The Countdown

Infobox Television episode
Colour = #ffaa44
Series = The O.C.
Title = The Countdown


Season = 1
(2003-2004)
Caption = Oliver and Marissa making a toast
Episode = 14
Airdate = December 17, 2003 (FOX)
Writer = Josh Schwartz
Director = Michael Fresco
Production = 176513
Episode list = "The O.C." (season 1)
List of "The O.C." episodes
Prev = The Best Chrismukkah Ever
Next = The Third Wheel|

"The Countdown" is the 14th episode of the FOX television series, "The O.C.". The episode was written by Josh Schwartz and was directed by Michael Fresco. It originally aired on Wednesday December 17, 2003.

Guest starring

Plot

Articleissues
cleanup = May 2008
fansite = May 2008
inappropriate tone = May 2008

Coming home from a movie, Marissa and Ryan note that there is only one more day left of 2003, which has been quite a year for them. They both look forward to celebrating the New Year together, but when Marissa suggests that they should perhaps gatecrash a party, Ryan counters with the suggestion that they relax at home, after Marissa's having drunken excessively at Christmas. The couple kiss and hug, after which Marissa whispers "I love you." Ryan's stunned silence creates an awkward moment. He thanks her for the sentiment, making the scene even more awkward, and Marissa jumps in her car in order to get home before curfew.

Back in his pool house, Ryan is pondering why it seems so difficult for him to say "I love you" back to Marissa. His thoughts are interrupted by a strange girl, who emerges from the bathroom, in Ryan's tank top, to tell him it is not that hard. She then questions him over what he is doing in her pool house. Ryan debates ownership of the pool house and pointedly asks who she is. She says that she is Kirsten's sister, Hailey, and informs him that she's staying in the pool house, leaving Ryan to sleep on the sufficiently comfortable couch.

As day breaks, Seth comes downstairs, astonished to find Ryan on the couch. It takes him by surprise that Hailey is back, as he and his parents had assumed that she was abroad, rather than only fifty yards away. A discussion ensues over why Hailey is here, and Sandy guesses that she is out of money. Hailey, still partially dressed, struts into the kitchen and welcomes everyone cheerily. She states that would have called, but her cell phone was shut off. As a result, she declares that she will be staying for a while.

Hailey asks Ryan and Seth about their New Year's plans, and then discloses Ryan's inability to speak about love to Seth. After a discussion, they conclude that it seems as though they will all be staying in tonight. Elsewhere, Marissa wraps up her therapy appointment. Oliver is in the waiting room and invites her to his New Year's party at the Four Seasons. Marissa deftly mentions she will attend alongside her boyfriend, but Oliver quickly responds that his girlfriend will be there too, and they can all meet.

Later on, Kirsten and Hailey share some icy sisterly bonding. Hailey observes Kirsten and Sandy communicating with mere phrases instead of sentences, and mocks her sister for being old and boring. Such a suggestion impels Kirsten to ditch her usual New Year's eve tradition of eating dinner at home and watching Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve in favor of partying, in the attempt of showing Hailey that she is still young.

Meanwhile, Ryan rejects Marissa's invitation to Oliver's party. He wonders who Oliver is, and then tries to steer the conversation back to their awkward moment last night, but still can't get the words out. He states that he is staying in, whereas Marissa is equally categorical that she is going out, telling him that he can still come if he changes his mind.

True to his word, Ryan stays in, and plays video games with Seth rather than spend time with Marissa. Sandy and Kirsten are ready to go out, and Hailey is all too quick to usher them out the door. Hailey thinks that no one is around to stop them from getting out the door, but is surprised to see Seth and Ryan on the couch. She questions them with incredulity about staying in on New Year's Eve, and coerces Seth and Ryan into coming, after having filled the latter's head with notions about Marissa being all alone on New Year's, with Oliver around. Ryan and Seth are soon dressed, and Hailey tries to get them out of the house as quickly as she can. They understand her eagerness to see them go when a screaming stream of party people flow into the house when they open the door to leave. Within minutes, the house is sprayed with champagne and many things are broken. It is proven that Hailey's stated desire to have a relaxing New Year's Eve was not an honest one.

Summer and Marissa arrive at the Four Seasons penthouse. Summer tells Marissa that how one spends New Year's Eve relates to how one will spend the following year. Consequently, the girls are going to spend the night not thinking about Ryan and Seth and how they're sitting home. Anna is there, and so is Oliver, who seems delighted to see Marissa.

At Hailey's party, Ryan and Seth consider leaving. Ryan states that he cannot be away from Marissa and Oliver tonight, whereas Seth says that he cannot leave Hailey here alone to trash the place. Ryan finds Hailey in another room and overhears her arguing with a friend. Apparently, the friend wants the $3,000 Hailey owes her and reminds her that she doesn't have any friends left in town. That spat ends and Ryan threatens to call the cops if Hailey doesn't end the party. Hailey calls him a "narc" and thinks that they should be able to talk about this.

Sandy and Kirsten arrive at their party after a car ride during which they wonder if their marriage is in a boring rut. Interestingly, they find out that Hailey has sent them to a swingers' party. The hostess tells Sandy to drop his watch in a bowl, and the Cohens think about dropping themselves in reverse. Then they start thinking that they are possibly too boring to stay and start to dare each other. Soon enough, Sandy deposits his watch in the "sex bowl" with nary a word from Kirsten.

Meanwhile, Hailey is leading Ryan and Seth to the pool house to talk about the party. They go in first and Hailey steps back and locks them inside. Seth begins to panic as his claustrophobia sets in. Ryan reminds him that he is in a giant pool house.

At the swingers' party, Sandy makes an interesting and well-spoken new friend. Kirsten, worried, sits on her own, and the hostess tries to relax her. The hostess claims that swinging saved her marriage. This affirmation does not ease Kirsten's worries. At the party at the Four Seasons, Summer and Anna are visibly bored, until they spot an attractive boy smiling at them. They wonder at which one of them he intended to smile. Summer drags Anna over and forces the guy to choose. Anna informs her that she finds the situation weird, and claims that the boy is not her type. Incredulously, Summer asks her who her type is, and whether it is Seth Cohen. It creates an awkward situation and Anna slips away.

At the party at the Four Seasons, Oliver "reassures" Marissa over Ryan's not saying I love you, with clearly vested interests. At the pool house, Ryan is bitter about not being able to kiss his girlfriend at midnight, counting down the seconds to the New Year. Both he and Seth chastise themselves for blowing their chances with their significant others. A group of girls turn up, looking for Hailey so that they can punch her. Hailey runs to the pool house, to let Ryan and Seth free so that they can clear out the party before the group of girls destroy the house. They shut off the power, and inform the party-goers that police are on their way, which leads to a quick evacuation.

At the Swingers Party, the watches are drawn. Many new couples are formed, but Sandy and Kirsten are left standing. The last woman before Kirsten draws and pulls out the last watch. Sandy sneaked his watch out of the bowl, the sly dog! The Cohens head home together.

Anna is left by herself at Oliver's party. With no one to talk to or kiss, she intends to leave. Sandy and Kirsten arrive home to their trashed abode. Hailey promises that it is nothing she cannot clean up, but Kirsten castigates her, telling her that it is time for her to grow up.

Seth is taking out the garbage when Anna comes up to him, telling him that she did not want him to be alone on New Year's. They share a moment together. Ryan arrives at the Four Seasons and races up the stairs to the penthouse. He opens the door at three seconds to midnight, and rushes in, in slow motion, to kiss Marissa at the stroke of midnight, leaving Oliver to hold nothing but his sparkling cider alone.

At midnight, Ryan and Marissa are kissing, Sandy and Kirsten are about to start kissing, while Seth and Anna lie on his bed and kiss each other intimately. Summer is kissing an unknown guy, but backs off, telling him that he is no Seth Cohen. Ryan finally says "I love you"-twice-and Marissa responds with "Thank you!"

Music

*"Selling Submarines" by The Pattern
*"Make Up Your Mind" by The Vacation
*"Walking On Moonlight" by Brookeville
*"We've Had Enough" by Alkaline Trio
*"Destiny (Photek Remix)" by Zero 7
*"Walkaway" by Dropkick Murphys
*"Ratso Rizzo" by Laptop
*"Just a Ride" by Jem
*"Overdriver" by Singapore Sling
*"Did You Ever Get A Feeling Of Dread?" by The Suicide Machines
*"Flowers" by The Flaming Sideburns
*"Dice" by Finley Quaye & William Orbit Feat. Beth Orton

Trivia

*Though credited in the opening credits, Chris Carmack (Luke), Tate Donovan (Jimmy) and Melinda Clarke (Julie) do not appear in this episode.

*From this episode on, Rachel Bilson (Summer) and Melinda Clarke (Julie) are added to the main cast (i.e. no longer guest stars), and thus are credited in the opening titles.

*This is the first appearance of Amanda Righetti as Hailey Nichol

*Kirsten's remark to Hailey "Don't call me Kiki. Only Dad calls me Kiki...and only because he won't...not." would be echoed by Sandy in the season 2 episode "The Blaze of Glory", after Julie called him Sanford.

*Amanda Righetti was only 20 when this episode first aired. Not only was she playing the 26-year-old Hailey Nichol, but the actors playing her 15-year old-nephew (Adam Brody) and adopted nephew (Benjamin McKenzie) are older than her by at least 4 years.

External links

*imdb title|0663871|Full cast & crew
* [http://www.fox.com/oc/recaps/season1/114.htm Recap from official website]
* [http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/articles/content/a1614/ Recap] from Television Without Pity