The O.C. (2003–2007): Season 2, Episode 4 - The New Era - full transcript

Previously on the O.C.

You're not exactly
the ideal client.

Rich, powerful...
Guilty.

Guess who no longer works
for Partridge, Savage & Caan?

You quit?
Or got fired.

Ryan Atwood?
Lindsay Gardner.

I owe you an apology.

I'm sorry.
Me, too.

We agreed we wouldn't tell
anyone because you could get fired.

You know what? I quit.

As of tomorrow morning,
Julie will be the new



chief executive officer
of the Newport Group.

-Maybe I can't be just friends with you.
-I guess maybe this is it for us.

SETH:
You're saying you won't help me?

RYAN:
I got a physics quiz, I'm kinda busy.

Ryan, please, man.

This is a crisis, okay?

Zack and Summer--
they're full-on dating now.

That means I need
a new girlfriend, pronto.

You're going to start dating someone
just to show up Summer?

There's other reasons.

I can't think of
them right now.

Listen, hold on a second.

Let's break bread,
let's discuss broads.

Oh! My graphing calculator.



I left it in your room.

You know what else
is in my room?

What? What is in your room?

My yearbook, full of new ideas
for fresh-faced loved ones.

What do you say
we whittle down the list

to, like, 20 finalists,
by homeroom?

That's a bad idea.
And you can keep my leftovers.

No, no, thanks.
I'm not dating this year, that's game plan.

-Yes you are.
-Nope.

You absolutely are.
I'm not entering this new era alone.

It is a new era.

Getting the ax is
the best thing to happen to me.

Now, the only person
I answer to is me.

And my father.
Ah!

All I'm saying is that
he's your only client.

Isn't he?

Yeah.
And you work for his wife.

What was your father
thinking?

Well, you can ask him.

You'll be hanging with him
all day.

If I can win this case,

get my practice
off the ground...

You can spend
your entire career

defending my father's
rich clients.

You're not bringing
me down, honey.

Look, you heard Seth.

It's a new era.

Sure is, Father,
and guess what?

I think I found
a new girlfriend.

Here in the kitchen?

Ah, no, in the new era,

Seth shops for girlfriends
in the yearbook.

Tina Woo, member of
the a cappella group,

co-President of the
improv team Shenanigans.

She's musical,
she's witty.

Hopefully she's
free for lunch.

Dude, "Shenanigans"?
I know.

Sure you're ready to
start dating, sweetie?

I mean after everything you've
been through with Summer?

What, better
he should mope?

Don't listen to them.

If it was up
to your mother,

I'd still be working
at Patridge, Savage & Caan,

coming home bitching
about high-priced lawsuits.

Totally. Ryan, would you
rather I go for the Woo,

or keep talking
about Summer?

Here's to the new era.

Amen.
Amen.

( piano and acoustic guitar
strumming gentle melody )

S02E04
The New Era

* California, here we come *

* Right back where
we started from *

* California... *

RYAN:
Alright,

the Tina Woo thing
didn't happen. Just move on.

You know, a simple "no"
from the Woo

would have been sufficient.

I think the added laughter
was just unnecessary.

Hey, what about her?

Tiffany Rosenberg?

No, we have a history.

Third grade, uh,

class field trip
to Sea World.

I tried to sort of
talk to the dolphins,

she overheard,
there was taunting.

It was really bad.
Bus ride home was a low point.

Uh-huh. How about
I point out a girl,

and you tell me whether
or not you'd date her?

How about I tell you whether
or not she would date me?

Yeah, exactly.
Okay.

Uh, that one right there.

Uh, yeah...

and no.
No?

Uh, no. Yeah.

Yeah?
Are you shopping

for girlfriends in the quad?

Yeah.
No.

( laughing ):
Classy...

and not remotely demeaning.

Uh, Lindsay, Seth,
Seth, Lindsay.

Oh. Hey.

So, how does this work?

Is there a ranking system,

or is each girl judged
on her individual merits?

And by merits, I mean
her rack and/or ass.

It's a simple
yes-no survey.

Yes-no survey.

I see.

Well, in that case, no...

and no.

I'll see you in class.

I can't believe
I finally met her.

Lindsay?
Lindsay Cohen.

It's got a nice ring to
it. Don't you think?

Will you hook that up
for me?

No.
Why not? Unless, hey, do you,

I mean, do you like her?

Oh, n-n-no, no,
it's just, she's,

she's argumentative,
bossy, difficult.

Yeah, that's my type.

You should hold out
for something else.

No, absolutely not.
I need that one,

and I need you to make
that happen for me, okay?

Can you make it happen?
Can you hook me up?

Hook a brother up?

I could hook it up.

That's what I
like to hear.

Thank you.

MARISSA:
This is a new era, Summer.

For the first time in my life,
I have, like, no boy drama.

SUMMER:
That is not possible.

You are a magnet
for boy drama.

I'm serious.

Ryan and I--
just friends.

Mmm. And DJ?

What, with the deltoids
and the trapezoids?

He wants nothing
to do with me.

Well, did you apologize?

I have no idea
where he is.

After he quit working
for my parents,

he went totally MIA.

He can't be that
hard to find.

Doesn't he work
for the Hendersons?

See? Totally
addicted to boy drama.

Like you don't have issues.

Actually, right now
my love life

is totally trauma-free.

So, lunch went well
with Zack and your dad?

Amazing. None of that
manic Cohen chatter

or that incomprehensible
Cohen mumbling.

If Cohen is the virus,
Zack is the cure.

He is the anti-Cohen.

Hmm. Speak of the devil.

Cohen?
Zack.

Right. Great. Better. Hey!

Hi.

Oh. That's a firm hug.

Sorry, Duckie.

Duckie?

We have nicknames.

We do?
Yes.

"Duckie." That's, that's cute.

So, anyways, Duckie,

Marissa here
is totally bumming out

because she doesn't
have anyone in her life

as perfect as you.

Thanks, Summ.

Well, I know lots
of eligible bachelors.

You want me
to set you up?

Oh, no. That's okay.

Really, I'm fine.

CALEB:
You know, this is the start

of a new era for us, Sandman.

Working together
on the same side of the law,

overcoming
our differences,

battling the odds.

Bringing a tear
to my eye, Cal.

Now, let's talk
about what we know

at this point
in the game.

You hungry?

They do a delicious
frittata here.

You a frittata man?
I'm fine.

Now, you've been
funneling money

every month to a trust.

And the person
who runs this trust

happens to be an associate
of the city councilman's office,

the same city councilman
that issues building permits

to people who build
lots of buildings.

People like you.

I do build lots
of buildings.

I've done very well
for myself.

Started off with nothing,

and still I strive
for more,

never satisfied.

What do they call that?

Greed.

Now, as you can see,

on the face of it
this looks like bribery.

What about a round
of drinks, huh?

What do you say, huh?
Manhattans?

It's 10:00 a.m.

Now focus.

Why did you set up
the trust?

Charity, tax benefits...

What about the woman

who runs the trust?
Renee Wheeler?

I don't know her.

You're very grumpy
today.

I think it's 'cause
you're hungry.

Frittata coming right up.

The D.A. wants you
to spend your twilight years

in a 5-by-9 cell,

and all you can think
about are frittatas.

No one is going to jail.

This thing won't even
make it to court.

Phyllis.

Phyllis?
Yeah.

My-my old secretary.

She retired
three years ago.

She set up the trust.

You couldn't have told me
this on the phone?

Then I wouldn't have
gotten to see you.

Let's get you
that frittata.

Excuse me.

You're lurking.

Right. Sorry.

Um...

Look, uh, for all I know,
you have a boyfriend,

so there's no point
in me even asking you...

I don't...

Um,

I don't have a boyfriend.

Oh, you don't?

Yeah. Don't rub it in.

Right. Well,
I was wondering

if you would maybe
want to...

maybe, a-and feel free

to say no...
go out on a date.

Okay.

Sure.

Yeah?
Yeah.

Uh, great, so you'll
go out with Seth?

Wh-what?

Yeah, you'll go
on a date with Seth?

Yes. Uh, Seth...

You want me to go out
with Seth,

and I said, "yes,"

so, yes.
Great.

Great... great.
You sure?

I am positive.
Tomorrow night.

The sooner the better,
right?

Right. Yeah.

Uh, thanks.

JULIE:
Look who has a new ficus.

Oh. I-I have a ton
of work to do.

If, if you could...

I figure
now that I'm in charge,

I could introduce more life
into this place.

You know, a ficus here,
an orchid there,

next thing you know,
we are...

A rain forest.

Thanks for the plant,

but right now
this company

is one failed deal away
from total ruin,

which means I have
to ficus, uh, focus...

Ficus, focus.

Oh, honey, you are all over
the place.

But no need to worry.

The boss is here.

Let me lighten your load.

What are you reading?

Budget projections
for next year.

It's, uh,
it's very dense.

Which you think I am?
Dense.

No. Uh, Julie, no.

Look, the key to good leadership
is delegation,

so why don't you delegate
this kind of stuff to me

so that you're free to...
Continue being stupid?

Julie, all I'm saying

is that we have an extremely
important presentation tomorrow.

Yes.

Clearly I have a lot
of reading up to do

so I can be ready
for the presentation.

You know, running this company

is about more
than just plant life, Kirsten.

Even you should know that.

Hey.

I saw your truck,

and I thought
I'd stop by and say hi.

How are you?

Busy.

Right.

Well, you can't be busy
all weekend long.

The Killers are playing
tomorrow night,

and they're
really good.

So, what, are we friends now?

Judging by this conversation,
probably not.

But I'd really like
to try...and be something.

And how does your boyfriend
feel about that?

He's not my boyfriend.

I guess that explains
what you're doing here

talking to me.

When you and I...

I didn't know Ryan
was coming back.

I'm glad I could help you
kill time until he did.

You know that's not
what it was.

Bait Shop, tomorrow night.

I'll be there if you decide
to stop by.

( grunts )

Hi.

Hey.

I think all this manual labor
is affecting my bod.

I seem tougher to you?

You don't want me
to answer that.

Hey, so, guess what.

You have a date tomorrow.

I do? With who?

Lindsay, the future
Mrs. Seth Cohen.

No. Man, I said
I wanted to marry her,

not date her, okay?

I didn't think
she would say yes.

-This changes everything.
-I'm not getting you out of it.

I'm not going...
unless you go with me.

I will do that.
You want me to go

with you on your date
as your chaperone?

No. We'll double.
I'll set you up.

With all the single
women you know.

Seth, there's a clogged toilet
in the men's room

that's got your name on it.
Sweet.

Hey.
Hi.

No.
Yes.

There's no way she'd even
go out with me, anyway.

Are you kidding me?

Her with the tattoo,
you with the wristband.

That's like the ultimate

wrong-side-of-the-tracks
love story.

Seriously, you are the Sid
to her Nancy,

the Kurt to her Courtney.

The 50 Cent to her...Mrs. Cent.

No. I'm done dating.
I told you that.

Ryan, kids our age don't
even date anymore.

They hang out in groups,
then they peel off to hook up.

You've never done that.

No, I know, but I read about it

in New York Times Magazine.

My guess is that
Alex loves the group hang.

Group hang?

That's the lamest thing
I've ever heard.

But later, we peel off, and...

And do what,
go to Chuck E Cheese, mini-golf?

I swear, mentally,
you are seven years old.

That was last year. This year,
I'm eight and three-quarters.

Anyways, it's my night off.

Why would I want
to spend it here with you?

I'll tell you exactly why.
Look at me.

I'm a youth
in need, okay?

Somebody stomped
on my sand castle,

and my ball rolled out
into the middle of the street,

and my kite is caught
in a tree, and I can't...

I get it.
And you know what else?

My friend Ryan--
he's really cool, okay?

He's very anti-establishment.

He enjoys, uh,
sunset walks on the beach,

punching people,
and not smiling.

And that's how you see me?

Yeah, only with less smiling.

You're out of your mind.

Maybe I am, Alex.

Maybe I'm, like, so far out
of my mind that I'm in yours.

And I think I know
what you're thinking right now.

You're thinking,
"I can't wait to go."

That's what you're thinking
maybe, is it?

Huh? Is that
what you're thinking?

Okay, I'll go just to
get you out of my office.

Stop freaking out.
It's okay.

I will hook you up. It's fine.

Look it, you're smiling.
I like...

Gonna be really fun.
Get out, get out.

Okay. Alright.

Wait. Tomorrow night at 8:00.

It's gonna be awesome!

KIRSTEN: So, while
I can appreciate your apprehension,

let me assure you
that the dip

in company earnings is
only a temporary one.

JULIE: Good morning.
So sorry I'm late.

I'm glad
you didn't wait for me.

Julie Cooper Nichol,
CEO of the Newport Group.

Hello.

Julie, I was just
going over

our investment pitch
for Mr. Herbert's

new mall development.

Uh, feel free to jump in

if you think
I've missed anything.

Don't be so modest, Kirsten.

I'll jump in now.

Are there any questions
I could answer?

Julie, this isn't
the Q & A portion...

Well, I do have a
couple of questions,

Mrs. Cooper Nichol.

Our primary concern is,

how will Caleb Nichol's
potential indictment

affect the roll-out
of our development?

It won't,

because we won't let it,
will we, Mr. Herbert?

KIRSTEN:
What I think Julie

meant, Mr. Herbert,

is that the success

of the Newport Group is not
contingent on the ideas

and opinions of
any one person.

I think Mr. Herbert and I
can take it from here, Kiki.

Will you get me

a copy of this document?

I need it on my desk
tout de suite.

Julie...

( quietly ):
that's the lunch menu.

Go...

( softly ):
Choo, choo-choo.

Thank you all for your time.

Excuse me.

So, what's your
next question?

How do you explain the company's
failure to hedge its portfolio

against the rise
of long-term interest rates?

Yes...

RYAN:
So, Alex said yes to the date, huh?

But it's not a date.

It's a group hang

with an eye towards
peeling off with...

Summer.

I don't know if I'd be cool

with that quite yet.

On your left.

Oh, oh, oh.
Don't mention the date.

Right, no. Sure,
take the high road.

( clears throat )

Cohen.
Summer.

Hey, Ryan.
Hey.

I have a date.

Wow!

Hey, hope you
and Captain Oats have fun.

( scoffing ):
Actually, it's with a girl.

Ha!

Hey, guys.
Hey.

Coop, you just missed
a milestone here.

Cohen has a date with
a real-life human girl.

Hmm-mm.

Oh. Well, uh, that's...
great, I guess. When?

Ah, tonight. So, you know,
don't wait up.

Ah, don't worry. Zack and I'll
sleep just fine, thanks.

SETH:
Good.

So I'll sleep just fine tonight,
too, with...

I would've loved to remember
her name right there.

High road, huh?

( sighs )

Not my proudest moment.

So, if Seth is abandoning you
for his big date tonight,

then what are you gonna do?

Oh...

'Cause if you wanted
to do something...

Yeah, well, I, um...

You have a date
tonight, too?

No, it's not a date,
it's more of a group hang.

Um...

How are things
with you and DJ?

They're... not...

Um, but I should probably
get to, you know...

But have fun tonight
on your date... or hang.

Hey.

Hey.

What are you doing here?

Well, guess who brought you
a lobster roll

from the Crab Shack.

My hero.

Oh.

My favorite sandwich,
surprise pop-in...?

Yes, it's work.

Don't tell me.
You screwed up.

Power went straight
to your head.

You rocked the
boat too hard.

You can stop.

( sighs )

I have found it challenging.

Truth is, being CEO is a bitch.

Hmm. You'd think
you'd be a natural.

( scoffs )

I tried to Google myself today

and crashed the entire
computer network.

Then our most important
investor ran out

on his meeting with me,
and I don't blame him.

Wow. I never heard you admit
to having faults before.

This is... this is fun!

I was hoping you'd give me
a confidence boost.

I suppose I don't
have that coming?

Sure, you do.

You may not have
Kirsten's experience--

well, let's face it,
any experience--

Get to the boost.

But you are savvy,

okay, and that goes a
long way in this business.

Hell, if I had
your instincts,

I-I never would
have lost a dime.

So you think this is fixable?

If there's one thing
that you're good at,

it's getting money
from rich, old men.

You just... you gotta do it the
Julie Cooper way.

You know I don't mean
sleep with him, right?

You know what?

I think you've just given me the
confidence to execute Plan B.

And you have given me
a delightful snack.

I love this new era.

We should have gotten
divorced years ago.

Thank you, Jimmy.

( exhaling )

Oh, hey, there she is.

SETH:
Awesome.

Hey, why don't you go talk to
her for, like, an hour or five

and just tee me up.

She's your date.

Yeah. Details.

I'm gonna go find Alex.

Hey.

What are you doing here?

Chaperoning?

I, uh, have a date, too.

So, we're what, doubling?

Is this one of those
group hangs I read about?

I'm... not sure
what this is.

Look, right there.

That's a very good-looking
human being.

He is cute.
I told you.

But here's the
thing, though.

Is he cuter than me?
'Cause, I mean,

should I not have him sit at
the same table as my date?

Uh, you're cute, too.

Really?
But cuter than Ryan?

I mean, I just don't want him
overwhelming me.

Mm, I don't think
that's possible.

Oh. You think I'm cute.

When you're
not talking.

Hey.

Uh, Ryan, Alex.

Alex, Ryan.

Uh, Lindsay, Seth.

Seth, Lindsay.

How could I forget?

Mm.

Well, this should be great,

really great
and not at all awkward.

Yes, Your Honor. Yes!

Sandy, what
are you doing?

I've got Judge Hatchett
on the Tivo.

Have you ever seen her?

She does not take crap
from anybody.

What's going on?

What do you mean?

Well, you're in your pajamas,

you have orange Cheeto dust

all over you...

What has happened to my husband?

Your father's case
is as good as lost.

He's been giving me
the complete runaround.

Today he sent me
to go meet with

his former
assistant, Phyllis.

Phyllis died last year.

Exactly. Literally dead ends.

That's the best lead
he's given me yet.

Julie seems to be on the same

seek-and-destroy mission
as my dad.

As long as she's running
the company, I might as well...

Give up.

Mm...
Why don't we give up?

Oh, give up with me, honey.

You know, we could let
the gruesome twosome

destroy our careers,

or we could sit here
and enjoy obscene amounts

of Dr. Phil and destroy
them ourselves.

Sandy?
Hmm?

If my dad is acting all weird,
he's hiding something.

I know.

Which means it's your job
to figure out what that is.

( doorbell rings )

( sighs )

Now, I know I'm not your
favorite person right now,

but I have a way
to make it up to you.

This can't be good.

Let's have a party.

Uh, sure. Julie, can we talk
about this tomorrow?

Sure, we can.

Unfortunately,
the caterers are here right now.

Come on in, guys. This way.

What's going on?

Well, you know,
here's the thing.

I knew if
I asked you in advance

that you'd probably
say no,

so I went ahead
and called Mr. Herbert

and several other clients
and invited them to a party.

At our house?
Tonight?

Uh-huh. Yeah, Caleb thought
it was a great idea.

He went to the club
to meet someone from work.

( exhales )

Meet who?

Who knows?

Well, so much to do,
so little time.

Hm.

( sighs )
( crunching )

( rock song playing )

* *

* *

* *

( music continues )

So, the Killers.

Awesome, huh?

Stellar observation,

and one you've made,
like, eight times now.

Alright.

So, do you like
live music?

Not really. You?

It's my passion.

Dude, I'm dying here.

Yeah. Well, my guess is, this
secret conference isn't exactly helping.

Well, the good news is,
we already hit rock bottom,

although I've redefined
rock bottom several times tonight.

I think we just
hit a new low.

( rock music playing )

* *

* *

Coop, there was no way
I was gonna let you

stay home tonight.

I know. I just
wish I didn't have

to third-wheel
on your date.

Ducky and I don't mind.
Do we, Ducky?

Yeah, how much longer is this
Ducky thing gonna go on for?

Aw, do you want
a new nickname?

How about... Cohen?

I think it's
a little too soon

to joke about that,
don't you think?

SETH:
Summer!

Oh, my God, hey!
How are you?

Hey, Cohen.

Ryan.

Marissa.

Uh, this is Lindsay.

This is Alex.

This is Lindsay.
Hi.

Yeah, okay.

Well, this, um,
this is ju...

This is awesome.
It's awesome!

You know what,
maybe we should...

Go watch the band.

Alright.
Yeah.

See ya.
See ya.

So, I'm guessing we just
met some ex-girlfriends?

SETH ( chuckles ):
Well,

Ryan and Marissa, that's
an epic tale right there.

But Summer and I are
equally as fascinating.

She was my shorty

last year,
but then she got served.

Aw.

Not that that's...
particularly interesting.

Wonderful guests,
everyone at the party.

Oh, well, thank you.

Jimmy, thank God you're here.

Julie invited me.

She knows I can't
turn down free booze.

Neither can she.

Look at her.

All that giggling
and touching.

Oh, God, she just
grazed an ass.

Oh, the not so
subtle ass graze.

Yeah, I've been a
victim of it myself.

Don't worry about it.

She's schmoozing the crowd
at a cocktail party.

This is our star clientele.

Do you know how many years
of wooing and cajoling it took

to have a meeting
with these people?

This is the woman who
came from Riverside

to become head Newksie,

then landed Newport's
biggest tycoon

and took over his company.

She knows what she's doing.

( laughs )

...she's following me around,
judging, judging, judging.

Ten bucks says
Cohen is bending

that poor girl's ear
about Superman or Batman

or something-man in a unitard
that she doesn't give a crap about.

You know what?

I should stop him.

For her sake.

Uh-huh. Well, that sounds like

it's coming from
a really generous place.

Or we could just put
the Cohen obsession on hold

and watch the band.

I am not obsessing.

The seething, the staring,

the analyzing of his outfit,
that's not obsessing?

What? That shirt totally
accentuates his bird arms.

I think this is the part
where I go to the bathroom.

( music playing )

So, I mean,
a little mean girl?

I don't... I don't...
I don't have time...

But I will admit
that our breakup,

to the outside observer,
could seem sad,

but I don't know,
for me, I feel like

it's given me this great gift,
you know, this new era.

And this whole new
situation, like,

her, Zack, you
and I, it works...

( music continues )

Oh, drinking alone--
that's never a good sign.

What the hell
are you doing here?

Well, I tried to talk
to Phyllis earlier,

but I left my Ouija
board at home.

No more games, Cal.

Who was that woman I
saw leave this place?

You trailed me here?
Spied on me?

No, actually I got lucky.

I showed up just
as she was leaving.

Well, she was, uh,

she's a...

an old friend.

Come on.

You built a fortune on lies,
you can do better than that.

My guess--

that was Renee Wheeler.

I told you, I don't know her.

Alright, then that was
somebody driving Renee Wheeler's car.

I called her license plate
number into a friend of mine

at the police station.

Well-played, Magnum P.I.

Stay away from her.

I'll only ask you this
once, Cal.

Are you having an affair?

We're in much deeper water
than that, believe me.

If I were you,

I'd leave it alone.

What if I don't?
Well,

we could lose everything.

So before you go probing
around into my affairs,

think long and hard--

is it worth it to you?

( applause and cheering )

( whooping )

You know what it is?
So, it's like four-two.

Her over there,
me over here,

me over her over here,
so the four of us

hanging out,
over each other,

but hanging out together.

I mean, apart, but-but
in the same place,

although different places
mentally, I think.

Cohen, there is
something wrong with you.

No. That's the best part.

I am totally fine
not talking to her.

I have nothing
to say to her.

Except, the only thing
that I would say

if I said something to her--

and I don't care at all
if I do--

is that I'm fine
not talking to her.

Maybe I should tell her that.

Well, you better hurry,
'cause they're leaving.

I'll be right back.

( sighs )

Hey, you came.

Well, my friend's got tickets
and had an extra.

Right.

I'll see you around.

ALEX:
Maybe you should tell her.

Tell who what?

Lindsay... that you like her.

I'm not offended.
It's okay.

It's a group hang,
and, um, listen,

no offense here, but I'm not
really feeling the spark.

Wow. An honest
conversation with a girl.

-Mm.
-This is new for me.

I'm gone. Thanks.

I was not talking about
Cohen the entire night.

It sure felt like it.

Well... What, you want
to go somewhere else?

Maybe you should go home

and log onto some kind of
Cohen chat room, okay?

I've had enough.

Summer, hey.
Where are you going?

Oh, look.
It's Seth.

We're going home.

Okay, can I talk to you
for, like, one minute?

Zack, I'm really sorry.

I'm gonna go
jump off the pier.

Zack, wait!

Listen, I just want to tell you
I don't want to talk, okay?

I'm fine with this.

You and him,
me and her.

Zack sure is a fast walker.
Look, Cohen, just stop

trailing us, alright?
I'm not...

SUMMER:
Zack, will you wait, please?

I just, I...

Just beat it.

Duckie!

Please.

Please...

If you promise
to stop calling me Duckie.

Can't make any promises.

Hi. Whoa.
Where are you going?

Can I give you a lift
or something?

I couldn't possibly ask
any more from you,

nor can I thank you enough
for what was truly

one of the worst
evenings of my life.

I know. Seth's not ready
to date yet.

It was,
it was a bad idea.

Yeah, it was a colossally
bad idea, epically bad.

The invasion of Iraq is looking
pretty good in comparison.

Okay. Alright,
you're right.

Let me talk to
you for a second.

No. Ryan, you can't.

I've listened to enough talk
for one night, okay?

See you at school.

( indistinct whispering )

Oh, Kiki, come here.

You'll never believe this.

Steven's daughter
has a pony, too.

She boards at the
same stable as China.

What a coincidence.

Yeah.

How cute is that
little riding park? Oh.

And at Christmas,
when they string

all the lights
through the trees...

Yes. My daughter
and her Shetland

spend all their Saturdays there.

Oh.
( chuckles )

Uh, Steven... about the meeting,

I-I wanted to apologize.

You know, Kirsten is the one

who renovated the
stable and the park,

then sold it back to
the original owners

at twice the cost.

"Preservation
and profit,"

that's your motto,
right, Kirsten?

Well, that's
every developer's dream.

( laughter )

Funny, mine's Jude Law
in a zebra-skin rug.

Uh, Steven, your drink's
looking a little empty.

Can I get you another?

Only if you two join me.

Ooh. Be careful, Steven.

Kirsten here's got
a bit of a hollow leg.

What are you drinking?

Uh, champagne.

Make it two.

HERBERT:
Done.

Thank you.

See, I'm not
totally useless.

I never said...
Apology accepted.

I'm gonna go get Mr. Herbert's contract
out of my purse.

You make sure he gets
another whiskey sour.

SETH:
Hey.

Hey.
How was your night?

Not good. You?

( sighs ):
Worse.

You didn't like Alex?

Eh.

And you and Lindsay?

Uh, not even close.

What are you gonna do now?

Actually...
I was gonna go and...

Oh, go for it.

Yeah?
Yes.

What are you gonna do?

I don't know.
I was gonna maybe...

Good idea.

Alright.
Alright.

Dude, see ya.

Great show. I hope you
guys come back soon.

Hey.

So, to recap,

I got discoed by two girls
in one night,

and, unfortunately,
that's just not

the first time
that's happened.

Actually, I'm not surprised.

Thank you. Keep twisting the
knife. I'm not in enough pain.

Oh, you're the one who's
hurting, not Summer or Lindsay?

Yeah, well, at least everybody's
miserable, right?

Anyways,

uh, I'm sorry about
the whole group hang

or whatever that was.

Night.

Hard to believe all those
girls running out on you.

Don't make me try
and feel better.

What, with you being
so bratty and immature.

Oh, good, you weren't.

And even

sometimes...

a little... charming,

especially when you're not
talking about Summer.

I know. I just...

And knowing
is half the battle,

so perhaps there's
a little hope for you yet.

( sighs )

You wanna go maybe get
an ice cream or something?

Ice cream as a nightcap?

Yeah.

( chuckles ):
You really are eight.

And three-quarters.

Let's go.

I'll buy, but, um, no
more than two scoops.

Alright.

Keeping watch?

What are you doing here?

I was headed to your house,

and I thought
I'd surprise you.

So this means...?

I'm not sure exactly,
except, uh...

I guess I'd better prepare
myself for some drama, huh?

You have no idea.

Hi.

Need a lift?

No, thanks.
The bus'll be here soon.

Okay, did you not understand the
part about me taking the bus?

Alright. Hold on.

Uh, don't.

It's my fault.

I knew it was gonna be
a disaster with Seth.

Then why'd you say yes?

Because I thought you
were asking me out.

Didn't mean to say that
out loud.

Uh, what?

I thought that I was
saying yes to you.

Where's that
stupid bus?

You did? 'Cause I...

I mean, you think
I'm an idiot.

Yeah, well, I guess
that's the twist,

'cause turns out
I'm the idiot.

No, no, you're not.

I, um...

When I asked you out that day

for Seth, I, uh...

Well, I, uh...

Keep talking, Ryan.

I wanted it to be me.

I did. I just didn't think
in a million years

you'd say yes.

Then I've been
right all along.

You are an idiot.

An idiot you'd go out with
sometime?

It's possible.

Ah, party's over.

Oh, finally.

I literally had to push
Steven Herbert out the door.

Deal's back on?

He re-signed his contracts.

Hopefully he'll remember
that in the morning.

Julie Cooper--

definitely understands
the weakness of man.

You were gone
for a while.

Well, I was driving around,

thinking how I find myself again

in a very familiar triangle.

What triangle is that?

You, me, your dad.

He's guilty, isn't he?

He's guilty of something.

Something he thinks
we're better off not knowing.

Well, you've never been one
to shy away from the truth.

I can start now.

Well, a man could make

a nice life out of Cheetos
and Dr. Phil.

Not the man I love.

Oh...

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by paulonline