Episode #213 "Eric's Stash"

Red has just finished installing a new water heater when Eric announces to the guys that tomorrow is the one year anniversary of his and Donna's first kiss. He wants to get her something really special. Hyde suggests flowers, but Eric says he has a sixty-dollar necklace picked out. He goes to his secret stash of cash and finds that all the money is gone. He's upset about the money and quite surprised to learn that everyone knows that he keeps his money in the Candyland box. Jackie informs everyone that she's going to enter the Miss Dairy Princess Pageant. Donna can't understand why she'd want to go on stage and parade around like a piece of meat, but Kelso thinks it's a great idea and has volunteered to be her beauty coach. Kelso can't wait for Jackie to win, because she'll be the hottest chick, and being with the hottest chick will make him the hottest guy. Fez also likes the idea, and volunteers to help Jackie with her hair. Eric accuses Laurie of taking his money, which she denies while pointing the finger at Hyde. Kelso quickly finds that Fez has taken over advising Jackie on her hair and wardrobe for the beauty pageant; he decides he'll concentrate on coaching her for the talent and interview portions of the pageant. Kitty tells Eric that she hasn't seen his money; she agrees that Laurie didn't take it, because Laurie steals from her. Kitty says she'll get mad if he accuses Hyde, because he's a good apple and his friend. In the basement, Eric talks to the guys about the theft and implies that he thinks Hyde took his money. He says if Hyde will deny taking his money, he'll trust him; Hyde angrily refuses to say anything, and Eric's convinced he's found the thief. On the way to the pageant Kelso runs out of gas; Jackie says his van has ruined her life, and Kelso storms off. Donna gives Eric a digital watch for their anniversary, while he gives her some scraggly, hand-picked flowers, but Donna's so gracious about it that Eric feels okay. Fez tries to make Jackie understand that Kelso was just using her, but Jackie finds it touching that Michael wanted to ride her coattails to the top. Hyde discovers Red replacing the cash in Eric's stash, and Red tells him he took the money to have enough to buy the water heater. Eric comes in saying he doesn't care about the money anymore, but Hyde's still angry that Eric called him a thief. Red can't believe that Eric accused his best friend of stealing from him, but Eric reminds him that Hyde did make a move on Donna last year. Red suggests they do nine rounds of bare-knuckle boxing or, better yet, just get over it. Hyde tells Eric to either forgive him about Donna or not, but he can't keep throwing it his face the rest of his life. Eric says he's sorry, and he'll never bring it up again.