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"The Showdown" is the twenty-second episode in the second season of the Fox drama series The O.C.. The episode aired on the fifth of May in 2005.

Synopsis[]

Seth and Zach declare war when they compete against each other for Summer's affections. Meanwhile, Marissa is still reeling from being nearly raped by Trey, and refuses to confide in Ryan, who wonders if something happened between them. Sandy confronts Kirsten when her drinking problem becomes very apparent. Also, Caleb hands divorce papers to Julie.

Plot[]

Kirsten pours some vodka in her juice for the morning and hides the bottle before Sandy walks into the kitchen. Sandy suggests they go on a trip to Palm Springs but Kirsten isn't so sure. Ryan and Seth walk in and Seth expresses his concerns about confront Summer after his choices he made over spring break in Miami. Sandy suggests that Seth shouldn't be hiding things because that makes everything worse and Seth and Ryan head off to school. Kirsten seems to agree to go to Palm Springs telling Sandy that they need to go and leaves her glass in the sink. Sandy is concerned, grabs her drink, and smells it.

Sandy - The Showdown

Sandy figures out Kirsten is drinking alcohol very early in the morning.


Marissa is getting ready for the day but is having a hard time given that she has a huge bruise and scratches near her collarbone after Trey tried to rape her. The phone rings and its Trey trying to explain but she hangs up on him. Jess leaves his place upset that Trey doesn't want to sleep with her.

Marissa - The Showdown

Marissa's bruise and scratches in the aftermath of Trey's attempt to rape her.


At Harbor, Seth starts to explain himself about Miami and Summer stops him saying she knows what he did. Seth tries to talk to her but Summer dismisses him, saying she isn't mad. Summer says that she thought things would be different with them but she feels like he hasn't changed at all. Summer tells Seth that she kissed Zach and they seem to break up at this point, as things are confusing between them. Julie makes Caleb breakfast. Caleb denies it and Julie says she is trying to make an effort between them. Caleb says he acknowledges it but that she is wasting her time.

Seth and Summer - The Showdown

Seth tries explaining himself to Summer but she isn't interested in patching things up.


Marissa is putting books in her locker and freaks out when Ryan comes up behind her and grabs her shoulder. Ryan asks her if she is okay and Marissa says she isn't used to them kissing in the halls yet, leaving him confused. Marissa asks Ryan how Miami was and he asks her how Newport was. Marissa gives him a vague answer and he asks if they are still on for their date. Marissa keeps her distance from Ryan as he tries to keep her close and she says they don't need to do anything special. Ryan is concerned and Marissa hesitates but kisses him on the cheek and leaves. An assistant brings a gift in for Kirsten that was from Carter. She opens it to find a necklace that he purchased on their trip to the winery in The O.C. Confidential.

Ryan and Marissa - The Showdown 2

Ryan is concerned over Marissa's lack of interest in their date and her uneasiness toward him.


Zach finds Summer in the halls and asks if he talked to Seth. Zach asks what it means for them and if it was a revenge moment. Summer said it was but that it could also mean more. Seth sees them and interrupts calling Zach a traitor and someone who used to be his friend. Zach tells them both that he is quitting the comic book because it has caused too many problems between him and Summer. Seth says that their launch party is coming up and Summer argues that the comic means too much to him. Zach responds saying that Summer means more to him and she storms out. Seth tells Zach he sees what he is doing and tells him it won't work. Zach and Seth agree they are at war over Summer, once again.

Marissa is leaving school and walking to her car but stops when she sees Trey looking around for her. Marissa hides behind a tree and Summer approaches asking what she is doing. Marissa says she was waiting for her and asks her for a ride but to pick her up around the opposite side of the school. The next day, Sandy is up early before Kirsten and she is surprised to see him in the kitchen. He tells her that he took up drinking her tomato juice and that they have a reservation in Palm Springs. Kirsten says she can no longer take time off work and says they can try again in a couple of weeks. As Kirsten is about to leave, Sandy asks her for a kiss and spots her necklace. Kirsten says that she picked it up at the gift shop during the winery visit.

Marissa - The Showdown 2

Marissa spots Trey at school, looking for her, and Summer catches her hiding.


Zach arrives at the meeting with Reed and Seth. Reed wants to talk about their launch party and Zach tells her he is quitting the comic. Reed refuses saying that he signed a contract and that if he were to quit, he would be facing a lawsuit for many years. Seth celebrates and then Zach accuses Seth of conspiring with Reed to keep Zach from quitting. Julie visits Caleb saying that they need to speak to a counselor. Caleb refuses and says it is her worst idea yet. Julie asks why he isn't trying to make things work and Caleb offers a date instead. Julie says they can make it work and leaves. Caleb starts looking at the photographs that were taken of her and Lance in The O.C. Confidential.

Kirsten arrives at home looking for Sandy but no one is home. Kirsten goes to the kitchen and grabs the phone and starts dialing a number. She starts to leave a message for Carter and thanks him for the necklace. She hangs up and grabs vodka from the fridge. At Harbor, Ryan spots Marissa waving at him and waiting for coffee. Ryan starts to walk over to her but Jess stops him and starts flirting with Ryan. Marissa sees them and Ryan tries to get over to her as Jess tries reaching into Ryan's pocket for a pen. Marissa storms out and Jess thanks Ryan. Marissa is going to her car when she runs into Trey. He tries to explain himself but Marissa doesn't want to hear what he has to say. She walks away from him but Trey grabs her. She yells at him to let go of her and then Ryan runs into them.

Trey hurts Marissa - The Showdown

Trey grabs Marissa as he tries to explain himself and she yells at him to let go of her.


Trey greets Ryan and says he was thanking Marissa for getting him his job. Ryan spots the gash on his head and asks what happened. Trey lies and then Ryan asks if they all want to get food. Marissa says she needs to get home and Trey says he needs to get back to work. Marissa starts walking over to her car and Ryan goes after her, asking if she is okay. Ryan then asks her if she wants to go to Seth's comic launch and then get dinner after. Marissa agrees and says she will try and be in a better mood before then. She kisses Ryan on the cheek goodbye and he watches her drive away.

Ryan and Marissa - The Showdown 3

Ryan asks Marissa out for dinner and she says she will be in a better mood then.


At the Cohen's, Kirsten was watching a movie but is now passed out just as Sandy gets home with flowers for her. Sandy's voice isn't loud enough to wake her and he notices the empty glass on the floor. He picks Kirsten up and carries her to bed. The next day, Sandy brings Kirsten breakfast and says how she was passed out when he got home. Kirsten says she has had a long week but Sandy says he is concerned as to how much she is drinking. Kirsten says she is fine and just had a couple of drinks. Sandy asks if he should be concerned but she says she is fine. Sandy then asks if it is because Carter left and that he figured she is taking on more of his work. Kirsten asks Sandy to trust her.

Seth and Ryan are playing video games and Ryan tells him how Marissa has been acting weird and nervous ever since he got back home. Seth suggests he asks Trey since he was around and tells him he is working on taking down Zach. Ryan figures out that Seth is using the comic book club to spy on Summer and Zach. One of the kids in the comic book club is watching Summer and Zach at the diner and Seth says that it is because Zach is trying to destroy the club. Seth rushes over to the diner entrance just as Summer and Zach are leaving. Seth tells Zach they need to get to the launch party early and Summer says that Zach quit. Seth then reveals that he didn't and that Zach hadn't yet told her. Seth heads inside giggling and watches Summer hit Zach upside the head, continuing to laugh.

Seth, Summer, and Zach - The Showdown

Seth ambushes Zach and Summer who hadn't yet told her that he is still involved in the comic.


At The Bait Shop, Ryan takes Seth's advice and asks Trey about Marissa. Trey doesn't really answer Ryan and says that he has a lot of work to do. Ryan leaves just as Jess shows up and continues to hit on Ryan. Jess says that she couldn't possibly be involved with Trey since he is obsessed with someone else. Ryan denies Jess again and she says she isn't the only one who is into brothers. Marissa goes to Summer saying she needs help with deciding on an outfit for her date with Ryan. Summer is removing things from her room that remind her of either Seth or Zach. Summer notices Marissa's bruise on her collarbone and questions what happened. Marissa LIES saying she slipped which leaves Summer confused. Marissa changes the subject asking who Reed is. Summer updates her and then quickly pieces together that she is the driving force between Zach and Seth. Summer is determined to go kick ass.

Summer and Marissa - The Showdown

Summer spots the bruise on Marissa and questions what happened to her.


Julie visits Kirsten, asking to talk with her about Caleb. Kirsten asks if she wants a drink but Julie says it's early. Julie tells her how she really wants her marriage to work with Caleb and she takes a sip of the drink Kirsten poured for her and is concerned as to how much alcohol she put in it. Julie asks where Sandy is and thinks something went wrong with them. Kirsten assures her they are fine but it seems like they have been fighting forever. Kirsten says how Ryan and Seth left in The Ties That Bind, her and Sandy stopped talking when that happened, Rebecca Bloom worsened things between her and Sandy, and then Carter. Kirsten says how there's a wall between them and Carter made her feel less alone.

Summer walks into the comic store and confronts Reed. Reed says that she is trying to run a business but Summer argues they are dividing them so she has all the power. Reed begins to say that Summer is truly the one that people will be coming to see and that she has a chance to get a head start on a career in this kind of spotlight. Summer says she likes what Reed is saying even though she knows she is being manipulated. Reed shows her some outfits Summer can wear for the launch party. Marissa goes to see Ryan and starts kissing him. Ryan stops her and asks if she has been okay because he has noticed she's been a little off recently. Marissa keeps kissing him and then they start making out on his bed. Marissa starts freaking out, remembering the moments that Trey forced her in The Return of the Nana. Marissa tries to forget it and Ryan grows more concerned. They keep kissing but Marissa cannot get the memories out of her head. She pictures Trey instead of Ryan and can't handle it. She freaks out and pushes Ryan off of her and tells him that she can't do it, near the verge of tears, and leaves Ryan more confused then ever.

Ryan and Marissa - The Showdown 4

Marissa tries to get her assault off her mind by kissing Ryan but has trouble doing so.

Sandy gets home to find Kirsten drinking on the couch again and asks to talk with her. Sandy asks her if something happened with Carter and Kirsten gets defensive talking about Rebecca. Sandy asks her if she had an affair and Kirsten storms out of the house. Seth is going through the comic that very closley resembles his life and meeting Ryan, including events of the first night they connected in Premiere. Reed stops him as he was going on for too long and Zach and Seth continue to bicker. Reed then brings out Summer in her Little Miss Vixen outfit which everyone applauds.

Summer as Miss Vixen

Summer showcases her outfit for her character in Atomic County, Little Miss Vixen.

Julie arrives at the restaurant still waiting for Caleb until a lady approaches her with divorce papers. Julie heads straight to Caleb's office questioning and threatening him until he shows her pictures of her and Lance. Caleb says that she needs to explain herself and Julie figures out that he has had her followed since before they were even married. Caleb knows about the interest she had with Luke, her affair with her ex-husband, Jimmy, and now Lance. Caleb says that despite all that she has done, he wanted to give their marriage a chance but he is done. Caleb gives her a week to find someplace else to live and wants her and Marissa gone. Julie takes the divorce papers in tears and Caleb fires her from the Newport Group.

Summer is taking pictures with fans until Seth grabs her, asking to talk with her. Seth wholeheartedly apologizes to her about what he did in Miami. Seth begs her for another shot saying that he loves her just as Zach walks in on them. Zach and Seth start pushing each other around and Summer tells them to stop. Reed walks in and accidentally pushes Zach into Seth who then starts fighting him, making a mess in the store. Summer tries to stop them until she gets head-butted. Zach then hits Seth over the head and Seth jumps on him. They both continue to wreck the store until Summer yells at the both of them. Seth and Zach ask her to choose and she chooses neither of them.

Seth and Summer - The Showdown 2

Seth apologizes to Summer and says that he loves her, begging for another chance.

Ryan leaves Marissa another message, asking her to explain what is wrong. Sandy walks in asking If he is fine and Ryan says he doesn't understand what is going on with him and Marissa. Sandy tells him he is looking for Kirsten and Ryan says he needs to go talk with Marissa. They both wish each other luck and head out. Marissa is crying in her room when Trey walks in and scares her. Trey broke in wanting to talk to her and apologizes. Marissa doesn't want to hear what he has to say, telling him that she is hurting Ryan and Trey threatens her. Marissa says she doesn't deserve Ryan and Trey makes her promise not to tell Ryan what happened. Marissa yells at him to leave before she calls the police. Trey leaves and Marissa starts locking her doors. Ryan gets to Marissa's and sees Trey leaving, getting suspicious and thinking the worst of it.

Ryan - The Showdown

Ryan catches Trey leaving Marissa's and assumes the worst.

Sandy is continuing to drive around looking for Kirsten who is at some bar getting wasted. Kirsten is staring at her wedding ring and playing with the necklace Carter got for her. She decides to take off the necklace, leave it and a tip and heads home. Kirsten calls Sandy from her car in tears, telling him she is sorry and Sandy takes the blame for it. Sandy asks where she is so she can pick her up and Kirsten tells him she is driving home. Kirsten says she thought she was loosing him and Sandy responds saying it is never going to happen. Kirsten and Sandy exchange, "I love you's" and Sandy asks her to pull over so he can take her home. Kirsten drops her phone and goes to reach for it. She runs a red light and nearly crashes into another car. As she is taking a breath of relief, a semi runs into Kirsten, tipping her car over and rolling through the road.

Kirsten - The Showdown

Kirsten gets into a car accident while on the phone with Sandy.

Cast[]

Starring[]

Guest Starring[]

Co-Starring[]

Music[]

Quotes[]

  • Summer: You know, I really thought things were going to be different this time but you haven't changed at all. You found new and even more public ways of disappointing me... Zach and I kissed.
  • Seth: What??
  • Summer: Yeah. We were having dinner and you came on T.V. in that stupid...
  • Seth: Okay you know what, fine. That's okay. You saw me and you guys kissed. What else happened?
  • Summer: Nothing...much.
  • Seth: So what does this mean?
  • Summer: I don't know but it shouldn't be this hard.
  • Sandy: Hey! Where are you?
  • Kirsten: I'm sorry.
  • Sandy: Oh, honey. It was my fault. You were trying to tell me something and I wasn't listening. Just tell me where you are and I will come and pick you up.
  • Kirsten: I'm coming home. I thought I was loosing you.
  • Sandy: Ohhh, that's never going to happen.
  • Kirsten: I love you.
  • Sandy: I love you too. Now pull over and I will come and get you.

Gallery[]

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