Mama's Family

Having lost all his money in a bad investment, and having been evicted from his house, Vint shows up on Mama's doorstep with the kids. Mama allows them to move in.

When Naomi spends the night in the basement with Vint, Mama tries to break up the relationship. But the two decide to get married instead and plan to have the ceremony in the Harper home.

With Vint out at a bachelor party the night before his wedding, the ladies have the house to themselves. When Naomi starts a rumor that Ellen's husband is having an affair with his secretary, the party begins to deteriorate. The evening is spent exchanging stories and insults.

Having survived Vint and Naomi's wedding, Mama's peace is disturbed by the return of the happy couple. Announcing that they've been swindled out of their housing investment, they plead with Mama to let them move back in. Naturally, Mama gives in.

The possibility of winning thousands of dollars on a game show excites all in the family except Mama. Promising to use their share of the winnings to buy their own home, Vint and Naomi convince Mama to participate. Unfortunately for Mama, the Harpers lose.

The family is at the Bigger Jigger to celebrate Eunice's birthday. Eunice flies into a rage when she discovers that Mama never told her a man she once adored wanted to date her. Two policemen, thinking the confrontation is a violent brawl, arrest Eunice and Mama. In jail, the two reveal some of their dreams and aspirations, and admit to some of their faults.

Despondent and feeling old and useless, Mama takes Naomi's advice and applies for a job. She goes to work at a travel agency, but things deteriorate when the family calls her incessantly on the phone. After losing her temper with her customers, Mama is fired. She decides to be content at home where the family needs her.

Going to the homecoming dance, Buzz and Sonia clash with their father when he sets a curfew. Sonia becomes upset when she discovers Vint has secretly given Buzz permission to stay out later since he's a boy. Feeling she's been treated unfairly, Sonia threatens to rebel. After the dance is over and the kids have gone to bed, Mama and Naomi let Vint know how unfair he's been.

An old flame is rekindled when Mama goes on a date with Woody Miller. And when Mama and Woody leave for a weekend trip to a lakeside cabin, Aunt Fran is left to run the household to the chagrin of the rest of the family.. But Mama and Woody soon realize that the same differences which kept them apart years ago still exist.

Rushing through her housework, Mama accidentally burns a hole in the dress Fran is planning to wear that evening. Taking Ellen along with her, Mama heads for a department store with the hope of replacing the ruined garment. When Fran discovers what has happened, Mama bursts into tears and confesses all. Feeling sorry for herself because everyone expects her to always be perfect, Mama evokes sympathy rather than hostility.

Claude tries to strike a deal with Mr. Costa, a Portuguese man, whereby Vint would marry his niece so that she can obtain legal status in the U.S. Vint resists this plan, until he is offered $1,600 in cash to complete the deal. Mama is infuriated when she finds out, and finally convinces all involved to call it off.

After borrowing Buzz's tape on positive thinking, Eunice becomes a changed woman. She goes out of her way to get along with everyone, and also secures a part in a play. But when the director cuts out all of her lines, Eunice abruptly reverts back to her old self.

Mama lets Vint know she doesn't approve of him associating with the town's troublemaker, Claude Cainmaker. When Claude winds up in jail, Vint feels compelled to bail him out. After Ellen refuses to help, Vint decides to hock Mama's silver. When she finds out, she banishes him from the home. Eventually, both come to realize they've acted foolishly.