INT. BALLROOM – NIGHT
We start at a WOMAN talking to someone. We then PUSH THROUGH her shoulder towards the back.

Luke is standing beside Lorelai by the BAR.

He holds a flute of champagne and hands a martini to Lorelai.

They look bored.

LUKE
What time is it?

LORELAI
(not looking at her watch)
Three minutes after you've last asked me.

LUKE
How do you know it's three minutes after?

LORELAI
Because I've been counting the minutes in my head.

LUKE
What time is this stupid thing over, anyway?

LORELAI
(takes a sip of her martini)
Two more hours.

LUKE
Hell.

LORELAI
Isn't it?


CUT TO:
A few moments later. Luke and Lorelai are at a mini-buffet table.

Luke is holding a plate out for Lorelai.

Lorelai still has a martini.


LUKE
(glances behind Lorelai)
Damn, that lady can eat.

LORELAI
Who?
(turns around)
Sherri?

LUKE
Yeah, that's like, her fourth plate of mini-quiche.

Lorelai nods and takes a sip of her drink.

SHERRI (O.S.)
Lorelai?!

Lorelai chokes on an olive.

Luke beats her back.

LUKE
Are you okay?

Lorelai keeps coughing and ducks behind Luke.

SHERRI walks over happily towards them.

LORELAI
Did she see me?

LUKE
Yes. Stop pulling my coat. When you pull it, it pulls my shirt. My shirt then pulls the Godamn tie, and then I can't breathe.

SHERRI
Hey! I didn't think you would come!

Lorelai comes out from behind Luke.

LORELAI
Heh. Surprise!

SHERRI
That's so brave of you, Lorelai. Coming out like this.

LUKE
(to Lorelai)
Hey, congratulations, Diana Ross.

Lorelai glares at Luke.

LUKE
Hey, the Pat Sajak jokes were worse, okay?

SHERRI
It must be hard, you know, seeing Chris and me together.
(rubbs her stomach)
I guess that you've heard.

LORELAI
Sure did.

Lorelai throws back her drink in one gulp. She bangs the glass on the counter and snatches a mini-quiche.

Luke is openly glaring at Sherri, but she doesn't notice him.

Luke fakes friendliness and extends his hand.

LUKE
Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm sorry. I'm Luke Danes, Lorelai's boyfriend?

Sherri is taken aback and takes his hand.

SHERRI
Really?

So is Lorelai, who blinks at Luke.

LORELAI
Really?

Luke puts an arm around Lorelai's waist and holds her hand.

LUKE
(to Sherri)
We've met before, remember? I own Luke's Diner.

SHERRI
Oh! I know you now!
(beat)
Well, congratulations, you two!

LORELAI
Uh. Thank you?

SHERRI
Oh, I have to go mingle with the guests!

LORELAI
Mingle away!

Sherri smiles at them and leaves.

LORELAI
What the hell was that?

LUKE
She pissed me off. She sounded so full of crap, I decided to shove something in her face.

Lorelai smiles widely at Luke.

LORELAI
Well, thank you.
(beat)
Hey, do you want to 'mingle'? I want to show off my new fiancé.

LUKE
We're engaged now?

LORELAI
It seems so. Come on, it can be a little game. We can play with their heads.

Lorelai laughs evilly.

LUKE
God. Are you even human?

Lorelai looks at him expectantly.

LUKE
(smirks)
Whatever. Let's go. Might as well have a little fun to get through this drag.


INT. LUKE'S DINER – NIGHT
Rory is refilling a coffee cup.

The door JINGLES and she looks up.

It's SHANE. She takes a seat by the counter.

Rory tucks her hair behind her ears and walks over to Shane.

RORY
Can I get you something?

SHANE
No, it's fine. I'm just waiting for Jess.

RORY
He's busy.

SHANE
I can wait.

RORY
No, you can't.

SHANE
Yes I can.

RORY
Look, if you're not going to order anything give someone else a seat. People who come in here are hungry beings, you know?

Shane gives Rory a dirty look but sees something behind Rory and brightens up.

SHANE
Hey!

Jess enters.

JESS
I'm working.

SHANE
Then ditch.

Jess steals a glance at Rory.

Rory looks annoyed, but trying not to show it.

JESS
(still looking at Rory sideways)
Not tonight.

SHANE
What?

JESS
Some other time.

Shane gives Jess a look and glares at Rory.

SHANE
Fine.

Shane storms out of the Diner.

Rory breathes a sigh of relief.

Jess cocks an eyebrow.

JESS
Something wrong?

RORY
Huh? Oh, no. I'm fine as a dandy.

Rory pauses, as if to rethink her comment.

JESS
(smirks)
Okay.


INT. BALLROOM – NIGHT
CLOSE SHOT: a woman's laughing mouth.

We ZOOM OUT and see that the WOMAN is holding a flute of champagne, talking to Lorelai and Luke.

WOMAN
AHAHAH-haaah! That is just too cute of a story, Lorelai!

LORELAI
I know! Lucas is such a darling…

Lorelai pats Luke's arm.

LUKE
(fake friendliness)
Okay, you two, stop harassing me.

LORELAI
Oh, would you mind if I just make a quick trip to the, heh, powder room?

WOMAN
Oh, no! By all means! We women have our needs.

LUKE
Amen to that!

WOMAN
Oh, LUCAS! You kill me with your humour!

LUKE
(phoney smile and sigh)
I'm trying…

As the woman laughs again, Lorelai exits.

LORELAI
Jesus.

But before she makes it to the washrooms, she TRIPS over the hem of her dress and pitches forward.

Two hands encircle Lorelai's waist and pulls her upright.

Lorelai leans back against her savior.

LORELAI
Hooh, thank you. For a moment there, I thought that I was going to rip my dress off and give everyone here a free peepshow. It's very Moulin Rouge-esque.

We PAN UP to follow the arm around Lorelai to see who it is.

CHRISTOPHER leans down and whispers to Lorelai's ear.

CHRISTOPHER
Hey.

Lorelai straightens up. Her smile leaves.

LORELAI
(stiffly)
Chris.