This episode of The Bachelor begins with Jason Mesnick helping his son Ty pack up and head back home to spend some time with his mother.

Meanwhile, Chris Harrison brings the 15 bachelorettes to the mansion where they will be living during their time on the show.

J comes by unannounced to hang out with them in a casual environment.

Jason pulls Megan aside to assure her he wants her there, even though she only got a rose last week AFTER being voted off (or so the girls thought).

Back by the pool, Jason takes his shirt off in slow motion.

The doorbell rings and the women find a single rose and a letter addressed to Jason. He is to give it to the woman with whom he'd like to share a romantic evening.

All of the women decide to step up their game and get as much one-on-one time with him as possible. Naomi tries to impress him with her background in charity work. Shannon throws ice cubes up at them to distract them. Then, Stephanie interrupts his conversation with Natalie.

After a little while, Jason decides to give the rose to Jillian.

They leave right away to get ready for their date. Meanwhile, Natalie runs upstairs and locks herself in the bathroom, crying. Raquel gives her a pep talk.

Jason and Jillian arrive by limo to Walt Disney Concert Hall. On the roof, Jillian and Jason share romantic snacks and a great view. Then, they go inside the hall for a private concert performed by Robin Thicke.

He's pleased that his first date is with her. During a slow dance, they start kissing.

Back at the house, Melissa gets the news that she'll be getting a one-on-one date with Jason as well.

The next morning, Jillian dishes about her date to the other women. She admits that they kissed, which makes Melissa anxious.

Melissa meets Jason at the beach. She does her best to dispel the cheerleader image she has, being a Cowboys cheerleader and all.

A Goodyear blimp-slash-Magic 8 Ball flies over the beach to tell Melissa that she'll have to wait to find out if she'll get a rose, but signs point to yes for kissing.

Jason confessionals that it has been a long time since he has had a passionate kiss like that.

The group date is with eight women: Naomi, Molly, Sharon, Erica, Natalie, Lauren, Nikki and someone else.

Jason brings them to a boutique and tells them to pick out an entire outfit, dress, accessories and shoes. All the women confirm every female stereotype by gushing over their shopping spree.

After the boutique, they head over to a hotel to sit around and get to know one another. Later on, they change into their swimsuits again for another pool party.

Molly pulls Jason aside and says that she's a good kisser. Jason makes out with her too.

Nikki is totally uptight about kissing – she has only kissed one person since she was 17 – and tattles that some of the other women are insincere bitches.

A little later, Jason Mesnick kisses Naomi too. But Molly gets the rose.

At the end of the night, the limo drops them all home at the mansion, but Raquel, who wasn't on the date, sneaks into the limo to squeeze in some impromptu one-on-one time with Jason.

The next night, it's time for the cocktail party. Jason arrives at the mansion where he has to cut three women from the running.

Nikki whines that a lot of the women don't have a good grasp about what it would mean to pick up and move to Seattle and become a step-mom.

Shannon once again proves that she's kind of insane by spouting off random facts about Jason and his family.

Stephanie tells some of the women about her late husband, moving everyone to tears.

Lisa tells Jason that she needs to go home to be with her grandmother who is terminally ill. She leaves right away.

Megan is in the middle of conversation when Molly shoos her away, even though Molly already has a rose. Megan is pissed.

Erica, who seems completely smashed, agrees with Molly that you've gotta do what you've gotta do, even though Megan insists that Erica was just saying the opposite just a moment ago.

They take it to the council, which escalates into a fight between Megan and Erica.

Jillian, Melissa and Molly already have roses and, thus, are safe.

Lisa has left the competition for personal reasons.

He has nine roses to deliver tonight, and Jason Mesnick gives them to:

1. Megan
2. Nikki
3. Lauren
4. Naomi
5. Stephanie
6. Kari
7. Natalie
8. Shannon
9. Erica

That means that it's time to say goodbye to Raquel and Sharon, who quit her job to be on the show. That's got to hurt. Hard.