EPISODE 11 – “The Second Chance”
2/3/2005

Ryan’s up early trying to do homework when Seth comes in needing to talk about… Seth. Now that things are moving forward with the comic book partnership with Zach and Summer, Seth’s worried about the late nights at the office, high stress, things getting a little… sexy. Ryan reminds him that he doesn’t have an office and comic books aren’t sexy.

Sandy sneaks in after his all-nighter at the office with the Professor and Rebecca. Kirsten asks how the Professor took the news about his daughter’s death and Sandy answers the question with a question – “Oh well, how do you think he took it?” Then Rebecca calls on his cell and Sandy turns on his professional voice.

Ryan’s still trying to study but this time Kirsten’s in the mood to chat. How’s life? Good. How’s school? Good. How are you and Lindsay? Pause. Kirsten assures Ryan that whatever he did can be undone. Except it wasn’t anything Ryan did, it was something Caleb did when he mistook Lindsay’s getting-to-know-Dad dinner for a blackmail session. Kirsten thinks Caleb must’ve mistaken Lindsay for her other sister. Or his wife. Kirsten announces that she’s going to set up another dinner… where actual food will be eaten.

Sandy and Rebecca walk on the pier and catch up on the past twenty years. Turns out she hasn’t met anybody since him. It’s a little hard to get to know people when you can’t tell them who you really are and you can’t stay in one place for very long. Speaking of not staying long, it’s almost time for her to move on.

At school, Ryan invites Lindsay to a family dinner with himself and Kirsten. Oh, and Caleb. Lindsay thinks one miserable dining experience was enough.

Kirsten drops by the office to see Caleb. She needs him to join her, Lindsay and Ryan for dinner. Only this time, she needs him to not be the word’s biggest ass. Lindsay wants to know who her father is so he better show up and be a real dad to her or he’s going to lose two daughters. Got it?

In Sandy’s office, Rebecca tells her dad she can’t stay. She’s not turning herself in. Max asks for Sandy’s help clearing her name but Sandy thinks that’ll be impossible given what happened. Except it didn’t happen. Max prods Rebecca to tell Sandy what really happened that night. Turns out Rebecca got scared and never showed. Max pleads with Sandy to give his daughter back her life.

In the student lounge, Summer runs into Seth, who is putting the final touches on a sketch of Marissa -- aka “Cosmo Girl – Passion for Fashion.” Wow. Back to Summer, who wants to make sure Seth isn’t going to shortchange her character just because she doesn’t want to date him anymore. This is exactly what Seth’s been worrying about – allowing their history to compromise the artistic process. Then Summer reminds him about the super power of Zach to make her forget him. Seth still thinks it could be a little weird. You think? Suddenly Zach bounds in full of enthusiasm and tells them that his dad has an intern whose Uncle works at Wild Storm – an unbelievable comic book company. He pitched them the idea and they loved the world of Orange County. And if they like the artwork, they might want to set up a meeting. So get ready for late nights and high stress! And, oh yeah, Seth’s got to nail Summer. Excuse me? They loved her character – Little Ms. Vixen with designer handbags full of killer credit cards – so you’ve got to get down her likeness, like tonight!

At The Bait Shop, Marissa asks Alex where things stand with her and Seth. Alex tells her they taxied but never achieved lift-off. Yeah, Marissa just got out of one of those too. They’re good for helping you get over somebody. Or, Marissa suggests, helping you get ready for someone new. Then she asks if she can crash at Alex’s again tonight. Works for Alex, but she needs Marissa to answer one question -- What are you doing with me? Um, picking up a pint of Cherry Garcia and renting some DVDs? But Alex isn’t referring to eating ice cream so much as sleeping over, hanging out all the time, borrowing her clothes. Alex’s directness is suddenly too… direct. Marissa changes her tune and decides she probably should go home after all.

Meanwhile, Kirsten stops by Lindsay’s house and convinces her to give Caleb one more chance.

Sandy puts Rebecca up in a room above his office and agrees to take on her case. She’s excited and suggests, for old time’s sake, that they celebrate with some Mexican food, tequila, and weed. Good idea, now that Sandy’s harboring a fugitive, maybe he should go out and score some weed? No worries, Rebecca just happens to have some on her. Sandy suggests they just stick to the tequila.

Seth arrives at Summer’s for their sketch session and is greeted by Summer in a bathrobe. Nice of you to get all dressed up for the occasion. Then Summer drops her robe revealing her “Little Ms. Vixen” outfit. Wow! Then the sketching session turns into a drawing lesson which turns into an… almost kiss. Then Seth decides he better do the rest from memory.

At the Cohen’s, it appears they’re serving up awkwardness for dinner. Caleb makes the first move and compliments Kirsten on a delicious dinner. Then Kirsten tells Caleb about Lindsay’s interest in classical music and Caleb offers her his box seats at the Hollywood Bowl. Lindsay extends the offer to Ryan but before he can respond, Caleb jumps in with the assertion that Ryan wouldn’t be interested in that sort of thing. Why, because they don’t have music in Chino? Then Ryan decides it’s time for him to go, after all, this was supposed to be about Caleb and Lindsay… making up for lost time. Caleb wants to know what Ryan means by that. Lindsay asks Ryan to stay. Caleb seconds it – yes, stay -- live in this house, eat their food, date their children, butt into their affairs. Then Kirsten jumps in, then Caleb jumps up, then Ryan moves toward him, then Caleb clutches his chest in pain, collapsing onto the floor, and taking the table cloth and all the glassware with him.

Kirsten, Lindsay, Ryan and Seth sit in the hospital waiting room. The doctor finally comes out and tells them Caleb suffered a minor heart attack but he’s going to be okay. Then Sandy arrives, exhausted from a long night at the office and when Kirsten goes to greet him, she notices he smells like liquor. Kirsten suggests that Sandy being around her dad might not be the best medicine right now. Oh, no problem, as it happens he’s still got stuff to do at the office.

Later, in his hospital room, Caleb tells Kirsten and Lindsay that he’s never been better. He owes them a huge apology and now that he’s got a second chance, he’d like to use it. He reaches for their hands and asks if they can start over. Okay.

At The Bait house, Alex is listening to Rachel Yamagata sing a sultry tune when Marissa approaches her from behind and takes her hand, weaving their fingers together. They exchange smiles. Apparently this is what Marissa’s doing with her.

Lindsay drives Ryan home from the hospital. Ryan blames himself for what happened to Caleb but Lindsay assures him it’s not his fault. She thinks Caleb’s changed and really wants a relationship with her now. And she knows he’s going to like Ryan too… some day. But right now Caleb needs her. So they need to take a little time off. Ryan knows what it’s like, not having a dad, he gets it. They kiss goodbye.

Kirsten stops by Sandy’s surf shack law office to do a little sprucing up. Rebecca comes out thinking it’s him. The two women stare at each other… Rebecca?