EPISODE 23 - "THE NANA"
3/31/04
Luke and Ryan come back after looking for Marissa. Ryan tries to think of all the places Marissa could've possibly gone, while an exhausted Luke is ready to call it a day. Back at the pool house, the boys wonder if Marissa called, but a sleeping Seth doesn't know. He does notice a missed call on the phone, however, which indeed turns out to be Marissa. While Luke and Seth bicker, Ryan listens to Marissa's message, which tells them not to follow her.
Julie drops by and Ryan hits her with the news that Marissa took off. She asks what Ryan did, but he says it's because of what happened between Luke and Julie. Realizing that the details of Luke and Julie's repeated trysts are now out in the open, Julie asks for some privacy to talk to Ryan. Julie considers calling the police or Marissa's doctors so she can't hurt herself, but Ryan thinks that maybe Julie should take a little more blame for this one. After an icy goodbye, Julie goes off looking for Marissa. But Ryan is determined to find her first so Julie can't lock her up in "therapy" again.
Ryan and Seth are trying to figure out a game plan when they discover that Hailey has cooked the family a giant breakfast to thank the boys for rescuing her from a life of stripping. Even more on the ball, Hailey already has the want ads out, but restaurant gigs are pretty much the only thing available. Say, there's this place called The Lighthouse opening soon. They might need somebody! An observation that Seth also makes. Kirsten says they'll have to ask Sandy when he's in a good mood. Which isn't now. He comes storming through the kitchen, ridding the house of all bread and such in preparation for Nana Cohen's Passover visit.
Kirsten tells Sandy to calm down because the Ackermans are making Seder dinner. They only have to bring the wine. Yeah, thing is, Sandy sorta told his mother that the Cohens would be hosting Seder dinner tonight, as is their yearly tradition. But don't worry. Sandy will shop, Nana will cook, the kids will help, Jimmy and Hailey will do stuff and all will be well.
Seth swings by Summer's bedroom to talk about Marissa. That's great, but Summer already talked to her. She doesn't know where Marissa is, but she'll be fine after some time. After getting word that Nana Cohen is coming in today, Summer pleads with Seth for an introduction, but Seth explains that Nana Cohen isn't the friendly, cute Nana one might expect. Summer suspects that Seth is embarrassed to introduce his girlfriend to the Nana, but Seth claims that's he actually protective. Summer's complete ignorance of Seder and Passover cements the deal. Seth leaves, but Summer's face shows that she might have other plans. Like, coming over for Passover anyway.
Remaking a made bed, Sandy is still fretting about Nana's visit, despite Kirsten imploring him to calm down. But this is no time for calm. Sandy is sure Nana is visiting to set him back on the path of a public defender, helping people instead of settling corporate cases and opening restaurants.
Ryan comes home with no luck on the Marissa search. Sandy comes in looking for volunteers to pick up Nana from the airport with him. No takers. Which doesn't matter, because Nana is already here, surprising all. She greets everybody quite pleasantly and compliments the house, catching everybody off guard.
Retreating to the pool house, Ryan continues to wonder where Marissa could be while Seth tries to figure out new Nana. And then Ryan has a moment of clarity and figures out where Marissa is. Back in Chino once more, Ryan visits Theresa's, where Marissa is indeed hiding out. Theresa apologizes, but says Marissa asked her not to tell anybody. Eddie is just upset that Ryan happened to come by on the day of their engagement party.
At the Cohens', Sandy and Nana share some tense memories with Seth, but Nana lightens the mood by asking to see Sandy's new restaurant. She goes to freshen up and the remaining Cohens continue to marvel at Nana's new demeanor. On the way to the loo, Nana hears the doorbell and answers the front door. Why, it's Summer! Seth tries to divert, but no luck. Nana invites Sethula's girlfriend to the Seder that evening. She can even ask the Four Questions. No problem there. It seems that Summer spent the morning boning up on her Jewish Holiday trivia.
In Chino, Ryan is trying to come to grips with the news of the engagement party. He wonders why Theresa would be marrying a guy she went to Newport to avoid, but she snipes that she's none of his concern any more. Marissa comes out and sees Ryan and tells him to get back to Newport. She's fine and in no hurry to return home.
Hailey drops by Jimmy's with a basket of all the leavened foods Sandy had to clear out of his house, plus an invitation to dinner. Oh, and plus a little smooching. But Jimmy backs off. He can't do this. Kirsten's his best friend, Sandy's his partner. There's too much risk! If that's so, Hailey wonders, why did he come to L.A. to get her? Why did he drop by the Cohens' earlier? And what does he care about more, the restaurant and Kirsten, or Hailey?
Ryan is still begging Marissa to come back with him, but she's not relenting. She has plans to stay with Theresa and get a job so she can save money to…what, Marissa? What? Run away? Ryan tells her it's over between Luke and her mom, but Marissa points out that she still has to live with it. Ryan claims he's not going back to Newport without her and Marissa says, well, looks like you're not going back. So maybe he can stay for the engagement party now. Good!
Sandy and Nana return from the restaurant and Sandy, perhaps full of lukewarm compliments for the day, asks Nana what she's really doing here. He's invited her for every Passover since Seth was 13. Why now? A little bickering about Sandy's new job and whether or not he's helping people ensues, followed by a little Nana snipe at Kirsten. And that's when the bomb drops. Nana has advanced lung cancer. Four to six months to live, tops. And she came to this Passover to say goodbye.
At Theresa's, Ryan walks out front to find Eddie and three of his boys. Eddie tells Ryan that when he comes back outside, Ryan better be gone. Ryan vows to stay until Marissa comes with him, but Eddie's boys step in, shove Ryan to the ground and tell him to hit the bricks. In so many words. Then Ryan's cell phone rings. It's Julie, threatening to call the cops again unless Ryan brings back Marissa. A quandary.
In the kitchen, Sandy demands that his mom sit down and talk about this, but Nana keeps making dinner. Sandy wants to know what her options are, what she's going to do about it. But a steadfast Nana insists that it's too late. She doesn't want the chemo, with the hair loss and the nausea, but Sandy says they'll get to spend more time together. Time together, asks Nana Cohen? Sandy moved across the country when he was 16, then married a woman whose father stands for everything Nana Cohen has fought against her whole life. It's all too much and Nana Cohen runs out.
Ryan checks in with Marissa and tells her they have to get out of there. Marissa still isn't going anywhere and says she'll talk to Eddie. The phone rings. It's Seth. He points out that if Marissa is okay, then let her go and come back home before Eddie goes to work on Ryan.
Sandy checks in on his mom out back and is stunned to find out that she's smoking. Anyway, he called Dr. Talley, who said Nana isn't returning any of her calls. Chemo would just slow her down, and kids in the Bronx are depending on her. Sandy points out that her own kids and grandkids are depending on her. Meanwhile, Seth is overhearing all of this, which Nana notices after Sandy leaves.
The engagement party gets underway. Marissa wonders if she should stick around, but Theresa assures her that Ryan is just a friend. And going to Newport just made her realize she shouldn't be scared of a life in Chino with Eddie. Ryan, meanwhile, is loading the cooler with ice when Eddie approaches. He talked to Marissa and he's glad Ryan is here now. He thought Ryan came for Theresa and got freaked out, but s'cool now. Now that Eddie wants him here, Ryan wonders if Marissa does. Eddie tells him to wise up. She came to Chino! The one place where only Ryan would find her.
Ryan approaches her and apologizes for everything, but really, it's time to get back. Who knows what Julie is going to do? Marissa retreats to her room to pack her things. She's leaving Chino now. Ryan tells her she can't keep running away and he can't keep chasing after her. She tries to run through him, which breaks down into wrestling, which breaks down into tears and hugging. Then Theresa's mom tells Ryan he has a visitor. Ryan heads outside to find…Luke. Marissa comes out, sees Luke, slaps him hard across the face and tells him to get out, which he does.
The other gang of four sits down, but Ryan informs them that he has to leave. He can't miss Cohen Seder. Marissa still doesn't want to go back, but seems to be wavering. Ryan tells her that she didn't do anything, she has nothing to fear. Come on, baby! Come back!
Setting the table for dinner, Nana tells her little Sandy that she's taking an early flight out tomorrow. She can't miss her first treatment, you know. Next door, Marissa has finally come home. Hoping to grab some clothes and get out, Marissa isn't pleased when Julie opens the door. Julie tells her to get inside, but Marissa says she's getting some stuff and leaving. Julie doesn't think that'll be the case, but when Marissa mentions that perhaps she'll tell Jimmy or Caleb why she ran away, Julie shifts gears and tells her to grab her things and go.
Jimmy shows up for dinner and lets Hailey know he's been doing some thinking. She was right, he shouldn't be afraid. Thing is, Hailey's been doing some thinking too and figured that Jimmy was right, it's too risky right now. Then they decide together to just go for it. But how to tell Kirsten? Well, maybe we save that for another day.
