By Daniel Barron for AllPop

Something is not right in the O.C. - specifically at the Cohen household. The young Ryan and Seth go into the kitchen looking for a trusty bowl of cereal or a bagel and instead find Kirsten preparing a lavish breakfast that they're forced to eat.
Sandy comes downstairs as well looking for a bagel himself. His phone rings and it's Harbour's principal Dr. Kim informing him that the college fair is running that night and both Seth and Ryan are welcome to attend. The problem is, Dean Hess is attached a note to Ryan's records stating that he has 'pathologically violent behaviour.' Sandy knows that there's no way a college will let Ryan attend with that kind of mark on his record. Either way, the Cohen's are going to the college fair.

At Harbour, Summer is sitting with Seth and watching Taylor from across the cafeteria, texting someone (whoever it is, we see that Taylor types U R SO NASTY). Summer just knows it's the dean that Taylor is texting. Seth is adamant that Summer drop her obsession with Taylor and the dean, despite Summer saying she's sure she saw the two kiss the week before at school. She isn't about to let this go.

Ryan visits Marissa for lunch at Newport Union with Marissa's new friends Johnny, his girlfriend Casey and Chili. Johnny and Ryan get to talking and find out they have similar pasts, especially when it comes to sports - they both played football, Ryan a safety, Johnny a quarterback. The girls pick up on this possible bonding experience and the two of them leave with Chili to let the guys talk more.

Back at Harbour, Summer starts following Taylor around, trying to find more evidence of her relationship with Dean Hess. Taylor stops her in the halls and calls her crazy. Summer doesn't back down and says 'oh you want crazy? I'll SHOW you crazy!' Later on, Summer concocts a plan. She goes up to Taylor (who still doesn't know that Summer saw her kissing the dean) and tells her she's completely grossed out. Taylor asks her why and Summer says it's because she saw the dean kissing the hot female volleyball coach and she can't get the disgusting image of the two old people kissing out of her mind. This works perfectly.

Later on that night, the Cohens show up at the college fair. The dean walks up to Ryan saying he's not allowed at the fair. Sandy immediately tells him that Ryan may not be enrolled in the school, but he's allowed to attend this event. Sandy pulls the dean aside and pleads with him to take his note out of Ryan's permanent records. The dean doesn't budge one inch and Ryan sees this and knows he has no chance of getting into a college at this rate.

Fast forward to the poolhouse the next day. Seth walks in and doesn't see Ryan. He panics, thinking he's 'gone Greyhound' but Ryan steps out of the washroom a few minutes later. Seth asks why he isn't with his tutor and Ryan informs him that he isn't getting 'tuded' (no, that's definitely NOT a real word) any longer. He says that since he won't get into college, there's no point in continuing his home schooling. Ryan is going to look for a job instead. This should make Sandy and Kirsten very happy.

Julie is off looking for condos and is worried she won't be able to afford anything. But Charlotte shows up (coincidence? I think not...) and offers to pay for Julie's condo. Julie can't believe that a near-stranger would do something like this for her, but Charlotte insists. Interesting indeed...

We next see Ryan in the Bait Shop looking for jobs in a newspaper. Johnny sees him and gets the scoop about Ryan dropping out. Johnny isn't there to judge; in fact, he has an uncle who works on a fishing boat who could probably use some help. Ryan is grateful and thanks him for looking into it.

Later on that night at dinner, after Sandy and Kirsten find out about Ryan dropping his tutor, Ryan asks if Sandy will sign a permission form allowing him to go for weeks at a time on Johnny's uncle's boat. Sandy hesitates, but then signs, much to the chagrin of the other two Cohen's. Sandy is calling Ryan's bluff but really doesn't know if it'll work.

Meanwhile, Summer is still planning on how to catch Dean Hess and Taylor in the act. She concocts a plan to text Taylor a supposed message from the dean to meet at a hotel. Taylor goes there, expecting to meet the Dean, instead though, she opens the door to see Seth and Summer. Taylor accepts that the two know about her and the dean, but doesn't seem worried. Summer tells her she saw them kissing and has proof. She threatens to ruin Taylor's squeaky-clean reputation if she doesn't confess. We see that Taylor is about to crack...

Back in Troubleland, Marissa finds out about Ryan leaving on the boat. His first job will be three weeks on the water, away from Newport and ever-demanding Marissa. The Cohens have a going-away dinner for Ryan that goes horribly thanks in no small part to Marissa throwing sarcastic comments toward Ryan left, right and centre. She leaves in a huff. Later on, Marissa tells Ryan that the reason she's so upset is because he's doing the same thing her dad did - leave her. She says Ryan is just as much a coward as her father is.

Later on, we see Sandy meet with the dean at his office. The dean tells Sandy that there's no way he can let Ryan back into school. Sandy informs the dean that he has visual proof that the dean is having an affair with one of the school's students. Sandy takes out Summer's Sidekick mobile device and though he doesn't show the dean any pictures, he makes like they're right there in front of him. Sandy says the only way he won't show everyone the pictures is if the dean not only lets Ryan back into Harbour, but if the dean leaves the school as well. Needless to say,it's bye-bye Dean Hess from here on in.

Unfortunately, it looks like Ryan has already left for sea. Marissa, Seth and Summer are lamenting at the Bait Shop the fact that Ryan was saved and could go back to school, but was already gone ... but who shows up less than a minute later? Ryan of course! He says that he doesn't know what his future is, but he knows it's with Marissa.

So now there's good news and bad news for Ryan, according to Seth. The good news is, Ryan's back at Harbour. The bad news is ... Ryan's back at Harbour. What does the future hold in store for Marissa, the only one of the four NOT at Harbour? Who knows, but we're guessing it involves a lot of Johnny.

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