The Bajoran Gratitude Festival is about to begin and everyone is eagerly anticipating its commencement. While Major Kira and Chief O'Brien wait for their loved ones to arrive at the station, Odo and Jake find themselves unlucky in love. For better or worse, Odo's luck is about to change when Lwaxana Troi returns to the station.

To understand Philip's battle with the scale, Will dons a fat suit and gets a big fat lesson in empathy.

Matt considers fulfilling his dreams of playing professional volleyball when he's given the chance to partner with a pro. Mitch meets the beautiful Tracy, who tries to sell Baywatch a hovercraft. Garner literally chokes when he tries to sing in public. C.J. protests oil drilling in the bay and the lifeguards must rescue the drillers become trapped underwater.

A series of incidents, while Doris is away, make Jim the subject of a tabloid article and his co-workers begin to doubt the credibility of his side of the story.