The students of West Beverly unearth a time capsule from 1941, and put together a capsule of their own. Mrs. Scanlon organizes a surprise party for Scott's birthday, and pushes David to round up the guests. Donna is the only person who wants to attend. Kelly, Steve, Brenda, Brandon and Emily reluctantly come to the party, but act like jerks and refuse to participate in the activities. David tries to save the party by getting everyone to dance, but Brandon and Emily sneak upstairs to make out in the bedroom of Scott's little brother. Mrs. Scanlon throws them out, and the others act really indignant and walk out on the party. Scott goes to his father's den to get matches for the cake, and finds a gun in a locked desk drawer. He tries to twirl it for David, but accidentally shoots himself in the stomach and dies. David's friends and teachers annoy him by constantly asking about his well-being, while Mrs. Scanlon keeps trying to give him Scott's belongings. Donna takes offense when David c

Chuck Wilson, Samantha Sanders' old sitcom co-star and Steve's childhood nemesis, transfers to West Beverly after being kicked out of private school. Steve is depressed when Kelly agrees to go to a dance with Chuck. Samantha orders Steve to be nice to Chuck in the hopes of persuading him to appear in a reunion movie. Chuck taunts Steve about being adopted, and reveals that he knew about the adoption nine years before Steve. Steve punches him, but takes all the blame for the fight so that Chuck will sign the movie deal. He is hurt that his mother has again put her career ahead of him, and decides to search for his biological parents. Samantha backs out on the film after learning that her agent told Chuck about the adoption. Kelly stands up Chuck and brings Steve to the dance, but a teacher kicks him out because he is suspended. Steve's friends see him off as he catches a bus to Albuquerque to search for his mother, Karen Brown. Everyone teases Donna about going to the dance with David,

Brandon joins the track team, bumping Steve from the sprint relay. Many of his teammates dislike Brandon because he wrote negative articles about the football team. Brandon considers quitting the paper because he is tired of tearing people apart. Several of the athletes are taking steroids to improve their performance. They ask Steve to participate in their ""program,"" which causes him to develop mood swings. Brandon and Andrea decide to conduct an investigation, and Kelly's friend Kyle provides them with details. The track coach cancels all practices until the steroid users come forward. The other guys suspect that Steve was Brandon's source, and threaten to beat him up unless he takes the rap. Brandon allows Brenda to drive his car, but she gets into an accident. The other driver claims to have developed whiplash, and files a lawsuit. Brenda foils her plans when she catches her dancing in her living room.

Music: ""Dancing in the Street"" by The Mamas and the Papas (?)

West Beverly's undefeated football team prepares for a showdown with powerhouse Shaw High. The school decides to forfeit after two Shaw students are shot to death by gang members during a game. Brandon is furious because the West Beverly student body cares more about the homecoming dance (coordinated by Brenda) than the shootings. He and Jordan Bonner, editor of the Shaw paper, run each other's editorials in their papers without school permission. Brandon invites the Shaw students to the dance, drawing the wrath of his friends and the administration. A fight nearly breaks out--partially due to the overzealous security guards--but Nikki and Donna defuse the situation by asking the Shaw guys to dance.

Music: ""Switch It Up,"" performed by Brian Austin Green; ""Let Me Be Yo

At graduation, the friends reminisce about their high-school days and look ahead to college.