At the Drunken Clam, Peter is out drinking with Brian, Quagmire, Cleveland and Joe. Upon hearing Quagmire's newest sexual exploit (saying women have a "fourth hole"), Peter is depressed as he thinks that he completely missed out on the single life. As Horace tries to fix the TV, he falls off the ladder. This act summons Death, but he is miffed as it is a false alarm; Horace is not dead, just unconscious. Peter walks up to Death and asks if he may be capable of returning to the year 1984 for one night. Death grants Peter's wish and along with Brian, Peter finds himself back at the local swimming pool that he worked at as a towelboy (but everyone will see him as his 18-year old self). Lois appears at the pool and tells him that she is looking forward to their movie date that night. At this moment, Peter blows off the date and takes up Cleveland's offer to go nightclubbing. Peter enjoys his evening dancing, partying and making out with Molly Ringwald when Death appears to take Peter back to the present time. Peter returns home and gets in bed, believing that everything is fine.
The next morning, Peter is astonished to learn that as a result of what he had done in 1984, it has had drastic alterations on the future. He is now married for 20 years to Molly Ringwald, and Lois is now Mrs. Quagmire. In addition, Peter discovers that Chris, Meg and Stewie are now Quagmire's children (complete with mannerisms, libido and chins), Chevy Chase now hosts The Tonight Show, Dick Cheney, who is just known as the chairman of Halliburton, has just shot and killed Antonin Scalia, Karl Rove, and Tucker Carlson, and Al Gore is now the President of the United States, with the country now being more clean, wealthy, stable, and technologically advanced. Peoples' life expectancies are a lot longer and crime is at an all-time low. Brian thinks that Peter not marrying Lois seems like it was the best thing that ever happened to the world, but Peter is determined to try to fix everything. But with the economy as it is, Peter's thoughts are much more easier said than done. But when Jane Jetson falls out of the sky to her presumed death (as the result of a throwaway joke), Death reappears. Peter begs Death to take him to 1984 again to win Lois' affections back. He gets his wish, and makes an attempt to say yes to Lois, but stupidly blows his chances and consistently asks Death for a do-over. But when Peter finds himself nightclubbing again, Death refuses to help Peter any further; if he wants to fix things, he will have to do it himself. Peter goes to talk to Lois himself, but Lois is angry with him for never appearing for their date. She tells Peter that she will be going to their prom with Quagmire.
At the prom, Peter and Brian try to sneak inside and stop the kiss that caused her to fall in love with Quagmire. Peter begs Lois for forgiveness, but Lois tells him that he had his chance and now she belongs to Quagmire. Peter starts to think everything is hopeless and is about to except the fate which was dealt. As Brian looks at a photograph of Peter's children, he notices Chris, Meg and Stewie disappearing and knows Peter can't screw up this time. Finally, Peter works up his passion, punches out Quagmire and kisses Lois. With the future secured, Brian leads the prom in a first loved, then maligned, pre-Rick Astley version of "Never Gonna Give You Up".
Afterwards, Peter is returned to the present and all seems to be in order...and then the Griffins get an unexpected visit from American Dad!'s Roger the Alien.





