Danneel Harris (Rachel Gatina) does not appear in this episode.

This episode marks the characters' graduation from high school.

Haley: There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Omitted, all the voyages of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat, and we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures. I think what that quote means is that life is short and opportunities are rare. And we have to be vigilant in protecting them and not only the opportunities to succeed but the opportunity to laugh, to see the enchantment and to live. Because life doesn't owe us anything. In fact I think we owe something to the world. (Haley begins to breath heavy and laugh) And if we can just believe ... I have more, but I think I'm having my baby.

Bevin: (to her father) My boyfriend's black.
Mr. Taylor: (to Bevin) That's okay, honey. My son's black too. We deal with it.

Nathan: I know you've been a bad guy, Dad. And for a long time I've wondered if you'd ever change, but lately I've seen you change and I've been so proud of you. Now they're saying ... they're saying that you killed Uncle Keith, Dad. Mom said it, and Lucas said it too, but I know they're wrong, okay? Because I know you could never do something like that. So just ... Dad, just look me in the eye and tell me that they're wrong. And I promise I'll stand by you because I love you Dad. Just tell me they're wrong, please.
Dan: I can't do that.
Nathan: The day Keith died, you died. You understand me!? My son will never know you. Stay away from my family and stay away from me!

Lucas: I wish we never left that hotel room in Honeygrove because you're perfect, and we're perfect, and that night was perfect.
Peyton: Well saying that just earned you another one.
(they kiss)
Lucas: I have to get back to the hospital.
Peyton: Can I come with you?
Lucas: Sure, just let me hold you for a few more minutes. That's what's going to fix me.

Brooke: Hey.
Peyton: Hey. What's wrong?
Brooke: Nothing.
Peyton: Oh, come on! We're going to be graduating soon. We all know graduating plus partying equals Brooke Davis minus her clothes.

Brooke: You know when I was a freshman I wasn't a very good person. I mean, sure I was popular and dating seniors but as a person I was pretty lost. And over the last four years I have been forced to grow up. I stopped letting boys define me and I started believing in myself and in my potential. And I ran for student council president and I designed a clothing line. And somewhere along the way the lost little party girl became the girl on the wall of honor. And I know what I did was wrong, Mr. Turner, I know. But the girl I was when I came to this school I'm not so sure she would have. And isn't that the point of high school? I mean, isn't that what you guys have been trying to teach us for the last four years?
Principal Turner: Actually we have been trying to teach you not to cheat in calculus. But the rest of this is certainly important too. I imagine you have been feeling a good amount of guilt over letting your friend Rachel take the fault.
Brooke: Yes sir, I mean even though she told me she did do a bunch of things over the last years that would have got her expelled anyway, uh ... yes, I have so ... that's why I thought that I should come forward.
Principal Turner: You know Brooke, I must seem ancient to you. Your teacher probably seem irrelevant, but one day you look back and things won't seem so us against them. I assume you're going to college.
Brooke: Yes, sir, I hope so now.
Principal Turner: To study?
Brooke: Fashion.
Principal Turner: Not engineering? Or anything requiring intense calculus?
Brooke: No sir.
Principal Turner: Good. Go graduate.
Brooke: Really? Are you serious? Uh ... thank you! I don't even --
(Chase runs over to Turner and Brooke)
Chase: Principal Turner! Principal Turner! Look, if you suspend her I think you are really making a big mistake. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to barge in like this, but --
Brooke: Shut up! Chase, I love you for this, really but shut up! (to Principal Turner) Uh, I'm sorry, we'll ... we'll just go! (to Chase) Go!

Peyton: (about Lucas' sister) Oh, she's beautiful.
Lucas: Yeah, I'm afraid to move or I'm going to break her.
Peyton: You're not going to break her.
Lucas: You want to hold her?
Peyton: Yeah.
Lucas: Support her head.
(Nathan and Haley come in)
Haley: Let's see her.
Nathan: Okay, I'm officially scared to death again.
Haley: (to Lucas) I was wondering if you could step out for a minute. Just a minute.
Peyton: Go, I'll watch her.
Lucas: Okay, I'll be right back Mom (to the baby) and you (to Peyton) and you.

Mr. Taylor: You regret it?
Nathan: Every day.
Mr. Taylor: Because you got caught?
Nathan: Mr. Taylor, you seem like a good man but the thing is: I made a mistake and now I'm paying for it. Those 32 minutes should not define me for the rest of my life.
Mr. Taylor: I was hoping you'd say that. Now all you gotta do is believe it.

While trying to convince Lucas to go to graduation, Brooke is standing in front of the table. However, in the next scene when everyone goes to leave, Brooke is next to the table.

Episode Title: The Birth and Death of the Day

"The Birth and Death of the Day" is the title of a song by Explosions in the Sky.

When Haley gives Lucas a note from Karen and reads the line "There is a tide in the affairs of men", the two flashback to the "Pilot" when Haley and Karen give Lucas a copy of Julius Caesar and Karen reads that line to him. The quote is also the main theme of the first voiceover given by Lucas in the Pilot:

Lucas: There is a tide in the affairs of men, which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune but omitted, and the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and mesires. On such a full sea are we now afloat and we must take the current when it serves or lose the ventures before us.