Pop Vultures

Brandon drives through the streets with an angry looking Mrs Rattinger in tow, who asks when he started working for Jerry. Brandon says it was about fifteen minutes ago, and she asks what he thinks of Jerry so far. Smarmy Brandon says he’s a great guy, but Mrs Rattinger says he doesn’t have to put on an act for her, and Brandon says he has no idea what she’s talking about. Mrs Rattinger says she’s talking about her husband and his mistress: Brandon’s not the first pretty boy he’s hired to drive her home from the Beach Club so he can be with his “playthings.” Brandon looks perturbed, and Mrs Rattinger says she hears he’s trying to get with Sandy – is it true?

Sandy walks through the Beach Club in a slinky red dress and is approached by Brandon, who coldly tells her that as she’s going up to Jerry’s cabana, could she take him his car keys, and tell him thanks but no thanks, which is pretty much all he’s got to say to her too. Sandy tells him it’s not what he thinks, it’s not some cheap, sordid affair – oh, really? – and Brandon asks how she knows what he thinks. She doesn’t know him, and he obviously doesn’t know her. Angry, Sandy says that’s right, he doesn’t know what she goes through to get up in the morning and look in the mirror, so he shouldn’t sit in judgment of her, especially when mommy and daddy still pay his bills. She walks upstairs and Brandon calls after her that it’s not about his mommy and daddy, it’s about her and her sugar daddy. Jerry appears at the top of the stairs, and Brandon looks disgusted, dropping the car keys on the ground and walking away.

Chez Walsh, night. Brandon comes in quietly through the front door to find Jim asleep in a chair in the living room. Brandon sits down beside him, smiling, and Jim wakes. He asks Brandon how he’s doing, and Brandon says there’s some pretty weird stuff going on at work. Jim says that this morning on the train down to San Diego, he had a lot of time to think about car loans and work ethics and the age old tug of war between fathers and sons. He says that it’s one thing for a father to try and instil a sense of positive values in his children, and it’s quite another thing when a father hides his own frustration behind a guise of wisdom and experience. Brandon says he doesn’t follow him, and Jim explains that the other morning, when Brandon asked if the reason they didn’t want to join the Beach Club was because of money, Jim managed to change the subject and run for the high moral ground, but the truth is, yes, it is a money thing, and it’s something Jim’s been struggling with since he turned down the promotion to move them back to Minnesota. Aw, I can hardly believe it, but this scene actually makes me like Jim. The bottom line is that there’s no earthly reason for Brandon to be knocking himself out folding beach chairs when he could be having the summer of his life, so he should do himself a favour, forget about his old man’s hang-ups and go work for Rattinger. Brandon angstily says he already did, and it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Jim says there’s just one more thing he wants to say to him: don’t sell yourself short, be your own man, and everything else will fall into place.

Beach Club. Brandon walks through the changing room and Jerry hails him nastily, saying he was wondering if they were going to see Brandon today. Brandon says that he was wondering the same thing, but his father said he should honour his commitments. “Good for Jim,” says Jerry, adding that Jim’s a very honourable man. Brandon says that anything Jerry has to say to his father he should say to Jim and not to Brandon. Jerry asks if Jim told him to say that, or if Brandon thought it up all by himself. He goes on to say that the car Brandon drove last night really excels at handling the bumps and taking the curves, and he wishes the same could be said of the driver. Brandon dismissively says that it was an all right car, but no ‘65 Mustang. Jerry says that it got very ugly last night, very unnecessary. He smiles and says he really could have taught Brandon something, and Brandon asks like what — how to hurt people? Brandon tells him that Sandy’s a nervous wreck, and she’s a wreck because of Jerry. Jerry says that as far as Sandy is concerned, his conscience is crystal clear – and as far as they are concerned, Henry Thomas is looking for Brandon. “Good luck in your next job,” he adds unpleasantly.

Brandon stalks into Henry’s office, where Henry is sat cheerfully on the balcony, watching the TV. He tells Brandon that if it weren’t for these VCRs he might not ever be able to catch up on his programmes. Cutting to the chase, Brandon says that Mr Rattinger said Henry wanted to see him. Brandon asks if he’s fired, and Henry explains that Jerry ordered him to fire Brandon, and he told him he would consider it, but it’s been considered and rejected. Brandon stares at him, and Henry adds that if Jerry doesn’t like it then let him try to run this place without Henry in the middle of July. Brandon thanks Henry, and Henry says it’s not that Brandon’s any good at what he does, but he just doesn’t want him to get the wrong impression: not everything around here is bought and paid for. Brandon asks after Sandy, and Henry says she quit. Sadly, Brandon says he figured as much, and Henry slaps Brandon’s shoulder. “You think she’s got troubles,” he says, asking if Brandon ever watches the Young and the Restless. He leads Brandon over to the television and points out the character of Julia, who’s having a baby by her husband’s father.

In acting class, everyone is in peals of laughter, including Brenda, who explains that all week she’s been sobbing her guts out, and her dad was standing under the archway, asking what she was doing. She adds that the funny thing is that her dad started reminiscing and something clicked: she’d been trying to feel something that she had never really felt. It wasn’t about the coat any more, or the memory of her, but about being back on those escalators having a great time, all by herself. Mr Suiter smiles and says that it sounds like a breakthrough, and Brenda says that the best part is that she wasn’t afraid to be by herself back then, six years old in a department store full of strangers, so there’s no reason in the world why it shouldn’t be like that today. “Way to go,” says Andrea, and Brenda grins and suggests they go to the beach.

On the tennis courts, Jerry plays his opponent from last time, and yet again there is a disputed call. The umpire asks Brandon if he saw it. Jerry suggests they just do it over, but Brandon says Jerry’s shot was in, adding that he calls them like he sees them. Having demonstrated his unimpugnable sense of honour, he walks away.

In the parking lot, Sandy is loading boxes into her car. Brandon asks if she was going to leave without saying goodbye. She says she’s leaving town. Her mom and sister have a place up at San Luis Obispo, and clearly it’s not working in LA any more. She tells Brandon that Jerry told her he loved her, and said he’d leave his wife and children – and that was two years ago. She says that being with Brandon, listening to his approach to things really helped her to see how jaded and angry she’s become. She thanks him and they kiss. He opens the door for her and she gets in the car and drives away.

On the beach, Dylan showers, and Brandon comes by, asking if he can buy him some lemonade. Dylan says that if Brandon throws in a little chicken ranchero and some salsa he’s got a customer. They lean on the bar with their food and drinks, and Brandon says he just feels so bad about Sandy. He really liked her, and Dylan says he knows – but he’s got to promise him something: next time he asks Dylan if he’s been with a girl that Brandon has a crush on – he makes a fist – Dylan gets a free punch anywhere. They laugh and banter as Andrea and Brenda approach, and Brandon asks what they’re doing there. Brenda says they were just in the neighbourhood, and goes to stand disturbingly close to Dylan. Kelly and Donna approach, giggling. “Poor Steve,” says Kelly. She and Donna laugh again as Steve approaches. Brandon asks him what’s up, and Steve snarls that it’s low…it’s lower than low…it’s the lowest common denominator. Brandon asks what happened, and Steve asks if he remembers the Maia. “Fifteen year old vamp,” Brandon asks, and Steve says yes: she says she just wants to be his friend, and what gets him is who she’s got the hots for. “Hey, big guy,” says David, and approaches with Maia on his arm. He asks what time the grunion are running tonight.

On the beach at night, Brenda says that you’d think the grunion would at least have the courtesy to show up for their own party. Dylan announces that the party’s over and they all get to their feet, but Brandon says no: he came here to see some grunion, and he’s going to see some grunion. He and Steve run towards the water, and Dylan tells Brenda that her brother’s a fool. She says she knows, and adds that it’s really nice to be there with him, but not being there with him. Dylan asks if she means like a good friend, kissing her on the head, and Brenda smiles and says that anything is possible.

At the water’s edge, Andrea says it’s kind of disappointing, but Brandon says that it’s just nice to see everybody. Donna asks what a grunion looks like anyway, and Andrea says she doesn’t know, she’s never seen one before. Donna asks if they look like a cross between a sardine and an anchovy. She points, and there are the grunion, wriggling and copulating in the surf. Everyone whoops delightedly.

Next week: Dylan is wounded in a surfing accident, and moves in Chez Walsh. Be still my beating heart!