We are back from the Chrismukkah break! When we last saw those crazy kids from Newport..they were dancing in a circle and singing along to “That’s What Friends Are For”! Nothing rocks harder at a party than that song! Too bad..Johnny was there to dance along. It wasn’t the best “Chrismukkah” episode EVER, but it was still good.
Now it’s time to move on and there is a lot going on in tonight’s episode. First, ‘The O.C.’ is going to be like ‘Beverly Hills 90210’ tonight. They pay tribute to the “Donna Martin Graduates” episode of ‘Beverly Hills 90210’ by doing the same for Marissa. Except..the gang will try to get Marissa back into Harbor High so that she can graduate from there. And of course, Kaitlin Cooper returns. Wait..scratch that..she will return NEXT week. So I will reserve my comments until then. So I guess we don’t have as much going on as I thought. Although..Johnny has to decide whether to go with his feelings or his friend’s happiness. So that is something..I suppose.
Yeah..so this should be a fun episode. Lets get things started!
The O.C. – Season Three (Episode 11) – “The Safe Harbor”
We open up at “The Bait Shop”. The foursome are chilling at the bar. Summer slurps her..uh..drink. Non-alcoholic..of course. She wants to keep the party going, but Marissa wants to go home. It’s a school night.
Summer: “It’s not a school night! It’s our last night before our last semester of our last year of high school..so we have to make it last!”
Marissa likes that it’s just the four of them..hanging out like old times. Ryan can’t believe the year has gone by so fast.
Summer: “I wish I could like..TiVo it so we could play it over and over again until graduation!”
Oh..that’s just good stuff. Marissa is sad that she has to return to public school. Marissa and Seth take a pee break. Summer comes up with the idea of getting Marissa back into Harbor High. Marissa has to be in the school picture. Summer says the dean is gone and Marissa should be able to come back to school. Ryan says the board kicked Marissa out and not Dr. Kim or anyone else. Summer says maybe they are over it by now. Seth comes back with a “Safe Sex on the Beach” among other drinks! HAHAHAHA! Ryan informs Seth that Summer is planning “Operation Free Marissa”! Ryan finally agrees, but he doesn’t want to tell Marissa until they figure out the plan. Problem is that none of them have any ideas.
“California…here we come…right back where we started from…California…here we come! Oh!!”
We come back and Summer and Seth discuss the plan. Marissa must be freed from “public school HELL” says Summer! Ryan says he is just going to ask Dr. Kim about it. So it’s the direct approach. Summer is going with the multi-prong attack.
Ryan talks with Dr. Kim and asks to get Marissa back to Harbor. She says that only the Board of Trustees can reinstate a student back in school. It’s an uphill battle, though. Students aren’t allowed to speak at board meetings. Ryan needs a parent to speak for him and he knows who to ask. Me too. Dr. Kim suggests Ryan check out previous board meetings for a precedent. She suggests he start with the Fall semester of 1996. Hmmm…interesting.
Johnny runs up to Marissa at public school. They hug. Marissa says she hasn’t seen him over “Winter Break”. He has been laying low since his operation and doing physical therapy. Marissa has just been hanging out with Seth, Summer, and Ryan. Johnny asks Marissa to join him for a party. It has to do with surfing. He can only invite one person and he wants Marissa to go with him. Marissa thinks that his mom or Chili would be better. Johnny says that Marissa is the only reason all of this is happening to him. And she finally agrees.
Kirsten and Julie discuss business at a restaurant. Dr. Roberts walks into the same restaurant. Julie basically tells Kirsten that he is getting a divorce, but she didn’t hear it from her. Julie goes and says hi to him. They say “Happy New Year” and thanks and all of that. Dr. Roberts has not told Summer about him getting another divorce and Julie STILL has not told Marissa that she is poor and lives in a trailer park. Dr. Roberts feels a couple of “New Year’s Resolutions” coming on. So that means..their kids will NEVER find out the truth, because NO ONE sticks with those things!
Summer tells Seth that they need someone to “rally the troops”. Someone that people can get behind for the cause. They happen to run into Taylor and a few of her “friends”. Yay! They ask her to help them. Taylor is all for it. She is behind them 110%! They then tell her the campaign to get Marissa back into Harbor and she changes her attitude.
Summer: “Taylor..who better out of OUR group..than you..winning over the hearts and minds of the student body!”
**Insert cheesy smile from Seth**
Taylor: “Did you say our group? It’s a honor to share your foxhole!”
Taylor shakes hands with them and gets to work. Her friends say that Marissa is her #1 rival for school popularity. It would be “social suicide” to help her. And the fact that Taylor’s mom is the head of the parent’s group to get Marissa kicked out of school in the first place. Taylor says all of that is “so last semester.”
Ryan tells Sandy that in 1996..the board reinstated another kid after he threatened another student with a knife. Ryan says that is a precedent. But Sandy says that doesn’t guarantee anything. Ryan promises that things are different between him and Marissa. Don’t hold that against him. Sandy says ok. He has a shot, but it’s a long one. They cross their fingers.
Ryan then goes and explains the plan to Marissa. She is speechless, but it’s the good kind of speechlessness. Marissa insists that she would LOVE to finish school at Harbor. The board meeting is on Thursday, though. That is a problem. That’s the same day as Johnny’s party. She doesn’t tell Ryan this, though.
Marissa then goes and talks to Summer. Marissa says she appreciates the help, but asks if anyone even wants her back at Harbor. Summer says that Ryan, Seth, and herself do and that should be good enough. Marissa then tells Summer that Johnny’s party is on the same night and she promised to be there. Summer says that she HAS to cancel it. He will be happy for her. Marissa goes to call him as Summer leaves. But then she hangs up the phone!
Ryan and Seth enter the Cohen kitchen. They have supplies for the campaign. Sandy tells them that the judge will give them a fair chance. Kirsten remembers that this is the same judge that charged Sandy with “contempt of court” awhile back. This judge hates Sandy and Sandy says he won’t forget what happened. So this should be an interesting meeting!
Johnny and Chili walk at school. Marissa runs into them. Marissa needs to talk to Johnny. Chili leaves and Marissa breaks the news to Johnny. She can’t make the party with Johnny on Thursday. She says that she could be going back to Harbor and this meeting is VERY important. Johnny thinks that is great. He is happy for her. He says Chili can go with him now. Of course, that is all an act. After Marissa leaves, Johnny puts on his “sad face”.
Seth and the “hotties” discuss the campaign. I am just like Seth Cohen! Taylor’s mom arrives at school and ruins the fun. Taylor tries to hide the posters and stuff. Taylor’s mom finds out that Taylor is helping Summer and Seth. They have a few words and Summer reenacts their conversation!
Summer: “I can read lips! Star Magazine..’What Stars are Really Saying’!”
Taylor tells her mom that she is just helping her friends. Taylor’s mom says she has no friends, which is why she got Marissa kicked out in the first place. So that Taylor could become Mrs. Popular! Her mom leaves and Taylor says she can’t help them anymore. Summer is upset.
Matt comes in and talks to Sandy. Sandy wants Matt to dig up some information on the judge. Matt says..no problem. Sandy didn’t think he would actually do it, though. Hmmm…
Ryan comes to eat lunch with Marissa. But she gets a phone call and it’s Chili. Marissa has to go give him a book or something. So that ends their lunch. She leaves and Ryan goes back to school.
Ryan finds Summer at school and wants to know what is up. Summer says it’s a “Johnny issue”. Marissa is afraid that she is forgetting about him. Summer gets Ryan back in line with the WAR and not going after Marissa or Johnny.
Julie heads to the Roberts’ home. She is looking for Marissa, but finds Dr. Roberts instead. Dr. Roberts says he is going to tell Summer the news soon. Julie doesn’t know when she is going to tell Marissa. Dr. Roberts says the girls should be home any minute. They have an awkward moment and rethink their decision. The girls are so happy with this campaign that they don’t won’t to ruin it with bad news. So they are procrastinators like me!
Marissa ends up at Johnny’s house, where Chili is. Johnny’s room is all destroyed. Apparently..Johnny got mad and took it out on his room. Chili tells Marissa that the doctors won’t sign off on his knee. It’s too risky and thus..Johnny can’t surf. That is why he beat up his room. Chili says Johnny’s future is gone. He doesn’t know if he will ever be the same.
Ryan, Seth, and Summer talk at the cafe. They only have 13 signatures. Seth says that Taylor is the key. She is connected to every group in school and without her..they have nothing. It’s only the three of them, the A/V club, and the comic book geeks. Marissa comes in and Summer says act positive. Marissa has bad news of her own. She tells them that she can’t come to the meeting. She can’t go back to Harbor right now. She doesn’t tell them why, though.
It’s the morning time and Marissa and Ryan talk. Marissa tells him that it’s Johnny. Ryan knew that, though. Ryan says it is not Marissa’s problem to deal with. Marissa says it is, though. Ryan says that the accident and everything else is not Marissa’s fault. Ryan says that they are going ahead with the meeting to see what happens.
Matt comes back to Sandy with some information. Matt tells Sandy that the judge has a son that has a drug problem and no one has heard from him. Matt says he can use that if he wants. Sandy doesn’t think he will, but thanks him for the information.
Summer and Seth set up a booth to get people to sign their petition. They know they need Taylor and Summer gives Seth permission to do whatever it takes to get Taylor.
Summer: “I’m picturing Indecent Proposal..you’re Demi and Taylor is a leather-faced guy who talks to horses!”
Seth: “You want me to trade sex for signatures?!”
Summer: “Just get her on board. I need Marissa back at school!”
Seth: “I feel soooo dirty!”
Ryan comes to Johnny’s house and talks to him. Ryan says that Marissa has decided to stay at Newport Union. Ryan says she is staying for Johnny. Johnny says he didn’t ask her to stay and Ryan replies that he didn’t have to say anything. She has a kind heart. Ryan just wants to make sure that Marissa is free to make her choice without any sympathy! Hmm..I have been through this before as well. Scary!
Sandy thinks about whether he should use the information he has against the judge or not. Kirsten comes in and helps him decide. She asks him what he would do if he was still a public defender and Marissa was his client?
Seth talks to Taylor in the hall. He tells her that Summer has given the okay for him to offer “sexual favors” to Taylor..if she helped them with Marissa.
Taylor: “Anything else and you would be facing a long night..involving candle wax, tube socks, and the new Fiona Apple cd!”
But she can’t do it for Marissa. Seth then appeals to Taylor’s heart. Taylor says her mom is a sports agent. Large men are scared of her. And she will take away Taylor’s car and other things. Taylor still can’t do it. But Seth pulls out the “friend card” and tells her to not grow up like her mom. She is too good for that. He then hands her the petition and leaves. Good move..Seth!
Dr. Roberts comes to visit Julie at her trailer. He came to pick her up for the hearing. Julie thinks Marissa would be better off if she wasn’t there. Dr. Roberts says that every girl needs her mom and Julie says she will go now.
Seth, Summer, and Ryan are sitting at the Cohen house. Things don’t look good. They compare it to Napoleon’s Waterloo for you history majors. No Taylor and no Marissa in sight! Summer tells them to wait before they surrender this fight.
Marissa is looking for Johnny at school. Chili runs into her and tells her some news. The doctor, that Marissa hooked Johnny up with, convinced the “surfing tour” doctors that Johnny would recover and now Johnny is back on the team. Marissa is happy now and she has to go. She tells Chili to congratulate him for her. She leaves and we see that Johnny was hiding behind a door. He told Chili to tell Marissa all of that so that Marissa can go do her own thing. Well..that was a little shocking, but good for Johnny!
It’s night time and Ryan, Seth, and Summer are still waiting for Marissa. They are about to give up, when Marissa FINALLY shows up and goes with them to the meeting.
We are at the hearing. The judge comes up to Sandy and Sandy wants to shake his hand. “It will be a cold day in hell” before the judge will do that says the judge. Matt comes in and tells Sandy that he has some more news for him. He will be interested in hearing it.
Meanwhile, Taylor and her mom arrive and Taylor’s mom says that Taylor is either with her or against her. Taylor doesn’t know what she should do. She goes to the bathroom. Taylor’s mom goes and talks to Dr. Kim.
Sandy still doesn’t know if he will use the information, that he knows on the judge, against him or not. But Sandy wants to hear it.
Summer and Seth call Taylor. They want her to come to the meeting. Taylor says she can’t come, though. They understand it has to do with her mom and say that they will tell her how it goes. Taylor says thanks and I think she is rethinking her decision.
Dr. Roberts gives Julie a compliment after Taylor’s mom tries to burn Julie and get Dr. Roberts to agree.
Time to start this thing! Taylor’s mom starts off the hearing and says that the parents don’t want Marissa back and the students don’t want her back either. This leads to a well-timed entrance by Taylor, who says the students DO want Marissa back. Her mom tells Taylor to sit down. Taylor can’t address the board, but she tells them that she has a petition with signatures from pretty much every student at Harbor High. She gives it to the judge and Taylor is pleased with herself. But the judge rains on the parade. The students don’t make the decisions around here. That is when Julie stands up and says that Marissa is ready to return to school. Taylor’s mom says that Julie HAS to say that, because she is Marissa’s mother. That makes Dr. Roberts stand up for Marissa. Seth claps and says “Go..Dr. Roberts!” You would have to see that to see how funny that was, but that was just GREAT! Dr. Roberts continues and stands behind Marissa. The judge still doesn’t think he can advise the board to break precedent. He says the school has never reinstated a student that was expelled due to violence. Ryan and Dr. Kim exchange a look as they know that is not true. Ryan speaks up and says there is a precedent. Dr. Kim says he is right. Ryan says this has been done before. The judge says Ryan is right, but he still doesn’t have to reinstate Marissa.
That is when Sandy comes back in and tells him that he might want to reinstate Marissa. The judge asks why?
Sandy: “Sometimes a good kid goes through a rough time. We might think that by closing a door to her or him..we’re teaching a lesson. And when that child needs up the most..we’re not there for them. There isn’t a person in this room that thinks Marissa Cooper is a threat to anyone or that she wasn’t a model student and that she wouldn’t continue to me. What are we doing here? Instead of proving a point..lets right a wrong. It’s so rare in life that anyone gets a second chance!”
So Sandy basically pulled at the heartstrings of the judge without mentioning the judge’s family problems. Excellent!
The judge reads the verdict. We see Johnny listening outside the door. There is only 1 “no” vote and Marissa gets sent back to Harbor High! Everyone claps and Taylor’s mom is upset at Taylor. She leaves and Taylor has to ride home with Summer and Seth.
Sandy tells the judge thank you. The judge appreciates the fact that Sandy keep the information secret. Sandy then tells the judge that he knows where his son is. A detective tracked him down and brought him to a shelter. Sandy gives the judge the information. Kirsten overhears this and says “my hero.” Awww.
Marissa thanks Julie for coming. That is when Julie tells Marissa the news. She lives in a trailer and she is broke. Marissa takes it quite well as you would probably expect.
Now it’s time for Dr. Roberts. He tells Summer about the divorce. Summer says sorry. She takes it well as you would expect. That’s a lesson for you. Never be scared to tell your kids anything..they understand more than you think. Dr. Roberts and Julie have a moment and then go have a drink. HA!
Marissa and Ryan talk now. Ryan wants to know why Marissa changed her mind. She tells him it was because of the lies that Chili told her. Ryan is upset that it wasn’t him. Okay..maybe it was a little bit because of him. Ryan knows what is up, though. Marissa goes with Summer and Seth to the cafe.
Ryan goes to the beach to find Johnny. So Marissa and Johnny are like twins. They go think at the same spot. Hmm… Ryan thanks Johnny for letting Marissa do her own thing without any sympathy getting in her way. Johnny says that Marissa deserves to be happy.
Picture time! The Harbor High Class of 2006 take various pictures and they all act happy and stuff!
And we are out until next week!
