Beverly Hills, 90210 - Season 8, Episode 4

"OMG, Steve! My date tonight was an even bigger horse's ass than you are."

"Coming Home"
Original airdate: 10/1/1997

Episode summary: Kelly's memory starts to return as she spends quality time with Brandon. Steve babysits Zack in order to free up Hilary Swank so she can go out on a date. Donna is troubled when she discovers abused employees working in a sweatshop and wants Brandon and Steve to publish a story about it in their newly launched rag, The Beverly Beat.

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Recap: Brandon and Donna are hanging up a Welcome Home sign in the beach apartment in anticipation of Kelly's return from the hospital...but Brandon doesn't look thrilled that Kelly decided to move into the beach house instead of returning to Casa Walsh. Jackie arrives with Kelly, and and Brandon kisses her cheek and the two exchange awkward chitchat. Steve drops by with flowers, and Jackie thanks him and Brandon for coming, but says that Kelly needs to get some much needed rest. 

Out on the patio, Steve assures Brandon that things will get better...but Brandon continues to look glum and remarks that he noticed Kelly is no longer wearing his diamond ring on her necklace. 

Donna, who's wearing a crop top and super tight jeans to accentuate her skeletal frame, tells Kelly they've been besties for years, and Kelly says she sensed that and has learned to trust her instincts. She says she also feels close to Valerie, and Donna chuckles and says she may want to question those instincts. Kelly asks her if she really really loved Brandon, and Donna assures her she did. David, Noah, and Devin (the lead singer of the band that was playing at the After Dark during the previous episode) suddenly stumble in. David announces that Devin will be crashing at the beach house for a little while, and Donna looks peeved and reminds him it's Kelly's first day home. When Kelly assures her she doesn't mind, Donna tells Devin he can crash in Clare's old room. After everyone disperses, Kelly asks Noah if he'd like to go for a walk. He flinches and says that their last walk didn't go over so well, but she just shrugs and jokes that the benefit of having amnesia is that she doesn't know who to please, so she just pleases herself.

As Kelly and Noah stroll along the beach, they chitchat about friends, family, and life in general. Kelly says it's freaky to not remember a guy she used to be in love with...especially now that she has feelings for someone else. Noah's like, "Ack!" and tells her she should probably try to figure things out with Brandon. 

The Peach Pit. Donna and Valerie are hard at work, discussing tasks related to their personal shopping business venture. Donna tells Valerie that some rich guy named Cooper Hargrove wants their help planning a party for 200 people, and Valerie says she's definitely up for that. Donna then mentions that she has a job interview with a clothing designing company later, and Valerie is impressed that this could possibly be a foot in the door of a fashion career.

The Beverly Beat. Steve is working the phones, trying to find advertisers to buy space in their fledgling newspaper...and he's gabbling out loud, trying to devise a marketing strategy. Brandon, meanwhile, is tapping away at his laptop and says he's got lots of ideas, but nothing that sets them apart from every other local paper. Kelly suddenly drops by unannounced and asks Brandon if he's free for dinner, and he instantly perks up and goes, "Sure! I'm free right now!" - LOL - and the two head out, leaving Steve to continue strategizing about how to keep the Beat in business.

Donna's in a fancy office, interviewing for a job with the actor who played Adam Carrington on Dynasty. Naturally, he loooves her designs so much that he offers to buy them, then says he'd like to hire her as a freelancer. Donna is thrilled, profusely thanks him, and says she can see her way out...but on her way out, she gets lost and somehow ends up near a grungy looking service entrance. She encounters a couple of Latinas, and the younger of the two looks like she just got a nasty burn on her arm. Donna orders the older woman to get the girl to a doctor, but the two just stare at her fearfully, then rush into what looks like a sweatshop. Donna's all, "Hey - wait!" and stands outside the iron door, scrunching her big face with confusion and concern.

The Walsh house. After Brandon gives Kelly a quick tour of the house, she tells him that what she really wants to see is their room. They head upstairs, and when they enter the master bedroom, Kelly looks around, appearing deep in thought. After a few minutes, she tears up and says she still can't remember anything and orders Brandon to take her home. Now.

Hargrove estate. Donna and Valerie are sitting on the patio, waiting for Cooper Hargrove to make an appearance. When they see an older man berating a servant, they assume it's Cooper and start grumbling about what an abusive douchewad he is - just as a young-ish man walks over. Donna and Valerie look sheepish when they learn that he's Cooper, and that the man berating the servant is his assistant. Cooper good-naturedly assures Donna and Valerie that they're not fired for badmouthing the man they thought was him...but then doesn't lift a finger to admonish his assistant from verbally abusing the hapless servant. Assfuck.

The Beverly Beat. Brandon and Steve are interviewing a woman named Terri for the position of All Purpose Assistant...and they offer her the job, but she declines and says she'd prefer to find employment with a more established newspaper. Brandon tries to win her over by saying that despite not being able to offer her any perks like medical insurance, she'll have a lot more input at the Beat than she probably would at any other paper. Terri mulls this over and somehow thinks this is a compelling enough reason to accept a job working for two inexperienced nitwits.

After Dark. Devin is on stage, performing with his band while Brandon, Steve, and David hang out and enjoy the show. Hilary Swank comes over to say hello, and she and Steve have a snarky exchange about...well, I dunno 'cause my brain can no longer process their tedious bickering. When Steve ambles off somewhere, Hilary Swank sits with Brandon, who's jotting down notes for an article on the band for the Beat. She asks him if he's too lonely without Kelly to go home to an empty house, and he nods sadly, then tells her that the police caught the shooter and he's currently awaiting trial. He adds that while he's grateful Kelly's in one piece, he really wants her back the way she was.

Marina. Valerie arrives at the boat and finds Noah tinkering with something inside the cabin. He tells her he's taking the boat for a test run, then coldly says, "Catch ya later" and Valerie gets mad and sarcastically says, "I guess I'm just good for one night." Well, d'yuh - but then, no one held a gun to your head and forced you to jump in the sack with Noah so soon after meeting him. She bitterly asks him if he's lusting after Kelly, and he says no...but admits there is someone else. Valerie scrunches her face in misery and flees the boat and runs to her car so she can weep in private. A few minutes later, Noah emerges from the boat and jumps into his jeep...and Valerie stares over at him through her tears, looks intrigued, and follows him.

The Walsh house. Brandon is having a nightmare about the shooting, and wakes up in a puddle of sweat when the phone starts ringing. It's Kelly, calling to tell him that she now knows he sat faithfully by her side at the hospital after she was shot...and that he was also at her side while she was kicking cocaine and hurting 'cause of Dylan. Brandon asks her if this means she's getting her memory back, but she explains that she read all this in her journal. Oops.

Noah stops his jeep in the middle of nowhere, then gets out, paces in the dark, and puts his sad face on. Valerie pulls up behind him and exits her car, and tells him she thought he was going to see his secret lover, then gets tearful and screeches, "Where is she?!" Noah contorts his face in a tortured expression and says he doesn't want to talk about it, but Valerie presses him and snidely asks if this mystery woman dumped him. Noah mutters, "I wish" then starts muttering about how he lost control of the car...and that she was bleeding, then died when no one came by to help. Valerie's all, "Wha-a? She died?" and Noah nods and says it happened a few feet from where they're standing. She reaches for him and tries to press him against her ample bosom, but he pushes her away and barks, "Get out of here!" and starts bawling.

Donna is covertly waiting near the entrance of the sweatshop, watching the workers arrive. She spots the older Latina who was with the burned girl the day before and starts peppering her with questions: did you get that burned girl to a hospital? how many hours a day do you work? how much do you earn? The woman mutely rushes past her and into the sweatshop.

The Beverly Beat. Nat and Hilary Swank bring over some diner junk food as Steve, Brandon, and Terri rush around to meet their deadline, which is in one hour. Donna arrives and tells Brandon she may have a scoop for him and asks, "What do you know about sweatshops?" and Brandon looks intrigued and replies, "I'm listening." Steve, meanwhile has decided to try a different approach in his quest to date Hilary Swank and brushes her off when she asks him for a tour of the Beat. She's all, "Wha-a? Does this mean we can't be friends?" and Steve asks her to explain precisely why she doesn't want to go out with him. She tells him the kind of guy she's normally attracted to, blah blah...then says she has a date tonight and needs a babysitter for Zack. Steve offers to watch the little gaffer, and she happily accepts and tells him to come by her place at 7pm. Over by the couch, Brandon tells Donna that he'll have to write the sweatshop story in the next issue, when he has more information than just her word for it.

Marina. Noah is chillin' in the cabin with a beer when Valerie comes a callin' wearing jeans and wife-beater. He tells her he's thinking about returning to Hawaii, and she snarks, "Are you trying to get away from meeee?" Since I'm pretty sure that Noah's life doesn't revolve around Valerie, I'm guessing this isn't the main reason, though it would definitely be a great side benefit. Valerie asks what his deceased lover's name was, and he says Beth and then implores her to leave. She retorts, "Don't say anything you don't mean" and he moans, "I can't do this! I don't want to do this!" but Valerie refuses to back off, and Noah finally throws in the towel and starts smooching her.

Steve is hanging with Zack at Hilary Swank's house as she primps for her date. After a few minutes, she emerges from her bedroom looking slim and taut in a form fitting sun dress. She reminds Zack that bedtime is 8pm...and a few seconds later, a car honks outside. She quietly explains to Steve that she didn't want Kurt to come inside, 'cause it would probably be too confusing for Zack. After she heads out, Zack tells Steve he wishes his mom would go out with him, and Steve's all, "Aww!" and looks touched.

Beach house. Kelly and Brandon are enjoying a candlelit dinner on the patio. As they toast each other, Kelly tells him she's starting to remember things. Brandon reminisces about how they danced together during the Spring Dance episode (from Season 1), then takes her hand and demonstrates how they once swayed together as teenagers.

Steve and Zack watch with delight as Kurt walks Hilary Swank to her front door and tries to move in for a goodnight kiss, but gets rebuffed. When she enters the apartment, Steve - who has just rushed Zack to bed - asks her how her date went, and she makes a blech face and says that Kurt's an even bigger horse's ass than he (Steve) is. They go over to the bedroom to check on Zack, who's pretending to be asleep...and Hilary Swank asks her son if he had fun tonight. Zack grins and says he did...and that nothing got broken he'd like to blame Steve for.

Beach house. Kelly finds a copy of The Beverly Beat on her patio, and for some reason this triggers a pre-shooting memory of her and Brandon kissing as she fingered her necklace/engagement ring. She tells Jackie she's missing something, but now knows what it is, and Jackie smiles happily.

The Walsh house. Donna tells Valerie that Cooper Hargrove called and said they did a good job on the 200  person party (which must have occurred off camera), and also that Kelly's into Brandon again, which means the romantic pathway to Noah is wide open. Valerie grumbles that despite the fact that Noah is  poor and has no ambition or desire to be a rich person, she still wants him. Donna tells her that when you find something that makes you happy, you should hold onto it...which would be reasonable advice if Noah showed any sign of being interested in Valerie beyond the occasional roll in the hay.

Beach house. Devin and his band mates are spread out in the living room, loudly gabbling and listening to music. David rushes into the room and shuts off the stereo just as Donna arrives home with a bag of groceries. She looks peeved at the sight of the band making themselves at home in her living room and tells David she really really wants them to leave...but David is too afraid of alienating rockers that might be on the verge of getting signed by a record company. Donna heads off to her bedroom and is appalled when she overhears Devin on the phone discussing a payment he has coming to him and derisively says, "No one's going to Jew me down."

Hargrove estate. Valerie meets with Cooper, who chides her for not attending his 200 person party. I guess he invited her and she declined. He looks all into her and smarmily flirts with her, and she flirts back. Considering his wealth and reasonably good looks, he may be a better option for her than disinterested Noah.

The Beverly Beat. The first issue has officially been published - hurray! - and Brandon, Steve, and Terri happily high-five each other. The phone suddenly starts ringing, and Steve finds himself fielding several calls from advertisers who want to place ads in the Beat. Kelly drops by to tell Brandon she now remembers him...as well as the engagement ring he gave her. She says, "It's all coming back to me, Brandon" then hands him the necklace/ring and asks him to put it around her neck. He declines and says the next time he puts a piece of jewelry on her, he wants it to be for the rest of her life. Kelly smiles and asks him if they can go home now, and he responds by leaning in and giving her a big smooch.

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