DRAGONFLY, 2:15
Emily and Richard stood in the doorway, greeting the guests. "Would you care for a drink, Emily?" Richard asked her.
"White wine, please," she replied.
Richard went over to the bar where Kirk was making drinks. "One white wine and a vodka tonic, please," he said.
"Are you sure you wouldn't prefer a Flaming Russian? Or a Lucky Lemon?" Kirk asked. "Oh and I'll need to see some ID, please."
"White wine and vodka tonic, please," Richard repeated. "And why on earth do you need to see my ID?" he asked, getting out his wallet.
"Is this for somebody else?" asked Kirk, indicating the white wine. "I'll need to see her ID too. If only Lorelai had agreed to the bracelet system I proposed, or at least hand stamps..."
Rory and James walked in the door as Richard was returning with the drinks. "Ah, Rory, welcome!" he said.
"Rory, we're so glad to see you," said Emily. "Who is your friend?"
"Grandma, this is James," said Rory. "James, these are my grandparents."
"Do you go to Yale with Rory?" asked Richard.
"Yes sir," he replied. "I'm in my third year."
"Class of 1960, myself," Richard informed him.
"Rory," said Emily, indicating some newly arrived guests, "I'd like you to meet the DuVergers."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Rory was coming out of the bathroom when Lorelai almost bumped into her. "Hey hon," said Lorelai. "I didn't see you arrive."
"Got here about half an hour ago," said Rory. "James is making a huge hit, I think Grandma is starting wedding plans."
"Oh my God, Rory, I've got so much to tell you. Hey where were you this morning? I tried calling you."
"Oh, we headed out for an early breakfast," Rory replied. "I must have had my phone off. Why what's up?"
"Well for starters, Kirk decided to make Swiss cheese out of the dining room wall with some champagne corks so I had to call Tom, and he sent Dean over. He was asking about you."
"Is he still here?" asked Rory, looking around.
"I don't know. He finished up the dining room wall but I know I gave Tom a list the other day of things to check over in the rooms upstairs, he may be up there now."
"Mom, he left me a message last night. He's separated from Lindsey and he says he wants to talk to me."
"Oh wow, Rory. How do you feel about this?"
"I don't know, I mean things have been going really well with James..." Rory looked lost.
"Well you just be careful, hon," said Lorelai. "Sorry, we'll do the girl talk thing later, but right now I need to make sure the table settings are all ready."
"Hey where's Dad?" asked Rory. "Wasn't he supposed to be here?"
"There's lots of places Christopher was supposed to be today," replied Lorelai angrily.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The guests were all sitting at the tables in the dining room, finishing their meals as Richard came over to talk to Lorelai, who was sitting with Rory and James.
"I think it's about time to say a few words," he told her. "Any word from Christopher about the painting?"
"No, Dad," said Lorelai.
"What happened to him?" asked Rory.
"If he's lucky he's been swallowed by a brontosaurus," said Lorelai. "Or contracted a lethal case of 24-hour mumps."
"Then I'll have to improvise," Richard said, annoyed.
Lorelai clinked her glass and stood up to speak. "Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to take a moment to thank you for coming here to celebrate my parents' 40th anniversary."
The guests clapped their applause.
"As you probably know, they had a rough year this past year, but they're back together today. And I think they have some words they'd like to say to each other."
Emily and Richard stood up and Emily began to speak.
"Richard, I'm the luckiest woman in the world to have a husband like you. This is for you," said Emily, presenting him with a gift. "It's a case of 2003 Chateau Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan." The guests applauded. "It doesn't mature for another 15 years, so you're stuck with me for at least that long," she said as they kissed.
Lorelai poked Rory in the side and whispered, "Hey, what do you say we swipe that stuff and hide out back for the rest of the party?"
Rory rolled her eyes.
Next was Richard's turn. "Emily, you've done wonderfully to put up with me for all these years," he said to her. "I looked all around for the perfect anniversary gift for the perfect wife, and it just didn't exist. But I had to get something, so I've decided to take you for a romantic getaway. I'm taking you on a month-long trip to Australia and New Zealand."
The guests applauded as Richard and Emily embraced.
"God that's so nice," commented Lorelai, wistfully watching her parents together. "I wonder if I'll ever have that. Well not that exactly, I could do without the manipulation, the Hitler-esque controlling, and the white party gloves, but..."
"I know what you mean," said Rory.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Rory led James upstairs to show him the rest of the Inn. "My grandparents adore you," she said to him.
"Yeah, I've always done well with parents and family," he replied.
She led him from room to room. "We officially christened each room after the test run Mom and Sookie did before they officially opened. This is the Kirk room," she said, as they went into a rather barren-looking room.
"Kirk? Anything to do with the Kirk who was trying to get me to drink something called a 'Hairy Happy Trail?' And why is there nothing on the walls?"
"One and the same," said Rory. "And it's a long story," she said as she leaned in to kiss him.
"Nice room," said James, smiling.
"It may be the nicest one," Rory agreed.
"Want another drink?" he asked.
"Sure," agreed Rory.
"Glass of rosé?" he asked.
"Kirk will never let you have it without checking my ID." replied Rory. "Coke will be fine." James headed downstairs to get the drinks as Rory went into the hallway. As soon as he disappeared, Dean came out of one of the rooms.
"Dean...Mom said you had been here, I thought you had left," said Rory nervously.
"I've been trying to call you," he said.
"Why?"
Dean sighed. "Do you really have to ask?"
"Yes, I think I do," said Rory.
"I moved back in with my parents," he informed her. "It's over with Lindsey."
"Sounds familiar," she said angrily.
"Rory I know I screwed up. I'm sorry," Dean said. "Can we try to..."
"Try to what?" she asked.
Dean paused, searching for words. "Do you love him?" he finally said.
"That's none of your business," said Rory.
"Do you love me?" he asked her abruptly.
They looked at each other expectantly, as Rory uncomfortably shifted her weight from foot to foot, pondering.
Just then, James came up the stairs with the drinks. "Hey Rory, try this," he said, handing her a drink. "It's called a 'Third Rail.' It's really good." He noticed Dean.
"Dean, this is James," said Rory.
"Uh, hi," said Dean.
"Hi. Hey, I think your mom is looking for you," James informed her.
"OK, let's go," she said.
"Nice meeting you," James said as they went downstairs.
DRAGONFLY, 6PM
Richard and Emily stood in the doorway saying goodbye to the last guests.
"We're going to take off," said Rory. "I'm going to show James lovely downtown Stars Hollow."
"OK, hon, I'll see you back at home?"
Rory nodded. "OK if James crashes on the couch?" she asked.
"That couch has seen bigger crashes than him, I think it can take it," replied Lorelai.
"Lorelai, I think the party was a resounding success," said Emily.
"Yes," agreed Richard. "I'm betting you won't be able to keep up with the business you'll be getting from the contacts you made today."
"Thanks, Mom. Thanks, Dad," said Lorelai.
"You never heard from Christopher?" Emily asked.
"No Mom, I never heard from him, and I'm not sure I want to at this point."
"I just can't believe Christopher would do something like this," Emily said to Richard as he helped her put her coat on.
Lorelai hugged her parents goodbye. "I'll see you on Friday," she said as they left.
Lorelai went into the kitchen. "OK, am I allowed to have that nervous breakdown now?" she asked Sookie. "You don't need me for anything else, right? All the guests have gone home, the staff can clean up on their own. Now where's that straightjacket I hid back here? Hey Sookie, the food was a big hit!"
"It was, wasn't it?" said Sookie. "I got so many compliments on my crab puffs."
"And Jackson made it back to take Davey before Michel stuck his head in the oven," said Lorelai.
"Thank God. Would have ruined the souffle," said Sookie. "Hey, what was Luke doing here before?"
"Saving the day," replied Lorelai. "He's the only one I could get hold of when I was stuck in Boston. God if he hadn't come through I don't want to think about what would've happened," sighed Lorelai.
Just then Christopher walked in the door.
Emily and Richard stood in the doorway, greeting the guests. "Would you care for a drink, Emily?" Richard asked her.
"White wine, please," she replied.
Richard went over to the bar where Kirk was making drinks. "One white wine and a vodka tonic, please," he said.
"Are you sure you wouldn't prefer a Flaming Russian? Or a Lucky Lemon?" Kirk asked. "Oh and I'll need to see some ID, please."
"White wine and vodka tonic, please," Richard repeated. "And why on earth do you need to see my ID?" he asked, getting out his wallet.
"Is this for somebody else?" asked Kirk, indicating the white wine. "I'll need to see her ID too. If only Lorelai had agreed to the bracelet system I proposed, or at least hand stamps..."
Rory and James walked in the door as Richard was returning with the drinks. "Ah, Rory, welcome!" he said.
"Rory, we're so glad to see you," said Emily. "Who is your friend?"
"Grandma, this is James," said Rory. "James, these are my grandparents."
"Do you go to Yale with Rory?" asked Richard.
"Yes sir," he replied. "I'm in my third year."
"Class of 1960, myself," Richard informed him.
"Rory," said Emily, indicating some newly arrived guests, "I'd like you to meet the DuVergers."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Rory was coming out of the bathroom when Lorelai almost bumped into her. "Hey hon," said Lorelai. "I didn't see you arrive."
"Got here about half an hour ago," said Rory. "James is making a huge hit, I think Grandma is starting wedding plans."
"Oh my God, Rory, I've got so much to tell you. Hey where were you this morning? I tried calling you."
"Oh, we headed out for an early breakfast," Rory replied. "I must have had my phone off. Why what's up?"
"Well for starters, Kirk decided to make Swiss cheese out of the dining room wall with some champagne corks so I had to call Tom, and he sent Dean over. He was asking about you."
"Is he still here?" asked Rory, looking around.
"I don't know. He finished up the dining room wall but I know I gave Tom a list the other day of things to check over in the rooms upstairs, he may be up there now."
"Mom, he left me a message last night. He's separated from Lindsey and he says he wants to talk to me."
"Oh wow, Rory. How do you feel about this?"
"I don't know, I mean things have been going really well with James..." Rory looked lost.
"Well you just be careful, hon," said Lorelai. "Sorry, we'll do the girl talk thing later, but right now I need to make sure the table settings are all ready."
"Hey where's Dad?" asked Rory. "Wasn't he supposed to be here?"
"There's lots of places Christopher was supposed to be today," replied Lorelai angrily.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The guests were all sitting at the tables in the dining room, finishing their meals as Richard came over to talk to Lorelai, who was sitting with Rory and James.
"I think it's about time to say a few words," he told her. "Any word from Christopher about the painting?"
"No, Dad," said Lorelai.
"What happened to him?" asked Rory.
"If he's lucky he's been swallowed by a brontosaurus," said Lorelai. "Or contracted a lethal case of 24-hour mumps."
"Then I'll have to improvise," Richard said, annoyed.
Lorelai clinked her glass and stood up to speak. "Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to take a moment to thank you for coming here to celebrate my parents' 40th anniversary."
The guests clapped their applause.
"As you probably know, they had a rough year this past year, but they're back together today. And I think they have some words they'd like to say to each other."
Emily and Richard stood up and Emily began to speak.
"Richard, I'm the luckiest woman in the world to have a husband like you. This is for you," said Emily, presenting him with a gift. "It's a case of 2003 Chateau Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan." The guests applauded. "It doesn't mature for another 15 years, so you're stuck with me for at least that long," she said as they kissed.
Lorelai poked Rory in the side and whispered, "Hey, what do you say we swipe that stuff and hide out back for the rest of the party?"
Rory rolled her eyes.
Next was Richard's turn. "Emily, you've done wonderfully to put up with me for all these years," he said to her. "I looked all around for the perfect anniversary gift for the perfect wife, and it just didn't exist. But I had to get something, so I've decided to take you for a romantic getaway. I'm taking you on a month-long trip to Australia and New Zealand."
The guests applauded as Richard and Emily embraced.
"God that's so nice," commented Lorelai, wistfully watching her parents together. "I wonder if I'll ever have that. Well not that exactly, I could do without the manipulation, the Hitler-esque controlling, and the white party gloves, but..."
"I know what you mean," said Rory.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Rory led James upstairs to show him the rest of the Inn. "My grandparents adore you," she said to him.
"Yeah, I've always done well with parents and family," he replied.
She led him from room to room. "We officially christened each room after the test run Mom and Sookie did before they officially opened. This is the Kirk room," she said, as they went into a rather barren-looking room.
"Kirk? Anything to do with the Kirk who was trying to get me to drink something called a 'Hairy Happy Trail?' And why is there nothing on the walls?"
"One and the same," said Rory. "And it's a long story," she said as she leaned in to kiss him.
"Nice room," said James, smiling.
"It may be the nicest one," Rory agreed.
"Want another drink?" he asked.
"Sure," agreed Rory.
"Glass of rosé?" he asked.
"Kirk will never let you have it without checking my ID." replied Rory. "Coke will be fine." James headed downstairs to get the drinks as Rory went into the hallway. As soon as he disappeared, Dean came out of one of the rooms.
"Dean...Mom said you had been here, I thought you had left," said Rory nervously.
"I've been trying to call you," he said.
"Why?"
Dean sighed. "Do you really have to ask?"
"Yes, I think I do," said Rory.
"I moved back in with my parents," he informed her. "It's over with Lindsey."
"Sounds familiar," she said angrily.
"Rory I know I screwed up. I'm sorry," Dean said. "Can we try to..."
"Try to what?" she asked.
Dean paused, searching for words. "Do you love him?" he finally said.
"That's none of your business," said Rory.
"Do you love me?" he asked her abruptly.
They looked at each other expectantly, as Rory uncomfortably shifted her weight from foot to foot, pondering.
Just then, James came up the stairs with the drinks. "Hey Rory, try this," he said, handing her a drink. "It's called a 'Third Rail.' It's really good." He noticed Dean.
"Dean, this is James," said Rory.
"Uh, hi," said Dean.
"Hi. Hey, I think your mom is looking for you," James informed her.
"OK, let's go," she said.
"Nice meeting you," James said as they went downstairs.
DRAGONFLY, 6PM
Richard and Emily stood in the doorway saying goodbye to the last guests.
"We're going to take off," said Rory. "I'm going to show James lovely downtown Stars Hollow."
"OK, hon, I'll see you back at home?"
Rory nodded. "OK if James crashes on the couch?" she asked.
"That couch has seen bigger crashes than him, I think it can take it," replied Lorelai.
"Lorelai, I think the party was a resounding success," said Emily.
"Yes," agreed Richard. "I'm betting you won't be able to keep up with the business you'll be getting from the contacts you made today."
"Thanks, Mom. Thanks, Dad," said Lorelai.
"You never heard from Christopher?" Emily asked.
"No Mom, I never heard from him, and I'm not sure I want to at this point."
"I just can't believe Christopher would do something like this," Emily said to Richard as he helped her put her coat on.
Lorelai hugged her parents goodbye. "I'll see you on Friday," she said as they left.
Lorelai went into the kitchen. "OK, am I allowed to have that nervous breakdown now?" she asked Sookie. "You don't need me for anything else, right? All the guests have gone home, the staff can clean up on their own. Now where's that straightjacket I hid back here? Hey Sookie, the food was a big hit!"
"It was, wasn't it?" said Sookie. "I got so many compliments on my crab puffs."
"And Jackson made it back to take Davey before Michel stuck his head in the oven," said Lorelai.
"Thank God. Would have ruined the souffle," said Sookie. "Hey, what was Luke doing here before?"
"Saving the day," replied Lorelai. "He's the only one I could get hold of when I was stuck in Boston. God if he hadn't come through I don't want to think about what would've happened," sighed Lorelai.
Just then Christopher walked in the door.