Original subtitles

[cheering music playing]

[cheering music playing]

[exciting music playing]

How many of those things do you go through a week?

It depends on whose face I see on the ball.

Wood, huh?

Yes. Bjorn Borg used a racket like this.

I'm impressed,

but you're an impressive guy...

lettered in three sports,

straight-A student,

debating team,

environmental awareness program.

Interned last summer at the governor's office.

Walsh, I told you, no interviews.

Borg didn't become a star

until he talked to the press.

[exciting music playing]

You got to learn how to take the heat.

OK.

You've got it.

[exciting music playing]

- You're kidding. - No.

Just make sure to spell my name right.

No problem.

Thanks.

So whose face is it?

What?

On the ball.

Who are you trying to clobber?

[exciting music playing]

It's 1:00. I've got to call home.

Would you just relax?

So you only get 200 points for writing your name on the SAT

It's only if you spell it right.

Oh. That's funny.

There's no fun about SATs.

Our college careers hang in the balance,

aren't you worried?

Yes, I'm worried.

Fred Segal's on sale.

By the time we get there,

everything in size 2 will be gone.

[Kelly laughs]

Of all the seniors

graduating from West Beverly this year,

which one would you like to see in the senior spotlight?

Roger Azarian.

Done.

You got an interview with Roger Azarian?

Way to go, Ace.

I knew you'd be pleased.

Well keep it tight, no fluff.

I want to know what makes a guy like that tick.

Steve, just the man I was looking for.

Hey. What's up?

You got the scoop on everybody.

What do you know about Roger Azarian?

Probably get a Rhodes scholarship,

marry Miss America, and run for president.

Sounds like an ideal speciesism.

Being that is easy

if you're George Azarian's son.

How did he make all his money anyway?

Self-made. Started at the bottom,

now he owns half of Orange County.

He's got houses in New York, Hawaii, France.

A couple of hotels on Park Place and Boardwalk?

Yes, but this isn't monopoly money.

My mom used to date him,

when he owned the Apollo Studios.

If she'd married him, I'd have a shot at Stanford.

- Yeah? - Yeah.

It's said that he built a library there

so old Roger would get in.

What would it take to get my dad to do that for me?

About 10 million dollars.

[cheering music playing]

It's $14.38...

And $42.40...

[Cindy mumbles]

- Where is it? - [Cindy] What?

Mom!

Oh. Um...

Ah!

This is what you're looking for.

I can't.

Brenda, would you open it?

I have to be alone.

- Taxes? - How'd you guess?

Why don't you hire an accountant?

[laughing] I married one.

T.S. Eliot was right...

April is the cruelest month.

Woo-ha!

I don't believe this... 1190.

- All right! - Let me see that.

I got 630 Math and 560 Verbal.

Girl, you're in UCLA so easy.

Or U. of Minnesota.

I have to see Brandon's.

Oh. No way!

I know he did better than me.

Can we get out of here? I really have to go.

Maybe the girls want to go home to see their scores.

Sure. Right. Okay, go on. Leave. Just call me.

You'll be the first to know.

Pacoima Junior College, here I come.

[cheering music playing]

[suspense music playing]

[cheering music playing]

[steps approaching]

Looking for something?

Sorry. I was just...

No. It's OK. It is.

It's a Walther PPK,

used to belong to Dashiell Hammett.

Wow.

My parents wouldn't even allow toy guns in the house.

It's no toy. My father taught me to shoot when I was 6.

We used to go to the backyard for target practice.

At 6? Isn't that a little young?

Survival of the fittest, Walsh.

It's kill or be killed.

Do you talk about the jungle or Beverly Hills?

[laughing] Same difference.

So $10,647 on non-deductible interest,

to say nothing of these entertainment expenses.

OK. So we'll cut back.

What are you worried about? We're doing fine.

I hate this time of year.

Do you want me to help?

OK, I'll help. I promise.

You say that every year. Then you go off,

and solve the tax problems of Corporate America

and I have to handle the shoe boxes from hell.

Is Brandon home?

No. He's not, honey.

Where is he?

What's with her?

[Cindy laughs]

Their SAT scores came today.

She's dying to beat Brandon score.

I wonder who did better.

Oh, Jim!

Five bucks says...

I will not bet on my children.

Thanks for the tour. I hope I wasn't rude to ask.

But I have never seen a place like this.

Big enough for two people, you think?

Who, your mom and dad?

What do you want to know for your writing?

I thought we start with...

No tape.

Excuse me?

The recorder makes me feel uncomfortable.

Well, it's just for accuracy,

but if you're not cool with it,

I'll just work from my notes.

[car arriving]

Roger.

Dad.

This is Brandon Walsh from the school paper.

I'll be featured in the senior spotlight.

- Nice to meet you, sir. - Brandon, huh?

It's always good to read Azarian in print.

[George laughs]

Roger, I had lunch today at the club with Pete Garrison.

An old fraternity brother... Stanford admissions.

Dad, I told you not to.

Don't worry, it's under control.

I mentioned your screenplay to Sol.

He'll be glad to have somebody at the agency give it a read.

If I can't call in some favors for my son,

then who can I do it for, right?

Dad,

can we talk about this later?

It's off the record, right, Brandon?

Yes, sir.

Have a good interview.

You actually wrote a screenplay?

Every busboy in Hollywood has a screenplay under his arm.

Can I read it?

No one's read it.

And your father? He said he'll get you an agency.

He doesn't need to read it to get me an agent.

He just pulls strings.

But you don't want him to.

This is supposed to be a story about me, right?

Not my dad.

I'm sorry.

Do you really want to see it?

Sure. I'm no critic or anything.

No. Just tell me what you think.

[door opening]

[door closing]

Oh, great. You're home.

I'm home.

She wants you to open this.

The SAT scores...

I almost forgot.

[suspense music playing]

[paper screwing]

You're not going to tell us?

He has to tell us, doesn't he?

It's between Brandon and the college of his choice.

- No way. - Hey. OK.

I got 1190.

Beat that.

You're kidding, right?

[Cindy and Jim laugh]

What's so funny?

I got 630 Math, 560 Verbal.

I got 560 Math, 630 Verbal.

Twins, true to form.

It's gross.

[Cindy] It's wonderful.

I didn't know Roger Azarian wrote a screenplay.

- Put that down. - Is George Azarian's relative?

Yes. I'm doing a profile on his son.

You've got to hand it to a guy like that...

first generation, son of an immigrant.

Is one of the richest guys in the country.

Brenda, come on. He gave this to me.

I don't think he wants anyone else to read it.

Brandon, don't be ridiculous.

Screenplays are meant to be read,

out loud, preferably.

[paper screwing]

OK, let's see.

I will be Janine, and you can be Robert.

[paper screwing]

"Fade in on... Exterior. Beverly Hills mansion. Day.

A major Tudor North of sunset.

Sprawling grounds. Pool.

Robert hops out of his Porsche."

Doesn't Roger have a Porsche?

"Janine, a gorgeous twin-peaksy blond,

kisses him with all the pent-up passion

of her 16 years."

Give me a break.

"Cut to the swimming pool. Day.

Robert and Janine are drying off after a swim.

Her bikini revealing just enough

to command Robert's full attention..."

[suspense music playing]

Let's go back to the house, I'm freezing.

Not the house. He's still there.

Come on. He's not so bad.

You wouldn't say that if he was your father.

Well what can you do? You can't pick your relatives.

I could kill him.

Come on.

- You don't mean that. - I do.

It scares me when you talk like that.

Yeah, but does it turn you on?

Come on. In here...

No phone,

no father,

no interruptions.

[telephone ringing]

Hello.

You're not going to believe this.

What?

I got 540 Verbal, 510 Math...

So 1050.

Kelly, that's fantastic.

I guess I made so pretty good guesses.

Have you talked to Donna?

Yes, she said her scores haven't come in.

That's strange.

Yeah, she sounded kind of weird.

Brandon, wait for me.

What?

Not you, Brandon's reading a screenplay

that Roger Azarian wrote.

Don't tell her.

Roger wrote a screenplay?

Really?

Do you know him?

Not only do I know him, but I know him.

You didn't.

Yes, the jerk dumped me.

His father said I wasn't enough for him.

Brenda, hang up. This is getting weird.

Look, I have to go. Bye.

Listen to this.

"Robert takes the Walther in his palm,

fingering the gun almost seductively.

He locks Janine in his gaze

'This is how I'm going to do it.

This is how I'll kill my father.'"

[suspense music playing]

[cheering music playing]

Brandon, you interviewed a guy who's destined to become

one of the hottest athletes of the nineties.

Not to mention one of the richest.

Any sports writer would kill to do this story.

I'll not bury it because you don't like him.

But I do like him.

He may not be the golden boy everybody thinks he is.

Maybe that's your story.

Write it.

When I read it, I'll decide.

[steps approaching]

Andrea,

at rapline, when kids call in with problems,

what do you do?

I mean, what do you say?

If the problem is writer's block,

I say, "Take two aspirin and call me in the morning."

Thanks. You're a lot of help.

What we do is listen.

That's it?

And try to get across that he or she

isn't he only one who ever felt that way.

Thanks.

Anyone I know?

I'm not revealing any sources here.

Roger Azarian?

Forget it, Andrea.

What kind of trouble? Drugs?

What would you say,

professionally speaking,

if I told you a kid wrote a screenplay

that was very autobiographical

and on page 37,

he says he wants to kill his father?

That he should wait until the end of act two.

I'm serious, Andrea.

I think he means it.

Come on.

We all want to kill them sometimes.

But it doesn't mean we'll do it.

Yeah.

Right.

Listen to this one.

"Washington and Lee University...

the male/female ratio is 2o to 1."

Sounds perfect to major in pre-wed.

What about you, Don?

What?

College.

I don't know.

We have a long time before worrying about college.

So why start now?

[soft music playing]

Did she get her scores yet?

If she did, she's not talking.

Remember, people,

I want quality,

not quantity.

Don't let her fool you.

Fill those pages.

Problem, Kelly?

No.

OK.

Get started.

[paper screwing]

[soft music playing]

[soft music playing]

[soft music playing]

Ow!

Mrs. Theodore!

What is it, Donna?

My contact something is wrong...

- I've got to go to the nurse. - Sure. Go.

Be careful.

[soft music playing]

[Kelly laughs]

[soft music playing]

[Roger] What do you think?

Should I try my fame and fortune as screenwriter?

Hey, sit down.

Get to any of the hot sex scenes?

A couple.

I'm only a third of a way.

You've got a wild imagination.

Truth is stranger than fiction.

You mean this is true?

What do you mean?

Nothing. It's just it's...

It's very riveting.

Well, thanks. I'll take that as a compliment.

I've got season tickets to the Dodgers.

Box seats. Is this an invitation?

I'm not going to be around. I thought you'd like them.

Why me?

Are you trying to buy me off?

If you don't want them, other people would.

Hey, I didn't mean it that way.

These are great. Thanks.

If you can change your plans, we could go together.

[Roger laughs]

So do you want them or not?

[soft music playing]

Sure.

Thanks.

[soft music playing]

Hey, Dylan.

Hey, what's up?

Uh. You and your old man...

My favorite subject.

[Brandon laughs]

You two don't always--

Fully appreciate each other.

Yes.

And with all his money

and how complicated that's made things for you--

What do you want to ask me?

When things got really bad between the two of you,

did you ever

want to hurt him?

Why?

Because assuming you did,

I need to know what kept you from going over the edge.

You really want to know?

Yeah.

You

and your sister.

You kept me from going over the edge.

God, I hate essay questions.

I like them. There's really no right answer.

I don't believe this.

- What? - Look at Donna.

She ditched class.

Now she's lighting up in the parking lot.

What's gotten into her?

I don't think it's what has gotten into her,

I think it's what she's getting into.

Trouble.

[Brenda] Really.

[soft music playing]

What about friends?

Friends?

My father says they're the ones you can't trust.

- Do you always listen to him? - No.

You sound angry.

I won't take orders from him!

He thinks I'd be better off if I did.

What's the point?

It's like I don't exist, except as a reflection of him.

He treats me like one of his assets.

- How do you feel about that? - How would you feel about that?

I wish he were dead!

Is that what you want to hear?

I wish he were dead.

[suspense music playing]

[car arriving]

[suspense music playing]

[suspense music playing]

[door opening]

[door closing]

[suspense music playing]

[gun charges]

[suspense music playing]

[clock ticks]

[floor squeaking]

Is that you, son?

[suspense music playing]

[suspense music playing]

[door opening]

I thought it was you. What is it, son?

What are you doing?

I know exactly what I'm doing.

[gun shooting]

[gun shooting]

[Cindy] Brandon.

Brandon!

It's awfully late, isn't it?

Oh, yeah. I just lost track of the time.

You've had your nose in that all night.

Must be some story.

Yeah...

[suspense music playing]

Some story.

[suspense music playing]

[Brenda] Brandon!

Oh, brother, dear,

why didn't you tell me you used up

all the toothpaste again?

Sorry. I forgot.

Next time, remember, okay? I'm not a very good mind reader.

Neither am I.

What is that supposed to mean?

Oh. I wasn't knocking you.

I was thinking about Roger's script.

Tell me it got weirder by the end.

Yeah, it did.

It's hard for me to relate to it.

What? The script or Roger?

He's just very guarded.

It must be contagious.

What do you mean?

It's the same with Donna. She won't open up to me.

I'm supposed to be one of her best friends.

We could set them up together.

[laughing]

Roger, how does it feel heading for "The best of the West"?

Chill, Steve, let me get in first.

What school would turn you down?

- And your father! - What's that supposed to mean?

Nothing.

Sorry.

[students talking]

I figured out the two priorities when applying for colleges...

sun or snow.

What?

Hawaii for the beach

or Colorado for the skiing.

Girls, I've got your scores.

Very well done.

- Congratulations. - Thanks.

By the way, have either of you seen Donna?

No.

Tell her she missed her meeting with me.

OK.

Thanks.

Donna wasn't even at school today.

Really?

Maybe she had a bad-hair day.

Something's going on with her.

I wish she'd tell us.

Hey, Roger.

- Do you have a minute? - Sure.

I'll write the story tonight.

I have last minute questions.

Hop in.

[Brandon sighs]

- That's your sister, isn't it? - Yes.

If our friends in Minneapolis could see us now.

[tires screeching]

Hey, Dylan,

let's check out these clunkers.

No, thanks, I already know mine.

Suit yourself.

[tires screeching]

What is he trying to prove?

Brandon says he's got big problems.

What that guy's got is a death wish.

[rock music playing]

[rock music playing]

Donna.

Oh, hi.

"Oh, hi"? Is that all you can say?

Didn't you get our messages? We've been calling you all day.

So you tracked me down here.

No. Dylan's upstairs picking up a sports coat.

What's wrong with you?

Nothing.

Donna, come on.

You've avoided us, you've cut classes

and hang out with people you wouldn't have dealt with.

Maybe you should get used to it.

[rock music playing]

Why?

What's going on?

While you guys are pledging sororities,

I'll be lucky if I can even get a job.

[rock music playing]

I'm an idiot, Brenda.

A total idiot.

What are you talking about?

Do you want me to spell it out for you?

I got 300 Math,

320 Verbal.

Oh, my God.

[Donna sighs] Are you happy now?

Donna, it's only a test.

Right.

It's just like my mom says...

I'd better find a rich guy to marry me

because I'm too stupid to take care of myself.

[rock music playing]

[Donna sighs]

[tires screeching]

Whew! I love this car.

You could have killed me, but I love this car.

I'll leave it to you in my will.

I finished your script.

Oh. Yes?

What do you think? "Oscar" written all over it?

- It's pretty good. - Thanks.

There's a lot of real stuff.

[Roger sighs]

You're the character, right?

Get real, Walsh.

Move 10,000 shares on the bourse.

Save the rest for the New York open.

I don't care what they think in Tokyo.

I'm not interested in trading Yen.

If they swap Deutsche Marks, that's different.

Mail here?

OK. I'll wait for confirmation.

- Walsh, right? - Yes, sir.

"Stanford."

It appears a little thin.

What's the matter? Were you afraid?

You've opened it. It means more to you than to me.

I left my books out in the car.

- Yes. Give us a minute. - Stay.

You don't need me here. I'm going to wait in the Hall.

[paper screwing]

Damn!

[George] You didn't want me to make another gift.

You wanted it on your own merit.

- Who did it hurt? - You tell me.

We tried your way, and you didn't cut it.

Now I'm taking over.

I have worked too long, and too hard at this,

to let you throw my love for you back in my face!

Love? This isn't about love!

[George sighs]

[door opening]

Can you go home?

This isn't going to end for a while.

I'll just grab my books and walk.

It's not far?

Sorry about Stanford.

It's okay. I'm sorry you saw that.

Will you be all right?

Yes. Just go home. Fine.

[suspense music playing]

[door closing]

[suspense music playing]

Rapline. This is Andrea. Can I help you?

[Brandon] Andrea.

Brandon, you're not supposed to call me here.

This isn't personal. I don't know what to do.

Why? What's wrong?

Roger Azarian has a gun.

You told me he has a whole collection.

Not in his house, Andrea!

He drives around with a Walther in his car.

And he just found out he didn't get into Stanford.

His dad's freaking out, and he's upset...

Calm down, OK?

Nobody believes me.

Not Brenda, not the police.

But I really think he's going to do it.

He's going to kill his father.

You called the police?

What did they say?

There's nothing they can do.

[people talking]

This is out of my league.

What makes you so sure you're right?

I'm not...

But what if I am?

I don't know. Andrea says you can't help somebody

who doesn't want to be helped.

I respect what you're trying to do, Brandon,

but you don't know if this kid needs help.

You don't know him, dad.

He's one of those who seems like he's got it all.

I wanted everything he had...

the house, the car,

the freshman fan club...

But he's all messed up inside.

I don't know what to do.

The best thing is to talk to him.

Tell him what you think, maybe he will open up.

Maybe he needs a friend.

[suspense music playing]

[doorbell ringing]

[door knocking]

[suspense music playing]

[suspense music playing]

Hello.

Anybody home?

[suspense music playing]

[door closing]

Hello.

Roger?

[suspense music playing]

[suspense music playing]

[gun shooting]

[suspense music playing]

[suspense music playing]

[Brandon sighs]

[cheering music playing]

Steve, have you seen Azarian?

Excuse me. What?

Roger Azarian. Have you seen him?

Did you check the tennis courts?

What's with him?

I don't know.

Donna's not a loser. Help her.

I appreciate your concern,

but it's not appropriate for me

to be discussing about Donna with you.

But it's not fair that you write her off.

Who said anything about writing her off?

I'll meet with her this afternoon,

to explore options for her future.

I know everybody is not college material.

Brenda--

I'm sure her grade and test scores

don't show how smart she really is.

I agree. That's why I'll meet her today.

Oh.

Honey, give me a little credit.

[Brenda laughs]

Coach Markham.

Hi, Walsh, quote me on this...

We're going to beat Beverly Hills High School.

That's great. Listen, is Azarian playing?

Not if he misses another practice.

- He didn't show today? - No.

Not like him, either.

I've called him and no answer.

He's not home. He didn't come to school...

His father's not in his office.

It's not a Hardy Boy's Mystery.

Do you think he killed his dad and buried him in the backyard?

He's playing some bizarre game of cat and mouse.

If I look at this closely, I could find the answer.

You don't even know where he is.

Oh, my God...

[suspense music playing]

"No phones,

no father,

no interruptions."

Cover for me in chemistry.

[suspense music playing]

Sorry.

Dylan, I need your car. It's critical.

No sweat.

Thanks, buddy.

Be careful.

According to your records,

it wasn't until Junior High School

that your grades fell off dramatically.

Do you have any idea why?

I started noticing guys more?

Seriously, Donna.

I don't know.

I just can't take tests.

But in class do you understand?

Sure,

but when I sit down

and I have to do it all so fast,

my brain

just overloads...

and I go blank.

Look,

this is a waste of time.

I clearly don't have what it takes.

What you may have

is a learning disability.

[Donna sighs]

Great.

- Just what I need. - No.

Learning disabilities are usual. It's nothing to be ashamed of.

You're just trying to come up with another word for "stupid"!

Well, it won't work.

[Donna mourns]

I just have to accept it.

[Donna sighs]

I am stupid.

Donna,

listen to me.

Maybe you don't do well on test

because you have trouble processing information visually,

or you might be one of those people

who don't do well with time limits.

Yes...

To both.

Well,

what we may have to do

is read the questions to you,

make sure you understand them,

and give you more time on your exam.

You could do that?

There's a lot we can do

if you let us try.

[Donna sighs]

OK.

Roger!

[suspense music playing]

[door knocking]

Roger, it's Brandon. Open the door.

[Roger sighs]

[steps approaching]

Join the party.

[suspense music playing]

Do you want a beer?

No, thanks.

What are you doing with that thing?

Target practice.

[gun shooting]

Come on, man. Knock it off!

If I try hard, could I get them all?

Put the gun away, Roger.

I can't.

I need it.

No, you don't.

I know you're angry at your father,

but killing him is not the answer.

I'm not going to kill my father.

[Roger sighs]

What about the script?

It's only a movie, Brandon!

What good would it be? I'd still be a failure!

Take a look. It's always been, "can you top this?"

I wanted to show my father that I could do it,

that I could be as good as him.

But I can't...

[Roger sighs]

And I never could.

[suspense music playing]

[suspense music playing]

Have you ever looked down the barrel of a gun?

Come on, Roger...

Go home, man. You don't want to see this.

You're right.

I don't.

[suspense music playing]

Let me help you, man.

Let me be your friend.

Friends? I don't have friends.

I'm your friend, Roger.

Don't do this.

Give me the gun.

[suspense music playing]

Come on.

[whimpering]

[suspense music playing]

[whimpering]

[suspense music playing]

There's some fancy name for it.

The bottom line is I'm not a dummy.

Well, we knew that.

Anyone who can't figure out 60% off

in their head down to the penny,

is no dummy.

I can take an oral SAT, no time limit.

That's great!

Where should I apply for college?

I was thinking back East, or I could stay here.

- [Brandon] Gentlemen! - Hi, buddy.

Next time when you take my car, put gas in it.

You loaned him your car? Are you crazy?

Sorry, let me make it up to you.

Dodgers box seats!

This is today.

Where did you get these?

From a friend.

[soft music playing]

[door closing]

[soft music playing]

[speaker talking]

Brandon.

You can go on in. He'd be glad to see you.

Brandon, thank you.

It's OK.

Brandon...

We're both getting help.

[soft music playing]

[door knocking]

Hey.

Thanks for coming. Sit down.

How are you feeling?

I've got a pretty mean hangover.

So tell me,

is life any easier in Minnesota?

Maybe a little.

We used to go to the lakes on weekends...

Fish, go camping.

It was cool.

I want you to know I'll not write about this.

No. I want you to.

I can't hold it inside any longer.

Maybe it will help someone.

- Are you sure? - Yes.

That's your story.

Why you're not at the stadium?

I thought we could watch it together.

I don't have TV in here.

Roger...

That's what friends are for.

[soft music playing]

[radio playing]