"Running to Stand Still" is the tenth episode of Season 5 of One Tree Hill and originally aired March 4th, 2008. The episode was written by Bill Brown and directed by Clark Mathis.
Lucas and Nathan are forced to face Dan at his parole hearing, whilst Haley deals with a blow to her marriage. Brooke and Owen head to New York, but their trip takes an unexpected turn. Meanwhile, Peyton's old boss at Sire Records tries to undermine her relationship with Mia.
Contains examples of the following tropes:
- The Bus Came Back: Rachel returns, being found by Brooke and Owen crashing in the former's New York apartment.
- Double Standard Rape: Female on Male: Despite Carrie forcing herself on Nathan in the shower, no-one treats the situation as sexual assault or attempted rape at any point in the episode.
- Happy Ending Override: The cold open of the episode takes place immediately following the events of the previous episode; whilst not necessarily a happy ending, the hopefulness of Nathan resolving to tell Haley about Carrie's behaviour is completely obliterated by Carrie propositioning Nathan in the shower and Haley walking in on Nathan's attempt to force Carrie to leave.
- Oh, Crap!:
- Owen and Brooke finding Rachel od'ing in Brooke's New York apartment.
- Nathan and Haley realising that Jamie had fallen into the pool whilst his parents were arguing.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Nathan visiting Dan earlier in the season and keeping it a secret winds up completely undermining Lucas' argument that Dan shouldn't be paroled in the hopes of being a father to his sons as neither went to visit him in prison.
- Put on a Bus: Mia heads out on tour.
- The Reveal: Rachel was the model fired by Clothes Over Bro's in the season premiere.
- Road Trip Plot: Brooke and Owen head to New York.
- Shout-Out: As a result of Red Bedroom's agreement with Sire Records, Mia gets to tour with Ryan Adams.
- Titled After the Song: The episode title is taken from the song "Running to Stand Still" by U2.
- Wham Episode: Dan is paroled from prison; Jamie nearly drowns in the Scott's pool whilst his parents are arguing, leading to Haley angrily demanding a divorce.
