Drama Queens - Tree Hill Meets True Crime • EP 908

Episode Date: September 22, 2025

A moment at the morgue, an attempted murder, and the most meta moment EVER, who could forget Season 9 Episode 8? Apparently Rob can! Hear how he experiences the drama like it’s the first time!    Meanwhile, Clay has a major breakthrough, Xavier’s shocking cafe appearance shakes things up, and Chase’s bold plan to protect Chuck keeps everyone on edge.   Plus, what did Joy do that left Sophia and Rob blown away after all these years?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. It may look different, but native culture is alive. My name is Nicole Garcia, and on Burn Sage, Burn Bridges, we aim to explore that culture. Somewhere along the way, it turned into this full-fledged award-winning comic shop. That's Dr. Lee Francis IV, who opened the first Native comic bookshop. Explore his story along with many other native stories on the show, Burn Sage, Burn Bridges. Listen to Burn Sage Burn Bridges. Listen to Burn Sage Burn Bridges on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

First of all, you don't know me. We're all about that high school, drama girl, drama girl, all about them high school queens. We'll take you for a ride and our comic girl, cheering for the right team. Drama queens, drama queens, smart girl, rough girl, fashion but you'll tough girl, you could sit with us, girl. Drama queen, drama queens, drama queens, drama queens, drama queens, drama queens. This is why you got to watch the show on YouTube. For those of you listening, so if you just picked up what appeared to be a small fish bowl

full of bone broth and drank it, like it wasn't a funny visual gag. You know, I do what I can to please you, Rob. Thanks for that friend. Anytime. Do you know you were in my dream last night? I was. What were we doing? We were we eating?

We got into a little tiff, by the way. We did? Yeah, we were at a public event. And we got into a tiff, and I actually did the thing where like I pointed at you and I went like as if like get to the other room

like I was scolding you like I was a parent yeah why what were we tiffing about we're going to have to we'll offline about it well offline about it oh I can't wait yeah yeah teaser for the audience

maybe we'll cover it in a different episode I don't know I don't know I am in two weeks one of my best friends is getting married and so obviously like our group chats with all of our friends or what's everyone wearing to the wedding and when's your flight

and when does everyone arrive and who's carpooling and, you know, like logistics. And the night before last, you know, when you have one of those crazy nights where you feel like you have a dream from the moment you go to bed till the moment you wake up, like it never changes. I spent an entire night dreaming about her wedding, but I was the wedding planner down to like the headset and the clipboard. And I was moving around and organizing things and getting like all the kids in order

and all the. And I woke up being like, wow, what a crazy thing that I just spent the entire night dreaming about Britt and Alex's wedding. And then I also was like, have I maybe missed a calling? I'm very organized and I, at least in the dream, was an excellent wedding planner. Well, I would say you are very talented. So to be fair, I think you've missed several callings only by virtue of the fact there is only one of you in 24 hours in a day. You're a sweet angel. I do, I do think you would. would crush as a wedding coordinator because that plays to a lot of your strengths. And the good news

is if the wedding coordinator falls like deathly ill on the day, you now know you are a suitable candidate to step up and fill the shoes. Oh my God. If my dream weirdly manifested that, I will strangely be ready. But I hope not because I want her to not be stressed, you know? Yeah. Here's the question. Are you ready to discuss this banger of an episode? I don't have a clipboard, but I do have notes. Okay, good. Let's hop into it. Season 9, episode 8, a rush of blood to the head, aired February 29th, 2012. Is February 29th the day that only happens every four years? Yes, that's a leap year. Check. Wow. That tracks because this was a pretty special episode. Synopsis reads, Haley receives news of a possible tragedy. Boy, did she ever. Dan's search for Nathan leads him back to his dark past, and Clay has a.

Blake breakthrough in his treatment. That is to say the least. And then there appears to be more, but all we have is brew, which I believe was going to be something about Brooke. I'm guessing it's Brooke encounters an unwelcome guest multiple times at Karen's Cafe. Yes, I would think that that is the missing section of the synopsis. This episode was directed by our very own Greg Prange. It was written by the lovely Johnny Richardson. And I, got to say, I really enjoyed it. Yeah. This felt like we're very in the wheelhouse of what we do best. And, touch to Johnny Richardson, so many of the questions that I think we've all been watching episodes in season nine thus far and going, what the hell? How does Dan know this? And why

is this relevant? There were things that were revealed in this episode. I felt like I got a couple of bows on some gifts and I liked it. I agree. I had two big takeaways. One was I remember when we started doing this podcast and I were saying to you guys like, I think Dan's my favorite character. I just loved watching Dan. And this episode, it was like a love letter to that feeling because he was so fun to watch. He's so great in this role, but in this particular season that we find Dan in. And also, okay, we all know the term jumping the shark. Oh, yeah. I want to float this. I think our show is very good at riding the shark. Interesting. Where it's almost ridiculously too far and then they pull it back. That's right. And we just, we just sort of ride this

fine line of being absurdist, yet good enough that you don't mind. And you're like, I'll go for this ride. I like that. I like that. I'm getting like a nice visual of the bridle on the shark. And it's like, just when it's too far, we rain it in. Still on a shark. Still on a shark. But we rain it in. Yep.

There are Eastern European assassins in the small town of Tree Hill, as we all know. But it's okay because it works. It does. And interestingly, the lovely guy who played Dan's prison friend who had the tattoo, which is why Dan knows the symbol. we finally we finally get it he was so good and and i found myself thinking god thank goodness they got such a good actor it's so refreshing to watch him and paul moving through the yard talking about their lives you understand that they've all suffered behind bars at the hands of this i don't know guard cop

whatever he was is not that that justifies violence but you go oh there's there's more of a story here i see There's a system and a life that we just didn't really get the, you know, the privilege as an audience to view day in and day out while Dan was in prison. But it helped me understand things so effectively that even when he was talking about the guys who have Nathan and saying, you don't get it, these guys are assassins. I didn't mind it. It was so silly, but I didn't mind it. I was like, I'm all in on whatever you two are selling. that guy and I apologize to the actor because I don't know his name and it's not in the notes but he was he was so good first of all his performance was great because it's so challenging to be a guest star especially to come on to such like to an already established successful machine yeah and especially when you only have one scene yes all of your instincts are like well I got to crush this and like the trap you fall into is you end up doing the most and that never looks good And this guy was great because he did the least. And it was so effective. And it was so good.

I almost didn't notice that that was the club med of prisons. I know. The little outdoor garden and the tiny barn, it was very chic. It was an idyllic sanctuary. Like I couldn't believe how beautiful it was. And I thought like, wow, this is like where Martha Stewart went. These guys are gangsters. Yeah. Lovely. I want to spend a weekend there.

Perhaps, you know, we've talked about this in our fantasy. Perhaps Martha and Victoria were there together, and they created the community garden that later benefited all these men who just needed a second chance. Just for a minute, imagine how fun a show would be of Martha Stewart playing herself and Victoria coming into Martha's world and watching them. Like Orange is the New Black Bo with Martha Stewart and Victoria Davis. No, it's my literal dream. Oh, my gosh. It's the show I think we deserve next.

Yes. Also, weirdly, have we ever talked about the fact that my mom and Martha Stewart could be cousins? Like, they look so much alike. You're telling me your Aunt Martha is actually Martha Stewart? Oh, my God, what I would give. Could you imagine? That would be so cool. You know what else we should do?

This would be very meta, but the one tree hill, hear me out. I don't know how you guys are coming along with the spinoff, but if you're open to huge structural ideas and changing everything, Real Housewives of Tree Hill. Oh my God, that's actually so funny. Because we always talk about that the moms on the show are just absolute assassins and we just don't get enough of them. So give us a show that revolves around them.

By the way, I think about this all the time. To get a Karen, Deb, and Victoria show, would be so amazing like I would just be so happy oh yes and also you can't forget Sharon Lawrence yes Sylvia also where's Antoine's mom like I want to know I want to know skills as mom Mrs. Taylor where she at like I want to see that world so badly and don't get me wrong I love I love the teens there's a nostalgia when you watch a teen story but one of the things that think has been really cool about the timeline of the decades we've been working actors is people are also realizing like, oh, people in their 40s, 50s, and 60s are really interesting.

Yeah. And like I want to see these people as parents and then their parents. Like so badly. To see Victoria in her grandma era, but she's Victoria. So she's like so hot and cool and doing cool shit. give it to me yeah and because every cast has to have just an absolute loose canon wildcard hear me out chuck's mom oh my god that would be amazing it would be amazing especially after this episode how she's reinvented herself and you know she'd be doing something incredible now yeah

she would have gotten out from under the thumb of this horrible man and she'd just be thriving yes I want that I want more of that okay well now that we have fully explored our fans fiction ideas. Let's actually talk about the episode. So I love that we opened with the bar that Dan is waiting outside of was actually, is the blue post, which is the local neighborhood bar that we all went to all the time. Yes, I know. That's like all in caps in the beginning of my notes. And I also love just for the humor of it that my notes app auto corrected, why is he kicking the shit out of this old guy to why is he kicking the short? out of this old guy.

Yeah. What's his ducking problem? I love it. I love it. It's like when you had to do bad ADR for a movie so they could show it on a plane and you'd be like, you filthing monster. Mm-hmm. This episode, one thing it did well was it did a good job of showing and not telling.

Yeah. And it started with this Dan beating a seemingly random drunk guy senseless. Yes. That was a very cool thing because I was so immediately interested of, is he blowing off steam? And then he said, he tells Julian, he's like, no, I'm hoping it's going to lead somewhere. Yeah. It was great because it just kept me guessing as opposed to being heavy-handed. This episode had a lot of stuff where I was like, where is this going to go?

Yeah. And it's nice to have that, you know, to, as we were referencing earlier with this wonderful actor working with Paul in the prison, to to wonder what's going on actively when you're in the audience and then get the answers as the story develops as the episode progresses. It's so nice to kind of be in on the mystery. And that was a good catch about the tattoo. I don't know if I fully clocked that. I just noticed we were prominently featuring tattoos, but good catch.

Yeah, and that's why there was a, There was a direct cutaway when Dan said, when I saw that, I knew. And so it's, yeah, it's just a really, it's nice when writers treat audiences as though they are as smart as they are. It's refreshing. It's respectful. I like that we let Chris Keller take a break from being the comedic relief, and we brought in our designated hitter. of sweet sweet Antoine and that whole runner of him seeing this long that that lead up him seeing her and preparing himself to go talk to her and make a move and then seeing that she's pregnant that

reveal and then hiding behind the car was so funny it was wonderful and he's got like you know he's just like got a swaggy walk he's having a good time and when he sees her he kind of gets a little pepinus step it's a great moment of just a touch of physical comedy and then the full you know arms out flattened body against the car Antoine committed to the bit so hard and I loved it yeah he's so good with comedy man every time he does I'm like why aren't we doing this more and it's like oh because there's 25 of us on this cast and yeah we can't all be telling a story at the same time but it's so great and it and it was such a good lead up to when you get ahead. in the episode and eventually he shows up at trick

and he's asking Stephen for advice and Steven's on his way out and he's like no but you have to be the bartender like you have to talk to me about this and it gave Stephen such a great moment of humor because he when he looks at Antoine and he says I'm gonna really I'm gonna go really

far out on a limb and say go talk to her yeah like just the simplest thing just go have a conversation oh and by the way this feels like the perfect time to mention Joy's traveling today, folks. For those of you who haven't guessed, she is not with us today. I just felt like I should wait 15 minutes to make this announcement rather than saying it right off at the top.

That's not confusing, right? No, not at all. I will say, you know, we were waiting for a time because there was a chance she was going to be able to jump into the Zoom. But the timing is not ideal today as we're both on the West Coast and she's literally in London. It's just cards are not in our favor. But we're happy for her trip. Yeah. Well, foggy London Town strikes again.

It may look different, but Native culture is very alive. My name is Nicole Garcia, and on Burn Sage, Burn Bridges, we aim to explore that culture. It was a huge honor to become a television writer because it does feel oddly, like, very traditional. It feels like Bob Dylan going electric. that this is something we've been doing for a hundred of years, you carry with you a sense of purpose and confidence. That's Sierra Taylor Ornales, who with Rutherford Falls became the first native showrunner in television history. On the podcast, Burn Sage, Burn Bridges, we explore her story, along with other native stories, such as the creation of the first Native Comic-Con

or the importance of reservation basketball. Every day, Native people are striving to keep traditions alive while navigating the modern world, influencing and bringing our culture into the mainstream. Listen to Burn Sageburn Bridges on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Okay, so getting back to the episode and speaking of joy, I wish she was here. What an episode did not have her for. It's actually not cool.

I'll tell you what, I will accept all of your praise and my praise on Joy's behalf. Yes. Okay, that feels great. Like, she's not able to attend the Oscars. Like, I'm the one who takes this stage and gets her award. Yeah, you're physically taking the award. I got it. Yeah.

She was wonderful in this. It's such a beautiful performance. And I have to say, I'm so glad that the world around her allowed for it. you know we obviously we joke a lot that like who's this dressed up why is everyone always particularly the girls why is everyone always in stilettos or like a mini skirt or it's just no one's ever just allowed to be casual and even the fact that she's just in a beige cardigan that she's in little flats that she's not really wearing much makeup like they the hair makeup wardrobe the director everyone let her be

at a at a minimal amount of presentational effort that allowed for the rawness of her emotion to be the focus in the episode and it like nothing distracted

from the way she prepared from the way I mean even the way Greg shot her and Chantelle in the car in slow motion and just focusing on that gorgeous voiceover and all these stories, all the things Haley's thinking about that she might never get to say to him again. I loved every single choice that was made on and behind the camera in this episode for her. I just thought it was so beautiful. Yeah, I love when you have a scene where there's real high, heavy emotional stakes

and we can't hear what people are saying. Yes. I am such a fan. Like, let me guess. Let me be curious as to what's going on. And so that whole car ride that we were getting the voice over instead. And again, show don't tell. Rather than just going, Nathan's so selfless.

He does everything for the family. She tells this wonderful story about getting his favorite flavor of ice cream wrong because he was always ordering the flavor that he knew she really liked. I was like, gosh, man. They just nailed it. that one. Yeah. And then she just, I mean, this is the kind of episode, when you get the script and you read it, you're like, shit. Yeah. I got a week and a half coming up. You know, it's like, I got to be hysterical in a police station. I got to cry at a more. I mean, man, she had such

heavy lifting to do. And she nailed it. Yeah, it was really great. And there, it's those days, you know, I remember, I don't even remember why, you know, who knows, maybe I had the scene after or maybe I was there for fitting or whatever, but I remember that I'd gone by set that day because I was on, you know, the studio lot and seeing her standing in the corner of the morgue with her headphones in, just like getting ready for that scene, for that pullback. of the sheet and and feeling like oh I'm just going to stand here like I'm just going to hang for a bit for moral support like these are the hardest moments as an actor and they're also so cathartic and to your point I just love the choices made in the edit the fact that we didn't hear her

you know we heard her on set it was so tragic but weirdly It's even more profound because you can't hear, Haley, you just see it. And so then you're also not sure. You know, she's saying like cover him up, you know, and she's making these gestures that read as no, but you're thinking like, is it no because she's saying, no, I can't look at him like this? Or is it no because she's saying, no, that's not him? And it leaves you in this scrambling feeling for what am I seeing? Can I trust my opinions about what I'm seeing? It's really so good.

And having Quinn there for all of it was really nice. Yeah. She did such a good job. And just, I mean, Quinn is so likable. Yeah. And I think part of it is because they oftentimes just sort of have her be like support to the people in her orbit. It's a lot of supporting Clay and Haley for her. But, God, Sean,

just has such a good job with it and all this stuff you're like man what a good sister and what a great bond their stuff was awesome well and it's really nice too i think in the context of our show and the way that so many female friendships were written yes i do believe the female friendships are a massive pillar you know tent pole of the love stories on our show but especially in high school. They always had an element of some kind of competition, some falling out and then falling back in. Someone slept with someone's boyfriend or everyone slept with everyone's boyfriends. It was a bit trite at times. And there's something really refreshing about the Quinn and Haley world because Quinn comes in when these women are adults. And yeah, it feels a little weird that we never got to see her

in the high school years but you know you you let movie magic be movie magic and you move on but the fact that we have this really beautiful supportive relationship between these two sisters and it's not a taylor situation it's not like another terrible thing with women it's just gorgeous it's like it feels to your point it just feels like such a freaking payoff and it's I don't know it gives me like a deep breath feeling if that makes sense it does

I also liked this episode had a lot of just duos it was a lot of two person scenes and it was nice to see people paired off I thought the Clay and Logan stuff was so adorable

it's so good Pierce is so cute and so lovable and that whole like flying the airplane thing. Yeah. Ah, I thought it was great.

Yeah. Yeah. And then of course, you know, Clay finally does enough digging to remember he is in fact the baby's daddy. Let me ask you this. I like, okay, I like, I like where we get to, you know, he realizes he has a son. Okay. And I have never been in this position, so I have no idea how I would react.

however it did seem odd to me that he reacted like a petulant child and was like that's my son no he'll never be my son i'm leaving alone and stormed out i thought okay you know what he's in shock that just struck me as a little odd um but here is my bigger question i don't understand that kid is got he's got to be what six i think he's supposed to be like Four or five. Perfect. Even better for this point. He's four and a half years old.

Yeah. He is unsupervised all of the time. Yeah. It's like, is this a secure campus? Also, who watches him? Who does he stay with? Is it the grandparents? Is that what we're saying in the story?

I can't remember in this moment. We don't ever say. That's why it's odd to me. It's like this child is he has never had. No grownups are ever near him. He's left alone in a room all by himself like he's a grown up. Also, yeah, where has he been this whole time? It just seems like all of the emphasis and the care and the thought was put on getting, helping Clay had this breakthrough in zero concern was given to this kid's well-being.

They're like, let's just put him in a room down the hall and see if Clay works it out. Yeah, and I guess it's interesting because I wanted to know how you felt about all of this stuff. it's weird to me because what I find myself asking as a viewer is but what does the kid know like does he know Clay's his dad is a five year old being asked

to breadcrum like psychological information for an adult how how is this stuff being how are things being communicated with him and obviously we can can't see that prior to the reveal because then we would be in on it. But I am, I just have so many questions about how we make sense of this. And I clearly, so do you.

And like performance wise and just part of the storytelling, I'm on board with it. It was fun. It was sweet. I'm just, so I'm not disparaging the story of it. I enjoy that part of it. But I just found myself going, I have so many questions that I hope we get answers to. Like, where has he been living for the last two years since Clay left? And where are those people now? You know what I mean? It just. Yes.

Because also it's like, why is his doctor here? Okay, I can buy that as doctor. Maybe it took a trip to come to Tree Hill to help his former patient. But then it's like, so did the kid as well? I, you know, I don't know. Yeah. Well, and that's what leads me down that sort of rabbit hole of, did you perhaps wind up in treatment here while you were visiting Nathan back in the day and then go home? Like, is that how perhaps this has happened?

I just, it is all very confusing that suddenly the therapist and the kid and the big secret. is here in the small town, you know? Mm-hmm. Yeah, I don't know. Maybe we'll get some more information. I hope so. It may look different, but native culture is very alive. My name is Nicole Garcia, and on Burn Sage, Burn Bridges, we aim to explore that culture. It was a huge honor to become a television writer because it does feel oddly, like, very traditional. It feels like Bob Dylan going electric, that this is something.

something we've been doing for hundreds of years. You carry with you a sense of purpose and confidence. That's Sierra Teller Ornelis, who with Rutherford Falls became the first native showrunner in television history. On the podcast, Burn Sage Burn Bridges, we explore her story, along with other Native stories, such as the creation of the first Native Comic-Con or the importance of reservation basketball.

Every day, native people are striving to keep traditions alive while navigating the modern world. Influencing and bringing our culture into the mainstream. Listen to Burn Sage Burn Bridges on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I loved how it ended with Clay being back at the house, and Quinn's showing up and he's like, I had my breakthrough. She's like, ooh, okay, well listen, you can tell me anything,

and it's not going to change anything at all. And it just Clay kind of has that, oh boy, look on his face. So I'm excited to see how that goes over next episode. Yeah, do you remember at all? Not a thing. Oh, my God. I don't either. It's killing me.

The next thing I remember about the Clay Quinn and Logan storyline is actually just the end game. So I got a couple episodes of a ride I have no recollection of. Oh, my goodness. Yeah, I've got an outcome for you guys burned into my memory from this season, but it's because I directed the episode, and it's one of my favorite scenes ever. And so there's something coming that I remember in such a visceral way.

Oh. But I don't remember how we get there. Okay. All right. I'm excited. I didn't realize you had directed one of these last ones coming up. Nice. Which episode is it?

Do you remember the number? I don't. Okay. But it involves our very cool prop from the superhero world. Oh, then yes. I remember your episode. And that's, that is all I basically remember. Okay. Great. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Let's enough, enough talking around a subject that probably everyone listening already knows what we're talking about. Everyone's like, you guys are so lame. We know what's coming. I know. That was so cool, though. All right. But here's what's not cool.

Xavier. What the hell, man. Also, how is this allowed? Like, how is he allowed within a hundred feet of her, let alone in her place of work. I had the same thing. I mean, first of all, this guy needs a hobby and a life because, come on, you can't spend all day, every day eating cherry pie. Also, who sits down and eats three pieces of cherry pie in a row? Only a lunatic. Only a psychopath.

Only a psychopath. That should be enough reason. Straight to jail. Straight to jail. Sir, you have to go. It's just so unsettling, and he's such a wonderful actor. you know he he leans in he he does this thing where he almost puts something sweet or or he plays sweet over really monstrous thoughts yeah so it feels saccharin it feels like

really creepy and sticky and oh he just makes me so uncomfortable and and what is skill you know to be a nice person who just can embody something wild. But I appreciated the misdirect, you know, putting up the sign. The best bosses ever moment is clearly also like a little dig about the cafe across the street, which I think is a nice runner. And interestingly, the, I thought it made the surprise of Xavier hit harder going from the help wanted sign down to the Nathan is listening sign. Yeah.

Because you're having this experience in this tight-knit friend group, in this small-town community, and then it's the boogeyman. And it really was effective the way Greg shot that. And, okay, so I get it. You and I both love dogs. We had lots of dogs. We love them immensely. We get it.

However, would you ever, if your dog was missing, put up a. missing dog poster over a missing person poster no did you catch that moment when haley's walking down the street crying and she sees that one of nathan's posters has been covered up with a missing dog poster yeah i don't know guys i don't think you can do that i don't think you can no go lower go higher but you can't do that. There's just a hierarchy. I know, listen, I love a dog as much as the next person. Yeah. They don't supersede a missing human. So when that moment happened, I was like, ooh, I'd almost be writing down that number just to be like, hey, didn't find your dog, but I found some decency you left behind. Boom, roasted. Yeah. But Xavier, here's why I like

it though, because yes, he's great. I believe that he's dangerous. I'm curious now what's going to happen. also gives us the opportunity to see Julian be a hunky hero. And he storms in and he said, no one threatens my wife or eats three slices of cherry pie in one sitting. Get out. It's really nice. The way he yinks Xavier out, I was like, okay. Okay, Austin, you go.

And he's still a little roughed up from when he got beat up. He looks kind of cool. He's like a little scab. I'm like, ooh, yeah. I totally, it gives them a little oomph. And there is. There's almost this sort of cloud of, you know, there's a little cloud of darkness over Julian that wasn't there before. And it works really well for this stuff.

It's like this is a man who's been through some shit and he is not to be messed with. And it's really nice. Yeah. It was great. I thought all of that was great. Speaking of a man not to be messed with. Tell me. Sweet Chase.

Oh. This storyline's great. It really is. So when Chris Keller comes into, I think it's at Chase's place, he's like, hey, let's have a beer. And Chase is saying, like, officer, penal code, do, do, do, do. And I thought he was talking about drinking a beer. And I'm like, oh, you freaking dork. Like, come on, just drink a beer.

You're not in the cockpit right now. And then, but it was for, like, battery. He was already thinking, like, he was kind of already having a plan of, like, I think this is going to go the way I think it is. I think it's going to go sideways, and I need to know what I'm in store for. And I liked watching him calculate, like, can I live with the consequences of what I think I'm going to do? Yes. Like, what will it mean for me for the rest of my life if I defend this kid in the way that I want to?

Yeah. It's cool. Also, I'm pretty sure if you beat someone with a tire iron, you're doing long-term, if not forever, damage. And because we see through the silhouette of the front window, you see how high he is raising the crowbar and bringing it down. And you're like, I hope you were hitting the legs. Right.

But he's covered in blood and the car and the police car. It's like, were you going for, I'll break your kneecaps, like a little mafia retribution? What was really happening in there? Because to your point, what it looks like, and this is something that bugs me a bit about film and TV is sometimes I feel like the stunt coordination really takes it to a 10 when it only needs to be a 6. It's like, well, what we saw in silhouette looked like an attempted murder. Yeah.

Not really like, I'm going to rough someone up. So, I don't know, but it's also, you know, it's heroic, it's personal, it's all the things. And so obviously we're rooting for him. And I'm like, are you going to go to jail forever? I don't know, man. And, and again, this is the hindsight of being like a Monday morning quarterback. But you're like, I want to save this kid from this traumatizing experience by watching, making him watch another traumatizing experience.

You know, he's essentially watching the silhouette of his dad getting beat to death with a tire iron and then Clay walking out with blood spattered all over his face. Excuse me, Chase walking out of blood spattered over his face. It was just one like, again, I completely get it. It was a hero moment. Chase came running out of the house. Yeah. But it was also like, oh, it almost would have been better if you had just like taken him

somewhere else and then came back and nearly killed his father. Yeah. I don't know. Maybe Chase just didn't want to go to the Air Force. And he was like, I don't want to be called a quitter. I know. I know. I'll beat a scumbag within an inch of his life.

Yeah, I'll be a hero and also get discharged. Mm-hmm. It's a bold move, though, the tyrant. He didn't even want to go fisticuffs, huh? He was just like, I don't know if I can beat this guy one-on-one, so I'm going to bring a murdering tool in with me. I mean, he's a... Chuck's dad's a big dude.

Oh, yeah. He's a built guy. And, yeah, I guess if you're not trying to have an even fight, you know, he's saying, if you do this, like, I'll make you regret it. And so I understand the escalation. But, yeah, I'm very curious about what that looks like for him. Yeah. You know, and maybe Chase just didn't want to hurt his hands.

Maybe he just got a manny, you know. You know, well, you need, you need your, you need your hands to steer. This is true, to fly the airplane. Yeah, okay. Well, listen, I didn't mind it because that guy's a scumbag. So I was, I was all for the ride. I just, you know, as you watch, you also have that rational part of your brain being like, ooh, dog, that's attempted murder.

Like, you're going to prison. You're not just like, you don't get the good guy discount and you get a slap on the wrist. Exactly. We've all watched enough law and order and enough true crime to be like, ooh, I have a hunch. I know what that charge is going to look like. and it's not going to be good for you. No, no, it's not.

It's not. What we needed Chase to do was finish beating on Chuck's dad and then just pop right over to Karen's cafe and give Xavier a little tune-up. Yes, that would have been great. Just like why you're on this heater, go ahead and take care of that guy too. Yeah.

I just can't get over. And look, it's a great device. It makes Brooke feel very unsettled. It makes Julian feel very unsettled. It makes Julian feel very protective. Obviously, there's now, as, you know, as they have me mention, when I come into the house and Julian's with the kids, and I'm like he came to the cafe, you know, I like that in the dialogue, I get to talk about the fact that we have these two defenseless babies now. It isn't just us. Everything feels heavier.

But I just, I'm confused about why the first call isn't immediately to the police. you know, he's violating you, to be harassing someone that you went to jail for assaulting when you also kidnapped a minor, like that must be a violation of your parole to be coming to this lady's office. Absolutely. The reason, it didn't make sense to me, but actually, weirdly, that's why it worked for me. Because to me, that is not someone who's thinking rationally. You don't show up to the place of work of the person.

who just vocally said or vocally, you know, advocated for you staying in prison. So to me, it kind of added to the threat and the menace because this guy clearly doesn't give enough shits to be safe. Yeah, he's obviously unhinged because he's not acting in the best interests of his own future. Forget even for her. Yeah. You know, we clearly has a.

grown enough to regret or have remorse for what he did to her, but he's literally jeopardizing his own freedom by his behavior. Yeah, it's scary. I liked seeing David pop back up into town. Speaking of welcome face, or not speaking of welcome phases, David was a cool surprise, and that scene with Quinn and David at Clay's Pool was great. Yeah, I really liked it. I liked that he was self-deprecating. You know, the fact that the writers had David make fun of himself. Yeah, finally dating outside the James sisters. The James sisters, like, it's great because it gives you,

it gives you a way to share in a laugh. And his being self-deprecating immediately, at least for me as an audience member, undid some of the ick I felt about him. I was like, oh, look, everybody's growing. cool yeah yeah it was good self-awareness yeah and i liked that we had people sort of not under not having all the information like the way antoine didn't or the way skills didn't and the way that Quinn didn't and then there's that scene with all of them in the cafe where they all are

having aha moments at the same time yes where it dawns on everyone and and the camera pings around and you're just on the ride as as a viewer and for those viewers that don't know, Scott Holroyd, who plays David, is Allison Munn, who plays Miss Lawrence, real-life husband. Yes. And she was pregnant in real life with their actual baby. So it was a fun little meta joke. Yeah.

That it was great for us, too, because we all liked Scott, and he kind of came in so vast as David initially. So it was great to have him back, and it's always great to have Allison back. Yeah. It's so much fun. And it's one of those cool things that you get to do. You know, when you hear people talk about the way shows become a fun. family. This is one of the things you get to do with your family. Like, you know, when someone's

actual baby is in the show, like one of my boys was Clark's son. When, you know, you're panning across a bar scene and like your DP or your makeup artist is in the shot, you know, Joni, our hairdresser, being the woman who gave Quinn the panther tan. Like, it's so fun when you get to just have a little moment for the fam where everyone who makes the show is in on it and this felt like one of those really cool things because Allison and Scott are such great actors and you know we were all so excited about this baby and the the miss Lauren and David winding up together was just like a little wink wink with our friends and it was really cool yeah It may look different, but Native culture is very alive.

My name is Nicole Garcia, and on Burn Sage, Burn Bridges, we aim to explore that culture. It was a huge honor to become a television writer, because it does feel oddly, like, very traditional. It feels like Bob Dylan going electric, that this is something we've been doing for the kind of two years. You carry with you a sense of purpose and confidence. That's Sierra Taylor Ornelis, who with Rutherford Falls, became the first native showrunner in television history. On the podcast, Burn Sage Burn Bridges, we explore her story, along with other Native stories,

such as the creation of the first Native Comic-Con or the importance of reservation basketball. Every day, Native people are striving to keep traditions alive while navigating the modern world, influencing and bringing our culture into the mainstream. Listen to Burn Sage Burn Bridges on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. You got any honorable mentions?

Oh, my goodness. Honestly, I enjoyed the episode so much, and I thought all the performances were so wonderful. The obvious honorable mention clearly is Joy. My less obvious honorable mention is Greg Prange as our director. for our friends at home Greg was our supervising executive producer I believe he directed more episodes of our show

than any other director he came to us from running Dawson's Creek like talk about a guy who was just part of such iconic coming of age stories and he was always one of my favorite people

to learn from on our set technically and creatively And there are just all these choices that he made in this episode that, and I think I said this earlier, that really feel like the best of what One Tree Hill was, like all its most wonderful moments, this episode gave me that kind of nostalgia. And I just thought he made brilliant choices, a la the voiceover and the slow motion and the soundless see. sequences for Haley, like it just, it added something that was so profound. And that, I think, is really the magic of directing and producing. And I think he really deserves his flowers for that one. Yeah.

I second all three. Both of those, and I would add Johnny Richardson to the list because this episode was just really well executed, kind of on all the levels. It was written well, it was shot well. I thought it was performed very well. This was a really fun episode. And on behalf of Joy, thank you for all of the praise. It's just so nice to be acknowledged and appreciated by my peers.

I respect so much. Yeah, she was great. She was awesome. Fantastic. Oh, look at this listener question. It's almost like Tara knew it was just going to be the two of us today. She asks, what snack would you pick to be magically calorie-free forever? Oh, my gosh, Tara, what a good question I've never thought of.

Wow. Oh, this is hard. Okay. So my initial, like the thing my brain said before I realized it was saying something was, well, we would probably both say corn dogs. Caviot. A corn dog is not a thing that I can easily access all the time. Like, I don't have a deep friar at my house. So I thought, yes, and then I thought, hmm, but then I'd.

I don't get to eat them as often as I'd like. So truly the thing that I make the most at all times of day and night, and also I know it's like a bad thing to, you know, eat copious amounts of snacks at 2 a.m., but sometimes I do it. I'm a popcorn girl. It's my favorite thing. I like to fresh pop it. Like, yeah, I'll do it in the microwave bag,

but I'd rather do it on the stove, like in a pot. The idea that I could just at any time of day or night eat as many, bags of popcorn as I wanted and it would be like water would be very cool for me I hear that and I feel like you sold yourself short why because it's not a very caloricly dense food you can get like I just feel like you because you can get like reduced calorie popcorn you know whereas I know but I don't you should have good good for you for loving yourself but like to me I'm going to tell you I actually I corn dog went into in my brain, but it wasn't the forefront.

Because it's a special food. It's not really a snack. That's a treat food. It's an occasion food. Yeah. Mine was donuts. Wow. If I could just wake up and I could slam like three donuts and it's a freebie, I would,

could you imagine? You get to have a little donut on the go with you in the car, a little bear claw before bed. Like what? What are we doing? That would be incredible. See, I'm not really a sweets person. Ah, okay.

I will have a bite of a donut and then I'm over it. I would rather have a second steak for dessert than a dessert. I feel that. But like if bread, if bread could be my water, oh, I'd be in. Because I want it all the time. Like, I'll bake bread. I'll get fresh bread. I go to the farmer's market for bread.

If I could eat half a sourdough loaf in the morning and the other half before bed and have it not count toward my, you know, daily. Am I healthy or not? That would be great. And here's the thing. It's not that I don't eat the bread. It's just that I don't gorge myself on bread the way I want to. Sure.

The way your body cries out for you to decimate an entire loaf. You know what another one would be chips. Yeah. Like those Tower 7 chips, get out of town. Get out of town. Are you telling me I could just sit in a bag of chips and end up burning more calories than I'm taking in just by eating it? Yeah. Forget about it.

Tara, great question. Good one, Tara, with the hard-hitting questions. God. We didn't talk about food this once this entire episode. So you know what? To all the people say all I do is talk about food? False. We didn't today.

Tara made us at the very end of the episode. You are vindicated and correct. Let's spin a wheel. I was just going to say it. You took the words right out of my mouth. We're becoming the same person. Yeah, we knew about that. Oh, most like,

to adopt a pet on a whim, Sophia Bush. Done. Yeah. It's you. Yeah, it's always been me. It's always been me. Like to the point that I've tried many years ago when I was living in Chicago, I was fostering dogs.

And I fostered one. And then I started to foster another one. And then I was like, I think I'm supposed to keep this dog. And like, turned out this dog that I long term fostered is my new phrase for it. and my dog, Penny, I mean, they hated each other, sweet Penny. And Penny's never hated anyone. And Penny and this dog were just like, mm-mm, they hated each other. And I tried for months.

I took them to like a behavioral specialist. I even on the recommendation of a friend of mine, I'm so ashamed to admit this. I even took them to see a dog psychic to figure out why they hated each other. I was like, I'll do anything. And they were just like truly incompatible animals. and now this long-term foster of mine lives with my dear friend Amanda and her family. And Amanda was like, you just rescued my dog for me that I wasn't sure I was ready for. And then I loved her and she had to be mine.

And so it's this crazy thing where like, even though sometimes I know I should not do this, I'm like, there's going to be a reason. There's going to be a purpose. Even if I'm like a long-term stay for an animal, I'm always open to it. You're one of the good ones, Sof. And then sometimes, you know, like patch, 14 years later, they're just the best. They're the best. The problem, though, for me, to bring it back to our friend Martha Stewart, is I'm not Martha,

like, I don't live on a farm full time with like many people. And I travel and I work. And if I had my druthers, like, you know when people say if I won the lottery, I wouldn't say anything, but there would be signs. Like, suddenly there would be barns and horses and llamas and goats and dogs and like. It would be like, wow, you suddenly have so many animals. And I'd be like, I know. Everything's just coming up roses for me. All right.

I got to pee. Tell them what next episode is. Bye, everyone. Oh, friends, this is what happens when only two of us are here. Next episode is Season 9, Episode 9. Every breath is a bomb. Doesn't sound good. Doesn't sound good.

But I hope it's great. We appreciate you all. See you next week. Bye-bye. Hey, thanks for listening. Don't forget to leave us a review. You can also follow us on Instagram at Drama Queen's O-T-H. Or email us at Drama Queen's at I-HeartRadation.

dot com. See you next time. We're all about that high school drama girl, drama girl all about them high school queens. We'll take you for a ride and our comic girl cheering for the right team.

Drama queens, drama queens. Smart girl, rough girl, fashion but you'll tough girl. You could sit with us girl. Drama queen, drama queens, drama queens, drama queens, drama queens, drama queens, drama queens. It may look different, but native culture is alive. My name is Nicole Garcia.

and on Burn Sage, Burn Bridges, we aim to explore that culture. Somewhere along the way, it turned into this full-fledged award-winning comic shop. That's Dr. Lee Francis IV, who opened the first native comic bookshop. Explore his story along with many other native stories on the show, Burn Sage Burn Bridges. Listen to Burn Sage Burn Bridges on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast.