The Truth (The O.C. episode)

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


Season = 1
(2003-2004)
Caption = Seth and Anna in an awkward moment with Summer
Episode = 18
Airdate = February 11, 2004 (FOX)
Writer = Allan Heinberg
Director = Rodman Flender
Production = 176517
Episode list = "The O.C." (season 1)
List of "The O.C." episodes
Prev = The Rivals
Next = The Heartbreak

"The Truth" is the 18th episode of the FOX television series, "The O.C.". The episode was written by Allan Heinberg and was directed by Rodman Flender. It originally aired on Wednesday February 11, 2004.

Guest starring

Plot

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

Sandy pops into the pool house to tell Ryan that he's been suspended indefinitely from school. Ryan is unapologetic about what he did, because he says Oliver confessed to him. But Sandy wonders why Oliver would drop the charges if he really wanted Ryan gone. For the life of him, Sandy can't figure out why he would attack Oliver and potentially blow his chance at a new life. Sandy says Ryan's free to do what he wants. But if he wants to stay a part of the Cohens, he's not going anywhere unless Sandy and Kirsten say it's okay. That's the deal.

The next day at school, Marissa and Summer can't make sense of Ryan attacking Oliver. Summer thinks something has to be up, Ryan's not stupid. Marissa insists that she and Oliver are just friends, and she likes having a guy friend who actually tells her what he's thinking. Summer is just excited that both girls are single again. She thinks they should celebrate with a spa trip after school, but Marissa promised Oliver she'd help him study.

Elsewhere, Anna wonders if Sandy and Kirsten will kick Ryan out. Seth says he doesn't know, and he hasn't really talked to Ryan since it happened anyway. Anna is surprised by that, but Seth says you'd have to know Ryan. Seth and Anna come across Marissa and Summer in the hall, an awkward moment that is only interrupted by Oliver's timely arrival and shocking invite to walk Marissa to her next class. The remaining notice Oliver's happy new demeanor and start to think something might be up here.

Sandy and Kirsten have lunch to talk about Ryan. Sandy wonders if they made a mistake bringing him home, but Kirsten assures Sandy that he's a good kid. Their tranquil eating is interrupted by a team of movers working at Julie Cooper's behest. Seems that Julie, the Newport Group's new Design Director, has decided to give the office a facelift.

Ryan's still sitting at home by himself. He considers calling Marissa, but doesn't, which is fine because Marissa is currently busy lunching with Oliver, who is slyly trying to get Marissa to join him in Mammoth this weekend. She resists, saying that she has to spend the weekend with her mom, but Oliver doesn't relent. Luke, fully wise to Oliver's nefarious schemes, drops by with a little muscle. Then Marissa gets a call. It's Ryan. She doesn't answer. Luke wonders why, and Oliver says she's not speaking with Ryan right now. Luke wonders if she's speaking to anybody, or is Oliver doing all of her talking? Luke takes off, and Marissa, suddenly sensing some awkwardness, goes to get some dessert, leaving her phone behind. Oliver picks it up, listens to Ryan's voicemail asking to meet Marissa in the library after school and then deletes it.

After school, Anna and Seth are discussing some plans for the afternoon when they come across Summer. She wants to join them because Marissa is with Oliver and she has nothing to do. That's all well and good, but Seth was planning on dropping in on Ryan to make sure he's okay. Ryan...who is...walking through the school parking lot right now. What are you doing here? He's supposed to meet Marissa. Seth thinks Ryan should let Marissa make her own decisions. But Ryan is still adamant that Oliver is dangerous.

Ryan waits in the library for Marissa. Instead, he gets Oliver, who disingenuously tells him that he's trying to help. Marissa, he claims, doesn't want to see him anymore and doesn't want him to call again. Oliver advises Ryan to give it up. It's over, man. You lose. Ryan says it hasn't even begun.

At home the next morning, Kirsten is on the warpath about Julie disrupting work in her office. Sandy tells her to talk to Caleb. Ryan comes in, grabs some coffee and heads back out. Kirsten feels guilty about Ryan's sullen mood. Julie swings by to pick up Kirsten for work, but Kirsten says she's working at home today. Sandy encourages Kirsten to go into the office so she can talk to Caleb - wink, wink - and she heads up to get a shower. Ryan pops in again and now he and Julie are alone. Ryan finds out Marissa will be spending the weekend with Julie and he implores her to keep Marissa away from Oliver. He's dangerous and prone to losing it. Julie isn't buying Ryan's teen heartthrob story, but he lays a few a pertinent details on the table for her.

School time. Oliver asks again if Marissa will be joining him for a ski weekend. She still resists, blaming Mom time. Oliver lays a guilt trip on her and when she says she'd love to blow everything off and spend time with him, he suggests a day trip to L.A. Promise I'll be back before dinner? Seth and Luke see the happy couple take off and Seth now starts to wonder if Ryan has been right all along. He asks Luke if he's ever met Natalie, Oliver's supposed ex, and Luke says he knows some dudes at Pacific, where Oliver claims Natalie goes. He'll just ask them.

Meanwhile, Kirsten visits Caleb to discuss Julie. He starts off by saying that she's driving him crazy. She's always around! He wants Kirsten to break up with Julie for him. At home, Ryan is still idling when Seth pops in the pool house to see if he wants to come inside for a change. Ryan's sass lets Seth know he's happy staying in the pool house. Fine, miss the comic book fun inside. The aforementioned comic book fun consists of Seth introducing Summer to various titles, which Anna takes note of.

Anna retreats to the kitchen to ask Sandy some questions. She wants to know what the secret of a successful relationship is. Common interests? Sandy suggests that it's patience. But when Seth comes in and asks if Summer can stay for dinner, Anna's patience runs out and she excuses herself from the kitchen. Sandy slaps his boy upside the head for being so stupid. Following that, Luke pops in for a visit. He wanted to see how Ryan is doing.

In the pool house, Luke confesses that he saw Oliver and Marissa leaving school earlier today. He tried her cell phone, but no answer. So he headed over to Pacific to talk to some friends over there. Turns out, surprisingly, there is no Natalie.

Inside, the girls are setting the table. Sandy goes to get Ryan, not knowing that he just sneaked out. Marissa comes home and finds Ryan waiting for her. She demands that he leave her alone. And quit bothering Oliver! Julie comes out and tells Marissa to get inside, but she takes off in her car. Next door, Sandy oversees it all.

Marissa rushes to Oliver's hotel and asks if she can stay the night. Morning comes and Sandy drops by the pool house with some coffee and concern. Ryan apologizes for going out last night and Sandy implores him to just speak with him. Tell him what's going on. Then Luke shows up wondering how things went last night. Ryan says she stayed out all night, but when Luke wants him to go talk to her about it, Ryan declines. She's not going to listen to a word he says. Luke says she'll listen to him, and off he goes.

Over breakfast, Oliver suggests they jaunt off to Paris for the weekend. Marissa's phone rings. It's Luke. He tells her the truth about Natalie, but Marissa tells him that he shouldn't get on her case too. Oliver's mood takes a sudden turn for the worse.

Kirsten heads into the office, where she finds Julie. The office is almost done, and Kirsten has to admit that it's beautiful. And she also has to admit that Caleb is breaking up with her through Kirsten. Caleb comes in just as Julie gets the news.

At home, Sandy finds Seth on the couch, continuing the comic book education with a reluctant Anna and an eager Summer. Sandy demands to talk to his boy in the other room. Sandy informs him that he's hurting Anna's feeling by flirting with Summer right in front of her.

Luke visits the Cooper home to pick up Marissa's clothes as she asked him to do. When he arrives, he finds a teary Julie. Luke finds out that she's broken up with Caleb and consoles her. Julie thanks him with a kiss on the cheek that lights a few sparks. Some thinking...weighing the consequences...staring...and Julie suggests that Luke leave before they get to the good stuff.

At the front desk of the hotel, Marissa stops to ask if anybody has dropped off a bag of clothes for her. And that's when she notices the woman at front desk has a nametag that reads, "Natalie." Marissa asks if her last name is Bishop, and sure enough, it is. Back in the penthouse, Marissa is now starting to join everybody else in worrying about Oliver's true intentions. Marissa tells Oliver about the Natalie Bishop downstairs and that she'd better be going. Oliver starts screaming and punching himself in the head and Marissa assures him that she's not going anywhere.

Oliver goes to get changed and Marissa frantically calls Ryan. He catches her on the phone and flashes his handgun. Give me the phone! Ryan heads through the house to leave and Sandy catches him. Sandy demands the keys and says he'll drive. At the hotel, Oliver is freaking out. Friends?! Oliver is in love with Marissa! How could she not know that?! Oliver says that the gun isn't for her, it's for him. Because if she leaves, he has nothing left.

Sandy and Ryan arrive at the hotel and get no answer on the house phone. They head upstairs with Natalie Bishop. Natalie inquires if everything is okay in there and Oliver says they can't come in because he just got out of the shower. They're about to leave when Ryan calls out for Marissa. She yells back that he's got a gun. Security breaks in and Oliver holds the gun to his head. Ryan pleads with him not to shoot himself. It'll just hurt Marissa, the only person that cares about him. He finally drops the gun.

Back at home, the news comes in and Seth suggests calling Summer to let her know that Marissa is OK. Anna can't believe that's his first thought. She's not going to keep pretending she's his girlfriend if she's not. It's over.

Music

*"Love of The Loveless" by Eels
*"Three Feet Tall" by I Am Kloot
*"New Resolution" by Azure Ray
*"Watching The Game At Joes" by Mastersource
*"Self-Help" by Turin Brakes

Trivia

*The episode debuted at 11.4 million viewers in the US Nielsen ratings.
*Though credited in the opening credits, Tate Donovan (Jimmy) does not appear in this episode.
*This is the last appearance of Taylor Handley (Oliver Trask) as it is understood that he has been detained for his mental instablity and obsession of Marissa Cooper

External links

*imdb title|0663926|Full Cast & Crew
* [http://www.fox.com/oc/recaps/season1/118.htm Recap from Official Website]
* [http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/articles/content/a1618/ Recap] from Television Without Pity