Helen's been away in New York for months (since the end of season 2) when Joe gets a late night call from her. The call convinces Joe that he and Brian should go to New York to visit Helen. They do, and are shocked to find her wearing a skimpy costume waitressing in a sleazy strip club. While at first she insists that she's happy with her life, she eventually confesses that she's miserable, and Joe convinces Helen to let them bring her back to Nantucket. Joe, however, neglects to tell Helen that since she left, he's started dating someone new. The news comes as a huge blow to Helen, and in her anger, she surprises Joe by breaking one of his steadfast rules: no driving in the hangar.