INT. POOLHOUSE- DAY
LOGAN and RORY are talking. LOGAN is holding some suitcases next to him.
LOGAN: Now, I'm gonna be gone all weekend. You sure you're gonna be okay Ace?
They start walking towards the door.
RORY: (dramatically) Oh, I shall pine, I shall perish! I think I can manage. Just make sure you call me.
They turn to face each other and smile, giving each other a tap kiss on the lips.
LOGAN: You sure you're going to Lane's house this weekend? A long weekend alone in a big empty house…lots of opportunity there, Ace.
RORY makes a cute face.
RORY (playfully): Stop.
They begin to walk out to his car.
RORY (CON'T): If I didn't know you better, I'd think you didn't trust me.
LOGAN: (looking at his watch) I really should be going. But before I depart…I have a little surprise for you.
LOGAN reaches into his car and pulls out a box. He hands the box to RORY. She opens it at an angle where we can't see what's inside. Her eyes grow wide.
RORY: Logan!
LOGAN: Let's just say it's a little something to keep you thinking about me until I get back, huh?
RORY: Well, it sure is a little something all right.
They kiss.
RORY (CON'T): Call me when you get in, okay?
LOGAN: Will do.
LOGAN gets into a luxury vehicle and drives away. He waves goodbye out the window to RORY. She smiles and heads inside, box in hand.
CUT TO:
EXT. STARS HOLLOW TOWN CENTER- EVENING
LANE'S band is playing a set in the gazebo. RORY is in the crowd with some other young people, jumping around to the music. TAYLOR appears from behind RORY.
TAYLOR: RORY! What a pleasant surprise! My, my, I will say, it's been quite some time since we've seen you in Stars Hollow.
RORY: (smiling) I know, I know…I've just been very busy.
TAYLOR: With what?
RORY makes a puzzled face.
TAYLOR (CON'T): Well, if you're not going to Yale, what are you so busy with?
RORY: Um…I joined the DAR.
TAYLOR: The what?
RORY: The Daughters Of The American-
RORY is interrupted by KIRK.
KIRK: Is it true you joined the circus?
RORY: (spins around to face KIRK) Excuse me?
KIRK: The circus. Is it true you're an acrobat? Because I also heard that you were a clown, but more people said you were an acrobat, so I'm going to have to believe that rumor. That's why you dropped out of Yale, right?
In the background, we hear LANE'S BAND'S set end. RORY opens her mouth to speak. LANE comes up from behind.
LANE: Hey Kirk. (To RORY) Ready to go? We gotta get all the equipment into the van.
RORY: Yeah…
She starts to walk away.
RORY (CON'T): (turning around) Oh, and Kirk? (whispers) I'm actually a lion tamer.
CUT TO:
EXT. STARS HOLLOW STREET- MOMENTS LATER
RORY and LANE'S BAND are walking down the street carrying amplifiers and microphones.
RORY: Where'd you park the van?
LANE: In front of Luke's.
RORY: Luke's?
LANE: Yeah…we're not going inside or anything, it was just a convenient place to park.
RORY: Did you hear I was in the cirus?
LANE: What?
RORY: Have people around here been talking a lot about me since I've been gone?
They reach the van and start putting stuff inside.
LANE: (shaking her head) No…well…yeah…
RORY: (whining) They have! What have they been saying?
LANE: Oh, lots of things…
LANE keeps talking but her voice fades into the background. The camera focuses on RORY as she squints her eyes, as if she is trying to see something in the distance. RORY walks away from the group and up to Luke's Diner. She glances in the window of the door. The diner is dark and empty with chairs up on the tables. Behind the counter she sees JESS wiping down the counter. RORY stares at him for a moment. JESS looks up. Their eyes meet. Expressionless, they stare at each other. After a moment, JESS puts down his rag and walks towards the door. He opens the door and stands face to face with RORY.
JESS: (expressionless) Hi.
RORY: (expressionless) Hi.
They continue to stare at each other in still silence. LANE is heard rambling on in the background as she enters from behind RORY. She notices JESS and is stunned.
LANE: Wow. Hi Jess.
JESS: (without looking at her) Hello Lane.
JESS quickly darts his eyes at LANE and then returns to RORY. He looks down nervously and runs his fingers through his hair.
JESS: You guys want some coffee?
LANE looks at RORY for her reaction. RORY is still wide eyed and staring at JESS with a blank expression on her face like a deer in headlights. LANE snaps her fingers to get RORY's attention. RORY snaps out of it.
RORY: Oh! (nodding slowly) Coffee…sounds…nice…
JESS looks up at RORY.
RORY: (to LANE) You know, Jess and I have some catching up to do. Why don't I meet you back at your place?
LANE: Okay! Sounds great. Call me if you need a ride.
RORY: I brought my car. But thanks, I will.
LANE and RORY hug.
LANE: Okay…well I guess I'll get going then…it was nice seeing you Jess.
JESS: (nods, still looking down) The same.
LANE: (makes a weird smile) Bye Rory.
LANE leaves.
JESS and RORY both look at the ground.
JESS: (looking up) Still want some coffee?
RORY: (pauses) Sure.
JESS opens the door and steps aside, allowing RORY to enter. He closes the door behind them. RORY takes a chair down from one of the tables and sits. She stares down at the table. JESS goes behind the counter and pours a cup of coffee. He brings the cup over to RORY's table and puts it down in front of her.
RORY: What are you doing here?
JESS: (sitting down) (sarcastically) I'm fine thanks, and you?
RORY: Oh, don't give me that-
JESS: Don't give you what? I was TRYING to be nice to you. Jeez.
RORY: Okay, I'll try to be nice.
She puts on a big fake smile.
RORY: (CON'T) So Jess, it's so nice to see you. You look great.
JESS: (aggravated) Stop.
RORY: (in same sarcastic tone) What are you doing here?
JESS: (with same sarcastic politeness and a fake smile) I'm visiting Luke.
RORY: Oh, how's he doing?
JESS: Oh, he's great. In fact, he's engaged to your mother.
RORY: Ah, yes, the engagement. He mentioned something about that.
They pause. RORY sips her coffee.
RORY (CON'T): So if you're visiting Luke, why isn't he here?
JESS: (getting up to get himself a cup of coffee) He's with your mother.
RORY: Oh. What's he been up to?
JESS: (pouring himself a cup of coffee) Not much.
RORY: So you just came here out of the blue?
JESS: I should be asking you the same question.
RORY: What? I live here, this is my town. I have every right to be here.
JESS: (leaning against the counter) Huh. That's not what Luke said.
RORY: What did Luke say?
JESS: He said you got kicked out. Said you and your mom got into a little disagreement.
RORY: What else did he tell you?
JESS: Oh, I dunno. Lots of awful things. He made you sound like a felon.
RORY: What did he tell you?
JESS: I don't even know where to begin.
RORY: Well, tell me so I can defend myself or at least tell you what's true and what's not true.
JESS: Calm down Tom Robinson, I know you didn't do it.
RORY: Do what?
JESS: Drop out of Yale. I told Luke he was CRAZY. Rory would never even THINK about not going to school…would she?
RORY: I didn't drop out of Yale, I'm just taking some time off.
JESS: I can't believe what I'm hearing.
RORY: Hey.
JESS: Is it like a "cool" thing? Inform me, please.
RORY: You don't know the whole story!
JESS: No, and I'd love to hear it, but unfortunately I have to go steal a yacht. Maybe we can discuss this some other time.
RORY is silent. She stares at the floor.
JESS (CON'T): Well well well. Rory Gilmore, college dropout who lives off of her grandparents and plays Grand Theft Yachto in her spare time. Your mom must be so proud.
RORY: You're one to talk.
JESS: Yeah, I am one to talk, because my record is clean. I've done my share of petty theft and vandalism, maybe I disturbed the peace a few times, hell I even got a speeding ticket last week. But I NEVER committed a felony.
RORY: At least I graduated high school! At least I had a plan! And it didn't work out, so I'm taking some time off to consider my options.
JESS: Options huh. Let's take a look at those options, shall we? You can marry your rich boyfriend and live off of his family, you can stay with your grandparents and live off of their money, or you could go back to college and make something of yourself. Huh. So many appealing choices.
RORY: And what are your appealing choices? Let's see. "I don't have a high school diploma. I could work at Walmart, or Kmart, or maybe I could even be a pizza delivery boy!"
JESS: Hey. How do you know I didn't get my GED? How do you know I'm not going to college? I could be going to UCLA for all you know!
RORY: I highly doubt that UCLA accepts a GED in lieu of a diploma.
JESS: And I highly doubt that CNN hires people with a felony on their record.
RORY: I'm sure my grandfather can pull a few strings and get me a job wherever I want.
JESS: Oh, I forgot. You're a spoiled little brat who gets whatever she wants. That's why being with me was so hard for you, because I didn't spoil you and I didn't kiss your grandfather's ass or build you a car or do work around the house for your mom. No, you couldn't stand the fact that I wasn't gonna be your personal slave.
RORY: No, I couldn't stand being with you because you never called me, because there was never a plan, because you lied to me, heck you didn't have to lie, you barely told me anything.
JESS: What did you want me to say? Rory I'm flunking out, Rory I'm not graduating so I can't take you to the prom, and Luke kicked me out so I can't stay here and my father who I've never met has just come into my life and is offering me a place to stay so I have to go to California and live with him now, maybe I'll send you a postcard. Is that what I should have said, Rory? If I had said that would everything have been okay?
RORY stands up.
RORY: No, but it would have been better than you just leaving like you did with no phone call, no letter, nothing. You didn't handle things right, Jess. You went about it in the wrong way. You really hurt me.
JESS: Well I'm sorry.
RORY: You didn't call or write. Years have passed. What am I supposed to do, just forgive you? I wasted a year of my life on you, Jess. I wasted a year of my life with you and months before that liking you and months after that missing you. I gave you everything, I left Dean for you, I got into countless fights with my mother over you, I missed my mother's graduation for you, I almost had sex with you.
JESS: I wish you did, at least I would have got something out of this relationship.
RORY smacks JESS across the face.
JESS: Aw, is that the best you can do?
RORY: (screaming) I hate you!
JESS: Come on, hit me a little harder.
RORY slaps him again.
RORY: You're an asshole!
JESS: (unaffected) Please.
RORY: Ugh!
RORY punches JESS in the face. JESS rubs his cheek.
JESS: (sarcastically) Ouch, you really got me.
RORY looks infuriated. She takes a deep breath and punches JESS in the eye. He nearly falls over. He reaches for his eye with his hand. He leans over the counter holding his eye in agonizing pain. RORY is shocked at what she's done.
RORY: Jess…are you…
JESS moans in pain.
RORY: (frantic) Are you okay? Do you need some ice? I'll get you some ice.
RORY disappears into the diner kitchen. She returns with some ice.
RORY: Here. Ice.
RORY reaches for JESS by his shoulders and guides him to sit down on one of the counter stools. She puts the ice in his hand.
RORY: Here.
JESS puts the ice on his eye.
JESS: Thanks.
RORY: Should I get you anything else?
JESS: The ice is fine.
RORY: Okay.
There is an awkward moment of silence.
RORY: I'm sorry… I didn't mean to…
JESS: Don't apologize.
RORY: Okay.
JESS: I deserved it.
RORY: No arguments there.
There is a pause.
RORY: (CON'T) Remember that time you got hit in the eye with a football and had a black eye? When you came to my grandmother's for dinner?
JESS: What? Oh…that wasn't a football.
He smirks.
RORY: What? You said you didn't get into a fight with Dean!
JESS: I didn't, relax. It was a swan.
RORY: A what?
JESS: A swan. I got beaked.
RORY laughs.
JESS: What? It's not funny.
RORY: No, it's just that, I don't think I've ever heard anyone use "beaked" as a verb before.
CUT TO: FLASHBACK: SWAN SONG
CUT TO LUKE'S DINER Luke is behind the counter, Jess walks down from upstairs
LUKE: Whoa.
JESS: What?
LUKE: You're Petey the dog.
JESS: I prefer to not talk about this.
LUKE: Is that why you snuck in last night?
JESS: I did not sneak in. Now, could we get back to work here?
LUKE: Fine, start clearing some stuff. So when'd you get into a fight with Dean?
JESS: It wasn't a fight with Dean.
LUKE: Whoa, where's that coming from? I just asked.
JESS: What's with everybody making assumptions? I'm sick of it.
LUKE: So it wasn't Dean.
JESS: No.
LUKE: When did it happen, yesterday?
JESS: Yes.
LUKE: You went to Rory's grandmother yesterday. She punch you?
JESS: Stop.
LUKE: Where'd you get it?
JESS: Santa Claus.
LUKE: So you're not gonna tell me?
JESS: That's right.
phone rings
LUKE: answers Hello? Yeah, hey Rory, hang on a sec. to Jess It's Rory.
JESS: I'm not here.
LUKE: What?
JESS: Get a clue, Columbo. I don't wanna talk to her.
LUKE: You don't wanna talk to Rory? to Rory Yeah, Rory? Yeah, he just went someplace. Yeah, I'll tell him. Bye.
Luke hangs up the phone, then grabs Jess by his shirt
LUKE: Come on.
JESS: Hey.
Luke pulls him to the storage room
JESS: Come on, what is this?
LUKE: Look, you're my responsibility. You're exhibiting signs of violent behavior and I don't care how much you don't wanna talk about it, you're not leaving until you tell me. Now, tell me, where'd you get the black eye?
JESS: You wouldn't believe it anyway.
LUKE: Try me, tough guy.
JESS: A swan.
LUKE: Excuse me?
JESS: I was attacked by a swan. Okay, you happy? A stupid swan.
LUKE: Now, how 'bout the real story?
JESS: That is the real story. It hangs out by Larson's Dock. I was just walking by and the thing came out of nowhere and bam - beaked me right in the eye.
LUKE: It beaked you?
JESS: You still don't believe me.
LUKE: I just never heard anyone use the word beaked as a verb before.
JESS: No, no, this isn't funny. That stupid bird attacked me. He could've blinded me. It's a vicious, vicious bird, and . . .fine. Forget it.
they walk back into the diner. Jess retrieves a ladle from under the counter
LUKE: What are you doing? Where are you going?
JESS: I'm gonna do a little beaking of my own.
LUKE: Jess, not the ladle. That's a brand new ladle. Take the baster!
CUT TO:
INT. LUKE'S DINER- MOMENTS LATER
RORY shakes her head, smiling.
RORY: I don't believe you got attacked by a swan.
They pause for a few seconds. RORY sips her coffee.
JESS: You wanna go somewhere?
RORY: Like where?
JESS: Anywhere.
RORY: Well, where do you wanna go?
JESS: Someplace I'll like.
RORY: Well, there's only one place you like in Stars Hollow.
JESS: And that place is…
RORY: The bridge?
JESS: Sounds good to me.
RORY: Fine. But I'm only being nice to you because you're injured.
JESS: Well maybe I'll have to fall off the bridge onto some rocks breaking every bone in my body so you'll be really nice to me.
JESS shuts the diner lights off and leaves. RORY smiles.