Complete story — includes the ending
Kirsten's parents, Gene and Ellie, arrive and Charlie gets furious with Claudia for telling them about Kirsten's worsening mental problems since he does not want help dealing with Kirsten due to his stubborn pride. Gene keeps blaming Charlie for Kirsten's worsening mental condition and threats to sue him. Ellie can not interfere or side with Charlie this time because she does not want to ruin her marriage again. They decide to take Kirsten back to Chicago to commit her to a mental hospital, and Charlie tries to stop them. Eventually, they call a truce and all ask Kirsten what she wants to do, but she is too withdrawn and disturbed by this point into a child-like state to decide or understand anything. Meanwhile, Julia and Sarah travel to Whitmore University in New Hampshire for their college interviews, but they can not keep their minds away from home. Julia realizes it is better to go to a college close to home. After Bailey has an argument with Charlie about keeping Kirsten's mental problems a secret, he goes back to his apartment where Callie confides in him that she is having similar problems with her estranged father, who is having a 60th birthday party that weekend, and she and Bailey drink to celebrate their independence from their dysfunctional families. After Charlie caves in and allows Gene and Ellie to take the near-catatonic Kirsten away to have her committed, Bailey and Julia decide to go home to comfort Charlie. Claudia can not forgive herself for what happened, but Charlie tells Claudia that it was not all her fault.
Sources and content license
Source and revision history · Adapted from Wikipedia contributors, List of Party of Five episodes. HTML formatting and reference markers removed. · Content license