Sealab is taking job applications, and despite the sign saying 'No Applications Denied' Sharko's is denied immediately. Debbie tries to argue that Shanks is violating the Equal Opportunity Employment Act, but Shanks says the law does not make provisions for half-shark creatures. Debbie challenges Shanks to hire Sharko if he passes the civil service exam, and given the next exam is in two days, and Shanks thinks he can't do it, Shanks accepts the challenge.
Quinn refuses to help Debbie tutor Sharko cause he's seen it before: Debbie gets all fired up about a pet project and then drops it when it gets boring, citing the Bosnian refugees as an example. Undeterred, Debbie begins tutoring Sharko, who laments that he never knew his father Marco or even anything about his Latino heritage.
Sparks is starting a betting pool on whether Sharko will pass or not, and tells Stormy the odds can't be 5 to 1 cause Quinn isn't tutoring him. Hesh tries to bet with beans, but Sparks tells him he doesn't accept beans. When Hesh claims they're magic, Sparks sarcastically suggests that Hesh plant them to get to the giant's gold in the sky and use that to place a real bet. Hesh's response is to ask how late Sparks is open.
Sharko's reading comprehension is pretty good, which he attributes to reading a lot since he can't sleep, needing to stay awake to run water over his gills to breathe. When Debbie points out that Sharko's breathing air right now, Sharko has a minor Heroic BSoD about his mother lying to him. Debbie reveals that that's because she ate Marco. Sharko would talk to his mother about this, but she's dead too.
Stormy and Hesh try to grow those magic beans, and Hesh is wondering what's taking so long. Stormy decides they need fish heads to fertilize the seeds, just like American Indians did in the past. Hesh regrets trading his cow for the beans.
He made the trade with Shanks, who now owns the cow and plans on setting her free once her ligament heals. He tells Quinn that he's not worried about Sharko passing the exam, and even if he did, Shanks would think of some reason to avoid hiring him, since they already had two blacks and Virjay to meet the minority quota. Quinn is pissed at being compared to Sharko, and vows to help him pass his exam.
Virjay tells Stormy and Hesh that he's not that kind of Indian and can't help them with their fish head problem.
Debbie is having a hard time teaching Sharko math and Sharko admits he's in love with Debbie. Just as they're about to kiss, Quinn comes in ready to tutor Sharko. A montage begins of Debbie and Quinn tutoring Sharko, culminating in him jumping over a pool of Fonzies.
Debbie and Quinn are impressed and proud of what Sharko learned in such a short time. Sharko decides to go to sleep for the first time. Quinn's also proud of Debbie for seeing a project through, but she tells him not to start about the Bosnians.
Sparks is pissed off at Shanks because now that Quinn tutored Sharko, the odds are good and Sparks won't be able to cover the bets. Shanks rides off with the cow.
Hesh and Stormy have knocked someone out, but Hesh still wonders where they'll get fish heads. Stormy asks for a hacksaw.
It's the day of the civil service exam, and Sharko is nowhere to be found. He never signed in for the exam, and he's not in his room. At first it looked like Stormy and Hesh killed him to get fish heads, but then Sharko appears with more fish heads, having forgotten to go to the exam.
The Stinger: "Knowledge Song", the song that played over the montage, plays again.
