Episode #17: The Surprise Send-off
The opening scene begins early Monday morning. It is still dark out, Ryan and Marissa are still asleep, but the silence of their bedroom is broken by the shrill ring of their phone. As they lay together, Marissa is nestled securely in Ryan's arms, his head buried in her hair, but the phone disturbs him from his slumber while she sleeps through it. Groggily, he lifts one hand off of Marissa and uses it to feel across the nightstand for the phone. When he finds it, he holds it to his ear and talks although his eyes are still closed. The conversation is short, but only his words can be heard and only his reactions can be seen.
Ryan: Hello? (He listens to what the person has to say and then all of a sudden shoots up so that he is sitting up straight in bed. His sudden movement wrenches Marissa's body and wakes her up as well. Although she sits up along with him, it takes her a little longer to move, but once she does, she wraps her arms around him to hold him close, eager to hear what is happening and to help keep her body warm as her actions comfort the both of them. He turns to Marissa when he speaks so that he can look in her eyes as he says it.) She woke up. (Instantly Marissa's eyes fill with tears and she just smiles brightly and hugs Ryan to her tighter, kissing his shoulder.) Thanks, and yeah, she's up, too. Will do; call us back when you have more news. (He hangs the phone up and takes Marissa in his arms hugging her to him as tightly as he can. After a few moments, she lifts her head from the crook of his neck and smiles up at him before kissing him tenderly. When they pull away, they lay back down together, Marissa on Ryan's chest as he leans up against the headboard and makes a phone call. After just one ring, the other line picks up. Both people are shown and heard this time.)
Seth: Hola Hombre! Welcome to Seth's Sex Hotline where we answer any and all of your intercourse inquiries.
Ryan: Seth?
Seth: The one and only.
Ryan: Two questions: what are you doing up so early and what the hell was that greeting about?
Seth: And how would you like to pay for this call? Discover, Mastercard, or Visa?
Ryan: Seth!
Seth: Right. The answer to question number one is that there was a late night marathon of Audrey Hepburn movies on, and I couldn't pass it up.
Ryan: You've been spending too much time with Branning. (Marissa playfully slaps Ryan's chest after he says that making him laugh. She pretends to be angry while glaring at him, but ends up laughing as well. To make up for slapping him, she begins to kiss his chest, making Ryan speed up his conversation with Seth.)
Seth: And the answer to question number two…
Ryan: Yeah, don't worry about it. I was just calling to let you know…. (He takes a deep breath trying to regain his composer since Marissa's lips have traveled from his chest down to his pant line.)
Seth: Ryan? Are you okay?
Ryan: (He laughs.) Better than you know!
Seth: Holy Hell, you're getting it on right now! Dude, congratulations, but that's still a little creepy. I was just kidding about the sex hotline, but….
Ryan: Seth, listen, I can't talk. Just let everyone know that Caitlyn woke up from her coma. Thanks! (He hangs up the phone quickly and pulls Marissa up to him so that he can kiss her. The camera leaves them and goes back to Seth who is sitting on the couch, still holding the phone in deep thought until the dial tone can he heard. When it starts, he turns the phone off and tosses it onto the couch. Standing up, he makes his way into the kitchen and opens a cupboard with an evil smirk on his face. The camera just focuses on his back as he takes something out of it and makes his way to his parents' room. After he opens the door and walks in, he whispers to get their attention.)
Seth: Mom, Dad…. (There is no answer.) Oh well, I guess I have to resort to other means of waking them up. (All of a sudden he blows a fog horn, making Sandy and Kirsten jump up out of bed and look around like something is wrong.) Oh, you're up. Good. I just wanted to let you know that Caitlyn woke up out of her coma. Go back to sleep, now. (He leaves chuckling to himself and runs away from their room and up the stairs to his own room where Summer is sleeping peacefully. He starts the whole process over again. Whispering, he calls Summer's name.) Summer… (She doesn't answer, she he sounds the fog horn again, causing the same reaction from Summer.) Well, good morning there sleepy head. Caitlyn woke up from her coma. Got to go! (He starts to run out of the room, but Summer gets right out of bed and chases after him.)
Summer: Cohen, your skinny ass can run as far as it wants, but when I find you, wherever you are, I'm going to beat you until you're so black and blue that you blend in with the freaking night! (The camera watches her run out of the room and then goes black.)
Credits and Commercial Break
The second scene opens up on Friday afternoon as Seth lays on a raft in the middle of the pool talking on his cell phone. No one else is at home. He has a virgin-c0cktail sitting in the cup holder of the raft, umbrella and decorative fruits included, and suntan lotion, of the highest SPF, is caked on his body. However, instead of wearing sunglasses to block out the sun light from his eyes, he's wearing a ridiculous plastic visor. He is, once again, talking to the mystery woman. Like always, only his side of the conversation can be heard.
Seth: Hello there, friend o' mine, and how are you this fine afternoon? (Pause while she replies.) Oh, yeah, that's right. Sorry. So then, what are you doing? (Pause) Me first, aw…you shouldn't have, but okay. Well, as you know, it's Zoe's birthday party this weekend, so I thought I'd get a jump start on my tan. We're having a pool party, and I don't want to blind anyone. (Pause) Hey, I resent that! I'm not pasty! (Pause) No, I'm not at the beach. I'm home alone and enjoying the killer rays from the comforts of my very own infinity pool. I've got the suntan lotion on…. (Pause) I never said I wanted to look like a lobster tomorrow; I just don't want to glow in the dark. (Pause) Shut up. I'm talking here, remember. Anyway, I'm lounging in the pool chair, I've got my Shirley Temple at my side, my second best girl on the phone, and I'm looking pretty spiffy with my Batman swim-trunks and lime green visor. (Pause) Visors are too cool! (Pause) Who died and made you the fashion police? As far as I know that old Rivers bat is still alive and kicking, and until she foams at the mouth and keels over, you just need to take a back seat and let her do the talkin'! (Pause) Yeah, well she's not here, so it doesn't matter. (Pause) Well, of course there will be yours truly, Summer, Ryan, Marissa, Mom, Dad, Gramps, Doc Roberts, my home boy, Branning, I told you about him, you'd get along, I think, The Cooper family sans Jimmy, we assume, and, of course, the birthday day, Miss Zoe herself. (Pause) We're going to heat up the barbeque, play some water sports, eat a boatload of cake because Marissa is making it for us, and opening presents, all and all, a jolly good time! (Pause) Now, that's enough about me. I want to hear what's been going on with you. What are you doing right now? (After she speaks, he sits up quickly, knocking his drink into the pool and not even noticing it.) What do you mean you're on a break from getting tests run? What kind of tests, and why do you have to take a break? (His voice is bordering on hysterical. After she speaks again, he hastily wipes some tears that are falling down his face.) No, I want to know what's going on! (Pause) I will not calm down! (Pause) What do you mean you won't know the details for a few days? What do they think is going on? (Pause) Fine! I'll wait. (When he speaks again, he is quieter and trying to calm himself down.) Yeah, I understand. Of course you do. (Pause) Well, if I had something like this to discuss and I wanted someone strong and level headed, I'd go to Marissa. (Pause) Yeah, I know, but as soon as you tell her who you are, she'll talk to you. (Pause) She's great at giving advice. (Pause) I'll only give you her number if you promise you will call me as soon as you know for sure what's going on. (Pause) Alright, get something to write on….. (The camera pulls back from him as he goes to tell the person Marissa's telephone number. It leaves him and goes to Kirsten and Zoe who are shopping for a new bathing suit for the little girl's party. As they walk around the store looking at what they have to offer, they talk about her birthday party.)
Zoe: Mommy?
Kirsten: What honey?
Zoe: What's a coma? (Kirsten looks at her slightly shocked by what she's asked.) I heard Seth and Summer talking about Marissa's little sister and they said that she was in a coma.
Kirsten: She was, but she's all better now.
Zoe: Well, what is it?
Kirsten: It's when your body sleeps for a long time without waking up because it got hurt.
Zoe: How'd she get hurt?
Kirsten: She was in a car accident. (She picks up a pink polka dot bikini and holds it up to her.) Do you like this one, sweetie?
Zoe: Yeah. (After a few seconds, she asked another question.) So, is it like Snow White when she ate the poisonous apple?
Kirsten: (She laughs.) Yeah, I guess it is.
Zoe: Did a prince wake her up?
Kirsten: No. She woke up on her own…after she was feeling better.
Zoe: Is she still in the hospital?
Kirsten: No, she came home yesterday, and actually, she's going to be coming to your birthday party tomorrow.
Zoe: She is? (She is excited.)
Kirsten: Yeah. We thought, if it's okay with you, that you could share your party and it could also be a welcome home party for Caitlyn.
Zoe: That's fine, but we should get her some presents, too, so she feels special like me. (Kirsten laughs at her.)
Kirsten: That's a very nice idea honey, and we will.
Zoe: We should get her…. (She starts jumping up and down and pointing to a bathing suit that is hanging up on the wall. It is black bikini that ties around the neck and has sheer panels that hang from the top that reach the bottoms.) Mommy, Mommy, can I try that one on, too?
Kirsten: (She grabs one in the right size for her.) Of course. But, I have to tell you something, Zoe. When you see Caitlyn, you can't stare, because even though she woke up, she's still hurt a little bit. She has a broken leg….
Zoe: Can I draw on her cast?
Kirsten: You'll have to ask her when you see her, but I'm sure she won't care.
Zoe: What else is wrong with her?
Kirsten: She broke a couple of ribs, so she'll have to sit the whole time; she won't be able to play with you too much. Plus, she also has a lot of cuts and bruises on her face, neck, arms, and legs.
Zoe: (She thinks about this for a moment and then replies really seriously.) Should we buy her some Band-Aids? (Kirsten grabs one more swimsuit, a one piece with a cutout that is red with a sheer red wrap.)
Kirsten: I think she has plenty, but come on, let's try these on so that we can go get Caitlyn some presents. (Mother and daughter walk up together to a sales representative and disappear into the dressing rooms. The camera leaves them and goes to Caleb who is walking up the pier to meet Sandy who is already waiting. Sandy is dressed to hit the waves while Caleb is still in his suit from work.)
Caleb: What did you do, take the day off to bum around? (He points to Sandy's casual attire.)
Sandy: Actually, Cal, I already put in a long day at the office, and this is my reward. Since Kirsten and Zoe are off shopping, Ryan and Marissa are still in the city, Summer's there, too, working, and Seth said he had to catch up with an old friend this afternoon….
Caleb: What old friend? He only ever had two, one's his fiancé and the other is his brother?
Sandy: So we're admitting that Ryan is a part of the family now? This is progress Cal, but I don't know who he was meeting. He didn't say, and I wasn't going to push, because it meant I had a Friday afternoon to surf. Since I started this new job, I haven't had near the same amount of time to be on the board as I used to.
Caleb: (His voice is dripping with sarcasm.) What a shame.
Sandy: So what brings me the pleasure of your company today, Cal? Please don't tell me you're dating another porn star who says she's pregnant and we have to track down her ex-junkie of a nurse that took the fake DNA test?
Caleb: I hope you fall off that board, get drug under by an undertow, and eventually eaten by sharks.
Sandy: Love you, too, Cal, but that's enough mushy talk, what can I do for you?
Caleb: We need to talk….about the attack.
Sandy: Do you know something I don't?
Caleb: I know a lot of things you don't, but that's another story. Listen, I wasn't going to say anything for my own personal reasons, but I've hired a team of private investigators who've been trying to track down this Dan character.
Sandy: And?
Caleb: We haven't gotten him yet, but we're getting close. He's here…in Newport, so I wanted to tell you to be careful, and that if you see anyone watching the house in a uniform, it's just my men. I put bodyguards on Marissa after the second attack, and now that I know he's in town, I've put some on the house as well, and with Zoe's party tomorrow, well, if history repeats itself and he chooses to hit us again during a party, well, I'll be ready for him.
Sandy: You're not going to take this into your own hands, are you Cal?
Caleb: That's all I wanted to say. (He starts to walk away, but Sandy puts down his board and chases after him.)
Sandy: Caleb, do not do anything stupid. Do not put your own revenge against this man ahead of the case. Let the law handle this!
Caleb: I have no idea what you're talking about. (He turns around and starts walking away again but calls to Sandy over his shoulder.) You might want to get out there and get some time on the waves in before it's dark. (With that, he leaves.)
Sandy: (He picks his board back up and watches Caleb leave.) What are you up to, old man; what do you have up those dirty sleeves of yours? (The camera pulls away as he continues to watch Caleb leave and goes to Julie who is snooping around Caleb's office. After shuffling through the various papers on his desk, she finds something she finds curious. It is a homemade invitation. Opening it, she finds out that it is to a party for Zoe. She made the invitation herself. Smiling to herself, Julie, since she is alone, thinks out loud to herself.)
Julie: Well, well, well, what do we have here? Is this an invitation to a party that I was not invited to…and I'm practically family? (She laughs to herself.) And the little brat and I are so close. Maybe I should go anyway, surprise her, make a very important announcement that will no doubt make this a birthday to remember. (She reads a little more of the invitation.) Oh, a pool party. Luckily for me, when I still had Caleb's credit cards I made some very wise swimwear purchases. (She laughs wickedly one more time, rips the invitation in two, and tosses it in the garbage can. As she walks out of the room, she rubs her hands together as if she is cleaning them off after a hard day's work. The camera leaves her and goes to Summer's dressing room where she and Branning are talking while she changes to head back to Newport. She already has her regular clothes on, but she's now working at her makeup table to take off her stage makeup and apply what she normally wears. While she works, Branning is flipping through the magazines that she has scattered on the coffee table.)
Branning: So, what did you get the little rugrat?
Summer: Clothes? You?
Branning: Same.
Summer: Great minds….
Branning: (He salutes her with the magazine he is currently paging through.) I also picked myself up a new pair of swim-trunks, figured I should look my best in front of Ryan.
Summer: (She laughs.) You should just give that up now, because that's never going to happen. You should have seen him last weekend. I literally had to drag Marissa away from him while they were saying their goodbye.
Branning: How'd he react?
Summer: If his eyes could shoot laser beams, I'd be dead. (Branning laughs.) Then, later before we left to go home, Kirsten said we should all do something together again soon, and Marissa basically admitted that Ryan would throw a tantrum if we took her away from him again.
Branning: Are they still trying to training for the sex-Olympics?
Summer: Oh yeah…I swear a tragedy only makes them hornier!
Branning: Tragedy?
Summer: Yeah, where have you been? Haven't you talked to Marissa lately?
Branning: Nope. I've tried calling her, but she's always busy or her phone's shut off. I've been trying to catch her in her office, but she's never there.
Summer: Yeah, her sister was in a bad car accident a couple of weeks ago. If she's not here, working weird hours, or in bed, she's been at the hospital.
Branning: What happened?
Summer: Long or short version?
Branning: Short….I just found a dreamy spread of Abercrombie models who I must drool over for a few minutes, so I need to save my concentration for that. (He puts his magazine down for a few minutes until she finishes talking.)
Summer: Well, you know how Trey….
Branning: That's the bad boy, ex-convict hunk that attacked Marissa, Ryan's gorgeous brunette brother?
Summer: Is that all you think of?
Branning: What?
Summer: Sex?
Branning: (He thinks about it for a second then replies.) Yeah.
Summer: So, you're no different than straight guys?
Branning: Well, the logistics are…
Summer: Enough said, moving on. Anyway, so you know that Marissa's sister was dating him…whatever that meant.
Branning: Yeah.
Summer: Well, she didn't take the news too well, kind of had a nervous break down, started drinking, stole her Dad's car, and in the middle of this melodramatic apology for all the things she thought she did wrong, including getting raped by that animal, she wrecked on the freeway going 90.
Branning: (He's shocked.) And she lived?
Summer: I guess the fact that she was drunk helped, because her body was pretty limber and didn't get near as injured as it would have if she had been sober.
Branning: What about the other people she hit?
Summer: Well, turns out she somehow avoided the other cars and just slammed into the cement median and then rolled the car a few times.
Branning: (He's silent for a moment while he thinks about this.) I feel like I'm watching an episode of our show!
Summer: I know.
Branning: So….what exactly happened to her?
Summer: Well she was in a coma…
Branning: Was?
Summer: Yeah, she woke up really early Monday morning, (Her voice becomes angry and her face hardens into a frown.) and then assface thought he should wake us up with a fog horn to let us know!
Branning: And I'm to assume that assface translates into Seth?
Summer: One in the same.
Branning: We'll come back to him in a minute, but she woke up, so that's good, right?
Summer: It's really good. I mean, she still has a broken leg and some cracked ribs, and I guess not even the thickest foundation can cover some of her bruises, but she's alive and healing.
Branning: And emotionally?
Summer: Well, I think it's helping that she's not drinking any more, and from what Marissa's said over the phone, now that she knows that Trey did no permanent damage to her when he raped her….
Branning: You mean she's not knocked up and she's still clean south of the border?
Summer: Yeah…you sure have an interesting way of putting things. No wonder you and Seth get along so well.
Branning: Please don't tell him that!
Summer: Why?
Branning: Because he's driving me nuts! After that night when you went to Newport and left him on his own and he came to talk to me, he's been calling me constantly, asking for Seth/Branning time.
Summer: Aww….Seth's made a new friend!
Branning: Yeah, well, who asked him to?
Summer: I know Ryan, Marissa, and I appreciate it. It keeps him occupied away from us more. One thing you'll learn about Seth, once he determines that he likes you, there's no getting rid of him. You're stuck for life now. (He picks up his magazine and stares at the male models.)
Branning: Oh trust me, if I want to get rid of him, I know exactly how to do it.
Summer: Branning….
Branning: What?
Summer: You're not going to hit on him and make him think that you like him!
Branning: Why not?
Summer: Because whenever Seth's masculinity is threatened, which isn't often, he reacts by thinking that we have to have Is that really so bad?
Summer: It is when your partner claims to have a bad back so the only place you do it is in a bed, which means you get bed sores!
Branning: Ew!
Summer: Hey!
Branning: What?
Summer: That's my line!
Branning: Whoops, sorry. Guess it's contagious. (He shrugs his shoulders and goes back to the magazine, but Summer is still annoyed and staring at him. He doesn't even notice.) So, since we're on the topic of Seth, how are you guys? He seems to think things are going better. I take it he told you about his mystery woman?
Summer: Yes, he did, but I still don't understand why he didn't just tell me about her in the first place. What did he think I was going to do? I mean, they're related. Obviously, nothing was happening between them!
Branning: It had nothing to do with you, personally, she just asked him not to say anything to anybody.
Summer: So I guess you're a nobody since he told you.
Branning: Haha, I guess someone forgot to leave their btch persona back on set!
Summer: (She sticks her tongue out at him and makes him laugh.) He was supposed to call her today to try and find out what's wrong. She's been putting off his questions for the last couple of weeks, but I guess she was going to the doctors or something yesterday, so she should know if she's sick or not.
Branning: What do you think it is?
Summer: It's probably nothing. Cohen has a tendency to think the worst and over-react.
Branning: Really? I never noticed!
Summer: (She stands up and walks towards Branning, taking the magazine out of his hands and throwing it down the table. He slowly lifts his eyes to her to find that she is standing with her hands on her hips.) Let's go! I don't want to get stuck in the Friday night traffic. (She starts to walk out of the room, and he stands to follow her.)
Branning: Are you sure it's okay I stay with you guys this whole weekend?
Summer: Please! The Cohens invited Marissa to stay with us all winter break when none of us had ever met her before. Besides, you'll fit right in when we all gang up and make fun of Cohen. Now quit all this gabbing and let's go! (The both leave the dressing room, shutting the door behind them. As the door shuts, the camera leaves the room and goes to Marissa's office where she is working on editing a script. While she works, as per usual, she has music on in the background. She's listening to Annie Stela's "It's You". After a few moments, her cell phone starts to ring. She picks it up without even looking at it.)
Marissa: Hey Ryan, I'm sorry, but I'm almost done. I just have one last page to edit, and then I'll meet you outside… (Her voice takes on a flirtatious quality to it.) unless you want to come in?
Mystery Woman: (Her voice can be heard while she talks to Marissa, but her face is not shown.) It's not Ryan. (She laughs softly.)
Marissa: Oh my god! I'm so sorry….
Mystery Woman: It's okay. Seth warned me that you two were pretty crazy about each other.
Marissa: He did, wait, who are you? Sorry, that was rude, but….
Mystery Woman: No, I get it, you get this anonymous call late one Friday afternoon, the number doesn't come up, and you don't recognize the voice. Asking who it is, is pretty understandable.
Marissa: Thanks.
Mystery Woman: I'm Hayley….Kirsten's sister.
Marissa: Oh…..OH!
Hayley: (She laughs.) And the recognition has set in. It's nice to finally meet you…well at least talk to you. Seth had told me soooo much about you, well, actually, he talks more about your cooking, but he's mentioned a few other things about you as well.
Marissa: Glad to see where I fit into the grand scheme of Seth's life.
Hayley: Quick witted, I'm not surprised, although I've heard that all Ryan's other flings were bimbos.
Marissa: Excuse me?
Hayley: Sorry, you're not a fling. Seth said you two were practically married already, just needed the papers. (Marissa laughs.)
Marissa: You say whatever is on your mind, don't you?
Hayley: Pretty much. Life's too short to use pleasantries in conversation and to sugar coat the truth.
Marissa: Well, it's nice to meet…talk to you, too. I must admit, however, that I'm a little surprised that you're calling me.
Hayley: As am I, but my usual confidant can't handle stressful situations.
Marissa: (After a few seconds of silence.) You're Seth's mystery woman!
Hayley: (She laughs.) Is that what you've been calling me?
Marissa: Well, Summer started it, but it sort of caught on, so yeah.
Hayley: I like it; although, it does have some sexual undertones to it, and that would be just wrong.
Marissa: That's pretty much the reaction Seth had.
Hayley: How scary is that!
Marissa: What?
Hayley: That my mind works similarly to Seth's!
Marissa: (She laughs.) I understand your pain.
Hayley: (There is an awkward silence for a moment until she starts to speak.) So, I bet you're wondering why exactly I'm calling you and why Seth couldn't handle the situation.
Marissa: I have to admit that I'm rather curious.
Hayley: Well, Seth said that you give good advice, that you're a good listener, that you're trustworthy, and that you can keep a level head.
Marissa: I guess so, but I didn't know Seth thought so highly of me.
Hayley: Oh, trust me, he might go on and on about your cooking, but Seth loves you for you and not for your ability to feed him. He respects you….a lot.
Marissa: (She is quiet for a moment.) Wow….I had no idea.
Hayley: Yeah, well, my nephew might talk a lot, but he's not too good about handing out compliments unless they're to himself. (Marissa laughs.) So anyway, I don't know if Seth's said anything to you…in loose terms without naming my name, but I haven't been feeling well lately. I've been tired, feeling run down, and just seem to never feel like myself. I've been avoiding it, but Seth kept insisting, so I went to the doctors yesterday.
Marissa: And?
Hayley: And he sent me to the hospital right away to have tests run. I'm sick….really sick. (She starts to cry.) And I need your help. (Although Marissa's expression shows her sympathy, she, as Seth predicted, is holding it together. As the scene fades out on her talking to Hayley, their voices fade to nothing and the scene ends.)
Commercial Break