Episode 1.21 The Leaving Song

Posted on May 4th, 2004 by Amy

Overview:

Dan becomes temporary coach of the basketball team when Whitey has to have eye surgery; no else thinks this is really a good idea. Haley finds objectional material on Nathan’s laptop and gets offended. Peyton and Brooke are to blame for Nikki kidnapping Jenny and Jake gets upset – and worried. Lucas decides on a complicated decision. Nathan finds that he is pressuring Haley for sex in ways he knows not. And Keith and Karen are at odds on their relationship. Dan finally gives those divorce papers.

Recap:

To everyone’s utter shock, Dan didn’t always want to be out of Lucas’ life. When the kid was little, Dan did ask Karen for joint custody, but she turned him down. Karen assures Lucas she did that because she did not trust Dan, but Lucas seems a bit disappointed. So is Keith, who can’t believe Karen never divulged this little detail.

It’s playoffs time and Nathan does want to train with Lucas – yep, this episode is full of surprises. As soon as Lucas informs Nathan about the whole custody thing, Nathan is puzzled. “The one decent thing the guy does and he buries it, huh?” Well, that’s a good point, Nate. Anyway, Nathan and Lucas are bonding for the first time. Of course, things are doomed to get tougher as soon as Dan becomes the Raven’s new coach, since Whitey has to be at the hospital for a while.

Haley finds some porn sites on Nathan’s computer favorites list, and even though Nathan, Lucas and Peyton try to convince her that it doesn’t mean anything, she looks hurt, especially when she discovers that Nathan still has some of Peyton’s pictures as well.

Now that Lucas has “out-slutted the both of them”, Brooke and Peyton start mending their friendship: they go shopping with Jake’s little daughter. Unfortunately, Nikki kidnaps Jenny. The cops are called and, in the end, when Nikki eventually shows up, she points out that she wants to ask for Jenny’s custody, since her father and her babysitter are endangering her. Jake is really worried: he has to leave Tree Hill. Peyton finds him a place on his father’s boat. For Savannah. The next day, Jake and Jenny leave, and Miss Goldielocks looks totally sad.

Someone else is planning to leave Tree Hill: Lucas. He wants to “Get away. Away from Dan. Away from this place. And away from all the mistakes I’ve been making.”

Originally aired: Tuesday May 4, 2004 on The CW Writer: Jennifer Cecil, Mark B. Perry
Director: David Carson
Show Stars: Moira Kelly (Karen Roe), Chad Michael Murray (Lucas Eugene Scott), Barry Corbin (Coach Whitey Durham), Barbara Alyn Woods (Deb Scott (as also starring; 2004-present)), Paul Johansson (Dan Scott), Craig Sheffer (Keith Scott), James Lafferty (Nathan Scott), Hilarie Burton (Peyton Sawyer), Sophia Bush (Brooke Davis), Bethany Joy Galeotti (Haley James-Scott)
Recurring Role: Shawn Shepard (Principal Turner), Brett Claywell (Tim), Thomas Ian Griffith (Larry Sawyer), Bryan Greenberg (Jake), Emmanuelle Vaugier (Nikki)
Guest Stars: Henry Garrett Droege (Messanger) , Stephen Delaney (Policeman) , Richard Fullerton (Security Guard)
Production Code: 177520