After a month's respite from searching for karma, Earl is back to righting his past wrongs. This week, we find out that when Earl was married to Joy, he wasn't much of a father to her two boys. Although he wasn't their biological father, he wasn't much of a role model, either. As a result, the boys' troublesome behavior motivates Joy to enroll them at the "Right Choice Ranch" in order to get them on the right path, but because their last name is Hickey, they are denied entry into the program.

We learn that as a kid, Earl also was at the ranch, along with brother Randy, but they never seemed to draw any lessons to lead better lives. In fact, a barn ended up being burned down while they were there, which still resonates at the ranch. Earl decides to attempt to cross off number 164 on his list--burned down a barn at the Right Choice Ranch.