A/N: Hi, guys. I am so sorry that it's been so long. I've got nothing to offer in exchange for being forgiven. Um...:sends cookies: There you go.

Thanks to Nicky, always. Thanks to all my new stars-hollow. org friends, who still like me!

Videos.

[Cut To: Luke's Diner, morning, LORELAI and RORY are sitting at the counter]

Lorelai: Hey, Duke.

Luke: Uh...hi.

Lorelai: So, listen, I had a dream last night. I was in a library, and I was younger. There was this woman at the head of the table, and she was shooting us all. Not fatally, but still. So no one runs away or anything, and then it comes to be my turn. She shoots me in the shoulder and I start bleeding. And, well, I don't really think anything of it, but this guy appears next to me and starts freaking out and trying to make me better. But no one was concerned about all those other people who got shot. Then I woke up. So what do you think about that?

Luke: Isn't it "were shot" instead of "got shot"?

Lorelai: About my dream. What does it mean?

Luke: It means that you're annoying me to death.

Lorelai: Oh, it does not.

Luke: I have a diner full of people to serve.

Lorelai: Let Vinnie do it. Talk to me.

Luke: No.

Lorelai: Just tell me what the dream means, then. That's it. Tell me and then you can go.

Luke: I have no idea what it means.

Lorelai: Then I guess you're not leaving for a while, are you?

Luke: Okay. It means that you know that there's a lot of pain all around you, but you feel that you've got people in your life who can help you through it.

Lorelai: (shocked)That's so...nice.

Luke: Either that or someone's going to shoot you. (he walks away)

Lorelai: Okay. Thanks. (she looks down and picks at her food for a little while, then she pushes the plate away and starts looking around. She seems bored, she turns to RORY)Someone talk to me! (RORY doesn't answer, she keeps reading. LORELAI turns over to her other side, where KIRK has appeared. She jumps back a little and gasps)Kirk.

Kirk: Lorelai.

Lorelai: You...you scared me, there.

Kirk: Didn't you want someone to talk to?

Lorelai: Well, yeah, I did...

Kirk: Because if you didn't, I gave up a perfectly good table to sit at the much less popular counter.

Lorelai: No, I do...

Kirk: Look at that table, Lorelai. Look. It's already got someone new sitting there. I can't go back.

Lorelai: (looking around)There are five empty tables.

Kirk: Yes, but is my table empty?

Lorelai: I'm going to assume no, Kirk.

Kirk: That's right.

Lorelai: So, anyway. Uh...what grade are you in?

Kirk: I'm a freshman at Stars Hollow High.

Lorelai: Do you like it?

Kirk: Yes, I do. I love school. I'm actually very fascinated by the grading system. You see...

Luke: (walking behind the counter)Kirk.

Kirk: Yes, Luke?

Luke: Time?

Kirk: (looking up at the clock)Seven forty-five! (he runs out)

Lorelai: What time does school start?

Luke: Eight. He likes to be a little early.

Lorelai: You made him leave. We were talking.

Luke: You probably shouldn't talk to Kirk.

Lorelai: But I'm bored! I have no one to talk to!

Luke: Talk to Rory.

Rory: Reading.

Lorelai: Uh-huh. Reading. She's always reading. We never should have taught her. This is all your fault.

Luke: Well, obviously.

Lorelai: Yeah. Yeah, you never should have taught her. (LUKE walks away)Duke! Wait! I need someone to talk to.

Luke: No, you don't.

Lorelai: Yes I do!

Luke: I don't want to hear about another one of your dreams.

Lorelai: It's your fault that I can't talk to Rory. Talk to me!

Luke: Go home. Why don't you go to sleep? It's really early for you to be up.

Lorelai: She woke me up.

Luke: Oh.

Lorelai: And then she dragged me here.

Rory: You dragged me here.

Lorelai: Because you wouldn't talk to Mommy.

Rory: I'm reading.

Luke: How far are you?

Rory: (proudly)Chapter seven.

Lorelai: You sleep last night?

Rory: Yes.

Lorelai: Really?

Rory: Nope.

Lorelai: (to LUKE)Talk to me!

Luke: No.

Lorelai: Fine. We're leaving.

Luke: Okay.

Lorelai: What? You don't even care?

Luke: It's not like you won't be back for dinner. We can pick up where we left off then.

Lorelai: (sighing)See you then. (she leaves some money on the counter, picks up RORY, and they leave)

[Cut To: Main Street, LORELAI is carrying RORY as they walk down the street. RORY's hanging on to LORELAI with one hand and has her book open in the other]

Lorelai: So then, I get shot. And someone comes to take care of me, even though no one took care of any of those other kids. (pause)Rory?

Rory: Yup.

Lorelai: Did you hear my dream?

Rory: Mommy, you've told me a whole bunch of times already.

Lorelai: And yet, no answer.

Rory: (not listening)Hmm.

Lorelai: (stopping in the street)Where are we going? Not the inn, not already. I don't want to go home. We were just at Duke's.

Rory: Hmm.

Lorelai: Oh! Movie store!

[Cut To: Stars Hollow Video Store, LORELAI and RORY are looking around]

Lorelai: Alice in Wonderland?

Rory: Hmm.

Lorelai: Footloose?

Rory: Hmm.

Lorelai: The Wizard of Oz?

Rory: (dropping her book, looking scared, yelling)No! No, Mommy, no! No! (the other people in the store turn to look)

Lorelai: (calm)Okay then. (she picks up RORY's book and hands it to her)Rosemary's Baby?

Rory: Mommy!

Lorelai: What?

Rory: Wizard scares me!

Lorelai: Well then next time you won't ignore me, will you?

Rory: No.

Lorelai: Then I guess I win.

Rory: Annie.

Lorelai: Stop it.

Rory: (singing)Tomorrow! Tomorrow! I'll love 'ya tomorrow!

Lorelai: I'll get you my pretty! And your little dog, too!

Rory: It's only a day away!

Lorelai: Okay, okay. You win!

Rory: (in a sing-song voice)Mommy's afraid of Annie, Mommy's afraid of Annie!

Lorelai: (in the same voice)Rory's afraid of The Wizard of Oz, Rory's afraid of The Wizard of Oz! (picking one up)Dirty Dancing. Sound good? Okay, good.

Worker: Hello.

Lorelai: Hi. Uh, here. (she gives him the video)

Worker: I'll get you a video card.

Lorelai: Thanks. (he goes into the back)So, truce?

Rory: Truce.

Worker: (coming back to the front)Lorelai. Is that spelled with an "ei" or an "ie"?

Lorelai: Actually, it's L-O-R-E-L-A-I. So, you know my name?

Worker: (looking confused)Of course I know your name. You're new.

Lorelai: Yes, I am.

Worker: Do you know how often we have new people? (he doesn't wait for her to answer)Never.

Lorelai: Yeah, I-

Worker: So, do you wanna go out?

Lorelai: Excuse me?

Worker: Listen, I'm okay with the whole kid thing.

Lorelai: Wow, that is very understanding of you.

Worker: And I know I'm a little younger-

Lorelai: A little more than a little.

Worker: But we can make it work.

Lorelai: I don't think-

Worker: You're fairly good-looking. But your hair looks funny. Is it naturally curly?

Lorelai: Sort of curly, I guess-

Worker: My sister irons her hair. Maybe you should try that.

Lorelai: You know I really don't-

Worker: Oh, it's okay. So, Saturday?

Lorelai: What? No.

Worker: Sunday, Monday? The kid have school?

Rory: School hasn't started.

Lorelai: And she's not "the kid".

Worker: Yeah, whatever. So, what do you do? Smoke, drink, drugs?

Lorelai: I don't-

Worker: Lie, cheat, steal?

Lorelai: I'm not-

Worker: Well, whatever, we'll work it out.

Lorelai: No, I don't think-

Worker: Two fifty.

Lorelai: No way.

Worker: You have to.

Lorelai: Pay for it yourself. (she leaves)

[Cut To: Independence Inn, kitchen, LORELAI bursts through the door, carrying RORY, her book, and the movie]

Lorelai: Josh! (she looks around for him)Josh!

Josh: (turning around)Yeah?

Lorelai: Video Store creep. What the hell?

Josh: (thinking)Craig? You mean Craig?

Lorelai: Um, well, I don't know. I didn't catch his name while he was asking me out and saying that I should take an iron to my head!

Josh: He said you should iron your head?

Lorelai: Iron my hair.

Josh: Why?

Lorelai: 'Cause mine's ugly, apparently.

Josh: No, it's...you know...it's okay.

Lorelai: You sure know how to compliment a girl.

Josh: So he asked you out?

Lorelai: More like a demand.

Josh: God, why would he ask you out?

Lorelai: Josh!

Josh: Craig's normal.

Lorelai: Craig is so not normal.

Josh: He's just really cramped up here. It's kind of a small town.

Lorelai: Oh, really? Hadn't noticed.

Josh: He lives at home with his mom because he feels bad about leaving. But he wants to desperately.

Lorelai: Huh. Yeah. I'm real sympathetic.

Josh: Give him a break.

Lorelai: A...a break? He was crazy! (to RORY)Babe, was he crazy?

Rory: Crazy!

Josh: Oh, God, he didn't do anything stupid, did he?

Lorelai: He asked me if I was on drugs.

Josh: (sighing)Oh, Craig.

Lorelai: This isn't the level of outrage that I was looking for!

Josh: What outrage?

Lorelai: Exactly!

Josh: Look, Lorelai, everyone loves Craig. He's like...he's the baby of the town. His parents were born and raised here, he and his sister were born and raised here. His whole life, all he's wanted was to get out. His mom won't let him and he feels guilty. He really is a good guy, but he'll use any excuse leave.

Lorelai: Well I don't know what that has to do with me.

Josh: He probably just wants to find out what it's like on the outside.

Lorelai: This isn't jail.

Josh: It is to some people.

Lorelai: (sighing)I don't feel guilty.

Josh: Didn't tell you to.

Lorelai: (trying to convince herself)I don't. Just because I lived through the exact same thing. And just because I made him pay for my movie. I don't. I...I don't feel bad.

Josh: Okay.

Lorelai: Do you think I'm mean? (to RORY)Was I mean to him?

Rory: Nope.

Lorelai: Okay. (to JOSH)Am I mean?

Josh: You're...uh...you take a little getting used to.

Lorelai: (quietly)I feel bad. (after a minute)We're gonna go watch our movie. Bye, Josh.

Rory: Bye, Mr. Josh.

Josh: Lunch? I've got a break at eleven thirty.

Lorelai: Yeah. See 'ya.

[Cut To: Independence Inn, room off of the dining room. LORELAI is sitting on the floor, watching, and RORY is sitting in her lap, reading her book]

Lorelai: (referring to Jennifer Grey)If anyone should iron her hair, she should.

Mia: (walking in)Oh, Lorelai.

Lorelai: (not turning around)Hey. (she nudges RORY)

Rory: Hi, Miss Mia.

Mia: What are you two doing in here?

Lorelai: (pausing the VCR and turning around)Oh, I found it one night when I was looking for the bathroom. Is this like a storeroom or something? There's papers everywhere.

Mia: Yes, it's a bit messy. (she sits down at a desk covered in papers)

Lorelai: What are you doing?

Mia: Just doing a little paperwork.

Lorelai: Oh, my God, Mia. Is this your office?

Mia: Well, if you can call it that.

Lorelai: I am so sorry! I didn't know, I just thought it was storage.

Mia: It's no problem. Go back to your movie. What are you watching?

Lorelai: Dirty Dancing.

Mia: They're showing that on Saturday night.

Lorelai: Why, what's Saturday night?

Mia: Just a movie night. We've got a big television and they play the movies on it. Not many people come, so it's very comfortable.

Rory: Can we go?

Lorelai: Yeah, sure.

Mia: Well, go ahead, play your movie.

Lorelai: You're sure?

Mia: Yes.

Lorelai: Okay.

(time lapse. LORELAI and RORY are still on the floor, but RORY is sitting off to the side, still reading. MIA has pulled her office chair over, and is watching the movie with them)

TV: Nobody puts Baby in a corner!

Lorelai: Wow. That movie was actually pretty good.

Mia: Very good.

Lorelai: Rory, you like it?

Rory: Yeah.

Lorelai: What was it about?

Rory: Dancing.

Lorelai: (to MIA)She just reads and reads and reads some more.

Mia: She's very smart.

Lorelai: Thanks. (RORY doesn't say anything)Rory?

Rory: Thank you.

Mia: School starts soon, doesn't it?

Lorelai: Tenth, I think.

Mia: Are you ready?

Lorelai: Yeah, I think she is. I mean, it's just pre-school, right? What does she really need to know? (MIA laughs)Hey, what time is it?

Mia: (checking her watch)Eleven thirty, almost.

Lorelai: Oh, we've gotta go. Baby, let's go. Lunch. Bye Mia. (they leave)

[Cut To: Independence Inn, dining room, LORELAI and RORY walk in and see JOSH sitting at a table with CRAIG]

Lorelai: You are not funny.