- Ricky finds out that his accident-prone friend Toby is actually being physically abused by his father.
- Kate is elated when Edward gives her a porcelain flower decoration for her birthday, though her birthday is actually a week away. Just then, Ricky enters with a new friend, Toby Anders, who he introduces to his dad and Kate. Ricky and Toby were playing a basketball game, which was a slaughter - only they were the ones who got slaughtered.
Seeing Toby wearing a sling on his left arm, Edward asks if he hurt himself during the game. Toby says no, he hurt himself the previous week trying to save a stray cat from a tree. He says he's a walking disaster area - always getting hurt.
Kate suggests they get the boys a couple of milkshakes, and Edward agrees, saying he wants one too. Before they leave, Ricky wants to practice some basketball moves with Toby, but his dad warns him not to play basketball in the house. Ricky does so anyway, and ends up breaking Kate's birthday present.
Furious, Edward grabs Ricky and threatens to hit him, but backs off when Toby jumps in and says it was his fault. He orders Ricky to apologize to Kate, then sends him to his room while he comes up with a proper punishment. Ricky tries to talk his dad out of punishing him, but abandons the effort when Edward gives him a really stern look.
Upstairs, Toby tells Ricky that he got off easy - his dad would have done more than yell. Ricky asks Toby what his dad would have done, but Toby evades the question. Ricky keeps pressing for an answer, and after swearing Ricky to secrecy, Toby admits that his dad gets physical when he gets angry. He defends his dad, however, saying he's such a screw-up that he deserves whatever physical punishment he gets.
Unwilling to accept Toby's explanation, Ricky says he's a great guy - for example, who else would risk their life to save a cat? Toby says his injuries weren't from rescuing a cat - his dad told him to take out the trash, and he forgot. Ricky finds Toby's explanation unsettling, even after the latter tries to change the subject.
Later, Ricky approaches Edward and Kate, saying he promised to keep a secret but is worried that something bad might happen if he doesn't tell anyone. Edward says Ricky has a moral dilemma, but believes his son will do the right thing. Just then, Toby knocks on the glass door, and Ricky goes to answer it. Toby says he got a new sled, and Ricky invites him inside, saying he still has to get his stuff. Toby says he'll wait outside, but Ricky grabs his hat and muffler to keep him from leaving, revealing several bruises on Toby's face.
Edward asks what happened, and Toby says he was showing off for his dad. He tried to walk on a picket fence, slipped, and fell. Ricky doesn't buy the story, asking Toby if his dad hit him. Toby says yes, but he deserved it for tracking mud on a brand new carpet. Edward tells Toby he'll talk to his dad. Toby protests, but Edward doesn't back down, saying he doesn't want Toby getting hurt any more.
Later, Toby's father Larry visits the mansion in response to Edward's request to meet. Larry says that Toby means the world to him, especially since Toby's mother died. Edward tells Larry he knows he hit Toby, and Larry angrily denies it, knocking a soft drink out of Edward's hand. Larry apologizes, saying he didn't mean to do that. Edward says it's tough to be a father, relating what happened the other day when Ricky broke Kate's birthday present. Larry asks Edward if he hit Ricky, but Edward says no.
Larry says Toby needs discipline, but when he talks about working a long week and getting upset that Toby didn't do what he was asked to do, the story morphs into how his own father abused him. Larry says he hated his father, but doesn't want Toby to hate him.
Edward offers to get Larry help, but the latter balks at the idea. Edward says he'll accompany him. Larry asks what if he refuses. Edward says their only other choice then will be to call the police, have Larry charged with child abuse, and Toby placed in a foster home.
Larry says he doesn't think there will be a court in the country that could take his son away from him. Edward says he is probably right, then relates a story where a kid was admitted to the hospital where Edward is a board member. The hospital learned the kid was being abused, the case went to court, and the father swore he wouldn't hurt his kid anymore. Edward adds that a month later, the father lost control, hit his son, and was back in court, this time for murder.
Just then, Ricky, Toby, and Kate return from playing with Toby's sled. Larry sits his son down, saying he has a problem and needs help, and is sending Toby to stay with his Aunt Florence for a while. Larry says he wants to be a better father, and Toby, saying he loves his dad, gives him a long hug. Edward and Larry get ready to leave, and Toby says he'll walk his dad to the car. After they leave, Ricky tells Kate that sometimes he forgets how lucky he is.
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