7:36 P.M., EST / 4:36 P.M. OCST: As I look upon the title of tonight's episode, I cannot help but predict that surfing will play a pivotal role in the drama about to unfold in the Orange County.
8:02 P.M., EST / 5:02 P.M. OCST: The first sound? Waves. I am so damn good! Said waves are in Marissa’s dreams, as she has flashbacks of Tre. She wakes up in cold sweats (in the same bed as Summer – oh yeah!!) but a phone call to Ryan calms her. The next day, the Newport Public School crew invites her to go surfing. Johnny confides to her that he once beat his dad – an alcoholic, who was abusing his mother - with a baseball bat in a fit of uncontrollable rage. Naturally, Marissa can relate.
In the private school world, trampy Taylor plans a mandatory “lock-in” for Saturday night. Sandy has found a potential buyer for the Newport Group. Over lunch with new roommate Julie, Charlotte convinces her to throw a benefit party at the new condo and wants Kirsten to help plan it. What the Boston bombshell is up to, no one knows. Meanwhile, Ryan finds out that Marissa was at the beach and is none too pleased. Fortunately, he resists the urge to punch someone... for now.
Sandy meets the Newport Group buyers and nearly completes the sale when he is thrown for a loop. The younger of the two partners praises Sandy’s integrity (for stipulating that any sale be contingent on the preservation of the group’s lower-income housing) and proposes that Sandy take over as CEO of the company with him as the second-in-command. At the lock-in preparation, we are treated to a glimpse of Taylor’s mom, who not only challenges Kirsten for MILF of the Year honors, but taunts her temperamental teen over the absurdity of the whole event. Seth overhears this and feels a trace of compassion.
That’s when things get totally O.O.C. in the O.C. Marissa invites Summer to her latest surfing date with the gang. After catching some rad waves, they are invited to a party at Chili’s place. With Johnny flirting with Marissa like it’s his job, Summer calls Seth to sound the alarm. Ryan cruises over there to intervene, but it’s Johnny’s girlfriend Casey who gets caught cheating – with his arch-nemesis surfer rival dude, Volchak. Talk about making waves (clank.) Meanwhile, a suspicious Julie confronts Charlotte about her motives, but the Bostonian bristles. Sanford officially takes the reins of the Newport Group and celebrates by doing tequila shots with his new cohort. Really.
As the lock-in commences, a Harbor student lashes out at its coordinator with the three words we have all been waiting weeks to hear – Taylor Townsend sucks! Her head "swells" with embarrassment, but Seth gallantly steps in to take the brunt of the crowd's abuse. A tamer Taylor tepidly repays his kindness by not reporting the absent Ryan and Summer. Where is Ryan, you ask? Racing to stop Johnny from receiving a savage beating at the hands of Volchak and other bigger, stronger surfer guys. Saving the day at the eleventh hour, Atwood avenges Johnny by dropping his girlfriend-pilfering rival with one punch. Jaw swelling (swish!) and pride hurting, Volchak watches as they walk away. Safe... for now.
NOTE: Again, one would think if Matthew Richenthal were going to abandon the Files for a night of gay basketball, his byline would not appear above. Yet, for reasons unknown to this scribe, we cannot alter it. But I digress. With Matthew watching the program later in the evening (thanks be toTiVo), it is once again an honor for Stephen Marsi to fill in so that you, our fans, won't miss a beat.
ADDITIONAL NOTE: It bears mentioning that despite his active involvement in the aforementioned hoops league, Matthew Richenthal is not, himself, a homosexual. However, if he were, he would not be judged or viewed any differently by the rest of our staff. The Files fully supports the rights, and advocates the respect of all persons.
"The Swells" File: