Sookie tells Joe that she and Lorelai are starting an inn. Joe brags that he and Joe were attending a class on starting a coffee shop. "Chain of coffee shops," Alex corrects. Well, la-dee-dah, mister. One at a time, okay? Alex says that all he knows is ironworks, so he is capable of choosing the security gate. Is he supposed to be Joe Millionaire? I don't get it. Mostly, I don't understand why Lorelai is flirting with him. She's never dated unfunny people before. Lorelai! You're too good for him. Go get CuteDean! Joe says they just need to pick a name for their coffee-shop chain. Lorelai tells them not to pick anything cute. "Like Jitters," Sookie says. "Or Spill the Beans," Lorelai adds. "Or Higher Grounds!" "Or The Mudhouse." Alex immediately says he likes The Mudhouse. Lorelai says she likes it too, and calls dibs.

Joe goes back to reminiscing with Sookie. Dude. This is a long scene. More reminiscing. Lorelai looks as uncomfortable as I am. Lorelai tries to get Alex to play catch-up with her, pretending they share a common friend named Fat Sal. But Alex, he's slow on the uptake, and doesn't get it right away. So boring. Why don't they just go and get a cup of coffee instead of being rude outside the seminar doors? "This is getting exhausting," Alex says. Amen. Joe asks Sookie out on a date, kind of, and Sookie tells him where they work, which is code for "I'm seeing someone, but here's how you can reach me without my boyfriend finding out." I do like that they're making everyone hold coats since it's winter outside. That's a nice touch. The pairs split and walk in different directions. Alex and Lorelai share a lingering look as Sookie and Joe babble about how great it was to see each other.

Chilton cafeteria. "[indistinct conversations]" says my closed captioning. Paris and Rory sit at a table. Paris is complaining that they put too much gravy on her potato, so now there's gravy on her asparagus. She refuses to be treated like some prisoner. Paris leaves to go complain. Rory says she'll save Paris's seat. As Rory's head is turned away, a paper airplane flies into her tray, landing right in front of her. Rory slowly opens the plane. It says "WE NEED TO MEET. WRITE DOWN A TIME AND PLACE." Rory looks around and sees nobody. Hoping it's Jess, I guess, and not Francie, who it obviously is, Rory scribbles something on the plane. There's a crashing noise from behind. Paris storms up and announces that they took her tray. Rory looks back at the table to find that the paper plane is gone. Paris realizes that perhaps they took her tray because she insulted their hairnets. Paris asks to eat Rory's lunch. Rory -- whose spine looks like it could use more calcium as it is -- moves her tray over to Paris.