Malibu, CA

24. Uncle Charlie

The boys' favorite, Uncle Charlie, is coming to visit, but he isn't as happy about it as they are. The Marine Corps is pushing him to retire and take a teaching position at a military school. Concerned with his depression, Jason and Scott convince him to stay in town a while longer, ostensibly to help their dad, who they say has been drinking and gambling. But Charlie ends up whipping the boys into shape instead, turning their Malibu lives into a Marine boot camp. Later Charlie meets Murray, who tells him about the glories of surfing. Charlie tries it and soon becomes a total beach bum, turning down the military school job. Meanwhile, Traycee has two tickets to a Beastie Boys concert. To decide whether she should take Stads or Samantha, she holds a ""friendship contest,"" awarding points to the girls for their good deeds toward her.