A troublesome new student (Drew Fuller) joins Tom's school and convinces Bryan to participate in a martial-arts scam after he overhears that Bryan has financial problems. Elsewhere, Tom tries to figure out what to get his daughter for her 12th birthday; Trip thinks Tory has a romantic interest in him, but she has eyes for someone else.

Nick gets into a fight with Allie's ex-boyfriend at a party and the former beau turns up dead shortly after, leading the police to suspect Nick of the crime. Later, Tory asks Trip why he was so willing to offer information to the police that made Nick look guilty.