Title: If You Want Me To
Author: Ruby Garnet
Disclaimer: As much as I wish I did, I don't own anything Gilmore Girls related.
Summary: Season 4 when Lorelai and Rory return from Europe. This is, was, and is going to be a L/L fic. Just remember: Good things come to those who wait. Enjoy and leave some feedback if you can! Thanks. *big smile*
A/N: So much credit goes to my two betas; you know who you are. You guys are angels.
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[PREVIOUSLY ON GILMORE GIRLS…]
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LUKE: (regarding his trip with NICOLE) Really, you think that's okay? Considering, you know… everything.
LORELAI: (confused but assertive) … Yeah.
---
LORELAI: I just wanted to … say something to you in case we don't see each other before you go on your trip.
LUKE: Sure, what?
LORELAI: Don't get engaged.
---
[END PREVIOUSLY…]
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[PRESENT – LORELAI and RORY are sitting in the Gilmore living room]
RORY: I'm exhausted.
LORELAI: So am I. I am never flying fourteen hours on a plane ever again.
RORY: Oh come on, the trip was fun. Admit it.
LORELAI: Fun? Yes. Exhausting? Yes. Ready to do it again? No.
RORY: Yeah, and can you believe that it's only 7:00? It's one in the morning in London. I think I'm going to go to bed.
LORELAI: (yawns) Good idea. We'll unpack… later. A lot later. Sleep in as late as you want.
RORY: Same to you. Night Mom.
LORELAI: Night hon.
---
[CUT to next morning on way to Luke's – LORELAI and RORY have been talking the entire time]
RORY: I wonder how the cruise with Nicole went!
LORELAI: (startled) Oh yeah. I wonder how that went. I completely forgot.
RORY: Well, we can ask when we get there.
LORELAI: Yes we can.
RORY: Which would be now. We get there a lot faster when we talk.
LORELAI: We do, don't we? Hey Luke!
LUKE: (smiling slightly) The Gilmores have returned.
RORY: Yes we have! Did you miss us?
LORELAI: (pouting) Yeah, did you miss us?
LUKE: (dryly) Oh yeah, I cried myself to sleep every night. My life without the Gilmores amounts to nothing.
LORELAI: (joking) We come back after two months and we get this! How lovely.
RORY: Isn't it? So Luke, how'd your cruise with Nicole go?
(LUKE nearly drops the plates of burgers on the two customers he was serving. He regains his grip, places the plates on the table, and retreats to the kitchen)
RORY: Uh, okay…?
LORELAI: Maybe it didn't go so well…
RORY: (sympathetic) I hope it went well. Luke was so ecstatic about that trip. I don't think he's ever been that enthusiastic before in his life.
LORELAI: Well, we haven't seen him when there's a sale on flannel at the mall.
RORY: (ignoring LORELAI) I wonder if he's okay.
(LUKE emerges from the kitchen with more plates and is still ignoring LORELAI and RORY)
LORELAI: (tapping LUKE on shoulder) Hey.
LUKE: (looks at LORELAI) Do you need a refill?
LORELAI: No, but you could talk to Rory and me for a minute.
LUKE: I'm busy.
LORELAI: If I suddenly decided to run in front of a speeding car, would you be too busy to come out and save me?
LUKE: (looking away) Depends on who's driving the car.
LORELAI: (sighing) Luke…what's up? The cruise and everything. Spill it.
LUKE: Doesn't matter.
(LUKE is continually traveling from one part of the diner to another with LORELAI in tow)
LORELAI: It matters to me. Could you stop moving for just a second? I feel like I'm doing a square dance.
(RORY is still sitting on a stool at the counter and is slightly worried, but amused by LUKE and LORELAI's situation)
LUKE: I'm telling you, it doesn't matter. How was your trip? Find someone to carry your bags?
LORELAI: Our trip was wonderful. We got to see these gorgeous mountains in Switzerland. Nighttime in London is killer too. We carried our own bags, thank you very much, but we did rope some guys into carrying them up some stairs for us in Italy.
LUKE: Sounds great. I'm glad you had a good time.
(LUKE finally has nothing else left to do, nobody left to serve, and nothing to get out of talking to LORELAI. He goes over to the cash register where he proceeds to organize receipts.)
LORELAI: I did, but I have a feeling someone else didn't.
LUKE: Rory didn't have a good time?
LORELAI: (frustrated) She had a great time! Will you get your head out of the gutter?
(RORY timidly walks over to where LUKE and LORELAI are talking. She feels almost afraid to interrupt whatever little conversation that was going on.)
RORY: Speaking of great times, I'm going to go meet Lane and we're gonna catch a movie. I'll be home a little later, okay?
LORELAI: That's fine. I'll see you then.
(RORY exits diner)
LORELAI: (whispering bluntly) Luke. Did you go on the cruise with Nicole?
LUKE: …
LORELAI: (softly) You didn't go, did you?
LUKE: No, I didn't go.
---
[FLASHBACK]
NICOLE: You don't look so good Luke. Are you okay? I hope the cream sauce wasn't too heavy…
LUKE: (unconvincingly) Oh, no, your pasta was fine. I'm fine.
NICOLE: (warily) Are you sure?
LUKE: (wringing his hands) Well… maybe not.
NICOLE: (puts her hand on his leg) What's going on?
LUKE: I…Do you think this cruise is a good idea?
NICOLE: (forced laugh) Of course I do! Why else would I have suggested it? Do you think it is?
LUKE: I don't know. Maybe it's too…
NICOLE: Too what?
LUKE: Intimate?
NICOLE: (blushing) Uh…I, well…what gave you that idea? This isn't our honeymoon you know.
LUKE: Nothing…it's just that…well, cruises supposedly spell commitment and I'm not sure I'm ready for that.
NICOLE: What advice book have you been reading Luke? This doesn't sound like you. You were intrigued with this idea last week.
LUKE: I haven't been reading advice books, Nicole. I just don't want to l-…let you read into this too much.
NICOLE: (confused) What are you talking about?
LUKE: (looks NICOLE squarely in the eye) I don't…UGH! This is so complicated! I just don't want you to think that I'm going to propose to you.
NICOLE: (startled) I wasn't thinking that at all. Once again, where are you getting these bizarre situations? I thought this would just be a nice trip between the two of us, a chance to be together.
LUKE: (defeated) I did too.
NICOLE: Then what's the problem?
LUKE: Maybe we shouldn't go.
NICOLE: Okay, Luke, you've got to be honest with me. Who's influencing your choices right now? Is it Luke or is it someone else?
LUKE: Look, it's just that a friend and I had a conversation and it got me thinking, okay? They're not influencing my decisions; I just was thinking about what they said.
NICOLE: (disappointed) So…do you want to go or not?
(NICOLE gestures to plane tickets, travel brochures, shore excursion packets, and train times laid out on her living room table. LUKE picks up a brochure that has a picture of a couple dining on the balcony of a cruise ship with the sunset in the background. The two smiling people are holding up crystal champagne glasses in a toast.)
LUKE: (quietly) No, Nicole…I don't think I want to go.
NICOLE: (tries to smile) Okay. That's fine. I'll call the travel agent tomorrow.
(LUKE nods silently, afraid of what he's just done)
NICOLE: Luke?
LUKE: Yeah?
NICOLE: What does this mean for us?
LUKE: I don't know. Maybe…
NICOLE: (attempts to busy herself arranging travel material) I don't want to pressure you into a relationship you're not interested in having. (looks at LUKE) I never wanted to do that.
LUKE: You're not. I promise. It's just…maybe…
NICOLE: Is there someone else?
LUKE: NO! That's not it! I was just saying that maybe we're just not…clicking?
NICOLE: Yeah, I know what you mean.
(An awkward silence fills the room and both are just waiting for the clichéd glass to break)
LUKE: So…this is it, isn't it?
NICOLE: (sighs) Yeah, this is it. You're a great man Luke.
LUKE: Thanks. You're a good person Nicole.
(Both of them stand up, stare at each other uncomfortably, and head for the door. Both have their heads to the ground, ashamed for something non-existent…or just something that neither could comprehend at the moment. NICOLE opens the door and leans her head on the edge as LUKE leaves)
NICOLE: Hey Luke?
LUKE: Hmm?
NICOLE: Your friend…was it Lorelai?
LUKE: Bye Nicole. It was nice seeing you.
[END FLASHBACK]
---
LORELAI: Are you two still…?
LUKE: We're not together anymore.
(LORELAI bites her lip, not knowing what to say. LUKE notices her perplexed condition and wonders to himself what to say next.)
LORELAI: Well, was it a smooth breakup?
LUKE: Smooth breakup.
LORELAI: (hesitant) Good, uh…yeah, that's good.
LUKE: Yeah.
LORELAI: I'm sorry I bothered you about it. I didn't know.
LUKE: It's okay.
LORELAI: (gently) I've got to run home and finish unpacking among other things…if you need me, just call.
LUKE: Yeah, okay. Bye.
(LORELAI grabs her purse off the counter and begins to head out the door. 'On second thought…' LORELAI removes a roll of wine gums from her purse and placed them on top of the money she paid Luke for the coffee. LUKE notices, but doesn't look up. LORELAI exits.)
[CUT to Gilmore house – later that evening]
LORELAI: So, how was the movie?
RORY: (propping her feet up on the arms of the sofa) Oh, it was good. It would have been better if the guy sitting behind Lane didn't kick her in the back every two seconds. Then there was this little boy that hit me on the head a couple of times. Other than that, movie was great.
LORELAI: Violent neighborhood.
RORY: Yeah, no kidding. So how did you occupy yourself all afternoon?
LORELAI: Well, after leaving Luke's, I came home and unpacked my bag. You know that belt I was looking for in Italy? It was in the side pocket! (throws arms up in defeat) Of course, I never thought to check the side pocket because I assumed that my water bottle and sunglasses were there.
RORY: (smirking) Then don't make assumptions next time.
LORELAI: Don't be mean.
RORY: I'm sorry. I won't be mean ever again.
LORELAI: You will, but I forgive you this time.
RORY: Good. So how did the end of the conversation with Luke go?
LORELAI: It was fine. (nonchalantly) He didn't go on the trip.
RORY: What? Why not?
LORELAI: We didn't really get into it. He and Nicole aren't together anymore.
RORY: Oh.
LORELAI: That's what I said.
RORY: Was he bummed about it?
LORELAI: He didn't act like it. He was just quiet and evasive.
RORY: Well if you broke up with your boyfriend, you would be too.
LORELAI: True.
RORY: Is he dating someone else?
LORELAI: (gives RORY a strange look) No? He didn't mention anyone else. He said it was a smooth breakup.
RORY: But that doesn't mean he's not dating someone else.
LORELAI: Rory, Luke is not the kind of guy to have an affair.
RORY: You've got a point. But after the breakup…
LORELAI: Why are you so hung up on this?
RORY: Just wondering if he's single again, that's all.
LORELAI: Okay, I know I told you to go for different types of guys, but Luke really is too old for you.
RORY: (laughing) No Mom, I don't want to date Luke.
LORELAI: (giving RORY a crazy look) Good. That would be…not quite…
RORY: I know what you mean. What about you?
LORELAI: What about me?
RORY: Are you single?
LORELAI: Last time I checked…
RORY: Well, you and Luke could go out.
LORELAI: Not this again… Rory. Luke and I are just friends. Nothing more, nothing less. Well, except when we're fighting, then we become less, but that's beside the point. He just broke up with his steady girlfriend anyway… you didn't exactly want to date right after Jess left, did you?
RORY: No, I didn't. (sighs) You're right…I really didn't. Are you saying that maybe…
LORELAI: No. Rory, give up. The rest of the town has. I don't even remotely like Luke in that sense.
RORY: (mumbling) You could have fooled me.
LORELAI: Rory. Seriously, can we change topics?
RORY: Good idea.
LORELAI: Wow, you've got to start packing for Yale later this week. You're leaving for orientation in what…two weeks, I think?
RORY: Yeah, two weeks. You're coming to the Parent's Day, right?
LORELAI: Would I ever miss it?
(RORY shakes her head and they continue chatting about their day as the scene fades out)
(CUT to the Dragonfly Inn the next morning)
ROOF SPECIALIST: So anyway, we'll be by later this week to work on the shingles. It shouldn't be too much of a money drain because most are just chipped. It's nothing serious.
LORELAI: Okay, that's fine. Thanks for stopping by.
ROOF SPECIALIST: It's not a problem. See you later.
(LORELAI walks over to LUKE who is tediously swiping a brush over the floorboards)
LORELAI: (steps toward LUKE) Hey Leonardo.
LUKE: Gah! Lorelai, stop! Don't walk anymore.
LORELAI: Uh, okay. (steps backwards)
LUKE: The finish is still wet right there.
LORELAI: Oh, I didn't know. So how's the finishing going?
LUKE: It's fine. Some of the boards have eroded away, so I've been fixing those with wood filler. It takes a while for that to dry. I can only put on the finish after that; so don't expect this to be finished anytime soon.
LORELAI: Wasn't expecting a thing. You know, from up here, you look really short.
LUKE: (looks up) Thanks. (puts hands on knees and stands up quickly)
(LUKE wavers a bit from standing up too fast and LORELAI puts her hands on his arms to steady him)
LORELAI: Whoa, don't fall over. You'll ruin your finishing.
LUKE: No kidding. I guess I shouldn't stand up that fast after an hour of squatting two inches from the ground.
LORELAI: Probably not.
LUKE: Well, I better get back to the diner. I told Caesar I'd be gone for three hours and it's been more like three and a half.
LORELAI: Ah, okay. Thanks for stopping by. I'll make sure and put up a wet floor finish sign right above this spot. I'll even make it purple so everyone can see.
LUKE: You do that. So I'll see you for dinner presumably?
LORELAI: Most likely.
LUKE: All right, see ya then.
(LUKE leaves, tiptoeing over certain finished spots as LORELAI watches bemused. She turns and heads toward the kitchen where SOOKIE is surveying the equipment. LORELAI pushes the door open slowly and accidentally hits MICHEL on his way out)
MICHEL: (obviously ruffled) Watch where you're going!
LORELAI: Sorry. Geez.
SOOKIE: Hey!
LORELAI: Hey Sook. What's up with Frenchy this morning?
SOOKIE: I don't know. He's been in a mood all morning. Maybe something happened in the family.
LORELAI: Maybe. Anyhow, how's everything looking?
SOOKIE: (overjoyed) Ooh, it looks great. There's more space here than at the Independence Inn. I didn't even notice until I started measuring! This is going to be so great. I can put in some extra shelves and spice racks, oh, and I can even hang hooks to put my cutting boards on! I'm so excited!
LORELAI: (grinning) Obviously. I'm glad this is going to work. Just think, two more months.
SOOKIE: (jumping up and down) Two more months!
LORELAI: (laughing) Your baby is going to do long jump when it gets to high school.
SOOKIE: Unless Jackson forces it to play basketball.
LORELAI: Jackson played basketball? With what? A head of lettuce?
SOOKIE: No, silly! You didn't know he played basketball?
LORELAI: No, I didn't. We've never talked about sports.
SOOKIE: Ah, well he did for two years. He doesn't bring it up though.
LORELAI: Hmm, I'll have to ask him about those three pointers later.
SOOKIE: Sure thing. Anyway, did you talk to Luke? He's out there finishing the floor.
LORELAI: Oh yeah, I talked to him and then he left.
SOOKIE: Oh okay. (looks around and whispers solemnly) Did you hear the news?
LORELAI: News?
SOOKIE: The thing with Luke and Nicole.
LORELAI: They're not together anymore?
SOOKIE: (face falls) I wanted to tell you.
LORELAI: Oh, sorry. I was talking to Luke and he mentioned that.
SOOKIE: He was looking glum all summer.
LORELAI: Really? That's a long time. When I talked to him, he said everything was fine and that it had been a smooth breakup.
SOOKIE: He's probably a little better now that you and Rory are back.
LORELAI: Probably. He missed Rory a bunch, I'm sure. She sure missed him.
SOOKIE: (suggestively) I think he missed you a tad more.
LORELAI: (exasperated) What is this?!
SOOKIE: What is what?
LORELAI: Never mind. Rory and I were talking and...oh forget it. You okay here?
SOOKIE: (trying not to smile) Yep, I'm good.
LORELAI: Okay, well I'll be talking to the carpeting people outside.
(LORELAI exits the kitchen and SOOKIE grinned half with confusion, half with the satisfaction of proving her theories)
(CUT to Gilmore house later that evening – LORELAI is in the shower)
(phone ringing)
LORELAI: Oh crap! I'm in the shower! Why do people always call at the most inconvenient times?
(LORELAI stumbles to get out of the shower and hits her toe on the shower door on the way out. She winces in pain, but is more concerned with getting to the phone in case it might be Rory or someone equally as important. She attempts to wrap a towel around her bare body with one hand, but is failing miserably. She finally just hops her way to the phone and picks it up.)
LORELAI: (breathlessly) Hello?
EMILY: Have you been running?
LORELAI: Who is this?
EMILY: It's your mother, Lorelai.
LORELAI: (instantly regretting that she left the shower) Hi Mom. I haven't been running. I was in the shower when the phone rang.
EMILY: Oh. I'm sorry. Anyway, I need to speak with you about something. Do you have a minute?
LORELAI: I guess. Hold on a minute.
(LORELAI places the phone on a nearby table while she wraps herself with the towel. She sits on a chair and tucks the towel underneath her so it doesn't fall.)
LORELAI: You were saying?
EMILY: Your father and I have been meaning to get the upstairs guestroom painted before we have the DAR Christmas dinner. We've been struggling with painter after painter and nobody seems to want to work with us. So, we finally found someone and they can do it, but they need to do it tomorrow. (is starting to ramble) Well, with Richard's health problems, I didn't want to expose him to any of the paint fumes. We concluded that we would simply need to stay somewhere else for a couple days. One night is certainly not enough time to book a room in a hotel and Richard didn't want to stay with the Robeson's. I was wondering if we could possibly stay at your place for a couple days while they are painting.
LORELAI: You…
EMILY: Would it be too much trouble just for two days Lorelai? It's not like your house is swarming with people. You'll hardly notice that we're there. Amalia even agreed to come along so that she could still cook meals for all of us.
LORELAI: I…well… Are you sure there's nowhere else you could stay?
(RORY enters through the front door)
RORY: I'm home!
LORELAI: (putting hand over mouthpiece) Kitchen table!
(RORY walks into the kitchen and is taken aback when she sees LORELAI with nothing but a towel wrapped around her)
RORY: Your clothes…
LORELAI: (trying to pantomime her situation while still listening to EMILY on the phone) Oh. Well…I… (sighs) you can stay.
EMILY: Really?
LORELAI: Did I not just say you could?
EMILY: Well, I never can tell when you're being serious.
LORELAI: (rolls eyes) For once, I am. You can stay. We have two extra rooms you, Dad, and Amalia can stay in. I don't think Rory would mind too much.
(RORY gives LORELAI a funny look as she hears her name)
EMILY: Thank you so much Lorelai. We'll see you tomorrow? What time will you be home?
LORELAI: I'll be home at around 11:30 for my lunch break. You can drop by then if you like. If not, I'm usually home at 7:00.
EMILY: We will see you at 11:30 then. Oh, and do fix up your house a little bit before we get there if you could.
LORELAI: (sighs) Fine. I'll see you then. Bye Mom.
EMILY: Bye Lorelai.
RORY: So what's going on? Let's start with why you've got no clothes on. (hands LORELAI a set of clothes that she retrieved from her room)
LORELAI: (taking clothes from RORY) I was in the shower and the phone rang. I thought it might be you, so I lunged for the phone and it was the ever-stunning Emily.
RORY: You should've stayed in the shower.
LORELAI: That's what I said! But anyway, she and grandpa want to stay with us for a couple days while they get a room painted. There was no way out of it, so I said yes. (puts finger to temple)
RORY: It's okay. It's only a couple days. It won't be so bad. Who's Amalia?
LORELAI: Yeah, I guess not. Amalia's the new help I'm assuming.
RORY: (shrugs) Must be.
LORELAI: Anyway, I'm going to get some clothes on and then we'll head over to Luke's for dinner, kay?
RORY: Okay. Hurry though! I'm starving!
LORELAI: (running upstairs awkwardly with the towel) I'll try!
[CUT to Luke's where LORELAI and RORY are sitting at the counter]
RORY: So, the room upstairs across from yours is where Grandma and Grandpa are going to stay?
LORELAI: (meekly) Yes?
RORY: Have you seen that room?
LORELAI: In my lifetimes, yes. Since Trix was here, no.
RORY: You've got some major cleaning to do.
LORELAI: You're going to help me though. Right?
RORY: (taking pleasure in her mother's begging) Maybe.
LORELAI: Oh come on! I'll…I'll…
(LINDSAY and DEAN walk in. RORY waves and both of them smile and wave back. LINDSAY motions for her to join them at a table.)
RORY: Do you mind?
LORELAI: Are you going to help me clean?
RORY: I'll think about it.
LORELAI: Fine. Have fun. Make sure they don't choose yellow for the wedding colors.
(RORY rolls her eyes and walks over to where LINDSAY and DEAN are sitting)
RORY: Hey, long time no see. So, have you guys flipped through the catalog yet?
LINDSAY: Actually…
(pan back to LORELAI at the counter)
LUKE: Same as always?
LORELAI: (looking up from her coffee mug) Same as always. Then when you're done with me, you can head over to the wedding planner's table.
LUKE: (filling up her mug) They do look like they're on their way.
LORELAI: Off a cliff?
LUKE: (giving her a look) You know what I mean. It's not…too outlandish of an idea for them to get married you know…
LORELAI: Luke, they're eighteen. Isn't that a bit young?
LUKE: Well, I guess.
LORELAI: That's what I thought.
(LUKE goes over to RORY, DEAN, and LINDSAY, takes their orders, gives to order to the kitchen and returns to the counter)
LUKE: (wipes mug while talking to LORELAI) It's better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all, you know.
LORELAI: Since when have you been the literary man?
LUKE: I'm just saying.
(They stare at each other for a minute, daring each other to turn away first. LORELAI finally looks away.)
LORELAI: So yeah…my parents are coming to stay with Rory and me for a couple days. (groans) I can't wait.
LUKE: Sounds adventurous.
LORELAI: I think death-causing would be a better adjective, but sure, why not.
LUKE: How are they going to handle your eating situation? I doubt your mother will come here with you.
LORELAI: That's the other thing. She's bringing her hired help so that she can cook meals for us. (puts head in hands)
LUKE: (sympathetic) So sorry. It's only two days.
LORELAI: Only. It's going to seem like an eternity.
LUKE: That it might.
(LUKE turns around to serve the dishes that are ready. He brings the plates over to RORY, DEAN, and LINDSAY and the remaining one to LORELAI.)
LORELAI: (sadly) This is the last burger I'm going to eat for the next two days.
LUKE: Well, look on the bright side. Your cholesterol will go down and you'll lose weight.
LORELAI: You so did not open for the 'You think I'm fat?' line that wives always say to their husbands.
LUKE: (tired) You never stop. I didn't mean that you were fat; it's just that women always seem to fret over how they look.
LORELAI: Oh, so now you're stereotyping women? You're just on a roll tonight aren't you? Be glad I'm not THAT strong of a feminist. (grins)
LUKE: (a smile starts to creep onto his face, but he stops it) Shut up and eat your burger.
LORELAI: (satisfied smile) You so thought that was funny.
LUKE: Did not.
LORELAI: Whatever Luke. (takes a bite of her burger)
[CUT to Dragonfly Inn the next morning]
LORELAI: I know you said not to expect this done anytime soon, but it will end, right? Eventually?
LUKE: Yeah, I'm almost done. Just give me one more day.
LORELAI: Okay, because this finish stuff is…really not smelling that great. I can see why my parents wanted to get out of the house.
LUKE: Speaking of your parents, when are they coming in?
LORELAI: Uh, now? I was headed out.
LUKE: Ah, well don't kill them. There's not much space left in Stars Hollow to hide the bodies.
LORELAI: Then I'll have to move to Hartford. Anyway, see ya later. Maybe. Depending on what his and her highness want me to do. (rolls eyes)
LUKE: Well, I'll talk to you whenever.
LORELAI: Yep, talk to you later.
[CUT to Gilmore house where LORELAI is sitting on the couch, eating some strawberries, and waiting for her parents to arrive.]
(The doorbell sounds and LORELAI pads over to the door.)
LORELAI: (opening door) Hey Mom, Dad, and Amalia?
RICHARD: Hello Lorelai.
EMILY: Hello.
AMALIA: (timidly) Hi.
LORELAI: Well, come in. Uh, your rooms are upstairs. Mom, Dad, your room is the one next to mine and Amalia's is the one across the way. (The trio steps inside and stops to survey their temporary home for the next two days)
EMILY: Your house seems to have gotten smaller since we were here last.
LORELAI: (sarcastic) Well, that's what happens when you rinse it in too much hot water.
EMILY: (not realizing the insinuation) Did you get more furniture?
LORELAI: No Mom, you just haven't been here in a while. Come on, let's get your things settled upstairs.
(LORELAI trudges upstairs while the trio follows, their eyes examining everything they pass)
LORELAI: Well, here you are. Make yourselves at home. I'll be back later.
EMILY: You're just going to leave us here?
LORELAI: You make it sound like we're stuck in Antarctica.
EMILY: Well, we're not going out for lunch?
LORELAI: Um, no? I've got to get back to the inn.
RICHARD: Emily, don't worry. Lorelai, we'll be fine. Thank you for showing us the rooms.
LORELAI: You're welcome. I'll be home later and we can talk then.
AMALIA: (tapping LORELAI on the shoulder) Excuse me?
LORELAI: Yes?
AMALIA: May I use the kitchen facilities?
LORELAI: Sure, go ahead. (laughing) Just don't burn the house down.
AMALIA: (frowning) I won't.
LORELAI: (sighing) I'm going to go now, call me on my cell phone if you need anything. All the numbers are by the phone.
EMILY: Fine. We'll see you for dinner.
RICHARD: Emily, did you pack my striped tie?
(EMILY and RICHARD converse as LORELAI walks downstairs and scene fades out)
[CUT to the Dragonfly later in the evening]
CARPET SPECIALIST: (tapping SOOKIE on the shoulder) Excuse me? Are you the manager?
SOOKIE: Oh, no. That's Lorelai Gilmore, the one standing over there. (points to LORELAI working on some bills)
CS: Ah, I see. Thank you.
CS: (stands in front of LORELAI) Ms. Gilmore?
LORELAI: (jumps back startled) Ahh! Yeah, that's me. Sorry, I wasn't expecting anyone.
CS: It's all right. I just wanted to let you know that we finished the estimate for the carpet. It's going to be around $18,000 to carpet the entire inn. Of course, we're not carpeting the kitchen and the lobby area.
LORELAI: (shocked) $18,000? I thought we agreed the other day that it would only come to about $14,000, if even that?
CS: Well, there are more rooms than we thought there were. I hate to put a damper on you, but we haven't included a daytime fee or labor costs into that figure either.
LORELAI: (trying to stay calm) Okay, that'll be fine. We'll arrange it somehow. Um, when are you going to come by?
CS: Probably sometime within the next week. We'll need your down payment by this Friday at the latest.
LORELAI: (sighing) All right, I'll write a check tomorrow. (forcing a smile) Thanks for coming by, I appreciate it.
CS: Not a problem. I'll be talking to you later.
LORELAI: Yeah, you will.
(LORELAI walks into the kitchen where SOOKIE is stocking utensils and equipment in drawers)
LORELAI: Sookie?
SOOKIE: Hey Lorelai! (worried) What happened?
LORELAI: Oh, it's nothing. Did you happen to hook up the coffeemaker yet? I have a headache and I need coffee.
SOOKIE: (concerned) No, I didn't hook it up yet. I'm sorry.
LORELAI: It's okay. I've got to get home to my parents. (rolls eyes)
SOOKIE: (giving LORELAI a hug) You'll be okay.
LORELAI: I hope so.
(LORELAI exits)
[CUT to GILMORE HOUSE]
(LORELAI, visibly stressed, comes into the doorway and proceeds to head upstairs for a shower)
EMILY: Lorelai, there you are!
LORELAI: (on her way up the stairs) Yes, here I am, is there something you need?
EMILY: Amalia needs help finding some equipment and food products to use for dinner.
LORELAI: Mom, I doubt I have anything she wants. Why don't the two of you run over to Doose's?
EMILY: Where?
LORELAI: The grocery store here. It's only two blocks away.
EMILY: Nonsense, you should have enough food. In actuality, we brought our own, but we need pans and things. Come down here and help Amalia.
LORELAI: (exasperatedly) All right, I'm coming.
(EMILY and LORELAI walk into the kitchen, LORELAI slightly behind EMILY. LORELAI is appalled to see that AMALIA has pretty much torn apart her entire kitchen. There are pans, pots, bowls, knives, and Cutting boards totally covering the little counter and table space there is.)
LORELAI: (still in shock) Well, what do you need help finding? Amalia looks like she's done pretty well on her own. She's found everything I own.
EMILY: Well, are there certain pans you reserve for certain things? Bowls that you use for different sauces? Do you have a wok? I was thinking Amalia could try some stir-fry.
LORELAI: Mom, I don't live in China. I hardly even use the kitchen. Just use whatever you want.
EMILY: So we will. I can't believe this…do you have a dishwasher?
LORELAI: It broke a while ago…we just wash dishes by hand. Is there anything else you feel the need to critique before I go take a shower?
EMILY: I am not critiquing.
LORELAI: (determined to stop the conversation) Time for my shower.
(CUT to Dinner)
EMILY: I can't believe we're not eating at a proper table. I mean, look at this sofa.
LORELAI: (gritting teeth) You're the one who chose to stay here.
EMILY: I know, but still, I thought that you'd have a proper table by now.
RICHARD: Well, she doesn't Emily. Let's just be thankful that we have a roof over our head and something decent to eat. This casserole is delicious Amalia.
LORELAI: Thank you Dad. (picking at her food)
RORY: So how was your day, Mom?
LORELAI: Not good…some things at the inn are going to end up costing more money than we thought they would.
RORY: I'm sorry…you'll find a way to work through it. You always do. (smiles)
LORELAI: (smiles back) Yeah, I hope so. So how –
AMALIA: Well, you should learn to manage your money wisely.
EMILY: That's what I've been trying to tell her for the last however many years.
LORELAI: (appalled that AMALIA is commenting) Uh, I do manage my money wisely. There's just not much to manage. So Rory, how -
AMALIA: (condescending) I don't make much money as hired help, but my husband and I reside in a modest home and we have an actual dinner table.
EMILY: See? You could have that if you wanted.
LORELAI: (thoroughly ruffled) But maybe I don't want that. Amalia, if you didn't know, I happen to be the partial owner and executive manager of my own inn. Doesn't that tell you that I can handle my own money?
AMALIA: Maybe. Shouldn't you be living somewhere else other than (turns up her nose and gestures to house) this?
RORY: (quietly to no one in particular) I'm going to go upstairs and read.
LORELAI: (slamming down her fork) Excuse me? I paid for this entire house by myself with NO help from anyone. You have no right to talk about it that way.
EMILY: She only speaks the truth Lorelai. If you could just listen to her. I mean, there are soda stains in the carpet.
LORELAI: Are you going to spend the entire night criticizing my lifestyle? If you are, why did you want to stay here?!
EMILY: I'm not criticizing, I'm stating facts. We're staying here because there was nowhere else to stay!
RICHARD: Emily.
EMILY: Keep reading your paper. Stay out of this.
RICHARD: (sighing) Fine. (opens paper)
LORELAI: (argumentative) You might've been more satisfied staying in a dumpster somewhere down a back alley. Did you ever think about that? It's probably nicer than my little house here, isn't it?
EMILY: Don't you dare talk to me like that.
LORELAI: And your over critical analysis of my house and the way I live is any better?
AMALIA: Her attitude is born of this house…
LORELAI: (whirling around to AMALIA) You know what? You can stay out of this. You are the hired help. That means you do what people tell you to do without arguing because you get paid for what you do. I'm telling you now to shut up.
(LORELAI and EMILY stand up at the same time)
EMILY: I CANNOT believe that you just said that!
LORELAI: (infuriated) I'm going for a walk. Have a nice dinner.
(LORELAI runs to the doorway, grabs the house keys, and exits. EMILY comes into the foyer where RORY is standing on the stairs with her hand on the banister.)
EMILY: Just lovely, she ran off. She can never think of anything better to do than run away, can she?
RORY: (softly) Grandma, just let her.
EMILY: Like I have a choice.
(EMILY turns to return to the living room and RORY looks sympathetically at the door.)
(LORELAI is aimlessly wandering the streets. It's approximately 11:00 and no one is out on the streets except for a few leaves blowing around in the calming wind. She still has a headache and is trying to swallow the threat of tears. She sees the light on in Luke's and walks over to the window. She lightly raps on the door and Luke comes over to open it.)
LUKE: I wasn't expecting to see you at all today.
LORELAI: (morose) Neither was I.
(LORELAI just stands there, not knowing what to do with herself.)
LUKE: You don't look so good.
LORELAI: I don't feel so good.
LUKE: Want coffee?
LORELAI: That would be nice.
LUKE: All right. I can do that. Sit down before you grow into a statue.
LORELAI: (mutters) Statues have better lives than me.
(LORELAI flops onto a stool and drills her eyes into the wall in front of her. LUKE pours her a mug of coffee and sets it in front of her. He continues to count the cash in the register. LORELAI sits there, motionless for a moment and a tear trickles down the side of her face.)
LUKE: (reaches under the counter and takes out one of the wine gums that LORELAI gave him earlier and hands it to her) Here.
LORELAI: (faintly smiles) Thanks. (pops it into her mouth)
(Both of them sit in silence as LORELAI periodically sips her coffee. After a while, she stops drinking and stares forward once again. The millions of tears she has been trying to hold back are slowly running in rivulets down her face and she forces herself to bite her hand so that she doesn't start sobbing. She doesn't notice LUKE walking around the counter.)
LUKE: (putting his hands around her waist gently and pulling her off the stool) Come on, I can't let you bite your hand off.
LORELAI: (through tears) It tastes better than vegetables.
LUKE: (pulling her into a hug) I'm sure it does. Now what is up? God, I haven't seen you this stressed since…never mind.
LORELAI: (with one arm around LUKE and moving the other one wildly, in tune with her words) I feel like I can't take this anymore. It's just so much stuff going on at once. (sobbing) I…There's all this stuff at the inn that's going to cost so much money. I don't know where we're going to get it from. Buying the inn itself used up most of Sookie's and my money. The carpeting alone is $18,000. Then there's the roofing and… (voice trails off as her body trembles)
LUKE: (wistfully) That is a lot of money. You could get a l -…you'll figure it out. You'll find something. You're smart. (without thinking, he kisses the top of her head)
LORELAI: (grinning to herself) I hope.
LUKE: I get the feeling there's more to this breakdown than $18,000. I also happen to know that your parents happen to be boarding at your house. Is there something up with that? More specifically with that uptight mother of yours?
LORELAI: (visibly deflates) You win. I let her stay at my place and she spends the entire night criticizing everything. She insulted my house, the way I manage my money, and my sofa. Then to top that off, her maid joins in. I never thought her maid would join in on her tirades. Isn't that disrespectful? Isn't that supposed to be against the unwritten law of maid servicing? I just don't understand why she always has to find something wrong with my life. Nothing in my life can satisfy my mother. I had this wall up against all of her ridiculous comments and I always tried to find her annoying instead of upsetting, but quite frankly, I'm sick of it and I can't take this anymore. (starts crying again) I just want somebody to be happy with me for once. Just once.
LUKE: Rory is. Rory thinks you're the greatest person in the world. You're her role model. Remember her graduation speech?
LORELAI: (smiles a little and calms down) Yeah, Rory's wonderful.
LUKE: I think you're great…slightly odd and annoying at times, but you're a good person.
LORELAI: Thanks.
LUKE: Welcome.
(There's an awkward silence as the both of them just stand there in each other's arms, not saying a word. The action speaks for itself.)
LORELAI: Anyway…I better go. Rory's probably sitting on the doorstep waiting for me to get home.
LUKE: Yeah.
(LUKE releases his grip on LORELAI and looks at her for a minute. He tucks a piece of her hair behind her ear and rests his hand on her shoulder.)
LUKE: You'll be fine.
LORELAI: (yanks his hand down from her shoulder abruptly) I hate it when you do that.
LUKE: (offended and perplexed) Uh…do what?
LORELAI: (looking down, lip trembling) I hate that you love me and I find it so hard to love you back.
(LORELAI immediately runs out the door towards her home, not looking behind her. LUKE freezes in place and stares at the diner door swinging in whatever was left of the wind.)
[CUT to Gilmore House]
(EMILY is on her way to the bathroom to get a drink of water. She passes by LORELAI's room and can hear her painful sobbing. She grimaces and puts her hand on the doorknob. She sighs, lets go, and proceeds to the bathroom.)