It's the icebreaker! The cast arrives in Boston to begin another exciting season of The Real World. This hour-long episode shows the cast moving in, getting to know each other and learning their way around Boston. All seven of the cast members have very different personality traits, creating some interesting conflicts. Jason and Genesis immediately bond and want to room together, along with Syrus. Elka and Montana decide to room together and Kameelah and Sean are the two left in the end. The extremely religious beliefs held by Catholic Elka cause some issues with other cast members, and it makes Genesis wonder if she should even tell Elka that she is a lesbian. The group ends the night by going to dinner and then a club. Despite their differences, they all appear to be getting along just fine for now.

The roommates have problems with Elka and Kameelah. Elka is too religious and Kameelah is too bossy. Montana does not believe in religion. At dinner, Elka is confronted by the lack of the roommate's beliefs. The roommates go out for a night at the bars but Elka can't get in. Alone, Genesis tells Elka she is a lesbian.

Kameelah's initial warmth to the burly Syrus fades when she discovers that he's a real ladiesman and the ladies he likes are white. Lumberjack training comes in handy when Sean and Jason try to bury the hatchet. Meanwhile, Genesis begins to wonder if she was too hasty in deciding she is gay. All the guys seem to wish she'd reconsider.

Let the games begin! Tensions rise as the group begins work at an after-school program for kids. The group begins to tell each other secrets about their past. Genesis admits to having a bad childhood and Syrus admits he has been accused of rape before. This initiates an enormous conversation about rape in which Montana and Syrus disagree. As the group tries to find the bus to take them home, they got lost. Kameelah and Sean fight, and he calls her a bitch. The two finish their argument once they get home, but they both realize that they are two different people.

Elka's innocence is the focus of this dramatic episode. The anniversary of her mother's death has arrived and she is less and less enthusiastic as the days go on. The group decides to go out and get drunk while Elka stays home. To cheer her up and to "break her shell," they all jump on her, get naked and dance with pool cues on the pool table. Genesis is extremely annoyed with the other cast members and feels "out of her element" because she has no other gay people surrounding her. She tries to fix this by chatting on a Web site for "transsexuals" and meets a wonderful man who dresses in drag. She also feels better when she finds a gay bookstore. Jason, Elka and Montana create the English/Scottish band "Scotch Tape" and take pictures goofing off as "band members."

Is love in the air? Kameelah has a list of over 200 requirements that a man must meet to be her boyfriend. Her list includes things such as "must have a name with more than one syllable" or "must be able to dance." So when she goes out with Aaron, she uses this list to see if he lives up to her standards. He definitely does not. He asks her out again and she begrudgingly says yes. There is obvious chemistry between Montana and Sean, but all that dwindles when Montana's boyfriend Vaj comes to visit. Once he arrives, everything falls back into place for them and she realizes how much it hurts when he is not physically present in her life.

Tensions build as Jason's girlfriend Timber visits the house, and he is unsure of where this visit will take them. Their first few days are wonderful, and the cast can even hear their joy by listening to them have sex in the shower. It is not until they go to a bar with Syrus and she accuses Jason of being jealous of Syrus that their problems begin. After a night of screaming and yelling, Timber leaves and the two decide to split so Jason can be on his own for a bit. Meanwhile, Syrus and Sean get into many conversations about how blacks were repressed in earlier times. These conversations show Syrus' true colors.

Out of sight, out of mind. Montana and Vaj agreed that they could see other people while she was away in Boston, but the thought of it actually happening is another story. Montana feels guilty when she meets a man named Matt and begins to fall for him more than she thought she would. Genesis finally comes out of her shell when she, Kameelah and Sean go to a gay bar. Genesis makes a new friend named Adam, who is also known as Eve when he's dressed in drag. While at the bar, Genesis begins dancing with another woman and kisses her. This freaks her out because she doesn't want Tammy, her long time girlfriend, to be upset. Genesis and Tammy end up breaking up because the strain of having a relationship with so many issues has become a problem.

Syrus meets Louetta, mother of a child at the ASP. Tensions rise towards Syrus, as Kameelah does not believe in dating anyone from work and Montana doesn't feel that he is taking the job seriously. Montana asks Anthony if there is a policy about dating parents and Anthony says it is prohibited. The roommates feel it is not Montana's business to tell Anthony about Syrus, but if Syrus gets fired from the ASP, they feel he needs to be kicked out of the loft.

Tension continues between Syrus and Montana over late night phone calls and the constant stream of guests Syrus brings through the loft. Kameelah finds Ed, a friend of Syrus', making out with a girl in their bathroom. Syrus hates all the women in the loft except Genesis. Genesis, however, is dealing with her own issues. She feels like she doesn't have anything to offer the ASP kids and feels disconnected because she is gay. Kameelah and Genesis have a discussion with a girl from the program about gay people and what she thinks of them. Anthony has difficulty understanding why Genesis is having such a hard time at the ASP but has no problem dealing with Syrus' situation. He delivers an ultimatum to Syrus: If he continues to see Louetta he can't work at the center. Syrus agrees to end the relationship but continues to see her anyway.

Genesis talks about her love for drag queens and her growing affection for Adam when he performs as Eve at a local drag show. She tells Adam she loves him, but gets angry when he talks to another guy. Kameelah doesn't understand how Genesis can fall for a drag queen when he is a man. Genesis argues that maybe she is bi-sexual. Adam says that he loves Genesis but he thinks she just wants him so that she can have ""someone."" He tells her that she needs to start putting herself first and truly act on how she feels. Kameelah is dealing with issues of the heart as well. She is dating Doug on a regular basis, going to dinner and attending his step show performance. Kameelah really likes Doug but is having a problem because he has a daughter and she doesn't date men with children. But when she sees how Doug acts around his daughter, Kameelah thinks that he is worth it and decides to try to make it work. Meanwhile, Sean gets a bad case of hives and ends up going to the hospital for treatment.

Montana plans on seeing Matt for Valentine's Day, since Vaj is busy working. She thinks Vaj shouldn't care since they gave each other permission to see other people. Sean and Kameelah think Montana could hurt Vaj's feelings by seeing someone else on Valentine's Day. Montana yells at Vaj, telling him he could have come to Boston but it's too late now since she has plans. Even after the argument, Montana spends Valentine's Day with Matt. Afterwards, Matt tells Montana he will miss her while Vaj is in town. When Vaj arrives, Montana is not overly excited to see him. Vaj wonders what's wrong, since she claimed she couldn't wait for him to arrive, and now that he is there, she wants him to go. Montana seems torn between the two men. Vaj leaves Boston unhappy about the trip and his future with Montana. Meanwhile, Elka is getting frustrated with her long-distance relationship with Walter. She wants him to visit but he keeps putting it off. Elka offers to have her dad pay for half of the trip

Anthony sends the roommates on assignment to Puerto Rico, where they will set up a computer and pen pal program at a Boys and Girls Club. All the roommates are excited to go except Elka, who was hoping for a trip to Europe. The roommates talk to the ASP children about Puerto Rico and take their photos for the pen pal program. When they arrive in San Juan, the meet Jan, who runs the Galleria where they are staying. The roommates meet some of the Puerto Rican children at the Boys and Girls Club and attempt to set up the computer and pen pal software. Montana has her own setting up to do, however, when she meets Rafael and decides to go out on a date with him--with Elka as her chaperone. They end up leaving Elka and head out to the beach for a midnight swim. Later, Montana tells Sean and Jason that when she was little she tried to contact her real father, but her letter was returned unopened with a note that said not to contact him. The roommates spend a day of fun and sun at Palomino Isl

Timber moves to Boston, crowding Jason, who isn't sure that he wants her there. Jason is angry that Timber lied about her drug use and that she stayed with another guy while they were apart. Timber attempts to win Jason back, but he wants to be left alone. Jason ends up forgiving Timber, but only after he goes to a party and ends up kissing another girl. Meanwhile, Montana's dual relationships with Matt and Vaj are coming to a head. Montana really likes Matt but decides to stay with Vaj. She dumps Matt, but then Vaj, jealous of her other relationship, dumps Montana. The roommates listen as Montana defends herself against Vaj's accusations. The roommates side with Vaj, saying Montana is the one at fault. Montana goes to New York to patch things up with Vaj, who wants to bury the past and concentrate on their future together.

Elka's dad and brother arrive in Boston for a visit. Dad is worried and doesn't approve of Elka's new ideas about the world, especially having her eyebrow pierced, hanging out with Genesis at gay bars, or her continued desire to be with Walter. Meanwhile, Kameelah continues hanging out with Doug. But when Doug denies seeing another woman, they argue and she hangs up on him. Later they apologize and end up in her room while Elka and Sean listen. Elka thinks Kameelah had sex with Doug and confronts Kameelah at the ASP in front of the children. They are sent home and the next day, Anthony tells them that ""melodramatic outbursts"" can't happen at ASP. He will not suspend anyone, but more serious action will occur if it happens again. Anthony tells Kameelah that she is the only roommate that is taking her volunteer job seriously. Kameelah wonders why there is backlash against her. Montana thinks Kameelah is hypocritical.

The loft is a mess. Sean, Syrus and Montana decide to clean the house and keep it that way. The roommates attend an ASP ski trip, where Anthony assigns them to watch the kids. Sean and Jason skip out on the kids and ski on their own. Anthony is disappointed in Sean's behavior. Sean confronts Genesis, feeling that she ignores him and only talks to him after he talks to her. Genesis says that it is her decision not to talk to him. Sean argues that if she won't talk to him, he won't talk to her. Jason thinks that lines are being drawn in the house--Jason, Genesis and Kameelah versus Sean, Syrus and Montana, with Elka stuck in the middle. Genesis puts her thoughts on paper (known as ""Genesisisms"") and hangs them in the house.

Elka misses her mom as Mother's Day approaches and confides in Genesis, talking about her mom's last night alive. Elka feels she has to take over her mother's duties as well as return to Brownsville for a style show dedicated to her mom. Montana says if it makes Elka uncomfortable, she does not have to go. Elka says she has to return someday and it's going to hurt anyway. Elka flies to Brownsville and attends the style show. She accepts an award for their family. Dad tells Elka he is going to be Mr. Mom and Elka shouldn't worry about them. Elka visits her mom's grave and then returns to Boston. Meanwhile, Genesis talks to her mom about their rocky past and her bad childhood. When they talk a second time, Mom tells Genesis she has not eaten in a week. Genesis thinks her Mom might be drinking again but Mom denies it and Genesis believes her. Later, however, her brother TJ calls with news that their mom was taken to the hospital for mixing pills with alcohol. Genesis cries alone in her ro

Anthony surveys the ASP kids on how the Real Worlders are doing. The kids suggest that the roommates don't listen to them and that they yell too much. Jason agrees with the comments but Montana takes it very personally. She wants to know how Anthony feels about their work. Anthony suggests that Montana is way too dramatic and is a busybody. Montana thinks she is being judged unfairly. Meanwhile, Sean and Jason grill Elka about Walter's upcoming visit. Elka is excited but if the visit doesn't go well, she thinks their relationship will probably end. During Parents' Night at the ASP, Anthony announces that a group of the kids will attend a presidential summit in Philadelphia. Elka chooses not to attend because Walter is coming for his visit and Jason chooses to stay behind with her. Anthony tells the Real Worlders that they will each be assigned one child and there can be no alcohol during the event. In Philadelphia, the group attends the summit but Sean sleeps through President Clinton'

Anthony wonders where Sean and Syrus were the night before but no one knows. Anthony feels that if they didn't want to participate then they shouldn't have come at all. At a rally attended by Bill Clinton, Kameelah gets the ASP kids to met LL Cool J. Sean and Syrus show up during the rally and Anthony lets them know how disappointed he is. The gang moves on to the Taste of Philly, where Sean and Montana drink alcohol in front of the children. Meanwhile, Elka and Walter are hanging out and go to church. Jason expresses concern to Timber about who Walter is. Timber thinks if Walter flew all the way to Boston, he must be dedicated to Elka. Walter and Elka have an emotional departure at Logan International. Upon arrival in Boston, Anthony suspends Sean, Montana and Syrus with no explanation. Anthony questions the three about the alcohol in Philly and clears Sean and Syrus but keeps Montana on suspension because she let the kids under her supervision also try alcohol. It becomes clear that

Montana is depressed about being fired from the ASP and needs to redeem herself. She makes a series of phone calls, trying to set up volunteer work. She interviews at the Red Cross but declines the job because of her blood phobia. Meanwhile, Kameelah and the others wonder whether Montana should be allowed to live in the loft since she was fired. They remember that Montana wanted to throw Syrus out when he was going to be fired and wonder if she should get the same treatment. Kameelah decides to drop the issue while Sean and Syrus joke with Montana about getting kicked out. Montana goes on interviews and finally gets a volunteer job she likes at Shelter, Inc. In other news, Sean and Syrus get their acts together at the ASP. Sean takes Syrus and Jason on a road trip to Maine to bring back a log so he can start a logrolling program for the kids. Syrus starts a basketball program.

As the gang heads to vacation in Martha's Vineyard, it's obvious that there are two camps. While Jason, Genesis and Kameelah hitchhike around the island, Sean, Syrus and Montana play in the house with Elka and have an old-time photo taken. Jason and Kameelah flirt heavily throughout the trip, including a ""show me"" session with Genesis where she sees a penis for the first time…Jason's, of course. Meanwhile, tensions rise and boil over between Sean and Kameelah. Sean finds a nasty note written by Kameelah about Montana and him and calls her on it. Kameelah claims she accidentally left it out. Sean tells Jason that Kameelah is racist and compares her to Hitler. Calling him the ""whitest of white boys,"" Kameelah feels Sean sees her only as a black person and not an individual. She is tired of representing Black America for Sean and eventually has it out with him. Sean feels Kameelah has put a wall up around her and he can't talk to her.

The end is near and the roommates feel they haven't done a good job at the After School Program. So they all join together to work at the center. Kameelah enlists the help of Elka and Genesis to paint the main room while Syrus continues his basketball program. Sean teaches Aldo how to fly a radio-controlled airplane and Jason gets the kids to start journals. Anthony also asks Elka to produce a play for the kids to perform on Parent's Night. Meanwhile at Shelter Inc., Montana gets help from City Salon to give free haircuts to the women at the shelter. On the home front, tension flares again between Montana and Kameelah as well as Montana and Elka. Montana feels the friendship between Elka and Kameelah is false, but Elka doesn't care for her opinion. Kameelah overhears Montana's aggressive confessional about her and calls Montana on it. When Elka wants to know who called her a ""Drama Queen from Brownsville,"" Kameelah points to Montana, who develops a case of amnesia.

Sean manages to gather all the roommates for a final dinner at Artu's, where everything began six months ago. As their last day approaches, the cast cleans up their personal business. Montana and Elka call a truce and solidify their friendship while Genesis and Sean realize that they have just misunderstood each other the entire time. Jason and Kameelah assure Genesis she will be fine after she leaves Boston and that they will call her soon. The gang has a tearful goodbye with the kids at the ASP as well as goodbyes of their own at Logan International Airport.