Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990–2000): Season 3, Episode 28 - Something in the Air - full transcript

Following a little advice from Gil Meyers, Brandon and the rest of Donna's friends join forces to help her in a major school protest when she is suspended from school and is threatened with not graduating for getting drunk on Senior Prom night.

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How do I look?

Oh, that'll look great
with your high heels.

Hey, you look great.

Hey, guys. Yo, brother.

Hi.

Hi.

I, uh, called you yesterday.



Did your grandma
give you the message?

Yeah. I'm sorry, I, uh,
I had to study for finals.

You know, if I want to beat
Joey Wong for valedictorian,

I got to work my tail off.

You still could have
called me, you know?

All right. Okay.

The reason I didn't
call you back is

because I didn't stop what
was going on in the hotel room.

I started it, and
you stopped it.

Come on, Andrea, we've been
around this track too many times.

I didn't want us to do
anything we were gonna regret.

Brandon, you're right,
you are absolutely right,

but if I don't do something
that I'm gonna regret soon,

I am gonna scream.



♪ Look into the future ♪

♪ Well, it's all right ♪

♪ You know it comes and goes ♪

Can I hide out in here all day?

What are you doing here?
I didn't think you'd show.

My parents made me come.

I tried calling you all weekend,
but your mother wouldn't

let me through. I know.

Oh, God, David,
I'm so embarrassed

about all of this,
I could just die.

I'm glad you're here.

I'm sorry.

I can't believe my mom's
blaming your dad for all of this.

Yeah, well, she's got
to blame somebody.

I'm scared.

What if they don't
let me graduate?

That'll never happen.
I mean, think about it.

If the board really
decided to suspend you,

don't you think you would've
heard something by now?

I don't know.

All the board members
know your mother.

This whole thing'll blow over.

I hope you're right.

♪ Don't you wonder, ooh ♪

♪ I'm standing underground ♪

Hey, guys, I guess
Donna got off the hook.

What do you mean?
Well, she's here.

I guess that means
she's not suspended.

Oh, come on, nobody's gonna
suspend Donna Martin... not the way

her mother's connected.

I don't know, I think
they might try to fry her.

Hey, Donna, David.

Hey. Hey, are you okay?

Hi, guys.

Um, yeah. My mom's freaking out.

I guess I'm not
doing so good, either.

It'll be all right. You'll see.

I just want to
graduate so badly.

You will.

Here, try this baby on for size.

Thanks.

And a cap to boot.

I think it goes like this.

You look great.

You really think I'm gonna get

to wear this with you guys?

Donna, you've never
done anything wrong before.

I don't think the school
board's looking for a scapegoat.

Hi, guys.

Uh, Donna,
listen, I hate to rain

on your parade here, but
Mrs. Teasley wants to see you

in her office, now.

Oh, God.

This is it.

I'll walk you down. Okay.

Thanks, Kel. You're welcome.

Good luck.

Not looking for a
scapegoat, huh?

Oh my God, my parents are here.

It's gonna be bad, huh?

Come on.

Hello, Dr. Martin, Mrs. Martin.

Hello, David.

I'll call you later.

I'm sorry, Daddy.

It's a little late for that.

Honey, save the
apologies for in there.

They're the ones that
need to hear it now.

Dr. and Mrs. Martin,
Donna, we'll see you now.

Come on.

Donna, this is
Superintendent Ephardt.

I believe you already
know each other.

Yes, of course.

Hello, George. Felice.

Believe me when I say
I wish we were meeting

under different circumstances.

Please, be seated.

Donna, last week

an announcement was made in
one of your classes... did you hear it?

Yes.

In that case, I'd
like you to tell us

what you understood it to mean?

That if anyone
was drunk at prom,

they wouldn't be
able to graduate.

That's the gist of it.

Were you drunk, Donna?

I don't know. You don't know?

Mrs. Teasley said you collapsed

on the floor of the lobby

of the Bel Age
Hotel... That, in fact,

you were so drunk you
could barely make it to the car.

I don't exactly remember.

Well, let's start
earlier in the evening.

What do you remember?

Do you remember how
much you had to drink?

I just had two
glasses of champagne.

Two glasses?

Two, maybe three.

Where did you have

these two... or three glasses?

At a pre-prom party
at a friend's house.

His father poured a little bit
for everyone who wasn't driving.

I hadn't eaten all
day, Mr. Ephardt.

I didn't know it
would hit me like that.

Donna, do you know
the legal drinking age

in this state?

No one sold her
any liquor, George.

She drank some
wine at a private home.

Do you, Donna?

Yes, I do.

What's going to happen to me?

Someone please tell me.

I'm sorry, Donna,
you're hereby suspended,

pending a hearing tonight
by a disciplinary panel

of the Board of Education.

Tonight?

Look, that's not enough time.

I'm sorry.

The hearing will begin at 5:30.

You're entitled to counsel.

I'll see you then.

What is the matter with you two?

Donna Martin
practically throws up

on the principal's shoes,
gets thrown out of school,

and you don't want to
write about it in the Blaze?

Tobi, your point is well taken.

However, the final
edition is locked.

Well, I say, stop the presses.

Or we publish an extra.

Hell, you two should be writing

an eyewitness
account... You were there.

We were not!

I thought you and Brandon

were sitting at
Donna's table. We were.

We just weren't actually there
when it actually came down.

Oh, what'd you two do,

get a room or something?

That's funny.

Howard, don't waste your breath.

They just want to
publish the usual treacle:

a nice, bland senior edition

with the cute
little senior poll,

cute little senior wills,

just like all the rest of the
fluff they've published this year.

You know, I resent that.

You know, in a sick way,

what's happening to Donna
Martin is an appropriate epitaph

for the dead spirit of
the entire class of '93.

Over and out.

Mel, what were you thinking,

giving those kids champagne?

Somebody ought
to have you arrested!

Yeah, well, you're
going to go over there

and you're going to see
that poor girl's parents,

and you're going to apologize!

David and Kelly just walked in.

Yeah, I'll, uh,
talk to you later.

My dad didn't mean
for this to happen.

No, David, he never means
for anything to happen.

Mom, Mel didn't
get anybody drunk.

He just had a couple
of bottles of champagne,

enough for everybody
to make a toast to.

Oh, now he's got
you defending him?

Mother.

All right, look,
let's just forget it.

We have something infinitely
more important to talk about.

We're moving.

What?

Remember the Browers?

Well, they finally
met our offer.

And because they've already sold

their house, they want to
move in as soon as possible.

Well, how soon?

Escrow closes in ten days.

I cannot believe this.

I mean, this is some
graduation present.

I'm sorry, honey.

Has anyone ever told you
you have really lousy timing?

Story of my life.

Felice?

Uh, Jay, would you
hold on a minute, please?

I talked to Gordon.

He thinks that he
wants to be with us

at the hearing.

No. I told you, I
don't want a lawyer.

Why not?

Because I'm close
to these people.

I don't want to alienate anyone.

W-Were you at the same
meeting that I was at this morning?

Jay, can I call you back?

Thanks.

Look, a simple mea culpa is not

going to make
this thing go away.

This is so humiliating for me.

I'm sorry, Mom.

I'm sorry this is
so horrible for you.

But what else can I say?

How do you think I feel.

I'm the one who
isn't gonna graduate.

Well, I guess you
should've thought

of that before you got drunk.

Mom, everyone drank.

Why do you think Drive Alive

gave us quarters
for the telephone?

Donna,

you passed out in front
of the vice principal.

Honey,

I want you go upstairs
and get dressed, all right?

We don't want to be
late for the meeting.

Go ahead.

Okay, Daddy.

Would you please try to find
something dignified to wear?

So how long is this
hearing supposed to last?

I don't know.

The disciplinary
committee hearings

take place behind closed doors.

I've never been to one before.

Well, maybe we
should all go down there.

She just said the
hearing is closed.

Besides, it's
probably over by now.

Donna's on the phone.

Who wants to take it?

I will.

Donna, what happened?

I lost.

They won't let me
graduate with you guys.

Oh, Donna.

I'm suspended

for five days,

and then I can come back,

but I can't participate
in graduation

or any other senior activities.

I'm so sorry.

And I have to go to
summer school till August,

and then I can get my diploma.

And I have to go into a
substance abuse program

at the Maple Center.

You?

You don't have a
drinking problem.

Maybe I do.

Donna, that's ridiculous.

This whole thing is ridiculous.

I know, but my parents
won't even appeal.

And my mother
says that I deserve it.

Maybe I do.

Brenda, it's just not fair.

I just want to get my
diploma with you guys.

We're with you, Donna.

Just hold it together, okay?

Yeah.

Well?

You guys are never
going to believe this.

They're throwing
her out of school.

She's not going
to get to graduate.

Man!

I told you.

So much for Felice
Martin's influence-peddling.

And get this:

Mrs. Martin is totally caving.

They're not even
going to file an appeal.

She's got a lot of
integrity, that Felice.

Maybe we should tell them

that we were all
drinking Saturday night.

What, are you crazy?
What good would that do?

Well, if they could see that
Donna wasn't the only one...

They'd throw us all
out of school, David.

Look, they all know
we were together.

She just better not name names.

Donna wouldn't
do that, you know it.

Well, I guess this
is all pretty hopeless

then, isn't it? ANDREA: Yeah.

Especially up against
those lip service

hypocrites on the school board.

Guys, I love Donna.

I'd love to hang
out here all night,

but I got to study
for the finals.

Yeah, me, too.

Yeah, and I have to put
the entire contents of my life

into a moving box.

Adios, amigos.

Andrea, wait a
second, wait a second.

Are we all just
wimping out here?

You mean were Howard
and Tobi right about us?

Yeah.

You and I both know
the only thing Donna did

that we all didn't
do was get caught.

Brandon, at this point,
that is totally irrelevant.

I mean, they are looking
to make an example of her.

If there's not going
to be an appeal,

there's not a whole
lot we can do about it.

I'm sorry.

I can't study.

I just keep thinking
about Donna.

Yeah?

Yeah, I mean, I can't believe
her parents won't appeal.

My mom would stick up for me.

I know she would.

Oh, well, your
mom's pretty cool.

You're not going
to believe how cool.

How cool?

Well...

I asked her if I could
spend the night here.

Guess what she said?

Really?

Really.

Well, not really.

But she's so stressed out
with the move and everything

that I don't think
she even heard me.

We'll give her the
benefit of the doubt.

How 'bout that?

You really want to go
to Berkeley, don't you?

I don't know.

I mean, I like it there.

I'd miss you.

Come on, Kel,

there are planes leaving for
the Bay Area every half an hour,

and besides, no one's
going anywhere yet.

I've got to get in first.

Well, just don't ask me

for a letter of
recommendation, okay?

Yeah, well, if I don't do
some studying tonight,

I don't think
that'll be an issue.

In that case, you come here.

I hope I didn't do anything
to offend either of you.

In my family, we always
served a little wine

to celebrate a special occasion.

I had no idea it would
affect Donna that way.

Hey, it's all right.

I'm going over there tonight

to apologize to Donna's parents.

And try and get 'em to
appeal this whole thing.

Good luck.

Felice Martin is a
very stubborn woman.

Well, I may not
like Felice's politics,

but I suppose I
owe her an apology.

After all, if this is
anybody's fault, it's mine.

You know, we all
drank that night,

none of the rest of us got sick.

Wait a minute, has it
occurred to anybody

that nobody's even bothered
to prove Donna was drunk?

Maybe she had a virus.

If this was a real courtroom,

someone would
at least have to ask

that question.

Well, it sounds like
unless her parents appeal,

no one's going to have a
chance to ask any questions.

Mel.

Hello, Felice.

Uh, may we come in?

No, you may not.

Then I'll say what I
have to say right here.

I served our children champagne

to celebrate their graduation.

It was my decision,

and Donna didn't
do anything wrong.

Mrs. Martin, it's not fair.

You've got to appeal this.

There was a rule.

Donna broke it.

I thank you both
for stopping by.

Mel, I appreciate your honesty.

Well, can I

talk to Donna? No.

Well, that went over big.

I don't understand, Mom.

Dr. Silver's right.

Why aren't we appealing this?

I just want to graduate
with my friends.

Please, Mom.

Donna, listen to me.

I have done everything

in my power.

I have used all my influence

with the board, and
nothing has worked.

Now, I refuse to
put this family or you

through any further humiliation.

You can't forgive
me, can you, Mom?

That's what this
is really about.

It's not about the
board, it's about you.

You're great at
making the rules,

but you don't
exactly live by them.

What is that supposed to mean?

Come on, Mom, do you
really want me to have to say it?

Okay. You had an affair...
do you remember that? Donna!

You were just having
some harmless fun.

In fact, it was at the Bel
Age Hotel, just like me.

And just like me,
you got caught.

I caught you.

That has nothing
to do with this.

Yes, it has something
to do with this.

This is about forgiveness.

Mom, Daddy and I forgave you.

Why can't you just forgive me?

What are you guys doing here?

Got called out of AP English.

We're supposed
to see Mrs. Teasley.

Me, too.

Damn, Donna sold us out.

I don't believe it.

Me either.

Well, at least you're
in the clear, bro.

Everybody knows you
don't touch the stuff.

Guilty by association.

It's true.

Hi. Is this what I think it is?

Bingo.

What's going on?

Well, it seems that
Donna sold us out.

Steve. Well, what
are we gonna tell 'em?

Nothing.

We're gonna tell them nothing.

Steve, if Donna already said

that we were
drinking, there's no use

in lying to them.

Hey, come on,

it's her word
against ours, right?

No, Steve, you're
missing the point, man.

We're here to corroborate.

They want to talk to us

so they can build a
case against Donna.

You really think
they would do that?

I think they'd do
anything at this point.

So, guys, we tell
them nothing, okay?

That's right, that's
my point exactly.

Good, I'm glad you're all here.

You're all Donna's best friends,

and I know you were all
together Saturday night.

I just spoke to
the school board,

and I want you all to know that

the Martins have changed their
mind and requested an appeal.

They have?

It's scheduled for
10:00 tomorrow morning.

And I just thought
since you're all so close,

you might want to write
some letters on Donna's behalf.

Well, you'll all be taking
finals in the morning,

so you won't be able
to make the hearing,

but if you get
the letters to me,

I'll enter them into
the record for you.

You do want to
help her, don't you?

Of course we do. Good.

I knew Donna could count on you.

Now, make sure you
get the letters to me

by 3:00, okay?

I can't believe you
thought Donna ratted on us.

Oh, come off it, Brenda.

We all did.

You know we all did.

Steve's right, we
were all thinking about

how we were gonna
save our own hides.

We have to write letters that
are gonna tear their hearts out.

Come on, Andrea, we all know

that the letters are not
going to do any good.

"Donna has always been a leader,

helping students less
fortunate than herself.

Oh, Brandon, why
does this sound so...

I don't know, just...

Useless?

Exactly.

Brandon, can I talk to you
for a second in the hallway?

Sure.

Your instincts are
right, you know.

What?

Donna's being railroaded here.

This hearing's nothing
but a kangaroo court.

So what do we do?

No, what do you do.

I've been asking myself
that same question all day.

Listen, when the Supreme
Court hears a case,

thousands of people
march on Washington

in support of whatever
side they're on.

You want to change the world,
start with the school board.

You mean we should have
some kind of demonstration?

You figure it out.

I've already said
enough to get me fired.

Wait a minute, Gil,

West Beverly is the most
apathetic school in America,

and the class of '93

is the most apathetic
class in the school.

Nobody's going to
march anywhere,

except maybe to a
sale at Fred Segal's.

Listen, they would
if they had a leader.

You know, Brandon,

when I first met you, that's
what I thought you were.

Hey, what a nice surprise.

You never visit me in
the middle of the day.

I need to talk to you
about something, Dad.

Is everything okay?

Yeah, yeah, yeah,
everything's, uh...

everything's fine.

Okay, what's on your mind?

Well, uh...

remember when you
were in college in the 60s

and there were all the
Vietnam War demonstrations?

Yeah.

You went, right?

Oh, sure, everybody did.

Yeah, it was the thing to do.

Everybody? Oh, yeah.

I remember taking a bus down
to Chicago for the moratorium.

Must've been over a hundred
thousand people in Grant Park.

Of course, when the cops
came it thinned out a little bit.

Brandon?

What's going on?

Dad, I'm thinking about doing
something that could get me

in a lot of trouble,

and I thought maybe I
should tell you about it

before I did it. What
are you planning?

Someone's got to
stand up for Donna, Dad.

Just do me one favor, Brandon...

don't get yourself arrested.

We have finals
tomorrow. We can't do this.

Don't you see?

Finals are the key
to this whole thing.

We get the entire senior
class to walk out on finals

and march on the school
board. Think about it.

No one takes finals,
no one graduates.

Shh!

What, free Donna or fail us all?

What do you think?

It could work.

So why do you look so nervous?

Because I have
a lot at stake here.

And so do a lot of other kids.

I mean, who's going
to take that kind of risk?

Andrea, we at least have to try.

Brandon, if I don't
take finals tomorrow,

I can't be valedictorian.

Oh, come on, Andrea.

You're the one who's
always saying you want

to make a mark around here,

that the class of '93 should
be remembered for something.

Do you really want to
be valedictorian of a class

that hasn't done a single
noteworthy thing all year?

No.

We can do this.

No way, I've come too far.

Look, if I walk out on finals,

forget suspension;
I get expelled.

Not if everybody walks
out with you, Steve.

They're not going to
suspend the entire class of '93.

Are you going to
guarantee me that, Andrea?

Look, I care about
Donna just as much

as you guys do, all right?

Normally, I would
do anything for her,

but I'm on probation! I can't!

Yesterday, we all thought
that Donna sold us out.

Well, she didn't.

And she'd be the first
one to do this for any of us.

You ready to sell her out?

I can't.

I'm sorry.

Steve, bro,

it's time to lay it on the line

and not just for Donna,

but because what they're
trying to do here is wrong.

Brandon, get in
the real world, man.

Nobody is going
to go along with this.

So she goes to summer school.

She'll graduate in August.

Nobody's going
to blow their finals

so she can wear
a cap and a gown.

That's not what
this is about, Dylan!

This is about making a
statement, being heard!

It's about trying
to do something,

even if it doesn't work.

What about you?

Silver, what about you?

Are you gonna ditch the
finals and miss your chance

at getting out of this
place a year early?

Yeah, yeah. For Donna, I would.

So would I.

All right, I'll do it.

Great.

Let's hit the phones.

You guys are crazy.

Maybe we are, but
Donna's my best friend.

You heard Brandon... she
would do that for anybody here.

Kel, don't you understand
where I'm coming from here?

I mean, for the
first time in my life

I finally have some direction,
I know what I want to do.

I got to do good on
those exams. I'm sorry.

I don't think I'm the one
you should be apologizing to.

Where are you going? I thought
you were going to come over.

I've got calls to make now.

That's right. At 10:00
exactly you walk out.

Listen, I'm sure you've
heard about what's happening

to Donna Martin...

All you got to do is get
up from whatever exam

you're taking and
walk out the door...

No, you don't need a
note from your mother...

Everyone's going to be doing it

and you don't want to
be left there sitting alone...

See you tomorrow, cool. Bye.

Ten out of ten.

Yeah, me, too. I just
finished up the last call.

I never realized how much
people care about Donna.

I mean, you should
have heard everybody.

I know.

Everybody felt so guilty,
like it could have happened

to any one of them.

That what's they kept
saying, over and over.

Do you think it's gonna work?

I hope so.

Otherwise, we just
talked a lot of people

into throwing away their high
school careers for nothing.

You know, I'm
beginning to wonder.

Maybe Dylan was right.
Maybe this is a mistake.

Just forget about Dylan.

He's on his own trip.

Steve, we've been over
this a hundred times.

I know, I know. I'm just
a little nervous, okay?

Listen, guys, I told
Donna what's going down.

She said to say
she loves you all.

Let's just hope for her
sake that this works.

I know this is going
to sound kind of stupid,

but shouldn't we, like,

synchronize our
watches or something?

No, we should go by
the classroom clocks.

10:00 a.m. we walk.

Okay.

Well, in a few hours
from now, we'll either

all be heroes...
or big-time losers.

So, Walsh,

looks like the rooster's
come home to crow.

Where'd you learn that,
Tobi, The Farmer's Almanac?

Last week when our
dress code came down

and it didn't affect you,

you didn't give a damn
what happened at this school.

Now we hear
through the grapevine

that there's some
massive senior mobilization

to save Donna Martin.

Well, you heard right.

Well, we just
wanted to, uh, say...

we're with you.

Thanks.

And we talked
to a lot of juniors.

If you can somehow add
dumping the dress code

to your list of demands,

you've got 300 more
kids walking with you.

What do you say, guys?

I never really
liked dress codes.

I say stick it to 'em.

Absolutely. Cool. All right!

All right then.

Oh, Jackie!

Oh, I'm so glad you're here.

Well, someone had to
show up to speak for Donna.

Hopefully, we can
make a difference.

Yeah.

Felice?

Hi, Donna.

Hi, Dr. Silver.

How're you holding up?

Okay, I guess.

Good.

Felice, I'm going to testify
on Donna's behalf today,

and I just want to say I think
you made the right decision.

I'm so glad you think so.

We just wanted to
wish you all good luck.

Thank you.

Well, to tell you the truth,
at first I was against this.

You know, Felice,

I've thought an
awful lot about this.

You know I've had my
own share of problems

with drugs and alcohol,

and if I really believed

that making an example of Donna

would convince even one
kid not to drink too much,

I would be leading
the fight against her,

but you can't scare
people into sobriety.

It doesn't work for kids
and it doesn't work for adults.

Well, right now,

all I want is to see
my daughter graduate.

Finals will commence
at 10:00 sharp.

Please place all your
books under your seats.

All you will need
are two sharp pencils.

If you finish early,

you may turn in your test
booklet and leave the room.

When the 10:00 bell
rings, pick up your pencil

and begin your exam.

When the bell rings
for the end of the period,

put down your pencils
and close your blue books.

And if I catch anyone's eyes
wandering, I can assure you

that you'll be taking
the same test next year.

What's going on?

We're walking out.

What the hell is this?

It's a march.

Donna Martin graduates
or none of us do.

Want to come?

Well, you know what they say.

If you can't beat 'em...

Go on, everybody else has.

I figure if I'm going to
be going to Berkeley,

I'm going to have to learn
to do this thing anyway.

Donna Martin graduates!
Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!
Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Yo, good to see
you're with us, my man.

A little peer
pressure every time.

Donna Martin graduates!
Donna Martin graduates!

Maybe I was wrong, Brandon.

Maybe the class of '93

has life left in it after all.

Donna Martin graduates!
Donna Martin graduates!

This meeting will come to order.

Let the record show that all
board members are present,

including Melanie Silverman,

who cut her vacation
short to be here.

This hearing was
called at the request

of Dr. and Mrs. John Martin

to appeal a decision of
the disciplinary committee

in regards to their daughter,

West Beverly
senior Donna Martin.

The committee voted
to suspend Miss Martin

and revoke all senior
privileges, including graduation

after she was found
to be intoxicated

at the West Beverly senior prom.

There will be an opportunity

to hear from character
witnesses in Miss Martin's behalf.

Also, it should be
noted for the record

that we have received
several dozens of letters

in support of Miss Martin.

Right now, I think
we'd like to talk

to the young woman herself.

Miss Martin,

will you step forward, please?

I love you, sweetheart.

I'm scared.

I know.

It'll be okay.

Just tell the truth.

Okay.

Donna, before we
talk to your parents

or hear from the others here,

I'd like you to tell me why

you think this board
should consider

overturning the decision

of the disciplinary committee.

Because... I'm
sorry for what I did.

I'm sorry I got drunk,

but all I was doing was
celebrating with my friends

on prom night.

And Dr. Silver, well,
he made a toast to us,

and it was really nice.

And I didn't think there
was anything wrong with it.

I loved being in high school.

I love West Beverly.

And I would love more than
anything in this whole world,

to be able to walk up
there and get my diploma

with the rest of my class.

With my friends.

Please, please, believe me.

I didn't plan to get drunk.

I'm sorry.

Donna Martin graduates!
Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!
Donna Martin graduates!

What's that?

Sounds like a revolution.

Donna Martin graduates!
Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!
Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!
Donna Martin graduates!

This is bigger than
I ever imagined.

Look at all these people.

Yeah, well, it's not over yet.

What if they call
the police, Brandon?

We'll cross that bridge
when we come to it.

Donna Martin graduates!
Donna Martin graduates!

Yes? I think we have a problem.

What's going on?

There's a mob outside.

What?!

Send someone outside
to find out what on earth

is going on. Okay.

Donna Martin graduates!
Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!
Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!
Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!
Donna Martin graduates!

Mrs. Teasley, am I correct

in assuming that the
students outside this building

should be taking their
finals right now? Yes, sir.

Excuse me.

Superintendent Ephardt?

Um... some of us thought
that we should come down here

and stand by our friend.

Did you know
anything about this?

No.

Very well, Miss
Zuckerman. Proceed.

I have a statement
that I would like to read.

"Recent actions

"of the school board have
prompted strong reactions

"on the part of the students

"at West Beverly High School.

"The junior and
senior class refuse

"to take finals unless
Donna Martin graduates.

Suspend Donna, suspend us all."

That's nonsense.

There are a lot of
angry people out there.

You can't just ignore them.

I allowed you to speak
today as a character witness,

Miss Zuckerman.

Your threats do
nothing to enhance

my perception of Miss
Martin's character or of yours.

I'm going to call a recess here.

We'll return in 30
minutes, by which time

I expect to have the
situation outside under control.

Donna Martin graduates!
Donna Martin graduates!

Stop this! Do you
hear me? Stop this!

What do you all think
you're doing here?

Do you think you're
helping anyone?

We're all here to show our
support for Donna, Mrs. Martin.

She has spent the
entire morning in there

apologizing to the board.

This little demonstration,
you can be sure,

has just thrown all
that out the window!

Yeah, well, we all thought
we needed to be here.

You all are the last thing
I need here right now.

Do you honestly think
that anyone in there

is going to respond
to your threats?

Donna Martin graduates!
Donna Martin graduates!

I'm calling the Beverly
Hills Police Department.

I think you're taking
this too far, George.

Give the kid a slap on the wrist

and everyone goes home.

Mr. Ephardt, for the record,

Donna Martin has never been
a problem at West Beverly.

In fact, this is a kid who
overcame a learning disability

and against all
odds climbed her way

to the top half of her class.

I hate to see this
happening to her.

It could really hurt.

The no-drinking rule
was passed unanimously

by this board.

What kind of a message
do you think it sends

when the first student
that breaks it gets off?

I wasn't here when
you passed that motion,

but did any of you consider
the students' reactions?

Oh, so now the students
control the school board?

I don't think so.

What do they think this
is, the Vietnam War?

Well, I am not caving in to
a bunch of hippie wannabes.

With all due respect, sir, there
are over 500 students out there.

I don't care how many
there are out there.

We'll call parents,
we'll notify colleges.

Recommendations will be revoked.

You can't do that.

Watch me.

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Brandon, Brandon.

I assume you had
something to do with this.

Yeah.

Well, Superintendent
Ephardt has a message for you.

Hey, hey, hey, everybody!

Everybody shut up!

Shut up!

Thank you.

What's it say?

It says if we drop the
whole thing right now,

they won't go ahead
and flunk all of us.

Can they do that?

Listen, I know how important
Donna Martin is to all of you,

but Superintendent
Ephardt is serious about this,

and I'd hate to see you throw

your entire high school careers

down the drain for this.

Tell Superintendent Ephardt

that, uh, summer school
registration is going

to break the record this year.

Donna Martin graduates.

Donna Martin graduates.

Donna Martin graduates.

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Brandon, maybe
this has gone too far.

Maybe you should just
tell everybody to go home.

Dad, come on, you
sound like Spiro Agnew.

Everybody, come
on, we're going in!

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!
Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!
Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!
Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

This meeting will come to order.

Donna Martin graduates!

This meeting will
come back to order.

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Superintendent Ephardt.

You're out of order, Mr. Walsh.

I think we've gone a little beyond
Robert's Rules at this point, George.

I'd like to hear what
Brandon has to say.

Thank you.

Now, the students
have taken your "threats"

very seriously,
Superintendent Ephardt,

but I think you can
judge by their reaction

that no one's going anywhere,

so unless you're
prepared to call the police

to make us all go home,

I think you ought to
take what we're saying

a little more seriously.

Yeah.

Now we're all here because
we believe in something.

You all would have
been very happy

if you hadn't caught someone

with an unblemished
school record,

someone that you could
have very easily made

an example out of.

That's what this rule
was all about, wasn't it?

However, ladies and gentlemen,
you caught the wrong person.

You caught someone that doesn't
deserve to be treated like this.

You caught our friend,

Donna Martin.

Donna Martin is the
kind of girl that goes

out of her way for people.

That's why all these
people here are going

out of their way for her.

We love Donna,

and we're not
going to see her hurt.

Right on.

Thank you, Mr. Walsh.

Oh, one more thing.

I don't think you're going

to have much
success matriculating

the juniors unless, uh,

you drop this whole
dress code thing.

We'll take that
under advisement.

Any questions?

Yeah.

I'd just like to say that I,
for one, am not prepared

to call the police here today.

Therefore, I move we
vote to allow Donna Martin

to graduate, provided
she enroll in a drug

and alcohol counseling
program at the Maple Center.

Second.

I also suggest that we
review the dress code situation,

or we're going to
have a demonstration

like this the first week
of school in September.

Right. That's right.

Very well.

An aye vote signifies
Miss Martin will graduate.

A nay vote
signifies the decision

of the disciplinary committee

will stand.

Mr. Chang.

Nay.

Mrs. Richter.

Aye.

Ms. Silverman?

Aye.

Mr. Pula?

Nay.

Mrs. Lufrano for the
final deciding vote.

Aye.

Thank God.

Congratulations.

Mm.

Congratulations.

All right, I got a great idea.

Let's all get drunk.

Steven, I know
I didn't hear that.

Okay, everybody, fun's over.

Let's go back to school.

Afternoon finals will
proceed as scheduled.

You, too, Donna.

You know, Mrs. T., I
have never been so happy

to take a final
in my entire life.

Congratulations, my
sweetheart, and welcome back.

And in honor of Donna,

a piece of pie of your
choice is on you know who.

Thank you, Nat.

The man of the hour.

Hail to the conquering hero.

Donna, I, uh, I got a
little present for you.

What is it? Just open it.

It's something you
worked long and hard for.

Okay.

Oh...

Thanks, guys.

No one could ever, ever
have friends like you guys.

♪ I said baby, can't you see? ♪

Ladies and
gentlemen, I give you...

the graduate.

Whoo! Whoo!

Ha, ha!

♪ I know I made you mad ♪

♪ Forgive me... ♪