JULIE: Uh huh.

An awkward beat for this new triangle...

As Sandy arrives. He and Kirsten lock eyes. Uh-oh.

OFF KIRSTEN -- polishing off her glass of wine.

PRE-LAP: A DOORBELL.

EXT. ARTURO AND THERESA'S HOUSE -- FRONT DOOR -- LATER

Ryan and Marissa stand in front of a run down house. As the door opens to reveal THERESA. An earthy beauty. 17. Tough.

A loaded moment between Theresa and Ryan. She's stunned to see him. Ryan clearly uncomfortable to see her.

THERESA: Ryan Atwood.

RYAN: Theresa. Hi. (beat) Arturo around?

THERESA: You're just gonna ask for my stupid brother? You're not even gonna tell me where the hell you been for the last five months?

RYAN: Uh. No. Yeah.

THERESA: I don't want to know. Okay? (eyes Marissa) Who are you?

MARISSA: (her formality all wrong) Hi. I'm Marissa Cooper.

She extends her hand. Smiles. Theresa shakes her head.

THERESA: So this is your new girlfriend?

Ryan hangs his head. There it is. Marissa is taken back.

MARISSA: Oh. So. You two. Were.

THERESA: Off an on. We grew up together. I was the girl next door.

Marissa looks at Ryan.

MARISSA: So. Am. I.

Ryan shifts uncomfortably.

RYAN: (beat, what's there to say) Yeah...Arturo?

THERESA: He's here.

Theresa disappears inside. Calling after Arturo. A beat.

RYAN: I'll explain. Later.

MARISSA: (you bet he will) Uh-huh.

As Marissa heads into the house...

OFF RYAN -- this is just getting worse and worse.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT TWO.

***

ACT THREE

FADE IN:

INT. ARTURO AND THERESA'S HOUSE -- KITCHEN -- DAY

Ryan and Marissa follow Theresa into the small, cramped kitchen where EVA, 40s, Theresa's mom, is working away on their Thanksgiving dinner.

THERESA: Mom. Look who I found.

EVA: Ryan! Omigod.

She rushes over to hug him. And then lets go.

EVA: (CONT'D) Where have you been?! You don't call or anything? (softer) I haven't seen your mom in a while.

RYAN: Me either.

EVA: And your brother?

RYAN: That's kinda why I'm here.

ARTURO: So you're here for the car?

Ryan turns to see a heavyset guy with bed-head, in a t-shirt and pajama pants, enter. ARTURO, 20s.

RYAN: Hey, man.

ARTURO: How you been?

RYAN: This is Marissa.

Marissa smiles. Eva and Theresa exchange a look.

EVA: What are you -- sleeping? All he does is sleep.

ARTURO: Alright, ma.

EVA: Look. Just get that car and get it out of here. I hate it.

ARTURO: Let's go, man. Might take a minute to get the engine going...

Ryan looks at Marissa --

RYAN: You mind - waiting here a sec -

EVA: She can help us cook. Right?

MARISSA: Sure.

Ryan and Arturo exit. On Marissa as she catches Theresa giving her the once over. The designer bag. The manicure. Caught, Theresa turns to her Mom.

THERESA: Mom. Don't ask her to help. I'm sure she doesn't cook. She's got like maids for that.

MARISSA: No. It's okay.

OFF MARISSA -- uncomfortable. Trying to figure out what she can do to help...

INT. COHEN HOUSE -- FAMILY ROOM -- DAY

JULIE has planted herself between JIMMY and RACHEL.

JIMMY: I don't know where she is, Julie.

JULIE: So. You lost her.

JIMMY: She went to your house. You lost her.

***

(three pages later)

SUMMER: Um, trying to have Thanksgiving. I was supposed to meet Marissa at her house. Cause there's no way I was eating with my step-mom. (beat) Why does she need Tryptophan? She's on Valium.

SETH: Oh. Well. Some of the Coopers are here. But Marissa is kind of... missing.

SUMMER: Huh. (beat) Well. While I'm here? Maybe we should talk.

Seth quickly looks over his shoulder. Makes sure Anna's not around.

SETH: About?

SUMMER: About what didn't happen on the yacht. (beat) So. You want to invite me in?

SETH: Why don't we discuss... in the pool house.

As Seth leads Summer out the front door.

SETH: (CONT'D) We'll go around. We put new gardenias in the front lawn. I think you'll be impressed.

OFF SUMMER -- gardenias? As Seth exits the house -- closing the door --

INT. ARTURO AND THERESA'S HOUSE -- KITCHEN -- DAY

Marissa swings the refrigerator door shut - holding some eggs. She looks at the pictures on refrigerator door.

MARISSA: Is this... Ryan?

EVA: You mean Snoopy. (off Marissa's look) That's from the eighth grade musical, "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown." Theresa was Peppermint Patty.

MARISSA: And Ryan was Snoopy?

EVA: He was so talented.

MARISSA: Ryan did musicals?

THERESA: (shrugs) He quit when we got to high school.

EVA: Such a shame.

Marissa sees another photo. Looks at it.

MARISSA: That's a really pretty dress.

Theresa comes up behind her.

THERESA: Yeah. That's when me and Ryan went to winter dance together last year.

She takes another photo. Covering the winter dance pic.

THERESA: (CONT'D) I don't like my hair there so...

But Marissa knows the truth. The photo is too painful.

THERESA: (CONT'D) He just left. You know that? One day he was there. Next day -- his house was empty.

MARISSA: I don't think he planned any of it.

THERESA: Doesn't matter. We weren't serious anyway.

THERESA: (CONT'D) He doesn't really get serious with girls. He kind of keeps all to himself. (beat) And then he disappears.

Theresa walks off. Trying to pretend it's nothing.

OFF MARISSA -- as this news lands with her.

INT. COHEN HOUSE -- POOL HOUSE -- DAY

Summer walks into the pool house. Seth following.

SETH: Huh. They said the gardenias would be in full bloom by -

Summer turns. Grabs Seth. And kisses him. Hard.

SETH: (CONT'D) What is going on?

SUMMER: I...I just can't help it. (beat) And I certainly can't explain it -- (beat) You didn't tell anyone?

SETH: Of course not.

SUMMER: 'Cause I'll kill you.

SETH: I believe you.

And she's kissing him again. Unbuttoning his shirt. As it starts to grow --

SETH: (CONT'D) Could you. One second. I have green beans I need to check on.

SUMMER: You're passing me up for beans?

OFF SETH -- dear God, one's never been sexier. Unable to resist his adolescent urges -- they're kissing again...

INT. ARTURO AND THERESA'S HOUSE -- GARAGE -- LATER

A '67 Chevelle with hockey stripes sits in the garage. Arturo behind the wheel. Door open. Trying to get the engine going. Ryan stands over him.

ARTURO: This car's hot, man. Gattas'll be psyched. Your brother must owe him a lot of money.

RYAN: I guess.

ARTURO: So why are you back here? Doing Trey's bitch work. (off Ryan) Look. Trey was my best friend. But he's trouble.

RYAN: Yeah. I've noticed.

ARTURO: But hey. I'm glad he called you. 'Cause I wouldn't go anywhere near Gattas. That dude's crazier than your brother. (beat, to Ryan) You don't have to do this. 'Cause you could just go back to your new life. What's Trey gonna do.

RYAN -- considers. And then shakes it off.

INT. COHEN HOUSE -- FAMILY ROOM -- DAY

Caleb now sits next to Julie. Which puts Jimmy and Rachel at opposite ends of the couch from each other. Everyone grumpy.

INT. COHEN HOUSE -- KITCHEN -- CONTINUOUS

Kirsten and Sandy huddled by the sink. Anna working at the stove. Trying not to snoop. Kirsten getting tipsy.

KIRSTEN: I've invited him to Thanksgiving every year and he's never shown up.

***

(nine pages later)

INT. COHEN HOUSE -- POOL HOUSE -- DAY

Sandy in the pool house. Searching through the drawers. Hears a toilet flush. Stops. That's odd. As he closes the bureau door he hears --

SUMMER. (O.S.) Back so soon? 'Cause I've just been here waiting for -

As she opens the bathroom door and emerges to see SANDY.

SUMMER: (CONT'D) Ew! (beat) I mean. Not ew. You're very attractive. For a Dad. Distinguished. (beat, mortified) But. Omigod...

And with that Summer scampers back into the bathroom. Closes the door.

OFF SANDY -- what the hell is going on...

INT. GATTAS' CHOP SHOP -- DAY

A mechanic's garage. Low rent. Skeletons of cars sitting around. The elephant doors open. The Chevelle parked inside. Ryan talks with GATTAS, 30s. Sleazy. Dangerous.

Ryan is out of his element here. As Gattas surveys the car.

GATTAS: It's a nice ride. I'll tell you that. Hard to believe your brother pulled this off. 'Cause he's one stupid sonofabitch.

RYAN: Yeah. Well. What do you think?

GATTAS: What do I think what?

RYAN: Are we good? You take the car. Trey's off the hook.

GATTAS: Oh. Is that the deal?

RYAN: That's what he told me.

GATTAS: Huh. (beat, turns to the office) You fellas hear that?

And that's when Ryan looks back to see two FIGURES in the office doorway. Equally menacing.

GATTAS: (CONT'D) I've been waiting for this for six months. There's something called interest I need collect.

RYAN: I don't have anything --

GATTAS: Well then you send Trey this message -

WHAM. Gattas decks Ryan. Sends him to the ground. The GUYS in the office door laugh.

GATTAS: (CONT'D) Now we're even. (a beat) Almost.

Gattas grabs Ryan. Bloodied. Pulls him up. Against the car. The crowbar swinging in his hand. Suddenly --

BEEP BEEP!

Ryan and Gattas both turn to see the RANGE ROVER pull in.

GATTAS: (CONT'D) Who the hell is that --

Ryan seizes the opportunity. PUNCHES Gattas. Sends him sprawling. And takes off RUNNING.

As Gattas collects himself and the two guys in the office follow...

RYAN: (waving at Marissa) GO! GO!

Thanks to Bliss at the Fanbolt.com Forum!