Épisode Lorelai nouvelle version S06E01

LUKE'S DINER

[Continued from last season. It is dark. Lorelai sits at the table as Luke paces frantically.]

LUKE: She is not dropping out of school. This was her dream. I am not going to let this happen.

[Lorelai gazes at him adoringly.]

LUKE: What?

LORELAI: Luke, will you marry me?

LUKE: What?

LORELAI: Luke. Will you -

LUKE: Yes.

LORELAI: Well, you don't have to answer so -

LUKE: Yes.

LORELAI: Well, you can take a minute to -

LUKE: No.

LORELAI [takes a deep breath]: So, what.... now?

LUKE: I don't know. This is new for me.

LORELAI: Well, we should do something. Official.

LUKE: Official.

LORELAI: Yeah. Something to commemorate the moment. I mean, we're getting married. Luke. Married. You and me. Luke table-for-one Danes and Lorelai I'm-sorry-can-I-get-an-industrial-forklift-for-my-emotional-baggage Gilmore are getting - married. Huh?

[They stand, awkward and shocked, for a moment.]

LUKE: We could toast.

LORELAI: Toast! Yes. Toast! Good. What'll we toast with?

LUKE: Uh - [He walks around the counter to look for a beverage.]

LORELAI: I mean, I know you won't have champagne, but maybe some wine or beer or something?

LUKE [from the kitchen]: Nothing, I've got nothing!

LORELAI: No, you must have something!

LUKE [OS]: Grapefruit juice and worcestershire sauce.

LORELAI: Neither sounds very festive.

LUKE [emerging from the kitchen]: I could cut it with some festive ketchup.

LORELAI: No, we need something sparkly. [She thinks for a moment.] Come on.

[She grabs his hand and pulls him toward the door.]

LUKE: Huh? Where are we going?

LORELAI: To Funkytown.

LUKE: No, hey, wait!

[They stop.]

LORELAI: What? Did you change your mind? Oh, how did I screw it up so fast? Was the Funkytown thing too quippy, 'cause I thought you liked that about me, but -

LUKE: No, the Funkytown thing was fine. I just - [He sighs] - Are you sure you want to celebrate now? I mean, a minute ago, when you came in here -

LORELAI: I just want to be happy right now. Okay?

LUKE [nods]: Okay.

LORELAI: Good. Now, come on!

LUKE: Where are we going?

[They exit.]

STARS HOLLOW TOWN SQAURE

[The bike race is finishing up. Kirk is massaging a biker's leg at the First Aid table.]

KIRK: Hey, am I doing this right?

BIKER: What?

KIRK: Never mind.

TAYLOR [shouting]: That's great, Grandpa, take your time! I have no home life. [He checks his watch.] Six hours I've been standing here waiting for this ridiculous race to end! - Okay, that's it! Race is over! Maggie, I want you to start breaking all this stuff down. If I don't get these tables back by midnight I pay for another day.

MAGGIE: But we haven't given out the trophies to the winners yet!

TAYLOR: Oh, who cares about giving out the trophies? There's no-one here to see the winners get them, except the losers, who I'm sure could give a rat's tushie if the winners get a trophy or not!

MAGGIE: Okay, so do I put them back in the bubble wrap, or -

TAYLOR: Just - just give it to me. [Calling out] Hey, who was first?

BIKER #1: Here.

TAYLOR [tosses him the trophy]: Congratulations. Who's second?

BIKER #2: Right here.

TAYLOR: Here. [Tosses the second trophy.] Third. [He hands the last trophy to a random biker.]

BIKER #3: I wasn't third.

TAYLOR: Rat's tushie, party of one... Okay, everybody, listen up! I want this square packed up and cleared out in ten minutes! [He notices Lorelai and Luke standing at the door of the market.] Hey, we're closed! The market is closed! What is wrong with people tonight? [He walks over to them.]

LUKE [looking in the window]: It's closed.

LORELAI: Ugh. Small-town hours. I hate small-town hours! As soon as we get married we have to move.

TAYLOR: Hey, you two, what are you doing there?

LORELAI: Taylor? Great, we need to get in!

TAYLOR: We open at six tomorrow.

LORELAI: Okay, Taylor, listen. You're going to be the first one to hear the big news.

TAYLOR: Do I have to hear it now? I have so many things to -

LORELAI: Luke and I are engaged.

TAYLOR: You are?

LORELAI: As of just a few minutes ago.

TAYLOR: Well, what do you know? I thought there was a better chance of all four of the Beatles getting back together than you two ever calming down long enough to get engaged!

LORELAI: Yeah, well, wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles, right?

LUKE: Can you just open this door, Taylor?

TAYLOR: Well, what do you need in the store?

LORELAI: We need something to toast this moment with.

TAYLOR: Something alcoholic?

LORELAI: Yes.

TAYLOR [takes her by the arm]: You know, Lorelai, if you feel that you have to be drunk to be with him -

LUKE: Taylor, would you just open the door?

TAYLOR: All right.

[He takes out his keys and unlocks the door. They go in.]

DOOSE'S MARKET - INSIDE

[They enter the store. Taylor turns on the lights.]

LORELAI: Where do you keep the champagne?

TAYLOR [points]: Over there. Top shelf.

LORELAI: Where?

TAYLOR: Top shelf! Top shelf!

LORELAI: Here? [She points at the paper towel.]

TAYLOR: Well, I'm out of ways of saying "top shelf", Lorelai.

LORELAI [finds the champagne]: Oh. Taylor, it's five ninety-nine.

TAYLOR: It's inexpensive, yes, but you'll still get a buzz.

LORELAI: Luke, did you find anything yet?

LUKE: Nothing. No wine, no beer, no cooking sherry. It's like Dylan Thomas just blew through town.

TAYLOR: I'm sorry, these bikers wiped me out. They may look like health nuts but they knock it back.

LORELAI: Oh, Taylor, you have to have something!

TAYLOR: Lorelai, I'm sorry, but - oh, wait a minute! I think I have a case of Zima in the back.

[Taylor goes into the back room to find it.]

LORELAI: Really? [She does a little dance.] Luke! He's got Zima in the back, he's got Zima in the back!

TAYLOR [carrying the case, brushing dust off the top]: Yep. Babette had me stocking it for a while. I was using it as a stepstool but I'm sure it's okay.

LORELAI: We'll take it!

LUKE: Let's just drive to Woodbridge. They have a Liquor Barn there.

LORELAI: No, I don't want to drive all the way to Woodbridge! I want to celebrate now.

LUKE: But men aren't supposed to drink Zima.

LORELAI: Pay the man.

TAYLOR: You can forget the tax. Consider it an engagement present.

LORELAI: Thank you, Taylor! [To Luke] Come on, get the Zima.

[Luke pays Taylor and takes the box. They leave the store.]

STARS HOLLOW TOWN SQUARE

[Lorelai runs off with Luke trailing behind her. Taylor calls out orders.]

TAYLOR: Get those tables on the truck! Hustle, people, hustle!

LUKE [to Lorelai]: Where are you going?

LORELAI: I know the perfect toasting place.

LUKE: Far?

LORELAI: Which one of us is not getting into the romantic spirit?

LUKE: The one with a caseful of chick beer under his arm.

[They reach the gazebo. Lorelai chases away the bikers that are hanging around.]

LORELAI: Shoo. Shoo! Hi, shoo. [They are alone.] Here.

LUKE: Right here?

LORELAI: Right here.

LUKE: Okay. [He sets down the box and takes two bottles out of it.]

LORELAI: Okay, so... here's to us.

LUKE: To us.

[They toast. They are about to drink when all the lights go out.]

LORELAI: Taylor!

TAYLOR: The light guys go on golden time in five minutes!

LUKE: Taylor, turn the lights back on!

TAYLOR: Well, fine. Apparently there's an oil well in the middle of Stars Hollow that no-one told me about! Turn them back on, Budgie!

[The lights come back on.]

LORELAI: Okay. I believe we were right about - there.

[They clink their bottles together and drink. Luke puts his arm around Lorelai's waist.]

LORELAI: Really? [Luke nods.] You're going to kiss me now? [Luke nods again.] So incredibly predictable.

[They kiss.]

OPENING CREDITS

LUKE'S APARTMENT

[Lorelai and Luke are in bed. Lorelai is nearly asleep and Luke is sitting up, looking at his hands.]

LORELAI: Was this mattress always this comfortable?

LUKE: I think so.

LORELAI: 'Cause it seems so much more comfortable. [Pause.] We should drink Zima and have sex every single night.

LUKE: Okay.

LORELAI: Okay. Good night.

LUKE: Night. [Pause.] So when I said "what about the kids", I didn't mean "what about our kids". I mean, yes, obviously, what about our kids? But I didn't mean we had to have any kids. 'Cause we don't. But - we can, I just didn't want you to think that I was laying down some kind of a mandate. I mean, kids. It's plural, so it sounds like a lot. But we can just have one kid, one's fine, or more if you want more, or we don't have to have any kids. We could just get a plant.

LORELAI [sleepy]: What?

LUKE: Nothing.

LORELAI: Okay.

LUKE: I bought a house, Twickham house. I bought it for us. I don't have it anymore. I could probably get it back, but I just thought you should know. I bought it. For the kids, that we don't have to have. It's a big house, and we don't have to fill it up with kids, you know? We could, we could get furniture. Go shopping for a couch, or get some end tables. [He sighs.] I hat shopping for furniture. For me, kids are easier.

LORELAI: I love shopping.

LUKE: Go to sleep.

LORELAI: Mmkay.

LUKE: Is this really happening?

LORELAI [opens her eyes and smiles]: Yes. It's really happening.

[Luke smiles and lays down. Lorelai sits up suddenly.]

LORELAI: You bought a house without telling me?

LUKE: What?

LORELAI: A house? I mean, a house is huge!

LUKE: Yeah, I know, that's why I told you.

LORELAI: A house full of kids?

LUKE: No, a plant, don't forget the plant.

LORELAI: Please don't do that, okay? Or, any other address or life changing decisions? Please include me in!

LUKE: I will. I am. I'm sorry. I won't. [Pause.] I will.

LORELAI: Okay.

[They settle back down.]

LUKE: Sorry.

LORELAI: Kids would be good.

[Luke grins.]

LUKE'S DINER - NEXT MORNING

[Luke serves breakfast to the patrons of the diner. He is very cheerful.]

LUKE: Blueberry pancakes and scrambled eggs.

WOMAN: I didn't ask for blueberries.

LUKE [serving]: Antioxidants are on the house today. Who wants coffee? Here ya go Trudy! Hey, top that off for you, Mac? What do you say, cup of joe, Joe?

[He chuckles as Patty and Babette enter.]

BABETTE: Where the heck is he?

PATTY: There! Right there!

[They rush over to Luke, laughing.]

BABETTE: Get over here, you!

PATTY: I can't believe it!

[They hug Luke.]

BABETTE: You finally did it, you dumb son of a bitch! You finally got in there and closed the deal!

PATTY: Took you long enough!

LUKE: All right, easy, you two!

[He seats them at a table and sits down with them.]

PATTY: You know, we should be very mad at you.

LUKE: Why?

BABETTE: Because we had to find out from someone else that you and Lorelai are engaged!

PATTY: East Side Tilly. [She pretends to spit.]

BABETTE: She was spreading it around town like she was going to be a bridesmaid or something.

LUKE: Tilly is not going to be a bridesmaid.

BABETTE: But it's true, you are engaged, right?

LUKE: Right.

BABETTE: Right. So we want to hear the whole thing.

PATTY: The whole play by play.

BABETTE: How'd it happen?

PATTY: How'd you do it?

LUKE: Do what?

BABETTE: How did you propose to Lorelai?

LUKE: Oh, uh, well -

BABETTE: Did you get down on one knee?

PATTY: Did you take her somewhere special?

BABETTE: Did you hide the ring in anything?

PATTY: Oh, like a glass of champagne, or a cannoli?

LUKE: Actually, I'm still working on the ring.

BABETTE: Oh! So the proposal was spontaneous, huh?

PATTY: Oh, the spontaneous proposals are the best, you know.

BABETTE: Yeah, Morey proposed to me spontaneously. Did I ever tell you the story?

LUKE: Uh, no.

BABETTE: It was a brisk fall night, and Morey was on top. No, wait, I was on top.

LUKE: What?

BABETTE: Hold on, Stoney Morrison was on top.

LUKE: Babette!

BABETTE: We were playing Twister! Did I not mention that?

LUKE: No.

BABETTE [laughing]: I probably should have.

PATTY: Well, enough about us, honey. Come on, Luke, tell us, how'd you do it?

LUKE: Well, actually, I didn't... Lorelai proposed to me.

[Patty and Babette's expressions change.]

BABETTE and PATTY: Oh.

PATTY [disappointed]: You went modern.

[Luke nods.]

BABETTE: Well, that's still okay, sugar. The important thing is, you're getting married!

PATTY [monotone]: We're very happy for you, Luke.

[Babette elbows her.]

BABETTE: Yes, we are.

PATTY: Yeah.

LUKE: Uh-huh, thanks. Well, I've got some work to do. I'll talk to you guys later.

[He gets up and leaves them.]

PATTY: *She* proposed.

BABETTE: Yeah, well, thank God he's got a good ass.

STARS HOLLOW TOWN SQUARE

[The troubador is singing near the gazebo. Lorelai walks by.]

TROUBADOR [singing]: Making you an offer, still runs great, looking for a brand new start. A special, one-time deal on a pre-owned heart. A special, one-time deal on a pre-owned heart.

[Lorelai sees, across the square, a realtor putting up a "For Sale" sign in front of the Twickham house. She walks over.]

LORELAI: Hi.

REALTOR: Oh, hello there!

LORELAI: For sale again, huh?

REALTOR: Yes. We had an offer, but the buyer backed out. Toxic bachelor type. But we think it'll move fast. It has all the original fixtures, great lighting, and a ton of terrific potential.

LORELAI: Yeah, it does.

REALTOR: Are you interested?

LORELAI: Oh, well, maybe.

REALTOR [handing her a flier]: It would be a great house for kids.

LORELAI [jokingly]: Oh, please. Not you, too.

REALTOR: I'm sorry, what?

[Lorelai's cell phone rings from in her purse.]

LORELAI: Oh, nothing. Sorry. Thanks!

REALTOR: Mm-hmm.

[Lorelai turns and walks down the street, answering her phone. The rest of the scene cuts between Richard's study and Lorelai.]

LORELAI: Hello.

RICHARD: Lorelai! Wonderful! How lucky that I caught you. Now, a few things to go over. As you know, Rory's court appearance is Tuesday at three. I've retained the services of Charlie Davenport as her attorney. You remember Charlie, Lorelai. He bought you a doll for your birthday once. Well, he's coming over here tomorrow morning to discuss Rory's case. About eight-thirty?

LORELAI: Sounds super.

RICHARD: You know, Charlie doesn't usually take small cases like this. He's doing the family a great favor.

LORELAI [curt]: Charlie sounds like a swell guy.

RICHARD: He is a swell guy, and a top lawyer! You must remember him.

LORELAI: Sure, he bought me a doll for my birthday once.

RICHARD: Well, do you have any questions?

LORELAI: Nope.

RICHARD: I have to say, I thought you would have had more interest in this subject than you seem to.

LORELAI: Really? Huh. So is there anything else?

RICHARD [upset]: No, there isn't anything else! I just wanted to fill you in! Will we see you tomorrow morning?

LORELAI: For what?

RICHARD: For the meeting with Charlie Davenport!

LORELAI: Oh, no! It sounds like you have everything under control.

RICHARD: Fine! I'll talk to you later!

LORELAI: Tell Charlie thanks for the doll for me.

[She hangs up. Richard slams his phone down.]

GILMORE POOL HOUSE - NEXT MORNING

[The clock says 8:30. Rory is still in bed. Emily bursts in, followed by a maid.]

EMILY: Good morning! You're still sleeping? My goodness. You're young! These are the good days. [She opens the curtains. Rory sits up groggily.] There's plenty of time to sleep when you've gone up a couple of dress sizes. Is it stuffy in here? [She opens the curtains on the other side.]

RORY: Ah... [She lays back down.]

EMILY: So. Let's talk about this room. [The maid pulls the pillows out from under her head.] Now that you're staying here I thought we could spruce the place up. Individualize it to your tastes.

RORY: You don't have to do anything -

EMILY [holding up wallpaper samples]: I've been dying to get my hands on this dump for ages, and now I finally have an excuse. [Rory is forced out of the bed as Emily examines the sample against the wall.] Huh. Well, that's insane. [She rips it down.] Do you want Hosanna to draw you a bath?

RORY: No.

EMILY: Hosanna, draw Rory a bath, please. [The maid scurries into the bathroom.] Hosanna has a pot of coffee for you in the other room. Interested?

[Rory nods and follows Emily into the living room, where Emily has prepared a huge breakfast spread and covered every piece of furniture with fabric samples.]

RORY: Wow!

EMILY: I brought some fabric samples to flip through.

RORY: Oh, the coffee smells amazing.

EMILY: There's cream in the fridge.

RORY: When did you have time to do all this?

EMILY: Oh, it's amazing what you can get done before eight-thirty in the morning. Now, I've got some things for you. [She dumps an envelope on the counter as Rory helps herself to the coffee.] Key to the poolhouse, key to the main house, key to the garage. The security alarm code, the security alarm password, the number of the security company. Now, the code to the panic room is [whispers] one, one, one, one, one. Don't write it down, and whatever you do, don't tell the maids. They tell their children and then their children grow up and rob you. Now, is this all your things, or is there more still at school?

RORY: Uh, no, I have a lot more. At Mom's.

EMILY: Oh. Well, don't you worry. I'll take care of that. Did you try the danish? I bought it at an organic bakery.

RORY: So, how'd it go last night?

EMILY: Hmm?

RORY: With Mom. Was she mad? I mean, of course she was mad, but was it a bad mad?

EMILY: Well, you know your mother, Rory. Everything's the end of the world! So dramatic. Ladies and gentlemen, Lorelai Barrymore. But don't you worry. She'll calm down, just give it some time.

RICHARD [over the intercom]: Hello? Is anyone there? Come in, please.

RORY: What's that?

EMILY: It's just the intercom. [She presses the button.] Yes, Richard, we're here and we read you!

RICHARD: Copy that, Emily. Is Rory up yet? Charlie Davenport is here for our meeting.

EMILY: Well, of course she's up, Richard. Please. You really think she'd still be asleep at eight-thirty in the morning? I have her here looking at fabric samples. We'll be done in a minute, and I'll send her right in. [She turns to Rory.] We'd better get you in that bath!

RORY: I didn't know there was an intercom!

EMILY [leading her into the bathroom]: Isn't that wonderful? We're just a push-button away, like Star Trek! Hosanna! We're coming in!

RICHARD'S STUDY

[Rory drinks coffee and watches Richard and Charlie Davenport chat.]

RICHARD [laughing]: Oh, I don't think that duck stopped flying until it hit Paraguay! And then, of course, we came home completely empty-handed. Nothing but our whistles in our hands!

CHARLIE: You came home empty-handed, I came home with the Middlin case.

RICHARD: Oh, yes, that's right! [To Rory] On this trip, we met Argus Middlin, CEO of Windermere Technologies. Paid for his thirty-two million dollar Maine estate, and his wife's new lower half, with the company's pension fund!

CHARLIE: Ninety-four million dollars in accounting fraud.

RICHARD: They had him red-handed! On tape, in e-mails, the man was guilty as sin. Where is he now, Charlie?

CHARLIE: Los Angeles. Just bought Ellen Degeneres' house.

RORY: So, you got him off?

RICHARD: And successfully sued for defamation of character! If you knew the number of truly guilty criminals put back on the street by this man here, you'd never believe in the criminal justice system again. [He seems to be proud of this fact.]

CHARLIE: Now, Richard, I've just realized we've spent so much time talking about ourselves, we haven't discussed Rory's case at all. She must have a million questions! Go on, Rory, what would you like to know?

RORY: Well, I guess I would just like to know what's going to happen?

CHARLIE [patronizing]: Good question! Richard, that is a good question!

RICHARD: She's a Gilmore.

CHARLIE: Well, Rory, the first thing that's going to happen is I'm going to have a little face-to-face with the prosecutor that's handling your case, we'll go over things, I'll take him out for a cup of coffee -

RICHARD: Just don't take him duck-hunting.

CHARLIE [chuckles]: And then we will agree on a plea bargain.

RORY: Really? No trial?

CHARLIE: Hell no. Considering you're a first-time offender with demonstrably excellent character, not to mention your family's standing in the community, the most you'll get is a little community service, ten hours, give or take. Sound good?

RORY [relieved]: Yeah. Sounds very good.

RICHARD: Embezzle a pension fund and you'll really see what he can do.

CHARLIE: Now, Richard, I'm afraid I must be going.

[They stand.]

RICHARD: We appreciate you coming over like this.

CHARLIE: Well, of course. Pleasure meeting you, Rory.

RORY: You too.

RICHARD: I'll walk you out, Charlie.

CHARLIE: I'll see you on Tuesday, young lady.

RORY: Thank you, Mr. Davenport. I swear, I will never need your help again.

CHARLIE: I'm sure you won't.

[Rory leaves.]

CHARLIE: Lovely girl.

RICHARD: She certainly is.

GILMORE POOL HOUSE

[Rory enters and looks around. The entire pool house has been cleared out except for a TV and three chairs covered in fabric samples and "Sit on me" signs. She sits on the middle chair.]

GILMORE POOL HOUSE - BEDROOM - LATER

[Rory enters and puts on her jacket. Paris calls from the other room.]

PARIS [OS]: Rory?

RORY: In here!

PARIS [entering]: You live here?

RORY: Home, sweet home.

PARIS: Aren't you worried that one night you're going to sleepwalk right into that pool and drown?

RORY: I am now.

PARIS [gestures to the closet]: Stuff's in here?

RORY: Go to town.

PARIS [looking through Rory's clothes]: I'm meeting more of Doyle's family tonight. I've been meeting people for months. He's got, like, five hundred cousins. And you know what? He's the tallest one in the family.

RORY: Really?

PARIS: Yep. Family get-together is like a Lollipop Guild Convention. I have to stop myself from asking how it's going at the chocolate factory.

RORY: Good, good. Get it all out now.

PARIS [holds up a dress]: This isn't half bad.

RORY: Yeah, there's a belt in there somewhere that matches.

PARIS: So, I have a matter to discuss with you. Doyle and I have decided to move in together.

RORY: Hey, congratulations.

PARIS: Thanks. We have a great duplex right near campus, lots of room, separate bathrooms, and it's a two-bedroom, so I was thinking maybe you'd like to move in with us.

RORY: Very Bob, Carol, Ted and Alice. Minus Bob.

PARIS: Now, it wouldn't be until school started, 'cause it's rented 'till then. But I think it could be a perfect situation.

RORY: It's a nice offer, Paris, but I can't. I'm not going back to school.

PARIS: You're pregnant.

RORY: No!

PARIS: Sick? You look pasty.

RORY: I'm not sick.

PARIS: Well, I know your National Guard unit didn't get called up, so what's the story?

RORY: I'm just taking some time off.

PARIS: No. You don't take time off.

RORY: Did you find what you need? 'Cause I have to finish getting ready.

[Rory walks out into the main room. Paris follows.]

PARIS: What happened? Something must have happened!

RORY: Nothing happened. People take time off. Einstein took a year off!

PARIS: Yeah. After he discovered three laws of physics.

RORY [pouring coffee]: I do not have to defend my life to you. I'm a grown-up, I'm independent. I'm on my own.

PARIS: You have no furniture.

RORY: Well, I'm redecorating! I want to individualize it to my tastes.

PARIS: Oh. I get it. I know what this is all about.

RORY: No, you don't.

PARIS: Sure I do.

RORY: Paris, just take what you need and go, okay?

[Logan enters.]

LOGAN: Hey. Sorry I'm late. [He kisses Rory.] Paris.

PARIS [glares at him suspiciously as she exits]: You.

[Logan watches her close the door, then turns to Rory.]

LOGAN: I think vacation's coming at just the right time for her.

RORY: I'm ready, let's go.

LOGAN: Did you get robbed?

RORY: Uh...

[She waves at the empty room as they exit.]

LUKE'S DINER

[Luke fidgets with the cash register. The drawer won't open.]

LUKE: Oh, come on!

JOE [sitting at the counter]: You should get a real cash register, Luke.

LUKE: It's called character, Joe. It's items like this that give a place character.

[He jerks the register around.]

KIRK [entering]: Evening, Luke!

LUKE: Yeah, sit down, Kirk, I'll be right with you.

KIRK [places a suitcase on the table]: I'm not interested in food, Luke. I'm here on business. I hear you might be in the market for a ring. Or should I be talking to Lorelai?

LUKE: Go away, Kirk.

KIRK: Well, then, it's your lucky day. [He opens the case to display dozens of rings.] Because I happen to be in possession of the finest estate ring collection in Connecticut. And since you are a friend, I'm prepared to make you a great deal. Or will Lorelai be the one paying for it?

LUKE [still working on the cash register]: No, she will not be paying for it, Kirk.

KIRK: Ah, East Side Tilly called it wrong, this time. [He sits.]

LUKE [walks over to him]: Look, I'll take care of finding the ring, okay?

KIRK: You're sure you don't want to take a look before you toss me out?

LUKE: No. I don't.

[Luke sees them out of the corner of his eye and leans in to look closer.]

KIRK: Nice, huh?

LUKE [Surprised]: Well, yeah. They are nice. Really nice. Wow, look at this one! [He sits and holds up a ring.] This is perfect! It looks like Lorelai.

KIRK: It sure does.

LUKE: Yeah. And, these are real?

KIRK: Yes, they are.

LUKE: I mean, real diamonds, not "they exist" real?

KIRK: Diamond and platinum. I have a certificate of authenticity for every one of these babies.

LUKE: Kirk, where'd you get all these rings?

KIRK: I befriend really old women.

LUKE: Excuse me?

KIRK: Really old women need companionship, Luke. They are really old. Most people they know are dead. So when someone comes along and they're not dead, and they'll listen to their stories and care about their dosage, they are grateful.

LUKE: Are you serious?

KIRK: Serious as a heart attack. Which is how I got that ring you're holding right now. So what do you think?

LUKE: I think you've got some great choices here.

KIRK: Good. Actually, I have a lot of sympathy for what you're going through.

LUKE: What are you talking about, Kirk?

KIRK: Well, Lorelai proposing to you like that, stealing your thunder. It's got to be embarrassing, and a little upsetting. Now you'll never have that moment. You don't get to be the romantic one, the one to sweep her off her feet. That's got to hurt.

LUKE: I'm fine, Kirk.

KIRK: Well, sure, what else are you going to say? You know, I've been getting pretty close to proposing to Lulu myself, and when I heard what happened to you, it really freaked me out. I mean, if Lorelai can just spring it on you like that, what's to stop Lulu from springing it on me?

LUKE: Your creepy friendships with really old women might do the trick.

KIRK: Well, I've been avoiding her for two days. Hanging up on her really quickly when she calls. She may be mad, but there's no way she's going to rob me of my moment.

LUKE: Well, don't you feel sorry for me, Kirk. I'm going to have my moment.

KIRK: But it's gone.

LUKE: Trust me, I'll have it. Case closed. Now, here. I'll take this one.

KIRK [takes the ring]: Ah, old widow Mason. Thought she was Frieda Callow toward the end.

RICH MAN'S SHOE BAR AND GRILL - OUTSIDE

[Rory and Logan walk along the side of the building.]

RORY: So, drink, dinner, movie, that's really what we're doing tonight?

LOGAN: I don't understand why you won't just believe me. I'm tired, I just want a mellow evening with my girlfriend.

RORY: Last time you were mellow you had a hundred and four fever and even then, we were bar-hopping for an hour before you fainted.

LOGAN: I didn't faint, I passed out. Drink, dinner, and a movie, that's it.

RORY: Fine.

[He kisses her and they round the corner and stop in front of the door. It opens in front of them and all their friends are there, dressed in prison stripes.]

FRIENDS [singing]: For she's a jolly good felon, for she's a jolly good felon. For she's a jolly good felon! Which nobody can deny!

[Rory laughs and hugs Logan.]

LOGAN [laughing]: After the party, that is!

[They enter the bar. Finn kisses Rory on the cheek as Juliet places a striped hat on her head.]

LORELAI'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM

[Luke sits in the chair at the bottom of the stairs, flipping through a magazine.]

LUKE: How much longer?

LORELAI: [from upstairs]: Oh, sorry. There's a purse-shoe incident that's threatening the entire outcome of the ensemble. It's technical, you wouldn't understand.

LUKE: I don't want to understand, I want to leave. I'm starving.

LORELAI [OS]: Watch T.V.

LUKE: How is that a response to "I'm starving"?

[Someone knocks on the front door.]

LORELAI [OS]: Hey, why don't you answer the door? That would be fun for ya.

LUKE [gets up]: I'm not bored because I'm six. I'm bored because you told me to pick you up at seven, and it's eight-thirty. [He opens the door. It's Paris.]

PARIS: Who are you?

LUKE: Well, I'm -

PARIS: I need to talk to Lorelai. Where is she? [She marches in and calls out.] Lorelai! Where are you?

LORELAI [OS]: Who's that?

PARIS: It's Paris, and I need to talk to you right now! [to Luke] Who are you?

LUKE: Well, I tried to tell you -

LORELAI [coming down the stairs]: Paris! What are you doing here?

PARIS: Are you busy? Is this a bad time?

LORELAI: No, we're just getting ready to go out. It's fine. Um, have you met Luke?

PARIS [turns to Luke]: No.

LUKE: I'm Luke.

PARIS: Paris.

LUKE: Nice to -

PARIS [turns back to Lorelai]: Rory's quitting Yale. I just went to see her and she told me she's quitting Yale. Did you know about this?

LORELAI: Yes, I did.

PARIS: It's Logan. That Christopher Atkins wannabe is the reason that she's suddenly Blue Lagoon-ing it right out of school.

LORELAI: Paris -

PARIS: I don't understand. Why are you letting her do it?

LORELAI: I have no choice.

PARIS: Yes, you do. You can stop her. You can pull some of that supermom crap that you always do and get her to change her mind!

LUKE: Yep.

PARIS: Rory can't quit Yale! We have to do something!

LUKE: I agree.

PARIS: I mean, we should kidnap her. Drag her back here and tie her up and not let her loose until she listens to reason.

LUKE: Yes.

LORELAI [scolding]: Luke.

LUKE: Hey, my suggestion first.

PARIS: I need her to be at Yale. Rory has been my only real competition since she showed up at Chilton! She's the only one who has ever challenged me. She's my pace car. She's my Bjorn Borg. Without her, I'll get lazy. I'll fall apart. I'll have frosted hair and dragon-lady nails and I'll achieve nothing! I'll become my mother!

LORELAI: Paris. Listen to me. You are a very smart, driven young lady. You can be anything you want. Except a diplomat. You don't need Rory to push you.

PARIS: Rory's my only friend. She stays in the room until I'm completely done saying something. I need that.

LORELAI: Listen. I know I'm not Rory, but if you need to talk to someone you can always call me.

PARIS: Really?

LORELAI: Yeah. I mean, I'll give you my cell phone number. Basically my lifeline. You take it and you use it. [She gets up and writes down the number on a sticky note.]

PARIS: I can really call you?

LORELAI: Anytime, anywhere.

PARIS: I'm going to hold you to that.

LORELAI: It's not a threat, sweetie, if somebody makes the offer willingly.

PARIS [heads to the door]: Thanks. Sorry to bother you. Bye, Luke.

LUKE: Nice to meet -

[The door slams.]

LORELAI: And that concludes the floor show portion of the evening. I'll get my purse and we'll go. [She walks into the kitchen. Luke follows her.]

LUKE: So what are you going to do?

LORELAI: About what?

LUKE: You know about what.

LORELAI: Nothing.

LUKE: Come on.

LORELAI: Come on, let's just go!

LUKE: No. We haven't talked about this.

LORELAI: Because there's nothing to talk about.

LUKE: Yes there is.

LORELAI: Luke. This is Rory's decision, okay? She knew exactly how I felt about the situation, and she chose to ignore me. She chose to move in with my parents. She chose not to tell me about it.

LUKE: She's a kid.

LORELAI: She's not a kid! She's twenty. She's going to be twenty-one in October. She's been living on her own for two years now. She's not a kid.

LUKE: Okay, fine. But she's young.

LORELAI: And young people have to be allowed to make mistakes. I made a much bigger mistake than this when I was much younger.

LUKE: Oh, so what? Just because you made it on your own, Rory has to also?

LORELAI: That's not my point.

LUKE: Well, then, what is your point?

LORELAI: My point is that I wouldn't have listened to anyone in that situation, even if there was someone to listen to. I had to go through that and Rory has to go through this. Now, she's smart and she's strong. Hopefully she'll figure it out, but I am not going to force my way in! She wants to be on her own, fine, she's on her own.

LUKE: Really.

LORELAI [sniffs]: Tough love, baby.

LUKE: So that's it.

LORELAI: That's it.

LUKE: And you're okay with this?

LORELAI: I'm totally okay with this. Come on, let's go. I thought you were starving.

[They walk toward the door.]

LUKE: Did you give Paris your real cell number?

RORY'S FELON PARTY

[Rory and Logan sit at the bar, surrounded by Colin, Finn, Rosemary and Juliet.]

FINN: My best sloth year, I believe, was sophomore year. I went to Spain for a week to immerse myself in Cervantes, wound up staying for two months and almost joined the French Foreign Legion.

RORY: But you were in Spain!

FINN: Yes, but Sinatra didn't sing about the Spanish Foreign Legion.

JULIET: Could you pass me three peanuts?

[Rory does.]

COLIN: Two months is nothing.

FINN: Oh, so you think you can outdo me?

COLIN: Freshman year, four and a half months cross country road trip. This was pre-navigational systems, people.

FINN: In junior year, I dropped my things off at my dorm room, jumped on a plane to Australia and surfed until Christmas.

COLIN: You did not.

FINN: I did.

COLIN: Where was I?

FINN: In class, like a good little boy.

ROSEMARY: Amazing. They're actually having a loser-off.

[Rory and Juliet laugh.]

COLIN: Oh, look how she mocks. The girl stayed home for a month after she had a tragic haircut.

ROSEMARY: It wasn't a tragic haircut. It was apocalyptic highlights. I looked like a Tim Burton character.

JULIET: Two more peanuts. Little ones.

COLIN: Hey, Logan, do you remember that time that you left a classroom to make an entrance for that mock debate and you ended up in Atlantic City?

LOGAN: Vaguely.

FINN: Now, this man, here, my darling, is the long-reigning King of the Sloths.

[Logan looks uncomfortable.]

COLIN: That's right. No one can waste time like this man here.

RORY: Really?

LOGAN: No. Now who wants a drink?

COLIN: Oh, he's just being modest. Logan has a talent for doing nothing that's yet to be matched by man... or actual sloth.

JULIET: Okay, I feel a lipstick crisis coming on. I'll be right back.

ROSEMARY: I'll go with you.

[The girls get up and leave.]

RORY: King of the Sloths, huh? I don't know. This year I might give you a run for your money.

COLIN: Oh, really?

RORY: Yes. All Kings must be de-throned eventually. And this year that crown will be mine.

COLIN: All hail Rory Gilmore, future Queen of the Sloths.

FINN: All hail. All right, time to make the rounds. See which one of these lovely females is soused enough to find my arrogance charming.

RORY: Finn, have you ever thought about just wooing a woman? Flowers, chocolates, a little slow jam in the background?

FINN: Slow jams are for the subtle, Rory. "One too many" has a delightful immediacy. You coming, Colin?

COLIN: Absolutely.

[They leave. Rory and Logan move closer.]

RORY: I wonder how beer tastes with ice cream in it.

LOGAN: I give you one month.

RORY: To do what?

LOGAN: Before you're back at school. One month.

RORY: You are wrong.

LOGAN: Nope.

RORY: Oh, I cannot believe how little faith you have in me. I mean, what kind of match would I be for you if I just went running right back to a life of respectability without even attempting to join the French Foreign Legion?

LOGAN: You love school.

RORY: Not anymore.

LOGAN: No. You love school. I saw it. That doesn't just go away.

RORY: Well, I have reformed, all right? From now on, no more scheduling. No more planning. I am just going to spend my days making ice cream beer floats and just taking life as it comes. You'll see. New me.

LOGAN: If you say so.

RORY: I do say so.

[Rosemary and Juliet re-join them and grab Rory's hand.]

JULIET: Come on, come on! I love this song.

ROSEMARY: We need to dance the booze off, or else one of us is going home with Finn.

RORY: Oh, this is for a good cause.

LOGAN: Take her.

RORY: Okay, save my seat. And order me a scoop of vanilla!

[She goes to dance with the girls, leaving Logan at the bar.]

DRAGONFLY INN - FRONT DESK

[A biker is leaning on the desk. Michel is glaring at him.]

SWEATY BIKER: You have a really nice place here. Really. I slept incredible last night. I woke up to birds singing. Seriously, this town is so great. I just had to take one last early morning ride around the town before I checked out. I can't wait to tell people about this place.

MICHEL: Hmm. Could you move your arm, please?

SWEATY BIKER: Huh?

MICHEL: Your arm. That one.

SWEATY BIKER: Okay.

[He backs away from the desk. Michel sprays cleaner and wipes the desk. Lorelai sees what he is doing and distracts the biker.]

LORELAI: Uh, hi. How's your bill looking? Everything okay?

SWEATY BIKER: Yeah, my bill's fine.

LORELAI: Okay, well, I'll put this in an envelope for you, and I'll be right back. It's been a pleasure having you stay with us. [The biker walks over and picks up a magazine. Lorelai turns to Michel.] Hand me an envelope, don't ever do that again!

MICHEL: Sweating all over the desk.

LORELAI: He's paying a six hundred dollar hotel bill.

MICHEL: I don't care. He smells, they all smell. The whole inn smell like sweat socks and damp nylon shorts. It's making me sick. I have to work at that desk, and I have no intention of catching jock itch on my forearm because Mr. Breaking Away over there can't shower before he invades my dance space.

LORELAI: Michel, just chill out with the spray, okay?

MICHEL: Fine.

LORELAI: Thank you.

MICHEL: Oh, by the way, your mother called a few minutes ago. She says she wants to pick up the rest of Rory's things and she will be at your house at eleven.

LORELAI: Fine.

[She sees the biker getting ready to sit on the couch, and rushes over.]

LORELAI: Hey, whoa! There's your bill, there. So, um, everything all set with your bags?

SWEATY BIKER: Yeah.

LORELAI: Good, well, thank you for staying at the Dragonfly, we hope to see you soon. The cart's outside to take you to your car.

SWEATY BIKER: Okay, thanks!

LORELAI: Thank you.

[He puts the magazine down on the coffee table and walks out. Lorelai sets a trash can next to the coffee table and pushes the magazine into it with her foot. She gestures at the wall where he was leaning.]

LORELAI: Michel.

MICHEL: I'm all over it.

[He sprays and wipes the wall.]

LORELAI'S HOUSE - FRONT DOOR

[Emily walks up the steps and knocks on the door. Michel opens it.]

MICHEL: Hello, won't you come in.

EMILY [looks at him suspiciously]: All right. Thank you.

[They walk into the living room.]

EMILY: What are you doing here?

MICHEL: I was sent to open the door like a servant.

EMILY: What? Where's Lorelai?

MICHEL [settling on the couch with W magazine]: I don't know. She doesn't keep the help informed.

EMILY: She's not here?

MICHEL: No. I am here. I am here, and not at the Dragonfly Inn, which I theoretically run, when I'm not busy answering door like Benson.

EMILY: I don't understand. You gave her my message?

MICHEL: I gave her your message and she told me to come over here and let you in. Just like I'm a puppy, fetching slippers and getting my liver treat.

EMILY: But - I don't - did she leave anything for me?

MICHEL: She left me.

EMILY: But - I just - I can't - well, this is absolutely incredible. Does she think this is a funny thing to do? I drive all the way from Hartford -

[She walks into Rory's room. Rory's things are all over the place.]

EMILY: She did nothing! Nothing's packed, nothing's ready to go! [She goes back into the living room.] Where are Rory's good clothes?

MICHEL [reading]: I don't know, but I will continue to search for them frantically.

EMILY: Are you just going to sit there?

MICHEL: I was instructed to stay until you leave.

EMILY: Like I need to be watched. Like I'm a meth head stealing a television set to support my habit. [shouting] Well, this is completely unacceptable! Rory needs something to wear to court!

MICHEL: I'm sorry, if you're talking to me, you'll have to do it in woofs.

EMILY: You've been working with my daughter way too long.

MICHEL: Don't I know it.

COURTROOM

[Emily fixes Rory's outfit as Charlie and Richard chat.]

CHARLIE: Well, I have to say, this is a charming little courtroom. Reminds me of my early days practicing law.

RICHARD: It is quaint.

EMILY: I hope we picked the right outfit here. It's coming off a little more Mennonite than I had hoped.

RICHARD: The girl looks fine, Emily. Leave her alone.

CHARLIE: Are you nervous?

RORY: No.

CHARLIE: And you shouldn't be. Everything will be fine, it'll be over before you know it.

BAILIFF: Court calls the state versus Lorelai Gilmore.

CHARLIE [to Rory]: Who is Lorelai Gilmore?

RORY: I am. That's my real name.

CHARLIE [laughs]: Good thing I found out about it now. Could have been a little embarrassing later.

[They sit at the defense table.]

EMILY [whispers loudly]: Rory! Rory, unbutton the sweater a little.

RICHARD: Emily, stop it!

EMILY: I don't want her to look like she's trying too hard.

JUDGE: I understand that a plea agreement has been reached.

PROSECUTOR: That's correct, your Honor.

JUDGE: Miss Gilmore, please stand.

[Rory and Charlie both stand up. As the judge speaks, Rory looks around the room for Lorelai. She isn't there.]

JUDGE: You understand that you're pleading guilty to criminal mischief in the third degree in violation of section 117A of the penal code?

CHARLIE: Yes, your honor.

JUDGE: You further understand that by so doing you waive your right to a trial by a jury of your peers?

RORY: I do.

JUDGE: I see that community service is recommended?

PROSECUTOR: Miss Gilmore has no prior record, your Honor. No history of getting into trouble.

JUDGE: Twenty hours of community service?

CHARLIE: This was a youthful indiscretion, your Honor. A one-time, childish lark. My client is duly remorseful and I can assure you, it will never happen again.

[He looks back at Richard and Emily, and they demonstrate their approval.]

JUDGE: I see you're a student at Yale.

RORY: Yes, your Honor.

JUDGE: That's a very nice school. Prestigious.

RORY: Yes, your Honor.

JUDGE: I understand the defense is portraying this as a childish lark. A youthful indiscretion. Well, I take the law very seriously. And if there's one thing I have very little tolerance for, it's rich, priveleged children viewing the world as their private playground! I don't care who you are! I don't care who your family is. When you commit a crime, Miss Gilmore, there must be consequences. Period. Twenty hours of community service won't do it. I'm ordering three hundred hours of community service to be completed in no more than six months, and one year's probation.

RORY: But I can' t do three hundred hours. I - I have to get a job!

JUDGE: Well. Add that to your list of things you should have thought about before you decided to joyride on someone else's boat!

RICHARD: Three hundred hours, but this is outrageous! Charlie!

JUDGE: Now, assuming this is a one-time occurence, at the end of five year's time, Miss Gilmore can petition the court to have this expunged from her record.

EMILY: Record? She's going to have a record? Oh, my God!

RICHARD [stands up, to Charlie]: You never said anything about a record!

CHARLIE: Richard, please.

RICHARD: Don't "Richard, please" me, you two-bit double-talker!

JUDGE: Who are you? Sit down.

RICHARD: I am her grandfather, Richard Gilmore, and this is outrageous!

EMILY: I never should have let her go with the ponytail.

JUDGE: You are going to have to restrain yourself, sir.

RICHARD: I will not restrain myself! I will not stand by and let this girl walk around with a record for five years!

EMILY: Richard, you're standing on my foot!

RICHARD [to Charlie]: I should never have listened to you. Making deals with a twenty year old child in a cheap suit!

PROSECUTOR: Hey!

JUDGE: I'm not duty-bound to do so, but I'm happy to give Miss Gilmore the opportunity to withdraw her plea and go to trial. If she does so, she'll face additional felony charges. Given the undisputed facts, I'd think very hard about that course of action.

RICHARD: Well, I think it's something to consider!

RORY: Grandpa, no! I don't want to go to trial! I'll do the community service! Please, just sit down!

EMILY: Richard, sit down!

RORY: I do not want to withdraw my plea, your Honor.

JUDGE: All right. I will consider this matter settled. Court will recess for twenty minutes.

[She bangs her gavel.]

ANNOUNCER DUDE: All rise.

CHARLIE: This is not that big a deal. Well, we got a little more community service than we wanted.

RICHARD: You're a lousy duck-hunter, Charlie. It wasn't the weather, and it wasn't the duck-call, it was you.

CHARLIE: I was doing you a favor, Richard.

RICHARD: Well! Do me some more favors, Charlie! Let's see if we can get the girl twenty to life at Sing Sing!

CHARLIE: That is it!

RORY: Grandpa. [She takes his arm and pulls him away from Charlie.]

RICHARD: I'm hiring a lawyer to sue that man.

RORY: Grandpa, did you tell mom about the court date?

RICHARD: Of course I did.

RORY: You did? You told her the time and where it was and everything?

RICHARD [preoccupied]: She knew all about it, Rory, she simply showed no interest in the matter. [Rory looks disappointed.] Abe Rosenstein!

RORY: Who?

RICHARD: That's who I'm going to get to sue Charlie.

CHARLIE: Good-bye, Emily. Go to hell, Richard.

RICHARD: I'm not through with you yet! [He follows Charlie out of the courtroom.]

EMILY: Richard, you can't kill him here! We're in the courthouse!

[She chases after them.]

LORELAI'S HOUSE - FRONT DOOR

[Lorelai unlocks the door and pulls a note off the window. She rips it in half and opens the door. She finds and destroys dozens more notes as she walks through the house, in the fridge, on the walls, . She checks her messages.]

EMILY'S VOICE [on the answering machine]: Lorelai, it's your mother. I want to thank you for the lovely little surprise you left me this morning. I can't wait to tell the girls at the club all about it. I mean, they're always bragging about their daughter did this and their daughter did that. Well, finally I get to go in there and say, "Oh, really? Well, today my daughter invited me over and then didn't show up. And then she had me watched by a surly barking frenchman so that I didn't steal anything!"

LORELAI: I didn't invite you over, mother!

EMILY'S VOICE [on the answering machine]: "Top that, ladies!" This was unforgivable, Lorelai. Disgraceful behaviour, even by your standards. And since I assume you've torn up all of my notes, I'll read them to you. I made copies.

[Lorelai sighs and goes into Rory's room and puts her things into a laundry basket.]

EMILY'S VOICE [on the answering machine]: "Dear Lorelai, I was shocked and saddened by your decision not to be at home when I came by for Rory's things."

ELDER GILMORE HOUSE - RICHARD AND EMILY'S BEDROOM

[Richard and Emily are sleeping. Lorelai bursts in with the laundry basket and drops it on the floor. Emily sits up.]

EMILY: My God.

LORELAI: There. There's all of her stuff. You happy?

[Richard turns on the light.]

EMILY: Lorelai, you scared me half to death!

LORELAI: Yeah, well, follow-through has always been my problem. Oh, well. Um, so, we've got clothes, books, stuffed animals. I even checked the laundry to make sure nothing was waiting to be washed. Okay? Are we good?

RICHARD: What do you mean, barging in here in the middle of the night? Are you crazy?

LORELAI: Mom just seemed extremely concerned about getting the rest of Rory's things.

EMILY: She needed something to wear to court.

LORELAI: Yeah, so I figured I'd better bring them right over here, so now I did. So I'm done.

EMILY: Lorelai, stop this. I know you're upset. I know you hate us, but -

LORELAI: I don't hate you. Why would I hate you?

EMILY: Well, because we - because you thought we -

LORELAI: You were just being you. You couldn't help it.

EMILY: What are you talking about?

LORELAI: The scorpion and the frog. It's an old story. The scorpion says to the frog, "Hey, frog. Give me a lift to the other side of the pond." Frog says, "No way. You'll sting me and I'll die." Scorpion says, "Will not! 'Cause then we'd both drown." Frog says "Cool." So, scorpion gets on the frog's back, and frog makes it to the middle of the pond, and the scorpion stings him. As the frog is going down, he says, "Why would you do that? Now we'll both die." Scorpion says, "Sorry, it's just my nature." [She points to herself] Frog. [She points to them.] Scorpion.

EMILY: I always thought it was a turtle.

LORELAI: Whatever it was. You guys couldn't help it.

RICHARD: Lorelai, why don't you sit and calm down?

LORELAI: I am calm. I'm fine. You guys must be pretty jazzed, though, huh? I mean, you finally did it, you finally got a shot at getting the daughter you've always wanted.

RICHARD [sits up]: I'm too tired to have this conversation.

LORELAI: Rory. Here, right under your roof. Excellent.

EMILY: You're being ridiculous.

LORELAI: Now you get your do-over. A new and improved Lorelai. Congrats. Very well played.

RICHARD: Lorelai, listen to me. I know that you think some sort of con has been perpetrated on you.

LORELAI: Hey, it's only a paper moon, Dad.

RICHARD: The fact of the matter is, your mother and I were just trying to do the right thing. We're all striving for the same goal. We want Rory happy and healthy. Now, she's taken a bit of a stumble. But we can get her back on the right track. All of us, together. We're going to need your input and your involvement to achieve that.

LORELAI: My involvement ends here, with the laundry basket.

EMILY: What is that flip remark supposed to mean?

LORELAI: It's supposed to mean that I'm out. You've won. She's all yours. Course, the laundry basket, I'm going to want back. [She leaves and closes the door behind her.]

LUKE'S DINER

[Luke is closing up. Kirk is chasing him.]

KIRK: Please, Luke. Please? Please, please, please, please. Please!

LUKE: No.

KIRK: Luke, I have to have the ring back!

LUKE [locking the door]: Kirk, I paid you for the ring. In fact, I've overpaid you for the ring. You gave me a certificate of authenticity and a promise that none of the heirs are going to sue me for possession, and that our business was done!

KIRK: Luke, you don't understand. I think that was the ring that Lulu had her eye on. I'd totally forgotten this until - where are you going?

LUKE: I'm leaving, Kirk! The diner's closed!

KIRK: You can't leave until I get that ring back! If I propose, I'm going to need that ring.

LUKE: You have a suitcase full of rings!

KIRK: But that's the one that I sort of remembered her liking.

LUKE: Pick another ring!

KIRK: But my backup ring pulled through. Plus, now there's talk of her wanting to be buried with it.

LUKE: Good night, Kirk.

BABETTE [screaming as she runs across the square]: Luke! Wait!

LUKE: Oh, boy.

BABETTE [screaming]: I have to talk to you!

LUKE: Okay, Babette! Slow down, I'm not going anywhere.

BABETTE [running]: It's very serious!

LUKE: I'm right here. Just - you can walk, Babette, just walk, Babette. Please, walk. Slow down! Just - whoa!

[Babette finally reaches him. She's very out of breath and unsteady.]

BABETTE: Ah, geez! Oh my God. I smell toast. I smell toast and almonds. I smell almond toast.

LUKE: Yeah, well, what do you need, Babette?

BABETTE: I need confirmation on a rumor. There's a rumor that there's been a rift between Lorelai and Rory!

KIRK: A rift?

BABETTE: Big rift, very serious! That's why Rory ain't home for the summer?

KIRK: Wow.

LUKE: Who told you this?

BABETTE: Well, who else? East Side Tilly. That damn woman keep trumping me. So come on, is she right? Is it true? [Luke looks away.] It is true. Oh my God. Well, what happened? And how's Lorelai taking it? [She grabs Luke's shirt.] She must be a basket case! Oh, is she a basket case?

LUKE: Okay, stop! Look, look. There's been a little incident, but it's all going to be fine. Lorelai has it completely under control.

BABETTE: She's okay?

LUKE: Trust me. She's just fine.

[Luke walks away from the diner. Babette holds her hand over her heart, looking relieved. Kirk steps up to her.]

KIRK: Nice ring.

[Babette gives him a funny look, and turns away.]

LORELAI'S HOUSE

[Lorelai enters. She walks into the kitchen and takes a bottle of water out of the fridge. She walks into Rory's mostly empty room, sits on the end of the bed and looks around, getting more and more upset. She throws the water bottle at the wall and starts to cry. After a minute, the front door opens and Luke calls out to her.]

LUKE: Full moon! Moment's here, let's go!

[Lorelai wipes her tears and goes out to meet him.]

END