Title: Gotta love that Stars Hollow
Author: Alysinomo (alysinomo@hotmail.com)
Rating: PG
Archived: 6/15/2003
Spoilers: None.
Summary: Takes place sometime in happier GG times when Rory and Jess are still together and happy, Lorelai still has an impossible relationship with Emily, and Luke is still as skeptical as ever. In this darling little fic, Luke wins the lottery, Emily takes a cooking class, Rory receives a proposal and Lorelai meets her match.
* * *
Voiceover: Previously on Gilmore Girls…
Cut to LUKE'S DINER
JESS: Oh for god's sake, he won the friggin lottery.
LORELAI (echoey): He did what?
JESS: He won the lottery.
LUKE (smiling): Lorelai, it's $6000.
Cut to CHILTON HALLWAY, where RORY is talking to LORELAI on her cellphone
LORELAI: It gets worse, he and his wife are moving to Stars Hollow. Mia's giving him the job of assistant-manager.
RORY: Well at least you're still the manager; he hasn't gone and become "co-manager" on you.
Cut to THE INDEPENDENCE INN
LORELAI: Answer the phone with the usual, 'Hello, Independence Inn, Lorelai speaking.' Of course, you'd answer saying 'Ellsworth' instead of 'Lorelai.' Got it?
ELLSWORTH: I think so. This is a very efficiently run enterprise, you should be very proud Lorelai.
LORELAI (grins): Aww thanks Ellie. Can I call you Ellie?
* * *
Open to LORELAI and RORY at the GILMORE HOUSE watching Gilligan's Island reruns and eating cheetos.
RORY: Pass the cheetos,
LORELAI: Hang on. (she takes a huge handful) There.
RORY: You are such a pig.
LORELAI (smiles): It comes naturally.
RORY: That's surprising. It must have been quite the challenge to overcome that pedigree upbringing…I admire your lack of manners.
LORELAI: Actually (she says with her mouth full) I've always been a slob. They're tried to stamp it out of me…but the complete lack of any etiquette prevailed.
RORY: So is that how you snagged Dad?
LORELAI (glares): Watch it, little girl.
RORY: Gilligan's Island is a classic.
LORELAI: Agreed. It's quite the task to make a guy like Gilligan actually look hot!
RORY: Eeww.
LORELAI: I mean seriously, he's not a bad looking guy. Same with Skipper. They have fabricated babe potential.
RORY (looks at Lorelai with disgust) (grabs the cheeto package from her hands): Ok. What is in these?
(OPENING CREDITS) * * *
Open to LUKE'S DINER. We see LUKE and JESS working tables and engaging in standard diner behaviour. LORELAI and RORY flow in like members of Royalty, which is quite appropriate, based on how JESS and LUKE feel about the GILMORE WOMEN.
LUKE: Hey Lorelai, Rory.
RORY: Hey Luke! (leans over to kiss Jess)
LORELAI: What's on the special board today?
LUKE: Since when have I ever had a specials board? I make the same things everyday.
LORELAI (sighs): I know. I'm just kinda hoping that one of these days I'll get a surprise.
LUKE: Sorry. No surprises today. What are you having?
LORELAI: Umm…pancakes, bacon, side of hashbrowns. Coffee. Ror?
RORY (looks up from talking quietly with Jess): Yeah?
LORELAI: What are you having?
RORY (to Luke): Oh. Umm…blueberry waffles and hashbrowns please.
LUKE: Ok. Jess!
JESS: Coming. (to Rory) I'll talk to you later.
RORY: Yup. (they kiss) (Lorelai makes a face)
LORELAI: Hey! Stop that! I'm the anti-PDA squad.
JESS (inquiring mildly): The what?
LORELAI: The anti-public-displays-of-affection squad.
JESS (salutes): Sorry, Ma'am. I'll try to keep it under control.
LORELAI: Are you mocking me? Don't mock me. Oh, and don't call me ma'am either. I'm too young and hot for that.
LUKE: Here's your breakfast, ma'am.
LORELAI: Okay, I'm feeling really insulted now.
RORY: I think the "I'm too young and hot" comment was asking for it.
LORELAI: Hey! Quiet you! You're supposed to be on my side.
RORY: We have sides now? How very 4th grade.
LORELAI: I'm ignoring you now. Hey, Luke!
LUKE (poking his head out from the back): Yeah?
LORELAI: Have you bought your sports car yet?
RORY: I think she means, have you decided what to do with your lottery money yet?
LUKE (scratches his head): Umm, yeah. I actually think I have. Though nothing's final.
RORY: What?
LORELAI (chanting): Sports car. Sports car. Sports car.
LUKE: Actually, I'm thinking of buying some land.
LORELAI: Land?!? Why?? That's boring!
LUKE (retorts): Lorelai, just because you think it's stupid doesn't mean it's a bad idea!
LORELAI: Sorry…
LUKE: Anyway…it's this piece of property about an hour from here, 1.5 acres. It's for sale, a really good deal. Only $8000, and I have some extra money saved up to cover the leftover cost after the lottery money.
RORY: That's great Luke! What are you going to do with it?
LUKE: Well it doesn't have a building on it yet, I'd like to build a cottage one day. But for now I'll just camp out.
LORELAI (shudders): Camping…
RORY: So when are you going to use it?
LUKE: Oh you know, go up every couple of weekends. Leave Cesar in charge of the diner; maybe hire someone else for minimum wage to help him out when I'm gone. God knows Jess won't do a damn thing unless I stand over him.
LORELAI: Wait…you'd dare to leave us for an entire weekend? More than once? Who's going to feed us?
LUKE (sarcastically): Well, I don't know! Maybe you could learn to feed yourself?
LORELAI: I never!
LUKE: One of the days you should try being self-sufficient.
LORELAI: You're insulting me!
RORY: Before this fight erupts, I'd just like to say that I'm going to school now.
LORELAI (distracted): Bye hon. I'll see you around 6.
RORY: Bye. Good luck, Luke. (Rory darts briefly into the backroom where she enjoys a 30-second make-out session before heading out)
* * *
Open to STARS HOLLOW HIGH. LANE and JESS are both in American History; a class that is rather slack as the teacher can't really seem to keep order. LANE is watching JESS thoughtfully; JESS is vandalizing the textbook.
LANE: Pst. Jess!
JESS (glances up at her with an incredulous look on his face): What's with the whisper? Borden's an idiot, she doesn't even realize that no one's paying attention.
LANE: Sorry. It's out of habit. In the Kim household, our voices barely come above a dull roar.
JESS (smirks): Right. So what do you want?
LANE: Rory told me you wanted her to come to New York with you.
JESS (twiddling his thumbs): Oh.
LANE: She won't be able to go.
JESS: How do you know that?
LANE: I know Lorelai.
JESS (turning back around): Well thanks for the encouragement.
LANE: Oh don't be so stupid Jess. Rory'll be able to go if you prove to Lorelai.
JESS: Whatever.
LANE (sighing): You don't want to know what you have to prove to Lorelai?
JESS: Not really.
LANE (annoyed): Fine, well I'll tell you anyway just because I feel sorry for you and your bad attitude. You have to prove to Lorelai that you're not going to rape her or something. Or get her killed.
JESS (mock astonishment): Gee, thanks Lane! What a useful piece of information.
LANE (angry): You have the worst attitude. I don't really want Rory going to New York, because I don't trust you! However, you happy make her happy and there's nothing I can do about that. Lose the attitude Jess, or you'll lose her.
* * *
Open to the HALLWAY of the INDEPENDENCE INN. LORELAI is working quietly at the front desk, ELLSWORTH is nowhere to be found. ELLSWORTH has been working at the INN for about 4 days. We assume that he is off working.
WOMAN (off screen): Ellsworth, where do you want this flower arrangement put for the Jones' function?
ELLSWORTH: On the table, at the front of the room! Jesus, how many times do I have to tell you?
LORELAI (looking up surprised)(peering into the dining room): Ellsworth?
ELLSWORTH (sugary voice): Lorelai! Sweetie! I just called the band for the Jones' event, they'll be here at 7. As for the DJ service, for after the band goes home, they'll be harder to track down. They seem to think-
LORELAI (interrupting): Ellsworth!?
ELLSWORTH (taken aback, though not particularly alarmed): Yes, Lorelai?
LORELAI: We aren't hiring a DJ, remember? Granny Jones called and said to nix the DJ, they want live swing music. Second of all, were you yelling at Stacy?
ELLSWORTH: Stacy?
LORELAI: Yes, Stacy. The woman, with the flower arrangement, wanted to know where to put it. Ring any bells?
ELLSWORTH: (pause) Oh yes! Stacy! (aside) A little bit daft don't you think? Maybe flower arranging is not a suitable occupation for her.
LORELAI (impatiently): Ellsworth, Stacy is a great girl and a great employee. We are not discussing her, we were actually going to discuss you.
ELLSWORTH: Me?
LORELAI: Yes. Stacy is just a fine example of how you've been treating your subordinates since you got here. Like they're stupid. That is not tolerated. Everyone at the Independence Inn is equal, regardless of his or her job. Everyone deserves respect. Hell, I should know this, I started out as a maid.
ELLSWORTH: Lorelai, are you implying that I do not know how to treat my staff?
LORELAI: No. What I am implying is that you need to take their feelings into consideration. You need to realize that not everything is their fault, circumstances change, directions aren't always given clearly. They're human beings. You need to stop barking at them.
ELLSWORTH (bristling): Lorelai, clearly you've never been inside an efficiently run enterprise. Bosses need to firm with their employees, they need to show that laziness, stupidity, and dishonesty will not be tolerated. I was merely exercising my right to run this business how I see fit.
LORELAI: First of all, this is an efficiently run enterprise, you said so yourself. Second of all, have you ever met Emily Gilmore?
ELLSWORTH (confused): No.
LORELAI: Well she runs a damn efficient business. She was my mother. My childhood was an efficiently run business. See what I'm getting at here? Also, I should remind you that although you are a manager, you are the assistant manager. I am the manager, the big M; that means that you work for me.
ELLSWORTH: Lorelai, I think part of your problem with my employment here is that you do not want to relinquish your solitary role as manager. You do not want to share the responsibility.
LORELAI: You're kidding me, right? Me? Lorelai Gilmore, not want to slough off some of my work on someone else and still get paid the same? Yeah, right.
ELLSWORTH: I do not appreciate your tone of voice, I don't like being mocked.
LORELAI: I'm not mocking you, I'm just trying to make a point and be a mature adult. Whether or not I'm succeeding in the mature part is kind of touch and go at this point.
ELLSWORTH: Well, whatever you are trying to accomplish in your maturity at this point Lorelai is irrelevant. I will not change the way I handle the staff; they are here to work and not have their egos or hearts stroked.
LORELAI: If you continue to act this way I'm afraid I'll have to fire you.
ELLSWORTH: You wouldn't.
LORELAI: I would. Listen, Ellsworth, I'm not on a mission to fire you, or make your experience here a bad one. What I'm setting out to do is try and get you to modify the way you treat the staff. It is extremely inappropriate and one of my duties besides making sure that this Inn doesn't blow up, is to make sure that my staff are happy. Happy people are hardworking people. I learned this from my business course, and personal experience.
ELLSWORTH: Well then, I'm afraid I can no longer work here.
LORELAI: What?
ELLSWORTH: This working environment conflicts with my own personal ideas of how a business should be run. I cannot tolerate this tomfoolery attitude towards leadership. I'll finish the day and hand in my resignation tomorrowmorning, I'll be gone by noon.
LORELAI: You're serious.
ELLSWORTH: Of course I'm serious, Lorelai! This is not a joking matter!
LORELAI: God, you sounded like my mother just there.
* * *
Cut to the GILMORE MANSION, where LORELAI, RORY, EMILY, and RICHARD are having their usual Friday night dinner. The mood is pleasant (as possible) and the talk consists of nothing in particular.
EMILY: So Lorelai, how are things at the Inn?
LORELAI: They're good. But the weirdest thing happened to me today, I had my assistant manager quit after 4 days!
EMILY: What did you do?
LORELAI: What do you mean, what did I do? I did nothing! I tried to talk to him about changing the way he treats the staff. He had a mini spazz-attack and then quit!
RICHARD: Well if you're using words like "spazz-attack," maybe he found you unprofessional.
LORELAI (laughs): Ok, are you getting the point of the story? If you don't get it, the point is that this guy totally did not have any people skills, and I tried to get him to modify his behaviour. He got offended and told me I didn't know how to run "an efficient business."
RORY: What did you say?
LORELAI: That I knew about efficient businesses, that my childhood had been one.
EMILY (dryly): I fail to see the humour in that, Lorelai.
LORELAI: Well all I meant was that you ran a very efficient and well-structured household.
EMILY: Of course I did!
LORELAI: Yes, Mom, that was what I was getting at.
RORY: What are you going to tell Mia?
LORELAI: That he quit.
RORY: Oh.
LORELAI: Anyway, clearly no one appreciates my little "This Was Lorelai's Day" story.
RORY: I did!
LORELAI: Thank you sweetie. (semi-sarcastically) So, Mom, how was your day?
EMLY (beaming): Productive!
RICHARD: Oh?
EMILY: I learned how to make mashed potatoes at my cooking class!
RORY: Congratulations, Grandma.
LORELAI: Great. So when do I get to eat 'em?
EMILY (smiling broadly): Well, I was thinking of saving all the recipes I've learned until next week, when I can make you a dinner.
LORELAI: M'am, do you know what a skillet is?
EMILY (sourly): Do you?
LORELAI: No.
EMILY: Rory, do you think that sounds like fun? Me cooking you dinner next week?
RORY: Yeah, I guess.
EMILY: You guess, what do you mean you guess? You are coming to dinner right?
RORY: Well, I've kinda been invited to do something next Friday night…next weekend.
LORELAI: What plans, missy? (beat) You're not planning to run-off and be a Paul McCartney roadie are you? 'Cause that's kinda weird.
RORY: Paul McCartney's touring?
RICHARD: Lorelai, don't distract her. I want to know why Rory can't come to dinner next weekend.
EMILY: Yes, what exactly have you been invited to?
RORY (quietly): To go to New York.
RICHARD: City?
EMILY: With who?
LORELAI (displaying no emotion): With Jess.
RICHARD: Who's Jess?
EMILY: Is he that hooligan who crashed your car?
RORY: He's not a hooligan.
LORELAI: He's her boyfriend.
EMILY: Boyfriend?!
LORELAI: Boyfriend.
RICHARD: What happened to…oh what's his face? Dean!
RORY: We broke up.
EMILY: And now you're going out with this Jess boy.
RORY and LORELAI: Yes.
RICHARD: Oh my.
* * *
Cut to OUTSIDE THE GILMORE MANSION. RORY and LORELAI are getting into their car for the drive back to STARS HOLLOW. RORY looks a little nervous; LORELAI looks a little overwhelmed.
LORELAI: So, New York City huh?
RORY: Yeah.
LORELAI: Well, I shouldn't feel surprised, but for some reason I am.
RORY: Oh.
LORELAI: Do you want to go?
RORY: Yes.
LORELAI: And why should I trust, Jess?
RORY: Because he's a great guy, because he cares about me. I know you're a little suspicious of him, but he is an honest guy. He wants me to come because he genuinely enjoys my company, not because he wants to make me pregnant!
LORELAI: Ok. But why should I trust him to not take you to a bar and get you drunk?
RORY: I can't tell you why you should trust him, you're going to have to figure that out for yourself.
LORELAI: That's encouraging.
RORY: I mean seriously mom, he won't hurt me. And even if he does do something stupid, I'm smart enough to get myself out of there. I'll bring cash and my debit card, I know how to use public transit.
LORELAI: Hmm.
RORY: What is it going to take to convince you that I can go?
LORELAI: I don't know. I'm going to have to think about it. This is not something I'm about to take lightly! I mean, we're talking about you sending me to Emily's on my own next Friday!
RORY: I think that was taking it lightly.
* * *
A/N: Well, there it is – chapter 3! I like this chapter a lot, I wrote it over a series of about 3 or 4 nights, which I unusual for me. I normally write a chapter in an evening, the gaps between my updates are my "Get inspired and into writer mode" gaps. You might notice that there are fewer scenes in this chapter, but way longer scenes…dialogues that go on for over a microsoft word page. I love dialogue. It's great. Also good news, I've mapped out chapters 4 and 5, the last 2 installments. Sorry there was like no Jess/Rory interaction in this one, there just wasn't room. Even though I'm a total Literati, I'm finding that with this fic I seem to be paying way more attention to Lorelai and her plots. I have no romantic plans for her or anything, I'm just having fun writing her character! Umm…what else. Oh yeah. This is not a Java Junkie, if you didn't already know. This is a general fic with attention to Rory/Jess. Finally, this is the not-so-good news (if you actually like my fic,) I'm going to camp on Thursday, July 24th. This means that after chapter 3 there won't be another update until at least the 21st of August (the day I get back.) But realistically I wouldn't expect an update for a day or 2 after the 21st, I need time to get over my post-camp depression. Anyway, this is a really long note so I'll cut it off. Thank you to all my reviewers, you guys rock! That is all.
Next chapter:
+ Luke shapes up details regarding the purchase of his new property
+ Jess wants to know if Lorelai has said yes to New York, Lorelai gives Jess the "are you worthy" grill
+ Emily invites Lorelai to observe her cooking class
+ Lorelai comes to a decision regarding the New York trip
(See! All these plot lines involve Lorelai! It's bizarre! Normally all my attention goes to Rory)