Summary ep 7

Seth is trying to get Ryan to latch on to his plan. What plan? TJ, baby! As Seth helpfully explains, it's a rite of passage to head for Tijuana on the last weekend before school, and what happens in Mexico stays in Mexico.

Sandy comes into the kitchen, excited about his new job interview and Seth's trip to Comicon. The perfect alibi! Ryan wonders if Sandy will still be a public defender. Kirsten reassures him. After fifteen years, he's not selling out the downtrodden.

Jimmy drops by for a visit with Kirsten. He needs her help finding a place since he's moving out. Jimmy confides that he and Julie haven't told the girls about the divorce yet. At the same time, Luke and Marissa are about to start round two, but Marissa has a lot on her mind. She doesn't want to go to Mexico and leave her dad alone this weekend.

At the crab shack, Ryan is working while Seth is sitting around waiting for Summer to look at him, acknowledging that they kissed. Marissa and Luke drop in for a little shellfish. Ryan tells Marissa he hasn't seen her in awhile, and she snaps that the last time they saw each other, he had his hands a little full. With Gabrielle! They leave on not so great terms.

Waiting for his interview, Sandy comes across an old D.A. friend, Rachel. They snipe about the value of helping people versus the value of making money. Rachel tells Sandy the firm is interested in him because of his quick work for Jimmy Cooper.

Back at the restaurant, stuff is still going down. Marissa tells Summer she's not going, which means Summer has no ride now. In a corner, Holly is reminding Luke that what happens in Mexico, stays in Mexico. Luke resists, saying he and Marissa are back together. Holly scoffs, giving them a week. Seth, being ever noble, pops over to Summer's table and offers her a ride across the border.

The boys are about to depart. Summer heads next door to convince Marissa to go. Jimmy hears Marissa say she's not going. Worried about his daughter being around when he's moving out, Jimmy says she should go.

Marissa opens the car door and finds Ryan sitting in the backseat already. Awkward, much? Seth, Ryan, Summer and Marissa take off. In a more subdued mood, Kirsten and Jimmy paint a wall in Jimmy's new place. Kirsten tells him he can't keep avoiding his family. She thinks Jimmy should call Marissa and just tell her.

In the Rover, Summer tells Seth to use the gas pedal for a change and they flirtatiously bicker. In the back seat, Ryan and Marissa try to make as much room as possible for the huge block of tension wedged between them. Back up front, Seth and Summer's bickering takes a not so flirtatious turn. Seth threatens to pull over and drop her out. Summer grabs the wheel, some dangerous driving ensues and they swerve off the road, breaking the front axle.

The four check into a seedy motel, which doesn't quite live up to Summer's standards. More bickering ensues. In cozier confines, Sandy comes home to Kirsten. Seems that the law firm sent Sandy a new surfboard in thanks for the interview. He mentions that in private practice he could do more pro bono work.

Back at the motel, Ryan is at the vending machine trying to choose between salty and sweet. Marissa isn't being much help. They tensely discuss Marissa walking in on him and Marissa says she doesn't care. Unconvincingly. Ryan says he was only with Gabrielle because she was back with Luke. Back in the room, Summer and Seth realize they have to share a bed because nobody's taking the stained couch.

Then Marissa gets a call from Jimmy. He confesses that a divorce is on the way. A teary Marissa lies down next to Ryan on the pullout. Morning comes, and Ryan and Marissa are spooning. She smiles at the comfort. Then Ryan wakes and sees what he's doing. He apologizes. In the diner, Summer and Seth have breakfast like a married couple, sharing toast and reading the paper. Then they start flirtatiously bickering. Seth argues that they have something together. Summer argues that all of their cute moments are just coincidences.

Summer finds out about the Cooper divorce and says that it's the perfect reason to hit Tijuana. They go on. Back in the mother country, Sandy and old lawyer friend Rachel meet once again for lunch. Rachel says he'd better jump if he wants the offer.

It's nightfall in Tijuana. Luke and his boys are pounding shots. Holly steps to him looking for a dance. Our favorite four make the scene as well and start getting their buzz on. Upstairs, Luke is getting his Holly on. Which is great until…Marissa and Ryan see it.

Marissa asks how he could do this and Holly says Luke fools around with everyone. Freshmen, UCI girls, you name it. Marissa runs off and Luke goes to chase her, but Ryan stops him. "This isn't about you." "It is now. You don't deserve her." Sock! Ryan drills Luke in the face. Luke tries to return the favor, but hits somebody else and a brawl is on! Seth and Ryan slip out.

Summer finds Marissa at the motel. Summer says they should go home, but Marissa cries that nobody is there. She has no one. Marissa stumbles across the bottle of painkillers Summer picked up for her stepmom and slips out with the bottle. Summer, Ryan and Seth form a search party. Marissa is bellied up to the one empty bar in Tijuana and pours a couple of pills into her hand. After some thought, she slugs them back with a shot of tequila. She stumbles out of the bar and staggers through the streets and then into a dark alley, where she passes out. The group comes across her and Ryan carries her limp body out of the alley...