When the Partridges arrive at a nightclub called "The Town Hall Inn," Laurie receives a warm greeting from old friend Marc Baldwin. Marc, who once attended Laurie's high school, is putting himself through college by working at the club. There's barely enough time for introductions when club owner Harry Marino comes out, orders Marc back to the kitchen and the family inside for rehearsal. After Shirley and the kids run through one number, they see Marc come storming out of the kitchen with Marino shouting right behind him. Laurie learns that Marc and the rest of Marino's employees (all of whom are college students) are going to strike for better pay and better working conditions since the kitchen is hazardously outdated. Laurie, deciding it would be morally wrong to cross their picket lines, refuses to perform. Shirley realizes Laurie's sense of moral obligation, but there's also the family's legal obligation to consider. So, Shirley tries to talk to Marino on behalf of Laurie and the strikers. But Marino won't even listen. He only shouts and threatens to sue for breach of contract if Laurie or any other member of the family fails to appear. Shirley goes back to the hotel in rage. Then Danny puts a plan of his own into action...he tells Marc that Marino is ready to settle the strike. When Marc and Danny go into Marino's office, Danny locks the door, and the three are stuck there until some agreement is made. Marino gives in to Marc's reasonable demands, Marc calls off the strike, and the Partridge Family, Laurie included, go on stage as scheduled. watch
When Shirley is named "Mother of the Year," she decides to take the whole family, by bus, to the award dinner in Sacramento. Shirley decides to drive the scenic route so that the children can see the countryside. The scenic route proves to be a road to disaster. Besides awful roads and bad diner food, the group loses all their money. While still heading for Sacramento, the bus is stopped by Deputy Haynie for speeding. Shirley refuses to pay the ticket because she believes it was a speed trap. Haynie hauls the family off to see Judge McElwreath, a man who is as crooked as the deputy! The judge keeps adding fine upon fine when he learns that Shirley is the mother of the famous Partridge Family. But the Judge finally backs down and dismisses the case when he learns that Shirley is also the Mother of the Year. His decision is not based on admiration, but the fear that no woman in town will vote for him if he fines a woman who has received such an honor. The bedraggled family depart from their ordeal and race to Sacramento just in time for Shirley to receive the well-earned Mother of the Year award. watch
Grandma and Grandpa come to the Partridge house having rediscovered themselves, or so they think, through an experience with an encounter group. In an effort to share what they learned with Shirley and the kids, the grandparents provoke them all into expressing their hostility toward each other so that their pent-up feelings will be brought out into the open. When the kids start arguing bitterly, Shirley is forced to tactfully suggest to her parents that they are interfering with her family life, and they leave. A few days later, a tearful Grandma comes knocking on the Partridges' front door, explaining that she and Grandpa had been too honest with each other, for he had said that their marriage had no zip to it. Grandpa later arrives and they consider first getting a divorce and then living together as a means of revitalizing the marriage. Instead, they take Shirley's suggestion to pretend that they are divorced, and then go out with other people. Both Grandma, and Grandpa get fixed up, but it is quite obvious that each of them is having a miserable time. What finally succeeds in giving their marriage a "kick in the pants" is the wedding ceremony that they arrange, complete with minister, flower girls and marriage vows. watch