Season 4 – Episode 1: The Second Chance
The show picks up right where we left off. The camera pans over the scene of the accident, and focuses in on Ryan holding Marissa in his arms. Ryan starts losing hope, and continues to plead for her to come back.
"Marissa, don't leave. You know I can't go on without you. I've always been there for you, and I need you to stay here with me!"
A tear drops down Ryan's cheek, and he chokes out, "I Love You." Just as he finishes, sirens start to blare, and lights start to flash. Ryan looks up to see a fire engine, an ambulance, and a police cruiser whip around the corner and all pull to the scene.
"Put out the fire," screamed one of the firefighters. A crew of EMTs rush over to attend to both Marissa and Ryan.
"There's a faint pulse, but we've gotta get her help. It's lucky you were able to get her out of the car, and that you're both alive after you were forced off."
"How'd you know we were forced off that cliff up there?" ponders Ryan. Ryan was sure there was no one else on the road, and that both he and Marissa's cell phones were toasted.
"We got a call from Kevin Volchok's little girlfriend. Apparently, in a drunken rage, he threw her out of the car after she called 911 to tell us about the accident. Radio says he put his car into a lightpole right outside of the Newport Beach PD. He's in custody, and his friend was brought to safety," the EMT replied, as his crew lifted Marissa. "We need to get her to a hospital ASAP. We're gonna have to take you to so we can check you out. You can ride in the ambulance as well. We have a phone for you to contact your families."
Ryan gets into the ambulance and dials their cell phone as they rush away.
END SCENE, ROLL CREDITS.
The scene picks up at the Cohen house. Seth and Summer are sitting together.
"Cohen, what are you going to do until January?" Summer asked as she was looking over his RISD materials.
"Eh, you know, continue on the comic book, supervise what happens in the house, beg and plead for my own car" Seth said. As he kept going, Summer got increasingly irritated. "And of course start earning my frequent flyer miles to get a taste of everything Rhode Island has to offer."
Seth saved himself, and Summer went in for a quick kiss, and as they continued, Sandy walks in. Seth and Summer pull away, and Seth turns to Sandy.
"Haven't we learned to knock. I could've been naked Dad." Seth waited for his father's usual quick laugh, but is surprised to see his Dad so stoic.
"Ryan just called," Sandy said, in a very monotone voice, showing a lack of emotion. "He and Marissa were ran off the road right outside of town. They're on their way to the hospital." Sandy looked as if he were about to pass out, and sat down on Seth's desk chair.
"But Mr. Cohen, they're going to be alright…right?" asked Summer, who suddenly appeared very pale and sick.
Sandy looked over with a world of hurt. "There's a chance that Marissa won't make it. She's barely holding on as we speak." Seth instantly brought Summer into her arms. "Me and Kirsten will be in the car," Sandy said as he left the room. Seth and Summer followed right after. Seth whispers to Summer "Everything is going to be alright."
The scene moves to the Oceanview Hospital. Ryan is sitting looking in at Marissa from the window, in his usual no-emotion stance. At the same time, Sandy, Kirsten, Seth, Summer, Julie, Caitlin, and Neil rush in. Sandy is holding Kirsten, while Seth is doing the same with Summer, as Julie rushes ahead of the group. Julie takes one look in, lets out a scream, and passes out. She falls forward, and knocks her head off the ground.
Sandy yells out, "Oh my god." They all rush over, just as two nurses come over and pick her up. She doesn't respond. The nurses get her onto a stretcher.
"That was a brutal call. I NEED A DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY. We need to take her in for tests." The nurses took Julie into the triage. As Neil walks with the nurses, everyone shifts back into Marissa's room. Kirsten comes over and gives Ryan a big hug, and he turns to everyone.
"The doctors were able to stabilize her, but they have been trying to determine what else they can do," Ryan stated, still with no emotion. "They don't know how long they have to figure it out." Just as he finished talking, Summer crashed into Seth's arms, and started balling. Kirsten drew Ryan closer, as she started to ball.
Sandy walked over to them. "I'm gonna go get us all some coffee, it might be a long night."
Ryan looked to Kirsten, Seth, and Summer. "I didn't even get to tell her what she meant to me. And now…I might not get the chance." Ryan sunk down into a chair, and looked dazed and confused. Seth came and sat next to him. He put his arm around him, and Ryan just continued to look like he was in a world of hurt.
The scene shifts to Caitlin. She's sitting at a payphone in the hospital lobby. She has clearly been crying, and we cut in to hear her say, "I don't care what you have to do, but you have to get here before it's too late." She hangs up the phone, and breaks down in tears.
Sandy returns with coffees, and everyone is sitting in the way-too-familiar waiting room. Everyone takes a coffee, but continues to be trance-like. Just as Ryan walked out of the room, Neil came back, and sat next to Summer.
"Julie suffered a concussion when she hit the ground. She's unconscious, but they believe that she'll pull through soon. How is Marissa?" Neil sat down and pulled his daughter closer, who now to looked just like Ryan.
"She's stable, but the doctors are trying to determine what they can do," replied Kirsten, who was nestled with Sandy. Caitlin returned back into the room, and sat with the group.
Ryan is shown watching in again at Marissa. He flashes back to the moment he first saw her, the last night in the model home, catilion, the ferris wheel, their dance at Julie and Caleb's wedding, their night in the mall, their night on the beach, and then to the events of the evening before. He is brought back to reality by a doctor touching his shoulder.
"Hi, are you Ryan Atwood?" Ryan gives a nod. "I'm Dr. Rivera, and we have discovered that Marissa is internally bleeding as a result of the accident, and we have fixed her head wounds. We do, however, have to go in and stop the bleeding." Ryan fell out of a daze, and blurted out "What are her chances?"
"I believe that we have a good chance at fixing her up. She's still unconscious, but she should be able to come around. I do however, have to have her paperwork filled out. Is her guardian here?"
Ryan looked worried. "Yes, her mother's here, but she passed out before. As far as I know, she's somewhere unconscious. The doctor's face slightly frowned.
"Mt. Atwood, without consent, legally, I cannot admit Marissa Cooper for surgery. Ryan suddenly blew up.
"Doctor Rivera, WE NEED TO SAVE HER! This girl means more to me than ANYTHING. And you're going to tell me that she needs consent for you to perform this surgery." Ryan looked as if he were ready to knock out the doctor.
"Mr. Atwood, please restrain yourself.
"Let me get my family." Ryan stalked off with the doctor, and brought him into the waiting room. The doctor explained the situation, and Sandy stood up.
"Dr. Rivera, isn't there anything you can do? You've admitted that we are in a fight against time, so why make this delay?" Everyone sat at attention.
"There are no papers filed for consent to perform surgery. I have everything prepared, I just need consent, and her guardian is currently out of touch. You have to understand, fixing internal bleeding is a very risky surgery, with a very small success rate." Everyone looked down. Dr. Roberts chimed in.
"Victor, this is a matter of life or death. You know you need to do what is best for this patient. There has to be something we can do. I am Miss Cooper-Nichol's fiancée. Can't I be provided with the power of consent due to her current state?" Ryan looked hopeful. Dr. Rivera looked pained.
"Neil, trust me, I wish I could, but by the time I could get that cleared, it could be too late. All we can hope for right now is Miss Cooper-Nichol to come through to give us consent." As Dr. Rivera was about to continue, a familiar voice ran in, winded, and everyone turned.
"Does this girl's father have any say in consent?" yelled Jimmy Cooper. Caitlin ran over and jumped into his arms.
"DAD!" Everyone looked relieved as Jimmy took the forms. Jimmy continued to give hugs, and everyone looked suddenly hopeful.
"Caitlin called me from a payphone. I was waiting at the airport to surprise Marissa. I got here as quick as I could. Where is Julz?"
"Julie passed out when she saw Marissa. It was too overwhelming for her. She's unconscious," explained Neil. Dr. Rivera checked the forms.
"I'm going to get the crew to prep for surgery, and to prepare Marissa. Mr. Cooper, would you like to go see your daughter?" Jimmy looked worried, and followed the doctor. Ryan followed back to the window.
Jimmy went in, and kissed his eldest daughter, and came out. He went to Dr. Rivera. "Doc, would it be alright if Ryan went in quick. I know he'd like to see her before she goes in."
"Well, normally we're supposed to keep the room for family only, but I will allow it." Ryan looked grateful, and replied, "Thank you Dr. Rivera. Sorry about before," and Ryan walked into the room.
It pained him to see Marissa so helpless, as they prepared here. He held back tears, and was able to say "Don't leave me like this Marissa. I'm a wreck without you. I will love you always…Forever and a day Marissa." He bent down, and gave her a peck on the lips, and walked out.
Ryan and everyone sat in the window as they watched the doctors wheel Marissa out. They retreated into the waiting room, and sat together, praying, hoping for good news.
The scene focuses on Julie being wheeled in after her concussion. She was aware, and immediately shot up from the wheelchair. She ran over to Ryan, and gave him a hug.
"How is she, Ryan?" Ryan was understanding, but was a little shocked, seeing as how Julie Cooper-Nichol wasn't always his biggest fan.
"She's in surgery now. The doctors need to fix her internal bleeding, and they said there's hope. All we can do it wait and hope." Julie turned to Jimmy, and went over and gave him a hug.
"Everything's going to be alright Julz, she's gonna be alright."
The scene switched over to the operating room. Dr. Rivera is shown internally sewing some of the internal wounds. He seems to fix the internal wounds, and is just finishing up thesurgery. Everything seems to be going routine, until Marissa's heart rate drops rapidly.
"We're losing her" yelled one of the doctors.
"Baker, get ready for manual CPR. White, charge the defib to 200."
As everyone was prepping, the deadly piercing sound of a flatline is heard.
"WE'RE NOT LOSING HER!" screamed Dr. Rivera. "Gimme the paddles! CLEAR!"
The scene cuts back into the room, hours later, where everyone is still alert, and waiting. Ryan is shown, and he is still gazing, flashing back to when he first met Marissa.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"Whoever you want me to be," he replied.
In his mind he thought, "I just want to be the one for you." He was praying, "Just give her another chance. Hell, just give me a second chance, to be the one who loves her."
Dr. Rivera walked into the waiting room. Everyone jumped up in their seats.
"We had a very successful surgery. After we were finishing up, we lost her." Everyone seemed to start to cry, but he continued. "But, it seems Marissa was given a second chance. We brought her back. She should be fine."
Everyone looked relieved, and there were hugs all around. Ryan, a man usually known for his stoic expressions and half-smiles, but finally we see the biggest smile he's ever given.
"She's out of it right now, and really needs rest, just as you do. You're welcome to stay here though."
No one showed any sign of anything, but one by one, went in to see her. Finally, after everyone had been in, Ryan went in last. He walked in slowly, and took her hand.
"Now that I've got my second chance, I will do anything so that we can be together again." Marissa sat still, and he continued to hold her hand. He looked up to the sky, and said,
"Thank You."
He felt a slight movement on his hand, and quickly looked down. Marissa lips moved barely, and barely audibly, replied,
"I Love You, Ryan."
Stay tuned for scenes from the next OC.
Music for this episode:
"Hallelujah" – Imogen Heap
"Ever the Same" – Rob Thomas
"Always" – Bon Jovi
"I'll Be" – Edwin McCain
(These are just songs I could see fitting in through this episode. I'll continue to use this.)