The Boy in The Band
Chapter 3: Happy New Year
***The Diner*** later that day
L: (walks up to the Diner with a fake smile) Hi. Coffee, please. To go.
Luke: Hi, Lorelai. Coming right up.
(Lorelai thinks about going to the Palace and getting away from Stars Hollow, but can't stand wondering where Luke will be. What would be worse him staying in Stars Hollow with Candy or going to Hartford with sexy Candy.)
L: Luke, do you think you will be going to the Stars Hollow New Years Eve Party this year?
Luke: Well, Lorelai.
(Luke frowns wondering why she's asking…Sookie was supposed
to get her to the Palace.)
Luke: Are you going to the Stars Hollow New Years Party?
L: Well, I go every year so why would this year be different?
Luke: (disappointed) Lorelai, I won't be in Stars Hollow this year at New Years. (Luke watches for L's reaction. And heaves a heavy sigh as she lowers her head.)
L: (to hid her emotions L starts to dig in her purse for some crumbled dollars to pay for the coffee. She successfully sets the money on the counter without looking up at Luke.)
Luke: Lorelai, what's wrong? (Luke decides to come clean about leading her on about Candy) It's not what you think, I'm not….
L: I'm sorry, Luke, I really got to get back to the
Inn. (L turns and exits the Diner.)
Luke: Lorelai!
***The I Inn*** still the same day
L enters the kitchen walks up to Sookie.
L: You know, Sookie.
Sookie: Yeah, Lorelai.
L: I think I would like to go to The Palace with you and Jackson if the offer is still open.
Sookie: (happily sings) Oh Lorelai. (hugs) This is going to be so great! We have got to get some top shelve outfits. Ohhhh, fun.
L: (L mood lightens considerably) Hey, it will be fun. We will get stellar outfits. All black and white and sparkly. We are going to have a great time. You, me (losing steam) and Jackson.
***Bright Lights of Boston*** welcome to New Year's Eve at the Palace!
(Lorelai, Sookie and Jackson tickets in hand entering the Palace. Under L coat in a spectacular off the shoulder dress, with sparkles and accompanied by a new attitude of cutting loose and having a good time sponsored by frozen margaritas.)
Sookie: I'm so glad you came Lorelai. (Squeals) This is so great.
Jackson: Lorelai, you look great. (Sookie glares at Jackson). (Changes the subject) Ah, let's get a table.
Lorelai: I am just going to dance and have great time. The Palace Rocks.
(They check their coats at the coat check and claim a table near the stage.)
The band starts a new fast dance song from the 80's. Probably 8675809. L and Sookie run to the dance floor as Jackson is engaged in conversion with waitress ordering drinks.
(Sookie and L dance for a while until a slow song comes up and they decide to sit down. Before they sit down L turns towards the band and notices the female lead singer looks surprisingly like Candy. She stops and stares at her and wonders if she is seeing things.
Sookie: What's wrong Lorelai? (Follows her gaze to the bandstand and sees a woman fitting Lorelai's description of Luke's new girlfriend. Sookie feels a little bit like a rat going a long with Luke's suggestion to invite Lorelai to a place where his new girlfriend might be.)
L: That girl singer looks like Candy?
Sookie: Well, I'm sure it's not.
(Then they both look over to the lead guitar guy as he
starts a solo. And stand there with their mouths open.)
(Minutes go by…the exact length of time of the guitar solo.)
L: And that guy looks just like Luke.
Sookie: Yeah, that guy does look like Luke.
L: What's Luke doing here?
Sookie: What's Luke doing here? Indeed.
L: I need a drink.
Sookie: Me too.
(They join Jackson at the table with drinks waiting.)
Jackson: Did you see that lead guitar player? He looks just like Luke Danes.
Sookie: (nudges Jackson with her elbow) I think it is Luke Danes.
Jackson: No, kidding?
(L sips her margarita but decides she needs something stronger and orders a
shot of Tequila and a beer chaser. Sookie doesn't know what to say so she
decides to distract Lorelai by leading her back to the dance floor before the
drinks arrive, leaving Jackson to dispose of the drinks (...Author's Note: We
want L to be sober at the end of this story.)
***Later that night***
(The band takes a break and Luke finds Lorelai)
Luke: Lorelai, you came.
L: well, I'm here if that's what you meaning.
Luke: I'm so glad you changed your mind and decided to come tonight.
L: How did you know I changed my mind? Did Sookie know you'd be here?
Luke: Well, not exactly. Come on,
there are some people I want to introduce you to. (Luke puts his hand on the
small of L back to lead her a set of tables in front of the band stage. L a
little stunned just lets Luke lead her around the tables.)
L: I didn't know you would be here. How did you know I would be here?
Luke: All right, I gave Sookie the tickets.
(L just lets that bit of info sink in as they approach two tables crowded with people from the band and their significant others)
Luke: Here she is everybody. This is Lorelai Gilmore. Lorelai, this is Candy, whom you've met, and her husband Mike, that is Laura and her husband Shaun, that's Dave and girlfriend Deb, that's Mark and Cheryl, Jeremy, the drummer, and his wife Kris, and Scottie and Fran. This is the band: Paperboy!
L: (smiling) Hi everybody.
Everybody says: Hi.
Laura: So this is the girl, Luke talks about all the time.
L: Really? (Trying to act embarrassed but is warmed by the attention)
Laura: God, every Friday night we practiced, we wait to see if he would show up. Now I'm surprised he had the strength to leave a girl like you alone on a Friday night.
L: But, Luke and I are just…
Candy: Tell me about it. Lorelai, I'm so glad you're here. Perhaps you could do us a favor and keep Luke occupied tonight when we are not playing.
Mike: (Still in a wrist cast.) Really, he can be such a pain in the ass. Lorelai this, Lorelai that, yada, yada,yada.
Lorelai: (softly) Tell me about it.
Luke: Let's go find Sookie and Jackson.
L: OK
(they make their way back to Sookie and Jackson's table)
Sookie: wow. Luke. You are awesome on guitar.
Luke: Thanks.
Jackson: Thanks again for the tickets. We are having a great time.
L: Sookie. Did you know about…
Jackson: (Loudly) Sookie, do you think you could dance with me for while.
Sookie: Sure honey. Bye, Luke. Bye Lorelai.
L: (frustrated) Sookie! (Sookie
and Jackson walk to the dance floor and dance to the DJ music.)
Luke: Man, isn't this great? The Palace? (staring at L) Did I mention how
beautiful you look tonight, Lorelai? You look devastating in that dress.
L: What is going on here?
Luke: What do you mean?
L: You!
Luke: yeah?
L: You had band practice all those Friday nights?
Luke: yeah?
L: And you made me think that you and Candy we're dating?
Luke: Now. I admit I wasn't clear. All I said was that I was seeing her from
time to time.
L: (ranting) So let me get this
straight. You lied to me. You made me think you were dating that sexy chick?
You sneak off to practice in a band for two months and don't even tell me where
you were. I mean I thought we were friends. Friends tell each other things
like…I'll be playing at the Palace in Boston on New Years Eve! I mean you are
playing guitar, in a band, at The Palace…In Boston…on News Years Eve…For God's
Sake! You play lead guitar. Did I mention that you absolutely rock? God, I
didn't even know you were so talented. This is unbelievable…(we hear the count
down beginning in the back ground…10…9…) I mean Luke; I actually thought you
were thinking of moving to Hartford. Did I mention I think I am mad at you? And
Candy. She's married. How could you let me think that you were dating her? And just now talking like you think I look
beautiful in this dress. Do you really think I look beautiful? And Sookie and Jackson? Did they know you'd
be here? Was I the only one that doesn't know what's going on around here?
(6…5…) You did give them the tickets? Why, all the secrets. Why, didn't you
just ask me to come and tell me the truth? You were acting like we weren't
going to be friends anymore. I thought you had a new girlfriend and didn't have
time for me anymore. I don't even know why I am here talking to you now. I mean
I thought I lost you as a friend forever. What would I do without you? I
thought we were finished. (.1.0…
streamers fall from the ceiling and indoor fireworks go off from the band
stage. Lorelai stops talking and Luke and her just stare at each other. Lorelai
looks like she wants to cry.)
(Luke pulls her close and kisses Lorelai. It is a nice long meaningful kiss.)
Luke: Lorelai, I never meant to…
L: Luke, I don't want to lose you.
Luke: Lorelai. (She looks at Luke
and sees the look of love in his eyes. Luke leans in and kisses her again.)
Luke: There has never been anyone else but you. (Luke wraps her in his arms and
we see them both smile.)
THE END