Professor Hank Deveraux, the esteemed Chair of the English Department at Railton College, stands at the helm of his academic domain. A man of middle age, he shares his life with Lily, his wife, and their sole daughter, Julie, who resides in the town with her sweetheart, Russell.
During an after-school workshop, Hank's disinterest in the students' story assignments is palpable. Bartow, a student with a keen eye for detail, takes offense at Hank's apparent lack of engagement. Hank refuses to offer his thoughts on the narratives crafted by his pupils, sparking a heated debate. The discussion revolves around Hank's unconventional writing style, where stories veer off course mid-sentence and characters seemingly communicate through telepathy. Bartow compares his own style to that of Chaucer, emphasizing the distance it creates between the reader and the text. Enraged, Hank unleashes a scathing tirade, lambasting the students, the college, the town, and even himself. Unbeknownst to him, a student surreptitiously records this outburst, and it finds its way into the school newspaper. Tony Conigula, Hank's closest friend, sends him the article, leaving him speechless.
Gracie, a fellow professor in the English department, is enraged by Hank's choice to disparage her and her colleagues. Their ranks include Paul Rourke, Billie, Emma Wheemer, and the duo, June and Teddy. Adding to Hank's woes, his father, Henry Deveraux, a renowned art critic in New York, announces his retirement in the papers. The irony lies in the fact that Hank and his father have been estranged for a decade and a half, and Hank learns of this milestone through the media, not from Henry himself.
Hank finds solace in Lily, sharing with her the bleakness he feels in his life, estimating it to be a miserable 80%. Lily, however, sees the glass half-full, claiming she is content with a mere 30% happiness. "What about just getting through the day without caring if you're happy or not?" Hank wonders aloud.
The next day, Hank approaches Bartow, who happens to be sitting outside his office. He offers a meek apology, but Bartow demands a written statement. Hank, irritated, dismisses him with a curt remark. Dean Jacob Rose attempts to intervene, but Hank ignores his calls.
Hank is Henry's son from a previous marriage. Rourke, in a moment of mischief, submits a new course proposal to the school website for public scrutiny, titled "The Accidental Wisdom of Mediocre Regional Writers." Gracie, once a self-published author, unintentionally offends Hank by mentioning her book in his presence.
Hank's assistant informs him that Jill from Rose's office has called again. Meanwhile, Lily faces a school predicament. Michelle, the biology teacher, wishes to expel a student named Calvin, but his mother is adamant against it. Lily finds a compromise that satisfies neither party, leaving her colleague, Herb, disapproving.
Hank strides into Jacob's office, clutching a note from Jill's hands. It's a message from Jacob, urging Hank to "stick it out." Peeking through the office door, Hank hears Jacob explaining to Bartow's parents that Hank is struggling with diverticulitis, which has left him in a volatile state, hence his outburst. The parents have been flooding Jacob's phone lines, demanding Hank's termination, but Hank stands firm, arguing that they should know the limitations of Jacob's authority. Jacob presses him to apologize, but Hank stubbornly refuses. Though Hank enjoys tenure, one wonders if he's subconsciously seeking dismissal.
Julie, prompted by Russel, considers asking her mother for financial assistance, but decides to approach Hank instead. He, however, evades their visit, sneaking out of the house. The board chair informs Jill that he's called a meeting of the trustees for an undisclosed matter.
Gracie, scheming behind Hank's back, aims to strip him of his chairmanship. Hank receives a late-night call from Billie, who not only reveals her plans but also begs him not to write a recommendation for her daughter Meg. Being de-chaired would make Hank vulnerable to dismissal, potentially ending his academic career, but oddly, Hank seems eager for the challenge.
Hank inquiries Lily if the promotion she was offered at Arlyle in New York still stands. She's uncertain, but both are thrilled by the prospect of a fresh start.
The next morning, Marnie from Henry's office calls Hank with news that Stephanie, Henry's third wife, has left him. Hank hasn't spoken to Henry in 15 years, but before the vote, he delivers a humorous yet heartfelt speech. Despite his efforts, Hank is voted out, yet he seems elated. Lily rushes to tell him that the Arlyle job might still be within her grasp, but Hank's hesitation disappoints her. She scoffs, saying he's incapable of escaping the town's confines.
Hank refuses to fund Julie's request and critiques Bartow's open letter, written in his own classroom, against Hank. Calvin shatters a window, prompting Herb to reprimand Lily. The situation cries for stern action, not pacification, which ironically leads to Hank's re-election when the group convenes to elect a new chair. Hank confides in Tony, fearing Henry's retirement will upset their relationship's delicate balance: "He left, and we've been silent ever since." Hank regrets the things he never had.
As the episode draws to a close, Hank informs Lily of his re-election, but her reaction is far from pleased.
