Ellen Burstyn stars as a writer at a Baltimore college who lives in a brownstone with her mother, 25-year-old daughter and 5-year-old grandson. In the pilot, Nick's dog is about to have puppies. Ellen faces a troublesome student who never fulfills assignments.
Bob, Molly's new suitor, an anthropologist, turns out to be a little too bolder for Ellen's liking. Bob invites both mother and daughter to a dinner and ends up kissing Ellen.
Ellen grows curious about what is bequeated to her in her second husband's will and last testament. Tom Hines leaves Ellen's house without an explanation, Ellen feels remorse and asks him to stay.
A famed authoress venerated by Ellen comes to the college to give some lectures. But Ellen discovers the lady is an insufferable alcoholic who only emits bad reviews about her colleagues' works.
Nick is caught shoplifting at a toy store. Sidney is looking forward to her debut as a piano player.
Lately, Sydney has been mysteriously going out. One night she comes home late late at night and tries to rush in stealthily. Ellen finds out and presses her for an answer, and she must confess she's been dating a married man.
Ellen meets Frank Tanner, an author, at a radio station and uncovers he's illiterate. Tanner is a rich man who thinks that money may buy anything.
Molly has second thoughts about reconciling with her estranged husband.
An ex-convict enrolls in Ellen's writing class.
Ellen finds a mysterious shoe box in a telephone booth. The box is labeled and she calls the owner only to be warned about opening the shoe box. The family becomes intrigued.
After undergoing severe sleeplessness, Ellen goes to a physician. The medic prescribes her some vitamin pills. Ellen follows the treatment but its side effects soon show up, and she starts doing things faster than usual. Finally Sidney finds out that the medic was in fact a quack who gave Ellen amphetamines instead of vitamins.