Two years earlier, young Jesse (Richter) helped the Orca (killer whale) Willy jump to freedom. Now on a holiday visit with his half-brother Elvis (Capra), who arrives after their mother dies, Jesse meets Willy again, and his Native American friend, Randolph (Schellenberg). Jesse is surprised to feel the stirrings of adolescent love for Rudolph's granddaughter Nadine (Schellhardt).

Suddenly a disaster occurs: a crashed oil tanker endangers the seaside and several whales. Jesse and his family struggle to save humans and whales in a tender movie that turns into an action film (95 minutes long) suitable for all ages.

Willy the Orca is threatened by illegal whalers poaching whales for fancy sushi. Jesse (Richter), now 16, has a job on a whale research ship, along with an attractive but iconoclastic scientist, Drew (Corley). Aboard ship, Captain John Wesley (Kilpatrick) struggles with son, Max (Berry), who isn't happy about his father's job (although he can't bring himself to say so). Along the way, Willy happily reunites with Jesse, and helps Max realize that whales are valuable as free, living creatures. Old friend Randolph, a Native American and friend both to Jesse and Willy, joins the adventure.