♪ ♪
Good morning, Upper East Siders.
Gossip Girl here. Your one and only source
into the scandalous lives of Manhattan's elite.
Pardon the throwback, but I'm feeling nostalgic today.
- Hello. - Hey.
- My literal lord and savior. - Every launch needs fuel, right?
On that note, there's nothing quite like
having someone who knows you better
- than you know yourself. - Hi!
This latest round of adrenaline, courtesy of Julien.
Oh, thank you. Oh, thank you.
These are beautiful. I would literally wear
- every single piece here. - A sign these will get you buzz.
Maybe just ask me this time around?
Yes.
Won't happen again.
God, I know I should be terrified,
but for the first time in my life,
I don't have an ounce of nerves.
Because you've done the work, and tomorrow
at the spring luncheon, everyone will know it.
Thank you. Thank you all. Hey, breakfast on me.
It's the least I can do.
I'd love to, but Audrey already--
Claimed her for, uh, book club.
Uh, if only you had read Yanagihara, you know?
Um, I'll let you two geniuses, uh, get to it?
Someone who knows the old you,
the new you, and everyone in between.
You didn't tell her?
The last thing my mom needs to be thinking about right now
is my father and his mistress/girlfriend.
They're only in town for a few days,
and then they're going to Paris,
so when they're gone and this event is over,
then I'll tell her.
You're still down to come, right?
I really need a hand to crush whenever Jessica speaks.
Of course, babe.
But what about the poor souls
sans a tried and true? A ride or die?
Especially those of you who show up for yours,
when they don't bother showing up at all?
For those, I have a little advice.
No matter how close you feel to someone...
...how much trust you may have, how much you feel connected,
in the end it doesn't matter.
Throwback?
Morning, sleepyhead.
I, uh, saw you posted to Gossip Girl without me.
- Thought we had a deal. - You need to speak up, sweetie.
I'm outside of a Barry's where someone spiked
their alkaline water with bacteria from the dark web.
You didn't. Why?
We promised to fuck shit up,
so I posted on GG to light a fire under your ass.
Gossip Girl really works better when it's just the one voice.
Boring, it needs more drama, blood, pizzazz.
We're gonna restore her to her glory days.
But-- but people don't want the old Gossip Girl.
They're fine with the new Gossip Girl.
You know what else they're fine with?
Fennel. Amazon. Democracy.
You have 24 hours to turn up the heat
or else I'm taking control permanently.
How am I supposed to do that? I only report drama,
I don't create it. I am not playing God.
You don't play God, you are God. Jesus fucking Christ.
And I can say that because He and I are good now.
What you need is a rivalry.
I tried that. It didn't work.
It only brought Zoya and Julien closer.
Oh, stop going for the heart. Go for the jugular.
You find that rivalry, or else.
Tick, tock.
After all, the road to hell
is paved with the best intentions.
My intentions, to be exact.
♪
Ew. Who gave you my address?
- Uh, the Constance contact list. - My parents redacted that.
Town & Country did a whole feature.
It wasn't hard to deduce through Google Maps from there.
What exactly is it that you want?
I know that we haven't always gotten along.
We've never gotten along.
But I wanted to say thank you for, um, for helping me.
I helped you? No, no. That doesn't ring any bells.
I made scones.
They're lemon-lavender, which I know you like.
I did my homework.
You brought me food? No one died, Zoya.
I was just trying to be nice.
Okay. I'm gonna be late for school.
So you can leave those anywhere
and they'll be decorative, I guess.
Come on, let's go.
Hello?
Oh, Mrs. de Haan. I'm so sorry.
Monet just asked to put these down somewhere. Um, I, I--
Zoya, we're quite fond of your father.
It seems you've inherited his aptitude for kindness.
Might I guess my daughter doesn't appreciate this quality?
Um...
- Uh, may I? - Yeah.
Thank you, Zoya. This will go very well with my coffee.
- Have a wonderful day. - You as well.
Well, Jessica's dying to visit
la Fondation d'entreprise Louis-Vuitton,
which if you ask me is, uh, juste pour les touristes.
Ne sois pas si basique.
Will also got us reservations at L'Ami Louis
and La Rigamarole.
Plus, a private tour of the Luxembourg Gardens.
Sounds like a great trip.
Well, maybe both of you can come with us next time.
Ah, excuse me, the three of you.
I'm still getting used to it.
- Us too. - Three!
- Right. - Three.
Jules! God, I...
I know this must have been a rough few months for you, huh?
I mean, that was some pretty crazy shit
that went down with your dad, right?
He called me, you know?
We had a long, long talk. Yeah.
I mean, he told me none of it was true, of course.
♪ ♪
I'm-- I'm just glad to see you're okay.
Thank you. Well, I couldn't have gotten through it
without Audrey. And her wonderful mother.
So, you, uh, you're living with your half sister
on the Upper West? Can't imagine you like it there.
I mean, that's not your scene.
Oh, I don't know. A stable home with a dad
who loves his daughter enough to stick around.
Uh, it's nice to see you again, Ak-eye.
I heard your mother got the latest strain.
- Is she doing better? - Aki's mom is doing great.
Personally, I think Ak-eye is a great nickname.
Don't you, Will?
What is with the Sydney Sweeney White Lotus impersonation?
I thought I was here to support you, not your dad. He's a dick.
I think that you're projecting right now.
Um, the one who cheated on your mom with her assistant?
That guy, right there.
And they've been together for a year now,
so maybe it's real love.
I am trying to make an effort. Please.
You're letting him off the hook.
No, I'm not.
I have to use the restroom.
Sorry. She's going through a lot right now.
It's okay. I was just telling, uh, one of your boyfriends,
it must feel weird being here with me in this new context.
- Babe, you don't have to. - No, it's okay. I want to.
It's uncomfortable for all of us,
but I appreciate your generosity.
And I know it's hard to hear, but...
I miss your mom.
And maybe-- maybe we can't be friends,
but I just-- I hope she knows that nothing happened
until after the separation.
Just a close friendship that become more--
It's okay. It's in the past. Don't worry.
Okay. Okay. Mm. Well,
now we can see if this L'Oreal really is waterproof.
Excuse me.
So, uh, Will,
what else are you getting into while you're in town?
If you're a fan of theater,
you know, it has its privileges to know a Wolfe.
Name any show and the best seats are yours.
Oh, I'd never take advantage of that.
I mean, that should be for people who can't afford it,
not people who can, right?
Don't take it personally.
It took him a while to warm up to me.
Oh, yeah? Well, I'm not you. I'm me.
Before she gets back, I have to tell you something.
Oh, I thought things were going good between you two.
Oh, very.
I'm gonna propose. Tonight.
- Congratulations. - Oh. Uh, wow.
Well, I didn't wanna hide it from you.
I'm trying to do things differently this time.
Yeah, no, it's-- it's great.
I-- I'm so happy for you two, it's just...
Do you think you could wait a few days?
Mom is debuting some of her new pieces at this big event
at the Ukrainian Institute tomorrow and I just...
I really-- I would hate for anything to derail her.
Well, uh...
Jessica's always dreamt of a Central Park proposal,
but I suppose, uh, Paris is a level up.
Thank you.
Yeah, this is wonderful news.
Should we order some champagne? Hmm?
It's not even 8:00 a.m.
Remember when I would take you and Audrey
skating on the weekends?
Will and Katherine would be working late
and you felt bad that Audrey was alone.
Even as a kid, you were always looking out for her.
She's my best friend.
It-- it's more than that. You stand up for what's right.
Like with the whole "Stop the Story" thing.
Sorry. Ugh.
I promised I wouldn't fangirl, but I watch it religiously.
Thank you. I appreciate that.
I know this might be crazy, but what if you had me on?
The way things went down has bothered me for so long.
I never wanted to hurt Katherine or cause Audrey pain.
I-- I would love the opportunity to come clean
about the role I played in it all.
Admit my wrongdoing.
Show how much I still care about both of them.
Maybe heal some wounds.
I don't know, Jessica.
I would love to see that,
but there's just too many toes to step on here.
Totally. You're right. Forget I even brought it up.
It's great seeing you again.
Have you talked to him? Do you know if he's okay?
I'm officially resigning as relationship intermediary.
I'm 0 for 2. First, McKay and Ferrell, now you two.
You could call him.
I can't lock out Georgina. She'll just hack her way back in
and who knows what she'd post in retaliation?
I mean, how do you beat someone who's practically invincible?
Give her what she wants. Georgina's a pit bull.
The more you struggle, the tighter her jaws grip.
If you wanna get rid of her, go limp.
She'll get bored and find something else to latch on to.
So, what, I just go back to posting lies?
That didn't work the first time.
Give her that rivalry she wants
until she doesn't want it anymore.
But Julien's changed, thanks to me.
She isn't fighting with anyone anymore.
I don't understand the point of you coming
if you're not gonna be supportive.
This was breakfast with my dad who had big news to share.
The divorce was finalized what, four months ago?
Don't you think it's fast?
Not to mention disrespectful to Kiki?
If they love each other so much, why don't they just wait?
I don't know, Julien, but I am so overwhelmed right now.
There is so much resting on tomorrow for my mom
and I need to focus on that.
My dad said he would delay. I trust him, okay?
He would never hurt me.
I-- I need to be done with this conversation.
Julien not fighting?
♪
No.
Right in front of you the whole time,
simmering for seasons,
waiting for someone to stir the pot.
I can't do that to them.
Well, it's them or, in 22 hours, you.
- On a scale of one to ten... - Less than zero.
Yeah. I mean, he liked me fine as her friend,
but as her boyfriend? He, uh, he loathed me.
I mean, I may as well have been a line cook or a busboy or a--
Entitled brat if you expected to be immediately accepted
as the man debauching the apple of his eye?
Yeah, but I am in her life now.
Okay? She loves him. She's into me.
How do I make this a transitive property?
Stop caring.
This is my first relationship. It wasn't easy getting here,
and there is no way that I'm taking a backseat now.
Can you at least give it time?
He leaves for Paris tomorrow night,
which gives me one day
to show him how right I am for his daughter.
And fucking charming. Thanks, Luna.
Zoya. There you are.
Ms. de Haan? I was told the, uh, head teacher wanted to see me.
Uh, she and I spoke and have come to an arrangement.
I have a proposal for you, one you should not pass up.
Spotted. Constance's elite
finally making some moves of their own.
♪ Moves to align.
- How'd you get in? - Lewis owed me a favor.
I heard you were in town, and I need your help.
To hold others accountable.
Seriously? I was cold to your dad,
so you lie to Gossip Girl about me?
You knew about my dad's affair months before I did?
GG's messing with us,
or someone is.
Really? Because "someone" just leaked an email you sent
to your dad two years ago,
asking whether or not you should tell me.
And my personal favorite,
moves to the front line,
where I'll be posting up a storm just for you.
- That didn't happen. - But you did know about them
before I did, because you saw them at Balthazar together,
didn't you? Right?
I did, but I never thought--
- Oh, my God. - Audrey.
The best part of a duel is knowing
only one person survives it.
Let the game begin.
Love what you've done.
I know you always wanted your own place.
What do you want?
This isn't me being Noble O, Heidi. It's not, okay?
Closing down shelters, cheating on taxes,
that's one thing, okay? But this?
Do you really expect me to turn on Mom and Dad
over a little corporate greed? We were raised on this shit.
It was practically our baby food.
Mom did more than use her power to-- to work a system.
Daniela killed herself because of the situation
that Mom put her in, and who knows what's next?
I'm not only here because you're my sister, all right?
You are also a good person.
And this is different, and I know that you know that.
Let's say I did agree
that maybe she went too far this time.
What could I possibly do about it?
Prove that it wasn't Daniela's idea
to bribe the engineer, okay? It was Mom's.
- She could go to jail! - Yeah, but, Heidi...
she's a billionaire, okay?
She gets arrested and her money gets her off.
It's that simple. But at least then she's under scrutiny
and maybe she changes her ways.
I'm sorry.
I can't.
♪
You know, I really thought that you were different.
She bought the engineer's silence
through the Navy Yard project. That's how she hid the money.
Can you prove that?
♪
- Welcome back, Mrs. de Haan. - Thank you, Chef Noz.
- Enjoy. - Please.
Um, so, Mrs. de Haan,
why did you pull me out of school
to bring me to lunch?
PEN America's luncheon is tomorrow.
Something I'd imagine you'd have a keen interest in.
How would you like my daughter's unused ticket?
Really?
There'll be a lot of influential people there.
They're honoring, uh, Brandon Taylor,
Terrance Hayes, the Bergmann Foundation,
Gururaj Deshpande. There will be authors,
playwrights, university deans.
I can help you shake the right hands.
Maybe even get you in line for a scholarship.
Why me?
I mean, you barely even know me and...
to be honest, I'm not a big fan of what you do.
That's fair.
But I'd like the chance to get to know you
and for you to know me.
For us to, um, both set aside our assumptions.
What do you say?
Well, about time you showed up.
Max. Did you go to Harvard?
Because that's the only way they let you in here.
My, uh, my bio mom has something on Matt Damon.
So once inside, I traded your usual partner
a Macallan 30 for the privilege
of playing with you this afternoon.
Well, sounds like you got a raw deal.
Nonsense. I'm excited to spend some quality time with you.
All right. Let's see what you got.
Nine serving two.
Well played, sir. I see where Audrey
gets her competitive edge.
Next time I want a compliment, perhaps I should just
pull your string and save you the effort.
Look, I'm just calling it as I see it.
Yeah. Every five minutes. I'm so spry.
I'm so strategic and fast.
Since I am all those things,
I know that this is just a make-good
for how you felt you came across this morning.
Yes. I was worried that I--
I didn't leave the right impression.
Well, that's funny.
I felt like I learned everything I needed to know about you.
Look, I have a lot of respect for you.
Uh, you've raised an amazing daughter.
And I care about her so much!
Oh, God...
As do I. I also love a good game.
I don't mind the smell of sweat. But you...
You reek of desperation.
And that is something I cannot abide.
It's always covering up for something, you know?
Insecurity. Doubt.
The feeling that you're not worthy.
Good game, Max.
Maybe try a little less hard next time.
♪
Great. Now I've lost my appetite.
- Seriously, Audge? - You're acting like this was
some blind item. It was an actual email.
You think I would send an email to my dad about that? An email?
Gossip Girl is a lot of things,
but she does not lie when she has receipts.
She lies all the time.
You would say anything to get out of something.
You act as if I haven't known you your entire life.
- You want me to prove it? - Yeah.
All those rumors that she started
at the top of the semester, those were from me.
And most of them were lies.
What the fuck? Are you serious?
You sent in that Max was groomed by Rafa?
And that most of my bags were from Canal Street?
And that you both hooked up in the same room as her and Obie?
Well, that was true, but still.
Honestly, what is wrong with you?
I thought that it would make us better.
Hold us accountable. Make us be nicer to each other.
And why should that be your decision?
We are not some broken toys that need fixing, Julien.
You're right. I was wrong. I-- I realize that now.
You realize that now?
Okay. I'm gonna go before this gets even more offensive.
Let's go.
I understand if you're mad.
I'm pretty sure that rumor's the only reason
no one's stolen my Bottegas at Lovers Rock in ages.
I just wish Audge could be as understanding.
It'll blow over. Just give it time.
Jessica?
Oh, my God, Julien. I'm sorry to call you like this.
I saw that email of yours on Gossip Girl.
- Um, that was-- that wasn't-- - I had no idea.
I feel so terribly about what I've done to Audrey, to you.
Please let me make it up to both of you on "Stop the Story."
I won't take no for an answer.
Uh... Okay.
Oh, my God. Yes!
Hey, but-- but don't-- don't tell Audrey about it.
I don't want her dad finding out.
I'll deal with him after.
Better to ask for forgiveness than permission, right?
I am so excited.
I'll text you where I'm staying.
♪
What does my mother want with you?
- I have ears everywhere. - Right.
Um, she just wanted to invite me to a fundraiser luncheon.
Not possible. I'm her plus-one.
She said you weren't interested.
I'm not. Neither is she, in you.
She's just-- she's just trying to get at me.
Look. I don't know your mom,
but I'm pretty sure she's not like that.
Well, have fun learning I'm right the hard way.
Everyone else does.
Loving your work today, friend.
The DMs, that fake email.
I knew you had a little Sparks in your blood,
and not just because I gave you that transfusion
while you slept.
You were right. I haven't been using GG
to its full potential.
Zuckerberg said the same thing to me in 2010.
What can I say? I have a gift.
You really do.
Uh, now, what do you say we drop the whole
"24 hours or you'll take Gossip Girl from me" thing?
Let's not get ahead of ourselves.
You still have 14 hours to prove to me that you're ready.
I'm ready. Really.
Basic Blair and Serena are going
to that whatever luncheon tomorrow.
That's when we get them to go full Chernobyl in public.
Um, wow. W-- w-- what are you planning?
And ruin the surprise?
I wouldn't want you to try and stop me.
I wouldn't do that. You can tell me.
Keep up those delicious posts
and maybe I will.
Here's a hint.
She hung up.
Excuse me.
Sarah, right?
- Mm. - Uh, Jordan.
We matched on Hinge this morning.
You liked that pic of me dancing with my niece
- at the wedding. - Jordan.
What a crazy coincidence running into you here.
So crazy.
I-- I was just headed out on a break,
but is there something I can help you with?
I know it says teacher on my profile. That's not a lie.
I am a teacher. Well, I was until recently.
Now I work here. It's a long story.
Do you like long stories?
I-- I-- I tell a lot of long stories.
I have all the time in the world.
How long is your break?
Oh. Um, like, uh, right now?
Let's see, uh, there's a Blue Bottle,
or a-- a hole in the wall around the corner,
- or we-- - Why don't we just go for a walk
and take it from there?
Eve gets all the blame
for tempting Adam with the forbidden fruit.
But let's be real, it takes two to tango.
Keep your eyes on me, followers, because tomorrow
I'll be pulling back the sheets
on the most illicit affair to grace my page to date.
You have to admit, she's got the voice down to a T.
What is she planning?
I have to find out. I have to stop her.
You have to keep calm and carry on.
Prove to Georgina that you can be even more shocking
than she can, and then she'll have to bow out.
That's not possible.
Disagree. She was right about one thing.
You have an evil genius inside of you.
Tap into her. What would she make up next?
Looks like she won't have to make up anything.
Fun.
Hey, Stoppers, your favorite truthteller here.
You can consider today's "Stop the Story" a sequel
to the interview I did
with the designer Katherine Hope.
You remember when Kiki opened up
about the pain of watching her marriage fall apart
when her husband fell in love with her assistant.
Well, I'm here with that assistant.
- Jessica Bradley. - Hi, everyone. Glad to be here.
Jessica asked me if she could do a "Stop the Story" to apologize
for her behavior.
Jessica, my platform is all yours.
Let me start with that apology.
Kiki, if you're watching, I never meant to fall for Will.
And the last thing I ever wanted to do was to hurt the woman
I considered my mentor and closest friend.
Yet that's exactly what happened.
There's no excusing it, but for what it's worth,
my affair with Will was strictly an emotional one
until he and Kiki separated.
Looking back now, do you think there's anything
that you would have wanted to do differently?
It kills me to think of the toll my choices took on her.
Bringing on her breakdown. Her loss of creative spark.
It's no wonder she had to resort to stealing
designs I created when I was her assistant,
including what she's debuting tomorrow
at the PEN America luncheon.
I blame myself, really.
What the hell are you doing?
Giving you the full story.
I-- Your whole thing is radical honesty, right?
That was a lie.
I watched Kiki put those outfits together herself.
Is that why you wanted to do this with me?
So you could sabotage her?
I was just giving you my side of things.
When can I expect to see it posted?
Try never. Audrey was right. I never should have come.
♪
These statements are the smoking gun
and we're just handing them to Gossip Girl?
You're doing the right thing.
Not looking forward to the blowback.
She's not gonna know it's us.
We leave for the airport tomorrow night.
So whatever she's doing, she has to do it before then
because Germany will never extradite her.
Tell Gossip Girl to post during the fundraiser luncheon.
Okay, and I'll make sure I'm there
to see that it happens. Okay.
Obie, hey.
Hey. Uh, do you think I could be your plus-one
to that fundraiser thing tomorrow?
Sure. Uh, why would you wanna see your mom
get an award after all she's done to you?
Uh, get exactly what she deserves?
I cannot think of anything more cathartic.
And it would be a nice way to spend some time with you.
♪
Yeah. Be nice to see you, too.
Things have not been so great for me lately.
Yeah, me either, honestly.
Just tell me what to wear and I'll see you there.
This just in.
Seems the Empress has no clothes after all.
It appears that Audrey's mom's designs
were stolen from her own assistant.
If any of Manhattan's socialites want to avoid
hari-Kiki tomorrow,
I'd steer clear of wearing anything Hope-full
to the PEN American luncheon.
Don't believe me?
Look what story the not-so-fair-and-balanced
JC tried to put the stop to.
Seems Julien Calloway's authenticity
- is just as curated... - Fuck.
...as she is.
Julien Elizabeth, have you gone certifiable?
Jessica was secretly recording me!
Why were you there in the first place?
She said that she wanted to clear the air about things
that happened between her and your parents.
She said she was on your side.
And you believed her? Now you've let her spread lies
about my mom's line. I mean, you've ruined her debut.
Not me. Gossip Girl.
No. You, for never listening to me
and always thinking you know best.
I did it because I care about you.
You don't care about me, Julien.
You care about me caring about you.
Is that really what you think?
- I gotta go. - Audge, wait. Please--
No. I need to talk to Kiki and tell her what you did.
♪ ♪
♪ You're living in your own Private Idaho ♪
♪ Living in your own... ♪
Okay. Uh, Aki is on his way. Do not worry.
- He will not be missing your big moment. - Okay.
- Ah, Mrs. Rose. - There you all are.
I have been doing laps, warming up the right people.
Now, just stick to the new plan.
- They won't know what hit 'em. - New... plan?
Yeah, I thought we were here to show the world
that Jessica didn't get to you.
Yeah. Well, Eleanor was offered some unexpected help
and it just seemed wrong not to take the opportunity.
And I just-- I didn't tell you 'cause I didn't want you
to be upset or to interfere.
It involves Julien, doesn't it?
- Unbelievable. - Hey, honey,
this is extremely important to me.
Exactly. That's why you should not be trusting Julien.
- Oh my, God. - Audge--
It'll be fine. It'll be fine.
There's someone I want you to meet right now.
What the fuck?
- Excuse me. Your-- - Waiting for a friend? Yes.
I was just gonna say your tag is out.
I figured you'd like to know before you hit the photo op.
I'm waiting for a friend, too.
He's not nearly as beautiful as you.
Enjoy the luncheon, Miss La.
Every head is turning for you,
while I've become the Invisible Max.
I told you, the key is to not care.
I used to never care. Now I care too much about everything.
I'm broken. I-- This relationship's broken me.
You're not broken. You're growing.
Will matters to Audrey, so therefore he matters to you.
The problem is, you think you have to be someone else
to get you to matter to him. You don't.
You know what? Giving a shit ends now.
Messy Max is back.
Are you sure you don't wanna check this coat?
Or I-- I could hold on to it.
And waste the moment on you
and the other guests who arrived on time?
A big reveal at a photo op.
It's like it's 2021 all over again.
♪ ♪
I can't wait to see what's under there.
It's very beautiful. I can assure you.
Very beautiful, indeed.
♪ So I saw you In the pizza place ♪
♪ You were With another girl... ♪
And now it's time for your big reveal.
- Huh? - To start over. Reconnect.
I plan to.
You spent all night researching Georgina's heyday
and all you have to show for it is mommy issues?
I could have told you that.
The only people who've ever had control over her
were her parents. They sent her to a religious boot camp.
Hoping their daughter would pray away the cray.
Newsflash. It didn't work.
So you invited her mother?
Um, I couldn't find any traces of her online,
although I wanted to.
But she doesn't have to actually be here.
Georgina just has to think she is.
Once she sees who's sitting next to her at her table,
she'll leave the party. Maybe even the country.
Well, if she's as afraid of her as you said she is,
she probably had her offed.
Jordan?
Z, I didn't know you were gonna be here.
I didn't know you were, either.
Actually, Camille invited me as her guest.
Camille de Haan?
Mm-hmm. I know. I myself was shocked.
I always thought of her as this dark, malignant evil,
destroying everything that's fair and good,
but, you know, she's actually really smart and cool.
How do you know if you can trust someone
despite their reputation?
I like to believe that people act
with their best interest at heart.
Look, even Obie is making up with his mom as we speak.
Even I'm here trying to make things right with someone
that I hurt, whether she knows it or not.
People can surprise you
if you just give them a chance to.
We just usually don't. Or Gossip Girl doesn't let us.
Very true. Well, maybe one day Gossip Girl will be gone
and we can figure things out on our own.
- I hope so. - Yeah.
Good luck with Camille.
Yeah. Thank you. Good luck with Audrey.
Hi.
I had no idea that Georgina Sparks was back.
Why didn't you tell me?
Wait. Is that why you...
Doesn't explain why you're here in her place.
She made me come. She has some... leverage on me.
What?
It doesn't matter. She threatened to leak it
if I didn't come as her proxy and execute her plan.
It kind of matters.
What is her plan, exactly?
You know that blind item she posted
about an illicit affair?
It's about Julien and Aki.
They're sleeping together?
No, but she wants us to get pics of them
in a compromising position to post,
so the Audrey and Julien feud blows up in front of everyone.
How the hell are we supposed to do that?
It's rohypnol.
Fun. Save me some for later.
- A rye dry Manhattan. - Excuse me. I was--
Waiting here? So?
Hmm.
Entschuldigung.
I-- I must take this. I'll be right back.
Lucas, hello?
Gossip Girl hasn't posted
and we're wheels up in two hours.
Yeah, well, look,
I'm-- I'm sure that it'll be up shortly, all right?
I'm-- Sh-- she's probably just waiting for the ceremony.
Or she's left you on read?
If she doesn't post before we go,
Mom will never step foot in the States again
and completely get away with it. I need a drink.
Ms. Harris, it is such an honor to meet you. I'm Zoya Lott.
Hello, Zoya. This is my friend, Kurt.
- Hi. - Camille, great to see you.
I'm actually a writer myself--
So wonderful to see you as well, Aleshea.
The three of us go way back.
We featured the de Haans' Hamptons house
in our Spring 2020 Design issue.
Wow. Um, I've read Is God Is at least three times.
And I think it's so visceral and just so beautiful
- at the same time. - That is very kind.
- I'm so inspired. - Greyson and I are so grateful
that you've joined the board of the De Haan Art Foundation.
I'm grateful to have been asked.
Uh, did I hear you're doing a piece
on Maybeck in Berkeley?
Oh, we just shot Dorothea Lange's former house.
One of my favorite photographers.
- Did you see the show, um-- - Uh, Zoya,
let them enjoy themselves, okay?
No one here wants to talk shop. Excuse us.
♪
Did I upset you, Ms. de Haan? I thought--
I thought the whole point of me coming here
was to meet people like them?
No, the whole point of you coming here
was to teach my daughter a lesson.
Monet was right.
Just as I was right about her finding a way to sneak in.
In order to witness this moment.
What moment?
Return to sender.
Champagne?
- Thank you. - That's from a case.
They have Krug Grande Cuvée at the bar.
You seem like someone who doesn't settle.
And yet you think you have a shot?
So, no fucks given and still no progress.
Has it ever occurred to you
that it's okay if not everybody likes you?
Oh, wow.
Has it ever occurred to you that it's okay if someone does?
Mm-hmm. Verstehe. Danke.
Otto.
Unfortunately, we need to leave early.
There's weather on the way and the pilot
thinks it's best to go before it arrives.
I'll speak to Michelle and I'll tell her
that you will be accepting the award on my behalf.
I can think of no better way to show we're still a family.
But you-- you can't leave.
I'll be back. And please come home.
You should be living at the loft where you belong.
There's Michelle.
I knew this was gonna happen. Nothing ever works out with you.
- All right. Hold on. I-- - You are going to get caught,
like you always do. You are going to get in trouble,
like you always do. And when that finally happens,
you better not bring me down with you.
Ready to go?
Walk us out?
There has to be a way that doesn't involve
drugging teenagers!
Uh, we could trick them.
Tell Julien that Aki wants to help clear the air
- between her and Audrey. - Then what, convince them
to have that conversation on top of each other?
- There's no other way. - There has to be.
I've already lost my job. I've lost...
I can't lose any more.
I'm doing it.
I found some embarrassing old pics
- of Audrey's dad. Check it out. - Seriously?
Wait-- Go--
♪
Jessica's wearing my dress.
How is she wearing my dress?
That's impossible.
She must have stolen the-- the design
or-- or was spying on me.
If Julien shows that dress, they're going to think I stole it from her.
Go.
Everyone.
Everyone, good afternoon.
Look.
No, no, no. We've got to stop Julien.
The pleasure is all mine.
Today, I will be debuting a brand-new Kiki Hope--
Julien, no, you are not.
- Yes. I most certainly am. - No, you are not.
- Your mother wants me to. - Nobody wants you to.
Audrey, don't.
Stop it. Stop it!
- Oh! - Oh, my God.
What?
That's right!
Julien is wearing one of my Jess Bradley originals.
I'm in the full-length,
but it's convertible, as you just saw.
Thank you to my muse and my new stepdaughter
for staging this reveal.
Audrey, I'm so sorry. I had no idea.
I swear to God, I had no idea. Audrey, please.
How did you know Julien was going to wear that dress?
I was your assistant.
You really should change your passwords.
I thought you'd be proud. Look how fast I knocked you off.
Audrey, no.
No, I didn't know!
- You made me miss my chance. - Don't you see?
This is better now. You don't have to do it anymore.
And JC and Audrey had the public explosion
Georgina wanted without her plan.
And what about the blind item? She promised an illicit affair.
She's not gonna let that go.
You know what? She won't have to.
I think I know how to get rid of her.
You're not gonna like it. You might.
This was supposed to be my debut for my line.
Is there anything this woman won't take from me?
I'm afraid this is not the way that you want to make a debut.
So we can look towards Spring 2023, maybe.
Wait, wait, wait. That's-- that's it?
We're just gonna give up?
You want her to introduce a line like this?
Top of Page Six?
You need to distance yourself from this.
You need to let her win this one.
No. She's won them all.
No, Mom...
Just...
I know you probably don't wanna hear--
Anything from you? You're right.
I didn't know what Jessica was gonna do. How could I?
Because anything you try to do always fucks up, Julien.
- You're blaming me? - Yeah.
I tried to warn you about your dad.
You wouldn't listen.
- This isn't my fault. - It never is.
It's Jessica's or Obie's or Zoya's or Gossip Girl's,
but you're never the one to take the blame.
Do you ever stop for a second and think
what the common denominator is when something malfunctions?
It's you. Always you. Every time.
That's not fucking fair.
Maybe it's not, but it's true. You can never take a back seat.
Sit something out for once.
Let a single fucking thing happen
without making it into your own show.
A shitshow written by, directed by, and starring you.
But I am done. I am not buying a ticket anymore.
I need a break.
And not like before.
I need a real break from you.
I want you to stay away from me.
You're just--
You're just too toxic.
♪
- Georgina. - What the fuck happened?
Did you accidentally roofie yourself?
Aki left before we could do anything.
And you promised an affair, so I had to post something.
Literally any other two people at that event
would have been better.
My bad.
Reporting on teachers?
You've tainted Gossip Girl forever.
I want nothing to do with it or you.
You really disappointed me, Keller.
She's gone. She's really gone. You're a genius.
Oh, I wouldn't go that far. I'm just... fluent in crazy.
We spoke it at home growing up.
Hmm. Well, let's go find Jordan and tell him the good news.
Hmm.
♪
Hey.
Congratulations on your new line and your new last name.
We got married last night.
Yeah. Sorry, honey. I couldn't wait.
And once you mentioned this event...
It was too good for us to pass up.
Dad, this is not who you are.
She's turned you into someone else.
Or your mother was the one holding me back.
Now that I'm away from her mental health issues,
which conveniently arose every time
I was unhappy with her,
I'm finally able to be who I'm supposed to be.
You wanna join us?
I mean, it was a rye dry Manhattan, right?
Wow. I can't... I can't believe that I spent
the last two days trying to get you to like me.
Because that was never gonna happen, was it?
Because...
Because you don't even like yourself.
And you are determined to make
everyone around you miserable as a result.
We should go.
♪
He isn't in the dining room
and he's not answering any of my texts.
Mine either. That kiss must have really fucked him up.
He's not the only one.
Wait.
Are you saying...
Jordan?
Georgina. "You didn't think I'd depart without a bang, did you?"
Spotted.
MDH stirring a little shit like the little shit she is.
Sex-shaming poor little Z?
Monet must really be over
if she's pulling such a millennial move.
She was supposed to be on my side.
Siding with a sex shamer? Even Gossip Girl has standards.
Oh my God.
Can you get through one party without some childish stunt?
It's bad enough you crashed,
but you had to add misogyny to the mix?
This semester's power grab
has been powered down.
The only queen we've ever cared about
is Calloway.
Monet de Haan, you're dismissed.
♪
You had good intentions, Jules.
And when she calms down, Audrey's gonna realize that.
I mean...
Honestly, fuck it.
No matter what I do, I get nowhere.
Yeah. Tell me about it.
Do you want to, uh, maybe get out of here?
Like us? Me and you?
Yeah. Like us. Me and you.
- Yeah. - Okay.
- So, what are you thinking? - Oh, so many things.
Like, maybe Georgina wasn't all bad?
What she did to Monet was kind of genius.
Speaking of,
what were you gonna say about kissing Mr. Genius Bar?
That I felt something.
How could I not? He's literally put himself
on the line for me a million times.
- I don't deserve him. - You don't. But he doesn't care.
Go tell how you feel.
Go.
Finally.
All right. Do you need anything else?
Water? Comfier clothes?
Time machine?
How far back can you take it?
Hmm.
Depends. How far back do you need to go?
Too far.
Back to before you and I broke up.
Before Gossip Girl.
Yeah. I am... so sick of hearing that name.
Yeah. She gets to wreak havoc
without any of the consequences, unlike us.
Do you even remember life before her?
No, I don't, actually.
No. Maybe...
we should just pretend to go back before she existed.
You know, before I...
started this war with my family.
Before I tried to run away from who I am.
Before I hurt you.
Okay. What do you think we'd be doing
right now, back then? Like...
before?
Probably just sitting here like this.
Maybe just a little closer though, you know?
♪
And just talking. Just like this.
Or not just talking like this.
Obie...
♪
Kate! Funny running into you here!
If you're here to do something awful,
just do it to me and leave Jordan out of it.
Cute.
You think this was about you? It's about me.
And trust me, Jordan did not feel left out.
- You and Jordan? - We fucked.
Before I threatened him. It was surprisingly satisfying.
It's always the quiet ones, right?
I told him I would tell you if he didn't do what I said.
- That was the leverage? - You tainted Gossip Girl.
And I tainted Jordan.
I told you I would go out with a bang.
Mom, let's just forget about it.
Everyone else will have by tomorrow anyway.
We can-- we can take a look at some of your other designs,
find-- find something new to take to Eleanor--
God, stop.
Just stop. You need to let this go, okay?
It is done. All of it.
My career, everything.
- Mom. - Look, honey, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
But I need you to leave me be, okay?
Please.
- Mom. - Please!
♪ ♪
♪ Everyone needs Someone to blame ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ And this time Think it's gonna be me ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ Guess you need Another villain for your story ♪
♪ God knows without it That shit would be boring... ♪
Hey.
♪ 'Cause everyone needs Someone to blame ♪
Well, you missed a fun luncheon.
♪ Guess you can blame me... ♪
Where once again, I trusted someone
and once again, they hurt me.
I know what you're gonna say and--
I don't think you do.
♪ Now I'm dreamin' of peace... ♪
Zoya, I'm sorry.
I should have never accepted that job and Davis's money.
I've lost myself.
I've lost myself, too.
♪...when it's really not that bad ♪
Hey, maybe we can remind each other of who we used to be.
♪ And it really makes me sad ♪
I've missed you.
♪ Everyone needs Someone to blame ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ And this time Think it's gonna be me... ♪
- Hello? - How'd it go with Jordan?
It didn't.
Sorry. Well, I guess time to start thinking
about your first post back.
What if Georgina's right?
What if I pulled too many punches,
played it too safe?
I mean, maybe there is an evil genius inside of me.
You like to be right, not rotten.
Can't I be both?
It's time we set our sights on bigger fish.
When you catch the predators, the small fish get to thrive,
grow bigger themselves.
- What do you have in mind? - I wanna be an apex predator.
Which is what I should have been doing all along.
No more Harriet the Spy.
It's time for Jurassic Fucking Park.
Are you with me?
Well, I'm always down for a good time.
How do we start?
♪ So I guess you can blame me ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ I guess you can blame me... ♪
♪ Everyone needs Someone to blame ♪
♪ To make up For their fucking mistakes ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ Guess you need Another villain for your story ♪
♪ God knows without it That shit would be boring ♪
♪ 'Cause everyone needs Someone to blame ♪
♪ So I guess you can blame me ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ I guess you can blame me ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ I guess you can blame me ♪
♪