The Distance (The O.C. episode)
Encyclopedia
"The Distance" is the 28th episode of the FOX
television series, The O.C.
The episode was written by Josh Schwartz
and was directed by Ian Toynton
. It originally aired on November 4, 2004.
hasn't returned home to Newport
. In the midst of home renovations Sandy
and Kirsten
are strained and stressed out: Kirsten is furious and heartbroken that her son has not come home, while Sandy is sure that Seth will come home after he works through what is bothering him. Kirsten is tired of waiting, however, and tells Sandy to bring her son home.
At the Nichol house, it has been a long summer for Marissa
and Summer
. Marissa misses Ryan
, and has turned to drinking and partying to numb the pain. After a brief period of mourning, Summer has been spending a lot of time with Zach
, who has been a nice distraction. She says she refuses to get too close to him, however, or any man ever again. Inside, Caleb
is growing increasingly paranoid about the D.A.'s office coming after him. He has kept his business troubles separate from Julie
, and she is still spending money left and right.
In Chino
, Theresa
drops Ryan off at work. He's been working at a construction site.
Seth has been staying with Luke
and his father in Portland, Oregon
. Seth has been teaching sailing lessons, and has no desire to come home to Newport; when Kirsten calls him to beg him to come home, he hangs up on her. Kirsten feels that Seth is somehow blaming her and Sandy for Ryan's departure from Newport. Sandy continues to believe that Seth will make his own decision, and that it will be the right one.
Jimmy drops by the Cohen house, but Sandy tells him that their dinner plans are cancelled. Sandy tells Jimmy about the lack of progress where Seth is concerned. Jimmy suggests that Seth might respond to Ryan. With that prospect, Sandy makes a trip to see Ryan in Chino. He asks him to go and see Seth, and he gives him a plane ticket to Portland telling him to use it, or not.
After work, Ryan is back at home with Theresa. Ryan tells her that Sandy wants him to go to Portland and convince Seth to come home to California. Ryan tells Theresa that he isn't going to go.
Back in Newport, Caleb and Sandy drive to a parking garage to meet and discuss Caleb's legal troubles. They meet in the parking garage because Caleb is so paranoid about the case mounting against him. Sandy tells him that he hasn't heard any rumbles, but that that might not be a good sign.
In Portland at the sailing lesson office, Seth has been showing little interest in a girl that has been pursuing him. Luke tells him that his time is running out, but Seth doesn't seem to care. Later, Seth and Luke come home for dinner and are surprised to see that Sandy has shown up as well. At the dinner table, Seth is not amused by Sandy's attempt at selling Newport to him, while Sandy is not amused by Seth's anger and lack of respect. Seth is upset that his parents let Ryan leave.
Back in Newport, Jimmy and Marissa stop by the Cohen house to visit Kirsten. Marissa shows off her sporty new car, a gift from her mother. Kirsten tells them that Sandy has gone to Portland to try to talk Seth into coming home. Marissa tells Kirsten that she and Ryan kept in touch for a little while, but have since stopped.
Later that night, Marissa is drinking alone on the beach. She calls Ryan and Theresa's place in Chino. Ryan answers and she doesn't say anything. After they both pause in silence, she hangs up. Ryan knows it was Marissa, and lying next to him, so does Theresa.
The next day in Portland, Sandy apologizes to Carson for the fight between him and Seth at dinner. They both agree that children control their parents. When Seth comes in, Carson excuses himself and Sandy tells Seth that he will not fight him anymore, and that he will let Seth make whatever decision he wants to make. Seth is surprised, and happy. Sandy is adamant that Seth understand that he and his mother love him.
In Chino, Theresa reminds Ryan about her doctor's appointment. Ryan has forgotten about the appointment, and has his own plans- to go to Portland to see Seth. Theresa sees the trip as Ryan being uninterested in staying with her. Apparently he has been in Chino, but not really been there with her. She is recognizing defeat.
Back in Newport at the Nichols', Julie approaches Marissa by the pool about going to their cardio workout. Marissa barely blinks an eye at Julie's presence. Julie is desperate to know what has been troubling Marissa all summer, but Marissa loses her temper, screaming and throwing her chaise longue into the swimming pool before storming off into the house. Julie is speechlessly terrified.
Summer drops by the Cohen house to drop off Seth's belongings. She tells Kirsten that she has been in therapy, and her therapist urged her to cleanse herself of anything of Seth's.
In Portland, Sandy is just leaving the Ward house, when Ryan shows up. Sandy wishes him luck, saying that he failed his mission. When Ryan and Seth talk, Seth reassures Ryan that he is not the reason he left Newport. Seth had always planned leaving, and it worked out that it was sooner rather than later. When Seth asks if Ryan would return to Newport, Ryan says that he can't, and Seth agrees.
In Newport, Jimmy is visiting Julie at her palace. She tells him that Marissa is just not okay. She also reveals that Kaitlin will be going away to boarding school. Jimmy tells Julie that he and Hailey are happy and living together at the harbour. They both tell each other they are happy for one another. Whether it is true or not… Meanwhile at the Cohen's house, Caleb gets bad news from Sandy. It turns out the D.A. has built a massive case and it is about to fall on him, and the family.
In Portland, Ryan gets a call from Theresa. She tells him that when she went to the doctor, they couldn't find a heartbeat. She tells him that she has lost the baby and that it is a sign that they aren't meant to be together. She tells him to go back to Newport because she doesn't believe he wants to come back to Chino. He doesn't. After they hang up, Theresa and her mother discuss what she just did. She lied. She is still very much pregnant and has set Ryan free.
Without a baby, or a home, Ryan doesn't know what to do. He is planning on going back to Chino to continue with his construction work. Seth says he will stay in Portland. As Ryan is about to leave, he and Seth seem to hesitate. Ryan doesn't end up getting in his cab, and when Seth goes to stop him from leaving, he runs into him waiting at the door. Seth and Ryan both decide to return to Newport.
That night, Kirsten and Sandy sit alone in their chaotic house. They are both surprised to see Seth and Ryan walk in, coming home to stay. Ryan goes out to the pool house to check it out. Seth joins him after dropping into his own room, telling him that he noticed his room felt smaller, and that Summer had dumped all of his things. He isn't optimistic about his relationship with her. Ryan asks how Seth sailed to Portland. Seth tells him that he sold the boat in Santa Barbara and took the bus… but that it's a secret.
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
television series, The O.C.
The O.C.
The O.C. is an American teen drama television series that originally aired on the Fox television network in the United States from August 5, 2003, to February 21, 2007, running a total of four seasons...
The episode was written by Josh Schwartz
Josh Schwartz
-Film school at USC:In 1995, Schwartz realized his boyhood dream of attending film school to study screen and television writing at the University of Southern California...
and was directed by Ian Toynton
Ian Toynton
Ian Toynton is a British television director, producer and editor.His most notable work has been on The O.C., on which he served as director, supervising producer and co-executive producer for a number of episodes. He has both directed and produced episodes of the series Bones, The Pretender,...
. It originally aired on November 4, 2004.
Guest starring
| Actor / actress | Character |
|---|---|
| Chris Carmack Chris Carmack James Christopher "Chris" Carmack is an American actor and former fashion model.-Early life:Carmack was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Derwood, Maryland. He has two siblings, a brother and sister. As a young boy, he enjoyed participating in all types of sports: baseball, basketball,... |
Luke Ward Luke Ward Luke Ward is a fictional character in the FOX television series The O.C., portrayed by Chris Carmack. At the beginning of the series, Luke was in a long-term relationship with Marissa Cooper. However, it was later revealed that Luke was cheating on Marissa with Holly Fischer. After seeing the two... |
| Navi Rawat Navi Rawat Navi Rawat is an American television actress, known for her roles as Theresa Diaz on the drama series The O.C. and math prodigy Amita Ramanujan on the drama series Numb3rs. She is the niece of Prem Rawat.... |
Theresa Diaz Theresa Diaz Theresa Diaz is a fictional character on Fox series The O.C., played by Navi Rawat. She is the child of Eva Diaz and the sister of Arturo Diaz, who is the best friend of Trey Atwood.-Season 1:... |
| Brian McNamara Brian McNamara Brian McNamara is an American actor, known for his portrayal of Dean Karny in the TV Movie Billionaire Boys Club for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a supporting role.-Biography:... |
Carson Ward |
| Nicholas Gonzalez Nicholas Gonzalez Nicholas Edward Gonzalez is an Mexican-American actor, best known for playing Alex Santiago in the TV series Resurrection Blvd..-Early life:... |
D.J. |
| Bruno Amato | Archie |
Plot
The summer is coming to an end, and SethSeth Cohen
Seth Ezekiel Cohen is a fictional character on the FOX television series The O.C., portrayed by Adam Brody. Seth was one of the "core four" characters on The O.C. alongside Ryan Atwood, Marissa Cooper, and Summer Roberts.-Background:...
hasn't returned home to Newport
Newport, California
Newport is an unincorporated community in Mendocino County, California. It is located on the Pacific Ocean south of Westport, at an elevation of 135 feet .Newport shipped lumber in prior times....
. In the midst of home renovations Sandy
Sandy Cohen
Sanford "Sandy" Cohen is a fictional character on the FOX series The O.C., portrayed by Peter Gallagher.Sandy, a lawyer, raconteur, and son of Sophie Cohen, is married to Kirsten Cohen. Their eldest child, Seth, is something of a social misfit. Sandy's father left his mother when he was young and...
and Kirsten
Kirsten Cohen
Kirsten Cohen is a fictional character on the FOX television series The O.C., portrayed by Kelly Rowan. Kirsten is the wife of Sandy Cohen, mother to Seth Cohen, and the adoptive mother of Ryan Atwood...
are strained and stressed out: Kirsten is furious and heartbroken that her son has not come home, while Sandy is sure that Seth will come home after he works through what is bothering him. Kirsten is tired of waiting, however, and tells Sandy to bring her son home.
At the Nichol house, it has been a long summer for Marissa
Marissa Cooper
Marissa Cooper is a fictional character on the FOX television series The O.C., portrayed by Mischa Barton. Marissa was among the original "core four" characters on The O.C. until her death in the season three finale, "The Graduates."...
and Summer
Summer Roberts
Summer Roberts is a fictional character on the FOX television series The O.C., portrayed by Rachel Bilson.-Background:Summer Roberts grew up in Newport Beach, California, with her wealthy father, Dr. Neil Roberts...
. Marissa misses Ryan
Ryan Atwood
Ryan Francis Atwood is a fictional character on the FOX television series The O.C., portrayed by Benjamin McKenzie. A troubled teenager from Chino, California, he is considered the protagonist of the show, beginning as an outcast and is brought to a lifestyle of luxury by the Cohen family and is...
, and has turned to drinking and partying to numb the pain. After a brief period of mourning, Summer has been spending a lot of time with Zach
Zach Stevens
Zach Stevens is a fictional character in the second season of The O.C., portrayed by Michael Cassidy.-Conception:Creator Josh Schwartz described Zach as someone "who's sort of the WASP Seth, a.k.a. the anti-Cohen, and a formidable potential opponent for Seth"-Season 2:Zach joined Seth's fledgling...
, who has been a nice distraction. She says she refuses to get too close to him, however, or any man ever again. Inside, Caleb
Caleb Nichol
Caleb Nichol is a fictional character on the FOX television series The O.C., portrayed by Alan Dale during the show's first and second seasons...
is growing increasingly paranoid about the D.A.'s office coming after him. He has kept his business troubles separate from Julie
Julie Cooper
Julie Cooper is a fictional character on the FOX television series The O.C., portrayed by Melinda Clarke.-Background:...
, and she is still spending money left and right.
In Chino
Chino, California
Chino is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. It is located in the western end of the Riverside-San Bernardino Area and it is easily accessible via the Chino Valley and Pomona freeways....
, Theresa
Theresa Diaz
Theresa Diaz is a fictional character on Fox series The O.C., played by Navi Rawat. She is the child of Eva Diaz and the sister of Arturo Diaz, who is the best friend of Trey Atwood.-Season 1:...
drops Ryan off at work. He's been working at a construction site.
Seth has been staying with Luke
Luke Ward
Luke Ward is a fictional character in the FOX television series The O.C., portrayed by Chris Carmack. At the beginning of the series, Luke was in a long-term relationship with Marissa Cooper. However, it was later revealed that Luke was cheating on Marissa with Holly Fischer. After seeing the two...
and his father in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. Seth has been teaching sailing lessons, and has no desire to come home to Newport; when Kirsten calls him to beg him to come home, he hangs up on her. Kirsten feels that Seth is somehow blaming her and Sandy for Ryan's departure from Newport. Sandy continues to believe that Seth will make his own decision, and that it will be the right one.
Jimmy drops by the Cohen house, but Sandy tells him that their dinner plans are cancelled. Sandy tells Jimmy about the lack of progress where Seth is concerned. Jimmy suggests that Seth might respond to Ryan. With that prospect, Sandy makes a trip to see Ryan in Chino. He asks him to go and see Seth, and he gives him a plane ticket to Portland telling him to use it, or not.
After work, Ryan is back at home with Theresa. Ryan tells her that Sandy wants him to go to Portland and convince Seth to come home to California. Ryan tells Theresa that he isn't going to go.
Back in Newport, Caleb and Sandy drive to a parking garage to meet and discuss Caleb's legal troubles. They meet in the parking garage because Caleb is so paranoid about the case mounting against him. Sandy tells him that he hasn't heard any rumbles, but that that might not be a good sign.
In Portland at the sailing lesson office, Seth has been showing little interest in a girl that has been pursuing him. Luke tells him that his time is running out, but Seth doesn't seem to care. Later, Seth and Luke come home for dinner and are surprised to see that Sandy has shown up as well. At the dinner table, Seth is not amused by Sandy's attempt at selling Newport to him, while Sandy is not amused by Seth's anger and lack of respect. Seth is upset that his parents let Ryan leave.
Back in Newport, Jimmy and Marissa stop by the Cohen house to visit Kirsten. Marissa shows off her sporty new car, a gift from her mother. Kirsten tells them that Sandy has gone to Portland to try to talk Seth into coming home. Marissa tells Kirsten that she and Ryan kept in touch for a little while, but have since stopped.
Later that night, Marissa is drinking alone on the beach. She calls Ryan and Theresa's place in Chino. Ryan answers and she doesn't say anything. After they both pause in silence, she hangs up. Ryan knows it was Marissa, and lying next to him, so does Theresa.
The next day in Portland, Sandy apologizes to Carson for the fight between him and Seth at dinner. They both agree that children control their parents. When Seth comes in, Carson excuses himself and Sandy tells Seth that he will not fight him anymore, and that he will let Seth make whatever decision he wants to make. Seth is surprised, and happy. Sandy is adamant that Seth understand that he and his mother love him.
In Chino, Theresa reminds Ryan about her doctor's appointment. Ryan has forgotten about the appointment, and has his own plans- to go to Portland to see Seth. Theresa sees the trip as Ryan being uninterested in staying with her. Apparently he has been in Chino, but not really been there with her. She is recognizing defeat.
Back in Newport at the Nichols', Julie approaches Marissa by the pool about going to their cardio workout. Marissa barely blinks an eye at Julie's presence. Julie is desperate to know what has been troubling Marissa all summer, but Marissa loses her temper, screaming and throwing her chaise longue into the swimming pool before storming off into the house. Julie is speechlessly terrified.
Summer drops by the Cohen house to drop off Seth's belongings. She tells Kirsten that she has been in therapy, and her therapist urged her to cleanse herself of anything of Seth's.
In Portland, Sandy is just leaving the Ward house, when Ryan shows up. Sandy wishes him luck, saying that he failed his mission. When Ryan and Seth talk, Seth reassures Ryan that he is not the reason he left Newport. Seth had always planned leaving, and it worked out that it was sooner rather than later. When Seth asks if Ryan would return to Newport, Ryan says that he can't, and Seth agrees.
In Newport, Jimmy is visiting Julie at her palace. She tells him that Marissa is just not okay. She also reveals that Kaitlin will be going away to boarding school. Jimmy tells Julie that he and Hailey are happy and living together at the harbour. They both tell each other they are happy for one another. Whether it is true or not… Meanwhile at the Cohen's house, Caleb gets bad news from Sandy. It turns out the D.A. has built a massive case and it is about to fall on him, and the family.
In Portland, Ryan gets a call from Theresa. She tells him that when she went to the doctor, they couldn't find a heartbeat. She tells him that she has lost the baby and that it is a sign that they aren't meant to be together. She tells him to go back to Newport because she doesn't believe he wants to come back to Chino. He doesn't. After they hang up, Theresa and her mother discuss what she just did. She lied. She is still very much pregnant and has set Ryan free.
Without a baby, or a home, Ryan doesn't know what to do. He is planning on going back to Chino to continue with his construction work. Seth says he will stay in Portland. As Ryan is about to leave, he and Seth seem to hesitate. Ryan doesn't end up getting in his cab, and when Seth goes to stop him from leaving, he runs into him waiting at the door. Seth and Ryan both decide to return to Newport.
That night, Kirsten and Sandy sit alone in their chaotic house. They are both surprised to see Seth and Ryan walk in, coming home to stay. Ryan goes out to the pool house to check it out. Seth joins him after dropping into his own room, telling him that he noticed his room felt smaller, and that Summer had dumped all of his things. He isn't optimistic about his relationship with her. Ryan asks how Seth sailed to Portland. Seth tells him that he sold the boat in Santa Barbara and took the bus… but that it's a secret.
Music
- "Somersault" by Zero 7Zero 7Zero 7 is a British musical duo consisting of Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker. The group members began their musical careers as studio engineers and in 1997 formed the group Zero 7. Their debut album, Simple Things was released in 2001 and received critical acclaim...
- "You Got Me All Wrong" by dios malos
- "Eastern Glow" by The Album LeafThe Album LeafThe Album Leaf is an American solo musical project founded in San Diego, California in 1998 by Jimmy LaValle. He is known for his use of electronics, synthesizer and Rhodes piano...
- "All The Arms Around You" by Halloween, AlaskaHalloween, AlaskaHalloween, Alaska is a Minnesota-based band consisting of James Diers , Jake Hanson , Bill Shaw , and David King . All of the group's members live in the Twin Cities. Original keyboardist and programmer Ev left the band in 2008...
Trivia
- This episode marks the last appearance of Luke WardLuke WardLuke Ward is a fictional character in the FOX television series The O.C., portrayed by Chris Carmack. At the beginning of the series, Luke was in a long-term relationship with Marissa Cooper. However, it was later revealed that Luke was cheating on Marissa with Holly Fischer. After seeing the two...
. However, the characters would still talk about him and Luke briefly appeared in a flashback when he was 10 years old in season 4 in "The Case of the Franks".