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 "Ordinary Day" by Vanessa Carlton.
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.

An Ordinary Day and A Not So Happy New Year

Previously

Jess: (calmly and coolly) Sometimes, you have to be harsh. Sometimes you have to expect too much, or not enough, or at all. Sometimes, you can't help but hurt people. Sometimes you run, sometimes you don't. Sometimes you should, sometimes you shouldn't. (Lorelai stared at Jess in confusion, his eyes were glazed over and he was staring at the grout in the floor) I've done a lot of things I shouldn't have. I shouldn't have ran.

Lorelai: Ran from what?

Jess: (looks up into her eyes. His eyes seem dim and lifeless) Death, life, love, hate, joy, pain. It's a vicious circle. (He stood up and brushed past her and walked out the door of the apartment.)

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(Vanessa Carlton's "Ordinary Day" plays as the camera pans across Paris and Rory's dorm room in Washington. It slowly zooms in on Rory's laptop with is open on her desk. It focuses on a message. "You've Got Mail." The music fades into the background as the sound of a door opening is heard. The camera moves to show Rory and Paris walking in.)

Rory: That was a good lunch.

Paris: Yeah, at least the food is good.

Rory: What do you think of everything so far?

Paris: The building's okay, historic seeming. Sam seems nice.

Rory: Yeah that's what I thought.

(Rory walks over to her bed and sets her paperwork down on the night stand.)

Rory: So, personal time. Do you want to take a walk around the block and see what's nearby?

Paris: Sure.

Rory: (smiles and grabs her purse) Great. Let's go! (she walks to the door and waits for Paris. When Paris gets there Rory jumps up slightly) Oh! Just a sec, let me grab my cell phone. It should be done charging.

(Rory walks over to her desk and grabs her cell phone from the cradle next to her laptop. She turns and walks back to the door.)

Rory: All set, let's go.

(The two girls exit the room, shutting the door behind them. The camera pans across the room and zooms in on the laptop's message again as the song ends. The scene cuts to Lorelai sitting on a stool at the counter of Luke's. She's got a steaming cup of coffee and looks pensive. As the camera pans across the diner we see the place is fairly busy, but many of the customers are filing out the door. The camera comes upon Luke at the cash register, he's handing change to an older gentleman in a suit.)

Luke: Three Sixty-Seven is your change sir, have a nice day.

(The gentleman nods and heads out the door. Luke sees the place is relatively quiet and walks over to Lorelai at the counter.)

Luke: So, what happened again?

Lorelai: It was weird Luke, I'd never seen him like that before. It was actually kind of scary. He was so lifeless, and cold. It even seemed like he was feeling guilty. I know he regrets something he did. I just can't figure out what, or why it's happening now. He seemed to be adjusting.

Luke: Maybe something triggered it.

Lorelai: Maybe.

Luke: What did he say again?

Lorelai: He talked about people having to do things, sometimes things they shouldn't, or not doing things they should. Then he said he shouldn't have ran. But ran where? and from what?

Luke: Ran to here?

Lorelai: Wasn't he sent here by Liz?

Luke: Hmm, point.

(They grow quiet for a moment, staring at the counter. Suddenly Lorelai looks up.)

Lorelai: What if he did, whatever he did, on purpose?

(Luke stared at her. Cut to Jess laying in his bed, his eyes are shut and he seems to be having trouble breathing.)

Flashback

(The camera pans down a crowded street, Times Square. It's New Years Eve, and the ball should be dropping any second. People are rowdy, drinking and throwing up. Women flash men, men flash women. Jess is weaving his way through the crowd looking for someone or something. A woman reaches out and pinches his ass. He turns.)

Jess: HEY!

Woman: Want to come home with me, stud?

Jess: You're drunk, You're disgusting, and you're my History teacher!

Woman: (squinting) Jess?

Jess: Yes, now if you don't mind, I've got to find a friend.

Woman: Sorry Jess, don't tell anyone okay?

(Jess just shakes his head sadly and continues making his way through the crowd. He jumps back as a man near him vomits, it just barely misses his shoes. He sighs and looks around. The camera pans across the MTV studios then cuts back to Jess, who smiles. He makes his way towards the studios, his head moving from side to side looking for someone. He reaches the sidewalk and hops up on it looking around. Suddenly the same blond girl from the flashback earlier wraps her hands around his eyes.)

Girl: Guess who?

Jess: The tooth fairy?

Girl: Close enough.

(She lets him go and he turns around.)

Jess: Mary!

Mary: (mocking) Jess-y!

Jess: Don't call me that for crying out loud!

(Mary smirks. Jess' eyes move to behind her. The camera cuts to a dark haired girl with a punk look, and a dark haired boy.)

Jess: What are they doing here?

Mary: They're my friends too Jess.

Jess: Whatever.

(Jess turns to walk away and Mary reaches out and grabs his arm.)

Mary: Where are you going?

Jess: Wherever.

Girl: Don't be such a downer, Jess.

Boy: Yeah, what's your issue?

Jess: (turning) My issue? Well, April, Dylan, you're my issue. I don't like either of you. Never have, never will.

(Jess turns to leave again and Mary reaches out for him)

Mary: Jess wait!

April: Let him go Mary.

Dylan: Yeah, he's just gonna hold you back.

(Camera shows Mary watching Jess leave, his face stony as he pushes his way back through the crowd. Just as she loses sight of him the crowd begins to chant.)

Crowd: Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one! Happy New Year!

(The sound of the crowd yelling "Happy New Year!" echoes as the scene cuts to Jess bolting up in his bed. He roughly runs a hand over his face, immediately wincing.)