And so you have Blair, who by the end will actually explain all of this to Raina and save the day, because she has just enough intimacy to know him better than anyone and just enough goodwill toward him to see it through. Not the needing, but the having. They have burnt each other, for the time being, into a state of uncertain grace. And that is beautiful. And, for a show in this demo, pretty fucking brave. Real -- and realistic -- relationships are a four-course meal, prepared for you by God. Everybody loves The Matrix, nobody loves the other two movies: Shippers are just sugar addicts that haven't learned to taste anything else yet.

So Raina also grew up in a hotel -- Mom left, Dad couldn't sleep at home -- and they have that in common, the concierges and busboys for her family, and they bond sincerely. "Nothing like being a guest in your own home," he says; that's how she's about to make him feel. He asks to take her out tonight, knowing the vote is coming, and she swears she can't stay. Struck out! Time for a little extra.

Ben is feeding Serena sushi, of course, by this time in DUMBO. Finally he admits all the mixed-messaging and murder attempts are just the result of him thinking the last three years that she vindictively put him in prison like a mean little girl, and it's hard to adjust. "I know, and here you are somewhere else that I put you. Is that a problem?"

Ben's off into some kind of "I'm right where I belong" jibberjab when Dan comes in and growls at everybody, so Serena takes off because who needs that? She reminds Dan that she doesn't need his permission to hang out with his roommate, and he begs of course to differ, and once she's gone Ben's like, "You're being a good brother, but seriously if you could just calm down." Then Juliet calls Ben's phone and he doesn't hear it, but instead of alerting him to this call, Dan just make the most Abrams face of all time.

Chuck and Blair have this amazing fake conversation on the phone where he lets Raina overhear him discussing how remarkable she is, he's never felt this way before, she gets him and whatever, it was hard to show off the Palace knowing he's about to lose his home -- all the true things he's pretending are lies -- and meanwhile she's on the other end, pretending she's talking to Epperly about how she's totally into Nate and they should totally go to this party together and how Epperly is just gasping with desire. It's awesome.