Gossip Girl (2021–…): Season 1, Episode 2 - She's Having a Maybe - full transcript

*GOSSIP GIRL (2021)*
Season 01 Episode 02

"SPOTLIGHT" BY JESSIE WARE PLAYING...
Episode Title: "She’s Having a Maybe"

Good evening, followers.

- ♪ Ain't enough to say... ♪
- Gossip Girl here.

Your one and only source
for the truth

behind the scandalous lies
of New York's elite.

What's all that rustling

reverberating
through the twilight?

Why, that's the echo of anxiety,

the jangling of nerves

in preparation
for a big night ahead.



And what exactly
is on the docket

this September evening?

An autumn equinox affair?

Opening night at the ballet?

Or something more essential?

Annual
parent-teacher conferences.

- New shoes?
- GG's gone to her head.

I just got worried
I wouldn't make a good impression.

But on the Upper East Side,

they do things differently.

The students aren't
the ones under review.

It's the teachers.

Put that away.

It just looks
like she's texting.



On parent-teacher night?
That's even worse.

Last time, Alec Baldwin
confiscated my phone.

I never got it back.

Oh, Mr. Calloway.

- Hi, Davis.
- That's Julien's dad?

Always a pleasure.

My pleasure, not yours.

He's a Constance parent
hall-of-famer.

More Grammys than Diplo
and Calvin Harris combined.

Davis also underwrites
our art scholarship,

the one Zoya Lott
currently holds.

Bet he still doesn't know
she even goes here.

Who wants to tell him?

Ooh, maybe Gossip Girl!
Tag him in something!

You haven't posted
a single tip in days.

I haven't had time
to verify anything.

This is working
too well to risk it.

She's right. Someone actually
raised their hand in class yesterday.

To ask a question.

Because they're all
running scared.

Nobody wants to be
the next target.

I'm just waiting
for the perfect thing,

and then I'll post.

While the parents
play with the politics of privilege,

where are their heirs?

- Deep in Dumbo, of course.
- Wish you were here.

Looks like somebody
wasn't invited to the party.

So, to review,
I'm off to meet your teachers,

and you're still grounded
until further notice.

Are we clear?

I know you still feel bad.

I'd choose "terrible,"
personally.

Don't feel terrible
for me.

I'm not the thing you should be
worrying about right now.

The Headmistress asked to speak
to me personally tonight.

And if she pulls the scholarship,
I don't know what we'll do.

"JAGUAR" BY VICTORIA MONÉT
PLAYING...

♪ Supersonic pussycat
Just like a jaguar... ♪

I'm going out
with my girls tonight,

so I have to look my best.

What do you guys think,
Glow Up or Glossier?

I'm watching those replies,
so weigh in or tag out.

You're protected.
We'll hashtag GirlsNightOut,

so that no one would even think
about Obie not being here.

How long can we do that?

People are gonna start
to notice he's missing.

Well, you're safe
through SelfCareSunday,

MeTimeMonday, DinnersWithDaddy,
GirlsJustWantToHaveSun,

PetsForVets, PilatesParty,
ShoppingWithMySisters,

and of course,
ThankYouEssentialWorkers.

So you have...
two days to get him back?

And... And you will.

This is just like
that time you took a selfie

in front of the Paul Smith wall
in L.A.

and didn't notice the homeless
encampment in the BG.

You apologized,

wore that "Bernie babe" tee
for a week, and all was forgiven.

I'll talk to him as soon
as he gets here,

apologize again, as many times
as it takes. I miss him.

He just needs
to hear that from me,

and then things can go
back to normal.

To the way they were. Right?

- Of course.
- Totally.

Oh, thank God.
I'm bored.

Only boring people are bored.
You are uninspired.

Inspire me.

You know, you are one
of the last people in here

that I don't know intimately.

Just gotta close your eyes
and pretend someone's new.

- I do it all the time.
- How monoga-musty.

No, I do not have
to close my eyes

and fantasize about anything.

I allow myself
to sample everything.

Hmm.

How about you, Aki?
There are nerve endings

that two hands alone
cannot stimulate,

and I count six among us.

Never in a million years,
but thanks for thinking of me.

Oh, looks like someone
didn't wanna show up

to the parent-teacher
conferences.

Perhaps he's more interested
in the student-teacher congress?

Happy hunting.

Oh.

Hmm. Of course.

"Dear Katherine.
We're sorry you were unable

to attend tonight's
parent-teacher meetings.

If you would like
to speak with faculty

in regards to Audrey's progress,

please do not hesitate to..."
never respond to this

or show up to anything related
to your daughter's life.

And I'm BCCed
like I'm her mother.

Well, maybe she had
a good reason.

Like all the other times?

Can't find the exit to her bed?

Designing athleisurewear
just too stressful?

Or maybe, since it's only
anecdotally about her,

she couldn't even give a shit?

No, Kiki loves you.

Try to remember
what she's been through.

For the past 16 years?

Her line's in trouble.
She's got a divorce.

A divorce!

Can you just, like,
show her a little empathy?

Akeno, I love you,

but... I'm not paying
for this session.

- Can you...
- Yeah, just like that.

Oh.

They need to get
back together fast,

or I can kiss an Edelman
summer internship goodbye.

Her followers are bolting.

So, how goes
Operation: Phantom Limb?

All anyone seems to care about
is, "Where's Obie?"

I just didn't realize

how invested my followers were
in us as a unit.

Kinda thought they were
only there for me.

Maybe that was part
of his problem with you.

I'm sorry, I'm on edge.

Aki has poisoned me
with logic and reason.

Babe, what's up?

It's Kiki.
We don't have to talk about it.

Just 'cause I don't have a mom

doesn't mean I don't wanna
talk about problems with yours.

And I actually like
living vicariously

through fights
I never got to have.

Okay, well, she didn't show
to school tonight,

and she probably won't show up
to the fundraiser tomorrow.

She just
cannot seem to show up.

I don't know why I still let it
get to me, you know?

Because you know
you're worth showing up for.

And you want your mom
to know that, too.

Okay. Let's go see
what they're up to.

They're just
on Zoya's case.

I know it was stupid of me
to think that we'd be instant family,

but Zoya's not a bad person.
She hasn't done anything wrong.

Nothing wrong?

Your iconic relationship's
on thin ice,

and she's taking
a sledgehammer to it.

Has anyone even
seen them together?

Has anyone even seen her
at all?

She's not responsible
for where Obie's at,

and... I'm just giving him space.

He'll come back.
He always does.

Hey Aki, what time is Obie
meeting you here? Nine?

Uh... We had dinner
at Vinegar Hill House,

and I told him
I was meeting everyone after,

- but...
- Okay, open your eyes.

You can give him all the space
that you want,

but he's no longer
in your orbit. He's in hers.

♪

- Hey, what are you doing?
- He lives two minutes from here.

Ooh, fast response.
That's good, that's encouraging.

"Hitting bed early.
Maybe tomorrow."

He said "maybe"?

It's nice not to have to leave the
straight guy gap for a change, huh?

Could you wait?
This is wildly inappropriate.

I'm not looking.
Are you?

Okay, now I'm looking.

Sorry.

It's just, even peripherally,
congratulations.

So, why are you not at school
sucking up to my dads?

Electives teachers
don't have to participate.

Does that mean that you
just like to watch, then?

'Cause I could be so into that.

I don't know what you think
you're doing, Mr. Wolfe.

What?
'm bored.

Uh... I'm of age.

And I've already
had most of Dumbo Hall.

We're off campus.
Wanna...

take part in an away game
or two?

Hmm?

- I don't fuck my students.
- Cool, I'll top then.

For your safety, security,

and continued enrollment
in St. Jude's,

I'm gonna pretend this
conversation never happened.

Was that Rafa Caparros?

- Uh... Yeah. Why?
- That's him.

I couldn't walk for a week
and didn't want to.

That man
is the fuck of New York.

Yeah, well, I think I already know
of someone who holds that title.

Oh, you don't have to
take my word for it.

Read the thread on MaleGeneral.

And, yes,
you were discussed there.

Briefly.

I thought you were joking
with this text!

What are you doing here?

I went out for a walk
a few hours ago,

and it just stopped now?

I'm grounded.
What if my dad sees you?

Isn't your dad at conferences?

And freshmen are last,

and it's, like,
not even nine o'clock, so...

You're right,
but it's still risky.

You have a really big smile.

Yeah, I wouldn't know. I don't...
I don't use it very often.

Well, it takes up
your entire face.

- Like the Joker?
- No, like... like...

- Show me.
- Okay, um...

I haven't, um, been seeing you
around school very much.

You're in, like,
right before the bell

and out just after.

Um... I'm trying to keep
a low profile.

- Because of Julien?
- No, 'cause of me.

'Cause of everything.

- Yeah.
- Well...

I should get back inside.
There are spies everywhere.

On the Upper West Side?
No way.

Okay, that sounded bad.

- But that's not...
- Yeah, it did.

- It did.
- It did, but you're right.

And, um,
that's why I like it up here.

I like it up here, too.

I should go.

I'll see you around.

Okay.

This is exhausting.

It's so late, and we're just
getting to freshmen!

Also, and not incidentally,
a mother just told me

her son should be allowed
to vape in my class

because of his asymptomatic
glaucoma.

- Aerin.
- Aerin.

- More tips?
- Nonstop.

Probably because their parents
are here and not home.

Too bad not anything, um...

Told you waiting would pay off.

- I'm looking for a Mrs. Keller?
- Ms. That's me.

- You must be...
- Nicholas Lott.

Right this way.

Oh, God.

Spotted.

Something more rare
than the Mandarin duck.

A Zobie sighting in the wilds
of the Upper West.

Only a matter of time
before they left their nest.

But where do you think
they fall on the food chain?

Guess we'll find out,

since something tells me
they're about to be eaten alive.

They're allowed to hang.
It doesn't mean anything.

Yeah, he said
he was going to bed.

He didn't say
with who or where...

Are you trying to incite a riot?

Yes! Jules, you can't let them
get away with this. Quash her.

You're the queen, right?
You can do it.

We don't do hierarchies,
remember? This...

Only because everyone
already knows who's on top.

Yeah, they did. Show them.
Smite her. Smite her now.

♪ Oh, fine.

- What are you doing?
- A little FlashbackFriday.

It's more chartreuse
than a moss,

but I don't think
anyone will notice

with the right filter.

So you're gonna
pretend that he's with you right now

instead of with her?

- Yeah, won't Obie bust you?
- He's not even on IG.

I'm glad you feel
she's settling in okay.

She didn't quite love
her old school.

One of my favorite things
about Zoya

is she's one of
the only students

who seems happy to be physically here.

Honestly, I think homeschool
was worse for me than for her.

She had to teach me
Pythagorean theorem.

Still not clear on it,
by the way.

Uh... Do you need to get that?

Yeah, let me just make sure

it's not, like,
the police or my mother.

Just some Times alerts.
Um... Where were we?

Crisis "O" averted.

The Ju-lions
are already mauling GG.

Before you know it, that bitch
will be spammed out of existence

even more swiftly than Scooter.

I'll bet Gossip Girl
takes that one down.

But the next pic she gets
of them,

you won't be able to spin.

- What are you saying?
- One down, one to go.

Shuffle off that Buffal-hoe.
Hmm?

- I can't do that.
- It's you or her, babe.

No one follows
a brand ambassador for failure.

Don't do it for your brand.

Do it for yourself.

- Mom. It's 7:30.
- Hm.

- Mom.
- What?

- Here.
- Thank you.

- So, I got you something.
- Hmm?

Well, I rented it. It's, um,
it's Halston Heritage.

I know you used to wear it.

- Did somebody die?
- Ask your closet.

This is life.

Audrey, it's too early
for jokes.

What happened last night?

The parent-teacher conferences?

I...

couldn't go.

Sorry. You know,

you've been going there
since you were in kindergarten,

and every year,
they say the same thing.

"Audrey is brilliant,"
and "Audrey is wonderful."

Don't you like
hearing these things?

Of course I do.

So I thought you could
wear this tonight

to the fundraiser?

Black Tie
for Classroom Supplies,

- do you not remember?
- I do remember.

I remember
that we talked about it.

And I already told you
that I can't go.

Okay? I have a dinner for work.

And I donated.
And that's what matters.

Mom, I'm student chair.
This is important to me.

Is your father gonna be there?

No, I didn't invite him.

Look, it's not... It's...

- It's not even about him.
- I know.

- I don't wanna see her, either.
- She was my assistant.

You know, she was my friend.

She came to our house
for dinners.

We went on vacation with her.
She sat in our living room,

and she said to me, "I wish
I had a family just like yours."

- And then she stole it.
- I know.

She won't be there.

I will.

- Mom, please.
- Yeah.

Please just do it for
me? Just this one... Just this once?

Okay.

- Okay?
- Okay.

Fine.

How did it go last night?

I was asleep
by the time you got in.

I met your teachers.
They seem to like you.

Ms. Keller, especially.

Yeah, she's great.
She reads everything.

She even has us act out
chapters, like a play.

Right now we're doing
Things Fall Apart.

I hope you get to
see that through.

- Headmistress Burton?
- Says the school board agrees

a scholarship scandal
would be less than ideal,

given "the current climate"
and "the student in question."

She made it very clear
you're still under strict probation.

If they find a reason
to take it away from you,

any reason at all,
they'll use it.

I will be perfect.

I promise.

Let's discuss how we define
that word.

He... He showed up unannounced.

I can't control
what other people do.

I don't care about what he did.
All I care about is you.

Right now,
anything that distracts you

from keeping your head down
and staying out of trouble

is bad news.

We clear?

I got you a Yeti! It's orange, so
you don't confuse it with mine...

Whoa, crazy eyes.

- What's going on?
- I didn't sleep.

They were throwing bricks
through my window all night.

They found out it was you?

Of course not!
Proverbial bricks.

Look.

What?
There's nothing here.

That's because our posts
are "under review."

They flagged all of them
as inappropriate!

- Who?
- The Ju-legion,

or whatever they're called.

Ju-lions. They're clever,
I'll give them that.

Well, I'm locked out of posting
because of it.

And look at all our tags!

They're trying
to drive me insane!

And it looks like it's working.

We have to get control back.

If Gossip Girl's canceled,
we're back in danger.

Have you spoken to Martine?
She can't get a job anywhere!

There's nothing objectionable
that's been posted.

The account will be un-flagged
by the end of the day.

- Just keep it together. Breathe.
- Easy for you to say.

I'm the one
on the front lines here,

and trying to keep up
is exhausting.

Do you know
how hard her voice is?

I thought it would be simple,
but it's not.

It's incredibly specific, okay?
It's like if E. M. Forster

got roofied by Dorothy Parker
and Jacqueline Susann.

I mean, it takes focus
and determination and...

Um... Kate. Just get to class.

This will blow over, I promise.
Just don't give the game away.

This is our first test.
We can pass it.

Hey.

Spring in your step, JC.
Things are looking up.

You put Gossip Girl on notice,

my mom is showing up
for me tonight...

and my boyfriend is looking at
shirtless photos of our Classics teacher?

- Uh... It's not what you think.
- No, it's exactly what you think.

He's going fishing.

I thought teachers
were private?

Yeah. Only the
ones who think privacy is still a thing.

He's just trying to orchestrate
another Rafa run-in.

This Wolfe thinks he can huff
and puff and blow this man.

His words, not mine.

Bingo! I would know
those tiles anywhere.

Tenth Street Baths.
September 7th.

Tuesday, of course. Men only.

Just like today.
I could use a bath.

- And a bath buddy.
- Unsubscribe.

- Yeah, hard pass.
- You were half right.

- So I'll meet you back here at 3:00?
- Not interested.

Of course you are.

I'm gonna
go find Obie.

Let's go.

My least favorite three words?

"You were right." Kiki is
going through it about my dad.

- Maybe you should give it...
- No!

Why can't you just
be happy for me?

No advice.
I already took care of it.

She's coming to the fundraiser.

And now, I just need to
talk to my dad

and make sure that he doesn't.

Hi. So, I just want you
to know that... I got it.

Message received.
Loud and clear.

- What message is that?
- That I fucked up.

I was petty and cruel
and jealous,

and for no reason,
which makes it even worse.

I know you're in protest mode
right now,

but whenever
you're ready to just

put this little break thing
behind us,

- I'm here. Lesson learned.
- Jules.

I thought I made it clear.
This is not a break.

Okay? We broke up.

- No we didn't, not really.
- Maybe you didn't.

Look, when's the last time
it was fun between us?

When's the last time
we made each other laugh? I...

I care about you.

I always will.
I know that you know that.

Okay? But the rest
has been done for a long time.

And... somebody just needed
to make it official.

Hey, so, I got to thinking about
what we could do on Friday.

Oh, shit, I forgot to, uh,
forgot to ask you out.

- Um... Hey, would you like...
- Obie...

Uh-oh. Ellipses, okay.

It's... It's not that
I don't want to hang.

Cool.
I don't wanna "hang" either.

Go... on a date.

It's just
now is a really bad time.

I promised I would stay away
from any drama,

and you and I, believe it
or not, are...

...a Greek tragedy
waiting to happen.

So, that's a... that's a no?

Thing is, you a... and Julien...

There's no me and Julien.

All right? There hasn't been
for a long time,

long before you got here.
I was just...

afraid to say it out loud.
But now that I have, I'm, um...

I'm free, and I want to spend
that free time with you.

You don't understand.

I'm not like
everyone else here.

I can't just do
what I want.

Being here is... conditional.

But... But would you
want to go out

in a universe where sisters
and scholarships...

- don't exist?
- And what world is that?

What if I could find a way for
us to go on a date, and not...

at the same time?

If you found some magical way
to be on a date with me

without anyone
in the world knowing...

- Mm.
- ...then sure.

- But that's impossible.
- Whoa.

This smile that you like so much
can do anything.

So, just wait.

If Obie wants to consort
with the enemy,

we'll cut him out, too.

- He's my best friend.
- You wanna be next?

I don't want Obie
out of my life.

- I never wanted that.
- You're better off without him.

No. No, you are definitely
not better off without him.

Please tell me
that you two made up.

- I'm out of hashtags.
- Not only did we not make up,

but he ended it with me
for good.

Okay, it gives us zero pleasure
to say this to you right now,

- but...
- Phase One is complete.

Gossip Girl's on her way out.
But Phase Two? That's Zoya.

If you want Obie back,
she has to be banished.

What? No.
I brought her here.

I'm the only one
to blame for that.

And... if she were to leave,

Obie would just pine after her
like the puppy he is.

But if he were
to lose interest...

How?

He's already seen her,
and he's still in it.

What if instead of
driving her away from here,

we drive him away from her?
I need to talk to Gossip Girl.

Oh no. Honey, honey,
she's cancelled.

Which is why she'll help.

I'll un-cancel her
on one condition:

she brings me the juiciest dirt
on Little Z.

GG works for me now.

"DORA"
BY TIERRA WHACK PLAYING...

♪ Open the Dora... ♪

Something's going on
with Audrey.

She doesn't seem to want
to talk to me anymore.

Like really talk.

And when she wants to have sex,
she doesn't... wanna have it with me.

I don't know
what to do.

Has she said anything to you?

Dude, go to Equinox
if you want to talk, okay?

Here, we cruise.

You're stalking a teacher.

This is stalking.
You know that, right?

Okay, how many times do I have
to explain this to you?

A man only selfies
his bi-weekly bathhouse visit

if he wants to be found.

I can't believe
you talked me into this.

Well, then you're gonna
be really surprised

at what I'm gonna
ask you to do next.

Do I have your consent?

My consent for what?

For whatever.

Oh, you want
to make him jealous?

Yeah.

Did it work?

Yeah.
Better than I imagined.

- Leaving so soon?
- Did you follow me here?

- Are you trying to get me fired?
- Of course not. No.

I mean it, Max.

You can't be doing
this sort of stuff.

Because
you're not interested?

Or because you are?

- You should still be at school.
- So should you.

Should we follow him
and do it again?

There's gotta be
something...

we can give her.

I'm telling you,
there's nothing.

Zoya Lott
is squeaky fucking clean.

Which is good, 'cause I don't
wanna destroy her anyway.

We have no choice.

We're getting so many hate DMs,
we might as well be de Blasio.

Maybe we should post something
juicy to distract them?

And what would that be, Reema?

Jasper Kincaid got stuck in a
subway grate on the way to school?

Because that's the only thing
we got today.

And Jasper is 12.

This was working.

The account's unflagged,
just like I said it would be.

Th... This is just
standard growing pains.

You know as well as I do

that if we don't give Julien
what she wants, that's it.

- Hi, uh, Miss Keller?
- Zoya!

What are you doing up here?

Headmistress Burton
told me to volunteer

for fundraiser prep.

So I need anything
to stay on her good side.

Here I am, reporting for duty.

So many hyphens!

It's like no one in this town
has a normal name.

- Like Zoya?
- Says Kate Keller.

Zoya means "life."

I looked it up.

What about Kate?

"Pure." Like, uh,
Saint Catherine of Alexandria.

You seem pure.

You don't know me very well.

Just from the last hour,

I know you better
than anybody else here.

What about your, uh, cousin?

Sister.

Half. Um...

I don't know her at all.

Um...

Do you wanna talk about it?

I moved here for her.
You know, to get to know her.

To connect with the closest
thing to my mother there is.

But nothing's working out.

I feel like
I don't belong here.

And on top of everything,

I took a scholarship
from someone who deserved it.

The one-act you submitted
with your application

was outstanding.

The talk
of the English department.

You deserve to be here.

So, okay, it's not all happening
as quickly as you thought,

but...

feeling like you don't belong
at a place like this,

maybe that's a good thing?

I mean... Doesn't even matter.

We couldn't go back
even if we wanted to.

Go back?

I'm not supposed to
say anything,

but my old school wasn't
such a great place for me.

And if I get
kicked out of here too...

Thank you for talking
with me, Miss Keller.

It really means a lot.

What?

- Spit it out!
- I don't know if I should.

Something happened
at Zoya's old school.

- What do you mean? What?
- I don't know.

But I think she got kicked out
because of it.

The great thing
about working in admin

is knowing other people in admin
are as bored as you are.

It's time for a little
quid pro corruption.

"FREAK"
BY DOJA CAT PLAYING...

Good evening, followers.

Gossip Girl here.

Back with a vengeance,
and not a moment too soon.

Are you primped and prepped
for the night's philanthropy?

Due to recent events,

I'm feeling a little less
than charitable myself.

But I never like to spoil
an appetite before dessert.

♪ Freak like me... ♪

Revenge is a dish
best served bold, after all.

So while you pretend
to be touched for your 1040s,

I will be right behind you,

your own
Internal Revelation Service,

waiting to bring you in
and take you down.

Think you burned me?

Think again.

Watch the skies.

I'm coming.

♪ Kinda like seesaw ♪

♪ Up and down on the D
Give it to him ♪

- ♪ Freak like me ♪
- ♪ Need a freak like me ♪

♪ You want a good girl
That does bad things to you ♪

♪ You never been with no one ♪

♪ As nasty as me ♪

♪ Spice up your life... ♪

Since I assume
she's the one who invited us,

need I remind you
your Headmistress will be there?

Don't worry, Dad.

I'll be on my best behavior.

"PUT YOUR HEAD ON MY
SHOULDER" BY PAUL ANKA PLAYING...

♪ Put your head
On my shoulder... ♪

I did two laps, she's not here.

I was waiting out there
for 20 minutes.

Aki, Audrey!
How are you both tonight?

Depends on my fucking mom.

Good to see you, sir.

It's good to see you both.

Even Davis is here.
If Keeks blows this off,

I swear to God,
I'm emancipating.

She'll be here. You got a hold
of your dad, right?

Yeah, we texted.
All clear.

Why are you sweating?
Are you okay?

I had too much time
in the steam room.

You need to cool down.
And I need a drink.

Sorry, Miss Hope.
I'm not packing tonight.

I need to stay focused.

There's a silent auction item
with my name on it.

- Another blank prescription pad?
- Mm-hmm.

Private Tour
of New York's Picassos.

With a certain Classics scholar.

Aki tell you what happened
this afternoon?

Nothing happened.
Nothing at all.

Aki, do not be shy, okay?

He helped me pick out
these fantastic Ferragamos.

"SOMEONE AIN'T RIGHT"
BY DORIS TROY PLAYING...

♪ That someone is you ♪

♪ 'Cause you ain't
Treatin' me right ♪

♪ Get stuck together... ♪

- Hey. You made it.
- Yeah.

Well, I didn't really
have a choice.

The school sent tickets, so
attendance wasn't exactly optional.

I mean, this whole thing
is crazy.

Yeah, it's a little
over the top.

Sure, but raising money
to buy class supplies

for disadvantaged kids
sounds like a good move, no?

I don't know. I'm just glad
our tickets were free.

- ♪ That someone is you ♪
- Yeah...

♪ 'Cause you ain't
Treatin' me right ♪

♪ Don't think you're clever... ♪

You bought our tickets.

I did tell you I would
find a way for us

to have our first date
without anybody knowing, so...

Hiding in plain sight.
Okay. Nice move.

Yeah. Thank you.

I even got you
the seat right behind me,

so we'd be back-to-back,
not side-by-side. But...

well, apparently,
I'm a terrible person...

No. No. You're a good person.
A really good person.

Show my back to yours?

Mom.

We said 8:00.
I was pretty specific...

Relax, Audrey.
I'm here, aren't I?

- What happened to the Halston?
- I'm a grown woman.

I think I know how
to dress myself, thank you.

- Ms. Hope, you look stunning.
- Lovely to see you, Akeno.

- I'm gonna go find the bar.
- Should you really...

One drink won't kill me,
but this party might.

Looks like
she's already had a few.

Vodka soda. Light soda.

Mr. Lott?

Kate Keller.
Zoya's English teacher.

We met yesterday.

If I couldn't remember
you from yesterday...

Uh... Force of habit.

Most parents don't remember us
a minute later.

Well, I'm Nick.
And I remember you.

So, what're you doing here?

They make us work it,
if you can believe it.

I'm supposed to guide people
to their seats,

but most of the men
put their hands on my back

in a... really inappropriate way.

In that case,

how about you take me
a very long way

so you don't have to walk
anyone else all night?

Follow me. And don't get dizzy,
we're gonna make some loops.

Are you gonna spill
the GG tea or what?

I told you, that info
is for Obie only.

It's a precision strike,
and I only have one shot.

I can't afford you blowing it.

I just need to get him alone.
Thank God Zoya won't be...

Okay, but the fact
that everybody here

is trying to do a good thing,

I mean, that's gotta count
for something.

If you took the money
being spent on the food,

the booze, the space,
not to mention the clothes,

and you just gave it
directly to the kids,

imagine how far that would go.

But, hey, if it takes
liquoring up some society types

to get them to open up
their wallets, then so be it.

- Who am I to judge?
- Oh...

- Zoya!
- Jules. I don't think...

Believe it or not,
this has nothing to do with you.

- What are you doing here?
- I was invited.

- With your dad?
- Of course.

My dad's here, too.

- You still haven't told him?
- I didn't think you'd be here.

I didn't think your dad
could've... would buy a ticket.

Can we just call off
whatever it is we're doing here,

- and make sure that they don't meet?
- I'm not "doing" anything.

What your dad knows or doesn't
has nothing to do with me.

I'm already on thin ice
with my own as it is.

I don't think you understand
what a big deal this is,

or how much
my dad hates your dad.

Well, I guess
we're gonna find out, huh?

What the fuck
are you doing here?

Davis.

Dad, I can explain.

You know why he's here?

Everyone knows why.
Especially your daughter.

Do you want to tell him,
or should I?

What are you doing?

Taking note of the
competition so I can take them out.

Okay, so Calista Hernandez,

she always caps at 5k,
so that's done.

Camille de Haan will beg off
for some of my dad's house seats

to The Music Man, she's
got a thing for Sutton Foster.

- What? You jealous or something?
- Of course not.

I'd... I'd just appreciate it

- if you didn't tell Audrey...
- Oh, look,

I do not know what
is going on between you two,

but I shouldn't be
in the middle of it.

Unless you want me to be.

I'm sorry.
Oh, my God! Oh. Oh!

God, I... hate these shoes.

Wait a minute,
I... I don't understand.

You did all this behind my back?

- Behind both of ours.
- Zoya had a hand in this, too.

- I didn't act alone.
- You two have been in contact?

For years.

I asked you never to do this.

I told you if you ever wanted to
know about her to come to me first.

- I did.
- No, that's not true.

It is true, Dad.
You didn't listen.

- I asked like a dozen times.
- Why would you say that?

- I... I would remember.
- Maybe. Maybe not.

It was before you got sober.

And after that,
I was just scared to ask.

I didn't want to set you off.
You'd worked so hard.

You're sober?

I'm so disappointed in you.

- Audrey.
- Mm.

Have you seen your mom?

Of course not. She finally
shows up to something

and then promptly disappears.
Surprise, surprise.

No. Like, have you
seen your mom?

Oh, sweet Jesus. What happened?

Oh, God, Audrey. Thank God.

Why did you make me come here?
These people are so rude.

Do you know how many people
asked me where my husband was?

Like they don't mainline
Page Six every morning.

- Maybe we should just go.
- You did so much work

to get me here.
And where're we gonna go?

- Home.
- Home.

Not for long, Audrey.

Hi. Can I get a vodka soda,
no soda?

Maybe you should not be
mixing your meds

- with that stuff...
- That's not really a thing.

Darling, you don't have to
worry about that.

God!

You make such
a comfortable chair.

- Mom, please just go home.
- Ms. Hope, we're just trying...

I am Mrs. Hope to you, Akeno.
I'm still Mrs. fucking Hope.

- Ow! Ow, that really hurts.
- Oh, let me look at that.

- I'm a doctor.
- You are?

You okay?

Weirdly, yeah.

This whole night
is not what I expected.

Yeah, um...

Look, speaking
of unexpected things,

what would you say to...

slipping out of here
for an hour?

Come on, you're supposed
to not cause a scene, right?

If you hang around here...

you might be dragged into one
even if you don't want to be.

I'll have you back in an hour.

All right? Nobody will even
notice that we're gone.

Excuse me.

It's so good.

Oh, these are gorge.

I'm gonna make it
my lock screen.

You were right.

I never should've
brought her here.

- What was I thinking?
- What were you thinking?

My dad might never talk
to me again.

After all he's been through,
I'm causing him more pain,

and for what?

Everything was better
before she came.

She has to go.

Glad to have you back, JC.

Where's Obie?
I need to show him something.

He left... with her.

Then we move to Plan Z.

They'll have a hard time dating
when one of them's grounded till 2026.

You can't be serious.

I listened to what you said.
All right?

And if only a fraction
of tonight's money

is actually going towards kids
getting school supplies,

why not just cut out the
middle man and do it ourselves?

Good evening, Mr. Williams.

Thank you for opening
back up for us.

We're gonna be doing an obscene
amount of shopping tonight.

Like you said on the phone.
Let's see the card.

This'd better
be real.

I'm with you, Mr. Williams.

Spotted.

Noble O and Lil' Z
ditching the big event

for some late night
charity of their own.

Has the unthinkable occurred?

Has JC been officially
subbed out

for her Samaritan sis?

Or is this just another twist
in their Upper East of Eden?

Your move, JC.

Better check your mate
before she takes your king.

- Did you just leave?
- Dad...

You lied to me.

You lied to the school.
Gave her my scholarship!

Publicly shamed her?
And for what?

- This isn't like you.
- You're right. It's not.

But I'm not the bad guy,

and she's not as innocent
as she looks.

Meet us here,
and bring him with you.

That way, you can both see
for yourselves

who Zoya really is.

Mr. Caparros. Maximus Wolfe,
your highest bidder.

Hope you're worth every penny.

Flattering that you went to
so much trouble, Mr. Wolfe.

Should have read the fine print.

Auction items
are off-limits to students.

But I'm sure your dads
will love their tour.

Maybe I have been going
about this the wrong way.

Maybe I should be
very, very direct.

I have heard about you.

And I have a lot of questions

that I need answered
pretty soon,

or I might explode.

I would think someone like you
likes edging.

Oh, I love it, when I know
that's what I'm doing.

I think it's safe to say
that you'll be edging

- a long time.
- How long?

Till graduation.

I told you.
I don't fuck my students.

And what happens
after graduation?

Are you sure this is our car?

I don't remember it
looking like this.

It's a Lyft, Mom.
They're all different.

Well, that's not good
for brand recognition.

- Okay.
- Jesus.

I don't even know
what I was thinking.

I just wanted her to show up
for me for a change.

She tried.

- Maybe cut her a little slack...
- Slack?

Either she doesn't show up
for me and I feel terrible,

or she does
and I feel even worse.

There's no slack left,
in either direction!

I just think
something's going on.

The stuff that she said,

- that's not normal behavior.
- You don't know her.

Maybe you don't know her either.

Jesus, Aki!

- Whose side are you on?
- I'm on no one's side.

I'm just looking
at this objectively.

I know, and that's awful.

I need a fucking partner,
Aki, not a peacemaker.

So, I don't know...

I don't know how much longer
I can do this.

I understand that you're mad.

But I don't think right here,
right now is the time...

You just did it again.

You can't help it.
It's who you are.

And... I don't want
to change you. I really don't.

I just...

Audrey, wait.

I don't...

I don't even know what
I'm saying right now. I'm sorry.

"SATURDAYS"
BY TWIN SHADOW PLAYING...

♪ This could be the last time ♪

♪ That could be the fault line
Slipping away ♪

♪ This could be
Your last line... ♪

What school are we buying for?

All of them?

♪ This might be the last ride ♪

♪ Every road could fall
Right under our feet ♪

♪ I'm sinking to the ocean ♪

♪ This will be a lost street ♪

♪ When you open your eyes
It's like ♪

♪ Nothing's real ♪

♪ When you open your eyes
It's like ♪

♪ Saturdays ♪

♪ When we dance in the dark ♪

♪ In the room
Where it all gets real ♪

♪ I know you know how it feels ♪

♪ Saturdays ♪

♪ When we dance in the dark... ♪

I'm going after erasers!

What are you waiting for?
Go inside!

Fire the silver bullet!

No.

What do you mean, "no"?
Look at them, they're on a high!

That's the best place
to push someone off of!

I would never do
this sort of thing with him.

He would offer,
try to be spontaneous.

I'd always say no.

- Well, yeah, because it's gross.
- You don't understand.

I've been so stupid.

Julien?

Julien, what's going on?

- Where's my daughter?
- Dad, I was wrong. She's not here.

- I'm sorry I made you...
- Dad? What're you doing here?

I tried to stop them...

How could you
sneak out on me like this, Z?

You know you're grounded.

I told you no more drama.
No more lies. And here we are.

Again.

- Mr. Lott...
- I'm not talking to you, son.

I thought you were trying
to rebuild my trust.

More than that,
I thought you wanted to.

Dad, please. Okay? I'm sorry.
I was just having a little fun.

And if Julien
hadn't come here...

Do not blame
your sister for this.

Now she's my sister?

- Of course she is, but...
- No, she's right.

We're not sisters.

You never wanted us to be,
so we never were.

Besides, a sister wouldn't do
what I just did, right?

Let's go.

Hi.

- I don't know what came over me.
- It's fine.

No. I do. I do know what...

I haven't been
completely honest with you.

The trip to Laos wasn't
to check on the factories.

It was to close them.

What?

We're filing for Chapter 11
this week.

- I tried to push it off.
- I...

- I had no idea.
- Oh, I didn't want you to know.

And once I told you,
then it'd be real.

Well, um...

It's gonna be okay.
I know it will.

Yeah. Maybe.

A lot of things are gonna
have to change.

They're already changing, Mom.

Come here.

It's okay.

I thought you were leaving.

Yeah, sorry.
I couldn't find my tie.

Thank you, by the way.
I was pretty pent up.

I could tell.

Guess I was, too.

Hey, don't tell anyone
anything about this, okay?

Okay.

Fuck.

- I know what you're gonna say...
- Actually, I don't think you do.

It was wrong
to keep you and Zoya apart.

When somebody wants something
and you keep it from them,

they only want more.

And if they don't get it,

they act out
and they do crazy things.

Things that they never thought
they were capable of.

The sort of stuff that I did
when Nick took your mom from me.

I was not my best self. And...

that is the last thing
that I want for you.

Now, I am still coming to terms

with you bringing them back
into our lives like this,

but you connected with them
for a reason.

And... I'm guessing that
it has nothing to do with me

or with Nick, and everything
to do with your mom.

She would have loved that.

This is so great.

Oh! Hey, where have you been?

We've been texting
congrats all morning!

- For what?
- For whatever you did to Zoya last night.

It worked. She's withdrawing
from Constance.

What?

- When?
- Right now.

Look.

Where are you going?

I ordered Jell-O shots
from Instagram.

Wait.

- No, no.
- Oh. my God!

I just...

- She's waiting for you, Mr. Lott.
- Zoya, let's go.

Please don't make Zoya leave
because of what I did.

He's not making me do anything.
It was my decision.

Look, I didn't come here to
hurt anybody. Especially not you.

I think it's best for all of us
if I find a new school.

Can we have a minute?

You and me,
we have a connection.

It's why we did all this
in the first place, right?

- I mean, yeah, but...
- But we blew it.

Okay, mostly I blew it, but...

...I'm not ready to give up yet.

Don't leave.

Julien Elizabeth.

Zoya Jane.

If I were to stay... if...

I'd need to be able
to be honest about who I am...

and what I want.

Last night showed me something.

I knew it the second
I saw you in that store.

All Obie ever wanted was for me
to share in what he cares about.

And I never could.

But you do.

He and I don't fit anymore.
It hurts, but...

I won't interfere.

Not again. Say you'll stay.

Please?

- Maybe.
- No maybes.

"Maybe" sucks.
I need a yes for a change.

"Hell yes"?

You often hear it
said, "People don't change."

They can grow,
they can learn, but change?

- Not gonna happen.
- "ONCE UPON A TIME" BY SHAED PLAYING...

Why do we tell ourselves this?

What safety is there
in clinging to the belief

that what makes us who we are
needs to stay the same forever?

♪ Once upon a time
We were gonna fall in love ♪

The world around us
changes each second. And yet...

♪ We were so sure... ♪

...we're slow to
accept we have to do the same.

But just as every maybe
transforms into a yes

- or no, eventually...
- ♪ I tried and tried - To warn you ♪

...things
do change.

- ♪ That I could fall apart ♪
- And we do, too,

whether we want to or not.

♪ All of my walls ♪

♪ Came crashing down on me ♪

Well, look at that.

We're verified.

She even shared your post
from the other night

and apologized
for calling you a liar.

- It's still working.
- Everything in its right place.

What about Zoya's secret?

Let's hope
I never have to use it.

A word of warning, though.

Now that I've changed
into who I was meant to be,

I'm watching even more closely.

So don't go changing
to try and please me.

I see you just the way you are.

And I'll make sure
you see it, too.

That's what friends are for.

XOXO,

Gossip Girl.

THEME MUSIC PLAYING...

Sync corrections by srjanapala