The Proposal

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


Season = 1
(2003-2004)
Caption = "She'll watch over you with her Care Bear stare"
Episode = 24
Airdate = April 14, 2004 (FOX)
Writer = Liz Friedman
Josh Schwartz
Director = Helen Shaver
Production = 176523
Episode list = "The O.C." (season 1)
List of "The O.C." episodes
Prev = The Nana
Next = The Shower

"The Proposal" is the 24th episode of the FOX television series, "The O.C.". The episode was written by Liz Friedman and Josh Schwartz and was directed by Helen Shaver. It originally aired on Wednesday April 14, 2004.

Guest starring

Plot

The gang hits the movies to see 'The Triplets of Belleville', which leaves Marissa, Summer, and Seth in tears and Ryan wondering how a movie could make people cry. On the way out, the quadra weighs their options for the rest of the evening, but Marissa thinks it's getting late. Which inspires Summer to suggest a slumber party, and Seth mentions that they can sleep in shifts so somebody is always awake. Marissa is aware that they think they need to keep an eye on her, a charge that she rejects. When she suggests some Jamba, the others eagerly accept. Hey, guess who else is at Jamba Juice? Luke and Julie. Seems that Luke's incessant attempts at contact forced Julie to finally agree to see him. But you're whining quick, because Julie isn't sticking around. Simultaneously, Marissa is still assuring her friends that they don't need to hover over her. She'll be just...well, Marissa can't finish that thought because she just spotted Luke and her mom sitting together in the Jamba.

The next morning, Ryan is putting on his best fighting clothes before he goes off in search of Luke. He tells Seth of his plan, and Seth points out that he won't have to look far because here comes Luke. Ryan seems a little trigger happy, which Luke notices and tries to defuse. Luke wants a little sympathy because he has no friends right now, but Ryan and Seth are more interested in firing barbs. But Luke needs a favor from them. He's leaving town, moving with his gay dad to Portland. That's what he was trying to tell Julie and that's what he wants to tell Marissa. He begs the boys for five minutes with her to say goodbye.

In the kitchen, Sandy expresses slight nervousness about tomorrow's opening of The Lighthouse and tonight's family pre-celebration to Kirsten. Jimmy comes in, full of pep and excitement, closely followed by Hailey, wondering if the very, very hot gown she's wearing is good for tonight. Now, bad news. The liquor board is reneging on The Lighthouse's license. Sandy promises to track down the inspector and find out what's up.

Summer drops by Jimmy's apartment - Marissa's new home - with plans for a spa day. But Marissa has lunch plans with Ryan. Upstairs, Summer sees that Marissa hasn't really unpacked any of her stuff, just sort of piled it, really. Marissa thinks that's maybe so her move won't seem so permanent. She jaunts off to lunch, but Summer asks if she can stay behind, making up an excuse about her stepmother's teeth.

Marissa mopes down the boardwalk and isn't so receptive to Ryan's news that Luke wants to see her. She wants to put that part of her life behind her. Perhaps feeling renewed love, Ryan kisses Marissa. Back in Marissa's new room, Summer reveals her plans to surprise Marissa with a Trading Spaces-style room makeover to Seth, who slowly becomes all for the plan as his feminine side creeps out.

Down at The Lighthouse, Peter Johnson of the LCB pays Sandy a visit. Peter tells Sandy, yeah, your temporary license was issued but your file got to the newly-appointed commissioner, one Steve Peyser. Steve, you see, was a client of Jimmy Cooper's until Jimmy stole $250,000 from him. And losing that money forced Peyser out of retirement. Peter suggests that Sandy drop Jimmy if he wants that license.

Back at the apartment, Ryan and Marissa go in for a little more smooching-related activities, which are interrupted by a knock on the door. It's…Caleb? Caleb asks Ryan for some privacy with Marissa, but she insists that Ryan stay. Fine, but what follows never leaves this room, okay? Caleb intends to propose to Julie tonight at the restaurant, something that Marissa thinks is a VERY bad idea. Ryan suggests giving Marissa a little time, but Caleb says it's happening tonight and thank you for your time. Marissa thinks that if the marriage happens, Julie will be the most powerful woman in Newport, but, as Ryan helpfully points out, the marriage might not happen if Marissa tells Caleb the truth about her.

When Ryan comes home, Luke is waiting for him on the stoop. Look, man, Marissa really isn't into it. Luke pleads for Ryan's help. He had his back with Oliver! And he didn't just sleep with Julie! He's in love with her! Ryan suggests writing Marissa a letter, a suggestion that practically baffles Luke. He takes off, but not before vowing to make things right before he leaves. Expect Luke at The Lighthouse party tonight, perhaps.

In the process of renovating Marissa's room, Summer comes across last year's yearbook. Leafing through it, she finds that Seth was president of the wildly popular and singularly-attended Sailing Club, Comic Book Club and Film Preservation Society, a fact that Seth had hoped to conceal. Summer wonders if she was mean to him and Seth sadly notes that she wasn't. Because that would've required her actually talking to him, which she never did. Touched by how much things can change in a year, they lovingly kiss.

At the Cohen house, Kirsten sees Sandy sadly having a drink. He breaks the news about Jimmy and the liquor license and says he tried to call in favors all day. No luck. Kirsten points out that her father can be very persuasive, but Sandy is loathe to use him for anything.

Party time. Luke swings into the parking lot in his giant truck, chugging a beer for the courage he needs to make a scene in front of Newport's best. Ryan and Marissa grab some food and when Seth sees them, he and Summer act odd and then slide off. Marissa then walks past her mother, offering only an icy "Mom" as a greeting. Caleb sidles up to Julie with a kiss and cheerfully whisks her across the room with a promise to talk to Marissa for her.

At the bar, Hailey and Kirsten observe their newly cheery pops, then Kirsten inquires about Hailey's own love life. But she's plenty coy. Hailey spots Jimmy across the room and can't help but rave about how great he is now, a fact that Kirsten can't help but notice. Jimmy pulls up to his partner, Sandy, and asks about the liquor board. Sandy says he's working on it.

Outside, Luke, now feeling sufficiently courageous - and tipsy - jumps down from his truck. Inside, Caleb calls the crowd to attention for an announcement. He only gets a few words out before Luke slips inside. Marissa immediately notices him, and Ryan heads to the lobby to pick him off. Ryan tries to calm him down, but Luke insists on talking to Marissa. Meanwhile, Caleb has dropped to one knee to propose, to the shock of the Cohens and Jimmy. Julie happily accepts and Luke storms out. Ryan follows and tries to take Luke's keys, but Luke jumps in his truck and speeds off, narrowly missing a car. Ryan asks Marissa for her keys so he can follow Luke, but she thinks maybe Luke needs to be alone so he can feel bad for what he did. And that's when Ryan tells her that he does feel bad. So bad, in fact, he's moving to Portland.

Inside, Kirsten is trying to drink away the tragic turn of events that has led to Julie being one step away from becoming her stepmother. But Sandy seems to think this may be the best thing that could've happened. Kirsten pretty much summarily rejects that viewpoint.

Luke, feeling lovelorn, has driven to the park to chug some beers and crank some Seeger. Ryan rings him on the cell and a wasted Luke slurs that he's okay. Sensitive Drunk Guy shows up and asks Ryan to tell Marissa he gets it, he doesn't deserve her forgiveness. All he ever did was let her down. Sensitive Drunk Guy hangs up and is quickly replaced by Angry Drunk Guy, who starts kicking the truck's front fender in a rage. Then Crying Drunk Guy pulls out his cell and leaves a message for Julie that he's leaving tomorrow and needs to see her. He's coming to see her! He jumps in the truck and peels out.

Back home, Sandy delivers news to Caleb about the liquor license. Caleb, of course, relishes Sandy's need for a favor and quickly notes that if he dropped Jimmy, he'd get his license. Look, Sandy helped out with Uncle Shawn, now Caleb owes him. But Caleb doesn't want to owe him, he wants to dangle this over Sandy's head.

Driving around to find Luke, Ryan and Marissa see the flashing lights of an ambulance. They get out of their car and see that a big, black truck hit a light pole head on. And that the paramedics are putting an unconscious and bloody Luke on a stretcher before taking him to the hospital.

The gang greets Luke's gay dad in the waiting room. He's out of surgery and will be okay, but he'll be out of it for a while, so there's no need to stick it out. Seth and Summer take off to finish their DIY project, but Ryan stays and Marissa decides to accompany him.

Jimmy heads over to Sandy's, telling him that he's heading to the county building to see what the holdup is with the liquor license. Sandy reveals that Jimmy is the holdup. Steve Peyser is the holdup. The news hits Jimmy like a ton of heavy objects, but Sandy assures him that they have one out left: Caleb. Jimmy knows how much Sandy hates asking Caleb for anything and says he could've just asked Jimmy to step down. But Sandy lets him know that wasn't an option.

Later that morning, Luke's gay dad wakes up Ryan and Marissa in the waiting room to tell them now Luke is finally awake and they can go home. But Marissa asks him to tell Luke she's here and wants to see him first.

Kirsten groggily sits in her kitchen as Julie already starts her wedding plans. An exhausted Seth staggers in, wondering if Ryan came home from the hospital last night. Oh? What happened? Kirsten breaks the news of Luke's accident. A stunned Julie grasps for straws, guessing that Luke's parents getting divorced must still be hurting him. Seth, aware of the full facts, stares down Julie and coldly agrees with her.

Over at The Lighthouse, Caleb strolls in asking Jimmy for a bloody mary, the last drink they'll be fixing at The Lighthouse for a while. Peyser ain't budging. No license, no opening, no Lighthouse. Sandy doesn't believe somebody as bad as Caleb couldn't get things done. But Caleb just chuckles and says, you know what they say, one man's misfortune is another man's fortune. Who says that? Caleb Nichol says that! Pour yourselves a drink, boys, we need to talk.

Marissa comes into Luke's room. He's pretty busted up. He tearfully apologizes to her. He didn't know what he was doing. He had nobody to turn to. All that aside, he's leaving so things can return to normal for Marissa. Can she forgive him? Yes. Yes she can.

Walking out, Marissa realizes she has to do something about her mother. She tried to drive Ryan out, she tried to destroy Jimmy and she almost killed Luke. Okay, so where are we going? Caleb's. Marissa stops by The Newport Group and Caleb welcomes her into his office. She needs to talk to him about her mom. Look, Caleb already knows about her. Everything. And he's going to do some talking now. He wants Marissa to be a part of the new family, but Marissa retorts that she already has a dad. Caleb is well aware. In fact, just this morning he made an offer to buy The Lighthouse for several million dollars. Not bad considering the place will never open without a liquor license. Considering that if Caleb forgot where his checkbook is or, say, decided it was a bad investment, Jimmy would have nothing. He'd be run out of town. And that's where Marissa comes in. She's important to Julie, and Caleb wants Marissa to live with them after Julie moves in. Marissa recognizes what the quid pro quo means to Jimmy and doesn't say a word.

Music

* "Autumn Leaves" by Richard Hayman & his orchestra
* "Pride" by Syntax
* "All The Kings Horses" by Christina Lux
* "Loose Caboose" by Henry Mancini
* "Night Moves" by Bob Seger
* "Pillows and Records" by Highwater Rising

Trivia

*This would be the last episode to feature Chris Carmack as a main cast member. He would guest star in the season 2 premiere before leaving the show for good.
*This is the second episode to use Bob Seger's 1977 song "Night Moves". The song can be heard blasting from a drunk Luke's truck before he crashed his truck. The song was first used in "The Heartbreak".
*The episode premiered at 10.5 million viewers in the US Nielsen ratings.

External links

*imdb title|0663904|Full Cast & Crew
* [http://www.fox.com/oc/recaps/season1/124.htm Recap from Official Website]
* [http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/articles/content/a1624/ Recap] from Television Without Pity