Rufus, having finally found or not found Serena's "health insurance papers," is on his way out of PRADA when Maureen appears -- time and space apply to Maureen van der Bilt even less than the rest of these people, she's constantly teleporting and timewarping all over the damn place, it's awesome -- and hands over THE LETTER. Why, I can't say. I guess because now that she and her husband have conspired to cripple her there's no need to keep Serena in the loop of her machinations. (That's sort of the soap apex. Like, even on Passions it was always leading up to the paralysis and once you were in a wheelchair they'd leave you alone for a month or two. Melrose Place, slightly different story in that you might end up blind and in a wheelchair, but in that case they'd do the sensible thing: Toss you in the ocean and watch you float out to sea.)

Vanessa is a charming fucker. "...I mean, imagine if Serena would have hit her head a little harder, or the car rolled, or the..." Dan finally turns to her with that Face of his and, perhaps just to shut her creeper ass up, confesses his love. She nods and says she loves him too, no big whoop, and then notices him continuing to make weird faces. She asks why he's spazzing and he strongly implies that he love-loves her, and she shuts him down with a quickness: "Dan? Sometimes when people are under a lot of emotional stress, they say things that they don't really mean." Poor D-Bag is just crawling out of his skin uncomfortable at this point, but accepts the smackdown and mumbles to himself for a bit before Vanessa huffs off to check on Serena and get away from his constantly escalating needs. "Empire State Of Mind" starts again, but it's used in this amazingly mean way that lends everything a very "Winter Finale, See You In March" vibe.

There's nothing you can't do!
Now you're in New York!
These streets will make you feel brand new!
The lights will inspire you!
Let's hear it for New York!
New York, New York!