CUT TO:
INT. PARIS'S APARTMENT BEDROOM - MEANWHILE
RORY and PARIS sit on her bed. PARIS holds a copy of Literati, Jess's book, in her hand.
PARIS: Complete waste of my time.
RORY: How can you say that?
PARIS: It's been done before. It's cliche. And immature. It's like a male Judy Blume book.
RORY: But what about the style of writing?
PARIS: He's trying way too hard to be Kerouac to even get his point across. And what is with the Biblical names? Like that hasn't been done before. Does he have an ounce of creativity inside his body?
RORY: You're just saying that because you know him.
PARIS: Barely. You're just saying you liked the book because you like him.
RORY: (looks uncomfortable)...What about the story? Don't you think it was brave for him to put everything out there? There has to be something you liked about it.
PARIS: It's the "tragic," highly overdramatized tale of a typical sex-crazed teenager whose life is full of angst because he can't get the virgin Mary to go to bed with him.
RORY: He didn't just want to go to bed with her. He really liked her.
PARIS: What page did you read that on? Read between the lines Rory, the story is all about sex. It's smut, there's nothing romantic here. As much as you want this to be Shakespeare, it's all Anne Rice.
RORY: You should read it again. It's not like that at all.
PARIS: I have to admit, this book could have one use. It could be a manual for women on how not to behave. All the women in the town are village idiots. Like that one girl he sleeps with to make Mary jealous. She actually thought he liked her. I laughed especially hard at the part where they were at that dance, and Mary is dancing with Joe, and he starts screaming about how the narrator and Mary are so into each other, and Maggie just sits there. The half-wit has sex with him every day while he continues to openly pine over his sweet little virgin. I just can't believe how stupid he made his characters. Who would actually behave that way?
RORY: It's romantic.
PARIS: It's repulsive. Mary was definitely the worst one...The main reason the book was trash was that I couldn't even emphasize with the narrator because I couldn't see what he saw in her. She was book smart like you or me, but she lacked common sense. And she didn't sound all that pretty. This whole story just glamorizes virginity. I mean, what's the big deal? You pop the cherry and it's gone. I lost mine a long time ago and guys still seem to like me.
RORY: Paris...did you actually stop to think what the book was about?
PARIS: What's there to think about? I know you want this to be a masterpiece because Jess is your friend, but I hate to tell you, it's nothing special.
RORY: (offended) Paris...it's about me.
PARIS: What?
RORY: I'm Mary. The whole story is true.
PARIS: (shocked) You've got to be kidding me.
RORY: How could you not see it? You were friends with me in high school, you met Dean and Jess, multiple times. Didn't you ever listen to me back then? This was my junior and senior year of high school.
PARIS: It sounded a lot different coming from his point of view.
RORY: But the events are the same.
PARIS: He made you sound so innocent...
RORY: I was innocent. I told you I never slept with Jess.
PARIS: Yeah, but I didn't believe you. Especially not recently.
RORY: What do you mean?
PARIS: You sure seem to enjoy your daily roll in the sack with Huntzberger. Has he seen this book? He'd kill Jess if he knew he was publishing pornography about you.
RORY: (frustrated) Paris, this book isn't pornography. It's the story of how Jess fell in love with me.
PARIS: It's the story of how he wanted to have sex with you. This is gross, I can't believe this is about you. His portrayal of you is just...so far off.
RORY: (angry) Not as far off as yours.
RORY gets up and leaves.
PARIS: Rory!
PARIS sighs as she watches RORY storm out of the room.
CUT TO:
EXT. STARS HOLLOW - A SHORT WHILE LATER
JESS is walking through Stars Hollow town center. In the distance he sees SHANE, an attractive young woman with short blonde hair walking down the sidewalk. Alongside her walks a young toddler with light skin and dark hair. JESS, with a scared look on his face, focuses on them for a moment, then turns and walks away quickly.
CUT TO:
EXT. STARS HOLLOW - MOMENTS LATER
RORY is walking down the sidewalk. She sees SHANE and the young child down the street looking into a store window. The child is pointing happily at something inside the store. RORY walks towards them.
RORY: (approaching SHANE) Excuse me, is your name Shane?
SHANE turns toward RORY. The smile fades off of her face.
SHANE: Yes. Do I know you?
RORY: Not really. We've met but...it's been a long time.
SHANE: You look familiar...
RORY: We didn't meet under the best circumstances. I'm...
SHANE: Rory Gilmore?
RORY: Yes.
SHANE: I thought that's who you were. I remember your name a lot better than your face. You look different...
RORY: I got bangs.
SHANE: Looks nice.
RORY: Thanks. So...
RORY looks down at the boy.
SHANE: My son. Gus.
RORY: (to GUS) Well it's very nice to meet you Gus.
GUS hides behind SHANE'S leg.
SHANE: (smiles) He's shy around new people.
RORY: How old is he?
SHANE: Two and a half.
RORY nods slowly. There is an awkward silence.
SHANE: He's not Jess's, if that's what you're wondering.
RORY smiles, relieved.
RORY: You read my mind.
SHANE: His father was, unfortunately, the rebound of Jess. You know, the guy I slept with to get over him.
RORY: Are you still with him?
SHANE: God, no. It was a one night stand.
RORY: I'm so sorry.
SHANE: Don't be. It's not your fault. Or Jess's. I made my own stupid choices, now I have to pay for them.
RORY: Well he's adorable, so it looks like you got something good out of it.
SHANE: (rubbing GUS'S head affectionately) He might look cute, but he's a lot of work.
SHANE looks up at RORY.
SHANE: You aren't thinking of having one, are you? You've got that 'I want one' look on your face.
RORY: (wide eyed) Me? No. Definitely not. Not for many, many years. Fifteen maybe.
SHANE: (smiles) Good. You always were the good girl. You wouldn't do anything stupid like that.
RORY smiles. There is a moment of silence.
SHANE: So...are you still with Jess?
RORY stops to think before answering.
RORY: Actually...yes, I am.
SHANE'S eyes go wide.
SHANE: (surprised) Wow. I wasn't being serious...I just didn't know what else to say. That's amazing.
RORY: Yeah, it is, huh.
SHANE: He treating you well?
RORY: Very well.
SHANE: Good...he always liked you.
RORY: (quietly) I know.
SHANE: That's real good. I'm happy for you.
GUS: Mommy, I'm hungry.
SHANE: (smiles) I've gotta run. It was nice seeing you though. Tell Jess I said hi, huh? How's he doing anyway?
RORY: (smiles) He's great, actually...Hey, I know your son is hungry, but if you have some time, maybe we could go grab a coffee or something? I'm sure we could find him something to eat. I'd really like to show you something.
SHANE looks down at GUS.
SHANE: I don't know...to be honest, this is kind of awkward for me.
RORY: I know. You hate me, and you have every right to. But I really need to show you something. It'll only take a few minutes.
SHANE: Well...I guess we have a few minutes. (to GUS) Do you wanna stop off and get some food before we go to Gramma's?
GUS: (excitedly, hugging SHANE'S leg) Yeah!
SHANE: (smiles) Okay. This better be good.
RORY: Trust me, it will be.
RORY smiles excitedly and leads SHANE down the street.