singling along with Kevin's song, and they start talking about Kevin's new girlfriend. However, instead of Alice, Frank thinks Kevin is seeing Nikki, the girl he hung out with over the previous summer. Kevin misconstrues this as Frank disapproving of interracial relationships despite Frank looking happy at the idea, and the scene ends with them yelling at each other.
- Man Hug: Frank and his father share a hug while getting rid of the old crib. However, Frank goes overboard, and the next few scenes are a montage of Frank hugging his family, and even Goomer. He thinks the hug has mended the relationship with Big Bill, despite Sue warning him that one hug isn't enough to erase 40 years of conflict.
- Underdog Victory: Thanks to Smokey transporting 12th ward voters to Whitesboro, where their polling places were moved in an attempt to keep them from getting to the polls, Rosie wins the special election for alderman.
