Sex and the City

Carrie goes out on a hot date with her new flame; Miranda faces her true feelings about Steve; Harry refuses to marry someone who is not Jewish, to Charlotte's dismay.

Carrie discovers it's colder between the sheets despite some steamy foreplay with Jack, and Samantha introduces the girls to a raw foods restaurant with an attractive waiter.

Carrie visits Berger's apartment for the first time, Charlotte sacrifices pieces of her past as the day of her conversion to Judaism approaches, and Miranda is forced to deal with the reality of Steve's new relationship.

Berger reacts badly when Carrie ridicules the thought of his novel's New York heroine wearing a scrunchy, and Samantha and Jerry take their sexual role-playing to another level. Meanwhile, recently Jewish Charlotte takes to her new religion with gusto, and Miranda takes Berger's relationship advice but it backfires badly.

Samantha must be keen on Jerry - she agrees to travel to Brooklyn to see his play, which bores her rigid until he steals the show with his trouser-dropping performance. Samantha resolves to make him a star, starting with a name change. In the money, Carrie buys Berger a Prada shirt but, after learning some news about him, realises she may have been a little tactless.

Carrie gets tapped for jury duty, and she finds herself unable to talk her way out of performing her civic obligation. Sadly, this is the least of her problems, as her relationship with Berger is becoming more and more forced by the moment. The once easy banter is being gradually replaced with bickering, and the couple decide to take a week-long break after a particularly difficult date.

Carrie and Berger aren't the only people undergoing relationship issues. Equally imperiled is the bond between Miranda and baby Brady. Miranda's career puts more and more demands on her time, and Brady begins to see Magda as his mother figure since his real mother is never home. This all proves too much for Miranda, so she tells her office that she's going to be cutting back her hours... to only 50 per week, 55, tops. The office isn't happy with this decision, but the rift between mother and child is healed.

Charlotte's major problem is that she has too many dates. Now that she's become active in her synagogue, she finds herself as the target of several matchmakers, all of whom set her up on painfully bad outings. Even when a final setup is with a "perfect" guy, Charlotte rejects him, since he still can't measure up to her Harry. Just when things look their bleakest, Charlotte sees Harry at a mixer, begging his forgiveness, and receiving it, along with a quickly accepted wedding proposal.

Samantha, as usual, doesn't seem to be having any problems at all. Her guidance of Smith's career is going swimmingly. She manages to get him a gig as the "Absolut Hunk", which brings with it a several story tall billboard in Times Square. Smith is initially unhappy with the ad campaign, since it leads to him getting attention without getting any real work. Samantha tells him to relax, and is proven right when Smith gets cast in a Gus Van Sant film.

Carrie tries to figure out exactly what's going on with Berger. Big offers advice via a transcontinental phone call, while Miranda weighs in from her apartment. Ultimately, it looks as if Carrie and Berger will need to separate... but the pair decide to give it one more shot. Unfortunately, Berger's heart just isn't in it, and while she sleeps, Berger leaves Carrie in the dead of night, breaking it off via a solitary Post-it note stuck to her computer screen.

Carrie and the girls are meeting for their usual breakfast when two bombshells are dropped. The good news is that Charlotte and Harry are engaged... but the bad news is that Berger dumped Carrie via a Post-it note earlier that morning. Carrie swears that she will refrain from giving Berger the satisfaction of an angry message, but winds up inadvertantly leaving one after badmouthing him to some of his friends at an exclusive club.

Charlotte absolutely basks in the glow of her engagement to Harry. Her ring is enormous (and patterned after the one given by Richard Burton to Elizabeth Taylor), and all seems well. All, that is, except for the nagging feeling that somehow this second marriage will be somewhat less special than her first. She tells the girls that this wedding will be far less elaborate than the last, releasing them from bridesmaid duties. Charlotte's attitude changes after running into a enthusiastic barhopping bridal party, rejuvenating her spirits and causing her to re-enlist her friends as bridesmaids.

Miranda is also in a funk until discovering that after many months of juggling motherhood and a career she is now able to fit into her "skinny jeans" for the first time since 1985. Her confidence soars, and she finds herself able to easily speak with the type of men that had been intimidating her. The jeans eventually split, but Miranda's positive new outlook remains.

Smith's career is rapidly heating up, but Samantha fears that he's moving too quickly by referring to her as his girlfriend during a private moment. She gives him a fabulous pair of Robert Marc sunglasses and coaches him to say that he's single when he makes an appearance on TRL, maximizing his teenage scream potential and keeping a comfortable distance between the pair. The plan backfires on Sam when she sees the broadcast and finds that she doesn't like hearing Smith declare his availability on national television.

Licking their wounds, the girls wind up in a dive bar. Samantha manages to score a joint in the bar, along with a man to potentially keep her mind off of Smith. Unfortunately, the man's girlfriend takes exception to this, chasing Carrie and Samantha out of the bar. The pair light the joint to take the edge off of their problems, but it just gets worse when Carrie gets busted for posession. Miranda, ever the lawyer, manages to talk the charge down to "smoking in a bar," leaving Carrie with just a small fine to pay. The girls then convene over shared banana splits, laughing as a very long day comes to an end.

An assignment sends Carrie to explore the newest pastime for singles in New York... swinging through the air on the flying trapeze. Try as she might, Carrie just can't allow herself to let go of the bar and allow her instructor to catch her. While relating this situation to the girls, Harry appears and introduces Carrie to his best man for the upcoming nuptials. After much coaxing, Carrie allows herself a one-nighter with her fellow member of the wedding party, but winds up wildly unsatisfied after he proves to be a less than sensitive lover.

Also having relationship issues are Miranda and Samantha. Miranda finds herself hiding underneath her bed (nestled next to Fatty) when Steve drops by unexpectedly with his girlfriend Debbie. Miranda realizes that if she were to actually meet Debbie, she'd have to admit that Steve has found somebody else, and that's not something that she's overly eager to do. Equally troubled is Samantha, for loathe as she may be to admit it, Samantha realizes that she definitely likes having Smith around. She misses his helping hands in removing stubborn bracelets, but even moreso, she wants him around due to her ever-growing affection for the actor.

Charlotte and Harry's wedding day arrives, but much to the bride's chagrin, nothing seems to work out properly. First, Harry sees Charlotte while she tries on her gown, sending Charlotte into a panic. The Sunday Times wedding announcement is ruined with an ink stain on the image of Charlotte's face (making her look somewhat like a certain WWII dictator). Then at the ceremony, Charlotte manages to spill wine on herself, Harry is unable to smash the ceremonial glass, the best man (Carrie's fling) gives a raucous drunken toast and Miranda accidentally sets her tribute to the couple ablaze. Charlotte's "perfect" day is wrecked, but Carrie consoles her, reminding her that her wedding with Trey was flawless, but the marriage itself didn't work out at all. From that moment on, Charlotte enjoys the festivities, and happily anticipates her life with Harry.

Returning to the trapeze once again, Carrie still finds herself unable to let go and be caught by her instructor. However, as the girls cheer her on from the sidelines, she realizes that with friends like that, she'll always have a safety net.

Carrie and Stanford attend a baby shower thrown by their friends Kyra and Chuck. Upon arriving, they discover that Kyra's house rules include the removal of all footwear, regardless if doing so will destroy a carefully crafted outfit. The evening is pleasant enough, but when Carrie plans to leave the party, she discovers that her brand new Manolos have been stolen. Later, Kyra offers to pay for the missing shoes, but balks when she discovers that they cost $485. Carrie winds up leaving the apartment with no compensation, and a sense of shoe-induced shame. She wonders if she has somehow made a mistake by choosing the lifestyle that she did, rather than the more traditional one chosen by Kyra.

Miranda finds herself with three separate problems: an open apartment in her building, Brady suffering from the chickenpox and her own growing need for male companionship. Luckily, one person solves all three problems, as Dr. Robert Leeds takes the vacancy and helps Miranda care for her sick child. When Brady's virus spreads to Miranda, Robert begins attending to her, but the tension in the air hints that their relationship may soon grow beyond doctor/patient.

Charlotte and Harry are still glowing in their post-wedding bliss, but the new bride has a slight problem adjusting to living with her husband's habits. She manages to get him to agree to stop leaving his used teabags all over the apartment, but she finds it more difficult to get used to the sight of him walking around the apartment in the nude. Charlotte doesn't say anything, but when Harry puts his naked form on her new white couch, she puts her foot down, and he agrees to wear shorts around the house from then on.

Samantha's dislike for misbehaving children comes to a head in a fancy restaurant. While a child babbles loudly in the background, Sam is admonished for daring to speak on a cell phone. Wildly frustrated by the double-standard, Samantha approaches the table with the child, but winds up with a face full of pesto for her troubles.

Carrie tries to smooth things over with Kyra, but it seems that the two won't be able to come to an agreement. Carrie then gets a brainstorm... since she's always come through whenever Kyra has registered at a store, then maybe it's time for Carrie to turn the tables. Ms. Bradshaw registers herself at Manolo Blahnik, in recognition of her just-announced marriage to herself. The only item that she registers for is a single pair of the missing $485 shoes, and Kyra finally comes around and replaces the missing Manolos.

Carrie receives a pleasant surprise when her high school boyfriend, Jeremy, calls her up and asks her to meet for dinner. The pair broke up in High School, but their chemistry leads them to instantly reconnect. Everything seems perfect, until he reveals one fairly shocking bit of information... he is actually in the area because he's committed himself to a Connecticut mental facility.

The New York City summer heat is driving Samantha crazy, but equally frustrating is her inability to be granted access to SoHo, an exclusive club that features a fabulous swimming pool. Luckily for Sam, she finds a misplaced ID card that grants her access to the club, so long as she doesn't mind answering to the name Annabelle Bronstein. Unfortunately, a SoHo employee blows the lid off the deception, causing Samantha to beat a hasty retreat back into the sweltering Manhattan streets.

Approving Dr. Leeds' application to live in her apartment building proves to be one of the best decisions that Miranda has made in some time. The good doctor gives Miranda courtside seats to a Knicks game, but she isn't exactly thrilled to see a cheerleader flirting with him after the event. Later, Miranda thanks Robert for the tickets, and he comes clean with his feelings for her, sparking a romance.

While Miranda's love life is improving, poor Stanford's is in a downward spiral. Stanford and Marcus run into Charlotte and Anthony during lunch, and the wedding planner recognizes Marcus as somebody that previously worked as a male escort (advertising in 'Honcho' under the nom d'homme 'Paul'). Charlotte accidentally lets this bit of information make its way to Stanford, leading him to break it off with Marcus. Later, at the gay/lesbian/bi/transgender prom, Marcus approaches Stanford, and the couple decide to give it another go.

Carrie decides that maybe she can accept the prospect of dating Jeremy, even though he currently undergoing extensive psychiatric care. She even goes to visit him in the facility, discovering that he is easily the most sane person on the grounds. Unfortunately, Jeremy tells her that he's going to be in the instituation for another eight to ten months, smashing any potential that the two may have had as a couple. Even so, Carrie concludes that it was actually the sanest breakup that she's ever been through.

Big is back in New York, but unfortunately, he's returned to Gotham to undergo an angioplasty. Carrie does not react well to this news, breaking down into tears whenever the subject comes up. The waterworks don't subside, even when Carrie visits Big after the procedure, making her realize that Big is somebody that will always be under her skin.

Miranda is torn as to how best to introduce Steve to her new boyfriend, Dr. Leeds. Luckily (or unluckily), this problem is solved for her when Steve walks in on the couple during a vigourous lovemaking session held in Miranda's apartment. The awkward meetings continue a few days later when Steve brings Debbie to meet Miranda, an encounter that suggest some residual feelings between Steve and Miranda.

Charlotte's ever present desire to conceive intensifies after a chance meeting with the very-pregnant Bitsy Von Muffling. She learns that Bitsy attributes her condition to the wonderful treatments of a Dr. Mao... leading Charlotte to sign herself up for an appointment. After a couple of visits (and scores of accupuncture needles), Charlotte finds that she's not able to center herself properly, since she can't block out all of the native noises of New York. Eventually, she abandons the treatments, attempting to get pregant without any help from far Eastern medicine.

Smith and Samantha's relationship hits an odd plateau when the actor tries to take Sam's hand as they're walking down the street. Samantha is so eager to refrain from the PDA that she actually trips and falls down an open hatch on the sidewalk. Smith isn't having any of this, telling Samantha in no uncertain terms that he loves her, and wants to be able to express his feelings. Samantha grudingly accepts, realizing that maybe a little hand-holding isn't so bad after all.

When Carrie tries to call Big in the hospital after the proceedure, she is shocked to learn that he's already checked himself out. Playing a hunch, she tracks him down at the Four Seasons Hotel, determined to help him recover. She makes the visit dressed as a candy striper, entertaining the patient with two boxes of dominos. After some light conversation, Big suddenly falls ill with a high fever. In a feverish delerium, Big opens up, and he and Carrie begin to wonder why they aren't together. But when the fever passes completely the next morning, Big is back to his old, closed-heart self. Carrie is saddened ,because she recognizes that life's too short for her to wait for Big to come around emotionally, no matter how much she loves him.

Carrie and Charlotte make a visit to a gallery where a performance artist has placed herself on display without any food or water. While viewing the exhibit, famed Russian artist Aleksandr Petrovsky takes notice of Carrie, but disappears into the crowd before she can point him out to Charlotte. When the two women are leaving the building, Charlotte notices Aleksandr and starts up a conversation. The artist clearly pays more attention to Carrie, however, and later in the week calls her up to ask her on a date, which Carrie accepts.

Charlotte and Harry finally realize their dream by conceiving, but unfortunately, Charlotte miscarries less than a month into the pregnancy. This absolutely devastates her, and she finds herself unable to leave her living room due to her grief. Even a visit from Carrie doesn't manage to cheer her up. Then, while sitting zombie-like in front of the television, Charlotte happens upon a documentary about Elizabeth Taylor. Liz's struggles inspire Charlotte, allowing her to get up, out of the apartment, and on with her life.

Robert surprises Miranda by giving her a giant cookie with the words "I Love You" written out in chocolate chips on it. Miranda realizes that she's not able to respond in kind to him (the words, not the cookie), and she worries that she's never going to be able to express her feelings to anybody. Later in the week, everybody gathers in Miranda's apartment to celebrate Brady's first birthday. Miranda is still a bit put off by her inability to say those three words... but she shocks herself by blurting them out in a private moment with Steve. He reciprocates, and the couple begin their relationship anew.

Baby Brady isn't the only one that is aging. Samantha notices a grey hair "down there" after a shower, deciding to dye it to make it disappear. Unfortunately, the experiment goes awry, and Ms. Jones accidentally dyes the whole region a bright orange. Stuck with "Bozo Bush", Sam chooses to shave it all off, telling Smith that she did it to make it easier for him to find things during intimate moments.

Following Brady's party, Carrie meets up with Aleksandr at Russian Samavor for a late dinner. The conversation is easy, despite the periodic language barriers. After the meal, the pair travel to the gallery to see if the performance artist is indeed maintaining her lonely vigil. After verifying that she is, Carrie and Aleksandr call it a night... but not before Carrie surrenders to his charm, with the couple sharing a passionate kiss on the New York street.

After much consideration, Carrie decides that she will begin sleeping with Petrovsky, but rejects Charlotte's suggestion that an actual relationship between the two could develop. The pair spend a wonderful night together, but the next morning, Carrie is shocked to find that Petrovsky's apartment is also a hub for his business, with a living room full of his employees. Petrovsky serves Carrie a wonderful breakfast, but she wonders if she's just the latest in a long line of conquests for the artist.

Steve moves into Miranda's apartment, but the newly-recoupled couple finds that they have to deal with unfortunate run-ins with Dr. Robert Leeds. Robert goes out of his way to make Miranda uncomfortable, leading Miranda to conclude that he's become obsessed with her. Eventually, Steve decides to talk things out with Robert, but winds up interrupting Leeds in an intimate moment with two other women. Instead of dealing a blow to Miranda's ego by telling her that Robert is over her, Steve chooses to just tell her the problem is solved, leaving it at that.

While mentally recovering from her miscarriage, Charlotte decides that she will dedicate some of her time to helping the blind. To help prepare for this new endeavor, Charlotte asks Carrie to take her to Barney's, where she can don a Burberry sleep mask, and experience life without sight. Unfortunately, "guide" Carrie gets pulled away from Charlotte due to a phone call, leaving the sightless brunette on her own in the store. After several harrowing minutes, Charlotte removes the mask and abandons her plans.

Samantha's relationship with Smith is also experiencing some friction, as Ms. Jones begins to tire of her younger lover's perceived inexperiences and flaws. This dissatisfaction comes to a head at a party thrown by Richard Wright, as Sam and her ex- steal away for a tryst in one of Wright's hotel suites. The encounter backfires on Sam, devastating her since she realizes that Smith's feelings for her are genuine, unlike the more carnal considerations from the Richard Wrights in her life. At the end of the evening, Smith and Sam reconnect, re-cementing their relationship.

When Petrovsky returns from a business trip abroad, Carrie visits the artist in his apartment. After another passionate night, Carrie realizes that she's not comfortable only having Petrovsky as a lover. She goes into his studio to tell him that she's breaking it off, but he shocks her by saying that he's interested in being in a real relationship with her. The now-official couple embrace while gazing into one another's eyes, capping off a wonderful evening.

The relationship between Carrie and Petrovsky continues to develop, but one thing continues to nag at Carrie. Petrovsky is given to grand gestures of affection (including poetry reading and the composition of original love songs), and that's a bit too much for this slightly cynical New York girl. When Petrovsky takes Carrie to a premiere at the Met, she literally swoons. To balance things out, the artist takes her to McDonald's, where the pair become the most elegantly dressed duo in the establishment's history.

Steve and Miranda decide to finally tie the knot, but vow not to have an elaborate wedding. Keeping things low-key isn't as easy as it sounds, but they eventually manage to work things out, finding a perfect community garden in which to hold their ceremony.

Not to be left behind in the romance department, Harry takes Charlotte to an upscale French restauarant. The meal is wonderful, but later that night, the newlyweds both come down with acute food poisoning. The romantic evening breaks down, as the pair alternates dashes to the restroom. The experience may not be the most intimate, but it does make clear their genuine love and caring for each other.

After seeing herself pictured in In Touch magazine, Samantha decides to get breast augmentation. However, during her initial consultation with a plastic surgeon, a lump is found in her breast. The biopsy reveals that the growth is cancerous, and Samantha realizes that she's in for the fight of her life.

The day of Steve and Miranda's wedding arrives, but before they get to the ceremony, Samantha discloses her condition to Carrie. Samantha is very matter-of-fact, and swears Carrie to temporary secrecy, as not to ruin Miranda's big day. The ceremony is beautiful, but during the reception, both Charlotte and Miranda discover Samantha's secret. The four friends then spend some sobering time preparing for what will no doubt be a long journey for all of them.

Petrovsky continues to open himself up to Carrie, teaching her the access code and giving her a set of keys for his apartment. He also reveals that he has a daughter - Chloe, 22 and living in Paris. He also mentions that he doesn't want to have any more children, making Carrie wonder if she'll be willing to give up a man for a baby that she may or may not want to have.

Samantha's cancer treatments hit a rough spot when her male physician offends her by mentioning that some studies show that childless women have an increased risk for breast cancer. Samantha vows to receive treatment from a female doctor. Unfortunately, the top female specialist, Dr. McAndrew, has a months-long waiting list. Samantha tries namedropping her way into the doctor's schedule, but to no avail. Luckily, McAndrew's receptionist idolizes Smith, so a quick mention of his name manages to get Samantha (and a fellow patient) onto the toughest list in Manhattan.

Miranda and Steve take their honeymoon, but Miranda finds it somewhat difficult to totally relax in the wilderness setting chosen by her husband. The lack of television, radio and other distractions (along with Steve's raging libido) drives Miranda crazy.

While Miranda and Steve are on their honeymoon, baby Brady is entrusted to both Carrie and Charlotte. Carrie enjoys her time with Brady (taking him fingerpainting at Petrovsky's), but Charlotte winds up stressing out. She flips when Brady accidentally winds up seeing a lovemaking session between her and Harry, convincing her that she's scarred the child for life. Miranda eventually assuages Charlotte's fears... somewhat.

Carrie confronts Petrovsky about potentially wanting a child some day. She says that she thinks that she could ultimately end up with him, but that she worries that this issue will eventually tear them apart. Petrovsky also sees a future for them, but is certain that he doesn't want to have any more kids. The pair embrace, leaving the issue unresolved, but Carrie's affections for Petrovsky continue to grow.

In a change from their usual excursions around Manhattan, Petrovsky convinces Carrie to have dinner at her place. The meal goes well, but ends abruptly when a mouse (smashed by Petrovsky) runs across her countertop. Later, the two get to talking about Samantha and her cancer, and Aleks shocks Carrie by talking about a friend of his who had died of the disease, making her realize the severity of Samantha's situation. Carrie doesn't appreciate Petrovsky's black and white viewpoint, and she walks out on him.

Samantha's cancer treatments are going well, and she reacts positively to the chemo. Unfortunately, the procedure causes her hair to begin falling out. Samantha freaks out at this development, especially since she has Smith's big premiere coming up. A trip to a wig store proves unsuccessful, since none of the pieces can match her fabulous hair. After all of this, Samantha is forced to admit to both Carrie and herself that her condition scares her greatly. She then takes matters into her own hands, and decides to shave her head. Proving that chivalry isn't dead, Smith also shaves his own head in a show of solidarity, and the pair make the premiere in style.

Charlotte and Harry's quest to conceive continues in vain as Charlotte's latest round of IVF proves unsuccessful. She tries to run away from her problems (literally) by taking frequent jogs in the park. During one of these runs, Charlotte meets Trudy Stork and her King Charles spaniel Princess Dandyridge Brandywine. The Princess is a showdog, but she doesn't compete due to a minor cosmetic flaw. Charlotte relates to the dog, and her perceived imperfections. Trudy sees the bond between the two, and gives Dandyridge to Mrs. York Goldenblatt. A quick namechange to Elizabeth Taylor Goldenblatt cements the dog's place as the newest member of Charlotte's family.

Steve and Miranda discover that their apartment just isn't big enough for the two of them, Brady, Fatty and Scout. Steve suggests that the family move to Brooklyn, but the thought of leaving Manhattan doesn't sit well with Miranda. She grudgingly decides to take a look at one house in the outer borough, and though she doesn't immediately fall in love with the place, she does realize that moving to Brooklyn is the best course of action for her family. After some quick negotiations, she signs the deal, and the house is theirs.

After another mouse invades Carrie's apartment, she calls Petrovsky to try and eliminate that problem. After he takes care of the rodent situation, the pair begin to talk, and come to an understanding, bringing them back together again.

New York is in the middle of a cold snap, but Carrie and Petrovsky's relationship continues to sizzle. The pair cuddle up in the Russian's apartment for several days, causing Carrie to somewhat isolate herself from her friends. During this period, Carrie starts to wonder if she and Petrovsky have anything in common. They never talk about work, even though Petrovsky has a huge exhibition looming in Paris. When Carrie finally does come home from Petrovsky's, she's got a week's worth of messages waiting for her... all from Big. She erases the messages, and gets a sense of satisfaction from doing so.

Samantha (along with her fabulous collection of wigs) is non-plussed to hear growing rumors that Smith is actually gay. However, after a carefully cropped image of Smith, Stanford and Marcus sees print, the talk intensifies, and Sam is stuck with the label of "fag hag." To combat the rumors, Sam breaks out a video camera, and films a raunchy sex scene between her and Smith. The tape "leaks" to the press, and Smith's (and Sam's) sexual preferences are firmly established once and for all.

Charlotte decides to take Elizabeth Taylor back into competition, entering the King Charles Spaniel in a dog show. The event doesn't go smoothly, as Elizabeth goes into heat right before the judging. Despite leaving a trail of blood droplets in the ring, Elizabeth takes first prize, largely due to the judge being sweet on Charlotte. Harry and Charlotte take Elizabeth to the park to celebrate, but the spaniel ends up mounted by numerous other pooches, much to the dismay of the Goldenblatts.

The general disarray of the Hobbes/Brady house in Brooklyn is starting to get to Miranda. Even though Steve is constantly tinkering with the property, she finds every chance to flee back to Manhattan. After a difficult night out with the girls, she returns home to discover that Steve has finally installed her DSL line, making Brooklyn feel a bit more like home to her.

Carrie gets Petrovsky to agree to meet with all of the girls for a drink, but he ends up no-showing the get-together due to his workload. Carrie brings the girls up to the Russian's studio to introduce everybody, but he winds up shooing them all alway so he can continue to work. After the girls leave, Carrie approaches Petrovsky, only to discover that he's in the midst of an anxiety attack about his upcoming exhibition in Paris. He finally is willing to discuss his work with her, and the couple spends the rest of the night talking.

Carrie finally manages to bring her new and old friends together as Petrovsky hosts a dinner party for Ms. Bradshaw's inner circle. The evening is pleasant enough, but it's clear that there's some tension in the air. An off-handed comment from Samantha (regarding her vibrator) illicts a particularly uncomfortable reaction from The Russian. Petrovsky then totally throws the party into a spin when he announces that Carrie will be moving to Paris to live with him. Although his announcement is a bit premature (he had only made the offer to Carrie shortly before the party began), it's clear that Carrie is indeed considering the intercontinental journey. It's also clear that Miranda isn't totally thrilled with this possibility.

A decision about Paris will have to wait as Carrie and Petrovsky attend a party thrown by Enid Frick, Carrie's editor from Vogue. Enid asks Carrie to set her up with one of Petrovsky's friends, but when she produces food critic Martin Grable at the party, Enid's reaction is tepid. Instead, Enid tries to put the moves on Petrovsky, a tack that is quickly headed off by Carrie.

Also at the party is former "it girl" Lexi Featherston, an old running partner of Carrie. Unfortunately, Lexi is a 25-year-old party girl in a 40-year-old body, and she quickly wears out her welcome at the event. Coked up and craving a cigarette, Lexi denounces all of the people at the party, utters the immortal words "I'm so bored I could die," then trips over her Manolos and falls out of a window to her death.

Lexi's death causes Carrie to pause and consider her own life. All of her friends have been moving on with their lives - Miranda has married and gone to Brooklyn, Charlotte has married and is now taking care of a litter of puppies, and Samantha is finally in a stable relationship. Carrie wonders if it's time to try some change in her life as well. She accepts Petrovsky's offer.

At Lexi's funeral, Carrie drops this bombshell on her three best friends. Samantha and Charlotte are supportive, but Miranda is hesitant. The old friends take a walk, and Miranda admits that she doesn't like Petrovsky at all. Carrie is hurt by this, and walks away from Miranda, getting ready for her new start at life.

Before leaving for Paris, Carrie runs into Big outside of her apartment, but she makes it clear to him that she wants him totally out of her life. Ms. Bradshaw then has one last dinner with Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda, and it's clear that the four women know that Carrie's absence will have a major impact on all of their lives.

It's then time for Carrie's Parisian adventure to begin, and she soon manages to take in several of the city's breathtaking sights. She is also introduced to Petrovsky's daughter, who clearly isn't taken with Carrie's charms. In her travels, she sees four women having a meal together, which combined with the frustration of losing her signature "Carrie" necklace in a spill at Dior, makes her think about her usual dining companions who are now an ocean away. She makes a phone call to Miranda to try and get some comfort, but the call is cut off before resolution is achieved.

Meanwhile, back in New York, Samantha is chosen to speak at a benefit for breast cancer research. Her speech starts out stiffly, but she soon loosens up, and wins over the audience with her usual blunt manner. Charlotte and Harry continue their quest to adopt a child, with the newlyweds knowing that the process is going to be long and difficult.

When Charlotte visits Carrie's apartment to pick up an adoption recommendation, she intercepts a phone call from Big, intended to try and bring Carrie back into his life. She sets up a meeting with herself, Big, Miranda and Samantha to discuss the situation. Ultimately, the three women agree that Big should go and try and find Carrie in Paris.

Petrovsky surprises Carrie by replacing her missing nameplate with a stunning diamond necklace. She's stunned by the piece, but it seems as if she's beginning to realize that Paris may not be where her true destiny lies.

Carrie has a meal with Petrovsky's ex-wife, but the encounter is slightly awkward since Aleksandr is too busy to show up. Carrie learns that Juliette and Petrovsky split because she was tired of always coming in second place to his art. After Petrovsky leaves Carrie behind for a second time in Paris, she begins to wonder if she's doomed to follow in Juliette's footsteps. While wandering Paris, she meets some of her fans, who quickly decide to throw a party in her honor. She agrees to come, and Petrovsky is happy to hear this, even though the affair takes place on the same night that he is scheduled to unveil his exhibit to the curator of the museum and his colleagues. 

Back in New York, Samantha's chemo treatments are killing her sex drive (something she's never had to deal with previously), and she tries to push Smith away in an attempt to cope with it. He tries to explain to her that he can wait for her to come around, but he eventually has to go on a movie shoot, leaving the issue unresolved. Smith knows that his feelings for Samantha are strong, so he leaves the set to fly to the city and tell her that he loves her. Sam's strong front fades, and she opens up to him again. 

Hoping to adopt a baby, Charlotte and Harry host an expectant couple from North Carolina, with the intent of acquiring their unborn child. Unfortunately, the Goldenblatts feel more depressed than ever when the parents change their mind. Just as the situation is at its worst, their fortunes change when Harry and Charlotte receive notice that they'll be able to adopt a child from China in six months. 

Miranda and Steve have their hands full, as his mom, Mary, has suffered a small stroke. Her memory is impaired, and after a quick visit to her apartment, it's clear that she can't take proper care of herself. At Miranda's suggestion, she and Steve decide to bring Mary into their home. Her condition is difficult, and she wanders off one day, causing Miranda to chase after her in a panic. She finally finds Mary eating a slice of pizza out of a garbage can, and brings her home and gives her a bath to clean her up. It's clear the situation will be difficult for everybody, but it's one that will must be dealt with, and love will get them through it. 

On the night of his big unveiling, Petrovsky has an anxiety attack, and he begs Carrie to skip her party, and to come with him for support. However, when they get to gallery, he quickly leaves her on her own. She's despondent until finding her missing "Carrie" necklace in the lining of her purse. Carrie realizes that she doesn't belong there, and she dashes out and tries to meet up with her fans, Unfortunately, it turns out that she's missed the party, and when she later tries to explain her frustrations to Petrovsky, he just doesn't understand. The couple argue, and Aleksandr accidentally winds up slapping Carrie. She leaves and tries to book her own room, but when she's in the lobby struggling with the language, she runs into Big who has finally tracked her down. When Big hears about the slap, he rushes upstairs to avenge Carrie, but winds up getting tripped up on the way. Big and Carrie then walk through the streets of Paris, both realizing that they are meant to be together. Carrie then returns to New York, ready to start the next phase of her life.