Amanda Mae Courtney is a woman trying to raise funds for the Papago Indians to build a schoolhouse. When the Partridge Family's bus breaks down, near their house, Cal and Amanda come up with a series of excuses to keep them from leaving in the hopes of getting them to perform at the Papago State Fair. When Reuben Kincaid drives past the Courtneys' house, Cal and Amanda give him wrong directions and get him lost in the desert. Eventually the Courtneys can't keep the Partridges any longer, so they decide to tell them the truth and take them to the Papago reservation. Amanda tells the Partridges about the poverty and health problems that afflict people on Indian reservations, and tells them that if they perform at the fair, it would bring desperately needed money into the reservation. The Partridges agree to perform at the fair and are a big success. Afterwards, they celebrate at the Courtneys' house.