In the episode, Ted, Robin and Lily recount their previous encounter with George "The Captain" Van Smoot at an art gallery, with the former two recalling events inaccurately due to their then inebriated frame of mind.
When Zoey's ex-husband, the Captain, unexpectedly calls Ted, the gang reminisces about what happened when they last saw him a year and a half earlier.
Robin tells the guys her part of the story, revealing that Ted was high on a "sandwich"[a] and the Captain was hitting on her, making her feel uncomfortable.
Lily tells her side of the story, revealing to the group that Robin was actually drunk at the gallery opening, and was flirting with the Captain, while the picture Ted saw was of a yacht magazine cover with a small photo of Becky in the corner.
He eventually admits that while everyone else has something they are passionate about, Barney feels the only thing that makes him stand out is being involved in crazy stories.
The next morning, Lily meets the Captain at his apartment to return the ashtray and finds out why he needed to see her – after that gallery opening, he bought the elephant painting and hung it in his bedroom.
[2] Kevin Fitzpatrick of ScreenCrush gave it a positive review, albeit with reservations, stating that the episode's use of multiple perspectives is overall "a tried and true formula for tonight's 'How I Met Your Mother,' but one showing as much gray hairs as The Captain himself.