Shortly after moving back to Iowa George learns that a stately tree, planted by his ancestors, is to be removed. George leads the fight to save the landmark and have the motel built elsewhere.
When a longtime employee is passed over for a promotion Barbara think the woman has been discriminated against. She decides to protest. George tries his hand at selling perfume.
George is on a crusade to have an traffic signal installed at a dangerous intersection. The matter becomes personalized when one of the Apple sons is seriously injured at the site.
The Apples intend to hire a housekeeper but due to a mixup hire George's former French teacher instead. Mrs. Perry shows up expecting to teach the family a foreign language but imparts a more valuable instead.
Paul falls hard for Jane Huston, a beautiful slightly older woman who's visiting the area. As she prepares to return to New York City Paul believes he's found true love and is determined to go with her despite his parents being against it.