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"The Secret" is the twelfth episode in the first season of the Fox drama series The O.C.. The episode aired on the twenty-sixth of November, in 2003.

Synopsis[]

Ryan learns more about Luke when they're paired for a school history project and seem to hit it off as friends, but things take a sudden turn when Ryan and Luke stumble upon a secret. The news of Luke's father is the talk of the whole school and the town resulting in negative reactions to Luke from his friends, in which he blames Ryan who denies telling anyone. Meanwhile, Kristen continues to avoid Jimmy over their disastrous Thanksgiving dinner encounter along with Anna and Summer who are furious with Seth. Sandy has some advice for Jimmy over his legal problems which doesn't set well with Julie.

Plot[]

This episode opens with Seth dancing along to the song, We Used to Be Friends by The Dandy Warhols. Seth walks into the kitchen pretending to be sick so that he doesn't have to go to school and face Summer and Anna. Ryan can tell what he is up to as Seth continues to pretend to cough and act sick. Sandy feels his head and says he doesn't feel warm. Ryan then says that Seth must have the Summer flu and that he might need some Anna-biotics. Sandy asks Seth if he wants to go to school. Seth pleads with Sandy to stay home when Ryan butts in and says he could face Anna and Summer and apologize. Now, Sandy begins to catch on to what Ryan was hinting at and applauds Ryan. Seth says he didn't want to hurt either of their feelings but Sandy says he has already done that. Seth then considers himself the victim when Kirsten walks in. Sandy asks if her robe is what she is wearing to yogalates. They all still think that Kirsten is hung over from Thanksgiving and she says that she isn't but that Julie is probably going to spread a rumor around that Kirsten has a drinking problem. Sandy continues to say yogalates. Ryan gets Seth to go to school and face Anna and Summer while Sandy gets Kirsten to go to yogalates and face Julie. Kirsten then asks Seth why Sandy and Ryan are acting so smug and Seth says that for once, they didn't do anything wrong. Sandy agrees and they cheers their coffees.

Ryan Atwood - The Secret

Ryan calls out Seth on his two timing event very subtly with Summer and Anna in the form of hints.


At school, Ryan and Marissa are in class listening to the professor talk about a presentation that accounts for a majority of their grade. Marissa passes Ryan a note and Luke sees them. Marissa and Ryan already plan on doing it together but the professor randomly assigns all of them partners. Ryan and Luke get paired together and they look at each other disgusted. Seth, Ryan, and Marissa all discuss it over lunch and Marissa calls out Seth for hurting Summer and Anna. Ryan tells them he is meeting Luke at his place after school. Marissa says it won't be bad and that Ryan and Luke might end up being friends. Then she says it will be too weird since it's her ex-boyfriend and her boyfriend hanging out. She doesn't even know what they would talk about when Seth says he can only think of one thing, Marissa.

Sandy is talking with Jimmy about the current status of his case. Jimmy would have to indulge in full restitution which means selling the house. Sandy encourages Jimmy to do so in order to avoid jail time but Jimmy refuses due to their family and Julie. Marissa and Summer are talking at school and she is mad that Marissa ate lunch with Seth. Marissa says she had lunch with Ryan and Seth was just there. Summer asks her what Seth was saying but Marissa refuses to get involved when Anna walks in. Anna and Summer face each other and argue over who gets to have Seth. Anna then says she couldn't be interested in anyone that treats women the way Seth did. Summer and Anna start to get along. Seth runs into both of them at the same time and they both stand their ground together against Seth. Summer and Anna talk about hanging out much to Seth's dismay.

Anna and Summer - The Secret

Summer and Anna tell Seth they have plans to hang out later which freaks him out.

Kirsten finally shows up to yogalates and the Newpsies are all surprised she made it, giving the hint that Julie already spilled the tea to them about Thanksgiving. Kirsten confronts Julie about telling everyone and Julie says it isn't a big deal since they are all friends. Kirsten then says that if Julie is her friend, to start acting like it. Ryan arrives at Luke's and is greeted by his mom, Meredith Ward. Ryan walks into his house to find two younger brothers fighting and Luke's dad, Carson Ward. Ryan meets Luke's dad and gets to know the rest of the family a little bit better before Luke comes downstairs. Luke and Ryan are working on the project and try to figure out how to work together. Luke suggests making a powerpoint and using his dad's film screener from his office to put it together. Ryan agrees with the idea.

Jimmy calls Julie and tells her about the restitution deal. Julie refuses since she would loose the house and Jimmy tells her he could go to jail if they don't. Julie then says that he probably should go and that he deserves to go to jail. Ryan and Luke enter one of Luke's dad's dealerships but there is no sight of him. Ryan and Luke check out some of the cars when Luke shows him one of his favorites. Ryan then sees Luke's dad and his business partner, Gus, walking back into the dealership. Luke and Ryan go over to say hi when Luke sees them grab each other's hands. Ryan and Luke then witness Luke's dad and his business partner kiss. Luke tries to leave but runs into a car that sets off the alarm. Ryan helps Luke up and warns Ryan not to tell anyone and he immediately says he won't. Luke and Ryan get to their feet and run out of the dealership while Carson yells after Luke.

Ryan & Luke - The Secret

Ryan and Luke witness Luke's father, Carson, kiss his male business partner.

The next morning, Marissa apologizes to Ryan in the pool house about being late. Marissa asks Ryan how his night went with Luke. She then asks about Luke's mom and then assumes that Luke's dad was out of town. Ryan says he was there and Marissa says he is never there since he has other dealerships and is always traveling. Ryan is a little standoff-ish and quiet and Marissa assumes it's because Luke and Ryan talked about her. Ryan says they didn't and she is about to leave when Ryan stops her. Ryan then tells Marissa how something happened but he promised Luke not to say anything. Marissa tells Ryan that he can trust her and decides to tell her. Ryan and Marissa walk into the kitchen while Seth is waiting for them. Seth starts to ask Ryan about his time with Luke but Ryan doesn't tell him much, no matter how hard he tries.

At Harbor, Seth is telling Marissa and Ryan about his encounter with Summer and Anna the other day and how weird he feels about them hanging out. Ryan tries to talk to Luke about their presentation but he yells at him and says he will finish it himself. Before they head off to class, Marissa tells Ryan she promises. Seth walks into the library and finds Anna. Anna ignores him and then finally tells him not to talk to her. She switches tables and Summer walks into the library and joins Anna. They begin talking about the exam they are about to take and continue to get along very well. After another yogalates class, Kirsten asks Julie if she is okay since she knows about their house. Julie says how she isn't going to sell and Kirsten offers to help her and Kaitlin find somewhere to live. Julie says that wouldn't work since Caleb said to her that it would compromise their relationship. Kirsten is shocked Caleb said that and Julie then says that they ended their relationship because of that. Kirsten apologizes but Julie is surprised she isn't celebrating. Julie then encourages her to tell everyone about her current struggles in life and Kirsten tells Julie to let her know if she needs anything. One of the ladies in the locker room starts gossiping about Carson Ward.

Jimmy and Sandy are having lunch and talking about how Jimmy needs to sell the house and that Julie will change her mind. If not, the SEC could very much start investigating her if they don't do something about it. Sandy pays for lunch and Jimmy thanks him for being so good to him, with everything that has happened. Jimmy then says how big of a mistake he made and Sandy is confused. Jimmy then asks if Kirsten told him that they kissed in The Escape. Sandy listens to the story and gets pissed when Jimmy admits he kissed Kirsten. Sandy gets a call from Kirsten and the gossip spreads. Summer tells Marissa about the gossip she heard and Seth goes to Ryan about the gossip as well. Ryan confronts Luke and says sorry, thinking that Marissa told someone, Luke grabs him and threatens Ryan. Marissa goes to Ryan saying that everyone knows and Ryan asks her who she told. Marissa is shocked that Ryan assumed she told someone. Ryan says he is the only one who knew and Marissa was the only one he told. Marissa tells Ryan that she didn't tell anyone and he says he never should have told her. Marissa says probably not since Ryan doesn't trust her and Ryan doesn't say anything. Marissa tells him to find his own ride home and leaves.

Sandy get home and finds Kirsten in the backyard. Sandy confronts Kirsten about Jimmy kissing her. Kirsten tells Sandy that it meant nothing and Sandy asks why she didn't tell him then if it didn't mean anything. Kirsten says she knew it would upset Sandy and he tells her, sarcastically, that he feels so much better. Kirsten apologizes and Sandy says how she was so suspicious of Rachel and him while Kirsten kept that from him. Kirsten tells Sandy again that it doesn't mean anything and Sandy says how it means something to him and walks away. The Cohens attempt to have a silent dinner until Seth starts talking about Luke in a joking manner. Sandy then tells Seth it isn't funny since it is the end of Luke's parents' marriage. Ryan says how happy his parents were and Seth makes yet another joke. Ryan then asks how you could be married to someone for as long as they were and keep that kind of secret. Sandy says you would be surprised and looks at Kirsten. Kirsten then says how some marriages can handle the truth while others can't. Seth and Ryan notice the tension.

At the gym, more of the Newpsies are still gossiping about Carson's sexuality while Julie and Kirsten listen. Kirsten and Julie decide to leave and go get lunch. In class, Marissa and Ryan nearly run into each other but don't say a word. The professor begins lecturing and Luke is noticeably absent. In the library, Anna and Summer are still hanging out together and Seth approaches them with a prepared apology for them both. Seth apologizes and goes on to say how he wasn't prepared for that and that he feels bad for hurting their feelings, it wasn't intentional. It was a very heartfelt apology on Seth's part and Summer and Anna leave each other to face him. Kirsten and Julie are talking about Caleb's words he said. Julie asks Kirsten if she likes the nickname Caleb gave her, "Kiki", and how he called Julie, "Juju", which they both say they hate. Kirsten and Julie start to bound over the experiences with Caleb. Kirsten notes how Caleb is trying to replace her mom which she knows he can't do. Kirsten says she hopes that her dad will just figure out who he wants to spend his life with.

Anna and Summer - The Secret 2

Summer and Anna listen to Seth's heartfelt apology for both of them.

Back at Harbor, Summer approaches Seth at his locker. She says how nice his apology was and then asks Seth out. Seth then runs into Anna and she asks to walk to class with him. Anna says how much she appreciated his apology and then asks Seth out. Seth tells her that he is going out with Summer. Anna then changes the day of the date and Seth accepts. Ryan goes to Luke's and Marissa answers the door. Ryan asks Luke if he is okay and comes inside. There are packed bags at the front door, Luke's brothers watching T.V., and Luke's mom crying in the kitchen. Luke apologizes to Ryan for accusing him since it was his dad who came out to his mom and she ended up spreading it. Ryan says it's okay and that he just wanted to check on him. Luke's dad joins them and tries to talk to Luke but he runs out.

At the baseball field, Luke is telling Ryan and Marissa how his entire life was a lie. Marissa starts to tell Luke about how after all her own father's lies, they are closer than ever and are able to really talk to each other. Marissa says he might be able to have that with his dad and Luke dismisses this. Marissa runs to get a jacket while Ryan and Luke talk. Ryan says that even though his dad wasn't honest, he still cared. Ryan says it does matter that he at least tried since Ryan's dad didn't. Luke says how screwed up everything is now when some guys from a soccer team start to pick on Luke. They call him a slur and Luke starts fighting them. Ryan gets dragged into it and they both punch him when more guys approach them.

Ryan and Luke - The Secret

Ryan and Luke talk about their dads and how it does matter if they show that they care.

Julie comes to the Cohens to say thank you to Kirsten. Julie got a call from Caleb and decided to call him back. She then tells Kirsten how she basically relayed their conversation at lunch earlier, nearly word for word of what Kirsten said, to Caleb. Julie tells Kirsten it worked since Caleb decided to buy her house as an investment. Now, Jimmy wont have to go to jail and her and Kaitlin have a place to live. Julie then scares Kirsten with the thought that her neighbor could potentially be her dad one day. Sandy is watching a movie while Seth is doing homework. Kirsten walks in and Sandy tells Seth to ask Kirsten who was at the door. Seth tells him it was Julie and then Sandy asks Seth to ask Kirsten what she wanted. Seth then tells Sandy to ask her and Kirsten storms over and tells Sandy what Julie did. Ryan, Luke, and Marissa walk in to the Cohens and Luke is beaten up pretty bad. Sandy asks Luke if he called his parents and Luke tells him he doesn't want to call them. Seth then says that Luke can stay in the guest room. Kirsten grabs the first aid kit and Sandy says they should call his dad.

Marissa and Ryan step out onto the front porch and Marissa offers them a ride to school the next day. Marissa then says that Ryan is allowed to tell his girlfriend these things because everything he shares with her, stays with her and vice versa. Ryan and Marissa kiss and make up when a car approaches. It's Carson and he is trying to speak to Luke but he doesn't want to talk and Carson knows this. Carson then tells Kirsten and Sandy that he loves his wife and their family and he didn't want to hurt anyone. Carson then feels responsible since Luke is now hurt. Sandy then tells Carson that if there is anything they could do and Carson says no and that he embarrassed his family enough. Carson says the best thing he could do would be to disappear but Sandy says it is the worst thing. Sandy says how brave it was for him to face the town with the truth and that any kid would be proud of the father Carson is. Luke walks in and decides to go home with his dad.

Kirsten tells Sandy how great it was of him to talk to Carson. Sandy then asks her if she is going to keep any secrets from him and she agrees to tell him if he does too. Kirsten then tells him how there is no way you can know everything about someone and says it's what keeps life interesting. She then says it's all about trust. Kirsten kisses Sandy and they make up. Marissa, Ryan, Luke, and Seth arrive at school together. They face the school and Luke says how weird it is going to be. Luke says how everyone will stare and talk about him and how he should just blow off school to get it out of everyone's systems. Ryan tells him it doesn't work like that since he is still the kid from Chino that burned a house down. Marissa then says she is still the girl who tried to kill herself in Mexico. Seth then says he is still Seth Cohen.

Marissa, Ryan, Luke, and Seth - The Secret

Marissa, Ryan, Luke, and Seth face the reality of their situations at Harbor.

Cast[]

Starring[]

Guest Starring[]

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Music[]

Trivia[]

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