Lorelai reads a really old Entertainment Weekly on her couch as Rory comes home. Lorelai says she talked to Headmaster Charleston, and now has a solution to Rory's application anxiety. Blah blah babbling, and then finally Lorelai tells Rory that she got a name of a Harvard graduate with whom Rory could set up an alumni dinner. Then she'll have a connection at Harvard. Rory says it sounds a little weird. Lorelai says she'll go, too, and that the worst that could happen is they blow the free meal. Rory admits she has some questions, so Lorelai says they should call him right now. His name is Darren Springsteen. Lorelai tells Rory to ask if he's got a brother named Bruce. Rory calls. "It's ringing," she says. Then she promptly hangs up the cordless phone. Rory is uncharacteristically panicked about having to call this alumnus to talk with him. "I'm not good at these things!" she whines. The phone rings. Lorelai and Rory worry that Darren has just Star 69ed them. The answering machine picks up. Lorelai's changed the outgoing message to something stupid about Lane's band. It's someone calling about the ad. Lorelai dials Darren's number again. Rory begs to do it later, holding the phone as it rings. Then once the phone picks up, Rory makes this weird whining noise and tosses the phone to Lorelai who makes a baby voice as she pretends to be a semi-stupid Rory asking to have dinner with this grown-up man. I'm really hating this episode. Lorelai makes plans for lunch on Saturday. "You're no Danny Gans," Rory says as Lorelai hangs up the phone. Rory's suddenly very happy and giggly about it. She kisses Lorelai and thanks her as we finally get another commercial.

As Rory and Lorelai walk to the front door of Darren's house (did they drive there, or is he just outside Stars Hollow?), Rory explains the difference between "alumni," "alumnae," "alumnus," and "alumna." Darren answers the door, and I can see the Jeep in the background, answering my question. Lorelai introduces herself. Darren calls Rory his family's "raison d'être." Darren and Lorelai small-talk about Stars Hollow and their charming little pumpkin mishap. Rory gives Darren her records. "Rory in a bag," Lorelai explains. Darren says he'd rather just talk this afternoon, and get to know each Rory. "You're a very nice alumni," Lorelai says as Darren leaves the room. Rory corrects her that the word is "alumnus," and Lorelai curses.