By Daniel Barron for AllPop

It's almost prom time for our young friends in Newport and Ryan and Seth specifically are talking about - well, about how bad a night it's going to be. Seth is worried that he probably isn't going to end up going with Summer and Ryan has accepted the fact that he isn't even attending prom. Seth hatches a plot to meet Summer at the diner (that's as far as his plan goes) and he suggests Ryan take Theresa. Ryan isn't sure it's a good idea but Seth tells him it's only one night. Just then, they see Volchok at the other side of the pier - making out with a girl who definitely isn't Marissa. The Evil Surfer strikes again.

Summer arrives at the diner and sees Seth and immediately turns up her nose. She tells him she's there to meet with a representative from Brown and he admits to her that it was all a setup and no one from Brown is coming. She's ready to leave but he bribes her with chocolate chip pancakes to hear him out. He asks her to prom and she can't believe it. She informs him that it'll take a lot more than chocolate chip pancakes to get her to go to prom with him.

Ryan, meanwhile, asks Theresa and at first she doesn't like the idea. She's 'kind of' seeing someone at work - but after rethinking it for a moment, she tells Ryan she'll go with him. Marissa asks Volchok if he'll go with her. Volchok never got close enough to graduation to go to his prom and ends up saying yes.

Seth calls Anna later on and tells her what happened when he asked Summer. Anna feels horrible, thinking it's her fault that Seth and Summer are fighting so much. She tells him that he has to come clean with Summer about lying to her about Brown, but Seth takes the cowardly approach once again and says he can't do that.

Kirsten and Sandy are talking in the kitchen and Kirsten actually apologizes to Sandy about embarrassing him at the hospital dinner. She almost tells Sandy about the drink of wine she had but changes her mind at the last second.

At The Harbor School, Summer bumps into Taylor, who tells Summer not only about the after-party at the Bait Shop (which is costing everyone $50) but about a cute Korean pop star that she has lined up to go to prom with her. Taylor tells Summer that it's her 'duty' to go to prom with a hot guy because of what Seth did to her.

Ryan shows up at Volchok's place and tells him he saw Volchok making out with the random girl at the pier. He threatens him but Volchok says he's not falling for the psycho Lethal Weapon thing again. Just then, who pops up behind Volchok? None other than Marissa. She wonders why the heck Ryan is there and he quickly tells them about coming to the Cohen's before prom for pictures.

Ryan walks into the Cohen's later on and sees Anna standing there. He's surprised to see her there and she tells him she's staying with relatives for a little while. Seth walks in and she tells him about her plan to help him get Summer back. Phase 1 involves Anna telling Summer that nothing is going on between Anna and Seth (that oughtta be fun) and Phase 2 involves Seth taking Anna to prom (that oughtta be even better!).

Back at Summer's house, her and Marissa are talking about prom and listening to Big Korea, which is the name of the band that Summer's date plays in. Summer pulls out the napkin that Seth gave her a while back with all of his confessions. She wants to give it to the Cohen's, strictly for revenge, and Marissa tries to talk her out of it, saying that if it's not for a really good reason, it's not worth it. Just then, Anna walks in. Both the girls are surprised by this, and Marissa leaves so they can talk. Anna tries to tell her that nothing happened between them at Brown but Summer is too angry. Anna accepts this but before she leaves, she asks Summer if it's okay if she goes to prom with Seth. Summer obviously isn't happy about this but says it's okay.

The next night we see Ryan and Seth getting ready to go to prom in the poolhouse. Anna walks in and tells them it's time to go. Everyone - teen and adult alike - shows up at the Cohen's and a ton of pictures are taken. Volchok is even though, though tie-less as he lacks the know-how to even tie a tie. Heh heh. We even see him and Ryan shake hands when they first cross paths. Taylor is at the Cohen's and asks Ryan and Seth for their after-party money. Sandy hands her the cash for them and she pulls out a purse with a wad full of bills. Volchok eyes it and seems very interested in it. In another twist, we see Summer sneak into Sandy's study and put an envelope on his desk containing Seth's napkin full of confessions.

The party moves outside and Volchok makes his move. He sneaks inside when no one is around and just as he finishes grabbing the purse full of money, Ryan walks in, and he just barely misses seeing Volchok snag the cash. Ryan is quite up-front with Volchok, telling him 'if you screw this up for Marissa, I'll kick your ass.'

With the pre-party done with, everyone moves on to the prom itself. It's a pirate theme and everyone applauds Taylor on a job well done - including Taylor herself. Volchok goes to spike the punch (though others are in full agreement of him doing this) and Summer just takes the flask and decides to get wasted. In the highlight of the season so far for every O.C. fan we're sure, we see American Idol reject Lisa Tucker as herself at the prom. Summer asks her about Simon's wardrobe aaaand-.that's about it.

Volchok asks Marissa if she wants to go with him to smoke up. She says no but he goes without her anyway. A good-looking young girl overhears what Volchok said and asks him if she can go with him. Being the polite guy he is, he obliges.

As the night goes on, Summer gets more and more drunk. Seth wants to help her but Anna insists he stay away. Taylor gets on the mic to announce the prom king and queen. Summer gets the title of prom queen and goes up to give a drunken speech. She stumbles over a bunch of words, then kisses her date just to make Seth jealous. She then proceeds to fall right off the balcony she's on to the floor below. It looks like a pretty bad fall but she's actually okay, considering. Seth is freaking out, looking for - at the very least - some moist towelettes to help his ex though Anna is once again insisting he keep his distance.

Marissa, meanwhile, is trying to find Volchok. Ryan says he'll look around for him. He finds Volchok outside making out with the girl he smoked up with. Marissa shows up a moment later and try as he might, Ryan can't keep her from seeing what her date is doing. She slaps Volchok and after some terse words are exchanged by both, they both walk away in separate directions, Marissa in tears and Volchok just plain angry.

Back at the Cohen's, Sandy, Kirsten, Julie and Neil are having a few drinks and talking about their proms. Sandy goes to take a call and later on Kirsten is alone with Julie and tells her about the glass of wine she had. Julie says she should tell Sandy, but Kirsten doesn't want her alcoholism to be the only reason Sandy focuses on her and not his work.

The afterparty for the prom-goers has begun and Ryan makes sure security doesn't let Volchok in if he shows up. We see Summer passed out in a room upstairs. Seth and Anna walk up to her and Anna tells him about the secret Phase 3 of her plan: tell Summer everything. Anna leaves and Seth sits down with Summer and tells her everything, about not getting into Brown. He tells her that he only did it so she would still go. Summer says it's the stupidest thing she's ever heard, but kind of romantic. She suddenly remembers the letter she left for Sandy and throws up on the floor. They say how much they love each other and as gross as the scene is, at least they're back together.

Back at the Cohen's, Neil tells Sandy that there are rumours about certain 'improprieties' with Sandy and Dr. Griffin, and an investigation is being launched. Griffin is going to be suspended and a criminal investigation against Sandy and Griffin is inevitable.

Back at the Sand Bar, Ryan and Theresa are talking. Though one moment they agree nothing could ever happen between them, they end up looking into each other's eyes and nearly kiss - but then hear a blood-curdling scream. It's Taylor, who notices that all the money she had is missing. Ryan knows instantly who it is and leaves to go to Volchok's.

Ryan shows up and Volchok is expecting him. He tells Ryan he knows he's there to beat Volchok up because Ryan didn't call the police or anything. Ryan steps past the door and Volchok closes it. Volchok wants them to settle things but Ryan says no. Doesn't matter. Ryan throws a punch and gets a beer bottle thrown at his head. Ryan is getting beaten badly when suddenly the tables turn and it's Ryan on top of Volchok, beating him senseless. Just like the season finale the year before with Trey on top of Ryan, ready to finish him off, Ryan stops and it looks like Volchok may already be dead. The severity of the situation suddenly hits Ryan and the episode ends with him trying to wipe his hands clean of Volchok's blood.

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