Elviry Weaver is overcome with emotion when her husband Abner throws a party to celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, but manages to enjoy the festivities with their children, Carol, Johnny and Violey, and Abner's brother Cicero. Cicero keeps an eye on his beloved horse Susie while Carol dances with her fiance, Dr. Ed. Suddenly, a cyclone hits, forcing the party-goers to run for the cellar. Later, when they emerge, they discover that everyone's farms have been demolished. The only thing left standing on the Weavers' property is the old stone chimney, which they tear down for building materials. Secreted inside the chimney they find an old metal box, which contains a promissory note, dated 15 Dec 1777, stating that one of Abner's ancestors loaned £50,000 to the United States. Abner figures that the loan, worth approximately $200,000, should be paid by the current government, and the townsfolk chip in the money to send the Weavers to Washington, D.C. to investigate.