Synopsis of Don't Go Changin'
Written by TK
Syd dreams of a retirement home called Restful Meadows. She finds out that her father is there. She says he's too young. Her mother tells her that he decided he'd be happier there after everyone forgot his sixtieth birthday. Syd is horrified. Then she realizes that his sixtieth birthday hasn't actually happened yet and she still has time to get something special ready for it.
Hansen kitchen, morning
Jim is grumbling that a new vet company bought out a small vet practice in the area and put a snow cone machine in the waiting room. Robbie is borrowing a junky car from a friend at O'Neill's. Heather threw Robbie out and won't talk to him. Syd recommends he get her flowers. When Jim leaves, everyone wonders why he's in such a bad mood. Syd mentions that his 60th birthday is on Sunday. The siblings decide to throw their father a surprise party at his favorite restaurant, the New England Dining Car.
Clinic
At the clinic, Syd sees a new patient who was referred by a friend. The patient, Ted Lumley, was expecting a male doctor. When he realizes Syd is the doctor and she's female, he claims that it doesn't bother him, but then rambles on about work (he sells large-screen TVs) and runs out the door before telling Syd why he came to see her.
Jim's office
Heather comes in to find Jim hanging out with a hangdog-faced Basset Hound. She says that his accountant, Liam, called to confirm their appointment, and asked if Jim had read those papers he sent over. Heather has brought in the papers that have just been sitting on Jim's desk. Jim seems very blah about the whole thing. He asks Heather if she's leaving early. She says yes, but her dentist appointment isn't until 3:30pm. Jim says things are slow and she can leave now. She leave, a little baffled by his attitude. Jim talks to the mellow old dog, saying he knows how he feels. He just wants to be alone and things that used to make him happy don't anymore.
Joanie's Barkery
Doug comes in because he has some time off since the dogs he walks are either out of town or injured. He sighs that he's been unemployed for 84 percent of his life. He just never got the hang of this job thing. Joanie shows him a want-ad she found in Pet Life Monthly. It's a position at a pet company as a junior product development executive. Doug says he doesn't know how to be an executive, and he couldn't use voice mail or a computer. Joanie says she has faith in him and she'll help him. He is encouraged when she says that she sees potential in him.
Outside Heather's apartment
Robbie pulls up in his crappy car and gets out with a dozen red roses. Heather answers the door with a swollen cheek from her dentist appointment. She can't believe he spent money on flowers after he lost all that money in Vegas. He swears he'll pay her back as soon as he gets on his feet. She reminds him that he never has been on his feet. He tells her he loves her. She says he doesn't love her, he just needs a warm place to sleep. She tries to kick him out, but he says he's not leaving until they work things out. Suddenly, he sees out the window that his car is being towed. He thrusts the flowers into Heather's hand and runs outside to save his car.
Clinic
Syd and Izzy are closing up. Ted comes back and apologizes for earlier. Syd sits down to talk to him and he explains that he's marrying a Jewish woman named Debbie and he's converting to Judaism for her and needs to get circumcised.
Liam's office
Jim's accountant, Liam, advises Jim that this would be the best time for him to sell his practice and go into early retirement. Jim says healing animals is his life. Liam says that this is really the best financial decision, and advises Jim to talk to the Garibaldi brothers. Jim shudders at the thought of selling his business to those snow-cone-wielding youngsters.
Joanie's Barkery
Joanie is tying Doug's tie. He's wearing a suit and looks pretty good. She's coaching his walk and showing him how to shoot his cuffs. He walks out the door confidently.
New England Dining Car
Joanie meets Syd at their father's favorite restaurant. Joanie has some sample balloons. The meet up with Ben, the manager. Ben remembers when they threw their father's fiftieth birthday party here. Ben says he'll come by with some menu options. The girls say they don't want their father getting suspicious. Ben says he'll fax them instead. Joanie mentions they already have 32 guests confirmed. Syd says she'll order the cake.
Clinic
Syd is examining Ted Lumley. He's very nervous. As Syd tries to comfort him and explain the procedure to him, he faints.
Jim's office
Robbie comes in and Heather says she's not talking to him after he was so rude. She goes out to walk the dogs. Robbie asks Jim if he can move back into the attic. Jim says no, Robbie can't, because he's an adult now and he needs to take care of himself. Robbie points out that his sisters still live at home. Jim says they contribute to the household. This is a home, not a crash pad. Robbie is hurt and slams out the door.
Clinic
Ted tells Syd he just can't go through it... and he guesses that means his wedding is off too.
Hansen kitchen, that night
Joanie feeding Hannah. She tells Syd they have 17 more confirmed guests. syd says the cake is ordered. Syd sees ties for Doug, and Joanie explains how she found him a want-ad, dressed him up and sent him out to conquer the world. Joanie hopes she's not making the mistake of trying to change a man. Syd says if she wants to hear about someone changing a man, she should hear about this poor man who needs a circumcision to get married. A fax comes in and Syd goes to get it expecting the menu options for their dad's birthday party. Instead, it's an offer from the Garibaldi brothers for Jim's business.
Hansen kitchen, the next morning
Syd tells her father that she saw the offer in the fax machine and asks him if he's thinking of retiring. Jim says that Liam mentioned it. Syd says maybe they should all talk about it since it's such a big decision. Jim points out that it's HIS decision, and he doesn't feel like talking about it.
Clinic
Debbie has come in to see Syd. She tells Syd how Ted proposed to her during a Barbra Streisand concert. She asks Syd to talk to Ted about the procedure, because they're perfect for each other in ever other way, and she can't believe that the whole wedding might fall apart over this little thing.
Outside office building
Joanie is walking Doug to his job interview. He's losing his confidence and she's pumping him up again. She boosts his ego and he strides confidently towards the building. He hits the revolving door, and revolves all the way around, walking back out to Joanie. He says he can't do it, it's too much too fast.
Jim's office
Heather is trying to sneak a file out of the filing cabinet. Jim busts her and looks at where she's sending it. The Garibaldi brother. One of his clients is leaving him for the Garibaldi brothers, and Heather was trying to spare his feelings. Jim decides that he's going to retire.
Ted's work
Syd comes by Ted's job, where he's selling large-screen TVs, and talks to him. He says he just can't do it. She talks about when he might have children with Debbie, and if there are complications Debbie might have to have a C-section to deliver the child. Would that be too much to ask of her? Because that's a much bigger deal than a circumcision. He understands her point.
Clinic
Joanie meets Syd when she comes back from talking to Ted. Heather called Joanie at the Barkery to tell her about Jim deciding to retire. Syd has a message from Robbie that he can't make the birthday party. The sisters decide to go yell at Robbie.
O'Neill's
Syd and Joanie walk in and ask Robbie why he can't make Jim's party. Robbie says he's going to watch a hockey game. The sisters can't believe that hockey is more important to Robbie than the party. They finally get out of Robbie that Jim wouldn't let him move back into the house. They are surprised that Jim would do that.
Jim's office
Jim assures all the dogs in his office that when he closes up shop he won't let them go to those clowns, the Garibaldi brothers. He'll make sure they're recommended to the best vet in town. Well, the second best.
Hansen kitchen, the next morning
Syd and Joanie plot about how to get Robbie to show up to the party. Ben, the manager of the restaurant, calls to say that the pipes burst and the restaurant has been flooded. The girls consider either moving the party to a different night or having the party at O'Neill's... which means Robbie will definitely have to be there.
O'Neill's
Heather comes to O'Neill's and tells Robbie that they're too much like family to be boyfriend and girlfriend. She loves him like a cousin, not a boyfriend. He agrees with her point, and they agree to be family. Then Heather launches in on how Robbie can help Jim.
Outside the Barkery
Joanie is closing up. Doug comes by and apologizes for yesterday. Joanie says she is the one who should be apologizing, she shouldn't have tried to change him. Doug tells her he rescheduled the interview for today and just got the job. He starts Monday. She tells him she's very proud of him. They share a kiss.
Hansen house
Jim is looking at purchase agreement for his business. He picks up a pen and goes to sign it and hesitates. The phone rings. Jim tells Robbie that he won't, it's half an hour away. Robbie convinces him.
Towing yard
It turns out that Robbie wanted Jim to drive him to get his borrowed car from the towing yard. However, the towing yard won't release the car until Mickey, the real owner, shows up in court due to his built-up tickets. Jim says this isn't how he planned on spending his sixtieth birthday party. Robbie tells him that Syd and Joanie were planning a party, but it fell through. Robbie asks Jim if he's ever been to this diner called Moe's. It's the hidden secret of Rhode Island, really great food. Jim agrees to let Robbie take him there for his birthday.
Clinic
Syd, the rabbi and Ted are all ready to start the Bris. Debbie runs in and says she doesn't want to make Ted do this for her. She shouldn't change him, and she'll marry him even if he isn't Jewish. Ted says he appreciates that, but he wants to do this to show her how much he loves her. She holds his hand as they start the ceremony.
Moe's
It's really more of a dive bar than a diner. Robbie comments that maybe the enchiladas weren't the best choice. Robbie asks the waitress if Al is still the cook, and she says Al's in jail. The waitress gives Jim a cupcake with an unlit candle on it and wishes him a "Happy Birthday, pops." Robbie apologetically lights the candle and Jim blows it out. Jim apologizes for having been grouchy lately. He says this whole birthday thing has just really thrown him for a loop. He says Robbie is lucky because he's young. Robbie says Jim is the lucky one to have founds something that he loves to do that he's also good at. Robbie is still waiting to find that thing.
Hansen house
Robbie and Jim come back from dinner. They talk about Robbie moving in this weekend. Everyone jumps out of the dark living room and yells "Surprise!" Jim is very surprised. There is quite a crowd of people: family, friends, clients, and dogs. At their behest, Jim promises he won't close his veterinary practice. They present him with their birthday present: a big-screen TV. Robbie comments that Syd got a deal on it.
Hansen house, later
Jim is asleep on the couch. Lynda comments that it was some party. Lynda says that since she's not around to take care of Jim, Syd has to. Syd says she'll have help from Joanie and Robbie. Lynda says not to count on them. Syd drapes a quilt over her sleeping father. Lynda comments that girls love their father in a special way. Syd wakes up in the living room opposite her father. She takes the quilt she was sleeping under and covers Jim with it, wishing him a happy birthday and kissing his cheek.
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