Brandon and Dean Trimble are caught in the middle of a conflict when several Jewish students, including Andrea, protest the scheduled campus appearance of a controversial, anti-Semitist, African-American orator, in which the demonstrations and near-riots disrupt Kelly's photo shoot for the magazine. Meanwhile, Donna plans a party for Ray's 25th birthday. In the hospital, Dylan spends the time talking with his mother Iris, while his drug dealer pays an unexpected visit and threatens him not to tell the police about their business.

Dylan recluta a Valerie para que le ayude a él y a Jonesy a llevar a cabo un plan en Punta Brava, México, para recuperar su dinero perdido después de encontrar a Kevin y Suzanne. Jones y Valerie se hacen pasar por una pareja en un hotel resort donde entablan amistad con Kevin y Suzanne (también conocidos como Karl y Kitty Cavendish) para averiguar más sobre el lugar donde guardan el dinero robado de Dylan. Pero cuando Dylan quiere rescatar a su hermana Erica, Jones se echa atrás, dejando a Dylan llevar a cabo un intento de rescate imprudente por su cuenta. En Beverly Hills, Brandon se siente amenazado por la relación de Kelly con el profesor Finley, cuando Brandon comienza a lidiar con críticas del decano sobre la permanencia del profesor y sus métodos de enseñanza poco convencionales. Cuando Brandon conoce al profesor Finley por primera vez para cuestionar sus métodos de enseñanza, ve otro lado de Finley que se enfada con Brandon, lo cual causa un distanciamiento entre él y Kelly.

Lenny becomes an outcast when he is suspected of the campus rape despite his protest of innocence which prompts him to ask Brandon to help him prove his innocence. At the same time, the real rapist stalks an unsuspecting Donna and violently attacks her in the beach apartment. Meanwhile, Dylan accidentally becomes privy to Andrea's affair with Peter when he sees them together at Charlie's motel. When Andrea decides to leave Jesse to be with Peter, he reveals that he doesn't share the same views as she. Elsewhere, Valerie asks Steve to help secure the rock group "The Flaming Lips" after she cancels Ray's bookings, and Donna wrongly blames David for Ray's departure after Valerie lies to her that David is the one responsible for Ray leaving town.

Hypnotic regression leads Dylan to a past life where he is Billy McCoy, a gun-slinging outlaw in the Wild West, until he meets an upper-class woman (in the form of Kelly) to redeem his outlaw ways. Meanwhile in the real world, while Kelly goes to New York with Steve to meet with modeling agencies, Valerie turns her sights on Brandon who is hoping to be re-elected student body president. But Brandon runs into all kinds of problems when news of college tuition for undergraduates will be increased, he is criticized for not looking after the students best interests. As a result, Brandon's political rival, Alex Diaz, enters the race as a new candidate and wins by a landslide.

During an argument with Donna in the student union, David throws a tantrum and cuts his hand on a glass. He must see a psychiatrist after displaying hostile behavior toward the ER staff. Mel agrees with the doctor's recommendation that David be held 72 hours for observation. David is diagnosed with a mild form of manic depression. His mother comes to see him and advises him to moderate his behavior; he will not require medication if he seeks therapy and stops drinking. David thanks Donna for her support and they decide to get back together. Steve faces plagiarism charges; Professor Randall, who assumed control of the independent study course after returning to CU, recognized Brandon's writing. Randall still holds a vendetta against Brandon and brings collusion charges against him. Kelly and Mark's plans for a romantic weekend getaway are foiled by a lost reservation. They finally secure a motel room, only to come down with food poisoning. The gang helps Willie build a house that his family will receive from Habitat for Humanity. Val displays construction skills as a result of working with her contractor father, but hints to Clare that she has few happy memories of her dad. Everyone eats Thanksgiving dinner inside the unfinished house.