| ← S2 | The OC Season 3 | S4 → | ||||||
| #01 | "The Aftermath" | #10 | "The Chrismukkah Bar Mitz-vahkkah" | #19 | "The Secrets and Lies" | |||
| #02 | "The Shape of Things to Come" | #11 | "The Safe Harbor" | #20 | "The Day After Tomorrow" | |||
| #03 | "The End of Innocence" | #12 | "The Sister Act" | #21 | "The Dawn Patrol" | |||
| #04 | "The Last Waltz" | #13 | "The Pot Stirrer" | #22 | "The College Try" | |||
| #05 | "The Perfect Storm" | #14 | "The Cliffhanger" | #23 | "The Party Favor" | |||
| #06 | "The Swells" | #15 | "The Heavy Lifting" | #24 | "The Man of the Year" | |||
| #07 | "The Anger Management" | #16 | "The Road Warrior" | #25 | "The Graduates" | |||
| #08 | "The Game Plan" | #17 | "The Journey" | |||||
| #09 | "The Disconnect" | #18 | "The Undertow" | |||||
"The Safe Harbor" is the eleventh episode in the third season of the Fox drama series The O.C.. The episode aired on the eleventh of January, in 2006.
Synopsis[]
Ryan, Seth, and Summer create a case to bring Marissa back to Harbor, much to Johnny's dismay; Sandy must make an ethical work decision that could influence the judge's verdict. Meanwhile, Neil and Julie are determined to tell their daughters what they've been hiding from them.
Plot[]
At the Bait Shop on their last night of winter break, Ryan, Marissa, Seth, and Summer discuss how much fun they had during break and the dread of starting school the next day. Summer points out how it’s their last night of their last year of high school and Marissa says, “Just the four of us hanging out like old times.” Marissa then states how she doesn’t want to go back to Newport Union without all of them and rushes to the bathroom. Summer starts talking about including Marissa in their yearbook and Ryan picks up on planning to get Marissa back at Harbor. Summer, Ryan, and Seth will have a difficult time because of the school board and can’t figure out how to get Marissa back in.
At Harbor High, Seth and Summer are trying to come up with ideas on how to “free” Marissa from her new school and get her back. Ryan runs into them and says how he has to talk to Dr. Kim and that he is just going to ask her to let Marissa back in. Ryan asks Dr. Kim to reinstate Marissa and Dr. Kim expresses how she wishes the outcomes were different. Dr. Kim tells Ryan how she can’t do anything because the board holds the power of allowing an expelled student back into their school. Ryan asks to meet with them and Dr. Kim brings up their upcoming meeting and how she will slip Marissa into their discussion. Dr. Kim ensures how difficult it will be and that only a parent advocate can attend. Dr. Kim then gives Ryan a tip to look into older meetings that will be helpful.
At Newport Union, Marissa is lonely and ironically runs into Johnny who is walking steadily now since his surgery. He then invites Marissa to a party for his surfing league and reveals he is now an alternate for the team. Marissa dodges giving Johnny an answer and says he should invite his mom instead, feeling as if it would be inappropriate for her to go. Johnny insists she goes and states that his second chance would not be happening if it weren’t for Marissa. Marissa agrees to go.
Kirsten and Julie are discussing their first year of their new business. Summer’s dad, Neil Roberts, walks in and Julie tells Kirsten how he is getting his second divorce. Julie decides to talk to Neil and thanks him for inviting her over for Christmas dinner. Neil reveals he has yet to tell Summer about his upcoming divorce.
Seth and Summer are still devising a plan for Marissa when they run into Taylor. Seth says they need her help launching a campaign to get Marissa back to Harbor. Taylor responds saying it’s aggressive and actively questions it. Summer says that she would win people over and is the only one in “their group” who could do it. Seth and Summer leave her to brainstorm and plan to meet with her the next day. Taylor’s friends try to talk her out of it saying that Marissa is her rival and that Marissa would ruin her socially if she came back. Veronica Townsend, Taylor’s mom, appears to be involved in getting Marissa kicked out in the first place.
Ryan is reading the transcript of a past meeting as advised from Dr. Kim to Sandy. This meeting is evident in that a student was let back into the school after expulsion when a student attacked another with a knife. Sandy said that there is no guarantees and Ryan wonders if Sandy doesn’t want Marissa to go to school with him. Ryan says that things are different now and he is not backing down. Sandy says he has a shot and agrees to be the parent advocate. Ryan tells Sandy the chairman is Jim Mercer and he is a judge that Sandy has worked with many times. Sandy says he is a “hanging judge” and that they will have to give an exceptional case.
At Summer’s, Ryan tells Marissa about their plan to get her back into Harbor by the end of the week. Marissa is speechless and in disbelief that it could actually work. Ryan reassures her but says he doesn’t want to ruin anything for her if she is happy at Newport Union. Marissa tells Ryan that she wants to finish high school with him, Seth, and Summer. He kisses her goodbye and before he leaves, Marissa asks when the meeting is. Ryan tells her it’s Thursday which just so happens to be the night Johnny asked her out and she fails to tell Ryan that.
Summer is making “Free Marissa” T-shirts when Marissa walks in. Marissa doesn’t sound enthusiastic to Summer. Marissa starts to retaliate saying that no one would even want her back and that it might not even work. Summer asks her what’s up and Marissa tells her about Johnny asking her to his surfing league party. Summer says that she has to cancel, hands Marissa the phone, and leaves. Marissa starts to dial his number then deletes it.
At the Cohen’s, Kirsten and Sandy are prepping in the kitchen and talking about potentially getting Marissa back into Harbor. Sandy says he thinks she has a chance when Seth and Ryan walk in with posterboards. Ryan asks Sandy if he talked to the judge and it is revealed he is out of town but that they will be given a fair chance. Ryan and Seth leave with their “supply drop” to meet Summer. Kirsten asks Sandy if it is the same judge who put Sandy in jail for contempt to which Sandy says he is. Kirsten fears that Jim Mercer’s hatred for Sandy will destroy Marissa’s case. Sandy assures Kirsten that he is out of town anyway and that they have a shot.
At Newport Union, Johnny and Chili are going over the paperwork from Johnny’s knee surgery when they run into Marissa. Marissa asks to speak with Johnny and tells him she can’t go to the party. Marissa tells Johnny about the meeting to get her back into Harbor and how she needs to be there. Johnny tells her it is great to which Marissa is surprised of thinking he would be upset. Marissa apologies and heads to class while Johnny is obviously not okay about it.
Taylor, Summer, and Seth are organizing the fliers, t-shirts, and all of the posters around Harbor. Taylor runs into her mom who is visibly upset about reinstating Marissa. Seth and Summer are conspiring about what Taylor and her mom are arguing about. Taylor’s mom shoots down Taylor saying she doesn’t have any friends and it is why she voted to expel Marissa in their first place. Summer seems to have read their discussion and now knows how Taylor’s mom was involved. Taylor tells Seth and Summer how she can’t help them anymore, apologies, and leaves.
Taylor, Seth, and Summer are seeking more signatures for Marissa's petition.
Sandy and Matt are discussing business. Matt decides to do a background check on Jim Mercer. Ryan visits Marissa at Newport Union during her lunch and shows her the t-shirts Summer made. Ryan asks where Johnny is and Marissa says that he went to the doctor and that his surfing league is giving him a second chance. Marissa gets a phone call from Chili and that she needs to bring him something. Ryan offers to drive her and Marissa she will be okay and thanks him for coming to see her, leaving him confused and worried.
Summer is hanging up the fliers on the lockers when Ryan approaches her asking what is up with Marissa. Summer tells him there might be an issue with Johnny and that Marissa is afraid of abandoning him, making Ryan leave. Summer makes him stay and tells him it is who Marissa is and assures Ryan she wants to come back to Harbor.
Julie goes to the Robert’s’ looking for Marissa. Neil tells her she isn’t home yet and invites her in. Neil talks about how his soon-to-be ex-wife wants her stuff sent back and how he thinks now is the time to tell Summer. Julie is worried about telling Marissa the truth and Neil reassures her that it will work out. He points out that Julie is making huge sacrifices for her daughter’s future. They then awkwardly sit and wait for both their daughters to come back from school. Julie and Neil then talk about the petition for Marissa and Julie thinks they will ruin everything. Neil agrees and Julie says she could wait a few days, they start to change their minds about telling them, saying it is a conversation for later. They decide to have a drink together instead.
At Johnny’s house, Marissa arrives and walks into Johnny’s room to see Chili picking things up to a trashed and destroyed room. Marissa asks where Johnny is and Chili tells her he doesn’t know but the doctors will not let him surf. Marissa says they need to find him and Chili responds saying Johnny’s future is ruined. Chili states he doesn’t think Johnny will make it back from this.
Ryan, Seth, and Summer discuss at the diner how they only have 13 signatures for the petition. When Marissa walks in and Summer tells them to be positive. Marissa tells them she doesn’t think she can go back to Harbor anymore. Ryan asks what happened and Marissa dodges the question, thanking them for all they did but she can’t go back and leaves.
The next day, Marissa goes to see Ryan and apologies for not explaining herself. Marissa tells Ryan it is because of Johnny which Ryan already knew. Marissa asks him to not be mad and that she wanted to come back. Ryan asks what is wrong now and she tells him about the doctor and Johnny’s surfing league. Marissa says how freaked out Johnny is to which Ryan tells her it is not Marissa’s problem. Marissa says it is and starts to blame herself for his ex-girlfriend, the car accident, and getting kicked off the team. Ryan quickly stops her and says that it isn’t her fault and that she can’t give up on Harbor so that Johnny has someone to hang out with, rightfully so. Marissa argues that she never asked Ryan to do this for her and Ryan is now confused, asking if they shouldn’t have. Marissa can’t answer and apologizes to Ryan. He tells her how they are meeting at the Cohen’s before the meeting and leaves.
Matt finds out information on Jim Mercer but tells Sandy it isn’t relevant to what Sandy is dealing with now. Sandy wants to know anyway and Matt says that the judge has a son with a drug problem. Sandy then pieces together why things went wrong with Jim in the past as Sandy defended a kid like Jim’s son. Matt encourages Sandy to use the information in Marissa’s case to which Sandy says it would be morally wrong to exploit him in that manner. Sandy thanks Matt and worries about making a wrong move that would upset Ryan, Marissa, Seth, and Summer.
Summer and Seth are working a table and trying to hand out fliers in hopes of more signatures for the petition, which they aren’t very successful. Seth and Summer agree that they need Taylor’s help. Summer leaves Seth at the table to find Taylor and encourages him to do whatever it takes to get people to sign.
Seth and Summer working to get more signatures for the petition to bring Marissa back to Harbor.
Ryan visits Johnny and apologizes about his surfing league. Ryan says Marissa doesn’t know he is there but she is the reason he came. Ryan tells him how she decided to stay at Newport Union. Johnny starts to pick on private school kids to which Ryan interrupts and says he doesn’t need a lecture. Ryan says how she is staying for Johnny. He tells Ryan he didn’t ask her to stay and Ryan says he didn’t even have to. Johnny then argues that no matter what, it’s her choice to which Ryan counters saying she should be free to do so, slamming the door and leaving.
Kirsten visits Sandy at his office, bringing him lunch. Sandy tells Kirsten about the judge, telling him about his son and how using the information crossed his mind. Kirsten asks what Sandy would do if he was still a public defender and Marissa was his client.
Seth finds Taylor at her locker who doesn’t want to talk about Marissa Cooper. He makes a joke, of course, trying to steer the conversation to Marissa and Taylor sees right though it. Seth then makes an argument about how he is Taylor’s friend and so is Summer and Ryan. Taylor tells him her mom is a sport agent and that she is stubborn and bitter. Taylor then back pedals, listing excuses and apologizes to Seth. He tells her not to grow up to be like her own mom as she is, “too good for that” and hands her the petition.
Neil pays Julie a visit at her trailer. Neil offers Julie a ride to Marissa’s hearing to which Julie says she won’t go and Marissa is better off without her. Neil says that Marissa needs her, convincing her to go.
At the Cohen’s, Seth finds Summer and tells her about Taylor’s letdown. Ryan walks in and says there is no sign of Marissa. Ryan and Seth are feeling defeated while Summer is still holding out hope. Chili runs into Marissa in a hurry to get to Johnny and Marissa asks how Johnny got back onto the surfing league. Chili tells Marissa how the doctor knew the coach and cleared him so Johnny leaves next month and Chili is going with him. Chili says it all worked out and Marissa agrees, leaving Chili to go to Harbor. Marissa leaves as Johnny comes into the picture and nods to Chili, thanking him in a way for getting Marissa to leave.
Ryan, Seth, and Summer wait at the house, wondering if Marissa will show up for the hearing.
Back at the Cohen’s, Seth, Summer, and Ryan are still sitting and waiting for Marissa to show. Seth says how she won’t show up and that they will tell Sandy. Marissa says how Sandy is waiting for all of them and asks if they are all ready to go.
At the hearing, Julie and Neil arrive followed by Marissa, Ryan, Sandy, Kirsten, Summer, and Seth. Marissa thanks Ryan and Sandy for doing this for her. Kirsten wishes Sandy luck when Judge Mercer walks in giving him the cold shoulder and trying to scare Sandy. Kirsten ensures he has got this and Mercer. Matt arrives with some urgent information that he insists Sandy hears. Matt looked even further into Jim Mercer’s history and reveals what he found to Sandy. Taylor is still trying to convince her mom but her mom counters her, asking if she is on her side or her “so called friends’” side. Seth and Summer call Taylor, hoping she will go to the meeting. Taylor tells them she can’t make it to which Seth understands due to her mom. Veronica approaches Neil and Julie and ignores Julie’s handshake, saying that Marissa is a “chip off the old block.” Neil agrees stating how Marissa got Julie’s brains, beauty, and flare for fashion, to which Veronica leaves to take her seat.
Ryan and Marissa wait anxiously for the hearing to begin.
The hearing begins and Jim Mercer thanks everyone for joining them. Veronica is speaking on behalf of the parents association and opens up the hearing, stating how Marissa shot someone and this is a huge concern to the parents association as it is not what anyone wants. Taylor steps into the hearing and interrupts her mother saying that it is what everyone wants. Veronica tells her daughter to sit because students can’t address the board. Summer chimes in to defend Taylor and encourages her to show the board what she has. In her “Free Marissa” t-shirt, Taylor reveals the petition stating it has over 300 signatures supporting Marissa’s return to Harbor. Taylor gives the petition to the board when the chairmen says that students cannot make these decisions. Julie stands up and explains how Marissa has grown and matured since the matter. Veronica stops Julie saying that she thinks that way because she is her mother. Neil defends Julie discussing how Marissa has lived with him and Summer for a while and that Marissa would make any father proud and that the school would be lucky to have her. Mercer thanks Neil and says that the petition is meaningful but that he cannot allow the board to break precedent. Mercer goes on to discuss how the school has never allowed an expelled student back, Dr. Kim gives the okay to Ryan, bringing up the case similar to Marissa’s from 10 years ago. Veronica says that the students need to be respectful and shut up. Jim Mercer says that Ryan is right but that they don’t have to allow Marissa back. Sandy steps in and says that they might want to. Mercer encourages Sandy to enlighten him to which Sandy pleads that kids go through rough times. Sandy argues that closing doors on Marissa or him (Mercer’s son) teaches them a lesson but when the child needs help, we aren’t there for them. Sandy goes on saying how no one in the room thinks Marissa is a threat and encourages the board to think about what they are even doing there.
Sandy states, “Instead of proving a point, let’s right a wrong. It’s so rare in life, but it ain’t when one gets a second chance.”
Johnny is lingering outside of the hearing, listening to the meeting when Mercer reveals the verdict. The verdict is that with only one deferring vote, Marissa is reinstated back at Harbor.
Marissa hugs Ryan and Summer when Veronica storms out, glaring at Taylor. Taylor asks for Seth and Summer to give her a ride home to which Summer responds that Taylor is sleeping over and hugs her. As everyone is clearing out, Sandy approaches Mercer and he thanks Sandy for keeping the information to himself. Sandy tells Jim that he knows his son is in L.A., tracked by a private detective. Sandy tells him which shelter he is at and that his son would like to see Jim. Mercer thanks Sandy and they part ways. Marissa hugs her mom thanking her for coming. Julie tells her she feels like she let Marissa down to which she counters it isn’t true. Julie tells Marissa the truth about their living situation and Marissa tells her to let her know when she can come home. Summer thanks Neil for standing up for Marissa. Neil tells Summer that her stepmom will not be coming back and Summer apologizes and says he didn’t have to be afraid to tell her. Summer then tells Wil they are going to the diner and grabs Marissa. Julie and Neil watch their daughters leave in awe of how they raised them.
Seth and Summer thank Taylor for her help in the hearing.
The Core Four pose for their senior yearbook picture together.
Marissa and Summer join Ryan, Seth, and Taylor as they are leaving to go to the diner. Ryan stops Marissa to talk and asks her what changed her mind. Marissa tells Ryan about Johnny and Chili leaving and how it would have been “stupid” to stay at Newport Union. Ryan is glad it wasn’t because of him and says he will meet her at the diner. Ryan finds Johnny at the beach and says he is happy Johnny is back on the team. Johnny says he got lucky and Ryan thanks him. Johnny tells Ryan that Marissa deserves to be happy. Ryan leaves saying they will see Johnny around.
At Harbor, Marissa, Ryan, Summer, and Seth pose for the yearbook picture, happily altogether
Cast[]
Starring[]
Guest Starring[] |
Co-Starring[]
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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
Quotes[]
Trivia[]
Gallery[]
