Brooke is high: she's about to be installed as school president and her dad should get another well-paid job. Nathan, still drinking, is livid after a call from Haley she'll be on TV, refuses to go to Keiths wedding, gets no sympathy from coach -who even rats out his fake ID in the liquor store- and drives Deb to abuse pain killers, as Lucas soon finds out. Andy thinks Karen can get Lucas back now his detective found Dan pays all expenses for some Emily Chambers. Chris makes it appear on national TV as if he and Haley are a couple. Best man Lucas takes Brooke, Jake and Peyton are late as they are too horny, Nathan turns up drunk and cursing outside the church. When Andy learns Jules is Emily, Karen asks and guesses what Dan pays her for- Jules runs off, only Dan triumphs. While Nathan burns his memories of Haley, Deb tells him to go get her back. Brookes dad got the job- but must move to California next week...

Nathan is recovering and back home, but won't tell Lucas what drove him. Brooke pieced together a shredded invoice Lucas sneaked home, so she learns about his investigation for Dans car dealership scam, and Andy makes sense of it but feels Lucas should stop taking risks. Nathan was relieved to hear his hospital bills are all paid, when Dan bursts in; he refuses to move back home even during revalidation, but keeps annulment forms. The kids planned a benefit film night for Nathan's medical bills, and go on just for the fun; to their surprise he appreciates an accidental films switch showing car accidents. After talking to Peyton he wants to forgive his ma for fleeing into pills, as she begs in a letter, but understands his insurance wasn't paid, so he sees Dan who confirms he paid, the rent too, and ends up believing he could be on the road to becoming a bitter bastard like him if he makes the wrong choices; he even asks Lucas to back off his investigation and decides to return home; Haley got her annulment petition offered by Dan too. Andy shows Lucas the profits went largely in a college fund for him; he moves back to Karen when Nathan returns.

The class's last essay assignment is about what they lost during the year, which sets some thinking. Karen attacks Dan when she learns he tries to get Andy deported; Andy cleverly trick him to check the black books hiding place. Jake has high hopes to get Jenny back now his attorney found Nikki lied under oath about attending college; but the day before, Nikki visits him to show she found Jenny already... Coach encourages Nathan to go to Highflyers, as he has grown in character enough, but Dan claims his ma Deb will collapse again if he leaves after her return. Karens club TRIC fills for Jimmy Eat World. Lucas and Brooke visit New York for an overnight stay with Haley; Chris says they never had sex, but she refuses to give up her musical life. Jake tells Peyton to forget him as his quest for Jenny looks desperate.