
Ralph Kramden is a perpetually flustered but eternally optimistic New York City bus driver living with his wife, Alice, in a small Brooklyn apartment. Ralph's best friend is sanitation worker Ed Norton, who lives in the same building with wife Trixie.
The Kramdens and the Nortons go on vacation together; the girls want to go to Atlantic City, but the boys decide on Fred's Landing.
Ralph wants to take out a loan to buy a hot dog stand.
Ralph writes a nasty letter to his boss and then scrambles to get it back.
Thinking that he is to be named "Raccoon of the Year," Ralph prepares an ad-lib speech for the occasion.