EPISODE

4. Casey Casden

When Aunt Ginger takes her leave, little Debbie is left sad and lonely, so to ease the hurt she kidnaps a toddler from a birthday party, leaving the Gallaghers scrambling to come up with a plan to return the child before the Chicago Police Department fingers them for the crime. Meanwhile, Frank parries sexual advances from Karen, while Kevin's white lie involving his noninvolvement with an attractive young lady leads to a surprising conclusion.

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THIS ENTRY’S STORY

The story

Spoilers ahead. Coverage follows the scope labeled below.

Plot summary

At the Jackson residence, Frank discovers that the neighbors, the Casdens, are throwing a birthday party but loses interest when he realizes there will not be alcohol. Eddie Jackson unexpectedly moves back in with his family, citing financial issues, much to the dismay of his estranged wife Sheila and their daughter Karen. Angered by her father's return, Karen tries to seduce Frank to get back at her father, but Frank rebuffs her.

Hearing a noise at the house, Fiona and Steve investigate and are shocked to find that Debbie, still saddened over having to say goodbye to the woman from the nursing home, has kidnapped the birthday party's toddler, Casey. This leads to a local search for Casey, and the Gallaghers are alarmed that they might be arrested for kidnapping him. Lip concocts a plan to return Casey to his family without drawing attention from the public and the police. He enlists Carl, Kevin and Veronica to call the police and report separate instances of a little boy walking around Chicago, and they fabricate a story in which Debbie finds Casey on the street and decides to walk him home. Lip's plan is successful, and Fiona takes Debbie to the police station with Tony to make a statement. She gets over $700 in rewards, and Steve decides to buy her a baby doll.

While working at the Alibi Room, Kevin tries to get rid of a flirty girl by falsely claiming he is going to marry Veronica. Frank overhears this and loudly celebrates while Veronica's mother Carol is present. Kevin is forced to accept the statement, although he asks Carol not to call Veronica yet. Later, he arrives home and drunkenly proposes to Veronica, which she accepts. After returning home from the police station, Fiona tells Steve that she wonders if she is properly raising her family. They are interrupted when Veronica and Kevin arrive, announcing their engagement. With her money, Debbie buys a new water heater for the house. When Fiona comments over Kevin's indifference to getting engaged, Kevin reveals to her that he is already married.

Credits

Adapted from Wikipedia contributors, Casey Casden. Paragraphs and formatting adjusted; illustrations, reference markers, block quotations and non-story material omitted.

Original text and revision history

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