Maude is devastated by the death of her dear friend Irene, a U.S. Congresswoman and this compounds the fact that Carol and Phillip and Arthur and Vivian are moving away. At Irene's wake, Maude gets an inspiration and makes a decision to campaign for Irene's position. Just as Arthur and Vivian leave to move to Idaho, Maude learns the news, she has been appointed as Irene's replacement.