♪ ["PAIN" BY KING PRINCESS PLAYING] ♪
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!
♪ [DANCE MUSIC PLAYING]
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]
♪ 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.
[DOOR OPENS]
♪ [MUSIC CONTINUES]
I'm right here, okay? I'm not going anywhere.
[SOBS]
It's okay.
[SOBS]
♪ [MUSIC CONCLUDES]
♪ [THEME MUSIC PLAYING]