Caroline in the City

In Peshtigo the park dedication committee are discussing the ceremony. It's supposed to be for Tyne Daily but someone points out that Tyne Daily wasn't born in Peshtigo and suggests Caroline instead.



In Caroline's apartment she's practicing her speech for Annie and Del and Richard arrives with Annie's takeaway food. He runs to the window and shouts at some kids for throwing snowballs at him, only to be pelted with more. He says he's sick of the city. Caroline is happy her perfect brother Chris won't be at the dedication because he's doing a heart surgery operation and shows a scrapbook where every time she achieved something her brother topped it. Since she got two tickets and Annie and Del can't go Caroline suggests Richard goes with her. He agrees because he'll have a hotel room to himself, with room service and it's first plane ticket.



Caroline arrives at her parent's house to find her mother has taken up making over their house with the same flowery pattern. Her Dad took up taxidermy and stuffed Caroline's pet dog after they had him put down, to Caroline's disgust. Richard bangs on the door having walked all the way to the house because the hotel pipes froze. He's frozen solid and even more irritated than normal. As Caroline and her parents help him warm up they hear a helicopter outside. Chris has arrived, having rushed through the operation.



In New York Del is angry at Charlie for setting him up a double date and Del's date is Charlie's girlfriend's 3rd grade teacher. Annie arrives and tells them she has a date after letting her understudy perform in her place because the girl's parents are in town. Charlie points out that she's probably trying to steal Annie's role. To prove him wrong Annie calls the hotel and when she's told there's no one of her understudy's name there she runs out the door.



Back in Peshtigo Caroline is overshadowed again, her glass owl from tiffany's fails to compare to the embroidered one Chris gives their mother which was made by the daughter of his patient. Chris makes a nice toast for Caroline's park then destroys it by announcing he's going up in a Space Shuttle. Caroline loses her temper and storms out, saying the park should be dedicated to him. Richard joins her on the porch with her coat and comforts her. Caroline tells of drawings pictures of Chris being killed and is upset she even has to give him credit for her career because she hadn't drawn before that.



In New York Annie confronts her understudy who tells her that her mother remarried. She introduces Annie to her parents, her mother made Annie a pot holder. Annie leaves, feeling guilty and the understudy tells her mother she can get rid of Annie by Easter.



In Peshtigo Caroline and Chris make up while playing the piano together. Chris tells Caroline she's his inspiration. He mentions he's going to go fishing before the park ceremony the next day. At the ceremony as Caroline is giving her speech someone runs up and says Chris has just caught a 28 pound fish. Everyone leaves to see the fish, including Caroline's parents after she says it's OK for them to go. Depressed that she's been outdone yet again she unveils her plaque and she and Richard leave. She comforts herself with the knowledge that at least she got an idea for her comic strip out of the experience.