Playing the role of his siblings' surrogate father to the hilt, J.J. (Jimmie Walker) blows his top when brother Michael (Ralph Carter) rebelliously refuses to do his homework. Sister Thelma (BernNadette Stanis) advises J.J. to cool it, assuming that Michael is only going through one of those "stages." But even Thelma changes her tune when both Michael and Penny (Janet Jackson) are arrested for riding in a stolen car.