Before Carrie's first real date with Mr. Big, the rest of the gang gathers at her place to live vicariously--and to give her advice on when she should sleep with him. Although Carrie promises self-restraint, they don't even make it to the restaurant. After some great sex, they go out for greasy Chinese food.

At the restaurant, Carrie runs into an old friend. But when she tries to introduce herself to her friend's slightly frumpy date, she's quickly pushed away. She later finds out that this girl isn't someone he's "dating openly." Despite being smart, funny, and great in bed, she's not quite as sexy or as polished as his usual girls, so he keeps their relationship a closely guarded secret. Carrie can't let this concept go. Secret sex becomes the subject of her latest article.

Even after escaping the "sex on the first date curse" and getting a call from Mr. Big, Carrie soon begins to wonder if he is trying to keep her a secret. The evidence mounts when he fails to introduce her to his friends, refuses her party invitation, and then takes her out to eat at the same obscure Chinese restaurant.

Miranda discovers a secret of her own when she stumbles upon domination videos belonging to the sports medicine doctor she's just started dating. "Aw, don't judge him until you spank him," Carrie says. But when Miranda tries to share the secret with the mad doctor, he completely disappears from Manhattan, apparently unable to face up to his own fantasy life.

Finally, distraught after seeing her new bus ad vandalized--someone has painted a penis on the sexy promo photo--Carrie drags her drunken self to Big's apartment to confront him about his "shame." When he has a valid excuse for his behavior, it only makes Carrie more afraid.

"So you and me...then maybe this is for real?" she asks. "Could be," Mr. Big replies, leading her into the bedroom.