Lisa calls Homer just before the school talent show to ask him to pick up a reed for her sax. On the way, Homer stops at Moe's Tavern for a quick drink and arrives late to the school. Lisa's performance is a disaster. Homer sincerely feels bad, realizing that he has never paid Lisa enough attention. He decides that the only way to make ammends is to buy Lisa the pony she has always wanted.

Despite Marge's warnings that they cannot afford a pony, Homer takes out a loan from the plant's credit union. Already pressed to the limit on bills, Marge tells him that there is no money to pay the rent on a stable. Homer applies for a job at the Kwik-E-Mart. Working both the graveyard shift at the convenience store and his daytime job at the nuclear plant, he is soon a walking zombie.

Marge tells Lisa that Homer is working two jobs so that she can keep the pony. Although she loves her pony very much, Lisa knows that she must give it up. She gives the pony one last hug good-bye and goes to the Kwik-E-Mart to tell Homer that he does not have to keep his second job. Assured that she still loves him, Homer gives Lisa a piggyback ride home.