Expert: Mel - 2/5/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi Mel.  Can you tell me what the dialogue was between Matt and Kelly, when Kelly is sitting and reading a book and Matt stops by to talk?  He is discussing a shoplifting case and asks if she can relate.  She replies something like "my relationship with Brandon, my career..."  I didn't understand what Matt's exact words were before Kelly's statement and how her reply ties in with what he said.  If you can provide the dialogue for that scene it would be awesome.  It's right before David tells Matt about the underaged girl he slept with.

Thanks in advance!!

ANSWER: Hi Anne,

No problem.  Here's the scene from "You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello", that you requested:

(In the shopping center, outside of the Now Wear This boutique)

Matt: Hey.
Kelly: Hi!
M: (to store clerk) Cappuccino, please.
K: Long day?
M: (sits with her) *sigh* Well, I've been defending this woman who shoplifted a pair of shoes for her kid.  They wanted to lock her up for 6 months.
K: Mm, that doesn't seem fair.
M: I mean, we won, but at first I wasn't so sure.  That ever happen to you?
K: (scoffs) My relationship with Brandon, my career ... I thought you were a jerk ...
M: (amused) Really?  And then you saw how I danced, of course.  Something like this. (Matt begins to dance) In the hips, right?

He bumps into David.  Kelly laughs.  Him and David begin to talk.  
-----

Hey, and Matt never picks up his cappuccino!  LOL.  Anyway, I think what Kelly is trying to say is that her expectations have been thwarted before (namely, with Brandon and her line of work).  What she thought was certain actually wasn't.  Just like she was apparently wrong about Matt being a jerk.  Brandon and her broke up after being engaged and she was studying psychology before Donna convinced her to be a partner at the clothing store.   

Or, she could be referring to when she doubted her and Brandon would get back together (S6 and S7), but in the end (late S7) they did (breaking up and getting back together in S8, as well).  Perhaps she was unsure she'd make it to the point of having a career and being on her own after college.  

Either way, it's about her expectations being defied.  All done to make way for the Matt/Kelly relationship, as she kisses him for the first time in this episode.   


Thanks for the question!

All the best,

Mel


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hey Mel.  Thanks for the response.  It makes sense now.  In the same episode, why does Kelly accuse Val of giving Brandon the idea of calling off the wedding when it was supposed to be a mutual decision?  Is that just a storyline rewrite?

Also in the episode "Brandon leaves," when Val interupted Brandon and Matt's conversation in the Peach Pit, what did Val say to Brandon right after Matt left?  She was upset about him moving.  She spoke really fast and I couldn't quite make out her exact words.

Thanks again.

Answer
Hey again,

Earlier on in "You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello", Valerie and Kelly are packing up what's left of Brandon's things in order to send them to him in D.C.  They come upon a collection of love letters and Kelly notices one is from Valerie.  It read: "I love you, Brandon.  Like a sister.  So when I tell you that marrying Kelly is a bad idea, I'm saying this for your own good.  You should want more."  Kelly then accuses her of giving Brandon the idea to call off the wedding and Valerie responds with an apology and a defense, saying, "No! I didn't.  I didn't, he just wanted my opinion."  She later reveals to David, with whom she has a background for being (somewhat more) honest, that Brandon was asking everyone for advice, not just her.  

In the S8 finale, we do see Brandon expressing doubts, mostly to Steve, but Valerie is pre-occupied with serious concerns over whether she has HIV.  She also makes a sarcastic quip - "Oh, how selfish of me" - when David urges her to focus on Brandon and Kelly during their celebratory dinner.  It hardly appears that she was attempting to sabotage their relationship or would find the time to do so.  There's no scene of her writing the letter described above.  On the other hand, Val did advise Brandon not to marry Kelly in the S5 finale and both girls weren't getting along at the time, so Valerie giving this advice again is still fitting to some extent.  But yes, it is a re-write.  It was utilized to give Val/Kel one last fight before they finally make-up for good, just in time for Tiffani's departure from the show.  

After Matt leaves the Peach Pit in the scene from "Brandon Leaves" which you cite above, Valerie says to Brandon: "The Kelly mess and now you're moving?  You got your own life.  I can't bother you with mine." Note: The first three of those words, I got from turning the closed captioning on cause I couldn't make it out either.  


All the best,

Mel