good morning, upper east siders.
Gossip
girl here--
your one and only source into the
scandalous lives of manhattan's elite.
Top story on my home page--
re sena van der woodsen,
everybody's favorite "it" girl has
just returned from a mysterious absence
and was learning the hard way
that you can never go home again.
serena is back
you'll never believe
what's on "gossip girl.
" Someone saw serena getting
offa train at grand central.
Serena?
Serena's at school.
Why'd she return?
Let me guess--you told everyone eric's
just visiting grandpain rhode island.
Your aunt carol in miami.
He tries to take his own life,
and you're worried it's
gonnacost you mom of the year?
Must be a lot of rumors why you're back.
None of them mention you.
Nate's gonna wait for serena.
He can get in linebehind that guy.
I don't need some new boyinfluencing
her, distracting her from her needs.
A kid like dan isexactly
what serena needs.
Guess who's dad is cool?
It's a trick question.
Yeah,'cause it can't be ours.
You're going out with serena,and
I'm going to kiss on the lips.
Who saidthis family wasn't cool?
I thought everythingwas good between us.
It was...before I found outyou
had sex with my boyfriend.
Great,just in time for brunch.
I told her to stay away.
I'm not sneaking around with you.
Just to talk.
You said you'd neverspeak to her again.
So you slept with your
best friend's boyfriend.
Is that true?
Then she ran awayand lied about it.
Poor daniel--so little
time,so many sluts to defend.
this world,it's--it's
crazy.
And you're a part of it.
Blair, how can I fix this?
You don't, serena.
You just stay away.
But now that serena is back,
will the upper east
side ever be the same?
It takes two tangle, and girls like
these don't go down without a fight.
there's plenty of upside to being
the spawn of the fabulously wealthy.
But the downside?
Super successful parents except
nothing less from their offspring.
And when it comes to
college, that means the ivies.
It's more than just
getting into college.
It's setting a course
for the rest of your life.
And for those few who aren't
legac s, the pressures are no less.
When parents have sacrificed
for their children's futures,
what kid would wanna let them down?
thank you, ladies.
Good morning, students.
I ask all of you to show a little
sympathy for our junior class.
They are almost through with ivy week.
As is our long-standing tradition,
the constance billard girls will be
in charge of friday night's mixer,
and the st.Jude's boys will provide the
ushers for the visiting representatives.
for those of you who dream of
attending an ivy league school,
this mixer is the most
important event of your life.
But no pressure.
ah, it's not that bad.
It looks like I shaved
with a wood chipper.
I was going with more of a chain saw.
- Not helping.
- Not trying to.
Hey, look on the bright side--
you're not a hemophiliac.
Otherwise, you'd-- you'd
be in the emergency room.
And that's helping?
Mm, not really.
dartmouth's gonna love you.
Yeah, I gotta believe being able to
shave is a prerequisite for attending.
No one is better qualified, no one
is smarter, more well-rounded...
or wounded?
It's not like I have a trust
fund to fall back on, dad.
You know, all I have is what's up here.
well, that is the most important thing.
College is about academic
excellence, not your stock portfolio.
Besides, you're gonna do
great in your interview.
You take after your dad that way.
Spotlight doesn't phase us.
you better hope there's
not a spotlight involved.
I'm your sister.It's what I do.
Not when it's about dartmouth.
remember, students...
nathaniel, a little wake an ke?
We have our interviews today.
My point exactly.I have my 1-hitter.
but underclassmen should consider
this week a dress rehearsal.
You are not only representing
yourselves this week,
but generations from our
school and your families.
try not to cut me off next time.
You almost knocked me
over the side of the bench.
I didn't cut you off.
I didn't mean to.
You win fair and square, and
nothing could make me prouder...
till you get in the
old alma mater, that is.
Dad, we talked about this, about me
keeping my options open, looking out west.
Yeah, of course, but
let's get serious here.
Someone with your grades
wants to get into dartmouth,
you need to appear to be working for it.
- D,
- i ushering the rep is a good step.
How come every time I bring up going
to U.S.C, you act like it's a joke?
Nate, there's a plan here.
Maybe I want to make my own plan.
Listen, your mother and
i didn't work this hard
so you can just make
things up as you go along.
Dartmouth, law school, blair.
Soon you're gonna have everything.
Listen, I'm late for work.
Nail that interview today.
Go, green!
as part of ivy week's festivities,
at tomorrow night's mixer,
blair waldorf will announce the
charity her community outreach committee
will honor this year.
Have you seen serena?
I wonder where she is.
And you know what i wonder?
How I'm supposed to hear anything about
yale with all this talk about serena.
Do you remember when dad gave
me my first yale sweatshirt?
I don't think any piece of clothing
has ever fit me more perfectly,
not to mention how adorable
I found that bulldog.
Remember when I asked you
if I could get a bulldog?
Good call, by the way, saying no.
And now the big day is finally here.
Soon nate and i will be away at college.
Him coming down to yale,
me going up to dartmouth.
Dad flying in for the princeton game.
I hope it doesn't make you
feel old watchinrow me gup.
Eat up, miss blair.
Your mom would want you
to have a good breakfast.
and now headmaster prescott...
so serena's really not here?
That's what I said.
When you weren't supposed to be talking.
thank you, miss tedrow.
Serena, come on.Hurry
up.You're gonna be late.
I am!And I know.
You know, you shouldn't have
stayed at your brother's again.
I mean, why sleep there?
It's not like he can even see you.
His eyes are closed.
Do you have one maternal
bone in your entire body?
Serena, you need your rest, okay?
It's ivy week.
I know, and if I can get
out of this hotel room,
it's my sole mission in life
to impress that brown rep.
Well, I am so thrilled to hear
you say that's still your plan,
because, I mean, I know it's
something we've always talked about,
but honestly, since you've been back,
I've, uh, wondered if your
mind was even on college.
Look, mom, I've had my
mind on a lot of things.
But since recent events, going
away to college sounds pretty good.
How, um, how did you
leave things with dan?
I don't want to talk about it.
What's going on with you and blair?
- Mom, please!
- It's o--
look, all I wanna do is just
finish high school in peace
and go away to a state with lots
of people who don't know who I am
and just start over, okay?
Take a cab.Don't walk.
oh, god.
god,please don't tell me it's over.
What?You were there.I-I
would say it's pretty over.
I meant the assembly.
Oh, rightNo, yeah,no, it just ended now.
Damn it.
Anyway, good luck.
Yeah, you, too.
Oh, too bad you missedthe assembly.
Not that it matters.
Brown doesn't offerdegrees in slut.
Spotted--
S.
Not so fashionably late
and dressed down by B.
Game on, ladies.
look, I made a mistakewith nate, okay?
But then you sabotaged mewith dan.
We don't have to
be friends, but--
What's up, waldorf?
Sorry.It slipped.
I'm fine.
I really want to believe
that was an accident.
Then you must be delusional.
thank you.
running out of colors here,blair.
And I'm running outof patience.
Enough, okay?
It's enoughwhen I say it's enough.
god!
girls, break it up!
Get off of me!
Is that enough yet?
so we've actuallycome
to physical blows, huh?
Truce?
My leg!
serena, you're out of here.
oh, my gosh.
I hope it's broken.
Hey, upper east siders.
We hear that world war iii just
broke out, and it's wearing kneesocks.
Choose your side or run and hide.
We have a feeling this
one's to the death.
and why should you be
the dartmouth usher?
Well, I've given thisa lot of thought,
and I think I can answeryour
question in three parts.
And I'd like to startwith
the third part first,
if it's cool, unless,
that would be confusing.
In which case, I can
startat the beginning.
the dartmouth"principles of
community" highlight integrity,
responsibilityand consideration.
well, from st.Jude's,I've
learned integrity.
From being an older brother,I
have learned responsibility,
and from my parents, who have sacrificed
everythingto send me to this school,
I've learned consideration.
It really comes
downto one thing--
dartmouth is my dream, and I've
never asked dartmouth,but...
I thinkit's been dreaming of me.
That--that was a joke,
or an attempt at one.
Next question.
you are the idealdartmouth candidate.
Thank you, sir.
And it would be an
honorto attend dartmouth.
I've grown up hearingall
about it from my father.
I'm just not sureit's my first choice,
and if there's onlyone
usher position available,
I'm sure there's someonewho
wants it more than me.
Why should I be chosento be an usher?
I'm chuck bass.
excuse me.
yale chuck bass***
- Hey.
- Hey.
You get the oneyou wanted?
no.No, actually,you did...
which makes total sensebecause
I'm second in our class,
and you're somewhere around--
what, I don't know,uh, last?
No hard feelings, huh?
Why should there be?
I mean, how many libraries has your
dad had to endowto get you this spot?
You've earned it.
Look, man, you don't
knowanything about my family.
I'm sorry.You're right.You're right.
I'm sure J.L.Hallwill be very impressed with
your passionfor the dartmouth experience.
Who the hell is J.L.Hall?
He's the ivy rep.
You might wantto pick up his book
if you want anythingto talk about.
"The petting zoo"--
that's the nameof his book.
Angry guy, huh?
Short fuse.I'm trying to work on that.
Well, let me knowhow that goes for you.
Yeah, I'll--I'll
keep you posted.
It's a tough week.
Not for me, apparently.
Oh, you got an usher position?
No, I didn'T.
Uh, in an ironic thoughnot totally
unexpected twist, nate got the one I wanted.
I'm sorry.
Yeah, well, I guess that's
lifewhen you're not a legacy.
Well, hey, just 'causere not an usher
doesn't mean you're notgonna get into an ivy.
Yeah?Wh--uh, where'dyour
parents go to school?
Harvard and brown.
That's--that's
allI'm saying.
I can't believe serena did this.
Yeah, such a cheap shot.
finally.
Hello to you, too.
I heard aboutthe field
hockey throw down.
All those mouth guardsand short
skirts-- I hope somebody filmed it.
you're heinous.
Which is probablywhy you called.
You know me well.
Women like to pretend
they'recomplicated.I know better.
My leg's numb now.
How about a heating pad?
- Sure.
- Okay.
Serena came homefor a reason.
One can only guess.
I'm done guessing.I want answers,
and no one likes to be on the ground
floor of a scandal like chuck bass.
I am a bitch when I wanna be.
Opportunity to causesome
trouble, uncover a secret?
Take "yes" for an answer.
let's turn back to school.
I left something importantbehind.
oh, danny boy,how was your day?
He's about to hype dinner.
'Cause no matterhow good it was,
it's about to geta lot better.
I've outdone myselfwith the bolognese.
sorry aboutthe melodramatic entrance.
You didn't get it?
No, I didn't get it.
and that I do not get.
They...they gave it to nate...
archibald!
last year, uh, I believehe
had an original thought.
It died of loneliness.
I'm sorry.
You're sorry?
Yeah, I know how muchyou
and mom sacrificed.
The whole reason you send
usto a school like this is
so we can goto a college of our choice.
What if that's allfor nothing?
It's not, okay?
It's not.
So you don't getto be the
usher of some whatever party.
Dad, can I just,
um,stew alone for awhile?
we're humphreys, dad.
Not exactly royalty uptown.
Are you okay with that?
No, but I'm used to it.
ostroff treatment cexter
This is way too good.
mom, how's paris?
You're not going to believe
where I foundour little princess.
Really?
admit it.Even for me, this was good.
If you weren't such a perv, I'm sure
the C.I.A.Would hire you in a second.
Defending my country--there'sa
future I never imagined.
With good reason.
What is she doing there?
Well, what's anyonedoing there?
It's a facilityfor the
disturbed or addicted.
You must haveyour own wing.
You don't get nearlyenough credit
for yoenough credit for your wit.
So the question is,what do you do now?
Well, I was thinking...
total social destruction.
And here I thoughtyou were getting soft.
So this is your bed,huh?
Leaving now.
You can repay meanot.Time
I've been in these sessionsevery
day for the last week,
but nothing is going to changeunless
she stops hiding him here and
lets himhave his life back.
This is not called hiding,serena.
It's called recovery.
Telling everyone he's
stayingwith aunt carol in miami?
He's not ready.
He's not, or you're not?
Okay, let's takea deep breath.
It's good to seehonest conversation.
What does she know about honesty?
Serena.
But I really think a decisionlike
this includes eric as well.
Oh, you mean i have a say in this?
Thanks.
Eric, of course.We're here for you.
Look, if you're readyto
leave, you tell us, okay?
No matter what mom says.
I would really liketo get out of here...
oh, no.
But maybe I'm not ready yet.
Hey, what aboutfor a few hours?
You can be my dateto the
ivy week party tonight.
Serena, that party isan
important event for you.
Well, he'll be aroundpeople he knows.
It'll be fun, comfortable.
Uh, actually, that sounds great.
well, there we go.
Compromise.
That wasn't so hard, was it?
You know what?I have to go,
help them set upfor
tonight at the school.
It's my job as bothparent committee
chair and responsible mother.
it'll be great, okay?
- hi.How are you?
- Good.
Rufus humphrey.
Uh, my kid, dan,goes to st.Jude's,
and he really should have
beenselected as dartmouth's usher.
Maybe there was a mix-up, some
kind of a glitchin the system?
I'd like to believe that because I
like to believe the best in people.
I'm sorry, mr.Humphrey.The
usher positionshave been filled.
There's nothing we can do.
Uh, is there anything else?
Any other positions?
Uh, you'll have to discuss
thiswith our committee chairwoman.
Sure, perfect.I'd love
to.Where can I find her?
I'm not sure.She must
be running late.I...
oh, there she is now.
Why am I not surprised?
Lucky for you,she seems
to be in a good mood.
Until she sees me.
- Rufus.
- Told ya.
Excuse me.
You got a minute, lil?
Not for you.
- You're in.
- What?
The ivy week party tonight.
Your name will beon the
program and everything.
You got me the dartmouth spot?
I knew you could do it, dad.
no, you didn't,and no, I didn'T.
How do you feel about
the refreshment committee?
Well, there is--there
isno refreshment committee.
Not until now.
Oh, god.
What?Everybody gets thirsty.It's
really a position of power.
How did you secure methis prominent and
simultaneously embarrassing position?
By offeringmy own services.
Serving snacks?
I'm the headof the
entertainment committ.
a-another committeethat didn't
exist until you leftthe house today.
Way to go, dad.
Wait.So who's the entertainment?
Uh, since it wassuch short notice,
the only personI could get was myself.
Kind of a staid affair forearly '90s
postpunk math rock, don't you think?
I'm bringinga couple of the guys.
It'll be rufus unplugged.
Need a roadie?
Thanks, sweetie.
Should I call mom, and we can just
make thisa full-fledged humphrey affair?
Look, I did the best I could.
At least you get to officiallybe
a part of this thing.
You can talkto that author you
love, ask him anything you want.
Like his, uh, preferencefor soft drinks?
If you get at all anxious,sweetie,
if you feel light-headedor panicky--
I'll be fine, mom.All I
have to dois be normal.
Or at least act normal.
Works for mom.
do you see the yale rep?
I thought you wantedto go to brown,
and blair wantedto go to yale.
Yeah, I know.
My father would never forgive
meif I didn't introduce myself.
He says that you twoused
to do crew together.
Crew?
Oh, hi.I'm serena van der woodsen.
Blair, I didn't know you
wereinterested in doing crew.
I'm not.
I was just sayingthat there's a family
connection because of my father--
in fact, I didn't know you were
interestedin athletics at all.
Well, especially ones whereyou
might get your hair wet.
She's really moreof the
indoors type of girl.
Oh, my goodness.Your
glass is almost empty.
Let's get you a drink.
Uh, no, I'll take him.
Oh, don't worry about it.
So tell me about yale.
can you please explain how
serena'scommandeering the yale rep
while you're supposedto be his usher?
I switched.
I'm trying to getinto princeton.
Oh, don't your la perlasin a bunch.
Look who's
arrived--dr.Ostroff.
Blair, dr.Donald ostroff.
Interesting choice of guest, B.
Such a pleasure.I've
heards-such wonderful things...
coincidence?I think not.
I liked your book.
Oh, thanks.
What did you thinkof the epilogue?
Some people really love it.
"The new york times"called
it a "cheap cop-out.
" Warner bros.Is making a movie.
I think they're gonnachange the end.
Well, I can seehow the ending
might not seem all that...
commercial.
would you likesomething to drink?
Lily, how are you?
Oh, bart, hello.How are you?
Hey, eric.
How's, uh, miami?
It was good, thanks.
You know, go, marlins.
would you excuse me, please?
So the neuroscience
projectI'm working on involves
the cellularsignaling pathway
of neuronalnitric oxide synthase.
It's initiated whenglutamate
binds to N.M.D.A.R...
hi.You're eric, right?
Yeah, you're jenny,dan's sister, right?
- Yeah, we, um, met at...
- bendel'S.
Yeah, I remember.
Oh, cool.
Eric, good to see you.
You enjoy miami?
Uh, yeah.
S-save the manatees.
Manatees?
It's a long story.
I've got time.
It's a little dark and...
I can handle it.
you wannago to yale then?
No, brown.It's justthis
thing with blair.
Oh, yeah.Yeah, I get it.
I mean, since you don't have to
actually worryabout getting into college,
why not make the entire
eveningabout screwing over blair?
No, thanks.
Hey.
Wait, you're seriouslynot
gonna talk to me?
Like, literally not speak?
Hey.
Oh, much better.
Thanks, guys.
So, um, what's he like?
Like a dartmouthenglish lit professor
I have nothing in common with.
Guess I could tell him how everything
I haveI got because I'm an archibald.
You should mention dr.Seuss.
Theodor geisel is his real
name.He went to dartmouth.
hall said he got the ideafor
"the petting zoo" from "the lorax.
"The what?
you know what?Never mind.
Just--just mentionhow his prose
style is influencedby early faulkner.
You'll be all right.
or not.
I was actually gonnaget some fresh air.
How about youtake these over to him?
All right.
Yeah, I guess I couldleave my
post unmanned for a minute or two.
where do you think you're going?
Home.
I don't think so.
Now you get back out thereand
you finish what you started.
You mean what you started?
I don't wanna go to dartmouth.
There, I said it.
Now back off.
So we moved into the hotel,and, uh...
it was just the two of us,
and I was really lonely.
So...
that's when you...
so I ended upat the ostroff center.
And my mom says that they
havethe best counselors,
but what they reallyget paid for
is to to keeptheir mouths shut.
Look,I-I won't say anything.
I promise.
So do you wannago back in?
Yeah, and answermore
questions about florida?
Well, I have a grandmawho
lives in fort myers.
I can helpthink of some material.
May I pleasehave everyone's attention?
Welcome again to the