Ernie thwarts a robbery in a parking lot, garnering local news attention. El DeBarge is impressed and invites the youngster to feature in a music video. Meanwhile, a shady promoter views this as an opportunity to settle his debts with a loan shark.

Ernie feels threatened when Rizzo becomes romantically involved with a beautiful attorney who exhibits little interest in children.

In an effort to curtail the aggressive behavior that Jason Curnningham is showing towards Ernie, Rizzo talks to Jason's dad only to discover that he's on the city council and therefore Rizzo's boss. Rizzo fears he will lose custody of Ernie when the school bullys father claims that Ernie beat up his son.