Gossip Girl (2021–…): Season 1, Episode 8 - Episode #1.8 - full transcript

"PAIN" BY KING PRINCESS
PLAYING...

*GOSSIP GIRL*
Season 01 Episode 08

Episode Title: "Posts on a Scandal"
Aired on: November 25, 2021.

Sync corrections by srjanapala

GOSSIP GIRL:
Rise and shine, followers!

Gossip Girl here.

Beginning another day
checking your balances

and holding your feet
to the fire.

Who were you
before you met me?

I bet you can't even remember.

And that's how it should be.



Because you don't exist
without me.

I'm your mirror.

And a mirror can't reflect
what it doesn't see.

But maybe you're right
to stay away.

Because something tells me

you're not going to like
what I might show you today.

(NOTIFICATIONS PING)

GOSSIP GIRL: Or maybe
you'll just continue to see

what you want to see.

Because no matter
how often I show you your truth,

you seem to still go on
believing the lie.

DAVIS CALLOWAY: I took
the liberty of adding

an extra shot for the girl
who was up all night.

I would ask why,
but I know



the many answers
to that question.

At least with Z,
I know what I did.

But with Aki's dad's warning
about me, no idea.

Partying with Miley during
her questionable Bangerz phase.

I confused Jin and J-Hope
at the AMAs.

I know there's no video
of me saying,

"Don't you know who I am"
to security at the château.

I checked.

Maybe chamomile tea
would be best?

It's like, what if it's not
something specific?

What if it's just about me
in general?

Like a ten-page exposé
about how I'm a terrible person,

and I don't even know it.

That's not possible,
sweetheart.

After what I did to my sister
with her boyfriend?

With your ex-boyfriend,
which makes it more complicated.

And you know it wasn't good,
which doesn't make you bad.

And knowing Roger's
"newspapers,"

I'm sure it's just some dated
conservative hate piece

on the dangers of influencers
on today's young minds,

and nothing else.

I just don't wanna be the next
Lea Michele or Ellen,

blindsided by something
I don't even remember.

I can assure you
they weren't blindsided.

We know
who we are inside.

There's nothing out there
that we don't already know,

because we don't treat
people badly,

and we own up
to our own mistakes.

Sorry if my paranoia
kept you up.

I was up anyway,

arranging the set
for tonight's concert.

Oh, you could do that
in your sleep.

It's the 20th anniversary
for the label.

You know, it's kind of a big
deal that they asked me,

especially considering
that when I left,

it wasn't on the greatest
of terms.

JULIEN CALLOWAY:
You couldn't say no to Pink.

DAVIS: Oh, by the way,
there will be passes

for you and the crew.
And Lola's coming.

Do you mean your fiancée?
I should hope so.

(SCOFFS)

I should have told you.
I've been worried it's too soon.

More like "about time."

Dad, you've been single
for most of my life.

I need to know
that when I leave here

in a year and a half,
you're not gonna be alone.

- I've always put you first.
- JULIEN: I know.

And I love you for that,
but you deserve happiness too.

You're gonna do great,
Dad.

You have nothing
to worry about.

Neither do you.

♪ (MUSIC FADES) ♪

How about a small piece
of good news?

Hmm, a portal opened up
to another world

and sucked everyone I know
into it, leaving us here alone?

Even better.

Instead of having to scramble
for a new place to live,

what would you say if I told you
next month you'll be waking up

in a Greenwich Village
brownstone?

(CHUCKLES)

Dad, I'm still
relatively new here,

but I know even after COVID,
we can't afford the Village.

We don't have to.

A friend is letting us sublet.
Two bedrooms, too,

though we'll have to
share a bath.

A friend?
What friend do you know

that has an apartment
in the Vill...

No.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

No fucking way.

- We don't use that word.
- Yeah, you're right, we don't.

Not about him.
He's not our friend.

NICK LOTT:
Davis is being generous,

and we could both stand
to be more open-minded.

Let's open our minds

to the psychological
implications

that come with... with accepting
charity from two people

who've been nothing
but awful to us.

They're trying to help us.
That's not awful.

- It's what family does.
- Family doesn't keep you

from seeing your dying wife
and unborn child, okay?

Family doesn't get you evicted
or... or steal your boyfriend.

If I could get past
the terrible things

that Davis has done to me...

You didn't speak to each other
for 15 years, okay?

So how about I reevaluate
my relationship with Julien

when I'm 30?

♪ (DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

(STUDENTS CHATTERING)

Good morning, sunsh...
Who is that for?

- Are you and Obie finally back...
- No.

Because everyone thinks
that I'm a bad person,

I am trying to make amends.

Maybe with, like, Diet Prada,
but with her?

Oh, my God, Julien.
She tried to delegitimize you.

She actively worked
against you.

Only because I let her down.

Honey,
you can't let down assistants.

They're already
as low as they can go.

(SIGHS) Well, think of it
as spin, then.

Because
if something really bad

is about to come out
about me,

I need to show everyone
just how good I can be.

So the best way to do that
is be a bigger person, right?

- Right?
- Okay. Oh, my God.

No thank you.
I'm off salmon.

Luna says
you have an apology prepared?

Not an apology,

but an explanation
for my behavior.

MONET DE HAAN:
This isn't couple's counseling.

You're either sorry
that you gave up on yourself

by handing over
all of your power

to Buffalo Exchange,

or you're ready to take back
what's rightfully yours

by twisting the knife that
you already plunged in her back,

ending her
once and for all.

I miss you, bitch.

- Hmm. That's it?
- That's it.

MONET: I'll think about it.

(CHUCKLES)

Find anything out?

Nothing.
Your feed's so clean,

you make Greta Thunberg
look like Jeffrey Toobin.

Whatever is coming,
it is just gossip.

Lies made up to sell to papers.

Aki should just ask his dad
outright.

I feel weird about asking him

because things aren't great
with him and his dad.

Well, he'll do it for you, JC.
You just have to ask.

Second stop
on the apology tour?

Looks like that

performance has been postponed
indefinitely.

- Search my name on Reddit.
- Only if you promise

to wash my eyes out
with hand sani after.

- (KISSES)
- (KISSES) I love you.

Hi, baby.

(SMOOCHES)

- Where's mine?
- You've had enough.

Oh, that's why you left me
on read this weekend.

You've had your fill
of being filled.

I wasn't talking about you,
although I wish I was.

I don't think
school is the best place

for this conversation.

No need to continue.

I'm all good, mes amis.

You know, I'm glad
that I could have been

the antibiotic, that you needed
to get you guys healthier again.

And we thank you for that.
I do not remember

the last time I've felt so calm,
and... and collected,

- and chill.
- AKI MENZIES: It's true.

But now, I'm ready to get back
to seriousness, so...

Same. All that solo time
has allowed me to, uh,

conserve my resources
in anticipation

for a rendezvous
with a ballerina.

- (CHUCKLES)
- Ooh.

I'll, uh, I'll take a vid
for the next time

- you guys hit a bumpy patch.
- (SIGHS) No need for that.

I think we're good.

(LAUGHS)

And now, if only you and Obie
could get back good

- with each other.
- (GROANS)

I wouldn't hold your breath.
And I bet he isn't either.

He's always been
this way, our Otto.

Ever since he was
a young boy, well,

he cared more about the world
than himself.

Sometimes to his,
or its, detriment.

ALISYN CAMEROTA: "Detriment"
is a bit of an understatement

regarding the uprising
that was instigated

by your son outside
of the Navy Yard development.

Everything is a learning curve
these days, for all of us.

We spoke after the incident,
and Otto now understands

that there's a time and place
to speak up...

and a time and place

- to wait your turn.
- Yeah.

He had very legitimate concerns
about our project.

He just voiced them
in the wrong direction.

So, have those concerns
been addressed, Otto?

- Um, well, the...
- Yes.

After he brought it
to our attention

that we inadvertently displaced
a group of people

experiencing homelessness,

we found a way to proceed
with the development,

and a new and improved shelter.

There's a reason
that his father and I

call him the family conscience.

Um, I would like to, you know,
personally apologize

to the city of New York
for any destruction

that my actions
may have caused.

That's certainly
not how I was raised.

Uh, and so I will, you know,
from now on,

go forward
with... with that in mind.

Okay. Well, we will see
what happens next.

Thank you, Helena and Otto,
for speaking with us today.

- Thank you.
- Thank you, Alisyn.

CREW MEMBER: And we're clear.

(EXHALES)

Articulate
and remorseful.

Now, do it again tonight at
our dinner with Roger and Aki,

and we can put this whole thing
to bed.

Aki's gonna be there? I...

We're, like, weird
right now, Mom.

Well, then apologize to him
before you get there.

Apologize for what?
I didn't... I...

I did nothing.

Why do I doubt that?

Look, I heard about you
and Zoya.

- It's for the best.
- Hmm.

Grill at 8:00?

Wear the Kiton
I got you in Milano.

Brings out your eyes.

(SCHOOL BELL RINGS)

WENDY: I mean, I thought I
would sleep, but it was at 3:00,

- and then I was, like, "What?"
- Sorry. What?

I said, I couldn't sleep
last night. I was so excited.

Today is the day, right?

Early Hanukkah presents.

Are Tamagotchis back?

State-of-the-art security
to ensure no more coups.

When you go to sign in to Insta,

you'll need the code
from these fobs.

It changes every five minutes.

Can't I just use
the authenticator?

Stronger security to not
have it all on your phone.

Have you written the post yet?
Can I see it?

- No. I'm not posting that.
- Are you crazy?

That tip
is Anonymous-grade shit.

That will level us up
from blind item to Ronan Farrow,

minus the plastic surgery,
which I'm still considering.

That tip was stream
of consciousness

from a drunk and sad woman.

There's zero verification
to back it up.

No corroborating tips,
no legal filings.

I... it could literally just be...

Gossip?
It's in the name, sweetie.

You know what isn't?
Libel. Defamation.

Or 17 other ways
this could go wrong.

And that's just on us.
I mean, can you imagine

what this would do to Julien?

How is something
as inflammatory as this

in service
of our mission statement?

You mean the one that says

to hold people
accountable for their actions?

Which no one can do
if you don't get this out there.

- Even if it's true...
- It's true.

...it's way too complicated
and incendiary for a blind item.

Should we ask our partners
in crime and punishment

what they think?

We brought those teachers on
as an alibi,

- not a board of directors.
- WENDY: I knew you'd say that.

- That's why I already told them.
- You did what?

Which I agree
was a really bad idea,

but we did bring them on
for a reason.

Maybe they'll agree with you,
and then Wendy...

and I will never bring it up
again.

Fine. I'll hear them out.

But at the end of the day,
it's still my decision.

I got the tip.
I choose what we do with it.

(SIGHS)

(STUDENTS CHATTERING)

I just wanted to ask...

I'm losing it, Ak.
Every time someone looks at me,

I feel like they know that
I've done something horrible.

I mean, didn't you?

You're Team Z?

- Twist.
- No. I'm Team No Team.

I just think this whole thing
was an easily avoidable mess.

It was. And I'm sorry.

(CLICKS TONGUE)

You wanna know
what my dad meant?

When there's a target
on your back,

it's hard to forget
that it's there.

I haven't slept.
It's... it's hard for me

- to focus on anything, and...
- (SIGHS)

My advice? If you resolve
things with Zoya,

maybe you won't even remember

whatever my dad was talking
about in the first place,

which... (SCOFFS)
...was probably nothing.

They're agents of chaos.
None of it's real.

But he is in town right now.

Thank you.
And if I can return the favor,

you and I both know that Obie
is not good with conflict.

You're his best friend.
He needs you.

Well, maybe I don't need him
right now.

(SCHOOL BELL RINGING)

(STUDENTS CHATTERING
INDISTINCTLY)

♪ (BALLET MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

You're late.

Now I'm gonna have
one less orgasm.

It's only 10:00.
You don't go on until 2:00.

Do not tell me
that's a dozen.

Even numbered flowers
are for funerals.

- Okay.
- (FLOWER THUDS SOFTLY)

VALERIA: It's too late.

You already cursed
my performance.

If I break a leg today,
I'll have you killed.

MAX WOLFE: (GASPS)

Really?

Do you, uh,
need some help?

- Hmm?
- Hmm. Yeah.

(BOTH BREATHING HEAVILY)

(MAX MOANS)

- Perhaps you cursed your own.
- Huh? What?

(GROANS)

Hold on.

Maybe it's just the Adderall.

Allow me to work it out
of my system.

(GRUNTS, BREATHES HEAVILY)

(MOANS)

I totally understand
your hesitation, Kate.

First and foremost,
we're nurturers.

And what this type of scandal
can do

to the still-developing psyches
of these kids concerns me.

- So I hold off?
- Hold off?

Isn't this why you started this?

So these monsters could get
what was coming to them?

- Why protect them now?
- JORDAN GLASSBERG: No, no, Kate,

you're sending that
to everyone.

Oh, I see how it is.

People disagree with you,
so you don't wanna talk anymore.

You're not the activist
you claim to be.

- Just another politician.
- (LAPTOP PINGS)

I agree.

What do you agree with, Scott?
You literally just showed up.

SCOTT KOVACS: Hey, calm down.

Or whatever version of that
I'm allowed to say these days.

The fear amongst us is
that you're no longer impartial.

"The fear amongst us"?

Wh... Have you been meeting
without me?

I think what Wendy's trying
to say...

Have you been meeting
without me?

Of course not.

But you did get close
with Zoya Lott,

and I see the same pattern
beginning with Julien.

Just because I care

about what a young woman
might go through if...

SHARON: See, that's the problem.

You can't project human emotions
onto wild beasts.

That's how they kill you.

Instead of talking about
what could go wrong if you post,

think about what could go wrong
if you don't.

If it's true.

Why would she say it
if it weren't?

Why do we only post
what you see fit?

We have to go after them
at every opportunity.

If we don't if reinforces
they can get away

- with anything.
- I agree.

WENDY: I know
you have a good heart,

but it's time
for the hard truth.

This thing is bigger
than you now.

Why are you here?
You aren't even...

I say we post the damn thing.

Shall we take a vote?

We don't vote.

We do now.
So what should it be?

Whether to post the tip,

or deciding if Kate stays
or goes?

Let's start with one,
and then mull over the other.

- That seems fair.
- Democracy at work.

- I'll go.
- Yes, please.

- Just...
- ZOYA LOTT: No.

- Just let me...
- No.

- There's nothing you can say.
- There's gotta be something.

That's what you people think.
Always under the assumption

there's a way
out of your problems.

But you're not buying your way
out of this one.

What are you talking about?

Come on. Your dad's apartment?

What?

Whatever. If you're not
gonna leave, I will.

I know I fucked up.

I'm not trying to get my way
out of it. I just...

I wanna make it right somehow.

No, what you want is for me
to let you off the hook.

You and Obie are perfect
for each other in that way.

You both wanna be told
you're not as bad as you feel.

So here's an idea.

After school today, go home,

put on your best
10,000-dollar poorcore,

sit on your 40,000-dollar
mattress

in your 15-million dollar
apartment,

and rest with the knowledge
that you're the problem.

You're broken, Julien.

Just like your dad.
Just like everyone around you.

You're right.

Obie knew it. You know it.

Even Aki's dad knows it.

You know what else we know?

You deserve
whatever you've got coming.

- (ZOYA GASPS)
- Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

No, you're not.

Yo, Aki, can we talk
for a sec, bro?

How will you know what to say
without Mommy around?

Come on.
That's not fair, all right?

I did not want to do
that interview. I had to.

Oh. And you and Julien,
you had to do that too?

That's what you're upset about?

I thought it was the...
The gay thing.

- The gay thing?
- The bi thing, man. I'm sorry.

Look, you know what I meant,
all right?

No, I don't. And I don't think
you do either.

I don't have a problem
with your sexuality.

What I do have a problem with
is you thinking that I do.

So my perception has to line up
with your reality?

What are you talking about?

AKI: It must be nice
to expect everyone

to see the world
the way you see it.

My world is not your world.

My experience
is not your experience.

And I wish you understood that,

because then maybe you could see
how your actions hurt people.

Zoya, me, Julien.

Maybe in your world
you can explain that away,

but in mine,
we're not friends right now.

'Cause you don't see me.
You only see yourself.

(CELL PHONE CHIMES)

GOSSIP GIRL: Good morning,
followers. Trigger warning.

This post will not be pretty.

While I usually like
to have fun,

this is no time for frivolity.

♪ (TENSE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

GOSSIP GIRL: And while this is
as of yet unsubstantiated,

I cannot turn a blind eye

- to this blind item.- Jules.
- (PHONE RINGING)

AUDREY HOPE: I saw.
Meet me out front.

Jules!
Where is she going?

GOSSIP GIRL: It appears
a certain father

to one of Constance's
most influential students

is being accused of something
very serious.

(PHONE VIBRATES)

GOSSIP GIRL: We've always
known this dad as dry,

but he might have some bottles
hidden in his closet.

- You're distracted.
- MAX: Huh?

Is it someone else?
Invite them.

GOSSIP GIRL: One of them
allegedly used to ease a woman

into a level of consent

she had no intention
of providing.

Being that I'm breaking
this news,

I can't share anything further

so as to not risk
my credibility.

All I know
is there's a woman out there

whose story should be heard.

If she chooses to talk,
we all must listen.

AKI: This must be what my dad
was talking about.

You need to find out
what he knows, now.

(SIGHS)

Dad? Dad!

Dad.

AUDREY: Maybe try
calling him again?

I've been calling him.

It's going straight
to voicemail, which is full.

What?

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

I'll give you two
some space.

Are you okay?

(SIGHS)

I can't fathom what you must
be going through right now.

Dad.

If I were you, I wouldn't wanna
look at me, or talk to me,

- or be in the same room as me.
- Dad.

I wanted to tell you.
I knew this was coming.

I just couldn't find
the right time.

Dad.

- Is it true?
- No. Of course not.

But does that matter?

My lawyers and I, we were gonna

get out in front of this thing,
but that...

school blog of yours,
they didn't give us any warning.

You know, that woman

who's saying these things
about me, I barely know her.

I've never been alone with her
in my life.

- Why didn't you tell me?
- I felt like...

by talking about it,

I would validate
her claim somehow.

- But you do know her.
- Yeah, she's a manager.

The first time I met her,

she was Riley's assistant
a decade ago.

The last time we spoke,
it was a dispute

over some contract
renegotiation. I won.

So... it's retaliation?

Over money?

Maybe.

Fuck. Fuck!
This is going to destroy me.

I can't dispute it.

(CHUCKLES)

It would look defensive.

And I wouldn't believe
me anyway,

not after the life I've lived.

(SIGHS)

But none of that matters.

All that matters
is that you know the truth.

I swear to you...

on everything I love on my life,
on my work, on you,

I did not sleep with

or in any way take advantage
of that woman.

If you don't believe me,
no one will.

Of course
I believe you.

I hate that anyone
would even suggest it.

I know you could never do
something like that. I...

I know.

Hey, we just have to hope

that this thing
sorts itself out,

and we can all find
some kind of peace again.

Because while
there isn't an ounce of truth

to Lauren's claim...

she's clearly hurting.

It's because of something
I must have done.

It's okay, Dad.

I'm here.
I'm not going anywhere.

(SIGHS)

He's a monster, and I want
nothing to do with him

ever again.

I understand
why you feel that way,

but you don't know anything
for sure right now.

I know that I believe women.
And right now, I'm horrified

my own father doesn't.

(SCOFFS)
Of course, I believe women.

But I dedicated my entire life
to the principle

that people are innocent
until proven guilty.

Right now, there's zero facts
to base this on.

It's an anonymous tip
on an anonymous Instagram.

Okay. So... what?

I wait to reserve my judgment
until his trial,

where he gets off
because he has money and fame

and a shit ton of NDAs?

The system
you've dedicated your life to

isn't exactly foolproof.

Okay.

But you know what's worse?
Taking gossip as fact.

- (ZOYA SCOFFS)
- For all we know,

someone could be trying
to smear Davis's name.

Smear his name?

Do you know
how many sexual assault cases

that are reported
turn out to be false?

Between two and six percent.
I looked it up, Dad.

Between two and six percent.
Why are you defending him?

Is it about the apartment?

Are you afraid
to lose free rent?

No, of course
it isn't about that.

Then I'm not stepping foot
in there, and neither are you.

For all we know,
that's where it went down.

Well, now you're just
being ridiculous.

- What if the rumor was about me?
- It wouldn't be.

But what if it was?

Would you give me a chance
to defend myself?

I wouldn't have to
because you wouldn't

- do anything like that.
- NICK: Don't you think

that's exactly how Julien feels
about her dad?

Call her.
Tell her you're there for her.

- Hear her out.
- But, Dad...

Now.

♪ (LIGHTHEARTED MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

VALERIA: So?

I could not keep my eyes
off of you.

Lie. I could see the glow
of your phone

the entire performance.

I admit
I was a skosh distracted.

So you're leaving?

I heard the news
after I... I had already invested

in some
performance-enhancing drugs.

(GASPS)

And I thought my solo
in La Bayadère was hard.

Wanna go back
to your dressing room?

Not necessary.

(PERSON COUGHING)

How's she doing?

You shouldn't be here right now.
She's in enough pain as it is.

- Look, I just thought that...
- AUDREY: That seeing the man

who caused irreparable damage

to one of the only familial
relationships that she has

would somehow help her
right now?

That's not fair, Audrey,
all right?

That's not fair,
and you know it.

- And this isn't about you.
- It never is.

If I lie for her,
it blows up in my face.

If I show up for her,
it blows up in my face.

What am I supposed to be doing
that I'm not doing?

You're always doing what
you're supposed to be doing.

As your friend,
I'll say you should try

doing what you want for once.

What do you think
I'm doing here, Audrey?

You're here to make yourself
feel better.

Goodbye.

NEWS REPORTER: A woman
identified as Lauren Thompson

has come forward, lamenting
that an Instagram account

calling itself Gossip Girl
outed her

before her lawyers had a chance
to take her accusations public.

Now, Thompson alleges
that in October of 2011,

while working with a purportedly
sober Calloway,

he got her drunk
in order to coerce her

into sexual relations

she would not have otherwise
consented to.

Okay.

Look, I used to do this
with my mom

when one of her collections
would drop

and the comments opened up.

A no phone, no TV,

and... and no internet policy
all day.

I want you to turn off
the notifications on your phone.

Even the Google Alerts.
Because listen.

JC, you think you wanna know
what these people have to say,

but you never really do.

- Have you heard from Aki?
- Mm-hmm.

He just got to his dad's office.

He's gonna find out everything
that you need to know.

Everybody thinks I'm paranoid.

Terrified of losing
one ounce of power.

Well, occasionally...

I wonder if they're right.

And then my son...

shares a private voicemail
with a room full of strangers.

I was just trying
to protect my friend...

Well, I'm just trying
to protect you.

That's all I've ever done, Aki.

I had no idea
what you were talking about

was so monumental.

ROGER MENZIES: That's because
you don't trust me.

And after your recent behavior,

I tell you,
I don't trust you either.

We need to work on that.

Yeah. We need to work
on a lot of things.

Are you referring
to my news conference

- about your sexual preference?
- It's not a preference, Dad.

Aki.

Our relationship
is very important to me, Aki.

So is Julien's relationship
with her father.

I need to know what you know
so I can help her.

She doesn't know
what to believe.

I've had a team of people
working on that story

for months.

They believed
that there was something in it.

- Believed?
- The woman's account

of her night with Davis
couldn't be verified,

so we decided not to run it.

I didn't think
there was any truth to it.

- That's it?
- AKI: Apparently,

no one could place the woman
with your dad

- the night in question.
- (JULIEN SIGHS)

AKI: Someone's just
after your dad.

♪ (LIGHTHEARTED MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

AKI: Are you okay?

I'm great. Thanks, Ak.

(DIAL TONE BEEPING)

I love your boyfriend.

Come here.

I know. I love him, too.

Thank you.

I don't know what I would have
done without you here.

Maybe you, uh, would have
stress ordered Shake Shack

under your doorman's name
then paid for his silence

- in fries?
- (GASPS)

- I told you that in confidence!
- I know.

And I never told a soul.

A best friend's work
is never done.

So does that mean you'll still
be my plus one tonight?

Oh, is your dad
still going to that?

He better. If he doesn't go,
it'll look like

the story's true,
and if I don't go,

it'll look like I believe it,
and I don't.

Yeah, of course. Of course.

I'm gonna be there.

I'm leaving.
Um, I'm keeping my phone on

so if you wanna call me
or text me, okay?

- JULIEN: Bye.
- Bye.

(CELL PHONE VIBRATES)

- Hey.
- ZOYA: I'm still mad.

But since I'm the bigger person,

I wanted to make sure
you're okay.

More than. My dad didn't do it.

I just talked to Aki,
and his dad said that NetCorp

couldn't verify her story.

- Wow.
- JULIEN: It's awful, right?

But, you know, jealous people
will make up anything

to try to take down
someone successful.

- I can't believe it.
- JULIEN: I can.

This type of thing happens
all the time.

You just never think
it's gonna happen to you.

No, I just can't believe
you're letting him off the hook.

He's my dad.
I know him better than anyone.

ZOYA: What about all the times
he lied to you?

His second apartment,
his secret girlfriend,

the... the stuff in the hospital
when I was born.

Yeah, just like
your perfect life in Buffalo

with your close friends?

ZOYA: Oh, my God,
that is so like you.

Deflecting instead of actually

considering the reality
of the situation.

Like father like daughter, huh?

So much for being
the bigger person.

I'm happy to settle with being
the better one instead.

- (DIAL TONE BEEPING)
- (SIGHS)

(KNOCKS ON DOOR)

I tried, okay?

But there's no way
we're moving into that ap...

Ms. Keller,
what are you doing here?

Um, your dad thought
you might wanna talk to someone

who wasn't him,
if you have a minute.

Can we get out of here?
(CHUCKLES)

Julien won't even consider
there's more to the story.

She just believes her dad,
like that.

And I don't even trust the guy.
And I never have,

but the more I've learned,
the more I feel that way.

Honestly, do you think
I'm overreacting?

I try my best not to police
other people's reactions.

I mean, if it's how you feel,
it's how you feel.

It's all so complicated.

But why is it so easy
for the rest of the world

to look the other way?
Have you been online?

They're already calling
the accusations baseless,

and it's only been a few hours.

Look, that kind of response
is exactly what validates

other victims' fear
that they won't be believed

if they come forward.

Perpetuating silence
only leads to more abuse.

Wh... what makes you so sure
he's guilty?

It's Gossip Girl.

I mean, even though
I hate to admit it,

when has she ever been wrong?

And you heard at Thanksgiving
what he did to my dad

on the day that I was born.

And did you know
he has a second apartment?

That's how Julien find out
he was dating someone.

He's had it for years,
a secret apartment.

What are you doing?

I just realized Gossip Girl
might like to know that.

Um...

As your teacher
and your friend,

I believe
you should sit this one out,

for your own good.

If there's more to the story,
we'll hear about it.

What if this is the more
to the story?

Don't I have some kind
of moral obligation

to tell someone?

- She's your sister.
- Well, he's not my father.

- What am I doing here?
- I am in crisis.

We all are.
The accusation's insane.

What? Oh. Oh, no, no.

Not about Julien, no.

Although terrible,
at least that was proven false.

This is true.
I couldn't do it.

Do what?

Oh, my God.
I came across town for this.

Take a pill, or just close
your eyes like the rest of us.

I did. It didn't work.

I just kept going, and going,
and nothing happened.

For me. She had a
fucking great time, obviously.

But I mean, fucking... useless

Like a...
Like a jade roller or CBD.

- What's wrong with me, Luna?
- You tell me.

This problem
seems psychological.

Oh, no, no, no.
I do not do psychological, okay?

Which is probably
why you have this problem.

Listen, I... I've not banked
enough hours with a shrink

to get to the root, okay?

You know me well.
You be my therapist.

I hate when it's this easy.

The sex isn't working
because just sex

isn't what you're looking for
anymore.

You've been fucking
your best friends for weeks...

Messy... and now
you expect to return

to meaningless trysts
with psycho Slavs after that?

You added emotion to sex.

And once you get a taste
of that,

nothing else tastes as good.

So, what,
I can't have casual sex anymore?

Of course you can,
and you will.

But right now,
your mind wants in

on what your body's doing.

Take the Slav out.

See if you can find some
emotional connection with her.

I bet if you do,
you'll be as good as new.

- Better, I imagine.
- Okay. Yeah.

- Okay.
- Do it.

The group is meeting
at the Emerson at 7:00.

- Meet me there?
- They're meeting? Why?

To celebrate!
Have you not seen it?

GG is trending.
The New York Times, CNN,

even NetCorp is sourcing us
in their coverage.

And have you seen
our follower count? (LAUGHS)

Just wait until you post
Zoya's tip.

Have you seen it yet?

Uh, I haven't looked in a bit.

She sent it a half hour ago.

Davis
has a secret apartment.

She told me.
Nick asked me to talk to her.

So you told her to send it?
Or you told her not to?

This is all getting out of hand.

I... I'm just trying
to protect her.

JORDAN: Well, you can't now.

She sent it.
You have to use it.

I don't have to do anything.

JORDAN: What reason
would GG have

not to share something that big?

If you don't,
Zoya could start wondering

why her nice English teacher
and Gossip Girl

share the same opinion.

(SIGHS)

Kate, this is a real story.

This isn't teen STIs
and "who wore it better."

And by not posting,

you're potentially
obstructing justice.

Do the right thing.

GOSSIP GIRL:
Followers, it's been a day.

- But it's not over, is it?
- (CELL PHONE VIBRATES)

GOSSIP GIRL: You can't make
a bonfire from just one match.

You need plenty of lighter fluid
to get it really going.

Turns out, for the last decade,
our doting dad

has maintained a charming
two-bedroom in the West Village,

secret to even his nearest
and dearest.

A smart investment,

- or his pied-à-terre?
- (CELL PHONE CHIMES)

GOSSIP GIRL: Contrary
to what you may have heard,

this story is anything but over.

Dad?

Dad.

This is not good.
Not good at all.

- No shit, PJ.
- It's time, D.

No. I'm not doing it.

- Doing what?
- Go after Lauren's credibility.

She clearly wants to hurt you.

Why won't you hurt her
in return?

Because that is not the type
of person I am.

You talked with Aki, right?

Did he say why NetCorp Media
stopped pursuing this?

PJ: We've been trying
to find out all day.

They know something
that we don't know.

Now, if that's why they dropped
the story,

- it can only help us.
- I'll find out.

But, Dad, get dressed.

If I've learned anything,
it's that no matter

what you're going through,
you still show up, okay?

CROWD: (CHANTING)
Cancel Calloway!

Cancel Calloway!
Cancel Calloway!

♪ (DANCE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

Cancel Calloway!

Cancel Calloway!
Cancel Calloway!

- This is not good.
- Not good at all.

Can you believe this?

Hey, it's okay.
It's okay, okay?

Listen, um, I have seen
more people in a dressing room

than I see right now.
Don't worry about it.

Gossip Girl doesn't have
the reach we thought she did.

- Clearly.
- Yeah.

Let's do a story
while we're here

and show her
she doesn't matter.

- Yes.
- Let's do it.

- Don't look at them.
- Let's do that.

We're all good. Deep breaths.
Smile, babe. Smile, babe.

- (CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS)
- AUDREY: Let's go inside.

Cancel Calloway!
Cancel Calloway!

Julie. Julie. (SIGHS)

Oh my God,
what you must be going through.

Come here, girl.

(SIGHS DEEPLY) I've been
putting on a face all day,

but a part of me just
wants to go home

and cry
under my weighted blanket.

But we both know that
this is just jealousy, right?

Comments I get from randos

whenever I post a pic
of your dad and me.

There is a certain type of woman
who just can't take

how hot and famous he is,
you know?

Well, I know you know, because
you're hot and famous too.

(CHUCKLES)

- Where's your ring?
- Oh, no. Don't worry.

- I'm not leaving your dad.
- It looks like it.

The other night,
when he finally told me

this was all coming out,
he tried to break up with me.

And he didn't want me,
you know,

to be dragged down
by all of this.

He said he couldn't do it
in good conscience unless,

you know,
we walked the engagement back.

He wanted me to know
that marrying me

wasn't about publicity
or covering something up.

He wants to wait to propose
until this is all over.

I have never been so sure
about anyone in my life.

"ITGEHANE"
BY PEGGY GOU PLAYS...

This is why I never go anywhere
general admission.

I hope she chokes
on her well drink.

I can't believe
you brought me here.

I should go outside
and join the protesters.

What you sent out into the world

was no one's business
but our own.

You're going to apologize
to both of them.

Fine.

- ♪ (SOFT MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
- (CUTLERY CLINKING)

My mother is from Minsk.
Uh, the capital of Belarus.

But my father is Russian.
Well, he's actually Crimean,

but he would never
tell you that.

He wouldn't tell you anything.
He doesn't like the Jews.

Uh, well, he probably wouldn't
like that I'm queer either.

Well, his sister, my aunt,
is a lesbian war photographer,

and he's very proud of her.
It's just the Jews.

(QUIETLY)
Just the Jews. Okay.

I'm surprised you asked me
to dinner and a concert.

I didn't think
we did things like that.

Well, contrary
to what you may think,

I... I wanna get
to know you more.

Do you want to hear
my saddest story?

- Mm-hmm. Sure.
- Are you sure?

Yeah. I just said "sure."

It involves my dog, jet glue,
and Ira Glass.

Great. Cool.

♪ (PIANO MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

I always loved this space.

You know, they used
to have a Picasso here.

Huge thing. Tapestry.

It was on that wall over there
for nearly 60 years.

(GRUNTS)

I ate here a lot in those years.

Marveling how its mastery
remained unchanged

by the passage of time.

Not unchanged.

Unchallenged.

Then one day... new owners.
(IMITATES GUNSHOT)

Gone.

A Picasso, tossed out
like it was nothing.

I need a favor.
Um, more information.

ROGER: You know
why I'm telling you this story?

Because when they came
to get rid of it,

they asked me
if I wanted to buy it.

And, of course,
they knew how fond I was of it.

But I knew...

I instantly knew...

that if that Picasso
was for sale...

then it had no value.

If it could be anyone's,

it was worthless.

I gave you information.

Important information.
What do you do?

You give it to your friend
to make her feel better.

She deserved to know.

ROGER: Her father's
got his own lawyers.

Lawyers who've been
pestering my people all day

trying to reveal their sources.

When you give up information,

you alert people... to know
that you are for sale.

Are you for sale?

No.

You let your friends
manipulate you,

use you to better themselves.
That makes you weak.

I love that you're good.
I love that you're kind.

I don't even mind you're gay.

But please don't be weak.
That's unforgivable.

Oh, Helena, Otto. (CHUCKLES)
How lovely of you to join us.

- Hello, Mr. Menzies.
- ROGER: Oh, yeah. Nice.

- OBIE BERGMANN: Nice to see you.
- ROGER: Oh.

Hey, what's going on?

Wendy told us

that you didn't want to post
Zoya's tip.

- Is that true?
- Of course it's true.

So? This is my project.
I invited you all in.

- It's all our project.
- KATE KELLER: No.

I'm the one who thinks about it
day and night.

I'm the one who gets the tips

and decides what's right
from what's rumor.

Only because you don't include
us in the process.

None of you cared about any
of this until yesterday.

You didn't have anything
good till yesterday.

So, um...

uh... you all want to be more
a part of the process.

Uh. Yeah, we can, um,
we can meet,

uh, discuss the tips
before I post them.

- Come up with a plan together.
- That's not the issue here.

You've stopped
living your mission statement.

You care too much
about these kids.

You're no longer
correcting the problem.

- You're a part of it.
- Sharon...

Where's Jordan?
When he gets here, he'll...

Okay. She's not here.
I told you.

Maybe she's backstage.

"APRICOTS"
BY BICEP PLAYING...

- Go.
- Dad, I just don't understand

how you can still defend
these horrible people.

Horrible people?

The only horrible person here
is you.

Publicly defaming someone
you barely even know

because you're mad your
boyfriend's still in love with me.

This has nothing to do
with Obie.

It has everything to do
with Obie.

I may have gone about this
the wrong way.

I can admit that.

I shouldn't have sent that tip
in to Gossip Girl.

But the thing is, even though
you did something terrible to me,

you were right to.

Obie doesn't love me.

He and I shouldn't be together.

Who knows how much longer
I would have gone

without realizing that?
I could have made a huge mistake

I would have regretted
my entire life.

So, while what you did to me
really fucking hurt...

it opened my eyes
before it was too late, okay?

And that's all that I'm trying
to do for you.

- We need to go already.
- I know him better than you.

How are you so sure
he's such a monster?

What he did to Mom,
to my dad, to us,

keeping us apart for 15 years,
that's still inside him.

He got sober, Z.

He wasn't acting entirely clear
back then.

- How do you know?
- Let's go get a drink.

- Come on.
- My dad's set's about to start.

Come on. Let's go see it.

All these white men
have the same haircut.

We're definitely still
in Williamsburg.

- Yeah.
- And they only have IPAs?

(SCOFFS)

I told you nobody's
gonna have good coke here.

- Zoya's here?
- She's so cute.

I would like to culturally
appropriate her.

- (SIGHS)
- Listen, I'm gonna pee,

unless you want me to save it
for later.

No.

- Okay.
- Thank you, though.

You just missed the telenovela.

- Having a good night, I see?
- Good night? Uh, well...

she told me so much
about her life

that it's taken years off
of mine.

I had no choice but to take her
to the restaurant bathroom

just to shut her up.
It didn't work... again.

Have you thought about how maybe

it isn't that
you can't fuck her,

it's that you
no longer want to?

That is definitely true now,
yeah.

It's possible
you may have feelings

for someone else.

Or should I say,
"someones."

♪ (SOFT MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

So, Otto,
I hear you have something

you wanna tell me.
Shall we dispense with it?

No.

- (IN GERMAN) What?
- I said, "No."

- Otto?
- OBIE: Mother.

Apologize to Roger.
That's why you're here.

No. (CHUCKLES)

- You said you'd apologize.
- I didn't actually say that.

HELENA BERGMANN:
Are you really doing this?

How does saying no feel?

Uh, it feels
pretty fucking good honestly.

Think I'm gonna try it out.

- Hey, that's enough of that.
- No.

(SNORTS)

You both are behaving
like children.

You owe Roger an apology.

- For what, exactly?
- Yeah. What did he do?

He caused a scene
in public,

which impacted your father
in a negative manner.

Nothing impacts my father
in a negative manner.

Yeah, you know, and I...
Look. I mean, I have...

done bad things.
Recently, too, you know?

But... standing up
for what I believe in...

is not one of them.

I mean, cheating on my...

You know, on my girlfriend,
that probably was.

And, uh...

you know, failing to see
that I hurt my best friend... was.

And I'm not telling you
how I really feel

about all of this,
that certainly is. Um... (SIGHS)

I mean, do you even
like this restaurant, Aki?

- (LAUGHING) No.
- Cool, 'cause I don't either.

I mean, I think we should leave
and, uh,

get some pizza, actually.
(CLEARS THROAT)

Both of you,
sit down this instant.

I'm tired of being
your conscience.

Mom, just grow your own.

Being there for your friends
isn't weak.

Not being there for them is.

I'm gonna order a black car
to, uh, Obie's. On you, okay?

Wait, what?
He gets to keep his?

Of course.

OBIE: Huh.

- (INDISTINCT CHATTER)
- ♪ (DANCE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

There's something
I need you to know, Z.

What you said back there
about Davis keeping you

and your sister apart
of your whole lives...

that wasn't him.

That was me.

When you were five,
he wrote me a letter...

about how sorry he had been
for what he had done

the day you were born.

How sorry he was for everything.

He said that he knew
that I could never forgive him.

And that he could never
forgive himself

if he stood in the way
of you and your sister

being apart your whole lives.

And you know what I did?

I threw it away.

Never responded.

So he started calling.
And I didn't answer.

But he kept trying.

I'm the one
who didn't change, Z.

Not him. And I'm sorry
you have to see that now.

Z, I need you. Can we put
our shit aside for a second?

- Can I borrow her for a minute?
- Where are we going?

- You're on their side?
- JORDAN: It's not about sides.

You can't be part of them.

They're trying to stage a coup
because they're lonely and...

- They're right.
- You're too close, Kate.

That's not true.

You're so close, you can't even
see how true it is.

This thing, this experiment,

at first,
I thought it was crazy.

I figured it would last a week.
Maybe two, until you saw

there was no way
to change things, but...

you did change things.

Rafa was wrong.
The kids have gotten better.

More polite, more aware,
more afraid of us.

But when you start
pulling punches

and editing the truth

and trying to solve it
personally,

you ruin the integrity
of the idea.

You insert yourself
in the narrative

instead of what
you're supposed to do,

observe and report
and leave the rest to them.

You're right.

Um... okay.
Uh, from now on,

I will just post everything
and stay out of it.

I'm afraid
that won't be enough for us.

We'll, uh, take it from here.

Consider it a leave of absence.

I'm sorry, Kate,
but I'm gonna need your fob.

All right, yes,
it made me feel a little weird

- when you told me.
- Thank you.

I don't know...
what it was, man.

You know, I think
I started to wonder, like...

what it all meant,

all the times we hung out,
just the two of us,

and, you know, stayed
at each other's houses,

slept in the same beds
when we were on vacation.

You wondered
if I ever had a thing for you?

I did. Yeah, I did.
And it's stupid.

I know. (LAUGHS)
And I'm... I'm sorry.

It is stupid. And no offense,
but I never did.

You ne...

I'm... I'm, like... I'm hurt.

- (CHUCKLES)
- Is that weird?

(BOTH LAUGH)

- I miss you.
- (SIGHS DEEPLY)

I miss you too, man.

- God, our parents.
- The look on your mother's face.

No, the look on your dad's face,
bro.

I cannot believe
that he let you touch his phone.

I was trying so hard
not to shake

- when I was going through his emails.
- Yeah?

Part of me wanted to go
send it straight to Gossip Girl.

Did you find
what Jules needed?

I don't know.
I just forwarded everything

that said "Calloway"
and "source."

But I didn't get to read
much of it.

Well, maybe our parents
need a Gossip Girl of their own.

Isn't that my dad's papers?

I mean, not that it matters,
but look at Trump.

He got away with everything
that he did.

Except for his tax returns.
That's the only thing

- that seems to have rattled him.
- (PHONE VIBRATES)

It's Audrey.

I'm gonna tell her to
come over to your place, okay?

Yeah.

If I knew
what you're looking for,

- I could help you.
- I don't know if it's here,

or if it'll even tell me
anything,

or if I'm just being crazy.

Julien, what did... what did
Roger's email say exactly?

The one Aki sent.

That Lauren,
the woman accusing my dad...

was with her friends
that night at dinner,

and her friends confirmed

they dropped her off at home
alone.

Okay, so then she couldn't have
been with your dad.

Or she met up with him after?

Yeah. But they also got
her phone records,

which show that...

there were multiple calls
to the same number.

All under a minute,
so no answer.

- Whose number was it?
- Riley, her boss at the time.

Riley, like, Riley-Riley?

Yeah.
My dad was producing for her.

Okay, so then she called
her boss a bunch.

(SIGHS)

There were two other calls
on the log

to a different number.
Also no answer.

To my dad's Blackberry.

It's what he was using
at the time.

Still not following.

I hope I'm wrong,
but... I have a feeling

that Riley was the one
with my dad that night.

And for some reason,
Lauren's lying.

(PHONE TRILLS)

(AUDREY SIGHS)

I'm gonna get a beer.

No. Fuck the booze.
Where are the benzos, Aki?

Uh, Helena's bathroom upstairs.

- AUDREY: Hi.
- Hi.

Oh, my God.
How was, uh, dinner?

(SCOFFS)

Eventful.

How was the concert?

Julien disappeared,
so we did too.

I don't know
where she went.

I've been calling her all night,
but she's not answering.

Are you okay? You rolling?

(CHUCKLES) No.
No, I, uh... I'm happy.

Max Wolfe's clothes are on,
and he's happy?

- What has the world come to?
- (LAUGHS)

Yeah.
Was the ballerina that good?

Um... where's Obie?

Uh, I don't know.
Somewhere in here.

"BETS OFF"
BY ALEXMAAX PLAYING...

(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS)

(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS)

♪ You bet and lost ♪

♪ Behind your silhouette ♪

♪ I can find the wall ♪

♪ You play unaffected ♪

(SIGHS)

♪ But by hand you sweat ♪

♪ Dripping from your hold ♪

♪ Some blindness in me ♪

Jules?
What are you still doing up?

Don't speak.

Because when you do,
I get confused,

and for the first time all day,

I feel like I have things
straight in my head.

November 8th, 2014, 8:54 a.m.,
Riley texts you,

"What happened last night?"

What is this about?

JULIEN: 8:55 a.m, you text back,
"What do you mean?"

8:55 a.m., she texts back,
"I don't remember anything."

You text back, "Are you serious?
We had fun."

She texts back,
"Why don't I remember?"

It's not what you think.

I know that reading it
that way

could make you think
something crazy, but we...

we spent the night together.

That's it.

She drank too much.
You know her.

She always drank too much,
remember?

- But you didn't.
- Of course not.

You don't see anything wrong
about that?

Riley isn't accusing me
of anything. Her manager is.

This is just something
you've got inside of your head.

- Are you gaslighting me?
- No! I... I am your father.

♪ (MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪

DAVIS: I...

♪ Calling all bets off ♪

I couldn't...
I couldn't do that to you.

♪ Calling all bets off ♪

Maybe Lauren said what she said
because Riley's afraid to.

♪ Calling all bets off ♪

Sometimes when you care
about someone...

you can do something bad

in order to help them
see the truth.

I know I have.

I didn't do anything wrong,
I swear.

I didn't know she was so drunk.
I thought...

I thought
she liked me.

September 17th, Jade,
"Can we talk?

I don't remember
what happened last night."

August 11th, Priya,
"Did we sleep together?"

July 24th, Maddie,
"What was in those drinks?

I can't remember anything."

No, Jules,
let's get out of here.

Please.

Please.

(DOOR OPENS)

♪ (MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪

I'm right here, okay?

- I'm not going anywhere.
- (SOBS)

It's okay.

(SOBS)

Sync corrections by srjanapala

♪ (MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪

THEME MUSIC PLAYING...