LANE'S APARTMENT
Zack and Brian were loading instruments and equipment into the car, as the phone rang.
"Hello?" said Lane.
"Getting ready for the big gig tonight?" Rory asked.
"Oh my God, Rory, I'm so nervous! Our first big gig in a real club! I can't believe they picked us to be the opening act!"
"You guys will be great! I can't wait to see you up there, you'll be like Keith Moon in the early days."
"Please, I prefer John Bonham."
"Just don't pull a Spinal Tap on me," said Rory.
"I have no intention of exploding onstage. You're coming, right?"
"Sure. I wouldn't miss it."
"Oh and get this – I told my mom about the gig and said she could come if she wanted to, and you'll never believe what she said. She said 'not this time'" Lane said.
"Not this time? As in, maybe next time? Do you really think she could handle it?"
"Hey, my mom has come a long way these past few months. She's even accepted that Zack and Brian are boys."
"Wow, next thing you know she'll be drinking soda," commented Rory.
"I'm really glad you're coming," said Lane. "It's kind of weird. The other guys in the band have their girlfriends, or they always manage to get groupie chicks swarming around them, but me..."
"It's hard being a trailblazer," said Rory. "But I'll be your groupie, OK?"
"You're on," said Lane.
GILMORE RESIDENCE, 7PM
Lorelai answered the phone as it rang. "Hello?"
"Hey Lor."
"Christopher," Lorelai sighed happily.
"You get back in time?" he asked.
"Yeah, Rory's all packed to head back to Yale tomorrow, and the ice sculpture has been ordered for the wedding."
"Hey Lor?"
"Yes, Christopher?"
"I miss you."
"I miss you too," said Lorelai.
"This sucks. I hate this long-distance thing we're doing."
"Well you've got a job and a daughter up there and I've got an Inn and a daughter down here."
"I want to move in together," said Christopher.
Lorelai gasped. "What?"
"I want to move in together. I just can't figure out how to swing it right now. What do you think?"
"I...I think that things have been really great the way they've been going and why would we want to screw them up?" said Lorelai.
"But I miss you when you leave. And you just said you missed me too. Don't you think it's time?"
"Christopher, even if we are ready, we just listed several reasons why we can't."
"Well maybe we can start thinking about ways to make it work," said Christopher.
"Like how?" asked Lorelai.
"I could find a job down there."
"But you'd be moving away from Gigi. You see her every day now, do you really want to go back to being a part-time father?"
"I could still see her on weekends."
"Christopher."
"Well let's just think about it, Lorelai. OK?"
Lorelai sighed. "OK."
Lorelai hung up the phone, and a moment later it rang again.
"I swear I should get this thing permanently sewed to my ear," murmured Lorelai as she picked it up.
"Chinese laundry," she said.
"Um, I'm sorry, I must have dialed the wrong number," said Richard on the other end.
"No, Dad, I was just joking, it's me."
"Oh hello Lorelai. How've you been?"
"Great Dad, what's up?"
"Business as usual here, other than court proceedings against your ex- boyfriend which are starting tomorrow."
"Good luck, Dad," said Lorelai.
"Thank you. Anyway I was calling to make sure that you and Rory will be over for dinner tomorrow night. It's time we got back on track with our Friday night dinners."
Lorelai sighed. "Dad, Mom already called about it. She's expecting us at her place tomorrow."
"Lorelai, Friday night dinners were a part of my deal with Rory when I agreed to loan her the money for Yale."
"Dad, I'm not going to get into this with you. You and Mom will have to work it out. As for tomorrow night, Mom called me first so that's where we'll be. If you want us there next week, we'll be there, but I'm not taking any reservations any further out than that."
"Then I will have a word with your mother, and I'll see you next week," said Richard.
"See you then Dad," said Lorelai as she hung up the phone.
HARTFORD NIGHTCLUB, 9PM
"Oh my God, I think I'm going to throw up," said Lane.
"You are not. You're just nervous, but you'll be fine once you get out there and start banging those drums," replied Rory.
Zack came over to Lane. "Lane, time to go on."
"Wish me luck!" she said to Rory.
"Luck!"
As the band started playing, Rory made her way out to the bar, where she noticed a guy appearing to be alone, listening raptly to the music. She started over his way, then hesitated and stopped. She went to the bar, got herself a soda, and sat down on one of the stools to listen. She got caught up in the music, so she did not notice the guy making his way over to her, until he murmured a "scuse me," as he pushed his way past her to get to the bar.
"Oh, sorry," Rory said as she moved her stool aside for him.
"So , you a fan of Bite Size Chunks?" he asked her casually.
"Who?" she asked.
"The band."
"This isn't Bite Size Chunks," said Rory.
"No, the headliner band."
"Oh, uh, I guess not," said Rory. "Are you?"
"Not really, I just like to check out the local groups."
"What do you think of them?" Rory asked, indicating Lane's band playing onstage.
"Them? Oh, phht," he said. "Pretty standard stuff. This is probably their first real gig in a real club. I give them 6 months then they'll all find day jobs."
"I see," said Rory as she pulled a book out of her bag and turned away from him.
BACKSTAGE, AFTER THE GIG
Rory made her way through the people and equipment to see Lane.
"Oh my God!" said Lane as she ran toward Rory. "That was so great! Did you hear the applause? Did you see them dancing? People were dancing to music that we were making!"
"I saw it," said Rory.
"What did you think? I mean, you're our groupie. You've been to two of our gigs now, so how did this one stand up?"
"As your groupie, I can honestly say that this was the best show you've ever done," said Rory.
Suddenly Rory caught a glimpse of the guy she had spoken to at the bar, talking to the band members of the other band. He saw her, looked surprised, and turned away.
"Hey Lane, I'm really sorry but I need to get going, I've got my first classes in the morning," apologized Rory.
"Classes start on a Friday?"
"Yeah, at first I thought it really sucked, but now I've come to the conclusion that it cushions the blow. Eases us into things."
"OK, take care." Lane gave Rory a hug as she headed out.
EMILY'S RESIDENCE, FRIDAY NIGHT
"So how was your first day back at Yale, Rory?" asked Emily.
"Well my European History professor was a little dry, but I think I'm really going to enjoy calculus, believe it or not," replied Rory.
"By the way Lorelai, I got a call from your father today. I cannot believe that he is trying to take Friday night dinners away from me. These were my idea, not his."
"Mom, can't we split the time between you two?"
"I will not give up half my Fridays with you and Rory. This was my idea, I'm the one who's kept this going all this time, I should get at least 3 out of 4 Fridays," said Emily.
"What if we did appetizers at Grandpa's and dinner here?" offered Rory.
"Or, maybe the first, second, and fifth courses here and the third and seventh courses there?" joked Lorelai. "Though I don't know what we'd do about the sorbet."
"The sorbet would be a problem," said Rory.
"Well either way, next Friday will be fine for you to eat with Richard, since I have an engagement," said Emily.
"Oh yeah, what's the occasion?" asked Lorelai.
"Oh, just someone I met at the DAR auction. I donated that awful vase that your grandmother gave us, he bought it and now he's interested in its history."
"You have a date, Mom?" asked Lorelai.
"It's not a date. We're just discussing the vase."
"With a man," said Lorelai.
"Yes he's a man, Lorelai."
"Is he married?"
"No. He did mention that he's recently divorced."
"Did you mention that you're separated?"
"Yes, I believe that did come up," confirmed Emily.
"So this recently divorced man who knows that you're separated has asked you out to dinner at what I presume is a fancy restaurant?"
"Yes, Lorelai."
"Mom, this is a date," said Lorelai.
"Oh my God, it is a date, isn't it?" said Emily, looking aghast.
"Way to go, Grandma!" said Rory.
"I can't go on a date," said Emily. "I'm married...I mean I know I'm separated...but I haven't been on a date in over 40 years."
"You'll be fine Mom. Just be yourself. Well, then again, you may want to ease up on a few things," said Lorelai.
"Ease up on what?" asked Emily.
"Oh, just things like how you order your food."
"What's wrong with the way I order my food?"
"I just meant that, like, if you see prime rib on the menu, you may want to consider just ordering prime rib, without asking where the prime rib is from, how the cows were fed, how they were slaughtered, how the meat was transported, where it was stored before being cooked, and every detail about how it was prepared."
"What's wrong with liking my food a particular way?"
"Nothing Mom, I'm just saying that you may want to save that particular endearing aspect of your personality for the second date, or maybe the third, or even the fourth," said Lorelai.
"This is not helping me, Lorelai. And there's not going to be a fourth date. I didn't even know this was a first date," said Emily.
"Hey, first dates are the best ones, Mom."
"Really? When was the last time you went on a first date? Must not have been that great since you're with Christopher now, who you've known your whole life," Emily challenged her.
Lorelai's face fell. "Actually it was fantastic," she mumbled.
Zack and Brian were loading instruments and equipment into the car, as the phone rang.
"Hello?" said Lane.
"Getting ready for the big gig tonight?" Rory asked.
"Oh my God, Rory, I'm so nervous! Our first big gig in a real club! I can't believe they picked us to be the opening act!"
"You guys will be great! I can't wait to see you up there, you'll be like Keith Moon in the early days."
"Please, I prefer John Bonham."
"Just don't pull a Spinal Tap on me," said Rory.
"I have no intention of exploding onstage. You're coming, right?"
"Sure. I wouldn't miss it."
"Oh and get this – I told my mom about the gig and said she could come if she wanted to, and you'll never believe what she said. She said 'not this time'" Lane said.
"Not this time? As in, maybe next time? Do you really think she could handle it?"
"Hey, my mom has come a long way these past few months. She's even accepted that Zack and Brian are boys."
"Wow, next thing you know she'll be drinking soda," commented Rory.
"I'm really glad you're coming," said Lane. "It's kind of weird. The other guys in the band have their girlfriends, or they always manage to get groupie chicks swarming around them, but me..."
"It's hard being a trailblazer," said Rory. "But I'll be your groupie, OK?"
"You're on," said Lane.
GILMORE RESIDENCE, 7PM
Lorelai answered the phone as it rang. "Hello?"
"Hey Lor."
"Christopher," Lorelai sighed happily.
"You get back in time?" he asked.
"Yeah, Rory's all packed to head back to Yale tomorrow, and the ice sculpture has been ordered for the wedding."
"Hey Lor?"
"Yes, Christopher?"
"I miss you."
"I miss you too," said Lorelai.
"This sucks. I hate this long-distance thing we're doing."
"Well you've got a job and a daughter up there and I've got an Inn and a daughter down here."
"I want to move in together," said Christopher.
Lorelai gasped. "What?"
"I want to move in together. I just can't figure out how to swing it right now. What do you think?"
"I...I think that things have been really great the way they've been going and why would we want to screw them up?" said Lorelai.
"But I miss you when you leave. And you just said you missed me too. Don't you think it's time?"
"Christopher, even if we are ready, we just listed several reasons why we can't."
"Well maybe we can start thinking about ways to make it work," said Christopher.
"Like how?" asked Lorelai.
"I could find a job down there."
"But you'd be moving away from Gigi. You see her every day now, do you really want to go back to being a part-time father?"
"I could still see her on weekends."
"Christopher."
"Well let's just think about it, Lorelai. OK?"
Lorelai sighed. "OK."
Lorelai hung up the phone, and a moment later it rang again.
"I swear I should get this thing permanently sewed to my ear," murmured Lorelai as she picked it up.
"Chinese laundry," she said.
"Um, I'm sorry, I must have dialed the wrong number," said Richard on the other end.
"No, Dad, I was just joking, it's me."
"Oh hello Lorelai. How've you been?"
"Great Dad, what's up?"
"Business as usual here, other than court proceedings against your ex- boyfriend which are starting tomorrow."
"Good luck, Dad," said Lorelai.
"Thank you. Anyway I was calling to make sure that you and Rory will be over for dinner tomorrow night. It's time we got back on track with our Friday night dinners."
Lorelai sighed. "Dad, Mom already called about it. She's expecting us at her place tomorrow."
"Lorelai, Friday night dinners were a part of my deal with Rory when I agreed to loan her the money for Yale."
"Dad, I'm not going to get into this with you. You and Mom will have to work it out. As for tomorrow night, Mom called me first so that's where we'll be. If you want us there next week, we'll be there, but I'm not taking any reservations any further out than that."
"Then I will have a word with your mother, and I'll see you next week," said Richard.
"See you then Dad," said Lorelai as she hung up the phone.
HARTFORD NIGHTCLUB, 9PM
"Oh my God, I think I'm going to throw up," said Lane.
"You are not. You're just nervous, but you'll be fine once you get out there and start banging those drums," replied Rory.
Zack came over to Lane. "Lane, time to go on."
"Wish me luck!" she said to Rory.
"Luck!"
As the band started playing, Rory made her way out to the bar, where she noticed a guy appearing to be alone, listening raptly to the music. She started over his way, then hesitated and stopped. She went to the bar, got herself a soda, and sat down on one of the stools to listen. She got caught up in the music, so she did not notice the guy making his way over to her, until he murmured a "scuse me," as he pushed his way past her to get to the bar.
"Oh, sorry," Rory said as she moved her stool aside for him.
"So , you a fan of Bite Size Chunks?" he asked her casually.
"Who?" she asked.
"The band."
"This isn't Bite Size Chunks," said Rory.
"No, the headliner band."
"Oh, uh, I guess not," said Rory. "Are you?"
"Not really, I just like to check out the local groups."
"What do you think of them?" Rory asked, indicating Lane's band playing onstage.
"Them? Oh, phht," he said. "Pretty standard stuff. This is probably their first real gig in a real club. I give them 6 months then they'll all find day jobs."
"I see," said Rory as she pulled a book out of her bag and turned away from him.
BACKSTAGE, AFTER THE GIG
Rory made her way through the people and equipment to see Lane.
"Oh my God!" said Lane as she ran toward Rory. "That was so great! Did you hear the applause? Did you see them dancing? People were dancing to music that we were making!"
"I saw it," said Rory.
"What did you think? I mean, you're our groupie. You've been to two of our gigs now, so how did this one stand up?"
"As your groupie, I can honestly say that this was the best show you've ever done," said Rory.
Suddenly Rory caught a glimpse of the guy she had spoken to at the bar, talking to the band members of the other band. He saw her, looked surprised, and turned away.
"Hey Lane, I'm really sorry but I need to get going, I've got my first classes in the morning," apologized Rory.
"Classes start on a Friday?"
"Yeah, at first I thought it really sucked, but now I've come to the conclusion that it cushions the blow. Eases us into things."
"OK, take care." Lane gave Rory a hug as she headed out.
EMILY'S RESIDENCE, FRIDAY NIGHT
"So how was your first day back at Yale, Rory?" asked Emily.
"Well my European History professor was a little dry, but I think I'm really going to enjoy calculus, believe it or not," replied Rory.
"By the way Lorelai, I got a call from your father today. I cannot believe that he is trying to take Friday night dinners away from me. These were my idea, not his."
"Mom, can't we split the time between you two?"
"I will not give up half my Fridays with you and Rory. This was my idea, I'm the one who's kept this going all this time, I should get at least 3 out of 4 Fridays," said Emily.
"What if we did appetizers at Grandpa's and dinner here?" offered Rory.
"Or, maybe the first, second, and fifth courses here and the third and seventh courses there?" joked Lorelai. "Though I don't know what we'd do about the sorbet."
"The sorbet would be a problem," said Rory.
"Well either way, next Friday will be fine for you to eat with Richard, since I have an engagement," said Emily.
"Oh yeah, what's the occasion?" asked Lorelai.
"Oh, just someone I met at the DAR auction. I donated that awful vase that your grandmother gave us, he bought it and now he's interested in its history."
"You have a date, Mom?" asked Lorelai.
"It's not a date. We're just discussing the vase."
"With a man," said Lorelai.
"Yes he's a man, Lorelai."
"Is he married?"
"No. He did mention that he's recently divorced."
"Did you mention that you're separated?"
"Yes, I believe that did come up," confirmed Emily.
"So this recently divorced man who knows that you're separated has asked you out to dinner at what I presume is a fancy restaurant?"
"Yes, Lorelai."
"Mom, this is a date," said Lorelai.
"Oh my God, it is a date, isn't it?" said Emily, looking aghast.
"Way to go, Grandma!" said Rory.
"I can't go on a date," said Emily. "I'm married...I mean I know I'm separated...but I haven't been on a date in over 40 years."
"You'll be fine Mom. Just be yourself. Well, then again, you may want to ease up on a few things," said Lorelai.
"Ease up on what?" asked Emily.
"Oh, just things like how you order your food."
"What's wrong with the way I order my food?"
"I just meant that, like, if you see prime rib on the menu, you may want to consider just ordering prime rib, without asking where the prime rib is from, how the cows were fed, how they were slaughtered, how the meat was transported, where it was stored before being cooked, and every detail about how it was prepared."
"What's wrong with liking my food a particular way?"
"Nothing Mom, I'm just saying that you may want to save that particular endearing aspect of your personality for the second date, or maybe the third, or even the fourth," said Lorelai.
"This is not helping me, Lorelai. And there's not going to be a fourth date. I didn't even know this was a first date," said Emily.
"Hey, first dates are the best ones, Mom."
"Really? When was the last time you went on a first date? Must not have been that great since you're with Christopher now, who you've known your whole life," Emily challenged her.
Lorelai's face fell. "Actually it was fantastic," she mumbled.