As Rory heads toward the cashier, she bangs into a very tall, very attitudinally challenged young man. This young man, who happens to be the new Assistant Manager, busts Miss Patty for food sampling. He's really mean. Miss Patty tries to charm him, but he'll hear none of it: "The next time you put something in that mouth that doesn't belong there, I'm going to remove it and then call the police." Assistant Manager Take Your Job Way Too Seriously grabs the plum from Miss Patty's hand and walks away. We cut back to Rory paying for her head of lettuce and her mousetrap. Dean rushes over to bag her groceries. He teases, "That's a couple of must-need items there." She doesn't say anything to him but looks straight ahead. Oh, do I feel her pain. The first boy I ever had a crush on would do the very same thing to me. And every single time I'd see him, I'd trip. Honest. I'd fall flat on my face, usually right in front of a crowd of people, or I'd drop something, like my books, and then end up kicking them down the hall and looking like such a goof. Love is tough. Rory doesn't have enough money to pay for her lettuce and mousetrap. Dean offers to loan her the rest. She snatches the lettuce out of his hand and offers just to pay for the one item. He jokes, "Perfect. You can use one half to make a salad and the other half to clobber a mouse with!" As she clasps the lettuce close to her chest and tries desperately to leave the store with at least an inch of her dignity left, Dean asks whether she'd like a paper or a plastic bag. "I'm fine." Rory responds without even looking at him and races out of the store.

The "La La Song" is still serenading us as Lorelai enters the coffee shop where her pre-date is to occur. She sits down at the counter an empty chair away from Max. Whose hair now looks like backwards bed-head frozen stiff by Brill Cream. Anyway, they flirt a little and act surprised to see one another. There's something about a cream conversation with a server that prompted Max to feel awful. There's a witty response from Lorelai about this being a tough outing for him. There is the requisite "but it's getting better" reply from the boy once he realizes the girl has arrived. Lorelai orders a coffee. They rally some small talk for a minute. Lorelai thinks they should "cut the cute and get right to it." Max responds, "I think we should date." His nose fits right into the coffee cup as he takes a sip. "Why?" Lorelai asks. He answers, "Because I think we both want to." Lorelai scoffs, "Well, I want to be in the Bangles but that doesn't mean I quit my job, pick up a guitar, and ruin my life." He insists the Bangles broke up. She doesn't think that's the point. Well, it's kind of the point. He's got you there, Lorelai. Max then suggests that they date because they are clearly attracted to one another. That prompts, "Well, I'm attracted to pie, but it doesn't mean I feel the need to date pie." Insert a ragdoll giggle here -- you can't date pie! Heh. He then suggests that they date because they are of similar heights. Lorelai quips, "Wow! Round one and already tapped!"