The gang is initially impressed with some graffiti on the fence nearby the school until their teacher announces their field trip to the shipyards will be cancelled due to the fact that the school fund money will be used to paint over the fence. To salvage the trip, Fat Albert and the gang repaint the fence themselves and their strategy works. But when they see Marlon writing on the fence again, Fat Albert encourages him to write for a talent show that will raise money for the school activities fund. The play's main theme is discouraging marking graffiti on public properties, which turns out to be hit for the audience, including the missing Marlon, who was hiding out in the last row fearful the play would bomb. He eventually comes out on stage to receive credit and hopefully will put his talent on paper instead of public property.
