23. The Leavers Dance (2)

Brooke is getting ready to go to her parents in California but hopes to return in the fall. Lucas nearly tells her he has feelings for her but she deters him. A woman who claims to be a journalist named Ellie wants to interview Peyton, who is reluctant but tells her to come to TRIC. Lucas views the video Andy secretly recorded and is able to steal the ledger from Dan’s office. Karen hallucinates when she thinks she sees Keith outside the cafe as Deb walks in. Later, Deb tells Nathan she wants the two of them to be a family again and that they're getting away from Dan.

Karen becomes increasingly worried over as Andy has not checked in yet, so she decides to go to New Zealand. Peyton tries to contact Ellie but is shocked to learn she is not a journalist. Lucas gives Deb Dan's ledger, but when she tells Dan, he says she'd go to jail too as he's made his company in her name. Dan also threatens Whitey and tells him his coaching days are over. Peyton is sent threatening emails after she turns on her webcam. Dan reveals to Lucas that the money in the ceiling, the ledger, all of it was an elaborate ruse to test his loyalty, and that he failed the test.

He adds that he won’t pay for his medications anymore, but Lucas answers that now he can finally get over him and be free. Nathan learns that Lucas lied about Dan and seeing Haley and tells him that they aren't brothers or friends anymore. Lucas kisses Brooke goodbye and says he wants to be with her, but she tearfully just says goodbye and leaves. Lucas takes the last of his last heart medication. Ellie returns and tells Peyton her real name is Elizabeth. She's not the one sending the emails, but she's her mother.

At the dealership, Dan finds a bottle of whiskey on his desk with the note “for everything you’ve done”. After drinking a glass of the whiskey he finds white powder on the rim of the bottle and begins feeling faint. As Dan is losing consciousness he sees a figure dressed in black who sets the dealership on fire. Nathan and Deb prepare to leave as Haley unexpectedly shows up at their door. Lucas finds Peyton on the beach and says it's just them this summer. Dan and the dealership burn. This episode is named after a song by The Veils.