Gilmore Girls 5.12 "Come Home"

Gilmore Girls 5.12 "Come Home"
Original Air Date: February 1, 2005 (Recap date: March 31, 2008 – airs on April 1)
Recap & Discussion

Discussion Questions:

• Why does Lorelai want a tv in Luke’s bedroom?
• Why does Rory volunteer to motivate Logan?
• Do you think Emily & Richard are back on good terms?
• Does Rory have a crush on Logan?
• Is Logan asking Rory on a date? Or just having fun?
• Was it presumptuous for Rory to think Logan may fly her to NY for the dinner?
• Why is Zack so upset about Lane not wearing her glasses?
• Why does Mrs. Kim allow the band to come to dinner?
• Is Lane being insolent?
• Why does Mrs. Kim warm up so easily to Zack after he says he liked Lane’s glasses?
• What made Emily ask Richard back?
• Why does Richard ask Rory to be his best man?
• Does Lorelai smile after Emily tells Miss Celine about the Inn? Is she happy Emily is proud, or thinking about her own possible future in a gown?
• Would Emily rather Lorelai were with a man of good breeding than with a man that makes her happy?
• Do you think Chris would make a move for Lorelai?

Gilmore Girls Episode Recap:

Luke has built Lorelai a shelf in his bathroom, so her crazy cinnamon toothpaste is away from his normal one. Lorelai is going to bed early with Luke, she’s tired of spending those nights apart just because he has to wake up at 4am. Unfortunately for Luke, Lorelai is not tired, but chatty. Lorelai wonders why there is no tv in the bedroom – Luke thinks it interrupts your REM sleep.

Mitchum Huntzberger had been at the Yale Daily News office and Doyle made a fool of himself. And got busted for not giving Logan a byline all year. Mitchum wants Logan to take over his newspaper empire someday, so entrusts Doyle to "light a fire under him." Doyle says he’s an amazing writer, but only does so when sick and unable to party.

Doyle had assigned Logan a story, but he’d left laughing. Rory did a similar piece recently, and bets a bunch of her notes would overlap. Rory suggests she get together with Logan to help get him started. Paris gets annoyed that her attempts to calm Doyle down were not as effective as Rory’s.

Lorelai is having a team meeting at the Dragonfly. On timecards and sexual harassment – not enough of the latter for Michel’s preference. Apparently Michel felt ogled. Lorelai notices that Kirk is there – he had decided to crash their staff meeting to learn about hotel management. Michel mentions that Toblerones are going missing from rooms unoccupied by guests.

Kyon brings Lane some magazines (hers, that Mrs. Kim had thrown out) and an old shirt from Mrs. Kim’s. Lane is expected to come to Lunar New Year dinner, or it’s like spitting on the family. Lane doesn’t want to after how Mrs. Kim treated Zack. Kyon asks for her food – it’s an exchange system: news for food.

There are band pictures, but Lane thinks she doesn’t look good, like a Korean Buddy Holly. She doesn’t feel attractive or girly.

Emily and Richard are having another meeting on household affairs. It’s a much more social and chatty meeting, even with compliments. There is an event that both ‘need’ to attend, so they decide to go together. The thought seems to please them both.

Rory and her piles of notes are waiting in the pub for Logan. She seems flustered and I’m sure he notices. Rory admits to being a note freak – the piles all for one story. Logan fishes about why Rory is doing all this for him. Rory says it was all to help out Doyle. The topic of Mitchum, and Rory saying she has read about him. Logan says maybe Rory will meet him one day. Rory again tells Logan her organization system for the files (flustered).

Logan asks why he doesn’t see Rory around more often. Rory says she goes to class and the coffee cart, but realizes that sounds boring. Rory seems excited by the party Mitchum is throwing for Seymour Hersh - boring to Logan, not to Rory. She’s obsessed with Seymour Hersh Logan says they are boring parties that end up with people being drunk – he usually takes a date (elbow nudge slightly towards Rory) to have someone to talk to. Rory says Logan is lucky, and he says maybe this time it won’t be so bad after all.

Logan asks if Rory wants a drink, or has somewhere to go. Rory says she doesn’t have to go. Rory nearly bursts out smiling when he goes to get them drinks.

Lane is not wearing her glasses. Lorelai notices Lane looks cuter, but not why right away. Luke is back in the kitchen fighting with the "damn oven". Lorelai is actually able to coach Luke through the thermostat repair he’s doing! Lorelai says she couldn’t sleep the other night, so she read his oven manual. Lane bounces over to Zack to give him a kiss. She’s happy. Zack asks what’s up with her face. Notices no glasses, and wonders why she’s wearing contacts. Zack is going to take a while to adjust – and he liked the glasses. They were a symbol of her being the first smart girl he’s dated.

Richard is in the office talking business. They need to hire a lawyer, and Richard suggests Simon McLean The other guys look awkward and say Richard doesn’t want Simon. They assume Richard knows about the "thing with him and Emily." Richard tries to pretend he does.

Michel has found a bed that’s been slept in – not by a guest. Michel suspects employees are going to ‘couple’ on their breaks. Lorelai and Sookie joke about hungry horny ghosts. Kirk is in the kitchen – again trying to learn about working in a kitchen. Sookie thought he’d been hired.

Rory calls Lorelai to say she may need to get out of Friday Night Dinner for a "thing." Possibly a "man thing". Rory doesn’t want to jinx it by giving details. Michel may have accidentally sexually harassed someone. He bolts out.

There is a band practice and Zack is unhappy with their performance. There is a loud knocking at the door – it’s Mrs. Kim. She first insults the band, then tells Lane she must be at the dinner. Lane asks if Mrs. Kim has forgotten the humiliation of the news stand? Lane says she will only come if she can bring Zack. Mrs. Kim then invites people Lane hates, so Lane invites the rest of her band. Later, they arrive for the dinner, Zack trying to hide behind Lane.

Lorelai runs into Jackson taking Davie out at night. He asks if Sookie could maybe not work so many late nights – news to Lorelai. She thought Sookie was leaving at a reasonable time.

Emily meets up with Richard for their event – she compliments him on looking well, but he’s curt and sarcastic. They take different cars.

Gil and Brian love the Korean food, but Zack doesn’t. The band are all sitting at the kids table, while the kids are at the main table. A kid yells at Zack for wanting to use the bathroom during dinner. Kyon is impressed by Brian’s knowledge of Korean culture (he researched it).

Rory is out with Logan again and laughing at him for never seeing The Office. Rory offers to lend them to Logan, so long as abides by the fourth time rule. He agrees. Logan passes Rory back her notes with thanks. The story is done, Doyle is safe. They’re both smiling, but then Logan is heading out to fly to New York for Mitchum’s party. Logan wishes Rory a good weekend.

Lorelai goes to the Inn and goes upstairs – not phased that Kirk is ‘working’ at the front desk. Lorelai opens room 9 and finds Sookie in there, eating Toblerones and watching tv. Behold the ghost. Sookie had stayed once to watch a show, and loved it so much she kept doing it. Lorelai suggests that Sookie tell Jackson she needs an hour to herself now and again to watch tv, but Sookie thinks she’d feel guilty since Jackson works hard too. At the Inn, she doesn’t feel like she’s shirking. Lorelai decides to watch the rest of the episode with Sookie.

Simon sees Emily pull up for the event and comes to say hi. Richard then slams into the back of Emily’s car. Richard tells Simon to go away, after re-asserting that he is Emily’s husband. Richard walks up to Simon in a domineering way and says not to call Emily. Richard drags Emily to his car to take her home. Inside, Richard tells Emily he knows she dated Simon. Emily says nothing happened. Richard spits back that he told Emily nothing happened with Pennilyn.

Gil is into the Korean music. Kyon is staring at Brian. Lane and Zack are counting down the seconds to leave. Mrs. Kim tells Lane to help in the kitchen, but Lane asserts herself and says she wants to listen to the music. Lane points out that she’s a guest and that she was not asked, but demanded. Mrs. Kim says Lane is insolent for not offering as she was raised to. Mrs. Kim points out all the horrible things Lane is doing with her life, from boys to her vanity.

Zack agrees when Mrs. Kim says Lane is not Lane without her glasses. They agree that they worked for her – for her face, and for being smart. Mrs. Kim offers to show Zack pictures of Lane as a young girl in glasses. Mrs. Kim ignores the pots and shows Zack the photos.

Both Richard & Emily are looking sad when they arrive home. Richard says he doesn’t want to go back to the pool house. Emily looks after him and says:

"Come home."

Richard turns around and looks at Emily.

Rory arrives to Friday dinner, and Lorelai is sad that her "thing" didn’t work out. Rory doesn’t wish to talk about her disappointment. Lorelai tells Rory the pool house is empty, that Richard forgot them again. The girls spot Emily & Richard together… laughing and then kissing.

With champagne, Richard announces he and Emily are back together. Rory is so happy. The reconciliation happened "yesterday" "and last night… and this morning". Emily says they plan to renew their wedding vows next week! On the day of their 40th wedding anniversary. Emily tells Lorelai she’s the maid of honor.

Richard is willing to pay off people in order to get the venue that Emily wants for their vow renewal. He’ll even use his insurance leverage (as their insurer) to get it. Emily drags Lorelai upstairs while Richard tells Rory that she’ll be his best man!

Upstairs – a room full of wedding gowns with Miss Celine as advisor. Emily wants Lorelai’s opinion on gowns. Emily, trying on gowns, tells Miss Celine that Lorelai just opened her own Inn, after Miss Celine asks if Lorelai (aka Natalie Woods) is married. Lorelai smiles to herself. Emily comes out in a new gown, but Lorelai is in front of the mirror holding one up to herself. Emily doesn’t say anything.

Luke is not sure he should go to the vow renewal. He feels unwanted. Lorelai says it’s a good opportunity for them to get to know him, while they are happy (and drunk). Lorelai says if he doesn’t come, she’ll have to make out with the best man – who is Rory. Luke agrees to go. Lorelai then notices that Luke has bought a tv for the bedroom – the least he can do for the two nights she has to go to bed early with him. Lorelai says Luke is too good for her.

Christopher and Gigi are watching the Teletubbies. Emily comes over to see Chris. After looking at "the child" briefly, she comes to the point. Emily says she doesn’t think much of Chris, but he has good breeding. And would have married Lorelai – at least once before. Emily says a bunch of bad stuff about Luke and how unsuitable he is for Lorelai and Rory. Emily thinks Luke will hold Lorelai back from greatness. Emily tells Chris that Lorelai is getting serious with Luke – if Chris wants a chance with her, he needs to do something fast. Emily leaves an envelope on the table and goes. Chris looks at its contents, looks stunned.

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