Just a freeway's drive away. And yet worlds apart. Rejected by his parents after a brush with the law, Ryan Atwood moves temporarily into the pool house of his attorney's posh Newport Beach home...and finds both friends and foes among the privileged O.C. youth.
Kirsten doesn't want Ryan permanently, so he buys a bus ticket. Ryan, Seth and Marissa hide in a model home, but Summer finds out and causes trouble with a bully who fights Ryan.
Ryan protects Seth at a party in a bad neighborhood. Ryan again must save him after Seth invites the same people to a party in Newport. Luke is shot. Broke Jimmy has a hard choice.
Ryan is matched with Anna for cotillion, but he ends up taking Marissa. Summer abandons her intended escort, Seth. Jimmy admits his financial trouble. A fight happens at the event.
While Kirsten and divorcing Jimmy paint his new home, they kiss. Sandy considers a job. In Tijuana with the other teens, Marissa finds out about her parents' divorce and overdoses.
