Gilmore Girls Season #1

EPISODE #3: KILL ME NOW – When Rory announces that she has to pick a team sport to play at Chilton, Emily insists that Richard take Rory to the club and teach her golf. Although Rory tees off to a rocky start, she soon gets into the swing of things and has a great time walking and talking with Richard. Meanwhile, Lorelai feels jealous of Rory’s growing relationship with her grandparents, culminating in an explosive argument between the mother and daughter. The episode opens with the weekly Friday night dinner at elder Gilmores. They talk about the new cook and Lorelai asks how Richard can possibly mix up the name Anton and Sophia, since one is male and the other female. As the conversation moves along, Lorelai and Rory discuss her school obligations, which includes participating in team sports. Rory lists a number of sports as well as golf. Emily insists that Grandpa take Rory to the country club to teach her how to play. Lorelai does not want Rory to be forced to go to the golf club or spend time along with her grandfather. Lorelai tries to get Rory out of it and Richard does not seem excited about the prospect either. Rory says that she does not mind. After dinner, Lorelai tells Rory a list of things she’d rather do then go to the club with her. Rory: Maybe you could come with me. Lorelai: Oh, is there a ‘you’re crazy’ team? Cause I think they’d make you captain. Rory: Please? Lorelai: Rory, I love you. I would take a bullet for you. But I’d rather stick something in my ear than go to the club with you. Rory: Fine. Lorelai: I’d rather slide down a banister of razor blades and land in a pool of alcohol then go to the club with you. Rory: I got it. Lorelai: Don’t stop me, I’m on a roll. I’d rather eat my own hand than go to the club with you. Ooh, I’d rather get my face surgically altered to look like that lunatic rich lady with the lion head than go to the club with you. Rory: Would you like me to drive so you can continue your diatribe? The next day, Richard tells Emily that Rory would rather be at a mall then go to a club with her grandfather. Emily will have none of it. Emily: Richard, so help me God, you will be sweet to this girl and make this a memorable day for her. This is the first time we’ve gotten to show our granddaughter off at the club and it means a great ideal to my happiness and yours, that this day goes well. Are we clear? Richard does not say anything and Emily answers the door to greet Rory. Emily gives Rory a hat Rory is impressed by the club and shows off her bad golfing skills. It takes some time for Richard to get comfortable around Rory, but when he does, he finds that his granddaughter is a pretty amazing girl. They take a break from golfing and each of them go a steam room. Rory is amused by the gossip of some of the ladies in the sauna. At lunch, Rory openly shares all the gossip she heard while she was in the steam room. Richard is totally taken with his candid, charming granddaughter and eagerly shows her off to some of his friends, who end up joining them for lunch. The more they talk about Rory, the more they talk about their own wild grandchildren. Richard becomes proud of Rory and shares that she is at Chilton with a 4.0 grade point average. At the Inn, Lorelai is preparing for a double wedding, involving twins marrying twins. She deals with the mother of the brides, the tulle, the harp player, the lack of strawberries, the soup versus salad argument and Michel’s fears of swans. The whole day she can’t stop worrying about what an awful day Rory must be having at the club with her father. When Rory and Lorelai meet up at Luke’s Diner, Lorelai has chocolate cake to make Rory feel better. When Rory tells her that she had a fun day, Lorelai is surprised to hear this. The next day at the Inn, Richard calls… for Rory. Lorelai is completely shocked that Rory wants to talk to him and is even more shocked by how long they stay on the phone. Rory said that he had found a rare book she was interested in reading. At home later, Lorelai and Rory are sitting outside. Lorelai tells Rory that she thinks she might be able to get them out of going to Friday dinner since Rory went golfing with Richard. Rory: No. It’s just gonna get Grandma all freaked out .Lorelai: Yeah but I can handle those freak-outs. I’ve done that. Rory: You know, I have to get the book from Grandpa anyway. Let’s just go. Lorelai: Oh. All right. If you really want to. Rory:  I do. Lorelai looks a bit put out and then focuses on what Rory is wearing. She notices that Rory is wearing her sweater and starts to harass Rory for taking her sweater without asking. Rory apologizes but Lorelai refuses to let it go, yelling at Rory for steaking her things and ruining them. They get into an argument about has bigger boobs. Rory: You’re cracked! Lorelai: You’re… bigger. Lorelai and Sookie are walking down the street as Lorelai tells her about the argument. Lorelai: Your boobs are bigger than mine? I’m a mental case. Sookie: So apologize. Lorelai: I was too mad and stupid to apologize last night and she was gone before I got up this morning. What is wrong with me? Sookie: You’re very possessive of your sweaters. I understand. I’m the same way. It’s about the golfing thing and the liking it thing. She had fun, Sookie. Just like my mother said she would. Sookie: Yeah, that’s got to hurt. Lorelai: She should have fun. I mean, I want her to have a good relationship with her grandparents. Just because I don’t doesn’t mean she shouldn’t, right? Sookie Right. Lorelai: Right. So then why was I trying to get out of Friday night dinner? I mean, what am I trying to do – undermine their relationship? Sookie: No you weren’t. Lorelai, Yes I was. Sookie: Yes, you were. Lorelai: Yes! I’m four years old! Sookie sees a fruit stand with strawberries. She rushes over to the stand and starts to take some. Jackson sees Sookie and walks up to her. Jackson: So this is what we’ve come to? You sneaking around behind my back buying somebody else’s strawberries? You disgust me! Sookie: I needed the strawberries! Jackson: Well now you have ‘em. I hope you’re happy together. Jackson walks away and Sookie chases him down the middle of the street where they almost both get hit by a car. At the Inn, the wedding and reception went off without a hitch. Rory is sitting at the sign-in table when Lorelai walks up, telling Rory she is sorry about the argument they got into. Lorelai: A crazy evil spirit obsessed with bra size took over my body. She’s gone now. You know, I’m glad you’re bonding with your grandparents. Rory: No, you’re not. Lorelai: Yes, I am. It’s just weird for me is all. I just can’t relate to it. Rory: You could if you tried. Lorelai: No, you’re too – too much has happened and I’m glad you are anyway. Rory: Okay. Lorelai: I didn’t mean to cut you off from them completely, you know. It just happened. Not having them in my life just felt so right. I just never thought… I’m sorry. Rory: If it makes you feel better, I think I got a fungus from the steam room. (Lorelai smiles.) Lorelai: It does. Thank you. The show ends with another Friday night dinner. It is clear how things have changed between Rory and her grandparents. Richard is happy to show Rory the books he bought for her. Rory becomes excited and leaves the room with Emily, who wants to see the books as well. They leave Lorelai sitting alone in the room, who stares off into space, looking lonely, left out and forlorn.

EPISODE #4: THE DEER HUNTERS – Max Medina gives Rory the first “D” of her life on an English paper. Lorelai spends the week helping Rory study for an important Shakespeare test. but they sleep in on the big day. Sookie gets a rave review in a magazine, bit fixates only on the critic’s use of the word “fine” to describe her famous risotto. Lorelai and Rory are shopping for school supplies. As always, Lorelai attempts to provide whimsy to a mundane task by suggesting pretty colored paper, post-its and pens but Rory is hearing nothing of it. She explains that Chilton is a serious school and if she is to be taken seriously, she needs “serious supplies.” Lorelai abandons the pretty supplies but teases Rory about her somber choices. The next day in Rory anxiously awaits the return of her first English paper submitted at Chilton. To her great surprise and disappointment, Mr. Medina has given Rory the first “D” of her life. When Paris sees the mark on Rory’s paper, she taunts her mercilessly inducing greater anxiety to the preparation of the upcoming test on Shakespeare that will count for 20% of her grade. To make her day even worse, Tristan continues his campaign to make her life miserable. At the Inn, Lorelai is dealing with challenges of her own. The animosity between Michel and Drella intensifies while Lorelai attempts to shield the guests from their unpleasantness. A bright spot in the day occurs when Lorelai finds the review, food critic, Lucent Mills, has written about Sookie. She rushes to the kitchen to show her the review. Although the review is glowing, Sookie finds a reason to worry when he refers to her famous and much lauded risotto as only “perfectly fine.” Rory enters the kitchen begging for chocolate to assuage her ailing spirit. The normally astute Lorelai seems to miss the angst expressed by both her daughter and her best friend. She suggests a girl’s night out on the town to celebrate. To Lorelai’s disappointment, a shopping list and study time thwarts the night out on the town. Later that night, while Rory attempts to get some studying done, Lorelai becomes bored with TV. She tries to get Rory to take a break so they can get ice cream. Rory declines promising to spend some time with Lorelai on the weekend. Frustrated with her mother’s interruptions, Rory grabs her books and goes to her room. The next day after school, Rory and Lane meet to study together. Lane is surprised to see the contents of Rory’s notebook on Shakespeare. Rory bemoans the ease of Stars Hollow High compared to Chilton. She suggests that not even Shakespeare know as much about himself as Chilton expects her to know about Shakespeare. To her surprise, Lane tells Rory that Dean, the new kid, has been asking about her. When Mrs. Kim’s sale interferes with their studying they head out to the Library.

At the Inn, Lorelai is still dealing with Drella whose social interactions with the guests is abrasive at best and who insists on playing Black Sabbath instead of Mozart on her harp. Desperate for coffee, she heads to the kitchen only to find Sookie still brooding over Lucent Mills’ review. She views the description of her risotto as “perfectly fine” as more of a judgment of mediocrity than strength. She is so distraught, she doesn’t even have the energy to fight with Jackson when he is unable to provide the Porcini Mushrooms she needed. Later that evening, Lorelai makes a rather awkward entrance to the parents-teacher meeting at Chilton. Max Medina is briefing the parents on the upcoming Advance Placement Tests. The Chilton parents are as serious and focused as the students are and want to know what will be on the exam. To everyone’s surprise, Lorelai asks if the parents would be allowed to attend the exam. This brings a rather negative response from the parents. After a rather unpleasant exchange, Mr. Medina takes this opportunity to break for coffee. While Lorelai is looking at the displays in the room, Max approaches her and tries to smooth ruffled leathers. Max: I apologize for the behaviors of some of our guests tonight. It’s a tense time for some people. Lorelai: The SAT season? Max: The waking hours. (Lorelai chuckles.) Lorelai: Hey, are you this nice to my kid? Max: Yeah, it’s easy. Rory’s a sweet girl. Lorelai: Yeah she is, she is. Max asks Lorelai how Rory is adjusting to Chilton. He finds out that Chilton is the first step on her way to Harvard. Max mentions that Rory got a “D” on her paper and it becomes clear to Lorelai why Rory has been so stressed about her studying. She leaves immediately to be with Rory. At Luke’s, Rory is working at a table waiting for Lorelai. When her pencil breaks, she reacts with frustration and throws it to the floor. To assuage her frustration, Luke brings her a piece of pie. Lorelai enters. Rory questions why she is so late and Lorelai reminds her about the Parent-Teacher interviews Rory realizes that her mom must have spoken to Mr. Medina and finally admits to her poor grade on her paper.

Lorelai: You should’ve told me. Rory: I couldn’t. Lorelai: You couldn’t tell me? You tell me everything. Rory: It was too humiliating. Lorelai: Oh, honey, you once told me that you loved “Saved by the Bell”. What could be more humiliating than that? Rory: I couldn’t form the words. I couldn’t even say it. I couldn’t even comprehend it. It was… a ‘D’. I got a ‘D’. I’ve never gotten a ‘D’… ever. Lorelai: I know. Rory: Even when I broke my arm and couldn’t write for a month, I still got an ‘A-‘. Lorelai: That was a different school. Rory: I know. It was Stars H0llow High. A ‘D’ at Stars Hollow High is like an ‘F’ at Chilton. It’s worse. It’s like a ‘G’ or a ‘W’. Rory tells her about the Shakespeare test on Friday. Lorelai assures her that she can pass that exam. Lorelai spends the week helping Rory study. Although Paris continues to taunt her and to make her life miserable, Rory ignores the taunts and stays focused on her work. In the meantime, Sookie continues to stew over the ‘perfectly fine’ risotto review by Mills. She tries forty different recipes for risotto and has Lorelai try them as well. She concludes that her risotto is still the best. She simply doesn’t understand why he didn’t like it more. On the Thursday night before the exam, Lorelai and Rory study until the wee hours of the morning, until they collapse, exhausted, at the kitchen table. To their chagrin, they both oversleep. Lorelai has a meeting that morning so she gives Rory the keys to the Jeep so she can drive herself to school. On the way, Rory stops at a stop sign. While stopped she phones Lane to see if he has her English notes. At that moment, a deer runs into the side of the car. Her panic over the collision delays her even further. When she walks into class late, Mr. Medina tells her that she will not be allowed to take the test. Rory has a meltdown and finally gives Paris and Tristan the tongue lashing she deserves. Back at the Inn, Sookie explains to Lorelai that Lucent Mills was served a Riesling with her risotto, which is the absolutely wrong wine because it changes the flavor of the dish. Sookie is finally back to her old self knowing that her risotto still has its magic properties. While they celebrate this discovery, Lorelai gets a call from Chilton informing her that Rory is in a little trouble. While Lorelai goes to Chilton, Sookie visits Lucent Mills’ home with a dish of her risotto and the proper wine. When Lorelai arrives at Chilton, she speaks briefly with Rory and finds out that she was not allowed to take her test because she was late. She meets with Headmaster Charleston and Mr. Medina. Lorelai pleads Rory’s case with the Headmaster to no avail and has her own meltdown.

Charleston: Ms.  Gilmore, we are not here to be fair, we are here to educate. Lorelai: Yes and I’m asking you to please educate my kid. Charleston: We will, when she’s on time. Have a nice day. Lorelai: Are you holding that door open for a reason? Charleston: Our meeting is over. Lorelai: Like hell it is. Max: Lorelai. Lorelai: Do you have any idea what we have gone through this week. We have been up all night every night studying. We haven’t slept. We haven’t talked about anything else except this school and this test for seven days. We have stretched ourselves as thin as humanly possible without going completely insane. My God! We’re only one person! Charleston: Why don’t we narrow our field conversation down to Rory. Lorelai: Ok, yeah, why don’t we. You sit up here in your snotty little school that’s in desperate need of some extra heating vents and you nurture horrible kids who treat each other like mortal enemies. You set impossible standards that make normal people feel less than everyone else. And you take a great kid like Rory and you tear her apart! Max: I don’t think that’s completely fair. Lorelai: (Speaking to Max) And you! You say she’s smart and she’ll be fine and this rotting stodgy rat hole could use somebody like her and then you completely shut her out of a test that she’s crammed for, that she’s ready for, that she completely deserves to take! Max: I didn’t call this place a ‘rathole’. Lorelai: On no that’s true. I added that. Wouldn’t want you to get in trouble with ‘Il Duce’ here. I thought this place was going to be so great! And now I guess this goes on the ‘Boy was I wrong’ list, right above gauchos but just below the ‘Flashdance’ phase.

On the way home from Chilton, Lorelai and Rory stop to look for the deer that hit her car to make sure it is okay. Lorelai asks Rory if she has placed too much pressure on Rory. She wonders if going to Harvard is her dream and not Rory’s. Rory assures her that it is indeed her dream to go to Harvard and she is not ready to give up on Chilton. When they arrive home, Lorelai tells Rory to go get changed because they are going to Luke’s for dinner. As Rory changes, Lorelai begins to tidy up the living room. The phone rings, Lorelai lets the machine pick up. Max: Hi, this is a message for Rory. It’s Max Medina calling. I just wanted to say that I talked to Headmaster Charleston or ‘Il Duce; as he’s more affectionately known at the Gilmore household, and he’s agreed to let you do some extra credit work to help make up for the missed test today. Now, I’m not sure what the extra credit work is yet, but it probably will be time consuming and extremely painful. It will however, get you back up to where you rightfully belong, Rory… don’t lose heart. Make this work. And if you’re mother is listening, Lorelai, it was a pleasure encountering you. I hope it happens again. Anyways, see you. Bye. (Lorelai sits on the couch with a satisfied smile on her face.)

✰ EPISODE #5: CINNAMON’S WAKE – When both a distant family member and a neighbor’s cat die, Lorelai has to decide which wake to attend. Max and Lorelai get their feelings for each out on the table, but what will Rory think of this? Meanwhile, Lorelai and Sookie attend a Chilton bake sale and Rory and Dean’s budding relationship takes one step forward.

During their weekly Friday night dinner, Emily tells Lorelai that she has some bad news. This announcement certainly gets Lorelai’s attention but she is quite baffled when told that Claudia has died. She has no recollection of her father’s grandmother’s sister. Emily informs her that the funeral is Thursday and suggests they go together. Lorelai tells her mother that she doesn’t know the woman and she couldn’t go even if she wanted to because she has to work. The next morning, Rory enters the kitchen to find a rather cranky Lorelai sitting and drinking her coffee. Rory asks why she isn’t baking for the Chilton bake sale. Lorelai quips that she has it covered but Rory is unconvinced and continues to press. She tells her mother that at Chilton they expect the baking to be homemade. Once again, Lorelai tells Rory that she has it under control. Lorelai finishes her coffee and tells Rory to get her things together and turn off her music. When Rory opens her bedroom door, Lane is dancing to “Time Bomb” by the punk rock band Rancid. Lorelai looks in and asks Lane if her mother knows where she is. Lane tells her that her mother thinks she is off contemplating the reunification of the two Koreas. As they leave the house, they run into Babette and Morey who are pulling their cat Cinnamon in a covered wagon. Babette explains that because Cinnamon is getting on in years he isn’t walking very well anymore but enjoys his passeggiatas which is Italian for “nice walk”. Babette and Morey continue on their walk. As Rory leaves for school, she tells Lorelai that she will see her at school in the afternoon. Lorelai feigns ignorance in order to get a rise out of Rory. At the bus stop, Rory waits with a group of people as the bus drives up. She boards the bus, pulls out her book and begins to read. She is so focused on her reading that she doesn’t notice Dean get onto the bus and sits behind her. She is startled when he greets her. Dean thanks her for helping him get the job at Doose’s. Rory awkwardly attempts to engage in conversation until she realizes that the bus is going to Hartford at which time she begins to panic. She babbles about Dean going to school at Stars Hollow not Hartford and frantically calls to the bus driver. Dean calmly reminds her that buses make stops. When the bus stops, he smiles, says good-bye and gets off the bus. Meanwhile at the Inn, Michel is receiving an attitude adjustment from Lorelai when he refuses to assist some French visitors. She reminds him that it is his job to keep them happy and he grudgingly accommodates the guests.

Later at the Chilton bake sale, Sookie has set out an incredible international spread of baked cookies, tarts and pies. Max Medina approaches Lorelai and comments on the opulence of their table. Lorelai responds in a very cool and formal way. She introduces him to Sookie as Mr. Medina, rebuffing any attempt at familiarity. Max asks if he might speak to Lorelai privately. Lorelai obliges. Max: You know, Lorelai, I would love for the ice to thaw. Lorelai: There’s no ice. Max: Well you repeated my full name four times. That’s ice. Lorelai: No, that’s not ice, it’s wintry. Max: I was doing my job when I didn’t let Rory take that test. I didn’t like it but I had to do it. Lorelai: I know. Max: And I’d do it again. Lorelai: Okay. Max: I really do think Rory’s a great kid and I’m going to do my damnedest to make sure she gets through Chilton in one piece. Lorelai: I appreciate that. Max: And I’d like us to be friends. Lorelai: We are. Me too. Max: Yeah? Lorelai: Yeah. Really, truly, I swear. There’s no more ice. We’re walking in a pool of tepid water. Max: Good. Lorelai: Good. Max: I’m going to propose something here. I’m not sure how you’re going to take it. Lorelai: Oh wow, intrigue. Max: I’d like to see you sometime. Away from the ivy, away from the gargoyles, away from here. Lorelai: Are you asking me out on a date? Max: Yes. Although Lorelai hesitates, she eventually agrees to meet him for coffee before her business the next day. Later that day, Rory and Lane bump into Morey and Babette while walking in town. They are still pulling Cinnamon in her wagon. She seems to be in some discomfort as she is meowing loudly. Babette explains that Cinnamon is dyspeptic after eating clams at Al’s Pancake House. As Rory and Lane continue on their walk, they pass by Doose’s. Rory notices that Dean is working so she tells Lane she has to pick up something at the store and she’ll call her later that night. Lane offers to go with her but Rory discourages it and the two girls go their separate ways.

In the store, Rory surreptitiously watches Dean but the moment he looks at her and waves, she self-consciously ducks behind a shelf. She bumps into Miss Patty who waxes poetic about the fresh fruit until she notices how distracted Rory is and who is distracting her. Miss Patty leases her until Kirk approaches and challenges her to sample the produce. Rory grabs a head of lettuce and a mousetrap and goes to the checkout counter where Dean is bagging groceries. Her choice of items and her lack of funding make for an awkward encounter. Rory grabs her purchase and runs out of the store. In a coffee shop in Hartford, Lorelai meets with Max. After some flirty banter, Max suggests they begin to date. He argues that they are both clearly attracted to each other. Lorelai counters that because he is a Chilton teacher and she is a Chilton mom, dating might create an unseemly appearance. Max reassures her that he is the soul of banter. Lorelai tells him that Rory is her life and she couldn’t bear the thought of hurting her. After more flirty banter, Lorelai agrees to go to dinner and gives him her phone number. A while later, Lorelai and Sookie are eating at Luke’s. Lorelai and Sookie engage in a rather confusing philosophical discussion as Lorelai tries to tell her about Max and her reservations about dating him. As they chat, Sookie goes behind the counter to get some onions. While there, she moves up and down the counter adding spices and condiments to customer’s plates and Luke notices and removes her forcibly. Rory rushes into the diner to tell her Cinnamon has died.

Rory and Lorelai rush to Babette and Morey’s to find them devastated by their loss. Although they blame themselves for feeding him the clams at Al’s, the veterinarian reassures them that Cinnamon lived a very long life for a cat and it was just her time to go. Very quickly, family and friends gather for Cinnamon’s wake to offer comfort for the grieving Dells. Luke and Sookie arrive at the same time bringing food for the crowd. Sookie immediately begins giving orders on how the table should be set up, but Luke just sets his bags of food down and tells people to dig in. A little while later, Rory answers the door and is surprised to see Dean standing there with an armload of drinks. He gives her a friendly greeting, but Rory can only stammer a reply. He takes the drinks to the kitchen as Lorelai joins Rory. Lorelai asks Rory if she knows Dean, but she only tells her that he goes to Stars Hollow High. Lorelai moves into the other room just as Dean returns. He asks Rory if he can speak to her, but Rory tells him she has to go. While Rory watches him leave, she sees Mr. Medina at the door of their house. She calls to her mom, at first thinking he was there because she had done something wrong at school. Lorelai reassures Rory that he is there to pick her up and promises to explain after she speaks to Max. Rory looks upset as Lorelai runs out the door. As she approaches Max, he is surprised to see her outside the house. Lorelai tries to explain the evening but is met with some skepticism.

Max: (Sounding disappointed) You’re canceling. Lorelai: I know it’s totally last minute. Max: I’m heartbroken. Lorelai: I just completely forgot about our date. Max: And forgettable. Lorelai: No, you’re memorable. I’ve been memorabling all week. It’s just… We had a little emergency. Max: (Concerned) Rory, is Rory OK? Lorelai: No, Rory’s fine. It’s the neighbors’ cat. Max: The neighbors’- Lorelai:… cat. She died. Max: She died. Lorelai: This was a very fat, very beloved cat. Max: Lorelai, I like you but I don’t want to force something on you that you don’t want so… (He starts to walk away but Lorelai runs after him). Lorelai: No, no, no. Wait. No, Max, you’re not forcing anything on me. I am telling the truth about the cat. She begs him not to read too much into the cancellation of their date and implores him to reschedule. As Max drives away, Lorelai runs back to Cinnamon’s wake to find Rory. She sees Babette cleaning out her cupboard of all of Cinnamon’s medications. Before continuing her search for Rory, she tries to reassure Babette that she and Morey are going to survive this tragedy.

Rory is sitting alone in the Dell’s garden when Dean approaches her and startles her once again. He apologizes for bothering her. He tells her that he thought that she might like him but understands that she isn’t interested and will stop bugging her. As he starts to walk away, Rory jumps up and tells him that she is interested. Unable to articulate a clear thought or to deal with the awkwardness of the moment, she tells him that she has to go and runs off. Dean stands there smiling. As Lorelai continues her search for Rory, she meets her on the porch. She tries to explain what has just happened with Mr. Medina. She explains that they were just going on a date and she was going to tell her but hadn’t had the chance. Rory is concerned that her mother will be dating her teacher but is more concerned because her mother lied to her. Lorelai assures her that it wasn’t a lie, just a matter of timing and promises that they will be discreet. Lorelai: I really like him, Rory. I can’t help it. And it’s been a really long time since I’ve felt like this. You can’t always control whom you’re attracted to, you know. I think the whole Angelina Jolie-Billy Bob Thornton thing really proves that. And I know you don’t understand this now, but you will someday. You’ll meet some great guy and he’ll make your head all foggy and you won’t know what to do with yourself. Oh, sweetie, I won’t keep anything from you again. OK? I promise. From now on every aspect of my life is an open book to you. Rory seems to understand what her mother is saying because of her crush on Dean although she doesn’t admit it to her mother. She simply tells her mother it’s okay to date him. After saying goodbye to Babette and Morey, Lorelai and Rory arrive home to hear the phone ringing. It is Emily calling to tell her about Claudia’s funeral. Lorelai makes the mistake of telling her that they were at a funeral for a cat. Needless to say, Emily is unimpressed with the news.

During the regular Friday night dinner, Lorelai finds out her cousin died but she has no idea who the person is, so going to the funeral is out of the question. The usual bickering ensues because Emily finds this unacceptable, while Rory watches in amusement. Meanwhile, Chilton is having its annual bake sale and Rory is nervous because the food needs to be homemade. Lorelai assures her daughter that all is okay; she has it covered, even though there is no baking going on. As Rory waits for her bus to take her to Chilton, Dean comes sauntering by and spots her. He jumps on the bus to chat and Rory is a bit unprepared but super psyched. He is flirting with her and she does not know what to do. After a few awkward moments he gets off at his stop and Rory continues on her way. The Chilton bake sale is filled with desserts and pastries of all kinds. Luckily, Lorelai brings Sookie, a chef from the Independence Inn, who has prepared a sweet feast that would benefit any king.

Max Medina, the teacher Lorelai is having a flirting fling with, comes by and asks for some private time. He wants to make peace over the test incident with Rory and eventually asks Lorelai on a date. But Lorelai is quick to point out that if he is such a rule follower, how come he is ready to date the mother of a student? Ultimately, Lorelai just cannot do it. She finds it to be a bit weird and even a little wrong. But Max is persistent and brings down the offer to just having a coffee date. A harmless-decaf-coffee date. She agrees but in a noncommittal, I-just-happen-to-have-coffee-at-this-place-at-this-time sort of thing. After school, Rory spots Dean at the local store where he works and decides to go in spontaneously. She pretends to buy some stuff but when Dean spots her, she gets really nervous and hides. She grabs some random products and heads for the checkout line. He tries to bag her goods, but she bails. Lorelai on the other hand is much more suave with the opposite sex. Her coffee date is full of witty banter until Max asks if they are going to be able to date or not? Lorelai says she would never under any circumstances hurt her daughter, but Max has a few wise words of his own. “If there’s something in your gut that you know is right, you’ve got to go after it, no matter what,” says Max. He turns out to be quite persuasive and Lorelai agrees to have dinner.

The night of Lorelai’s date is a night of a little chaos and lots of mourning. The neighbor’s beloved cat dies so Rory and Lorelai must put together an impromptu wake, one that the whole town seems to attend. Even Dean shows up with soda from the store. When Max shows up, Lorelai has an awkward situation on her hands. She totally forgot about their date and also forgot to tell Rory she would be dating her teacher. Rory is not at all pleased and neither is Max when he finds out he has been dumped because of a cat. Max is about to give up on the two ever dating , but Lorelai promises, “Cross my heart and hope no other neighborhood pets die on that day,”. Meanwhile, Dean finds Rory and says he thought she was interested in him but obviously she isn’t, so he is going to scram. He turns to go, but Rory stops him and tells him that she is indeed interested. Then in true Rory fashion, she bolts leaving Dean with a big fat smile om his face. Lorelai finally talks to Rory about Max and comes clean. When she asks Rory what she thinks of her mother dating one of her teachers, Rory says she is not saying Lorelai cannot date him, but it is totally weird. In the end they come to an understanding, just as long as Lorelai tells the truth from now on and does not keep anything else from Rory that affects her life, it is a done deal. When they get home that night, Emily calls and Lorelai makes a big mistake when she tells her mom about the cat funeral they just attended. Rory tries to stop Lorelai, but it is too late. Emily does not understand why Lorelai could not make it to her own cousin’s funeral, but she is gone all day because of a cat.

EPISODE #7: KISS AND TELL – Dean gives Rory her first kiss, fearful of her mother’s disapproval, Rory decides not to tell Lorelai for a little while; Lorelai gets stressed when she hears about the kiss from Mrs. Kim instead of Rory. Rory freaks out at first when Lorelai invites Dean over to watch videos and eat junk food but ends up having a good time after all.

Lorelai and Rory are walking through the town center, which is decorated for the fall festival. Lorelai is bemoaning the

fact that they are going to have to get some laundry done soon because she ran out of underwear three days ago. Rory is shocked to hear that her mother is not wearing underwear and questions her position as a role model. Lorelai asks why Rory hasn’t runt out and finds out that Rory had done a load of laundry without including any of her items. Rory offers to do her laundry. but Lorelai decides to do it herself although buying new underwear seems to be a preferable option. They walk past Miss Patty’s studio as she prepares her dancers for the fall celebrations. They enter the diner to find Luke and Taylor battling over Luke’s refusal to decorate his diner with fall decorations. Lorelai and Rory sit down and ask for muffins and coffee, but Luke is too distracted to serve them. Jokingly, Rory tells Luke that her mom isn’t wearing any underwear, trying to get his attention. Finally, Lorelai goes behind the counter to get the coffee and muffins.

After school, Rory goes to the Doose’s. Taylor and Dean are discussing a display of canned goods. Rory moves to a shelf and pretends to be interested in cornstarch. Dean joins her and teases her about her cornstarch needs. They continue to banter back and forth, he about her uniform and she about his apron, until Dean offers Rory a soda. Dean chooses a can of soda and puts it behind his back. He asks her to pick a hand. As she leans in to choose a hand, Dean leans in and gives Rory her first kiss. Stunned, Rory thanks him and runs off with the box of cornstarch in her hand.

Rory runs over to Lane’s house to tell her the exciting news. As the girls excitedly discuss Rory’s romantic encounter in aisle three by the pest spray, Mrs. Kim approaches the girls and sternly asks who kissed Rory. Lane thinks quickly and tells her mother that the Lord kissed her. That seems to appease her and she leaves the girls to their celebration. Lane asks for every detail, reveling in Rory’s good fortune. Finally, Rory declares she has to go tell her mother but stops short. She is worried that Lorelai will react the same way she did when Rory first met Dean. Lane reminds her that the situation was totally different then because she was refusing to go to Chilton. Rory concedes the point and leaves for home. She arrives home to find Lorelai deep in a very frustrating telephone conversation with a refrigerator repairman trying to describe the strange sounds her fridge is making. Rory decides her mother is probably too crabby to hear her exciting news so she goes into her room and puts her stolen cornstarch on her dresser.

The next day, Lorelai goes into Kim’s to pick up a rocking chair she had purchased a couple of weeks earlier. Mrs. Kim minces no words, letting Lorelai know she has been delinquent in picking up the chair. She complains that Kim’s Antiques isn’t a storage facility. To appease her, Lorelai offers to pay extra for storage, but Mrs. Kim tells she doesn’t want more money. She would rather have her just take the chair in good time. Lorelai apologizes and explains that she has been so busy. Mrs. Kim begins to lecture her as to how she shouldn’t be so busy. That way she could pick up her chair in good time and keep her daughter from kissing boys. Lorelai is at first surprised and then saddened by this news. Initially she denies that Rory was kissing boys but soon remembers Rory’s crush on Dean. She leaves the store quickly, leaving her chair behind.

In the town center, Rory and Lane are dressed as pilgrims, manning a table for the canned food drive. They are giggling and gossiping about Dean. While sitting at a table in Luke’s, Lorelai is watching the girls and brooding because Rory hadn’t told her about her first kiss. When Luke approaches Lorelai’s table to see if she wants more coffee, she is too preoccupied with her thoughts to notice him. Luke mistakenly believes she is mad at him because he won’t decorate with the fall decorations that Taylor is demanding. Luke: Coffee? (Lorelai is distracted and doesn’t respond). Aw, come on. Are you mad at me too? I mean, a man can’t choose whether or not he wants a picture of a fat, stupid bird on his wall? My God, that’s the reason the damn Pilgrims came here in the first place. Lorelai: Luke, I wasn’t snubbing you. I didn’t hear you and now I’m concerned about you. Luke: Sorry, just feeling a little persecuted lately. Coffee? Lorelai; Please. Luke: You OK? Lorelai: Yes, I’m fine. Luke: You don’t look fine. Lorelai: Well thank you. Luke: I just meant you look concerned. Lorelai: Yes, preoccupied. Luke: You look concerned. Lorelai: Well I’m not. Luke: Fine, you just look it. Lorelai: Hey, you know some streamers would look so great in here. Luke: OK, I’m done. Lorelai: Thank you. Luke leaves as Rory rushes in, apologizing for being late. She tells Lorelai that she can’t stay for lunch as planned because the town’s folk are in a very giving mood and she has to get back. Lorelai unsuccessfully tries to elicit Rory’s ‘special news’ from her. She takes another sip of coffee and runs off.

Lorelai decides to go to Doose’s to check out her daughter’s love interest. As she sneaks around the aisles, Luke, who has stopped in to pick up a few things, startles her. He asks her why she is acting so strange. She finally tells him that Rory had her first kiss and Dean was the lothario who did it. She spews a little venom towards Dean and Luke drags her out of the store. Lorelai bemoans the fact that Rory didn’t tell her. She explains that she had to be secretive with parents’ but she didn’t want Rory to be that way. Luke provides a sounding board for Lorelai and seems to bring a little reason to the situation.

A little later, Rory finally gets home and Lorelai comes right out and asks her if she has kissed any boys lately. Rory finds out that her mom heard it from Mrs. Kim. Rory expresses concern that she was going to be in trouble. Rory: No? No lecture about kissing a boy? Lorelai: Why? Did you do it wrong? Rory: No… I don’t think. Lorelai: I didn’t love the way I found out, but you’re getting older. These things are bound to happen occasionally. Actually, I think it’s great. Rory: No you don’t. Lorelai: Yes, I do. I’m thrilled. Rory: Thrilled? Lorelai: Yeah. Rory: You’re completely weirded out by this aren’t you? Lorelai: No. You’re crazy. I’m perfectly fine with it. Rory: You don’t seem fine. You seem the complete opposite of fine. Lorelai: Well you’re projecting that on me because you don’t want to think that I’m fine when I am, as I have said, fine. Rory: OK. Later that evening, while Lorelai and Rory are picking up supplies for a night of junk food and Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, they run into Dean at Doose’s where Lorelai does a very good job of not embarrassing Rory. She meets him and to Rory’s great relief makes polite conversation. Outside the store, Lorelai decides she needs coffee so Rory runs to the video store to get the movie. As Lorelai moves towards Luke’s to get coffee, Dean runs out with their forgotten Red Vines. Lorelai decides to invite him over for movie night and he accepts. Lorelai is pretty pleased with herself and is surprised that Rory is so upset about the invitation. Rory complains that she and Dean haven’t even been out on a date yet. She bemoans the fact that her first fate with Dean will be with her mother. Lorelai apologizes, telling her that it was not her intention to humiliate her. They finally decide that they will just have to make the best of an awkward situation.

A little later, Rory is anguishing over what to wear that evening. She confides in her mother that although she finds Trigonometry easy, boys and dating are a mystery to her. Lorelai tells her it will all come with practice. She helps her pick out an outfit and they set up for the evening. A little later, all the junk food is set out and seven o’clock has come and gone without an appearance from Dean. Lorelai decides to look out the window to see if he is on his way and sees that Babette has Dean cornered and is talking his ear off. She runs out to rescue him and movie night begins. Once inside their house, Dean apologizes for being late. He explains that he was here a half hour earlier. After an awkward silence, Lorelai takes the lead and gives Dean a tour of the house. While Rory shows him her bedroom, Lorelai answers the door expecting the pizza man. Instead Sookie hands her a container with dessert. While Lorelai tries to get Sookie to leave, Joe brings pizza. Hoping to avoid any more awkwardness and embarrassment for Rory, Lorelai rushes her out the door. Unfortunately, Sookie is holding the pizza when she leaves. Rory and Dean come out of her bedroom to find Lorelai without the pizza. Sookie reenters the house with the pizza in hand, subjecting Dean to further scrutiny and Rory to further embarrassment. Lorelai rushes Sookie out and movie night begins.

A while later, the last couple of pieces of pizza sit in the box and a significant dent is made on the supply of junk food. They discuss their favorite movies and the choice for the next movie night. Lorelai decides to get some popcorn and heads into the kitchen. Rory seems to be more at ease with Dean as they sit alone, watching the movie and chatting. While Lorelai brings the popcorn, she notices Rory is more comfortable and decides to stay in the kitchen and give the kids a bit of alone time. All is well until Rory notices her mother is gone. Rory excuses herself and goes into the kitchen to find her mother eating popcorn and looking at a magazine. Rory questions what she is doing and insists she return to the living room. Rory: Well get back in there! Lorelai: Why: What happened? Did the bag boy try something? Rory: He’s sitting in there and he’s watching the movie and he’s perfect and he smells good. Lorelai: What? Rory: He smells really good and looks amazing and I’m stupid. I said ‘thank you.’. Lorelai: Whoa, whoa. You said ‘thank you’?’ Rory: When he kissed me. Lorelai: He kissed you again? What is he just out of prison or something? Rory: No, not now. Yesterday. At the store. Lorelai: Oh, all right. Strike the prison comment. He kissed you said ‘thank you?’ Rory: Yes. Lorelai: Well that was very polite.

Lorelai explains that she wasn’t trying to be a chaperone, she trying to be a girlfriend. Rory insists that she return because she is ‘freaking out’. Lorelai calms her and gets up to join them. Rory decides to wash her face while Lorelai takes the popcorn into the living room. She sits down and tells Dean that Rory was washing her face. They sit watching the movie for a moment until Lorelai mutes the TV. She looks over and Lorelai gives him ‘the talk.’ Lorelai: Dean. I don’t know exactly how to say this, but, um, this is a very different kind of household you walked into tonight. Dean: Yeah, I know. Lorelai: See… Rory is my daughter. Dean: (He rolls his eyes). Ah… here comes the talk. Lorelai: How about I talk, you listen? Rory is a smart kid. She’s never been much for guys so the fact that she likes you means a lot. I don’t believe she’d waste her time with some loser. Dean: But you’re watching me. Lorelai: Sweetheart, the whole town is watching you. That girl in there is beloved around here. You hurt her, there’s not a safe place within a hundred miles for you to hide. This a very small, weird place you’ve moved to. Dean: I’ve noticed. Lorelai: So, just know all eyes are on you. Dean: Anything else? Lorelai: She’s not going on your motorcycle. Dean: I don’t have a motorcycle. Lorelai: She’s going on your motorcycle. Dean: Fine, she won’t go on my motorcycle. Lorelai: Curfew will be enforced. You will not detract from her schoolwork and you’re going to start handling those lemons better. Dean: What? Lorelai: Don’t interrupt me when I’m speaking. I reserve the right to change, alter, break, or add to this list of rules at any given time without any written notice. Am I clear? Dean: You’re clear. Once Lorelai finishes, Dean states his position. He tells Lorelai that he’s not going anywhere but unless she approves of him, he doesn’t have a chance with Rory. Lorelai tells him that she wants to like him but makes it clear he had better not hurt Rory.

As the two teens say good night on the porch, they kiss once again. This time Dean thanks Rory. After Dean leaves, Rory goes into Lorelai’s room to say good night. She notices that her mother seems a little down. When asked why, Lorelai tells her that she just wished she had told her about the kiss. Rory apologizes and starts to leave but turns back. Lorelai sits up excitedly and the two Gilmore girls chat excitedly about the new milestone in Rory’s life.