FADE IN

INT. AIRPORT PHILIDELPHIA, EVENING

RORY is carrying several bags, most of which look far too heavy for her small frame. She struggles through the terminal, looking around for someone.

CAMERA PANS

We see JESS standing over by a door holding a sign, like Limo drivers hold that says "RORY GILMORE." RORY sees him and heads over in his direction. When she gets to him she drops all her bags simultaneously, and they both stare at each other awkwardly.

jess

(Puts down the sign and scratches the back of his neck)

Uhh… Welcome to Philly.

(He gives RORY an unsure smile and looks at her bags)

Need some help?

RORY

(She looks just as uncomfortable as he does, clearly rethinking calling him in the first place)

That would be great. I'm really sorry again; I don't mean to put you out. I have a hotel I can stay at tonight, but after that, if you really don't want me to stay, I can figure something else out.

jess

Don't be silly, you can stay with me, save your money, I know how expensive this city can be.

(He picks up several of her bags, and struggles with them to the door. RORY watches him go, before snapping out of it and following him to his car)

ROry

How far do you live?

Jess

You've been there.

rory

Yeah, I guess I have, but it's been a long time, and I didn't come on a plane the last time, I drove, all six hours from New Haven. It's been what? Two years?

Jess

Yep, two years.

(Starts pilling her bags into the trunk of his car, it's been updated since we last saw it, he has obviously been making more money)

Yale boy really gone?

Rory

He's really gone. He left the day of my graduation, four months ago, and honestly, I think it was for the best.

jess

What happened?

rory

Do you really want to know? Or are you just making small talk, because I am perfectly happy to tell you…

jess

I want to know. I want to know why you where with him in the first place. What you could possibly see in a guy like that, I want to know everything. I want to know what happened to the great girl I knew and loved in high school, because the girl I saw in Hartford wasn't that girl anymore.

(He opens her door for her and then gets into the car himself)

rory

Can I check into my hotel first, because once I tell you the whole story, I don't think you're going to want me to stay anymore.

(RORY looks down and her hands which are folded in her lap)

jess

It can't be that bad.

rory

Trust me, Jess, it's that bad, it's worse then that bad, it's not me, and I have no excuses for any of it.

jess

I promise I won't throw you out because of things you did in the past.

rory

Don't make me any promises until you know what you're promising.

(A single tear traces its way down RORY's cheek, she quickly rubs it away, but not before JESS notices it)

jess

Come on, I'll get you a cup of coffee, and you can tell me all about it back at my place.

rory

Only if you'll agree that if you need me to, you'll let me leave, I can go to my hotel once I'm done.

jess

There's nothing that you can say that will make me that angry at you. We've both done a lot to hurt each other in the past, the least I can do is listen to the things that have made you the person that you are now.

Rory

I gotta say, I'm liking the whole verbal thing you have going on.

jess

It comes and goes.

rory

Jackass.

(She smiles)

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INT. JESS' APARTMENT, NIGHT

JESS is carrying one of RORY's bags, the rest have been left in his car. RORY is carrying only her carry-on bag and her purse. The apartment is covered in bookshelves along one wall, other then that it is sparsely furnished, with a couch, a desk and a table and chairs. The kitchen is dark. JESS sets RORY's bag down next to the couch and turns on the kitchen light.

JESS

Do you want something to drink?

RORY

No, I kinda just want to get this done, so you can either throw me out or yell at me or ignore me or whatever you're going to do. I just want it over with.

JESS

Did you call your mom; tell her that you got here all right?

RORY

You get a drink, I'll call my mom, then I think I'm going to throw up.

RORY leaves the room, heading for the only other door in the apartment, which leads to the bedroom and bathroom.

CUT TO

INT. JESS APARTMENT BATHROOM, NIGHT

RORY is sitting on the closed toilet holding her cell phone to her ear, its ringing.

INTERCUT WITH

INT. CRAP SHACK, NIGHT

LORELAI runs to the ringing phone, picking it up just before the answering machine gets it.

LORELAI

Hello?

RORY

Mom? Oh good, I've been trying to get a hold of you forever. I just wanted to tell you that I got in safely.

LORELAI

Got in where? Rory, you haven't told me anything. You said you got a job that was in a permanent place, but you haven't told me where you are yet. That you where going to try to get a hold of a friend to stay with, but not what friend. Where are you? You know you have to tell Momma where you are, it worries me when I can't keep tabs on you, kid.

RORY

Are you sitting down?

LORELAI

Do I need to be? Is it bad? What happened? They didn't station you in Hawaii did they? No, you said you were closer and Hawaii isn't closer then Ohio. Why do I need to sit down?

RORY

I'm in Philadelphia.

LORELAI

As in 'I'd rather be in?'

RORY

The very same.

LORELAI

Have you seen…

RORY

I'm in his bathroom right now.

LORELAI

Why the bathroom? Your not about to do something dirty are you?

RORY

No! Mom! I feel like I'm going to be sick. He asked about Logan, and if he was really gone, and he wants to know what happened to me, you know, why I've changed so much, and I think I kinda owe it to him, you know since last time I was here.

LORELAI

And the really bad, tragic kiss where he got all mad at you, do you really think it's a good idea to tell him everything? I mean about Dean and everything? Didn't you sleep with Dean like right after Jess came to ask you to run away with him, right after he told you he loved you, again, and you threw it in his face?

RORY

I have to; otherwise it will just be there, I'll always think about it, every time I see him, every time I look at him. I'm staying with him, and I would feel like I was lying to him the whole time if I didn't come clean with him about all of it.

LORELAI

Do you still have feelings for him?

RORY

I think I always have, and I'm kinda scared that I always will. I'm even more afraid that as soon as I tell him everything, Dean and the yacht and Logan, that he won't want to have anything to do with me. I made him promise that he would let me leave if he doesn't think he can handle what I have to tell him, but you know Jess, you can never really know what he's thinking or how he's feeling, but, he came and got me from the airport, even after what I did to him last time, and I said I was sorry…

(RORY trails off, tears coming down her cheeks)

LORELAI

If he feels the same way about you that he did when he came back to ask you to run away with him, I'm sure that he will forgive you of the mistakes that you made in the past. What's past is past, kid, if he really loves you, he'll forgive you your flaws and see past them. Look at me and Luke, we took our stumbles, but we're piecing things back together, everything will work out in the end, it just might not be what you want it to be right this second, but it will be what is best in the long run.

RORY

(Whips the tears from her eyes and nods)

How did you get to be so smart?

LORELAI

Well, you've rubbed off on me.

RORY

What if he never wants to see me again?

LORELAI

I really don't think that will happen, but if it does, you'll pick yourself up and move on, because you're strong, and no man can take that away from you. If he doesn't want to be around you after you talk to him tonight, then he doesn't deserve to.

CUT TO

INT. JESS' APARTMENT BEDROOM, NIGHT

JESS is coming to check on RORY, who has been in the bathroom for far too long. JESS listens at the door, and can hear RORY talking on the phone.

RORY

I kinda feel like it's the other way. I feel like it's me who doesn't deserve to be around him. I broke up a marriage, I slept with a guy I was no longer in love with, I told myself that I was, I tried to be, but deep down, it was to drown out the feelings that I had for Jess. I used Dean, just like I used Jess to get back at Logan, but the thing with Jess was, I don't think it was really to get back at Logan, but more to wake myself up. But then with the accident, and London, I let myself be pulled back in. Jess was right; I shouldn't have been with a guy like Logan. Logan was a playboy, one of those guys that I hated in high school.

JESS walks away from the bathroom door and sits on his bed looking shocked, but not upset. He's far enough away from the door that he can't hear exactly what's being said in the bathroom any longer.

CUT TO

INT. JESS' APARTMENT BATHROOM, NIGHT

RORY's phone conversation is winding down.

LORELAI

Honey, I think you need to say all these things to Jess, if you really want him to know how you feel then you need to face him and let him know. Call me if you need anything.

RORY

Thanks, mom.

RORY hangs up her phone and sits in the bathroom for another moment before gathering herself up and leaving the room.

FADE OUT

Third Commercial Break