ACT FOUR
FADE IN
INT: INN, FOYER - NIGHT
An animated Michel's on the phone.
- MICHEL
- I was hoping for Sunday evening.
- (pause)
- I assumed it being a town hall, the town would have the right to use it over some stupid baton twirling group.
- (pause)
- Whatever they are, I don't care.
- (pause)
- No, I was not on the gymnastics team at school!
- (pause)
- Being French and well spoken doesn't mean I was a part of a tight-wearing bunch of snobs that couldn't play real sport.
- (pause)
- I'll have you know, I was a very MASCULINE ballerina in school.
- (pause)
- There ARE masculine ballerinas. Look, you're getting off the topic. Is there an opening anywhere this week or not?
- (pause)
- Well, that was just crude. Who in their right mind would think I'm gay?
As Michel says this, he eloquently holds his hand to his chest, accentuating his shock.
- MICHEL
- Fine, think what you want.
- (pause)
- I guess it will have to wait until then. Book it.
Michel hangs up.
- MICHEL
- (to himself)
- Me, gay? What a joke.
CUT TO:
INT: POLICE CAR - NIGHT
Monica and Rory stare out their windows. Cop 1 turns around and looks at Rory.
- COP 1
- So, Rory, you're Lorelai's daughter?
- RORY
- (flatly)
- Yes. Obviously you didn't get the hint from my grandma before.
Monica turns to face Cop 1.
- MONICA
- You'll have to forgive Rory's attitude...she's suffers from really, really bad menstrual cramps.
Rory goes red and pierces Monica with a harmful gaze. Monica's look is just as furious.
- MONICA
- Drop it Rory, your mother is home with a neck injury and she hasn't seen a doctor yet. Correction-- she's at home ALONE because you were too immature to answer your damn phone or let anyone know where you were.
Rory blinks and her anger fades.
- RORY
- What?
- COP 2
- Is Lorelai okay?
- MONICA
- (to Rory)
- In her anxiousness and worry for you this morning, she tripped over a, well, she probably tripped over her own clumsy feet, but that's not the point. You didn't give her a chance to explain things last night or this morning.
Rory's annoyance surfaces.
- RORY
- She doesn't deserve that chance. She lied to me.
- COP 1
- She lied--well, she was really good at that in high school. Used to come in late all the time with that guy--
- MONICA
- (to Cop 1)
- --sorry. Can I have a conversation with my kid here?
- RORY
- I'm not your kid. You're a liar and a drunk.
- MONICA
- I'm neither of those things Rory, I had no idea that Lorelai was going to tell you that white lie. If I'd known I never would've let her do it.
- RORY
- You had the chance to make things right afterwards and you went along with it.
Monica knows she's right.
- COP 2
- So, I'm getting the impression that this is about Monica's sexuality, right?
Rory's mouth drops open. She wasn't expecting that.
- RORY
- Huh?
- MONICA
- (whispering)
- You two are taking the third degree to a new level tonight.
- RORY
- (to Cop 2)
- What are you talking about?
- (to Monica)
- You're gay?
- COP 1
- Looks like it.
- COP 2
- Apparently
- MONICA
- I'm not. There's just some assumptions going around at home.
- RORY
- Who thinks you're gay?
- MONICA
- Well, pretty much everyone.
- COP 1
- So you're not? What's with the flannel then?
- MONICA
- (to Cop 1)
- That was your stereotypical opinion in action.
- RORY
- Why does everyone think you're gay?
- MONICA
- The important thing is, I'm NOT gay. It doesn't matter why the town thinks it -
- RORY
- It does to me. You sound like you're trying to hide something from me. Again.
Monica stays silent. Rory gets her answer.
- RORY
- (angrily)
- God! I can't believe you. I've barely forgiven you for your first lie to me and you're already bull-shitting to me again.
- MONICA
- Rory, watch your language.
- RORY
- No? Tell me why the town thinks you're a lesbian.
- MONICA
- You don't want to know. It's complicated Rory. It's messed up your mother a bit, and I don't want you under that stress as well.
- RORY
- I don't care what you want!
- MONICA
- (angrily)
- Damn, you're a vindictive little snot aren't you? Can't you accept the fact that this is none of your business and let it be?
- RORY
- Hang on... what do you mean Mom's messed up about it?
Monica shakes her head with tears forming in her eyes. Rory regards Monica for a long time before figuring it out. She silently begs Monica to tell her otherwise. Monica can't.
CUT TO:
INT: GILMORE HOUSE - NIGHT
Lorelai stirs and wakes up, half opening her eyes. She SHRIEKS, eyes going wide. Realizing its only the TV, she EXHALES and relaxes. She takes the note and reads:
- LORELAI
- Hey sleepy, bet you just screamed at the TV, right? Very funny Monica. I've gone to get that insane, sulky individual you named after yourself from your parent's place.
Lorelai's face drops. She looks around in worry and notices the coffee table covered with her belongings. Her eyes brighten.
As Lorelai takes a closer look from where she lies, head lights flash through the curtains behind her. A moment later the door opens and Rory enters. Lorelai looks up in hope. Rory heads straight for her room without looking Lorelai's way and this breaks her heart.
The lights pass over the window again and a second later the front door opens and Monica wearily steps through. She shuts the door quietly and limps into the lounge room. Monica sees how worried Lorelai is and sits down on the edge of the couch.
- LORELAI
- How's my baby doing?
- MONICA
- Give her a couple of days and we should have her back. Look, I should tell you that she knows about the rumors.
- LORELAI
- What?
- MONICA
- Do you remember Brady from high school?
- LORELAI
- What does he have to do with the rumors?
- MONICA
- He's one of the cops that drove us home--
- LORELAI
- There were cops?
- MONICA
- Yes. Your mother demanded they drive us both home. He and partner Chuck assumed that because I was wearing flannel I--
- LORELAI
- --right. Of course. Even strangers are in on the joke.
- MONICA
- But on the bright side, your mother thinks I'm a murderer on the run.
Lorelai misses the joke, too concerned about Rory to concentrate.
- LORELAI
- Rory knows the rumors aren't true, right? I have to talk to her.
- MONICA
- Don't you dare move.
- LORELAI
- She's upset.
- MONICA
- She needs to sort herself out first. We need to leave her alone to do that. I told her they're not true. It's up to her whether she believes me or not.
Lorelai doesn't like it.
- MONICA
- Are you hungry?
- LORELAI
- Are you trying to distract me?
- MONICA
- Yes I am, but for your own good.
- LORELAI
- Rory is upset--
- MONICA
- --I know. I got a mouth full on the ride home, but you need to rest your neck. I'll check up on her for you, but you need to rest. Can you do that for me?
Lorelai peers at Monica.
- LORELAI
- I'll try. Can you do something for me?
- MONICA
- No, I am not massaging your feet.
Lorelai grins.
- LORELAI
- Can you put the TV and everything else back to where they should be?
- MONICA
- What if you want to watch--
- LORELAI
- --I don't.
- MONICA
- But what if you DECIDE to?
- LORELAI
- Well, that's what you're here for.
- MONICA
- Gee, I feel used and I've done nothing yet.
Lorelai smiles.
- LORELAI
- I don't call this--
- (pointing to the junk on the coffee table)
- --nothing.
Monica smiles humbly.
- MONICA
- I kinda went a bit overboard.
- LORELAI
- Thank you.
- MONICA
- You're welcome. Now, what would you like for a very late dinner?
- LORELAI
- It's after 10--nothing's open.
- MONICA
- You're such a pessimist.
- LORELAI
- No, really. This is Stars Hollow, not Las Vegas. Nothing is open.
- MONICA
- I'll call Luke then.
- LORELAI
- Get your job back while you're at it.
- MONICA
- I think I've got it back already.
- LORELAI
- How'd that happen?
- MONICA
- I'm a charmer.
- LORELAI
- I won't dispute that.
The two share a smile.
CUT TO:
INT: GILMORE HOUSE - MORNING
The room has been tidied and the TV is back in its place. Lorelai's asleep along the length of the couch while Monica's asleep at the end of the couch facing her. The throw over is covering Lorelai but it's slipped off Monica, exposing Lorelai's feet in her lap. Monica stirs first and watches Lorelai wake up a moment later.
- LORELAI
- Hi.
- MONICA
- Hi. How did you sleep?
- LORELAI
- Like a baby. It was that amazing foot rub.
Monica sits up.
- MONICA
- (puzzled)
- Foot rub?
- LORELAI
- You've got wonderful hands.
- MONICA
- Sorry?
- LORELAI
- You put them to good use last night.
- MONICA
- Okay, are you getting the weird innuendo? I thought we were going to avoid that as much as possible.
- LORELAI
- Well, that was until you did that thing you did.
- MONICA
- What? What did I do?
- LORELAI
- This.
Lorelai sits up with ease, pulling Monica to her and kissing her. Monica's surprised for a split second before she closes her eyes and starts kissing Lorelai back.
CUT TO:
INT/EXT: GILMORE HOUSE - NIGHT
Monica jerks awake and finds Lorelai peering at her with concern.
- LORELAI
- Are you okay?
- MONICA
- Ah, I, um, I should be going.
Monica stands up quickly, thoughts running a mile a minute.
- LORELAI
- But Luke's coming with dinner.
- MONICA
- Right. You know, I'm not really that hungry. I think I might just go home and get some sleep.
Monica quickly backs out, bumping into the wall as she goes.
- LORELAI
- Monica?
- MONICA
- I'm okay. Good night. Talk to Rory tomorrow.
Monica steps out and shuts the door.
OUTSIDE
In Monica's rush and distraction she runs into Luke.
- MONICA
- Luke.
- LUKE
- Whoa. Where are you going?
- MONICA
- I have to go home.
- LUKE
- I brought you dinner. Are you okay?
- MONICA
- I'm fine. I'm fine.
She's lying.
- LUKE
- Did Lorelai say something?
- MONICA
- No--I just--I'm tired.
- LUKE
- I brought you cheese fries. Monica's eyes widen in amazement.
- MONICA
- I love cheese fries.
- LUKE
- You mentioned them last Saturday...
Monica tears up.
- LUKE
- Monica, what's wrong? Cheese fries don't usually bring tears to my eyes.
- MONICA
- Oh, you rhymed.
Monica breaks down. Luke drops the bags in his hands and grabs Monica, holding her to him. She wraps her hands around him and lets herself CRY. Luke lets her for a long time before:
- LUKE
- Monica, whatever it is, it's okay. Hey, you wanna be happy about something? Be happy that I was planning on asking you out the next time I saw you, which is now I guess.
Monica lets go a little to look at Luke, stunned out of her crying. Luke kisses her lightly. Monica deepens the kiss immediately.
FADE OUT
END