Episode Report Card Kim: C+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT The Fugue
By Kim | Season 1 | Episode 16 | Aired on 03.01.1999
Noel addresses an envelope to Hannah, in order to send her tape back. He puts the tape inside, and flips the envelope over in his hand. Apparently, Noel ran out of stamps, so he decides to hand-deliver the tape. He knocks on Hannah's door, and she invites him in. Hannah offers Noel a drink. Noel says that he did some thinking, and decided that he can't help her. He sets the tape down. Hannah says that she's embarrassed, because the kiss turned everything serious. Noel asks what that was about. Hannah says that it was clearly a mistake, but also "probably the most natural thing [she's] done in months." Hannah says that she and Noel always talked about living in New York together, and she's kissed Noel thousands of times...she trails off and starts crying, saying that she's usually so much more together than this. Noel sits down next to her. Hannah says that she flipped a coin, and that's how she decided to come to New York. She explains that after Thanksgiving, she went back to Chicago and started dating a guy who turned out not to be so great, and then she had an acceptance letter to the New York Conservatory. That was her dream, except that now Noel was there. Noel says they can't act like things are the same. Hannah says that she doesn't need a lecture. Noel says he thought she was in Chicago with some guy. Hannah says that, instead, she was in New York, missing Noel.
Felicity goes to the art studio to pick up her drawings. Ostensibly. She finds Simon Rex's storage drawer and pulls out her drawings. Simon pops up behind her. She explains that she just wanted to pick up the sketches. Felicity asks how his painting is going. Simon says that he finished it, and offers to show her. They discuss the painting's subject, and that it seems "unbreakable." Simon tells Felicity that she's really smart about art stuff, and that her work is incredible, and that he'd love to talk to her about it sometime. Felicity says that they can sometime, but that she's kind of busy right now. Simon urges her to keep working on her art, and Felicity thanks him and leaves. He stares after her. I'm sorry; he so doesn't do it for me.
In his dorm room, Noel sorts through some old photos of Hannah and listens to Hannah's composition. Felicity shows up, and Noel shuts the tape off quickly, but then admits what he was listening to. Felicity thought he was going to give it back. Noel says he went to see Hannah and they talked. Felicity says that he shouldn't underestimate talking, and then asks if he's looking at pictures of Hannah. Noel says that he's "a little confused." Felicity starts to get upset and asks what he's talking about. Noel orders her not to make him feel guilty about going to see Hannah. I think Noel is projecting a bit here. Felicity hasn't really said anything to make him feel guilty. Felicity says that she doesn't want to make him feel guilty, but she does have a problem with it. Felicity asks if Noel still loves Hannah, and if that's what he's trying to figure out. Noel says that he does still love her, since they went out for so long. Felicity clarifies, "No, I don't mean have feelings for her or care about her. What I mean is, um, do you still love Hannah?" Noel doesn't answer for a long time, and then says, "No." Felicity looks sick to her stomach.