Title: The Mariano Agenda
Author: Bent137
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Characters of Gilmore Girls(as well as anything else associated with it) aren't mine, the title is a spin of the Dark Angel episode "The Berrisford Agenda".
Spoilers: Up to the Season 2 Finale
Music References: All lyrics can be found on MxPx - "Don't Look Back", and "Destroyed by You"
Authors Note: I've had this bouncing around for a little while. I finally got the chance to sit and write it out. This is the first time I've done script format. Thanks to Rea and Trixie for beta reading for me.

The Things That Drive Us

Previously

Jess: God Rory, that's what you think this is about? Well it's not. So run along to your perfect home, and your perfect mother and leave me alone.

Rory: (angry) How can you say that? God Jess, what is your problem? You had a rough life, so what! You're not the only one! How can you even presume to judge me? You're such a hypocrite.

Jess: (shaking) Get out. (Rory isn't moving so he raises his voice and points towards the door) Get out! (she begins to leave and he follows her yelling now) Get out! Just get the fuck out!

(Rory leaves and Jess goes to his room. He shuts and locks the door then collapses on his bed crying again.)

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(The camera pans across the diner from the curtain blocking the stairs to the counter and we can see Luke sitting at the counter his head in his hands. Suddenly we hear a door off screen open and someone yelling. Luke looks up and gets up from his stool. The door slams shut and footsteps are heard on the stairs. Luke goes behind the counter and gets a mug and pours some coffee in it. He moves around to the front of the counter. He sits back down and sets the mug in front of the stool next to him just as Rory appears from behind the curtain. Her face is pale and she's quivering, she sees Luke sitting there and when he motions for her to sit, she begins to cry. She moves over and sits on the stool next to him. Luke watches her with concern. After a moment her tears subside. She takes a deep breath and a drink of the coffee in front of her. Finally Luke decides to speak.)

Luke: So, it didn't go that well did it?

Rory: (shaking her head) Not exactly.

Luke: What happened?

Rory: I tried to comfort him, but suddenly he turned on me saying I couldn't do anything to help. When I brought up the kiss he got angry and told me it wasn't about that and to (she takes a deep breath) 'run along to my perfect mother and my perfect home,' and to leave him alone. I got mad and told him he had no right to judge me like that and called him a hypocrite. (she sighs) He started screaming at me to get out. So I did.

(Rory started crying again and Luke awkwardly wrapped an arm around her shoulders and tried to comfort her. She slowly stopped crying and wiped her eyes. She gulped the rest of her coffee and stood up.)

Rory: I have to go, I need to pack for the trip. I'll come by later and see how he is.

(Luke nodded and she turned around to leave. When she got to the door Luke called to her.)

Luke: Rory? (she turns around) At least it wasn't about the kiss. (she nods and leaves, Luke watches her leave and walk past the windows, clearly concerned. He looks towards the stairs and sighs.)

(Cut to the camera showing Jess in his room, he gets up from his bed, looking like crap. He walks to his stereo, unplugs his headphones, and turns it on. "Don't Look Back" by MxPx begins playing. He walks back to his bed and lays back on it with a book. Cut to Luke walking into the apartment door. He moves quietly as he makes his way to Jess' room's doorway. He looks in and sees Jess sound asleep on his bed, his eyes are red and the book, which we now see is "The Fountainhead" is spread across his chest. Luke softly shuts the door and walks away, he sits down a nearby chair and leans forward, resting his head in his hands. After taking a few deep breaths he walks into the bathroom and splashes his face with water, he then walks back out and goes down to the diner. The music fades out.)

(Cut to the camera showing Rory in her room putting things in a suitcase. She rushes around the room, folding clothes and putting them in there, grabbing other objects off of her desk and stuffing them down the sides of the suitcase. She walks over to her bookcase and pulls out a book. When she pulls it out another book falls. "Destroyed By You" by MxPx begins to play. She bends down to pick it up, it's "Oliver Twist". She holds it in her hands for a moment, running her fingers over the worn cover. Suddenly a door slams. The music stops abruptly.)

Lorelai: (off screen) I'm home!

(Rory moves and puts both books in her suitcase and zips it up, setting it on the floor. Lorelai appears in her doorway.)

Lorelai: Hey! All packed?

Rory: Looks that way.

Lorelai: (she looks at Rory puzzled) I'm gonna miss you.

Rory: I'll miss you too, Mom.

Lorelai: Come on, let's go to Luke's. (she begins walking out.)

Rory: Okay (follows)

(Cut to Luke's, it's open again, but not that busy. Luke seems to be looking for something behind the counter.)

Luke: (yelling) Caesar! I'm going upstairs for a minute, keep an eye on the place.

(Luke turns and walks up the stairs. He opens the door to the apartment and walks in, almost running right into Jess who's coming out of the bathroom. Jess' hair is messed up but he looks a little better.)

Luke: Hey, sorry.

Jess: No, no. That's okay. (He pauses) You looking for me?

Luke: Nope. We're good down there. It's not that busy yet.

Jess: (nods) Well, uh, I'll be here if you need me.

Luke: Good to know. (spots what he was looking for and grabs it) There it is. (He turns to walk out.)

Jess: Uncle Luke?

Luke: (turns) Yeah?

Jess: Can I paint my room?

Luke: Yeah, sure, go ahead. As long as you pay for the paint.

Jess: (nods) Thanks.

Luke: No problem. (he leaves and Jess goes into his room and looks around then grabs a piece of paper and begins making a list that we can't read.)