“The Big Journey”

Sex and the City season 5, episode 7
Original air date: September 01, 2002

Carrie tells the girls that she has to take a train to San Francisco to promote her book, at which Miranda finds suspicious, because Carrie won't even go across town to promote the book. Carrie concedes that her motives may involve the fact that Big now lives in SF, and explains that flying makes her really nervous. She persuades Samantha into coming with her, because Samantha's so bored of everything in New York - including the hottest new restaurants with some of the hottest new guys in town. Carrie and Samantha envision a romantic train ride like in old movies with first-class cabins and deluxe dining cars filled with mysterious, romantic strangers.

What they find, instead, is a tiny "deluxe" cabin with a picayune toilet/shower. The dining car is mostly filled with families, and it's so crowded they have to sit with an Amish couple and censor their language. Samantha's instantly bummed by the fact that the "bachelor party" in the club car is populated with happily-married men who won't so much as buy her a drink. Carrie's still hopeful about the end of the trip, though, because it's been way too long since she ... (use the dirty mind God gave you to fill in the blank).

Back in NY, Charlotte's sweaty, hairy, loud Jewish lawyer (Harry) drops off her final divorce papers, and remarks what a great apartment she ended up with in the settlement. She tells him that she's thinking about selling it, because it's big and lonely. He mentions that he has a friend who's thinking about selling his place, and takes Charlotte to see it. It's a total bachelor pad, from the jazz-tuned stereo system to the zebra-printed comforter on the prominently-featured bed in the living room. Harry confesses that he's fallen head over heels for Charlotte, who's initially repulsed, but he's so ardent and persistent that they fall into bed together. Charlotte doesn't know how to handle it, because while she can't believe she'd do such a thing with such a man, it's also an incredible experience.

As Carrie ponders her cross-country nookie run (and with Charlotte's romp with Harry as a backdrop), she wonders "Are we the new bachelors?" - women who aren't looking for commitment.

When they get to San Francisco, Big's at Carrie's book signing, and she invites him back to the hotel with only one thing on her mind. In fact, she kicks Samantha out for the evening, getting her her own suite. Big's only got one thing on his mind, as well, and unfortunately it's Carrie's book. He's read it, and he can't stop talking about how he can see now that he really hurt her. Carrie tries to dismiss him, but he won't let it drop. She wakes up with Big next to her with the book open on his chest. Ah, but he won't get away that easily ... (again with the dirty mind).

In the end, Charlotte decides to keep seeing Harry just for the sex, and tries to keep him at arm's length by being brusque and "bachelor-y" about it. But she finds that while she's ashamed of how crass and hairy and blunt he is, she doesn't want to stop seeing him. And Samantha buys plane tickets back to NY for herself and Carrie.