Cut to Rory and CuteDean leaving the studio, the strobe light still flashing behind them. Rory tells CuteDean that it was nice of him to step in and keep Miss Patty from hitting Kirk with a podium. Rory says that "work in progress" was the key phrase concerning that show. They make more small talk until they split into two different directions, sweetly and without a hug. I'm not buying that they don't even hug goodbye.

Rory's studying. She hears a strange noise at the front door. She turns off the television and goes to the door. She opens it, even though you can see through the glass that her mom's kissing Alex. But Rory opens the door and interrupts their kiss good night. Rory apologizes and offers to shut the door again. Alex and Lorelai decide that they've carried on enough. Lorelai tells Alex that she'll call him about the weekend. They kiss goodbye again, right in front of Rory. Alex leaves. Rory tells Lorelai that they need a signal to prevent this from happening again. Lorelai offers to shoot off flares before she starts kissing men on her porch, or she could bang on the door and announce the necking before they start. Before a signal is decided, Lorelai tells Rory that she wants to go away for the weekend to New York with Alex. He's got four tickets to a show and wants Jackson and Sookie to come along. Moving pretty fast here, huh? Anyway, this means they have to leave during the day for some reason that makes no sense, since Hartford is close to New York, and Stars Hollow is only a half-hour drive from there. Whatever; it means that Lorelai will be shacking up in New York with her new beau, leaving Rory and Jess to brave it alone at Emily's. Rory isn't fazed at all by this news, and in fact thinks this'll mean the dinner will go more smoothly. Lorelai can't believe that she's loud when Rory studies and makes social gatherings worse. She's just now figuring that out? The phone rings as Rory goes on about how much she loves Lorelai and knows that Lorelai has the best of intentions. It's Jess on the phone, and Rory walks into the other room to take the call.