Episode 202: Hammers and Veils

CUT TO FRONT YARD

[Rory walks out the front door as Dean walks up to the house.]

DEAN: Hey.

RORY: Hi.

DEAN: Where you going?

RORY: I have to build a house.

DEAN: Okay, so where you going?

RORY: I'm serious.

DEAN: You're going to build a house?

RORY: It's for charity and I'm late, and why don't you go on inside and you and my mother can continue the 'Rory's building a house' routine and when that gets boring you can move on over to 'Who's on First?'

DEAN: Well, how long are you gonna be gone?

RORY: I don't know, why?

DEAN: I just thought we could hang today. Maybe see a movie, get something to eat. We could go to a bookstore, I'll watch you browse for six or seven hours.

RORY: I would love to but I have to do this thing today.

DEAN: Blow it off.

RORY: I can't.

DEAN: Did I mention the bookstore for six or seven hours?

RORY: How about tonight? We can get a pizza and go on Amazon. You'll be just as bored watching me ordering books, I promise.

DEAN: Deal.

RORY: Good, I have to go.

CUT TO STARS HOLLOW BUSTOP

[Dean is waiting on the bench as Rory steps off the bus.]

DEAN: Hey. You look good in dirt.

RORY: Dean, hi.

DEAN: So how was it?

RORY: Long day. Long long day.

DEAN: The day is over. Let's talk about the night. Uh, there's a 7:30 showing of Barbarella, and I thought you can bring your mom's purse, you know the one with that monkey face and we'll sneak in some burgers and. . . what?

RORY: I can't.

DEAN: Get your mom's purse?

RORY: I can't do anything tonight.

DEAN: Why not?

RORY: Because I have a lot of planning to do.

DEAN: What planning?

RORY: I'm like ten years behind on my extracurriculars.

DEAN: What are you talking about?

RORY: Paris has been accumulating these things since she could walk. I mean, she has a list of good deeds that could bump Mother Teresa off the Harvard list.

DEAN: Okay, I'm lost.

RORY: I've been studying my butt off my whole life and I really thought that that was enough, but then Paris tells me that everyone makes good grades and it's the extras that put you over the top. And I thought that she was messing with me like she always does, but she's right. I mean, it makes total sense.

DEAN: What does?

RORY: Good grades aren't enough. I need to do things. I need to volunteer. I need to work for charity, I need to help the blind, the orphans, I don't know. I just need to do something.

DEAN: Fine, but what does this have to do with tonight?

RORY: I need to start now.

DEAN: Now? You have to help the blind and the orphans now?

RORY: Didn't I tell you that I was ten years behind?

DEAN: Well you can't make up for ten years in one night Rory.

RORY: I know. I just need to get organized.

DEAN: Well, Rory, it's summer. I mean, summer's the time to hang out and kick back.

RORY: I can't hang out or kick back. I need to find a retarded kid and teach him how to play softball. Oh God, listen to me. I am horrible. I am under qualified and horrible.

DEAN: Wait a minute. I thought we were gonna spend some time together.

RORY: We are.

DEAN: When?

RORY: I don't know. Tomorrow maybe?

DEAN: You were busy today.

RORY: I told you. . .

DEAN: So we made plans for tonight.

RORY: Yes but. . .

DEAN: And now you're blowing me off again.

RORY: I am not blowing you off.

DEAN: You're going to summer school three days a week.

RORY: You knew about that.

DEAN: Yes, but we've been apart for awhile now and I figured you'd want to spend some time with me.

RORY: Dean, this is about Harvard.

DEAN: Oh, well excuse me, it's about Harvard, I forgot. Okay, fine.

RORY: You're mad? You're mad because I want to be sure that I get into a good college?

DEAN: Nope, I'm mad because my girlfriend doesn't seem to have time for me anymore.

RORY: Dean, stop it. This is important.

DEAN: And it can't wait for one night?

RORY: No.

DEAN: Fine.

RORY: Why are you acting like this?

DEAN: Like what?

RORY: Like you're two.

DEAN: Hey, I'm not going to Harvard, I could care less about Harvard. I just wanted to hang with you. But relax, since apparently I'm two, maybe I'll just grow out of it.

LORELAI AND MAX'S ENGAGEMENT PARTY

DEAN: Hey.

RORY: Hey.

DEAN: This is quite a party.

RORY: Elegant and understated, just like my mother.

DEAN: So, uh, how are you?

RORY: I'm fine, how are you?

DEAN: Me? Uh, I'm an idiot.

RORY: No you're not.

DEAN: I'm so sorry Rory.

RORY: I'm sorry too.

DEAN: I don't even know what happened.

RORY: We had a fight, that's all.

DEAN: I mean, I've just missed you and…

RORY: I've missed you too.

DEAN: I got…I don't know, I got jealous of Harvard for a minute, which is crazy 'cause I love the fact that you're gonna go to Harvard. And then you have to do something that's gonna help you get there, and I…I don't even, I don't even really understand it myself.

RORY: Well, I didn't help. I was all wigged out when I got home.

DEAN: Well, you had all the right to be.

RORY: It's just that when it comes to Harvard, I sometimes get a little tunnel vision, and it's getting closer…

DEAN: Whoa.

RORY: …and I have to think about it…

DEAN: You do not have to explain.

RORY: But I don't want you to feel unimportant, because believe me, you're not.

DEAN: I'm glad.

RORY: I mean it. The only way you could be more important to me is if you had a Kit Kat bar growing out of your head.

DEAN: Well, I can't make any promises, but I'll give it a try.

RORY: I'm sorry.

DEAN: Don't be. I mean, I'm not going to a fancy school. I don't have that kind of pressure. I can't even imagine what that must feel like.

RORY: You could go to a fancy school if you wanted to.

DEAN: I don't think so.

RORY: Why not? You're smart.

DEAN: No, you're smart.

RORY: You are too.

DEAN: Rory.

RORY: And I could help you organize all of your extracurricular activities because I'm now an expert at it.

DEAN: I don't…

RORY: How are your wilderness skills?

DEAN: Hey?

RORY: What?

DEAN: Do you accept my apology?

RORY: Yeah, I accept your apology