Opens with scenes from the last day of filming, December 31, 1971. Pat Loud and four of her children are having a New Year's Eve party in their Santa Barbara, California, home. Bill and Pat's marriage has ended in separation. Their eldest son, Lance, is still living in New York. The scene changes to the first days of filming when the family gathers for an early breakfast one morning in mid-May, 1971.

Pat visits her son Lance in New York City. She takes a room in his hotel, the Chelsea, and spends a week with him meeting his circle of friends.

Before returning from New York, Pat stops in Baltimore to check on a shipment that Bill is expecting. Bill meets her plane; they go out to lunch, during which they discuss their children. Later, they attend a dance recital featuring their daughters Delilah and Michele.

Pat returns to her Eugene, Oregon birthplace, and visits her mother, who still lives there. They drive around town, stopping at the important places in Pat's early life and the first years of her marriage. After attending her mother's birthday party, Pat ereturns home.

The girls are leaving with Pat for a vacation in Taos, New Mexico; Kevin leaves for Australia with Bill's business associate; and Lance calls the family from New York.

After Pat and Michele return from Taos, Pat has lunch with Bill and again the topic of discussion is their children. Lance is visiting Paris with a friend. A brush-fire in the hills threatens the Loud home.

The growing antagonism between Pat and Bill comes out in the open. Grant is criticized by his parents for not working hard enough, and, shortly afterward, gets into an accident while driving home from work.

While Bill is away on business, Pat decides to file for divorce. She spends an evening with her brother and sister-in-law, discussing this decision.

Bill returns from his business trip, learns from Pat that she plans to divorce him, and spends the night at a motel. The next day, the Loud children rally around their mother.

Bill looks for an apartment; the children register for their first day of the new school year; and Kevin masterminds a pep rally. Lance is in Copenhagen.

After living in New York City and Europe for seven months, Lance returns to his Santa Barbara home for a visit.

Grant and his rock group audition for Santa Barbara Lounge. Bill meets Delilah in his office and asks her to deliver a pair boots and a dress that he bought for Pat. Over drinks with a friend, Bill talks about the breakup of his marriage and his feelings about Lance and the other children. Pat also talks about the divorce with two of her friends and reveals her tentative plans for the future.