Gilmore Girls

"Let the Games Begin"
Original airdate: November 19, 2002
Directed by Steve Robman
Written by Amy Sherman-Palladino

Still in the painful post-dance marathon recovery period, Rory and Lorelai limp their way to Luke's for breakfast. They don't have time for a meal once they get there, but they do manage to fit in the first awkward meeting with Jess since the big breakup. After the teens leave for school, Lorelai fills Luke in on the change in Rory and Jess' relationship, which Luke thinks is great --while Lorelai has merely resigned herself to the inevitable.

At Friday's family dinner, Richard convinces Rory to accompany him and Emily on a day trip to Yale to do some reminiscing about the old days. Rory hesitantly agrees, much to Lorelai's consternation when she finds out later. But she does agree to go on the little road trip to New Haven with her parents. Everyone is enjoying the little stroll through the past until Richard brings them up short by mentioning that he secretly made an appointment for Rory to meet with the admissions dean. Rory meets with the dean, and everything seems to go well, but she isn't happy about being completely unprepared for such an important meeting. And Lorelai is furious, thinking that this is just one more way Richard is trying to manipulate her and Rory's lives to his benefit. Even Emily gets angry with him for being kept in the dark.

Lorelai and Rory catch a cab home to Stars Hollow where they bring their New Haven-bought tacos for dinner. The meal is interrupted when Jess walks through with Rory not far behind. The two meet up outside Gypsies for a kiss, but Rory runs off to make sure Dean knows she's sorry. At home, she saves the details from Lorelai until the next day and realizes that Yale is looking like a distinct possibility.