The Partridge Family

- Season 4

(1973)

During a practice session, a young boy walks into the garage. He & his family just moved into the neighborhood. The mother does not like show business and calls the police every time the family practices. A battle of wills ensues.

Keith wants to date the new girl in school, but she does not want to go with him because he has a love 'em and leave 'em reputation. He wants Laurie to convince Dina to go out with him.

Keith's newest girlfriend is a cellist in the school band. Rachel thinks Keith is wasting his talent on rock and roll songs, and convinces him to write a piece of classical music.

Danny has started following Keith and Laurie around all the time. He even tries dressing and acting like Keith. Ruben suggests he try baseball so he can be around kids his own age. Danny hates baseball, but turns out he is a good pitcher.

Shirley tells the children they have to start being nice to Reuben. But since he is not used to this new attitude, he thinks it is because they heard he is dying. The nicer they are, the more he thinks he is dying.

Keith does not have a date for a party after the popular girl at school declines his date request, citing another date, so Laurie sets him up with one of her friends. The next day when the popular girl's plans fall through she belatedly accepts the date with Keith. Now he has two dates for the same party.

The Partridges are on a cruise ship. Laurie meets a handsome, charming man who seems to have an interest in her. He say he is a rich heir, but his actions are not of a rich man. Keith thinks he is a jewel thief.

An ambassador who is visiting the town asks Shirley out on a first date. The date is a disaster starting with the ambassador being late and ending with constant business interruptions. When he asks for a second date, Shirley refuses.

At college, Keith enrolls in a sociology course. He is partnered with an older woman to work on a paper. He finds himself attracted to her despite the fact that she is not only older, but also married.

Danny goes to see a movie but sneaks in without paying. He is caught, and Shirley imposes a punishment on the whole family by having everyone be totally honest for 24-hours.

While Ruben is out of town, his nephew takes over managing the Partridges. He is not cut out for the job.

Shirley's mother (Amanda) and father (Walter) argue over Amanda wanting a job outside the house. She leaves home and goes to Shirley's home. Amanda gets a job with a service company, and Shirley hires a maid. Guess who is the maid?

Shirley goes to an art school for classes. Her teacher raves about her work, but the family knows it is not good. It seems the teacher has a motive to praise the bad art work.

Reuben manages a new twin singing act, but the boys have a crush on Laurie. They won't perform until they get a date from her.

Danny seems to be getting into a lot of trouble at school, and now decided to drop out. Shirley and his teacher discuss how to prevent this. They decide to let him think he has dropped out, and find out what the real world is like.

Laurie's friend Frankie tries out for the school basketball team but is rejected because she is a girl. Laurie runs for homecoming queen so she can speak her mind on discrimination. Keith has a male friend compete against Laurie for queen.

Danny has a new girlfriend at school. Renee is Jewish, so Danny pretends to be Jewish. Danny meets her father, who says he would like to meet Danny's family. Danny tries to hide his "little white lie" from his family.

Laurie excitedly tells her mother she has been selected to be a peer teacher at school. She is assigned seventh grade English, which just happens to be Danny's classroom. Things do not go well for either of them.

Laurie wants Danny to take over one of her babysitting jobs so she can go skiing. Danny refuses, but Keith agrees to do it - as long as Laurie poses as his girlfriend at a party to make another girl jealous.

Danny has a promotional plan to show the Partridges conserves energy. The newspaper does an article to show their energy saving ways. It creates a buzz in town. But a wrong meter reading shows the Partridges use more electricity than ever.

It's Shirley's birthday and the family and Ruben gather to celebrate. Danny's gift is a beautiful broach. He does not tell Shirley he found it rather than buying it. Later, Danny finds out it is the broach his teacher lost.

Shirley is surprised to learn that an old boyfriend is in town to make a speech. It turns out he is now a navy Captain and Keith and Danny are suspicious of his motives for their mother.