Pilot

Welcome to Orange County, an idyllic paradise home to California's wealthy individuals. Here, it seems that everything and everyone is perfect, but behind closed doors is a world hidden loyalties, identities, and lives. When Ryan Atwood, a tough, yet intelligent 16-year-old, is arrested for helping his brother steal a car, pro-bono public defender Sandy Cohen is assigned his case. But when Ryan is abandoned by his mother, Dawn, Sandy, seeing himself in Ryan, becomes a bigger part of his life than either ever expected. Sandy, much to the chagrin of his wife, Kirsten, Sandy invites Ryan to stay with them until his situation is worked out. However, Kirsten worries that Ryan will be a bad influence on their teen-aged son, Seth. Meanwhile, Ryan becomes attracted to Marissa Cooper, the girl next door who seems to have an effortless and perfect life. But neither of them are aware that the indiscretions of Marissa's father, Jimmy, make shatter the perfect world she's living in. Later, Ryan and Seth find common ground after a fight Newport teenagers, including Marissa's boyfriend, Luke.