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Sex and the City

La Douleur Exquise!

Season 2, Episode 12, Aired Aug 22, 1999

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Carrie freaks out when Big breaks the news to her that he might have to move to Paris for a year. She is revolted that all this time she thought of them as a "we" while his conception of "we" was "me and my penis". Angry and drunk after several shots of Cosmopolitan, Carrie calls Big at 5:30 am discussing their relationship. The next morning she drops by with greasy food and suggests that she too should move to Paris so they can stay together. Big shoots her idea down and says that if she moves to Paris it has to be because of her and not him. Carrie is even more revolted, but ultimately accepts that the man of her life has to go. Meanwhile, Charlotte's fetish with shoes brings her to a shoe salesman with a feet fetish who gives a 500-dollar pair of shows for free. She can't keep it and try to return, but the guy won't take it. Instead, he convinces her to model 6 new shoes that just came to the store. And Miranda meets a guy on a bookstore who likes to have sex where he can get caught. The only problem is his fetish is not about him, but her getting caught (which she does, in his bedroom, by his parents, when they walk in on them having sex and he still doesn't stop). Stanford faces his own fetishes when he meets a guy online and goes to an underwear-only gay bar.moreless

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Cast & Crew

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GUEST STAR
Will Arnett

Jack
GUEST STAR
Matthew Beisner

Sexy waiter
GUEST STAR
Matt Conley

Older man

Sarah Jessica Parker

Carrie Bradshaw
Kristin Davis

Charlotte York McDougal
Kim Cattrall

Samantha Jones
Cynthia Nixon

Miranda Hobbes

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This is a magnificent episode.

9.5

"Superb"

By Bhavleena91, Sep 01, 2006

I really enjoyed this episode. It's mainly about Carrie and her relationship with Big, but it does have other storylines within it. Samantha is hosting an S & M themed party, Charlotte is struggling with accepting shoes from a seller with a fetish, and Miranda is having some playful fun outside with a new boyfriend. It actually doesn't feature Samantha much, with her only actually appearing in the first few minutes, but that's okay, I don't particularly like her character anyway. The gay guy is also in it, with a bigger storyline than Samantha, which annoyed me somewhat, since he's not a main character, but apart from that the episode was written very nicely and the tension between Big and Carrie is nicely dragged out. Not too fast, not too slow. I am continuing to love this show. Here in Australia they are repeating the series late at night, so I have to get up late to tape it, and watch it the next day. But it's worth it. I'm only up to this episode in the series, so I have like four seasons left to watch and I'm looking forward to it. I want to know Big's name! Anyway, this episode is possibly to best that I've watched so far, partly due to Sarah Jessica Parker great acting and the wonderful music at the end. Nice job Sex and the City.moreless
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TRIVIA (0)
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QUOTES (7)
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- Mr. Big: This isn't about us. This is about work! Carrie: No, this isn't about work. This is about us getting closer and you getting so freaked out that you have to put an ocean between us.
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- Stanford: Excuse me, but when did wild sex come back in style? Carrie: Oh I think that was the weekend you spent at the Barney's warehouse sale. Waiter: (male, barely dressed) Three cosmopolitans, a diet coke, and a vodka martini with a twist. Samantha: (whips the table) I said olive! (Waiter bends over, and Samantha gives his butt a whipping) Bad waiter! Bad waiter! Miranda: What do you tip for that? Samantha: Anyone else want a whack? Charlotte: How does he wait our tables dressed like that, it's humiliating. Carrie: Well the summer I worked at Howard Johnson's I had to wear an orange hat. Samantha: Don't be so judgemental! This is just a sexual expression. All these people have jobs and pay their bills. They're just having fun with fetishes. (tickling Charlotte with the tip of her whip) Hmm, I wonder what your fetish is. Stanford: Charlotte has a thing for Crabtree & Evelyn foot cream. Charlotte: I don't have a fetish! Samantha: We all have a fetish! The difference between us and them is, they're putting it out there where everyone can see. And I think it's healthy and fabulous. Carrie: (getting up) Well, it was lovely to see you all. And remember ladies, whipping on the first date is considered forward. Stanford: You sit your ass down, Mistress Carrie, there are drinks present. Carrie: No can do, Big's flying to Paris tomorrow for business and I want to say goodbye. Samantha: Oh, why not give him a goodbye he'll never forget? (hands the whip and top hat to Carrie) Stanford: Sacre bleu! Samantha: Go get 'im, girl!
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- Carrie: After we made love I knew it was over. Did I ever really love Big or was I addicted to the pain, the exquisite pain of wanting someone so unattainable?
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- Carrie: You said that you love me? Mr Big: I do! Carrie: Then why does it hurt so fucking much.
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- Carrie: Why is it so hard for you to factor me into your life in any real way? Mr Big: I guess old habits die hard.
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- Carrie: It's about the fact that I wasn't even a factor in his decision-making process. Miranda: Totally. Samantha: Men do this all the time. Women walk around thinking "we", and their version of "we", is "me and my dick". Miranda: Totally!
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- Miranda: Great, your love life takes you to Paris and I'm fucking in the back of a cab. Carrie: That's lovely. Miranda: And, it's not just there, we've done it in the bathroom at Bond Street.... Charlotte: Oh, I just ate there. Miranda: The elevator at the Marriott Marquis and a public restroom in Central Park. Carrie: How very George Michael of you.
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NOTES (2)
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- This is the second time that Big and Carrie have broken up. The first time was in season 1 finale.
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- The title is French, it means: the exquisite pain. It is also the name of the S&M Club at the beginning of this episode.
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- When Carrie says that it was "very George Michael" of Miranda to have sex in a public restroom, she was referring to the time in 1998 when the former lead singer of Wham was arrested for lewd conduct in a public restroom in Beverly Hills.
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