The Safe Harbor

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


Season = 3
(2005-2006)
Caption = Marissa and Summer
Episode = 11
Airdate = January 12, 2006 (FOX)
Writer = Mike Kelley
Director = Tony Wharmby
Production = 2T6261
Prev = The Chrismukkah Bar-Mitzvahkkah
Next = The Sister Act

"The Safe Harbor" is the 62nd episode of the FOX television series, "The O.C.". The episode was written by Mike Kelley and was directed by Tony Wharmby. It originally aired on Thursday, January 12, 2006 at 9:00 p.m. on FOX. [cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F02E7D9163FF931A25752C0A9609C8B63|title=What’s on Tonight|date=2006-01-12|work=The New York Times|publisher=The New York Times Company|accessdate=2008-09-15] The "Free Marissa" campaign pays homage to a "Beverly Hills 90210" episode in which the Beverly Hills High gang campaigned to let Donna graduate.

Guest starring

Plot

It's the last day of winter break and the gang is hanging out at The Bait Shop bar drinking faux-hitos and safe-sex-on-the-beach, and lamenting their impending separation. When Marissa goes to the little girl's room, Ryan, Seth, and Summer plan "Operation Free Marissa."

The next day at school, Seth asks Summer what exactly they're freeing Marissa from? Exile to public school, a year of solitude, ill-fitting gym shorts and mediocre lunches, duh.

Ryan executes Stage One of the plan by paying a visit to Dr. Kim. Dr. Kim informs Ryan that only the board of trustees has the power to reinstate an expelled student and they rarely reverse their decisions. She agrees to put Marissa's case on the docket for Thursday night's meeting but reminds Ryan that students are not allowed to speak at the board meeting. They'll need a parent advocate. Ryan thinks he knows just the person for the job. Before leaving, Dr. Kim advises Ryan to check the library for transcripts of old meetings for a precedent and suggests he pay special attention to, say, fall semester of 1996.

At Newport Union, Marissa runs into Johnny, who's been recovering from his surgery over the break. He invites Marissa to a PacWest press party. Turns out one of the guys on the team failed his drug test, and now Johnny's got the alternate spot. He can do his physical therapy on the road and hopefully compete by summer. He's only allowed to bring one person to the event and since none of this would be happening without Marissa, it would mean a lot to him if she went. She says she wouldn't miss it.

Summer decides that if the Free Marissa campaign is going to be a success, they're going to need to find someone who the masses will follow into battle. Seth suggests Taylor Townsend, who happens to be sitting at a table across the way. Taylor is super excited to help out on the campaign, until she finds out its mission is to free Marissa. But Summer convinces Taylor that no member of their group is more qualified to spearhead the campaign than her. Did you say "our group"? Suddenly Taylor's back in. After Seth and Summer leave, one of Taylor's friends reminds her that her mom's head of the parent association, and the one who started the petition to get Marissa kicked out in the first place. An unsure Taylor assures her friends that that was so last semester.

Ryan drops by Sandy's office with his research. He sites the cases which establish precedent for the board reinstating students who had been expelled. Sandy congratulates Ryan on doing his homework, but tells him that's just one piece of the puzzle. He's got a shot, but it's a long one. Sandy agrees to be the parent advocate on the case. "Good cause, poor odds, a chance to ruffle some Newpsie feathers...how could I say no?" Then his enthusiasm wanes when he discovers that the chair of the board is Judge Mercer, a real hard-ass.

The next morning, after Seth and Ryan leave for school, poster-board and paint in hand, Kirsten asks Sandy if Judge Mercer is the same Judge Mercer who threw him in jail for contempt of court. Yep, the very same.

At Newport Union, Marissa tracks down Johnny and explains that she's not going to be able to make his PacWest party because she has to be at the board meeting at Harbor where they'll be deciding the fate of the rest of her senior year. Johnny feigns happiness for her, adding that Chili will be stoked he gets to go to the party now.

Meanwhile, Seth and Summer are following Taylor around campus as she briefs them on the progress of the campaign, when suddenly Taylor's mom appears. She just discovered that there's a motion on the docket to reinstate Marissa Cooper. Then she sees the "Free Marissa" poster Taylor's attempting to hide behind her. Mom pulls Taylor aside and yells at her. When Taylor returns, she tells Seth and Summer that she can't help them any longer.

Sandy's director at the Newport Group, Matt Ramsay, recommends that they put a cash bid on a particular building that "his guy" has informed him will be going up in value since Lockheed is building a new plant in the area. "Your guy?" Matt informs Sandy that his guy is Sandy's guy too. And he's a private investigator. Sandy makes a joke about wishing "his guy" could dig up something on the honorable Judge Mercer, but Matt isn't joking. He's going to have the PI do a little background check.

Ryan drops by Newport Union with some campaign swag - a "Free Marissa" tee-shirt. Marissa loves it. What's next? Coffee mugs, baseball caps? Whatever it takes. Suddenly Marissa gets a call from Chili. Johnny's not feeling well and he needs Marissa to bring him a book.

Marissa shows up at Johnny's and discovers Chili sitting on the bed amidst the rubble of a trashed room. Johnny's taken off. Chili explains that the PacWest doctors refused to sign off on his knee. They said it was too soon to tell if he'll ever be back to 100%. Chili doesn't think Johnny will be able to bounce back from this one.

Seth, Summer and Ryan are hanging out in the diner, discussing the pathetically few signatures on their "Free Marissa" petition. Say what you will about Taylor, but the girl knows how to rally the troops. Marissa shows up at the diner and tells the gang that she appreciates all they've done, but she doesn't think she can go back to Harbor after all. Then she takes off.

The next day, Marissa shows up at the pool house and gives Ryan the explanation she owed him from the previous night. Well, it's Johnny. Yeah, Ryan pretty much knew that already. PacWest changed their mind. They're not letting Johnny on the tour anymore, and he's pretty freaked out about it. Ryan doesn't think it's Marissa's problem, but Marissa thinks it is. His (ex-)girlfriend, the accident, getting kicked off the team, all of it. Ryan tells her they're meeting at the Cohens' before going to the board meeting, just so she knows.

Matt drops by Sandy's office and tells him "his guy" came through on the judge. Sandy just wants the short version. Judge Mercer has a son, Nick, who has a drug problem. He was kicked out of military school for using and nobody's heard from him since. Sandy mentions that he was defending a kid just like that when the judge held him in contempt.

Seth and Summer continue on their very disappointing campaign, when they're forced to admit, once again, that they need Taylor Townsend. Summer gives Seth permission to do whatever it takes to get her back on board. Summer's picturing an 'Indecent Proposal'-type of thing.

Ryan pays Johnny an unexpected visit and finds him lying in bed with no intention of going to school. Johnny assumes Marissa sent Ryan to check up on him, but Ryan assures him that's not the case. He's there because Marissa's decided to stay at Newport Union for him. Johnny says he didn't ask her to stay, but Ryan tells him he didn't have to.

Seth tracks down Taylor in the corridor and informs her that he's been sanctioned to offer her sexual favors in exchange for her help. She explains that under any other circumstance, he would be facing a long night involving candle wax, tube socks, and the latest Fiona Apple CD. Seth opts to forgo man-whoring and appeal to her heart. Taylor doesn't think Seth understands the gravity of the situation. Her mother's a sports agent! She's threatened to take away her car and her college tuition. "Your mom's a sport's agent? I thought she was just a bored, bitter Newpsie?" Before leaving, Seth begs Taylor to do one thing. To not grow up to be like her mother, because she's better than that.

The gang gathers at the Cohens' before the board meeting, but no Marissa. Seth and Ryan think it's time to wave the white flag, but Summer isn't giving up yet.

Back at Newport Union, Marissa runs into Chili, who gives her the good news. Turns out the fancy surgeon Marissa hooked Johnny up with went to med school with the PacWest doc, and called and convinced him that Johnny's good to go. Marissa can't believe Johnny didn't tell her. Well, it's been insane: they want him to leave next month. Chili thinks it's amazing how it all worked out. Johnny going on tour, Marissa going back to Harbor. Yeah, I guess. After a slightly stunned Marissa takes off, Johnny comes out of hiding and he and Chili share a knowing nod.

Just as the board meeting is starting, Matt shows up with some new information for Sandy. Sandy excuses himself and Taylor's mom steps up to the podium to speak on the matter at hand. "Marissa Cooper shot a boy in the back. This is not what the Harbor parents want, and it's not what the students want either." Uh, actually it is. Suddenly Taylor breezes into the board room with a petition signed by over 300 students - virtually the entire student body. After hearing impassioned pleas by both Julie Cooper and Dr. Roberts, Judge Mercer states that the board still can't break from precedent. That's when Ryan stands up and shares a previous case involving a student and a knife, where after all criminal charges were dropped, the expulsion was reversed. Judge Mercer acknowledges the importance of precedent but claims he still doesn't have to reverse. That's when Sandy stands up and says, he doesn't have to, but he might want to. Then Sandy proceeds to make an impassioned speech about giving a good kid a second change. The judge seems to know he's also talking about his son. Finally, the board makes its decision. With only one dissenting vote, the decision is reversed.

Sandy catches Judge Mercer on his way out and thanks him. The judge thanks Sandy for keeping his personal information between them. Sandy tells the judge he knows where his son is. He's in L.A. He's safe. And he wants to see him.

Outside the boardroom, Julie apologizes to Marissa for not having been there for her in so many ways. And by the way, there's no condo. Julie admits she lives in a trailer and was too ashamed to tell her. Down the hall, Dr. Roberts confesses to Summer that her step-mom won't be coming back. Summer offers her sympathy but thinks they do O.K. without her anyway.

Julie and Dr. Roberts head out for a drink, and the gang heads out to the diner. Except Ryan, who has a quick stop to make. He finds Johnny at the lifeguard station and thanks him for doing what he did. Yeah, well, Marissa deserves to be happy.

And the next day, a very happy Marissa joins the gang at Harbor for their senior class photos.

Beverly Hills, 90210

This episode of "The O.C." pays homage to previous FOX show, "Beverly Hills, 90210". The plot of this episode resembles that of "". Marrissa Cooper (Mischa Barton) takes on a similar role to that of Beverly Hills' character Donna Martin (played by Tori Spelling). The group of Harbor students campaigning to get Marissa to graduate with them. This is analogous to the Beverly Hills Gang campaign for Donna to graduate. [cite web|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1148740,00.html|title="Beverly Hills" Copy|last=Barrett|first=Annie|date=2006-01-13|work=Entertainment Weekly|publisher=Time Inc.|accessdate=2008-09-15]

Music

*"Our House" by Phantom Planet
*"I Love a Man in Uniform" by Gang of Four
*"Albany Brownout" by Francine
*"Dancing In The Moonlight" by Magnet
*"California" by Rogue Wave

References

External links

* [http://www.fox.com/oc/recaps/311.htm Recap from the official website]