SEGMENT TWO

INT. LUKE'S DINER - AN HOUR LATER

The diner is filled with the usual suspects. Patty and Babette are at the counter sipping on coffee, while Kirk is sitting at a table behind them reading the newspaper. Luke is wiping down the counter. Patty and Babette are still raving about the party.

BABETTE: (Gestures to Luke) We pulled it off, sugar! (Luke faintly chuckles as he continues to clean the counter)

PATTY: (Smiling) Yes, we sure did. (Turns to Luke as well) Luke, who knew you could bring the whole town together for an event like this. You should run for Town Selectman next time.

BABETTE: (Gesturing at Luke once again) I'd vote for ya. (Patty nods)

LUKE: (As he finishes wiping the counter, he raises his eyes) No, thanks.

BABETTE: Better yet, Taylor should hire you to throw all the town shindigs!

LUKE: (Smiling at the older ladies) The answer's still no. But it's very kind of you.

KIRK: (Randomly speaks out loud — still looking at the newspaper) Did you know that America is only a 20th of the world's population (the two ladies look back at Kirk — Luke raises his head too), yet we use up 15 times more energy resources per person than one from a developing nation?

BABETTE: (Annoyed at the randomness) Huh?

The diner door opens, and everyone looks over. Camera points to a smiling Luke as he sees who it is. Camera pans to Lorelai as she smiles at him as well — she walks towards the counter — but her gaze is interrupted by Babette.

BABETTE: Hey there, sugar. Did our girl get on that plane safely?

Kirk sets the newspaper aside and walks over the counter, places some cash near the register and stands there to listen to Lorelai.

LORELAI: (She plops down at a spot at the far end of the counter and replies with a sad face) Yes, our girl's on her way to Iowa as we speak. (She looks back at Kirk) She wanted me to say her thanks again for last night (Looks at Luke and smiles again — then looks back at the ladies) and that she will miss you all very much.

BABETTE: (Sighs along with Patty) We'll miss her too.

KIRK: (Randomly again) I need to go buy some Kleenex ( and he walks out).

Babette and Patty look at each other.

LUKE: (Decides to finally speak after observing everything — he says softly) How are you holding up?

LORELAI: (Sighs and smiles up at him — she finally gets to talk to her man) I'm not sure… I mean, it's not like she moved out of the country and will never talk to me again…

LUKE: Do you want to… (Gestures to go upstairs as Lorelai smiles — but is interrupted)…

BABETTE: Aw, honey… you must be devastated. All alone this summer. That must be horrible!

Luke makes a face as he sets a mug of coffee in front of Lorelai.

LORELAI: (Shakes her head as she realizes the ladies next to her have no clue as to what was going on) … oh… uh… I… well…

PATTY: Don't you worry, Lorelai. We will take care of you.

LORELAI: (Chuckles) That's very nice of you ladies, but… (looks down as she blushes)… I…

PATTY: (Cuts her off) My cousin's son is coming for a visit next weekend. Massimo (looks at Babette). Remember Massimo, Babette?

LORELAI: (Confused) Oh.

BABETTE: Massimo? (Widens her eyes) Ooh! I've seen his picture. (Nods with approval and turns to Lorelai). He's really something to look at, doll. If I didn't have Morey, I'd want Massimo all to myself. (Luke continues to make a face at Babette as she goes on — Lorelai quietly looks at Luke) Seeing as the two of you won't get together anytime soon… you might as well go and have fun. Date some young'uns!

LORELAI: (Intrigued) Young'un? How old is this Massimo?

LUKE: (Makes a face at Lorelai) Wh…?

PATTY: He's 25… (thinks) or was it 21? (Shakes her head) Regardless…. He likes older women.

LORELAI: Miss Patty, thank you… but I really don't think I would be comfortable going out with a 21 year old.

BABETTE: It's legal! And he's got some really nice pecks.

LORELAI: (Amused at how disgusted Luke is) Really?

LUKE: (Annoyed) I can't listen to this anymore… (he opens his mouth to reveal the truth)…

LORELAI: (Cuts him off as she widens her eyes at him) I… need to use restroom (tilts her head towards the storeroom)… (smiles at the ladies) I'll be back.

PATTY: (Takes out her cell phone) Oh this is going to be fun…

Lorelai leaves her purse at the counter and walks through the doorway.

Luke sighs, places his hands on his sides, and tries to be discreet as well.

LUKE: (Looks at Patty — then remembers) Didn't you say Doose's was out of pickles?

PATTY: Yes, but that was last…

LUKE: (cuts her off) I have a few extra jars back there. Let me get you one. (He walks through the doorway as well).

PATTY: …(continues and tries to explain as Babette scrolls through Patty's cell phone) but that was last week, Luke. And I bought some…

BABETTE: Why do you have 3 Massimos on your phone?

PATTY: Oh, two of them are my… (grins)… you know.

BABETTE: Don't you ever call your cousin's son by mistake?

PATTY: (Protests) I've only done that once!

BABETTE: That's disturbing… even for me.

CUT. INT. STOREROOM

LORELAI: (Pacing — she sees Luke enter) Hey.

LUKE: (Closes the door behind him) Hey. Remind me to grab a jar of pickles on the way ba...

Lorelai doesn't let him finish, she grabs him and lays a big one on him.

LORELAI: (Confused as she pulls away) Pickles? Why?

LUKE: (Intoxicated by the kiss) I'll explain later.

Silence as they smile at each other.

LORELAI: (Gives him a quick peck on the lips) Finally. (Luke holds on to her)

LUKE: Yes, finally. But what was up with Patty and Babette?

LORELAI: I know! They don't know about (gestures) us! That means the whole town doesn't know about us. (Shakes her head) I was sure they'd be all over it by now.

LUKE: Well, it's peaceful when they don't know. Although, Massimo is already getting on my nerves.

LORELAI: (Grins) Is someone jealous?

LUKE: It's like that time you dated the high school student.

LORELAI: (Corrects him) College! Student.

LUKE: Whatever.

LORELAI: (Sighs) We should keep this to ourselves for now.

LUKE: (Concerned) Oh.

LORELAI: (Senses his concern, and puts him at peace) Not because there's any doubt, Luke. Because I want to be with you without people harassing me about the details. We've been apart for so long — that I just want alone time with you — without them (points outward) all over our business.

LUKE: (Smiles) Okay.

LORELAI: (Grins again) Besides, it would be fun to sneak around town.

LUKE: (Rolls his eyes) Great.

LORELAI: (Smiles) I should get to the inn. I'll come by during lunch? And call you every hour to make sure this is real and not a figment of my imagination?

LUKE: (Smiles) I'll be here.

LORELAI: (Sighs) Put the coffee in a to-go cup?

LUKE: (Gives her a quick kiss) You got it (and he turns to leave)…

LORELAI: (Remembers) Pickles! (turns around and grabs a jar).

LUKE: (Turns and smiles as he takes the jar from her) Thanks.

FADE OUT on Lorelai's face.

CUT INT. DRAGONFLY INN KITCHEN — A FEW MINUTES LATER — AROUND 9 A.M.

Lorelai walks into the kitchen. And sees Sookie all prepped up for her…

SOOKIE: (With arm gestures — she introduces the mini layout of food on the kitchen island) Ta-da!

LORELAI: (Stunned she pauses) What's all this?

SOOKIE: (Walks over and takes her purse) A breakfast special just for you!

LORELAI: (Pleasantly surprised, walks over and picks up a strawberry from the enormous fruit bowl — made just for her) What's the occasion?

SOOKIE: (Shakes her head as she sets the purse aside and pours some coffee into a mug) No occasion. Just thought you'd like a big breakfast (sighs and hesitates)… since you just came back from the airport, I thought you'd need some cheering up… or something. (Points) Look, Buttermilk Pancakes, just as you like it.

LORELAI: Aw, Sook… that's so nice of you (she gives her hug with a giggle and goes back to the fruit). I'm down for another huge breakfast.

SOOKIE: Another huge breakfast?

LORELAI: (As she swallows, she stands up straight) Yeah, Luke opened the diner for us at the crack of dawn…

SOOKIE: (Looks away as she preps for lunch) God, that's so nice of him. He's one hell-of-a-guy, isn't he?

Lorelai tries, but fails to hold back her grin. Sookie does a double-take.

SOOKIE: (Stops what she's doing) Lorelai?

LORELAI: (Blushes but looks around to make sure no one is there — she steps forward to tell Sookie the secret — but Sookie starts jumping up and down)… Sookie! Shh…

SOOKIE: Oh my god… oh my god… oh my god… (feels the baby moving — so she stops jumping)…

LORELAI: (Giggles) Don't jiggle the baby!

Sookie sits down on a stool and starts to laugh hysterically and mouths a few more oh my gods

LORELAI: Are you okay?!

SOOKIE: (Shouts) I'm fine! (Sees someone walk by the kitchen and whispers) I'm fine. Are you going to tell me what I think you're going to tell me?

LORELAI: Well, I don't know anymore — if you're like this pre-telling you. I'm afraid to find out what will happen when I do tell you.

SOOKIE: (Doesn't care — so she skips to the question - whispering) So? Are you… and Luke? (Contains a high-pitched giggle)

LORELAI: (Smiles) But you can't tell anyone… yet. Not even Jackson. Luke and I want to keep it on the down-low for a bit.

SOOKIE: I promise I won't tell a soul. Does Rory know?

LORELAI: (Nods) I told her last night. (As a matter of fact) She couldn't be happier for us.

SOOKIE: (Claps) How did it happen?

LORELAI: You know what's funny? It's like deja-vu right now. The first time Luke and I got together, you reacted in a similar fashion…

SOOKIE: I know… I know… I can't help it. I'm living vicariously through you. (Sighs) Tall, dark-haired, deep blue-eyed single woman with a tall, dark, deep blue-eyed, scruffy faced handsome man — who, if he wore a cow-boy hat and a denim button down shirt, could be the Marlboro Man.… and those biceps… (Lorelai raises her eyes) and that jaw line. (Comes back to earth and sees Lorelai's face) What?

LORELAI: (Confused and a little disturbed) Are you fantasizing about my man? Not that I blame you, because yes (nods) that jaw-line is to die for. But seriously?!

SOOKIE: Well, what can you expect. I'm pregnant and crabby all the time so the only things I looked forward to are Jackson's foot massages and you and Luke getting it on.

LORELAI: Sookie!!

SOOKIE: Alright… alright. I will stop. (Sighs and smiles) So, it finally happened huh?

LORELAI: (Blushes) It finally happened. We're back together.

SOOKIE: (Obviously happy for her best friend — continues) Have you guys planned anything for the summer?

LORELAI: (As she pours some syrup on the pancakes) We haven't gotten that far, Sookie.

SOOKIE: (Animatedly) His boat trip got cancelled, didn't it? (Lorelai nods) And your trip got cancelled. It's just perfect timing. (Lorelai starts indulging the pancakes) Ooh, Venice!

LORELAI: (With her mouth full) What about Venice?

SOOKIE: The two of you should spend your summer in Venice!

LORELAI: Hmm.

SOOKIE: (As if she's dreaming it up as she speaks) You can be Jane to his Renato!

LORELAI: (Swallowing her food) I don't think Luke can pull of an Italian accent. Venice sounds nice though… but it's all very new… so I don't know what we want to do yet.

SOOKIE: (Snaps and jumps off the stool) That's it, you're getting a lemon meringue pie.

LORELAI: Seriously? (Like a child) Awesome!

CUT INT. DRAGONFLY INN — CHECK-IN AREA — A FEW MINUTES LATER

Michel is behind the desk doing something on the computer. Lorelai is next to him opening her mail.

LORELAI: (As she opens an envelope, she looks at the computer) Are you YouTubing during work?

MICHEL: Of course not. I'm just watching a video of Celine's performance with Elvis.

LORELAI: …'s hologram. And that is YouTubing during work, Michel.

The phone rings. Lorelai answers…

LORELAI: Good morning. Dragonfly Inn — how may I help you?

EMILY: Lorelai, it's your mother.

Scene CUTS between the Gilmore mansion and the inn.

LORELAI: Hey there.

EMILY: Just called to check in. Did Rory board the plane alright?

LORELAI: I didn't make it to the gate but she called as soon as she settled into her seat. She said she would call you and dad and myself when she reaches Iowa.

EMILY: Very well. (Pauses) Well… I guess that's all.

LORELAI: Oh okay. Well… (Senses that it's not all she wanted to say — she pauses) Sounds like there's something else, mom.

EMILY: Well, your father just informed me that he was going to be at the club this afternoon. Heart surgery has also made him jump at every opportunity to go and have "fun" as he calls it. He has met a new friend — a chess enthusiast… Therefore, my afternoon is completely open…

LORELAI: (Knowing where this was going) Why, that's lovely. Thanks for sharing that with me, mom… and I hope he enjoys his time with the new friend…

EMILY: … so I was wondering if you'd like to meet me for lunch. (Lorelai makes a face) I could come by the inn.

LORELAI: (Hoping she'd reconsider) Well, I was actually going to run to Luke's for lunch. So, can we do this ano…

EMILY: (Cuts her off) That's fine too. I can meet you at Luke's — say at noon?

LORELAI: (Sighs as she gives in and forces a smile) Noon, it is. Bye.

Lorelai hangs up.

MICHEL: (Still watching Celine) She's good.

LORELAI: She sure is. (Turns and looks at the screen).

SCENE FADES

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Will update with segment three as soon as possible.

Something we've missed for more than one and half seasons is Luke and Lorelai's intimate interactions. While I'm not great at writing such scenes, I will try and write them as close as possible to the way Amy did back in the golden days of Gilmore.

If anyone was wondering about the real reason for the title… this segment reveals it.

Reviews are always appreciated.