Author's Notes: This takes place sometime in the future. The events in the Previously on... are partially fictional, and partially things that have actually happened. I actually do want Lorelai with Luke in the end, but this seemed like a fun diversion. The movie Kramer vs. Kramer is referenced and I suggest you all see it, as it is incredible. You have to ignore the last couple of episodes, I started writing this during hiatus and it's actually kind of repetitive if you've already seen There's the Rub. But I swear it was my idea first! (Chuck Presby is modeled after a real kid in my history class.)
Music references: The la-las. (There's a bunch of variations. Imagine whichever one you want.) Collective Soul. Jim Croce.
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters (except for one.) They, and some of the scenes in the previously on are not my own writing, they belong to Amy Sherman-Palladino and the other creators of the Gilmore Girls universe. Kramer vs. Kramer is a great movie which is not mine either.
*
(JESS walks towards the kitchen and RORY trails after him, hugging herself to keep warm.)
Rory: What are you doing here?
Jess: (entering the kitchen) Where do you keep your pots?
Rory: (chidingly) Jess.
Jess: (finds a pot and sets it on the burner, pulls a can of soup out of the bag) I'm making soup. You like chicken noodle, right?
Rory: Aren't you supposed to be in school?
Jess: Maybe. (he grabs a can opener off the dish rack)
Rory: (disapproving) You really should be in school. (sneezes)
(JESS spins around from the stove, one hand holding the can opener attached to the can. With the other he feels her forehead. She looks uncomfortable but doesn't move away.)
Jess: You really should be lying down. Go back in the living room.
Rory: But—
Jess: (as he pours the soup into the pot) Go, I'll be right in.
(RORY looks at him warily for a second before leaving. He watches her go.)
(JESS enters the living room, carrying a video. RORY looks at him expectantly.)
Jess: I set the timer for the soup. In the meantime (holds up video) shall we?
Rory: (interested despite herself) What'd you bring?
Jess: Well, they didn't have The Graduate, so I rented another Dustin Hoffman classic. (puts the video in)
Rory: What?
Jess: Kramer vs. Kramer. You ever seen it?
Rory: No. (sniffs) Is it good?
Jess: (sitting on other end of the couch) One of my favorites.
(RORY smiles at him, and he smiles back.)
(LORELAI behind the counter at the inn. The phone rings.)
Lorelai: Hello, Independence Inn, Lorelai speaking.
(EMILY is sitting on the couch in her living room.)
Emily: Have you found a date yet for Saturday?
Lorelai: (forced) Oh, hi, Mom.
Emily: Have you?
Lorelai: I'm working on it.
Emily: (doubtfully) Really?
Lorelai: No. (impatient) Mom, in case you forgot, I have a job. And as much as most sitcoms want you to believe differently, jobs are not chock full of romantic opportunities.
Emily: Well, what about that charming man who works behind the desk with you?
Lorelai: Michel?!
Emily: Yes, him. He was such a gentleman. I'm sure he'd enjoy my garden party.
Lorelai: No. Michel is not going.
Emily: Why not?
Michel: (walking over) I'm going where?
Lorelai: To hell in a hand basket. (to her mother) I have to go now.
Emily: I'll see you on Saturday, Lorelai.
Lorelai: Bye, Mom.
(She hangs up, then dials again. Phone rings several times. Cut to her house, where RORY is watching the movie.)
Jess: (hearing the phone) Shouldn't you get that?
Rory: It's just my mom checking in. (he nods)
(LORELAI rolls her eyes, listening to her answering machine.)
Lorelai: Hey, babe, it's me. I guess you're asleep. Call me when you're feeling better. (hangs up, looking restless)
(La-las. RORY and JESS are still watching Kramer vs. Kramer. Pan across their empty soup bowls, a cup of cold coffee, crumpled tissues, etc. RORY sneaks a look at JESS and he notices.)
Jess: (with a touch of laughter) What?
Rory: (curious, and a bit confused) Why do you like this movie so much?
Jess: Why? (She nods and he grins crookedly.) Meryl Streep's hot.
Rory: (smiles and hits him lightly) No, come on. Seriously.
Jess: Seriously?
Rory: Yeah.
Jess: Okay. (He shifts on the couch so he's facing her.) I always thought that my life would be better—or at least different—if... (looks down and grins self-effacingly)
Rory: If what?
Jess: (shakes his head at himself) If I lived with my dad. (RORY looks pained.) I know, it's stupid. I mean, the guy ran out on me and my mom. He wasn't exactly Dustin Hoffman.
(There's silence for a minute. RORY looks like she's not sure what to say.)
Rory: (with a sharp intake of breath) You know, I've never told anyone this before, but...I've thought about it too. (JESS looks up in surprise.) Living with my dad, I mean.
Jess: (totally taken aback) Why? You and your mom are great together.
Rory: We still fight. And sometimes when I'm mad at her... (looks down, ashamed) I don't know. I guess I wonder what would happen if I went to live with my dad. (quietly) I feel guilty even thinking about it. (Silence for a second, and she meets his eyes, trying to play down the significance of her comment.) I mean, I don't actually think about it seriously or anything...
Jess: (understanding) Right.
(They go back to watching the movie. Inside the movie, Billy falls off the jungle-gym and cuts open his head. Ted starts running him to the hospital. RORY looks upset, whether about the movie or their conversation it's not entirely clear.)
Jess: (almost to himself) My dad would never have carried me to the hospital like that.
Rory: How do you know?
Jess: Same thing happened to me when I was seven.
Rory: (looks at him in surprise) What, falling off the jungle-gym?
Jess: Yeah. (shifts in his seat) I broke my arm in two places.
Rory: You're kidding. Did someone take you to the hospital?
Jess: My friend's mom.
Rory: Wow. (sympathetically) That must have been rough, not having your parents there.
Jess: (trying to play it cool) Not really. I terrorized the nurses until they showed up the next morning.
Rory: (horrified) The next morning?!
Jess: (flatly) They were having one of their fights, and I used to sleep over at my friend's house a lot back then. (shrugs) They didn't question it until the hospital called.
Rory: That's horrible!
Jess: Yeah, well...
(He stops talking and tries to focus on the TV screen, but his stare is blank.)
Rory: (changing the subject uncomfortably) So, which arm was it?
Jess: (holds up the arm in question) My left one. (flexes it) Never quite healed right.
Rory: Really?
Jess: Yeah, if I hit it wrong it still hurts. (They hold eye-contact for a second, sharing the moment, then she looks away and they return to the movie.)
(At the front desk, LORELAI stands staring into space, tapping her fingers. She watches out of the corner of her eye as MICHEL leaves, then quickly picks up the phone and dials. SOOKIE answers from a table on the hotel balcony where she's sipping lemonade.)
Sookie: Hello?
Lorelai: (confessing) I didn't tell him!
Sookie: (lost) What?
Lorelai: He gave me, like, three openings and I never told him about Rory! I'm a terrible person!
Sookie: Sweetie, you are not a terrible person!
Lorelai: Yes I am! I'm acting like I'm ashamed of my daughter! I'm not ashamed of Rory!
Sookie: That's right, you're not! (pause) But you are human.
Lorelai: (sounding a little close to tears) What do you mean?
Sookie: (carefully) You're...enjoying being who you could have been.
Lorelai: What?
Sookie: (explaining the situation) Okay, you run into a guy from high school. He's cute, you're cute, you two flirt, yada yada yada. He hasn't seen you since you were fifteen, and suddenly you enjoy having him see you as a successful, single woman. The person you were planning to be when he knew you.
Lorelai: (protesting) But that's not who I am!
Sookie: I know that. You know that. The question is, do you want him to know that?
Lorelai: (scared) I don't know. (chastising herself) I don't know why I didn't tell him! I love my life!
Sookie: Sweetie, it's okay to think about what might have been—who you would be—if things were different. Thinking about that is okay.
Lorelai: But I'm betraying Rory! She doesn't deserve to be lied about, not by me!
Sookie: You're only betraying her if you don't tell the truth. (Pause, while LORELAI is silent.) Rory is a part of your life, a huge part. The question you have to ask yourself is whether you want this guy to be a part of your life too. (There's a pause.)
Lorelai: (softly) Thanks, Sookie.
Sookie: No problem. Call me later.
(Gilmore house. JESS walks into the kitchen, carrying the dirty dishes from the living room. He fills the tea kettle and puts it on the burner. by Jim Croce begin to play softly. He walks back into the living room, to find RORY asleep on the couch. With a half-smile, he mutes the TV and grabs a blanket, covering her with it. Satisfied, he stands and watches her for a second before returning to the kitchen. He's just taking the tea out of the cabinet when DEAN knocks once on the kitchen door and enters. Music stops abruptly. The two boys stare at each other for a second.)
Dean: (baffled and furious) What the hell are you doing here?
Jess: (acting like there's nothing wrong) I'm making tea. (Pours boiling water into two mugs.) Want some? (DEAN looks at a loss for words. JESS continues mockingly.) I've always taken you for an Earl Grey sorta guy, but hey, I could be wrong. Personally, I'm a lemon zinger man myself.
Rory: (walks into the kitchen looking sleepy) Where'd you— (sees DEAN ) Dean!
Dean: (pissed off, he still tries to greet her) Hey. (glares at JESS) What's he doing here? (RORY looks concerned.)
Jess: (steeping a tea bag in one of the mugs) Honey?
Dean: (threateningly) What did you just call her?!
Jess: Relax, man, I asked if she wanted honey. In her tea. (to RORY) Do you?
(DEAN stares at RORY, who looks cornered. She looks back and forth between the two guys, making some more important decision.)
Rory: No thanks. (JESS nods, not meeting her eyes, and hands her the mug.) Thanks. (She smiles at DEAN, albeit a bit nervously.) Hey, school's not out yet. What are you doing here?
Dean: Lane told me this morning that your mom said you were sick. (defensively) I had a study last period, so I thought I'd come see how you were doing. Am I not allowed to come check on my girlfriend?
Rory: (soothingly) I didn't mean it that way. (DEAN still looks annoyed, so she takes his arm.) I was just going to go take a nap. Come talk with me for a minute. Please?
Dean: (grudgingly) Okay.
Rory: Good.
(As she guides DEAN into her room, she casts a look over her shoulder at JESS, who's drying one of the soup bowls with a towel. She looks apologetic, but doesn't say anything. The door to her room shuts and JESS puts down the bowl and exits quickly, forgetting his jacket.)
(RORY's bedroom. She sits on her bed, and DEAN leans against his desk, staring at his feet with his hands in his pockets. RORY looks worried.)
Rory: Are you mad?
Dean: (gruffly) I'm not sure.
Rory: He just came by to check on me, that's all. You did the same thing.
Dean: Yeah, but I'm your boyfriend. I mean, don't you think it's a little weird how he's always coming to see you?
Rory: He's my friend, Dean. Like Lane's my friend. Would you be this upset if she came over?
Dean: (sarcastic) Well, in case you haven't noticed, Lane's a girl.
Rory: (annoyed) So what are you saying? That I'm not allowed to have friends who are guys?
Dean: No, I'm just—
Rory: (upset at the unfairness of it) You're just upset because one of my friends was over and we were watching a movie!
Dean: (raising his voice) No, that's not what I meant! (RORY looks away. Sick of arguing, he crosses to the bed and sits beside her with a sigh.) Listen, it's not that I don't want you to have friends who are guys, it's that...I don't trust him, Rory. I don't think he just wants to be your friend.
Rory: (in denial about her relationship with JESS) For your information Jess has never done anything to suggest that he wants to be more than friends. He's never kissed me, or touched me, or, or anything!
Dean: (protesting) That doesn't mean he won't try to. (lowering his voice) I don't want to lose you.
Rory: (irked by his smothering of her) And just because he tries something, does that mean you automatically lose me? (defensively) I'm a big girl, Dean. If I don't want to kiss somebody, I won't!
Dean: (backing off) Okay, okay.
Rory: He's my friend, Dean. Nothing more. You have to be able to trust me with him or—
Dean: (trying to be reassuring, but sounding a bit impatient) It's okay, I trust you!
Rory: (concerned) Are you sure?
Dean: I'm positive. (Kisses her gently then smiles, glad she's no longer mad at him.) You can be friends with anyone you want, okay?
Rory: (quietly) Okay. (kisses him again) I should go to sleep now. I have a lot of studying to do for tomorrow.
Dean: Okay. I'll let myself out. (He pauses at the door.) Rory?
Rory: (expectantly) Yeah?
Dean: Are we...cool?
Rory: (smiles, glad the fight is over) Yeah.
(DEAN nods, gazing fondly at her, then exits. As he passes the kitchen table, he spots JESS's jacket. His face hardens, and he grabs the jacket before leaving determinedly.)
(third commercial break)