Beverly Hills, 90210 - Season 3, Episodes 29 & 30

"We're looking forward to all going
to the same university in
Season 4!"

"Commencement"
Original airdate: 5/19/1993

Episode summary: The gang graduates from West Beverly Hills High School in a two-part episode that's packed to the gills with superfluous flashbacks.

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Recap: The gang has gathered together in the hills near the iconic Hollywood sign. Steve is babbling to them about the "once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon" that was the half court shot he made at the Lakers game. He compares that momentous event to their upcoming high school graduation, since it too is something that only comes around once in a lifetime. David, who still has two more exams to study for, wearily tells Steve to cut to the chase. For plot purposes, Steve quickly remarks that he also can't graduate until he gets Mrs. Teasley to officially sign off on his detention, then tells his friends he wants to do something special with all of them. Brandon tells him that his idea - which will remain a dull mystery until the end of the episode - is definitely an inspired one, but doubts they have enough time to pull it off. Steve says he already has all of the supplies that are needed (e.g canvas and paint) and just needs Donna's help with the design work. Donna is concerned that this plan could land them in trouble, but Steve insists that it's important to let people know that they were there, and that they mattered [even though, who cares, and no you don't]. Brenda announces that she's in, and eventually everyone else agrees to carry out Steve's idea. With that settled, they all clump together in a big circle, stick their arms in the center of the circle, fling their arms upwards, and give themselves a cheer.

West Beverly High. Excitement is in the air as a crew of extras sets up the stage and chairs for the commencement ceremony. As the band rehearses, Ahn-drea pores over her valedictorian speech...and across the lawn, Donna tells Kelly how wistful she is about high school being over. Kelly, however, says she's more than ready to move on to the next stage of her life. She complains about how unnecessary it is to rehearse the ceremony, grumbling that it's not very complicated to walk to the stage, receive your diploma, and exit the stage. Donna says that as someone who came dangerously close to missing the experience because she stupidly got shit-faced during prom, she's more than happy to rehearse as many times as is deemed necessary.


On the lawn, Brandon, Dylan, Tony Miller, and Brenda (who's wearing a long dress) are playing football. The game abruptly ends when Dylan announces that he has to go meet a friend for lunch.


Ahn-drea is standing on the stage, looking nervous as she tests the sound system. Gil strolls over and assures her that the microphone is in perfect working order, and then asks her if she'd like to rehearse her speech. She tells him that she doesn't want to sound over-rehearsed then says (and - OMFG - I quote), "Public oratory tends to be most compelling when the confluence of language is unfettered with the constraints of excess repetition." As Gil's eyes glaze over, he kicks himself for initiating a conversation with Ahn-drea as though she were a normal person, then flees.


Detention classroom. Brandon pops into detention to visit Steve, who's slumped in his chair. He sullenly tells Brandon that Mrs. Teasley has released all of the detentioners but him, and he's worried that she's not going to allow him to graduate. That would be pretty damn hilarious.


Papa Walsh's office. Dylan and Papa Walsh are eating take-out for lunch. They chat about Berkeley, and Papa Walsh compliments him for making the decision to take the SAT again. The topic of Iris comes up, and Dylan expresses his annoyance at his mother for assuming that he's going to blow his millions on stupid shit. Papa Walsh then presents him with a check in the amount of his total net worth; the trust fund is officially his. I'm confused - didn't Dylan already get that check shortly after the trust fund was officially dissolved several episodes ago?


West Beverly High. The bell rings for the last time, marking the end of the gang's senior year. David is stressed because he thinks he blew his chemistry exam, but Donna just chuckles to Kelly that he says this after every test. David is also bummed 'cause there's a new "voice of West Beverly" in the DJ booth...which, frankly, I think is long overdue, considering that David monopolized that gig for two solid years.


Steve tentatively enters Mrs. Teasley's office. She invites him to have a seat, then starts railing about how every class has at least one irredeemable screw-up for whom punishment has no effect. Steve looks despondent, convinced that he's not going to be able to graduate with his friends. Mrs. Teasley tells him that she thought he was this irredeemable screw-up who she'd simply have to write off...until she realized she had misjudged him. She acknowledges that his grades have improved during the past several months...though, no doubt, that was due to all of the enforced study time acquired during detention. But her real awakening to the possibility that Steve might not be a total lost cause came the day after he won $10,000 by making the half court shot at the Lakers game. It turns out that someone anonymously donated that exact amount of money to the Alvarado Street Summer Camp Fund - someone with the return address of The Hartley House. Mrs. Teasley finally breaks into a warm smile and tells Steve what a wonderful thing it was for him to do. And that it was so easy to be traced back to him.


A minute later, Steve is in the hall, jumping excitedly around Brandon as he tells him that Mrs. Teasley offered to write him a recommendation letter to any college he wants...and what he wants is to go to California University with his BFF! He then turns around and kisses some random girl standing by her locker and tells her he's been wanting to do that to her all year. Gross.


The Blaze newsroom. Ahn-drea is nervously fine-tuning her valedictorian speech, and wails to Brandon about how awful it is. She calls it pretentious, trivial, and wishy-washy. Well, d'yuh - how else would a speech written by a pompous bore like Ahn-drea turn out? Brandon offers to listen to her speech and give her some pointers, and she effusively thanks him and gives him a giant bear hug. Blech.


The Peach Pit. The gang is celebrating the official end of their senior year - except for David, who's slumped over the table in a deep sleep. Donna explains to everyone that he's completely drained from all the studying he's been doing, along with preparing for the senior breakfast. Brandon enters the diner, joins the group, and announces that the senior wills are ready to go, and that they look great. As usual, Nat sticks his big fat nose into a conversation that has absolutely nothing to do with him and asks why he wasn't asked to leave anything in the senior wills. He then pontificates about the items he would leave to various people...if he were, in fact, a teenage boy about to graduate from high school:

• To Papa Walsh he would bequeath the karaoke machine that almost drove his business into the ground
• To Donna he would bequeath Color Me Badd, the grisly boy band who once serenaded her in the Peach Pit after she discovered that her uppity mother was having a sleazy affair
• To Brenda he would bequeath Lahw-verne - her ghastly waitress alter ego - and we get an awful flashback of Brenda yapping in her phony Queens accent in the Fame is Where You Find It episode 

Jordan Bonner enters the diner, and Brandon congratulates him on being the valedictorian of his 'hood high school. Brandon tells him that Ahn-drea is at home working on her speech, so Jordan asks him to pass along a message of good luck. Brandon then asks him to look out for Ahn-drea when they get to Yale next year, and to try to keep her from driving herself too crazy. Jordan replies that he would happily attempt that impossible task if, in fact, she ends up going to Yale. Brandon's all, "Wuh?!" and reminds Jordan that Ahn-drea has been dreaming about going to Yale her entire life. Jordan informs him that she's having serious second thoughts about going...then brusquely asks him if it ever occurred to him why she's having second thoughts. He abruptly exits the diner, leaving Brandon to stare contemplatively into space. Nooooooooooo!!!!!!


The Walsh house. The twins arrive home, and Mama and Papa Walsh inform Brenda that a packet arrived for her from the admissions office of the University of Minnesota. And it's very thick. Yippee!!!!!!!


Kelly's/David's house. As Kelly and David pack up their belongings for their imminent move, Kelly remarks on all the changes coming her way. David philosophizes about how they worked so hard to finish one thing, only to be at the beginning of something entirely new. Yep, it's the journey called life, Davey boy. Kelly compliments David for his metamorphosis into a cool guy from the dork he used to be, particularly when Mel and Jackie first hooked up. Kelly acknowledges that living under the same roof with him has turned out to be pretty fun, and they both agree how awesome it was to get a baby sister out their parents' marriage, short-lived as it was, along with a step-brother/sister.


The Walsh house. The Walshes are eating a sumptuous ice cream dessert with fudge topping. They're discussing the pros and cons of Brenda attending the University of Minnesota versus the fictional California University. Brandon is pulling for his sister to stay in L.A. and points out that CU is rated as a much better school...not to mention cheaper. But Brenda is still undecided and just says she wants to keep all of her options open in case Aaron Spelling changes his mind about wanting to fire her. The doorbell rings, and as Papa Walsh goes to answer the door, Mama Walsh asks Brenda if her wishy-washiness in choosing a university has anything to do with Dylan. Brenda derisively retorts by asking her what kind of wuss chooses her college based on where some guy is going? Cue the arrival of Ahn-drea, who ambles into the kitchen and sounds uncharacteristically airheaded when she chirps, "What are ya eeatin'?"


Brandon's bedroom. Ahn-drea reads her speech aloud to Brandon, and he looks bewildered by its wordy horribleness. He wonders if perhaps she's trying to conform to an image of what she should be saying, rather than just saying what's genuinely in her heart. Ahn-drea agrees with his assessment, and starts wailing in her usual annoying, rambley, frenetic way about how - at this late date - she can't possibly write a new speech from scratch. Brandon irritably tells her to get a grip, then promises he'll help her with it. She calms down long enough to rhetorically ask him how she's ever going to get through college without him, and he tightly replies, "You'll manage." The two then reminisce about the day they first met...and also when she propositioned him on the carousel during the Home Again episode. After that disturbing flashback, Ahn-drea starts babbling about how maybe she shouldn't try to become a Yalie if that's not really who she is...and suggests that she should stay in L.A. and attend California University with the rest of the Beverly Hills, 90210 cast. Brandon looks aghast at the thought of being stuck in the same university with this socially stunted nitwit for the next four years, and starts babbling gibberish. He orders her to go to Yale and makes it clear that they don't have the kind of relationship she should give up her dreams for. Ahn-drea interrupts his rant and claims that she's only having second thoughts about Yale 'cause it's so expensive, and that she doesn't want to be in hock for the rest of her life. Mmm hmm. Brandon swiftly apologizes for jumping to the "wrong" conclusion.


Dylan's house. Kelly arrives to hang out with Dylan. He mentions that he's been reading some literature about California University, and Kelly sighs and remarks that she's not looking forward to another four years of school. The two reminisce about the night they swam in the hotel pool when Dylan officially declared that he chose her over Brenda. After that flashback, the two start going at it on the couch, but then get interrupted by the doorbell. Dylan ambles over to the door and sourly informs Kelly that it's Iris, and Kelly snarls, "Unbelievable!" and rushes to the bathroom to make herself decent. Dylan opens his front door and does not look thrilled to see his mother. She tells him she flew in for his graduation, and he snipes at her for not calling before just showing up on his doorstep. Dylan then calls out to Kelly, and this prompts Iris to make a face and exclaim, "You're still with Kelly?!" Haha! Her comment irritates Dylan further, and he starts bitching at her for not being available after Jack got blown up, and she explains that she was trekking in the Andes at the time and wasn't near a phone. After some more tedious back and forth, Iris tells Kelly that her visit will be a short one, and then stomps toward the door. Dylan bitchily offers to book her a hotel room and picks up the phone and reserves a suite for her. As he's doing that, Iris solemnly warns Kelly to be careful...and that money changes people.


Senior breakfast. Ahn-drea is still working on her valedictorian speech while a crew of extras sets up for the senior breakfast. Brandon tells Ahn-drea to give it a rest with her speech, but when that doesn't work, he finds Steve and urges him to go and lighten her up. Steve accepts the challenge, strides over to Ahn-drea, and grabs the speech out of her hands. He ignores her protests and distracts her by asking her if she'd like to know what he left her in the senior wills. When he has her attention, he tells her, "An egg." The two then have a flashback of the U4EA episode when they went to a convenience store to try to exchange an egg for the address of an underground party. After the flashback, the two continue to laugh hysterically about it.


Everyone arrives for the breakfast, and the gang sits together at a table. Brenda informs Kelly that she bequeathed to her "the double date from hell", and we get a flashback of the two prepubescent boys who were not the Princeton guys they were expecting. As everyone at the table laughs heartily, Donna tells Brenda that she bequeathed to her some Cerveaux de Veau (veal brains), and then we get another flashback of their trip to fake Paris last summer, when they accidentally ordered veal brains in a fake French restaurant. This leads to more hearty laughter. David stops by the table to give Donna the heads-up that it's time for her to change into her costume for the opening skit. Brenda privately remarks to Brandon that while she loved being in Paris - then pauses to stare longingly across the table at Dylan and Kelly canoodling - she says she can't help wondering what would be if she hadn't gone. Mmm...I'm pretty confident that Dylan would have eventually gotten sick of her unrelenting bitchitude, independent of the Kelly factor. Brandon asks her if she's told anyone about being accepted into the University of Minnesota and she shakes her head.


On stage, David and Donna are dressed up as Wayne and Garth from Saturday Night Live...and after a brief, unfunny skit, the senior breakfast officially begins. David's first order of business is to publicly embarrass Steve by calling him to the stage and presenting him with a giant fake key, and telling him that it unlocks every boys bathroom in the school. Womp womp! Donna then introduces David's video diary, which will feature outtakes of adventures experienced by the show's main cast members during Seasons 1-3. The other 99.95% of the student body will, of course, be rudely ignored and alienated at their own senior breakfast.


Outtake #1 is from the Camping Trip episode, when David filmed the gang as they woke up in a leaky cabin looking fake sleepy and cranky. While watching this, Dylan recalls how he saved Brandon when he almost fell over a cliff. The two look over at each other meaningfully, and Dylan gives him a subtle, manly nod.


Outtake #2 is from the One Man and a Baby episode, when Brenda and Kelly won skydiving lessons in a radio contest. I can't even fathom how video footage of their skydive would even exist - was there a camera crew on the airplane? - or, for that matter, why this footage would be considered an appropriate clip for the graduating class's senior breakfast.


Outtake #3 is from "Hello Day", when Brenda, Donna, and Kelly dressed up all in black to be background singers for Emily Valentine...and this prompts Brandon to have a flashback of the day he and Emily met. When he finally snaps out of his reverie, he's startled by the sight of Brenda, Donna, Kelly, and two random girls on stage singing a song about all the girls he hooked up with during Seasons 1-3. It's a mostly cheesy, saccharine little ditty, but further along some of the lyrics get downright weird:


Brandon - wants a girl who's dreamy
Brandon - wants a girl who's creamy [insert obvious sexual joke here]


We then get treated to an embarrassing montage of Brandon's failed relationships over the years. Dylan comes over to sit beside him, calls him a heartthrob, and asks him which of these girls was the nearest and dearest to his heart. Brandon tells Dylan he'd be surprised, then has a flashback of Tricia Kinney, the lithe figure skater from the Fire and Ice episode. I'm definitely surprised he picked her out of the pile, considering how totally forgettable that episode was. When Dylan hears who Brandon's top pick is, he just kind of shrugs disinterestedly. LOL.


Outtake #4 is from the Spring Dance episode, and it's shown as a shout-out to West Beverly High's "number one song and dance man". We're then forced to relive the memory of David bopping on the dance floor while he's hunched over, his arms flailing about uncontrollably. Ahn-drea remarks that she never did see the live version of this spectacle, since she arrived at the dance late. Brenda looks pensive, murmurs that she too missed much of the dancing, then has a flashback of her and Dylan moments before they doinked in a hotel room. When she snaps out of it, she stares over at Dylan and Kelly, who are obliviously canoodling.


After the senior breakfast wraps up, David mopes down the hall with Donna and tells her how burned out he is. She says it's perfectly natural to feel that way, considering the heavy workload he had all year. He then tells her he doesn't know why he's been pushing himself so hard, since he could have stayed at West Beverly High for another year and been "king of the mountain". LOL. Donna reminds him that he worked so hard in order to graduate with his friends...and also to remain relevant when Beverly Hills, 90210 shifts its focus to California University in Season 4. David moans about how he has no idea what his future plans are...and that it feels as though the gang is breaking up. Would that that were true, David. Would that there weren't seven more seasons of you people being unable to separate and pursue your own adult lives.


The Walsh house. Most of the gang is in the Walsh's back yard, working on the mysterious project. Brandon tells them that Ahn-drea is having second thoughts about going to Yale 'cause it's so expensive, and Dylan remarks that since Yale is a prestigious Ivy League school, she should definitely go. Kelly jokingly tells Dylan that since he's so rich he should give Ahn-drea some financial aid, and Dylan immediately shoots her the stink-eye at the mention of his money. She quickly apologizes, and he mumbles that they'll talk about it later. The camera pans over to Brenda, and she does her best to hide her glee at this obvious tension. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Papa Walsh has arrived home from work and Mama Walsh tells him that the gang is in the backyard...but she warns him not to say anything about the University of Minnesota in front of Brenda's friends. Neither of them knows if this means that Brenda has decided to move back to the Midwest or stay in California. Papa Walsh laments how quickly their kids have grown up, and then he and his wife reminisce about the time they left the twins alone for the first time, and we get a couple of clips from [the B.Y.O.B. episode] when Brandon got thrown in jail for drunk driving.


Mama and Papa Walsh bring some refreshments out to the gang, but the gang refuses to let them get a look at the mysterious project, saying it's a surprise. Papa Walsh then gives Dylan a once-over and the two reminisce about the day they first met...and of course this causes Brenda to have a flashback of when Dylan asked her out for the first time. A few minutes after that, Brandon and Steve have a superfluous flashback of when they went out trolling for chicks and picked up two slutty women who ended up stealing Steve's Corvette. Brandon tells Steve that he's come a long way since then, but Steve tells him he has a confession to make. He admits that he made damn sure his "anonymous" donation to the Alvarado camp thing could be traced back to a Mr. Hartley of The Hartley House. This doesn't faze Brandon, and he tells Steve that despite his self-serving motives, donating that money to charity was an uncharacteristically nice thing for him to do.


Kelly's/David's house. Kelly orders David to stop moping around. She informs him that they finished the mysterious project at the Walsh house earlier, but he tells her he's way too bummed to go out with everyone later 'cause he's still worried about flunking chemistry. Kelly remarks on how much he's accomplished since the ninth grade, and David tells her that whenever he thinks about that time, all he can think about is his dead yokel friend, Scott. We're then subjected to back-to-back flashbacks of when it became painfully obvious that David and Scott were starting to drift apart, as well as when Scott committed a self-inflicted mercy killing during his birthday party. When the flashbacks end, Donna telephones to see how David's doing, and he tells her he's starting to come around.


Dylan's house. Kelly phones to apologize to Dylan about the joke she made earlier regarding financing Ahn-drea's education. He tells her he appreciates the call, then cuts the conversation short. After he hangs up, he walks over to the couch where - ack! - Brenda is sitting. She tells Dylan that all through the senior breakfast she was thinking about returning to Minnesota...and that she wanted to tell the gang about it, but was scared no one would convince her to stay and go to California University with the rest of them. She tells him she's still torn about what she wants to do, so he jokes that she should just flip a coin. She snippily asks him if that's how he chose between her and Kelly, but catches herself and swiftly apologizes to him for her sudden bitchitude. He tells her he realizes that she's really asking if they'd still be together if there were no Kelly in the picture...and he admits that he doesn't know, and diplomatically states that their noxious relationship got "too intense". She agrees that it was a volatile train wreck from the get-go, then has a flashback of when Dylan was so angry after an argument with his father that he smashed a potted plant in front of her. She also recalls that they had some good times, like when they went to Baja together...and this prompts another flashback of when Brenda moved into Dylan's house and Papa Walsh stormed over and demanded that she come home with him. Brenda ruefully remarks that that was the beginning of the end.


Brenda asks Dylan if Kelly was the one who had called a few minutes earlier, and he confirms that it was. She then asks why he didn't mention to Kelly that she was over, and he lamely retorts, "She never asked." He then asks her exactly why she came over, and she tells him she wanted to say goodbye in private. He stares at her and asks, "How private?" and the two gaze into each other's eyes longingly until - mercifully - the doorbell rings. Brenda pretends to be relieved and jokes, "Phew, saved by the bell." Dylan answers the door and finds his mother standing there once again. After some obligatory back and forth sniping, she tells him that her bags are packed, and that the cab can either take her to his graduation ceremony or to the airport. Dylan finally lightens up and invites her inside...and Brenda happily greets her and the two women hug.


Kelly's house. As Jackie tends to Erin, she tells Kelly how proud she is of her for graduating from high school. Kelly remarks on how big Erin is getting, and recalls that if she hadn't stayed home all summer to spend time with her baby sister, she and Dylan might never have hooked up. The topic of Kelly's biological father comes up, and Jackie derisively refers to him as "an emotional no-show", and huffs about how he should have made time to attend her graduation ceremony. Kelly half-heartedly defends him and says that at least he called. She then has a sudden revelation and declares that she wants to major in psychology when she goes off to California U in Season 4.


The Walsh house. Brenda and Brandon are both in front of the mirror, primping for the ceremony. Brenda looks contemplative and remarks on how much they've been through over the last few years. They talk about when they first moved to Beverly Hills, and naturally we get a flashback of the pilot episode when Brenda asks her brother if they're "going to make it here". Brenda acknowledges that he's always been there for her, and she won't ever forget it. They establish that each is the other's best friend and then hug.


West Beverly High. The chairs slowly start to fill up, and the graduates are in their caps and gowns, preparing for the official ceremony. Donna tells Kelly how grateful she is to everyone for supporting her during the Donna Martin graduates! protest, which made it possible for her to experience this milestone. David walks over and announces that he just found out he did great on his chemistry exam...and the three share a group hug. Over near the water fountain, Ahn-drea runs into Dylan, who wishes her luck on her valedictorian speech. As Dylan bends over to get a drink of water, he suddenly hears Jack's voice and then actually sees him. He tells Dylan how proud he is of him, says that he doesn't have to go to college on his account...and that he should just do what's right for him. This moment would have been far more poignant if Jack were actually dead...and not alive and well, and living in the Witness Protection Program as we discover during Season 10.


The band starts playing, Steve bellows, "It's show time!" and the graduates march toward the stage. Mrs. Teasley formally presents the graduating class of '93, and they all get a standing ovation. Suddenly, Ahn-drea looks distressed, and sinks into her seat. When Brenda asks her whassup, she miserably moans that she lost her speech. Jesus. Brandon leans over and tells her that surely she must have the dumb thing memorized by now, but she just wails that she's a complete and total blank. Yep.


As Gil introduces her as the class valedictorian, Ahn-drea starts hyperventilating. Brandon testily orders her to knock it off, pull herself together, and go give her #%*$! speech. She walks over to the podium to address the audience and starts out reasonably OK...but then gets nervous and falters. Brandon groans and tells Brenda that Ahn-drea has lapsed into the "pretentious and trivial" version of her speech. At one point, Ahn-drea draws a complete blank, but then makes a joke about how none of them have the faintest idea of what they're doing at all. The audience assumes it was a joke, so they chuckle, and this reaction encourages Ahn-drea to finally get back on track. She speaks passionately about how West Beverly High has given all of them the tools to face the future, that friendships will last forever, and that no one can ever take away this moment in time. When she finishes, she gets a standing ovation. Blech. I hate anything that validates Ahn-drea.


One by one, the seniors are called to the stage to receive their diplomas. As Kelly waits for her name to be called, she has a flashback of when her father didn't show up for dinner as promised, and she later blubbered about it to Dylan at the Peach Pit. When Donna receives her diploma, David has a flashback about when she told him she will not, under any circumstances, put out for him. That was a weird flashback to have on graduation day. When Dylan receives his diploma, Brandon has a flashback to The Green Room episode when Dylan mumbled something about how he and Byron are "mad, bad and dangerous to know". That line still makes me cringe.


Just after Kelly is handed her diploma, she gazes into the crowd, looks startled, and begins to tear up. Steve assumes that the ceremony has stirred this sudden emotion, so she explains to him that her father is here. The camera then pans over to a portly middle aged man, who smiles woodenly and bobs his head up and down. Fortunately, he gets recast in a future season.


Papa Walsh looks wistful when Brenda receives her diploma...and for some reason he thinks back to when he was especially pissed off about her relationship with Dylan and tells her that one minute she's his little girl, the next minute she's doinking a slouchy hipster and taking pregnancy tests. That storyline still makes me cringe.


When Ahn-drea receives her diploma, Gil wishes her good luck at Yale. If only, Gil. If only..


Once the entire class has received their diplomas, everyone gives themselves a loud, "Whoop!" and flings their blue caps into the air.


Afterward, everyone mingles and Mama Walsh takes a group shot of the gang. Kelly sees her father and ditches Steve to run toward him for a hug. I guess she's no longer mad at him for his deadbeat ways. Iris and Dylan chat without their usual sniping (thank goodness), and he tells her that he felt Jack's spirit today. Yeah...whatever, Dylan. After that, Mama Walsh takes a photo of Dylan and Iris, and then Iris offers to take one of Dylan with Mama and Papa Walsh. A few minutes later, Kelly scampers over to Dylan and excitedly tells him that she's going to dinner with her mother and her father...and adds that she'll always remember this day because both of her parents were in the same place together without wanting to kill each other. Huzzah!


The Walsh house. Dylan comes over to meet with Papa Walsh and tells him how weird people have been acting toward him lately because of his money. Papa Walsh then warns him about how some rich people fall into a trap and lose touch with who they are - but Dylan assures him that that won't happen to him. He then announces that he would like Papa Walsh to put all of his money back into a trust, like before...and Papa Walsh is amazed that he's doing this after all the trouble he and Jack went through to dissolve the trust. Dylan says he's happy getting his regular allowance checks...but will need an advance 'cause he wants to bum around Europe for the summer. He may attend college in the fall, but right now he needs a break from slouching around all world-weary and shit.


Late that night, the gang has finished implementing their mysterious project and is camping out in the Hollywood Hills. Ahn-drea announces to everyone that she's decided to throw all caution to the wind and attend Yale, and adds that she wouldn't be the first person to go into debt in order to get a great education. Stop it. Stop tormenting me. Dylan isn't sure whether or not he'll be university bound next fall, but he is sure he'll be in Europe all summer...and this, of course, makes Kelly look put out. Brandon asks Brenda if she's decided yet, and Donna scrunches her face in confusion and asks, "Decided what?" Brenda then makes her announcement that she has officially decided to attend the University of Minnesota, and explains that she finally felt sure of her decision while she was listening to Ahn-drea's chaotically delivered valedictorian speech. She looks pleased when everyone claims they're going to miss her. Dylan then lists all the places he wants to visit during his travels through Europe, and asks Kelly if she has a passport. She looks surprised, happy, and relieved, then gives him a hug and tells him she'd looooove to go.


They all wake early the next morning, pack up their sleeping gear, and rush over to their cars. As the song Blood is Thicker Than Water by The Triplets plays in the background, they all drive down the winding hill. When they reach the bottom, they park their cars, and then gather together to look up at the defaced Hollywood sign, which now reads W BEV HI '93.


I wonder if you could get arrested for doing something like that?

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