Helen's birthday becomes a contest between Joe and Brian to see who can buy her a more impressive gift. The gifts escalate until both reach an agreement to only give her "little gifts". But Brian doesn't come through on his end and Joe's little seagull on a piece of driftwood is overshadowed by Brian's CD player. Joe has the last laugh though, to make up with Helen over an argument about her birthday, he gives her his mother's cameo. Helen discovers this later while watching home movies from their childhood.