Previously on The OC:
There are rumors floating around
about certain improprieties
concerning Griffin and you
and they're going to call for a criminal investigation.
Is everything okay? Yeah.
KIRSTEN: I am not going to use my alcoholism
as blackmail to save our marriage.
Are you smoking pot? You want some?
It helps take the edge off
and I could tell you could use it.
Seth's napkin confession detailing all of his
lies and deceptions. He told me if he screwed up
I could show this to his parents.
I promised I'd never lie again when I gave you that letter.
Oh, my God, the letter.
Did you think you can just dress up your bad boy
so your friends can see how cool you are?
The Ryan I knew would've gotten in a fight
with that guy back at the prom.
The money is gone.
I hid the money in my purse.
I had $5,000 in my purse.
( yelling )
Can we get some help over here?!
He get hit with a baseball bat or something? No, no.
How long's he been unconscious?
I got him here as soon as I could.
Do you know them?
The guys who did this, do you know who they are?
Got jumped.
Didn't see them.
Look, I'm okay. Come on, buddy.
Glad you're alive, but we still got to check you out.
Police will have some questions for you, too.
Yeah, okay.
Meet me at my place tomorrow.
This ain't over.
Where's your friend?
He's not my friend.
( piano and acoustic guitar strumming gentle melody )
* California, here we come
* Right back where we started from *
* California... California... *
( cell phone rings )
Kait... Kaitlin?
Hey, sis.
Hey.
You just calling to say hi?
Totally.
So how's your life? How's Ryan?
What'd you do last night? Give me all the deets.
Well, Ryan and I broke up
and my prom date got with another girl.
Ah, really? That's great.
Listen, I'm actually calling you to ask you a favor.
What, your friend Megan needs another abortion?
I wish. But, um, actually,
my school sent Mom a letter
and I kind of need you to get it for me.
And by "get," do you mean keep it from her?
Look, I'm totally all over this situation.
I just need a little bit more time.
Oh, Kaitlin...
Look, Marissa, I'm begging you.
If you have one sisterly bone in your body,
you will do this for me.
( scoffs )
Please?
Fine, I'll see if it's there,
but you have to promise to tell me why.
Oh, thank you. I love you.
Okay, I love you...
too.
( ringing )
Hi.
Hi, what are you doing?
Nothing much. How 'bout you?
Just got off the phone with the guy.
Oh.
The, uh... work guy.
How'd that go?
Oh, not well. It's kind of hard
for a 28-year-old to understand prom.
I get that.
You don't regret going, do you?
No, not at all. I had fun.
And after you left, things got pretty interesting in the limo
with Taylor and the dates... and I don't know
what the Korean word for "threesome" is,
but I'm pretty sure it was used.
Ryan?
Yep.
That thing that you had to take care of last night...
It's taken care of.
Okay.
Do you want to hang out today?
I have to do something this afternoon.
I'm not sure how long it's gonna take.
Well, how about later for dinner?
I could bring over takeout.
Yeah, that sounds good.
Okay.
Yeah, okay.
Hey, man.
Today's a good day for me, Ryan.
I finally came clean,
told the truth about not getting into Brown
and things are great.
Life is so much better when you're honest.
You just mean what you say,
you say what you mean. I feel like you.
Well, now that you're on a roll,
you gonna tell Sandy and Kirsten about Brown, too?
Yeah, I don't think so.
I'm going to wait a little bit on that one.
I think it'll go down a bit easier
with an acceptance letter to RISD in my hand.
And what if they find out first? They won't.
Things are finally going good between Summer and I.
Can't this family have one weekend without a major crisis?
Hey, Summ. ( groaning )
How are you?
I wish I could pluck out my eyeballs with a fork
and rinse them in a tall glass of ice water.
Yeah, that's a hangover.
( groans )
You were pretty wasted last night.
I was, wasn't I?
I don't even remember getting home.
I woke up this morning and my ears were ringing
and I realized it was your phone.
Yeah, Kaitlin was calling
'cause there's this letter from her school
that she wants me to grab.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God, the letter.
What? How do you know what it is?
No, no, Cohen's confession.
I left it in an envelope on Sandy's desk.
Oh, well, so call Seth. Tell him to grab it.
I can't. Things are finally normal again between us.
Oh, my gosh, once he realizes what I did.
I gotta go.
Oh, my God, nausea tsunami.
( retches )
Well, it's a little unexpected.
I mean, this hospital project has been, uh...
it's been complicated.
Oh, well... I'm glad to hear it.
I look forward to tomorrow night.
Thank you.
You're not going to believe this.
I am Riviera magazine's Man of the Year.
Try not to faint.
I'm sorry, it's just given everything that's happened...
They're calling the hospital
phase one of Orange County's renaissance,
thinking it could be a model for responsible development
for the entire country.
Responsible development?
Sandy, the only thing it's responsible for
is a lot of sleepless nights
and Matt Ramsey's black eye.
You know my father was Man of the Year.
The irony is not lost on me, believe me.
But, hey, this could mean that maybe the dark days are over,
that something good is coming from all this.
I'd like to think so.
But I honestly doubt it.
Well, I wasn't expecting your blessing.
But until we have proof to the contrary,
let's try to be optimistic.
Hey.
Why don't you say good morning
to Newport's Man of the Year?
I knew it was only a matter of time before this town
recognized my contribution to the community.
Have to be a man first. Congratulations, Sandy.
Thank you. Big party tomorrow night.
Everybody's got to dress up and represent.
And just think, I couldn't get you to wear
a tie at cotillion.
College letters, senior prom...
this family's on a streak.
Let's try to enjoy it.
I gotta go.
Me, too.
You excited?
It'll be good for your father's career.
Oh, my God, Mr. C, you totally scared me.
Sometimes I scare myself, Summer.
Seth's in the kitchen.
I'll just go right in.
What are you doing? Nothing.
Looking for stamps.
Are you mailing a letter?
Not without stamps.
Let's go make out upstairs.
Hey, is everything okay?
You sounded weird on the phone.
You can give that to Taylor.
What, her after-party money?
Yeah, it was stolen at the prom.
Kevin...
I can't believe he stole that.
I should go over there and kick his...
No, no, no, no. We got the money, so forget it.
Uh, just, uh, I don't really want to talk about it.
But if you could just
give that to Taylor, no questions ask,
that'd be good. Yeah.
You can count on me.
I need to focus on other stuff anyway.
I was gonna take a road trip this weekend.
So, maybe I should just go home and pack.
Can I buy you breakfast?
Sure.
Where is your dad going this morning?
You thinking about my dad?
He had his briefcase with him.
Does he usually keep important papers in there?
Whoa, you turned me on.
I'm sorry.
Cohen, there's something I need to tell you.
You're using me to get to my father?
Serious. So is this.
We just got back together.
The window for a makeup hookup
is rapidly closing unless you want to break up again.
No, definitely not.
Okay, so what do you have to tell me?
I want to be on top this time.
You are always on top.
Of course, we'll be there.
Hey, it's something to celebrate.
Okay, bye, Kirs.
Huh.
Hey, good news?
Yes. Sandy Cohen has just been named Newport's Man of the Year.
There's a party for him tomorrow night at the yacht club.
Well, that ought to be interesting.
What do you mean?
Sandy's being investigated by the DA.
They're filing charges against Henry Griffin.
And Sandy's been working very closely with him.
Oh, wow.
I mean, Sandy is obviously very involved with the hospital,
but I can't imagine him doing anything unethical.
He can be self-righteous, pompous and annoying, but...
Sandy is very moral.
Well, we'll find out.
I'm sitting down with the district attorney
tomorrow. So we have to warn Sandy.
I already did.
Then why doesn't Kirsten know?
How you doing?
Seven stitches, couple of broken ribs...
I'll live.
I'm glad.
I didn't mean to, uh...
Well, not that bad anyway.
It's not like I didn't ask for it.
So the money is returned, you got your stitches and...
we're good, right?
Not quite.
I need some help.
I'm supposed to have picked something up from this guy.
No, no, no, no...
Just be my lookout,
drive and wait in the car.
Whatever you're into, drugs,
guns... It's none of your business.
I know, and I don't want it to be. Right,
'cause you got the good life now.
Graduation... college...
You know all that change when you're charged with assault.
You tell the cops about me, and I'll tell them about the money.
Money? What money?
I-I don't see any money. Who's gonna believe you?
I don't care if they do,
'cause I've got nothing to lose.
And you've got everything.
That's why you're a little bitch.
And that's why you'll help me out tomorrow night.
No, no, I can't tomorrow night.
Sandy's Man of the Year's big party.
And I guess they'll be cuffing you in your suit.
Daddy, you can't do this to yourself
every time you get the ratings.
It's my dad. You know The Valley?
That's a show.
What do you expect
when you beat the same love triangle to the ground
for three years?
Who are you?
Oh, uh... Marissa.
Kaitlin's sister.
Hey, bitch, your sister is here.
Nice to meet you. I'm Hadley.
Dad, I thought I told you to stay off the message boards.
Marissa, what are you doing here?
Waiting for you to explain this.
JULIE: Thanks for coming by, Kiks.
I didn't want to talk to you about this on the phone.
No, of course, no problem.
What's going on?
Um, sit down.
Uh, it's Sandy.
He's being investigated by the DA.
Let me guess: the hospital.
Yeah.
Neil is meeting with the DA tomorrow.
It seems serious.
I'm so sorry, Kirsten.
I just thought you should know.
No, of course.
Especially with Sandy being Man of the Year.
It'll be in all the papers.
And speaking of someone who's had to manage
more than her share of scandal, you need to contain this ASAP.
Julie, I appreciate the heads-up.
Sandy's going to take this really hard.
Sandy knows.
Neil told him at dinner last night.
So your mom has the baby?
Mm. The nanny.
( chuckles )
What, when we were growing up stealing all those empties
to buy Sour Patch Kids, you didn't imagine me
as the kind of girl that would have a nanny?
Uh, you've come a long way, is all.
So have you.
You're graduating on Monday and Berkeley in the fall.
Mm-hmm.
So last night after you left me with Taylor...
Just don't, okay?
Look, Ryan, there's only one thing
that could have done that to your hand,
and that's another guy's face.
That kid stole the money,
and you went to fight him.
( phone rings )
Go ahead. Answer it.
Hi.
No, no, no,
I cannot right now, okay?
Well, give me a couple of hours at least.
You should have told them you'd be right there.
Teresa, Teresa! Look, there's things that I...
that I can't tell the Cohens
or Seth because they wouldn't understand it, but you...
My life has totally changed since we were kids. So has mine.
No, Ryan, there are guys out there
that don't get in fights, not ever, not any.
Like the guy at work?
Look, I have a child to think about now, okay?
And I cannot be with someone like my brother or yours.
Well, I'm not like him.
Maybe on your good days, you're not,
but right now, my life isn't built for the bad ones.
I will always love you, Ryan.
Keep safe.
You walked into the kitchen this morning
and asked me to be optimistic.
Well, they can't have much of a case,
not against Griffin and certainly not against me.
I'm hoping the whole thing will go away,
and maybe the Man of the Year thing will help that.
Well, it's not.
Neil Roberts is meeting
with the district attorney tomorrow.
Maybe I can talk to Otis, he's a fair guy.
Honey, I promise you I'll do everything in my power
not to let this land on the family.
It already has.
( button tones sounding )
( laughter )
His name is Trevor Knightly,
and he's the captain of the lacrosse team.
Yeah, those girls are like his groupies.
Lacrosse-stitutes.
He's a total perv,
and really into Adderall.
So what's he got against you?
Or should I even ask?
He gave me a personal invitation to a lipstick party,
and I declined.
Obvie. Lipstick parties are for pervs and skanks.
So heinous.
Lipstick parties and Adderall.
I'm sensing a generation gap.
So the next morning, he was all telling the headmistress
that he saw me taking the crest above her office.
Well, it sounds like it's his word against yours.
Oh, obvie, but he totally hides his evilness.
Straight A's, varsity athlete.
And Kaitlin's, well...
Not exactly the perfect student.
You don't say. Look, Marissa,
this will be my third strike,
and I really don't feel like getting kicked out.
I mean, I know it may not be as bad as shooting somebody,
but I'm pretty sure Mom would freak out.
And by the way, I really don't feel like
getting locked up during summer.
Obvie. I get so horny
in the summertime.
Oh, honey, you're always horny. Shut up.
You shut up. Okay, both of you shut up.
So what's the deal with this crest thing?
I'm pretty sure it's in his room,
but there's no way that he or any of his army of probably-gay
and totally-in-love-with-him homeboys would let me in there.
MARISSA: Well, I'm not usually
one to come up with a plan, but do you have one of those skirts?
Hi.
Hey.
Here's Ryan. He's helping me.
I'll leave the garage door unlocked when I finish work.
It'll be inside.
Thank you.
( bills fanning )
Good luck, man. All right, man.
This is the address.
You'll need it for the pickup.
This is my neighborhood.
That's why you're driving.
Mom, I'm going to go get something to eat with Summer.
Are you decent?
If I come in, am I inviting years of therapy?
Sorry.
Mom?
There you are, you...
( whispering ): Ooh. Sorry.
Cohen, is your mom sick or something?
Yeah, she is.
I'm going to have to stay and take care of her.
Oh.
Okay, well, then why don't I just go pick us up food,
and I'll bring it back.
Do you think your mom needs anything?
Just peace and quiet.
We're gonna have to rain-check dinner.
Oh.
Cohen, you're acting really weird.
I feel weird, you know?
Maybe whatever my mom has is contagious,
and I'd hate for you to catch it and feel weird, too.
You know?
Well, okay.
Hi. Are you Trevor?
Yeah.
I'm Marissa,
the new foreign exchange student.
I just got here from London.
I love... London.
Well, I was hoping you could give me a tour.
Starting with your dorm room?
Ooh, sounds good.
But I did my junior year abroad at Oxford.
I don't buy that phony English accent for a second.
Okay, fine, I'm a stripper.
Your friends hired me for your birthday.
My birthday's not for six months.
Do you want to see me take my clothes off or not?
Hey. Can I talk to you
for a second?
Sure.
Oh, you mean right now.
Yeah. Well, you know, just kinda...
Well, can it wait till after?
because I'm on my way to a meeting with my group.
Yeah, how is that going?
Well, you know what they say.
One day at a time.
That's why I have meetings.
Hey, if it isn't my favorite DA.
Now, this is a cozy spot.
The lighting's a lot more flattering
than an interrogation room.
No one's being interrogated.
Dr. Roberts and I are just going to talk.
It's good to see you.
Good to see you.
The courtroom misses Sandy Cohen.
Oh, not as much as he misses the courtroom, believe me.
We've known each other a long time, Otis.
What am I dealing with here?
The case against Griffin's not strong.
Everyone's got stories,
but there's not a lot of hard evidence.
Well, where do I fit in the picture?
You're in bed with him on that hospital.
Until I have proof otherwise,
his improprieties are yours, too.
Well, what if you had receipts, e-mails?
An eyewitness?
That would help a lot.
In exchange for my cooperation,
could you let The Newport Group finish the hospital?
Griffin goes down, so does the hospital.
No way around that.
So I could keep my mouth shut and hope you lose.
Or you can help bury that crook,
say good-bye to the hospital.
Dr. Roberts.
Thanks for your time, Otis.
I'm gonna leave you two
to your discussion.
Good to see you, Neil. Sandy.
Whoa, whoa, whoa. All right.
That's the house.
Now I just gotta wait for him to leave.
You said we were picking something up.
Yeah, well.
He doesn't exactly know it.
Ryan, is that you?
Hey.
Well, I was just coming back
from my tennis lesson and I thought,
isn't that the Cohens' car?
It is.
Well, save me a dance at Sandy's party tonight.
Will do.
And, uh... bring your friend.
( whispers ): He's hot.
A neighbor?
Ah, told you this was a good plan.
This isn't my dorm room.
Yeah, well, you don't want people to walk in on us, do you?
So, take off your pants.
I thought you were going to strip for me.
Haven't you ever been to Vegas?
In your boxers, or I'll have
to give those guys their money back.
That would be a waste.
Do they do this
in Vegas, too?
They do everything in Vegas.
Okay. Now, I just have to go change.
But you're wearing a costume.
Hey!
Come back here!
Did you get 'em?
All right. We gotta go.
Hey.
Hi, Mr. Cohen.
Is Seth around?
No. I don't think so.
Is it okay if I just, um, wait here for him?
Sure. Make yourself at home.
Do you mind if I-I wait here with you?
I'm... I'm working, but, uh...
suit yourself.
So, uh, how's Mrs. Cohen?
She feeling any better?
I didn't know she was sick.
Huh.
Must have been like a 24-hour thing.
So what's this?
That is a card for Seth
congratulating him on having a dad who was Man of the Year.
Even though it's addressed to Kirsten and me?
Okay, that is actually like a really big mistake,
and I would do anything to take it back.
"The most recent
and troubling lies include..."
Oh, Summer.
Seth gave it to me on Valentine's Day
when we got in a fight,
and he said that if he ever screwed up again,
that I should give it to you.
Only he didn't screw up again. I did.
This is serious.
I did it out of spite.
He told me that he wasn't going to Brown
and then I saw him there with Anna.
He said he wasn't going to Brown?
Well, yeah, because he didn't get in
but that was before RISD.
What do you mean, he didn't get in?
I thought he only lied about that to me.
KIRSTEN: The only thing worse than relapsing...
is that my husband doesn't know.
He's involved in this business deal and...
it's gotten very ugly and, uh...
Well, he might even be arrested.
And I'm not blaming anyone.
I'm the only one with the power to drink or not drink.
I just...
really need the man I married right now.
I want to talk to you.
Good, I want to talk to you.
I love you...
And I'm worried about you.
Right back at you.
You smoked pot in our home.
Would you rather I do it somewhere else,
like my college dorm?
That would require you getting into college.
Well, do you think it's such a great idea,
me going away to college when Mom's been drinking again?
What are you talking about?
Maybe if you paid attention to anything
other than that stupid hospital,
you'd notice Mom's been passing out before dinner.
Don't talk to your father like that.
That would require you to act like my father.
KEVIN: That's our guy.
All right, go ahead.
I'll be waiting.
Come on.
You're my cover.
Besides, I can't go with my face like this.
What?
You're just taking a little walk out in your neighborhood.
All right, I'll just be a minute.
You just wait right there.
All right, let's go. Where is it?
You're looking at it.
The car? You got to be kidding me.
120Gs
is no joke. No. No way, man.
I'm not doing this.
Too late.
( grunting )
( car alarm sounding )
Let's go!
They're supposed to be next to the keys,
but I can't find them! There's a patrol car up the street!
I got this!
They're coming! Let's go!
What are you doing?!
Let's go! ( engine starts )
( laughs ) Get in!
Don't be a little bitch.
( tires squealing )
You guys better get that back to the headmistress' office
before someone sees it here.
Oh, yeah. We will.
And thanks again. That was pretty cool.
Yeah. I mean, when we came and talked about you,
I thought you'd be totally wasted
and have all these problems.
Right. Well, I'm glad you guys
aren't going to get in trouble.
I actually kind of had fun.
Wow. I suspected as much, but it's actually kind of nice
to hear you say it out loud.
I think we're having a moment?
( phone rings )
Oh, my God! My phone just totally stepped on your moment.
Um... I'll just... I'll take it outside.
Hey, bitch!
Yeah, I liked hanging out, too.
It sucks you're going to go to college next year.
Um... We'll see about that.
Oh. Well, whatever you decide, I will miss you.
And I mean it this time.
Oh, me, too.
I'm sorry I'm late. I'll... I'll hurry.
Have a seat.
So...
Have you been drinking again?
Drinking again?
No explanation, no... no judgment.
I just want to know.
Oh, I wish you'd talk to me.
I tried.
That night you called?
I wish I had known.
Then you would have come?
Because the only thing that would actually get you
to talk to me was the threat of a relapse?
I hope you know that's not true.
I don't know that.
Oh, Sandy, I'm sorry.
For everything.
Especially the relapse.
And, more importantly, for keeping it a secret.
I'm sorry, too.
( knocking )
I know you know about my drinking.
And I assume you know about Brown?
Mm-hmm.
Sorry to rat you out to Dad.
It was kind of a heat-of-the-moment thing.
I'm glad you did.
I know things have been difficult,
but we're still a family.
Yeah. We're a great family:
Mom's drinking. Dad's about to go to jail.
Giving the Outfit a run for their money.
I haven't given up on us, and neither has your father.
My God! Apologize for that guy.
I don't even want to be in the same room as him.
I'm asking you to.
I attend his Man of the Year party?
Don't you think that's a hypocritical way
to start the Cohen family clean slate?
Will you do it for me?
( sighs )
Fine.
But I want my own table,
and my applause for his speech will be so tepid.
Thank you.
Will you stop by the Newport Group?
There's a concept drawing for the hospital
that your father needs for his presentation.
I'd ask Ryan, but he said he'd be late.
I believe your father is going to fix this.
That makes one of us.
( panting )
( phone rings )
Ryan.
Hi. Hey, where are you right now?
I'm driving back from Montecito.
Are you okay?
Yeah. Can you, uh... Can you meet me at your place?
Yeah. Sure. There's a key under the mat by the pool.
Just let yourself in, and wait in my room.
I'll be there as soon as I can.
Thanks.
Hey, Ryan...
I... It's okay. It's okay.
Um... Thanks.
Okay.
Neil, why aren't you ready for the party?
We should be leaving.
I'm not going, darling.
Julie, I spent the entire afternoon with the DA.
Griffin's about to be arrested,
and Sandy's future is far from certain.
All the more reason to be there for him and Kirsten.
It feels like a conflict of interest.
I might have to testify against the man.
I'm sorry.
But I'm sure they'll understand.
Well, I don't.
The Cohens are like family, Neil.
Maybe they're about to become the black sheep.
Hmm. Well, I don't know about you,
but I support the people I care about.
I don't judge them.
I'll call a cab.
( kicks desk )
( phone ringing )
( sighs )
Hello.
Hey. I was wondering if you have an ETA.
Your father's about to take the stage.
I'll be right there.
Did you get the drawing?
Mm-hmm.
Okay. I'll see you soon.
Well, you're very sweet to say that, thank you.
Excuse me. Can I borrow my husband for a moment?
Yeah. Excuse me. Sure.
Isn't that Greg Otis?
Oh, maybe he's here to arrest me.
Wouldn't be the first time
somebody left a Newport party in handcuffs.
I'm going to go practice my speech anyway.
Hey, what's going on?
I was with you tonight.
If anyone asks, can you say that?
Ryan...
Just yes or no?
Will you do it?
Yeah, of course.
( glass breaking )
You changed your mind?
No, you changed it.
You're a very passionate woman.
Surprisingly principled.
I'd like to think so.
Hmm. If you feel so strongly about family,
how could I not want to be part of it?
SANDY: Good evening, everyone.
And thank you so much for coming out
tonight, and thanks to Riviera Magazine
for bestowing upon me this... this wonderful honor
that I... I cannot accept.
I used to think I was better than this place.
You know, I came from outside the bubble, so I thought
I was fit to judge it.
So when it came time for me
to run the Newport Group, I wasn't worried
at all about losing my way.
But I learned
that despite the wide streets and the sunny views,
you take one wrong turn in this town,
and you can end up
totally lost.
Oh,
thank you, Seth.
Thanks, Kirsten.
This drawing
is as close to fully realized as Newport Mercy will ever be,
because in the next few months,
I'm going to be cooperating
with the District Attorney's
investigation of Dr. Henry Griffin
and the hospital he and I were going to build.
I'm so sorry, Cohen.
No, it's okay. I think it's for the best.
SANDY: I'm truly flattered to be held in such high esteem
by this community,
but I'm going to step aside,
because I'm going to pursue an order
that is closer to my heart:
Father
and Husband of the Year.
( applause )
Thank you.
That was quite a speech.
And you... are going to have quite a case.
I'll be in touch.
You were wonderful.
Thanks.
I thought it was wordy in the middle,
but I think the end was nice.
Yeah?
Maybe I'm too late.
( heavy sigh )
RYAN: They're here for me.
Well, it's a good thing you were with me all night then, right?
Do not ask him any questions unless I'm present.
Who are you, his lawyer?
I'm his father.
What happened?
There's been a fire at the Newport Group.
They think Seth did it.