And now the story of a wealthy family, and the fourth-to-last episode of what is possibly (probably?) the end of their broadcast run. If there's a quibble to be made about this episode, it's that Arrested Development's many narrative ends seem to hang as loosely as they ever have,  and it's hard to imagine the next three episodes, if they are the series' last, providing total closure. But I'm sure they'll figure it out.

We open on Michael, surprised to find Tobias in the kitchen of the model home, because, technically "he" doesn't live there anymore. After Lindsay kicked him out, he came back in Mrs. Doubtfire drag, calling himself Mrs. Featherbottler. The Bluths know the true identity of their new maid, but "the house has never been cleaner," so they let "her" stay. But the ruse is starting to strain.
Meanwhile, Oscar is throwing Lucille a party to celebrate her anniversary with his brother - Buster told him it would bring them closer together by reminding her that Oscar's been there for her when George hasn't. She wants the whole family there... except for GOB. She's afraid he'll do one of his "stupid puppet shows." We then flashback to a party where GOB is doing a show with a black, "jive-talking" hand puppet named Franklin - and no one is amused.

Lucille notices that Michael is using a baby monitor. This is actually so he can communicate with George Sr. in the attic, but he tells Lucille he's using it to spy on George Michael because he's worried that his son is getting too serious with Ann. "I don't like her," he says. Lucille understands spying on children.

Lindsay mentions that she found out that George Michael is thinking of asking Ann to get "pre-engaged." Michael says he has to stop this, but Lindsay insists that if he tries, he's "just going to drive him right to her." Then George Michael comes in and says, "Dad, can you drive me to Ann's?"


GOB goes up to the attic to find Franklin. There he finds George Sr, who convinces him to rent a limo and help him sneak into the anniversary party so he can kidnap Lucille and take her to a church so they can renew their vows.

At Ann's house, Michael meets his son's girlfriend's parents, The Veals. The mom is played by Ione Skye, and all episode long people will make comments about how beautiful she is, how little she looks like Ann, and how there's thus no way the two could be sisters. "Are you a church going man?" Ann's father asks George Michael's dad. "I am," says Michael. "Well, I don't go religiously." When he announces that George Michael and Ann are threatening to get pre-engaged, the parents are thrilled. "Can we open up some sparkling apple cider?" suggests Pastor Veal. Michael: "No." So the father asks, "Do you want us to go down to the store and get you some liquor?"

At the mention of "liquor" Michael realizes how "to win the Veal's disapproval" - he invites them to the anniversary party. "But," narrates Ron Howard, "he needed insurance." On his way out the door, he calls GOB. "Mom says she wants Franklin at the party..."

Tobias is dressed as Mrs. Featherbottler at the party, and he's limping. It turns out he "had attempted an entrance that he hoped would entrance his daughter" - he jumped into the living room from the second-floor landing of the stairs, and crashed into an end table. Needless to say, Maeby was not entranced.

Lindsay wonders why Michael invited the Veals to the party. "After Mom's 2nd vodka and buster's 2nd juice box," he's sure his family will scare off Ann's.

GOB drives George Sr. into the Balboa Towers, hidden in a limo. Once inside Lucille's apartment, George Sr tells GOB to put some ether on Franklin and have the puppet kiss Lucille on the mouth to knock her out. Then, they'll stuff her in a garment bag and take her to church.

Back in the living room, Michael warns George Michael that the pre-engagement will backfire, that marriage is serious business. George Michael suggests that maybe he and Ann should get pre-pre-engaged. Michael: "The mere fact that you're laughing about marriage" means he's too young.

GOB calls Lucille into the kitchen to get her kiss from Franklin. She drops as planned, but before George and GOB can shove her in the garment bag, Buster bursts in. "Hey brother." Franklin strikes again - "Who you calling brother?" - Buster's rape horn goes off, he drops. But in the tussle, GOB gets too close to the puppet, and he's soon down too.

Meanwhile, Lindsay lets it slip to George Michael that Michael has an anti-Veal plan afoot.

Ms. Veal and Michael are talking about the "temptations" of the "secular world." And then she starts kissing him - "take me to your secular world," she says. George Michael stumbles opon his dad making out with his girlfriend's mom and storms out of the room. He complains to Lindsay that one minute his father is talking about the sanctity of marriage, "then he's making out with her on the balcony." Lindsay says, "I thought he didn't even like Ann." "The hell with him," George Michael announces. "I'm getting pre-engaged."

"I can't believe we're making love," says Mrs. Veal, still making out with Michael. "What?" he says. "We're not making love..." She insists: "I want to please you secularly!" He tries to coax her off of him, and she wonders why. "You kept saying I was beautiful!" "I was surprised, because of Ann - because of an old wives tale."

He gets rid of her, runs off looking for his son, and runs into "Mrs. Featherbottler," who tells him that George Michael has fled to pre-engage Ann. Michael was sure he had talked him out of it, but as his brother-in-law/maid reminds him, that "was before he saw you pounding that sweet piece of Veal." Micahel does that cute little eye-roll of his. "Tobias, where is he?" Gleefully, under his breath, Tobias replies, "It's me! Tobias!"

Buster, meanwhile, is waking up on the floor of the kitchen. "I think my father was here.." he starts. Oscar's spooky "I-am-your-real-father" theme music starts. "Maybe he still is..." Everyone goes down to the chapel in "Mrs. Featherbottler's" car.

When they get there, Ann's dad is remarrying Lucille and George. George's vows are obtusely sexual ... "I want to blow alternately hot and cold air..." - and they're totally turning Ann on. She sits in the pew and murmurs to herself, "I can't wait to get married." She goes outside to "cool off". George Michael ambles opon her and pre-proposes. Still hot from George and Lucille's vows, she suggests they get married RIGHT NOW.

Back inside the chapel, the rest of the Bluths have arrived. George and Oscar try to fight over Lucille, but both brothers are pretty incompetent when it comes to the art of the fist-fight. Michael lets it slip that he and Ione Skye have been kissing, and Pastor Veal tackles him to the ground.

When the dust clears, George Sr. has stolen Tobias' wig and run away, Lucille is impressed that Oscar was willing to fight for her, and George Michael and Ann have decided that they were getting pre-engaged for "the wrong reasons." Michael pats his son on the back and says something about how he trusts the kids to figure out when they're ready to "go all the way."

When he leaves, Ann grabs George Michael and says, "George Michael, I think your dad just gave us permission to do it! ... Teach me, George Michael. You must teach me the ways of your secular flesh!"

On the next Arrested Development, Buster gets a hook replacement - Franklin. His mother says, "You're not going to get into the country club like that," and Franklin responds, "I don't want a place in your tight-ass country club, you freak bitch!"