After more pointless speculation from the women back at the house, and more pointless platitudes from Jason in voiceover. Really? It's "important that the rose go to the right person tonight"? I mean, it's not really important, but it's pretty clear that, within the context of this show, it's important.

Anyway, he talks about how they're "two of the most amazing people I could come across." He says Steph has "a heart of gold." And Nikki "is as sweet as can be." But the rose is going to Stephanie, who graciously nods without too much obvious glee. Nikki puts her head down, and then looks up again for a little smile at Stephanie, who gives her a sincere, "Oh, honey, I'm so sorry" look.

Jason walks Nikki to the limousine. She smiles and thanks him. Gracious in defeat. I hope Natalie is watching and taking notes. "Whoever gets you is super-duper lucky," she tells Jason.

Poor Nikki. I start to feel bad for her in the limousine, because she's so messed up by having an 11-year relationship end that she doesn't get that there needs to be more than looks and brains. She seems sweet enough that I hope she does figure things out soon.

Back at the house, the hooded bellhop of rejection comes in to pick up Nikki's things. "Oh my god, you guys," says Shannon, while the women watch, as somber as a movie theatre showing Schindler's List, for god's sake.

In the limousine, Nikki says, "I have having my pity party and saying it's not fair, but it's not fair." It's not fair why? Because she imagined herself meeting Ty and Jason's mom. You're right! It's not fair! She talks about how she does everything right and she's always rejected. Well, no. You were rejected once. By someone who sounds like a douche. And being rejected by a television douche on The Bachelor doesn't qualify as a rejection as much as a mercy killing, so don't sweat it.

Jason goes back to Stephanie, and they dance the evening away. "I just want to kiss you," she tells him as they waltz. And before you know it, they lip-lock. Nikki's ziti probably isn't even cold.

So the women are talking about Nikki not being there, and... oh, hold on, Melissa uses the word "surreal." So I'm going to fast-forward now. Oh, hold on. Megan is saying that "as this goes further along, the pressure increases literally 300 to 400 percent daily." Ah, "literally." When you use it wrong, you use it all the way wrong, as David Cross likes to say. Anyway, all the concerns vanish when Jason walks in to pay his usual lip service to how hard the previous night was, but tonight's all about partying.