"It's been too quiet for too long. Don't you think, Stars Hollow?" Kirk says through the megaphone.
Everyone continues to call out for Paul Anka while quietly talking to themselves.
"So, how about a song? The King of Rock anyone?" Kirk begins to sing. "You ain't nothin' but a hound dog, cryin' all the time..." he gestures to the crowd to join in. "Come on, don't be shy. You know the words. Groove, baby." The rest of the group murmurs the words, unmotivated and exhausted.
"Okay, are we seriously sinking so low as to singing Elvis Presley songs?" Lorelai asks.
"In honor of Paul Anka, of course," replies Michel. "Very charming, I'd say." He hums to himself.
"Ugh, I feel like my feet are going to fall off and I'll just go splat!" Sookie claps her hands together for effect. "And all of Stars Hollow will bear witness to my half-a-second demise. I'd rather be ridiculed for burnt chocolate chip cookies"
"You'd make a great dramatic artist, Sookie."
"Who's also a cook," Sookie adds matter-of-factly.
They keep walking while some people continue to sing 'Hounddog' off-beat and off-key. Suddenly, Babette runs over to Luke and Lorelai.
"Luke! Lorelai! Oh, it's so great seeing you two back together. A dream come true, really."
"At least we know whose support we have," Lorelai says. "Thanks Babette."
"Yeah, thank you Babette." Luke smiles at her. "Having Lorelai by your side's like, having your best friend by your side."
"Aww," Lorelai frowns in happiness over at Luke. "That's so sweet! But I already promised Paul Anka the coveted title of best friend."
Luke steps away. "Welp, I guess I should take back my mini sob speech."
"But I'm sure he'll understand he needs to make some room," Lorelai touches Luke on the shoulder and sticks her lips out for a quick peck.
"Ah, young love, I tell you. Reminds me of my blissful lovestruck days with Mr. Anderson. Long, long time ago, back when you were just a baby, Lorelai."
"Hmm, not so long ago after all."
"And just looking at you two and thinking about Rory and all of the ups and downs that made you and her what you are today," Babette shakes her head in happiness. "A mother and daughter relationship that puts all mother-daughter relationships to shame. Gilmore Girls? More like 'Glamour Girls.'"
"Wow Babette, that was very...nice of you to say. Sweet, actually." Lorelai looks at the ground blankly, smiling to herself.
"Oh sweetie, any time I think I need to pay a compliment to those near and dear to me, I will." Babette replies, while waving a flashlight around. "You know, maybe Paul Anka disappeared for a reason."
"How so, Babette?" Luke inquires.
"Maybe Paul Anka wanted to remind Lorelai of the many things that are near and dear. Maybe Paul Anka wanted to remind her of Rory and how many times she's left her own comfort zone in order to explore more of what's out there. You know, Scout the world."
Lorelai gives Babette a puzzled yet curious look. "Since when have you gotten so philosophical, Babette?"
"Me? Philosophical? I don't think so, honey." They continue walking. Babette continues, "All I know is, Stars Hollow's not the same without those two."
Kirk sounds from the megaphone. "Four-leaf clover at 3 o'clock."
"Alright, that's it." Babette grabs the ends of her fur-lined jacket. "Kirk, what kind of warning is that? It's a four leaf clover. It's harmless!" She walks faster to catch up to Kirk.
Luke and Lorelai exchange smiles. "So, what's all this *Glamour* Girls business I'm hearing?"
"I don't know, it's just the weirdest thing how Babette's all of the sudden talking about all these memories we've shared and how 'fantastic' us Gilmore Girls are. Lounging in sweatpants and all while eating a gallon of Haagen Dazs."
"Well, I know this one's pretty fantastic and her first pancake didn't turn out too bad either." Lorelai giggles and Luke hugs Lorelai's side and kisses her forehead.
Suddenly, the people in front stop walking. "Whoa, why the sudden halt? Has there been a sighting of Elvis?"
"...CODE RED CODE RED! ATTENTION EVERYONE. One of our fellow scouts may have seen a possible sighting of our subject of interest: Paul Anka." Taylor exclaims.
The crowd gasps and talks amongst each other excitedly.
"What kind of x-ray vision goggles are these anyway?" Michel says with disappointment while taking off the goggles and studying them.
"What?!" Lorelai asks out loud while pushing past the group. "Who's spotted Paul Anka and where?!"
"Hold on. we are verifiying the coordinates..." Taylor begins while turning his attention back to the random group member who spotted the dog. "Ok, so the coordinates are 128.97 South and 84.56 East."
"In English, please," Babette demands, waving her flashlight around."
"Based on these coordinates, we will now scout the area between here," Taylor gestures with his hand. "...and all the way to that brook over there." Taylor points to an area past the Evergreen trees. "Please exercise extreme caution and continue to keep all search fundamentals in mind as we begin to narrow down our search and heed the warnings of Kirk." He turns to Kirk. "Kirk, you're doing a fine job. I see a raise in your future." He turns back to the crowd. "Follow me, everyone." Lorelai immediately follows Taylor. The crowd pauses. Kirk lifts the megaphone. "You heard the man, let's go."
Everyone follows one another into the swampy area.
"What kind of dog would want to frolick in a such a muddy part of the woods? What it's doing to my wonderful Armani slacks is beyond horrid. Do I dare look down..." Michel asks wearily to no one in particular. The group stops walking, awaiting the discovery. Momentarily, Taylor and Lorelai emerge from the trees.
"Well?" Babette asks. "Is it the ever-elusive Paul Anka?"
Taylor frowns. "One can see how easy it is to confuse a domestic dog for a wild one. It's just a wolf, everyone. Paul Anka has not been found yet."
"Sorry for the false alarm everyone..." the scout trails off sadly. Lorelai slowly moves to the side, in disappointment.
"The search is still on, and the reward is still within reach. Carry on." Taylor begins to walk towards unchartered territory.
Lorelai's phone rings. It's Emily. She rolls her eyes. "Yeah, hello? Kinda in the middle of a search here, mom, so save your snarky sarcasm for a rainy day."
"Lorelai! So nice to see you still pick up your phone on the first ring."
"That was sort of a mistake, actually."
"So tell me, what kind of search are you on?"
"Oh you know, the search for Mr. Right. The kind of search whose parents should sit out on."
"Oh is that right, Lorelai?"
"Mom, you called for a reason. What's going on?"
"What's going on is that I received this strange phone call from the Hartford Connecticut Police Department."
"Wait, what? What's wrong? Is everything alright? Dad? Where's dad?"
"We're quite fine, Lorelai. Except Purina Pet Chow never showed itself in our cabinets and it's been proven quite a challenge figuring out what kind of foods dogs enjoy."
"Excuse me? Did you just utter Purina Pet Chow and dogs in the same sentence?"
"I believe I have, Lorelai."
"So wait, what was your point in saying all of that? Because right now, it just seems so left field and totally coincidental at the same time."
"But I guess he seems quite fine with the gourmet treats we whipped up last minute."
"Wait-who's 'he' mom?"
"Oh no one. Just this Polish Lowland Sheepdog that came wandering onto our doorstep not too long ago. And I believe it has your name all over it."
Lorelai nearly drops the phone. "PAUL ANKA?!" Everyone in the group immediately stops in their tracks and focus their attention on Lorelai. Lorelai freezes.
"...right away," Emily continues and then pauses. "Lorelai, you there?"
Lorelai looks up and around, experiencing a wave of emotions.
"Helloooooo? Are you going to pick up this dog or what?"
"I'll be there as soon as possible, and don't move." Lorelai says sternly, hanging up. She turns her attention to the crowd. "We've found Paul Anka!"
Tears well up in her eyes as the crowd around her cheers and Luke and Sookie run up to embrace her.
"The most amazing news since the revolutionary Acai berry!" Sookie exclaims.
"That's amazing, Lorelai! I knew we'd find him," Luke says.
"Oh my gosh, I can hardly believe it! It's surreal. And to think! Belly-rubbing days and quality bathtime in old wooden barrels are back." Lorelai walks faster towards Taylor. "Taylor, good news! The dog search is over. My dog's been found and it's at my parents' house."
"But how did it end up at your parents' house, Lorelai?"
"A question I've been beginning to ask myself as time goes by. But I need to get there as soon as possible. You can tell the rest of the Stars Hollow thank you and to enjoy the rest of their night. Luke, I'll be right back." Lorelai runs off.
"Congratulations, Lorelai," Taylor says. "Ok everyone, it's time to make a massive U-turn back into town. According to the map, we're about 35 minutes northeast of home. Let's go, everyone." Everyone groans while they begin their way back to Stars Hollow.
Kirk holds up the megahorn. "Am I still supposed to do that CODE RED CODE RED thing?" The rest of the crowd leaves Kirk and his megaphone behind.
Lorelai is still running while dialing Rory, narrowly avoiding the overhead foliage from earlier tonight. Rory picks up. "Hello?"
"Hey, remember that four-legged creature I seemingly adopted out of the blue and gave a super proper name to?"
"And I also remember a time when you called me when you weren't in mid-jog."
"Oh sorry. Guess I couldn't spare one more second to tell you the news." Lorelai continues running.
"What news?"
"Paul Anka's been found."
"What?! No way!"
"And none other than at the residence of Emily and Richard."
"Whoa wait, so Grandma and Grandpa found him?"
"By the sounds of it."
"Are you on your way there?"
"Faster than the black hawk descent."
"Okay mom, call me once you're there. I details STAT."
"Call you once I'm there," Lorelai pants, "And details STAT. Got it. And Ror?"
"Yeah?"
Lorelai hesitates, thinking back on the wonderful things Babette told her about her and Rory's relationship as mother and daughter. "I love you, honey."
"Aww, I love you too, mom."
Lorelai smiles and hangs up, slowing her sprint to a jog once she approaches the first stoplight. She looks up at it seconds later, still showing a red light. "Deja vu." Lorelai hugs herself from the cold. The light continues to stay red.