Rory's Dance episode #1.09 | written by Elise

Elise's Comment:

The first of two episodes surrounding the Holiday season. Very well written, because, Christmas is not a major subject, but subtly inserted into the story. A magical episode, if you look at Rory's first experience at a dance. Her dress is beautiful (and according to Emily, doesn't look hand-made by Lorelai), her hair is amazing (ask Sookie, she's the one who put the hair spray... or should I say eye spray?) and the whole evening is enchanting (excluding the fight between Tristan and Dean). I kind of feel bad for Tristan; he doesn't really know how to express his emotions (humm, reminds me of a guy I know). And Paris, also very sad. She likes Tristan, he likes Rory, she doesn't ask him to the dance, her mother fixes her up with her cousin Jacob. What a guy that Jacob... looks like a mini-Kirk if you ask me. This is the episode where Rory and Dean officially become a couple... awww, how cute! Emily made her second visit to Lorelai's home, wanting to take pictures of Rory before she leaves for the dance. Her stay is prolonged when she notices that Lorelai's back is injured (after the dress "made a pass" at her). It proved to be a good night for the two of them; no complaining or judgements were made (well, except for the monkey lamp). The squished banana sandwich... how funny. However, Rory and Dean's magical dance night and Lorelai and Emily's argument-free evening didn't last until morning, when Emily found out that Rory hadn't come home. How disrespectful of Emily to critisize Lorelai the way she does, asking her daughter "what kind of mother" she is, and saying that Rory is going to get pregnant. I'm glad she got kicked out. However, Lorelai's ego was bruised, and she lashed out at Rory, who had obviously done nothing. The episode ended in a "to be continued" feel, leaving the fans anxious for the next one.

Lorelai: [I'm] [g]etting rid of the avacado.
Emily: Since when do you not like avacado?
Lorelai: Since the day I said, "Gross. What is this?" and you said, "Avacado." [...]
Emily: What's wrong with the tomato?
Lorelai: It was fraternizing with the enemy.

Lorelai: Listen, I know you are not Miss Party Girl, and I love you for that, but sometimes I wonder -- do you not join in because you really don't want to or because you're too shy? If the reason you don't want to go is because you really don't want to go and not because you are in any way afraid, then this is the last time I'll mention it, I promise.

Rory: Yeah, sure. I love stocking beans.

Emily: Take a picture of Rory for me, will you please? [...] On the stairs. And one by the front door. And one as she's getting ready, you know, putting her hair up, putting her makeup on?
LORELAI: OK, do you want one when she's shaving her legs? You know, one leg up in the tub, waving the disposable razor in the air? [...]
Emily: I figure if I got enough pictures I could at least line them up in chronological order and pretend I was there. [...] Maybe bind them together, make a flipbook out of them.

Emily: OK, Rory, come in here please.
(Rory comes in, wearing a kitchen towel as a bib and eating a taco.)
Rory: Hey, Grandma
Emily: (to Lorelai) She has lived with you too long.

Emily: It certainly is not fine. This is not a drive through. She's not fried chicken.

Emily: I'm not leaving my daughter stranded on the couch. What if you need to get to the bathroom?
Lorelai: I don't go anymore, Mom. I gave it up cold turkey.

Lorelai: I made the dress
Emily: You did a lovely job.
Lorelai: Thank you.
Emily: With Rory and the dress.

Paris: (voice gets increasingly louder) Now you can just go all over the school and just tell everybody that Paris Geller couldn't get a date to the dance. That she had no one and since she couldn't just not come, she had to get her mother to ask her cousin Jacob to take and then she had to give him gas money to make him do it. Go ahead! Tell them!
Rory: I don't have to. You just did.

[written December 1, 2003]