Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990) s01e09 Episode Script

The Gentle Art of Listening

This is Chief Superintendent Danielson's office.
Hi.
Is he in for David Silver? No, he's not in at the moment.
May I take a message? Yeah, would you tell him that David Silver, the new voice of West Beverly High, called live and direct from the Senior Quad to remind him that this year's Grudge Week against Beverly High starts today? - Isn't that right, Scott? - Yeah.
Hello? Hello? Did I Did I do something wrong? - Brenda, ixnay.
- Where are we going? - Anywhere but here.
- Really.
- You don't wanna stay? - No.
- Beverly Centre, or the Pavilion? - No, Melrose.
What a concept.
Come on, you guys.
Where's your school spirit? I lost that in the seventh grade.
That's not all she lost in seventh grade.
Can we please go before I turn into a pom-pom? Fine, let's go.
- Hey, Steve.
- Brandon.
Did you sign up for the Battle of the Beverlys? Well, I would've, but since I work nights, it's difficult.
- What about you? - I'm in the co-ed tug of war.
Yeah, well, aren't we all? - Hey, Dylan.
- Dylan.
Gentlemen.
I didn't think Grudge Week would be your kind of thing.
Grudge Week is every guy's thing.
What? What? I don't get it.
Well, a lot of the freshmen girls get into the spirit of the scene and try to pick up older guys.
Look.
Looks like Minnesota's already got a little puppy over there.
Mom, this is not funny.
I didn't say it was funny.
I said it was adorable.
Adorable? How about psychotic? Brandon, the girl has a crush on you.
You should be flattered.
Flattered that a 14-year-old follows me around all day? And, you know, the worst part is if I accidentally make eye contact with her, she pretends she's looking over the rainbow or something.
She's shy, that's all.
What's her name? - I don't know and I don't care.
- Oh, you're such a heartbreaker.
- Hey, Bren.
- Hi, honey.
Hi.
Why is it that she always waits till your father gets out of town before she goes theatrical on me? Let me talk to her.
Hey.
Hi.
Brenda, are you on something? - Get out of my room.
- No.
Not until you tell me what's the matter with you.
Hey, come on.
You can tell me.
It's no big deal.
It's just Well, you know how much I like Kelly and Donna.
I mean, they're practically my best friends in the world.
But how many days in a row can you go shopping before you're declared officially brain dead? - Well, what would you rather be doing? - Well, that's the thing.
When we first got here I thought I'd try out for cheerleader.
- Well, why don't you? - I don't know.
All the girls on the squad are in this obnoxious little clique.
Well, what do you wanna do? - I want to do something meaningful.
- Meaningful? Yeah.
Well, you know, Andrea Zuckerman volunteers at this place.
I think it's called the Rap Line where they field calls from troubled kids and help them with their problems.
I don't know.
What, it's not meaningful enough for you? No, it sounds fine.
It's just Andrea Zuckerman? The kid can't even write a compound sentence without stumbling over his participles, and he says that I am being too critical.
- Andrea.
- Oh, hi, Brenda.
What's up? Brandon mentioned that you volunteer at a rap line for teens, and it sounded like something I'd like to get involved with.
- You would? - You sound surprised.
Well, no.
It's just that you have to go through a long three-month training program before they even consider letting you work the phones.
Okay.
And you have to be the kind of person who is dedicated.
I know that.
Even if that means giving up most of your social life.
Like I said, I know that.
Good.
Then I'll see you there.
Good.
How long have your mom and your stepfather been married? Well, the national hotline number for teenage runways is 1-800-HIT-HOME.
Okay, so when was the last time that you got high? Now, I know it seems like the end of the world.
We average about five calls a night from guys your age whose mother or sisters catch them masturbating.
Okay, I'm having trouble trying to follow - Really.
what you're trying to say to me.
Okay, you're getting high before school, but you say you're not abusing drugs? Have you thought about talking to your father? All right, and will you call me after you talk to him? All right.
Bye.
- Rap Line.
- Hi, is Brenda there? Brenda, it's for you.
Can you take it on the auxiliary line, please? I specifically told her no personal calls.
Hello? Donna just told her mom she wants to get a nose job.
It's a crisis.
- Really? - So can you talk? - Not really.
- Do we still want to be a social worker? - Kelly.
- What time should I rescue you? They shut the phone lines down at 10:00.
Okay, I'll see you then.
Bye.
That was my ride.
She needed the address.
Here you go, gentlemen.
Hey, Nat, you and your friend are gonna have to keep it down.
You're giving the customers the wrong idea.
My muscles haven't felt this appreciated since I took my last R and R in Bangkok.
- What are you doing? - Acupressure.
- Oh, is that like acupuncture? - Well, kissing cousins.
Both techniques have been used for centuries in China to reduce pain, anaesthetize the body experience.
Yeah? The main difference is that with acupuncture you use needles, whereas with acupressure, you stimulate the trigger points with the tips of your fingers, and the texture of your touch.
Cool.
- You're next.
- Huh? I wish.
I got customers.
Well, we'll have to schedule a private session for you then, won't we? Now, look, if you wake up tomorrow and you're still feeling bugged, I want you to give me a call.
We start at 6:00.
Just ask for Andrea.
You're welcome, Kevin.
Okay, bye.
I never thought I was going to make it through that call.
You were terrific.
You all were.
Congratulations.
You made it through another night.
Brenda, will we see you again? Yes.
- Yes, you will.
- Good.
Have a good night.
- Good night.
- Good night.
- Good night.
- Good night.
So, is Brandon picking you up? Kelly Taylor.
This takes a real commitment, Brenda.
I know what it takes, Andrea.
And I think I can do this just as well as anybody else.
Say hi to Brandon for me.
Could you please let me in? Please? Gracias.
I'm leaving right now.
- Kelly.
- I'm sorry.
Let me call you right back.
Donna's mom is totally flipping out.
Call me back.
I don't forgive you.
Kelly? No, this isn't Kelly.
Is there someone there I can talk to? I really need to talk to someone.
Hello? I said I really need to talk to someone.
Okay, sure.
You can talk to me.
Who are you? Brenda.
Are you in high school? Yeah.
I just started West Beverly this semester.
How about you? What's your name? Do I have to tell you? No, not at all.
I'll just listen.
But whatever I say, it's just between you and me, right? - If you want it that way.
- Promise? Sure.
Well, it's not that I'm not all right.
I'm all right.
I really am.
Well, good.
Where are you? I'm at a pay phone near school.
And what I'm calling about is, see, there's this guy that goes to my school, and I really like him a lot and he says he likes me.
Does he? I'm sorry, you don't have to answer that.
I shouldn't have said anything.
Go on.
I'm listening.
Are you there? Are you still on the line? - Hello? Hello? - I'm here.
I just My question is Is when you're really making it and you tell him to stop and he doesn't, does that mean it's my fault? No.
I mean, I don't think so.
I guess what I really need to know is how do you know if you've been raped? Whatever you do, don't be furious with me.
If you would have heard Donna's mother shrieking over the phone, you'd understand why I'm so late.
Are you okay? I am going to get reamed beyond belief.
Why? You didn't do anything wrong.
I broke into the office after hours, I answered the phone even though I knew it was supposed to be shut off.
So you thought it was me calling.
But when I found out it wasn't, I could've hung up.
But you didn't.
She needed somebody to talk to.
That's right.
Someone qualified.
It looked so easy watching Andrea and the others do it.
But my trouble was, I got totally hung up the first minute or so, 'cause I kept thinking that I knew her voice.
You're kidding.
- Who? - I don't know.
I thought I did, but now I don't even have a clear picture of what happened.
You think she was lying? You don't call an anonymous hotline unless you're in trouble.
Mom, hi.
What are you doing up so late? Just following your example.
Starting tomorrow, I'll be working at the recycling centre twice a week.
That's great.
Maybe I could start working there, too.
- We could - Well, now, honey, you don't wanna spread yourself too thin.
Now, having said that, I spoke to your father tonight, and we are so proud of you for getting involved in this Rap Line.
It sounds like something really positive.
I think they're very lucky to have you.
Thanks, Mom.
Ricky Kravitz and George Sudaris.
There you have it.
The front line.
The senior class varsity lettermen.
That's right, that's right.
You heard it here first.
Last night was a fluke.
Tonight, it's our turn.
We're gonna win tomorrow night, and the night after that, so that we can bring the cup back to West Beverly where it belongs.
So what happened, then, stud? Well, then Nina told me to close my eyes and relax and centre my energy which, of course, I did.
I bet you did.
And then she started rubbing the balls of my feet.
She rubbed the balls of your feet? We're talking major-league, prime-time heaven here, man.
The moment she touched me I got this warm tingling sensation all over my body just like she said I would.
Well, after that I put my shoes and socks back on, and I helped Nat close down the joint.
- What about Nina? - She left.
- She left without you? - Yeah.
Oh, you blew it.
Blew it.
- What are you talking about? - She was coming on to you, Brandon.
Oh, you're crazy, man.
- Brandon.
- You're crazy.
Nina's not interested in someone my age.
She's a woman.
She's traveled all through Asia and the South Pacific.
- How old is she, Brandon? - She's old.
She worked at the Peach Pit the whole time she was in high school.
- Well, how old is she? - I don't know.
She's got to be at least 23.
Twenty-three? You blew it.
You blew it.
- Andrea.
- Hello.
Look, I had a little trouble at the Rap Line last night.
It's perfectly all right, Brenda.
Yeah, but I need to talk to you about something specific.
Like I said when we first talked, it takes a certain kind of personality to make it through the program.
- No, you don't understand.
- Yes, I do.
You don't have to apologize or feel like you're a bad person.
Most of our trainees don't make it through the first week, so you don't have to feel badly about this at all.
- Really? - Absolutely.
How are your feet? Hey, how you doing? Better than I have been in my entire existence.
I just took a float in a sensory deprivation tank.
Have you ever tried it? - Can't say that I have.
- It is incredible.
First, you take off all your clothes, and then you get into this tank filled with this warm soothing water, and then they close the lid.
Sounds like being in a casket.
And it's just you left alone with your inner self to contemplate your most private and primal thoughts.
So what were you thinking about in there? Peach pie.
No, it's true.
Ever since I moved back to LA, it's practically all I've been dreaming about.
Well, you want it a la mode? Don't you just love the way that rolls off your tongue? A la mode.
- Nat.
- Huh? - Can I ask you a question? - Shoot.
What's the story with Nina? Nina, sweet Nina.
I've never met anyone like her before.
Yup, she's an original.
She gets this twinkle in her eye every time she talks to me.
You and everyone else.
She likes to flirt with everyone, huh? Let's just say when she worked here, she was definitely a wild child.
Rap Line, this is Andrea.
Brenda, come in.
Glad to have you back.
Thanks.
When a caller doesn't want to leave a name or a phone number, how do you get them to trust you? Well, you have to keep prodding and listening until you get them to come around.
The real skill is learning how to listen, and, of course, knowing what to do with what you've heard.
Should I get that? - You know the rules.
- And let me know.
Bye.
And what I'm learning now is the best possible therapy you could ever do for your skin tone.
It's called an herbal wrap.
What's that? Well, it's a natural way to detoxify your system and re-mineralize your entire body.
- Really? - It is so great.
First, you get a massage with all the essential oils like sage and juniper.
And then you get wrapped in plastic.
Really? And then we cover your entire body with these thick, hot steaming towels.
Really? And then you take a hot shower, and we rub in all the creams.
Oh.
Listen, I don't really know how to say this, but it's really hard for me to find subjects who are willing to let me practice on them.
So I was hoping that maybe tomorrow after work, you could come back to my place and I could try my technique out on you.
That I think that could be arranged.
I was hoping you'd say that.
Good night, guys.
It never fails.
I'll take it.
Rap Line.
This is Andrea, who's this? - Do I have to give my name? - No, you don't have to leave your name, but for next time, our hours are 6:00 to 10:00.
But Well, we have a few minutes.
- Are you a first-time caller? - No, I called last night.
Oh, last night? Well, who did you talk to? - Brenda.
- Could you hold on for a second? Brenda, did you pick up the phone after hours last night? I'm sorry.
I thought it was my ride.
- Oh, Brenda.
- I can't believe you.
Look, I made a mistake.
I tried to tell you, but you wouldn't listen.
Okay, okay.
Calm down.
What's the caller's situation? - Possible date rape.
- Great.
Something simple for a change.
- Look, what are we gonna do? - Let's give Brenda the phone.
I'll be right next to you if you get in trouble.
Okay.
- This is Brenda.
- Hi, Brenda.
I'm sorry to bother you again.
Oh, it's no bother.
I was hoping you'd call back.
Where are you? Are you at the same pay phone? Yeah.
Are you okay? No, it happened again.
And he didn't want to kiss me.
He just kept doing it, and it hurt so bad.
I just want to assure you that we're in no hurry here.
You can take as much time as you need.
I'm right here for you.
We did it in the parking lot behind the gym.
Was it the same guy? Yeah.
I didn't want to do it, but everyone was partying because we had just won this school competition thing.
You mean Grudge Week? Is that right? Do you go to Beverly High School or West Beverly? I can't talk about this right now.
- I'll call you tomorrow.
- No, wait.
Hi, Brenda.
How are you doing this morning? All right.
Maybe a little shaky.
That's not hard to believe.
Look, Andrea.
You can put me down all you want.
Why would I want to do that? You handled yourself like a pro with that caller last night.
It was It was very impressive.
Well, good.
I'm glad you feel that way.
So, on that note, what do you say we take it from the top? Okay.
Hi, Brenda.
How are you doing this morning? I'm climbing the walls.
Every single time I hear a girl's voice, I whirl around to see if it matches the voice that I keep hearing in my head.
You're sure the caller goes to school here? Almost positive.
She said she was attacked after, quote, "We won this competition," so she must have been talking about Grudge Week.
Why? Did we win the three-legged cat race last night, or what? Andrea, how can you get away with being editor of the paper when you have so much contempt for the student body? That obvious, huh? Can you blame me? It could be anyone.
Hi, Lucy.
I hate being a freshman.
- Yo, Dylan.
- Yo, what? - Mind if I pick your brain for a minute? - Hey, be my guest.
You know you may even find something in there.
You got some sand in your ear.
Hey, man, it was Manhattan Beach.
The swells were breaking three to five feet this morning.
- You going out with me again? - Probably not, now that I'm on the verge of making it with an older woman.
Slim, I'm impressed.
Who's the lucky lady? Her name's Nina.
She used to work at the Peach Pit.
She's hot, but in an organic kind of way, - kind of like Deborah Winger.
- Have fun.
Hey, listen, you've been with an older woman before, right? It's not my style to kiss and tell, - but What's your question? - Okay.
If we, like, you know, if we do it, is she gonna expect me to spend the night? - It's customary.
Yeah.
- That's what I thought you'd say.
How am I going to get around my mom? Minnesota, you'll figure something out.
Wait, wait.
Just one more thing, real quick.
I ain't going anywhere.
It's kind of embarrassing.
- No, it isn't.
- Yeah, it is.
- No, it isn't.
- Yeah, it is.
- No, it isn't.
- Okay, okay, look.
What I need to know is the first time you were with the older woman, you woke up next to her and she was lying there, what'd you say to her? Would you like a cup of coffee? That's what I thought.
Thanks, Dylan.
Anytime.
- I'm sorry.
- Hey.
No harm, no foul.
So how much they pay you for all these? About six cents a pound, but I let the recycling centre keep the money.
Hey, listen, I wanted to make sure that this was okay.
Tomorrow morning I'm gonna leave real early, like about 5:00 to do some surfing with Dylan before school.
- Sounds adventurous.
- But it's okay, right? - Well, just be careful.
- I will be.
So I might not see you until after school tomorrow.
Why? Well, after work tonight I'm gonna go straight over to the library.
I have to study for this monster history test.
Probably won't get back until after you're asleep.
Well, if I'm asleep, don't wake me.
I won't.
Brandon, come on.
I can't be late tonight.
Okay, okay.
Just give me two minutes.
Who died? - I just borrowed some of Dad's cologne.
- Like half the bottle.
Hey, it'll wear off by the time I need it tonight, when I'm with Nina.
Sweet Nina.
Brandon, please.
I have to be there by 6:00.
Okay, okay.
Thanks for listening to me.
Brandon, I'm sorry.
I'm just so frazzled with this Rap Line stuff.
Oh, yeah, how's that working out? Totally intense.
Tell me.
I can't.
Don't worry.
I won't say anything to anybody.
No, it's not that.
There's just this very specific situation happening that if I tell you about it, it would be a complete breach of confidence.
- I won't tell anyone.
- It doesn't matter.
I promised the caller I wouldn't say anything to anybody.
Fine.
Fine.
Just don't expect me to tell you anything about the 25-year-old woman I'm dating.
- Well, what can I do for you? - Call me back and let me know how it went, okay? Okay, you're welcome.
Bye-bye.
Rap Line.
May I help you? Well, if you wanna know if you're pregnant or not, you're gonna have to go in and get the test done.
Can your mom take you? When do you plan on telling her? - Well, if you're not gonna tell her - Keith.
what are you gonna do? - Keith! Damn it, Keith, I'm sorry, but you have to pick that up.
It's been ringing off the hook.
Hold on one second, okay? Rap Line, this is Keith.
Are you a first-time caller? Follow up tomorrow.
- Okay, thanks.
- Good night.
Look, 15 more minutes.
Fifteen more minutes is all I'm asking for.
I'm sorry, Brenda.
Why can't we stay? This girl needs counseling.
- You said so yourself.
- That's right, but you can't force anyone to pick up the phone and call us.
And, since she didn't call, we have to assume that she's okay, at least for tonight.
I know it's rough, but the real secret in all of this is learning how to let it go when the day is done.
Yeah, particularly for Carol since she works an 18 hour day.
Sad, but true.
You girls gonna be all right? Yeah, the bus should be here in a few minutes.
All right.
Good night.
- Sleep well.
- Good night.
- Good night.
Thanks.
- Take care.
- What are you doing? - Guess.
- I'm getting Carol.
- No, Andrea, please, listen to me.
The first time she called, it was around 10:30.
Last night she called right at 10:00, right when we were leaving.
- So what? - So it's 10:05.
The phone could be ringing right now.
- You don't know that.
- That's right.
And I won't know unless I get up there and answer it.
Excuse the mess, but it's always like this.
No, I love it.
It has a very earthy quality to it.
Yeah? That's what Richard says, too.
Richard? I thought I heard someone.
- Hi, sweetie.
- Hi.
- How are you? - I'm good, but I'm swamped.
Now, I'm better and swamped.
Oh, wait, before you go, I want you to meet Brandon Walsh.
- Hey, how are you? - How you doing? Good.
- Brandon's going to be my guinea pig.
- Yeah? He's letting me do a full herbal wrap on him.
Hey, well, you're in good hands.
Nina's the best student I ever had.
That's why I fell in love with her.
Richard's teaching holistic medicine at the Maxwell Institute, and he's finishing up his doctorate at USC.
- Great.
- Oh, wait, before I forget.
We give this to all our special friends.
The Tibetan Book of The Dead.
Thanks.
Rap Line.
This is Brenda.
Could I speak to a counselor, please? Sorry, our office hours are from 6:00 to 10:00.
If you call back tomorrow, one of our trained volunteers will be available to take your call.
Yes, good night.
It's been 45 minutes, Brenda.
You'd think one of these calls would be her.
The phones ring all night around here.
We should go.
For what it's worth, I'm glad we came back tonight.
For all the good it did.
Well, you want to take it? Be my guest.
- Rap Line.
- I'm sorry to bother you again.
It's for you.
What do you know? It's me again.
I was hoping you'd call.
Why? So you could sit back and judge me? No.
Or get turned on? - Look - Or be Little Miss Mary Sunshine assuring me that everything's gonna be all roses and pink.
What happened out there tonight? Come on.
You wouldn't be this angry and you wouldn't have called us if nothing happened.
What do you think happened? I think he found you again.
Yeah, but tonight he brought along his friend.
- Tell me your name.
- Forget it.
- No, I want to know who you are.
- Brenda.
Look, don't be afraid.
I know it's scary, but you've got to stand up to them.
You have to make this go away, so they won't hurt you anymore.
- You shouldn't be telling her this.
- It's the truth, Andrea.
Are you talking about me? Just with one of the other student volunteers.
You're a two-faced liar, just like the rest of them.
That's not true.
What's her name? Andrea.
Andrea who? Andrea Zuckerman.
Apparently not one of my bigger fans.
I know who it is.
At least, I think I do.
Excuse me.
- Are you Bonnie? - Yeah.
- Do I know you? - Yes.
I'm Brenda.
Listen, with the spirit meeting this afternoon and tonight being the last night of the Grudge Week, I really don't have a lot of time to talk.
Well, maybe you should make the time so you won't have to use the phone tonight.
Look, a lot of what I said, I might've made it seem worse than it really was.
- A lot of it was kind of fun.
- Which part? Where he hurt you or where he brought his friend along? Brenda, when I made those calls, I needed somebody to talk to.
And I was there for you.
Yes, you were, but on the other end of the line where I didn't have to see you, and you didn't know who I was.
And you changed that.
If you tell anybody what I said to you, if you break your promise to me, - I'll make you sorry.
- Look, Bonnie.
I know what you're going through.
You're a sophomore.
You want to be popular.
And you want the popular guys to go out with you.
Shut up.
- But it's not worth it.
- Shut up! Can't you see they're just using you? You're just You're jealous.
You're jealous because you're a nobody at this school and I'm - I gotta go.
- Bonnie! Andrea, - I've been looking all over for you.
- What's wrong? She doesn't want to come forward.
- You talked to her? - Face to face.
And if I reveal who she is, there's no telling what she'll do.
- What a mess.
- What am I gonna do? You've got to talk to Carol.
You know what she'll say.
"You can't force a kid to seek help unless they want to help themselves.
" Ours is not to reason why.
Ours is but to listen and try not to cry.
I knew we'd ultimately pull that sucker out.
In that last event? Hey, we're just saving the best for last, right? The co-ed tug of war has always been my specialty.
- Way to go, Sanders.
- Hey, couldn't have done it without you guys tugging on the rope.
Hey, what're you guys doing tonight? Nothing special.
Larry doesn't know the way to Becky's house, so I'll have to meet you there.
- Well, can't you just walk me to my car? - I don't want to keep them waiting.
Come on, Jill.
I stuck around just to wait for you.
Please.
It'll just take a minute.
Hey, Bonnie.
You need a ride? Not tonight.
Yeah, tonight.
We won.
We've got to celebrate.
Please, George.
What's the matter? Don't you like us? Huh? Please.
Don't you know how much we like you? And want you? Please.
Are you going to make us beg for it? Or are we gonna have to get nasty again? Please.
Get in the car, Bonnie.
No.
Then we'll just have to do it standing up.
Please.
Freeze! Police.
Now! Back off, and put your hands in the air.
You have the right to remain silent.
If you give up the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law.
Are you gonna go down and say something? No.
I gotta be by myself.
How did she know this was going to happen like this? All the calls came after 10:00, so your sister figured that these attacks might be taking place after each Grudge Night event.
How'd she put all that together? She's a good listener.
Tell her the latest.
Well, my folks absolutely refused to let me have my nose done, but instead, they're buying me a new car.
Life could be worse, huh? I guess.
So, Brandon, what ever happened with that older chick - that was coming on to you? - We're just good friends.
- Face it, you blew it.
- Nothing was blown.
You know what your problem is? You're hung up on this age thing.
No, I'm not.
Not really.
Well, maybe a little.
You're Lucy, right? I haven't had a chance to introduce myself.
I'm Brandon Walsh.
Hi, Brandon.
You have a nice smile.
See you.
- Hi, Scott.
- Hi, Lucy.

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