- With Victoria in Germany, Ted faces the pitfalls of long-distance relationships. Marshall has trouble fitting in at Barney's company.
- After a month of long-distance-relationship with Victoria, she's already sent Ted three care packages full of stuff he likes, but he hasn't sent her any. Marshall works in Barney's office and doesn't like it all or the people he works with, but Barney talks him once again into keeping the job. Marshall decides that it must be easier to work in the office if he adapts to the people he is working with and gets some "get psyched" training from Barney.—Sab
- Marshall's path to environmental law started when he was ten, when he read a book by anthropologist Dr. Aurelia Birnholz-Vazquez, who wrote about her year living with apes in Cameroon. That path was later cemented when, at a lecture, she answered a question of his about his quest to live with the apes like her when he grew up. So he sees his internship with Altrucell, the environmentally unfriendly company that Barney works for, as a small blip in that path. His life at Atrucell gets worse when he meets his co-workers, all jerks cut from the same cloth. Marshall justifies his next move concerning Atrucell as an homage to Dr. Birnholz-Vazquez, but is he really deluding himself, especially after his move takes an unexpected turn in his own mind? Meanwhile, Ted has received yet another care package from Victoria in Germany, the third in a month, while he hasn't sent her anything yet. He gets advice on what to do to reciprocate Victoria's gestures from Robin, who is still hiding the fact that she likes him. As Ted progresses in trying to maintain the increasingly difficult long distance relationship, Robin makes an unexpected move.—Huggo
- Marshall starts his internship at Barney's office (he works for Altrucel, who make the yellow fuzzy stuff on the surface of tennis balls.. but their real business was in arms, oil and energy trade) and hates his coworkers in the legal department. They tease him about Lily making his sack lunch and Marshall is uncomfortable with the fictional scenarios that they construct that make Marshall choose between two women (its 2 am, and raining. Jessica Alba is at the front door in a trench coat and nothing else. Jessica Simpson is at the back door. What do you do, go). Barney refuses to say what his job is and just says "Please".
At the end of his first day, Marshall is ready to quit, but Barney manipulates him into staying. Barney convinces Marshall that he would be happier knowing that he could provide a better life for Lily with a bigger income. Marshall asks Barney for advice on how to deal with his coworkers, and Barney suggests behaving more like his coworkers and blending. When Marshall tells Lily about his plan, Lily doesn't think that it's a good idea, but Marshall thinks that he can keep his work persona separate from his real personality. Barney shows Marshall how to act like the guys at work and Marshall gains their acceptance. He tells fake stories about his encounter with strippers and hookers to get popular. Marshall's work persona begins to bleed over into his home life to Lily's displeasure. Marshall asks Lily to give his work friends a chance and they go out to a karaoke bar. Lily is not having a good time and when Marshall accepts a permanent job offer at Barney's company Lily leaves the table. Lily asks Marshall when he decided to give up his values. He says that he hasn't abandoned his values but he wants to make good money for a couple of years so that he can give Lily a better life. Lily tells him that he can give her a great life with what he has already (She says Marshall already had a huge "Package", while he was referring to the car, the house etc that he could afford with the salary). The two make up by performing their favorite karaoke song on stage.
Meanwhile, Ted struggles with his long distance relationship with Victoria. He feels guilty that Victoria has sent him three care packages and he hasn't sent her any. When he calls to thank her for the most recent care package, he impulsively says that he sent her a care package a few days ago.
Ted asks Robin for advice about how to cover up his lie. Robin suggests that he assemble a care package with New York-themed things and top off the package with a New York Times from three days ago. When Victoria calls Ted to thank him for the care package, he accidentally falls asleep on the phone. Feeling guilty and frustrated, Ted plans to fly to Germany to visit Victoria. But when he is buying his ticket, Victoria sends him an email telling him that they need to talk that evening. Ted worries that Victoria is going to break up with him, but Robin reassures him that he is worried for no reason. The phone call from Victoria is four hours late. Future Ted ends the episode by using Bilson's game, and says 'Here's the real question: It's 2 a.m., your friends are still out singing karaoke, but you're home early because you're expecting a call from your girlfriend in Germany who was supposed to call 4 hours ago. And then... the phone rings.' Ted answers it, and Robin asks if he wants to come over. Future Ted then asks 'What do you do? Go.'
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