"The Leavers Dance" is the twenty third episode of Season 2 of One Tree Hill and originally aired May 24th, 2005 as the second half of the double length season finale. The episode was written by Mark Schwahn and directed by Greg Prange.
School is over, and everyone is making plans for the summer - Nathan is going to High Flyers, Brooke is going to California, and Lucas is left to question where he stands with them both. Peyton receives shocking news, and Dan faces a long overdue reckoning.
For tropes relating to the first half of the season finale, see that episode’s recap page.
Contains examples of the following tropes:
- Book Ends: Lucas and Nathan’s first scene together this season had them meet at the River Court and reaffirm their relationship as brothers; their final scene together has then meet at the River Court again, but Nathan makes it clear that he no longer considers Lucas a friend or his brother.
- But Now I Must Go: Brooke has to spend her summer in California because of her parents.
- Cain and Abel: After finding out Lucas lied about going to visit Haley and that he’s still trying to ruin Dan, Nathan declares that they’re neither friends or brothers.
- Dramatic Irony: Haley returns to Tree Hill in an attempt to salvage her relationship with Nathan, as Nathan’s about to leave town for the summer to attend High Flyers.
- Free-Range Children: Karen leaves Lucas to look after himself for the summer as she flies out to New Zealand.
- Green-Eyed Monster: Mouth is clearly uneasy with the attention Erica receives from other guys whilst they’re at the beach.
- Laser-Guided Karma: After everything he’s done, Dan is left unconscious and alone as Dan Scott Motors burns around him.
- No Theme Tune: Due to airing as the second half of a two hour block, the episode lacks both the traditional opening title sequence and the title card used in other episodes that dropped the title sequence.
- Not Me This Time: After finding out that Ellie doesn’t work at Rolling Stone, Peyton accuses her of also being behind the creepy instant messages she had received, which Ellie denies.
- Ship Tease:
- Brooke tells Peyton about Lucas’ box of mementos from their brief relationship, suggesting it might be a distraction from Jake’s departure. One of the final scenes of the season is Lucas meeting Peyton at the beach, noting that it’s just going to be the two of them this summer.
- Lucas admits his feelings to Brooke and kisses her in her bedroom as they bid each other farewell for the summer; however, it’s left unclear if Brooke feels the same way.
- As Peyton helps Nathan pack up the last of his belongings from the apartment, they find a photograph of them from when they were dating. After reminiscing, Nathan starts tickling Peyton before Brooke walks in and interrupts.
- Shout-Out: Ellie claims to work for Rolling Stone when she first meets Peyton.
- Titled After the Song: The episode title is taken from the song "The Leavers Dance" by The Veils.
- Wham Line: Ellie delivers one to Peyton, on the door step of the Sawyer home.Ellie: My name is Elizabeth...Like your middle name, Elizabeth. It's where you got your middle name...I'm your mother.
- Whodunnit: The episode and season ends on Dan being left to burn inside Dan Scott Motors, having been set on fire by an unidentified party.
