The last scene opens up with everyone sitting around the large table, enjoying each others company, talking amongst themselves, and eating birthday cake. There are many small conversations going on between various couples and friends. Ryan and Marissa are currently lost in each other, talking softly, laughing playfully, and ignoring the rest of the conversations around them until Seth brings them out of their own little word by addressing Marissa.
Seth: Marissa, this cake is delicious! It must have taken you all morning to make it.
Marissa: (Ryan snickers and Marissa softly elbows him so that no one can see she's doing it.) Not really.
Seth: Yeah, but you were just putting the finishing touches on it a little while ago, so what do you mean?
Ryan: She had to let it cool before she could frost and decorate it, right? (He turns and smiles at Marissa who smiles back at him and nods her head.)
Marissa: Hey, you learned something today about cooking! (They laugh together while everyone else at the table laughs at them.)
Branning: You two really make me sick. Are they always like this? (He addresses this question to Seth and Summer.)
Summer: Unfortunately, yes. (She rolls her eyes. Seth is still lost in thought.)
Seth: Okay, back to me and my questions here, yeah, thanks. I still don't get this, Marissa. I mean, you started cooking at like 8:00 this morning; if it didn't take you long, why were you just finishing when we came in about two hours ago?
Marissa: I had other things to do….
Summer: (She snorts a laugh.) And by other things, do you mean Ryan? (Marissa's face becomes bright red while Ryan starts to get annoyed.)
Ryan: Why does every family meal have to end up like this, with Marissa and I as the main conversation point? (All the adults look around at each other sheepishly, not able to deny the truth in that statement but also not wanting to face Ryan while he is mad. Zoe, on the other hand, is thinking about this extremely hard. All of a sudden, she jumps up in her seat as if she has had a brain storm.)
Zoe: Ryan, whenever Marissa is cooking too slowly, you should slap her on the butt to make her hurry up like Mommy does to Daddy! (Kirsten's face turns a bright red while Sandy just smiles on proudly. It takes a couple of moments for the remark to sink in for everyone, but once it does, they all start to laugh. Marissa is just grateful that the attention has been taken off of her. Sandy turns to Ryan, still smirking at his daughter's comment, and speaks loudly.)
Sandy: Guess you're not the topic of choice now!
Kirsten: Sandy!
Sandy: Oh honey, (He turns to Kirsten.) come on, you have to admit that was funny.
Kirsten: Fine, it was somewhat funny, but it still doesn't answer Seth's question. (She turns to Marissa and Ryan again.) When I left this morning you guys were in the kitchen working together. Perhaps Ryan was a little more distracting than he was helpful.
Ryan: Hey, I resent that. I was stirring things up, heating the oven for her, and working things with my hands to make them tender and soft! (Marissa turns to him speechless that he said that while everyone else looks on slightly confused, trying to figure out just what he was alluding to. Luckily for Marissa, the only other person at the table who could cook spoke up to help her out.)
Caitlyn: Oh, you mean you kneaded the butter to make it soft enough to use in the batter? (She smiles innocently at Ryan and Marissa. Marissa mouths a sly thank you to her, while Ryan just nods his head.)
Ryan: Yep, that's exactly what I did.
Marissa: And it took a while, because, Seth, not only do you have to cook things, but you also have to clean up afterwards, which means dishes. Then Ryan and I each had to take showers.
Summer: Why didn't you just take a shower together? We all know you've done that before, so what was different this time? (Just then the doorbell rings, and before anyone can say anything, Marissa jumps out of her chair and runs towards the house, eager to be the one who answers the door because then she can escape the awkward conversation. Ryan gets up and follows after her into the house. Summer calls after him.) You can't get away that easily, Chino! You will answer my questions! (Once he and Marissa are both gone, Kirsten thinks out loud.)
Kirsten: I wonder who that could be. We didn't invite anyone else. (She turns to look at Sandy who has a sheepish look on his face.) Sandy, what did you do?
Sandy: I might have invited someone else to the party.
Kirsten: Who? (The camera leaves them and goes to the front door as Marissa opens it to find Jimmy standing there with a present in his arms looking like he'd like to be anywhere but there. Ryan is at her side by now.)
Marissa: What are you doing here?
Jimmy: Hi Marissa, Ryan. I…um….Sandy actually invited me, because he said this was sort of a party for Caitlyn as well, and he thought that I should be here for her.
Marissa: So you decide to come around for a party and we're all supposed to be glad to see you and welcome you with open arms. Well, what about all those times you left her to care for herself in the past? What about the fact that you never came to see her when she was in the hospital, in a coma no less!
Ryan: Marissa, (She doesn't hear that he said her name softly, so he gently puts his hand on her back and says her name louder.) Marissa! (She turns to face him and as soon as she does, her face softens. Jimmy notices this and starts to think.) Why don't you two go into Sandy's office and talk for a little while. I think there are things you both need to say to each other, if not for yourselves then for Caitlyn. I'll go back out to the party, because I don't want to intrude and I'll let them know what's going on.
Jimmy: Wait, you don't have to do that. Stay. You're a part of Marissa's life now, a big part of it, and you should be a part of this as well. You're her family.
Ryan: I don't think so, Jimmy. That means a lot to me, that you accept me as a part of Marissa's life, but this is between you and her. I don't want to get in the way, and, plus, you don't know my family. Someone will need to be there to stop them all from barging in here and interrupting the two of you. Let's just say they're a curious bunch. (He leans in and hugs Marissa lightly while brushing his lips against hers. When he speaks to her, it's in a whisper so that it's just between the two of them.) If you need me, for anything, I'm just outside. (He kisses her again before going, leaving them standing there just basically staring at the floor. Marissa plays awkwardly with her hands while Jimmy absently rubs the back of his neck to relieve the tension. They are very much father and daughter. After a moment, Marissa silently leads him into Sandy's office. Without even thinking about it, Jimmy sits down in the same chair he sat in when Ryan and Sandy talked to him, while Marissa goes and stares absently out of the window. They remain in silence for a moment. Just when Jimmy goes to say something, Marissa starts to talk, but her voice is calm and reflective, as if she has partially forgotten that he is there with her. She is swept up in the memories of her childhood and thinking back.)
Marissa: There are so many things from my childhood that I look back on and I know that it was not fair to me that it was like that, but most of them don't matter, because I wouldn't change anything about it now because it led me to Ryan and my current life. I'm happy. I have a new family, a family I'm making with Ryan and his family, and we know that we're going to be good parents, attentive and loving, to our children someday. I have an amazing job, great friends, everything is practically perfect, but sometimes when I let myself fall into a nostalgic mood, there are a few moments I will never be able to forget or forgive you for. Do you know how embarrassing it was that day when I was in third grade and you forgot to pick me up from school? I was so excited that I got to stay after to help the teacher and you promised you would pick me up, but then I sat there, on the sidewalk of the school out front, for hours. Luckily my teacher didn't go home right away after I went outside to wait for you and she checked in with me. She ended up sitting there for two hours with me, because I kept saying that you would come, that you promised. Eventually, it was dark, I was cold, I was crying, and she insisted on taking me home. When I got there, Julie was passed out drunk, Caitlyn was crying her eyes out upstairs in her room because she was hungry and scared because no one was watching her, and you were sitting in your office watching a basketball game, totally obviously to the world.
Jimmy: (He is barely able to speak, and when he does, his voice comes out as a whisper.) Why didn't you ever say anything? Why didn't you confront me that night?
Marissa: I was nine years old, why should I be expected to confront you about your negligence? You were my father, you were supposed to notice me, be there for me. It was not my job to take care of you, but I did it anyway, and I never complained. (They are both silent for a moment, but then he breaks through the silence again.)
Jimmy: What else haunts you?
Marissa: I guess the other memory that still bothers me was from when I was eighteen, the day I graduated.
Jimmy: You know, I don't remember that day.
Marissa: That's because you weren't there.
Jimmy: What?
Marissa: You didn't go to my graduation ceremony, you didn't throw me a party, you never even read my valedictorian speech….and I was so proud of that. (She starts to cry, but stifles the sobs and lets the tears flow down her cheeks uninhibited.) My whole goal in high school was to be valedictorian, and I was, and you didn't even know about it.
Jimmy: You never told me.
Marissa: You never asked.
Jimmy: You're right, I didn't. Do you still have the speech? I'd love to hear it, if you would share it with me now.
Marissa: I think it's a little late for that now.
Jimmy: It's never too late.
Marissa: (She is silent a moment while she thinks about this.) Why?
Jimmy: Why what?
Marissa: Why did you not care? (Her voice is tiny like she is a frightened child.) I guess you could excuse yourself where Caitlyn is concerned, say you never felt a bond with her, but you can't do that with me. There is no denying the fact that I am your daughter. We even look alike. Kirsten recognized it the first time she saw me, I'm sure of it. So why did you not want me?
Jimmy: It's not like that. (She whirls around to face him anger replacing the pain that was in her eyes.)
Marissa: Do not even start with the excuses right now! I want the harsh truth no matter what it is. Don't worry, I'm not going to fall apart if you don't love me, but I need to put this past me once and for all. I need to put you in the past once and for all.
Jimmy: (He considers his words carefully before he speaks.) They're not excuses, it's just the truth. I've never doubted the fact that I love you. I know that I love you. You are and always have been the most important person in my life…other than myself, but I don't know how to be a parent. Some people just can't put the needs of others ahead of their own, and I can't. I see that now. I'm a selfish person, and the sad thing is that I really don't want to change. Sure, I feel guilty that I've hurt you and Caitlyn, but I like my life simple. I like waking up in the morning and not having to think about the fact that I have two daughters. I can barely take care of myself. For years, you did it for me, and now that you're not there, I see how much you really did for me.
Marissa: So, that's all you have to say for yourself? You just don't know how to be a parent. That's your big explanation?
Jimmy: Basically, yeah.
Marissa: Well, that sucks! I deserve more than that after everything you've put me through, and Caitlyn…..oh, do not even get me started on what you've done to her these past few months when I stupidly left her in your care. I should have taken her with me when I left, but I wasn't thinking, and now inadvertently, our relationship has been damaged, one more thing Trey has taken from me, and I don't know how to fix it. But you're going to do something about it if it's the last thing I do! If I have to push you every step of the way, you're going to be the father she deserves, the father I deserved, whether or not you like it!
Jimmy: But, I'm not her father.
Marissa: Oh and who is? Some random that Julie slept with while you were married? Yeah, I'm sure he'd be a positive influence in Caitlyn's life. You're the only father she knows, and if you won't do this for her, I don't care what I have to do, I will take her away from you and you'll never see her or me again.
Jimmy: (He is extremely pensive and lost in thought.) What else did Trey take from you?
Marissa: It's none of your business.
Jimmy: You wanted me to be honest with you in this conversation, shouldn't you do me the same courtesy.
Marissa: That has nothing to do with what we're discussing here.
Jimmy: Well, for arguments sake, let's just say that this one time I care enough to ask. (This hits home for Marissa and all the fight leaves her.)
Marissa: Ryan and I were going to start a family as soon as nature allowed, but when Trey and Dan attacked, we realized that it wasn't the best time to bring a child into this world. (She pauses and thinks for a moment.) It's as if they stole a little bit of the innocence from our relationship.
Jimmy: Do you guys want a big family?
Marissa: (She smiles as she thinks of the family plans she and Ryan have made.) Yes.
Jimmy: You'll be a good Mom, and, although I was wary of Ryan at the beginning because I felt as if he was taking you away from me….
Marissa: You pushed me away; I was already gone.
Jimmy: You're right, I did, and you were, but I see how happy you are now, how happy he makes you, and, for once, I'm not going to the selfish thing. I'm going to support you. He loves you so much. You can see it in his eyes as soon as he sees you or speaks about you, and he'll be a great father to your kids.
Marissa: I feel the same way about him. I wish Caitlyn could have had something similar for her first relationship. (Jimmy rubs his face tiredly.)
Jimmy: What do you want me to do….for Caitlyn? (The camera leaves them and goes back outside where the large group has broken up into smaller ones. The parents are all sitting around the table still talking amongst themselves, Summer, Caitlyn, and Zoe are playing and talking together by the edge of the pool, and Ryan and Seth are talking quietly so that no one can hear their discussion.)
Seth: Are you really sure you should have left them in there by themselves. I mean, come on, Jimmy, the dude does not have a backbone whatsoever, and Marissa has some spunk to her.
Ryan: What are you saying Seth?
Seth: What if she murders him in a rage blackout?
Ryan: We're not talking about your fiancé here; we're talking about my….Marissa.
Seth: Oh come on, man, please tell me. I want to know what your cute little nicknames are for each other!
Ryan: Drop it, Seth.
Seth: No way man, this is something I am going to annoy you with until you give in and tell me.
Ryan: Not going to happen, and if you insist upon this, I'll just not talk to you.
Seth: Dude, you're not going to abandon me, are you? Come on, that's not fair. Summer's ditched me for girl talk and I'm not joining in the geriatrics' conversation!
Ryan: Well then, shut up.
Seth: Alright, what do you want to talk about? How's work, how's the family, how's life?
Ryan: What are you talking about?
Seth: I don't know. (He shrugs his shoulders.) But, you've got to admit we act like old married men, and that's what old married men ask each other. We need to do something wild, something fun, something to shake up our lives.
Ryan: Like what?
Seth: Julie Cooper!
Ryan: What! You want to do Julie Cooper! Are you insane!
Seth: No, she's here! (He hits Ryan's arm softly to get him to turn around and face the patio doors. Everyone is just staring at her. Unbeknownst to anyone, she just let herself into the house without knocking or ringing the door bell. She is dressed to make an impression, too, and not a very matronly one. Her suit, a bikini, is extremely skimpy, dark green, and barely covering her body. The breasts are pushed up and together creating a lot of cleavage, and the bottoms of the suit are cut to reveal as much skin as possible. Her hair and makeup are done to perfection, and she is wearing stilettos and sun glasses. That is it, no cover up, no outside piece of clothing to go over the suit. There are many different reactions from the group of people sitting there, previously enjoying themselves. Caitlyn immediately becomes timid and tries to hide her presence as well as possible. Summer, Ryan, Caleb, and Jane all become angry right away, while Sandy and Kirsten are trying to think of ways to do damage control. James sees completely out of it, shell shocked by seeing her. Then there's Seth who just smiles on in enjoyment, knowing that he's about to get some entertainment. Julie walks up the stairs and stands in the middle of everyone there.)
Julie: Well isn't this cozy. A pool party, how sweet, but where's my invitation? Did it get lost in the mail?
Zoe: You weren't invited!
Kirsten: Zoe! (She glares at her to make her be quiet, but Zoe just glares back at her mother before Summer can distract her away from the confrontation by talking softly to her.)
Julie: What a shame! And to think that I'm practically family, and if you look at the banner hanging up there, this party is not only for Marissa's future sister-in-law's birthday but for MY DAUGHTER'S welcome home. I'd say I have more right to be than Jimmy. (She looks around the patio for him.) Where is my loser of an ex-husband? I saw his car outside so I know he's here, and now that I think about it, Marissa's not here either.
Sandy: Julie I'm not sure it's appropriate for you to be here right now.
Caleb: It's not. How did you even find out about this party?
Julie: You know Caleb, it's pretty irresponsible of you to leave your invitation just lying underneath papers on your desk. It's as if you were asking for me to find it.
Caleb: What were you doing in my office?
Julie: Looking for information on you that I could use to my advantage, but then I realized that I didn't need anything from you. I have information of my own that I can twist your arm with. If you do what I want, I won't reveal some interesting biological information. (She looks straight at Jane when she says this.)
Jane: Julie if you dare…
Julie: What are you going to do to stop me? Do you want to pay me off? I don't care who gives me the money, but either someone is going to pay me to keep this information to myself or I'm telling the world. Oh, and Cal, you will also have to drop the charges against Lance.
Caleb: (He is becoming very annoyed.) Not going to happen, Julie.
Julie: Well then I guess someone here is going to get a big surprise!
Sandy: Julie I want you out of my house right now.
Julie: Call the cops, call security, do what you have to do, but that won't stop me from talking. So, what's it going to be? Are you going to give me what I want or am I here today to ruin someone's life? (Ryan is starting to stand up and clench and unclench his fists in order to attempt to fight off his aggression. Caleb stands up as well and starts to walk menacingly towards Julie, but she holds her ground and glares back at him. No one says anything.) Fine! If this is the way you people want to play this, that's fine by me, but don't you dare say I didn't warn you. Caitlyn! (Because she is trying to avoid any inclusion into the events that are transpiring, she does not answer her immediately.) Caitlyn!
Caitlyn: (In a small voice.) What?
Jane: (She stands up and rushes towards Julie.) Don't do this Julie! I will not let you blackmail me, not even for this, but for once in your life put your daughter ahead of your own selfish needs.
Julie: I want you to listen to me carefully, Caitlyn, do you understand me?
Caitlyn: I'm listening. (Julie takes the moment to look around at her audience one last time, giving them one last opportunity to stop her.)
Seth: (He turns and whispers to Ryan.) At least you know that you'll have a fine wife some day even when she's getting up in age! They always say you can predict how a woman will age by looking at her mother, and Julie ages well!
Ryan: (He doesn't even turn to face him when he replies, because his eyes are on Marissa and Jimmy who have just wandered out to the patio to walk in on the present, tense situation.) Seth, shut the hell up, now! (He begins to move towards Caitlyn as does Marissa and Jimmy who see the panic written all over her face and Julie standing in the middle of the confrontation smugly. Julie, however, does not see their arrival.
Julie: All right, if that's how you want to play this, but don't say I didn't warn you or give you a chance to stop this. Caitlyn, (Julie turns around to face her daughter.) Jimmy Cooper is not your father. (Surprising everyone, Jimmy's voice is heard strongly over the silence.)
Jimmy: Yes, I am. (Everyone turns around to face him, surprised and confused by what he is saying, but, none the less, going along with it.) Do not listen to your mother, Caitlyn. She is a lonely, desperate, manipulative woman who has nothing better to do than mess with other people's lives, but this is one thing she's not going to get away with. If you don't believe me, we'll go right now and take a DNA test. I don't care what I have to do. I will prove to you that I am your father. (By this time, Ryan, Marissa, and Jimmy have all reached Caitlyn's side. She is still reclined in the lawn chair. Jimmy kneels down beside her and takes her hand in his squeezing it tightly. Marissa, who is just staring at the scene in front of her, has silent tears streaming down her face, thankful for what he's doing for her little sister. Ryan comes up beside her and wraps his arm around her shoulder pulling her closely to him. Looking around at everyone else at the party, due to the fact that they all know the truth except for Caitlyn and Zoe, they are all confused yet relieved to see what Jimmy was doing. Zoe just watches everything trying to figure out what is happening. Finally, after several moments of silence, Caitlyn speaks up, her voice surprisingly calm and strong.)
Caitlyn: Julie, I want you to leave, now, and please, never come near me again. (Annoyed and angered that her plan did not work, Julie does leave, stomping and complaining loudly her whole way back to the house and through it until they hear the front door slam. Once she is gone, sighs and deep breaths are heard around the group as they each feel relief that the stressful situation has passed. The camera fades away briefly and comes back up a little while later as the party is once again going on as each person tries to act as normal as possible. There are small groups of people off talking to themselves, but Jimmy stands alone just watching Caitlyn while she plays and talks to Zoe, Marissa, Ryan, Seth, and Summer. Sandy sees him alone and goes up to speak with him.)
Sandy: That was a pretty amazing thing you did for her, Jimmy. Stupid and gutsy, because it could have completely backfired in your face, but you might be able to make a go at this parent thing after all.
Jimmy: Well, it's about time I did something right by her.
Sandy: It's a good start. Have you talked to her about taking in a baseball game tomorrow?
Jimmy: No, but, yet again, I also didn't realize that she is on crutches.
Sandy: Watch it at home with her. Order a bunch of take out, get her favorite type of ice cream, and explain the game to her while you watch it on the big screen. She won't care what you do with her, Jimbo, just do something.
Jimmy: (He smiles at Sandy and then turns towards Caitlyn. Before he leaves though, he turns back to speak to Sandy.) I think I'll ask her now. (Sandy smiles back at him and waves him off. As Jimmy approaches Caitlyn, she smiles at him while Marissa stiffens visibly but does not leave the group.) Hey Caitlyn, I have a favor to ask of you.
Caitlyn: (She looks up at him slightly confused but interested at the same time.) What is it?
Jimmy: Well, you see, there's this game on tomorrow, a baseball game, and I really don't want to watch it all by myself, so I was wondering if you'd watch it with me. We'd order anything you wanted to eat, kick back, and just talk while we take in the game. It's been a long time since we just hung out.
Caitlyn: (Her smile fades from her face as she listens to Jimmy talk. When he sees this, he starts to think that it's too late, that she wants nothing to do with him either, but when she speaks, he knows it's worse than that by her tone.) Actually, there's something that I need to talk to you about, something that I need to say to everyone. Can you help me up? (Jimmy does this, helping her stand and then handing her the crutches. She moves so that she is standing for all to hear her and Jane comes up to stand beside her, putting a comforting arm around her shoulder and hugging her to her so that she knows that she is being supported.) I have some news, and before anyone says anything, this is what I want, what I need to do for me. I think you all know that I've never really been happy here, in Newport. It's a beautiful town, and there are definitely some great people here, (She looks around the room at all of them showing that she cares for them all.) but it's just not me. I miss Pennsylvania. I miss my friends. I miss the simplicity of life there. Not everyone is cut out to live here, and I guess I'm just one of those people. So, I'm going home. I've already talked to the neighbor who Marissa and I were both really close with. We've actually stayed in touch this whole time, and she's graciously offered to let me stay with her. Grandma's giving me her permission, and I guess you could stop that Dad, but I'm hoping that you let me do this, that you'll realize it's what I need. And I don't expect you to come with me. You're happier here, and I want that for you, I really do, but I don't want you to be a stranger. We could visit each other. Grandma already made me promise that I'll come to visit for my birthday and all major holidays, so I'll be around, but, in the long run, I just want to go home. (Everyone looks at her shocked and sad as well. As she says her last words, her eyes fall to Marissa who, despite the fact that she is crying silently, is smiling at her baby sister, and as their eyes meet, both girls know that they understand each other and that Marissa supports her decision. The camera fades out on the party and the scene ends.)
End of Episode #17