This was an excellent episode for a number of reasons. First the characters actually talked to each other instead of beating around the bush or lying outright. Second, the plot moved forward on a lot of fronts. And finally, Nate grew a backbone. Who knew?
Nightclub: Girls on stage dancing in skimpy clothes. Chuck watches fascinated by one girl in particular.
Two Days Earlier: Chuck shows Blair a burlesque club, the Victrola, that he’d like his dad to invest in. He describes it as a respectable place where people are transported to another time and can come to relax. Blair is impressed by Chuck’s innovative thinking. They make a date to meet for the “Victory Party” the following day.
At the Archibald home, Anne (Nate’s mother) is outlining Nate’s options for dealing with his drug addiction - after the dinner with the Waldorfs. She warns Nate not to ruin the dinner celebrating Howard’s deal with Eleanor. Nate, as usual, just takes it.
Howard says he wants to talk to Nate alone. When Anne leaves, Nate asks his dad why he didn’t tell his wife that he (Howard) is the one with the drug problem. Howard assures Nate that he will not end up in a drug rehabilitation facility. He excuses the drugs as a coping mechanism for work. Howard promises to flush the drugs. Howard adds that he is pleased that he landed the Waldorf account and that Nate has landed the Waldorf. Crass, Howard, real crass.
Humphrey residence: Jenny is frantically looking for the bracelet she borrowed from Blair’s jeweler as she talks on the phone with Vanessa.
Dan and Serena are trying to make out at the school. Serena suggests they find someplace more private (ya think?) as Blair’s buddies are filming (!) the happy couple with their cell phones.
Nate finds Jenny at the school. He wants to make sure that what happened at the masquerade ball stays between them. He gives Jenny a box of chocolates(?!) (see pic). He wants Jenny to help him keep the status quo – Dan with Serena; Blair and him. Blair shows up wanting to know what they’re talking about. Nate quickly gives Blair the chocolates and apologizes for something or other.
Jenny leaves and Blair follows her. Blair shows Jenny the bracelet. She says that she hates secrets more that anything (I’m getting flashbacks of Lana on SV). She adds that friends don’t lie.
At the Bass apartment, Bart and Lily kiss. They agree to make their relationship public after they’ve told their children. Chuck comes in and correctly assesses the situation. Once Lily leaves, his dad warns him not to tell anyone including Serena about what he saw.
Chuck pitches his investment idea to his dad. Bart is very pleased by Chuck’s initiative. Chuck arranges to meet him to show him the place.
Serena and Blair sit on the stairs at school. Blair mentions Serena and Dan’s make out session. Blair gives Serena the third degree on her relationship with Dan. And this is interesting why?
Flash to Dan lying in bed... next to Serena. He asks her how he was. She says she’ll ask the judges. Blair’s friends are not impressed. Dan wakes up to his dad talking loudly on the phone. Rufus is accusing his wife of being with another man. His wife hangs up on him. Dan has a pretty weird imagination when it comes to Serena and him.
Rufus says that his discussion with his wife is complicated. Jenny walks in. Dan says that it’s not that complicated, his mom is having an affair. When Jenny asks what’s going on, both guys pretend to be too busy to talk.
Nate calls his dad 10 blocks from his dad’s office (see topmost pic). They are going to meet for "drinks". Howard makes up some cockamamie excuse that he’s working and can’t meet his son. Nate says that their talk was important. Howard replies that it’s business. Nate has a glum expression on his face as he hangs up. He decides to meet with his father anyway.
Nightclub: Chuck is kissing a woman who looks to be double his age. Bart shows up and is unimpressed with his son’s idea. He accuses Chuck of proposing the nightclub just so he (Chuck) could be around booze and women. Got to agree there; that’s what it looks like to me too. Hmm, how did Chuck get the nightclub up and running to begin with? That has to have taken a sizable amount of cash.
Bart leaves. Chuck watches his dad lead a pretty young woman into his car. Looks like Chuck learned from the best. Chuck is clearly angry.
Blair and her mom are deciding what to wear to have dinner with the Archibalds. Eleanor picks the ugliest green print dress for her daughter. She lets out that Nate asked his mom for her amazing Cornelia Vanderbilt (?) diamond ring so he can propose to Blair. Blair likes the idea. I’m positive Nate will go along with whatever is decided. He’s a good-looking guy but he's a tad boring and wimpy.
Nate spots his dad at the posh men’s club. He follows him and sees Howard buying more drugs from a dealer.
Dan and Serena are making out in his bedroom. It gets serious pretty fast. Vanessa comes in through the window. Serena falls on the floor. Hee! Dan shows Vanessa the door. Vanessa comes back in?! What the? Serena and Dan get back to making out just as Rufus comes back with breakfast. Busted!
Chuck, obviously drunk, calls Nate. He tells Nate that he’s got the nightclub for the night and he’ll see him there. Chuck drops his key. When he goes to pick it up, he ends up sitting on the sidewalk. Lily comes to his rescue. Lily correctly assumes that Bart rejected Chuck’s business proposal. Chuck whines about coming up with the idea and doing the work. He says his dad accused him of not being committed but he (Bart) is screwing a 25 year old while dating Lily. Uh oh.
At the Archibald house, Nate talks to his mother about his dad’s drug problem. Whoa. Nate, you’re being proactive. That’s a switch. His mom sadly makes excuses for her husband; blames Nate for his dad’s actions; and generally tries to sweep everything under the rug. Now I understand Nate’s normal passiveness.
Vanessa walks in while Dan is watching "art cinema" (Is that what they call porn these days?). She asks him about his change in attitude with respect to sex. Uh, how is this her business? Before leaving she gives Dan some (much needed) advice. She tells him to hide Cedric (who’s Cedric?), buy candles (really?), and replace the football sheets (hee!).
Jenny thanks Blair for helping her with the bracelet. Blair says that that’s the last time she helps Jenny. The next time Jenny crosses her, she won’t be as forgiving.
Blair decides to trust Jenny with her big secret – Nate is planning to give her his family’s diamond. Jenny looks uncomfortable/unhappy. Blair dreamily recounts how the first time she saw Nate; she knew he was the one. When Blair asks what’s going on, Jenny tries to brush it off but Blair sees right through her. Jenny finally tells Blair about Nate mistaking her (Jenny) for Serena at the masquerade ball; telling her that he still loved her; and kissing her. Jenny looks really broken up to have to hurt Blair like that. Blair dismisses Jenny... for good (what in heck does that mean?).
The Waldorf dinner; Blair wears the ugly dress her mother picked up for her. She acts cold towards Nate. Ah, passive/agressive always works in a relationship./sarcasm
Flash to Serena and Nate making out as Dan watches and asks questions. Rufus interrupts Dan’s really odd daydreaming (Dan has some serious issues). Rufus spots a book on sensuous massage; Dan tries unsuccessfully to give some excuse about being tense. Rufus tells Dan make sure it's what he and Serena really want and to lose the football sheets.
Jenny feels bad about outing Nate to Blair. Vanessa says that honest communication is what every good relationship is based on. Words to live by. The conversation shifts to Jenny’s parents. Vanessa suggests getting them in a room together to hash things out. I'm not so sure.
Howard is getting plastered at the dinner. He says that every time he looks at Anne’s engagement ring he sees Blair’s future engagement ring; that makes him happy. He urges Blair to try it on. Anne gives Blair the ring (see pic). Howard goes on and on about the ring until Nate takes him aside.
At the nightclub, Chuck is wallowing when his dad sits next to him. He introduces his 25 year old "date" as Paulette Jo, who contacted Bart to help her with a career change. As a test, Bart gave her Chuck’s proposal. Paulette sees potential in Chuck’s idea. Bart admits that he may have rejected Chuck’s proposal too hastily. Aw. Chuck decides to come clean about his conversation with Lily.
Outside, Nate chastises his father. When Howard starts to head back inside, Nate tries to stop him. Howard punches his son! Howard stares stunned at Nate who’s lying on the sidewalk. Police see the exchange and ask if everything’s okay. Howard replies that everything is fine. The police officer is not interested in what Howard thinks and turns to Nate. Nate apologizes to his dad before turning him into the police. Before leaving he advises the officers to look in his dad's pockets. Wow! Color me surprised. Nate grew a backbone. He’s just become 100 times more interesting. Before leaving, Nate buys the doorman off but Blair saw the arrest from the window.
Bart is angry at what Chuck pulled with Lily. Lily is no longer answering his (Bart) calls. Chuck counters that maybe he's not the reason Lily is not taking Bart’s calls; maybe it's because Bart gave her a reason to believe the worst of Bart. Touché, Chuck. Bart sees the wisdom of Chuck’s words and goes to try to fix his relationship with Lily.
Blair stops Nate before he gets into a car. Huh? Nate was going to leave the Waldorf dinner without talking to his mom? Blair says she saw Howard get arrested. She asks why Nate didn’t come to her. He did try, Blair, many times but dinners and a masquerade ball kept getting in the way. Nate echoes my thoughts. Blair takes this opportunity to bring up Nate confessing his feelings (and kissing) "Serena" at the ball. She asks if Nate still loves her. Nate doesn’t answer. Blair gets the message.
Dan surprises Serena with candles, music (a record player?!), and different non-football sheets.
Blair arrives at the nightclub. When Chuck asks where Nate is, she says that they broke up. They sit and watch the dancing "strippers". Blair brags that she's got moves. Chuck dares her to join the dancing on stage. Blair obliges. Chuck looks on with his mouth agape. That's the first scene of the episode.
Lily goes to see Rufus at the art store. Rufus gives her a hard time but when she goes to leave, he asks her to stay.
Dan and Serena are making out as a record plays; then skips. They’re really not very lucky. Dan throws something at the record player, the music continues. Ha! Serena starts babbling about how Dan looks at her. They cuddle.
At the Archibald house, Anne tells Nate that she’s heading out to the police station to meet with her lawyers and someone from the District Attorney’s office. He asks why they can’t just pay the bail. Anne replies that the bail is set at a million dollars. Whoa! Nate is confused; he says that his dad wasn’t carrying that much coke. Anne clarifies that Howard was wanted for other charges - embezzlement and fraud. The police had been building their case for awhile.
Jenny visits her mom to tell her it’s time for her to come home.
In a limo, Chuck tells Blair that she was amazing on stage. They kiss (see pic).
I love the music that's playing during the last montage. It’s "With Me" by Sum 41.
