Brandon is on a road trip through the USA when his car breaks down in a small town in Texas, and he encounters racism from the redneck locals after he befriends a young black girl, named Mariah. In Beverly Hills, Valerie seeks financial help from Kenny Bannerman, one of Jim Walsh's former coworkers, to revamp business for the Peach Pit After Dark. Meanwhile, David and Donna work together on another music video project and find that their renewed relationship may be on a short fuse. Also, Clare and Steve attempt to meet with each other after spending their summer away, unaware that they are at the same airport at LAX waiting for the other.

Mariah Murphy, the young black girl Brandon met in Texas ('Remember the Alamo'), who's now an aspiring writer, arrives in Los Angeles for a visit and her quick kinship with Kelly bothers Tracy. Meanwhile, Rob's new movie is released, which earns great recognition for his performance, but bad reviews for whole movie which makes Rob wonder if the movie business is really for him. Valerie worries that she'll lose Rob when he tells her that he wants to quit the entertainment business and move back to his hometown. Clare has a crisis when her computer breaks down while she's writing a term paper, which leaves her no time for Steve, who goes to Rob's movie premiere solo. Also, David goes nuts trying to plan a special anniversary dinner for Donna.