Episode #615 "Dick Soup for the Soul"

Dick, Nina and Mary are at a book-signing for "A Road Map to Permanent Happiness." As they're standing in line, Dick scoffs and makes fun of people who believe this foolishness, but he leafs through the book, and, in a matter of seconds, he's converted. Tommy has joined a fraternity and is going through Hell Week. When Sally hears this, she thinks his life may be in danger, and she rushes off to save him. Dick has now become a true believer. He tells Harry that a quest for permanent happiness is his first priority. Sally arrives at the fraternity house ready to get Tommy out, but he explains what's actually going on, and she agrees to help him find out what the pledge master has in store. Dick and Mary conduct a "forgiveness" ceremony which ends with Mary throwing him out of her house. Sally reads the pledge book, and plans for Hell Week look so lame that she convinces the pledge master to let her take over. Dick has given Harry the assignment of painting the kitchen ceiling, and he's making a giant production of it. Sally's enjoying her new duties, and has truly become Pledge Master from Hell. Because of the book, Dick tries to break up with Mary, but she informs him that he isn't going anywhere. Sally's on a power trip; Tommy reminds her she's supposed to be helping him out, but she vows to uphold the fraternity's honored history. The kitchen is now lit by candlelight, while Harry lies on his back on scaffolding and paints the ceiling like Michaelangelo. He tells Mrs. Dubcek that the project is finished; he can do no more. What he has produced is an entirely white ceiling. Dick's alone in a restaurant pondering the fact that all conflict is gone from his life. It occurs to him that he's not having a good time; in fact, he's extremely bored. It's all the book's fault. He almost threw away Mary! It's all over for Tommy when Sally tries to force him to eat a popover that may contain a spider. He confesses to his pledge brothers that Sally's his aunt. And Dick tells Mary that he doesn't need to be happy all the time. He needs a little conflict to keep things interesting. Bring it on!