In Season 6; an episode had Flip draw the ire of Kids Inc. after losing tickets to an event they were looking forward to. This time, newcomer Haylie ends up misplacing the tickets and has to learn lessons on responsibility and honesty following a conversation with a plumber (guest star Ken Page; known up to then for his role as Old Deuteronomy in the musical Catsnote and as the voice of King Gatornote and later famous for the role of Oogie Boogie in 1993's The Nightmare Before Christmas).
The proceedings begin with a performance of "U Can't Touch This" that gives no indication of what's to come; as in the breakroom we then see Haylie tearing through items in a desperate search for something as the others walk in with big plans - namely a rock and rap marathon at the Coco Club (upon seeing the state of the room; Eric cracks, "Do you call this early American accident or modern mess?"). The event had sold out, though luckily for the kids, they already had their tickets weeks ago. Flip then enters with plans of his own, as he decides to take advantage of the kids not performing by doing some D.I.Y. plumbing - though his previous attempt at doing so ended in disaster. As it so happens, Haylie was handling the tickets, and when asked about them notes "They're in a terrific hiding place...no one can find them." Before any further pressing of the matter, the kids - perhaps fearing Flip...er, "Plumbing Man", might flood them out - decide to leave for the stage ("How Can We Be Friends").
By the time the song ends, Flip had installed a new faucet for the counter and decides to test it out in front of the kids...and no water comes out. A now-frustrated Flip rips part of the faucet out only for the water to shoot upward. The kids prepare to leave when Kenny brings up the tickets; resulting in Haylie stalling for time. Eric - who seems to really enjoy teasing Haylie - starts giving Haylie grief on the matter before Robin assures the others Haylie's doing a good job taking care of the tickets...which are already lost.
Meanwhile, at some point Flip threw in the towel and hired a plumber named Jeremiah Piper; who Haylie was unaware was at the P*lace and who ended up startling her when he first appeared. Haylie then explained the problem to Jeremiah (who wanted to go as well, but the tickets sold out by the time he tried to buy them); emphasizing she wanted to prove she could handle the responsibility of holding the ticketsnote , something she was doing well with until today, when she can't find the tickets.
This just happens to remind Jeremiah of a story his mother told him that took place in a land that seems to be very loosely based on the island of Jamaicanote ; where the kids are portraying laborers picking mangoes to present to the King, setting up "Give a Little Love". At some point, Haylie dozes off and by the time she wakes up, the mangoes she picked have vanished. She then walks up to a man with a yellow hat; and after the beggar denies having anything to do with the missing mangoes - then brings up a point over who’s at fault: the thief or Haylie for napping instead of guarding the fruit; ultimately suggesting that she tell the King what happened - though Haylie’s as worried about what her friends will think.
As if on cue, the others show up at that point; wondering how Haylie did when she presented the mangoes to the King, to which Haylie tells the whole story about taking a nap and discovering the mangoes were gone - with the beggar coming to her defense and requesting a display of kindness, at which point it’s revealed that the “beggar” was actually the King, setting up “Follow It Around” as the story ends. Returning to the P*lace; the moral here proves to be that being honest and taking responsibility was what made the island happier than ever, along with owning up when things went wrong; with the message to Haylie being “Go and do likewise” (Haylie: “Is this what they mean when they say the truth hurts?”)
The others return to the P*lace when Haylie tells the truth about the lost tickets and vows to make amends; though - much to Haylie’s relief - Jeremiah finds the tickets (which had fallen between the counter and sink); leaving Haylie grateful both for the tickets and to have a new friend as we go to closing song “Voices That Care” (during which we see Flip hand Jeremiah his wrench).
Songs performed in this episode:
- “U Can't Touch This" (MC Hammer cover; lead vocals by Eric and Kenny)
- "How Can We Be Friends" (Kids Incorporated original; lead vocals by Robin)
- "Give a Little Love" (Ziggy Marleynote and the Melody Makers; lead vocals by Eric and Kenny)
- "Follow It Around" (Kids Incorporated original; lead vocals by Jeremiah and Haylie)
- "Voices That Care" (Voices That Carenote ; lead vocals by Robin, Kenny, Haylie, Ana and Eric)
Tropes associated with this episode:
- D.I.Y. Disaster: Flip's attempt to fix the plumbing at the P*lace end in disaster before he calls a plumber, and it's hinted at that he's struggled with fixing the plumbing before.
- Honesty Is the Best Policy: This time Haylie learns it in terms of being honest with her friends about the missing tickets.
- Imagine Spot: Used for “Something Happened on the Way to Heaven”
- Old Beggar Test: Used in Jeremiah's story when the "beggar" Haylie talks to turned out to be the King Incognito.
- Punny Name: Jeremiah's last name is Piper and he happens to be a plumber.
- Two Lines, No Waiting: Roughly equal time is spent on the A-plot involving Haylie losing the tickets and the B-plot involving the plumbing at the P*lace being repaired.
