Gilmore Girls

It's Christmas Pageant time. Miss Patty is trying to assemble the characters while Lorelai is fitting costumes. Kirk is complaining that Lorelai is sticking him with pins. Unable to deal with his petulance, Lorelai sends him on his way. Rory is dealing with Taylor's demand to find the baby Jesus. Rory locates a doll with missing arm, which sends Taylor in a frenzy trying to find the arm. Rory suggests they get a new baby Jesus but Taylor argues that they have used that doll as baby Jesus since 1965 and there is no need to change now. Lorelai and Rory glance awkwardly at one another, an icy chill between them remains. As they walk home, a dog with the doll's missing arm walks behind them.


Lane runs up to Rory who is standing in the gazebo. Lane reminds her they were supposed to meet a Luke's. Rory is still distracted by her problems with her mom and has forgotten. She is frustrated that things had been going so well for her and now she is barely talking to her mother, her mother and grandmother aren't speaking and Dean's new name is 'Narcolepsy Boy' She tells Lane she hasn't seen Dean since the dance but he has called. Rory decides that she can't talk about that situation any more and asks to change the subject. They begin talking about her shopping list. Lane is shocked to hear that Rory bought Dean the book Metamorphosis. Although Rory thinks of it as a romantic gift, Lane explains that it is equivalent to Dean buying her a football. Rory decides gift buying is just getting too complicated.


At the Independence Inn, while Michel directs the tree decorating, Lorelai mans the desk. Emily calls to tell her about the Christmas party on Friday. The tension is thick as they speak until finally, Emily 'uninvites' Lorelai to the party. Stunned, Lorelai bids her mother brusque good-bye.


It's Friday night and Rory is getting ready for the party. She tries to talk Lorelai into going with her, suggesting Emily didn't really mean it when she told Lorelai not to come. Lorelai assures her that she meant it and continues to pout. Rory asks her is she should put her name on their Christmas gift. Lorelai tells her to sign it from "the innkeeper formerly known as her daughter". Rory chastises her for her childish behaviour. As a final ploy to get her mother to go, Rory reminds her about the apple tarts. Although Lorelai tells Rory that she can live without the apple tarts, it's clear that this is untrue. She quickly changes the subject and shoos Rory out the door.


Emily welcomes Rory to the party. Rory gives her the Christmas present and makes it clear that it is also from her mom but Emily ignores any mention of Lorelai and introduces Rory to the guests. What's more, when the guests ask about Lorelai, Emily lies, telling them she had to work. Emily and Rory share a glance then Emily turns her attention to Richard, chastising him for talking business. Richard continues a tirade against a colleague who has changed a proposal he made. Rory approaches her grandmother and attempts to apologize for her behaviour on the night of the dance. Emily tells her that this is neither the time nor the place for this discussion and rebukes her for her poor manners.


Back in the Hollow, Lorelai is talking to Joe, asking why her pizza is taking so long. She finds out that the van has broken down and the arrival of her pizza is indeterminate. She grabs a bag of salad. She doesn't bother putting it in a bowl, but rather puts dressing in the bag, shakes it and begins eating it while reading a magazine. Suddenly she hears a strange tapping sound. She locates the sound in Rory's room, finding Dean standing at the window. When she opens the window, Dean greets her sheepishly. Lorelai makes no secret of the fact she is still miffed about Rory's overnight stay with him at Miss Patty's. Dean apologizes, earnestly assuring Lorelai that nothing happened. He promises her that he would never let anything happen to Rory. He asks Lorelai where he stands with her.


Lorelai: I don't hate you.
Dean: No?
Lorelai: No. Though I did imagine twenty different ways to remove your head from your body.
Dean: Yeah? Well which one looked the best?
Lorelai: Hedge clippers.
Dean: Huh.
Lorelai: Dull ones.
Dean: Well, I mean sure you wouldn't want it to go quick.
Lorelai: Exactly.
Dean: Ok, uh, I'm gonna go.
Lorelai: Dean.
Dean: Yeah.
Lorelai: You know we have a really nice front door. You might want to use it some times.
Dean: Got it.
Lorelai: See ya.


Lorelai has given up on her pizza arriving and is walking to Luke's. The bell ringers in the square are playing "The First Noel" with marginal success. Inside the diner, Luke asks if Rory is dating the 'bag boy'. Reluctant to talk about it, Lorelai attempts to change the subject, but Luke warns her that Dean is trouble. Although Lorelai makes an effort to defend him, she eventually agrees. Luke asks her if she wants her usual but Lorelai asks him if he has a holiday special on the menu, something to mark the festive season. Lorelai tells Luke that tonight was her parents big Christmas party where there is good food and pretty decorations. She specifically mentions the apple tarts that she loves so much. She explains that it is the only time she enjoys going over to her parents' house. She sadly tells him that she was uninvited. When Luke doesn't react with the appropriate sympathy, she asks him if he heard what she said. She isn't sure why she is feeling so sad. Showing rare insight, Luke suggests that she is feeling bad because she and Rory aren't getting along and they separated at a time they usually share. Lorelai is impressed with his observations. Luke reminds her that she comes into the diner every day. Resigned to the situation, Lorelai orders her regular burger.


At the elder Gilmore house, the dinner is going very well. The guests are enjoying the wonderful dinner Emily has arranged. Richard is still talking business and seems to be getting more and more irate. He is pulling at his tie and complaining that it is too hot. Emily chastises him for pulling at his tie. Soon he gets up and goes to turn down the thermostat. As the guests chat, the conversation turns to Lorelai. Once again Emily lies, telling them that Lorelai wasn't feeling well and thought it best not to come. Rory sits uncomfortably as another guest tells Emily that she told them earlier that Lorelai had to work. Emily brushes the question off. She realizes that Richard has been gone for some time and leaves the table to find him.


At the diner, Luke brings Lorelai a Santa burger. She is genuinely delighted with the gesture. Just then, Lorelai's phone rings. Luke points to the 'no cell phone' sign. She argues briefly with him and asks the rest of the patrons what they think about his policy. While getting their vote, she misses her call. She calls to see if there is a message. As she does this, Taylor and some carolers enter the diner requesting free hot chocolate in exchange for a carol or two. While Luke argues with Taylor, Lorelai listens to the message machine and begins to panic. She tells Luke that her father has collapsed and is in the hospital. She desperately tries to remember the number of a cab company. Luke immediately comes to her aid, telling her that he will drive her to the hospital. He gets Taylor to close the diner when they are finished with their hot chocolate. Lorelai and Luke run out the back way to his truck.


While driving to the hospital, Lorelai complains at how little information Rory left on the answering machine then berates Luke for driving so slow. He explains that there is ice on the road and he is just trying to be safe. She continues to complain but Luke tries to calm her. She finally realizes how badly she is behaving.


Lorelai: Oh, you're psychic now? You're suddenly getting visions while you're driving 20 mph in the oldest truck known to man? (She pauses) I'm sorry, you're killing yourself to get me there and I'm yelling at you. I don't mean it.
Luke: I know.
Lorelai: I feel like this is one of those moments when I should be remembering all the great times I had with my dad, you know. The time he took me shopping for a Barbie or to the circus or fishing and my mind is a complete blank.
Luke: Well I'm sure it happened.
Lorelai: No it didn't. We never did any of that. He went to work, he came home, he read the paper, he went to bed, I snuck out the window. Simple. He was a very by the numbers guy. I was never very good with numbers.
Luke: I'm sure he loves you.
Lorelai: You know my dad is not a bad guy.
Luke: I'm sure he's not.
Lorelai: He lived his life the way he thought he was supposed to. He followed the rules taught to him by his non-fishing-non-Barbie-buying dad. He worked hard. He bought a nice house. He provided for my mom. All he asked in return was for his daughter to wear white dresses and go to cotillion and want the same life that he had. What a disappointment it must have been for him to get me.
Luke: I can't imagine anyone seeing you as a disappointment.
Lorelai: I bet you'd buy a Barbie for your daughter.
Luke: Yeah, well, I'd probably give her the cash to buy it herself and meet her by the baseball cards.
Lorelai: Hmm. You'll make a great dad.
Luke: You make a great mom.
Lorelai: Yeah. It's just the uh, daughter part I don't have down yet.
Luke: Ok, hold on. That Camaro is dust.


At the hospital, Emily has met her match with the desk nurse. Emily is as demanding and abrasive as ever but is getting no information or co-operation from the nurse. The nurse eventually disappears behind the doors of a restricted area ostensibly to check on Richard but more likely to get away from Emily. Emily continues to complain to Rory until Dr. Reynolds, the family doctor, arrives. She speaks briefly to him before he disappears behind the doors of the restricted area as well. Rory offers to call Lorelai again but Emily grumbles that Lorelai is too busy and sends her to find Richard a newspaper. When Rory leaves, Emily goes around the corner and calls Lorelai herself but gets the answering machine.


A little later the nurse returns and continues to try to get Emily to fill out the required forms but her petulance is unabated. She is speaking quite loudly as Lorelai and Luke walk around the hospital searching for her parents. Lorelai is frustrated that she can't follow the directions she has received but hears Emily shouting. When they turn the corner, she calls out to her mother. Emily seems surprised that Lorelai has come. Lorelai asks how her dad is. Emily complains that the nurse is insisting on her filling out useless forms instead of giving her information on Richard's condition. Ever the conciliator, Lorelai tells the nurse that she will fill out the forms while she goes to find out how Mr. Gilmore is doing. When the nurse protests, Lorelai interrupts her and volunteers to go speak to the doctors while the nurse deals with her mother. Faced with that option, the nurse disappears behind the doors of the restricted area once again. Lorelai then turns her attention to her mother, trying to get information on what happened. Emily begins describing what had happened at the dinner party when she finally notices Luke standing there. She asks Lorelai if she is on a date. Without thinking, she tells Emily that 'it's just Luke'. Luke takes the slight with good humor. Lorelai explains that she was eating at the diner when she got the call and Luke drove her to the hospital. Lorelai finds out that Dr. Reynolds has arrived and announces that they should go find him. To Emily's utter amazement, Lorelai goes behind the doors of the restricted area. Declaring that she didn't know she could do that, she follows Lorelai. Luke tells them he will wait there.


Rory returns from her newspaper search. Luke tells her he gave Lorelai a ride to the hospital, adding that they were not on a date. Rory is a little confused by this comment but accepts it with no further questions. Luke explains that her mom went to find out how her grandfather was doing. Rory expresses fear that her grandfather will die and Luke comforts her. Lorelai returns. She greets Rory warmly; the tension between them has dissolved in the face of this emergency. She tells them that the tests are done and they are taking Richard to his room. Lorelai tries to set Rory's mind at ease and sends her to find some coffee to distract her and make her feel useful. Lorelai sits down with a sigh, bemoaning the difficult situation. Luke pulls out all stops attempting to provide support, encouraging thoughts of rainbows, unicorns, clowns, and little cute furry things. They share a chuckle as Emily come out and updates them on what was happening. As Emily speaks, a gurney goes by. Luke takes a deep breath and looks away. When Emily leaves, Lorelai asks Luke if he's okay.


Luke: Yeah, I'm just not big on hospitals you know the smell, people being wheeled by with tubes sticking out of them, you know, drainage, fluids, gaping holes…
Lorelai: Ok, listen, why don't you go home.
Luke: (He seems disappointed) You want me to go?
Lorelai: You don't look so good.
Luke: Thanks.
Lorelai: That's not what I meant. You know you always look good.
Luke: (Pleased) Yeah?
Lorelai: I mean you always look healthy.
Luke: Ok.
Lorelai: But you don't look so healthy now. Now you look...
Luke: Unhealthy.
Lorelai: Yes.
Luke: (Enjoying Lorelai discomfort) Ok.
Lorelai: Oh what? So I said you look good. We're not in 5th grade. You look good, big deal. Stop staring at me.
(Another patient goes by)
Luke: (He gets ill again) Ah, jeez.
Lorelai: (Smuggly) See that's what you get for being cocky.


An orderly wheels Richard out. Lorelai asks him how he is but the orderly has no information. Luke encourages her to go see her father but Lorelai tells him she is going to go find Emily. When Emily comes through the door, instead of going in to Richard's room she decides to go find Rory. When Rory comes down the hall, she tells them she has to go make a call. It's clear she wishes to avoid seeing her father in such a vulnerable state. Luke reminds her that she can't avoid going into his room forever. She denies she is avoiding anything. She tells him she is going to find some coffee.


Rory and Emily are doting on Richard. Emily is plumping his pillows while Rory reads his newspaper to him. Emily tells Rory to leave the papers for later and she leaves the room. With Rory gone, Richard attempts to speak to Emily regarding some financial and insurance issues she will have to deal with if he dies but she will not hear of it. Practically in tears, she insists that Richard allows her to die first. Richard tenderly takes her hand and agrees.


Rory finds Lorelai at battle with a coffee machine. As they chat, Lorelai tells Rory about Dean's visit. Lorelai assures her that she was not mean to him. She also tells Rory that she knows that nothing happened that night at Miss Pattty's. Lorelai explains that although she trusts her completely, she was so panicked that night that she reacted more in fear than anger. Rory tells her mother that she hated being at the party without her. Lorelai asks how the apple tarts were. Rory kindly fibs and tells her that Emily didn't make them this year.


Emily leaves Richard's room and sits next to Luke. Believing that Lorelai had not put her parents in a positive light, Emily assures Luke that Richard is a good man and always tried to do the right thing for his family. To Emily's surprise, Luke tells her that that is what Lorelai had told him. She then bluntly asks what is going on between Lorelai and him. Luke denies they are anything more than friends. Emily obviously sees something in them that neither Lorelai nor Luke is willing to admit. She tells him that they are both idiots.


Lorelai finally goes into her father's room. He has nodded off and she stands looking at him trying to think of what to say. He awakens and looks at her expectantly. She begins to say something just as Emily, Rory and Dr. Reynolds rush in with the results of the tests. The Dr. announces that with proper care Richard will be fine. While everyone bustles around, Lorelai slips out of the room. She attempts to collect herself as Luke comes around the corner with a cup of coffee in hand. He announces that he heard the news. Lorelai tries to maintain her composure but fails. As she cries, Luke puts an arm around her and hugs her. She collects herself and notices the coffee cup, which she gratefully accepts. When Luke asks if there is anything else he can do, she asks him if he could take Rory home for her. She explains that she is going to stick around for a little longer. Rory comes out of the hospital room and Lorelai encourages her to go home and call Dean. As Rory and Luke leave, Lorelai sits in the chair with a sigh. Emily comes out announcing that Richard was asleep. She asks Lorelai if she wants to go down to the cafeteria to get something to eat.


Later on at the diner, Lorelai comes in to give Luke a thank-you gift. Luke seems pleased to receive a new baseball cap. Lorelai puts in on with the bill forwards and giggles about how wrong it looks. She puts it on backwards. They stand and watch the Christmas procession.


Luke: Thanks for the hat.
Lorelai: You're welcome. Looks good on you.
Luke: (With a smirk on his face) Good how?
Lorelai: Just watch the procession.