Episode 109: Rory's Dance
[Rory goes into the market, leaving Lane with her face plastered to the window. Rory walks up to Dean.]RORY: Hey.
DEAN: Oh, hey.
RORY: You're busy.
DEAN: Yeah. I just have to put the new green bean shipment on the shelves. You want to help?
RORY: Yeah, sure. I, uh, I love stocking beans.
DEAN: OK. Uh, follow me.
RORY: So do you work on Saturdays? I forget.
DEAN: Well it depends. Sometimes I come in if I don't have any plans. Why?
RORY: No reason. See, there's this thing at my school on Saturday. Well it's not really at my school, it's kind of given by my school .
DEAN: What is it?
RORY: Well it's this thing where you go and they play music and you're supposed to get all dressed up and do some kind of dance and then there's chicken.
DEAN: Chicken?
RORY: Well I don't know if there's chicken. But at these kinds of things they often serve chicken because it's probably cheaper and people eat it, so the logic behind the chicken choice really isn't that bad.
DEAN: I'm lost
RORY: It's a dance.
DEAN: Ah.
RORY: And it's not like I'm dying to go or anything, but it is a new school and being a part of the social activities is really important at Chilton.
DEAN: So are you asking me to go to the dance with you?
RORY: No. Yes. I mean, if you wanted to go, I would go too.
DEAN: Well that would probably be good since it's your school.
RORY: Right. So do you want to go?
DEAN: Honestly?
RORY: Yeah.
DEAN: I've actually never gone to a dance before.
RORY: Because they're lame?
DEAN: Yeah. And it's just not the way I ever wanted to spend my time. I mean, I'm not a big joiner.
RORY: OK, fair enough. More beans please.
(They stack beans in silence.)
DEAN: You want to go, don't you?
RORY: No. I don't. I have no desire to go at all. I was just thinking out loud, that's all.
DEAN: So, uh, what would I have to wear?
RORY: What?
DEAN: To this dance. What would I have to wear?
RORY: Anything you want.
DEAN: Come on.
RORY: No, really whatever you're comfortable in is fine.
DEAN: Rory...
RORY: Some sort of pants would be nice.
DEAN: Rory...
RORY: It's coat and tie.
DEAN: Oh man.
RORY: But you could probably get away with a coat and no tie.
DEAN: OK
RORY: Really?
DEAN: Yeah.
(Rory kisses Dean.)
RORY: Thank you.
DEAN: You're welcome.
(Rory goes back outside where Lane is waiting.)
[Dean comes to pick up Rory for the dance. They had agreed that Rory would come out when Dean honked but since Grandma Gilmore was there, she didn't allow Rory to run out.]
(Rory runs to the door anyway.)
RORY: Hey.
DEAN: Hey, uh, I thought I was supposed to honk.
RORY: I know, I'm sorry.
[Rory and Dean are in the car on the way to the dance.]
RORY: Maybe we should just forget about this
DEAN: OK.
RORY: I mean, it's just a dance. What's the big deal?
DEAN: Beats me.
RORY: And these kids at my school -- awful. Have you seen The Outsiders?
DEAN: Yeah, I have.
RORY: Just call me Ponyboy. I heard this place is beautiful though -- old and historic.
DEAN: Huh.
RORY: Maybe we could just go in for a minute.
DEAN: Fine.
RORY: Or not.
DEAN: Fine too.
RORY: I don't know. Why can't I decide? This is stupid. What do you think?
DEAN: I think that you look amazing.
RORY: Maybe just a couple minutes won't hurt.
[At the Chilton dance. Rory and Dean are standing near the back of the room.]
RORY: Well it's a very good room.
DEAN: Looks historical.
RORY: I commend the person that suggested this very location.
DEAN: So, we could just get our picture taken and leave.
RORY: We could.
DEAN: Or we could dance a little first.
RORY: Yeah?
DEAN: I stress a little.
RORY: Something slow.
DEAN: That sounds good.
(Madeline and Louise are sitting at a table at the dance.)
LOUISE: Can we go yet?
MADELINE: We haven't even eaten dinner.
LOUISE: I'm bored.
MADELINE: We have to wait for Paris anyway.
LOUISE: Fine. Give me your roll.
MADELINE: Wow.
LOUISE: What?
MADELINE: Rory Gilmore. God, she's got good hair.
LOUISE: Who's the dish?
MADELINE: Beats me.
LOUISE: He's not of the manor born, that's for sure. Let's go.
(Madeline and Louise saunter over to Rory and Dean.)
RORY: So, should we dance or should we sit first?
LOUISE: Rory...you came. Oh, great dress. Who's it by?
RORY: Lorelai Gilmore.
MADELINE: You made it yourself?
RORY: No, my mom made it for me.
MADELINE: (impressed) She did? Really?
RORY: Yeah.
LOUISE: So you traveling with a bodyguard now?
RORY: Oh, no. This is my -- this is Dean. Dean, this is Louise and Madeline.
DEAN: Hey.
MADELINE: My mom can't make anything.
LOUISE: (flirting) How tall are you?
DEAN: Uh...
MADELINE: Soup! She can make soup!
LOUISE: You know, my whole family is really tall. The men, mostly. What are you -- 6'2", 6'2"?
RORY: What, does he get like a prize if he guesses?
MADELINE: One kind of soup, actually. It's green, lumpy.
DEAN: I'm 6'2".
MADELINE: Actually, she can't make soup either.
LOUISE: Six-two's a good height.
DEAN: You think?
LOUISE: I think.
DEAN: Huh.
(Dean moves behind Rory and puts his arms around her waist.)
DEAN: What do you think? Too tall?
RORY: Not in heels.
DEAN: Good.
RORY: Although the saddle shoes make it kind of difficult.
DEAN: Well I'll just have to stoop then.
RORY: I guess so.
LOUISE: OK. I'm bored.
(Louise turns and walks away.)
MADELINE: I like your dress.
RORY: Thanks.
(Madeline follows Louise. A slow song starts as Rory turns in Dean's arms.)
RORY: Hey, you're nice.
DEAN: Slow song.
RORY: Let's go.
(Rory and Dean are about to dance when Paris and her date walk up to them.)
PARIS: Rory.
RORY: Paris.
PARIS: I see you came.
RORY: You sold me the ticket.
JACOB: I'm Jacob.
RORY: Hi, I'm Rory. This is Dean.
DEAN: Hi.
JACOB: Hi.
PARIS: Excuse us.
(Paris drags Jacob away.)
PARIS: Those are not friends.
JACOB: I was being polite.
PARIS: Well don't
DEAN: So, that's Paris?
RORY: Yes, it is.
DEAN: She seems fun.
RORY: Oh, yeah, she is.
DEAN: OK, so, this dancing thing is not something I want you to get used to or comment on.
RORY: Now, that goes both ways.
[Rory and Dean are slow dancing.]
DEAN: Hey, if I kiss you is a nun gonna come out here and boot me out of here
RORY: It's not a Catholic school.
DEAN: So I can kiss you?
RORY: Yeah, you can kiss me.
[While dancing]
DEAN: So, Ponyboy, you happy?
RORY: Yeah, I'm happy.
[Later at the dance]
DEAN: OK, uh, I need something to drink. Do you want some punch?
RORY: Sure.
[Sitting at a table, Rory's feet on Dean's lap.]
DEAN: So, uh, you want to maybe go?
RORY: You're bored. I'm sorry. Yeah, let's go, right away.
DEAN: I'm not bored. I thought, you know, there's still a little time left, maybe we could get a cup of coffee somewhere, hang out a little, talk a walk. You know, just us.
RORY: That'd be nice.
DEAN: No, you stay. I'll get the coats.
[Rory and Dean walking outdoors in Stars Hollow
after the dance.]
DEAN: That was quite a dance.
RORY: I seriously don't know what got into him.
DEAN: I do.
RORY: What?
DEAN: He has a thing for you.
RORY: No he doesn't. It's just a game to him or something.
DEAN: He has a thing for you.
RORY: He does nothing but insult me and make me miserable.
DEAN: He has a thing for you.
RORY: I don't know how I feel about this whole situation.
DEAN: What do you mean?
RORY: I don't know...having my boyfriend defend my honor. It's weird.
DEAN: Uh, boyfriend?
RORY: What?
DEAN: You said 'boyfriend.'
RORY: No! I just meant boyfriend in the sense that the whole defending me thing was very boyfriendy, but only in the broadest sense of the word, which doesn't even apply at all here.
DEAN: You are seriously babbling.
RORY: I didn't mean that you're my boyfriend.
DEAN: OK.
RORY: I don't think you're my boyfriend.
DEAN: OK.
(pause)
RORY: Dean?
DEAN: What?
RORY: Are you my boyfriend?
DEAN: In the broadest sense of the word way?
RORY: No, in the real, 'hi this is Dean, my boyfriend' kind of way.
DEAN: Well I am if you want me to be.
RORY: I do.
DEAN: OK.
RORY: So it's settled.
DEAN: Yes it is.
RORY: You're my boyfriend.
DEAN: That's the consensus.
RORY: I'm feeling pretty good about this
decision.
(The door to Miss Patty's dance studio is open.)
RORY: I guess Miss Patty forgot to lock up.
DEAN: I've never really seen in here before.
(They're inside, looking at the pictures on the walls.)
DEAN: Are all these women really Miss Patty?
RORY: Yep. She said she's done everything there is to do in show business except set fire to the hoop the dog jumps through.
(Rory drops her purse.)
DEAN: I'll get it. God, this weighs a ton. What do you have in here?
RORY: I don't know. A lipstick, five dollar bill. Gum, hair spray, a book.
DEAN: A book?
RORY: Yeah.
DEAN: You brought a book to the dance?
RORY: Yeah.
DEAN: You thought there'd be a lot of downtime?
RORY: No. I just take a book with me everywhere. It's just habit.
DEAN: So, uh, what are you reading?
RORY: The Portable Dorothy Parker.
(She shows him the book.)
DEAN: (reading) 'There's little in taking or giving. There's little in water or wine. This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.' Cheery.
(They settle into a comfortable chair together.)
RORY: Funny though. (pause) Hey --
DEAN: What?
RORY: Thank you for tonight. It was perfect.
DEAN: You're welcome.
(They kiss then continue to look at the book.)
[Rory and Dean stay out all night because they fell asleep at Miss Patty's dance studio. Miss Patty and some of the students wake them up.]
MISS PATTY: Rory, honey. It's Miss Patty. Rory? Rory, what are you doing here?
RORY: Miss Patty?
MISS PATTY: Yes. have you been here all night?
RORY: Oh no! Dean wake up.
DEAN: What time is it?
MISS PATTY: It's 5:30 in the morning.
RORY: Oh my God! We fell asleep. How could we have fallen asleep?
DEAN: Calm down, I'll explain it to your mom.
RORY: (hysterical) Where's my purse? Where's my purse?
DEAN: I got it. Relax.
RORY: I have to go.
(Rory runs out.)
DEAN: Rory! (runs after her) Wait up!
RORY: I have to go.
DEAN: I'm going with you. We'll explain. It'll be OK.
RORY: No you can't come with me. You shouldn't be anywhere near my house right now.
DEAN: It's not our fault.
RORY: I know. I just have to get home.
DEAN: Look, please, please let me come with you.
RORY: No!
DEAN: Rory --
RORY: I have to go home.
(Rory runs down the street towards home. Dean lets her go.)