While eating Krusty-O cereal one morning, Bart accidentally ingests a free jagged metal giveaway. At school, the day of an important history test, Bart complains of gastric distress. Mrs. Krabappel, however, believes Bart’s illness is an excuse not to take the exam. Bart collapses and is rushed to a hospital where Dr. Hibbert removes Bart’s appendix. While visiting her brother at the hospital, Lisa bumps into Bleeding Gums Murphy, who is recuperating from ulcerative colitis. Bleeding Gums is happy to see Lisa, as she is the only person who has visited him since being admitted to the hospital. He recounts how he began his career in show business, working with the likes of Blind Willy Witherspoon and Steve Allen. After a promising start, his career faded, and he ended up doing gigs on Jolly Green Giant commercials and a guest shot on “The Cosby Show.” With Lisa’s recital soon approaching, Bleeding Gums loans her his sax for good luck. Lisa’s jazz solo is a huge hit with the audience. She rushes to the hospital with the good news, but when she arrives, a nurse informs her that Bleeding Gums passed away.

Depressed by the loss, a tearful Lisa retreats to Bart’s tree house. When her brother is unable to cheer her, Lisa visits Grampa Simpson, but the old man sees death at every turn. On a rainy day, Lisa travels to a cemetery to attend the services for her friend. She grows angered, however, when she realizes no one in town knew Bleeding Gums or the magic of his music. Meanwhile, Lionel Hutz approaches Bart about suing Krusty over his cereal.

Hutz wins Bart’s case and the Krusty-O Cereal Corporation settles for 100,000 dollars. After legal fees are deducted, Bart ends up with 500 dollars. Meanwhile, Lisa asks a local DJ to honor her dead friend with a tribute. It turns out, however, that Bleeding Gums’ album is very rare. Lisa finds a copy at a comic book store, but the owner wants 500 dollars for it. Bart notices the record for sale and buys it for his sister. The DJ keep his word and plays the record, but the station’s power output is so low no one hears it. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning strikes the station’s antenna, sending the signal into radios throughout Springfield. Lisa is overjoyed.