The Walshes celebrate their seventeenth anniversary, but Cindy feels dissatisfied because Jim is neglecting her for his work. She has a chance meeting with old flame Glen, a talented artist. The two spend a lot of time together, and share a kiss after Glen's opening. Brandon and Brenda take part in a college study on twins, but are distracted by their parents' marital problems. David becomes the new campus DJ after Steve chokes in his tryout.

Brandon gets assigned to a story on West Beverly's star tennis player, Richard Azarian, who is initially resistant but finally allows Brandon to interview him. He finds a screenplay that Richard wrote, and it's autobiographical contents lead Brandon to worry that the tennis star may be considering patricide. Meanwhile, the gang learn their SAT scores, and Donna's low scores convince her that hanging out with the school's loser quotient is the only future she has.

Brandon submits one of Andrea's articles to a high school journalism contest. She wins the contest, but panics because a school district representative wants to conduct a home interview. Andrea asks her grandmother to say that she lives with her, but Rose does not want to play along. The school district initiates an investigation because they suspect that Andrea lives out of district. Andrea moves in with Rose, but decides to give up her fight because she cannot stand to be in the middle of the long-running feud between her parents and grandmother. Rose decides to let Andrea stay and agrees to talk to her daughter-in-law. Steve gets a girlfriend through a ""chance encounter"" at the Peach Pit, but Kelly suspects that the girl is only interested in his bank account.

Music: ""Radio Song"" by R.E.M. featuring KRS-One; ""I'll Turn to Stone"" by The Four Tops; ""Shiny Happy People"" by R.E.M. featuring Kate Pierson (#10, 1991); ""Losing My Religion"" by R.E.M.

The students of West Beverly unearth a time capsule from 1941, and put together a capsule of their own. Mrs. Scanlon organizes a surprise party for Scott's birthday, and pushes David to round up the guests. Donna is the only person who wants to attend. Kelly, Steve, Brenda, Brandon and Emily reluctantly come to the party, but act like jerks and refuse to participate in the activities. David tries to save the party by getting everyone to dance, but Brandon and Emily sneak upstairs to make out in the bedroom of Scott's little brother. Mrs. Scanlon throws them out, and the others act really indignant and walk out on the party. Scott goes to his father's den to get matches for the cake, and finds a gun in a locked desk drawer. He tries to twirl it for David, but accidentally shoots himself in the stomach and dies. David's friends and teachers annoy him by constantly asking about his well-being, while Mrs. Scanlon keeps trying to give him Scott's belongings. Donna takes offense when David c

Andrea is outraged when the school refuses to allow students to take part in a health survey that includes questions about sex. She goes before the school board and introduces a proposal to distribute condoms at West Beverly.

Brenda drives her parents crazy with her constant sulking, and sneaks around with Dylan behind their backs. Dylan wants someone other than Jim to handle his trust, but Jim refuses to break his deal with Iris. Jim and Cindy join the beach club and catch Brenda making out with Dylan. Jim screams at Brenda and makes a scene. She packs up her belongings and moves in with Dylan. Brandon bets Steve that he cannot hold down a job for a week. Steve takes Brandon's position at the Peach Pit, as Brandon has left for his summer job at the club. Nat fires Steve because he is completely incompetent. Brandon is wary of Andrea's new job as a children's camp counselor at the beach club. However, she has gotten over her crush on him and is seeing a successful West Beverly alum. Donna's parents get back together. Jackie goes into labor.

Music: ""Summertime Blues"" by Eddie Cochran (#8, 1958); ""Working in a Coal Mine"" by Lee Dorsey (#8, 1966)

Brandon wants to quit the paper so that he can enjoy his senior year. Andrea enlists the help of new advisor and English teacher Gil Meyers to change his mind. Gil decides to have Brandon replace Andrea as editor. She accuses him of sexism and wants to resign. Gil resolves the dispute by making Andrea and Brandon co-editors. A depressed Kelly changes her entire schedule to avoid Brenda and Dylan. Brenda, Steve and Donna sign up to be ""senior buddies"" for freshmen and transfer students. Donna is paired with David's summer fling Nikki, who has moved from San Francisco. David is afraid to confess to Donna, but Nikki inadvertently breaks the news. Donna tests David's love by having Nikki pretend to come on to him. Nikki expresses an interest in Brandon. Steve winds up with geeky freshman Herbert, while Brenda tries to help Scott's troubled sister Sue.

Music: ""Live and Learn"" by Joe Public (#4, 1992); ""Wishing on a Star"" by the Cover Girls (#9, 1992)

Brenda, Donna, Kelly, Steve and David prepare to take the SAT. Brenda constantly argues with Kelly, and also gets into hot water with her parents when they learn that she has been smoking since the Paris trip. Beth Nielson, a young producer from the tabloid show Back Story, seeks Brenda's help in putting together a story about Beverly Hills teens. The piece is intended to correct misconceptions, but Beth's boss deems it boring. She re-edits the story in a way that makes it seem that Brenda insulted and spilled dirt about all her friends. Everyone stops talking to Brenda, but Beth (who has quit her job in a crisis of conscience) comes to her defense. Brandon is hesitant to ask out Nikki because she is just a sophomore. She gets on his nerves by following him everywhere, but they eventually kiss. Dylan decides to bypass the SAT to visit his father in prison. Jack warns Dylan to make provisions for his future, and convinces him to take the test at a nearby high school. A West Beverly grad

Brandon and Brenda are at each other's throats after their parents reveal that they can only send one child to an out-of-state college. Jim and Cindy decide to take a second mortgage so that they won't have to play favorites, but Brandon and Brenda each decide to apply to local California University. Brenda fears that she and Dylan are growing apart, while he and Kelly bond over their mutual ambivalence toward college. Andrea believes that Gil is discouraging her from applying to his alma mater (and her dream school), Yale. She has nightmares about Gil trying to knock her off a tightrope.

Music: ""Venus"" by Shocking Blu

West Beverly's undefeated football team prepares for a showdown with powerhouse Shaw High. The school decides to forfeit after two Shaw students are shot to death by gang members during a game. Brandon is furious because the West Beverly student body cares more about the homecoming dance (coordinated by Brenda) than the shootings. He and Jordan Bonner, editor of the Shaw paper, run each other's editorials in their papers without school permission. Brandon invites the Shaw students to the dance, drawing the wrath of his friends and the administration. A fight nearly breaks out--partially due to the overzealous security guards--but Nikki and Donna defuse the situation by asking the Shaw guys to dance.

Music: ""Switch It Up,"" performed by Brian Austin Green; ""Let Me Be Yo

Kelly and Dylan go on a date, as Brenda insists that Dylan is free to see whomever he wishes. Brenda explodes when she and Rick run into Kelly and Dylan at a restaurant. Kelly denies that she is a bimbo and Brenda responds, ""I was always told that if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck…."" Kelly believes that Dylan is on the rebound, so she pushes him away. Brenda breaks up with Rick because they have little in common beyond their initial attraction. After the SAT board denies his appeal, a frustrated Dylan decides to leave town. Steve provides assistance to the wheelchair-bound Andrea in the hopes of curtailing her investigation of the computer break-in. Cindy suspects that Jim's beautiful new secretary is attracted to him, and Jim finds himself fantasizing about the woman.

Music: ""The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)"" by Betty Everett (#6, 1964); ""Great Balls of Fire"" (Jerry Lee Lewis - #2, 1958), performed by James Eckhouse and Dean Cain

Dylan's Porsche breaks down near a secluded ranch. The wealthy owner takes him in and wants him to stay permanently (as her boy toy). Dylan is disappointed when she sells her favorite horse, and decides not to live in an environment where everything is for sale. Brenda and Kelly make up. David fires Steve as manager after he is humiliated at a showcase because he had to go on without a sound check. Nikki is stunned when her ex-boyfriend Diesel's band performs a song he had written for her. Brandon cannot understand why Nikki is so taken with an abusive, boozing jerk. Nikki tries to leave when Diesel brings home another woman, so he hits her. Brandon punches out Diesel and takes Nikki home. The janitor warns Steve that he may have to turn him in to save himself.

Music: ""Switch It Up,"" performed by Brian Austin Gr

Brandon finds Jack Canner (the homeless vet he met at the beach club) rummaging through the dumpster behind the Peach Pit. He takes him home for Thanksgiving dinner, but Canner runs afoul of Jim, who accuses him of shirking his family responsibilities and hiding behind the flag. Brandon explains to Canner that Jim's father was a Marine; the two never spoke again after Jim refused to go to Vietnam. Canner helps repair a leaky roof, and Jim apologizes and urges him to reach out to his son. Jack McKay gets a furlough and spends Thanksgiving with Dylan. Jack insists on spending time with his girlfriend and gets on Dylan's case about dropping out. Jack's girlfriend, Christine, convinces Dylan to give his father another chance. Dylan returns to West Beverly and greets a surprised Brenda and Kelly with kisses. Steve and Samantha appear on a television show about celebrities, and Steve tells her on-camera that he has been expelled. Samantha stands up for Steve and gets his punishment reduced t

Two talking stars narrate an account of the gang's events during the week before Christmas. Brenda, Kelly and Dylan decide to be friends, but the arrangement falls apart after both girls make out with Dylan. Andrea is accepted to Yale, but gets dumped by her boyfriend. Nikki tells Brandon that she is moving back to San Francisco. Brandon and Andrea share a kiss while watching ""It's a Wonderful Life,"" but accuse each other of thinking about their exes. David is depressed about his mother's move to Portland and the fact that he will be left behind when everyone graduates. Everyone tries to back out of a trip to distribute gifts at an elementary school, but Donna and Mrs. Teasley force them to attend. Steve, who is forbidden from extracurricular activities as part of his probation, drives to the school on his own.

Music: ""Joy to the World""; ""Ti

Kelly stops attending her eating disorder group because the girls with more severe cases unnerve her. Kelly wins ""Most Beautiful"" in the senior poll, while Dylan is ""Most Handsome."" Kelly suspects that everyone judges her entirely on her looks, and blows up at Dylan and Jackie. Dylan lets her read a section from his manuscript in which he describes his feelings for her. Brenda feels isolated from her classmates when she fails to win anything in the poll. She decides to apply to the University of Minnesota. Brandon and Steve take Jim and Cindy to a Lakers game because they can't get dates. They do not arrive until nearly halftime because of Brenda's big news and a traffic jam. Steve wins the chance to take a halfcourt shot for $10,000, and makes the shot. He anonymously donates the money to the school to revive a summer camp for elementary school students.

Music: ""Man on the Moon"" by R.E.M. (#30, 1993); ""Humpin' Around"" by Bobby Brown (#3, 1992)

Brandon and Andrea discover that the school board has quietly passed a measure in which any senior found drunk at the prom will be barred from graduation. Jackie tells David and Kelly that she has sold the house. Brandon and Brenda do not plan to attend the prom. Brenda accepts an invitation from football star Tony Miller, and Andrea calls Brandon at the last minute after Jordan gets the flu. Donna is surprised when her mother gives her permisson to stay out all night. David rents a hotel room for the night. Mel serves champagne at a pre-prom party, and everyone except Dylan and Andrea drinks. Donna gets drunk (partially because she also hadn't eaten all day) and becomes very ill. The gang tries to sneak her out of the hotel, but she faints right in front of Mrs. Teasley.

Music: ""Time to Be Lovers"" by Michael McDonald and Chaka Khan; ""Action Speaks Louder Than Words""

Donna is suspended, and must enroll in summer school before she can graduate. Felice refuses to appeal the ruling because she is worried about her own reputation. Donna changes her mind by reminding her that her husband and Donna forgave Felice for her past mistakes. Brandon is disgusted by the students' apathy, and Gil encourages him to take action on Donna's behalf. Brandon convinces the entire senior class to walk out on finals as a show of solidarity. Dylan doesn't want to participate because he has set his sights on making it into the University of California-Berkeley. The juniors join the protest after Brandon agrees to add the elimination of a proposed dress code to the demands.

At graduation, the friends reminisce about their high-school days and look ahead to college.

Dylan experiences a number of bizarre dreams as he fights for his life. He has recurring nightmares about trying to save Erica from a speeding train as Suzanne, Kevin and his dealer attempt to kill him. A medical student takes a special interest in Dylan's condition; she describes the nightmares as a battle for his soul. Dylan takes a turn for the worse, but recovers following an inspiring conversation with his father. He awakes with his mother at his bedside. Steve and Brandon lead the KEG house team in a flag football tournament. They are distracted by news of Dylan's accident, and Steve bristles when his father appoints himself the unofficial coach. Steve makes a bid to take over the Peach Pit After Dark.

Music: ""Doctor My Eyes"" by Jackson Browne (#8, 1972); ""Spirits in the Material World"" by The Police (#11, 1982)

Dylan asks Kelly to join him on a trip around the world. Valerie sees the tickets in Kelly's room and tells Brandon. Brandon counters with a marriage proposal, and Kelly asks for time to think things over. She eventually rejects both men and proclaims, ""I choose me."" Andrea and Jesse prepare for their move to Connecticut. The gang surprises her by organizing a picnic lunch at West Beverly High (although Brandon and Dylan, still waiting for Kelly's decision, opt not to attend). Everyone meets Andrea and Jesse at the Peach Pit one last time to say goodbye. Ray lashes out at Donna for devoting time to her friends and studying for finals. He drags her away from Andrea's picnic and verbally berates her. Jim considers a possible move to Hong Kong as his company offers a promotion and substantial raise. He and Cindy decide to go through with the move.

Music: ""I'll Stand by You"" by the Pretenders (#16, 1994); ""Remember"" by Harry Nilsson

David is arrested for statutory rape and gets suspended from his radio show. Dylan bails him out of jail, then learns from Mrs. Teasley that Denise is a troubled girl who receives little attention from her parents. Dylan confronts Denise's parents and--speaking from his own experience as a neglected teen--explains that their daughter's actions are a cry for help. Denise drops the charges. David thanks Dylan by offering him a place to stay, as Dylan recently sold his house. Steve bristles at the news that his mother is dating her much younger co-star. Steve sees the man kissing another woman at the After Dark and starts a fight. Samantha reveals that she is not seeing the man; she is actually gay. Matt experiences a lull in his business and cannot pay his rent. Steve offers to let him move into the house in exchange for legal services for the Beat. Kelly's grandfather, who suffers from emphysema, refuses to undergo an operation that could prolong his life. After Kelly tells him that Jac