The boys' favorite, Uncle Charlie, is coming to visit, but he isn't as happy about it as they are. The Marine Corps is pushing him to retire and take a teaching position at a military school. Concerned with his depression, Jason and Scott convince him to stay in town a while longer, ostensibly to help their dad, who they say has been drinking and gambling. But Charlie ends up whipping the boys into shape instead, turning their Malibu lives into a Marine boot camp. Later Charlie meets Murray, who tells him about the glories of surfing. Charlie tries it and soon becomes a total beach bum, turning down the military school job.
Meanwhile, Traycee has two tickets to a Beastie Boys concert. To decide whether she should take Stads or Samantha, she holds a ""friendship contest,"" awarding points to the girls for their good deeds toward her.