The Dunphys get nostalgic when Phil has to get rid of their station wagon. Cameron begs Jay to intervene when Mitchell wants to build Lily a castle, and Manny invites a girl over to study.
Mitchell and Cameron have a tiff over Mitchell’s freakish aversion to public display of affection. Gloria is busy cooking her Colombian food as Jay makes fun of her late grandmother. Meanwhile Claire finds herself becoming the overbearing mom when she finds out Alex likes a boy.
When an earthquake hits the area, Claire gets locked in the bathroom with a plumber, Cameron and Mitchell use it as an excuse to get out of brunch with an obnoxious friend, and Manny reevaluates the meaning of life while on a trip with Jay.
Claire and Mitchell enlist each other’s help in trying to spare their significant others from embarrassment – Cameron from his unfortunate wardrobe choices, and Phil from his joke-ridden speech for the realtors’ banquet. Meanwhile Jay tries to prove a point to Gloria by attending a Quinceañera thrown by one of his employees, and Haley gives Alex sisterly advice on how to be cool.
