Charlotte knows that Kirsten holding on to the Newport Group might be her last best chance to get money from Kirsten, so she tries a little bit more of that reverse psychology that worked so well in rehab. I can see it now, "Oh you may THINK that selling your father's company will make things better, but you are wrong. And I should know. Remember? The experiences with my father are very similar to your experiences with your father. Whenever I thought I should liquidate my dad's assets, I thought better and decided to rebuild those companies and give the money to charity. That's why I don't have enough money to finance this thing myself. BTW, why do you always listen to my advice? I have told you that I have relapsed many times? And why would a person who has relapsed so many times be a good business partner for a halfway house. Oh, did I say that out loud? Damn!" What made this scene great was the "Kirsten Manipulation Music" playing in the background. Just in case you didn't know things were sinister, it would get louder whenever Charlotte would lie. Relevant crescendos are something of a lost art form on television these days, don't you think?

For Marissa, her second day of school was better. She had a few friends, wasn't getting lost as often, but there was still that pesky bully to deal with. One of the reasons Marissa came to Newport Union and was actually happy to leave Harbor was because nobody knew here, but how much anonymity do you think she really had? As it turns out, not that much. Our big bully, seeing that Marissa has already indoctrinated herself into a new clique, realizes that she is going to have to do much better than trying to trick Marissa into a fight. Why not just be direct about? When the girl confronts Marissa this time, she asks if Marissa is going to shoot her.

Since her hope throughout this whole thing was about getting a fresh start, knowing that somebody knows her secret and will spread it around school is too much and Marissa cries. I know that this is a difficult moment, but Marissa has been through some bad shit. Why does she go bawling at this point? In just the last week she found out she was kicked out of school, her family was going to move, her father got beat up and was going to leave, meaning Marissa had to stay with her mother, who was left at the altar and was getting kicked out of her house. Oh yeah, and remember when YOU SHOT SOMEONE a few months ago? Toughen up already.

Johnny comforts Marissa. She explains her problem, and Johnny said that everybody already knew anyway. See, Marissa forgot that their are no confidentiality laws in Newport Beach, and apparently the trials of minors are a matter of public record. Johnny then says that she shot somebody, but she did it to save somebody else, which is something a lot of brave people couldn't even do. At this point, Ryan comes into the picture. He is about to pick up Marissa, and sees her crying and another guy talking to her. He runs up, and even though Johnny is friendly, assumes that he bothering Marissa, and tries to pull his tough guy Ryan act, which probably doesn't work so well when you have your Banana Republic leather barn jacket and Hugo Boss flat front herringbone pants on.

Surprise, surprise, Ryan overreacts and embarrasses Marissa. He calls later that night to apologize, and suggests the movies. Marissa says that she has to study, but will eventually need a study break. Oh, BTW, Marissa's studying is reading her books while laying out by this huge pool, or what a lot of us like to call a vacation. When Seth says that he is going over to Summer's to pick her up for the dance at Harbor, Ryan says that he will do a little pop in on Marissa to see how she is doing.

The one big disadvantage with the pop in is that you always have to be ready for the consequences. While Marissa was busy studying, her new best friends decided to pop in at Summer's house themselves. There is also a dance at Newport Union and they wanted Marissa to go. She says that she doesn't feel like it, but when they say that their night would be ruined if she doesn't join, she gives in.

Posted by J-Unit on September 30, 2005 12:29 PM