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"The Proposal" is the twenty-fourth episode in the first season of the Fox drama series The O.C.. The episode aired on the fourteenth of April, in 2004.

Synopsis[]

On the opening night of the Lighthouse, Jimmy and Sandy discover that their liquor license has been denied. Sandy must then decide whether to drop Jimmy and get the license, or keep Jimmy on as his partner. Meanwhile, Marissa struggles to come to terms with her mother's affair with Luke, and refuses to speak to either of them, and things escalate when Caleb plans on proposing to Julie.

Plot[]

The Core Four are at the movies and Marissa is sobbing. Ryan asks if she is okay and she says the movie is just really sad. Ryan asks if she is just crying because of the movie and Marissa tells him yes and that she is emotionally stable. Marissa points out that she isn't the only one crying and turns to Seth who is also sobbing. Seth tries to deny it saying he has allergies and requests to watch something else later when Summer dries his tears. Ryan says next time they should watch a comedy but Marissa says she can watch sad movies and Seth tells Ryan he can't because he is sensitive. They are walking out of the theater and deciding what to do for the rest of the night. Seth, Summer, and Ryan want to do what Marissa wants but she assures them she is fine. Marissa then suggests they get juice and walk over. Luke is sitting at a table there when Julie meets him. As Seth, Summer, Ryan and Marissa are walking in, they spot Julie and Luke together, Marissa leaves, and Ryan goes after her.

The Core Four - The Proposal

The Core Four spot Julie and Luke together and Marissa storms out.


Seth walks in while Ryan is getting dressed and he makes digs at him like how he cries during chick flicks and walks in on Ryan. Seth asks what Ryan is doing and he plans on finding Luke to beat him up. Luke walks in and Ryan is mad since Luke told him it was over. Luke reassures Ryan that it is and he just needed to talk to her. Ryan suggests he finds someone else to talk to when Luke reveals to them he is leaving town. Luke explains how his parent's divorce is final and his dad just wants to get out and move to Portland and Luke plans on going with him. Luke explains it is what he was trying to tell Julie and is what he wants to tell Marissa. Ryan doesn't think it is a good idea but Luke pleads with him that it won't take long.

Ryan, Seth and Luke - The Proposal

Luke tries to explain himself and tells Seth and Ryan that he is moving to Portland.


In the kitchen, Sandy is nervous about the grand re-opening of the Lighthouse and expresses it to Kirsten. Jimmy walks in and does his handshake with Sandy. Hailey walks in and asks if what she is wearing is okay and Jimmy looks at her a little too long. Sandy then reveals that they were denied a liquor license and he plans on making a call to make it right. Kirsten leaves to and Jimmy and Hailey flirt and kiss each other. Summer shows up to Marissa's and asks if she is ready to go to the spa. Marissa says she isn't up for it and is meeting Ryan for lunch at the pier. Marissa's phone starts ringing and she goes looking for it through her boxes in a room that is supposed to be hers. Summer asks her how she can live the way she is surrounded by boxes. Marissa apologizes to Summer saying she is going to meet Ryan and asks if she wants to come. Summer asks to stick around and when Marissa leaves, she starts thinking of ideas for Marissa's room.

At the pier, Ryan and Marissa are talking and she can't believe Luke and her mom are still seeing each other. Ryan assures her they aren't and that he talked to Luke. Ryan tells her that Luke wants to talk and apologize but Marissa doesn't want that. She says she couldn't forgive him and Ryan tells her that it would mean a lot to him. Marissa says that it's a part of her life she would rather keep separate from this part of her life and looks at Ryan. Ryan looks at her and tells her that there's something they haven't done in a while. He turns toward her and moves closer and Marissa reciprocates. Ryan grabs Marissa's face and kisses her.

Ryan and Marissa - The Proposal

Ryan and Marissa kiss and officially get back together.

In Marissa's room, Summer shows Seth the mess that it is. Summer tells Seth that they should surprise her by fixing up her depressing room and Seth agrees and they leave to get supplies. At the restaurant, Sandy gets a visit from Peter Johnson, who is on the liquor board. Peter explains to him that they had a temporary license but it is now revoked and this is because someone from the board, who Jimmy used to be their financial advisor and stole money from, saw Jimmy's name on the restaurant and denied them a license immediately. Peter encourages Sandy to tell Jimmy to step away.

Ryan is watching T.V. in Marissa's living room when she comes in from the kitchen asking him what he would like for lunch. She suggests her specialty, Mac n Cheese, a joke between them from their date in The Outsider. Ryan says that it sounds good as Marissa kisses him and they start making out on the couch. Marissa says how she forgot how fun it was and think about skipping lunch when they get a knock on the door. Marissa answers it to find Caleb asking to talk to Marissa in private. Ryan is walking out but Marissa stops him and tells Caleb that her and Ryan don't have any secrets and wants him to stay. Caleb tells Marissa and Ryan he is planning on proposing to Julie. Caleb refuses to give Marissa time to consider it because he wants to propose at the grand-reopening of the Lighthouse that very night. Marissa can't believe it and says that she can't stop him. Caleb asks them to keep it between all of them and leaves. Marissa tells Ryan that if he proposes and Julie accepts, she will become the most powerful woman in Newport. Ryan responds stating she could tell Caleb the truth.

Ryan and Marissa - The Proposal 3

Ryan and Marissa perfectly content in getting back together before life gets chaotic again.

Ryan gets back home and finds Luke waiting for him on the front steps. Luke asks Ryan if he talked to Marissa and Ryan tells him he doesn't think Luke will get the chance to talk to her because of everything she is dealing with. They argue and Ryan tells Luke to write her a letter. Luke then claims how he had Ryan's back with Oliver and Ryan fires back saying that he had sex with Marissa's mom. Luke then says it wasn't just sex and that he is in love with Julie and needs to explain that to Marissa. Ryan encourages him not to and Luke says he can't leave without making things right and leaves.

Summer is telling Seth her plan to fix up Marissa's room in that they plan to go to the opening of the Lighthouse dinner, then sneak out to fix up her room before Marissa gets home. Seth agrees when she finds their old high school yearbook. She finds pictures of Seth who was the only one on the sailing team, comic book club, etc. Summer asks him if she was really mean to him and Seth says it had to require her to speak to him. Summer responds telling him that a lot has changed in the year and kisses him. Kirsten walks into the dining room to find Sandy upset. Sandy tells her about how their license was denied because of Jimmy and has no luck of getting it unless Jimmy steps down. Kirsten suggests her dad to help but Sandy really doesn't want that.

Seth and Summer - The Proposal

Seth and Summer plan on fixing up Marissa's room to help boost her mood.

At the party as guests are arriving, a furious Luke drives up, drinking under the influence. Ryan and Marissa are grabbing food when Seth walks up to them. Seth is flustered and trying to jeep the secret from them. Summer starts making signals at him to leave so they can fix up Marissa's room. Ryan nearly catches him as Marissa says Seth is getting weirder. Marissa passes by her mom but doesn't say more than hello to her. Kirsten is trying to figure out with Hailey why their dad has been so happy and mushy. Kirsten then asks Hailey about her love live as she makes eyes at Jimmy across the room. Kirsten notices and can immediately figure out what is going on between Jimmy and Hailey. Jimmy and Sandy are talking about how successful the opening is and he asks Sandy about the license. Sandy says he is working on it and tells Jimmy to enjoy it.

Ryan finds Marissa later in the party and asks her how she is doing. Marissa tells him she is just happy he is there with her so that she doesn't have to go through it alone. Caleb begins his toast and Ryan and Marissa hold each other's hands, preparing for Caleb's announcement. As Caleb brings up Julie, Luke walks into the party. Marissa notices and asks Ryan who goes after Luke. Ryan tries to get Luke to leave as he throws a fit and Ryan can smell the alcohol on him. Luke says how he has to talk to Marissa about Julie, Ryan continues to try and get him to leave when Caleb proposes to Julie. No one can believe it as Julie accepts his proposal. Luke storms out and Ryan tries to keep him from driving home drunk but Luke leaves anyway.

Caleb and Julie - The Proposal

Caleb proposes to Julie.

Marissa comes out of the party to find Ryan who is asking for her keys so he can go after Luke. They begin to argue until Ryan tells Marissa that Luke is moving to Portland with his dad because of what happened. Back in the party, Kirsten pours herself an entire bottle of wine and complains to Sandy about how her dad is marrying Julie and that she will be her step mom. Kirsten is panicking and brings Jimmy into it as well. In Marissa's room, Seth and Summer are trying to get things set up as Seth breaks a piece of her wall off. Summer orders Seth to grab some tools that he has no idea what or where they are. Seth starts to paint the walls instead as Summer fixes his mess.

Seth and Summer - The Proposal 2

Seth and Summer implement their plan to fix up Marissa's room.

A depressed Luke is jamming to music and drinking alcohol on the hood of his truck when he gets a phone call from Ryan. Luke tells Ryan he is fine but Ryan doesn't think so. Luke continues to drink more alcohol and tells Ryan to tell Marissa that he knows he doesn't deserve her forgiveness while Marissa is sitting right next to Ryan in the car, as they are continuing to search for Luke. Ryan tries to reason with Luke but he hangs up on Ryan. Luke leaves a message for Julie and tells her how he is leaving and needs to see her. Luke decides to drive to Julie. Caleb and Sandy are discussing the liquor license for the Lighthouse. Sandy asks Caleb to help who seems reluctant. Marissa is trying to get a hold of Luke on the phone but he won't answer. Ryan and Marissa see an ambulance drive past them. They get out of their car to see Luke being pulled from his car and taken away on a stretcher to the hospital.

At the hospital, the morning after the accident, Ryan, Marissa, Seth, and Summer are in the waiting room. Marissa tells Ryan how terrible she feels because when she saw him at the party, she wished for something like this to happen. Ryan reassures her saying it isn't her fault. Luke's dad, Carson, walks in to tell them that Luke is out of surgery and is currently waking up. Seth says he should call his parents but Carson encourages all of them to go home. Seth and Summer leave to go finish Marissa's room while Ryan and Marissa decide to stay. Sandy and Jimmy are talking about Luke's accident when Sandy brings up their struggles of getting the liquor license. Jimmy expresses how much he wanted to start over and escape his past. Sandy tells him how he asked for Caleb's help who decided to help them.

Ryan and Marissa - The Proposal 4

Marissa tells Ryan how responsible she feels for Luke's accident.

Marissa and Ryan are sleeping in the waiting room when Carson tells them that Luke is awake and they can now go home. Marissa asks Carson to tell Luke she wants to see him. Julie is talking with a hungover Kirsten about wedding plans when Seth walks in. Julie had not heard of the news so Kirsten tells her about Luke's accident. Seth watches Julie's reactions and expressions who says how she thinks it is because Luke never recovered from his father. Seth sarcastically says that that has to be the reason. Caleb joins Sandy and Jimmy who are working the bar at the Lighthouse with news of no luck getting a liquor license.

Marissa walks into Luke's hospital room and examines his injuries. Marissa asks him if he is okay and Luke apologizes to her. He tells her he didn't mean for it to happen and just simply felt alone. Luke tells Marissa he is going away so that things can get back to normal for her. Luke asks if she can forgive him and Marissa does. She grabs his hand and tells him she will miss him, trying not to cry and steps out. Luke tells Ryan how funny he thinks it is that he is leaving Newport instead of Ryan. Ryan reassures Luke that he gets the chance to start a new life. Luke and Ryan joke about the first time they met and the fight they had in Premiere. Luke asks to stay in touch and Ryan agrees but wishes Luke luck. Ryan finds Marissa waiting who tells him how much she hates her mom. She reminisces on everything Julie has done and adds this accident to the list and says how she needs to do something. Ryan agrees and asks where they are going.

Marissa pays Caleb a visit. Caleb tells Marissa that he wants her to make up with Julie. Marissa argues that Caleb doesn't know Julie or what she has done. Caleb reveals to Marissa that he knows. He knows about the affair with Luke and everything else. Caleb starts talking about becoming a real family but Marissa tells him she already has a dad. Caleb explains that he has no intention of replacing Jimmy but that he is her dad's only shot. Caleb tells Marissa about his purchase of the restaurant but that he will not do so unless Marissa decides to come live with him. Caleb blackmails Marissa into living with them in order to protect her dad. Caleb also asks her to keep the conversation between them as he doesn't want Julie to find out. Marissa reluctantly agrees to it and leaves without another word.

Marissa and Ryan get back to her place and she says how she is now a prisoner in her own life and needs sleep. They hear something coming from upstairs and go up to find Seth and Summer arguing in Marissa's newly designed and refurnished room. Seth and Summer took out all of her things from her boxes, organized her room, painted her walls, and designed it all. Marissa starts crying as she thanks them both. Marissa looks around her room in awe as Summer gives her a newly found Care Bear stuffed animal of Marissa's. Ryan and Marissa cuddle up on her bed while Seth and Summer join. The Core Four banter and talk about the work Seth and, mainly Summer, did.

The Core Four - The Proposal 3

The Core Four talk about Marissa's new room design made special by Seth and Summer.

Cast[]

Starring[]

Guest Starring[]

Co-Starring[]

Quotes[]

  • Marissa: Besides, I'm not the only one crying.
  • Seth: I'm sorry what? I'm allergic, OK, and there is so much pollen in here right now. It's ridiculous.
  • Marissa: It's OK.
  • Seth: Hey tomorrow we are watching football, OK?
  • Summer: Football season is five months away.
  • Seth: ESPN Classics, OK, we watch old games.

Music[]

Trivia[]

  • This episode marks the final appearance of Chris Carmack as a series regular.

Gallery[]

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