This is a scene that's based on a couple of stills from an apparently deleted scene from The Pilot, on Adam Brody's website.
It's basically Seth at his desk surrounded by a map, a mathematical compass and a directional compass and Sandy in the doorway. I always felt there should be a scene when Sandy explains that Ryan's staying and we'd see how much Seth wants to leave.
MY OC DVD boxset has deleted scenes on it, but instead of this one, they have Sandy and Kirsten talking about Seth not going to boarding school, which is the same principle, I guess, but it didn't impress me all that much.
The scene opens with a kid who looks to be about 16 hunched over his desk. He looks quite tall and is kind of skinny. He's got a map spread out in front of him and a mathematical compass and one for directions and has a pencil in his hand that he's used to draw lines to things and has ringed some co-ordinates, so he's plotting out some sort of a journey. He's frowning, and as he lifts the map to try and figure out some calculations, we see that he's got a whole range of conflicting emotions fighting inside of him, as he looks sad, worried, frightened but a bit excited too. There's a knock at the door and we see Sandy come in.
Sandy: Hey Seth, how was school? Still doing your homework, huh?
Seth: Hey Dad. (waves map at his father without turning round) School was the same as usual, loadsa work, still haven't got any friends. When are we leaving?
Sandy: ( visibly concerned at his son's comment, yet speaks in calm tones) C'mon, we've talked about this already, Seth...I came to ask you something... A client of mine's staying here for the weekend, would you mind entertaining him, showing him round for me?
Seth: Good luck with that Dad... I don't have to dress up for dinner, do I?
Sandy: (more sternly than before) Will ya just hear me out for a second? My latest client's a kid, a smart kid from the rougher end of Chino, he's about your age... I thought it would be nice for you to have some company for a few days. Will you make him feel welcome here, show him round for me?
Seth: (spins round on his chair to face his father) Yeah, sure, Dad, if he doesn't run a mile when he meets the social outcast & emo-geek that is Seth Cohen.
Sandy: (firmly but lovingly) Hey, don't be so hard on yourself, he's not a spoilt Newpsie after all. Anyway, Ryan's settled in the pool house now and is probably asleep, so you'll meet him in the morning. (looks at map Seth has out) Have you got much more to do on your Geography project? It's on Tahiti, from what I can see-is it interesting?
Seth: No, not really.
Sandy looks at the map more closely and frowns slightly. he looks worried. Seth seems unsure what to say and he notices his father's concern
Sandy: I'm guessing it's not a school project then?
Seth: (awkwardly, seems embarassed) No, more of, uh, an escape plan really... I was trying to work out how far away I can possibly get from here...
Sandy: Is it really so bad here, Setheleh? Is there anything Mom and I can do to help, bar moving, obviously?
Seth: Considering thinking about moving would be a start though!
Sandy: Seth, we've had this conversation so many times already... You know we can't, at least not at the moment... And you've got a couple of years left here, then you'll be off to college, you can go wherever you want then... (goes to sit on the bed as he says this, motions for Seth to join him, which he does) And boarding school is something we've talked about but decided against, we just don't feel it's right... (sighs) We just worry that you'd be bullied there too and we'd be even less able to help you deal with it if you were that far away from us. Look, running away won't solve your problems, though it might feel like it would, it just makes them worse... And remember you can talk to your mother or me about absolutely anything at any time. (a bit sternly) Is that clear, Seth?
Seth: Yes, Dad, very clear. Thanks. Sorry for worrying you, didn't mean to, the plan isn't all that do-able really... And, hey, maybe this Ryan guy'll be different...
Sandy puts an arm round Seth's shoulders and gives him an affectionate squeeze. Seth is obviously used to such demonstrations of affection and finds them comforting as he smiles and leans on his dad a bit
Sandy: (affectionate yet a bit teasing) Well, son, we do have the Cohen charm on our side, remember that.
Seth: And we've got Jesus and Moses on our side too, Dad, don't forget! (mock punches Sandy on the arm, Sandy ruffles his son's hair in retaliation) Nooooo! Not the Jew-fro, Dad!
From this scene, we see that Seth and Sandy get on pretty well for a father and son, that they both talk a lot, tease eachother in a very warm and loving way and that Seth, like most teenagers, doesn't really tell his parents that much about his life, yet they know something's up. We also see that Sandy can be authoritarian when he needs to be, but only when he's concerned and needs to know the truth about something. He's obviously quite affectionate, as is Seth.