Harry is struck down in the middle of session by crippling stomach pains, but stubbornly refuses medical treatment.

In this pivotal episode in the series, a long lost letter is delivered to Harry from his mother who abandoned him. After learning she's passed away, he receives a visit from his stepfather, Buddy, who was married to her for twenty-three years. This is the first of many episodes to feature Buddy, played by the wonderful John Astin, known for his role as Gomez on the original Addams Family. More importantly, this is the episode that introduces Roz, the third female bailiff (following Selma Diamond and Florence Halop), who completes the final character lineup that will remain through the series finale.

Buddy's patronizing younger brother, Phil, convinces him to commit himself to a mental hospital for the rest of his life. Harry angrily objects. Meanwhile, Dan has accidentally destroyed Harry's entire collection of Mel Torme records, but tries to make up for it by shackling the man himself in Harry's office until Harry returns from Buddy's hearing.

While collecting for Toys For Toddlers, Bull accidentally takes a truckload of toys belonging to a Scrooge-like factory owner, who demands that they be returned. Since Roz has already passed them out, she refuses to take them back, and Harry has no choice but to jail her.

Harry plays up the role of an embittered judge hurting for cash, as part of a sting to nail gangster Marty Cologne. Christine, following Harry around, is taken in by the act, and tells Buddy, who reveals to Harry that he is his biological father. When Buddy lets slip the truth about the sting to Cologne, the gangster sends a pair of hit men to the courthouse.

Harry must deal with his inept government handler, evading Marty Cologne's hit men, and confronting Buddy about his revelation.

Buddy is released from the mental hospital, and Harry invites him to live with him, unintentionally letting himself in for a world of aggravation. Dan hovers over a rent-controlled Park Avenue apartment, waiting eagerly for its elderly owner to pass on.

Buddy, Harry's dad, meets a wealthy widow who was in Harry's court. At the time he's wearing a captain's outfit, which he does not explain is his work uniform. They start dating and soon Buddy tells Harry he proposed to her and wants him to marry them. Concerned that she doesn't know enough about Buddy, Harry talks to her, but she says she knows everything. But just before the wedding Christine realizes that she does not. Meanwhile, Dan has been living in his office after going broke because of a failed business deal. but the office manager finds out and gives him until the end of the day to find somewhere else or he'll be moved to a much less desirable location.

A man claiming to be from the future (and armed with a working laser gun) takes the courtroom hostage, while two street punks are holding Dan. Bull tries the whole range of remedies for getting rid of his hiccups.

Mel Torme can't appear at Harry's birthday party because Harry sent him to jail.

Christine is stuck in an elevator as she goes into labor.