All of the aforementioned disclaimers remain true. Please let me know what you think.
"Rules of Engagement" - Act Four
IN LORELAI'S ROOM AT THE DRAGONFLY (same as last scene)
LORELAI: Mom! You came back! Did you and Dad make up? [opens the door wider to let her pass] Come in at your own risk.
Emily enters and turns around to face Lorelai, who closes the door.
EMILY: No, your father's not here. I came here to see you. Alone.
LORELAI: Great. Just in time to cap off my weekend.
EMILY: What is that supposed to mean?
LORELAI: Mom, I know why you're here. You're here to chew me out on what an awful daughter I've been and you know what? I was actually starting to feel good about myself for the first time in a long time. I don't need any more reminders of how incompetent I actually am.
EMILY: If you could let me get a word in edgewise, I would tell you that you're wrong.
LORELAI: What? I am? Who are you, and what have you done with Emily Gilmore?
EMILY: I admit, yes, I originally came here because of what happened yesterday, but I just had an interesting talk with Rory.
LORELAI: [her expression becomes serious] Really? What did you two talk about?
EMILY: Rory just told me that she's decided to go to Europe with me. [Lorelai is stunned silent] What's the matter? Don't tell me you're surprised.
LORELAI: Actually...yes, I am a little surprised.
EMILY: Rory didn't tell you?
LORELAI: No, Rory didn't tell me, but at the same time it is her decision to make. I just didn't think she'd make it so quickly after...I just wish she had discussed it with me before she told you yes.
EMILY: Don't you really mean that you wish you had had the chance to dissuade her from going?
LORELAI: No, Mom. I would have asked her if running off to Europe would be quite the best thing to do right now.
EMILY: Why?
LORELAI: [sighs] Well, for one thing, I'd like to know why you're so ready to run off to Europe with your granddaughter when your marriage is falling apart.
EMILY: What are you saying?
LORELAI: You know exactly what I'm saying. Don't use my kid as an excuse to avoid Dad!
EMILY: Oh, is that what you think I'm doing? You're quite mistaken. I have no need of an excuse to avoid your father. He's done such a good job of avoiding me.
LORELAI: Mom...
EMILY: This will probably be one of the last times that I will get to spend any quality time with Rory. She is going to want to spend her future summers working or spending it with friends or you. And who knows what will happen after she graduates? Surely you are not going to begrudge me one summer with my granddaughter? I've had so little time with her as it is.
LORELAI: [rolling her eyes] Gee, you're forgetting all those Friday night dinners...
EMILY: It's not the same...you and your father were there too.
LORELAI: Oh, so why don't you two just have your own private Friday night dinners? Why include Dad and I at all?
EMILY: Lorelai, you don't understand.
LORELAI: You're right. I don't understand. I don't know why you and Dad couldn't be honest with Rory and me about what was going on between you. I know I'm the last person who should be calling you out on being honest, especially with what happened with Jason. But you and Dad freaked Rory and I out, especially last Friday.
EMILY: So you responded by torturing your father and I in that dark cabin? Very nice of you.
LORELAI: Mom, I'm sorry that you and Dad had an awful time yesterday. I just...well, I was hoping that some time alone together would give you two the chance to work things out.
EMILY: Well, you were wrong. It's not time alone together that we need. We just can't be together right now. So much has happened.
LORELAI: [sighing, looking up at the ceiling] Exactly. And that is why I'm questioning the motivation behind this whole Euro Trip idea. [a moment passes as she suddenly realizes the significance of her mother's words] Wait, so what are you saying? If you and Dad can't be together...are you getting a divorce?
EMILY: We haven't discussed it yet.
LORELAI: Mom, this is precisely why you cannot just escape to Europe with Rory just now. Are you going to just run out on your marriage of nearly forty years without at least trying to work out your issues?
EMILY: Don't be dramatic. I'm not running off. Your father is perfectly fine with me and Rory traveling to Europe. It's a cooling-off period for us.
LORELAI: "Cooling-off period"? Have you been talking to Jason?
EMILY: No. Why would I?
LORELAI: Never mind.
EMILY: Rory told me you two had broken up.
LORELAI: Yes. But for some reason, Jason didn't get it and that is the only reason why he was here last night.
EMILY: You didn't break up with him just because he was suing your father, right?
LORELAI: That was part of the reason, yes. Why are you...
EMILY: [interrupting] I just wouldn't want you to rearrange your life to suit your father's.
LORELAI: Mom, since when have I ever done that?
EMILY: Well, good. So now you're dating Luke. Hmm...it took you two long enough.
LORELAI: [shakes her head] Whoa...I was being serious before. Who are you, and where is my mother?
EMILY: Don't be ridiculous. I remember asking him a while back how he felt about you and he didn't give me a straight answer. That was answer enough for me.
LORELAI: What? When did this happen? What-what exactly did you say?
EMILY: It's not important. But it is clear that he has always been a part of your life, even more so than me...or your father.
LORELAI: Mom. I can't believe you're comparing yourself to Luke. I can't believe I'm having this conversation with you.
EMILY: We're your parents, and yet your friends know more about you than we do.
LORELAI: But don't you get it by now, Mom? You guys kept yourselves so closed off from me, how could you be surprised that I wouldn't confide in you? I didn't even know if you cared how I felt.
EMILY: Of course we did. You are our only daughter. You must know that we love you.
LORELAI: No. I didn't know. Not really.
EMILY: [incredulous] What are you talking about? Your father and I...we have always...
LORELAI: Okay, yes, I knew you loved me out of obligation, being your sole progeny. I know how disappointing that still must be. All I knew when I was a kid was that if I didn't live up to your standards, then I wasn't worth loving. And I hated that. All I wanted to do was get away from that.
EMILY: You did a very good job of doing exactly that.
There is a knock at the door.
SOOKIE: [behind the door] Lorelai, it's Sookie. Can I come in?
LORELAI: [in a raised voice] Just a sec, Sookie. [to Emily] This isn't over, Mom.
EMILY: You're quite mistaken. This was over years ago. You still haven't forgiven me for ruining your life.
LORELAI: What? Now look who's being dramatic.
EMILY: Goodbye, Lorelai. [she opens the door for Sookie, who rushes in.]
LORELAI: Oh no, Mom, you are not leaving for the summer on that note.
SOOKIE: Look, I'm really sorry that I had to interrupt. Hi Emily.
EMILY: Hello, Sookie. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go. I see that I'm in the way.
LORELAI: Mom, wait. [Emily continues walking away and Lorelai throws her hands in the air] Arrgh.
SOOKIE: Oh my God, I'm so sorry. Do you want me to drag her back?
LORELAI: Don't bother. [sighs and shakes her head] So...what's going on?
SOOKIE: It's Michel...he and Jeremy are...
LORELAI: [holds up a hand] Say no more. Give me a few minutes to change, and I'll be right down.
CUT TO A STREET OFF STARS HOLLOW TOWN SQUARE, EARLY EVENING.
DEAN: [in a loud whisper] Rory! [he beckons her to the same alley that they met in previously]
RORY: Dean, my mom will be here any minute. I can't stay long.
DEAN: Don't go to Europe. Come with me. Let's go away together somewhere, just you and me.
RORY: [looking at him in disbelief, a moment of déjà vu] Dean, you know we can't do that. I can't do that.
DEAN: Why not?
RORY: You're married. [sighs] You can't just run away from Lindsay. You owe her more than that.
DEAN: She ran out of our apartment. She's at her parents'.
RORY: That doesn't change the fact that...you made a commitment to each other. Please don't force the issue.
DEAN: Rory, if you don't want to be with me, just tell me. You don't need to go all the way to Europe to run away from me.
RORY: Is that what you think, Dean? I'm not going to Europe to run away from you. I'm going to Europe because if I stay, I will go crazy seeing you and not being able to be with you. Because I cannot be with you while you're still married. You have got to understand that. [she turns around] I have to go, there's my mom. She can't see you with me or she's going to kill you.
DEAN: Okay. [they kiss briefly] I'll talk to you later. Bye.
Rory runs out of the alley, slows down a little to catch her breath, and walks over to meet Lorelai, who has just walked over to the town square from their house. Rory takes out a camera and takes a picture of Lorelai before Lorelai notices her.
Lorelai is walking toward Luke's Diner, dressed in a flattering pale blue summer dress that brings out her eyes. She looks nervous and she turns around, as Rory walks toward her, hiding the camera away.
LORELAI: Hey, is that a camera?
RORY: Someday you guys will thank me for documenting your first date.
LORELAI: The last thing I want is for you to make a big deal of this. Wait, you're not going to paparazzi us, are you?
RORY: But it is a big deal. And no, I'm not going to stalk you the entire night...just one picture of the two of you, I promise.
LORELAI: Oh great, you're not making me feel any less nervous. Oh...but why do I feel nervous? It's Luke...I've known Luke for years and years and- and...how do I look?
RORY: You look beautiful. And I should know...I saw the fifty other outfits you tried on before. Am I going to have to drag you in to your date?
LORELAI: Well, I was kind of hoping you could go tell Luke to meet me at the edge of town...
RORY: [pulling Lorelai's arm] Come on...
LORELAI: [reluctantly edging forward] Okee dokee...
They stop at the edge of the square, across the street from the main diner window and they watch Luke, hatless, wearing a dark blue shirt and dark gray trousers, putting down a plate for one last customer, saying a few words to Lane, taking off an apron, and disappearing into the kitchen.
The camera pans back to Lorelai, who is so obviously smitten and looks as if she were saying, What took me so long to see him in this way?
RORY: [noticing the expression on Lorelai's face] Okay, this is my cue to go. [she kisses her on the cheek] Have fun!
LORELAI: Thanks. You're going to abandon me now? First Europe and now...
RORY: You'll be fine. [she walks away] Go in.
LORELAI: But it-it's only 6:50.
Rory rolls her eyes, walking away, and Lorelai smiles nervously as she turns back to scan the diner window, looking for any sign of Luke. A few more moments pass as she gets more nervous, playing with the strap on her purse, as Luke comes out of the diner.
LORELAI: Luke, hi! I know I'm a little early...hey... [Luke takes her hand and pulls her to the other side of the diner, away from the street.] What's wrong?
LUKE: Miss Patty and Babette are both inside. They were asking me about why I was all dressed up. I wasn't sure what to say...we didn't exactly get to finish talking about the game plan...
LORELAI: Game plan? [she laughs] About that game plan...Luke, that was a stupid idea. I've had enough of secrets and subterfuge...
LUKE: [an obvious sigh of relief] Thank God...
LORELAI: Hey, well you could've called me on how stupid I was being.
LUKE: I didn't think you were being stupid.
LORELAI: You're not just saying that to impress me, are you?
LUKE: No. Because what would that say about me, dating someone who's stupid. [hands her a single red rose]
LORELAI: Oh Luke, thank you, I...Hey, no fair, you knew this would shut me up.
LUKE: I thought it would.
LORELAI: [she pauses to smile at him] Thank you.
LUKE: You already said that.
LORELAI: You know what I mean. And you, you look really nice.
LUKE: So do you.
LORELAI: So, shall we? [Luke offers her his arm] What a gentleman. [she smiles at him]
Lorelai's hand starts at his arm and works its way down to his hand and then they lock hands.
A flash goes off. The camera pans to Rory, who smiles at them, puts away the camera and runs off in the other direction.
LUKE: What was that?
LORELAI: You saw that too? A flash of lightning? Guess what they say is true, huh?
LUKE: What do they say?
LORELAI: Shush. [she puts her finger on his lips before they kiss]
The TROUBADOUR starts to strum and sing "Northern Sky" by Nick Drake. They walk, hand in hand, across the town square, as the camera goes up and up to the swaying treetops. We see them every now and again stealing glances at each other as they walk to his truck.
I never felt magic crazy as this
I never saw moons knew the meaning of the sea
I never held emotion in the palm of my hand
Or felt sweet breezes in the top of a tree
But now you're here, brighten my northern sky
I've been a long time that I'm waiting
Been a long time that I'm blown
I've been a long time that I've wandered
Through the people I have known
Oh, if you would and you could, straighten my new mind's eye...
In the foreground, we hear Rory and Kirk's voices.
KIRK: Could I have a copy of that?
RORY: No, Kirk.
KIRK: Why not?
RORY: I already told you, I'm not going to let you sell it.
KIRK: Well...I...the Stars Hollow Gazette would pay good money...I'll split it with you...
RORY: I said no.
Fade to black, as the camera pans out to show the entire town square.
THE END
AN: Thank you so much for reading this fic...I'm currently working on a sequel to this, as well as another fic that's not in script format (which is actually more challenging in some respects), so please be patient with me. And Scooterbug, thanks for noticing the crowd...this detail will be explained, I promise. In Luke Danes' own words..."stay tuned"...