When Luke tells Lorelai that he's not sure whether he can handle having Christopher around, she says he'll always be there because he's Rory's father.
Yet, in "Say something", while Lorelai is trying to reconcile with Luke she tells him that she can cut Christopher out of her life.
In this episode, the writers once again put in counterbalance a happy event with some trouble to come. Lorelai reconciles with Rory but at the same time we see Luke hiding from Lorelai his knowledge about his daughter. We can only assume that things will get sour between them. This is a recurrent dramatic tool used in the show. In season 1: Lorelai & Max get back together but Dean breaks up with Rory. In season 4: Lorelai & Luke share their first kiss while Richard & Emily split up. In season 5: Emily & Richard renew their vows but there is a new rift between Emily and Lorelai and Luke and Lorelai break up. In season 6: Lorelai & Rory get into a terrible fight but Luke & Lorelai get engaged.
In this episode, Rory is persistent and secures a job as a writer at a newspaper. This job is never mentioned again, and Rory soon goes back to work at the Yale Daily News, a volunteer run student paper, which clearly takes up a large portion of her time. So what is the point of getting this job in the first place?
When Lorelai and Emily are in the plane, Emily says she lost Rory just like she lost Lorelai. Lorelai responds... Lorelai: You didn't lose her like you lost me. She was never supposed to be there in the first place. She was always supposed to be at school. She just went back where she belonged. And you didn't lose me. At this point, Lorelai doesn't know yet that Rory has gone back to school. All she knows is that Rory has moved out of her grandparents house.
During Lorelai's house warming dinner with Sookie and Jackson, Sookie tells Lorelai that she can't believe she didn't do anything to the kitchen. They did change the kitchen however. The kitchen used to have hardwood floors and they changed them to large yellow and white tiles. The table and chairs are different too.
When Lorelai is at the diner talking to Lane, her napkin goes from under the knife to closer to the edge of the table under her cup.
When Lorelai and Rory are hugging and the camera is moving around them, the shadow of the camera can be seen.
When Lorelai tries to come in her house at the beginning of the episode, she can't because Luke put a chain on the door and had it latched. At the end of the episode when Rory is in the driveway and Lorelai runs outside to meet her, the chain and latch is not on the door.
Richard: (looks in box) Wait, this is my tennis racket. Colin: (to Finn) I told you she wasn't pointing at that closet! Finn: Then which closet was she pointing at? Richard: Take this stuff upstairs. Finn: Can't we just take it? I'd tell it about you every day and show it a picture of you on Christmas!
Luke: They're gonna get cold. Lorelai: Are they different? Luke: Different than what? Lorelai: They seem different. Luke: They're nachos, now eat them. Lorelai: You used baked chips. Luke: What? Lorelai: You did, didn't you; you used baked chips and low fat cheese. Luke: I did not use...low fat cheese. Lorelai: HA! Luke: How can you tell!? Lorelai: How could you lie? Luke: They taste the same! Lorelai: (sighs) Oh the trust. Luke how are we gonna make it if you're constantly trying to keep me healthy? Luke: Fine, die at 60. Lorelai: Bring me a doughnut while I wait!
Sookie: How do you like the house? Lorelai: It's uh...great! Sookie: It uh, is? Why do you hate it?
(Luke hands Lorelai a glass of wine) Lorelai: Mmm, what an odd reward system you have!
Lorelai: Mom? Emily: I'm in the cockpit! Lorelai: Add that to the list of things I never thought I'd hear my mother say.
Lorelai: It's not your fault. Emily: That's right, it's not my fault! I did nothing but take care of her. I bought her clothes, I got her a job, I guided her. I threw her parties, I introduced her to new people, new things. And then she just...you should have heard the way she talked to me. You would have been very proud.
Luke (off screen): Lorelai? Lorelai: No. Land shark. Candygram. Here's Johnny. Ugh! Luke, open the door!
Lorelai: It's not the same thing, Mom--what happened with Rory. It's not the same. Emily: I lost her just like I lost you--it feels remarkably similar to me. Lorelai: You didn't lose her like you lost me. Rory was never even supposed to be here in the first place. She was always supposed to be at school--she just went back where she belonged. And you didn't lose me.
Lorelai: (on the phone) Yes, hello. Rory: Mom? Lorelai: Rory! Rory: I got a job! Lorelai: What? Where? Rory: At the Stamford Eagle-Gazette! It pays less than I'll spend on gas to get there, but it's a job! A writing job! Lorelai: Yes! Rory: And I'm going back to Yale! I already called them and talked to my dean and it's all arranged. I just have to find someplace to live, but who cares? I'll figure it out! Lorelai: And this is what you want? Rory: Yes. Lorelai: Are you sure? Rory: Yes. Lorelai: Oh, Rory! Rory: I moved out of Grandma's house. Lorelai: Yeah, I know, I heard! Rory: Are you home? Lorelai: Oh, no, I'm not, I - Rory: Okay, I know you're home, but, can I come over? Lorelai: Yes, yes, come over! Rory: 'Cause I'm staying at Lane's, and I don't know if you want me to, but - Lorelai: Tell Lane you're moving out and get your butt over here right now! Rory: Well, okay, if you insist. (Rory pulls into the driveway. Lorelai looks out the window and sees her car) Lorelai: Oh my God. Rory: What? Lorelai: You look just so much more silver than I remember! Rory: Now come on! Is it too much to expect after a lengthy separation to get some sort of heartfelt greeting? (Lorelai runs out the front door as Rory get out of her car. They run toward each other and hug) Rory: Oh, I'm sorry! Lorelai: You're sorry, I'm sorry. Rory: I was so mixed up. Lorelai: I should have pulled you out of there. Rory: I was stupid! Lorelai: No, I was stupid! Rory: I was more stupid! Lorelai: Uh, boy, time to get you back to Yale! Rory: I love you, Mom. Lorelai: Oh, kid, you have no idea.
Lorelai: I am happy. I'm just sad at the same time. What, you've never been with a woman before?
Lorelai: (To Luke) What? (Luke snorts) Lorelai: Oh, nice snort. Luke: I didn't snort. Sookie: People in Kansas talk funny!
Lorelai: (about Luke and the flames of the grill) No, he blows them out with his man-breath. Sookie: And then he challenges them to an arm-wrestling contest. Lorelai: And then he insults the flame's mother and then sleeps with his girlfriend.
Luke: No secrets. Lorelai: Cross my heart and hope to die. Luke: Oh, I hate that saying. Lorelai: No secrets. (They kiss) Lorelai: Luke. Luke: Yeah? Lorelai: When I was in fifth grade, I told everyone Eric Estrada was my boyfriend and we used to make out on his motorcycle. Luke: Shh.
Lorelai: I don't hear anything. Luke: Exactly. Lorelai: OK, Simon...Garfunkel.
Luke: (on their way into the bedroom) Close your eyes Lorelai: I'm not scared of it anymore, Luke.
Lorelai: (to Luke) Last time we were over, Sookie breast-fed Martha during appetizers. They owe us.
Lorelai: (to Luke on Rory's return) Don't skimp on the fries. We don't want to lose her again.
Lorelai: (to Luke) Rory's back! She's back at home, she's back at school, she got a job, and she did it all on her own. She's picking up her things at Lane's, and then we're pulling a major all-nighter. We need burgers, fries, doughnuts, onion rings, and anything else you can think of. Oh! I'm going to go next door to Doose's and pick up some ice cream. (kisses Luke and takes his hands) She's back. We can set the date. We can get married now, because Rory's back!
Lorelai: (to Emily) You never lost me.
Lorelai: (throws a ball for her dog) Hey, Paul Anka. Ah, that's it. Let it have a head start.
Luke: I haven't seen Anna in about... April: 12 years? Luke: Yeah.
Emily: Just let me buy my plane, Lorelai. Let me be frivolous and shallow please. Lorelai: Okay.
Lorelai: Tell you what, Zack, I'll give you $40 for Rory and you give me $1,200 for my garage.
Lorelai: More books. Michel: What is it wrong with people? Don't they know the written word is dead?
Lorelai: (to Luke while sitting on his lap) I want a Barbie, and a pony and roller skates, and some roller skates for the Barbie and for the pony...
Lorelai: (to Luke about his bachelor pad) See, once we're married, you won't be able to run away to your clubhouse anymore. You'll have to join a rotisserie baseball club just like all the other men.
Lorelai: (to Luke as he walks away) Enjoy Wisteria Lane, you major drama queen!
Jackson: Did I miss something? Sookie: Always, honey.
Sookie: (about Luke's grandmother's bedroom furniture) Maybe if you stripped the wood? Lorelai: Lit a match. Sookie: Maybe throw on a little gasoline.
Lorelai: Nice of you to let her crash on your couch. Lane: She's small, how much room can she take? Lorelai: Did she bring her books? Lane: Good point.
Richard (when he sees Colin & Finn in his house) Who the hell are you? Finn: If I knew that, I could dismiss my therapist.
Emily: (to the maid) If you expect that muffin to fly back to the kitchen, you better go and get a cape.
Luke: I got another surprise for you. Lorelai: Really, where? Luke: Upstairs, in the bedroom. Lorelai: The bedroom? What could it be?
Lorelai: Luke, there's a chain on my door. (to herself) That's funny because I don't have a chain on my door.
French episode title: "Petits Secrets Entre Amants", meaning "Lovers Keeping Little Secrets".
This episode drew in 6.19 million viewers.
Matt Czuchry (Logan) does not appear in this episode.
Jackson: I crown thee, Burger King. This may not be intentional, but Burger King is a major fast food franchise.
Lorelai: Go back to Wisteria Lane you major drama queen!! This is a reference to the place where all of the women from "Desperate Housewives" live. All of the women are drama queens and Lorelai was comparing them to the way Luke was acting. Lorelai also says: 'Wrap yourself in a towel and trip over a hedge on your way out!' This refers to one of the most memorable moments in Desperate Housewives history. In Season 1 Episode 3 ('Pretty Little Picture') Susan Mayer locks herself out of her house wrapped only in a towel. Trying to climb in through a window, she ends up falling, naked in to a row of bushes.
Lorelai: No. Land Shark. Candygram. Here's Johnny. Ugh! Luke, open the door! Land Shark and Candygram are references to a very famous skit from the first season of Saturday Night Live. The land shark (played by Chevy Chase) is always trying to use various ploys to get into someone's house, including "Candygram". "Here's Johnny" is a reference to The Shining starring Jack Nicholson. The line is said while Johnny is hacking his way through a door with an axe. That in itself was an allusion to Ed McMahon's introduction of Johnny Carson during his run on "The Tonight Show"
Lorelai: When I was in fifth grade, I told everybody that Erik Estrada was my boyfriend and that we used to make out on his motorcycle. Erik Estrada played Officer Francis Poncherello on the 1970s show CHiPs.
Lorelai: I think they enjoyed watching a show for once that didn't have Laa Laa playing the guitar. Laa Laa is a character on the TV show Teletubbies.
Lorelai: (to Luke) Wrap yourself in a towel and trip over a hedge on your way out. Refers to a scene from Desperate Housewives.
Lorelai: I'll wake up in the morning, look in that mirror and think I'm that kid from Mask. Mask is a movie about Rocky Dennis, a boy with a skull deformity that causes excessive bone growth on the bones in his face, making him appear disfigured.
Lorelai: (to Lane) You're giving me a Valerie Cherish and I don't wanna see that! Valerie Cherish is the character played by Lisa Kudrow on the HBO show The Comeback who often says, "I don't wanna see that."
Lorelai: (to Sookie regarding her wanting to go to China) Say hello to Yao Ming for me. Yao Ming plays basketball for the Houston Rockets and is Chinese.
Lorelai: Okay, Simon...Garfunkel. Lorelai is referring to the song The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel.
Sookie: Saturday night? Lorelai: I hear it's alright for fighting. This is a reference to lyrics from the Elton John song Saturday Night: Don't give us none of your aggravation We had it with your discipline Saturday night's alright for fighting Get a little action in
Lorelai: Bernado. Sookie: Riff. Bernardo and Riff are the leaders of the two warring gangs in A West Side Story.
Episode Title: The Prodigal Daughter Returns The title is a reference to the Biblical parable of the prodigal son. The story is that he asks for his inheritance early, before his father dies, and goes off to live the high life, only to return, completely broke, to his father's open arms.
S 7 : Ep 22
Aired 5/15/07 (43:27)
S 7 : Ep 21
Aired 5/8/07 (39:52)
S 7 : Ep 20
Aired 5/1/07 (40:50)
S 7 : Ep 19
Aired 4/24/07 (40:26)
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