Everybody Loves Raymond: Season 4

After Frank stops by Ray and Debra's house to borrow some ointment for his thighs, he becomes unusually interested in spending time with Ray. Initially, Ray finds it weird and is concerned that his father has suffered a physical trauma to the head, but after two of Frank's friends from the lodge stop by, all becomes clear.

Ray and Debra are discouraged when they realize that their sex life isn't what it used to be. They reassuring each other that it's not an unusual occurrence for older couples to experience since the kids are always underfoot, they're sleep deprived, etc. Trying to make themselves feel better, they approach Frank and Marie asking them what constitutes a "normal" sex life for an older couple.

Ray and Debra are drafting their wills and must decide who would make the best guardians for their children. After pondering long and hard over their options, Ray and Debra choose the two people who they feel would be the best candidates to raise their children, should anything happen to them. But their choice doesn't meet with everyone's approval.

Jennifer, Debra's free spirited sister, shows up at the Barone household with rosary beads and prayer cards as gifts for the kids. When she announces her intentions of becoming a nun, Debra accuses her sister of going through yet another phase.

When Ray hires his overwhelmingly annoying cousin Gerard to assist him, and Debra points out how alike the two men are, Ray is mortified. The whiny, nasal voice, the need to find something negative to say about everything, the stupid questions, you could be speaking about either Ray or Gerard.

Ray is bewildered, but not altogether displeased when Debra starts initiating sex on a more than regular basis. He can't believe his luck, he is even willing to give up his golf game to satiate Debra's newfound desires. But he can't leave well enough alone, and decides to look into the reason behind his wife's sudden burst of energy.

Inspired by how well the Barones got along at the Thanksgiving dinner, Debra is intent on finding a way to improve her relationship with Marie, and decides to spend a whole day cooking with her. Meanwhile, Ray gets roped into having Frank and Robert accompany him to a car show, where he has his own method of getting along with his family.

While discussing the possibility of having to hold Michael back for another year of pre-school, Ray is shocked to discover that he too was held back when he was that age.

Ray decides to get his parents a family picture for Christmas. Marie loves the idea, until Debra's parents show up to be in the picture as well.

When Amy raises the notion with Debra, that Robert's reluctance to commit to her, may be because he's gay, Ray doesn't believe it. But, after giving it some more thought, and upon closer observation of Robert, his prior conviction is cast into doubt.

Ray and Debra have differing points of view on how best to handle the situation, when they learn that Ally has been bullying another child on the school bus. Ray thinks Ally's pushiness comes from Debra, and she thinks that if she doesn't instil independence in Ally, she'll end up being a wuss, just like her Raymond.

Everyone gets on Ray's case because he's doesn't go to Sunday Mass. When Ray starts feeling guilty and sees the good example his father Frank is setting by attending church, he commits to becoming a regular parishioner. But when he shows up at the church, he soon figures out the real reason his father likes attending Mass.

After Robert gets hurt by a bull while on duty, Ray starts feeling tremendous guilt after Robert's partner reveals that he was only on duty because Ray cancelled their plans, so that he could race go-karts.

On the 10th. anniversary of their wedding, Ray and Debra sit down in the living room to watch their wedding video, but the romantic evening soon turns sour when the wedding video has been recorded over. Instead of a wedding, they are watching the 1991 Super Bowl. Debra gets really angry at Ray, and their marriage looks to be in serious trouble.

Ray screws up a Hackidu trade for his daughter by refusing to trade several cards for one Scramisaur card, which is rare and worth a lot of money. Ray thinks he's being the perfect father by taking an interest in Ally's Hackidu hobby, and advising her on the card swap, but she is disappointed as the Scramisaur is not only rare and valuable, but also her favourite Hackidu.

Debra throws the Barone family into turmoil when she creates a dish that everyone likes. Ray can't believe it when he tastes Debra's braciola, his wife has finally cooked something he likes. But Marie is not happy when she sees the effect Debra's cooking prowess has on Ray, Robert, and Frank.

Ray and Debra's plan of getting Frank and Marie their own friends backfires when instead of going to their house, they bring their new friends to Ray and Debra's.

When Debra realizes that all her time is spent with the kids, Ray, and his family, she tells Ray to take the kids out more often so that she can have more time to herself. Ray doesn't understand why Debra needs more time to herself, and when Marie hears about it, she starts thinking that something is wrong with their marriage, and when Ray finds out what his wife is doing with her alone time, he starts to get worried.

Still recuperating from his recent run-in with a bull, a cantankerous Robert is driving everyone crazy with his mean-spirited behaviour. When his doctor tells him that he needs two more weeks of of recovery, which means two more weeks at his parents' house, his attitude worsens. But Debra things that there is another reason for Robert's bad attitude.

When Ray witnesses Debra's hypersensitive mood and generally annoyed reaction to everything he says and does, he checks the calendar and realizes it's going to be a long couple of days ahead. In his desperate attempt for a "quick fix," he makes a bad situation worse by suggesting that a simple pill will help with his wife's insufferable mood swings.

During his first day back on active duty, Robert loses his nerve and decides to quit the police force.

While out for a family dinner, the Barones spot Robert's ex-wife Joanne, which prompts them to reminisce about the demise of his marriage. The family tells Amy the truth about Robert's failed marriage. The surprise sighting also brings back some personally harrowing memories for Robert.