It's 1956 Brooklyn, where Jules and Sophie Berger live in the same apartment as their daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren, who experience meaningful events in this opener: his budding social life separates 14 year-old Alan from his less mature friends, while 9 year-old Nathaniel meets Dodger great Gil Hodges.

For Sophie, the funeral of her Uncle Ira (whom no one really liked) requires total family attendance—on the Sunday of Alan's Dodger game date with Katie Monahan.

Alan is asked to be on a television show that showcases young baseball players in a competition at Ebbets Field, winning him the chance to meet several Brooklyn Dodgers players. Depressed after not winning the competition, he goes to visit his father at work while the family worries about his whereabouts.

During the family gathering for Succoth, a Jewish thanksgiving ceremony, free-spirited Aunt Sylvia, who follows the ""beat"" movement, announces that she is getting a divorce from her husband. Sophie is horrified when Sylvia says she is stifling in the marriage and desperately tries to talk her out of her decision.

Katie is so upset that her school science project didn't work out properly that Alan ""fixes"" the results for her, which only serves to make her more upset; meanwhile, George and Grandpa annoy the women in their lives when they resort to doing a favor for Sid's cousin Morty (the loan shark) to get tickets for a Harry Belafonte concert.