Gossip Girl (2021) s01e05 Episode Script
Hope Sinks
1
GOSSIP GIRL: Good afternoon,
followers! Gossip Girl here,
your one and only, etcetera,
amen. Oscar Wilde once said,
"Give a man a mask, and he
will tell you the truth,"
which is why I love Halloween.
Because what was once
created to honor the dead
tends to leave bodies in its wake.
For when you don your disguise,
- the false sense of security it provides
- Yo! Watch it!
always leads to loose lips
that'll sink both friends
and relationships before
dawn's early light.
- STUDENT 1: Come on, bring it!
- STUDENT 2: Fucking asshole.
GOSSIP GIRL: But I don't
wanna spoil the fun.
After all, the biggest scares
are the ones you never see coming.
(ALL SCREAM)
- (MOANS)
- GOSSIP GIRL: See you on the other side,
dead or alive.
(MOANS)
(SIGHS HEAVILY)
(SWALLOWS) Okay.
That might have been
the best one all week.
- We can't do it at school again.
- (MAX WOLFE CHUCKLING)
- That's what you say every time.
- Yeah, well, if we got caught
(SIGHS) Your generation always
feel so guilty after they come.
- Hmm.
- So sweet.
(CHUCKLES) I'll see you tonight?
Inside my apartment for a change?
Ah, you didn't like the
fire escape or the roof
- or the stoop, huh?
- Hmm.
("SOLAR POWER" BY LORDE PLAYING)
MONET DE HAAN: Hey, girl.
Hi.
- Hey.
- Hi.
They always find each
other, like magnets.
Consider me on the other side. Repelled.
- Come on.
- So, where are we headed? Dover Street Market
- or Thai Diner?
- Did you forget our plans or
I actually have to go visit my grandma.
- You can come if you want.
- MONET: I was talking,
right? Those weren't
just voices in my head.
Oh, no because the voice in your head
is probably screaming right now.
Why are you guys sitting at this table?
I mean, they're they're
all the same tables.
- The same table?
- The same table? Okay, now.
That, like everything but your outfit,
was carefully chosen.
The way the light hits,
the proximity to the trash.
The fact that people
have to uncomfortably
turn their head to
the left to take us on.
Hey, where where's the brooch
that we said we'd shoot you wearing?
Oh, do you mean the Burmese ruby?
Do you know they're
called genocide gems?
Hmm. Who told you that?
If Z had done her research,
she would know that Cartier
doesn't use Burmese rubies.
So there goes that sponsored post.
We could just hang
around the Shibui pool.
You two have been spending
an awful lot of time together.
Yeah. Well, Julien is on a mission
to show everybody that
we really are friends
and what she said at my
birthday party wasn't just
some publicity stunt
to boost her followers.
Which worked, by the way.
So, what are we doing for Halloween?
I was thinking you, me, and
Obie could do something together?
Someone will definitely take a
photo, and there's no better way
to prove that things are great
between us than a group hang.
Hashtag Disney+.
I kind of already agreed to go with Obie
to this party one of the witches
from Hocus Pocus throws.
Oh, um Hulaween. How could I forget?
I'll just hang out with you girls.
If you mean to Hulaween,
then yes, of course.
This year's theme is New York Legends.
If you're not there, you're
basically admitting you're not one.
Plus, this is the first
Halloween post-COVID.
So you're still defined
by that humiliating loss
to Pippa Sykes and Bianca
Breer from the year before.
Who?
Two bland girls from another school
that want what JC has,
except they're always too busy
fucking each other's boyfriends
- and pushing each other into fountains
- (BOTH LAUGH)
to get after it and
honestly, it's so basic.
- They might as well be bots.
- (LAUGHS)
- But we still have to beat them.
- A couples contest?
Isn't that kinda middle school?
Like, what, do you get
a trophy or something?
A trophy? No, try your
photo on the landing pages
of the holy trifecta: Vogue,
Harper's, and WWD.
Add Miss GG to that mix.
ZOYA LOTT: Obie never said
anything about a couples costume.
Well, no need to worry,
'cause, uh, Aki and I are gonna win.
We have picked the
perfect New York legends,
- Greta and Noah, yes.
- JULIEN CALLOWAY: Ooh.
- LUNA LA: Ew.
- And unlike them at the Oscars,
we will not be going home empty-handed.
So you and Aki
We are figuring things
out, slowly but surely,
and, uh, with no interference,
and that's what counts.
Yeah. You need to think
of something great, JC,
because you can't lose again.
Well, how am I supposed to do
a couples costume by myself?
Couples are a dead binary.
Be Rihanna or Oprah.
They don't even need last names,
let alone a partner to do anything.
AUDREY HOPE: Why is
everyone on their phones?
- MONET: Hey.
- You guys see what happened?
Some kid brought a gun to school.
- Holy shit.
- You're back on Insta?
MONET: Oh, my God! Of course,
it's Pippa and Bianca's school.
Now they're gonna get the sympathy vote.
PIPPA SYKES: Can you believe it?
My entire life flashed before my eyes.
- Like, all 16 years.
- Right in front of us.
I didn't wake up today
thinking I would be a hero,
but when I screamed and everyone ran
PIPPA: Love each other. Life is precious.
Join us on Clubhouse
where we talk trauma.
- (DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
- Invite only.
You need to take those
barely sentient succubi down
before they wind up on This American Life,
because you can't compete with that.
So, what are you gonna do?
You guys, a kid brought a gun to school.
Doesn't that make a costume contest
- seem a little frivolous?
- Or a good way to process.
- MONET: Hmm.
- Maybe this is the year we forgo all of that?
Hey, we don't have to
go if you don't want to.
I mean, I wanna go, it's
just the dressing up part.
Do they know why he
brought a gun to school?
Gossip Girl, of course.
- Nice to see you all.
- (AUDREY SIGHS)
MAX WOLFE: Some more than others.
If I didn't know any better,
I'd think you've been avoiding me.
Seems you know pretty well, huh?
We're gonna be late for practice.
Remember? My dad and I are
gonna go see my grandma.
Hmm. Dumbo Hall later? Most of us.
Ah. (CHUCKLES)
What did I ever do to you
that you didn't ask for?
- Give us some space?
- MAX: Ah.
So that's how it's
gonna be. Okay. So, wait,
you fucked up fucking
me and I get the shaft?
We apologized to each other,
but you don't think
you did anything wrong.
See, that's your thing, Max.
You never do anything wrong.
You're all id all the
time, and, honestly,
- my ego is just exhausted by it.
- Aw.
Okay. Well, look, don't
worry, you can rest easy now.
(SIGHS) Messy Max still in effect.
Seems to be back to normal to me.
- Hmm.
- (INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
- Do you think
- Hmm.
I don't think, because I don't care.
TV ANCHOR: And while what happened
may have been a tragedy avoided,
authorities remain on alert
as we move in to Halloween weekend.
Dr. Nan Barchek is with
us, a child psychologist
here to talk about how
parents can be more mindful
of the role sites like Gossip Girl
and Discord play in their kids' life.
- Dr. Barchek, thanks for coming.
- This is our fault.
My sources say that
that student's family
are big game hunters.
Like, they showed up
strapped to Christmas Mass.
We're not responsible for what every
disturbed kid in Manhattan does.
We are when that kid was targeted
in Gossip Girl-tagged photos.
We inadvertently created
a platform for his bullies
to publicly humiliate him
and a forum for them to
go off in the comments.
We can't control who tags us
and what they write on our posts.
And it's because of Gossip Girl
that they were able to identify
what happened and who
was behind it. In a way,
we're kind of heroes.
Okay, fine. Antiheroes, like Batman.
Just because it ended well this time
doesn't mean it will the next.
I mean, don't you worry if we've
been too hasty on all of this?
- Too rash?
- Define "all this," 'cause we've done, um,
many rash things: taking
photos of undressed teenagers
from outside their window,
getting our friend fired?
It started out as a small,
in-school social experiment.
But it's become a citywide enterprise
that needs someone to
constantly babysit it.
I don't feel right about it anymore.
Wow, submits a story to
The Paris Review once.
This has nothing to do with whether
or not my story gets published.
This is about real lives at stake.
We should take a break from posting.
Seriously? Remember when
you couldn't take a day off?
Now you wanna walk away?
JORDAN GLASSBERG: If this
is about finding extra time,
Wendy and I can pick up more slack.
I think we proved ourselves last time.
It's not that.
What we're doing has consequences.
(INHALES SHARPLY) It's
best we take a break,
see if things cool off, and who knows?
Maybe it existing for that brief while
- made a difference.
- This isn't just your decision.
Sometimes even Batman has to just be
Bruce whoever.
Regardless of what Kate Jung Un thinks,
we have a say in this.
And we can do what we want.
- Wayne. Bruce Wayne.
- (WHISTLE BLOWING)
- (PANTS)
- (EXHALES) You def beat your time.
I lucked out, man,
everybody was slower today.
- Everyone's on edge.
- Yeah.
I wish Julien hadn't told Zoya
about the couples costumes.
Why?
Everything's good between
them. You can relax.
Maybe, uh, have a good time with
your girlfriend for a change?
Okay, but see, you say
that word, and I'm like,
"Okay, is she my girlfriend?
Or are we just two people that
meet up for dinner occasionally?"
Dude, don't worry.
It's only been a month.
- Things move slower where she's from.
- Yeah.
You and Julien lost your
virginities to each other so quick,
no one even knew it had happened.
Yeah, but I'm not even
talking about sex, dude.
It's like when we first met
Thank you. When we first
met, she was so full of ideas
and and thoughts
and we'd talk for hours,
and now, it's like
It's like I just monologue at her
and then wait for her to interrupt me.
AKI MENZIES: Uh, maybe you're
afraid of it now that it's real?
All the obstacles that
were in your way are gone.
And you finally have free time
to get to know each other now.
- Which can be scary.
- (DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
Unless this is about Julien
No one would blame you if you still
No, I like Zoya.
It's just some growing
pains, that's all.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
I'm sorry. (CHUCKLING) No
matter how many buses I'm on,
I can never really
manage to find my balance.
Uh, no, you're good. It's my fault.
I was on my phone. (CHUCKLES)
Yeah. What's a Gossip Girl?
Hey, stranger! Just
creeping on my phone?
I'm sorry. I I don't really
have any phone etiquette.
And it's, uh, it's mainly
because I only have one of these
in case of emergency.
So, you really don't read Gossip Girl?
SIMON RIVERA: No. And,
uh, no offense or anything.
It just doesn't really
seem like my thing.
Well, you must not be from here.
No, I am. I actually, uh,
go to school near here.
Oh, I hope it's not the school
I've been hearing about all day.
Oh, man, are you okay?
It was just pretty intense, you know.
Uh, I just feel pretty
bad that I didn't, like,
- see it coming.
- How could you?
Well, I'm on a
scholarship, like Jared is.
And, uh, you know,
at a school like ours,
that can either give
you a superiority complex
or add to you feeling different.
And, you know, mix that
in with evil rich kids
that are exploiting that
anxiety and pushing those buttons
and using us to make
themselves feel better
about their privilege?
Yeah, I'm not that
surprised that it escalated.
And if that Gossip Girl
is what it sounds like,
you know, I imagine that
probably made it worse.
Yeah. And I would be the
first person to agree with you.
So, why look at it?
I guess because everybody does.
Well, you know what? Uh, now
you know someone who doesn't.
Or you're getting to know someone,
at least. Uh, Simon Rivera.
Uh, Zoya Lott. It
It's nice meeting you.
I would keep talking,
but this is my stop.
Well, maybe I'll see you
on here again some time.
(DOOR OPENING AND CLOSING)
- Hey!
- AUDREY: Hey! I'm just here to change.
I'll be going out.
Well, you gotta eat somewhere, right?
I'm making miso salmon and sushi rice.
It's your favorite.
Why are you staring at me?
I don't remember the last
time you cooked anything.
I cooked last Christmas
Eve, or the one before that.
- Um, I'm not that hungry, but
- Oh.
I guess I should be happy
that you got out of bed
even though you didn't bother to shower.
Um, I'll have leftovers tomorrow.
- Um, actually, honey, I
- What?
I I need to talk
to you about something.
Um, I have some news.
Has the company been bailed out?
Um We are going to have to move home.
- We are home.
- No, to Cornwall.
That is not my home. That's your home.
And after way too many years
being stuck in that place,
I am never going back there.
Plus, Cornwall is two
hours away. I can't comm
Oh. You wanna pull me out of school too.
- Yes, Audrey.
- (BREATHING SHAKILY) And of course,
you didn't actually make me dinner.
Of course not.
It's never an honest gesture with you.
Just another selfish act.
You know what? I thought I
would do something nice for you,
but you're right, there's no point.
- I have a migraine.
- (SCOFFS) Wait! Just Just wait, okay?
Why don't you just sell the other house?
Because it wouldn't even cover
the cost of the maintenance here.
This is not up for discussion, okay?
I don't have a job, we have debt.
- We don't have a choice.
- It's not "we" anything.
I had nothing to do with this, okay?
I am not going anywhere.
You can figure something out.
If you have to design
headbands at an airport kiosk,
so be it.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
It was absolutely ridiculous.
And then she just left me standing there
like I'm supposed to be happy
to play Little Edie to her Big
in some sad suburban
shanty. It's (SIGHS)
AKI: Shanty?
- It's on five acres.
- That is not the point.
I just feel like things
are finally getting back
to normal around here.
I'm not going anywhere.
Plus, the only reason that
Connecticut even exists
is to create landmass
between Boston and New York.
- Yeah.
- Yeah, hmm.
("THE KISS OF VENUS" BY PAUL
MCCARTNEY AND DOMINIC FIKE PLAYING)
(PHONE CHIMING)
- Did you just text me angry cat emojis?
- Yes.
Can you please focus on
possibly losing me forever
instead of already
looking for someone better?
And you have a right
to be upset with Kiki,
but I think it's unfair to
label her financial issues
- as a minor setback.
- Wow.
Aki taking both sides again.
What a refreshing change of pace.
Hey! He isn't here, Akeno.
Another DM in distress
to your account, JC.
Gaten Matarazzo says,
"I know what it's like
to have to pretend to get
along with your co-stars.
I understand why you're doing
the same with your sis. Hearts."
I don't even know him. Ugh.
I just don't understand.
When I told my fans that that
apricot scrub ruined their skin,
sales plummeted 30 percent.
How is it I can't even convince them
I'm friends with my own sister?
MONET: Hate to say this,
but you lost credibility
the second you took your
finger off your apps.
If you want people to listen to you,
you need to remind them of
the JC that they listened to,
which means no more no-phone zone.
No more filter-free once-a-week post.
Full-on, full-time, Julien. That's how.
Let us do our jobs again?
- JULIEN: Stay Zoya-friendly.
- I like a challenge.
Yay! You're here.
MONET: Great. Just in time for shots.
Nothing says sisterhood
like an All Hallows pre-game.
- LUNA: I'll get the mezcal.
- MONET: Mm-hmm.
Get the whole bottle.
Hey so, um (CLEARS THROAT)
you remember that article
I mentioned on deforestation
and how it, like, affects public health?
Well, the professor's actually
giving a speech this weekend
at Columbia, and I thought
that maybe we could go.
It's cool. It's, like It's
about, you know, the footprint
from wildlife preserves and
just got me thinking that, um
You know what? This can wait. (CHUCKLES)
(INHALES SHARPLY) How was your day?
The strangest thing
happened. I was on a bus,
and I started having this convers
- Mm-hmm.
- Can we not?
I mean, in front of Julien?
- Yeah, yeah, of course, yeah.
- (ZOYA CLEARING THROAT)
I have to pee.
Hey! So, you know
when you manipulated your
dad to give up his entire life
to move to New York for
you, how did you do it?
A lot of it had to do with how much
better my education would be here.
Ugh. Stop, this is not gonna help me.
ZOYA: Also, he grew up
here. He knew the city.
All I had to do was remind him
what he liked most about it.
I'm gonna go get a get some more tea.
- Do you guys want anything?
- Um um, yes, please, actually.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(SIGHS)
(PHONE RINGING)
- Hello?
- Mr. Wolfe, it's Aki Menzies.
I'm trying to reach Max,
but he's not answering his phone.
GIDEON WOLFE: Aki, hello.
He hasn't been home much all week.
Has he not been with you?
I had assumed he was avoiding here
because of his father weeping
in the guest room most nights.
(INHALES SHARPLY) But he
finally moved out today.
And so the only one weeping here is me.
Sorry to hear that, sir.
GIDEON: Polite as always.
If you see my son, let
him know the coast is clear
for his return.
AKI: Of course, Mr. Wolfe.
- Hey.
- Oh, Zoya, hey!
ZOYA: I'm shocked to see you here.
I didn't think this would
be your kind of place.
It's not. No. Uh
I actually just had dinner
with my investment banker cousin
who, quote, "Only
dines at members-only."
I see that and I raise
you an influencer sister
who drags me here every day.
- Oh. Really?
- Yeah.
We're, uh, sitting over
there if you want to join.
Uh, no offense or anything,
I just kind of want to leave
as soon as possible.
I get it. I'm only here
to be on display for her
"Halloween is for family" campaign.
(CHUCKLES) Okay.
Uh (CHUCKLES) Well, would
it be presumptuous of me
to maybe give you my phone number?
I just feel that it's, you know,
important for like-minded souls to
- you know, stick together.
- Uh, I'm I'm actually, um
No, wa wait, I don't I don't
mean it like that or anything.
It's just, uh a kid brought
a gun to my school today.
And it's just that, you know,
it's got me thinking that,
you know, life, it's it's too short.
I mean, not to hang out with people
that you really connect with.
Yeah.
Right. Yeah. Of course.
Why not? All right.
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
Okay. So, great news.
Brilliance has struck,
and I have the perfect
plan to get my mom here.
- That's awesome.
- AKI: That's great, babe.
Hello? What are you guys looking at?
Who's the hot guy?
Guess who was at the bar
with a gaggle of hangers-on,
- rehashing their brush with death?
- MONET: Mm.
Bianca was apoplectic so I love that.
JULIEN: (INHALES SHARPLY) There you are.
We need to coordinate our
Sister Assault for this weekend.
I wanna do fall colors
in the morning and then
What if we did a couples
costume ourselves?
Us, together? Like the Kardashians?
Oh, um, why didn't
you guys think of that?
Um, because the Kardashians
aren't even an autocorrect anymore.
And because your brand
is singular, not plural.
- You do this on your own.
- Z, I thought that,
you know, I thought
that we're pairing up?
You said you didn't want to.
- My friend, Simon, had the idea.
- Wait, Simon? That's the guy
- that was that you were you were with?
- Huh?
Oh, yeah. We were just talking.
I'm so in this with you.
Let's start brainstorming sisters.
- Uh, Jo and Amy.
- Ooh, Elsa and Anna?
- Celie and Nettie.
- Katniss and Prim.
Uh, Cordelia and Goneril?
- The Lohans, two Lohans.
- ZOYA: Elena and Lila.
- All of the Olsens.
- LUNA: This is a joke, right?
If I have to go along
with this, you do too.
- We'll find the right look.
- So stoked.
- PIPPA: Ooh.
- Ugh, God.
Wow!
I didn't know people from Constance
even knew about this place.
- Did you hear what happened to me?
- Us.
Do you mean what happened near you?
Do you know what else
will be happening near me?
The press crowning me winner
when I show up to Hulaween
- with the perfect costume.
- We. umes.
That'll pale in comparison with ours.
Because we have a better story.
Blood being thicker
than Franzia, after all.
- I'll see you from the dais
- (DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
whoever you are.
JULIEN: Well, that deserves a drink.
Hmm?
Ladies
GOSSIP GIRL: Spotted. We never
could have predicted this,
- but looks like JC and Z
- (CELL PHONE VIBRATING)
really have buried the hatchet.
Too bad Z buried it in Obie's back.
AKI: Remember when I said not to worry?
- I think you should worry.
- (UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
(INAUDIBLE CHATTER)
(CELL PHONE CHIMES)
(CELL PHONE RINGING)
Why are you WhatsApp-ing me?
Because I wanted you
to see how angry I am.
We said we would stop posting.
Technically, you said
we would stop posting,
but then we got a photo
of Zoya and that rando.
And then this photo, Obie alone,
sadder than sad Keanu.
How could we not post it?
I was just making a meme.
Here's Lobie eating pie.
Here's Lobie on a horse.
Here's Lobie with Bernie Mittens. And
- Please just stop.
- (CELL PHONE VIBRATING)
- Hello.
- Ms. Keller? Kate?
Uh, sorry. Now is not a good time.
Uh, it's Nick.
Lott. Zoya's dad.
Oh, hi. Uh, how did you, um
NICK LOTT: Uh, it's on
the emergency phone tree.
I hope you don't mind me calling.
You know, I saw the news
this morning about that kid
at the other school and well
KATE KELLER: Did Zoya
say anything about it?
Uh, people are blaming this Gossip Girl.
I know they've talked about Zoya, too.
Actually, I was thinking
you could ask her.
Yeah, back in Buffalo, she
was Just so focused on school.
Always the extra credit kid.
And now she's going out all the time
with her sister, boyfriend.
And my mom suggested that I get a tutor.
And, you know, just to
get Zoya back on track.
And as you're her favorite
teacher, I thought
I have been wanting to get
more involved at school.
What are you doing
after school tomorrow?
(CELL PHONE VIBRATING, CHIMING)
(CLICKS TONGUE)
Tomorrow? Um, nothing.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(MUTTERS) For fuck's s
Tried you a few times last night.
Phone's on "do not disturb."
You and your dad must
be pretty broken up
about your Pops leaving the house, huh?
We're gonna be late to class.
- Said you never.
- What is this, huh?
I'm doing great for
the first time in weeks
with just my own chemistry and
you're draining my dopamine.
Maybe there's a teacher
you can fuck to get it back.
Oh, okay. I see. So this isn't a haze,
it's a visit from the purity police?
This can ruin his career, Max.
This can follow you
around forever. For life.
Well, uh, if you want
me to stop so bad
you can always make me.
I'm just trying to be your friend here.
No, but you're not my
friend, Ak. Are you?
I'm just someone you can
project your fantasies onto.
And now that your girlfriend
wants me out of the picture,
you've realized how bored
and basic you are without me.
And that's not my fault.
You tell a single soul, what you know
and what I do to you next will be.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
- Everything all right?
- Yeah, um,
I just I can't hang out after school.
My dad got me into some
sort of tutoring session.
Well, for the next half hour,
we're your tutors, got it?
Why are we doing this?
She should just do her thing with Obie
and you should do yours, alone.
LUNA: The sister thing is cute.
It's only cute if the idea is cute.
Hmm. Swipe.
JULIEN: The costumes,
they can't just be cool.
They have to tell a story.
Specifically, our story.
Taking control of the narrative
is about owning the accusations.
We should play into what
people are saying about us.
So, do a legendary rivalry?
- Exactly.
- All right.
Wink at the rumors while
also putting them to bed.
What if we did SJP and Kim Cattrall
or or Keke Palmer and that man?
(SIGHS)
- Bey and Solange.
- Oh, my God. Duh!
Wait! But they're not rivals.
- They're really close, right?
- Are they though?
I mean, they are sisters
in the same field, right?
And the world is
constantly trying to see
- what's up between them, so it's perfect.
- Right.
That's exactly our story.
This is gonna be our defining moment.
Okay. So obviously, you're Beyoncé.
- Lemonade or Homecoming?
- Hmm. Too expected.
What about one of the royal
looks from Black is King?
JULIEN: Yes!
You, guys, if we want
really good attention,
we do the elevator.
- Good idea.
- Sister sticking up for sister, that is perfect.
(EXCLAIMS) And we know
you look great in orange.
Yeah, because buffalo
wings or Buffalo Exchange?
- Yeah. Got it.
- (BOTH LAUGHING)
- Um, hey, that's my phone.
- LUNA: I found the guy you were looking for
when you lied about texting your dad.
Too bad he's private.
Is that the guy from last night?
Simon Rivera, yeah.
Are things that bad with Obie?
No. Uh, it's kind of nice to have
a friend of my own for a change.
And Simon and I have a
lot of things in common.
You and Obie have similar
interests too, right?
It's just sometimes I
wonder if he actually
cares about the things he talks about
or if he just thinks
that he's supposed to.
Like why go to a talk
if you could just do
something, you know?
(CLEARS THROAT) I, uh, I gotta get back.
Okay.
Send me your sizes, we'll do
a fitting tomorrow morning.
- Bye.
- (JULIEN CLEARING THROAT)
(CHUCKLES) You just missed her.
Yeah, I see that. I came
looking for you actually.
I need your help.
I wanna know what's going on.
His name is Simon Rivera,
and that's all I know.
I'm sorry, Obie.
Don't be. I'm not.
Hello, yes, this is Otto
and Helena Bergmann's son.
Yes, Obie, that's right. I was hoping
that you could, uh, maybe do me a favor.
- AKI: What's up, Audge?
- I was really counting on your help
- after school.
- AKI: I know, it's just
You know when something's wrong,
and you know you can't fix it,
but you have to see it through anyway?
You mean like this conversation?
I'm just trying to stop
Max from making a mistake
that could affect his life forever.
- And then I'll stop by?
- No need.
I wanted a sous-chef, not an extra guest.
- Wish me luck.
- Good luck.
Wish me luck, too.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
- (INDISTINCT CHATTER)
- (MUSIC PLAYING ON SPEAKERS)
I gather this isn't a coincidence?
More like an intervention.
I was hoping I can convince
you to stay away from Max Wolfe.
What are you doing here?
He's 17, he's a student,
he's in one of your classes.
I have no idea what
you're talking about.
And no idea why you've
decided to talk about it here.
What? Would you rather
me wait till he arrives?
But you won't.
Because you already tried this
with him and it didn't work.
Or you wouldn't be here.
I have an idea. A photo of you two here.
Sent to Gossip Girl for
the whole world to see.
Here's what's gonna happen.
You're gonna leave.
And I won't tell Max you were here
for the sake of your friendship.
But if you ever try to say
or send anything to anyone
I'll tell everyone how
wildly inappropriate it was
that you hit on me.
And after I said no, stalked me.
And I had no choice, but to
ask your friend Max for help.
From there, it's a pretty
short jump to suspension or
Hey, man, don't touch me!
- AKI: I didn't.
- Everything okay here?
RAFA CAPARROS: This kid
just got a little too close.
You might want to check his
ID. Pretty sure he's underage.
Don't worry. I'm leaving.
(SONG CONTINUES PLAYING)
I know that everyone just saw that.
I've got witnesses to back my story up.
Go home, Aki.
And leave the adults to
make our own decisions.
(DOORBELL BUZZING)
KIKI HOPE: Hey, Audge, can you get that?
- It's the doorman.
- Yep.
(MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO)
DOORMAN: Ms. Hope, Ms. Lustbader
and Ms. Talbot have arrived.
AUDREY: Ah, yes, send them up.
What is this?
Rachel Lustbader and Celeste Talbot
- are on their way up now.
- Here?
AUDREY: And Avery
Thorne and Angela Wilcox
are on their way.
- Uh, why?
- And you love your New York friends, right?
You just haven't seen them
in, like in, like, years?
Yeah. We we fell out of touch.
Well, now you can fall back in.
(DOORBELL RINGING)
Go brush your hair and
change. I will fend them off
with this divine relish tray.
Go! Go! Hurry! Hurry! Look cute, okay.
(CELL PHONE VIBRATES)
I just have to say, it's really nice
to be here with you.
I've been feeling a little lost lately.
But talking about literature
with someone who cares.
Yeah, it's pretty easy
to get distracted, huh?
I've been helping this
friend out with a project.
And it's been more
time-consuming than I thought.
Rewarding, but I'm
worried I only signed on
to distract myself from the fact
that I wandered off
my path a little bit.
Well, tell me about this path.
- Um, life lesson me up.
- (KATE CHUCKLING)
Before Constance, I wanted to be writer.
But my insecurities and fear
of failure got the best of me.
And, uh, I've been wondering
what would have happened
if I had just pushed through them
and now I have this
opportunity to find out.
I've, um, I've submitted a
story to The Paris Review.
That's really exciting.
Well, when do you hear back?
No idea. But I won't let
fear overtake me this time.
Um, I could use a little bit
of that fearlessness myself.
Uh, the call I ignored,
it's this kid Simon.
He is
different than anybody
else that I've met
since I moved here.
More like me, the me I
used to be, the me I was.
And not like Obie?
Thing with Obie is, when
we first met, I thought
he might be my people.
But how could he be?
Sure, we have similar
interests, but where we're from,
h the way we were raised,
how we see the world
There's nothing wrong with spending time
with someone you connect with.
Call him back.
It doesn't have to be anything
more than a new friend.
Who doesn't want more
friends? (CHUCKLES)
Thank you, Kate.
- Not so long, next time, okay?
- KIKI: Yeah.
- I've missed you.
- Oh, I know, I missed you, too.
Everything has just been so
But I I should've called you back.
- I'm so sorry.
- CELESTE: Don't apologize.
What a rollercoaster you've been on.
KIKI: Yeah. Bye.
- Bye.
- Bye. (CHUCKLES)
- What is wrong with you?
- (OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)
KIKI: Why would you do that to me?
What? Surround you with your friends?
I was emotionally waterboarded
for the past three hours
between your father's affair and
and bankruptcy and our divorce.
The last thing on this
Earth, Audrey, that I wanna do
is relive that over
and over and over again.
Can you hear how irrational
you sound right now?
- Those are your friends.
- Yeah.
Who you made me debase myself
in front of all night long.
I'm so, so, so sorry
- I tried to help you.
- No. No. Don't you do that.
Don't you make this about
me. This is about you.
- Because you don't wanna move.
- You know what?
Maybe it was for me.
Maybe somebody some time
has to do something for me.
I'm the one who cooks,
I'm the one who cleans,
I'm the one who makes sure
that you're awake and alive.
No. I I gotta to lie down.
- I can't do this.
- AUDREY: Oh, yeah.
That always works. Go lie down.
You have no idea what this feels like.
You had no idea what I
have been going through.
I am putting this apartment on
the market and that is final.
Did dad say that was okay?
What does he have to
do with any of this?
He owns half of it, right?
Maybe I should call him, ask
him to buy out your share?
Audrey, p please.
Please don't involve him in this.
Why? He actually cares about me.
He wouldn't pull me out of school
just because he screwed up his own life.
You can live wherever
you want, Katherine,
but I am not going anywhere.
I would rather be alone
than live with you any day.
- Fuck you!
- (SCOFFS)
I hate you. I hate you!
(DOOR SLAMS SHUT)
(GRUNTS)
I can't thank you enough.
Hope we didn't pull you from anything.
An evening alone at my apartment,
while I anxiously obsess
over things beyond my control?
Zoya told me about The Paris Review.
She's excited for you, we both are.
Um, there's nothing to be excited about.
I'm honestly just
hoping they can tell me
if I have a shred of talent
or if I'm a crazy person
for thinking that I do.
Not that I'd be able to tell you,
but I'd love to read it.
You inspire my daughter. I
like to see what inspires you.
- (MUSIC PLAYING)
- Uh.
Sure. (LAUGHS) Um, why not?
- Uh, w what's your email?
- Uh, here. I'll just
I know what it's like to
obsess over something alone.
You should have seen this single dad
the first night his daughter
went out in the city.
(LAUGHS)
So, if you don't feel like
obsessing alone tomorrow,
you're more than welcome to
come here, distract yourself,
- hand out some candy.
- (PHONE CHIMING)
- Oh.
- (CHUCKLES)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
KATE: Sorry.
I have to go. There's, um, a
A grading incident at school.
Goodnight. (CHUCKLES)
Goodnight.
- (CELL PHONE CHIMING)
- GOSSIP GIRL: Halloween is the perfect time
for secret rendezvous.
But looks like Z forgot
the most important part.
Her mask.
And so this dynamic duo's spotted again
hiding in plain fright.
Something tells us
this is going to cause
one monster of a scene
between her and Noble O.
Hmm. Looks like Z should
be playing Jay-Z instead.
JULIEN: He's just her friend.
She told me she was
hanging out with him.
Mm-hmm. Cool. So, uh,
give me your phone.
- You're gonna like this post.
- JULIEN: What?
Hell no. I've never
liked a Gossip Girl post.
I'm not gonna start now.
You said he was just her
friend, so why does it matter?
If you want people to believe
that you and Z are close,
then you need to show
them that you support her,
- no matter what or where.
- (DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
If you won't stop, I'll make you.
Wait, what happened? Where did it go?
- Interesting.
- You're good.
Someone probably dropped it.
I wonder what Gossip
Girl is up to though.
("CHAISE LONGUE" BY WET LEG PLAYING)
- Do I look all right?
- Are we going in?
LUNA: You can't go in without Obie.
While it's too bad he
wouldn't go as the elevator,
he can at least be the man between you.
That meta commentary
will best Pippa and Bianca
once and for all. I'll find him.
(SIGHS) What do you
think about GG going dark?
Do you think it had to
do with that gun thing?
Everyone's talking about it.
Whatever it was, I'm just
glad it happened when it did.
Do you think Obie saw that photo?
No. I'm sure he didn't.
- Right, Monet?
- Hmm? Yes. Sorry.
I was just trying to see how old
Catherine Zeta-Jones really is.
- What's up?
- Found, uh, whatever this is.
I'm Sinatra.
Yeah
- Hi.
- Hi.
How are you?
I'm good. Yeah.
Should I not be?
- What's the plan?
- Okay. So give me your coats.
There's a photo stop
just past the lobby,
that's where it all
happens. And you know what,
JC, you're gonna win this one,
because no one's costumes
are better than these.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Wait. Is that
What is happening?
MONET: Oh, my God.
Someone must've leaked
your costumes, but, uh, how?
Someone must've followed me to Mood
and saw me buy all that Orange
Sherbet at Silkshire Mills.
(APPLAUDING)
Oh, my God. Pippa and Bianca, stunning.
We thought about doing something basic
like famous sisters, but
decided a metamorphosis was best.
What bigger New York icons were there
- than Serena and Blair?
- She means Blair and Serena.
Not only were we Gossip
Girl's biggest story today,
we even killed her. RIP, bitch.
So not only is she history,
but now we are also her history.
Best frenemies forever. (CHUCKLES)
Oh, my God. The Twitter
gays are already on this.
They're gonna win the Hulaween again.
Move. Don't let anyone see you.
- Go.
- Go.
(CROWD APPLAUDING, CHEERING)
SINGER: Come on, y'all.
Y'all ready to party?
- (CROWD CHEERING)
- SINGER: Yeah. Put your hands together.
(VOCALIZING)
(SINGING) I put a spell on you ♪
Because you're mine
Mine, mine, mine ♪
You better stop
The things you do ♪
You know, I ain't lyin'
No, no, no, no, no ♪
I can't stand it ♪
'Cause you've been
Runnin' 'round ♪
You know better
I just can't stand it ♪
'Cause you put me down
I put a spell on you ♪
Because you're mine
Oh, yeah ♪
AUDREY: I don't wanna leave.
And I don't know what to do
- and I'm just
- I'll be right back.
Please hurry because whoever
is dressed as Bruce Willis
has been giving me the
eye for a half hour.
That is Bruce Willis. Hurry faster.
Instead of following my dick
appointments around town,
why do you not get one of your own
or is that against her rules?
AKI: Yesterday, I was worried
about you being together.
But after talking to Rafa,
I realize he's just bad.
You know I'm on top, right?
Nagging does not turn me on.
He's not a good guy, Max.
Whatever you think, you
don't know what I've seen.
At least not yet.
I just don't want you to get hurt.
- I care about you.
- MAX: Rafa cares about me, dude.
You know nothing about him.
He he's had a hard life.
His family disowned him,
he's got no one and I
wanna fill that void, okay?
Now, if you don't mind.
(SINGING) I could have sold you, hey ♪
AUDREY: There you are. Did you see
- Okay, she saw.
- JULIEN: Can you believe it?
Pippa and Bianca
disparaging our costumes.
- Somebody told them.
- What are we gonna do?
Guys, it's just a party, all right?
They're just clothes.
For you they might be,
but for people like me
- this gets written about.
- For years.
If you can't beat them, destroy them.
Drive-by trip-splash or
full out "Carrie?"
You've got to be kidding.
- They can't get away with this.
- They already did.
Their photos already on Harper's,
and if Gossip Girl were
active, it would be there too.
I have an idea.
Take off your clothes.
- Excuse me?
- What? What What's happening?
- Do you trust me?
- I used to.
Can you help me with this?
You know, I came here to tell all of you
that I might be leaving
all of this very soon.
But I guess that can wait.
- Okay. Cool.
- JULIEN: Can you get Aki in here?
I need his clothes too.
- Hey, hurry up. Get undressed.
- Uh, can you, um
I guess this was bound
to happen eventually.
I just assumed it would
be behind a paywall.
Hey, oh, no. Keep that on.
Are you gonna clue us on
the plan at some point, JC?
No.
There are spies everywhere.
(SINGER SCAT SINGING)
They're next in line. Hurry. Go.
JULIEN: Go. Go. Go.
- ZOYA: Our wives.
- Ladies.
We've been planning this group costume
with P and B since last year
and the pictures complete.
I'm Dan Humphrey and
I'm Chuck Bass.
What's gotten into you?
So, fine, they won't win,
but look at how cute they are.
Cute doesn't get you on
the cover of Vogue.
You'd be lucky if he
got you on PopSugar.
BIANCA: Why are you basic-bombing us?
You turned our frenemies
into common couples.
JULIEN: Haven't you
ever heard of sisterhood?
If one of us goes down,
we all go down together.
But why are you mad?
They would have been nowhere before.
Then maybe they deserve to be.
Do you mean Pippa and
Bianca or our girls?
- (CROWD CHEERING)
- (MUSIC PLAYING ON SPEAKERS)
Um, can I meet you inside?
Yeah.
Hey. (LAUGHS) You keep popping
up where I least expect you to.
Well, I volunteer for the
New York Restoration Project.
So, technically, I am working.
Well, um, I don't know if you heard,
but we crashed Gossip Girl.
Yeah. She posted a pic
of us from yesterday
and it broke the internet. She's gone.
I admit, uh, you got me curious.
I I looked into her but
what do you think it is
that she's actually trying
to do?
- You want to know?
- You know, you actually mentioned
that you weren't interested in her,
and yet you keep bringing her up.
Must be something about it
that you find interesting.
Did you know Mr. Caparros's cousins
have a winery in Argentina?
- I did not. No.
- Yeah. He told my mom about it
last year at the St. Jude's fundraiser.
- Okay.
- She bought a case to be kind.
The wine tastes like shit, but
the website's actually nice.
OBIE BERGMANN: Hmm.
Why does it feel so good
exposing the truth about people?
(EXHALES HEAVILY) It does, doesn't it?
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(MAN TALKING INDISTINCTLY OVER RADIO)
Hey! You found it.
You gave me the address,
and I have a phone.
Right. Welcome.
Um, this place has a great happy hour.
It goes until 8:00. I come
in here like every night.
(CHUCKLES) Everything on draft
is half price for Halloween.
And I remember you saying
you don't like hops.
So, I was thinking maybe the pilsner?
- It's a microbrew from Vermont.
- Uh, I'm good with water.
Okay. They have that.
- They also have wine.
- I'm sorry.
I'm confused. I thought we were meeting
to talk about the future of Gossip Girl.
I'm sorry if I gave that impression.
You texted me, "We need
to talk about the future."
Right. Well (CLEARS THROAT)
uh, sure. Gossip Girl.
You want it over, it's over.
But if it is, I want to talk
about what might take its place.
You you're not angry
that I shut it down?
I didn't agree to go
on this journey with you
because I thought it was a great idea.
I did it because I like
spending time with you
and I was thinking maybe we can
Yeah. I
I get it.
Um, Jordan, you are so sweet.
Uh, you're one of the
only truly good people
- in my life, maybe the only one.
- (LAUGHS)
You need more people in your life.
Uh, I really can't imagine
anyone else by my side
these last few months.
- But the timing
- Right. Of course.
The the timing.
(EXHALES SHARPLY) I should go.
I'm supposed to help out
a friend pass out candy.
That's cool. You need any help?
- I think we can handle it.
- (LAUGHS)
Kate, I don't want
Gossip Girl to be done.
I've grown to like it.
Makes people talk face to face.
It forces conversations
that would never be had,
even this one.
What you've done, it
isn't just important,
it's vital.
Paris Review be damned.
- Thank you.
- (SONG PLAYING)
I I really have to go. (CHUCKLES)
JULIEN: (ON PHONE) Hey.
Why're you calling?
JC. I cornered Beyoncé
and made her sing like one.
She confirmed my worst fear.
The call came from inside the house.
- Meet me at the balcony.
- (UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
Sorry to interrupt.
But I came across something
I thought you might like.
- A photo from last year.
- (RAFA SCOFFING)
Look at that, photos
of the family reunion
my cousins invited me to.
My parents didn't speak one word to me
and made a big show of leaving
shortly after I arrived.
Thanks for that memory.
Max, do you wanna dance?
Well, I'm not usually into masked men,
but I'll take my chances with you.
LUNA: Monet de Haan, I
knew how low you could go,
- but this is even further.
- I only stoop to conquer.
And I would've if you hadn't interfered.
- Interfered? You sold us out.
- You sold yourself out
when you got mired
in your sister's shit.
Pippa and Bianca are
laser-focused on their futures.
They're willing to do whatever it takes.
And they listen to their advisers,
which now includes me.
They don't even go to our school.
The world is bigger
than Constance, Julien.
- I thought you were my friend.
- I thought you were mine too.
Which is why I put in all
of these hours to make sure
that you are the best.
But when you abandoned all of that
to waste your power and your time
with that buffaloco
without even thinking
about how it would affect other people,
I was done. After years
of doing your dirty work,
you can't just decide that you're clean
all of a sudden.
Luna may not care, but this
I already have an agent at LGA, so.
But this is my future.
If you can't roll with your clients
as they change and grow,
what future will be there?
I don't wanna do things the
way that we've always done it.
I wanna be better.
Well, good luck on
being better without me.
Good luck to you too.
I wish you the best.
(SIGHS) Where is Audrey?
She wanted to talk, I
shouldn't have ignored her.
Ms. Yuki?
Obie Bergmann.
We met last year at my
mother's cover shoot.
Of course. Nice seeing you, Obie.
- Yeah. Nice to see you.
- You can call me Nelly.
Oh, all right.
- You're
- I am a Well, I'm
- I'm a Soprano, yeah.
- (CHUCKLING)
- You?
- Eva Chen.
Uh, she's down there
somewhere in tights being me.
- (LAUGHS)
- I thought it'd be fun.
Now, why do we have you
to thank for the tickets?
Uh, my mom is stuck in Hamburg,
and she was so fond of the profile,
she just thought it'd be a nice gesture.
I would love to introduce you to my
girlfriend. She's around here somewhere.
She's a huge fan of everything
you've done for the magazine.
- Oh, of course. Thank you. (CHUCKLES)
- OBIE: Yeah.
And one of my teachers was even fired
for submitting to her.
- That was crazy.
- Yeah.
Well, that that is pretty crazy.
Uh, you know, I I wonder
has anyone ever thought that maybe
you could be Gossip Girl?
Me?
- Why?
- You're a student,
just like Dan Humphrey was.
Writer like him, an outsider like him.
You can nail the voice, not to
mention the literary references.
And
Gossip Girl was resurrected
right when you arrived
- and not a moment sooner.
- I
I don't understand. You think I'm
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean
to put you on the spot like that.
Um, you wouldn't want to go
get some fresh air real quick?
There's there's actually
a killer 99-cent pizza place
- down the block. This is
- Oh, Zoya, there you are.
I would like to introduce
you to my friend.
- Simon?
- Ms. Yuki.
- You know her?
- Of course he knows me.
I'm his boss.
Are you Chuck Bass?
Obie, what's this about?
Yes, can someone please tell
me what's going on right now?
Simon Rivera is not a student anywhere.
Simon Ravetch is a researcher
for New York Magazine.
Isn't that right, Mr. Ravetch?
I'll get us our table cards.
- Victor.
- So, you called him after all?
I don't know what you're talking about.
The masked man you were
grinding on in there.
That's Rafa Caparros.
No, it's not.
I would know those freckles anywhere.
I used to trace them with my tongue.
I told my boyfriend that
we didn't have a chance.
- He still likes them young.
- Still?
We fucked when I was a senior.
That's his thing.
I hope he'd grown out of
that. I I guess not.
But has he taken you
to his parents' house
in Patagonia?
So that's when you
know you're really in.
You've been impersonating a student
because of Gossip Girl?
I was following a hunch on
who Gossip Girl could be,
all right? I began to think
that a Constance student
this student was following
in Dan Humphrey's footsteps.
This is better than I thought.
- Obie, how did you even
- OBIE: Oh, well, my my parents
leased Dumbo Hall, the building it's in,
so we're founding members.
And the front desk told me
that Simon here was actually
a guest of Ben Peryer from Condé Nast,
so I called him.
And he said that that Simon Ravetch
is actually a friend of a friend
who wanted to check the space out.
That he had his eye on the
front door the entire time
as if he were, and I quote,
"Looking for someone."
Me.
Ben told me about how
you worked at New York.
LinkedIn said you were a researcher, so.
- That's why you invited me here?
- Yeah.
No story is worth
one's reputation, Simon.
Maybe a couple months
transcribing podcasts
for SB Nation will remind you of that.
This kind of drama is exactly
what Gossip Girl wants.
If you stoop to her level, Mr. Bergmann,
you're no better than her.
Simon, let's go.
You knew and you didn't tell me.
You were excited to
have a new friend, but
you gotta be careful, Z. You have to be.
People like that, they
will take advantage
to get closer to people like us.
I'm not like you, Obie.
I'm outside your bubble.
Sometimes I feel like
you don't get that.
And other times, I worry
you get it too much.
That I'm just charity,
another box for you
to check in your
performative solidarity.
No, you are my
girlfriend, and I don't
I just wish that you would
act like that sometimes.
What what is going
on with us right now?
("HALLOWEEN" BY PHOEBE BRIDGERS PLAYING)
- Hey, hey.
- AKI: Are you drunk?
I thought I was supposed to be Greta.
I'm here all night all alone
with no no friends, no family,
no boyfriend. What am I supposed to do?
Like, when am I gonna get a win?
Audge, get a hold of yourself.
You're acting like your
mom at your fundraiser.
You know what, I know why.
Because she wanted
attention from the people
that loved her most.
And I didn't give it to her.
Just like you're not giving it to me.
I know everything sucks,
and it's confusing.
I'm confused about everything, too.
I'm changing, we're changing,
and we can't stop that.
But we can work on how
we react to those changes.
(CELL PHONE VIBRATING)
We can do better, me, you, your mom
(CELL PHONE VIBRATING)
It's my mom.
As if she knew. (CHUCKLES)
Now maybe you get to tell
your mom you understand
- a little bit better.
- Yeah.
Hey, mom, I wanna say I'm sorry that
DR. GIBSON: (ON PHONE)
Um, no. This is Dr. Gibson.
I'm calling from the emergency
room at NewYork-Pres.
- What?
- So you're a liar.
Well, I only lied about my parents
- to get you to talk to your dad.
- What about your students?
They were all legal. Like you.
That's not the point.
Is this what you do? A
new student every year?
Not every year.
- And you chased me.
- Hmm.
Or did you forget?
This is still fun, Max.
When did you get so
moral all of a sudden?
ZOYA: Wait, Julien.
- JULIEN: Okay.
- Did she say what happened?
- JULIEN: I don't know.
- ZOYA: Come on.
They don't care about you.
If they don't, it's only
because I made it that way.
- Hey.
- Let go of me!
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
Here you are. All right. Goodnight.
I think a Kit-Kat melted.
Hey, thanks again for helping out.
I needed it. It was great to take
my mind off things
for a couple of hours.
Not to put your mind back on things,
but now that the doorbell is
not ringing every five seconds
I loved your story.
- You did?
- I did.
It was darker than I
expected, but evocative.
I can see why Zoya looks up to you.
You're not only inspiring,
you're talented, too.
Thanks.
I It's like I hear you say that,
and it's so nice, but
I wonder if I've been
obsessing over the wrong things.
I wanted to be a writer because I wanted
to make a difference
in the world, but
what if what I've been doing
makes a bigger difference
than my writing ever could?
You mean teaching?
- It's really powerful.
- I think so, too.
- Can I use your restroom?
- Of course, yeah.
- It's just down the hall.
- KATE: Hmm.
GOSSIP GIRL: You thought
I went somewhere?
Well, I'm back. And better than ever.
Yes, maybe I'd begun to wonder
if I was abusing my considerable power,
when I realized you're the
ones who do that, not me.
I'm not your parent, your
teacher, or your friend.
I'm your mirror.
I show you your bad parents,
your absent teachers,
your errant friends.
But if there's one thing
this moment of reflection
showed me, it's that this
isn't a place for you to speak.
I'm turning off the comments from now on.
Mine is the only voice you
need to listen to anyway,
because if you were kinder
to one another, more honest,
if you had the hard
face-to-face conversations,
you wouldn't need me. But you don't.
You bring a gun to school. You
sneak out on your boyfriend.
You hide behind your phones.
So keep your masks on all year
- if you want to.
- (CELL PHONE VIBRATES)
But know I'll be here keeping count,
keeping you in check,
reflecting what you refuse to
see is right in front of you.
Hey, Nick, are are you hungry?
Uh, I know a good diner nearby.
JULIEN: Everything Gossip Girl's
ever posted, it's all gone.
What does that mean?
- MAX: Clean slate.
- God, I hope so.
- Ms. Hope.
- (MUSIC PLAYING)
Your mom's gonna be okay.
She's awake but groggy.
(SIGHS)
- Thank you so much, Doctor.
- I should warn you though.
It's gonna be a very long
and hard road to recovery.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
I understand.
I'm not going anywhere.
GOSSIP GIRL: Good afternoon,
followers! Gossip Girl here,
your one and only, etcetera,
amen. Oscar Wilde once said,
"Give a man a mask, and he
will tell you the truth,"
which is why I love Halloween.
Because what was once
created to honor the dead
tends to leave bodies in its wake.
For when you don your disguise,
- the false sense of security it provides
- Yo! Watch it!
always leads to loose lips
that'll sink both friends
and relationships before
dawn's early light.
- STUDENT 1: Come on, bring it!
- STUDENT 2: Fucking asshole.
GOSSIP GIRL: But I don't
wanna spoil the fun.
After all, the biggest scares
are the ones you never see coming.
(ALL SCREAM)
- (MOANS)
- GOSSIP GIRL: See you on the other side,
dead or alive.
(MOANS)
(SIGHS HEAVILY)
(SWALLOWS) Okay.
That might have been
the best one all week.
- We can't do it at school again.
- (MAX WOLFE CHUCKLING)
- That's what you say every time.
- Yeah, well, if we got caught
(SIGHS) Your generation always
feel so guilty after they come.
- Hmm.
- So sweet.
(CHUCKLES) I'll see you tonight?
Inside my apartment for a change?
Ah, you didn't like the
fire escape or the roof
- or the stoop, huh?
- Hmm.
("SOLAR POWER" BY LORDE PLAYING)
MONET DE HAAN: Hey, girl.
Hi.
- Hey.
- Hi.
They always find each
other, like magnets.
Consider me on the other side. Repelled.
- Come on.
- So, where are we headed? Dover Street Market
- or Thai Diner?
- Did you forget our plans or
I actually have to go visit my grandma.
- You can come if you want.
- MONET: I was talking,
right? Those weren't
just voices in my head.
Oh, no because the voice in your head
is probably screaming right now.
Why are you guys sitting at this table?
I mean, they're they're
all the same tables.
- The same table?
- The same table? Okay, now.
That, like everything but your outfit,
was carefully chosen.
The way the light hits,
the proximity to the trash.
The fact that people
have to uncomfortably
turn their head to
the left to take us on.
Hey, where where's the brooch
that we said we'd shoot you wearing?
Oh, do you mean the Burmese ruby?
Do you know they're
called genocide gems?
Hmm. Who told you that?
If Z had done her research,
she would know that Cartier
doesn't use Burmese rubies.
So there goes that sponsored post.
We could just hang
around the Shibui pool.
You two have been spending
an awful lot of time together.
Yeah. Well, Julien is on a mission
to show everybody that
we really are friends
and what she said at my
birthday party wasn't just
some publicity stunt
to boost her followers.
Which worked, by the way.
So, what are we doing for Halloween?
I was thinking you, me, and
Obie could do something together?
Someone will definitely take a
photo, and there's no better way
to prove that things are great
between us than a group hang.
Hashtag Disney+.
I kind of already agreed to go with Obie
to this party one of the witches
from Hocus Pocus throws.
Oh, um Hulaween. How could I forget?
I'll just hang out with you girls.
If you mean to Hulaween,
then yes, of course.
This year's theme is New York Legends.
If you're not there, you're
basically admitting you're not one.
Plus, this is the first
Halloween post-COVID.
So you're still defined
by that humiliating loss
to Pippa Sykes and Bianca
Breer from the year before.
Who?
Two bland girls from another school
that want what JC has,
except they're always too busy
fucking each other's boyfriends
- and pushing each other into fountains
- (BOTH LAUGH)
to get after it and
honestly, it's so basic.
- They might as well be bots.
- (LAUGHS)
- But we still have to beat them.
- A couples contest?
Isn't that kinda middle school?
Like, what, do you get
a trophy or something?
A trophy? No, try your
photo on the landing pages
of the holy trifecta: Vogue,
Harper's, and WWD.
Add Miss GG to that mix.
ZOYA LOTT: Obie never said
anything about a couples costume.
Well, no need to worry,
'cause, uh, Aki and I are gonna win.
We have picked the
perfect New York legends,
- Greta and Noah, yes.
- JULIEN CALLOWAY: Ooh.
- LUNA LA: Ew.
- And unlike them at the Oscars,
we will not be going home empty-handed.
So you and Aki
We are figuring things
out, slowly but surely,
and, uh, with no interference,
and that's what counts.
Yeah. You need to think
of something great, JC,
because you can't lose again.
Well, how am I supposed to do
a couples costume by myself?
Couples are a dead binary.
Be Rihanna or Oprah.
They don't even need last names,
let alone a partner to do anything.
AUDREY HOPE: Why is
everyone on their phones?
- MONET: Hey.
- You guys see what happened?
Some kid brought a gun to school.
- Holy shit.
- You're back on Insta?
MONET: Oh, my God! Of course,
it's Pippa and Bianca's school.
Now they're gonna get the sympathy vote.
PIPPA SYKES: Can you believe it?
My entire life flashed before my eyes.
- Like, all 16 years.
- Right in front of us.
I didn't wake up today
thinking I would be a hero,
but when I screamed and everyone ran
PIPPA: Love each other. Life is precious.
Join us on Clubhouse
where we talk trauma.
- (DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
- Invite only.
You need to take those
barely sentient succubi down
before they wind up on This American Life,
because you can't compete with that.
So, what are you gonna do?
You guys, a kid brought a gun to school.
Doesn't that make a costume contest
- seem a little frivolous?
- Or a good way to process.
- MONET: Hmm.
- Maybe this is the year we forgo all of that?
Hey, we don't have to
go if you don't want to.
I mean, I wanna go, it's
just the dressing up part.
Do they know why he
brought a gun to school?
Gossip Girl, of course.
- Nice to see you all.
- (AUDREY SIGHS)
MAX WOLFE: Some more than others.
If I didn't know any better,
I'd think you've been avoiding me.
Seems you know pretty well, huh?
We're gonna be late for practice.
Remember? My dad and I are
gonna go see my grandma.
Hmm. Dumbo Hall later? Most of us.
Ah. (CHUCKLES)
What did I ever do to you
that you didn't ask for?
- Give us some space?
- MAX: Ah.
So that's how it's
gonna be. Okay. So, wait,
you fucked up fucking
me and I get the shaft?
We apologized to each other,
but you don't think
you did anything wrong.
See, that's your thing, Max.
You never do anything wrong.
You're all id all the
time, and, honestly,
- my ego is just exhausted by it.
- Aw.
Okay. Well, look, don't
worry, you can rest easy now.
(SIGHS) Messy Max still in effect.
Seems to be back to normal to me.
- Hmm.
- (INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
- Do you think
- Hmm.
I don't think, because I don't care.
TV ANCHOR: And while what happened
may have been a tragedy avoided,
authorities remain on alert
as we move in to Halloween weekend.
Dr. Nan Barchek is with
us, a child psychologist
here to talk about how
parents can be more mindful
of the role sites like Gossip Girl
and Discord play in their kids' life.
- Dr. Barchek, thanks for coming.
- This is our fault.
My sources say that
that student's family
are big game hunters.
Like, they showed up
strapped to Christmas Mass.
We're not responsible for what every
disturbed kid in Manhattan does.
We are when that kid was targeted
in Gossip Girl-tagged photos.
We inadvertently created
a platform for his bullies
to publicly humiliate him
and a forum for them to
go off in the comments.
We can't control who tags us
and what they write on our posts.
And it's because of Gossip Girl
that they were able to identify
what happened and who
was behind it. In a way,
we're kind of heroes.
Okay, fine. Antiheroes, like Batman.
Just because it ended well this time
doesn't mean it will the next.
I mean, don't you worry if we've
been too hasty on all of this?
- Too rash?
- Define "all this," 'cause we've done, um,
many rash things: taking
photos of undressed teenagers
from outside their window,
getting our friend fired?
It started out as a small,
in-school social experiment.
But it's become a citywide enterprise
that needs someone to
constantly babysit it.
I don't feel right about it anymore.
Wow, submits a story to
The Paris Review once.
This has nothing to do with whether
or not my story gets published.
This is about real lives at stake.
We should take a break from posting.
Seriously? Remember when
you couldn't take a day off?
Now you wanna walk away?
JORDAN GLASSBERG: If this
is about finding extra time,
Wendy and I can pick up more slack.
I think we proved ourselves last time.
It's not that.
What we're doing has consequences.
(INHALES SHARPLY) It's
best we take a break,
see if things cool off, and who knows?
Maybe it existing for that brief while
- made a difference.
- This isn't just your decision.
Sometimes even Batman has to just be
Bruce whoever.
Regardless of what Kate Jung Un thinks,
we have a say in this.
And we can do what we want.
- Wayne. Bruce Wayne.
- (WHISTLE BLOWING)
- (PANTS)
- (EXHALES) You def beat your time.
I lucked out, man,
everybody was slower today.
- Everyone's on edge.
- Yeah.
I wish Julien hadn't told Zoya
about the couples costumes.
Why?
Everything's good between
them. You can relax.
Maybe, uh, have a good time with
your girlfriend for a change?
Okay, but see, you say
that word, and I'm like,
"Okay, is she my girlfriend?
Or are we just two people that
meet up for dinner occasionally?"
Dude, don't worry.
It's only been a month.
- Things move slower where she's from.
- Yeah.
You and Julien lost your
virginities to each other so quick,
no one even knew it had happened.
Yeah, but I'm not even
talking about sex, dude.
It's like when we first met
Thank you. When we first
met, she was so full of ideas
and and thoughts
and we'd talk for hours,
and now, it's like
It's like I just monologue at her
and then wait for her to interrupt me.
AKI MENZIES: Uh, maybe you're
afraid of it now that it's real?
All the obstacles that
were in your way are gone.
And you finally have free time
to get to know each other now.
- Which can be scary.
- (DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
Unless this is about Julien
No one would blame you if you still
No, I like Zoya.
It's just some growing
pains, that's all.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
I'm sorry. (CHUCKLING) No
matter how many buses I'm on,
I can never really
manage to find my balance.
Uh, no, you're good. It's my fault.
I was on my phone. (CHUCKLES)
Yeah. What's a Gossip Girl?
Hey, stranger! Just
creeping on my phone?
I'm sorry. I I don't really
have any phone etiquette.
And it's, uh, it's mainly
because I only have one of these
in case of emergency.
So, you really don't read Gossip Girl?
SIMON RIVERA: No. And,
uh, no offense or anything.
It just doesn't really
seem like my thing.
Well, you must not be from here.
No, I am. I actually, uh,
go to school near here.
Oh, I hope it's not the school
I've been hearing about all day.
Oh, man, are you okay?
It was just pretty intense, you know.
Uh, I just feel pretty
bad that I didn't, like,
- see it coming.
- How could you?
Well, I'm on a
scholarship, like Jared is.
And, uh, you know,
at a school like ours,
that can either give
you a superiority complex
or add to you feeling different.
And, you know, mix that
in with evil rich kids
that are exploiting that
anxiety and pushing those buttons
and using us to make
themselves feel better
about their privilege?
Yeah, I'm not that
surprised that it escalated.
And if that Gossip Girl
is what it sounds like,
you know, I imagine that
probably made it worse.
Yeah. And I would be the
first person to agree with you.
So, why look at it?
I guess because everybody does.
Well, you know what? Uh, now
you know someone who doesn't.
Or you're getting to know someone,
at least. Uh, Simon Rivera.
Uh, Zoya Lott. It
It's nice meeting you.
I would keep talking,
but this is my stop.
Well, maybe I'll see you
on here again some time.
(DOOR OPENING AND CLOSING)
- Hey!
- AUDREY: Hey! I'm just here to change.
I'll be going out.
Well, you gotta eat somewhere, right?
I'm making miso salmon and sushi rice.
It's your favorite.
Why are you staring at me?
I don't remember the last
time you cooked anything.
I cooked last Christmas
Eve, or the one before that.
- Um, I'm not that hungry, but
- Oh.
I guess I should be happy
that you got out of bed
even though you didn't bother to shower.
Um, I'll have leftovers tomorrow.
- Um, actually, honey, I
- What?
I I need to talk
to you about something.
Um, I have some news.
Has the company been bailed out?
Um We are going to have to move home.
- We are home.
- No, to Cornwall.
That is not my home. That's your home.
And after way too many years
being stuck in that place,
I am never going back there.
Plus, Cornwall is two
hours away. I can't comm
Oh. You wanna pull me out of school too.
- Yes, Audrey.
- (BREATHING SHAKILY) And of course,
you didn't actually make me dinner.
Of course not.
It's never an honest gesture with you.
Just another selfish act.
You know what? I thought I
would do something nice for you,
but you're right, there's no point.
- I have a migraine.
- (SCOFFS) Wait! Just Just wait, okay?
Why don't you just sell the other house?
Because it wouldn't even cover
the cost of the maintenance here.
This is not up for discussion, okay?
I don't have a job, we have debt.
- We don't have a choice.
- It's not "we" anything.
I had nothing to do with this, okay?
I am not going anywhere.
You can figure something out.
If you have to design
headbands at an airport kiosk,
so be it.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
It was absolutely ridiculous.
And then she just left me standing there
like I'm supposed to be happy
to play Little Edie to her Big
in some sad suburban
shanty. It's (SIGHS)
AKI: Shanty?
- It's on five acres.
- That is not the point.
I just feel like things
are finally getting back
to normal around here.
I'm not going anywhere.
Plus, the only reason that
Connecticut even exists
is to create landmass
between Boston and New York.
- Yeah.
- Yeah, hmm.
("THE KISS OF VENUS" BY PAUL
MCCARTNEY AND DOMINIC FIKE PLAYING)
(PHONE CHIMING)
- Did you just text me angry cat emojis?
- Yes.
Can you please focus on
possibly losing me forever
instead of already
looking for someone better?
And you have a right
to be upset with Kiki,
but I think it's unfair to
label her financial issues
- as a minor setback.
- Wow.
Aki taking both sides again.
What a refreshing change of pace.
Hey! He isn't here, Akeno.
Another DM in distress
to your account, JC.
Gaten Matarazzo says,
"I know what it's like
to have to pretend to get
along with your co-stars.
I understand why you're doing
the same with your sis. Hearts."
I don't even know him. Ugh.
I just don't understand.
When I told my fans that that
apricot scrub ruined their skin,
sales plummeted 30 percent.
How is it I can't even convince them
I'm friends with my own sister?
MONET: Hate to say this,
but you lost credibility
the second you took your
finger off your apps.
If you want people to listen to you,
you need to remind them of
the JC that they listened to,
which means no more no-phone zone.
No more filter-free once-a-week post.
Full-on, full-time, Julien. That's how.
Let us do our jobs again?
- JULIEN: Stay Zoya-friendly.
- I like a challenge.
Yay! You're here.
MONET: Great. Just in time for shots.
Nothing says sisterhood
like an All Hallows pre-game.
- LUNA: I'll get the mezcal.
- MONET: Mm-hmm.
Get the whole bottle.
Hey so, um (CLEARS THROAT)
you remember that article
I mentioned on deforestation
and how it, like, affects public health?
Well, the professor's actually
giving a speech this weekend
at Columbia, and I thought
that maybe we could go.
It's cool. It's, like It's
about, you know, the footprint
from wildlife preserves and
just got me thinking that, um
You know what? This can wait. (CHUCKLES)
(INHALES SHARPLY) How was your day?
The strangest thing
happened. I was on a bus,
and I started having this convers
- Mm-hmm.
- Can we not?
I mean, in front of Julien?
- Yeah, yeah, of course, yeah.
- (ZOYA CLEARING THROAT)
I have to pee.
Hey! So, you know
when you manipulated your
dad to give up his entire life
to move to New York for
you, how did you do it?
A lot of it had to do with how much
better my education would be here.
Ugh. Stop, this is not gonna help me.
ZOYA: Also, he grew up
here. He knew the city.
All I had to do was remind him
what he liked most about it.
I'm gonna go get a get some more tea.
- Do you guys want anything?
- Um um, yes, please, actually.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(SIGHS)
(PHONE RINGING)
- Hello?
- Mr. Wolfe, it's Aki Menzies.
I'm trying to reach Max,
but he's not answering his phone.
GIDEON WOLFE: Aki, hello.
He hasn't been home much all week.
Has he not been with you?
I had assumed he was avoiding here
because of his father weeping
in the guest room most nights.
(INHALES SHARPLY) But he
finally moved out today.
And so the only one weeping here is me.
Sorry to hear that, sir.
GIDEON: Polite as always.
If you see my son, let
him know the coast is clear
for his return.
AKI: Of course, Mr. Wolfe.
- Hey.
- Oh, Zoya, hey!
ZOYA: I'm shocked to see you here.
I didn't think this would
be your kind of place.
It's not. No. Uh
I actually just had dinner
with my investment banker cousin
who, quote, "Only
dines at members-only."
I see that and I raise
you an influencer sister
who drags me here every day.
- Oh. Really?
- Yeah.
We're, uh, sitting over
there if you want to join.
Uh, no offense or anything,
I just kind of want to leave
as soon as possible.
I get it. I'm only here
to be on display for her
"Halloween is for family" campaign.
(CHUCKLES) Okay.
Uh (CHUCKLES) Well, would
it be presumptuous of me
to maybe give you my phone number?
I just feel that it's, you know,
important for like-minded souls to
- you know, stick together.
- Uh, I'm I'm actually, um
No, wa wait, I don't I don't
mean it like that or anything.
It's just, uh a kid brought
a gun to my school today.
And it's just that, you know,
it's got me thinking that,
you know, life, it's it's too short.
I mean, not to hang out with people
that you really connect with.
Yeah.
Right. Yeah. Of course.
Why not? All right.
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
Okay. So, great news.
Brilliance has struck,
and I have the perfect
plan to get my mom here.
- That's awesome.
- AKI: That's great, babe.
Hello? What are you guys looking at?
Who's the hot guy?
Guess who was at the bar
with a gaggle of hangers-on,
- rehashing their brush with death?
- MONET: Mm.
Bianca was apoplectic so I love that.
JULIEN: (INHALES SHARPLY) There you are.
We need to coordinate our
Sister Assault for this weekend.
I wanna do fall colors
in the morning and then
What if we did a couples
costume ourselves?
Us, together? Like the Kardashians?
Oh, um, why didn't
you guys think of that?
Um, because the Kardashians
aren't even an autocorrect anymore.
And because your brand
is singular, not plural.
- You do this on your own.
- Z, I thought that,
you know, I thought
that we're pairing up?
You said you didn't want to.
- My friend, Simon, had the idea.
- Wait, Simon? That's the guy
- that was that you were you were with?
- Huh?
Oh, yeah. We were just talking.
I'm so in this with you.
Let's start brainstorming sisters.
- Uh, Jo and Amy.
- Ooh, Elsa and Anna?
- Celie and Nettie.
- Katniss and Prim.
Uh, Cordelia and Goneril?
- The Lohans, two Lohans.
- ZOYA: Elena and Lila.
- All of the Olsens.
- LUNA: This is a joke, right?
If I have to go along
with this, you do too.
- We'll find the right look.
- So stoked.
- PIPPA: Ooh.
- Ugh, God.
Wow!
I didn't know people from Constance
even knew about this place.
- Did you hear what happened to me?
- Us.
Do you mean what happened near you?
Do you know what else
will be happening near me?
The press crowning me winner
when I show up to Hulaween
- with the perfect costume.
- We. umes.
That'll pale in comparison with ours.
Because we have a better story.
Blood being thicker
than Franzia, after all.
- I'll see you from the dais
- (DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
whoever you are.
JULIEN: Well, that deserves a drink.
Hmm?
Ladies
GOSSIP GIRL: Spotted. We never
could have predicted this,
- but looks like JC and Z
- (CELL PHONE VIBRATING)
really have buried the hatchet.
Too bad Z buried it in Obie's back.
AKI: Remember when I said not to worry?
- I think you should worry.
- (UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
(INAUDIBLE CHATTER)
(CELL PHONE CHIMES)
(CELL PHONE RINGING)
Why are you WhatsApp-ing me?
Because I wanted you
to see how angry I am.
We said we would stop posting.
Technically, you said
we would stop posting,
but then we got a photo
of Zoya and that rando.
And then this photo, Obie alone,
sadder than sad Keanu.
How could we not post it?
I was just making a meme.
Here's Lobie eating pie.
Here's Lobie on a horse.
Here's Lobie with Bernie Mittens. And
- Please just stop.
- (CELL PHONE VIBRATING)
- Hello.
- Ms. Keller? Kate?
Uh, sorry. Now is not a good time.
Uh, it's Nick.
Lott. Zoya's dad.
Oh, hi. Uh, how did you, um
NICK LOTT: Uh, it's on
the emergency phone tree.
I hope you don't mind me calling.
You know, I saw the news
this morning about that kid
at the other school and well
KATE KELLER: Did Zoya
say anything about it?
Uh, people are blaming this Gossip Girl.
I know they've talked about Zoya, too.
Actually, I was thinking
you could ask her.
Yeah, back in Buffalo, she
was Just so focused on school.
Always the extra credit kid.
And now she's going out all the time
with her sister, boyfriend.
And my mom suggested that I get a tutor.
And, you know, just to
get Zoya back on track.
And as you're her favorite
teacher, I thought
I have been wanting to get
more involved at school.
What are you doing
after school tomorrow?
(CELL PHONE VIBRATING, CHIMING)
(CLICKS TONGUE)
Tomorrow? Um, nothing.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(MUTTERS) For fuck's s
Tried you a few times last night.
Phone's on "do not disturb."
You and your dad must
be pretty broken up
about your Pops leaving the house, huh?
We're gonna be late to class.
- Said you never.
- What is this, huh?
I'm doing great for
the first time in weeks
with just my own chemistry and
you're draining my dopamine.
Maybe there's a teacher
you can fuck to get it back.
Oh, okay. I see. So this isn't a haze,
it's a visit from the purity police?
This can ruin his career, Max.
This can follow you
around forever. For life.
Well, uh, if you want
me to stop so bad
you can always make me.
I'm just trying to be your friend here.
No, but you're not my
friend, Ak. Are you?
I'm just someone you can
project your fantasies onto.
And now that your girlfriend
wants me out of the picture,
you've realized how bored
and basic you are without me.
And that's not my fault.
You tell a single soul, what you know
and what I do to you next will be.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
- Everything all right?
- Yeah, um,
I just I can't hang out after school.
My dad got me into some
sort of tutoring session.
Well, for the next half hour,
we're your tutors, got it?
Why are we doing this?
She should just do her thing with Obie
and you should do yours, alone.
LUNA: The sister thing is cute.
It's only cute if the idea is cute.
Hmm. Swipe.
JULIEN: The costumes,
they can't just be cool.
They have to tell a story.
Specifically, our story.
Taking control of the narrative
is about owning the accusations.
We should play into what
people are saying about us.
So, do a legendary rivalry?
- Exactly.
- All right.
Wink at the rumors while
also putting them to bed.
What if we did SJP and Kim Cattrall
or or Keke Palmer and that man?
(SIGHS)
- Bey and Solange.
- Oh, my God. Duh!
Wait! But they're not rivals.
- They're really close, right?
- Are they though?
I mean, they are sisters
in the same field, right?
And the world is
constantly trying to see
- what's up between them, so it's perfect.
- Right.
That's exactly our story.
This is gonna be our defining moment.
Okay. So obviously, you're Beyoncé.
- Lemonade or Homecoming?
- Hmm. Too expected.
What about one of the royal
looks from Black is King?
JULIEN: Yes!
You, guys, if we want
really good attention,
we do the elevator.
- Good idea.
- Sister sticking up for sister, that is perfect.
(EXCLAIMS) And we know
you look great in orange.
Yeah, because buffalo
wings or Buffalo Exchange?
- Yeah. Got it.
- (BOTH LAUGHING)
- Um, hey, that's my phone.
- LUNA: I found the guy you were looking for
when you lied about texting your dad.
Too bad he's private.
Is that the guy from last night?
Simon Rivera, yeah.
Are things that bad with Obie?
No. Uh, it's kind of nice to have
a friend of my own for a change.
And Simon and I have a
lot of things in common.
You and Obie have similar
interests too, right?
It's just sometimes I
wonder if he actually
cares about the things he talks about
or if he just thinks
that he's supposed to.
Like why go to a talk
if you could just do
something, you know?
(CLEARS THROAT) I, uh, I gotta get back.
Okay.
Send me your sizes, we'll do
a fitting tomorrow morning.
- Bye.
- (JULIEN CLEARING THROAT)
(CHUCKLES) You just missed her.
Yeah, I see that. I came
looking for you actually.
I need your help.
I wanna know what's going on.
His name is Simon Rivera,
and that's all I know.
I'm sorry, Obie.
Don't be. I'm not.
Hello, yes, this is Otto
and Helena Bergmann's son.
Yes, Obie, that's right. I was hoping
that you could, uh, maybe do me a favor.
- AKI: What's up, Audge?
- I was really counting on your help
- after school.
- AKI: I know, it's just
You know when something's wrong,
and you know you can't fix it,
but you have to see it through anyway?
You mean like this conversation?
I'm just trying to stop
Max from making a mistake
that could affect his life forever.
- And then I'll stop by?
- No need.
I wanted a sous-chef, not an extra guest.
- Wish me luck.
- Good luck.
Wish me luck, too.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
- (INDISTINCT CHATTER)
- (MUSIC PLAYING ON SPEAKERS)
I gather this isn't a coincidence?
More like an intervention.
I was hoping I can convince
you to stay away from Max Wolfe.
What are you doing here?
He's 17, he's a student,
he's in one of your classes.
I have no idea what
you're talking about.
And no idea why you've
decided to talk about it here.
What? Would you rather
me wait till he arrives?
But you won't.
Because you already tried this
with him and it didn't work.
Or you wouldn't be here.
I have an idea. A photo of you two here.
Sent to Gossip Girl for
the whole world to see.
Here's what's gonna happen.
You're gonna leave.
And I won't tell Max you were here
for the sake of your friendship.
But if you ever try to say
or send anything to anyone
I'll tell everyone how
wildly inappropriate it was
that you hit on me.
And after I said no, stalked me.
And I had no choice, but to
ask your friend Max for help.
From there, it's a pretty
short jump to suspension or
Hey, man, don't touch me!
- AKI: I didn't.
- Everything okay here?
RAFA CAPARROS: This kid
just got a little too close.
You might want to check his
ID. Pretty sure he's underage.
Don't worry. I'm leaving.
(SONG CONTINUES PLAYING)
I know that everyone just saw that.
I've got witnesses to back my story up.
Go home, Aki.
And leave the adults to
make our own decisions.
(DOORBELL BUZZING)
KIKI HOPE: Hey, Audge, can you get that?
- It's the doorman.
- Yep.
(MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO)
DOORMAN: Ms. Hope, Ms. Lustbader
and Ms. Talbot have arrived.
AUDREY: Ah, yes, send them up.
What is this?
Rachel Lustbader and Celeste Talbot
- are on their way up now.
- Here?
AUDREY: And Avery
Thorne and Angela Wilcox
are on their way.
- Uh, why?
- And you love your New York friends, right?
You just haven't seen them
in, like in, like, years?
Yeah. We we fell out of touch.
Well, now you can fall back in.
(DOORBELL RINGING)
Go brush your hair and
change. I will fend them off
with this divine relish tray.
Go! Go! Hurry! Hurry! Look cute, okay.
(CELL PHONE VIBRATES)
I just have to say, it's really nice
to be here with you.
I've been feeling a little lost lately.
But talking about literature
with someone who cares.
Yeah, it's pretty easy
to get distracted, huh?
I've been helping this
friend out with a project.
And it's been more
time-consuming than I thought.
Rewarding, but I'm
worried I only signed on
to distract myself from the fact
that I wandered off
my path a little bit.
Well, tell me about this path.
- Um, life lesson me up.
- (KATE CHUCKLING)
Before Constance, I wanted to be writer.
But my insecurities and fear
of failure got the best of me.
And, uh, I've been wondering
what would have happened
if I had just pushed through them
and now I have this
opportunity to find out.
I've, um, I've submitted a
story to The Paris Review.
That's really exciting.
Well, when do you hear back?
No idea. But I won't let
fear overtake me this time.
Um, I could use a little bit
of that fearlessness myself.
Uh, the call I ignored,
it's this kid Simon.
He is
different than anybody
else that I've met
since I moved here.
More like me, the me I
used to be, the me I was.
And not like Obie?
Thing with Obie is, when
we first met, I thought
he might be my people.
But how could he be?
Sure, we have similar
interests, but where we're from,
h the way we were raised,
how we see the world
There's nothing wrong with spending time
with someone you connect with.
Call him back.
It doesn't have to be anything
more than a new friend.
Who doesn't want more
friends? (CHUCKLES)
Thank you, Kate.
- Not so long, next time, okay?
- KIKI: Yeah.
- I've missed you.
- Oh, I know, I missed you, too.
Everything has just been so
But I I should've called you back.
- I'm so sorry.
- CELESTE: Don't apologize.
What a rollercoaster you've been on.
KIKI: Yeah. Bye.
- Bye.
- Bye. (CHUCKLES)
- What is wrong with you?
- (OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)
KIKI: Why would you do that to me?
What? Surround you with your friends?
I was emotionally waterboarded
for the past three hours
between your father's affair and
and bankruptcy and our divorce.
The last thing on this
Earth, Audrey, that I wanna do
is relive that over
and over and over again.
Can you hear how irrational
you sound right now?
- Those are your friends.
- Yeah.
Who you made me debase myself
in front of all night long.
I'm so, so, so sorry
- I tried to help you.
- No. No. Don't you do that.
Don't you make this about
me. This is about you.
- Because you don't wanna move.
- You know what?
Maybe it was for me.
Maybe somebody some time
has to do something for me.
I'm the one who cooks,
I'm the one who cleans,
I'm the one who makes sure
that you're awake and alive.
No. I I gotta to lie down.
- I can't do this.
- AUDREY: Oh, yeah.
That always works. Go lie down.
You have no idea what this feels like.
You had no idea what I
have been going through.
I am putting this apartment on
the market and that is final.
Did dad say that was okay?
What does he have to
do with any of this?
He owns half of it, right?
Maybe I should call him, ask
him to buy out your share?
Audrey, p please.
Please don't involve him in this.
Why? He actually cares about me.
He wouldn't pull me out of school
just because he screwed up his own life.
You can live wherever
you want, Katherine,
but I am not going anywhere.
I would rather be alone
than live with you any day.
- Fuck you!
- (SCOFFS)
I hate you. I hate you!
(DOOR SLAMS SHUT)
(GRUNTS)
I can't thank you enough.
Hope we didn't pull you from anything.
An evening alone at my apartment,
while I anxiously obsess
over things beyond my control?
Zoya told me about The Paris Review.
She's excited for you, we both are.
Um, there's nothing to be excited about.
I'm honestly just
hoping they can tell me
if I have a shred of talent
or if I'm a crazy person
for thinking that I do.
Not that I'd be able to tell you,
but I'd love to read it.
You inspire my daughter. I
like to see what inspires you.
- (MUSIC PLAYING)
- Uh.
Sure. (LAUGHS) Um, why not?
- Uh, w what's your email?
- Uh, here. I'll just
I know what it's like to
obsess over something alone.
You should have seen this single dad
the first night his daughter
went out in the city.
(LAUGHS)
So, if you don't feel like
obsessing alone tomorrow,
you're more than welcome to
come here, distract yourself,
- hand out some candy.
- (PHONE CHIMING)
- Oh.
- (CHUCKLES)
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
KATE: Sorry.
I have to go. There's, um, a
A grading incident at school.
Goodnight. (CHUCKLES)
Goodnight.
- (CELL PHONE CHIMING)
- GOSSIP GIRL: Halloween is the perfect time
for secret rendezvous.
But looks like Z forgot
the most important part.
Her mask.
And so this dynamic duo's spotted again
hiding in plain fright.
Something tells us
this is going to cause
one monster of a scene
between her and Noble O.
Hmm. Looks like Z should
be playing Jay-Z instead.
JULIEN: He's just her friend.
She told me she was
hanging out with him.
Mm-hmm. Cool. So, uh,
give me your phone.
- You're gonna like this post.
- JULIEN: What?
Hell no. I've never
liked a Gossip Girl post.
I'm not gonna start now.
You said he was just her
friend, so why does it matter?
If you want people to believe
that you and Z are close,
then you need to show
them that you support her,
- no matter what or where.
- (DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
If you won't stop, I'll make you.
Wait, what happened? Where did it go?
- Interesting.
- You're good.
Someone probably dropped it.
I wonder what Gossip
Girl is up to though.
("CHAISE LONGUE" BY WET LEG PLAYING)
- Do I look all right?
- Are we going in?
LUNA: You can't go in without Obie.
While it's too bad he
wouldn't go as the elevator,
he can at least be the man between you.
That meta commentary
will best Pippa and Bianca
once and for all. I'll find him.
(SIGHS) What do you
think about GG going dark?
Do you think it had to
do with that gun thing?
Everyone's talking about it.
Whatever it was, I'm just
glad it happened when it did.
Do you think Obie saw that photo?
No. I'm sure he didn't.
- Right, Monet?
- Hmm? Yes. Sorry.
I was just trying to see how old
Catherine Zeta-Jones really is.
- What's up?
- Found, uh, whatever this is.
I'm Sinatra.
Yeah
- Hi.
- Hi.
How are you?
I'm good. Yeah.
Should I not be?
- What's the plan?
- Okay. So give me your coats.
There's a photo stop
just past the lobby,
that's where it all
happens. And you know what,
JC, you're gonna win this one,
because no one's costumes
are better than these.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Wait. Is that
What is happening?
MONET: Oh, my God.
Someone must've leaked
your costumes, but, uh, how?
Someone must've followed me to Mood
and saw me buy all that Orange
Sherbet at Silkshire Mills.
(APPLAUDING)
Oh, my God. Pippa and Bianca, stunning.
We thought about doing something basic
like famous sisters, but
decided a metamorphosis was best.
What bigger New York icons were there
- than Serena and Blair?
- She means Blair and Serena.
Not only were we Gossip
Girl's biggest story today,
we even killed her. RIP, bitch.
So not only is she history,
but now we are also her history.
Best frenemies forever. (CHUCKLES)
Oh, my God. The Twitter
gays are already on this.
They're gonna win the Hulaween again.
Move. Don't let anyone see you.
- Go.
- Go.
(CROWD APPLAUDING, CHEERING)
SINGER: Come on, y'all.
Y'all ready to party?
- (CROWD CHEERING)
- SINGER: Yeah. Put your hands together.
(VOCALIZING)
(SINGING) I put a spell on you ♪
Because you're mine
Mine, mine, mine ♪
You better stop
The things you do ♪
You know, I ain't lyin'
No, no, no, no, no ♪
I can't stand it ♪
'Cause you've been
Runnin' 'round ♪
You know better
I just can't stand it ♪
'Cause you put me down
I put a spell on you ♪
Because you're mine
Oh, yeah ♪
AUDREY: I don't wanna leave.
And I don't know what to do
- and I'm just
- I'll be right back.
Please hurry because whoever
is dressed as Bruce Willis
has been giving me the
eye for a half hour.
That is Bruce Willis. Hurry faster.
Instead of following my dick
appointments around town,
why do you not get one of your own
or is that against her rules?
AKI: Yesterday, I was worried
about you being together.
But after talking to Rafa,
I realize he's just bad.
You know I'm on top, right?
Nagging does not turn me on.
He's not a good guy, Max.
Whatever you think, you
don't know what I've seen.
At least not yet.
I just don't want you to get hurt.
- I care about you.
- MAX: Rafa cares about me, dude.
You know nothing about him.
He he's had a hard life.
His family disowned him,
he's got no one and I
wanna fill that void, okay?
Now, if you don't mind.
(SINGING) I could have sold you, hey ♪
AUDREY: There you are. Did you see
- Okay, she saw.
- JULIEN: Can you believe it?
Pippa and Bianca
disparaging our costumes.
- Somebody told them.
- What are we gonna do?
Guys, it's just a party, all right?
They're just clothes.
For you they might be,
but for people like me
- this gets written about.
- For years.
If you can't beat them, destroy them.
Drive-by trip-splash or
full out "Carrie?"
You've got to be kidding.
- They can't get away with this.
- They already did.
Their photos already on Harper's,
and if Gossip Girl were
active, it would be there too.
I have an idea.
Take off your clothes.
- Excuse me?
- What? What What's happening?
- Do you trust me?
- I used to.
Can you help me with this?
You know, I came here to tell all of you
that I might be leaving
all of this very soon.
But I guess that can wait.
- Okay. Cool.
- JULIEN: Can you get Aki in here?
I need his clothes too.
- Hey, hurry up. Get undressed.
- Uh, can you, um
I guess this was bound
to happen eventually.
I just assumed it would
be behind a paywall.
Hey, oh, no. Keep that on.
Are you gonna clue us on
the plan at some point, JC?
No.
There are spies everywhere.
(SINGER SCAT SINGING)
They're next in line. Hurry. Go.
JULIEN: Go. Go. Go.
- ZOYA: Our wives.
- Ladies.
We've been planning this group costume
with P and B since last year
and the pictures complete.
I'm Dan Humphrey and
I'm Chuck Bass.
What's gotten into you?
So, fine, they won't win,
but look at how cute they are.
Cute doesn't get you on
the cover of Vogue.
You'd be lucky if he
got you on PopSugar.
BIANCA: Why are you basic-bombing us?
You turned our frenemies
into common couples.
JULIEN: Haven't you
ever heard of sisterhood?
If one of us goes down,
we all go down together.
But why are you mad?
They would have been nowhere before.
Then maybe they deserve to be.
Do you mean Pippa and
Bianca or our girls?
- (CROWD CHEERING)
- (MUSIC PLAYING ON SPEAKERS)
Um, can I meet you inside?
Yeah.
Hey. (LAUGHS) You keep popping
up where I least expect you to.
Well, I volunteer for the
New York Restoration Project.
So, technically, I am working.
Well, um, I don't know if you heard,
but we crashed Gossip Girl.
Yeah. She posted a pic
of us from yesterday
and it broke the internet. She's gone.
I admit, uh, you got me curious.
I I looked into her but
what do you think it is
that she's actually trying
to do?
- You want to know?
- You know, you actually mentioned
that you weren't interested in her,
and yet you keep bringing her up.
Must be something about it
that you find interesting.
Did you know Mr. Caparros's cousins
have a winery in Argentina?
- I did not. No.
- Yeah. He told my mom about it
last year at the St. Jude's fundraiser.
- Okay.
- She bought a case to be kind.
The wine tastes like shit, but
the website's actually nice.
OBIE BERGMANN: Hmm.
Why does it feel so good
exposing the truth about people?
(EXHALES HEAVILY) It does, doesn't it?
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(MAN TALKING INDISTINCTLY OVER RADIO)
Hey! You found it.
You gave me the address,
and I have a phone.
Right. Welcome.
Um, this place has a great happy hour.
It goes until 8:00. I come
in here like every night.
(CHUCKLES) Everything on draft
is half price for Halloween.
And I remember you saying
you don't like hops.
So, I was thinking maybe the pilsner?
- It's a microbrew from Vermont.
- Uh, I'm good with water.
Okay. They have that.
- They also have wine.
- I'm sorry.
I'm confused. I thought we were meeting
to talk about the future of Gossip Girl.
I'm sorry if I gave that impression.
You texted me, "We need
to talk about the future."
Right. Well (CLEARS THROAT)
uh, sure. Gossip Girl.
You want it over, it's over.
But if it is, I want to talk
about what might take its place.
You you're not angry
that I shut it down?
I didn't agree to go
on this journey with you
because I thought it was a great idea.
I did it because I like
spending time with you
and I was thinking maybe we can
Yeah. I
I get it.
Um, Jordan, you are so sweet.
Uh, you're one of the
only truly good people
- in my life, maybe the only one.
- (LAUGHS)
You need more people in your life.
Uh, I really can't imagine
anyone else by my side
these last few months.
- But the timing
- Right. Of course.
The the timing.
(EXHALES SHARPLY) I should go.
I'm supposed to help out
a friend pass out candy.
That's cool. You need any help?
- I think we can handle it.
- (LAUGHS)
Kate, I don't want
Gossip Girl to be done.
I've grown to like it.
Makes people talk face to face.
It forces conversations
that would never be had,
even this one.
What you've done, it
isn't just important,
it's vital.
Paris Review be damned.
- Thank you.
- (SONG PLAYING)
I I really have to go. (CHUCKLES)
JULIEN: (ON PHONE) Hey.
Why're you calling?
JC. I cornered Beyoncé
and made her sing like one.
She confirmed my worst fear.
The call came from inside the house.
- Meet me at the balcony.
- (UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
Sorry to interrupt.
But I came across something
I thought you might like.
- A photo from last year.
- (RAFA SCOFFING)
Look at that, photos
of the family reunion
my cousins invited me to.
My parents didn't speak one word to me
and made a big show of leaving
shortly after I arrived.
Thanks for that memory.
Max, do you wanna dance?
Well, I'm not usually into masked men,
but I'll take my chances with you.
LUNA: Monet de Haan, I
knew how low you could go,
- but this is even further.
- I only stoop to conquer.
And I would've if you hadn't interfered.
- Interfered? You sold us out.
- You sold yourself out
when you got mired
in your sister's shit.
Pippa and Bianca are
laser-focused on their futures.
They're willing to do whatever it takes.
And they listen to their advisers,
which now includes me.
They don't even go to our school.
The world is bigger
than Constance, Julien.
- I thought you were my friend.
- I thought you were mine too.
Which is why I put in all
of these hours to make sure
that you are the best.
But when you abandoned all of that
to waste your power and your time
with that buffaloco
without even thinking
about how it would affect other people,
I was done. After years
of doing your dirty work,
you can't just decide that you're clean
all of a sudden.
Luna may not care, but this
I already have an agent at LGA, so.
But this is my future.
If you can't roll with your clients
as they change and grow,
what future will be there?
I don't wanna do things the
way that we've always done it.
I wanna be better.
Well, good luck on
being better without me.
Good luck to you too.
I wish you the best.
(SIGHS) Where is Audrey?
She wanted to talk, I
shouldn't have ignored her.
Ms. Yuki?
Obie Bergmann.
We met last year at my
mother's cover shoot.
Of course. Nice seeing you, Obie.
- Yeah. Nice to see you.
- You can call me Nelly.
Oh, all right.
- You're
- I am a Well, I'm
- I'm a Soprano, yeah.
- (CHUCKLING)
- You?
- Eva Chen.
Uh, she's down there
somewhere in tights being me.
- (LAUGHS)
- I thought it'd be fun.
Now, why do we have you
to thank for the tickets?
Uh, my mom is stuck in Hamburg,
and she was so fond of the profile,
she just thought it'd be a nice gesture.
I would love to introduce you to my
girlfriend. She's around here somewhere.
She's a huge fan of everything
you've done for the magazine.
- Oh, of course. Thank you. (CHUCKLES)
- OBIE: Yeah.
And one of my teachers was even fired
for submitting to her.
- That was crazy.
- Yeah.
Well, that that is pretty crazy.
Uh, you know, I I wonder
has anyone ever thought that maybe
you could be Gossip Girl?
Me?
- Why?
- You're a student,
just like Dan Humphrey was.
Writer like him, an outsider like him.
You can nail the voice, not to
mention the literary references.
And
Gossip Girl was resurrected
right when you arrived
- and not a moment sooner.
- I
I don't understand. You think I'm
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean
to put you on the spot like that.
Um, you wouldn't want to go
get some fresh air real quick?
There's there's actually
a killer 99-cent pizza place
- down the block. This is
- Oh, Zoya, there you are.
I would like to introduce
you to my friend.
- Simon?
- Ms. Yuki.
- You know her?
- Of course he knows me.
I'm his boss.
Are you Chuck Bass?
Obie, what's this about?
Yes, can someone please tell
me what's going on right now?
Simon Rivera is not a student anywhere.
Simon Ravetch is a researcher
for New York Magazine.
Isn't that right, Mr. Ravetch?
I'll get us our table cards.
- Victor.
- So, you called him after all?
I don't know what you're talking about.
The masked man you were
grinding on in there.
That's Rafa Caparros.
No, it's not.
I would know those freckles anywhere.
I used to trace them with my tongue.
I told my boyfriend that
we didn't have a chance.
- He still likes them young.
- Still?
We fucked when I was a senior.
That's his thing.
I hope he'd grown out of
that. I I guess not.
But has he taken you
to his parents' house
in Patagonia?
So that's when you
know you're really in.
You've been impersonating a student
because of Gossip Girl?
I was following a hunch on
who Gossip Girl could be,
all right? I began to think
that a Constance student
this student was following
in Dan Humphrey's footsteps.
This is better than I thought.
- Obie, how did you even
- OBIE: Oh, well, my my parents
leased Dumbo Hall, the building it's in,
so we're founding members.
And the front desk told me
that Simon here was actually
a guest of Ben Peryer from Condé Nast,
so I called him.
And he said that that Simon Ravetch
is actually a friend of a friend
who wanted to check the space out.
That he had his eye on the
front door the entire time
as if he were, and I quote,
"Looking for someone."
Me.
Ben told me about how
you worked at New York.
LinkedIn said you were a researcher, so.
- That's why you invited me here?
- Yeah.
No story is worth
one's reputation, Simon.
Maybe a couple months
transcribing podcasts
for SB Nation will remind you of that.
This kind of drama is exactly
what Gossip Girl wants.
If you stoop to her level, Mr. Bergmann,
you're no better than her.
Simon, let's go.
You knew and you didn't tell me.
You were excited to
have a new friend, but
you gotta be careful, Z. You have to be.
People like that, they
will take advantage
to get closer to people like us.
I'm not like you, Obie.
I'm outside your bubble.
Sometimes I feel like
you don't get that.
And other times, I worry
you get it too much.
That I'm just charity,
another box for you
to check in your
performative solidarity.
No, you are my
girlfriend, and I don't
I just wish that you would
act like that sometimes.
What what is going
on with us right now?
("HALLOWEEN" BY PHOEBE BRIDGERS PLAYING)
- Hey, hey.
- AKI: Are you drunk?
I thought I was supposed to be Greta.
I'm here all night all alone
with no no friends, no family,
no boyfriend. What am I supposed to do?
Like, when am I gonna get a win?
Audge, get a hold of yourself.
You're acting like your
mom at your fundraiser.
You know what, I know why.
Because she wanted
attention from the people
that loved her most.
And I didn't give it to her.
Just like you're not giving it to me.
I know everything sucks,
and it's confusing.
I'm confused about everything, too.
I'm changing, we're changing,
and we can't stop that.
But we can work on how
we react to those changes.
(CELL PHONE VIBRATING)
We can do better, me, you, your mom
(CELL PHONE VIBRATING)
It's my mom.
As if she knew. (CHUCKLES)
Now maybe you get to tell
your mom you understand
- a little bit better.
- Yeah.
Hey, mom, I wanna say I'm sorry that
DR. GIBSON: (ON PHONE)
Um, no. This is Dr. Gibson.
I'm calling from the emergency
room at NewYork-Pres.
- What?
- So you're a liar.
Well, I only lied about my parents
- to get you to talk to your dad.
- What about your students?
They were all legal. Like you.
That's not the point.
Is this what you do? A
new student every year?
Not every year.
- And you chased me.
- Hmm.
Or did you forget?
This is still fun, Max.
When did you get so
moral all of a sudden?
ZOYA: Wait, Julien.
- JULIEN: Okay.
- Did she say what happened?
- JULIEN: I don't know.
- ZOYA: Come on.
They don't care about you.
If they don't, it's only
because I made it that way.
- Hey.
- Let go of me!
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
Here you are. All right. Goodnight.
I think a Kit-Kat melted.
Hey, thanks again for helping out.
I needed it. It was great to take
my mind off things
for a couple of hours.
Not to put your mind back on things,
but now that the doorbell is
not ringing every five seconds
I loved your story.
- You did?
- I did.
It was darker than I
expected, but evocative.
I can see why Zoya looks up to you.
You're not only inspiring,
you're talented, too.
Thanks.
I It's like I hear you say that,
and it's so nice, but
I wonder if I've been
obsessing over the wrong things.
I wanted to be a writer because I wanted
to make a difference
in the world, but
what if what I've been doing
makes a bigger difference
than my writing ever could?
You mean teaching?
- It's really powerful.
- I think so, too.
- Can I use your restroom?
- Of course, yeah.
- It's just down the hall.
- KATE: Hmm.
GOSSIP GIRL: You thought
I went somewhere?
Well, I'm back. And better than ever.
Yes, maybe I'd begun to wonder
if I was abusing my considerable power,
when I realized you're the
ones who do that, not me.
I'm not your parent, your
teacher, or your friend.
I'm your mirror.
I show you your bad parents,
your absent teachers,
your errant friends.
But if there's one thing
this moment of reflection
showed me, it's that this
isn't a place for you to speak.
I'm turning off the comments from now on.
Mine is the only voice you
need to listen to anyway,
because if you were kinder
to one another, more honest,
if you had the hard
face-to-face conversations,
you wouldn't need me. But you don't.
You bring a gun to school. You
sneak out on your boyfriend.
You hide behind your phones.
So keep your masks on all year
- if you want to.
- (CELL PHONE VIBRATES)
But know I'll be here keeping count,
keeping you in check,
reflecting what you refuse to
see is right in front of you.
Hey, Nick, are are you hungry?
Uh, I know a good diner nearby.
JULIEN: Everything Gossip Girl's
ever posted, it's all gone.
What does that mean?
- MAX: Clean slate.
- God, I hope so.
- Ms. Hope.
- (MUSIC PLAYING)
Your mom's gonna be okay.
She's awake but groggy.
(SIGHS)
- Thank you so much, Doctor.
- I should warn you though.
It's gonna be a very long
and hard road to recovery.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
I understand.
I'm not going anywhere.