When Robin must leave in the middle of their first date, Ted can hardly wait to see her again, and his eagerness threatens to scare her away.

Ted is determined to win over Robin and since she doesn't want a serious relationship, decides to play it really cool. He casually invites her to a party at his place, but that means throwing a party especially, which is yet another distraction for Marshall who is trying to write a paper over the weekend.

Barney persuades Ted to join him picking up girls at JFK airport instead of going to the same boring bar as usual. When they find themselves on a plane to Philadelphia for the night, Ted wonders if he's made the right decision.

Ted's views on life and love change when he re-evaluates a shirt he previously disliked. Meanwhile, Barney offers Robin money to say outlandish things live on air.

Robin gets on the VIP list of a hot new club and can get the others in for free, but Lily has decided she and Marshall need to be more grown-up so she throws a wine and cheese evening with her teaching colleagues instead. Marshall busts out of the bathroom window and goes to the party with his friends.

Marshall and Lily enter a Halloween costume party and Robin brings her new boyfriend. Ted and Barney go to the same fancy dress party they go to every year where Ted waits for his lost love, the Slutty Pumpkin.