Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990) s02e02 Episode Script
The Party Fish
What time does the express bus leave? Six-thirty.
You'd better get going.
What's with you? - Job burnout.
- After one week? It's the toughest job I ever had, Dad.
Spending your day at the beach doesn't sound all that difficult.
Oh, but you have no idea what my day is like.
I'm the first one there in the morning, practically the last one to leave at night.
And I'm so busy all day, the only way I know I'm at the beach is because my shoes are full of sand.
Well, there's no free lunch, Brandon.
You get what you pay for in this world.
But you see, if you were to pay for oh, let's say, half of what my car costs, I could quit and actually pretend it's summer.
Have a nice day, Brandon.
- Out.
- Out? Out? What do you mean, out? You were standing right there.
- Take it over.
- Take it over? If it wasn't in, it was out! How could you not see it? - I didn't see it.
- I saw it.
You saw it? All right, listen, okay? Whatever the kid says, goes, okay? That's fair, all right? And? So, nice shot.
Oh, thank you very much.
The game is over! Fix, fix.
Oh, come on.
You heard the kid.
Clearly an objective, neutral observer.
And an envelope with your 20s will be waiting for you at the front desk.
Oh, come on Edgar, I'm gonna buy.
All right, all right, all right.
- All right, who won? - Who always wins? - Who always cheats? - You tell him, Edgar.
Listen, for the record, would you please tell Miss Cynical what you saw.
The shot was in.
I told you Brandon was a quick study.
But you never told me he was so cute.
Who cares what he looks like as long as he has good eyesight? - Thank you very much, Henry.
- Thank you, Mr.
Rattinger.
Are you Jerry Rattinger? The sports promoter? Guilty as charged.
I think you know my father, Jim Walsh.
Jim Walsh is your old man? Okay.
Hey, listen, I hear he's thinking about joining.
- Yeah.
- Okay, all right.
Listen, I won't hold it against you.
- Hey, stranger, what's happening? - Man, how are the waves? Oh, ugly, flat, closed out.
Other than that, they're pretty bitchen, though.
So how you doing otherwise? Okay.
Henry's cool, lets me park my board here even though Dad's not a member anymore.
Yeah, Henry is cool.
So is Sandy.
No, Sandy is exquisite.
Just don't tell her I said so.
Listen, man, I'm sorry about you and Brenda.
Don't worry about it, man.
Things happen, you know.
Big Jimbo must be skying, though.
You're welcome to come over any time, no matter what happened between you.
Thanks, man.
I might do that.
- Take it easy.
- Late.
Now, I've asked Brenda to bring in her mom's winter coat so that we could demonstrate a sense-memory process.
This is the exact coat your mom was wearing, right? - Yes.
- Please tell the story.
Well, it's about the time that I got lost in the department store.
I was supposed to stay with my brother, Brandon, but instead I decided I would take a little adventure on the escalators.
Well, 30 minutes later, my parents were convinced that I was kidnapped.
And all I really remember was feeling intense panic.
But the $64,000 question is: Can Brenda Walsh re-create the emotions of being lost and found by re-creating the smell and the texture of wet winter wool? I think she can.
Don't be so hard on yourself.
You did great.
When the tears came, it just felt so forced.
It wasn't right.
God, it must be really, really cold back there.
It's beyond cold.
Well, it gives me the chills just thinking about it.
See, Kelly, if you took drama class, you could use those feelings.
I think I'll stick with the beach, thanks.
Have fun.
You're not gonna go? No, I'm gonna try and work on this sense-memory stuff some more.
- Give me a break, Brenda.
- No, it's true, Kelly.
A creative person can't be afraid to follow his or her artistic impulses.
No matter where they may take him, or her.
Very well put, David.
And since Brenda will be staying in town, now there's room in your car for me to go to the beach instead.
It's okay.
I don't mind sitting in the back seat.
Thank you.
Have fun.
- Call me later.
- Yeah.
So, what are you doing? Same as you, avoid going to the beach.
It's that obvious, huh? I just feel that if I ran into Dylan, I couldn't deal with it.
I don't know if I can be myself this summer without totally blowing it.
Brenda, tell me has Brandon asked about me? Great bunch of people at this club.
Let me tell you something about the rich, Brandon.
They're different from you and me.
So said F.
Scott Fitzgerald in The Great Gatsby.
That's very good.
- You read it, huh? - Yeah, I read it.
A long time ago.
Probably before you were born.
- Oh, you think so? - Well, I don't know.
How old are you, anyway? I don't know.
How old do you want me to be? So summer is definitely the best time of the year, Granny.
Oh, and I love my acting class at school.
Our teacher, Mr.
Suiter, is so brilliant, and he's really teaching us how to get in touch with our emotions from childhood.
Honey, if we don't leave now, we're not gonna get to the Beach Club on time.
You're going to the Beach Club tonight? One of your father's clients has invited us to join.
The Beverly Hills Beach Club? They're having a big party to honour prospective members.
Hold on.
The Beverly Hills Beach Club where Brandon works? Isn't that a hoot? Granny, hold on.
Does Brandon know that you're going there tonight? Yeah.
Why don't you join us? Oh, no, no, I can't, I'm talking to Grandma.
- New members.
- Come dance with me.
Would you? Would you? - Do you do this with all the women? - All the women.
While you're working? Of course when I'm working, when else? Well, I don't know, how do you get anything done? I don't.
Hey, you two.
Now, you know the rules.
Employees can't be seen having fun in public during a new-member function.
Don't worry, darling.
Sandy will take good care of you.
Now, don't you go corrupting this fine young man.
I wouldn't dream of it.
Neither would I.
Brandon.
- Hi.
- Hey, where have you guys been? - I was worried about you.
- It's a long story.
Yeah, well, rumour has it your father made a wrong turn at Topanga.
It said Zuma Beach, the sign said "Zuma Beach this way.
" - I took the turn - Whatever you say, Jim.
- Whatever you say.
- Jerry, give me a break.
We'll forgive you anything as long as you pay your dues on time.
That way your son can become a beach bum like the rest of the kids.
- Sounds good to me.
- Don't get any ideas.
- Jerry, we really ought to find a table.
- Okay.
- All right, you guys, have fun.
- Nice call today.
- I call them like I see them.
- Yeah, well We'll get you on the court.
Teach you a couple of tricks.
- Anytime.
- You got it.
Isn't it a small world? My dad's an executive tax specialist, he just started working on the Rattinger account.
Yep, a very small world.
Hey, Mr.
and Mrs.
Walsh.
- Steve.
- How are you? - Hey.
- I hear you might join the club.
We're definitely thinking about it.
If you love the beach, this is the place to come.
He throws his second left- Hey, bro, I just saw your folks.
It's pretty wild, they might join the club.
Yeah.
Hey, party up.
The grunion run tonight.
Isn't it a little late for that? I don't make the schedule, ask the fish.
Grunion are fish? Yeah, the ultimate California party fish.
They come to the beach a couple nights every summer to lay their eggs, so to speak.
Yeah, Donna will be there.
Kelly, Dushane, Linda, Kyle, everybody! - Sounds like a happening.
- Yeah.
You might want to ask your lady friend, if you like.
Steve, I think Sandy's got more important things to do than hang out on the beach with high school kids.
Judging by the way she was checking you out all day, I think you're the only high school kid she's interested in hanging out with.
It's just an opinion.
Well, Harry, another day, another dollar, huh? Hey, listen, I know it's kind of last-minute, it's cool to say no, but if you're not doing anything tonight, the grunion are running.
At which beach do you propose we go to watch this miracle of nature? Here.
Or wherever it is they usually run.
They can come ashore anywhere between Point Conception and the Mexican border.
But I really wouldn't know.
Because after 12 years of living in Los Angeles, I've never actually seen them.
In fact, I don't think they exist, but you know what? If you run into any, give them my best.
Excuse me, did I say something wrong? No.
Well, obviously I did something to rub you the wrong way.
Why didn't you introduce me to your parents? I didn't know you wanted to meet them.
We were standing next to them about half a dozen times.
It would have been real easy to say, "This is my friend from work.
" Leave it at that.
I didn't think you cared about stuff like that.
Don't flatter yourself.
Oh, come on, Sandy.
I'm sorry, all right? Go ahead and shoot me.
It's not you.
It's just Your parents seem like really wholesome types.
I'm not all that crazy about people from Beverly Hills.
That's okay.
We're from Minnesota.
But now you go to Beverly Hills High School.
Actually, I go to West Beverly, but I could transfer to West Podunk, if that would make you happy.
The way my head's pounding, I don't think anything could make me happy tonight.
Not even the sight of 10,000 wild and crazy grunion having an orgy on the beach? I know it's a long shot, but stranger things have happened.
Yeah, stranger things have happened.
So is that a yes? It's a "let me think about it.
" Before you make this magnanimous decision, I probably should tell you that some of my high school friends are gonna be down there, if that makes a difference to you.
Does it make a difference to you? No.
Let's go find ourselves some party fish.
Brandon, how many times do I have to remind you to put your clothes in the hamper instead of throwing them on the floor like a slob? Sorry, Bren, I got home a little late last night.
Well, now the bathroom smells like fish, thank you very much.
Well, believe me, there were no fish anywhere on the beach last night.
We waited for hours for them not to show up.
- It was just like Sandy predicted.
- Sandy? As in a girl named Sandy? As in a woman named Sandy.
- How old is this Sandy person? - I don't know, she won't tell me.
That is a definite sign of someone being old.
I know.
Hey, Dad.
- Good morning.
- Morning, Dad.
You guys left the party a little early, didn't you? Did we? Yeah, I guess we did.
So is it gonna be a Beverly Hills Beach Club kind of a summer? I'm sorry.
I'm just having a little bit of trouble understanding this.
Didn't you guys say you had a great time last night? Yes, we did.
- And you love the beach.
- Yes, we do.
So, what's the problem? It's not a problem.
It's just, when you factor in the costs of joining a beach club, the numbers just don't add up.
We'd rather spend the money on your college tuition.
Oh, so it's a money thing? - It's not just a money thing.
- Then what kind of thing is it, Dad? Hobnobbing with the Jerry Rattingers of the world can be a lot of fun for a night or two, but in the long run, I think it's much safer to keep your professional life separate from your social life.
What social life? Sorry, I couldn't help myself.
So you think the club is too Beverly Hills chichi for your Midwestern taste buds, - is that it? - Did I say that? I'm trying to figure out why a place that 99 percent of the population is dying to get into is not good enough for us to join.
Because it's my decision.
There's nothing any of us can say to change that? - What else is there to say? - That's exactly my point.
- Thanks for breakfast, Mom.
- Where are you going? - To the Beach Club.
- I thought today was your day off.
It is.
What was that? Beginner's luck too? - You must be a good teacher.
- The best.
Oh, what I could teach a kid like you.
- It'd be like money in the bank.
- So who's stopping you? Listen, how expensive is this car you wanna get? Thirty-five hundred.
He won't co-sign a loan, give you an advance? We haven't really talked about it.
Well, what do you two discuss? Not much really.
I haven't seen him lately.
- We're both working too hard.
- That's wrong.
I mean, that's wrong.
- Now you're 16, what, 17 years old? - Yeah.
Okay, if you can't take off for a summer vacation now, I mean, when you're supposed to, when are you gonna do it? When you have to work every day to support a family? Tell it to him.
When I was a kid, he didn't want me to play hockey because it conflicted with my paper route.
Listen, all right, far be it from me to criticise your old man, and God knows that the Beverly Hills Beach Club ain't for everybody.
But you just You can't make the kind of connections that you need to make crunching numbers in the Wilshire District.
Your father's a very sincere, hardworking guy, but his head's still a little in meat-and-potato land.
So you want me to talk to him? No, thanks.
I'll give it another shot.
So, what kind of car are you lusting after anyway? - Sixty-five Mustang convertible.
- Right, I had one of those.
Oh, yes, absolutely.
I had one of those too.
Another world, a different time.
Now I'm a very happily married father.
Two girls, two cats, a dog.
Sandy, can we get a drink over here? - Yes, sir, I'll send Jeannie over.
- Thanks.
Talk about a piece of work.
- You got a girlfriend? - I'm working on it.
Well, if it isn't my three favourite ladies from tennis school.
Hey, aquatic update.
The party fish are running again tonight.
Yeah, so is Moby Dick.
Come on, you're gonna miss the thrill of a lifetime.
Oh, I don't know about that.
- Hi.
- Hello.
Goodbye.
- Wait a minute, where are you going? - Home.
- You live far? - Not far.
That's good, because I rented a limo to take you anywhere you wanna go.
You did what? Well, it's not exactly a limo, but it worked for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
The sand is bad.
No, oh, God! Oh, God! Living at the beach is definitely the best part about living in L.
A.
Yeah, except you have to be a multi-zillionaire to live near the water.
That's all right, I plan on making my first zillion by the end of the week.
- Do you? - Yeah.
I'm starting a new conglomerate.
Cabana Boys R Us.
It'll be a franchise operation.
I'll be the chairman of the board, and you can be the executive director of everything else.
Promises, promises.
Oh, come on, we'll get Jerry Rattinger to bankroll the whole operation.
Put our corporate offices wherever in the world we want.
Hawaii, Aspen, Prague.
At the rate I'm going, it'll probably be Kuwait.
Are you okay? Yeah.
No.
I don't know.
Just listening to you talk, I realise I'll never have a beach house, or any of the other things I used to dream about when I was your age.
What are you talking about? You're still young.
Getting older by the minute.
I wish I would have met you five years ago.
You wouldn't have liked me five years ago.
- I was in sixth grade.
- I gotta go.
Oh, hey, come on, don't you want to wait for the grunion to come? How old are you? You know, I'm really glad I took this job now.
I got the beach, I got the sun.
I got the beautiful chick on the front of my bike.
Stop it, Brandon, you're embarrassing me.
- Surf kumby, you coming or going? - A little of both.
Look, the other day, when you were talking to me about Sandy, you didn't tell me you were gonna make a move in that direction.
You think she's too old for me? No, man, age is not the issue.
She's just not the right person for you at all.
So, what are you saying? I'd rather not get into specifics, man, but you gotta trust me on this one.
All right? Before you get in over your head.
Is this your way of telling me you slept with her? This is my way of telling you to go in this thing with your eyes open, man.
Or somebody's bound to get hurt.
It's too bad you didn't tell Brenda that before you got her to hop into bed with you.
Consider yourself warned.
You broke her heart, you know that, don't you? No, Jones, I think you got that flipped around.
Bigtime.
- Hey, Henry.
Have you seen Sandy? - Probably went to pick up her cheque.
- Cool, thanks.
- Yeah.
Sandy, I've been looking all over for you.
Brandon, listen, I'm sorry, I can't make it tonight.
- Something's come up, okay? - Sandy.
I'll make it up to you.
I promise.
Brandon.
I've been thinking about your new car.
What new car? Jerry Rattinger is offering to buy you a what? He's not buying me anything, Dad.
He's giving me an advance against my salary.
- Salary for what? - For working.
- Doing what? - Well, this summer, I'll be like a gofer.
When school starts up, he says I can work in his publicity office as a trainee, tied in with the school paper.
- What about the Beach Club? - Henry's gotta understand.
Rattinger's paying me double my salary.
No matter how many hours I work, even days when he doesn't need me.
- It's a win-win deal.
- Why is it win? Why is he willing to pay you for doing nothing? He thinks I'm a good paddle-tennis prospect? - This is serious, Brandon.
- I don't know, Dad.
You know what he's like.
He has a different philosophy than you.
I think he feels sorry for me because he knows there's no life for a teenager in L.
A.
without a car.
And you know, even though he has two beautiful little girls, I think deep down inside he really wants a son.
I do too.
I just didn't know he'd go after mine.
You know, Rattinger said Dad might try to torpedo the whole deal, and I said, "No way.
" I mean, why would he care, just so long as I'm working to pay back the loan on the car? And then this morning it hit me.
It hit me like a diamond bullet.
He doesn't want me to have a car.
Any car.
Because he's still punishing me for totalling Mondale.
Oh, Brandon, I don't know.
I mean, Dad stood by you through traffic court.
He knows you don't drink.
Then why is he so down on me going to work for Rattinger? I think that's fairly obvious.
Yeah, the size of Rattinger's bank account.
No way! Dad's worked with plenty of rich people before.
He just doesn't understand why this man is offering to pay you good money for the summer to do practically nothing.
And to be truthful, I agree.
You're as bad as he is.
What can I say? We are related.
You know, if it's bothering you that much, why don't you talk to him about it? - Can I ask you one more question? - Sure.
Why are you wearing a winter coat in the middle of July? You don't wanna know.
- Morning, Mom.
- Oh, hi, honey.
I'll be in in a sec.
Oh, no.
No rush.
Listen, just between you, me and your flowers, is Dad in a better mood this morning? I think so, but unfortunately, he had to leave early for an audit down in San Diego.
He's not here? No, but he said that whatever you decide with Mr.
Rattinger is fine with him, and he'll talk to you when he gets home.
But I have the late shift.
By the time I get home, he'll be in- God, this is so typical of him.
He lays this guilt on me about not wanting to work so hard and he's too busy working to talk to me about it.
- Honey, I know you're upset.
- No, I'm not upset, Mom.
I just wish he could find the time to deal with me for once.
- Well, can't it keep for one night? - I guess it'll have to.
Listen, the last thing I wanted to do is get between you and your old man- - I know.
- It sounded like a perfect fit.
I mean, I needed someone to run a few errands for me.
You needed a car.
But, hey, if he's gonna get his nose out of joint, smart thing would be to forget it.
The problem is, I don't wanna forget it.
Well, then be your own man.
Eventually, every kid comes to a fork in the road, and no matter which way you go, it's gotta be your own decision.
Well, my dad did say whatever I chose would be cool.
A Mustang convertible, right? Why don't we just cruise down to the volleyball court and see what we can do.
Hey, we feeling any better today? Actually, we're feeling a lot worse, so consider yourself warned.
Did I do something? It's not about you, Brandon.
It's about me.
- Well, do you want to talk about it? - Talk about what? Why there isn't enough time in the day? Why there isn't enough money in the bank? Why my head is pounding? Look, Brandon, you're a very sweet boy, but I'm going through some really heavy personal stuff right now.
I'm just not about to pour my heart out to a teenager from Beverly Hills.
Mommy? Mommy? Mommy? Mommy? Where is Mommy? Mom? Mommy? Where is Mommy? - Brenda? - Dad? What are you doing? I don't know, but whatever I'm doing, it's not working for me, and now I'm just crying out of control, and I still can't get in touch with my emotions.
Are you still working on that day that you were lost at Dayton's? - That was some scary day.
- Yeah, I know all about it.
Mom went to the linen department.
You went upstairs to sporting goods to buy a bowling ball, and I was supposed to stay with Brandon, but I started riding up and down the escalators, and that's when I got into trouble.
- You were so cute.
- Cute? You and Mom always told me that I was hysterical.
Well, that was after you got lost.
When you were playing on the escalators, you were having the time of your life.
That is Maia Landen.
She's young, but she's kind of cute.
She's real young.
- Yeah, she is kind of- - How young is she, Steve? - Fourteen? Fifteen? - She's young.
But she's very mature for her age.
I haven't made a move on her.
What about you and Sandy? Our relationship is kind of like the grunion.
No one knows if it really exists.
Walsh, Mr.
Rattinger needs some extra manpower out in the parking lot, okay? Yeah, sure.
Come on, man.
- Give me a hand.
- Sure.
- Brandon.
- Hey, Mr.
Rattinger.
I brought my partner in crime along in case it was a two-man job.
No, I think you'll be able to handle this yourself.
- Nice car.
- Yeah, new.
You need me to carry something up for you? No, I need you to get behind the wheel to see if this is something you wouldn't mind driving for the rest of the summer.
You said you needed a car.
Yeah, but a used Mustang, not a We can probably still get you your Mustang, but this way, my corporation can lease this, and I can deduct the interest.
This is an incredible piece of machinery.
Here, take it for a spin up the coast.
Let me know how it handles.
Well, Mr.
Rattinger, I don't know what to say.
It's great.
Well, how about trying, "Thanks a lot, Jer.
" Hey, Jer, if I said "thanks a lot," you think I could sport one of these bad boys? I thought you had a chauffeur.
Listen, remember, buckle up.
Always.
Damn it.
Hey, is something wrong? I hate to ask you to do this, but - Could you excuse us for a second? - Sure.
Listen Mrs.
Rattinger had a little too much sun with her wine this afternoon.
She's gonna need a lift back into town.
Normally, I'd do it myself, but I have to stay here, tie up a couple of loose ends.
Yeah, no problem, Jerry.
Thanks.
I'm sorry I can't put the top up.
I haven't figured out how to do it yet.
But I'll turn up the heat.
How's that? When did you start working for my husband? About 15 minutes ago.
What do you think of him so far? Your husband's a great guy.
You don't have to put on an act with me, Brandon.
I'm sorry, Mrs.
Rattinger, I have no idea what you're talking about.
I'm talking about my husband.
I'm talking about his mistress.
You're not the first pretty boy he's hired to drive me home from the Beach Club so he can be with his playthings.
Hear he's trying to get back with Sandy.
Is it true? I can't see it.
You work with Sandy, don't you, Brandon? Yeah.
Since you're going up to his cabana, could you take him back his car keys? Tell him thanks, but no, thanks, which is all I've gotta say to you too.
It's not what you think, Brandon.
It's not some cheap, sordid affair.
How do you know what I think, Sandy? You don't know me, and I obviously don't know you.
That's right.
You don't know me.
You don't know anything about me.
You don't know what I go through to get up in the morning and look in the mirror, so don't you sit in judgement of me.
Especially when Mommy and Daddy still pay your bills.
Oh, no, this isn't about my mommy and daddy.
It's about you and your sugar daddy.
You better run along up to him, since he's the one who pays all your bills.
Brandon.
Glad you're home.
I was fading.
How you doing? I don't know.
There's pretty weird stuff going on at work.
Well, hopefully, what I have to say to you will put your mind at ease about all that.
This morning, on the train down to San Diego, I had a lot of time to think about car loans and work ethics and the age-old tug of war between fathers and sons.
- Dad- - Please.
Let me just get this off my chest first.
You know, it's one thing for a father to try to instil a sense of positive values in his children, you know, "You get what you pay for" or whatever.
And it's quite another thing when a father hides his own frustration behind a guise of wisdom and experience.
I don't follow you.
The other morning, when you asked if the reason we didn't wanna join the Beach Club was because it was a money thing, I managed to change the subject and run for the high moral ground.
But the truth is yes, it is a money thing.
It's something I've been struggling with since I turned down the promotion to move us back to Minnesota.
- Dad- - I know.
I'm sorry, I'm rambling.
The bottom line is there's no earthly reason for you to be knocking yourself out folding beach chairs, when you could be having the summer of your life.
So do yourself a favour, son.
Forget about your old man's hang-ups.
Go work for Rattinger, find out how the other half lives.
I already did.
It's not all it's cracked up to be.
There's just one more thing I wanna say to you.
It's what my father said to me on the morning I left for university.
He said: "Don't sell yourself short.
" Be your own man, Brandon.
Everything else will fall into place.
Well, if it isn't the king of the cabana boys.
I was wondering if we were gonna see you today.
Yeah, I was wondering the same thing.
My father said I should honour my commitments.
Good for Jim.
Your father is a very honourable man.
Mr.
Rattinger, anything you have to say to my father, I suggest you say it to him and not to me.
Did he tell you to say that, or did you think it up all by yourself? Thank you.
They tell me the car that you drove last night really excels at handling the bumps, taking the curves.
I wish the same could be said of the driver.
Yeah, it was an all-right car.
It's no '65 Mustang.
It got very ugly last night.
Very embarrassing, very unnecessary.
I really could have taught you something.
Like what? Like how to hurt people? - Deceive them, intimidate them? - Brandon, Brandon.
Sandy's a nervous wreck, Mr.
Rattinger.
She's a wreck because of you.
As far as Sandy is concerned, my conscience is crystal clear.
As far as we're concerned, I think Henry Thomas is looking for you.
Good luck in your next job, kid.
- Henry? - Hey, Brando.
If it weren't for these VCRs, I might not ever be able to catch up with my programmes.
Mr.
Rattinger said you wanted to see me.
Sure, yeah.
- Let me tell you what's happening.
- Am I fired? - Now, what was the question? - Damn it, Henry.
What is this "Damn it, Henry" business? Rattinger ordered me to fire you.
I told him I would consider it.
It's been considered.
It's been rejected.
If he don't like it, let him try and run this place without me in the middle of July.
Thanks.
Not that you're any good at what you do.
I don't want you to get the wrong impression.
Not everything around here is bought and paid for.
What about Sandy? She quit.
Yeah, I figured as much.
You think she's got troubles? You ever watch The Young and the Restless? - No.
- What? Come here.
That's Julia, right? Julia's having a baby by her husband's father.
- My father? - Yes.
The whole week I was sobbing my guts out, and there's my dad under the archway going, "Honey, what are you doing?" But the funny thing is, my dad started reminiscing, and it's like something just clicked.
I'd been trying to feel something that I had never really felt.
I mean, it wasn't about the coat anymore, or the memory of me, or what anybody was trying to tell me that I was feeling at the time.
It's about me.
Being back on those escalators having a great time, all by myself.
Sounds like a breakthrough to me.
Nice work, Brenda.
Well, the best part is, I wasn't afraid to be by myself back then.
Six years old in a department store full of strangers.
There's no reason in the world why it shouldn't be like that today.
Way to go, Brenda.
Let's go to the beach.
- Get it in there, put it in there.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Set him up.
Slam it, slam it.
Slam it for the point.
- Out.
- Are you crazy? - That was in by a country mile.
- I'm not giving you the point, Jerry.
- Not going to argue with you about it.
- Did you see it, Brandon? - Yeah, I saw it.
- What was it? Wait, all right, listen, we'll just take it over.
What for? Brandon saw it.
So, what's the call, Brandon? It was in.
Like I said, I call them like I see them, Jerry.
Right, okay, let's go.
You're gonna leave without saying goodbye? Hi, Brandon.
- You're moving out? - Yeah, I'm leaving town.
My mom and my sister have a place up in San Luis Obispo, and they've been asking me to stay with them.
Clearly it's not working here anymore.
He told me he loved me.
He said he'd leave his wife and children.
That was two years ago.
I'm sorry.
Being with you though, listening to your approach to things it's really helped me to see how jaded and angry I've become.
Thank you.
Say goodbye to Dylan for me, will you? Yeah.
- Drive safely, now, you hear? - I will.
Bye.
Yo, kumby, can I buy you some lemonade? Tell you what, throw in a little chicken ranchero and some salsa, you got a customer.
I just feel so bad about Sandy.
- Thanks, Grace.
- Thanks, Grace.
Well, she's not bad news, man, she's just unhappy.
Or she wouldn't have got herself into that situation with Rattinger to begin with.
I really liked her, man.
I know, I know.
But you gotta promise me something.
What's that? The next time you ask me if I've been with a girl that you have a crush on, I get a free one anywhere.
- Anywhere? - Anywhere.
Just not the nose.
- Females, what are you doing here? - We were just in the neighbourhood.
So this is the Beverly Hills Beach Club, huh? Kelly, what's so funny? Poor Steve.
What's up, buddy? It's low.
It's lower than low.
It's the lowest common denominator.
- What happened, man? - You remember Maia Landen? - Fifteen-year-old vamp? - Yes.
She says she just wants to be my friend, but what gets me is, she's got the hots for- Hey, big guy.
So, what time are the grunion running tonight? What are grunion? You know, you'd think they'd have enough courtesy to show up for their own party.
Yeah, I guess they figured it was a long swim back to Mexico.
Yeah, well, the water is a lot warmer in Puerto Vallarta.
- The party's over! - Oh, boy.
Let's do that every year.
Every year.
Are we leaving? - It's getting late.
- No.
I came here to see some grunion, I'm gonna see some grunion.
- That's the spirit.
- Go.
You know, your brother's a fool, you know that? Yes, I know.
You know, it's really nice being here with you, but not being here with you, you know? You mean like a good friend? Anything is possible.
Anything? - It's kind of disappointing, isn't it? - No, it's kind of nice to see everybody.
Guys, what does a grunion look like anyway? I don't know.
I've never seen one before.
Do they kind of look like a cross between a sardine and an anchovy? Yeah, why? Grunion!
You'd better get going.
What's with you? - Job burnout.
- After one week? It's the toughest job I ever had, Dad.
Spending your day at the beach doesn't sound all that difficult.
Oh, but you have no idea what my day is like.
I'm the first one there in the morning, practically the last one to leave at night.
And I'm so busy all day, the only way I know I'm at the beach is because my shoes are full of sand.
Well, there's no free lunch, Brandon.
You get what you pay for in this world.
But you see, if you were to pay for oh, let's say, half of what my car costs, I could quit and actually pretend it's summer.
Have a nice day, Brandon.
- Out.
- Out? Out? What do you mean, out? You were standing right there.
- Take it over.
- Take it over? If it wasn't in, it was out! How could you not see it? - I didn't see it.
- I saw it.
You saw it? All right, listen, okay? Whatever the kid says, goes, okay? That's fair, all right? And? So, nice shot.
Oh, thank you very much.
The game is over! Fix, fix.
Oh, come on.
You heard the kid.
Clearly an objective, neutral observer.
And an envelope with your 20s will be waiting for you at the front desk.
Oh, come on Edgar, I'm gonna buy.
All right, all right, all right.
- All right, who won? - Who always wins? - Who always cheats? - You tell him, Edgar.
Listen, for the record, would you please tell Miss Cynical what you saw.
The shot was in.
I told you Brandon was a quick study.
But you never told me he was so cute.
Who cares what he looks like as long as he has good eyesight? - Thank you very much, Henry.
- Thank you, Mr.
Rattinger.
Are you Jerry Rattinger? The sports promoter? Guilty as charged.
I think you know my father, Jim Walsh.
Jim Walsh is your old man? Okay.
Hey, listen, I hear he's thinking about joining.
- Yeah.
- Okay, all right.
Listen, I won't hold it against you.
- Hey, stranger, what's happening? - Man, how are the waves? Oh, ugly, flat, closed out.
Other than that, they're pretty bitchen, though.
So how you doing otherwise? Okay.
Henry's cool, lets me park my board here even though Dad's not a member anymore.
Yeah, Henry is cool.
So is Sandy.
No, Sandy is exquisite.
Just don't tell her I said so.
Listen, man, I'm sorry about you and Brenda.
Don't worry about it, man.
Things happen, you know.
Big Jimbo must be skying, though.
You're welcome to come over any time, no matter what happened between you.
Thanks, man.
I might do that.
- Take it easy.
- Late.
Now, I've asked Brenda to bring in her mom's winter coat so that we could demonstrate a sense-memory process.
This is the exact coat your mom was wearing, right? - Yes.
- Please tell the story.
Well, it's about the time that I got lost in the department store.
I was supposed to stay with my brother, Brandon, but instead I decided I would take a little adventure on the escalators.
Well, 30 minutes later, my parents were convinced that I was kidnapped.
And all I really remember was feeling intense panic.
But the $64,000 question is: Can Brenda Walsh re-create the emotions of being lost and found by re-creating the smell and the texture of wet winter wool? I think she can.
Don't be so hard on yourself.
You did great.
When the tears came, it just felt so forced.
It wasn't right.
God, it must be really, really cold back there.
It's beyond cold.
Well, it gives me the chills just thinking about it.
See, Kelly, if you took drama class, you could use those feelings.
I think I'll stick with the beach, thanks.
Have fun.
You're not gonna go? No, I'm gonna try and work on this sense-memory stuff some more.
- Give me a break, Brenda.
- No, it's true, Kelly.
A creative person can't be afraid to follow his or her artistic impulses.
No matter where they may take him, or her.
Very well put, David.
And since Brenda will be staying in town, now there's room in your car for me to go to the beach instead.
It's okay.
I don't mind sitting in the back seat.
Thank you.
Have fun.
- Call me later.
- Yeah.
So, what are you doing? Same as you, avoid going to the beach.
It's that obvious, huh? I just feel that if I ran into Dylan, I couldn't deal with it.
I don't know if I can be myself this summer without totally blowing it.
Brenda, tell me has Brandon asked about me? Great bunch of people at this club.
Let me tell you something about the rich, Brandon.
They're different from you and me.
So said F.
Scott Fitzgerald in The Great Gatsby.
That's very good.
- You read it, huh? - Yeah, I read it.
A long time ago.
Probably before you were born.
- Oh, you think so? - Well, I don't know.
How old are you, anyway? I don't know.
How old do you want me to be? So summer is definitely the best time of the year, Granny.
Oh, and I love my acting class at school.
Our teacher, Mr.
Suiter, is so brilliant, and he's really teaching us how to get in touch with our emotions from childhood.
Honey, if we don't leave now, we're not gonna get to the Beach Club on time.
You're going to the Beach Club tonight? One of your father's clients has invited us to join.
The Beverly Hills Beach Club? They're having a big party to honour prospective members.
Hold on.
The Beverly Hills Beach Club where Brandon works? Isn't that a hoot? Granny, hold on.
Does Brandon know that you're going there tonight? Yeah.
Why don't you join us? Oh, no, no, I can't, I'm talking to Grandma.
- New members.
- Come dance with me.
Would you? Would you? - Do you do this with all the women? - All the women.
While you're working? Of course when I'm working, when else? Well, I don't know, how do you get anything done? I don't.
Hey, you two.
Now, you know the rules.
Employees can't be seen having fun in public during a new-member function.
Don't worry, darling.
Sandy will take good care of you.
Now, don't you go corrupting this fine young man.
I wouldn't dream of it.
Neither would I.
Brandon.
- Hi.
- Hey, where have you guys been? - I was worried about you.
- It's a long story.
Yeah, well, rumour has it your father made a wrong turn at Topanga.
It said Zuma Beach, the sign said "Zuma Beach this way.
" - I took the turn - Whatever you say, Jim.
- Whatever you say.
- Jerry, give me a break.
We'll forgive you anything as long as you pay your dues on time.
That way your son can become a beach bum like the rest of the kids.
- Sounds good to me.
- Don't get any ideas.
- Jerry, we really ought to find a table.
- Okay.
- All right, you guys, have fun.
- Nice call today.
- I call them like I see them.
- Yeah, well We'll get you on the court.
Teach you a couple of tricks.
- Anytime.
- You got it.
Isn't it a small world? My dad's an executive tax specialist, he just started working on the Rattinger account.
Yep, a very small world.
Hey, Mr.
and Mrs.
Walsh.
- Steve.
- How are you? - Hey.
- I hear you might join the club.
We're definitely thinking about it.
If you love the beach, this is the place to come.
He throws his second left- Hey, bro, I just saw your folks.
It's pretty wild, they might join the club.
Yeah.
Hey, party up.
The grunion run tonight.
Isn't it a little late for that? I don't make the schedule, ask the fish.
Grunion are fish? Yeah, the ultimate California party fish.
They come to the beach a couple nights every summer to lay their eggs, so to speak.
Yeah, Donna will be there.
Kelly, Dushane, Linda, Kyle, everybody! - Sounds like a happening.
- Yeah.
You might want to ask your lady friend, if you like.
Steve, I think Sandy's got more important things to do than hang out on the beach with high school kids.
Judging by the way she was checking you out all day, I think you're the only high school kid she's interested in hanging out with.
It's just an opinion.
Well, Harry, another day, another dollar, huh? Hey, listen, I know it's kind of last-minute, it's cool to say no, but if you're not doing anything tonight, the grunion are running.
At which beach do you propose we go to watch this miracle of nature? Here.
Or wherever it is they usually run.
They can come ashore anywhere between Point Conception and the Mexican border.
But I really wouldn't know.
Because after 12 years of living in Los Angeles, I've never actually seen them.
In fact, I don't think they exist, but you know what? If you run into any, give them my best.
Excuse me, did I say something wrong? No.
Well, obviously I did something to rub you the wrong way.
Why didn't you introduce me to your parents? I didn't know you wanted to meet them.
We were standing next to them about half a dozen times.
It would have been real easy to say, "This is my friend from work.
" Leave it at that.
I didn't think you cared about stuff like that.
Don't flatter yourself.
Oh, come on, Sandy.
I'm sorry, all right? Go ahead and shoot me.
It's not you.
It's just Your parents seem like really wholesome types.
I'm not all that crazy about people from Beverly Hills.
That's okay.
We're from Minnesota.
But now you go to Beverly Hills High School.
Actually, I go to West Beverly, but I could transfer to West Podunk, if that would make you happy.
The way my head's pounding, I don't think anything could make me happy tonight.
Not even the sight of 10,000 wild and crazy grunion having an orgy on the beach? I know it's a long shot, but stranger things have happened.
Yeah, stranger things have happened.
So is that a yes? It's a "let me think about it.
" Before you make this magnanimous decision, I probably should tell you that some of my high school friends are gonna be down there, if that makes a difference to you.
Does it make a difference to you? No.
Let's go find ourselves some party fish.
Brandon, how many times do I have to remind you to put your clothes in the hamper instead of throwing them on the floor like a slob? Sorry, Bren, I got home a little late last night.
Well, now the bathroom smells like fish, thank you very much.
Well, believe me, there were no fish anywhere on the beach last night.
We waited for hours for them not to show up.
- It was just like Sandy predicted.
- Sandy? As in a girl named Sandy? As in a woman named Sandy.
- How old is this Sandy person? - I don't know, she won't tell me.
That is a definite sign of someone being old.
I know.
Hey, Dad.
- Good morning.
- Morning, Dad.
You guys left the party a little early, didn't you? Did we? Yeah, I guess we did.
So is it gonna be a Beverly Hills Beach Club kind of a summer? I'm sorry.
I'm just having a little bit of trouble understanding this.
Didn't you guys say you had a great time last night? Yes, we did.
- And you love the beach.
- Yes, we do.
So, what's the problem? It's not a problem.
It's just, when you factor in the costs of joining a beach club, the numbers just don't add up.
We'd rather spend the money on your college tuition.
Oh, so it's a money thing? - It's not just a money thing.
- Then what kind of thing is it, Dad? Hobnobbing with the Jerry Rattingers of the world can be a lot of fun for a night or two, but in the long run, I think it's much safer to keep your professional life separate from your social life.
What social life? Sorry, I couldn't help myself.
So you think the club is too Beverly Hills chichi for your Midwestern taste buds, - is that it? - Did I say that? I'm trying to figure out why a place that 99 percent of the population is dying to get into is not good enough for us to join.
Because it's my decision.
There's nothing any of us can say to change that? - What else is there to say? - That's exactly my point.
- Thanks for breakfast, Mom.
- Where are you going? - To the Beach Club.
- I thought today was your day off.
It is.
What was that? Beginner's luck too? - You must be a good teacher.
- The best.
Oh, what I could teach a kid like you.
- It'd be like money in the bank.
- So who's stopping you? Listen, how expensive is this car you wanna get? Thirty-five hundred.
He won't co-sign a loan, give you an advance? We haven't really talked about it.
Well, what do you two discuss? Not much really.
I haven't seen him lately.
- We're both working too hard.
- That's wrong.
I mean, that's wrong.
- Now you're 16, what, 17 years old? - Yeah.
Okay, if you can't take off for a summer vacation now, I mean, when you're supposed to, when are you gonna do it? When you have to work every day to support a family? Tell it to him.
When I was a kid, he didn't want me to play hockey because it conflicted with my paper route.
Listen, all right, far be it from me to criticise your old man, and God knows that the Beverly Hills Beach Club ain't for everybody.
But you just You can't make the kind of connections that you need to make crunching numbers in the Wilshire District.
Your father's a very sincere, hardworking guy, but his head's still a little in meat-and-potato land.
So you want me to talk to him? No, thanks.
I'll give it another shot.
So, what kind of car are you lusting after anyway? - Sixty-five Mustang convertible.
- Right, I had one of those.
Oh, yes, absolutely.
I had one of those too.
Another world, a different time.
Now I'm a very happily married father.
Two girls, two cats, a dog.
Sandy, can we get a drink over here? - Yes, sir, I'll send Jeannie over.
- Thanks.
Talk about a piece of work.
- You got a girlfriend? - I'm working on it.
Well, if it isn't my three favourite ladies from tennis school.
Hey, aquatic update.
The party fish are running again tonight.
Yeah, so is Moby Dick.
Come on, you're gonna miss the thrill of a lifetime.
Oh, I don't know about that.
- Hi.
- Hello.
Goodbye.
- Wait a minute, where are you going? - Home.
- You live far? - Not far.
That's good, because I rented a limo to take you anywhere you wanna go.
You did what? Well, it's not exactly a limo, but it worked for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
The sand is bad.
No, oh, God! Oh, God! Living at the beach is definitely the best part about living in L.
A.
Yeah, except you have to be a multi-zillionaire to live near the water.
That's all right, I plan on making my first zillion by the end of the week.
- Do you? - Yeah.
I'm starting a new conglomerate.
Cabana Boys R Us.
It'll be a franchise operation.
I'll be the chairman of the board, and you can be the executive director of everything else.
Promises, promises.
Oh, come on, we'll get Jerry Rattinger to bankroll the whole operation.
Put our corporate offices wherever in the world we want.
Hawaii, Aspen, Prague.
At the rate I'm going, it'll probably be Kuwait.
Are you okay? Yeah.
No.
I don't know.
Just listening to you talk, I realise I'll never have a beach house, or any of the other things I used to dream about when I was your age.
What are you talking about? You're still young.
Getting older by the minute.
I wish I would have met you five years ago.
You wouldn't have liked me five years ago.
- I was in sixth grade.
- I gotta go.
Oh, hey, come on, don't you want to wait for the grunion to come? How old are you? You know, I'm really glad I took this job now.
I got the beach, I got the sun.
I got the beautiful chick on the front of my bike.
Stop it, Brandon, you're embarrassing me.
- Surf kumby, you coming or going? - A little of both.
Look, the other day, when you were talking to me about Sandy, you didn't tell me you were gonna make a move in that direction.
You think she's too old for me? No, man, age is not the issue.
She's just not the right person for you at all.
So, what are you saying? I'd rather not get into specifics, man, but you gotta trust me on this one.
All right? Before you get in over your head.
Is this your way of telling me you slept with her? This is my way of telling you to go in this thing with your eyes open, man.
Or somebody's bound to get hurt.
It's too bad you didn't tell Brenda that before you got her to hop into bed with you.
Consider yourself warned.
You broke her heart, you know that, don't you? No, Jones, I think you got that flipped around.
Bigtime.
- Hey, Henry.
Have you seen Sandy? - Probably went to pick up her cheque.
- Cool, thanks.
- Yeah.
Sandy, I've been looking all over for you.
Brandon, listen, I'm sorry, I can't make it tonight.
- Something's come up, okay? - Sandy.
I'll make it up to you.
I promise.
Brandon.
I've been thinking about your new car.
What new car? Jerry Rattinger is offering to buy you a what? He's not buying me anything, Dad.
He's giving me an advance against my salary.
- Salary for what? - For working.
- Doing what? - Well, this summer, I'll be like a gofer.
When school starts up, he says I can work in his publicity office as a trainee, tied in with the school paper.
- What about the Beach Club? - Henry's gotta understand.
Rattinger's paying me double my salary.
No matter how many hours I work, even days when he doesn't need me.
- It's a win-win deal.
- Why is it win? Why is he willing to pay you for doing nothing? He thinks I'm a good paddle-tennis prospect? - This is serious, Brandon.
- I don't know, Dad.
You know what he's like.
He has a different philosophy than you.
I think he feels sorry for me because he knows there's no life for a teenager in L.
A.
without a car.
And you know, even though he has two beautiful little girls, I think deep down inside he really wants a son.
I do too.
I just didn't know he'd go after mine.
You know, Rattinger said Dad might try to torpedo the whole deal, and I said, "No way.
" I mean, why would he care, just so long as I'm working to pay back the loan on the car? And then this morning it hit me.
It hit me like a diamond bullet.
He doesn't want me to have a car.
Any car.
Because he's still punishing me for totalling Mondale.
Oh, Brandon, I don't know.
I mean, Dad stood by you through traffic court.
He knows you don't drink.
Then why is he so down on me going to work for Rattinger? I think that's fairly obvious.
Yeah, the size of Rattinger's bank account.
No way! Dad's worked with plenty of rich people before.
He just doesn't understand why this man is offering to pay you good money for the summer to do practically nothing.
And to be truthful, I agree.
You're as bad as he is.
What can I say? We are related.
You know, if it's bothering you that much, why don't you talk to him about it? - Can I ask you one more question? - Sure.
Why are you wearing a winter coat in the middle of July? You don't wanna know.
- Morning, Mom.
- Oh, hi, honey.
I'll be in in a sec.
Oh, no.
No rush.
Listen, just between you, me and your flowers, is Dad in a better mood this morning? I think so, but unfortunately, he had to leave early for an audit down in San Diego.
He's not here? No, but he said that whatever you decide with Mr.
Rattinger is fine with him, and he'll talk to you when he gets home.
But I have the late shift.
By the time I get home, he'll be in- God, this is so typical of him.
He lays this guilt on me about not wanting to work so hard and he's too busy working to talk to me about it.
- Honey, I know you're upset.
- No, I'm not upset, Mom.
I just wish he could find the time to deal with me for once.
- Well, can't it keep for one night? - I guess it'll have to.
Listen, the last thing I wanted to do is get between you and your old man- - I know.
- It sounded like a perfect fit.
I mean, I needed someone to run a few errands for me.
You needed a car.
But, hey, if he's gonna get his nose out of joint, smart thing would be to forget it.
The problem is, I don't wanna forget it.
Well, then be your own man.
Eventually, every kid comes to a fork in the road, and no matter which way you go, it's gotta be your own decision.
Well, my dad did say whatever I chose would be cool.
A Mustang convertible, right? Why don't we just cruise down to the volleyball court and see what we can do.
Hey, we feeling any better today? Actually, we're feeling a lot worse, so consider yourself warned.
Did I do something? It's not about you, Brandon.
It's about me.
- Well, do you want to talk about it? - Talk about what? Why there isn't enough time in the day? Why there isn't enough money in the bank? Why my head is pounding? Look, Brandon, you're a very sweet boy, but I'm going through some really heavy personal stuff right now.
I'm just not about to pour my heart out to a teenager from Beverly Hills.
Mommy? Mommy? Mommy? Mommy? Where is Mommy? Mom? Mommy? Where is Mommy? - Brenda? - Dad? What are you doing? I don't know, but whatever I'm doing, it's not working for me, and now I'm just crying out of control, and I still can't get in touch with my emotions.
Are you still working on that day that you were lost at Dayton's? - That was some scary day.
- Yeah, I know all about it.
Mom went to the linen department.
You went upstairs to sporting goods to buy a bowling ball, and I was supposed to stay with Brandon, but I started riding up and down the escalators, and that's when I got into trouble.
- You were so cute.
- Cute? You and Mom always told me that I was hysterical.
Well, that was after you got lost.
When you were playing on the escalators, you were having the time of your life.
That is Maia Landen.
She's young, but she's kind of cute.
She's real young.
- Yeah, she is kind of- - How young is she, Steve? - Fourteen? Fifteen? - She's young.
But she's very mature for her age.
I haven't made a move on her.
What about you and Sandy? Our relationship is kind of like the grunion.
No one knows if it really exists.
Walsh, Mr.
Rattinger needs some extra manpower out in the parking lot, okay? Yeah, sure.
Come on, man.
- Give me a hand.
- Sure.
- Brandon.
- Hey, Mr.
Rattinger.
I brought my partner in crime along in case it was a two-man job.
No, I think you'll be able to handle this yourself.
- Nice car.
- Yeah, new.
You need me to carry something up for you? No, I need you to get behind the wheel to see if this is something you wouldn't mind driving for the rest of the summer.
You said you needed a car.
Yeah, but a used Mustang, not a We can probably still get you your Mustang, but this way, my corporation can lease this, and I can deduct the interest.
This is an incredible piece of machinery.
Here, take it for a spin up the coast.
Let me know how it handles.
Well, Mr.
Rattinger, I don't know what to say.
It's great.
Well, how about trying, "Thanks a lot, Jer.
" Hey, Jer, if I said "thanks a lot," you think I could sport one of these bad boys? I thought you had a chauffeur.
Listen, remember, buckle up.
Always.
Damn it.
Hey, is something wrong? I hate to ask you to do this, but - Could you excuse us for a second? - Sure.
Listen Mrs.
Rattinger had a little too much sun with her wine this afternoon.
She's gonna need a lift back into town.
Normally, I'd do it myself, but I have to stay here, tie up a couple of loose ends.
Yeah, no problem, Jerry.
Thanks.
I'm sorry I can't put the top up.
I haven't figured out how to do it yet.
But I'll turn up the heat.
How's that? When did you start working for my husband? About 15 minutes ago.
What do you think of him so far? Your husband's a great guy.
You don't have to put on an act with me, Brandon.
I'm sorry, Mrs.
Rattinger, I have no idea what you're talking about.
I'm talking about my husband.
I'm talking about his mistress.
You're not the first pretty boy he's hired to drive me home from the Beach Club so he can be with his playthings.
Hear he's trying to get back with Sandy.
Is it true? I can't see it.
You work with Sandy, don't you, Brandon? Yeah.
Since you're going up to his cabana, could you take him back his car keys? Tell him thanks, but no, thanks, which is all I've gotta say to you too.
It's not what you think, Brandon.
It's not some cheap, sordid affair.
How do you know what I think, Sandy? You don't know me, and I obviously don't know you.
That's right.
You don't know me.
You don't know anything about me.
You don't know what I go through to get up in the morning and look in the mirror, so don't you sit in judgement of me.
Especially when Mommy and Daddy still pay your bills.
Oh, no, this isn't about my mommy and daddy.
It's about you and your sugar daddy.
You better run along up to him, since he's the one who pays all your bills.
Brandon.
Glad you're home.
I was fading.
How you doing? I don't know.
There's pretty weird stuff going on at work.
Well, hopefully, what I have to say to you will put your mind at ease about all that.
This morning, on the train down to San Diego, I had a lot of time to think about car loans and work ethics and the age-old tug of war between fathers and sons.
- Dad- - Please.
Let me just get this off my chest first.
You know, it's one thing for a father to try to instil a sense of positive values in his children, you know, "You get what you pay for" or whatever.
And it's quite another thing when a father hides his own frustration behind a guise of wisdom and experience.
I don't follow you.
The other morning, when you asked if the reason we didn't wanna join the Beach Club was because it was a money thing, I managed to change the subject and run for the high moral ground.
But the truth is yes, it is a money thing.
It's something I've been struggling with since I turned down the promotion to move us back to Minnesota.
- Dad- - I know.
I'm sorry, I'm rambling.
The bottom line is there's no earthly reason for you to be knocking yourself out folding beach chairs, when you could be having the summer of your life.
So do yourself a favour, son.
Forget about your old man's hang-ups.
Go work for Rattinger, find out how the other half lives.
I already did.
It's not all it's cracked up to be.
There's just one more thing I wanna say to you.
It's what my father said to me on the morning I left for university.
He said: "Don't sell yourself short.
" Be your own man, Brandon.
Everything else will fall into place.
Well, if it isn't the king of the cabana boys.
I was wondering if we were gonna see you today.
Yeah, I was wondering the same thing.
My father said I should honour my commitments.
Good for Jim.
Your father is a very honourable man.
Mr.
Rattinger, anything you have to say to my father, I suggest you say it to him and not to me.
Did he tell you to say that, or did you think it up all by yourself? Thank you.
They tell me the car that you drove last night really excels at handling the bumps, taking the curves.
I wish the same could be said of the driver.
Yeah, it was an all-right car.
It's no '65 Mustang.
It got very ugly last night.
Very embarrassing, very unnecessary.
I really could have taught you something.
Like what? Like how to hurt people? - Deceive them, intimidate them? - Brandon, Brandon.
Sandy's a nervous wreck, Mr.
Rattinger.
She's a wreck because of you.
As far as Sandy is concerned, my conscience is crystal clear.
As far as we're concerned, I think Henry Thomas is looking for you.
Good luck in your next job, kid.
- Henry? - Hey, Brando.
If it weren't for these VCRs, I might not ever be able to catch up with my programmes.
Mr.
Rattinger said you wanted to see me.
Sure, yeah.
- Let me tell you what's happening.
- Am I fired? - Now, what was the question? - Damn it, Henry.
What is this "Damn it, Henry" business? Rattinger ordered me to fire you.
I told him I would consider it.
It's been considered.
It's been rejected.
If he don't like it, let him try and run this place without me in the middle of July.
Thanks.
Not that you're any good at what you do.
I don't want you to get the wrong impression.
Not everything around here is bought and paid for.
What about Sandy? She quit.
Yeah, I figured as much.
You think she's got troubles? You ever watch The Young and the Restless? - No.
- What? Come here.
That's Julia, right? Julia's having a baby by her husband's father.
- My father? - Yes.
The whole week I was sobbing my guts out, and there's my dad under the archway going, "Honey, what are you doing?" But the funny thing is, my dad started reminiscing, and it's like something just clicked.
I'd been trying to feel something that I had never really felt.
I mean, it wasn't about the coat anymore, or the memory of me, or what anybody was trying to tell me that I was feeling at the time.
It's about me.
Being back on those escalators having a great time, all by myself.
Sounds like a breakthrough to me.
Nice work, Brenda.
Well, the best part is, I wasn't afraid to be by myself back then.
Six years old in a department store full of strangers.
There's no reason in the world why it shouldn't be like that today.
Way to go, Brenda.
Let's go to the beach.
- Get it in there, put it in there.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Set him up.
Slam it, slam it.
Slam it for the point.
- Out.
- Are you crazy? - That was in by a country mile.
- I'm not giving you the point, Jerry.
- Not going to argue with you about it.
- Did you see it, Brandon? - Yeah, I saw it.
- What was it? Wait, all right, listen, we'll just take it over.
What for? Brandon saw it.
So, what's the call, Brandon? It was in.
Like I said, I call them like I see them, Jerry.
Right, okay, let's go.
You're gonna leave without saying goodbye? Hi, Brandon.
- You're moving out? - Yeah, I'm leaving town.
My mom and my sister have a place up in San Luis Obispo, and they've been asking me to stay with them.
Clearly it's not working here anymore.
He told me he loved me.
He said he'd leave his wife and children.
That was two years ago.
I'm sorry.
Being with you though, listening to your approach to things it's really helped me to see how jaded and angry I've become.
Thank you.
Say goodbye to Dylan for me, will you? Yeah.
- Drive safely, now, you hear? - I will.
Bye.
Yo, kumby, can I buy you some lemonade? Tell you what, throw in a little chicken ranchero and some salsa, you got a customer.
I just feel so bad about Sandy.
- Thanks, Grace.
- Thanks, Grace.
Well, she's not bad news, man, she's just unhappy.
Or she wouldn't have got herself into that situation with Rattinger to begin with.
I really liked her, man.
I know, I know.
But you gotta promise me something.
What's that? The next time you ask me if I've been with a girl that you have a crush on, I get a free one anywhere.
- Anywhere? - Anywhere.
Just not the nose.
- Females, what are you doing here? - We were just in the neighbourhood.
So this is the Beverly Hills Beach Club, huh? Kelly, what's so funny? Poor Steve.
What's up, buddy? It's low.
It's lower than low.
It's the lowest common denominator.
- What happened, man? - You remember Maia Landen? - Fifteen-year-old vamp? - Yes.
She says she just wants to be my friend, but what gets me is, she's got the hots for- Hey, big guy.
So, what time are the grunion running tonight? What are grunion? You know, you'd think they'd have enough courtesy to show up for their own party.
Yeah, I guess they figured it was a long swim back to Mexico.
Yeah, well, the water is a lot warmer in Puerto Vallarta.
- The party's over! - Oh, boy.
Let's do that every year.
Every year.
Are we leaving? - It's getting late.
- No.
I came here to see some grunion, I'm gonna see some grunion.
- That's the spirit.
- Go.
You know, your brother's a fool, you know that? Yes, I know.
You know, it's really nice being here with you, but not being here with you, you know? You mean like a good friend? Anything is possible.
Anything? - It's kind of disappointing, isn't it? - No, it's kind of nice to see everybody.
Guys, what does a grunion look like anyway? I don't know.
I've never seen one before.
Do they kind of look like a cross between a sardine and an anchovy? Yeah, why? Grunion!