The O.C. – Season Three (Episode 23) – “The Party Favor”
We open up with Seth and Ryan talking about the Senior Prom! Ryan thinks it’s just another dance, but Seth says it’s the biggest dance of any teenager’s life. And if he and Summer don’t go together..then they are over. Ryan says Seth should invite her then. Seth says that Summer is still not talking to him. He tries to tell Summer that nothing is going on between him and Anna, but Summer is not listening. Ryan says he is not going, so they could just hang out. Seth doesn’t like the idea of them playing video games all night. Seth says that Ryan should ask someone to the Prom. Maybe Theresa. Ryan says doesn’t know about that idea. Seth says they were childhood sweethearts and it can come full circle for the prom. Ryan says he will think about it, but one thing he is not doing is going to the prom with Marissa as friends. Seth thinks that Marissa would invite Volchok to prom anyways.
Seth: “No..I get it..it’s in the past. Plus, I figured she would be going with the Surf Nazi anyways unless he’s busy selling crack to blind kids or…..fondling some girl at the end of the pier….Oh..maybe that’s his cousin….his really dirty cousin!”
Ryan and Seth sees Volchok making out with some random chick during that whole thing, if you couldn’t tell.
“California…here we come…right back where we started from…California…here we come! Oh!!”
Summer walks into the diner and sees Seth sitting there. Seth waves and Summer doesn’t look pleased. She walks over to his table and tells him to leave. Summer says she is meeting someone here. But that was Seth just getting Summer to the diner. It’s the only way she would come. Summer calls him “sick” and they get into a big “yes” and “no” argument.
We go to Theresa and Ryan who are having the same argument, except they can’t agree on when they first kissed. Something like 6th grade. Ryan just asks Theresa out of nowhere after that and she is a little surprised.
Now we go to Marissa and Volchok. Volchok wants to make out, but Marissa has other ideas. She asks him to go to prom with her. He has the same reaction as Theresa. She can’t be serious..can she?
Now back to Summer and Seth. Seth has ordered chocolate chip pancakes for Summer. All he wants is two minutes and Summer says okay. And oh..look at Summer’s pancakes. It has “Prom?” written on it with chocolate chips. Fantastic! Summer finally realizes that it was Seth and she pushes the plate away.
Back to Ryan and Theresa. Theresa says that she would like to go, but she and another guy that she works with have gotten “close”, but they are not dating. Right.
Now back to Volchok and Marissa. She asks him if he hates prom? He says pretty much and Marissa overs to get him in a support group for “bad Prom dates”.
Back to Summer, who tells Seth that he has some nerve. She has not spoken to him in four days and he thinks pancakes and chocolate chips will fix things?! HA! She still thinks that Seth and Anna were seeing each other behind Summer’s back. She tells Seth that she saw the goodbye the two had at the airport.
Back to Ryan and Theresa. She changes her mind and says that her mom loves to babysit her son. Things look good.
Back to Volchok, who tells Marissa that he never really made it to prom before. He didn’t get that close to graduation. Marissa says that’s a good enough reason for them to go now. Volchok finally says okay and they kiss.
Back to Summer, who is destroying Seth!
Summer: “Not only will I not go to prom with you, but if you and I were stranded on a deserted island, I would take the nourishment that your meager frame has to offer and I would feed your bones to the sharks!”
Summer leaves and Seth is crushed.
Anna gets a call from Seth and that was all Anna’s idea. Seth tells her the bad news. Seth tells Anna that Summer saw them hugging at the airport and Anna thinks this is all her fault. Seth says it’s not her fault. Anna says that if she wasn’t there, then everything would have been fine. She then tells Seth that he has to tell Summer the truth. Tell her that he lied about getting into Brown. Seth doesn’t think that’s a good idea. Anna says he has no choice. Seth then tells Anna about the last time he lied to Summer. He wrote down everything “bad” he did and Summer can use it against him IF he lied again. Well..she probably still has the list. Anna says Seth has nothing to lose, since Summer wants to fed him to the sharks. Seth feels like it’s over between them now. He can’t do anything else. They hang up.
Sandy and Kirsten talk at home. Sandy thought that Kirsten and Julie were going to have everyone over to take pictures for prom. Kirsten says they thought about it, but Ryan has no date and Summer and Seth are not together. Sandy thinks that they should persuade them to go as it’s a milestone in their lives. Kirsten says okay and then asks when they can talk about “them”? Sandy wants to know if she wants to do this in private this time? Kirsten apologizes to him about attacking him at dinner. But it’s the only way Sandy would listen. Sandy thinks the weekend should be Ryan’s and Seth’s. They can talk later once they are gone. Kirsten says there is something else she needs to tell him. She is about to tell him about the alcohol, but stops short.
Now to school where Taylor finds Summer. She has her prom tickets for her. Summer says she is not going, though. Taylor says she has to go. She was the “prom queen” last year. Summer says the queen is dead, but Taylor has gotten Summer a date for prom. Taylor is going with the guy from the Korean BBQ place. That guy has a cousin from South Korea. He’s a Korean pop star, who doesn’t speak very good English! HA! Summer doesn’t think so, but Taylor says that she has to go with the hottest guy she can find to stick it to Seth! Summer finally agrees.
Now Ryan sees Marissa at school. Ryan tells Marissa that he is bringing Theresa to prom and the baby is not his. Marissa tells him that she is bringing Volchok. That’s about all that is said. Ryan doesn’t tell her about seeing Volchok earlier, though.
Seth calls Summer and gets her voicemail. He, like myself, is the “MASTER of leaving a message”! He rambles on..just like I do. HA! Suddenly there is a ring at his door and it’s Anna! He is surprised to see her.
Ryan goes to Volchok’s house and he wants to talk to him. Ryan tells Volchok that he saw him with another girl. Volchok says a few things and Ryan says that if Volchok wants to see how far he can push him..then keep going. Volchok laughs it off. He says he won’t fall for Ryan’s “Lethal Weapon psycho bit” again. Marissa is there with Volchok and she wanders into the scene. She sees Ryan and wonders what he is doing here? Ryan makes up something and tells her about the “photo opportunity” at the Cohen house before prom. Marissa says they will be there and we go to a break!
We come back to see Ryan bump into Anna at the Cohen house. They hug and catch up quickly. Ryan tells Anna that he is going to prom with Theresa. Here comes Seth and apparently Anna has a plan to get Summer to go to the prom with Seth. Phase 1 of the plan says Anna is her going over to Summer’s house and telling her that there is nothing going on between her and Seth. Phase 2 is Anna going to the prom with Seth. Anna brought a dress and now she leaves. Seth is a little confused.
Summer and Marissa are listening to “Big Korea”, her date’s band. Summer says she is going to kill Taylor for her date. Marissa calls Summer’s date cute, but you can’t tell since he’s in a spacesuit. Marissa is looking for a dress and wonders if Volchok will like it.
Summer: “Yeah..if it rips off easily!”
Summer doesn’t know about this making Seth jealous. She doesn’t think it will work. That gives Summer an idea as she pulls out the list that Seth gave to her. Everything that he has done wrong is on that list and Summer says it’s time to give it to Seth’s parents. Marissa says she can’t do that, but Summer says she can since he screwed up. It will be sweet revenge. Marissa thinks that Seth may be telling Summer the truth about him and Anna. Why would they do that to her? Summer thinks about that. And there is a knock at the door. It’s Anna! Holy cow! That’s Marissa’s cue to leave. Summer and Anna talk. Anna says that there is nothing going on between her and Seth. Summer tells Anna that she saw them at the airport. Anna says it’s not what she thinks. They were celebrating the future. Of course, she can’t tell her the truth, since Summer doesn’t know the truth. Summer tells her to come up with something better next time and tells her bye…her date is coming in a little bit. Anna says she is sorry that she doesn’t believe her and then asks if Summer would care if she went to the prom with Seth since Summer has a date. She could care less and slams the door on Anna. She goes back to seal up the list in an envelope to give to Seth’s parents.
Back at the Cohen house, Seth is buffing his shoes and he seems to enjoy that WAY too much! WAY too much! Ryan is there and he wants to know about this plan again. Seth is into it now it seems.
Seth: “Summer sees me with Anna at the dance, and confronted with the reality of a world without Seth Cohen, she comes to her senses.”
Ryan: “Uh huh, because a world without you…”
Seth: “…is a world without sun, Ryan. It’s a world without warmth.”
Seth doesn’t get the plan either, but he thinks they should just trust Anna. She has more knowledge of women that the two of them combined! Anna walks into the room and Seth thinks she looks beautiful.
Marissa and Summer just about ready now. Summer looks depressed a little as she looks at a picture of her, Marissa, Seth, and Ryan back in the day. Marissa pulls her away and they go off to the prom. By the way, this is the first video music montage of the night. “To All of You” by Syd Matters is playing in the background. Now we go to Volchok, who is trying to tie his tie. It’s not working. He gets mad and drinks some more alcohol. Now to Taylor and Summer. Taylor introduces Summer to her date. They bow and bow. Now Ryan opens the door and Theresa steps into the Cohen house. She looks pretty. I got to say I like Theresa in her dress over Summer and Taylor and that’s saying a lot! Maybe it’s the blue. Anyways end of this montage.
Back to talking as everyone is at the Cohen house for pictures. Ryan and Theresa. Anna and Seth. Sandy and Kirsten. Julie and Neil. Summer and “Big Korea” dude. Taylor and other Korean dude. Seth sees Summer with her date for the first time.
Seth: “That’s Summer’s date. Looks like the guy in Fullmetal Alchemist.”
Summer hangs onto his arm tight once she sees Seth with Anna. And here come Marissa and Volchok to the house last. Marissa and Theresa hug. Ryan shakes Volchok’s hand and says that he is glad that he could make it. Volchok is without his tie. Taylor walks up to Ryan and she needs $50 each from him and Seth for the afterparty. Sandy takes care of that. Taylor puts the money into her purse. Volchok looks on from a distance. He needs to go to the bathroom. Everyone else goes outside to take pictures. Everyone except Summer, who has to make a stop first. She throws the envelope with Seth’s list inside onto Sandy’s desk.
Okay..back to the same song as before as we take various pictures of everyone together. This is actually quite good. Volchok is in none of this pictures, however. Marissa wonders where he is. Ryan says he will go get him from the bathroom.
We go inside now and Volchok is in the study where he checks out Taylor’s purse and then drinks some more as Ryan enters the room to tell him to come outside. Volchok says fine, but Ryan stops him as he has something to tell him.
Ryan: “I don’t care about you drinking, but if you screw this up for Marissa..I’m going to kick you ass!”
Volchok says okay and walks out as we walk with him to a break!
We come back and it’s prom time! Everyone get tipsy! Everyone arrives at the prom and the theme for the prom is a pirate ship. It looks like the cave from The Goonies says Seth. Everyone loves this. Marissa says that this is better than what she could plan. Taylor agrees, which is pretty funny. Seth and Anna talk about how they never thought they would come to prom together, but here they are. And Seth gets a little closer as Summer looks at them. That causes Summer to go to Volchok and she wants to get some of his alcohol from his flask. Time to spike the punch! Summer, Marissa, Volchok, and “Big Korea” dude all go the punch bowl. Taylor says she is going to put her purse down so she and other Korean dude can dance. Seth still doesn’t know if this plan will work. Anna says to trust her. It will work.
Taylor bumps into Lisa Tucker, former ‘American Idol 5’ contestant. She’s from Orange County, California..you see.
Taylor: “Oh by the way, do you know where Simon gets those skin-tight v-necks? I totally want to get one for Sung-ho.”
Marissa tells Volchok thank you for coming for the 400th time. Volchok is sad, because Summer ran off with his flask of alcohol. We take a quick look to see Summer and “Big Korea” dancing away! She’s loaded! HA! Volchok is going to smoke some illegal substances. Marissa says she will stay and enjoy prom. She tells him to come find her when he is done, though. Oh..but another chick at the prom heard Volchok and she wants to come with him. Volchok says “lead the way”. He takes a look at Taylor’s purse once more on the way.
Sandy, Kirsten, Julie, and Neil are all left at the Cohen house. They are having dinner. They think back to when all the kids were just kids. They can’t believe they have grown up so quickly. Kirsten toasts the happy couple Neil and Julie. Julie says she hopes they can be as happy as Sandy and Kirsten. Kirsten has a “fake” smile on her face. Neil gets a phone call and he takes it in the other room. He gets some kind of news about Sandy..it seems. It doesn’t look good.
But back to the prom now. Summer is drinking some more as she sees Anna and Seth being happy together. Ryan and Theresa are dancing, but Ryan sees Marissa all alone. He doesn’t look happy. Anna and Seth dance now and Seth sees Summer acting all drunk and crazy with “Big Korea”. He wants to go talk to her. Anna says that he can’t. Seth says she looks miserable and Anna says that is the point.
Anna: “Seth, the plan is working. It was easy for Summer to doubt you when you are begging to get back together. But now that she might have really lost you..she’s thinking..’maybe I should have really believed him’!”
Seth doesn’t think that is the case, though, as Summer appears to be showing “Big Korea” how she would feed Seth to the sharks.
Taylor has an announcement now. It’s time to announce the prom queen and king! Some random guy makes fun of her like an idiot. She tries to make a joke, but nobody laughs. Taylor opens the envelope and the prom queen is Summer again! She gets onto the stage with her drunk self. She is SO happy! she tries to make a speech, but it makes no sense. Taylor wants to announce the prom king, but Summer doesn’t care. She wants to introduce everyone to her date, “Big Korea”. Two Korean girls down front flip out over him! Summer says that she promised him that she would give him a kiss if she won. So she does just that. And it apparently is supposed to “stick it” to Cohen, but Summer is so drunk..she can’t get out the words as she does a flip off the stage, which is a pirate ship, and lands on the floor! Marissa, Seth, and others come to check on her. She doesn’t want Seth’s help. She doesn’t want anyone’s help. Seth says that needs like a washcloth or maybe just a towelette. And Seth freaks out looking for a towelette! Really freaks out!
Ryan and Marissa run into each other. Ryan asks if Summer is okay? She says she is, but she thinks it’s time for them to go to the afterparty. Ryan says okay. But first he has to find Volchok for Marissa. Theresa gets a call from the guy she ditched for Ryan tonight. She says that she is going to tell him that she would rather be with Ryan than anywhere else right now and she is going to tell this guy the same thing. She kisses him on the forehead and says she will see him in a minute.
Ryan goes off to find Volchok and he finds him. He is making out outside with that chick from before. Marissa finds Ryan and wants to know where Volchok is. Ryan tries to send Marissa off in the other direction, but it doesn’t work as Marissa thinks he may be outside. He is and she sees him kissing that other girl. She flips out on him. Volchok tells the other chick to leave and Marissa turns around and slaps Volchok! Volchok says that Marissa just wanted to dress him up and try to impress all of her friends by saying that she is with a “bad boy”. She just wanted to turn him into a “bitch boy” like Ryan says Volchok. Marissa says that Volchok is nothing like Ryan. She guesses she was wrong about Volchok after all. Volchok says that now she is finally learning. Ryan looks on and stares down Volchok as he leaves. Marissa sits down and cries. Ryan sits down next to her and consoles her as we take our final break!
We come back to Julie and Kirsten at the Cohen house. Kirsten tells Julie that she took a drink last week. She says it was just one and she has still been going to her AA meetings. She tells her that she hasn’t told Sandy yet. Kirsten says that the stress of her marriage with Sandy as caused her to drink again. Julie says that she has to tell Sandy this.
Kirsten: “I’m not going to use my alcoholism as blackmail to save our marriage. If he can’t value it for what it is, then what is the point?”
Julie can’t believe this. Kirsten says she doesn’t know what she is going to do. One push could send their marriage over the edge she says.
Now we go to the afterparty at “The Bait Shop”. And it looks like alcohol is being served, but that should be impossible. Anyways we go upstairs as Ryan tells Marissa and Theresa that if Volchok tries to come here..security will let him know. Marissa thinks she should just go. Theresa says that this is her prom. Marissa says that it used to be her prom until her boyfriend hooked up with another girl. Marissa is going to go get a drink now. She goes downstairs and picks up a bottle of tequila.
Anna and Seth see Summer passed out in a bean bag chair off in one area of the club. Anna says it’s time for phase three of the plan, which shocks Seth. He didn’t know there was a phase three. Phase three is telling Summer the truth. Anna says he has no choice. Summer asks Seth what she is talking about before slumping in her chair once more. Anna says that she will see both of them in Providence soon. She tells Summer that no matter what Seth says..he DOES love her! Seth tells Anna thanks and Anna leaves.
Summer: “You know..I don’t think she’s that smart. I think she’s dumb..she’s got a dumb name and dumb hair!”
Seth: “Listen..I don’t expect you to respond or even remember this. The truth is..I didn’t actually get into Brown!”
Summer: “WHAT?!?!?!…(Lifts head up off bean bag chair)..Wow..too fast!”
Seth: “I knew you weren’t going to go if I didn’t go and I didn’t want you to do that. I didn’t want you to miss this opportunity. So I broke up with you.”
Summer: “That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard.”
Seth: “Yeah..well..then I realized that I couldn’t be without you, so I flew there so I could talk my way in.”
Summer: “Okay..THAT is the stupidest thing I have ever heard, but it was very romantic..did it work?”
Seth: “No..it didn’t. But Anna got me an interview with RISD and they read my comic book and really liked it. So…”
Summer: “So that’s why you were hugging Anna at the airport. Oh my god…”
Seth: “Listen..I know I promised that if I would never lie again when I gave you that letter…”
Summer: “Oh my god..the letter!”
Seth: “What?!”
Summer: “Cohen, I have a confession to make…(vomits loudly off side of bean bag)”
Seth: “Wow..that’s impressive.”
Summer: “…I love you.”
Seth: “I love you too…We can kiss later!”
(Summer pukes again)
Seth: “Uh…Want me to hold your crown?”
Summer: “No!”
Seth: “….Hey….wow, rigatoni. Nice.”
We go back to the Cohen house now where Neil and Sandy are walking and talking. Sandy wants to know what’s up? Neil says that there are rumors going around about certain improprieties involving Sandy and Griffin. The board is going to suspend Griffin and call for a criminal investigation into both Griffin and Sandy. Julie comes in and says it’s time for them to leave. Kirsten asks Sandy if everything is okay and he says yeah. More like..yeah right!
Marissa is drinking away the pain on the pier. She throws her prom corsage into the ocean.
Ryan tells Theresa that he can’t find Marissa anywhere. Theresa says she will be okay. Marissa has changed and gotten stronger. Theresa also says that Ryan has changed as well. The old Ryan would have fought Volchok back at the dance, but he didn’t. So that is all that matters. Ryan asks her if she likes the “new” Ryan? She says yeah, but he still can’t dance. HA! Theresa tells Ryan that nothing between them could ever be “casual”..they have too much history. They are ready to kiss, but a scream comes from inside!
It’s Taylor and she is screaming bloody Mary! Her purse has been stolen. There was $5,000 in it and Ryan knows who took it. He is off to go get it.
Ryan shows up at Volchok’s house and it’s on! Volchok knew he was coming. Ryan walks in and gets the purse. It was all part of the plan as Volchok wants to finish things with Ryan and knew he would come get it. Volchok shuts the door. Ryan says that he is not here to fight Volchok. Volchok thinks otherwise, though. Ryan didn’t call the police. Ryan is about to walk out and leave, but Volchok stops him one last time.
Volchok: “Alright..I get it. It’s about the money. But tell me this..a week from now if I wanted to..I could have her on her back on that mattress. Now how does that make you feel?”
Ryan spins around and punches Volchok and here we go! Volchok laughs it off and Ryan is going to leave again. But this time Volchok throws a bottle of beer at Ryan and it breaks above Ryan’s head. Now Ryan tackles Volchok and the fight begins. They destroy Volchok’s place and roll around. They punch each other. Volchok gets the advantage and has Ryan down. He picks up an object to knock out Ryan for good, but Ryan sees it and stops him. He flips Volchok over and waffles him with punches. But before Ryan could probably kill Volchok with one final punch..he stops. Volchok is a bloody mess.
And we are out until next week!
