It turns out that Mr. and Mrs. Colonel did not go down to the hardware store in any case. They are at the orphanage, I think. In any case, they are putting their plan in motion to adopt George. The Colonel even had some governor put in a recommendation on their behalf. The social worker woman seems impressed by that, and she is enthusiastic about the adoption. She says, "I wish I could be there when you break the news to everyone." Grandma Ruth looks a little uncomfortable, but she hides it well.

The Colonels walk into the CamKitchen bearing ice cream. They apologize for missing dinner, but RevCam is having none of it. He interrogates them about where they were all day, and the Colonel tells him outright that they were with George's social worker, discussing the adoption. Annie tries to head off trouble by suggesting that they all discuss the matter calmly. George eavesdrops from the stair landing. Why, he's obviously a Camden already, no matter who adopts him! RevCam expresses some misgivings over his parents' parenting skills, claiming they never nurtured him or Julie much when they were growing up. The Colonel argues that he and Ruth were too busy trying to keep a roof over the family's head to bother much with hand-holding. This all results in a stalemate, with each man insisting that the other is the wrong type of parent for George. There aren't a lot of good, logical arguments put forth by anyone. Surprise. The Colonel gets in the last word, though, before he storms off, accusing Eric of opposing him out of spite. Everyone stares at each other for a moment before Eric leaves to take a walk. George skulks back upstairs. Do you think he'll run away again? Because that would be the predictable thing to do.

Left alone with Annie, Ruth asks Annie to give her opinion of Ruth. She claims that Annie can be straight with her, since she doesn't "cry easily." Annie takes her up on the suggestion and delivers her character assessment of Ruth. She calls her "not terribly supportive," "distant," and "opinionated." She adds that some of Ruth's jokes are "cruel." Well, yeah, Annie, but those are the best part of the show! What would we have without Ruth's and the Colonel's nasty jibes? That's right -- the sloppy pap that characterizes most of the rest of the hundred and ten episodes that have already aired at the time of this writing. Annie argues that "Patton was weaker" than the Colonel and Ruth. Ruth reminds me of how much I'll miss her after this episode when she replies, "No, no, too late. Don't try and kiss up now." She'll have to pay the price, though, for keeping her cool, because that gives Annie a chance to intercede on Lucy's behalf and ask that Ruth try to "connect" with the girl. "I'll see what I can do," says Ruth, managing splendidly to keep her distaste for the prospect under wraps.