Mel's cousin Maxwell comes to visit and sells Rob the Empress Carlotta — a large and garish necklace that he claims speaks sophistication and draws eyes from all over. Rob presents it to Laura, who can't bring herself to tell Rob the truth. Luckily, a visit from the in-laws manages to fix matters.
This episode includes examples of the following tropes:
- Brick Joke: When lamenting how much Rob loves the necklace, Laura tells Millie she thinks he'll want her to wear it with her nightgown. Once the Helpers leave, it turns out she was right.
- Crying a River: Rob's mother cries over the necklace's beauty. When Laura lets her try it on and Rob holds up a mirror for her, she cries more. Rob's father suggests they take away the mirror before her tears flood the room.
- Encouraged Regifting: When Mel says Maxwell is a jewelry salesman, Buddy says that maybe he'll buy his wife cufflinks. When Sally questions his choice of gift, Buddy answers that she can give them to him.
- Easily Impressed: Mel's cousin Maxwell seems to think everything Buddy says is hilarious. Buddy picks up on this and proves that he'll laugh at anything by yelling "Shoehorn!" twice.
- Exact Words: When trying to get around Rob's question of if he likes it, Maxwell tells him that when he walks down the street with Laura wearing that necklace, everyone will want to look at her. Notice he didn't say why.
- Faked Gift Acceptance: Millie, who finds the necklace as hideous as Laura, suggests throwing it away or wearing it to a bad neighborhood and hoping to get mugged. Laura can't bring herself to get rid of it. She eventually finds a way, however, when Rob's mother falls in love with the necklace. Laura tells Rob that her birthday is approaching and the necklace is the best present she can think to give her. Rob thinks it's an incredibly sweet gesture, Rob's mother is thrilled to tears, and Laura doesn't have to deal with the necklace anymore.
- Oblivious Guilt Slinging: Laura pulls Rob into the kitchen, saying that she wants to ask him something and she wants him to be completely honest with her. Rob questions if he's not always honest. Laura's hesitation when she says yes suggests she's feeling guilty about not being honest with him. She feels even more guilty when he gushes about how sweet and generous she is after she proposes giving it to Rob's mother.
- Platonic Kissing: Ritchie gives Rob a peck on the cheek when he gives him a "gift" (a rock).
- Running Gag: Somehow all of Maxwell's wares work out to $35 after the discount is applied.
- Self-Deprecation: Buddy admits that he picks out his own gifts and gives them to Pickles so she can regift them to him. When Sally questions this, Buddy says he can't trust Pickles' judgment; after all, she married him.
- Strange Minds Think Alike: Rob (initially), Jerry, and Rob's father think the necklace looks like a chandelier.
- Strong Family Resemblance: Maxwell looks like a slightly shorter Mel, complete with bald head.
- Unwanted Gift Plot: The episode revolves around Rob giving Laura a replica of "Empress Carlotta's Necklace." Laura hates it, but Cannot Spit It Out because his intentions were so sweet and he loves it so much.
