Boy in The Band

Chapter Two: Will She or Won't She?

***Luke's Diner*** next morning

L and Rory at their usual table. Diner is unusually busy.

L: Service! Service! Service! Service! Ser…

Luke: Shut up! What do you want?

L: Menu please.

Luke: Knock it off, Lorelai. You know what you want. Your just being like this cause it's busy.

L: Would you rather me be like this? (Starts talking in a school marm ish voice) Who was that girl I saw you with last night, young man?
Luke: What?? Look your getting pancakes. Rory??? Pancakes?

R: Sounds good to me.

(Luke walks off and Candy walks in looking sexy again and approaches the counter.)

(L and Rory's eyes are glued to her every move. The noise in the Diner covers Luke and Candy's conversation. )

Candy: (Leaning over counter) So have you decided?

Luke: (looking past her to see L reaction and smiles with pleasure at the sight of her speechless. Leans in to Candy)

Luke: Yeah. Tell the guys I'll do it on one condition.

Candy: what's that?

Luke: I need to get some tickets for the show.

Candy: No problem, as many as you want. OK. This is great. We practice every Friday night. We've got 8 practices until the show. Do you think you'll be able to make it to Boston for the practices.

Luke: (looking a little concerned) Yeah, I'll cover it. This is going to be awesome.

Candy: You better believe it. (Candy leans over more and hugs and kisses Luke on the cheek.) You will not regret this. The guys will be so psyched you said yes.  (Luke turns bright red from the public display of affection and looks over to L who is looking right at him. They both look instantly away. Candy leaves the Diner and Stars Hollow.

(Luke brings the Gilmore's their pancakes.)

Luke: Here.

L: Boy, working for tips today?
R: (Trying to lighten the moment) I'm starved, thanks Luke.

Luke: (Ignoring L) Your welcome, Rory. (Luke walks off)

(Rory leaves for the bus and the Diner clears out, L hangs behind. Luke is wiping off tables and occasionally glancing at L out of the side of the eye. L fidgets, then finally approaches Luke.)
L: So, everything good in Mayberry?
Luke: Yeah, everything's good.

L: (stalling) So, um, pancakes were good today.

Luke: What do you want L?
L: Candy, I mean, she is really pretty.

Luke: (smiles) I guess. What's your point?
L: Well, I saw Candy getting fresh with you and well, um, we're friends and well, don't you want to tell me anything?

Luke: (thinking, well, yeah) I not the type to kiss and tell, Lorelai.

L: So you're dating her?
Luke: I'll be seeing her every now and then.

L: Who? I mean, How'd…?
Luke: How did we meet? I told you she's an old High School friend. She use to date one of my close friends.

L: Oh, (L cell phone rings and Luke points at the sign,. L reluctantly leaves the Diner to take the call.

Luke practically high fives himself as she leaves. Grinning he thinks to himself, Lorelai is jealous.) 

*** Luke's Diner*** 1st Friday evening

L walks in after visiting with her parents.

L: Hi Caesar.

Caesar: Hi Lorelai.

L: Where's Luke?
C: Ahhh, he took the night off.

L: Oh. (Starts heading towards the stairs to the apartment)
C: He's not here Lorelai.

L: Uh?
C: I think he's in Hartford or maybe Boston, I can't remember.

L: Oh, he's got a date?
C: I think he said something like that.

L: Oh. (L walks out of diner in a daze.)


***Lorelai house***Friday night
Rory is watching an old movie and L comes in and sits next to her.

R: That was fast. I thought you were going to Luke's?
L: (ina daze) Luke's not there. Caesar thinks he is in Hartford.

R: Are you all right, mom?
L: (still in a daze) Oh, yeah. It's great that Luke is dating. That Candy is a real looker.

R: You want to talk?
L: (dazed) About what? I think I'm tired; I'm going to bed.

R: Mom, he still cares about you. No tramp is going to change that.

L: Rory, nothing ever stays the same except Stars Hollow… until tonight.

****Luke's Diner**** 6 weeks later

(Tension in the Diner has increased between L and Luke. L and Rory are at counter. No banter.)

L: Excuse me?

Luke: Hi Lorelai.

L: (L got chills when he called her name. She could hardly stand it.) 2 coffees and two Danishes please.

Luke: (smiles at L) Coming right up.

R: Mom. (Looks at L wearily)

L: (waves hand at her like forget about it) I'll walk you to the bus stop today.

R: Mom, no! Enough. Get a life already.

Luke: Here you go. Two coffees and two Danishes to go.

R: Thanks. Bye, mom. (Rushes out of the Diner)

L: Bye honey. (Sad face)
Luke: Are you all right?
L: (shrug shoulders)

Luke: (truly worried that maybe things have gone to far) What's up?

L: I really got to get to the Inn?
Luke: Lorelai, I need to talk to you about something.

L: (here it comes, the confession, Candy, candy, candy).
Luke: I've really missed seeing you on Friday's. Caesar says you don't even come in anymore.

L: Yeah, well, his coffee is not as good. (Looks at her coffee cup lid).
Luke: (leans in to L) I really miss the talks we use to have. 
L: yeah, me too.

Luke: I really miss our friendship. We are still friends right?
L: yeah (not very convincing)

Luke: (worried) Rory, said you needed your porch swing fixed. I thought I would come by this afternoon and fix it for you.

L: (lying) That's OK. I already got it fix.

Luke: (not believing her) I probably should check to be sure they did it right.

L: (finally showing signs of life…angry) It's fixed Luke. You know, time does not stand still when Luke leaves town. Things break and things get fixed. I got to go to the Inn now. I'll see you later.
 

(Luke goes directly to the phone and calls the Inn, hoping to talk to Sookie before L gets there.)

Luke: Yeah, I need to talk with Sookie, please.

Michel: One moment please.

Sookie: Hello?

Luke: Hi Sookie.

Sookie: Hi Luke? What's up?

Luke: Ummm. Well, I got some extra tickets for the New Year Eve show at the Palace in Boston.

Sookie: Oh my god! Oh My God! Oh My God. Please, please tell me you are calling to see if I want them.

Luke: well, as a matter of fact I am.

Sookie: Oh.Oh. Oh. (Takes a big breath) how much, how much?

Luke: Look, Sookie. I can give them to you for free, if you can do me a big favor.

Sookie: What, what, what?

Luke: I will give you three tickets if you can be sure that Lorelai goes with you and Jackson. Do you think you can do that?

Sookie: Well, sure. Why don't you just give it to her yourself?
Luke: Look, three free tickets, bring Lorelai, and don't tell her where you got the tickets. That's the deal. Take it or leave it.

Sookie: Ok, Ok, Ok…deal! (Squeals)

Luke: All right. You want to come by the Diner sometime and pick them up?

Sookie: I'll send Jackson over for them later today.

Luke: Good Idea. Remember not a word about me to Lorelai. Bye, Sookie.

Sookie. Ooo, thanks Luke.

***The I Inn*** that same day

Sookie: There you are. I've been looking for you.

L: Well, I'm right here. What do you need?
Sookie: It's not about what I need; it's about what you need.

L: I'm listening. I'm slightly intrigued.

Sookie: (wringing her hands in excitement) Well, you have been a sad sack lately and I was thinking of a way to cheer you up. And, well, (talking fast) how would you like to go to Boston to the Palace for their Big News Years Eve Bash? Oh, it's going to be so great. You and me and Jackson. Like the old times we could have had if I was with Jackson…. The Palace…come on Lorelai? (Notices L is not as excited as she is) (Concerned) Lorelai?

L: I don't know, Sookie. I'd just get in the way.

Sookie: No you wouldn't. (Smiling) It's the Palace.

L: Oh, Sookie. You are so my best friend. But I just don't know if I'm up for a road trip.

Sookie: OKOKOK. Just…let's not talk about it right now. (Walks off quickly, worried she had let Luke down.)