"Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace" is the thirteenth episode of Season 5 of One Tree Hill and originally aired April 14th, 2008. The episode was written by Mark Schwahn and directed by Greg Prange.
A month after the events of Lucas’ wedding, the residents of Tree Hill start to move forward. Nathan and Haley try to reconcile their differences whilst dealing with the aftermath of Jamie's abduction, whilst Brooke's past comes back to haunt as she meets with an adoption agency. Meanwhile, Lucas and Peyton decide on their next course of action after Lindsey left Lucas at the altar.
Contains examples of the following tropes:
- Call-Back:
- During a couples counselling session with Haley, Nathan discusses taking performance enhancing drugs during his Junior year.
- Lucas repeats what Lindsey said about editing "An Unkindness of Ravens" in their first meeting.
- As she drives through Tree Hill, Peyton remembers the time she nearly ran over Lucas in the show’s pilot.
- Creator Cameo: Series creator and show runner Mark Schwahn reprises the role of Max from "Songs to Love and Die By"
- Dead Person Conversation: Discussed by Lucas and Lily, as she recounts her dream to Lucas and notes that Keith was there, telling Luke that everything was going to be okay.
- Despair Event Horizon: Peyton is shown trying to sell the Comet, largely because of the situation with Lucas and Lindsey. She eventually removes the sign after speaking with Max.
- The Dog Bites Back: As Dan leaves Nathan and Haley’s home, Lucas runs after him and - with Dan believing he was going to be thanked - proceeds to start physically attacking him; Nathan then runs out after Lucas, and attacks Dan himself as Dan manages to push Lucas away.
- The Ghost: Lucas spends the month after his wedding day at sea with Karen, Lily and Andy; however only Andy and Lily appear in the episode and Karen remains off-screen for the entire episode.
- I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Subverted, as whilst Peyton still wants Lucas to be happy, she admits that she really wants him to be happy with her.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: It’s revealed that after the events of the previous episode, Lucas chose to spend the following month at sea with Karen, Andy and Lily.
- Self-Deprecation: Max repeatedly jokes about the fact he’s 36 and still lives with his parents.
- Shout-Out: A frustrated Lucas vents about everyone assuming that he’s still in love with Peyton because he wrote about a comet, suggesting that everyone would assume he was in love with O. J. Simpson if he’d written about a White Bronco.
- Technology Marches On: In-Universe. Max tells Peyton that he closed the record store because everyone just buys their music online now.
- There Are No Therapists: Averted, Nathan and Haley are shown attending couples counselling to move past their recent issues.
- Time Skip: After the opening scene, set immediately after the previous episode, the episode jumps forward a month.
- Titled After the Song: The title of the episode originates from the song (and album) "Echoes, Silence, Patience, and Grace" by the Foo Fighters.
