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"The Escape" is the seventh episode in the first season of the Fox drama series The O.C.. The episode aired on the sixteenth of September, in 2003.

Synopsis[]

When Seth, Summer, Ryan, and Marissa head to Tijuana, the trip takes a turn for the worst when Marissa's chaotic life takes an emotional toll on her, leading to a dangerous decision. Sandy decides to take a job at a private law firm, much to Kirsten's dislike, but finds herself in a compromising position with Jimmy.

Plot[]

Seth is talking to Ryan about using the Comic Con convention as a cover story to go to Tijuana instead. He wants Ryan to go with him but Ryan doesn't want to lie to Sandy and Kirsten. Seth says how Tijuana is a big town and how he might not even see Marissa. Ryan claims to be over Marissa but Seth doesn't believe him, based on how we reacts about Luke and Marissa. Sandy walks in asking if they are excited for Comic Con. Sandy is dressed up for an interview with a private law firm that he won't take but likes to go to get a free meal. Sandy asks when they are leaving for their trip and Seth asks Ryan who says tomorrow.

Seth Cohen - The Escape

Seth tries to convince Ryan to go with him to Tijuana and use Comic Con as a cover story.


Marissa tells Summer how it wouldn't have worked out between her and Ryan. Summer then asks about her and Luke and Marissa is very hush hush about it. Summer assumes it was a let down but encourages her to do it a second time. Jimmy is struggling to find a place to live and is distracted while talking to Marissa. She notices this and asks if he is okay. Jimmy covers it up and goes to see Kirsten for help. Kirsten is going to try and find a place for Jimmy to stay. She tells him he needs to tell Marissa and Kaitlyn about the divorce, but Jimmy doesn't want to until Marissa gets back from her trip and Julie from her own. He doesn't want them seeing him move out.

Marissa and Luke are making out and he begins talking about how much fun Mexico will be. However Marissa doesn't want to go because she's worried about her dad. Luke is upset she is thinking about her dad and she continues to talk about him and leaves. Seth is spying on Summer at the Crab Shack, asking Ryan if she is looking at him which she isn't. Seth is upset because she is pretending like their kiss didn't happen. Luke and Marissa walk in when Ryan asks how she is since he hasn't seen her in a while. Marissa says the last time she saw him, he had his hands full. Marissa leaves their heated conversation and goes to sit with Summer, Luke, and Holly.

Marissa & Luke

Marissa and Luke argue over the trip to Tijuana.

Sandy meets an old colleague, Rachel Hoffman, and they swap banter. She tells him everyone's impressed how he took on Jimmy's case. Seth continues to eavesdrop on their conversations. Marissa explains to Summer that she can't go to Mexico which would leave Summer without a ride. Holly attempts to seduce Luke again but he tells her he is back together with Marissa when Holly says she would give it a week and that he will miss her. Ryan walks by and hears the entire thing which Luke knows now. Seth overhears Marissa's conversation with Summer and offers to take her instead. Sandy is checking to make sure the boys are all ready to go to Comic Con when they find Summer waiting for them outside. Seth tries to carry Summer's bags into the car but drops them and she tries not to laugh at him. Sandy says to Summer that he didn't know she was into comics which Seth covers. Summer goes to Marissa's to convince her to come still when she sees her dad. Marissa tells him how she thought she would stay home and her dad tells her he has other plans to get her to go to Mexico. Marissa leaves to pack and then goes with Summer realizing that their ride is Seth and Ryan.

Seth & Summer - The Escape

Seth offers Summer a ride to Tijuana.

Jimmy is painting the wall of his new place and explains to Kirsten that he's unable to tell Marissa about the divorce. Kirsten says that if she comes home and he never told her that he would be gone, she would never forgive him. Jimmy says he doesn't want to disappoint her but Kirsten encourages him to call her and tells him Marissa will love him no matter what.

In the car, Ryan and Marissa are ignoring each other and Seth and Summer are loudly arguing about the way Seth drives. She then complains about the AC and how much of a nightmare the ride is. Seth tells her not to insult Death Cab for Cutie when Summer angrily grabs the steering wheel and the two struggle as the car drives off the road. The four of them are forced to book a room at a sleazy motel until the car is fixed. Summer continues to complain and says she can't stay there.

Seth & Summer - The Escape 2

Summer starts to make fun of Seth's music taste and he tells her not to insult Death Cab for Cutie.

Sandy and Kirsten are talking about how Jimmy got kicked out when he gets home to find a brand new surfboard from Rachel. Sandy tells Kirsten he is considering the new job at a prestigious law firm since he would get a big pay rise and would attribute some more income for the family. She argues that he loves his current job as a public defender and hates people at those fancy law firms. Sandy says that she likes being the earner of the family because it makes her different from all the other ladies in the county. Kirsten disagrees.

Back with Marissa and Ryan, they are trying to figure out what to eat at a vending machine while Marissa gives Ryan the cold shoulder. Ryan asks if she is ever going to stop being mad at him and Marissa asks why she should be mad at him. Ryan says its because she walked in on him and Gabrielle. Marissa says she doesn't care about it when Ryan tells her he was only with someone else because she was clearly back together with Luke. Marissa says she wasn't back together with Luke but she is now. Marissa then asks him if he ever wondered why she came looking for Ryan and he tells her he wonders everyday. Ryan offers her a chance to finally tell him why and she changes the subject.

Ryan & Marissa - The Escape

Ryan and Marissa argue about that night she walked in on him with Gabrielle.

Summer and Seth argue about who gets the bed in the motel room and finally consent to sharing. Marissa and Ryan get back into their hotel room when Marissa gets a call from her dad. Jimmy struggles to tell Marissa, telling her it is hard for him to say. He then tells Marissa that when she gets back home, he won't be there because they are getting divorced. Marissa is upset her dad is telling her over the phone but Jimmy tells her he didn't want Marissa to watch him pack up and leave. Marissa starts crying while he apologizes for not telling her earlier. Ryan gets into bed and waits for Marissa. Marissa comes into the room and tries to hide herself so that Ryan doesn't see her cry, but he already knows. Ryan apologizes to her and she thanks him and lies down next to him with her back to Ryan. She continues to cry as they both try and drift off to sleep.

The next morning, Seth and Summer are gone. Ryan is still asleep but Marissa is awake as the two of them are spooning and holding hands, and Marissa smiles. Ryan wakes up, realizing what is happening and moves away. Ryan asks her if she wants to go home but she says that she wants to stay there. She looks at Ryan and gets up to shower. Seth and Summer are at breakfast together sharing the newspaper back and forth with each other including their toast. They even take a sip of their coffee together in sync. They both notice and things get awkward. Seth asks Summer if they should have woke Ryan and Marissa. Summer says no because they look so cute together. Seth thinks that Summer actually likes him and reminds her of their kiss. She makes excuses and denies it, before threatening him with a fork. Summer tells him how she suffers from "rage blackouts" as Seth quickly gets the check and leave. Ryan tells Summer and Seth he isn't sure they should go since Marissa just found out about her parent's divorce. Summer comforts Marissa and convinces her that Tijuana will help cheer her up. Seth and Ryan agree with Summer and head to Tijuana. All four of them are walking around Tijuana while Seth and Summer still continue to banter. Summer heads into the pharmacy to get a pain killer for her step mom. Marissa then tells Ryan he doesn't have to come because she is going to find Luke but Ryan says it's okay.

Ryan & Marissa - The Escape 2

Ryan and Marissa wake up, spooning and holding hands the next morning.

Sandy meets Rachel for lunch and she once again tries to convince him to take the job, stating that he wants to do more with his life. He says no and tries to change the subject but she says that the clock is ticking. Jimmy and Kirsten are fixing up the apartment and he tells her about his talk with Marissa. Jimmy asks her if she ever doubts about herself and Sandy together. Kirsten says that they have her issues but says no. Jimmy then asks if she ever wonders what life would've been like if they'd ended up together. He then moves in on her and kisses Kirsten but Kirsten pulls away and doesn't kiss him back. Jimmy immediately apologizes but she leaves.

At a club in Tijuana, Holly is trying to seduce Luke again, telling him that Marissa isn't even there. Seth, Summer, Ryan and Marissa arrive and begin drinking. Holly and Luke are dancing together and making out and Marissa catches them. Marissa approaches Luke and asks how he could do that to her. Luke tries to apologize and Marissa says why because he got caught. Marissa turns to Holly and tells her to never talk to her again. Summer calls her a bitch and Holly comments that Luke hooks up with everyone. Marissa asks Luke if it is true and Holly says that everyone knows it. Marissa storms out while Summer attacks Holly and Seth pulls her away. Luke tries to go after Marissa and Ryan stops him, saying he doesn't deserve Marissa and punches him. Luke starts to get in a fight with other people at the club when Seth, Summer, and Ryan run out and split up to find Marissa.

Summer finds Marissa crying back at the hotel room and comforts her. Marissa expresses how she slept with Luke and how embarrassed she is. Summer says that they should just go home but Marissa sobs saying that she can't go home because she has no one. Summer goes to grab her stuff and Marissa sees the bottle of painkillers Summer bought for her stepmom in her bag and grabs them. Summer calls the boys and tells them she found Marissa and to come over fast. Summer asks Marissa if she wants to get food but doesn't get a response. She leaves the bathroom to find Marissa gone and the door of their hotel room wide open. Summer runs into Seth and Ryan and tells her she's gone again and that she took her stepmom's pain killers. The three of them stick together this time to find Marissa.

Marissa Cooper - The Escape

Marissa continues to experience yet another heartbreak when she thinks she has no one left.


Sandy comes home to Kirsten who is having a glass of wine. She pours a glass for Sandy as he tries to talk to Kirsten about what would happen if he took the job but she recognizes that he already did. They cheers to a new season as summer blew by. Marissa is sitting at a strange bar and swallows a handful of painkillers, washing them down with alcohol. She struggles to stay awake as Seth, Summer, and Ryan continue to search the crowds for her in a panic. Marissa is sweating and fatigued when some men in the bar start watching her. One of them gets up and starts to approach her as she runs out of the bar into the crowd. Marissa is stumbling and struggling to move throughout the crowds and nearly throws up. Summer is yelling for her as Ryan and Seth continue to search for her. Barely conscious, sweaty, and dizzy, Marissa pushes through the crowds and manages to stumble into an alleyway where she collapses. Into Dust by Mazzy Star plays in the background when Ryan, Seth, and Summer finally find her. Ryan rushes to her side, trying to wake her up but is unsuccessful and Summer begins to cry in shock. Ryan picks her up and carries her out of the alley as he looks at Seth and Summer, completely devastated.

Marissa's Overdose

Ryan carries an unconscious Marissa who just overdosed on painkillers.

Cast[]

Starring[]

Guest Starring[]

Co-Starring[]

Music[]

Gallery[]

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