| "The Test" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| The O.C. episode | |||
| Episode no. | Season 2 (2004-2005) Episode 13 |
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| Directed by | Michael Lange | ||
| Written by | John Stephens | ||
| Production code | 2T5113 | ||
| Original air date | February 17, 2005 (FOX) | ||
| Episode chronology | |||
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| The O.C. (season 2) List of The O.C. episodes |
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"The Test"[1] (also known as "The Father Knows Best"[2]) is the 40th episode of the FOX television series, The O.C. The episode was written by John Stephens and was directed by Michael Lange. It originally aired on Thursday February 17, 2005. On the Region 2 DVD, it is called "The Father Knows Best".
Contents |
| Actor / actress | Character |
|---|---|
| Michael Cassidy | Zach Stevens |
| Olivia Wilde | Alex Kelly |
| Shannon Lucio | Lindsay Gardner |
| Kim Delaney | Rebecca Bloom |
| Kathleen York | Renee Wheeler |
Ryan heads into the kitchen to find Seth asleep on the couch, after a night of watching movies to stop thinking about Summer and Zach slept together in San Diego. Ryan tries to discourage Seth from asking Summer or Zach point blank whether or not they had sex.
Meanwhile Kirsten struggles to deal with Sandy spending all of his time with Rebecca, especially after Max died. She heads to work and finds Lindsay, both of them being called to meet with Caleb. He suggests to them, with Julie in the room, that he adopt Lindsay. Caleb tells Lindsay he wants to be sure that she'll be financially okay after he dies, hinting that Julie might not take care of her.
Despite Ryan's warning, Seth approaches Zach in the student lounge and gets around to bluntly asking him whether or not they had sex. Zach, who's still dealing with the whole Seth-Summer history, is creeped out and tells Seth to go home and get some rest. On the pier, Sandy meets Rebecca, who is holding her father's urn. Since a funeral was out of the question without the Feds showing up to arrest Rebecca, she spreads his ashes into the ocean. Sandy tells her that what happened (the kiss) could never happen again. Lindsay finds Ryan in the hallway at school to give him the news-Caleb wants to adopt her! Ryan, however, is hesitant. When he finds out that Julie was there, he recommends that Lindsay not get on Julie's bad side, which Lindsay takes as him saying not to let Caleb adopt her.
Back at home, Kirsten opens the door to find two FBI agents. At the Bait Shop, Marissa comes upon behind Alex. Alex tells her she has some friends coming into town, and she's planning to have a party. She suggests Marissa invite Summer and, judging by the look on Marissa's face, she hasn't told her best friend about her relationship with Alex. Marissa reassures her that she will tell Summer, she just hasn't gotten around to it yet, and she'll bring her to the party.
Sandy arrives home to discover the FBI was there earlier. Kirsten tells him she told them just that Professor Bloom was there and asked his help in clearing Rebecca's name. Sandy worries that Kirsten will get into trouble if she discloses information. But Kirsten sees Sandy's involvement Rebecca as a choice between protecting her and Rebecca, and Sandy's already chosen.
Julie confronts Caleb, demanding he redo his paternity test before he adopts Lindsay. She's shocked to discover that there was never any test, he's just trusted Renee instead of confirming it for himself. Julie plants doubt into Caleb's head, telling him it wasn't a good move as a businessman to be handing money over. He says he'll think about a paternity test.
Marissa and Summer are hanging out, and Marissa's struggling with telling her friend about Alex. She first tells Summer she was with her mom on Valentine's Day and then tells her that the upcoming party is being thrown by Caleb. Summer agrees to go to the party that Caleb is throwing for Lindsay, instead of Alex's party. Marissa company. Zach calls and tells Summer that Seth asked about their sex life, which immediately angers Summer and sends her searching for her ex. Sandy meets an FBI agent whose help he asked for in the Rebecca situation. The agent tells Sandy that even if she turns herself in, Rebecca's looking to serve some serious jail time. Sandy asks what would happen if he could prove Rebecca wasn't there. The FBI guy still stands that it was her key that was used. As a friend, the agent admits that he knows Sandy and Rebecca were involved, and that he thinks its not a good idea to help his on-the-run ex. He tells Sandy to think of his family. Julie visits Renee in hopes of stopping Lindsay's adoption. She tells her that Caleb plans to do a DNA test and that anything other than evidence that Caleb's the father would lead to Renee being charged with fraud. When Lindsay comes to the door, Julie excuses herself, leaving both Lindsay and Renee suspicious that Julie's up to something.
Summer finds Seth, laying on his bed tearing up drawings of her. She rails on him, hitting him with his pillow asking why he would ask Zach if they had sex. Seth defends himself, saying that since he's gotten back from San Diego he's been consumed with worry about what happened that night in San Diego. Summer reminds him that he's not her boyfriend anymore, and that it isn't his business. She then notices what he's dong with his drawings. Just for the people that live with him, Summer confides that they didn't have sex. Seth, as she leaves, is obviously happy.
Kirsten visits Rebecca's hotel room and asks directly whether or not she's in love with her husband. Rebecca, equally direct, answers she is. Upon hearing this, Kirsten tells her that as she was running, Sandy and Kirsten were building a life and a family. She asks Rebecca how much she's willing to let Sandy sacrifice for her sake, and leaves. Renee arrives at the Cohen house to see Ryan, where she asks for his help in convincing Lindsay to not go through with the adoption. Renee confides that she's not entirely sure Caleb's the father, and is scared for her daughter to take the DNA test. Sandy meets Caleb at the Newport Group's office, where Caleb asks whether or not he should do a DNA test. As a lawyer, Sandy says for sure. But as a father, he tells Caleb if he loves Lindsay, nothing else matters.
Marissa goes to see Alex, and finds some of her friends are already there. The entire party consists of lesbian couples, which seems to freak Marissa out and she bolts heading to Caleb's party. Seth meets Zach at a diner to apologize for his behavior. But Zach wonders why they didn't have sex, on Valentine's Day in a hotel. He then tells Seth that he kinda believes in no sex before marriage, which surprises Seth. But then Zach admits that he was waiting for the perfect moment, which he thinks will be in Italy for his sister's wedding.
Ryan meets Lindsay at the pier, and he asks her whether or not she thinks the adoption is a good idea. She gets angry, and heads off to get ready for her party. At the party, Caleb seems anxious to find Sandy, who finds that Rebecca has left town. Ryan gets ready for the party, and advises Seth to go see Summer, since he's again worried about Zach and Summer in Italy together. He agrees. Summer finds Marissa on her bed, reading, as the party goes on downstairs. Summer admits that she and Zach didn't have sex, and that as they were in the hotel room, she heard Seth's voice in her head. Marissa tells her to tell Zach she isn't ready, and to trust him, which prompts Marissa to admit that she's dating Alex. Renee arrives at the party around the same time as Ryan, and tells him she has to tell Lindsay not to go with the adoption. Ryan tells Lindsay, and admits that she might not be Caleb's daughter. Lindsay storms off, angry.
Sandy confronts Kirsten about making Rebecca leave. She tells him that she did it for their family, and admits that Rebecca was in love with him. Sandy argues that that is not how he feels, and she should've trusted him. But Sandy admits that he can't trust her. Caleb tells Lindsay that he's gonna need a DNA test, which upsets her. She leaves his office, saying that maybe he's not her real dad, because her real father couldn't treat her this way. Julie, seeing her plan worked, turns the party into a launch for her new magazine, Newport Living.
Marissa goes to Alex and tells her she told Summer, and asks to meet her friends now.
Seth goes to Summer and admits that he's done worrying, because he knows that there's nothing left between them. As he leaves, Summer seems upset about his confession.
Ryan, Seth, and Sandy end up on the couch, watching Hellboy.