♪ ["BOYS WILL BE BOYS" BY DUA LIPA PLAYS] ♪
Look alive, followers.
It's a new day, and I, for one, woke up in a good mood.
So how about we play a game? Two truths and a lie.
♪ Sick intuition That they taught us ♪
♪ So we won't freak out
One, you have control
over the things that matter in your life.
♪ We smile A way to ease the tension ♪
♪ So it don't go south
Two, the world is a generally forgiving place.
♪ When will we stop Saying things... ♪
And three, no matter what,
in the end, the truth will set you free.
The answer? I cheated. They're all lies.
Because the real truth is there's no such thing as truth.
♪ Boys will be Boys will be ♪
♪ Boys will be boys
♪ But girls will be women
There's what you believe, what I perceive,
and what history remembers.
Everything else? A mystery.
The grey area. A drawn game.
♪ I can't find The words to say ♪
♪ I know that there will be A man around to save the day ♪
♪ And that was sarcasm
♪ In case you needed it Mansplained... ♪
And perhaps no one knows the truth about the truth
more than Tribeca's least wanted...
♪ When will we stop Saying things ♪
♪ 'Cause they're all Listening? ♪
Last seen supporting Daddy DJ's big night out,
our influential ingenue remains notably silent in the face
-of her father's gray areas.
Perhaps she's more complicit than we think.
Because if she is taking a stand,
-it's to plead the fifth.
But you can only stay undecided for so long
before history decides for you, whether you like it or not.
And as far as you're concerned?
Oh, God, it's SantaCon.
I'm history. The record. Your karma.
Is that Gossip Girl?
I, uh, left my phone at home. Can I see?
So true believers, nay-sayers,
and everyone in between, watch this space.
You may not like what I have to say,
but karma's that bitch. And so am I.
You've got to be fucking...
...kidding, right?
- It's speculation. Nothing more. - It's sexual assault!
Even if it is, and I am not saying it isn't,
there's no proof.
It's not involuntary intoxication.
These women admit in these texts that they willingly drank.
Imperfect consent, such as it is,
is not a criminal act.
Not criminal? So what, it's just a misunderstanding?
What would make it a criminal act?
If it crossed the line
from intoxication to incapacitation.
Do you know if any of these women were unconscious--
The texts literally say that they don't remember.
So, if they can't remember consenting, then...
how can anybody say that they did?
Who is to say they didn't?
The fact is, while these morning-after texts
offer a reason to believe
your father may have taken advantage
of multiple women years ago,
only one of them has come forward
claiming as such.
One, as it turns out, who lied about that claim.
To protect a higher-profile victim.
Potential victim.
And none of these other women have come forward.
Not even...
this alleged higher-profile potential victim.
You want my advice?
That's why we're here, Nance.
We wanna know the best course of action for Julien.
You wait, you do nothing, and you make sure that this
doesn't fall into the wrong hands.
Shouldn't she try to get ahead of it?
You know, tell somebody what she knows?
Nobody even knows about these other women.
And it's not your place to tell. It's theirs.
And until these other women come forward,
there is nothing you can do.
I could post a statement!
Anything that you say in a public forum
will be turned around on you.
Okay? I highly suggest radio silence.
Just watch it play out
and don't put yourself in the middle of it.
Aren't I already in the middle of it?
I know this is a lot, but it's for your ultimate good.
Trust the process. - No statements. No posts.
Not online. Not in person.
But I have to go to school! I have classes! I have a test!
This is a crisis. The school will understand.
Listen, though...
I know that it doesn't feel like it right now,
justice is moving.
And if what you believe happened to those women
did happen to those women,
they are watching this all play out right now.
And just because they've yet to come forward
doesn't mean they won't.
It just takes time.
Karma's that bitch? Really, Scott?
What makes you think that little piece of poetic justice was me?
There's a sports metaphor.
I did a little rewrite.
The crew's so blah and academic. It needed a zhuzh.
So I repurposed an old post from the aughts.
I thought you'd like the initiative.
You thought an English teacher would like plagiarism?
I changed some words!
The part about the Waldorf person wouldn't make sense.
I turned the comments back on, by the way.
Part of what makes America great
is that we all have a voice to troll each other with.
Did you run all the way here?
No, I spent my paycheck on an Uber so I could witness
first-hand you taking a sledgehammer to the thing
I care most deeply about.
I know what you care about... and it isn't this.
What? Oh, ew! Scott, no!
You still want a piece.
Now that I'm back in your orbit, I'm on your mind.
Even after I ghosted you.
I ghosted you!
- Hmm... - And I care about Gossip Girl.
I know I got voted off the island, okay? I get it.
I got too close, I have opinions,
but what you posted this morning about an influencer
possibly being complicit in her dad's illicit issues
was wrong and dangerous.
You could ruin a kid's life.
So what? She'll buy a new one.
- Wow! - You know what your problem is?
That I'm an actual human being and not a sentient jockstrap?
That you're here trying to convince yourself
you're anything more than six degrees of Perez Hilton.
You don't care about these kids any more than I do!
You just love the rush.
I know it, and you know it.
We're making gossip great again, Keller.
And you are benched for the season.
Now if you don't mind,
I have to hose my balls off before sex ed.
Sorry!
Oh. Morning.
Uh, I thought you said no one was home.
You needed me to hand off Michael Caine
to the private plane people.
No... that happened last week.
Bri-ssant? - They're brioche croissants.
Sure.
Oof. Aw, this is nice, right?
Three-top back together again?
Honey, we know what you're doing.
I don't know what you mean.
Well, first, it was Rocky's surprise party...
Okay, so I was off by a few months.
And the false alarm of Pops throwing his back out
- during an installation? - No, no. No, I simply misheard.
Lilac and sacroiliac,
they're-- I mean, they're-- they're practically homonyms.
Look, Max,
we know the separation's been tough on you.
It's been hard on all of us.
The point is, Max, it's got to stop. You can't force it.
These things, they take time.
And your dad and I, we're just-- we're on different paths now.
Well, I'd better get to work.
- I, uh, can't be late. - You're literally your own boss.
Yeah, and I am an absolute tyrant.
I get you're disappointed,
but please understand
that your dad and I agree on one thing...
always and forever, our love for you.
True.
I'll see you soon.
Ooh, here.
Take these extra to Julien. Ay!
You know, all that trauma... The girl needs to eat.
What are you doing here?
How did you find us?
I just wanna talk.
Jules, let's go.
It's all right, Z. They have to speak.
Okay, we'll be in the lobby.
Aki Menzies, Road Rash King of the Upper East Side.
Rex Huntington, Queen of doubles tennis!
Oh, you noticed.
What's up?
I just wanted to say welcome to the club.
I know coming out can be rough, and with your dad,
I can't even imagine.
Yeah, it's, uh... it's been a journey.
Now that you've arrived,
a question I've always wanted to ask...
What kind of risky skateboard trick makes you get a scar...
right here?
I got my arm stuck in a pool table when I was five.
I wish I could credit it to something gnarlier, but--
Okay. I'm not actually talking about scars. Obvi.
- You just were. - Wow.
You really don't get it? I'm trying to ask you out.
I'm not single.
Your straight side might not be, but your gay side very much is.
It doesn't work like that.
Dude, you're queer now.
It works however you want it to...
which is why I'm gonna give you my number
in case you're up for it, whatever "it" may be.
And yes, I'd totally do that on the first date.
- Rex! - Okay, okay.
If it seems like I'm being a bit aggressive, it's...
it's because I like you.
Always have.
And that doesn't have to mean anything more than that.
If you ever need a... a queer ear or... a gay friend,
an old-fashioned date, and or the best head of your life,
you know where to find me.
She didn't post it.
- Post what? - My parents' tax returns.
I'm pretty sure Gossip Girl has other things on her mind.
Like what? Like non-stop trolling Julien?
- Did you talk to her? - Who talks to Gossip Girl?
No, Julien!
No, I didn't. I, uh--
She does not want to hear from me.
Your girlfriend made that very clear.
Do you think Gossip Girl's, like, holding it back
and waiting for all this Davis shit to blow over?
"Davis shit"? I know you care about her,
but the way you're talking, it doesn't seem--
No. Look. I care about her too much, Ak.
And I-- I need something to distract myself,
like my parents, otherwise I'll dissolve
into a million Thanos specks
and disappear forever.
Well, I hate to admit it, but Gossip Girl is pretty smart
for leaning into this Davis stuff.
It's fucked, but everyone's talking about it.
- Yeah. - A lot more than they would tax evasion.
Hey, it's been days and no posts.
- Has anyone heard from JC? - Zero intel.
Audrey said they crashed at Zoya's.
What? Really? Wait! Wh-- Wh-- What else did she say?
You can ask her yourself.
Hi. Hello. Hello. Hello.
Okay. So Julien is fine.
She appreciates everyone reaching out, but...
she just needs a minute right now.
- A minute to do what? - Absolutely nothing.
Okay? Her lawyer said she needs to cut it out.
No posts, no-- no interviews,
and not even school right now, so...
If she stays silent too much longer,
people are going to actually believe
- that she's been in on this daddy drama. - They already think that.
The head of the Pacific Northwest Chapter
of the Jul-lions called her a "hags-been"
and dropped off our hold-down-the-fort Houseparty this morning.
You know that's not reality, right?
This is reality.
And what Julien needs right now is her support system,
not spin doctors.
Consider her off-grid until further notice.
Is there... anything I can do?
I'm sorry. I've been rude to you lately.
But honestly, Obie,
if she needs you, she's gonna reach out. I promise.
Fine. Peace, bro.
- Hi. - Missed you last night.
Missed you too.
- Who were you texting? - Oh. Uh...
Just that kid Rex, the senior with the freckles.
I am well aware of Rex Huntington.
Yeah, he just put his number in my phone this morning.
- No big deal, right? - You think he's hot?
He sends one eggplant emoji, and...
suddenly I'm obsessed with him?
Well, he also said, um...
Wow! Okay, I did not realize you could even do that!
So, what? Do you wanna hook up with him?
No! No, of course not! I--
Well, maybe if things were different, but--
No, actually, no. I love you, and I'm with you.
No one said anything about love, babe. Okay?
I'm a girl who is dating a guy who also likes guys.
So, as a guy who likes guys, Rex Huntington, hot or not?
Uh...
Hmm? - Hot. Okay. Very hot.
Uh... I've thought about him once or twice when I...
Okay, thank you. See? We can do this.
- What are you doing? - Figuring it out. Together.
- Figuring what out? - Our modern relationship.
Ah! You need a third? I'm right here.
Thank you, but like I said before, we're done with that.
Again, I'm right here.
Oh, Rex? Oh, okay! Hope you like to watch, Hope.
Not really up for what you have.
Well, it's not for me. It's for Aki.
We're trying something new with someone new.
Why do you smell like butter?
Dad. He demanded that I ply JC full of carbs.
Oh, well, she's not coming in, so...
Do you want one?
Um... Uh...
Uh... Well, if the whole Rex thing doesn't pan out...
He will, but thanks for the repeated offer.
And thanks for whatever that is.
- If you're not gonna say any-- - I didn't do it. I didn't.
- But that night, you-- - I was so freaked out
I might lose everything, I...
I don't even remember what I said.
So you thought coming here this morning
and saying "I didn't do it" was the way to go?
What you don't understand, Jules, is when I say
I didn't do it, I'm saying I didn't do it on purpose.
So, I'm not saying those women are lying.
If they feel I took advantage of them, that means I did.
But I didn't mean to. I did-- I didn't think I was.
- That doesn't make it okay. - I don't wanna make it okay.
I will take part in any investigation that needs to happen
if someone comes forward. No one has.
So maybe, just maybe...
what if those texts weren't sent in fear or as accusation?
What if those women didn't feel taken advantage of?
Is that possible too?
But Riley...
I'm here and ready to listen when she's ready to talk.
I just hope that you'll be by my side as I do it.
I don't mind losing everything if I deserve it,
but I can't lose you.
- Do something! - I can't.
This is between them. But--
But he's still her father, Z.
Spotted! Alleged DJ Daddy Devious
with his as-yet-undeclared daughter.
From this long lens, it's hard to tell
if this is a showdown or a secret strategy sesh.
Until we have proof,
we won't know what side Julien stands on.
But for now, this picture tells a bunch of words.
You're not supposed to be on your phones in here.
Sorry, Miss Keller. It's my mom.
Cut the crap, Rachel. I know it's Gossip Girl.
Can I see it?
"A bunch of words"?
♪
- Jesus! What are you, a ninja? - I trusted you, Jordan.
You're angry, understandably, but I'm on your side.
Which side is that? The back one you repeatedly stabbed?
Hear me out. The Davis thing, your hesitation to post it,
it got them all worked up.
So you decided to turn on your best friend?
You're-- Wait, you think you're--
Well, I guess you are. Wow. That's sad.
Anyway, I only stayed in so that I could help you.
They're out of control.
But if I'm still in, on their side,
I can try to keep them in check,
stop them from doing any irreparable harm.
So what, you're my "man on the inside" now?
- You took their side. - For appearances. Nothing more.
You need to get Scott to leave Julien alone.
This morning's post-- Was brutal.
It's gone to his head, for sure.
But it's not like it didn't go to yours a little too.
And when it did, you talked me out of it!
So, work some of that magic on him before he dismantles
everything we've built by posting conjecture,
- lies, and libel! - I'll try,
but a guy like that doesn't tend to listen to guys like me.
Bet you could change his mind. You have a way with words.
He's not interested in hearing them. Believe me.
But you're so... relentless.
Scott and I slept together, okay?
A mistake so uneventful it doesn't even warrant
- the term "one-night stand." - When?
No, I don't wanna know. I can't believe--
Well, yeah. I guess even I would.
Just talk to him, okay?
If you can't forgive me, that's your prerogative!
Godspeed, Kate!
♪ ["BUNNY IS A RIDER" BY CAROLINE POLACHEK PLAYS] ♪
♪ Bunny is a rider Satellite can't find her... ♪
- Flat white? - ♪
- I didn't order that. - You usually do.
True, but a.m. only.
Permission to caffeinate you after two?
Granted.
Hey, I don't mean to pry, but, um... don't you know that guy?
Oh, yeah. Yes.
He is on his first first date in a lot of years,
and so I'm just here to... well...
- Lurk? - Lurk?
I'm creating ambiance, and you know it.
- I'll let it slide. - Oh, yeah?
- This time. - This time.
If you ever want to, um, lurk together...
- He's late. - What?
This is weird. Maybe we should go?
Check in on Jules?
As if I'm not checking in on her every ten minutes?
She's at home now,
and she wants to meet up for dinner later, but...
in the meantime...
What's that?
Oh. Just me getting asked out.
- By who? - By the barista.
Him?
Why should you be the only one getting attention?
Wait, um... Come here.
Is this, like, a two-way street, or--
You wanna go out with someone else?
- I mean, you are. - 'Cause you told me to.
Because I don't want you to lock a part of yourself away for me.
Well, what part of yourself is locked away by just dating me?
Rex has something you literally can't provide.
I have exactly what Mr. Alt Milk over there has.
Maybe not exactly, Aki, but...
I guess if that's how you feel, then... Oh.
Was this a bad idea? Not for me.
Of course. I wouldn't want to deny your happiness.
Nor I yours.
Have fun. I'm gonna get another refill.
I, uh, just wanted to apologize for this morning.
I shouldn't be meddling. I should, uh...
Should let you have time.
Max! I thought you delivered for God's Love on Fridays.
No, I rescheduled.
This is Raul.
Do you two work together?
Not yet.
Raul is a new friend. We, uh...
We had lunch.
And now you're having drinks.
Would you excuse us for a moment?
Of course. I'll grab some water.
- Nice to meet you, Max. - Hmm.
Who the fuck is that?
You know exactly who that is, Max.
Luckily, I don't.
Because in this city, in that demographic,
there's a 70 percent chance that I could have,
and then how would you have felt about that?
Raul is a friend. Nothing more.
For now. So, is this what being on a different path
than Pops means?
Does he know you're on this path?
Do-- Do you think that you should be on this path?
You know that your dad and I are presently not together.
Yes, but I did not think that it would be you pursuing
a new future, either!
He and I have agreed to see other people.
You've not even given Pops a chance to make things right.
No, honey. No. This isn't something to make right.
Some people stay their whole lives together
in that uncomfortable place, and...
your dad and I, we are not going to do that to one another.
I see that.
You don't have to leave. Uh... Raul and I can go.
No, no, no, no, no. Don't worry. The house is yours.
Hey, there.
Did you know that Dad's seeing someone?
He's allowed to do whatever he wants, Max.
I only asked that I not be told about it.
And now I have been.
Pops, I'm really fucking this all up.
It was already fucked up, son.
This limbo's killing me.
Hey, uh...
Wanna come with me on a job right now?
What are you doing?
I didn't wanna disturb you.
I was just looking for the old phone to give to the lawyers.
- To give to them, or... - Or what?
Or delete what's on it?
You think this proves I'm guilty?
This proves I'm innocent. My lawyers need it
to show that I was dating those women,
not targeting them.
- You still don't believe me. - You're just trying
to get in my head and manipulate what I think!
That is not what I'm trying to do at all.
Do you have any idea what could happen
if this phone fell into the wrong hands?
If you're innocent, why would that scare you?
If everything you said is true, it wouldn't.
Keep it.
Hey. How you doing?
Just...
I wanna call her, but...
I just wanna give her her space.
But I really wanna call her.
I just wanna make sure she's okay.
I know you do.
But she'll call if she's not.
The gray areas in life?
I wish I could say they get easier to navigate
as you get older...
but you kinda just get used to them.
Why do you allow yourself to get used to them?
Because when things get complicated,
sometimes they stay that way.
No. Things get complicated
when people aren't honest with each other.
And those gray areas are just a great place to hide.
The kind of people that hide in them
are those who feel they are guilty about something.
Hey! Are you okay?
Yeah.
I can't just wait around for these women to come forward.
I need to know the truth.
I think I need your help.
Oh, man, I can't wait to get fucked up,
man...
Hey!
Why so serious?
It's SantaCon! Best day of the year!
Hey, do me a favor. Smile!
Bitch!
Hey! Are you sure about this?
Best case, I find out what my dad believes is true.
Worst case, what we fear is true.
That lawyer said there's nothing anyone can do
unless one of the other women comes forward,
but why would they?
They don't even know each other exists.
I just need one to tell me her truth.
And then the others will follow.
So I texted them.
So far, only one's gotten back to me.
Carmen Gruben, head of Music, Inc.
She agreed to meet, but I don't wanna go alone.
You don't have to. I'm here.
We have to get past them.
I found a driver we can trust.
Don't worry. This isn't weird at all for me either.
All right, we gotta tuck down in the back.
Hi.
All right. Hold on.
Hey, I think that's Obie!
Yeah, it is. You have to send it in.
What do you think? Is that him?
Sharon says yes. Tati's not sure.
Thanks for meeting me.
No worries, bro. Everything cool?
Ah! It's stupid, but, you know Kate.
I mean, I know you know Kate.
We all do.
You hit that too? Huh.
No, I didn't.
But I mean, I could, maybe.
Wow. That was gross. Forget I said that.
Anyway, um, I've been thinking.
I'm glad Kate's not involved,
because she was taking things too far.
And I'm on your side, obviously.
Uh... But I had one tiny, very tiny, critique. If I may?
Spit it out, soft boy. Can't miss happy hour.
I... Uh...
I just wonder if, um, maybe we're going in a little too hard
on certain students at Constance.
I appreciate the concern.
You're... an emotional guy.
Real tied into your core. It's cool.
But this Davis stuff, we're at the forefront.
All the other places, they're looking to us to break it.
We cracked a mil 'cause of this story.
Do you realize where that puts us?
The big time, my man.
Sure, okay, fine.
But what if this reporting hurts his daughter?
She didn't do anything. She's just his kid.
Ever seen someone run who wasn't guilty?
JC's our 21st-century OJ.
If we don't catch her, someone else will.
We don't have a choice.
If you don't like it, you could always give me your fob and...
opt out.
Ow.
My foam's almost milk again.
Is that a euphemism?
We've been here a long time.
Yeah, uh, we have. You're right.
Can I get you another one?
If you are trying to put me in cardiac arrest,
might I suggest a more fun way to do it?
- You wanna get out of here? - Yes.
One sec.
What are you still doing here?
I'm just waiting for Jamison to get off.
Is that on the table?
Get off work!
Which he's about to. He's just getting his things right now.
So you are planning on leaving?
- Are you? - I don't know.
Why do I feel like you're waiting for me to make a move
so then you can make a move? I'm confused.
'Cause that's exactly what I'm doing!
This is what you wanted, isn't it?
I'm not sure!
I feel like we're in a John Woo movie
when we're pointing guns at each other's heads!
That is very much...
not an allusion that resonates with me in any way.
So, where we going?
I don't know! Aki, any suggestions?
I think you're good to sit up now, you know?
Thanks.
I'm sorry that I never responded to any of your texts.
Look, there's no reason to apologize, all right?
I just... want you to know that I'm here for you.
Well, if I didn't know it before,
I definitely know it now.
Where are we going, exactly?
- Bemelmans. - No way.
Yeah.
Is this a place I should know about?
So, it's this great old bar that has live music.
It's in the Carlyle, and...
Obie and I just used to go there all the time as kids.
Yeah. My parents have this thing for the Beluga.
I used to go hang out in the kitchen with the chefs and eat crème brûlée.
They'd even let me play with the, uh-- the blowtorch.
Yeah, until Helena realized you were missing
and made you write apology notes to all the staff on napkins.
Yeah. That was a long time ago, though.
Still, it's a good memory.
Oh, shit.
That sounds like...
"Spotted. First Daughter of Disrepute
sneaking off on a road less traveled."
They say, "If you know, you know."
So did you, JC?
-The people deserve an answer.
And since you won't provide one, it's come to this. An open call.
First follower to prove JC's offish stance
with Daddy Davis wins.
Extra points for following a rule I hold close.
"If you don't have anything nice to say,
slide into my DMs and anon away."
He doesn't care about right or wrong.
He's obsessed with power, with winning.
Well, we just need to find a tip that's more valuable,
that might make him lean in a different direction.
So, is that like, your type?
- What? Jordan, that's-- - I don't know why I said that.
Is there anything I can do to help?
Just hang with me a bit?
Keep an eye out for any good tips
not related to Julien,
and I can find a spin
that makes them more alluring to Scott?
GG's activated the city.
We were about to head in for our treatments
and we heard the whole staff talking about it.
Gossip Girl's not going to stop until she finds you, JC.
Well, we have to make sure that they don't.
But how? It's not like I blend in.
-Good luck. We're here for you. Thanks, girls.
- What's with all the Santas? - SantaCon.
A con? They're all over the streets.
Shouldn't they be inside?
No, con actually doesn't stand for convention in this case.
Yeah, more like contagion.
It's an unsanctioned holiday for day-drinking frat boys
and day traders to play dress-up.
- Jesus! - No! Santa!
Ew!
It was canceled last year because of COVID,
which means it will be extra bad this year.
They should hand out pepper spray on every corner.
It'd be a good day to commit a crime.
Nobody could find you.
It is a crime. Against humanity.
I have an idea of how to keep Gossip Girl off our tracks.
Dress up as Santa?
I am not that basic.
Hey there. - Girls, I have a plan.
I'll get Audrey and Ak, you get Max.
- Okay. - Okay.
Hello? Hey!
Does that make sense?
-Yes. - Okay.
I'll send you my logins now.
Let Operation JC-And-Be-Seen commence.
Okay, um... So, should we divide and conquer?
- Split up? - They don't know each other.
It'd be weird to ask them to go together.
Baby, now I know you're playing dumb.
This isn't about me. This is about you.
I think you're scared.
We just came out of a weird place.
I don't wanna go back.
Maybe that weird place existed so we could get here?
You.
You two are going to the LES. Good luck.
And you...
I hope you like heights. Come on.
♪ ["NOTE TO SELF" BY JIM-E STACK PLAYS] ♪
♪ When you feel like There ain't no way ♪
♪ It's inevitable, baby
♪ Sometimes we just Have to fall down ♪
♪ Dim the lights And mute the sound ♪
♪ Just let it knock you down
♪ Don't fight it Let it bring you back around ♪
♪ Just let it knock you down
♪ Don't fight it Let it bring you... ♪
Okay, we're on Ludlow.
Make sure you shoot out the window.
Ready for my casual, unplanned, totally legit story face?
Let the reverse catfishing begin now.
Oh, my God.
Have you guys ever heard Julien Calloway sing?
Oh, she would totally kill me
if she knew I was recording this right now.
Yo, Rex. Stop that.
Kate! The kids are up to something!
All these tips coming in
saying Julien's been spotted all over the city.
Bianca said she's having a party on the Great Lawn!
She's also at the Guerlain Spa with Monet?
And at Dogpound with Zoya?
She doesn't need us fucking with GG.
Julien's ten steps ahead.
♪ Just let it knock you down
♪ Don't fight it Let it bring you back around ♪
♪ Just let it knock you down
♪ Don't fight it Let it bring you back around ♪
And here I thought we were gonna lurk.
Instead, shenanigans.
Sorry. I don't mean to kill the buzz.
Do shenanigans happen so often for you
that they no longer excite you?
Yes!
What?
Nothing.
I've wanted to do that all day.
Was that okay?
It was exactly what I needed.
If this is how you're breaking the official divorce to me,
Pops, it's a tad on the nose.
- Uh... Take a good look around. - Depressing.
This is the first garden I designed.
Oh.
- It's terrible. - Yeah.
This is where I grew up, Max.
You never took me here.
You know, when I was 12, I asked my mom for a garden.
She hated that I liked flowers.
She wanted me to be a man.
Dress formally, become a lawyer, marry up.
'Cause she'd married down, you know?
So when she said no, I just did it anyway.
Yeah. She never came back here.
How the front looked, that's all she cared about.
So I worked late at night, early in the morning,
after she'd pass out drunk,
one of her Rotary Club meetings.
And in the summer, when it-- when it bloomed
and she saw what I'd done,
instead of being taken by it, which was my hope...
she took me upstairs and locked me in my room,
and she had this whole thing torn out
while I-- I watched from that window right there.
And then her cold shoulder.
I did everything to get her to love me again.
I denied who I was, I... I brought home girls...
Hell, and then, I-- I even applied for law school.
And then, your dad came along.
He took me out of that darkness.
He never stopped blooming.
But the more vibrant he became,
the more I returned to the darkness.
I began to see all of his color...
the way she saw my garden,
as a... unsanctioned violation.
So, whatever time he needs to take to try and forgive me,
I'll wait...
which means you have to wait too, I'm afraid.
I don't know for how long.
You know, he could wake up next week and say, "Come home,"
or he could say, "That's it."
No.
The one thing I'll ask is... don't be like me.
Don't inherit this.
If you feel something, even if it's hard to admit,
just say it.
Can you take me back?
There are two people I've got to talk to.
What if I DMed the wrong Carmen?
No. You've been following each other for years, okay?
- You got the right one. - How do you know?
'Cause there she is.
I thought we'd be meeting alone...
Oh, this is my sister. You can trust her.
I was just keeping her company till you arrived.
I can-- Stay, please.
We just wanted you to know that we think we have proof
that can help. Solid proof.
Messages, from an old phone.
Right, so you said.
I can see why this is a bit confusing for you, Julien,
which is why I came today, to tell you in person.
I have no memory
of what happened that night with your dad.
But, in your text to him, you said that--
That I didn't remember. I wish I did.
Something always felt off about that night, but--
You're not alone.
There were more women.
A lot more.
And we thought if you could talk with them and compare stories--
It's not worth it to me.
I have a great career, a husband.
Excuse me. Hey.
I guess someone just spotted my car, 'cause a bunch of paps just showed up.
Sorry to interrupt, Ms. Calloway, but you wanted to know if the media arrived?
I've just heard.
I have to go.
Uh-- Come with us.
We can keep talking.
I appreciate everything that you're trying to do here.
I'm not the person to help you. I'm sorry.
How bad is it out there? Real bad.
And getting worse.
I have an idea.
Julien, get in.
It worked. They're following me.
Great. What are you gonna do?
Get her off the street. I'll text you where to meet us.
♪ ["NO HARD FEELINGS" BY WOLF ALICE PLAYS ON RADIO] ♪
♪ There'll be no bad blood...
- Hey. - Hey!
How was the walking tour
with Manhattan's most eligible frother?
Less steamy than you might think, actually.
Um... A one-kiss wonder.
- You kissed? - You didn't?
I did, but I... got into my head about it.
Because you weren't there.
And I missed you.
And to be honest, I don't think I'm the...
open-relationship type of guy after all.
Really?
Because, um...
I don't think I am either.
Well, thanks for giving me permission to figure it all out.
Thanks for giving it to me too.
"Gossip Girl is going live"?
What?
TEEN 1: That's Julien! Let's go!
-Come on! Julien! - TEEN 2: Julien, right?
Do you wanna sit?
'Cause my lap's wide open.
I'm joking! I'm joking.
Yeah, I'm a gentleman. Here.
Here. I made some space.
I made some space. Here, take a seat.
Here. Go ahead.
Watch it!
Hey. Just one more stop.
Come on, baby. Dance with me.
This is pointless.
Yo, we'll find somebody else to talk.
No, I mean, look around.
The world is filled with entitled toxic men
who do whatever they want.
No fucking accountability.
And it's up to us to either smile pretty when they ask
or run the other direction.
And if we, God forbid, push back,
there's going to be another man waiting
to tell us that we're overreacting
or crying wolf! Free hugs!
None of this is going to make a difference.
Reaching out to Carmen, to all the women,
it was a mistake. Free hugs!
It takes a whistle to silence a woman,
and an entire army to take down one man.
And you get a hug--
- What the fuck is your problem? - You are!
All of you are!
This is our stop. Let's go.
Oh, God! It's The Walking Dead out here.
Hey, watch it!
Even more handsy.
There's Obie! Go.
Hey! GG found the deepfakes.
And she sent a call to her followers demanding live video of you.
So, car's over here. Okay.
Uh... Never mind.
Change of plans. We are leaving the car behind.
Where are we going?
Uh... Wherever it is, we're on foot.
- Excuse me. Sorry. - Whoa!
Hey, buddy.
I bet you fifty dollars that you won't run around the block
with nothing but your hat on.
- Fifteen bucks? - Uh... Sure. Yeah.
- That works too. - You're on.
Okay. Thank you.
Well, now we blend in.
Riley responded.
She wants to meet right now.
She wants to come forward about what my dad did to her.
TEEN 1: There she is!
- It's Julien! - TEEN 2: Right there, right there!
Right, let's go! Come on! Run!
- What's your problem, man? - Okay!
Dad?
All this time, I thought you were in your room,
and then I open Gossip Girl and see you running down
a midtown street right now, being chased.
- Where exactly are you? - Don't be mad,
but we went to talk to one of the women,
and it actually worked out
because now we're on the way to see Riley.
Riley?
As in the person Lauren Thompson lied for?
Yes! I think she wants to come forward.
She said she has proof.
Julien, over here! Julien!
No, Zoya, you have to tell her not to.
- What? - If Riley came forward right now,
she'd be proving Lauren lied.
Lauren would be sued for libel and defamation.
So, what? You're saying we let Davis get away with it?
No. You just need to wait a little longer.
Dad, that's bullshit!
I agree. But I didn't make the rules.
Lauren lied, even if it was for a good reason.
Proving that would just bring the entire case into question
if she came forward.
Where are you going? I'll meet you.
This is so wrong.
He told people to track her like prey.
Gossip Girl is this close to live streaming a snuff film.
- We have to do something. - We have no game left to play.
Yes, we do.
♪
Hi, Nick. I just saw Gossip Girl. Insane.
I-- I wanted to check in. Are the girls okay?
I think they're fine. I'm picking them up at MoMa.
I'm on my way now.
I can come meet you.
Thank you. That'd be nice.
Are you sure this is the best location?
Yeah, it's, um-- it's perfect.
As per Twitter, you were already here today.
Nobody would think you'd come back.
That's her.
All right. You gonna be okay?
No.
I don't know why I like this place.
Most of the artists were horrible people, but...
somehow I still feel seen by some of their work.
How long has it been? Six, seven years?
Something like that.
You look the same.
- So do you. - Don't lie, girl.
I'm sitting on texts...
between you and my dad
and my dad and other women and...
I don't know what to think about any of it.
I just wish there was a way to make up
for what happened to you somehow.
You have nothing to make up for.
Then why do I feel so guilty?
- How could I not know? - He is your father.
Could you tell me what--
I'd rather not. With you.
I understand.
It's Riley Love!
Give me your phone and don't say a word.
What are you doing?
Going live as GG.
If I can show Julien's helping
her dad's survivors come forward,
it'll exonerate her once and for all.
We can't hear from here.
It's 2021. This shit will be close-captioned
by lipreading tweens in no more than a ten-second delay.
Look, I wanted to see you, um, before I told anyone else.
I just-- I wanted to make sure that you were gonna be okay
if and when I come out and-- Oh, God!
My whole existence is built on speaking my truth,
and now I'm here to ask you not to speak yours.
Excuse me?
At least not yet.
What's happening?
- So you don't believe me? - Of course I do.
I just want everyone else to, too.
I can't let Lauren take the fall for me.
I know.
But if you speak out now, it will show Lauren lied.
That could ruin any case against my dad.
You could both be discredited, and so would any future claim.
And then no one wins. Just him.
Ms. Love, if I could explain...
♪ ["TRAITOR" BY OLIVIA RODRIGO PLAYS] ♪
♪ Brown guilty eyes And little white lies, yeah ♪
♪ I played dumb But I always knew ♪
- Any word? - They're safe with Nick.
Come in.
♪ I kept quiet So I could keep you... ♪
Oh, great. I was hoping you'd both be here.
Yeah. After the day we had, I never wanna leave home again.
Day you had?
We went on dates with other people.
Dates? Yeah.
Hey, it wasn't all bad. At least it enlightened us.
Mm-hmm. We learned all we need is each other.
What's new, Wolfe?
♪ You betrayed me
♪ And I know that You'll never feel sorry... ♪
This just in. - Oh, my God!
One forgotten face about to hit the headlines
after a long absence.
-♪ Loved you at your worst
- - ♪ But that didn't matter
♪ It took you two weeks To go off and date her ♪
♪ Guess you didn't cheat But you're still a traitor ♪
Looks like this one-hit-wonder
is the true victim of bad Dad's magic touch.
-But the real hot scoop? Kate, wait!
Julien Calloway herself
is working to silence survivors.
At least we finally know where she stands.
And no matter whose side you're on,
Julien's just proved it's all relative.
♪ 'Cause I know that You'll never feel sorry ♪
Mr. Calloway? Your lawyer left this for you.
♪ For the way I hurt, yeah
♪ You talked to her When we were together ♪
♪ You gave me your word But that didn't matter ♪
Maybe the truth can set you free. But a lie?
-A lie will cost you everything.
♪ But you're still
♪ You're still a traitor
♪ Yeah, you're still a traitor
XOXO, Gossip Girl.
♪ Thought this through Before I went ♪
♪ And fell in love with you
♪ ["TRAITOR" BY OLIVIA RODRIGO CONCLUDES] ♪