SEGMENT THREE

EXT. STARS HOLLOW — SAME DAY — AROUND HALF PAST ELEVEN

Lorelai is walking faster than usual across town to reach Luke's. Her cell phone rings… Lorelai smiles and slows down as she realizes who it is…

LORELAI: (Still smiling) Why, isn't it my college-graduate all the way from Iowa.

Scenes CUT between what seems to be a hotel room and Stars Hollow.

RORY: (As she puts her socks on) Why it is. Hey mom.

LORELAI: So? How's it going so far?

RORY: It's going. A guy named - are you ready for this? — "Jerry Stockheimer" came to pick me up at the airport…

LORELAI: (Gasps) Is he related to Jerry Bruckheimer?!

RORY: (Rolls her eyes) No, I believe it's the last name that needs to be similar for one to think they were related.

LORELAI: Their last names are similar enough!

RORY: (Moving on) Although I did almost ask him if he was related to John Hodgman because…

LORELAI: (Cuts her off) Now that's a VERY different last name, babe.

RORY: (Finishes) … because Jerry looks so much like him. It's freaky.

LORELAI: (Confused) Who is John Hodgman again?

RORY: (Appalled at her mother's ignorance) PC?! And Jon Stewart!

LORELAI: (Remembers) Ah! (Sighs and smiles) So Jerry picked you up at the airport…

RORY: He's the lead. He takes care of the new employees apparently. So he drove me to my hotel…

LORELAI: Hotel… hmm. I thought entry level journalists get motel rooms…

RORY: It has a rating of 2 and a half stars… So same thing.

LORELAI: Sure, carry on…

RORY: He said he'd come back in an hour to take me to the group — it's a meet and greet kind of thing. So I took a quick wash… sorted things out… called grandma (remembers)… and "uh oh"…

LORELAI: She told you?

RORY: She did! Lunch at Luke's at noon? Are you sure this is a good idea … especially now that you know. (Grins) How is that going, by the way?

LORELAI: (Grins as well) So far it's going great… and we're keeping it a secret from the town… for now… we have so much to figure out.

RORY: (Nods) Understandable. (Realizes) Are you on your way to Luke's right now?

LORELAI: Yup.

RORY: It's only a ten minute walk from the Inn… why so early?

LORELAI: I called and warned him but I'm not taking any chances… I want to be there early so I can prep…

RORY: Uh huh. (Looks at her wrist-watch) Well, mom… hope you and grandma have a great lunch — I have to get a few things and meet Jerry downstairs in five.

LORELAI: (Slowly comes to a stop and smiles) Okay hun. Good luck on "the meet and greet thing" — you will knock their socks off! And say hi to Jerry for me… tell him I'm a huge fan.

RORY: (Smiles) Bye mom.

LORELAI: Bye. (Hangs up and sighs — then looks towards Luke's and begins to walk fast again).

CUT INT. LUKE'S DINER — ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER

Lorelai and Emily are already seated at a table by the window.

LORELAI: (Looks exhausted and annoyed) You know… I was so sure you said noon… and not 11:45…

EMILY: (Looks up from the menu) Are you still on that? I told you Lorelai… I miscalculated. The traffic wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. (Goes back to the menu)

LORELAI: (Fakes a smile) I get it. I get it.

EMILY: How are the salads here?

LORELAI: Umm… have no clue.

EMILY: (Appalled at her daughter's ignorance) You've been coming here for years - and you don't know if his salads are any good?

LORELAI: (Thinks dirty) Oh, I know his salads are good (Emily satisfied with the answer looks back at the menu as Lorelai continues) I just don't know if those salads (points at the menu) are any good.

EMILY: (Looks up confused) What?

LORELAI: Never mind. (Sees Luke behind the counter — he's avoiding their table) I'll be right back. (Emily goes back to the menu).

Lorelai walks over to the counter and leans forward to talk to Luke.

LORELAI: (Softly jokes) Are you avoiding me already?

LUKE: I'm avoiding you when you're with your mother… yes.

LORELAI: (Chuckles — then continues desperately) That's fine, but can you at least send Caesar to come take our orders. It's turning out to be a pretty bad lunch date. I already made a dirty salad joke.

LUKE: (Confused — repeats) "A dirty salad joke"?

LORELAI: (Nods) I know. It made no sense.

LUKE: They never do. (Smiles as he goes back to his receipts) I'll take your orders in a minute.

LORELAI: (Smiles) Thanks (turns around)…

LUKE: (Suddenly) Hey…

LORELAI: (Pauses and turns back) Yeah?

LUKE: (Softly) Are you free tonight.

LORELAI: (Realizes he's asking her out on a date) I sure am.

LUKE: (Smiles as he looks away) Good.

Lorelai smiles as she walks back to her table.

Luke follows with a notepad and pen.

LUKE: (Looks at Lorelai first, then at Emily) Are you ready to order?

Emily is neither acknowledging Luke nor ignoring him.

EMILY: (Raises her eyes as she closes the menu) Yes… I'll have the Caesar salad. And by the way, there's an error on your menu — it says, "Caesar's Salad"

LUKE: Not an error (turns and points at Caesar) — that's Caesar. It's his salad.

EMILY: (She looks back at Caesar — then turns and looks as if she had just been reprimanded) Oh... Well, it's silly.

LUKE: I agree. (Looks at Lorelai) And what will you have? (there's a subtle smile on both faces)

LORELAI: The blue cheeseburger with extra fries please.

LUKE: (Takes the menus) It will be a few minutes.

EMILY: (Turns to Lorelai) So, I assume Rory called.

LORELAI: Yes, she did. A few minutes after she called you in fact.

EMILY: I'm not fond of her being in cheap hotels. We should've made arrangements for her.

LORELAI: Mom, she's not sixteen. She is an adult now … who just started her career…

EMILY: I know… but I want her to be safe.

LORELAI: (Smiles) I know. (Pause) So who is this new friend dad is playing chess with?

EMILY: Some young gentleman who works on some television show — The Weekly Show? Anyway, he goes by the name of John… (thinks) Hodgman, I believe.

LORELAI: (Gasps and holds on to her chest) That is so weird!

EMILY: (Looks around to make sure no one heard her daughter) Why are you raising your voice? Must you have a dramatic response for everything, Lorelai?

LORELAI: Rory was just saying how much her lead looks like John Hodgman.

EMILY: (Confused) How does Rory know John?

LORELAI: (Shakes her head) She only knows his work, mom. And it's the "Daily Show"…

EMILY: What's the Daily Show?

LORELAI: The show he's on.

EMILY: (Sighs) Anyway, your father met him through the Yale Alumni Association.

LORELAI: That's great.

Silence. The awkward pause makes both ladies look around. Emily observes the diner as she'd done many times before.

EMILY: (Breaks the silence) Has he repainted the place?

LORELAI: (Unready for the question) "He"? You mean Luke?

EMILY: Yes, Luke. It's Luke's Diner isn't it? Unless Caesar has claimed that as well.

LORELAI: Oh… well, I don't know actually. (looks around as well) I don't think so. Not since I painted it six or seven years ago.

EMILY: (Surprised) You painted it six or seven years ago?

LORELAI: Yeah (awkwardly) it was a bet… not really… just. Um… I agreed to help him paint… and I blew it off because of Ch.. (stops herself)… anyway, I felt bad — so I painted it for him when he wasn't around. (Lorelai is visibly uncomfortable that she shared all of this with her mother)

EMILY: (Not sure of how to react) Well… That was nice of you. (Pause) Isn't it odd coming back here (Lorelai looks up at her mother) especially since everything that has happened between the two of you.

LORELAI: It is. It was… but we've come to an understanding. (Sees her mother wanting more — she continues uncomfortably) We were friends long before any of that happened… and…

They are interrupted by Luke.

LUKE: (With two plates in his hands — he sets them on the table) One Caesar's Salad and one Blue Cheeseburger with extra fries.

LORELAI: (Welcomes the interruption) Thank you.

EMILY: Thank you (Looks at Luke from the corner of her eye) Have you ever thought of repainting your diner?

LUKE: (Confused by the randomness) Oh (looks at the walls around him) … I had to paint that section right there (points towards the wall by their table) after Kirk drove that stupid car into the diner.

LORELAI: (Remembers) Oh yeah. I can't believe I forgot about that.

EMILY: (Astonished) A car was driven into your diner? (Looks towards the street) In Stars Hollow? The town seems so peaceful…

Luke and Lorelai begin at the same time…

LUKE: Don't let it fool…

LORELAI: Don't let it …. (looks up at Luke as she realizes he's saying the same thing — they look at each other) … you.

EMILY: (Looks at both back and forth and raises her eyes, places the napkin on her lap and starts at her lunch - continues sarcastically) It's a shame the two of you didn't work out — it's obvious you're a match made in heaven.

Luke, unsure of what to say, looks down to contain his blush. Lorelai does the same. Emily notices from the corner of her eye as Luke walks away. She looks at Lorelai… their eyes meet but Lorelai quickly diverts her eyes to her burger. Emily then sets the utensils back on the plate and sits back as she realizes something.

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Will update with the final segment as soon as possible.

Reviews are always appreciated.