INT. LUKE'S TRUCK – NIGHT
Luke is driving while Lorelai sadly stares out the window.

The truck is quiet, and Luke worriedly glances at Lorelai.

LUKE
I'm glad this stupid thing is done and over with.

LORELAI
Amen, sister friend.

LUKE
Are you feeling any better?

LORELAI
Just having a three-mile-radius to that place makes me feel like dancing in my underwear.

LUKE
Do that when I'm not here. Or when I've turned blind from that woman's platinum blond head and deaf from her annoying high-pitch cackle. Or when I've gone retarded and start bashing my head against the driving wheel.

LORELAI
Glad you had fun. I think they're having another hoobab next week, if you're still interested. And sane.

LUKE
I'd rather drink your coffee and die a horrible death.

LORELAI
Save the horrible death for Chris.

The truck becomes quiet again.

CLOSE SHOT: Lorelai's hand. We see it resting on the seat, illuminated by a patch of light from the outside.

A CAR drives by on the other side of the road, making it disappear in the darkness.

The car passes and the patch of light comes back. We then see that Luke's hand covers it protectively.

MIDDLE SHOT: Lorelai. She looks down surprised. Then she slowly stares at Luke.

Lorelai turns back to the window with a small smile.


INT. LUKE'S DINER – NIGHT
Jess and Rory are closing up.

Rory is wiping the tables and Jess is putting the chairs up.

Jess pauses for a moment and looks over to Rory.

JESS
Thanks, Rory.
(beat)
For helping out.

RORY
I didn't do it for you.

Jess smirks and turns back to the chairs.

RORY
But… you're welcome.

Jess looks over his shoulder and nods.

RORY
Jess?

JESS
(keeps working)
What?

Rory fidgets with the rag.

RORY
Do you think…

JESS
Do I think what?

RORY
Have you…

JESS
Have I what?

RORY
What I mean is, Are you…

JESS
WHAT, Rory?

RORY
Nothing. Nevermind.

JESS
You sure you don't want to talk about it?

RORY
Yes.

JESS
Really sure?

RORY
Positive.

JESS
Okay.

RORY
Although…

JESS
What is it?

RORY
No, it's okay. I won't mention it again.

Jess turns back again.

Rory finishes wiping.

RORY
I'm all done. I'm heading home.

Rory takes off her apron and walks to the door.

She pauses.

RORY
Jess?

Jess looks at Rory.

JESS
Yeah?

RORY
When do you think will things be normal again?

A very long, awkward silence ensues.

JESS
It all depends on you, Rory.

Silence again.

Jess coughs and puts up the last chair.

He turns around and almost bumps into Rory who is now standing right in front of him.

They look at each other for a moment.

Rory suddenly hugs him.

Jess is paralyzed for a second, then he closes his eyes and hugs her back.

Rory lets go of Jess and runs out the door.

Jess numbly stands in the middle of the dark diner with his arms hanging on his sides.


EXT. GILMORE RESIDENCE – PORCH – NIGHT
Luke and Lorelai have arrived.

They go up the steps and onto the porch.

Lorelai leans on Luke and sighs.

Luke leads her to the porch swing.

Lorelai smiles at him and he smiles back.

LUKE
I'll leave you to yourself.

Lorelai suddenly grabs Luke's hand.

LORELAI
Don't go yet. Just stay with me for a second.

Luke looks at their hands and then sits beside Lorelai.

Lorelai presses herself to Luke and leans on his shoulder again.

Luke becomes tense.

LORELAI
Sheesh, will you relax, I won't get you pregnant.

LUKE
I can't help it.

Lorelai rolls her eyes.

We ZOOM OUT as Luke puts an uneasy arm around Lorelai.


EXT. GILMORE RESIDENCE – PORCH SWING – NIGHT (LATER)
Luke looks at his watch.

LUKE
I'm gonna go. I want to make sure that my Diner's still standing and fully operational when I get home. You know, to make sure that there isn't a gaping hole starting from my roof to the ground below...

LORELAI
Yeah, that'd cut down on tables a lot.

Luke stands up and makes his way to the porch steps.

Lorelai gets up. She hesitates for a moment, then…

LORELAI
Luke!

Luke turns around just as Lorelai runs to him.

She takes his face into her hands and gives him a long kiss.

Luke is taken aback and gropes for the railing. He misses and FALLS OVER into the bushes, carrying Lorelai with him.

We hear RUSTLING and both of them come out of the bushes.

Lorelai pats her dress down and fluffs up her hair.

Luke straightens his tie and smoothes his hair back.

They look at each other for a second.

LUKE
What was that?

LORELAI
I don't know.
(beat)
I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that.

LUKE
(quickly)
No, it was fine. Kind of… took got me off-guard… gave me a mild heart attack… I know you didn't mean that. I didn't want that to happen, anyway. It's probably the champagne. And those oysters may have gone bad or something.

LORELAI
Yeah, they really should inspect the food that they serve more closely.

Lorelai bites her lip.

LUKE
Yeah, what kind of quality control could the caterer be settling for?

LORELAI
Sookie would kick his ass.

Luke looks up at Lorelai. He touches his lips.

LUKE
Ah, screw it.

Luke quickly walks over to Lorelai and kisses her.

We see Rory come up from behind some trees.

She shoves her hands into her pockets and keeps on walking to the door.

RORY
Eew, get a room, you two…

Rory enters the house and closes the door, leaving Luke and Lorelai outside still kissing.

END