DISCLAIMER: I am not affiliated in any way with the WB network, or A.S-P. I do not own, nor have I created any of the characters. I do not have any links to anything involving Gilmore Girls. I also do not own or have connections to the following things mentioned: 'N Sync, the Boy Scouts, The Constitution, Walt Disney, Kleenex, Metallica, Tool, Jerry Springer, Bozo the Clown, Yankees, Jeep, Volvo, Yale, Connecticut State, A Farewell to Arms, Harvard, Hemingway, Salinger, Ayn Rand, the Girl Scouts, Dr. Heidegger, The Fountainhead, or the Nobel Peace Prize.
SIDE NOTE: This is the fifth "episode" in the series ... make sure you read the earlier "episodes" or it will be difficult to understand this one.
SUMMARY: This episode picks up where we last left off, at the end of the Christmas in July dinner, which is taking place at the Independence. While on a tour of the entire Independence (lead by Michel), Richard and Emily catch Rory and Jess kissing by the pond. They do not know it is a Jess, but approach them, and ask what is going on. When they realize that it's Jess, Emily is harsh, and Richard tries to banish Rory from seeing him. Michel goes and retrieves Lorelai and Luke who separate Emily and Richard from Rory and Jess. It isn't long before Emily and Richard request a formal meeting with Jess, and ask him to attend a Friday night dinner with the girls, and also invite Luke. When Chris has finally pulled himself away from Boston to spend time with the girls, he hears that Luke will be accompanying them to dinner, and is at first jealous, but finally decides upon going to dinner anyways and surprising them there, leading to a very ... interesting, Friday night.
A/N: Please R/R but don't be harsh. Constructive criticism is always welcome. Please give me as much feedback as you can - the more I get (positive or negative) the better I can write, and the more I'll write. I hope you are pleased with this third helping.
LAST EPISODE: Jess swept Rory off her feet with a special evening during the Stars Hollow Christmas in July festival, despite the fact that Rory drew Dean's name for the Secret Santa. Chris neglected to show up at Stars Hollow whenever he said he would be there, leaving Lorelai lonely and in the lurch, until the party when she kept company with Luke, who strangely, managed to attend. Rory returns Jess's favor by surprising him the night of the party with a near reenactment of their first kiss, but are caught by Richard and Emily who are at the festival, and happen to be outside at the time.
"Meet the Grandparents"
OPEN TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE INDEPENDENCE INN
(RORY and JESS are standing on the bank of the pond, wrapped in each other's arms kissing, while, in the background, a distant EMILY and RICHARD can be seen approaching, stunned, as MICHEL grimaces, and walks briskly towards the Inn. RORY pulls away from the kiss and puts her hands on JESS's face as they talk.)
RORY: Merry Christmas.
JESS: Hmm mmm.
(JESS closes his eyes and leans in towards RORY again as RICHARD begins to walk with exuberance.)
RICHARD: Not so fast, boy.
(RORY starts and pulls out of JESS's arms quickly, and stepping in front of him.)
RORY: Grandpa? (She looks behind him to see EMILY approaching.) Grandma? Wh-what are you ... why are you ... who let you ...
RICHARD: All questions we should be asking you, Rory.
RORY: Oh, boy. Wow ...
EMILY (haughtily): Well the least you can do is introduce us.
(RORY reaches back for JESS's hand, which he takes and squeezes.)
RORY: Uh ... right. (She takes a deep breath looking at her feet, then directly at EMILY and RICHARD.) Grandma, Grandpa ... this is my boyfriend (she motions towards him with her free hand) ... Jess.
RICHARD: Jess?
EMILY: Jess ... the one who broke your wrist?
RORY: Well, Grandma, he didn't exactly break it himself, I mean, the dashboard broke my wrist.
EMILY: The dashboard of the car he (emphasizes this, and points directly as JESS, who stands tall, and looks straight at him) was driving, am I correct.
RORY: Well ... yes, but-
RICHARD: There are no buts here, Rory. You are a young lady of high society, you attend a well-to-do school, and represent our family name. You are bound for the Ivy League. You should consider putting more thought into the people you choose to keep company with. I am disappointed in you.
(JESS takes a breath and a step forward to begin defending RORY but she looks at him and squeezes his hand, silently begging him to let her handle this. JESS furrows his brow, but lets RORY take the lead.)
RORY: You don't know him, Grandpa.
RICHARD: I know enough.
RORY: No, really you don't. Jess is a good guy - he's smart, and respectful-
EMILY: Your mother has informed me of more than one time when he has offended public officials.
RORY: We only have one public official, that's Taylor, and he just played a few little pranks ... that's all.
RICHARD: There is nothing about childish pranks that make a person respectful.
RORY: ... but he respects me.
EMILY: I find that hard to believe.
RORY: Neither of you have any idea what you're talking about.
RICHARD (raising his voice): You will not speak to us that way, Rory. You are from here on out banished from seeing that (pointing at JESS) boy again.
RORY: You can't stop me from seeing him, Grandpa. This is my life, he's my boyfriend, you can't pick who I choose to care about and spend my time with! Mom says it's ok, so it is.
RICHARD: We'll see about that.
(LORELAI has approached with LUKE at her heels, and has heard this.)
LORELAI: We'll see about that.
(RICHARD and EMILY turn to see LORELAI, and RORY sighs, glad to see her mother. RORY looks up at JESS, who raises his eyebrows at her. RORY gives him a small smile.)
LORELAI: Last I checked, Dad, I was Rory's mom. You were her grandfather. I say Rory can spend time with Jess, therefore, she can.
RICHARD: You are being naïve, Lorelai.
LORELAI: You aren't putting enough trust in me, Dad.
RICHARD: Ha! Trust! I seem to remember putting some of that in you, once ... I think that's how Rory ended up here.
(LORELAI's jaw drops.)
LORELAI: That was below the belt.
EMILY: But entirely correct.
LORELAI: Look, Mom, Dad. I'm going to ignore the fact that you have been completely out of line here, and keep in mind that you are both very upset right now. (LORELAI looks towards RORY and JESS, and nods in the direction of the Inn, they begin to walk hesitantly.)
RICHARD: I'm not done with you yet, young lady.
LORELAI: Yes, Dad, you are.
(LORELAI nods again to JESS and RORY, and takes both EMILY and RICHARD by the hands and pulls them away, LUKE following.)
LORELAI: Like, I said, you are very upset right now, but over something that you are making out to be more than it is.
EMILY: I don't see how that is possible.
LORELAI: Oh, I know! Richard and Emily Gilmore? Make a big deal out of nothing? The tabloids will be all over it first thing in the morning.
RICHARD: For goodness sakes, Lorelai, can't you at least be serious about the well-being of your own daughter.
LORELAI (widens her eyes): Never, ever, mistake whether or not I'm serious about my daughter's well-being. Rory is my best friend, and the most important thing in my life - I'm always serious about that. Make no mistake.
EMILY: It would appear otherwise, Lorelai.
LORELAI: Maybe to you, but you know Jess.
RICHARD: He hurt her!
LORELAI: No, they got in an accident. It could've just as easily been you driving the car with Rory in it when the cat-dog-bird-squirrel-rabbit (LORELAI looks towards LUKE) what was it anyways? (LUKE shrugs) Anyways ... it could've been you that swerved to miss hitting the animal, Dad. It was an honest mistake.
EMILY: You said yourself that he was a bad influence, Lorelai.
LORELAI: And I was wrong. Jess might not have the greatest reputation for being a good citizen around here - he's definitely not the Boy Scout type. But he cares about Rory, and no matter how many gnomes he's stolen, or how many Nicotine patches it took him to quit smoking, he cares about Rory, he cares about her a lot. I've never seen him raise his voice to her, or say or do anything that would make me believe otherwise. And all that should count for more than anything you've heard. Right, Luke?
LUKE (surprised): Uh, yea. Jess is a good kid, deep down. I mean, I can tolerate living with him and everything. He's gotten his grades up ... stayed out of trouble, well, for the most part. Really cares about Rory, if nothing else.
LORELAI: That was the pep talk of the year.
EMILY: You're both wrong. That boy is trouble, and he is going to hurt Rory. One day, Rory will call you from a clinic to tell you she's pregnant with his child, and you will call me and I'll say "I told you so, Lorelai."
RICHARD: She's right, Lorelai.
LORELAI: That won't happen. Rory is a good kid ... and who's to say I'd call you anyways?
(EMILY's jaw drops and she begins to walk off, her head up, and RICHARD goes off behind her. LUKE watches them go, LORELAI folds her arms and kicks a stone at her feet.)
LUKE: Wow.
LORELAI: Nice people, aren't they?
-OPENING THEME, CREDITS, and COMMERCIAL BREAK-
OPEN TO THE LOBBY OF THE INDEPENDENCE INN
(It's Monday afternoon, two days after the dinner, and LORELAI is exhaustedly cleaning the Inn up, when RORY enters.)
RORY: Hey.
LORELAI: Hey. How was school?
RORY: It was school. How are you?
LORELAI: Tired. Sore. I have a headache the size of Texas.
RORY: Hey, maybe we could sign you up to be studied. I'm sure some doctor somewhere would love to investigate that.
LORELAI: Will they give me coffee?
RORY: Probably not. It might interfere with their results.
LORELAI: Then I'm out.
RORY: You need some help?
(Notices her mother crawling on the floor picking up bits of fluff that appear to be the leftovers of fake snow.)
LORELAI: Ah! My hero!
RORY: I'll go get the vacuum.
LORELAI: Why didn't I think of that?
(RORY drops her bag on a couch, and disappears down a hallway as LORELAI's cellphone begins to ring. LORELAI gets up, wincing all the way up, and walks quickly to the counter to get her phone. The camera cuts between LORELAI on her phone at the Inn, and EMILY on her phone at the elder Gilmore residence.)
LORELAI: Hello?
EMILY: Lorelai?
LORELAI: Ah! Mom!
EMILY: What?
LORELAI: Oh, nothing it's just that his day keeps getting (sarcastically) better and better.
EMILY: I've called to apologize for the other night.
LORELAI: What?
EMILY: I've called to apologize-
LORELAI: Yea, I've heard you. Hang on, I have to go look out the window.
EMILY: Why?
LORELAI: Because. You just apologized for something I never thought you would. There must be a blue moon ... or at least a few flying pigs.
EMILY: Lorelai, honestly, a person tries to apologize and you make into a huge ordeal.
LORELAI: Really? It's funny you say that ... because it appears to me, that your granddaughter has fallen head over heels for a boy with a slightly smudged public record, and you've made a mountain out of that mole hill.
EMILY: Oh, that reminds me.
(LORELAI leans on the counter her head in her free hand.)
LORELAI: Oh, dear God. What now?
EMILY: We-
LORELAI: We?
EMILY: Your father and I, would like to invite Jess to our dinner on Friday night.
LORELAI: Excuse me?
EMILY: We want him to join us for dinner on Friday night.
LORELAI: Uh, why?
EMILY: Well, you wanted us to give him a chance Lorelai, and you said yourself that he cares about Rory very much.
LORELAI: Uh, well, yea, I did-
EMILY: So, we decided to give him another chance.
LORELAI: Is there a catch here? There has to be a catch.
EMILY: No, Lorelai, there's no catch.
LORELAI: No, there has to be.
EMILY: Lorelai-
LORELAI: Wait! I got it! You're tricking us.
EMILY: You're insane.
LORELAI: I will have no part in bringing that boy there so you can nail him to a cross, Mom.
EMILY: That's barbaric!
LORELAI: Perfect for you.
EMILY: Honestly, Lorelai, is it so terrible that we want to really meet this boy?
LORELAI: It's suspicious.
EMILY: It's innocent, Lorelai, please, just ask Rory to bring him to dinner.
LORELAI: I'll do it, I don't know that he'll come.
EMILY: It would be rude of him not to accept an invitation.
LORELAI: Well, Mom, not many people would willingly let themselves into the house of two people who made it quite clear that they hated him just a few days before.
EMILY: Lorelai, really.
LORELAI: What, Mom? I swear, the Constitution says something about cruel and unusual punishment.
EMILY (suddenly): ... Invite Luke.
LORELAI: Excuse me?
EMILY: Invite Luke, you know his uncle. That nice man who brought the ice to Rory's party - the one you have feelings for.
LORELAI: Mom, I don't have feelings for Luke. I'm in love with a wonderful man, you know, the father of my child, I think you've met him a few times his name is Christopher. 'Bout my height, lighter hair, good sense of humor.
EMILY: Just bring him along Lorelai.
LORELAI: Why, Mom?
EMILY: Because then, he'll be able to push Jess into coming a little more, keep him in line.
LORELAI: No, Mom. Jess will come.
EMILY: How do you know?
LORELAI: Because he's madly in love with your granddaughter, and I'm pretty sure he'd do nothing shy of camping out in the Gobe Desert for the rest of his life if it would make her happy. All she has to say is "Please." She doesn't even have to pout or do the eye-lash-batting thing that I spent so much time teaching her. He'll just do it. He's straightened up a lot more than you know, I mean ... since he came back from New York and everything has ... evolved with them.
EMILY: Just bring Luke.
LORELAI: No, Mom.
EMILY: Yes, Lorelai.
LORELAI: Luke's my friend, I'm not roping him into this.
EMILY: Bring him.
LORELAI: ... (sighs) Will you be nice?
EMILY: What?
LORELAI: Will you be nice. Will you treat them both like people, like guests in your home, and put on that fake, but warm and friendly smile, and welcome them?
EMILY: Of course! I'm inviting them.
LORELAI: Because if you don't, I will have a hard time ever forgiving you. I'll still have to come to Friday dinners, but I may never forgive you, because Luke is my friend and also my coffee supplier and without him your one and only daughter will wither away. And Rory and Jess have something really ... special, and genuine going on. If you try to drive a wedge into what they have, you will only be pushing Rory away from you.
EMILY (sighs, thinking it over): ... We'll be open.
LORELAI: All right then. I'll run it by them.
(RORY enters the room.)
EMILY: See you Friday.
LORELAI: Yea.
(LORELAI hangs up the phone and sees RORY standing there, smiling curiously.)
LORELAI: And my headache just got worse.
RORY: That bad?
LORELAI: I need a new head.
RORY: I don't think they do head transplants.
LORELAI: Why not? I mean, they have all those people cryogenically frozen, with perfectly good heads. Why not give it a shot?
RORY: Because, I think you'd look really funny with Walt Disney's head.
LORELAI: Point well taken.
RORY: So who was it?
LORELAI: Your grandmother.
RORY: Oh (stiffens up) ... what did she want?
LORELAI: You'll never believe it.
RORY: What?
LORELAI: You'll be stunned.
RORY: About what?
LORELAI: Your jaw will drop so far, it will drag on the ground permanently.
RORY: Why?
LORELAI: Because your grandmother, the one and only Emily Pig-Headed Gilmore, apologized for the other night.
(RORY's jaw drops.)
LORELAI: See, told you. But it gets even better.
(RORY cocks her head, concerned.)
LORELAI: She invited Jess and Luke to dinner on Friday.
RORY: What?!
LORELAI: They want to properly meet Jess. And they want Luke to come to give Jess a little push to come.
RORY: You're kidding. Tell me you're kidding.
LORELAI: I'm afraid not.
RORY: This is awful. They are just trying to trick us. They hate him, and they are bringing him there to sit him in front of that perfect table, with the perfectly ironed table cloth, and grill him and humiliate him just like they did to Dean, except worse. I bet they even bought a spotlight for the occasion. Because Jess is "rebellious" and I'm supposed to be a "lady of society" and because I like Jess more than I ever liked Dean, and it would have to be worse, because that's just my dumb luck. It's going to be awful.
LORELAI: Hey, you do realize that I will be there too, right? 'Cause I'll protect you. I mean it's not like you're going to tell them that you're engaged. It's just dinner, and of course, I can't really say "just" because dinner is never "just" dinner, there's always more to it, but I'm the one who'll take you there, and I can always take you back.
RORY: I know ... but I don't want them to be rude to Jess. ... I like him, Mom ... I really care about him ... I don't want to lose him.
LORELAI: You won't lose him ... You couldn't. You could run to the end of the earth, trust me, he'd try to find you. And besides, we'll just let him know some topics not to cover. I'm not going to lie to you, Ror ... the odds that things will suck are pretty good. But it's not like I won't stand up for you. And besides, if it's that bad, then we can go to Luke's afterwards and drown our sorrows in an infinite supply of coffee, because that, my dear, is the purpose of being in love with a diner boy. (RORY blushes.) Well, you are. It's blatantly obviously.
RORY (sheepishly): Yea, I guess so.
LORELAI: You know so.
RORY: Just do me one favor.
LORELAI: Which is?
RORY: Don't pick that as the opening topic at dinner on Friday.
CUT TO LUKE'S DINER
(RORY is sitting on a barstool by herself drinking coffee, and looking sad when JESS enters from summer school, and sees her. He smiles broadly, and approaches her. He taps her on the shoulder, and she's barely turned around before he kisses her. RORY stands up to be level with him, and runs her fingers through his hair as they kiss, and she caresses the back of his neck.)
RORY: Hi.
JESS: Hi.
(JESS smiles, RORY's face falls as she remembers why she was waiting for him.)
RORY: Can we go for a walk?
(JESS gives her a curious look but nods and looks to LUKE who is ringing up an order.)
JESS: Can I go out?
LUKE: Fifteen minutes. I need you in here for the afternoon rush.
JESS: Whatever. (He looks to RORY.) Let's go. (He nods towards the door, putting his hand on the small of her back and gently pushing her along.
(As they exit, JESS catches up at her side. RORY puts her arm through JESS's and holds it, as she leans close to him.)
JESS: So what's up?
RORY: My grandparents ...
JESS: Ah ...
RORY: They ... well, see, they called my mom today ... to apologize for ... everything the other night. Actually my grandma called, on behalf of my grandpa.
JESS: Then ... that's good, right?
RORY: Not really. See ... they want to meet you "properly."
JESS: Oh geez.
RORY: They want you to ... come to dinner with us on Friday.
JESS: What?
RORY: They want you to-
JESS: I heard you.
(RORY goes silent, pouting, and stops walking. She leans against the outside wall of what appears to be an empty shop. JESS stops and faces her. RORY puts her arms around JESS's middle, hugging him close to her, and burying her face in his chest. JESS sighs, but half-smiles, and kisses her hair and puts his arms around her.)
JESS: So, I guess I'm going to this thing then ... right?
RORY: No. I mean, you don't have to. I'll cover for you if you don't want to. I don't want you to feel forced or anything ... and I mean, you know what you're getting into. You were there the other night, so if you don't want to, I understand.
JESS: Will it make things hard on you if I don't go?
RORY: No ... (She hesitates and JESS glares at her, she sighs softly) ... yes.
JESS: Then I'll go.
RORY: You have to dress up.
(JESS sighs)
JESS: I figured.
RORY: You don't mind?
JESS: Well, I don't like it.
RORY: Then don't go, I don't want you to be unhappy.
JESS: ... You'll be there right?
RORY: Of course.
JESS: Then ... I think I can manage.
(RORY looks up at JESS, and puts her hands on the back of his neck. She pulls him towards her and thanks him, by giving him a kiss. JESS pulls away surprised.)
JESS: Anything else you want me to do? (sarcastically) 'Cause if that's the reward ...
(RORY punches his shoulder teasingly and slips free of his grasp as the camera takes view of them from a distance. RORY jogs ahead of him, and JESS stands there, giving her a sarcastic smile with his hands shoved in his pocket. RORY turns back to him, and says something, then laughs and runs up to him, and grabs his hand and pulls him along behind her until he pulls her backwards, into his arms and kisses her before she has a chance to escape. RORY pulls away a little, and smiles, then kisses him again.)
-COMMERCIAL BREAK-
OPEN TO STARS HOLLOW STREETS
(LORELAI and RORY are walking towards LUKE's on this Tuesday morning. RORY looks kind of depressed, and LORELAI is trying to cheer her up.)
LORELAI: We can go shopping!
RORY: What?
LORELAI: Shopping. We can go shopping. We'll get new outfits, make ourselves look really pretty. You can bring Jess.
RORY: He doesn't want to go shopping.
LORELAI: Have you asked?
RORY: He's not the shopping type.
LORELAI: Ah, yes, but does he have dress clothes?
RORY: I think so.
LORELAI: Have you inspected them to make sure they are actual dress clothes? I mean, for all you know, "dress clothes" to Jess, may mean a shirt that doesn't say Metallica or Tool on it, and pants have the less than eight pockets.
RORY (sighs): I'll ask.
(They enter LUKE's. LUKE looks surprised and looks at the clock.)
LUKE: Kind of early, isn't it?
RORY: Couldn't sleep.
LORELAI: She, couldn't sleep. I could've slept another half an hour, but no, we had to come now.
RORY: I'm sorry, okay. When I have to get up for summer school every other day of the week, it's hard for me to be able to sleep in.
LORELAI: Excuses, excuses.
RORY: ... Speaking of summer school-
LUKE: He left about five minutes ago. He walks slow ... which I'm sure you know ... so you can probably catch him.
RORY: Thanks, Luke.
(RORY smiles at LUKE, and turns back out the door. LORELAI settles on a bar stool, and LUKE hands her a mug of coffee before she gets a chance to ask. LORELAI smiles.)
LORELAI: So, have you heard about this dinner on Friday?
LUKE: Jess mentioned it.
LORELAI: So he's definitely going, then? 'Cause he told Rory he was, but I wasn't sure.
LUKE: Oh, he's going, alright. Beats me, of course. I mean, this really isn't his type of thing.
LORELAI: Ah, but Rory is his type of thing.
LUKE: Which explains it.
LORELAI (testing the waters): So you don't have a problem with him missing work, then?
LUKE: Just make sure he comes back in one piece. I'll need help with the Saturday morning rush.
LORELAI: Well ... actually, you'll be able help me make sure he comes back in one piece.
LUKE: Excuse me?
LORELAI: Well ... see ...
LUKE: Lorelai?
LORELAI: My mother ... wants you to come to dinner, too.
LUKE: Why me?
LORELAI: Because she thinks that you will keep Jess in line or something.
LUKE: No way. I'm not going.
LORELAI: Luke, you have to. I'm going to die at the dinner trying to keep my parents from ripping Rory and Jess up one side and down the other.
LUKE: So, you suggested this, then?
LORELAI: Well, no, not exactly, but once my mother suggested it I got used to the idea of having someone around help keep me sane.
LUKE: You probably could've used that several years ago.
LORELAI: Very true, but at least you can help me keep what little sanity I have left.
LUKE: I didn't know you had any.
LORELAI: Funny, funny, man. ... Please, Luke! Pretty, pretty please?
LUKE: No.
LORELAI: I'll bow to your feet.
LUKE: No.
LORELAI: Please.
LUKE: It seems to me that there is a guy in your life that is perfectly cut out for this situation. His name is Christopher. You should give him a call, I think he has a cellphone.
LORELAI (horrified at the idea): Oh, no.
LUKE: What? He's your boyfriend, and Rory's dad. Plus, I think you mentioned once that your parents love him. It seems much more fitting.
LORELAI: Not now.
LUKE: Why?
LORELAI: Not with this whole Sherry thing. My dad is ok with it, I mean, just ... being that he's a little less on the uptight about, well, everything. But if my mother sees him ... well, we should just invite Jerry Springer to come give commentary during dinner.
LUKE: That bad?
LORELAI: They haven't seen each other since Christopher told her about the situation with Sherry. She won't talk about it. If his name comes up, she changes the subject immediately.
LUKE: Could be coincidence.
LORELAI: Bozo the Clown.
LUKE: Excuse me?
LORELAI: Bozo the Clown, that's what she brought up the last time I mentioned Christopher's name. I didn't even knew she knew who Bozo the Clown was, but apparently she did and all of a sudden we are debating about clowns, and I'm saying that clowns should never be a part of children's programming, because clowns are menacing, and she's telling me I should consider a evaluation of my psyche, and ... I just really don't want a night of ... that, in combination with the Jess and Rory. I simply don't have the amount of heads required for the amount of times my mother will bite it off.
LUKE (sighs): It's really that important to you?
LORELAI: Things ... are going to be really tough on me, if you don't show up, because it's my responsibility to make sure this whole thing turns around perfect in my psychotic mother's eyes.
LUKE (sighs again, more heavily): ... Fine.
LORELAI: I'll owe you one.
LUKE: You better believe it.
CUT TO STARS HOLLOW HIGH
(JESS is sitting on the outside steps, leaning against a beam, and reading. RORY is approaching. When she sees him, she smiles and runs up to him. She taps on the book, and JESS puts it down, hesitantly, but gives a smile when he sees RORY. He's obviously still half asleep, but raises his eyebrows at RORY invitingly as he places his book down at his side, and spreads his legs apart. RORY sits on a step, between JESS's knees and leans back as he begins to massage her shoulders. She closes her eyes and sighs, relaxing under his touch. It's quiet for a minutes, as JESS watches RORY, and smiles just at seeing her. RORY opens her eyes and tilts herself so she is looking up at JESS.)
RORY: Do you have dress clothes?
JESS: Good morning to you, too.
RORY: Do you have dress clothes?
JESS: Why the sudden urge to know about my wardrobe?
RORY: Because, my mom and I are going shopping tomorrow, for new outfits, and if you don't have dress clothes, I was thinking maybe you should come with us. I mean, 'cause I don't know if you have anything in your closet that falls into the dress clothes category.
JESS (smirking): And what are the dress clothes requirements?
RORY: A nice shirt ... something that doesn't have the name of a rock band or look like it's been worn to a keg party.
JESS: Hey, I'll have you know I haven't been to a keg party since my sophomore year.
RORY: Nice pants ... a pair that doesn't have an abnormal amount of pockets.
JESS: Well, geez, then my cargo pants with the twenty pockets are out.
RORY: Jess ...
JESS: Rory, I have dress clothes.
RORY: (sighs) I'm sorry ... I shouldn't have been so pushy right there ... it's just ... well, you know I don't care what you wear, Jess. It really makes no difference to me ... but my grandparents are a different story.
JESS: I know.
RORY: ... You're sure you have something?
JESS: Rory ...
RORY: I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
JESS: I have a button down shirt, and a pair of khakis. Will that pass the test?
RORY: I think so ... do you have an iron?
JESS: What?
RORY: Kidding, kidding.
(JESS shakes his head, and RORY smiles up at him, then turns so she is facing front again, so he can continue rubbing her shoulders.)
CUT TO INDEPENDENCE INN
(It's later in the afternoon, and LORELAI is taking calls at the desk, while MICHEL puts information into the computer. LORELAI has barely hung up the phone, when it rings again.)
LORELAI: Ah! Does this phone ever stop ringing?
MICHEL: If it stopped ringing, that would signify that the battery is did.
LORELAI: Thank you for clarifying that for me, Michel.
(LORELAI answers the phone. The camera cuts between LORELAI at the INN and CHRISTOPHER in SHERRY's apartment.)
LORELAI: Independence Inn, this is Lorelai, how may I help you?
CHRISTOPHER: How prim and proper.
LORELAI: Oh, Christopher! I'm glad it's you ...
CHRISTOPHER (smiling): Good to know.
LORELAI: We've been getting calls nonstop all day. Ringing off the hook, with crazy people who want to reserve a hotel room for - can you believe this - the Bracebridge Dinner, already. They want to know if they can have someone in authentic dress and accent serenade them to sleep, by playing - get this - a mandolin, and if room service will be attended to by one of our normal servants, or someone we've hired special for the occasion. And ... you're a familiar voice so ... it's nice ... and ... well, I'm just glad to hear from you. (She smiles.)
CHRISTOPHER: Aw, shucks.
LORELAI: So, to what do I owe the pleasure?
CHRISTOPHER: Well, I tried to call your cell, but no one answered.
LORELAI: Charging in the car.
CHRISTOPHER: So, then I tried here.
LORELAI: And you're calling because ... ?
CHRISTOPHER: Well, I'm not making a huge dent in moving yet, but I have some free time this Friday, and I was thinking that maybe I could come by for dinner at your parents?
LORELAI: Dinner?
CHRISTOPHER: Yea.
LORELAI (grimacing): At my parents?
CHRISTOPHER: Yep.
LORELAI: You're asking to go to dinner at my parents house?
CHRISTOPHER: Well, I would suggest dinner at a restaurant, but I know how important the infamous Friday night dinners are.
LORELAI: ... Uh. Wow, well ... I ... I don't think that's a great idea, Christopher.
CHRISTOPHER (take aback): Oh ... why not? I thought you said your Mom wanted to see me around more.
LORELAI: She did ... and she does, in some way, but it might just be so she can have you sitting in front of her when she imagines the fifty types of most preferable medieval torture she could use on you, and
CHRISTOPHER: Lor ...
LORELAI: ... it's just that ... well, it's kind of going to be a full house for dinner this week?
CHRISTOPHER (interested): Oh really? How'd that happen.
LORELAI: Well ... see, Emily and Richard happened to uh ... catch Rory and Jess kissing, during the Christmas in July dinner.
CHRISTOPHER: Ah, not good.
LORELAI: No, and after they both let Rory and Jess have it, and I let them have it, they left. Then yesterday, my mother calls, out of the blue, and apologizes.
CHRISTOPHER: She apologized?
LORELAI: It was amazing - Peter Jennings and World News Tonight came out and did a special segment on it.
CHRISTOPHER: Huh. But there was a catch, wasn't there?
LORELAI: Of course. One of her finest, too.
CHRISTOPHER: And it was?
LORELAI: She wanted Rory to ask Jess to dinner on Friday.
CHRISTOPHER: I'm getting really bad flashbacks now.
LORELAI: Yea, me too ... but Emily insisted on it ... there's no getting out of it, and Jess is coming.
CHRISTOPHER: Ah, but if I'm not mistaken, then I can still be your right hand man - there a place left.
LORELAI: Well ... not exactly.
CHRISTOPHER: Not exactly?
LORELAI: You see ... my mother, being the saint she is, thought it would be a good idea to invite Luke-
CHRISTOPHER: Luke? Luke who runs the diner, Luke? Luke who obviously has a thing for you, Luke?
LORELAI: Luke does not have a thing for me.
CHRISTOPHER: He does too ... why did your mom invite him?
LORELAI: It could possibly be because he's Jess's uncle, but I wasn't really clear on it.
CHRISTOPHER: So, I can't go to dinner with my girlfriend and daughter, because another guy has been invited in my place.
LORELAI: No, never in your place Chris. Just ... invited by Emily, that's all. It means nothing. It's just Luke. He'll come in some nice clothes, he'll sit, he'll grunt out a few answers, all four of us will go back to the diner for coffee afterward, and it'll be over.
CHRISTOPHER: Right, well ... fine then. So I guess I'll talk to you later.
LORELAI: Chris, don't do this! Chris, you can come if you want ... I'm sure there's plenty of room, I just figured you wouldn't want to get in that mess.
CHRISTOPHER: Well, you figured right. Bye, Lor.
(CHRISTOPHER hangs up, and LORELAI pouts as she turns off the phone.)
-COMMERCIAL BREAK-
OPEN TO MALL
(It's Wednesday, late in the afternoon. LORELAI and RORY are heading out of a department store with bags in hand, as they notice a poster that reads HOMECOMING 2002 FASHIONS ARRIVING MID-AUGUST. LORELAI points and stops RORY. RORY shakes her head, and LORELAI nods.)
RORY: No.
LORELAI: Yes.
RORY: No.
LORELAI: It'll be fun.
RORY: No.
LORELAI: We'll just come look at dresses.
RORY: Why? I'm not going.
LORELAI: We'll do your back-to-school shopping then, too.
RORY: I go to a private school, I don't need to school clothes.
LORELAI: Fine. Then we'll get more new clothes for after school. Plus there is an Office Max and a bookstore here.
RORY: I'm not going to homecoming. Even if I was, you'd make the dress.
LORELAI: Right, but you'd have to get ideas.
RORY: We're not talking about this. I don't do dances.
LORELAI: You did dances with Dean.
RORY: But I don't do dances now. They're silly, pointless events. End of discussion ...
LORELAI: That's what you think.
RORY: So, have you heard from Dad?
LORELAI: Nice topic change.
RORY: It's an honest question.
LORELAI: You were sidestepping.
RORY: I'm allowed to ask if you've heard from him, he is my dad after all.
LORELAI: And here I was, wondering why you've been calling him "Dad" for the past seventeen years. Completely slipped by me, I tell you. Right over my head.
RORY: Mom?
LORELAI: I talked to him, ok?
RORY: And?
LORELAI: And the conversation started out with "Hi" and ended with "Bye" and that's all there was to it.
RORY: Ten bucks says he's have a different side to that story.
LORELAI: Twenty bucks says that you couldn't get him to answer the phone to tell you anyways.
RORY: Ah ha! So you did have a fight!
LORELAI: Where would you get a silly idea like that?
RORY: Because, you said he won't answer his phone, which implies that you've been calling, and he hasn't been answering.
LORELAI: It does not.
RORY: How many times have you called and he hasn't answered?
LORELAI: I haven't.
RORY: Liar.
LORELAI: Am not.
RORY: ... Twenty.
LORELAI: What?
RORY: You called him twenty times and he still hasn't answered.
LORELAI: So, how about those Yankees?
RORY: You've never watched a second of baseball in your life, what happened?
LORELAI: Nothing.
RORY: Is that your final answer?
LORELAI: Look, Rory, it was nothing ok? We just had a little squabble, and it's really none of your concern.
RORY: But see, it is, my concern. With Max, maybe it wasn't my business, but this is my dad we're talking about. We share blood, so if you have a fight I'd at least like to be given a clue. Now maybe, if it would be different, if he'd been around my whole life, but he's only really checked into the whole Dad picture recently, and even that was shaky at first, so you have to take into consider my seventeen years of painful experience, and at least give me an idea. Ease my paranoia.
LORELAI (considering this as they leave the mall): He's just ... not happy about Luke coming to dinner with us.
RORY: Luke, is coming to dinner with us?
LORELAI: Is my memory failing me, 'cause I was sure I told you.
RORY: No, I'm pretty sure you didn't.
LORELAI: Well, anyways, your grandmother, the wonderful woman she is, invited Luke along to keep Jess in line or something-
RORY: Jess stays in line just fine on his own (LORELAI glares) ... okay, so with a little encouragement on the side. But Luke doesn't have to come, I mean, not that I don't want Luke to come. Luke's great but-
LORELAI: I know. But, she was set on it, so I got him to come, and then your dad calls and he has free time Friday night, and he wants to come play house, and have dinner with us, and I had to tell him, and said maybe it wasn't such a good idea, especially on an night that is already shaping up to be the recreation of the Salem witch trials, and he took offense to it, and said Luke was his replacement, and that he had a thing for me, and now he won't talk to me.
RORY: Well, he does have a point?
LORELAI: What?
RORY: Luke does have a thing for you.
LORELAI: You're sick.
RORY: No, I have a pulse.
LORELAI: Anyways, he overreacted ... (RORY glares) and I was possibly and little inconsiderate of the situation. I'm going to fix it.
RORY: When?
LORELAI: Whenever he picks up his phone.
(RORY raises her eyebrows, and LORELAI shakes her head, and RORY taps LORELAI's hand bag, at which point she reluctantly pulls out her cellphone, and LORELAI sits on a bench. RORY sets her stuff down next to her.)
RORY: I'll go get the car.
LORELAI: Good girl.
CUT TO GILMORE RESIDENCE
(LORELAI is sitting on the bench, she has just dialed a number on her phone, and begins to talk.)
LORELAI: Uh, hi, Chris ... this is Lorelai again, getting your machine ... again, and uh, you're not answering your cell so I thought, maybe, possibly you were at home. But apparently, you are, as I thought, avoiding me, so if you could give me a buzz when you're ready to hear me out, that'd be great, 'cause we have to talk about this and-
(The camera cuts to SHERRY listening to the message amidst boxes in the apartment, and she picks up.)
SHERRY: Lorelai?
LORELAI: Uh ... hi.
SHERRY: Stop calling.
LORELAI: Sherry?
SHERRY: Don't call here anymore.
LORELAI: Uh, excuse me, Sherry, but I can call here if I want to ... I mean ... Christopher is my boyfriend, and the father of my child.
SHERRY: And the father of mine.
LORELAI: Which still doesn't give you the right to decide who can and cannot call him.
SHERRY: Look, Lorelai, you don't need Christopher, all right? You have a good job, and you are a stable person, with a great kid, and a great life and a ton of people who care about you. I need Christopher.
LORELAI: I'm sorry, I don't see what you are getting at here.
SHERRY: As long as you want him Lorelai, he won't want me. He won't be the father he should be, and you will always be more important.
LORELAI: Hey, hey ... give Chris some credit ... he's trying to do well with this new baby, and I think he's going to. And you're wrong ... Rory will always come before everyone.
SHERRY: You, Rory, what's the difference? Either way, he's not here with me. So stop calling.
LORELAI: Sherry ... I will stop calling the apartment ... I mean, he has a cell phone ... but can you just answer this one question for me?
SHERRY: What?
LORELAI: ... Do you love him?
(SHERRY is silent, and LORELAI nods.)
LORELAI: That's what I thought.
CUT TO LUKE'S DINER
(It's Thursday, around lunchtime, and LORELAI has taken her lunch break to eat with RORY since she does not have summer school, on Thursdays. They take a seat at the counter, and LUKE comes to take their order.)
LORELAI: Two hamburgers, two orders of fries, four cups of coffee, and two pieces of pie.
LUKE: That it?
LORELAI: For me, but you still have to take Rory's order.
LUKE: You going to hibernate or something?
LORELAI: No, but I'm just eating extra ... in case dinner at my parents tonight is gross. Speaking of which, you should probably meet at our house.
LUKE: Why your house?
LORELAI: So we can take my car.
LUKE: We're all going together?
LORELAI: It makes sense, doesn't it? We're all going the same place, and you have no idea where we're going.
LUKE: You could give me directions.
LORELAI: Okay, better reason, Rory will want to ride there with Jess. Right Rory? (RORY nods.) Then you'd have to ride alone.
LUKE: I could handle it.
LORELAI: Right, but see, it'd be a better idea if we all arrived at the same time ... it would make mother happy from the start.
LUKE: So why don't we take my truck?
LORELAI: Where will we all fit?
LUKE: Jess and I will sit in the front, Rory can sit in the fold down seat in the back, and you can ride in the bed.
LORELAI: Isn't that illegal?
LUKE: So is strapping you to the roof, I figured riding in the bed would be the safer option.
LORELAI: Or we could all go together, in the Jeep, where we'd all have room. And we'd all go together, and arrive together, and it would just be so much nicer.
LUKE: Stubborn.
LORELAI: No, you just don't think as clearly as I do.
LUKE (looks to RORY): What are the odds I'll win here?
RORY: Slim to none.
LUKE: Fine. What time are we meeting at your house, then?
LORELAI: Six o'clock. Dinner's at seven. That gives us fifteen minutes to waste, and forty-five minutes to get there.
LUKE: At least you think ahead.
(LUKE starts to head back to the kitchen.)
RORY: Hey Luke! I'll have what my mom's having.
(LUKE shakes his head.)
-COMMERCIAL BREAK-
CUT TO GILMORE RESIDENCE
(It's Friday morning, and RORY is getting ready for her last day of summer school while LORELAI reads the paper. RORY has just finished pulling her hair back, when the doorbell rings.)
LORELAI: I'll get it!
(LORELAI gets up and runs to the door. She opens it to find JESS standing there with four coffee in a carrying tray.)
LORELAI: Oh, please tell me some of that is for me.
JESS: Two of them.
LORELAI (shouting to RORY): Rory! Jess is here! (Takes two coffees, and begins sipping as she lets JESS in.) I am seriously considering adopting you. (To RORY again.) Hey, Rory, if you don't hurry, your boyfriend is going to become your brother real quick. (LORELAI leads JESS into the kitchen where she sits down and JESS still stands, holding the coffee, and looks towards RORY's room, where she can be seen running around.) So, Jess, you prepared for tonight?
JESS: I've got a getaway car ready for me if I need it, if that's what you mean.
LORELAI: Not exactly ... tonight is important, Jess. I could care less what Emily or Richard think of you ... but it means something to that girl in there, for only God knows why ... and since you (whispering) love her-
JESS: Hey, hey ...
LORELAI: It's not like it's a big secret or anything, Jess. But anyways, she has a much better relationship with them than I ever have ... so just make sure-
JESS (cutting her off): That I don't screw up?
LORELAI: Well said.
JESS: Just trust me.
(RORY comes around to the kitchen and sees JESS and smiles.)
JESS: I come bearing gifts.
RORY: Oh! Coffee! I wasn't going to have time to stop for any, either.
(RORY grabs the coffees out of the holder and hands the tray to her mom.)
RORY: Merry Christmas.
LORELAI: Gee thanks, kid, but that was last week.
RORY: Better late than never.
JESS: In a rush?
RORY: Gotta get to school a little early - summer finals are today, and I have to turn in my books and stuff.
JESS: How ... fun?
RORY: Not exactly. (To LORELAI) I gotta go. I'll see you here tonight?
LORELAI: Yep ... I won't bail on you.
RORY: You better not.
(They walk back into the foyer. She hugs LORELAI and kisses her on the cheek. JESS opens the door and holds it for her, and grabs her backpack from next to the door, since she forgot it absentmindedly. LORELAI smirks at him as the door shuts. Outside, JESS holds the backpack by the handle in his left hand, and RORY walks to the right of him, finishing a coffee by the time they are down the step, and throwing it in a trashcan off to the side. Then stopping in her tracks, and covering her forehead with her hand.)
RORY: Oh no ... my backpack it's inside ... (She stops talking and notices JESS holds the backpack up so she can see it and smirks.) What would I do without you?
(RORY reaches for bag, and JESS holds it behind his back, and grabs RORY around the waist with his free arm.)
JESS: I think I get a reward.
RORY: Hmm, you brought me coffee and remembered my backpack. I guess you are deserving.
(JESS leans his face close to RORY's so she can feel his breath as he talks.)
JESS: You guess?
RORY: Yea ... I guess.
(JESS kisses her, pulls away for a second, then goes to kiss her again. Just as his lips brush hers for as second time, RORY puts her arms around his back pulling him closer, and returning the kiss. She feels around his back for his hand, and seizes the backpack, pulling it away from him. He doesn't notice, even when he brings his now free hand to the back of RORY's neck, and continues kissing her until RORY puts her hand on his chest to stop him.)
RORY: As much as I don't want to go to school today ... I have to ... and now that I have all the necessary items (she holds up the backpack victoriously, JESS looking surprised) I should get going to the bus.
(RORY tries to free herself from his arms so she can leave, and succeeds, slinging the backpack over her shoulders. She begins to walk, and JESS catches up with her, putting his arm around her shoulder, and kissing her temple as they walk. RORY rests her head on his shoulder, and he follows suit, leaning his head against hers, and smiling, at her. The camera stays put as they walk off in the distance, but we can hear them talking.)
JESS: So ... what do I need to know for tonight?
RORY: I think ... that you and my grandpa will get along really well ... he loves literature.
OPEN TO GILMORE HOUSE
(It's Friday night, and RORY and LORELAI are rushing around getting ready for the dinner. RORY exits her room, finally ready. She's wearing a navy blue boat neck tank top and lightweight black skirt that hits at the knees, with scalloping at the ends. Her hair is falling straight over her shoulders. RORY approaches the staircase.)
RORY: Mom! It's 5:57 - they're going to be here soon.
LORELAI: Yes, but we don't have to leave until 6:15.
RORY: Shouldn't you be ready when they get here?
LORELAI: They should know better.
(The doorbell rings, and RORY shakes her head, then goes to the door to answer it. The silhouette of two figures is apparent through the glass, and RORY calls up to LORELAI.)
RORY: They're here.
(RORY opens the door. JESS is standing in front of LUKE, wearing, as promised, a pair of khakis, and a grey-blue button down shirt. LUKE is wearing black pants, and a white shirt, tie and all.)
RORY: Hi, guys. Come in, you can sit if you want (she points to the couch) ... my mom ... isn't ready yet, but she should be-
(LORELAI comes running down the stairs.)
LORELAI: I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready!
RORY: Scratch that, she's ready.
(LUKE makes himself comfortable on the couch as LORELAI finishes coming down the stairs in a burgundy, knee length dress with a v-neck and spaghetti straps. JESS and RORY remain in the foyer while LORELAI bustles around. RORY runs her eyes over JESS.)
RORY: You ... wow, you look ... great, Jess. You look great.
JESS (incredulously): I don't always look great?
RORY: No ... you always look great it's just ... I've never seen you ... you know, dressed up before and-
(Before RORY can stumble over her words anymore, JESS greets her with a kiss, holding her close to him. He pulls away, smiles at her, then kisses her neck.)
JESS (whispering in her ear): You don't look so bad yourself.
(RORY responds by kissing him as LORELAI and LUKE enter. LORELAI clears her throat.)
LORELAI: Which reminds me ...
(RORY blushes, as she and JESS pull back. RORY continues to lean against JESS, and he holds her as she faces LORELAI.)
LORELAI: There need to be some ground rules tonight.
JESS: Like?
LORELAI: Like ... none of that, if you can help it. In fact, it'd probably be a good idea to stray from any of that huggy-cuddly-kissy stuff if at all possible. It'll help your case.
RORY: Noted.
LORELAI: No sarcasm needed tonight, from anyone. I'll cover it from all angles if it absolutely needed.
JESS: Now somehow, that just doesn't seem fair.
LORELAI: What's fair and what isn't is what this whole dinner is about, kid. Now, Luke, if you could get out a little small talk, as opposed to grunts, you'll be fine ... they like you anyhow.
(LUKE glares.)
LORELAI: And Jess, beware ... my father loves to jump on people with questions - about college, about what you want to do with the rest of your life, about Rory, so have answers ready, make them up if you need to, we'll back you up.
RORY: And Grandpa loves to read ... so if you can get in a literary discussion with him, you'll win him over.
JESS: Are we ready now?
LORELAI: I think so.
(They begin to head out of the house, LORELAI leading the way, LUKE following her, and JESS and RORY walking side-by-side behind them. RORY reaches to hold his hands, and goes to kiss him on the cheek, but he pulls away abruptly, holding his hands up, as though to surrender.)
JESS (sarcastically): We're not supposed to be doing that huggy-cuddly-kissy stuff, remember?
(RORY grabs him and kisses him passionately, before JESS can argue further. They kiss until they hear LORELAI honk the horn. They pull away, and RORY looks him in the eyes.)
RORY (breathing heavily): ... I'm sorry.
JESS: What for?
RORY: For anything that happens tonight ... and just know ... that nothing that is said or done will reflect on how I feel about you.
(JESS smiles softly at her putting his fingers under her chin to prop it up.)
JESS: Rory ... I ...
RORY: Hmm?
JESS: I ... it's nothing. Let's get going.
(JESS kisses her cheek, his lips lingering on her skin, until RORY begins to walk towards the car. JESS rushes ahead of her, and opens the door.)
RORY: What a gentlemen ...
JESS: How rude!
-COMMERCIAL BREAK-
CUT TO THE ELDER GILMORE RESIDENCE
(LORELAI pulls the car into the semi-circle driveway at EMILY and RICHARD's, and the camera takes view of the car from the front, so we can see inside. She turns it off, and the headlights go off. LORELAI sits, not motioning to get up. JESS and RORY are in the backseat, JESS at a window seat, RORY in the middle cuddled up against him, as he reads an open book. He squeezes her tighter against him, and they haven't even noticed the car has stopped. LUKE fidgets, then finally looks over at LORELAI.)
LUKE: Why are we sitting here?
LORELAI: Because it's 6:58.
LUKE: So?
LORELAI: So, we're early.
LUKE: So we'll go in early. Early is good. (LORELAI gasps.) What?
LORELAI: Early is never good. Never. Never early. The words "Early" "Good" "Dinner" and "Emily Gilmore" have never fallen in the same sentence together.
LUKE: My mistake.
(They sit in silence again. JESS closes the book, and hands it to RORY who puts it in her purse. RORY closes her eyes when she returns her head to JESS's shoulder. LUKE looks at his watch.)
LUKE: It's 6:59.
LORELAI: And your point is?
LUKE: That by the time we get out of the car, all of us, and get up to the door, it will be seven o'clock.
LORELAI: You're really big on the punctuality thing, aren't you?
LUKE: Well it doesn't hurt.
LORELAI: Or help, in this matter.
LUKE: Let's just go, and get it over with.
LORELAI: No, we can't.
LUKE: Why not?
LORELAI: Because we haven't had a prayer circle yet.
LUKE: Excuse me?
LORELAI: A prayer circle. I think we should stand in a circle outside, and pray before we go in.
LUKE: What for?
LORELAI: Do you like your life?
LUKE: You're exaggerating.
LORELAI: Ha! You wish!
(LUKE looks at his watch.)
LUKE: It's seven o'clock.
LORELAI: Now, was that so terrible?
LUKE: Yes.
LORELAI: Humor me.
LUKE: No.
LORELAI: Fine then. All right, troops, forward march.
(RORY sighs and JESS unfastens his seatbelt, and RORY does the same. He opens his door, and helps RORY out, and LUKE gets out. LORELAI is last out, and slams her door shut, leading them to the door.)
LUKE: Was that necessary?
LORELAI: If you must know, yes.
(It's at this time that a silver Volvo pulls into the driveway. LORELAI turns to see this and throws her head back.)
LORELAI: Why me? Why me, I ask you? I'm a good person, I help charity, I pay my taxes. Why?
LUKE: Is that Christopher?
LORELAI: You know that whole praying thing? Now, I'm serious.
(CHRISTOPHER opens his door and gets out. RORY sees him, breaking her literary trance with JESS, and runs to him and gives him a hug.)
RORY: Dad!
CHRISTOPHER: Hey you!
RORY: I didn't think you were making it.
(LORELAI approaches him.)
LORELAI: Neither did I.
(CHRISTOPHER lets go of RORY, and steps towards LORELAI holding her wrist gently, and moving closer to kiss her cheek.)
CHRISTOPHER: My conscience got the better of me.
LORELAI: Really? What's his name?
CHRISTOPHER: Who?
LORELAI: You're conscience. I have to look him up in the telephone book so we can have a little chat - is he listed.
CHRISTOPHER: We'll talk later, okay?
LORELAI: Fine, whatever.
(They make their way over to JESS and LUKE who stand at a distance from the door.)
CHRISTOPHER: Jess ... (CHRISTOPHER reaches to shake his hand, and JESS is at first hesitant) ... The first step to making a good impression with Richard and Emily. Shake their hands. Butter them up, it always works. Trust me, I know - about eighteen years ago, I was you, meeting them for the first time. Well ... having dinner with them anyways. (JESS nods, knowingly, and at seeing RORY's smile, he shakes CHRISTOPHER's hand, surprisingly.) Luke, good to see you. (CHRISTOPHER reaches out to shake his hand, but LUKE doesn't accept it.)
LUKE: Yea. Good to see you. Been awhile since I've seen you around. It's been what? A month?
CHRISTOPHER: A few weeks, maybe.
LUKE: I was beginning to wonder if you were still on the face of the earth - I was sure I'd see you around more, you know, with the apartment and everything.
CHRISTOPHER: Well, uh, I've been loading things in when I can. Not much time to stop though.
LUKE: Not much time? Well do you think that it's really considerate for you to-
LORELAI: So, uh, not that this conversation isn't rating really high on the controversial-yet-interesting-scale, but we have a dinner to go to, and (looks CHRISTOPHER's watch) would you look at that, we're three minutes late. We've got two minutes or we'll be beheaded by Emily herself.
(LORELAI leads them all up to the door, again, RORY next to her, with JESS linked to her arm on the other side, and CHRISTOPHER and LUKE behind them, LUKE looking angry. She rings the doorbell, and EMILY answers promptly.)
EMILY: Good evening, girls. Come in, come in. (She ushers them in.) Hello Luke, Jess ... thank you for coming on such short notice.
JESS (sarcastically): Well, you know, we'd prefer more notice next time - it was difficult for me to make time, what with my bridge club meeting on Friday nights.
(RORY looks at him, raising her eyebrows. LORELAI gives a fake laugh.)
LORELAI: That was a good one, Jess. Mom, that's Jess, trying to be funny. It was a joke, you know, you're supposed to laugh. He'll never do it again. (EMILY doesn't look amused.) Oh, hey did you see Christopher's here?
EMILY: Oh. I hadn't noticed.
LORELAI: Well, aren't you going to say hello?
EMILY: I've said hello to everyone, I believe. (Calling towards the kitchen.) Elena, set an extra place, please! (Turning to the stairs.) Richard! Everyone is here.
RICHARD (from upstairs): Coming, Emily.
EMILY: Follow me, please.
(EMILY signals them towards the parlor. LORELAI hangs back with JESS and RORY.)
LORELAI: Real smooth there, kid. Next time invite her to knock off a liquor store with you, it'll go over better.
(RORY cringes, JESS looks taken aback, and they enter the parlor. RORY and JESS sit on one couch, and LORELAI and CHRISTOPHER sit on another. CHRISTOPHER puts his arm around LORELAI's waist possessively, and RORY loosely links her arm with JESS's. LUKE looks as though he feels awkward, and finally settles on sitting next to JESS after debating. Soon RICHARD enters, and EMILY has placed chairs for them near the couches. JESS looks up almost immediately, and though seeming to try and resolve the black mark he made with EMILY, he pays close attention to RICHARD as he recognizes each person in the room.)
RICHARD: Luke, Rory, ... Jess.
(JESS extends his hand to RICHARD, who hesitantly takes it and shakes it firmly.)
RICHARD: Lorelai ... Christopher! I didn't know we were expecting you.
CHRISTOPHER: Ah, you weren't Richard. I wasn't sure I could make it, but it's good to see you again.
(CHRISTOPHER rises to meet RICHARD, shaking his hand.)
RICHARD: Drinks, anyone?
EMILY: Chardonnay, please.
CHRISTOPHER: Martini, on the rocks.
RORY: Coke.
JESS: Coke's fine.
RICHARD: Luke?
LUKE: Water is fine.
RICHARD: Just water? (LUKE nods.) And you, Lorelai?
LORELAI: Something really stiff. Mix some stuff. Go all Dr. Heidegger on me. If something combusts, that's probably a safe bet it's good for me.
RICHARD: Manhatten?
LORELAI: That works.
(RICHARD tends to the drinks as well as initiating conversation.)
RICHARD: So, Christopher, how is Sherry?
CHRISTOPHER: Sherry is fine ... so is the baby.
RICHARD: Are you still moving to Stars Hollow?
CHRISTOPHER: Yea, but it got postponed a little.
RICHARD: I see.
CHRSTOPHER: Sherry is moving back into her parents house in Boston. They have a huge house, lots of room for her, and a baby, so I've been helping her move ... I can't very well let her do it herself. But, we're finishing tomorrow, and then I'm going to be concentrating on my place.
RICHARD: Well ... that's very nice of you.
LORELAI: Isn't it? I mean, the Girl Scouts called to give him a badge for it and everything.
RICHARD: Was that another one of you attempts at humor, Lorelai?
LORELAI: I thought it was.
(RICHARD hands her drink to her first, as though trying to get her to be quiet, by giving a stern look. He begins to pass around drinks, and notices JESS has been handed his book, by RORY and begins to read. RICHARD immediately becomes interested.)
RICHARD: Uh, Jess ... what book is that you're reading, there?
JESS: The Fountainhead.
RICHARD: Fine piece of literature.
JESS: I guess.
RICHARD: What does that mean?
JESS: It means ... well, I'm reading it again for Rory, it isn't exactly my favorite work.
RICHARD: Ayn Rand has talent.
JESS: Talent, yes. Also eccentric, if you ask me.
RICHARD: And who do you prefer, Jess?
JESS: I'm more of a Hemingway and Salinger fan.
RICHARD: Ah, Hemingway. A favorite of mine. What is your favorite?
JESS: A Farewell to Arms.
RICHARD: Wonderful choice. You know, a few months ago, I gave Rory a first edition copy of A Farewell to Arms - I'm sure she'd let you see it.
JESS (smiles to RORY who nods and winks): She let me see it a few days ago - it's very nice.
RICHARD: You have good taste.
(RICHARD nods to JESS, and despite the fact that EMILY is still looking bitter, he feels he's received some sort of approval from RICHARD, and puts his arm behind RORY, not quite holding her, just balancing it on the back of the couch. LORELAI gives JESS a small smiles, and CHRISTOPHER gives him a thumbs up, but LUKE is silent. RICHARD notices JESS's change in position and changes moods, almost instantaneously.)
RICHARD: So, Jess, what do you plan to do with your future?
JESS: My future?
RICHARD: Yes. Your future, college, a job. You know, Rory plans to apply to Harvard ... and I hope I can convince her to apply to Yale.
(LORELAI gives a pained smile.)
LORELAI (softly): I knew it was too good to be true.
JESS: Well, I don't really think I'm cut out for the Ivy League. Ivy League school require money - something I'm short on, and scholarships - which are few and far between at my school. I could probably make it on student loans, but I don't want to be poor when I get out of college, I want to be able to support myself. So, I think probably be heading to Connecticut State, maybe. I might commute, from Stars Hollow. That way I could still work at the diner (LUKE gives him a look as though to ask "Have you cracked?") and make a little money for myself.
(RICHARD appears semi-impressed.)
RICHARD: Well, it's good that you have a plan. Do you know what you want to major in?
JESS: I'm thinking somewhere along the lines of English ... maybe English Literature. Or Business. Business will be involved somewhere, maybe as a minor. Something to fall back on.
(RORY's jaw has nearly dropped at hearing all this but tries to hide her excitement, as though she has heard this all before. She takes JESS's free hand and squeezes it, as he and her grandfather continue talking. EMILY looks thoroughly annoyed, and LUKE looks as though he is feeling more awkward by the second, especially when CHRISTOPHER opts to hold LORELAI closer and she lies her head on his shoulder in response. ELENA enters the parlor.)
ELENA: Dinner is finished, Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore.
EMILY: Thank you very, very, much, Elena. (EMILY stands and motions towards the dining room.) Shall we?
(The group stands up and enters the dining room, EMILY leading the way. RICHARD and JESS talk all the way. The girls, RICHARD, and EMILY take their normal, respective seats, and JESS sits on RORY's side of the table, closest to RICHARD, while LUKE and CHRISTOPHER both take a seat on either side of LORELAI, causing her to cringe. CHRISTOPHER sits on the side of her closest to EMILY, and LUKE on the side closest to RICHARD. ELENA brings the food to the table, and EMILY begins offering it to people, CHRISTOPHER last.)
CHRISTOPHER: Thank you, Emily.
(EMILY is silent, her face remaining unreadable, and cold.)
CHRISTOPHER: Look, Emily ... I know ... that you aren't thrilled with this situation right now ... but I want you to know that what's between Sherry and I ... is completely platonic, and only for the sake of our kid, and that I fully intend to be there for Lorelai, and be the kind of person she deserves.
EMILY: Fine, Christopher.
CHRISTOPHER: Really, I'm glad ... you know, that it's fine with you.
EMILY: Doesn't really matter if it's fine with me anyways, does it? No one ever listens to what I say, or the advice I give. I mean, I was advising for years for you and Lorelai to be together, to be a family, but no, no one ever listened to me. Then you waltzed back into town, stole my daughters heart, and we find out you're going to father another baby, with that ... that woman. It's a disaster. It's hundreds more problems waiting to happen, but pretend I didn't say that ... wait, you will anyways. Because no one ever listens to me.
CHRISTOPHER: Emily, it's not like that.
EMILY: Really, then how is it?
LORELAI: Mom, I ... I don't really think this is an appropriate dinner conversation. I mean considering we have guests.
EMILY: Hush, Lorelai.
LORELAI: Well, on second thought, while you're at it, you might as well give 'em a good show.
EMILY: This isn't time for jokes, Lorelai.
LORELAI: I'm sorry, I didn't realize.
EMILY: No, you didn't. And you also don't realize that everything I'm saying to Christopher applies to you, too.
LORELAI: Really? Because I didn't think I was the father of Sherry's child, but I hadn't really checked into it.
EMILY: Lorelai, you know very well what I mean!
LORELAI: No, Mom, I'm afraid I don't.
EMILY: You two, can just never seem to get it right. You finally get it together, and then all of a sudden this ... situation, comes up, and you're still going to try and fix things. It's impossible! Things needed fixing before she came into things, things needed fixing then. Now, it's too late.
LORELAI: Mom-
EMILY: And what's more appalling is that you allow your daughter to make the same mistakes.
LORELAI (frustrated and near tears): Mom, you promised.
EMILY: I'm sorry - but he (pointing to JESS incredulously) is going to ruin our granddaughter. She's going to be you, Lorelai. This, is nineteen years ago all over again. And you (points to RICHARD) are actually liking this boy. Can't you see it's all part of the act? He's not really liket this - he's making it up. You were so protective of Rory over Dean, who was practically harmless, but then this rebellious ... child, walks in here, with your precious granddaughter wrapped around his finger, and you lap him up.
RICHARD: Emily!
EMILY: And Rory, I still can't believe-
RORY: Stop!
EMILY: Excuse me?
RORY: Grandma, stop! Stop this! Jess came here with me tonight, so you could meet him, and really meet him, and get to know him, not so you could berate him. He didn't have to come, but he did, because it was important to me. Grandpa has given him a chance - this is Jess. He isn't "rebellious", but just because he isn't material for the Nobel Peace Prize doesn't mean that he's all bad. He's a great guy, he loves to read, and he's never been anything decent to me. If you got to know him, you'd see that. And more importantly than all that, I care about him, and that should mean more than anything.
EMILY: Rory-
RORY: No! I'm not going to listen to you badger him anymore. ... I'm ... (tears welling up), I'm sorry, but I need be excused.
(RORY gets up from her chair and walks off in a huff.)
LORELAI: That was uncalled for, Mom. You can tear me apart, hell, you can tear Christopher apart, we're adults, we can handle it better, but don't you dare tear apart Rory or the people she cares for.
EMILY: You're out of line, Lorelai.
LORELAI: I'm out of line, and I'm out of this.
(LORELAI gets up and walks off in the opposite direction that RORY did. EMILY sees her get up, and once she has left, she slams her fork down on her plate, and leaves for her bed room, leaving the guys at the table. RICHARD seems to be searching for a solution to problem.)
RICHARD: Gentlemen, I am very sorry about ... all this ... perhaps, we could retire to my study for a little while, while the girls ... calm down.
(JESS nods, as does CHRISTOPHER and get up to follow. LUKE however stands.)
LUKE: Thanks, but ... I think I need a breath of fresh air.
-COMMERCIAL BREAK-
OPEN TO ELDER GILMORE RESIDENCE
(LORELAI is outside on the patio, calming down, but still tearful when LUKE walks outside. LORELAI notices him, and gives a soft smile.)
LORELAI: So, how do you like my mother?
LUKE: She's uh-
LORELAI: Combative, cold, hurtful, argumentative, stubborn, rude, degrading?
LUKE: ... Uh, yea ... something like that.
LORELAI: I think for Christmas, I'll get her one of those dog collars - the one's with the spikes around it. I'll have "INSTIGATOR" engraved on it.
LUKE: Very, er ... original.
(LORELAI fiddles with the Kleenex in her hands, and puts her arms as her side exasperatedly, then turns to LUKE.)
LORELAI: I am so, unbelievably sorry, Luke. I'm sorry I ever got you roped into this.
LUKE: It's all right, really.
LORELAI: No, it's not. You came here, as a favor to me, to help me out, and everything just backfired.
LUKE: ... Did you really think it would go any differently?
LORELAI: Well, for one, I didn't really count on Christopher showing up like that. I mean ... I love Christopher ... don't get me wrong, he's ... the greatest (LUKE looks to the ground) ... especially the way he's been coming through for Rory lately. But ... I feel like he did that tonight to get back at me.
LUKE: Get back at you?
LORELAI: Yea ... we kind of got in a fight the other day, about ... just this dinner.
LUKE: Really?
LORELAI: It was completely blown out of proportion. He got all upset about how everyone had been invited to dinner, and I hadn't invited him, and I tried to explain that it wasn't the greatest idea, and he got all upset, especially when he found out ... well, never ... never mind.
LUKE: No, it's ok ... you can tell me ...
LORELAI: When he ... you know, found out you were coming. He got ... jealous. He was going on and on about how you were replacing him, and how you had a thing for me, and I told him it was crazy. It is ... crazy, right?
(LORELAI's tone of voice is almost hopeful for him to say it isn't crazy.)
LUKE: Oh ... wow, uh, wow ... he said ... he said that I have a thing for you? Me ... and you ... oh, yea, crazy. Really crazy ... I mean ... way too much caffeine on your end, and not enough on mine. (LORELAI looks disappointed.) Uh, look, I'm gonna go head inside ... kinda cold out here ... plus, your dad has everyone in his study, I'll feel kind of rude if I don't accept the offer. Uh ... if I see Chris ... I'll uh ... send him your way.
(LUKE leaves without giving LORELAI a chance to say much. LORELAI looks very disappointed as he leaves, and cries a little more. The camera cuts to LUKE who contemplates entering the study, but turns and goes to sit in the parlor, and sits with his face in his hands, shaking his head.)
CUT TO RICHARD'S STUDY
(The three men are sitting in the cushioned chairs of the study. CHRISTOPHER is looking off, giving a nod or a "hmm" here and there, while JESS and RICHARD are in a deep literary conversation. CHRISTOPHER soon gets up.)
CHRISTOPHER: I'm gonna ... go find Lor, thanks ... for this Richard. I'll be heading out soon ... it was good to see you.
(RICHARD stands and reaches for his hand to shake.)
RICHARD: Keep in touch. Let me know when your place is suitable.
CHRISTOPHER: Will do.
RICHARD: Give my best to Sherry.
CHRISTOPHER: I better not.
RICHARD (nods, understandingly): I understand.
(RICHARD sits again, and JESS nods to CHRIS who smiles at him.)
CHRISTOPHER: Keep and eye on her for me will you?
(JESS knows he's referring to RORY and smiles and nods.)
JESS: 'Course.
CHRISTOPHER: You're a good man.
(CHRISTOPHER shakes JESS's hand.)
CHRISTOPHER: Not that bad, right?
(JESS gives him a look as if to say "Are you kidding me?")
CHRISTOPHER: Hey, I feel your pain.
(CHRISTOPHER waves to RICHARD and leaves. RICHARD turns back to JESS.)
RICHARD: Jess ... may I ask you, a ... (hesitating) personal question?
(JESS nods.)
RICHARD: Are you and Rory ... serious?
JESS: ... It all depends upon how you define serious.
RICHARD: I mean ... do you care for Rory ... do you see yourself being with her ... a while from now ... months even. That's how I am defining serious.
JESS: Then, yes.
RICHARD (sighs, and looks down thoughtfully): Be careful with her, will you?
(JESS nods.)
RICHARD: I mean that serious, Jess. Rory is ... very important to me. I was never close with Lorelai, she never wanted me to be close with her - she never wanted to let me into her life. Rory and I's relationship is much different than that. In a way ... she's the daughter I never had. But, the reality is ... that I am not Rory's father. I don't live in Stars Hollow, I can't keep an eye on her - that's Lorelai's job. And, often I disagree with her on the way she raises Rory ... but Rory is a good girl. She's intelligent, she's witty, she has a good head on her shoulders and she's a wonderful judge of character ... and I trust her judgment, and have to trust Lorelai's child raising skills, since she has got her this far, despite what I may really think. And ... I'll be honest with you ... I have ... many reservations, about you. Especially about you and Rory. You remind me very much ... of a young Christopher. To be honest with you, I think I would've had a heart attack if you had come in here on a motorcycle - don't ever come in here on a motorcycle. But ... you see like a nice young man, despite what I've heard ... and you seem to have a plan, even if the Ivy League isn't part of it ... which is a far cry from that Dean character. (JESS smirks.) Just promise me ... that you'll never treat her like anything less than a lady.
JESS: I promise.
RICHARD: You do understand the ... significance of a promise.
JESS: You can have any reservations about me that you want, Mr. Gilmore, you are entitled to that ... but never doubt how much I care for Rory and the way I will treat her.
(RICHARD gives a bittersweet sigh of relief, and nods his head.)
RICHARD: Very well ...
JESS: I should probably go and find her.
RICHARD (nods): Of course. You should try her room. It's just past the parlor ... you can't miss it.
JESS (getting up to leave): Thanks.
RICHARD: ... Thank you, Jess.
(JESS nods, and exits.)
CUT TO PATIO
(LORELAI is sitting out on the patio looking up at the sky, and CHRISTOPHER is coming out onto the patio, behind LORELAI.)
CHRISTOPHER: It's a beautiful night, isn't it?
(LORELAI doesn't turn back to him.)
LORELAI: Actually, the word horrific comes to mind.
CHRISTOPHER: Well ... the events were ... less than perfect ... but ... the night is beautiful. I mean, the sky is ... and it's not humid ... it could be humid. It's humid a lot in the summer.
LORELAI: Why did you come?
CHRISTOPHER (sighs): Because ... I was jealous.
LORELAI: Why?
CHRISTOPHER: Because ... Luke has always been here ... he got to see Rory when she was little, and kind of be like a ... surrogate father ... and he was always there for you ... I mean, for coffee, for repairs, for someone to talk to, at least until Rory could grasp the concept of your very complicated - but wonderful - personality. And I've worked so hard to be ... the dad again, and to be ... the person I should've been seventeen years ago. I just ... felt like that because I wasn't around for a little while ... Luke was my replacement.
(LORELAI gets up and turns to CHRISTOPHER, taking his hands.)
LORELAI: Chris, you can't be replaced. You're Rory's dad, and you're my first love ... and you're ... my boyfriend, which sounds completely bizarre, because you are my daughter's father, but my boyfriend. But anyways ... you can't be replaced. And I love you, and I want you to be around. The whole Luke thing ... was just coincidence tonight, and might not have been such a bad idea, if things weren't so tense already, just because ... well he is Jess's uncle. They should kind of know him better ... I mean ... Jess and Rory really ... have something big going. Rory wants them to know Jess, and to know Jess, you've gotta understand what he has lived with, and what he does live with, which is Luke. And he's a good friend, you know.
CHRISTOPHER: I know ... and I'm sorry for overreacting. And I'm sorry I didn't answer when you called.
LORELAI: It's ok. Well ... it wasn't, but it is now. It really wasn't when Sherry picked up the phone at your apartment.
CHRISTOPHER: Oh boy.
LORELAI: Yea, she had a thing or two to say ... but I think ... that she and I have come an understanding.
CHRISTOPHER: What is that?
LORELAI: That you are Rory's father ... and that ... you will be her child's father ... and they should and probably will, always come first.
CHRISTOPHER: Good understanding.
LORELAI: At least that's the way I understand it ... she may understand it completely different.
(CHRISTOPHER chuckles.)
CHRISTOPHER: Everything ok, then?
LORELAI: As good as it can be.
CHRISTOPHER: With us?
LORELAI: Yea ... everything's ok.
(CHRISTOPHER wraps his arms around LORELAI and kisses her gently, and comfortingly.)
CUT TO RORY'S ROOM
(RORY is lying on the bed in her room, her back to the door. JESS stops at the door frame, and RORY almost immediately knows he's there, even though he says nothing. She can hear the way he walks, and breathes, and takes a deep calming breath herself, knowing he's here. He approaches the bed and sits on the edge softly, and swings his legs up so he sits against the headboard and pillows, his feet extended. He scoots up close to RORY, who leans back against him, as he wraps his arm around her. She turns toward him a little more, and he wraps his other arm around her as well, cradling her in his arms. RORY snuggles her head against his chest, and closes her eyes.)
JESS: So, what do you think ... will your grandma be asking to be president of my fan club any time soon?
(RORY gives a half-hearted laugh. JESS smoothes her hair with one hand, then returns his arm to it's place around her as he kisses her hair.)
RORY: ... Things definitely didn't go the way I planned.
JESS: Well, how did you expect them to go?
RORY: I don't know ... I guess I just expected my grandma to be more accepting, and open. And maybe go through with her promise to be nice to you.
JESS: Well, she didn't try to light me on fire.
RORY: Surprisingly.
JESS: I'm not trying to play devil's advocate here ... especially since it concerns me ... but I don't honestly think you could expect her to just welcome me with open arms. I mean, remember, I broke you. I'm rebellious and dangerous.
RORY: You didn't break me, the car accident broke me, and it was as much my fault as it was yours. And you're not rebellious or dangerous. You're a harmless teddy bear.
JESS: That burns, Ror.
RORY: I'm sorry, James Dean.
(JESS stands up, letting RORY go carefully, and walking around, scanning the room.)
JESS: So, this is your room?
RORY: Actually, it was my mom's ... before she had me, anyways. Now it's mine. Some crazy idea of my grandma's.
JESS: And the posters?
RORY (smirks): Also my grandma's ideas.
JESS: I didn't really think you were the *N Sync type.
(JESS notices the balcony and immediately drawn to it. He goes opens the doors to it, and goes out.)
JESS: The balcony is nice.
RORY (smiling): You're standing on a landmark, you know.
JESS (entertained): Oh, really?
RORY: I'm pretty sure that's the place I was conceived.
(JESS raises his eyebrows suggestively and RORY blushes. JESS shakes his head in laughter, and comes back inside to sit down next to RORY.)
JESS: It's a beautiful night ...
RORY: Somehow the only word that comes to mind is horrific.
JESS: Come out on the balcony with me. (JESS gives a little pout.) Please? I was a good boy tonight.
(RORY smirks, and JESS takes her hand pulling her up, and leading her across the room. Before they arrive at the balcony, JESS pulls RORY gently in front of him by the hand, and wraps his arms around her waist so he's holding her snuggly from the behind as they walk. RORY lays her head back against JESS's shoulder. She relaxes, and takes a deep breath, closing her eyes.)
RORY: You were right.
(JESS turns his head to RORY whose head is still on his shoulder, and let's his lips linger against the skin near her ear.)
JESS (softly): About what?
RORY: It is a beautiful night.
(JESS hugs her closer to him, and begins to speak, hesitantly, and even softer, whispering into her ear.)
JESS: At the risk of sounding extremely cheesy, I have to say ... that ... the night isn't the only thing that is beautiful.
(RORY smiles, and opens her eyes, and turns her head to look up at JESS and barely gives him a second to react before kissing him in gratitude. RORY carefully turns in his arms, never stopping the kiss, but wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him tight to her. They continue kissing until they hear the clearing of a throat. RORY pulls away slowly and hesitantly to see LORELAI standing in the door of the balcony.)
LORELAI: You know, this is looking very similar to a situation I was once in ...
RORY: Mom ...
LORELAI: Kidding, kidding. But ... I got your attention, right?
RORY: What is it?
LORELAI: Well, your dad is leaving for Boston, and I thought you might want to say goodbye. Then I was thinking we should high tail it back to Stars Hollow. I have a feeling my mom is on the phone with the Hartford police department as we speak, trying to convince them to put all of us on the most wanted list, and as tempting as it is - you know, since my picture would be up in the post-offices and all - I figure the sooner we leave, the lesser our chances of punishment are.
JESS: Sounds good to me ... how about you?
(JESS is still holding RORY in his arms as he turns to her, RORY nods, as they lock eyes, and are obviously going to kiss again.)
LORELAI: So, uh, you two just ... finish up, and we're waiting outside the door.
(RORY kisses JESS one more time.)
JESS (softly): We better go.
RORY: Yea ... we better go ...
(JESS turns and RORY walks up to his side, and puts her arm around him as they walk, and JESS, who appears surprised, follows suit.)
RORY: Hey Jess?
JESS: Hm?
RORY: I ... I ...
JESS: Rory?
RORY: I ... I forget. Never mind.
(JESS smiles, remembering a time earlier when he stumbled over his words, and looks at RORY knowingly, and lovingly, then kisses her ear.)
CUT TO FOYER
(CHRISTOPHER has already departed, and now LUKE, LORELAI, RORY and JESS are standing in the foyer, bidding RICHARD farewell. EMILY has yet to leave her room.)
RICHARD: I'd really just like to ... apologize for everything tonight. Under ... different circumstances, I think things would've gone over very well (looks to JESS) especially for you, Jess. But Emily will come around. We'll have to give it another shot (LUKE looks mortified) ... in my opinion you are welcome here anytime you like.
(RORY smiles happily, especially as JESS shakes RICHARD's hand, again. RORY gives RICHARD a hug.)
RORY: Thank you, Grandpa ... for ... being open.
RICHARD: You're very welcome, Rory ... (whispering) He's a nice young man, Jess. I think I can convince your grandmother of that.
RORY: Thanks, Grandpa
(RORY frees herself from RICHARD, and almost immediately goes to her places at JESS's side, snuggling up to him. RICHARD extends a hand to LUKE who takes it tentatively.)
LUKE: Thank you, Mr. Gilmore.
RICHARD: ... It's Richard, and you're very welcome Luke, I'm only sorry it wasn't a better evening for you. And although, after tonight, I'm fairly sure you won't be returning anytime soon, I'd like to extend the invitation anyways - you are welcome whenever you like. (RICHARD winks. LUKE is taken aback.)
LUKE: Uh, thank you, again, Mr. Gilmore. (He turns to RORY and JESS.) Let's head out to the car.
RICHARD (to JESS): Remember, Jess. (JESS nods in his direction.) And if suddenly and Ivy League school was to find it's way into your plan, let me know. I think I could arrange a few things with Yale.
JESS: Yea ... thanks.
(They exit, leaving LORELAI standing in front of her dad.)
LORELAI: Listen, Dad ... I'm really sorry about everything tonight.
RICHARD: It's not your fault, Lorelai.
LORELAI: Maybe not ... but it seems that I've learned everything I ever knew about forcing myself to get along with my mother. And things just didn't seem work for anyone on that end of the table tonight.
RICHARD: She'll see things clearly ... (sighs) eventually.
LORELAI: But ... what you did with Jess ... wow, Dad. I'm really impressed.
RICHARD: And why is that?
LORELAI: Because - and take no offense to this - I was coming in here expecting another night like the one we had with Dean, last year ... worse, actually. But you surprised everyone ... me, Rory, Christopher, Mom ... even Jess.
RICHARD: Well, Jess is a respectable young man.
LORELAI: What's even more important though is how much it meant to Rory, because she looks for your approval in everything she does, because you've always thought highly of her. So ... if you are accepting of her relationship with Jess, it makes things even better for them. Now, I'm not saying that if you hadn't accepted Jess that Rory would've strayed from him ... because honestly, I don't think that if you put Rory on the North Pole, and Jess on South, and told them to swim across the ocean to get to each other that they wouldn't. There are few things that will stop what they have-
RICHARD: I've ... uh, noticed.
LORELAI: Most people have.
RICHARD: They are very connected, Jess and Rory.
LORELAI: Definitely.
RICHARD: I'm glad to see Rory ... with someone who can match her intellect, who can challenge her ways of thinking, and who can relate to her. Dean, worried me, it didn't seem like he ever gave Rory a run for her money when it came to debating about things. It seems to me that Jess ... compliments her personality.
LORELAI: Yes ... he does. And she ... loves him. More than she ever loved Dean ... but in a different way, I think. And Jess definitely loves her ...
RICHARD (sighs): Yes ... I know that, too.
LORELAI: But ... that will never change how Rory feels about you, Dad. She'll always be your ... little granddaughter, as long as you let her, and don't push her. And anyways ... I'm just really proud of the way you acted tonight, Dad. It made very glad to ... to be your daughter.
(RICHARD looks surprised at that, but smiles. LORELAI gives him a quick hug, and turns to leave.)
RICHARD: Thank you, Lorelai.
LORELAI: No ... thank you.
(LORELAI exits.)
CUT TO LUKE'S
(LUKE, LORELAI, JESS and RORY enter the diner. It's empty, and LUKE goes to hit the light switch, and immediately starts brewing a pot of coffee, without hesitation. RORY and LORELAI sit down at the counter. JESS goes behind the counter and gets out mugs for the girls.)
LORELAI: Has anyone made you two saints yet?
RORY: Hey, uh ... make mine to-go.
JESS: You're leaving?
RORY: Well, I was planning on walking home ... and-
(JESS smiles, realizing at once that RORY wants JESS to walk her home.)
JESS: Alright.
(The coffee is finished soon, and JESS pours RORY's cup, and hands it to her, making his way back around the counter, and taking her hand to leave the diner.)
LORELAI: You guys do realize we have a car, right? So it makes the whole walking thing kind of out of your way.
RORY (smiles): Exactly. I'll see you at home.
(LORELAI watches them go and LUKE watches with concern as he pours her mug of coffee.)
LUKE: Do you want me to stop them? I can, I mean if you really want to drive Rory home-
LORELAI: No, it's alright. Let them go. They deserve it. ... Luke, I don't know if I've said it yet tonight ... but I'm really sorry. For my parents, for the way they acted ... and for you ending up the odd man out. I never meant for it to end up that way, and I feel so guilty.
LUKE: Don't worry about it ... it happens.
LORELAI: It does ... but it shouldn't have. And I feel terrible ... is there any way I can make it up to you?
LUKE: Just promise me - that if Jess decides to start going to these things, that I don't have to come.
LORELAI: It's a deal. Jess did pretty well on his own tonight. He had a shaky start, but he won my father over ... and that's half the battle. Now, my mother will take some more time ... hopefully she'll come around to Jess before he decides to pop the question.
LUKE: Popping the question?
LORELAI: You know, the proposal. When he asks Rory to marry him.
LUKE: I think you've got some time, Lor. I mean, they're just kids still ...
LORELAI: But that's the thing, Luke, they're barely kids. Jess is already eighteen, and Rory will be eighteen in October. The United States of America officially declares them to be adults at that point.
LUKE: ... You really think he'll ask her to marry him? I mean, you think they'll last that long?
LORELAI: I'm almost certain.
LUKE: How can you be so sure?
LORELAI: Because ... they've found that balance, you know? They are friends at the same time they are in love. And they understand each other. I mean, I know Rory pretty well, I'm her mother and her best friend ... but the book stuff ... I don't always get all of that. She starts spouting off about literary devices, and the Romantic Period, and how Salinger is a genius, and I'm lost. Jess fills that void ... and he ... is starting to become her best friend, too.
LUKE: ... Doesn't that bother you?
(LUKE sets coffee down in front of her, and she takes a sip.)
LORELAI: Sometimes. Because I see that my daughter, the child I put everything in my life aside for to raise, doesn't really ... depend on me for everything. But I think ... if she had to depend on anyone, that ... Jess is a really good person for her to pick. I mean ... he might not be the nicest person to everyone around here ... I mean, he still has that whole bad ass thing going for him if he ever wants to join Kid Rock on tour, but with Rory he's completely different.
LUKE: I've noticed ... But you really think they'll last that long?
LORELAI (giggles): It freaks you out, doesn't it?
LUKE: I don't know what freaks me out more, the idea of them getting married young ... or the idea of Jess being married before me.
LORELAI: Well, I wouldn't print up the invitations quite yet or anything - I mean, near as I can tell, they haven't even set a date. (LUKE glares.) Calm down. I'm talking about ... in a couple years, you know. When they've been in college a little while, and Jess is working on his "plan"-
LUKE: He made that up.
LORELAI: No, I don't think he did.
(LORELAI signals to the window, where JESS and RORY can be seeing walking around the center of town, holding her hand. Soon, RORY steps in front of him. JESS says something unheard, and then kisses her, putting both his hands on her face. RORY pulls away and smiles at him, and takes his hand again as they start walking. The camera cuts out to the outside where RORY and JESS have begun walking again. RORY lies her head on JESS's shoulder.)
RORY: I'm really sorry about ... everything with my grandma, Jess. I know I've said it a million times-
JESS: Yes, you have.
RORY: But, I'm really sorry.
JESS: Don't worry about it, ok? Things happen, people don't always act the way you wish they would ... just keep all this in mind, for the when the day comes for you to meet my mom.
RORY (looks up at him): It's a deal. (There is silence for a few moments.) So ... you had a talk with my grandpa in his study?
JESS: How did you know?
RORY: I know everything.
JESS: And this bit of information was delivered by?
RORY: My dad.
JESS: An unlikely source.
RORY: He just said he'd left you in the study with him.
JESS: Very true.
RORY: ... What did you talk about?
JESS (jokingly, but also frustrated): You are awfully nosy sometimes, you know that?
RORY (sarcastically): Well, thanks.
JESS: Hey, I was kidding. (He squeezes her hand.) ... He asked if you and I were ... you know, serious.
RORY: ... And what did you tell him?
JESS: Well, I asked him what his definition of serious is.
RORY: ... And?
JESS: He said his definition of serious was ... did I care about you, a lot, and did I see myself being with you for an extended period of time ... you know at least a few more months.
RORY (semi-worried): And you said?
JESS: I told him ... that if that was serious ... then you and I were serious.
RORY (beams): Good answer.
JESS: I thought it was pretty good.
RORY: But the million dollar question still remains.
(They arrive at the Gilmore house, and sit down on the steps. JESS looks to RORY.)
JESS: Which is?
RORY: Did you really mean it?
JESS: Did I really mean ... that we're serious?
RORY: Yes. I mean, you could've ... to get my grandpa off your back, win him over, get out of there early. I mean, there's a million reasons you could've told him we were, even if we weren't and-
JESS: Hey. There are a lot of things I could lie about ... but that ... is one thing ... that I couldn't lie about ... even if, for some strange reason, I wanted to, I couldn't.
(RORY lights up.)
RORY: And ... your plan? Just a good story?
JESS: If you like the non-fictional, documentary type stuff.
(RORY gets the sudden urge to kiss his cheek, out of exuberance and thankfulness. JESS smiles at his, and RORY lays her on his lap, and looks out towards the driveway, smiling. JESS smoothes RORY's hair with his hand, then puts his arm over her as she lays in his lap, and rubs her arm, as though it is second nature.)
RORY: Thank you.
JESS: What for?
RORY: For everything. Tonight, the past few weeks, the past couple months. I mean ... it's been ... amazing.
JESS: You don't have to thank me ...
RORY: Sure I do. People need to know when they are appreciated ... and I love ... spending time with you. You should know that.
JESS: I ... love ... spending time with you too, Rory.
(RORY smiles, and sighs almost in exact rhythm with JESS.)
FADE OUT.
SIDE NOTE: This is the fifth "episode" in the series ... make sure you read the earlier "episodes" or it will be difficult to understand this one.
SUMMARY: This episode picks up where we last left off, at the end of the Christmas in July dinner, which is taking place at the Independence. While on a tour of the entire Independence (lead by Michel), Richard and Emily catch Rory and Jess kissing by the pond. They do not know it is a Jess, but approach them, and ask what is going on. When they realize that it's Jess, Emily is harsh, and Richard tries to banish Rory from seeing him. Michel goes and retrieves Lorelai and Luke who separate Emily and Richard from Rory and Jess. It isn't long before Emily and Richard request a formal meeting with Jess, and ask him to attend a Friday night dinner with the girls, and also invite Luke. When Chris has finally pulled himself away from Boston to spend time with the girls, he hears that Luke will be accompanying them to dinner, and is at first jealous, but finally decides upon going to dinner anyways and surprising them there, leading to a very ... interesting, Friday night.
A/N: Please R/R but don't be harsh. Constructive criticism is always welcome. Please give me as much feedback as you can - the more I get (positive or negative) the better I can write, and the more I'll write. I hope you are pleased with this third helping.
LAST EPISODE: Jess swept Rory off her feet with a special evening during the Stars Hollow Christmas in July festival, despite the fact that Rory drew Dean's name for the Secret Santa. Chris neglected to show up at Stars Hollow whenever he said he would be there, leaving Lorelai lonely and in the lurch, until the party when she kept company with Luke, who strangely, managed to attend. Rory returns Jess's favor by surprising him the night of the party with a near reenactment of their first kiss, but are caught by Richard and Emily who are at the festival, and happen to be outside at the time.
"Meet the Grandparents"
OPEN TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE INDEPENDENCE INN
(RORY and JESS are standing on the bank of the pond, wrapped in each other's arms kissing, while, in the background, a distant EMILY and RICHARD can be seen approaching, stunned, as MICHEL grimaces, and walks briskly towards the Inn. RORY pulls away from the kiss and puts her hands on JESS's face as they talk.)
RORY: Merry Christmas.
JESS: Hmm mmm.
(JESS closes his eyes and leans in towards RORY again as RICHARD begins to walk with exuberance.)
RICHARD: Not so fast, boy.
(RORY starts and pulls out of JESS's arms quickly, and stepping in front of him.)
RORY: Grandpa? (She looks behind him to see EMILY approaching.) Grandma? Wh-what are you ... why are you ... who let you ...
RICHARD: All questions we should be asking you, Rory.
RORY: Oh, boy. Wow ...
EMILY (haughtily): Well the least you can do is introduce us.
(RORY reaches back for JESS's hand, which he takes and squeezes.)
RORY: Uh ... right. (She takes a deep breath looking at her feet, then directly at EMILY and RICHARD.) Grandma, Grandpa ... this is my boyfriend (she motions towards him with her free hand) ... Jess.
RICHARD: Jess?
EMILY: Jess ... the one who broke your wrist?
RORY: Well, Grandma, he didn't exactly break it himself, I mean, the dashboard broke my wrist.
EMILY: The dashboard of the car he (emphasizes this, and points directly as JESS, who stands tall, and looks straight at him) was driving, am I correct.
RORY: Well ... yes, but-
RICHARD: There are no buts here, Rory. You are a young lady of high society, you attend a well-to-do school, and represent our family name. You are bound for the Ivy League. You should consider putting more thought into the people you choose to keep company with. I am disappointed in you.
(JESS takes a breath and a step forward to begin defending RORY but she looks at him and squeezes his hand, silently begging him to let her handle this. JESS furrows his brow, but lets RORY take the lead.)
RORY: You don't know him, Grandpa.
RICHARD: I know enough.
RORY: No, really you don't. Jess is a good guy - he's smart, and respectful-
EMILY: Your mother has informed me of more than one time when he has offended public officials.
RORY: We only have one public official, that's Taylor, and he just played a few little pranks ... that's all.
RICHARD: There is nothing about childish pranks that make a person respectful.
RORY: ... but he respects me.
EMILY: I find that hard to believe.
RORY: Neither of you have any idea what you're talking about.
RICHARD (raising his voice): You will not speak to us that way, Rory. You are from here on out banished from seeing that (pointing at JESS) boy again.
RORY: You can't stop me from seeing him, Grandpa. This is my life, he's my boyfriend, you can't pick who I choose to care about and spend my time with! Mom says it's ok, so it is.
RICHARD: We'll see about that.
(LORELAI has approached with LUKE at her heels, and has heard this.)
LORELAI: We'll see about that.
(RICHARD and EMILY turn to see LORELAI, and RORY sighs, glad to see her mother. RORY looks up at JESS, who raises his eyebrows at her. RORY gives him a small smile.)
LORELAI: Last I checked, Dad, I was Rory's mom. You were her grandfather. I say Rory can spend time with Jess, therefore, she can.
RICHARD: You are being naïve, Lorelai.
LORELAI: You aren't putting enough trust in me, Dad.
RICHARD: Ha! Trust! I seem to remember putting some of that in you, once ... I think that's how Rory ended up here.
(LORELAI's jaw drops.)
LORELAI: That was below the belt.
EMILY: But entirely correct.
LORELAI: Look, Mom, Dad. I'm going to ignore the fact that you have been completely out of line here, and keep in mind that you are both very upset right now. (LORELAI looks towards RORY and JESS, and nods in the direction of the Inn, they begin to walk hesitantly.)
RICHARD: I'm not done with you yet, young lady.
LORELAI: Yes, Dad, you are.
(LORELAI nods again to JESS and RORY, and takes both EMILY and RICHARD by the hands and pulls them away, LUKE following.)
LORELAI: Like, I said, you are very upset right now, but over something that you are making out to be more than it is.
EMILY: I don't see how that is possible.
LORELAI: Oh, I know! Richard and Emily Gilmore? Make a big deal out of nothing? The tabloids will be all over it first thing in the morning.
RICHARD: For goodness sakes, Lorelai, can't you at least be serious about the well-being of your own daughter.
LORELAI (widens her eyes): Never, ever, mistake whether or not I'm serious about my daughter's well-being. Rory is my best friend, and the most important thing in my life - I'm always serious about that. Make no mistake.
EMILY: It would appear otherwise, Lorelai.
LORELAI: Maybe to you, but you know Jess.
RICHARD: He hurt her!
LORELAI: No, they got in an accident. It could've just as easily been you driving the car with Rory in it when the cat-dog-bird-squirrel-rabbit (LORELAI looks towards LUKE) what was it anyways? (LUKE shrugs) Anyways ... it could've been you that swerved to miss hitting the animal, Dad. It was an honest mistake.
EMILY: You said yourself that he was a bad influence, Lorelai.
LORELAI: And I was wrong. Jess might not have the greatest reputation for being a good citizen around here - he's definitely not the Boy Scout type. But he cares about Rory, and no matter how many gnomes he's stolen, or how many Nicotine patches it took him to quit smoking, he cares about Rory, he cares about her a lot. I've never seen him raise his voice to her, or say or do anything that would make me believe otherwise. And all that should count for more than anything you've heard. Right, Luke?
LUKE (surprised): Uh, yea. Jess is a good kid, deep down. I mean, I can tolerate living with him and everything. He's gotten his grades up ... stayed out of trouble, well, for the most part. Really cares about Rory, if nothing else.
LORELAI: That was the pep talk of the year.
EMILY: You're both wrong. That boy is trouble, and he is going to hurt Rory. One day, Rory will call you from a clinic to tell you she's pregnant with his child, and you will call me and I'll say "I told you so, Lorelai."
RICHARD: She's right, Lorelai.
LORELAI: That won't happen. Rory is a good kid ... and who's to say I'd call you anyways?
(EMILY's jaw drops and she begins to walk off, her head up, and RICHARD goes off behind her. LUKE watches them go, LORELAI folds her arms and kicks a stone at her feet.)
LUKE: Wow.
LORELAI: Nice people, aren't they?
-OPENING THEME, CREDITS, and COMMERCIAL BREAK-
OPEN TO THE LOBBY OF THE INDEPENDENCE INN
(It's Monday afternoon, two days after the dinner, and LORELAI is exhaustedly cleaning the Inn up, when RORY enters.)
RORY: Hey.
LORELAI: Hey. How was school?
RORY: It was school. How are you?
LORELAI: Tired. Sore. I have a headache the size of Texas.
RORY: Hey, maybe we could sign you up to be studied. I'm sure some doctor somewhere would love to investigate that.
LORELAI: Will they give me coffee?
RORY: Probably not. It might interfere with their results.
LORELAI: Then I'm out.
RORY: You need some help?
(Notices her mother crawling on the floor picking up bits of fluff that appear to be the leftovers of fake snow.)
LORELAI: Ah! My hero!
RORY: I'll go get the vacuum.
LORELAI: Why didn't I think of that?
(RORY drops her bag on a couch, and disappears down a hallway as LORELAI's cellphone begins to ring. LORELAI gets up, wincing all the way up, and walks quickly to the counter to get her phone. The camera cuts between LORELAI on her phone at the Inn, and EMILY on her phone at the elder Gilmore residence.)
LORELAI: Hello?
EMILY: Lorelai?
LORELAI: Ah! Mom!
EMILY: What?
LORELAI: Oh, nothing it's just that his day keeps getting (sarcastically) better and better.
EMILY: I've called to apologize for the other night.
LORELAI: What?
EMILY: I've called to apologize-
LORELAI: Yea, I've heard you. Hang on, I have to go look out the window.
EMILY: Why?
LORELAI: Because. You just apologized for something I never thought you would. There must be a blue moon ... or at least a few flying pigs.
EMILY: Lorelai, honestly, a person tries to apologize and you make into a huge ordeal.
LORELAI: Really? It's funny you say that ... because it appears to me, that your granddaughter has fallen head over heels for a boy with a slightly smudged public record, and you've made a mountain out of that mole hill.
EMILY: Oh, that reminds me.
(LORELAI leans on the counter her head in her free hand.)
LORELAI: Oh, dear God. What now?
EMILY: We-
LORELAI: We?
EMILY: Your father and I, would like to invite Jess to our dinner on Friday night.
LORELAI: Excuse me?
EMILY: We want him to join us for dinner on Friday night.
LORELAI: Uh, why?
EMILY: Well, you wanted us to give him a chance Lorelai, and you said yourself that he cares about Rory very much.
LORELAI: Uh, well, yea, I did-
EMILY: So, we decided to give him another chance.
LORELAI: Is there a catch here? There has to be a catch.
EMILY: No, Lorelai, there's no catch.
LORELAI: No, there has to be.
EMILY: Lorelai-
LORELAI: Wait! I got it! You're tricking us.
EMILY: You're insane.
LORELAI: I will have no part in bringing that boy there so you can nail him to a cross, Mom.
EMILY: That's barbaric!
LORELAI: Perfect for you.
EMILY: Honestly, Lorelai, is it so terrible that we want to really meet this boy?
LORELAI: It's suspicious.
EMILY: It's innocent, Lorelai, please, just ask Rory to bring him to dinner.
LORELAI: I'll do it, I don't know that he'll come.
EMILY: It would be rude of him not to accept an invitation.
LORELAI: Well, Mom, not many people would willingly let themselves into the house of two people who made it quite clear that they hated him just a few days before.
EMILY: Lorelai, really.
LORELAI: What, Mom? I swear, the Constitution says something about cruel and unusual punishment.
EMILY (suddenly): ... Invite Luke.
LORELAI: Excuse me?
EMILY: Invite Luke, you know his uncle. That nice man who brought the ice to Rory's party - the one you have feelings for.
LORELAI: Mom, I don't have feelings for Luke. I'm in love with a wonderful man, you know, the father of my child, I think you've met him a few times his name is Christopher. 'Bout my height, lighter hair, good sense of humor.
EMILY: Just bring him along Lorelai.
LORELAI: Why, Mom?
EMILY: Because then, he'll be able to push Jess into coming a little more, keep him in line.
LORELAI: No, Mom. Jess will come.
EMILY: How do you know?
LORELAI: Because he's madly in love with your granddaughter, and I'm pretty sure he'd do nothing shy of camping out in the Gobe Desert for the rest of his life if it would make her happy. All she has to say is "Please." She doesn't even have to pout or do the eye-lash-batting thing that I spent so much time teaching her. He'll just do it. He's straightened up a lot more than you know, I mean ... since he came back from New York and everything has ... evolved with them.
EMILY: Just bring Luke.
LORELAI: No, Mom.
EMILY: Yes, Lorelai.
LORELAI: Luke's my friend, I'm not roping him into this.
EMILY: Bring him.
LORELAI: ... (sighs) Will you be nice?
EMILY: What?
LORELAI: Will you be nice. Will you treat them both like people, like guests in your home, and put on that fake, but warm and friendly smile, and welcome them?
EMILY: Of course! I'm inviting them.
LORELAI: Because if you don't, I will have a hard time ever forgiving you. I'll still have to come to Friday dinners, but I may never forgive you, because Luke is my friend and also my coffee supplier and without him your one and only daughter will wither away. And Rory and Jess have something really ... special, and genuine going on. If you try to drive a wedge into what they have, you will only be pushing Rory away from you.
EMILY (sighs, thinking it over): ... We'll be open.
LORELAI: All right then. I'll run it by them.
(RORY enters the room.)
EMILY: See you Friday.
LORELAI: Yea.
(LORELAI hangs up the phone and sees RORY standing there, smiling curiously.)
LORELAI: And my headache just got worse.
RORY: That bad?
LORELAI: I need a new head.
RORY: I don't think they do head transplants.
LORELAI: Why not? I mean, they have all those people cryogenically frozen, with perfectly good heads. Why not give it a shot?
RORY: Because, I think you'd look really funny with Walt Disney's head.
LORELAI: Point well taken.
RORY: So who was it?
LORELAI: Your grandmother.
RORY: Oh (stiffens up) ... what did she want?
LORELAI: You'll never believe it.
RORY: What?
LORELAI: You'll be stunned.
RORY: About what?
LORELAI: Your jaw will drop so far, it will drag on the ground permanently.
RORY: Why?
LORELAI: Because your grandmother, the one and only Emily Pig-Headed Gilmore, apologized for the other night.
(RORY's jaw drops.)
LORELAI: See, told you. But it gets even better.
(RORY cocks her head, concerned.)
LORELAI: She invited Jess and Luke to dinner on Friday.
RORY: What?!
LORELAI: They want to properly meet Jess. And they want Luke to come to give Jess a little push to come.
RORY: You're kidding. Tell me you're kidding.
LORELAI: I'm afraid not.
RORY: This is awful. They are just trying to trick us. They hate him, and they are bringing him there to sit him in front of that perfect table, with the perfectly ironed table cloth, and grill him and humiliate him just like they did to Dean, except worse. I bet they even bought a spotlight for the occasion. Because Jess is "rebellious" and I'm supposed to be a "lady of society" and because I like Jess more than I ever liked Dean, and it would have to be worse, because that's just my dumb luck. It's going to be awful.
LORELAI: Hey, you do realize that I will be there too, right? 'Cause I'll protect you. I mean it's not like you're going to tell them that you're engaged. It's just dinner, and of course, I can't really say "just" because dinner is never "just" dinner, there's always more to it, but I'm the one who'll take you there, and I can always take you back.
RORY: I know ... but I don't want them to be rude to Jess. ... I like him, Mom ... I really care about him ... I don't want to lose him.
LORELAI: You won't lose him ... You couldn't. You could run to the end of the earth, trust me, he'd try to find you. And besides, we'll just let him know some topics not to cover. I'm not going to lie to you, Ror ... the odds that things will suck are pretty good. But it's not like I won't stand up for you. And besides, if it's that bad, then we can go to Luke's afterwards and drown our sorrows in an infinite supply of coffee, because that, my dear, is the purpose of being in love with a diner boy. (RORY blushes.) Well, you are. It's blatantly obviously.
RORY (sheepishly): Yea, I guess so.
LORELAI: You know so.
RORY: Just do me one favor.
LORELAI: Which is?
RORY: Don't pick that as the opening topic at dinner on Friday.
CUT TO LUKE'S DINER
(RORY is sitting on a barstool by herself drinking coffee, and looking sad when JESS enters from summer school, and sees her. He smiles broadly, and approaches her. He taps her on the shoulder, and she's barely turned around before he kisses her. RORY stands up to be level with him, and runs her fingers through his hair as they kiss, and she caresses the back of his neck.)
RORY: Hi.
JESS: Hi.
(JESS smiles, RORY's face falls as she remembers why she was waiting for him.)
RORY: Can we go for a walk?
(JESS gives her a curious look but nods and looks to LUKE who is ringing up an order.)
JESS: Can I go out?
LUKE: Fifteen minutes. I need you in here for the afternoon rush.
JESS: Whatever. (He looks to RORY.) Let's go. (He nods towards the door, putting his hand on the small of her back and gently pushing her along.
(As they exit, JESS catches up at her side. RORY puts her arm through JESS's and holds it, as she leans close to him.)
JESS: So what's up?
RORY: My grandparents ...
JESS: Ah ...
RORY: They ... well, see, they called my mom today ... to apologize for ... everything the other night. Actually my grandma called, on behalf of my grandpa.
JESS: Then ... that's good, right?
RORY: Not really. See ... they want to meet you "properly."
JESS: Oh geez.
RORY: They want you to ... come to dinner with us on Friday.
JESS: What?
RORY: They want you to-
JESS: I heard you.
(RORY goes silent, pouting, and stops walking. She leans against the outside wall of what appears to be an empty shop. JESS stops and faces her. RORY puts her arms around JESS's middle, hugging him close to her, and burying her face in his chest. JESS sighs, but half-smiles, and kisses her hair and puts his arms around her.)
JESS: So, I guess I'm going to this thing then ... right?
RORY: No. I mean, you don't have to. I'll cover for you if you don't want to. I don't want you to feel forced or anything ... and I mean, you know what you're getting into. You were there the other night, so if you don't want to, I understand.
JESS: Will it make things hard on you if I don't go?
RORY: No ... (She hesitates and JESS glares at her, she sighs softly) ... yes.
JESS: Then I'll go.
RORY: You have to dress up.
(JESS sighs)
JESS: I figured.
RORY: You don't mind?
JESS: Well, I don't like it.
RORY: Then don't go, I don't want you to be unhappy.
JESS: ... You'll be there right?
RORY: Of course.
JESS: Then ... I think I can manage.
(RORY looks up at JESS, and puts her hands on the back of his neck. She pulls him towards her and thanks him, by giving him a kiss. JESS pulls away surprised.)
JESS: Anything else you want me to do? (sarcastically) 'Cause if that's the reward ...
(RORY punches his shoulder teasingly and slips free of his grasp as the camera takes view of them from a distance. RORY jogs ahead of him, and JESS stands there, giving her a sarcastic smile with his hands shoved in his pocket. RORY turns back to him, and says something, then laughs and runs up to him, and grabs his hand and pulls him along behind her until he pulls her backwards, into his arms and kisses her before she has a chance to escape. RORY pulls away a little, and smiles, then kisses him again.)
-COMMERCIAL BREAK-
OPEN TO STARS HOLLOW STREETS
(LORELAI and RORY are walking towards LUKE's on this Tuesday morning. RORY looks kind of depressed, and LORELAI is trying to cheer her up.)
LORELAI: We can go shopping!
RORY: What?
LORELAI: Shopping. We can go shopping. We'll get new outfits, make ourselves look really pretty. You can bring Jess.
RORY: He doesn't want to go shopping.
LORELAI: Have you asked?
RORY: He's not the shopping type.
LORELAI: Ah, yes, but does he have dress clothes?
RORY: I think so.
LORELAI: Have you inspected them to make sure they are actual dress clothes? I mean, for all you know, "dress clothes" to Jess, may mean a shirt that doesn't say Metallica or Tool on it, and pants have the less than eight pockets.
RORY (sighs): I'll ask.
(They enter LUKE's. LUKE looks surprised and looks at the clock.)
LUKE: Kind of early, isn't it?
RORY: Couldn't sleep.
LORELAI: She, couldn't sleep. I could've slept another half an hour, but no, we had to come now.
RORY: I'm sorry, okay. When I have to get up for summer school every other day of the week, it's hard for me to be able to sleep in.
LORELAI: Excuses, excuses.
RORY: ... Speaking of summer school-
LUKE: He left about five minutes ago. He walks slow ... which I'm sure you know ... so you can probably catch him.
RORY: Thanks, Luke.
(RORY smiles at LUKE, and turns back out the door. LORELAI settles on a bar stool, and LUKE hands her a mug of coffee before she gets a chance to ask. LORELAI smiles.)
LORELAI: So, have you heard about this dinner on Friday?
LUKE: Jess mentioned it.
LORELAI: So he's definitely going, then? 'Cause he told Rory he was, but I wasn't sure.
LUKE: Oh, he's going, alright. Beats me, of course. I mean, this really isn't his type of thing.
LORELAI: Ah, but Rory is his type of thing.
LUKE: Which explains it.
LORELAI (testing the waters): So you don't have a problem with him missing work, then?
LUKE: Just make sure he comes back in one piece. I'll need help with the Saturday morning rush.
LORELAI: Well ... actually, you'll be able help me make sure he comes back in one piece.
LUKE: Excuse me?
LORELAI: Well ... see ...
LUKE: Lorelai?
LORELAI: My mother ... wants you to come to dinner, too.
LUKE: Why me?
LORELAI: Because she thinks that you will keep Jess in line or something.
LUKE: No way. I'm not going.
LORELAI: Luke, you have to. I'm going to die at the dinner trying to keep my parents from ripping Rory and Jess up one side and down the other.
LUKE: So, you suggested this, then?
LORELAI: Well, no, not exactly, but once my mother suggested it I got used to the idea of having someone around help keep me sane.
LUKE: You probably could've used that several years ago.
LORELAI: Very true, but at least you can help me keep what little sanity I have left.
LUKE: I didn't know you had any.
LORELAI: Funny, funny, man. ... Please, Luke! Pretty, pretty please?
LUKE: No.
LORELAI: I'll bow to your feet.
LUKE: No.
LORELAI: Please.
LUKE: It seems to me that there is a guy in your life that is perfectly cut out for this situation. His name is Christopher. You should give him a call, I think he has a cellphone.
LORELAI (horrified at the idea): Oh, no.
LUKE: What? He's your boyfriend, and Rory's dad. Plus, I think you mentioned once that your parents love him. It seems much more fitting.
LORELAI: Not now.
LUKE: Why?
LORELAI: Not with this whole Sherry thing. My dad is ok with it, I mean, just ... being that he's a little less on the uptight about, well, everything. But if my mother sees him ... well, we should just invite Jerry Springer to come give commentary during dinner.
LUKE: That bad?
LORELAI: They haven't seen each other since Christopher told her about the situation with Sherry. She won't talk about it. If his name comes up, she changes the subject immediately.
LUKE: Could be coincidence.
LORELAI: Bozo the Clown.
LUKE: Excuse me?
LORELAI: Bozo the Clown, that's what she brought up the last time I mentioned Christopher's name. I didn't even knew she knew who Bozo the Clown was, but apparently she did and all of a sudden we are debating about clowns, and I'm saying that clowns should never be a part of children's programming, because clowns are menacing, and she's telling me I should consider a evaluation of my psyche, and ... I just really don't want a night of ... that, in combination with the Jess and Rory. I simply don't have the amount of heads required for the amount of times my mother will bite it off.
LUKE (sighs): It's really that important to you?
LORELAI: Things ... are going to be really tough on me, if you don't show up, because it's my responsibility to make sure this whole thing turns around perfect in my psychotic mother's eyes.
LUKE (sighs again, more heavily): ... Fine.
LORELAI: I'll owe you one.
LUKE: You better believe it.
CUT TO STARS HOLLOW HIGH
(JESS is sitting on the outside steps, leaning against a beam, and reading. RORY is approaching. When she sees him, she smiles and runs up to him. She taps on the book, and JESS puts it down, hesitantly, but gives a smile when he sees RORY. He's obviously still half asleep, but raises his eyebrows at RORY invitingly as he places his book down at his side, and spreads his legs apart. RORY sits on a step, between JESS's knees and leans back as he begins to massage her shoulders. She closes her eyes and sighs, relaxing under his touch. It's quiet for a minutes, as JESS watches RORY, and smiles just at seeing her. RORY opens her eyes and tilts herself so she is looking up at JESS.)
RORY: Do you have dress clothes?
JESS: Good morning to you, too.
RORY: Do you have dress clothes?
JESS: Why the sudden urge to know about my wardrobe?
RORY: Because, my mom and I are going shopping tomorrow, for new outfits, and if you don't have dress clothes, I was thinking maybe you should come with us. I mean, 'cause I don't know if you have anything in your closet that falls into the dress clothes category.
JESS (smirking): And what are the dress clothes requirements?
RORY: A nice shirt ... something that doesn't have the name of a rock band or look like it's been worn to a keg party.
JESS: Hey, I'll have you know I haven't been to a keg party since my sophomore year.
RORY: Nice pants ... a pair that doesn't have an abnormal amount of pockets.
JESS: Well, geez, then my cargo pants with the twenty pockets are out.
RORY: Jess ...
JESS: Rory, I have dress clothes.
RORY: (sighs) I'm sorry ... I shouldn't have been so pushy right there ... it's just ... well, you know I don't care what you wear, Jess. It really makes no difference to me ... but my grandparents are a different story.
JESS: I know.
RORY: ... You're sure you have something?
JESS: Rory ...
RORY: I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
JESS: I have a button down shirt, and a pair of khakis. Will that pass the test?
RORY: I think so ... do you have an iron?
JESS: What?
RORY: Kidding, kidding.
(JESS shakes his head, and RORY smiles up at him, then turns so she is facing front again, so he can continue rubbing her shoulders.)
CUT TO INDEPENDENCE INN
(It's later in the afternoon, and LORELAI is taking calls at the desk, while MICHEL puts information into the computer. LORELAI has barely hung up the phone, when it rings again.)
LORELAI: Ah! Does this phone ever stop ringing?
MICHEL: If it stopped ringing, that would signify that the battery is did.
LORELAI: Thank you for clarifying that for me, Michel.
(LORELAI answers the phone. The camera cuts between LORELAI at the INN and CHRISTOPHER in SHERRY's apartment.)
LORELAI: Independence Inn, this is Lorelai, how may I help you?
CHRISTOPHER: How prim and proper.
LORELAI: Oh, Christopher! I'm glad it's you ...
CHRISTOPHER (smiling): Good to know.
LORELAI: We've been getting calls nonstop all day. Ringing off the hook, with crazy people who want to reserve a hotel room for - can you believe this - the Bracebridge Dinner, already. They want to know if they can have someone in authentic dress and accent serenade them to sleep, by playing - get this - a mandolin, and if room service will be attended to by one of our normal servants, or someone we've hired special for the occasion. And ... you're a familiar voice so ... it's nice ... and ... well, I'm just glad to hear from you. (She smiles.)
CHRISTOPHER: Aw, shucks.
LORELAI: So, to what do I owe the pleasure?
CHRISTOPHER: Well, I tried to call your cell, but no one answered.
LORELAI: Charging in the car.
CHRISTOPHER: So, then I tried here.
LORELAI: And you're calling because ... ?
CHRISTOPHER: Well, I'm not making a huge dent in moving yet, but I have some free time this Friday, and I was thinking that maybe I could come by for dinner at your parents?
LORELAI: Dinner?
CHRISTOPHER: Yea.
LORELAI (grimacing): At my parents?
CHRISTOPHER: Yep.
LORELAI: You're asking to go to dinner at my parents house?
CHRISTOPHER: Well, I would suggest dinner at a restaurant, but I know how important the infamous Friday night dinners are.
LORELAI: ... Uh. Wow, well ... I ... I don't think that's a great idea, Christopher.
CHRISTOPHER (take aback): Oh ... why not? I thought you said your Mom wanted to see me around more.
LORELAI: She did ... and she does, in some way, but it might just be so she can have you sitting in front of her when she imagines the fifty types of most preferable medieval torture she could use on you, and
CHRISTOPHER: Lor ...
LORELAI: ... it's just that ... well, it's kind of going to be a full house for dinner this week?
CHRISTOPHER (interested): Oh really? How'd that happen.
LORELAI: Well ... see, Emily and Richard happened to uh ... catch Rory and Jess kissing, during the Christmas in July dinner.
CHRISTOPHER: Ah, not good.
LORELAI: No, and after they both let Rory and Jess have it, and I let them have it, they left. Then yesterday, my mother calls, out of the blue, and apologizes.
CHRISTOPHER: She apologized?
LORELAI: It was amazing - Peter Jennings and World News Tonight came out and did a special segment on it.
CHRISTOPHER: Huh. But there was a catch, wasn't there?
LORELAI: Of course. One of her finest, too.
CHRISTOPHER: And it was?
LORELAI: She wanted Rory to ask Jess to dinner on Friday.
CHRISTOPHER: I'm getting really bad flashbacks now.
LORELAI: Yea, me too ... but Emily insisted on it ... there's no getting out of it, and Jess is coming.
CHRISTOPHER: Ah, but if I'm not mistaken, then I can still be your right hand man - there a place left.
LORELAI: Well ... not exactly.
CHRISTOPHER: Not exactly?
LORELAI: You see ... my mother, being the saint she is, thought it would be a good idea to invite Luke-
CHRISTOPHER: Luke? Luke who runs the diner, Luke? Luke who obviously has a thing for you, Luke?
LORELAI: Luke does not have a thing for me.
CHRISTOPHER: He does too ... why did your mom invite him?
LORELAI: It could possibly be because he's Jess's uncle, but I wasn't really clear on it.
CHRISTOPHER: So, I can't go to dinner with my girlfriend and daughter, because another guy has been invited in my place.
LORELAI: No, never in your place Chris. Just ... invited by Emily, that's all. It means nothing. It's just Luke. He'll come in some nice clothes, he'll sit, he'll grunt out a few answers, all four of us will go back to the diner for coffee afterward, and it'll be over.
CHRISTOPHER: Right, well ... fine then. So I guess I'll talk to you later.
LORELAI: Chris, don't do this! Chris, you can come if you want ... I'm sure there's plenty of room, I just figured you wouldn't want to get in that mess.
CHRISTOPHER: Well, you figured right. Bye, Lor.
(CHRISTOPHER hangs up, and LORELAI pouts as she turns off the phone.)
-COMMERCIAL BREAK-
OPEN TO MALL
(It's Wednesday, late in the afternoon. LORELAI and RORY are heading out of a department store with bags in hand, as they notice a poster that reads HOMECOMING 2002 FASHIONS ARRIVING MID-AUGUST. LORELAI points and stops RORY. RORY shakes her head, and LORELAI nods.)
RORY: No.
LORELAI: Yes.
RORY: No.
LORELAI: It'll be fun.
RORY: No.
LORELAI: We'll just come look at dresses.
RORY: Why? I'm not going.
LORELAI: We'll do your back-to-school shopping then, too.
RORY: I go to a private school, I don't need to school clothes.
LORELAI: Fine. Then we'll get more new clothes for after school. Plus there is an Office Max and a bookstore here.
RORY: I'm not going to homecoming. Even if I was, you'd make the dress.
LORELAI: Right, but you'd have to get ideas.
RORY: We're not talking about this. I don't do dances.
LORELAI: You did dances with Dean.
RORY: But I don't do dances now. They're silly, pointless events. End of discussion ...
LORELAI: That's what you think.
RORY: So, have you heard from Dad?
LORELAI: Nice topic change.
RORY: It's an honest question.
LORELAI: You were sidestepping.
RORY: I'm allowed to ask if you've heard from him, he is my dad after all.
LORELAI: And here I was, wondering why you've been calling him "Dad" for the past seventeen years. Completely slipped by me, I tell you. Right over my head.
RORY: Mom?
LORELAI: I talked to him, ok?
RORY: And?
LORELAI: And the conversation started out with "Hi" and ended with "Bye" and that's all there was to it.
RORY: Ten bucks says he's have a different side to that story.
LORELAI: Twenty bucks says that you couldn't get him to answer the phone to tell you anyways.
RORY: Ah ha! So you did have a fight!
LORELAI: Where would you get a silly idea like that?
RORY: Because, you said he won't answer his phone, which implies that you've been calling, and he hasn't been answering.
LORELAI: It does not.
RORY: How many times have you called and he hasn't answered?
LORELAI: I haven't.
RORY: Liar.
LORELAI: Am not.
RORY: ... Twenty.
LORELAI: What?
RORY: You called him twenty times and he still hasn't answered.
LORELAI: So, how about those Yankees?
RORY: You've never watched a second of baseball in your life, what happened?
LORELAI: Nothing.
RORY: Is that your final answer?
LORELAI: Look, Rory, it was nothing ok? We just had a little squabble, and it's really none of your concern.
RORY: But see, it is, my concern. With Max, maybe it wasn't my business, but this is my dad we're talking about. We share blood, so if you have a fight I'd at least like to be given a clue. Now maybe, if it would be different, if he'd been around my whole life, but he's only really checked into the whole Dad picture recently, and even that was shaky at first, so you have to take into consider my seventeen years of painful experience, and at least give me an idea. Ease my paranoia.
LORELAI (considering this as they leave the mall): He's just ... not happy about Luke coming to dinner with us.
RORY: Luke, is coming to dinner with us?
LORELAI: Is my memory failing me, 'cause I was sure I told you.
RORY: No, I'm pretty sure you didn't.
LORELAI: Well, anyways, your grandmother, the wonderful woman she is, invited Luke along to keep Jess in line or something-
RORY: Jess stays in line just fine on his own (LORELAI glares) ... okay, so with a little encouragement on the side. But Luke doesn't have to come, I mean, not that I don't want Luke to come. Luke's great but-
LORELAI: I know. But, she was set on it, so I got him to come, and then your dad calls and he has free time Friday night, and he wants to come play house, and have dinner with us, and I had to tell him, and said maybe it wasn't such a good idea, especially on an night that is already shaping up to be the recreation of the Salem witch trials, and he took offense to it, and said Luke was his replacement, and that he had a thing for me, and now he won't talk to me.
RORY: Well, he does have a point?
LORELAI: What?
RORY: Luke does have a thing for you.
LORELAI: You're sick.
RORY: No, I have a pulse.
LORELAI: Anyways, he overreacted ... (RORY glares) and I was possibly and little inconsiderate of the situation. I'm going to fix it.
RORY: When?
LORELAI: Whenever he picks up his phone.
(RORY raises her eyebrows, and LORELAI shakes her head, and RORY taps LORELAI's hand bag, at which point she reluctantly pulls out her cellphone, and LORELAI sits on a bench. RORY sets her stuff down next to her.)
RORY: I'll go get the car.
LORELAI: Good girl.
CUT TO GILMORE RESIDENCE
(LORELAI is sitting on the bench, she has just dialed a number on her phone, and begins to talk.)
LORELAI: Uh, hi, Chris ... this is Lorelai again, getting your machine ... again, and uh, you're not answering your cell so I thought, maybe, possibly you were at home. But apparently, you are, as I thought, avoiding me, so if you could give me a buzz when you're ready to hear me out, that'd be great, 'cause we have to talk about this and-
(The camera cuts to SHERRY listening to the message amidst boxes in the apartment, and she picks up.)
SHERRY: Lorelai?
LORELAI: Uh ... hi.
SHERRY: Stop calling.
LORELAI: Sherry?
SHERRY: Don't call here anymore.
LORELAI: Uh, excuse me, Sherry, but I can call here if I want to ... I mean ... Christopher is my boyfriend, and the father of my child.
SHERRY: And the father of mine.
LORELAI: Which still doesn't give you the right to decide who can and cannot call him.
SHERRY: Look, Lorelai, you don't need Christopher, all right? You have a good job, and you are a stable person, with a great kid, and a great life and a ton of people who care about you. I need Christopher.
LORELAI: I'm sorry, I don't see what you are getting at here.
SHERRY: As long as you want him Lorelai, he won't want me. He won't be the father he should be, and you will always be more important.
LORELAI: Hey, hey ... give Chris some credit ... he's trying to do well with this new baby, and I think he's going to. And you're wrong ... Rory will always come before everyone.
SHERRY: You, Rory, what's the difference? Either way, he's not here with me. So stop calling.
LORELAI: Sherry ... I will stop calling the apartment ... I mean, he has a cell phone ... but can you just answer this one question for me?
SHERRY: What?
LORELAI: ... Do you love him?
(SHERRY is silent, and LORELAI nods.)
LORELAI: That's what I thought.
CUT TO LUKE'S DINER
(It's Thursday, around lunchtime, and LORELAI has taken her lunch break to eat with RORY since she does not have summer school, on Thursdays. They take a seat at the counter, and LUKE comes to take their order.)
LORELAI: Two hamburgers, two orders of fries, four cups of coffee, and two pieces of pie.
LUKE: That it?
LORELAI: For me, but you still have to take Rory's order.
LUKE: You going to hibernate or something?
LORELAI: No, but I'm just eating extra ... in case dinner at my parents tonight is gross. Speaking of which, you should probably meet at our house.
LUKE: Why your house?
LORELAI: So we can take my car.
LUKE: We're all going together?
LORELAI: It makes sense, doesn't it? We're all going the same place, and you have no idea where we're going.
LUKE: You could give me directions.
LORELAI: Okay, better reason, Rory will want to ride there with Jess. Right Rory? (RORY nods.) Then you'd have to ride alone.
LUKE: I could handle it.
LORELAI: Right, but see, it'd be a better idea if we all arrived at the same time ... it would make mother happy from the start.
LUKE: So why don't we take my truck?
LORELAI: Where will we all fit?
LUKE: Jess and I will sit in the front, Rory can sit in the fold down seat in the back, and you can ride in the bed.
LORELAI: Isn't that illegal?
LUKE: So is strapping you to the roof, I figured riding in the bed would be the safer option.
LORELAI: Or we could all go together, in the Jeep, where we'd all have room. And we'd all go together, and arrive together, and it would just be so much nicer.
LUKE: Stubborn.
LORELAI: No, you just don't think as clearly as I do.
LUKE (looks to RORY): What are the odds I'll win here?
RORY: Slim to none.
LUKE: Fine. What time are we meeting at your house, then?
LORELAI: Six o'clock. Dinner's at seven. That gives us fifteen minutes to waste, and forty-five minutes to get there.
LUKE: At least you think ahead.
(LUKE starts to head back to the kitchen.)
RORY: Hey Luke! I'll have what my mom's having.
(LUKE shakes his head.)
-COMMERCIAL BREAK-
CUT TO GILMORE RESIDENCE
(It's Friday morning, and RORY is getting ready for her last day of summer school while LORELAI reads the paper. RORY has just finished pulling her hair back, when the doorbell rings.)
LORELAI: I'll get it!
(LORELAI gets up and runs to the door. She opens it to find JESS standing there with four coffee in a carrying tray.)
LORELAI: Oh, please tell me some of that is for me.
JESS: Two of them.
LORELAI (shouting to RORY): Rory! Jess is here! (Takes two coffees, and begins sipping as she lets JESS in.) I am seriously considering adopting you. (To RORY again.) Hey, Rory, if you don't hurry, your boyfriend is going to become your brother real quick. (LORELAI leads JESS into the kitchen where she sits down and JESS still stands, holding the coffee, and looks towards RORY's room, where she can be seen running around.) So, Jess, you prepared for tonight?
JESS: I've got a getaway car ready for me if I need it, if that's what you mean.
LORELAI: Not exactly ... tonight is important, Jess. I could care less what Emily or Richard think of you ... but it means something to that girl in there, for only God knows why ... and since you (whispering) love her-
JESS: Hey, hey ...
LORELAI: It's not like it's a big secret or anything, Jess. But anyways, she has a much better relationship with them than I ever have ... so just make sure-
JESS (cutting her off): That I don't screw up?
LORELAI: Well said.
JESS: Just trust me.
(RORY comes around to the kitchen and sees JESS and smiles.)
JESS: I come bearing gifts.
RORY: Oh! Coffee! I wasn't going to have time to stop for any, either.
(RORY grabs the coffees out of the holder and hands the tray to her mom.)
RORY: Merry Christmas.
LORELAI: Gee thanks, kid, but that was last week.
RORY: Better late than never.
JESS: In a rush?
RORY: Gotta get to school a little early - summer finals are today, and I have to turn in my books and stuff.
JESS: How ... fun?
RORY: Not exactly. (To LORELAI) I gotta go. I'll see you here tonight?
LORELAI: Yep ... I won't bail on you.
RORY: You better not.
(They walk back into the foyer. She hugs LORELAI and kisses her on the cheek. JESS opens the door and holds it for her, and grabs her backpack from next to the door, since she forgot it absentmindedly. LORELAI smirks at him as the door shuts. Outside, JESS holds the backpack by the handle in his left hand, and RORY walks to the right of him, finishing a coffee by the time they are down the step, and throwing it in a trashcan off to the side. Then stopping in her tracks, and covering her forehead with her hand.)
RORY: Oh no ... my backpack it's inside ... (She stops talking and notices JESS holds the backpack up so she can see it and smirks.) What would I do without you?
(RORY reaches for bag, and JESS holds it behind his back, and grabs RORY around the waist with his free arm.)
JESS: I think I get a reward.
RORY: Hmm, you brought me coffee and remembered my backpack. I guess you are deserving.
(JESS leans his face close to RORY's so she can feel his breath as he talks.)
JESS: You guess?
RORY: Yea ... I guess.
(JESS kisses her, pulls away for a second, then goes to kiss her again. Just as his lips brush hers for as second time, RORY puts her arms around his back pulling him closer, and returning the kiss. She feels around his back for his hand, and seizes the backpack, pulling it away from him. He doesn't notice, even when he brings his now free hand to the back of RORY's neck, and continues kissing her until RORY puts her hand on his chest to stop him.)
RORY: As much as I don't want to go to school today ... I have to ... and now that I have all the necessary items (she holds up the backpack victoriously, JESS looking surprised) I should get going to the bus.
(RORY tries to free herself from his arms so she can leave, and succeeds, slinging the backpack over her shoulders. She begins to walk, and JESS catches up with her, putting his arm around her shoulder, and kissing her temple as they walk. RORY rests her head on his shoulder, and he follows suit, leaning his head against hers, and smiling, at her. The camera stays put as they walk off in the distance, but we can hear them talking.)
JESS: So ... what do I need to know for tonight?
RORY: I think ... that you and my grandpa will get along really well ... he loves literature.
OPEN TO GILMORE HOUSE
(It's Friday night, and RORY and LORELAI are rushing around getting ready for the dinner. RORY exits her room, finally ready. She's wearing a navy blue boat neck tank top and lightweight black skirt that hits at the knees, with scalloping at the ends. Her hair is falling straight over her shoulders. RORY approaches the staircase.)
RORY: Mom! It's 5:57 - they're going to be here soon.
LORELAI: Yes, but we don't have to leave until 6:15.
RORY: Shouldn't you be ready when they get here?
LORELAI: They should know better.
(The doorbell rings, and RORY shakes her head, then goes to the door to answer it. The silhouette of two figures is apparent through the glass, and RORY calls up to LORELAI.)
RORY: They're here.
(RORY opens the door. JESS is standing in front of LUKE, wearing, as promised, a pair of khakis, and a grey-blue button down shirt. LUKE is wearing black pants, and a white shirt, tie and all.)
RORY: Hi, guys. Come in, you can sit if you want (she points to the couch) ... my mom ... isn't ready yet, but she should be-
(LORELAI comes running down the stairs.)
LORELAI: I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready!
RORY: Scratch that, she's ready.
(LUKE makes himself comfortable on the couch as LORELAI finishes coming down the stairs in a burgundy, knee length dress with a v-neck and spaghetti straps. JESS and RORY remain in the foyer while LORELAI bustles around. RORY runs her eyes over JESS.)
RORY: You ... wow, you look ... great, Jess. You look great.
JESS (incredulously): I don't always look great?
RORY: No ... you always look great it's just ... I've never seen you ... you know, dressed up before and-
(Before RORY can stumble over her words anymore, JESS greets her with a kiss, holding her close to him. He pulls away, smiles at her, then kisses her neck.)
JESS (whispering in her ear): You don't look so bad yourself.
(RORY responds by kissing him as LORELAI and LUKE enter. LORELAI clears her throat.)
LORELAI: Which reminds me ...
(RORY blushes, as she and JESS pull back. RORY continues to lean against JESS, and he holds her as she faces LORELAI.)
LORELAI: There need to be some ground rules tonight.
JESS: Like?
LORELAI: Like ... none of that, if you can help it. In fact, it'd probably be a good idea to stray from any of that huggy-cuddly-kissy stuff if at all possible. It'll help your case.
RORY: Noted.
LORELAI: No sarcasm needed tonight, from anyone. I'll cover it from all angles if it absolutely needed.
JESS: Now somehow, that just doesn't seem fair.
LORELAI: What's fair and what isn't is what this whole dinner is about, kid. Now, Luke, if you could get out a little small talk, as opposed to grunts, you'll be fine ... they like you anyhow.
(LUKE glares.)
LORELAI: And Jess, beware ... my father loves to jump on people with questions - about college, about what you want to do with the rest of your life, about Rory, so have answers ready, make them up if you need to, we'll back you up.
RORY: And Grandpa loves to read ... so if you can get in a literary discussion with him, you'll win him over.
JESS: Are we ready now?
LORELAI: I think so.
(They begin to head out of the house, LORELAI leading the way, LUKE following her, and JESS and RORY walking side-by-side behind them. RORY reaches to hold his hands, and goes to kiss him on the cheek, but he pulls away abruptly, holding his hands up, as though to surrender.)
JESS (sarcastically): We're not supposed to be doing that huggy-cuddly-kissy stuff, remember?
(RORY grabs him and kisses him passionately, before JESS can argue further. They kiss until they hear LORELAI honk the horn. They pull away, and RORY looks him in the eyes.)
RORY (breathing heavily): ... I'm sorry.
JESS: What for?
RORY: For anything that happens tonight ... and just know ... that nothing that is said or done will reflect on how I feel about you.
(JESS smiles softly at her putting his fingers under her chin to prop it up.)
JESS: Rory ... I ...
RORY: Hmm?
JESS: I ... it's nothing. Let's get going.
(JESS kisses her cheek, his lips lingering on her skin, until RORY begins to walk towards the car. JESS rushes ahead of her, and opens the door.)
RORY: What a gentlemen ...
JESS: How rude!
-COMMERCIAL BREAK-
CUT TO THE ELDER GILMORE RESIDENCE
(LORELAI pulls the car into the semi-circle driveway at EMILY and RICHARD's, and the camera takes view of the car from the front, so we can see inside. She turns it off, and the headlights go off. LORELAI sits, not motioning to get up. JESS and RORY are in the backseat, JESS at a window seat, RORY in the middle cuddled up against him, as he reads an open book. He squeezes her tighter against him, and they haven't even noticed the car has stopped. LUKE fidgets, then finally looks over at LORELAI.)
LUKE: Why are we sitting here?
LORELAI: Because it's 6:58.
LUKE: So?
LORELAI: So, we're early.
LUKE: So we'll go in early. Early is good. (LORELAI gasps.) What?
LORELAI: Early is never good. Never. Never early. The words "Early" "Good" "Dinner" and "Emily Gilmore" have never fallen in the same sentence together.
LUKE: My mistake.
(They sit in silence again. JESS closes the book, and hands it to RORY who puts it in her purse. RORY closes her eyes when she returns her head to JESS's shoulder. LUKE looks at his watch.)
LUKE: It's 6:59.
LORELAI: And your point is?
LUKE: That by the time we get out of the car, all of us, and get up to the door, it will be seven o'clock.
LORELAI: You're really big on the punctuality thing, aren't you?
LUKE: Well it doesn't hurt.
LORELAI: Or help, in this matter.
LUKE: Let's just go, and get it over with.
LORELAI: No, we can't.
LUKE: Why not?
LORELAI: Because we haven't had a prayer circle yet.
LUKE: Excuse me?
LORELAI: A prayer circle. I think we should stand in a circle outside, and pray before we go in.
LUKE: What for?
LORELAI: Do you like your life?
LUKE: You're exaggerating.
LORELAI: Ha! You wish!
(LUKE looks at his watch.)
LUKE: It's seven o'clock.
LORELAI: Now, was that so terrible?
LUKE: Yes.
LORELAI: Humor me.
LUKE: No.
LORELAI: Fine then. All right, troops, forward march.
(RORY sighs and JESS unfastens his seatbelt, and RORY does the same. He opens his door, and helps RORY out, and LUKE gets out. LORELAI is last out, and slams her door shut, leading them to the door.)
LUKE: Was that necessary?
LORELAI: If you must know, yes.
(It's at this time that a silver Volvo pulls into the driveway. LORELAI turns to see this and throws her head back.)
LORELAI: Why me? Why me, I ask you? I'm a good person, I help charity, I pay my taxes. Why?
LUKE: Is that Christopher?
LORELAI: You know that whole praying thing? Now, I'm serious.
(CHRISTOPHER opens his door and gets out. RORY sees him, breaking her literary trance with JESS, and runs to him and gives him a hug.)
RORY: Dad!
CHRISTOPHER: Hey you!
RORY: I didn't think you were making it.
(LORELAI approaches him.)
LORELAI: Neither did I.
(CHRISTOPHER lets go of RORY, and steps towards LORELAI holding her wrist gently, and moving closer to kiss her cheek.)
CHRISTOPHER: My conscience got the better of me.
LORELAI: Really? What's his name?
CHRISTOPHER: Who?
LORELAI: You're conscience. I have to look him up in the telephone book so we can have a little chat - is he listed.
CHRISTOPHER: We'll talk later, okay?
LORELAI: Fine, whatever.
(They make their way over to JESS and LUKE who stand at a distance from the door.)
CHRISTOPHER: Jess ... (CHRISTOPHER reaches to shake his hand, and JESS is at first hesitant) ... The first step to making a good impression with Richard and Emily. Shake their hands. Butter them up, it always works. Trust me, I know - about eighteen years ago, I was you, meeting them for the first time. Well ... having dinner with them anyways. (JESS nods, knowingly, and at seeing RORY's smile, he shakes CHRISTOPHER's hand, surprisingly.) Luke, good to see you. (CHRISTOPHER reaches out to shake his hand, but LUKE doesn't accept it.)
LUKE: Yea. Good to see you. Been awhile since I've seen you around. It's been what? A month?
CHRISTOPHER: A few weeks, maybe.
LUKE: I was beginning to wonder if you were still on the face of the earth - I was sure I'd see you around more, you know, with the apartment and everything.
CHRISTOPHER: Well, uh, I've been loading things in when I can. Not much time to stop though.
LUKE: Not much time? Well do you think that it's really considerate for you to-
LORELAI: So, uh, not that this conversation isn't rating really high on the controversial-yet-interesting-scale, but we have a dinner to go to, and (looks CHRISTOPHER's watch) would you look at that, we're three minutes late. We've got two minutes or we'll be beheaded by Emily herself.
(LORELAI leads them all up to the door, again, RORY next to her, with JESS linked to her arm on the other side, and CHRISTOPHER and LUKE behind them, LUKE looking angry. She rings the doorbell, and EMILY answers promptly.)
EMILY: Good evening, girls. Come in, come in. (She ushers them in.) Hello Luke, Jess ... thank you for coming on such short notice.
JESS (sarcastically): Well, you know, we'd prefer more notice next time - it was difficult for me to make time, what with my bridge club meeting on Friday nights.
(RORY looks at him, raising her eyebrows. LORELAI gives a fake laugh.)
LORELAI: That was a good one, Jess. Mom, that's Jess, trying to be funny. It was a joke, you know, you're supposed to laugh. He'll never do it again. (EMILY doesn't look amused.) Oh, hey did you see Christopher's here?
EMILY: Oh. I hadn't noticed.
LORELAI: Well, aren't you going to say hello?
EMILY: I've said hello to everyone, I believe. (Calling towards the kitchen.) Elena, set an extra place, please! (Turning to the stairs.) Richard! Everyone is here.
RICHARD (from upstairs): Coming, Emily.
EMILY: Follow me, please.
(EMILY signals them towards the parlor. LORELAI hangs back with JESS and RORY.)
LORELAI: Real smooth there, kid. Next time invite her to knock off a liquor store with you, it'll go over better.
(RORY cringes, JESS looks taken aback, and they enter the parlor. RORY and JESS sit on one couch, and LORELAI and CHRISTOPHER sit on another. CHRISTOPHER puts his arm around LORELAI's waist possessively, and RORY loosely links her arm with JESS's. LUKE looks as though he feels awkward, and finally settles on sitting next to JESS after debating. Soon RICHARD enters, and EMILY has placed chairs for them near the couches. JESS looks up almost immediately, and though seeming to try and resolve the black mark he made with EMILY, he pays close attention to RICHARD as he recognizes each person in the room.)
RICHARD: Luke, Rory, ... Jess.
(JESS extends his hand to RICHARD, who hesitantly takes it and shakes it firmly.)
RICHARD: Lorelai ... Christopher! I didn't know we were expecting you.
CHRISTOPHER: Ah, you weren't Richard. I wasn't sure I could make it, but it's good to see you again.
(CHRISTOPHER rises to meet RICHARD, shaking his hand.)
RICHARD: Drinks, anyone?
EMILY: Chardonnay, please.
CHRISTOPHER: Martini, on the rocks.
RORY: Coke.
JESS: Coke's fine.
RICHARD: Luke?
LUKE: Water is fine.
RICHARD: Just water? (LUKE nods.) And you, Lorelai?
LORELAI: Something really stiff. Mix some stuff. Go all Dr. Heidegger on me. If something combusts, that's probably a safe bet it's good for me.
RICHARD: Manhatten?
LORELAI: That works.
(RICHARD tends to the drinks as well as initiating conversation.)
RICHARD: So, Christopher, how is Sherry?
CHRISTOPHER: Sherry is fine ... so is the baby.
RICHARD: Are you still moving to Stars Hollow?
CHRISTOPHER: Yea, but it got postponed a little.
RICHARD: I see.
CHRSTOPHER: Sherry is moving back into her parents house in Boston. They have a huge house, lots of room for her, and a baby, so I've been helping her move ... I can't very well let her do it herself. But, we're finishing tomorrow, and then I'm going to be concentrating on my place.
RICHARD: Well ... that's very nice of you.
LORELAI: Isn't it? I mean, the Girl Scouts called to give him a badge for it and everything.
RICHARD: Was that another one of you attempts at humor, Lorelai?
LORELAI: I thought it was.
(RICHARD hands her drink to her first, as though trying to get her to be quiet, by giving a stern look. He begins to pass around drinks, and notices JESS has been handed his book, by RORY and begins to read. RICHARD immediately becomes interested.)
RICHARD: Uh, Jess ... what book is that you're reading, there?
JESS: The Fountainhead.
RICHARD: Fine piece of literature.
JESS: I guess.
RICHARD: What does that mean?
JESS: It means ... well, I'm reading it again for Rory, it isn't exactly my favorite work.
RICHARD: Ayn Rand has talent.
JESS: Talent, yes. Also eccentric, if you ask me.
RICHARD: And who do you prefer, Jess?
JESS: I'm more of a Hemingway and Salinger fan.
RICHARD: Ah, Hemingway. A favorite of mine. What is your favorite?
JESS: A Farewell to Arms.
RICHARD: Wonderful choice. You know, a few months ago, I gave Rory a first edition copy of A Farewell to Arms - I'm sure she'd let you see it.
JESS (smiles to RORY who nods and winks): She let me see it a few days ago - it's very nice.
RICHARD: You have good taste.
(RICHARD nods to JESS, and despite the fact that EMILY is still looking bitter, he feels he's received some sort of approval from RICHARD, and puts his arm behind RORY, not quite holding her, just balancing it on the back of the couch. LORELAI gives JESS a small smiles, and CHRISTOPHER gives him a thumbs up, but LUKE is silent. RICHARD notices JESS's change in position and changes moods, almost instantaneously.)
RICHARD: So, Jess, what do you plan to do with your future?
JESS: My future?
RICHARD: Yes. Your future, college, a job. You know, Rory plans to apply to Harvard ... and I hope I can convince her to apply to Yale.
(LORELAI gives a pained smile.)
LORELAI (softly): I knew it was too good to be true.
JESS: Well, I don't really think I'm cut out for the Ivy League. Ivy League school require money - something I'm short on, and scholarships - which are few and far between at my school. I could probably make it on student loans, but I don't want to be poor when I get out of college, I want to be able to support myself. So, I think probably be heading to Connecticut State, maybe. I might commute, from Stars Hollow. That way I could still work at the diner (LUKE gives him a look as though to ask "Have you cracked?") and make a little money for myself.
(RICHARD appears semi-impressed.)
RICHARD: Well, it's good that you have a plan. Do you know what you want to major in?
JESS: I'm thinking somewhere along the lines of English ... maybe English Literature. Or Business. Business will be involved somewhere, maybe as a minor. Something to fall back on.
(RORY's jaw has nearly dropped at hearing all this but tries to hide her excitement, as though she has heard this all before. She takes JESS's free hand and squeezes it, as he and her grandfather continue talking. EMILY looks thoroughly annoyed, and LUKE looks as though he is feeling more awkward by the second, especially when CHRISTOPHER opts to hold LORELAI closer and she lies her head on his shoulder in response. ELENA enters the parlor.)
ELENA: Dinner is finished, Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore.
EMILY: Thank you very, very, much, Elena. (EMILY stands and motions towards the dining room.) Shall we?
(The group stands up and enters the dining room, EMILY leading the way. RICHARD and JESS talk all the way. The girls, RICHARD, and EMILY take their normal, respective seats, and JESS sits on RORY's side of the table, closest to RICHARD, while LUKE and CHRISTOPHER both take a seat on either side of LORELAI, causing her to cringe. CHRISTOPHER sits on the side of her closest to EMILY, and LUKE on the side closest to RICHARD. ELENA brings the food to the table, and EMILY begins offering it to people, CHRISTOPHER last.)
CHRISTOPHER: Thank you, Emily.
(EMILY is silent, her face remaining unreadable, and cold.)
CHRISTOPHER: Look, Emily ... I know ... that you aren't thrilled with this situation right now ... but I want you to know that what's between Sherry and I ... is completely platonic, and only for the sake of our kid, and that I fully intend to be there for Lorelai, and be the kind of person she deserves.
EMILY: Fine, Christopher.
CHRISTOPHER: Really, I'm glad ... you know, that it's fine with you.
EMILY: Doesn't really matter if it's fine with me anyways, does it? No one ever listens to what I say, or the advice I give. I mean, I was advising for years for you and Lorelai to be together, to be a family, but no, no one ever listened to me. Then you waltzed back into town, stole my daughters heart, and we find out you're going to father another baby, with that ... that woman. It's a disaster. It's hundreds more problems waiting to happen, but pretend I didn't say that ... wait, you will anyways. Because no one ever listens to me.
CHRISTOPHER: Emily, it's not like that.
EMILY: Really, then how is it?
LORELAI: Mom, I ... I don't really think this is an appropriate dinner conversation. I mean considering we have guests.
EMILY: Hush, Lorelai.
LORELAI: Well, on second thought, while you're at it, you might as well give 'em a good show.
EMILY: This isn't time for jokes, Lorelai.
LORELAI: I'm sorry, I didn't realize.
EMILY: No, you didn't. And you also don't realize that everything I'm saying to Christopher applies to you, too.
LORELAI: Really? Because I didn't think I was the father of Sherry's child, but I hadn't really checked into it.
EMILY: Lorelai, you know very well what I mean!
LORELAI: No, Mom, I'm afraid I don't.
EMILY: You two, can just never seem to get it right. You finally get it together, and then all of a sudden this ... situation, comes up, and you're still going to try and fix things. It's impossible! Things needed fixing before she came into things, things needed fixing then. Now, it's too late.
LORELAI: Mom-
EMILY: And what's more appalling is that you allow your daughter to make the same mistakes.
LORELAI (frustrated and near tears): Mom, you promised.
EMILY: I'm sorry - but he (pointing to JESS incredulously) is going to ruin our granddaughter. She's going to be you, Lorelai. This, is nineteen years ago all over again. And you (points to RICHARD) are actually liking this boy. Can't you see it's all part of the act? He's not really liket this - he's making it up. You were so protective of Rory over Dean, who was practically harmless, but then this rebellious ... child, walks in here, with your precious granddaughter wrapped around his finger, and you lap him up.
RICHARD: Emily!
EMILY: And Rory, I still can't believe-
RORY: Stop!
EMILY: Excuse me?
RORY: Grandma, stop! Stop this! Jess came here with me tonight, so you could meet him, and really meet him, and get to know him, not so you could berate him. He didn't have to come, but he did, because it was important to me. Grandpa has given him a chance - this is Jess. He isn't "rebellious", but just because he isn't material for the Nobel Peace Prize doesn't mean that he's all bad. He's a great guy, he loves to read, and he's never been anything decent to me. If you got to know him, you'd see that. And more importantly than all that, I care about him, and that should mean more than anything.
EMILY: Rory-
RORY: No! I'm not going to listen to you badger him anymore. ... I'm ... (tears welling up), I'm sorry, but I need be excused.
(RORY gets up from her chair and walks off in a huff.)
LORELAI: That was uncalled for, Mom. You can tear me apart, hell, you can tear Christopher apart, we're adults, we can handle it better, but don't you dare tear apart Rory or the people she cares for.
EMILY: You're out of line, Lorelai.
LORELAI: I'm out of line, and I'm out of this.
(LORELAI gets up and walks off in the opposite direction that RORY did. EMILY sees her get up, and once she has left, she slams her fork down on her plate, and leaves for her bed room, leaving the guys at the table. RICHARD seems to be searching for a solution to problem.)
RICHARD: Gentlemen, I am very sorry about ... all this ... perhaps, we could retire to my study for a little while, while the girls ... calm down.
(JESS nods, as does CHRISTOPHER and get up to follow. LUKE however stands.)
LUKE: Thanks, but ... I think I need a breath of fresh air.
-COMMERCIAL BREAK-
OPEN TO ELDER GILMORE RESIDENCE
(LORELAI is outside on the patio, calming down, but still tearful when LUKE walks outside. LORELAI notices him, and gives a soft smile.)
LORELAI: So, how do you like my mother?
LUKE: She's uh-
LORELAI: Combative, cold, hurtful, argumentative, stubborn, rude, degrading?
LUKE: ... Uh, yea ... something like that.
LORELAI: I think for Christmas, I'll get her one of those dog collars - the one's with the spikes around it. I'll have "INSTIGATOR" engraved on it.
LUKE: Very, er ... original.
(LORELAI fiddles with the Kleenex in her hands, and puts her arms as her side exasperatedly, then turns to LUKE.)
LORELAI: I am so, unbelievably sorry, Luke. I'm sorry I ever got you roped into this.
LUKE: It's all right, really.
LORELAI: No, it's not. You came here, as a favor to me, to help me out, and everything just backfired.
LUKE: ... Did you really think it would go any differently?
LORELAI: Well, for one, I didn't really count on Christopher showing up like that. I mean ... I love Christopher ... don't get me wrong, he's ... the greatest (LUKE looks to the ground) ... especially the way he's been coming through for Rory lately. But ... I feel like he did that tonight to get back at me.
LUKE: Get back at you?
LORELAI: Yea ... we kind of got in a fight the other day, about ... just this dinner.
LUKE: Really?
LORELAI: It was completely blown out of proportion. He got all upset about how everyone had been invited to dinner, and I hadn't invited him, and I tried to explain that it wasn't the greatest idea, and he got all upset, especially when he found out ... well, never ... never mind.
LUKE: No, it's ok ... you can tell me ...
LORELAI: When he ... you know, found out you were coming. He got ... jealous. He was going on and on about how you were replacing him, and how you had a thing for me, and I told him it was crazy. It is ... crazy, right?
(LORELAI's tone of voice is almost hopeful for him to say it isn't crazy.)
LUKE: Oh ... wow, uh, wow ... he said ... he said that I have a thing for you? Me ... and you ... oh, yea, crazy. Really crazy ... I mean ... way too much caffeine on your end, and not enough on mine. (LORELAI looks disappointed.) Uh, look, I'm gonna go head inside ... kinda cold out here ... plus, your dad has everyone in his study, I'll feel kind of rude if I don't accept the offer. Uh ... if I see Chris ... I'll uh ... send him your way.
(LUKE leaves without giving LORELAI a chance to say much. LORELAI looks very disappointed as he leaves, and cries a little more. The camera cuts to LUKE who contemplates entering the study, but turns and goes to sit in the parlor, and sits with his face in his hands, shaking his head.)
CUT TO RICHARD'S STUDY
(The three men are sitting in the cushioned chairs of the study. CHRISTOPHER is looking off, giving a nod or a "hmm" here and there, while JESS and RICHARD are in a deep literary conversation. CHRISTOPHER soon gets up.)
CHRISTOPHER: I'm gonna ... go find Lor, thanks ... for this Richard. I'll be heading out soon ... it was good to see you.
(RICHARD stands and reaches for his hand to shake.)
RICHARD: Keep in touch. Let me know when your place is suitable.
CHRISTOPHER: Will do.
RICHARD: Give my best to Sherry.
CHRISTOPHER: I better not.
RICHARD (nods, understandingly): I understand.
(RICHARD sits again, and JESS nods to CHRIS who smiles at him.)
CHRISTOPHER: Keep and eye on her for me will you?
(JESS knows he's referring to RORY and smiles and nods.)
JESS: 'Course.
CHRISTOPHER: You're a good man.
(CHRISTOPHER shakes JESS's hand.)
CHRISTOPHER: Not that bad, right?
(JESS gives him a look as if to say "Are you kidding me?")
CHRISTOPHER: Hey, I feel your pain.
(CHRISTOPHER waves to RICHARD and leaves. RICHARD turns back to JESS.)
RICHARD: Jess ... may I ask you, a ... (hesitating) personal question?
(JESS nods.)
RICHARD: Are you and Rory ... serious?
JESS: ... It all depends upon how you define serious.
RICHARD: I mean ... do you care for Rory ... do you see yourself being with her ... a while from now ... months even. That's how I am defining serious.
JESS: Then, yes.
RICHARD (sighs, and looks down thoughtfully): Be careful with her, will you?
(JESS nods.)
RICHARD: I mean that serious, Jess. Rory is ... very important to me. I was never close with Lorelai, she never wanted me to be close with her - she never wanted to let me into her life. Rory and I's relationship is much different than that. In a way ... she's the daughter I never had. But, the reality is ... that I am not Rory's father. I don't live in Stars Hollow, I can't keep an eye on her - that's Lorelai's job. And, often I disagree with her on the way she raises Rory ... but Rory is a good girl. She's intelligent, she's witty, she has a good head on her shoulders and she's a wonderful judge of character ... and I trust her judgment, and have to trust Lorelai's child raising skills, since she has got her this far, despite what I may really think. And ... I'll be honest with you ... I have ... many reservations, about you. Especially about you and Rory. You remind me very much ... of a young Christopher. To be honest with you, I think I would've had a heart attack if you had come in here on a motorcycle - don't ever come in here on a motorcycle. But ... you see like a nice young man, despite what I've heard ... and you seem to have a plan, even if the Ivy League isn't part of it ... which is a far cry from that Dean character. (JESS smirks.) Just promise me ... that you'll never treat her like anything less than a lady.
JESS: I promise.
RICHARD: You do understand the ... significance of a promise.
JESS: You can have any reservations about me that you want, Mr. Gilmore, you are entitled to that ... but never doubt how much I care for Rory and the way I will treat her.
(RICHARD gives a bittersweet sigh of relief, and nods his head.)
RICHARD: Very well ...
JESS: I should probably go and find her.
RICHARD (nods): Of course. You should try her room. It's just past the parlor ... you can't miss it.
JESS (getting up to leave): Thanks.
RICHARD: ... Thank you, Jess.
(JESS nods, and exits.)
CUT TO PATIO
(LORELAI is sitting out on the patio looking up at the sky, and CHRISTOPHER is coming out onto the patio, behind LORELAI.)
CHRISTOPHER: It's a beautiful night, isn't it?
(LORELAI doesn't turn back to him.)
LORELAI: Actually, the word horrific comes to mind.
CHRISTOPHER: Well ... the events were ... less than perfect ... but ... the night is beautiful. I mean, the sky is ... and it's not humid ... it could be humid. It's humid a lot in the summer.
LORELAI: Why did you come?
CHRISTOPHER (sighs): Because ... I was jealous.
LORELAI: Why?
CHRISTOPHER: Because ... Luke has always been here ... he got to see Rory when she was little, and kind of be like a ... surrogate father ... and he was always there for you ... I mean, for coffee, for repairs, for someone to talk to, at least until Rory could grasp the concept of your very complicated - but wonderful - personality. And I've worked so hard to be ... the dad again, and to be ... the person I should've been seventeen years ago. I just ... felt like that because I wasn't around for a little while ... Luke was my replacement.
(LORELAI gets up and turns to CHRISTOPHER, taking his hands.)
LORELAI: Chris, you can't be replaced. You're Rory's dad, and you're my first love ... and you're ... my boyfriend, which sounds completely bizarre, because you are my daughter's father, but my boyfriend. But anyways ... you can't be replaced. And I love you, and I want you to be around. The whole Luke thing ... was just coincidence tonight, and might not have been such a bad idea, if things weren't so tense already, just because ... well he is Jess's uncle. They should kind of know him better ... I mean ... Jess and Rory really ... have something big going. Rory wants them to know Jess, and to know Jess, you've gotta understand what he has lived with, and what he does live with, which is Luke. And he's a good friend, you know.
CHRISTOPHER: I know ... and I'm sorry for overreacting. And I'm sorry I didn't answer when you called.
LORELAI: It's ok. Well ... it wasn't, but it is now. It really wasn't when Sherry picked up the phone at your apartment.
CHRISTOPHER: Oh boy.
LORELAI: Yea, she had a thing or two to say ... but I think ... that she and I have come an understanding.
CHRISTOPHER: What is that?
LORELAI: That you are Rory's father ... and that ... you will be her child's father ... and they should and probably will, always come first.
CHRISTOPHER: Good understanding.
LORELAI: At least that's the way I understand it ... she may understand it completely different.
(CHRISTOPHER chuckles.)
CHRISTOPHER: Everything ok, then?
LORELAI: As good as it can be.
CHRISTOPHER: With us?
LORELAI: Yea ... everything's ok.
(CHRISTOPHER wraps his arms around LORELAI and kisses her gently, and comfortingly.)
CUT TO RORY'S ROOM
(RORY is lying on the bed in her room, her back to the door. JESS stops at the door frame, and RORY almost immediately knows he's there, even though he says nothing. She can hear the way he walks, and breathes, and takes a deep calming breath herself, knowing he's here. He approaches the bed and sits on the edge softly, and swings his legs up so he sits against the headboard and pillows, his feet extended. He scoots up close to RORY, who leans back against him, as he wraps his arm around her. She turns toward him a little more, and he wraps his other arm around her as well, cradling her in his arms. RORY snuggles her head against his chest, and closes her eyes.)
JESS: So, what do you think ... will your grandma be asking to be president of my fan club any time soon?
(RORY gives a half-hearted laugh. JESS smoothes her hair with one hand, then returns his arm to it's place around her as he kisses her hair.)
RORY: ... Things definitely didn't go the way I planned.
JESS: Well, how did you expect them to go?
RORY: I don't know ... I guess I just expected my grandma to be more accepting, and open. And maybe go through with her promise to be nice to you.
JESS: Well, she didn't try to light me on fire.
RORY: Surprisingly.
JESS: I'm not trying to play devil's advocate here ... especially since it concerns me ... but I don't honestly think you could expect her to just welcome me with open arms. I mean, remember, I broke you. I'm rebellious and dangerous.
RORY: You didn't break me, the car accident broke me, and it was as much my fault as it was yours. And you're not rebellious or dangerous. You're a harmless teddy bear.
JESS: That burns, Ror.
RORY: I'm sorry, James Dean.
(JESS stands up, letting RORY go carefully, and walking around, scanning the room.)
JESS: So, this is your room?
RORY: Actually, it was my mom's ... before she had me, anyways. Now it's mine. Some crazy idea of my grandma's.
JESS: And the posters?
RORY (smirks): Also my grandma's ideas.
JESS: I didn't really think you were the *N Sync type.
(JESS notices the balcony and immediately drawn to it. He goes opens the doors to it, and goes out.)
JESS: The balcony is nice.
RORY (smiling): You're standing on a landmark, you know.
JESS (entertained): Oh, really?
RORY: I'm pretty sure that's the place I was conceived.
(JESS raises his eyebrows suggestively and RORY blushes. JESS shakes his head in laughter, and comes back inside to sit down next to RORY.)
JESS: It's a beautiful night ...
RORY: Somehow the only word that comes to mind is horrific.
JESS: Come out on the balcony with me. (JESS gives a little pout.) Please? I was a good boy tonight.
(RORY smirks, and JESS takes her hand pulling her up, and leading her across the room. Before they arrive at the balcony, JESS pulls RORY gently in front of him by the hand, and wraps his arms around her waist so he's holding her snuggly from the behind as they walk. RORY lays her head back against JESS's shoulder. She relaxes, and takes a deep breath, closing her eyes.)
RORY: You were right.
(JESS turns his head to RORY whose head is still on his shoulder, and let's his lips linger against the skin near her ear.)
JESS (softly): About what?
RORY: It is a beautiful night.
(JESS hugs her closer to him, and begins to speak, hesitantly, and even softer, whispering into her ear.)
JESS: At the risk of sounding extremely cheesy, I have to say ... that ... the night isn't the only thing that is beautiful.
(RORY smiles, and opens her eyes, and turns her head to look up at JESS and barely gives him a second to react before kissing him in gratitude. RORY carefully turns in his arms, never stopping the kiss, but wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him tight to her. They continue kissing until they hear the clearing of a throat. RORY pulls away slowly and hesitantly to see LORELAI standing in the door of the balcony.)
LORELAI: You know, this is looking very similar to a situation I was once in ...
RORY: Mom ...
LORELAI: Kidding, kidding. But ... I got your attention, right?
RORY: What is it?
LORELAI: Well, your dad is leaving for Boston, and I thought you might want to say goodbye. Then I was thinking we should high tail it back to Stars Hollow. I have a feeling my mom is on the phone with the Hartford police department as we speak, trying to convince them to put all of us on the most wanted list, and as tempting as it is - you know, since my picture would be up in the post-offices and all - I figure the sooner we leave, the lesser our chances of punishment are.
JESS: Sounds good to me ... how about you?
(JESS is still holding RORY in his arms as he turns to her, RORY nods, as they lock eyes, and are obviously going to kiss again.)
LORELAI: So, uh, you two just ... finish up, and we're waiting outside the door.
(RORY kisses JESS one more time.)
JESS (softly): We better go.
RORY: Yea ... we better go ...
(JESS turns and RORY walks up to his side, and puts her arm around him as they walk, and JESS, who appears surprised, follows suit.)
RORY: Hey Jess?
JESS: Hm?
RORY: I ... I ...
JESS: Rory?
RORY: I ... I forget. Never mind.
(JESS smiles, remembering a time earlier when he stumbled over his words, and looks at RORY knowingly, and lovingly, then kisses her ear.)
CUT TO FOYER
(CHRISTOPHER has already departed, and now LUKE, LORELAI, RORY and JESS are standing in the foyer, bidding RICHARD farewell. EMILY has yet to leave her room.)
RICHARD: I'd really just like to ... apologize for everything tonight. Under ... different circumstances, I think things would've gone over very well (looks to JESS) especially for you, Jess. But Emily will come around. We'll have to give it another shot (LUKE looks mortified) ... in my opinion you are welcome here anytime you like.
(RORY smiles happily, especially as JESS shakes RICHARD's hand, again. RORY gives RICHARD a hug.)
RORY: Thank you, Grandpa ... for ... being open.
RICHARD: You're very welcome, Rory ... (whispering) He's a nice young man, Jess. I think I can convince your grandmother of that.
RORY: Thanks, Grandpa
(RORY frees herself from RICHARD, and almost immediately goes to her places at JESS's side, snuggling up to him. RICHARD extends a hand to LUKE who takes it tentatively.)
LUKE: Thank you, Mr. Gilmore.
RICHARD: ... It's Richard, and you're very welcome Luke, I'm only sorry it wasn't a better evening for you. And although, after tonight, I'm fairly sure you won't be returning anytime soon, I'd like to extend the invitation anyways - you are welcome whenever you like. (RICHARD winks. LUKE is taken aback.)
LUKE: Uh, thank you, again, Mr. Gilmore. (He turns to RORY and JESS.) Let's head out to the car.
RICHARD (to JESS): Remember, Jess. (JESS nods in his direction.) And if suddenly and Ivy League school was to find it's way into your plan, let me know. I think I could arrange a few things with Yale.
JESS: Yea ... thanks.
(They exit, leaving LORELAI standing in front of her dad.)
LORELAI: Listen, Dad ... I'm really sorry about everything tonight.
RICHARD: It's not your fault, Lorelai.
LORELAI: Maybe not ... but it seems that I've learned everything I ever knew about forcing myself to get along with my mother. And things just didn't seem work for anyone on that end of the table tonight.
RICHARD: She'll see things clearly ... (sighs) eventually.
LORELAI: But ... what you did with Jess ... wow, Dad. I'm really impressed.
RICHARD: And why is that?
LORELAI: Because - and take no offense to this - I was coming in here expecting another night like the one we had with Dean, last year ... worse, actually. But you surprised everyone ... me, Rory, Christopher, Mom ... even Jess.
RICHARD: Well, Jess is a respectable young man.
LORELAI: What's even more important though is how much it meant to Rory, because she looks for your approval in everything she does, because you've always thought highly of her. So ... if you are accepting of her relationship with Jess, it makes things even better for them. Now, I'm not saying that if you hadn't accepted Jess that Rory would've strayed from him ... because honestly, I don't think that if you put Rory on the North Pole, and Jess on South, and told them to swim across the ocean to get to each other that they wouldn't. There are few things that will stop what they have-
RICHARD: I've ... uh, noticed.
LORELAI: Most people have.
RICHARD: They are very connected, Jess and Rory.
LORELAI: Definitely.
RICHARD: I'm glad to see Rory ... with someone who can match her intellect, who can challenge her ways of thinking, and who can relate to her. Dean, worried me, it didn't seem like he ever gave Rory a run for her money when it came to debating about things. It seems to me that Jess ... compliments her personality.
LORELAI: Yes ... he does. And she ... loves him. More than she ever loved Dean ... but in a different way, I think. And Jess definitely loves her ...
RICHARD (sighs): Yes ... I know that, too.
LORELAI: But ... that will never change how Rory feels about you, Dad. She'll always be your ... little granddaughter, as long as you let her, and don't push her. And anyways ... I'm just really proud of the way you acted tonight, Dad. It made very glad to ... to be your daughter.
(RICHARD looks surprised at that, but smiles. LORELAI gives him a quick hug, and turns to leave.)
RICHARD: Thank you, Lorelai.
LORELAI: No ... thank you.
(LORELAI exits.)
CUT TO LUKE'S
(LUKE, LORELAI, JESS and RORY enter the diner. It's empty, and LUKE goes to hit the light switch, and immediately starts brewing a pot of coffee, without hesitation. RORY and LORELAI sit down at the counter. JESS goes behind the counter and gets out mugs for the girls.)
LORELAI: Has anyone made you two saints yet?
RORY: Hey, uh ... make mine to-go.
JESS: You're leaving?
RORY: Well, I was planning on walking home ... and-
(JESS smiles, realizing at once that RORY wants JESS to walk her home.)
JESS: Alright.
(The coffee is finished soon, and JESS pours RORY's cup, and hands it to her, making his way back around the counter, and taking her hand to leave the diner.)
LORELAI: You guys do realize we have a car, right? So it makes the whole walking thing kind of out of your way.
RORY (smiles): Exactly. I'll see you at home.
(LORELAI watches them go and LUKE watches with concern as he pours her mug of coffee.)
LUKE: Do you want me to stop them? I can, I mean if you really want to drive Rory home-
LORELAI: No, it's alright. Let them go. They deserve it. ... Luke, I don't know if I've said it yet tonight ... but I'm really sorry. For my parents, for the way they acted ... and for you ending up the odd man out. I never meant for it to end up that way, and I feel so guilty.
LUKE: Don't worry about it ... it happens.
LORELAI: It does ... but it shouldn't have. And I feel terrible ... is there any way I can make it up to you?
LUKE: Just promise me - that if Jess decides to start going to these things, that I don't have to come.
LORELAI: It's a deal. Jess did pretty well on his own tonight. He had a shaky start, but he won my father over ... and that's half the battle. Now, my mother will take some more time ... hopefully she'll come around to Jess before he decides to pop the question.
LUKE: Popping the question?
LORELAI: You know, the proposal. When he asks Rory to marry him.
LUKE: I think you've got some time, Lor. I mean, they're just kids still ...
LORELAI: But that's the thing, Luke, they're barely kids. Jess is already eighteen, and Rory will be eighteen in October. The United States of America officially declares them to be adults at that point.
LUKE: ... You really think he'll ask her to marry him? I mean, you think they'll last that long?
LORELAI: I'm almost certain.
LUKE: How can you be so sure?
LORELAI: Because ... they've found that balance, you know? They are friends at the same time they are in love. And they understand each other. I mean, I know Rory pretty well, I'm her mother and her best friend ... but the book stuff ... I don't always get all of that. She starts spouting off about literary devices, and the Romantic Period, and how Salinger is a genius, and I'm lost. Jess fills that void ... and he ... is starting to become her best friend, too.
LUKE: ... Doesn't that bother you?
(LUKE sets coffee down in front of her, and she takes a sip.)
LORELAI: Sometimes. Because I see that my daughter, the child I put everything in my life aside for to raise, doesn't really ... depend on me for everything. But I think ... if she had to depend on anyone, that ... Jess is a really good person for her to pick. I mean ... he might not be the nicest person to everyone around here ... I mean, he still has that whole bad ass thing going for him if he ever wants to join Kid Rock on tour, but with Rory he's completely different.
LUKE: I've noticed ... But you really think they'll last that long?
LORELAI (giggles): It freaks you out, doesn't it?
LUKE: I don't know what freaks me out more, the idea of them getting married young ... or the idea of Jess being married before me.
LORELAI: Well, I wouldn't print up the invitations quite yet or anything - I mean, near as I can tell, they haven't even set a date. (LUKE glares.) Calm down. I'm talking about ... in a couple years, you know. When they've been in college a little while, and Jess is working on his "plan"-
LUKE: He made that up.
LORELAI: No, I don't think he did.
(LORELAI signals to the window, where JESS and RORY can be seeing walking around the center of town, holding her hand. Soon, RORY steps in front of him. JESS says something unheard, and then kisses her, putting both his hands on her face. RORY pulls away and smiles at him, and takes his hand again as they start walking. The camera cuts out to the outside where RORY and JESS have begun walking again. RORY lies her head on JESS's shoulder.)
RORY: I'm really sorry about ... everything with my grandma, Jess. I know I've said it a million times-
JESS: Yes, you have.
RORY: But, I'm really sorry.
JESS: Don't worry about it, ok? Things happen, people don't always act the way you wish they would ... just keep all this in mind, for the when the day comes for you to meet my mom.
RORY (looks up at him): It's a deal. (There is silence for a few moments.) So ... you had a talk with my grandpa in his study?
JESS: How did you know?
RORY: I know everything.
JESS: And this bit of information was delivered by?
RORY: My dad.
JESS: An unlikely source.
RORY: He just said he'd left you in the study with him.
JESS: Very true.
RORY: ... What did you talk about?
JESS (jokingly, but also frustrated): You are awfully nosy sometimes, you know that?
RORY (sarcastically): Well, thanks.
JESS: Hey, I was kidding. (He squeezes her hand.) ... He asked if you and I were ... you know, serious.
RORY: ... And what did you tell him?
JESS: Well, I asked him what his definition of serious is.
RORY: ... And?
JESS: He said his definition of serious was ... did I care about you, a lot, and did I see myself being with you for an extended period of time ... you know at least a few more months.
RORY (semi-worried): And you said?
JESS: I told him ... that if that was serious ... then you and I were serious.
RORY (beams): Good answer.
JESS: I thought it was pretty good.
RORY: But the million dollar question still remains.
(They arrive at the Gilmore house, and sit down on the steps. JESS looks to RORY.)
JESS: Which is?
RORY: Did you really mean it?
JESS: Did I really mean ... that we're serious?
RORY: Yes. I mean, you could've ... to get my grandpa off your back, win him over, get out of there early. I mean, there's a million reasons you could've told him we were, even if we weren't and-
JESS: Hey. There are a lot of things I could lie about ... but that ... is one thing ... that I couldn't lie about ... even if, for some strange reason, I wanted to, I couldn't.
(RORY lights up.)
RORY: And ... your plan? Just a good story?
JESS: If you like the non-fictional, documentary type stuff.
(RORY gets the sudden urge to kiss his cheek, out of exuberance and thankfulness. JESS smiles at his, and RORY lays her on his lap, and looks out towards the driveway, smiling. JESS smoothes RORY's hair with his hand, then puts his arm over her as she lays in his lap, and rubs her arm, as though it is second nature.)
RORY: Thank you.
JESS: What for?
RORY: For everything. Tonight, the past few weeks, the past couple months. I mean ... it's been ... amazing.
JESS: You don't have to thank me ...
RORY: Sure I do. People need to know when they are appreciated ... and I love ... spending time with you. You should know that.
JESS: I ... love ... spending time with you too, Rory.
(RORY smiles, and sighs almost in exact rhythm with JESS.)
FADE OUT.
