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"The Third Wheel" is the fifteenth episode in the first season of the Fox drama series The O.C.. The episode aired on the seventh of January, in 2004.

Synopsis[]

Kirsten's unemployed sister, Hailey, moves in with the Cohens and disrupts the entire family when she behaves like the houseguest from Hell. Desperate for some time alone with his wife, Sandy urges Kirsten to resolve the problem with her sister. Anna and Seth struggle to tell Summer about their relationship. Ryan doesn't know much about Oliver, Marissa's therapy friend, but he knows he doesn't like him. Yet, Ryan still assists Oliver when he runs into trouble with the law at a Rooney concert.

Plot[]

Hailey is listening to Saturday Morning by The Eels as the Cohens stumble into the kitchen one by one trying to find something to eat for breakfast. Hailey's ate the last of the bagels, drank most of the orange juice, and hoards the newspaper, all to the Cohens dislike. Sandy is pressed and Seth and Ryan back him up while Kirsten tries to defend Hailey's situation. Hailey calls for Kirsten to make her more coffee and the boys try to keep her from attending to her needs. Kirsten says she will talk to her. Ryan is packing his bag for school when Seth comes in asking to talk to him. Seth voices how Marissa is always around Ryan and he is in desperate need of Seth/Ryan time. Seth says that Ryan is whipped and he denies it and offers to talk to him then. Seth tries to explain his dilemma with Anna and Summer since he is now dating Anna and needs to tell Summer. Seth starts telling him how he doesn't want to hurt Summer's feelings when Marissa walks in. She says hi and gives Ryan a kiss and asks them what they are talking about. Seth tells her "guy stuff" and rushes them out. Seth pleads with Ryan to finish their chat later when Ryan says yes and that he just needs to check with Marissa.

Hailey Nichol - The Third Wheel

Hailey continues to disrupt the Cohen's lives as she eats their food and cramps their style.


At school, Marissa and Ryan are walking through the halls when she asks him if they have become one of those couples that can't be without each other and loose all their friends. Ryan and Marissa don't think so as they say it would be good for them to have a night apart. Marissa and Ryan nearly part ways when they decide to walk together. Anna and Seth are flirting and messing with each other in the library when Summer walks in. She sees them and joins them, asking Anna if she has any weekend plans. Seth chimes in saying they both don't have plans and not any together. Summer leaves and Anna says how bad she feels for lying to her. Seth tells Anna that he plans on talking to her, he just needs Ryan's advice.

Sandy and Jimmy are going through Jimmy's resume and not finding much luck in adding to it given his history. Hailey walks in and greets Jimmy. Both of their are very similar in that they both have no jobs at the moment. Kirsten and Sandy walk in with groceries and he asks her if she talked to Hailey. Kirsten is having trouble finding the time since she is enjoying spending time with Hailey again. Jimmy and Hailey spend some time catching up. Sandy says she is just going to stay with them until she's been with them enough, get money from her dad, and then leave again. Kirsten reveals that Hailey said she wouldn't do that this time. Kirsten is glad Jimmy and Sandy are friends again and he complains about never having any time alone together anymore. They start making out in the kitchen when Jimmy and Hailey interrupt. Jimmy leaves to pick up Marissa and Hailey tells Kirsten and Sandy they plan on hanging out soon. Kirsten and Sandy realize they will have some alone time the next night.

Sandy and Kirsten - The Third Wheel

Sandy and Kirsten struggle to find time alone with each other.


When school gets out, Ryan finds Luke in the parking lot whose truck tires were slashed. Ryan offers to help him change the tire when people make fun of Luke and his dad. Luke asks Ryan if he is now getting what he deserves since he has been so mean to others for all these years. Ryan says yes and then invites him over, saying the tire can wait. Luke is playing video games while Seth gets mad at Ryan for inviting Luke during their Seth/Ryan time. Ryan tells Seth how Luke was having a bad day and Seth says he has been having a bad week. Ryan tells Seth about Luke's tires when Luke calls for him. Seth talks himself into being nice to Luke. Marissa calls Ryan, saying that she is at Oliver's and invites Ryan over for food. Ryan brings Seth and Luke to Oliver's.

Seth Cohen - The Third Wheel

Seth talks himself into being nice to Luke.


At Oliver's, Seth, Luke, and Marissa admire his place. Ryan is visibly uncomfortable and weirded out by how much Seth, Marissa, and Luke like each other. Oliver makes an effort to demean everything Ryan is saying and suggests something better. Oliver offers all of them a chance to go to the Rooney concert. Everyone seems to be on board in going except for Ryan who eventually agrees to go. Everyone also seems to like Oliver besides Ryan.

Ryan Atwood - The Third Wheel

Ryan is not a fan of Oliver.

At breakfast the next day, Seth is trying to talk to Ryan about his options with Summer when Ryan suggests he just tells Summer the truth. Seth considers calling her, texting her, or a freaking carrier pigeon. Ryan calls him a coward and he retaliates saying he is sensitive of other people's feelings. Seth says he will tell her after the weekend and then keeps pushing the day. Seth says he can't do that night because they are going to see Rooney. Hailey walks in saying she saw them once and is confused how Seth, Ryan, and everyone else is going since it was sold out. Seth says that Oliver has connections and then Hailey questions him since this is the guy that wanted to kiss Ryan's girlfriend at New Years. Hailey then asks Ryan if Oliver supposedly has a girlfriend, why is he always hanging out with Marissa. Hailey continues messing with Ryan.Sandy and Kirsten bring home more groceries and talk about what they will do in their time alone. Kirsten worries about the boys going to the concert when Sandy tells her that she should try and talk with Hailey.

In the pool house, Marissa plays Ryan some Rooney songs to get him ready for the concert. Ryan asks Marissa if she has met Natalie and Marissa says no but hears good things about her. Marissa thinks Ryan is jealous and so she goes over to give him a kiss. Marissa tells Ryan how Oliver will be with Natalie at the concert and she reassures him that they will have fun together. Ryan asks if there will be any dancing and Marissa says she will dance and he can watch. Seth is playing Rooney songs for Sandy as well as he dances along. Sandy asks if Seth will be doing any drugs at the concert and Seth denies that. Seth says he has to stay sharp and focused since it is his first official date with Anna. Sandy assumes Seth already talked to Summer about it and he lies. Sandy sees right through it and tells him the sooner her does, the better for everyone. Sandy gives him some advice about being a man.

Ryan and Marissa - The Third Wheel 2

Marissa reassures Ryan that they will have fun together at the concert.

At the concert, Marissa, Ryan, Luke, Seth, and Anna wait for Oliver to show up. They go inside to check and find out Oliver isn't even on the list. Marissa goes outside to call him and Seth gets anxious about getting in before they miss the show. Summer shows up and Marissa can't get a hold of Oliver. They all walk to the car when Oliver appears by the backdoor of the concert. Oliver asks where they have been since he claims he told them the backdoor. Ryan immediately says he never said that, because he didn't as the band walks in. Marissa hugs Oliver and she asks him where Natalie is. Oliver claims that they had another fight so she is no longer coming.

Ryan, Marissa, and Oliver - The Third Wheel

Oliver tells Ryan and Marissa that his girlfriend, Natalie, won't be coming to the concert.

At the Cohens, Sandy and Kirsten are about to start their night together when Hailey walks in with a pizza. She sits down next to Jimmy on the couch who has gathered board games. Hailey says they were going to go out but decided to stay in and watch The Golden Girls show and play her favorite board games. Jimmy and Hailey ask them to join and Sandy gives Kirsten a look. Backstage at the concert, Oliver gives Luke an all-access pass and gives Luke a guitar and he starts playing and singing. Oliver gives Anna and Seth their all-access passes as they are talking about telling Summer about their relationship. Anna tells Seth there will never be a good time for them to tell Summer. Summer joins them and Anna leaves so that Seth can talk to her. Summer asks if they will hang out with her at the concert since she is all alone. Oliver goes outside to make a phone call, asking where someone is and asks them to make sure "it" gets there.

Seth, Summer, and Anna - The Third Wheel

Seth and Anna struggle to tell Summer about their relationship.

The concert starts and Oliver interrupts Marissa and Ryan and takes just Marissa to the front of the crowd. Anna asks Seth what Summer said when he told her as Summer gives them drinks. Anna takes Summer to the bathroom to tell her there. Kirsten, Hailey, and Jimmy are playing board games and talking about times they had growing up while Sandy sits in silence. Hailey starts making jabs at Kirsten's life and job when Sandy gets up to leave. Kirsten soon joins him but Hailey doesn't get the message. Sandy has had enough and lashes at Hailey for speaking the way she has been about Kirsten. He goes on to say how Hailey has been driving the whole family crazy. Sandy says how Hailey isn't nice to Kirsten who is the only reason why the boys are putting up with her. Hailey knocks over the games saying they won't have to deal with her for much longer.

In the bathroom, Summer starts singing the theme song to The Golden Girls and Anna joins in with her. They both realize they love the show a they talk about their favorite moments. Anna can't find it in her heart to tell Summer. As Jimmy is leaving, Hailey runs after him and she apologizes to him about her tantrum. Jimmy understands that it is complicated between Hailey and Kirsten because that's the way it has always been. They start to reminisce once again about the old days when Hailey kisses Jimmy. Hailey tells him that she always had a crush on him growing up which Jimmy had no idea. He says how she was eight when he went away to college, yikes. Hailey kisses him more and Jimmy stops her to say how she is Kirsten's sister and that they can't make things more complicated. Jimmy tells Hailey how lucky she is that Kirsten and Sandy are looking out for her because he also is.

Hailey and Jimmy - The Third Wheel

Hailey kisses Jimmy.

At the Rooney concert, Oliver and Marissa are near the front of the crowd while Ryan hangs out by the bar as people keep running into him. Ryan has had enough and grabs Marissa, taking her away from Oliver. As Ryan does this, Oliver gets mad and fidgety. Ryan and Marissa get far enough away and he grabs and kisses her. Marissa asks him what they are doing since they are missing the concert. Ryan says that this is better then asks Marissa how her and Oliver have become such good friends. Marissa tells Ryan how she can talk to him about things and Ryan gets offended that she can't talk to him. Marissa says how she knows Ryan didn't want to come and if he wants to leave he can. Ryan leaves, obviously pissed. Luke is really enjoying himself and the Rooneys which annoys Seth. As Ryan is leaving, he sees Oliver getting into a fight with someone. Ryan runs over to break it up but its a cop that's arresting Oliver for attempting to buy Coke. Oliver tells Ryan to go back inside and not to tell anyone.

Ryan goes back inside and finds Seth and asks him for his keys and his phone. Seth asks him if he is okay and Ryan says its Oliver. Ryan says he will tell Seth later. Hailey refuses to talk to Kirsten and Sandy jokes that she is finally giving them the house back. Kirsten says she is probably packing and will be gone in the morning. Ryan calls Sandy and he agrees to meet him at the police station. The concert is over and Seth asks Anna how it went when she told Summer. Summer hears this and they finally tell her the truth. Anna tells Summer about New Years and Summer wishes them congrats. They are surprised to know that Summer isn't mad and ask if they will still all be able to hang out which Summer agrees to.

At the police station, Sandy gets the police to agree to let Oliver go. Ryan thanks Sandy and he asks him if Oliver is a friend of his. Ryan tells Sandy he is Marissa's friend. Sandy then tells Ryan he is glad he called. Oliver gets released and sits with Ryan as Sandy goes to finish paperwork. Oliver thanks Ryan and asks why he did that for him. Ryan asks him what happened and Oliver says how Natalie didn't show and how he saw Ryan and Marissa together and how he felt alone. Oliver tells Ryan how all of his friends disappeared when he got clean and Ryan tells him there's Marissa, Seth, and even Luke. Oliver asks about Ryan since he had to have liked him a little bit to get him out of jail which Ryan declines, saying it was Sandy. Ryan gets a phone call from Marissa and hands the phone to Oliver so he can tell her which he does.

At the Cohen's, Sandy is grabbing a bagel for a late night snack when Hailey walks in and tries to take it. Sandy stops her since she has been eating all their food. Hailey admits she hasn't been a good guest and tells Sandy he was right about what he said that night. Sandy then asks Hailey what he plan is. Hailey says she doesn't know what she wants and Sandy encourages to settle down. He gives her the other half of the bagel and says that she will figure it all out. Marissa visits Ryan and lays down with him, thanking him for what he did. Ryan starts to say how Oliver isn't a bad guy and Marissa immediately stops him, saying she doesn't want to talk about Oliver. Marissa kisses Ryan and they start to make out when Seth, Anna, and Summer interrupt. Luke comes in yelling as well asking if they all want to play video games. Ryan and Marissa decide to join them but they continue to make out in the living room as everyone is playing video games. All of them end the night hanging out and having a good time with one another when someone is watching them from outside ... it's Oliver.

Ryan and Marissa - The Third Wheel 6

Marissa thanks Ryan for all he did.

Cast[]

Starring[]

Guest Starring[]

Co-Starring[]

Quotes[]

Music[]

Gallery[]

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