10 Hi, Society

The annual Cotillion Ball is about to take place. Blair is not going with Nate, but she finds herself being featured in The New York Times and is enjoying her secret affair with Chuck. Serena is not going, so her grandmother, CeCe, shows up to change her mind. Jenny volunteers for the ball and Lily takes her under her wing. But the night of The Cotillion is the night of Alison’s first art opening, and Rufus and Alison say Jenny cannot attend the ball. Jenny decides to defy them both. Refreshed by Blair’s newly buoyant attitude, Nate asks her to The Cotillion and she says yes, which makes Chuck jealous. CeCe tells Lily and Serena that she is sick and her last dying wish is to see Serena go to the ball, and she wants Serena to go with Carter Baizen. CeCe insults Dan and offers to pay Rufus off to convince Dan not to go with Serena. Dan learns of this and tells Serena that he does not think very highly of CeCe, which results in a huge fight between them  Serena decides to go to the ball with Carter. Chuck manipulates Nate into thinking Carter is having an affair with Blair, so Nate punches Carter at the ball.

The Dispensary Cotillion and Debutante Ball at The New York Palace Hotel - Dec. 16, 2007

A Night Out with Blair Waldorf

Blair tells Serena about her escort Prince Theodore, a.k.a. Romeo, versus Nate’s Hamlet persona. Meanwhile Nate raves to Chuck about the “new” Blair — which is pretty much thanks to her dalliance with Chuck.

Jenny Chooses Lily over Alison

Jenny’s dreams of joining the ranks of the Upper East Side is slowly realized as she accepts a volunteer role for the Debutante Ball. It’s the same night as her mom’s art exhibit opening though.

Lily and Jenny are shopping together for shoes — and they run into Alison! Really sad for Alison to see that her daughter chooses Lily’s world.

When Jenny learns from Serena that Dan’s escorting her, she feels cheated and heads for the ball. She stays too late since she has to help Blair with her dress — and all will be forgiven. She misses her mom’s art exhibit opening though. This must be the turning point for the new Jenny.

Celia Comes to Town

Celia organized the Debutante Ball for 15 years. She’s back in town. She confides in her daughter Lily that she’s sick and that she wants Serena to be introduced at the Ball. Lily gives in despite having already allowed Serena not to go. 

At the Waldorf party, Cecilia introduces Carter (yes, the same guy who conned Nate at poker) to Serena as her escort to the ball. Dan feels out of place in the extravagant setting, especially with Carter going on and on about his travels when he ran away from home.

Celia confronts Dan that he should stay away from Serena. That backfires and ends up with Dan becoming Serena’s escort to the ball. Celia goes to Rufus to have him convince Dan in exchange for buying all of Alison’s paintings. We find out that all those years ago, Celia made Lily choose between her inheritance and Rufus. Rufus rushes home to help Dan get ready and fight for the Humphreys!

It almost works when Serena defends her grandmother against Dan’s revelations about the real CeCe. She ends up being escorted by Carter. But Lily finally stands up for her daughter when she picks up Dan and brings him to the Ball for Serena.

Carter lets it slip that Cecilia had long intended for him to escort Serena so she finally sees the truth about her grandma.

C and N Want B

An unlikely triangle. Blair hooks up with Chuck every free minute they get. Meanwhile, clueless Nate gets Chuck to find out who it is that Blair’s hooking up with. His answer? Chuck tips Gossip Girl as Carter walks out of the Waldorfs, jacket in hand. He later manipulates Nate into hitting Carter during the Ball. Sorry for him, Blair finds that hot and finally, finally, FINALLY gets together with Nate in a hotel room.

Memorable Lines

Host: I’d like to present Serena Celia van der Woodsen, daughter of committee member Lilian van der Woodsen, granddaughter of Chairwoman Emeritus Celia Catherine Rose, escorted by Carter Baizen. Miss van der Woodsen hopes to bed as many billionaires as she can before settling down…

Listen to music from this episode. Do you know who performed at the Debutante Ball?

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