Title: The Mariano Agenda
Author: Bent137
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Characters of Gilmore Girls(as well as anything else associated with it) aren't mine, the title is a spin of the Dark Angel episode "The Berrisford Agenda".
Spoilers: Up to the Season 2 Finale
Music References: All lyrics can be found on MxPx - "Today is in My Way", "Foolish", and "Late Last Night"
Authors Note: I've had this bouncing around for a little while. I finally got the chance to sit and write it out. This is the first time I've done script format. Thanks to Rea for beta reading for me.

Sleepless Rory, Driven Paris

Previously

Rory: (ranting) I don't understand you. I really don't. One minute we're screaming at each other, the next we're kissing, and you're all messed up in your head and you've long ago messed up mine and it isn't good. Because I know what I want. For the first time since you came here, I know what I want. I'm willing to go for what I want, that's you. I broke up with Dean at the bus stop this afternoon because of it. I was willing to sacrifice my friends and my family for us, but you don't care. So tomorrow morning I'm going to board that plane to Washington, and I'm going to have a miserable time all summer because when I'm not thinking about my breakup with Dean or this thing that is and isn't between us I'm going to be with Paris. You're going to be here, and you're going to have Luke, and your project with your room, and nothing is going to change for you. So when you're ready to grow up let me know.

(The song crescendos. Rory turns and walks out. She goes past Luke in the hall, grabbing the steaming coffee mug out of his hand and chugging it then handing it back to him before leaving the building. Jess is back in his room still staring at the empty space in the doorway. The song fades out.)

Jess: (whispering, not quite believing.) She broke up with bag boy, for me.

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(The scene opens with a shot of a wall clock that's hands are situated so it reads 5:00. The camera zooms out and pans slowly across the diner. It's not dark, but not light either. A kind of grayish tint swallows everything, bathing it in a freshness. Luke is at the counter loading containers into a large bag with the "Luke's" emblem on the side. He walks up stairs and into Jess' room, where Jess is twisted in a blanket on top of a mattress, which is sitting in the middle of the room on top of the cloth he was taping down the night before. The walls have been taped off but are still white. Luke walks up to the side of the mattress and gently kicks Jess.)

Jess: (sleepily) What?

Luke: I'm leaving in a few minutes, are you coming?

Jess: Where? Wait, never mind, no. I'm not coming.

Luke: Are you sure?

Jess: Yeah.

Luke: Okay.

(Luke leaves. A moment later we hear the bell on the diner door jingle, signaling his departure. Jess sits up on the mattress then groans and flops back down. After a moment he gets up and walks out to his stereo in the other room. He turns it on and "Southbound" by MxPx starts playing. He walks back into his room and drags out the mattress and blanket then goes in and opens a can of paint and stirs it. The song fades a little into the background as the scene switches to Luke walking up to the Gilmore Household's door. He prepares to knock when the door is ripped open, in front of him stand Lorelai and Rory. They're both completely dressed and showered, their wet hair hanging down their backs. They both have the same grumpy look in their eyes. He thrusts out two cups of coffee and they take them, chugging them back. They turn and walk into the kitchen, Luke follows, shutting the door behind him.)

Luke: (holding up the bag) I brought breakfast.

Lorelai: Good.(she takes the bag from his hands and sets it on the table. She begins pulling things out and setting them on the table. Rory silently grabs a container and opens it. Luke watches her, concerned, as she begins eating.)

Luke: (hesitantly) So uh, I already ate, and I noticed the bags by the front door, so I'll go load them in the Jeep.

(When neither Gilmore's say anything he walks out and grabs the bags taking them outside. He's loading the last bag when Rory comes out, looking exhausted. The song fades out.)

Luke: Hey Kid.

Rory: Hey Luke.

Luke: Didn't get much sleep huh?

Rory: No. You?

Luke: Not really.

Rory: You're evil. How can you function so well on so little sleep.

Luke: (shrugging) Because I have to.

Rory: How is...? (she trails off.)

Luke: He's okay, quiet, but okay.

Rory: If anything happens, call me. Please.

Luke: I will.

(They stare at each other a second, both thinking about Jess when Lorelai bounds out the door and down the steps.)

Lorelai: We ready to get this party on the road? (She climbs into the Jeep)

(Rory and Luke look at each other and climb into the Jeep. Cut to Lorelai, Luke, and Rory arriving at the airport. Luke is carrying the large suitcase we saw earlier, Lorelai is tugging on a rolling bag and Rory is carrying a medium sized purse/bag and her laptop. They drop off her luggage at the correct baggage window and walk to the gate.)

Lorelai: (hugging Rory) Have fun kiddo. Send me postcards.

Rory: (hugging back) I will.

Luke: (hugging Rory) Take lots of pictures, and don't worry about anything here okay?

Rory: (hugging back) I will, and I will worry.

(Lorelai gets a puzzled look on her face but before she can say anything the announcement for boarding comes over the loudspeaker. Paris comes running over, carrying a canvas, briefcase like bag.)

Paris: (grabbing Rory's arm) Hurry up, we're going to be late!

Lorelai: Hi Paris. (as she says this Luke approaches Rory)

Paris: Lorelai.

Luke: (whispering to Rory) I swear, I'll call if anything big happens. You get some sleep on the plane.

Rory: (whispering back) Thanks Luke, and if you expect me to sleep you've got another thing coming. (She tilts her head in Paris' direction)

Paris: (dragging Rory away) Come on!

Rory: Bye Mom! Bye Luke! Tell Lane and (makes a painful face) Jess I said goodbye.

Luke: Will do!

Lorelai: Bye honey, call me! I'll miss you.

(Rory is about to respond but is dragged through the gate by Paris. "Leaving On A Jet Plane" by Chantal Kreviazuk begins to play as we cut to a scene of a plane taxiing down the runway. The scene switches to Rory and Paris sitting in seats in what appears to be the first class section. Paris is speaking, but the song is drowning it out so it is not clear what she's saying. Rory is staring straight ahead. She has a flashback of her and Jess kissing at Sookie's wedding, and that night in Luke's apartment, as the lyrics of the song sing "So kiss me and smile for me. Tell me that you'll wait for me. Hold me like you'll never let me go." The flashback ends as the song sings the lyrics "'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane, I don't know when I'll be back again. Oh, babe, I hate to go." Rory turns her head and looks out the window past Paris.)