I talked about the adoption storyline in the show One Tree Hill last season. Brooke's character sponsored a baby who needed heart surgery. I feared some big dramatic storyline in which she unethically adopted the baby but they didn't take it that route. Then the season ended and I thought that was the last of the adoption storyline.

Not so! Seems as though the writers of One Tree Hill have realized the surge in adoption talk on the internet and in the news and decided to run with it. Twofold. Yes. Not one but two adoption storylines. Simultaneously. My emotions are on overdrive every Monday evening.

Storyline one: Peyton, one of my most favorite characters, has long had a sub-storyline about her status as an adoptee though she didn't discover her adopted status until the second season (sophomore year of high school, I believe). Her adoptive mom died. And then after she met her birth mother, she also died (of breast cancer). I know, all so very dramatic but also the reality for many an adoptee. It's never been an overly prominent part of the show, just something that comes to the surface now and again. Until this season.

Peyton runs her own indie music label. She has a small recording studio. Enter Mick, a famous musician. He starts off their conversation saying that he knew her birth mother. As their conversations continue, you begin to figure out that he is her birth father. But he won't fess up to it. Things begin to spiral downward when Mick begins drinking again. Eventually everything ends up in a dramatic argument between Peyton and Mick. I saved this episode on my DVR so that I could quote it to you exactly.

Mick: I would have sucked at being your father. That's why Ellie and I gave you up. There. I said it. Are you happy now.

Peyton: After 22 years, that is the best you can give me? There, I said it?

Mick: That's all I got.

Peyton: Thanks Dad. You can go now. *leaves room*

Mick: *to himself* This is why I like being on the road.

They later talk again before Mick leaves.

Peyton: I wanna know why you came here pretending not to be my real dad.

Mick: What's a real dad? You got a dad and obviously he did a great job with you so why do you have to keep pushing it.

Peyton: Because it matters!

Mick: So all this is just because I couldn't tell you the truth?

Peyton: No. NO! All this is because you have missed my whole life and it really doesn't seem to bother you.

Mick. You know I think you're right. It's probably a good time to just move on.

Peyton: Great. Glad we could agree on something.

And because in TV land they always go back for thirds. In this scene, Mick tosses down what Peyton previously assumed was his one year Alcoholics Anonymous coin on the desk in front of her.

Mick: That was Ellie's the year she was pregnant with you. And, uh, to tell you the truth you saved her life, Peyton. She was hellbent on staying sober during the pregnancy and that was hard for her. But it was so much harder giving you up.

Peyton: Then why did she?

Mick: Because we thought there was a better life for you out there. And we couldn't raise a kid, not in our world. But I don't think Ellie ever really got past it.

Peyton: Why didn't you just tell me that?

Mick: I don't know. Maybe I didn't want to miss with the picture in your head of what your birth father was really like. Something better than me. Something more heroic. I guess I just didn't want to disappoint you. Anyhow, I made a few calls and I'm going to jump on the last leg of this tour for a few weeks. That's what I do. I'm sorry. *He walks away, stopping at a piece of artwork Peyton made in a previous season; it is hanging by the door. He reads it aloud.* People always leave?

Peyton nods.

Mick: Sometimes that's a good thing, huh? For what it's worth, you're doing great, kid. I'll see ya.

Peyton: Mick? Thank you.

Mick: For what?

Peyton: For giving me up.

Mick nods. Mick leaves.

And, yes, if you're wondering, I cried.

For those about to claim stereotypes and such, yes, I can see them as well. Alcoholic birth father who seems to not care. And I'd be screaming along with you. Except that having watched this show for all but the first season and a half (we really need to buy those), it seems fitting. Not for the alcoholic part, perhaps, but that her biological father is a musician. Music and art are Peyton's life. Would I rather have had her have a loving birth father? Well, sure! I want all reunion stories to be happy. But they're not always, are they?

Things were left kind of open ended but I don't think we'll see more of Peyton's birth father. This, of course, is my own prediction. I'm not a show writer. If I was, Peyton and Lucas would have gotten together long ago and stayed together. And Nanny Carrie never would have been on the show!

I'll tell you more about the other adoption storyline tomorrow as I'm guessing (again, as a non-writer) more of it is about to unfold tonight. Tune into the CW Network at 9:00pm (or, check local listings) to watch.



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