We meet the fabulously dysfunctional Gallagher family. Dad's a drunk, Mom split long ago, eldest daughter Fiona tries to hold the family together, eldest son Philip (Lip) trades his physics tutoring skills for oral sex from neighborhood girls, middle son Ian is gay and having an affair with his married Pakistani employer at the corner liquor store, youngest daughter Debbie is stealing money from her UNICEF collection to help put food on the table, ten year old Carl is a budding sociopath and arsonist, and toddler Liam is - well, he might actually be black but nobody has a clue how. Having her handbag stolen proves to be a blessing for Fiona when handsome stranger Steve comes to her rescue. Lip is shocked to discover Ian could be gay and decides his brother should pay a 'visit' to the ever-accommodating Karen Jackson down the block. But the sudden arrival of her furious father ensures Ian's already slim chances of happiness with Karen take a severe blow. Meanwhile, Steve buys Fiona a romantic gift, but for some reason she is less than impressed with her brand new washing machine.