It is Thanksgiving in the Simpsons' house and Lisa assembles a decorative centerpiece for the dinner table. The family sits down to give thanks along with Patty, Selma, Marge's mother, and Grampa. When Lisa sets down her centerpiece, however, she argues with Bart about where it should go. In the ensuing struggle, the creation flies into the fireplace and burns up. Devastated, Lisa runs unpstairs sobbing while Marge and Homer send Bart to his room for ruining Thanksgiving.

Bart feels mistreated and runs away. Walking the streets alone, cold and hungry, he finds a homeless shelter that is serving Thanksgiving dinner. A TV crew covering the event interviews Bart, and puts him on the local news.

When Homer and Marge see their son on TV, they tell the police that Bart has run away. Bart eventually wanders back home. Not sure that he wants to give up his life of freedom on the open road, he climbs up on the roof to think things out. Hearing Lisa cry because she misses him, Bart calls her onto the roof. He realizes that what he did was wrong and apologizes to her. Reunited, the family resumes its Thanksgiving dinner.