Three words, eight letters.
Say it and I'm yours.
- L... BLAIR: That's all I needed to hear.
What do you say we just forget thinking and follow our hearts?
WILLIAM: You're a part of this legacy too, Nathaniel.
I don't wanna owe him or my family anything.
- Serena. Where's Charles? - Mom, what's wrong?
LILY: Bart's been in an accident.
My father is dead because of your father.
I will stand by you through anything.
- And why would you do that? - Because I love you.
Well, that's too bad.
- There's something you need to know. - Just tell me one thing.
Was it a boy or a girl?
I had enough trouble with the idea of Mom and Rufus dating...
...but now I share a sibling with my boyfriend?
- It's over, isn't it? ANDREW'S DAD: Andrew got caught...
...in a riptide. RUFUS: If we had known...
...we wouldn't have bothered you. - Is it over?
ANDREW'S DAD: We lost one son. We weren't losing another.
- You go to NYU? I start in the fall. - I transferred from BU.
- Tell me if what you feel is real. - It's just a game.
SERENA: Chuck, why did you just do that? CHUCK: Because I love her.
You're famous because you got arrested.
SERENA: The end of school means the end of me on Gossip Girl.
GOSSIP GIRL: Congratulations. You have a clean slate. Until college.
Her dad is marrying Lily Bass? That makes her richer than all of you.
SERENA: Carter. - I have something you wanna know.
- Santorini. What you were looking for. - You found my father?
CHUCK: You were right.
I love you too.
WOMAN: Where has she been?
GOSSIP GIRL: And who am I?
That's one secret I'll never tell.
You know you love me. XOXO...
...Gossip Girl.
GOSSIP GIRL: Welcome back, Upper East Siders.
After a long, hot summer away, I see it didn't take much time...
...for you to dirty up the clean slates I gave you.
My inbox is overflowing, so let's get to the good stuff, shall we?
Spotted: Chuck Bass up to his old tricks.
I know.
I wasn't expecting to see someone like you...
...somewhere like this so early in the day.
I'm in need of refuge. It's too hot.
Oh, it's never too hot.
Care to test that theory?
And what if I have a girlfriend?
Chuck Bass doesn't do girlfriends.
Where's your limo?
I gave my driver the day off.
Then I guess we'll have to find someplace else.
GOSSIP GIRL: As for a certain leggy blond by a Hamptons pool...
...looks like Serena left big shoes to fill...
...and someone finds them the perfect fit.
Well, I found it, and just in time. The car's here.
Now it's time to go...
Get you dressed?
- No, I'm not leaving. - I don't think we have a choice.
As soon as we get in that car, it means no more beaches, bonfires...
...and no more stalking the Barefoot Contessa through 1770 House.
Our summer in the Hamptons is officially over.
So a sit-in?
More like a lie-in. At least until the sun goes down.
You're sure your dad doesn't know?
Oh, totally. I mean, we hid the evidence. Look, Dan doesn't even know.
He was too busy pre-reading all his books for college.
And I snuck onto his laptop...
...and might have disabled his Serena van der Woodsen Google Alert.
But what happens when we get back to the city?
It's Serena's problem. As for now, we made a promise.
And it is very important to keep those.
Even if they were asked via drunken text from a Turkish pay-as-you-go phone.
[CHUCKLES]
Our bags are packed, the house is closed, but the question remains:
Now that you've spent your summer drinking coffee out of CeCe's china...
...will it taste as good out of your Welcome Back, Kotter mug at home?
Sure, it was great out here, but I like the real world too.
I mean, since we'll be at Lily's, it's a better-smelling...
...higher-thread-count version of the real world.
You aren't ready? Serena's gonna be home by 6.
I mean, how can she even greet us when she gets here?
Isn't she taking a vow of silence at the ashram?
I don't know. That Eat, Pray, Love thing is great and all.
But I doubt she can keep her mouth shut a whole month.
Even so, it's time to leave. I think her month is up.
I need to meet up with Vanessa too. She has something to tell me...
...about how she spent her summer. - Wasn't she in Europe with Nate?
It's a good thing the flight attendants dim the cabin lights over the Atlantic.
Even better my car got a flat on the way to Heathrow...
...and I missed the plane I was supposed to be on.
Otherwise, I would have been sitting in seat 3B of an entirely different plane.
Making out with an entirely different passenger in seat 3A.
Now that we're back on our own turf, do I at least get your number?
Maybe your last name?
- A little mystery never hurt anyone. - Really?
Oh, come on. Please, you gotta give me something to go on.
Okay, well, we are going to the same school.
Columbia's kind of a big one.
I mean, especially when you factor in the graduate school.
You caught that.
See, you're a better detective than you think.
Well, my car is waiting.
- Done? I'll take it. - Sure.
- On second thought. - You have a problem with the Buckleys?
That right-wing nut job called William Vanderbilt a deviant...
...for lobbying against DOMA.
Because William Vanderbilt...
...called Jeb Buckley a cokehead and a cheater.
Are you saying it isn't cheating if you get your congressional aide pregnant?
- Oh, God. You're Nate Archibald. - And you're Bree Buckley.
You pulled my hair during Clinton's inaugural ball.
Your cousins tried to waterboard me on the White House lawn.
It was good to see you again.
Yeah, take care of yourself.
Uh-uh.
- Why not? - It's better to wait.
How long?
Let's see.
Now.
What the hell is going on?
Blair, I can explain.
I'm sorry. I didn't know he had a girlfriend.
Yes, you did. She did.
- L... - Shame on you, Ashley Hinshaw.
How could you do that? Pick up someone in a relationship?
- Have you no pride? No self-respect? - Okay, I didn't know...
You may have an Abercrombie campaign, the security code to Clooney's castle.
That doesn't give you the right to steal someone's man.
Take your American Girl hair and your poreless skin and get out!
Okay, you're crazy.
- Hey. - Hi.
Oh, thank you.
It's been three hours. I missed you.
Let me make it up to you.
Let's get out of here.
Or we could stay.
Jenny will take Eric's room when...
With Chuck at the Palace, Eric will take his room.
Sweet. I didn't want to sleep under Chuck's dirty Girl Scout painting.
Oh, and Dan.
- Yeah, I will be back in Brooklyn. - When Lily gets back, we'll join you.
Mr. Rufus, there are packages I couldn't put upstairs.
Hey, what are you doing?
- Recycling. - What?
Whoa, whoa. Oh, my God.
It... It's not what you think.
So much for Eat, Pray, Love. I guess she got the "love" part right.
[CELL PHONE RINGS]
You can't say anything. Promise?
- Dan. - Hey, Vanessa.
Yeah, I was just about to head down there.
Miss Serena is home.
[CROWD CHATTERING]
VANESSA: Hello? - I'm gonna have to reschedule.
Oh, my God.
Dan can't make it. I think something's going down with his family.
Did he say what it was?
GOSSIP GIRL: As for Serena van der Woodsen, you left America a star.
- Excuse me. What the hell is going on? - I don't know. Please help.
But after your exploits in Europe, you've come back a supernova.
- Back up, please, right now. - Yet nothing explodes without a fuse.
I wonder what, or who, lit yours.
Is Serena up yet? We were talking till late.
I think I heard her.
What's that?
Money your mother left us for emergencies.
Not to boast, but we haven't used a penny of it all summer.
Oh. Well, thank heaven for salaried servants and an account at the beach club, right?
Oh, well, I'm glad I have the number for City Harvest.
This is all a little much.
A little much? It makes Four Seasons look like one season.
Mom wanted everybody to feel welcome while she was away.
- Or she's trying to bribe us. RUFUS: What? No.
In fact, she got us a treat for tomorrow.
A table in our name at the Vanderbilt annual charity polo match in Greenwich.
Lily thought it would be fun. So we're gonna go have fun for Lily.
Please show your family support by mimicking my expression.
There'll be photographers. You gonna be okay? Might create another mob scene.
Oh, no. Yeah, I'll be fine. I'm really sorry about yesterday.
I thought after the scandal, out of sight, out of mind.
I had no idea it would be worse.
No, you've apologized. Those vultures have the shot of your return.
They'll leave you alone. Not like you're gonna get arrested again.
No, of course not.
Um, I have to go meet Blair to go shopping.
You can't go to a polo match without a hat.
I'm gonna walk you out.
Thank you for the escort, but I can walk 15 feet without hurting myself.
There was nothing out of sight or out of mind about your trip.
I know what happened.
I don't know what you're talking about.
Serena, there was no ashram.
I went to an ashram, on a tour.
I appreciate your concern, but the white lies I tell my family...
...are none of your business. - Rufus is my family.
You didn't just lie to him. You lied to me.
All those e-mails about the benefits of Bikram?
- "Ten easy steps to colon cleanse"? - Turns out Goop is good for something.
- What's really going on here? - Nothing. Nothing.
It was just a few nights of harmless fun.
- That's it. - All right, all right.
- Where did you get that? - They're all over the Internet.
Whatever is going on, you can tell me.
[ELEVATOR DINGS]
Thank you. All right, I have to go.
I know it's a buyer's market right now...
...but that doesn't mean there's anything worth buying.
- Why don't you stay at the Palace? - I'm done living in my father's shadow.
- And that includes his hotel. - And running his company?
Lily was doing an amazing job overseeing the board before she left.
Why not let her continue? What about you?
Any word from the Vanderbilt compound since you've been back?
Not a word. And tomorrow's the family polo match.
I skipped the internship at the mayor's office, I knew they'd be mad.
- I'm getting the silent treatment. - Lf they're mad...
...why don't you call the girl from the plane?
No, I'm not gonna use Bree to send some message.
You're missing one key detail. Sleeping with the enemy is hot.
Why do you think I had that whole lvanka thing?
Look, I don't wanna stir up stuff.
If you think they're done trying to control you, you're wrong.
While waiting for your proof...
...why not take Bree Buckley out on the town?
Have some fun with a girl you like...
...and show your family that you're your own man.
Being accepted for who you are is crucial, like Blair accepts me.
SERENA: Wait, you do what? I go to Europe for three months...
...and you turn from Jane Austen to Anais Nin?
Is there anything Chuck Bass can't get you to do?
It was my idea.
No, no, it wasn't.
Yeah, we... We had our honeymoon period, and it was perfect.
But while other couples settle, we were determined to keep things interesting.
So Chuck plays the cheating bastard and I play the scorned woman.
I even get to choose who to humiliate.
- Models, Upper West Siders. - I don't know if anybody ever told you...
...the honeymoon is supposed to end. The real part is when you settle down.
- The three-month milestone. - It is not a milestone. It's a gravestone.
Settling down means death. Less sex, more silence.
We found a way to avoid that that works for us.
Wow. You guys sure about that?
If you don't mind me saying so... Well, I think I know Blair pretty well.
I would so like to retire any mention of the whole Jules and Jim thing.
All right, but listen.
The games may seem like fun. Are you sure Blair's not just playing for you?
Because if she's not doing it for herself too, look, things can get messy.
If you love him, then lock him down.
Open relationships only invite chaos. Trust me, I know.
It's not an open relationship. We're completely monogamous.
- It's just one of our games, like the rest. - Yeah, until it isn't anymore.
Playing and actually being the scorned woman is a slippery slope.
B, college is about to start.
What happens when you don't get there in time...
...and he actually kisses someone else, or worse?
He wouldn't.
Uh. I still have no idea why they're following me.
Oh, please, spare me, S.
I get every edition of HELLO! and OK! there is.
I know what you did this summer, and who.
Cristiano Ronaldo.
I hope you got your shots before you traveled.
- Should I be worried? - No.
No, I just had a great time.
I just wish that they would leave me alone.
Oh, is that why you got your hair blown out?
[BLAIR CHUCKLES]
Listen to your quality problems. Serena's being chased by paparazzi.
My dad and sister are house-sitting a penthouse.
- And I have a farmer's tan. - You got me.
The good life is... It's pretty good.
What was so important that you had to bring me here to tell me in person?
I hope it's not about Nate.
We hooked up one night in Prague, no big deal.
But after I came back and started hanging out at this place...
- Please tell me you're not working here. - I'm done serving coffee, thank God.
Just made some new friends, one in particular. He was here this morning.
- Oh, so you are dating someone. - His name's Scott.
I think you guys would like each other.
We met him here in the spring for five seconds. He had just transferred.
We've been hanging out. And, okay, maybe there's been a little bit of flirting.
Ohh. Thank you. Here, let me get it.
Okay, wait. Why do you have a knockoff designer wallet?
I thought you hated intellectual property theft.
Oh, it's to hold all your hundred-dollar bills.
Do you know how hard it is to break one of those?
I don't even know why they make them.
I'm kidding, sort of.
It's not a knockoff. It's a graduation present from Lily...
...as is what's in it.
You know what, I thought I'd never use it, but have you seen the stitching?
Oh, my God. Dan Humphrey's been seduced by wealth.
It had to happen. Even Frodo eventually gave in to the power of the Ring.
Oh, come on, I'm still me. I just have a nicer wallet.
As for your friend, I'd love to meet him.
How about tomorrow?
We can do Brooklyn things like go to the dumpling truck.
Play Signed or Unsigned on the Promenade.
That sounds great, but I have to do this thing for my dad, so...
Okay. We'll find time. Walk you to the subway?
No, I'm on the 6.
Oh, right.
- See? I'm still me. - Heh, heh.
WAITRESS: You left these.
Oh, thanks. These are my friend's.
[PHONE RINGING]
VANYA: Mr. Humphrey, the camera people are in the trash outside. Your trash.
RUFUS: All right, thanks. I don't understand.
Serena's arrest was months ago. Why do they still care about her?
- Her clothes. - Her hair.
- Her style.
What do you know that I don't know?
Where have you been? I've been calling you for an hour.
I was with Nate. Why?
Nate. No reason.
I've arranged a little go-see at a modeling agency downtown.
We should pick someone out together, take her back to my place.
Or we could just stay in?
- Whatever you want. - No, it's fine.
I'll go. We'll go.
- I'll go get my purse. - Okay.
Oh, I see the cat's out of the bag.
And topless on Valentino's yacht.
Oh, that's not fair. Everyone's topless on Valentino's yacht, Dad.
What about this one? She's dancing on the table.
- That's what you do in Barcelona. - Prince Harry's doing shots off her...
That's what you do in Saint Tropez.
Some have the same guy in them...
...but you can't quite make him out. I wonder who he is.
- Where you headed, beautiful? - Carter.
- I was in the neighborhood. - No, you weren't.
Gossip Girl said you returned. I wanted to see you.
Well, you've seen me. Now you can go.
- We need to talk. - No, we don't.
I know what you're doing.
You can't avoid what happened forever.
Watch me.
Oh, no.
GOSSIP GIRL: Spotted: Serena van der Woodsen giving Carter Baizen the slip.
We've all seen the selects...
... but what happened between them when TMZ was MIA?
Something tells me the truth is just out of focus.
Well, you were right.
- Your family? - Wants me exactly where I used to be.
Except they gave me the wheels to get there this time. Check this out:
"Unfortunate you missed out on summer. Good thing internships begin next week."
- Sorry, man. - Don't be.
It's about time I broke off from them. And I know how I'm gonna do it.
I don't know why he felt he had to lie to me.
- I don't think it was really a lie. - Thank you.
He said he was taking the subway when he had a limo waiting.
And not to mention he told me he was helping his dad tomorrow.
Gossip Girl says he's attending the Vanderbilts' polo match.
In a Dior suit.
Is this where I pretend to know what "Dior" means?
Why keep these things secret from me? Is he worried I'm gonna judge him?
- I wonder why he might think that. - But I'm not judging. I get it.
If I had a limo that followed me, I'd take it too.
I'm his best friend. I support him no matter what.
Even if he were rich and dressed like Truman Capote.
You know, you should probably tell him that.
I should.
Too bad he has that polo match with his family.
His whole family?
Yeah, and Nate's family. And I'm sure Blair and Chuck will be there...
...if the murder-suicide I predicted hasn't happened yet.
Why don't you call his dad? From what you said, you sound pretty close to him.
Say you haven't seen a lot of Dan lately and you'd like to go.
You think I should invite myself to a charity polo match?
Yeah. Just show up. Tell Dan how great he looks in his suit.
And if he has room, you'd love a ride back to the city in his limo.
I've never been to a polo match. Maybe you can get a plus one.
Maybe.
- Needs a sandwich. - Looks just right to me.
- Adam's apple. - Blair.
Catalog. Chuck, none of these girls are even worth humiliating.
Looking in the mirror will do that for them.
- Is everything okay? What's going on? - Nothing's going on. Why?
This is one-stop shopping. You're acting like everything's last season.
- I thought you wanted to play. - I did. I do.
I did.
The summer was great.
We had a lot of fun.
Maybe summer's over.
Okay.
If that's what you want.
- Is that what you want? - I want you to be happy...
...however that's achieved.
Let's go home.
Wow.
It looks...
Smaller.
Yeah.
Your mom bought these for me for Cotillion with CeCe.
How's she doing?
Um... Not great. And the longer my mom's gone...
...the more I worry that Grandma's treatments aren't going well.
But your dad's doing a great job holding it all together.
At least he's pretending to.
Well, having your summer plans changed...
...stuck in charge of two kids you didn't raise in a house you don't own.
Yeah, I know. It sounds like a reality-show premise.
- It's gotta be getting to him. - Plus the whole thing with Serena.
Last time she went off the deep end, it got really messed up.
Yeah. I wonder what really happened this summer.
Well, now that Rufus knows, maybe we'll find out.
What is it? Grandma?
- No, it's you. - I'm sorry. He found out.
Before I get angrier, tell me what happened.
I'd like to not use my imagination when it comes to these pictures.
You don't have to. If you look close enough... I'll shut up.
Rufus, I know I shouldn't have lied, but I was in Europe...
...and I had just graduated, and I got a little carried away.
And what happens in summer stays in summer, right?
Look, the only reason I didn't tell you...
...is because you would think I'd gone off the rails again.
Did you?
No.
No. Everything I said to you last night was true.
I'm done.
We'll put it behind us, then?
And in what is perhaps an ironic twist, due to your current social status...
...the polo society has asked...
...if you will throw in the first ball at the match tomorrow.
I'd love to.
I'll go call them back. Your mom will be proud.
You know, I didn't want to alarm my dad any further, but there was one guy...
...who was in a lot of those pictures with you. Who was that?
Carter Baizen. We traveled together at the beginning of summer...
...but then things got weird and...
And now he's stalking me. He's been stalking me ever since...
...and I don't know what to do. He won't leave me alone...
Whoa, whoa. Wait. What are you saying?
Look, if you hear from him or see him...
...just please keep him away from me at all costs.
I'm worried what he might do.
BLAIR [ON ANSWER MACHINE]: It's Blair. Leave a message.
Hey, Blair, it's Dan.
I know I'm not someone you wanna hear from late at night...
...or any hour, but I need your help. Call me.
GOSSIP GIRL: This just in: An unlikely alliance is forming on the Upper East Side.
Yeah, Mom, everything's great.
I have been waiting all summer for Reed to start and tomorrow's the day.
I get to do what I came here for.
GOSSIP GIRL: Too bad it may be too late to do any good.
Good luck to you.
[CHATTERING]
Last year I had to go to the White Party in a dress I made myself. This year...
"Mrs. Jennifer Humphrey." When did you get married?
It doesn't matter, okay? It's engraved.
PHOTOGRAPHER: Ms. Van der Woodsen. - Would you like me to tell him not to?
No. It's okay. I won't do anything worth publishing. Not even smile.
I should find Blair.
NATE: Well, the bad news is your last name's Buckley...
...but the good news is knowing this information made you easier to find.
Yeah, well, I knew you couldn't stay away.
There's someone I want you to meet.
- Oh, my God. Is that your...? - Grandfather.
- Nathaniel. So nice to see you. NATE: You too.
And who is this?
This is Bree Buckley, my date.
And I believe this belongs to you.
MAN: Hello, Nate. Would you come with me for a second?
Oh, okay.
How are you? So nice to see you.
- How's your terrine? - Bland.
- How's your julep? - Weak.
- Isn't that Alexandra Richards? - Yes.
Look at her.
Floating through the party with her perfect pout and flawless figure.
You know, if we were still in the game, she'd be a great score.
But we're not, right?
No, we're not.
Everything is so white.
Welcome to my world.
There's Dan.
How could you tell? You met him months ago.
Nice suit, right? And I guess I have a good memory.
Well, he's alone. Now is your chance.
- Gonna go to the bar. Want anything? - No, I'm all right.
I'm not gonna leave you by yourself. Let's find Jenny to keep you company.
No excuses. I'll be fine. Just go.
I'll wait by the bar and get us drinks.
- Okay. - All right.
Hi.
What? Vanessa? What are you doing here?
Nice suit.
Ah. You couldn't judge me enough in New York?
You had to follow me to another state to do it too?
- No, I came to tell you that... BLAIR: Humphrey.
- Come on, it's showtime. VANESSA: If you don't mind...
...Dan and I are in the middle of something.
If you don't mind, or even if you do, Dan's coming with me.
Yeah, I have to go. I'm sorry.
- So am I. - Thank you.
Are you Rufus?
I'm a friend of Vanessa's. I'm Scott Adler.
Oh, right, right. I'm glad you guys came. It's nice to meet you.
It's okay. It's just a handshake.
No, I'm sorry, it's just... I've always been a fan of your music.
BLAIR: Carter?
CARTER: Waldorf.
- Can't say it's good to see you. BLAIR: No, you can't.
Not after what I tell you.
The invitation you got to come to this party wasn't exactly what you thought.
- Spare me. Where's Serena? - This him?
You've been served.
- What the hell is this? - It's a restraining order.
This says I have to stay away from Blair Waldorf.
Yeah, and until further notice, you'll find me by Serena's side.
Step within 100 feet of me, you'll be arrested.
- How far do you think he is? - I don't think far enough.
- I agree. Security. - Hey, what's...? What's going on here?
Your friends are trying to have me removed.
Right, because you're stalking me.
Yeah, look, you don't have to talk to him.
You told them I was stalking you?
You wanna tell them the truth, or should I?
- What's the truth? - Yeah, Carter. What's the truth?
Sooner or later, you're gonna be alone, with no one taking your picture.
What will you do then?
BLAIR: Wait, Serena, what is he talking about?
Miss van der Woodsen, the first chukker is about to begin.
- Oh. - We need to take position for the throw-in.
Yes, of course. Thank you, Nacho. Goodbye, Carter.
BLAIR: Serena, wait. SERENA: Thanks, guys.
DAN: Wait, you gotta tell us what's going on. SERENA: Uh, later.
[GROANS]
- Hi. - I'm Chuck Bass.
Alexandra.
- I don't believe it. DAN: All right...
All right, if she can't explain it, then maybe Carter...
MAN [OVER SPEAKERS]: Ladies and gentlemen...
You found a bootleg copy of that concert?
Wow. I bet I have a recording off the board, somewhere.
- I could get it to Vanessa if you'd like. - I'd love that. In fact, I'd...
CARTER: Hey.
I'm gonna borrow this horse.
GOSSIP GIRL: Forget a grand entrance...
... everybody knows it's the exit they'll remember.
Hey. I just got your text. What's going on?
You didn't tell me that you were bringing me to a family event.
Well, so? Listen, I really like you.
If your being here happens to piss off my grandfather, I figured you'd like that.
Hey, look.
Normally I'd be on board the let's-piss-off-Grandpa train...
...but what you don't know is that currently my family isn't speaking to me.
Which is something that, unlike you, I'd like to change.
Being front row at a Vanderbilt charity event doesn't send that message.
I didn't know. I'm sorry.
Well...
My family used to control me, like yours obviously does.
And I rebelled, like you obviously do.
Except I took off to Europe.
A year into it, I found out that my cousin...
...who's like a sister to me, got stood up at the altar...
...and I wasn't there for her because I was trying to prove some stupid point.
I'm just trying to find my way back in...
...and I happened to bump into you along the way.
Well, I'm glad you did.
Despite what it may look like, the reason I tracked you down...
...was because I wanted to see you again.
If that means keeping a low profile, I'm up for it.
Look, I know secrecy is a lot to ask for...
...but I just... I really can't risk making my family more upset right now.
Hey, don't worry. I'm good at secret relationships.
I've had a bit of practice.
Figured you weren't planning on riding all the way back to the city.
Why won't you leave me alone? You're not my boyfriend.
But I seem to be the only one you tell your secrets to.
- Well, I guess that was a mistake. - Dropping your dress, stealing a horse.
- All it is is a cry for attention. - I don't need to.
I'm getting plenty on my own, in case you haven't noticed.
Yeah, plenty from everyone except the one you want it from.
That's not true.
He didn't want to see you, Serena.
No, that's... That's not what happened.
We spent a month chasing him down, and he couldn't meet you face to face.
Maybe he didn't get my message or didn't realize...
Oh, he didn't realize who his daughter was?
Serena, what if your dad didn't wanna see you?
Who cares? Who the hell is he not to want you?
I would have stayed all summer with you.
But after that, you ditched me and ran again.
There the two you of you are. I've been looking for you everywhere.
We were just discussing how we were gonna get back to the city.
- Well, I'll get you home. - No, thank you. We'll find our own way.
I'm not gonna be taking the internship. I hope you can understand that.
Of course I can.
How many times must I tell you, Nathaniel? I want to be your family.
Work wherever. Date whomever.
I won't stand in your way.
I just want you to be happy.
I almost believe you.
That's enough for me.
And if I'm right in guessing that you two are hiding out here...
...because Miss Buckley would prefer to keep her presence unknown...
...why search for a cab and risk being seen?
Okay.
I'm giving it back in the morning.
Tripp, it's me.
Remember how we've always wanted to do something about the Buckleys?
I think I may have found a way.
Excuse me. Have you seen Mr. Bass anywhere?
You just missed him. He left about five minutes ago.
Was he alone?
There was a woman who left about the same time.
Was she blond, tall, stunning, and every man's fantasy?
GOSSIP GIRL: Spotted: Blair Waldorf learning that just because you get out of the game...
... doesn't mean someone isn't waiting on the bench to take your place.
MAN 1: Good game. MAN 2: Good one.
I know stuff's going on with your family, so I'm gonna go.
Okay, why'd you come here?
Honestly? Right now, I'm not sure.
Maybe people just change. Maybe it's okay if we grow apart.
Vanessa, I'm not changing.
You're at a polo match in a $3000 suit and your name's in the program.
And after I take a bus across the state line to apologize...
...you ditch me for Blair and disappear.
CeCe set me up with the suit.
Jenny got a dress too, if you'd like to make her feel bad.
As for Blair, it's not like we're shoe-shopping or sipping martinis.
- There's something with Serena. - And what is that?
I wish I knew. All I do know is that Lily's mother is very sick.
My dad is struggling to keep it together.
Not to mention my family is in the middle of a massive transition.
So please give me a break with the "rich people suck" thing.
I don't care if you're rich. Which you aren't.
Ride in a limo, break a hundred, that's fine.
But if you're gonna be in this world, be yourself.
Because I like that guy. And I hope he's the one who turns up at NYU.
[CARTER CHUCKLES]
What's so funny?
Old habits die hard.
Don't worry, I'll find my way.
Anybody seen a girl in an orange dress?
BLAIR: Chuck, where is she?
What are you talking about?
Do you really expect me to believe you don't have her stashed here?
I came back from the party because I had a headache.
Didn't you get my messages?
Must have left my phone on the table.
What if we need games?
What if without them we're boring?
- We could never be boring. - You say that, but I know you.
You're Chuck Bass.
I'm not Chuck Bass without you.
Running to get here all the way from Connecticut?
It was pretty exciting.
Do you know where Alexandra lives?
How about we stay in instead?
Well, that wasn't so much fun, was it?
Depends on your definition of fun.
I'm sorry I brought you. The Humphreys are going through a lot.
I don't even know if Dan and I are even still friends.
I know they're dealing with stuff, but they seem like good people to me.
You and Dan have been friends for so long...
...maybe you shouldn't write that off.
Let's not even talk about it anymore.
Are you sure?
Because if you need to talk...
I don't...
I think I've done enough talking for one night.
And I thought one of us should finally make the first move...
...maybe turn this night around.
I'm glad you did.
GOSSIP GIRL: Growing up means one thing: Independence.
I'll be right back.
We all want it.
Sometimes we use other people to try to get it for ourselves.
[CAR HORN HONKS]
Waiter?
This glass is dirty, and I've been waiting far too long.
Well, I apologize, ma'am.
Surely there's some way I can make up for the poor service?
I can think of a few ways.
GOSSIP GIRL: Sometimes we find it in each other.
WOMAN [ON MACHINE]: The party you are trying to reach is not available.
Please leave a message.
Hey, it's Serena again.
I don't know if you get these messages, or if you even check this number...
...but I just want you to know...
...that I'm not gonna stop trying to get your attention.
I'm gonna do whatever it takes for however long.
Bye.
GOSSIP GIRL: Sometimes our independence comes at the cost of something else.
- And that cost can be high. - I hope I'm doing the right thing.
You wanted to keep Serena out of the papers, this is the way.
- You own all the pictures now. - Oh, not all of them.
There is still one photographer that my group hasn't been able to reach yet.
GOSSIP GIRL: Because more often than not, in order to gain our independence...
... we have to fight.
Can you guarantee that these will run in Europe and Asia?
I'll try my best.
Good. Because I wanna make sure my father sees these wherever he goes.
Never give up. Never surrender.
XOXO, Gossip Girl.
[ENGLISH - US - SDH]