Previously on The O.C.: Marissa died, and this show promised us that it would rise from her ashes. I have my doubts, but I'm determined to be more positive about this show this season, so I'm going to hope for the best.

We open five months after Marissa's death, because why show us the aftermath of such an important, show-changing event when we can watch five months after it and hear everyone talk about how sad they were before and see how/if they've moved on? Ryan's in a dingy room that I'm pretty sure used to be the set for Volchok's apartment, and Placebo's version of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" is playing. This show just loves to use covers of really good '80s songs instead of the real thing, doesn't it? But I love both versions of this song, so I'll accept it. Ryan's face is all banged up and he answers his cell phone. He tells whoever's on the phone that he'll be right there, and then Sandy pulls up in his Lexus. Ryan lives in the back room of the Bar of Despair and Sadness, and Sandy pushes past the dregs of society to knock on Ryan's door. He begs Ryan to talk to him, because they're all worried about him and miss him, but Ryan takes off out the window instead. He gets in the Jeep he somehow owns (I guess between his other car getting totaled and his inability to function after Marissa's death, he went car shopping) and takes off.

Julie takes some pills out of her bathroom cabinet and goes to leave the house which, I'm rather surprised to see, has no remnants of the no-doubt huge "Have A Nice Dirt Nap, Marissa!" party that was thrown. Or maybe that party only existed in the viewers' homes. Anyway, Julie finds her daughter (the living one) putting on some hot leather boots and asks her why she isn't in school. "Because it's eight o'clock at night. And a Saturday," Kaitlin says. "Oh, that's nice," Julie replies. It is, isn't it? I love Saturday nights. Julie picks up the keys to her Lexus (Lexus: the Official Car of the Sinking Show) and leaves, despite Kaitlin's reminder that she isn't "supposed to be driving at night anymore." I guess they've decided that after Marissa's death, no Cooper may drive at night. Julie blows her off and Kaitlin tries to act worried.

Ryan pulls up to the Mermaid Inn and knocks on a door. Julie answers. "Hey, Ryan," she says, "c'mon in." If they're sleeping together, that would be so awesome.