Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls or any of the characters. I sometimes wish I did, but no such luck.

AN: Everything in italics is actual conversation from the show. Everything not in italics is what I added.

Previously on Gilmore Girls:

JESS (passionately): What are you doing? Living at your grandparents' place? Being in the DAR? No Yale - why did you drop out of Yale?

RORY: It's complicated!

JESS: It's not! It's not complicated!

RORY defensive: You don't know!

JESS: This isn't you! This! You going out with this jerk, with the Porsche! We made fun of guys like this!

RORY: You caught him on a bad night.

JESS: This isn't about him! Okay? Screw him! What's going on with you? This isn't you, Rory. You know it isn't. What's going on?

RORY (sincerely): I don't know.

She looks around, thinking. She wraps her coat tightly around her.

They look at each other for a moment.

JESS: Okay, uh. Maybe, maybe we'll catch up at a better time.

He reaches out and rubs her elbow. He turns to leave.

Opening credits

STAMFORD EAGLE-GAZETTE

Mr. Wooles enters, not noticing Rory. He walks up to Audrey's desk.

MR. WOOLES: Did Bergman call?

Audrey hands him a message and points at Rory as the phone rings again.

AUDREY: Stamford Eagle-Gazette. Try the New York Times.

MR. WOOLES: What?

AUDREY points again: Trust me. You want the Times.

MR. WOOLES: What? What are you pointing to?

RORY jumps up: She's pointing at me!

MR. WOOLES: Rory Gilmore!

RORY: As you live and breathe.

MR. WOOLES: Uh, I'm sorry, did we, uh -

RORY: No, we didn't have an appointment. I just thought I would come down here and talk to you about a job.

MR. WOOLES: A job?

RORY: A beginning staff writer job, to be exact.

MR. WOOLES: Okay, I think maybe we got our signals crossed earlier. I thought I was clear, I don't have any jobs available.

RORY: No, you were very clear. You said you didn't have any jobs available and I heard you. I have excellent hearing, among my many other qualifications which I have listed here on my resume. She hands him an envelope.

MR. WOOLES: Your -

RORY: And my portfolio. She picks up two large binders. Samples of all my writing. All my work from the Yale Daily News, plus a couple of spec pieces that I've just recently finished. Ideas, potential pitches, theater reviews. She hands him the binders.

MR. WOOLES: Well, I'm sure that this is all -

RORY: Look, I know that this is very spur of the moment, but I thought maybe you could find a minute to sit down and talk with me.

MR. WOOLES: About what?

RORY: About a job.

MR. WOOLES: But I don't have any job openings.

RORY: I know, but see, earlier, when we were on the phone, you were so positive and optimistic, and you said so many complimentary things! I mean, frankly, you made me sound great! So great that I thought, hey, you should hire that girl.

MR. WOOLES shaking his head: But -

RORY: I already know most of the staff! The rhythm of this place. How it runs. I know where you keep the pens. I have personally fixed the copier in that coffee room on more than ten occasions. But the bottom line is, Mitchum was wrong. I am a very good writer. And I have great organizational skills, yes, but I know how to come at an article. I have a point of view. A voice. And - big selling point - I am a huge bargain.

MR. WOOLES: Rory, these are wonderful points, but I have nothing at this moment!

RORY: If you could sit down and talk with me I bet we could work that out.

MR. WOOLES: I have no time to sit and talk with you today. I'm sorry.

RORY: Look. I have sent my resume to several other papers. I'm not worried about finding a position. I'm worried about finding the right position. The right place for me. I think this is the right place for me.

MR. WOOLES: Well, it's not the right place for you, because there is no place for you! I have no job openings!

RORY: Give me ten minutes of your time and I bet I can change your mind.

MR. WOOLES: I don't have ten minutes.

RORY: I would be invaluable to you here.

MR. WOOLES: If I gave you a job I'd have to fire Harry.

RORY: Five minutes.

MR. WOOLES: Five minutes.

RORY: Thank you!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!! You won't regret this!!

MR. WOOLES: Four minutes, forty-five seconds and counting.

Rory hurries to follow him to his office

Later that day...

Lorelai is sitting on the couch in her living room. She walks to the kitchen and opens one cabinet, then closes it. She stands in the kitchen for a few minutes. She walks back to the living room. She sits down and turns on the TV, then turns it back off. The phone rings. Lorelai lunges at it.

LORELAI: Yes, hello.

RORY: Mom?

LORELAI: Rory!

RORY: I got a job!

LORELAI: What? Where?

Scene cuts between Lorelai's house and Rory's car.

RORY: At the Stamford Eagle-Gazette! It pays less than I'll spend on gas to get there, but it's a job! A writing job!

LORELAI: Yes!

RORY: And I'm going back to Yale! I already called them and talked to my dean and it's all arranged. I just have to someplace to live, but who cares? I'll figure it out!

LORELAI: And this is what you want?

RORY: Yes.

LORELAI: Are you sure?

RORY: Yes.

LORELAI: Oh, Rory!

RORY: I moved out of Grandma's house.

LORELAI: Yeah, I know, I heard!

RORY: Are you home?

LORELAI: Oh, no, I'm not, I - she gestures at the phone.

RORY: Okay, I know you're home, but, can I come over?

LORELAI: Yes, yes, come over!

RORY: 'Cause I'm staying at Lane's, and I don't know if you want me to, but -

LORELAI: Tell Lane you're moving out and get your butt over here right now!

RORY: Well, okay, if you insist.

She pulls into the driveway. Lorelai looks out the window and sees her car.

LORELAI: Oh my God.

RORY: What?

LORELAI: You look just so much more silver than I remember!

RORY: Now come on! Is it too much to expect after a lengthy separation to get some sort of heartfelt greeting?

Lorelai runs out the front door as Rory exits the car. They run toward each other and hug in the middle of the yard.

RORY: Oh, I'm sorry!

LORELAI: You're sorry, I'm sorry.

RORY: I was so mixed up.

LORELAI: I should have pulled you out of there.

RORY: I was stupid!

LORELAI: No, I was stupid!

RORY: I was more stupid!

LORELAI: Uh, boy, time to get you back to Yale!

RORY: I love you, Mom.

LORELAI sniffles, holding her tight: Oh, kid, you have no idea.

LATER THAT NIGHT

Rory and Lorelai are sitting on the couch in front of the television.

RORY: I can't believe you tried to watch this without me.

Camera flashes on the TV to show "Riding the Bus" playing on TV.

LORELAI: For what it's worth, kid, it wasn't the same without you.

Rory looks at her watch.

RORY: Mom, it's late, and I'm exhausted. Can we finish this tomorrow?

LORELAI: Okay, Grandma, wouldn't want you to go to bed too late.

RORY: Mom! It's almost 1, and you've been trying not to fall asleep for the past hour.

LORELAI: Okay, okay, go to bed, loin fruit. I'll see you in the morning.

RORY: Good night, mom.

Rory hugs Lorelai and leaves to her room.

LORELAI: It feels really good to hear that again.

RORY'S ROOM

Rory lies on her bed and stares at her phone. After a few moments, she opens it and dials a number. Just as she's about to hang up, the phone clicks, and there's an answer. At the sound of a familiar voice, Rory smiles shyly.

RORY: I hope it's not too late to call. Is this a better time?