Gilmore Girls 6.09 “The Prodigal Daughter Returns”

Gilmore Girls 6.09 "The Prodigal Daughter Returns"
Original Air Date: November 15, 2005 (Recap date: April 28, 2008)
Recap & Discussion

Discussion Questions:

• Should Luke have asked Lorelai about bringing in his grandmother’s furniture?
• Should Lorelai tell Luke she doesn’t like the furniture?
• Was it immature of Rory not to tell her grandparents she was moving out?
• Why does Luke overreact to Chris calling?
• Who started the fight? Luke or Lorelai?
• Why does Luke keep insisting Lorelai is being dishonest?
• Why doesn’t Luke apologize for overreacting?
• What do you think of Rory’s approach at the Stamford Eagle-Gazette?
• Why does Rory insist that’s the right place for her to work?
• If Rory wants to go back into journalism, why doesn’t she return to Yale?
• Do you think the girl looks like Luke?
• Why do you think Emily went AWOL like that?
• Why does Emily want to buy a plane?
• Is Rory ungrateful?
• Why did Luke go to the science fair?
• Do you think Luke wants to step up and get to know April? His sense of responsibility?
• Was Lorelai expecting Rory’s call? Why?
• Were you disappointed with the reunion of Lorelai and Rory? Was it too easy? Are you disappointed Lorelai never stepped up to do more?
• What prompted Rory to rethink her decisions? Was it Jess, Logan, Emily or something else?
• Do you think Luke wants to hide April from Lorelai? Why?
• Do you think Luke is hesitating about marriage again, with news of April?

Gilmore Girls Episode Recap:

Lorelai is trying to get inside her house but the chain lock is on. She yells for Luke to come let her in. The chain is new and he was testing it. Luke comes to the door with a glass of wine for Lorelai, telling her they’re celebrating. Lorelai is hungry, but Luke asks her to listen and to focus. Silence. The house is done! Luke paid Tom a bonus to finish a week early.

Lorelai is not convinced that they are done construction. But really, she’s just sad they’re done, because she wanted to say goodbye. Throw a ‘we’re done’ party and give them going-away presents. Luke tells Lorelai there is another present upstairs in the bedroom. He leads here up and has her close here eyes.

Lorelai opens her eyes to find a bunch of antique furniture in the bedroom. It was Luke’s grandmother’s bedroom set. He’s had it in storage for years, never selling it. Lorelai just says "look at all the cherubs" and seems amazed that she once told Luke she loved it. Five years ago. Luke is really excited about it, so Lorelai tells him she loves it.

The Gilmore house is so quiet you can hear the clock tick. Rory walks into the kitchen to grab her breakfast, declining Emily’s order for the maid to get her a plate. Emily and Rory each tell the maid what to say, not wanting to speak directly to each other. Emily sets down a rule that no food can leave the dining room, so Rory leaves her muffin and leaves.

Sookie half-jokes about wanting to go to China. She feels uninspired in her cooking. Lorelai hands her an invitation to a housewarming party. Sookie can tell there’s something Lorelai doesn’t like about her house, so Lorelai tells her about the bedroom set. Lorelai’s old bedroom set was given away, but she hates the new stuff. But with everything Luke has done for her, she doesn’t want to tell him so. But she can’t let him have this, she hates it. And she was looking forward to getting new things, since most of the house was hand-me-downs before. Lorelai still doesn’t know how to tell Luke though.

Richard comes home from work late, and soon has to leave to go to the airport. He yells reminders at Emily, who doesn’t reply. Colin and Finn come down the stairs carrying boxes, and they startle Richard. Richard demands an explanation. They tell him that Rory let them in to help move her stuff to her "new place of residence." Richard is stunned by that. Richard has them march the boxes back upstairs, since it was his stuff, not Rory’s.

Lorelai is sniffing her nachos – she can tell that Luke slipped her baked chips and low-fat cheese. Lorelai waves over Lane, who appears to be avoiding her gaze. Lorelai asks what’s going on, why Lane is acting so funny.

"Rory moved in with me."

Lane doesn’t know all the details, just that Rory moved out of her grandparents’ house. Lane wasn’t sure if Rory wanted her to tell Lorelai. Lorelai says she’s ok about it, though she is curious.

Rory is working at her laptop in Lane’s kitchen, and Lane has made her lunch. Zack seems on edge about Rory being there and eating their food, using their stuff. Rory keeps telling him she’s not staying that long, but Zack had a bad experience with a house guest overstaying his welcome.

Rory has her call returned from the Stamford Eagle-Gazette. Rory wanted a reference from them. He says he’ll give her a great one.

"Look, I don’t really know what happened with you and Mitchum, but from me to you, you’re a sharp kid and you’ve got a lot going for you. Anybody’d be lucky to have you working for them."

He tells Rory that she’s not the first person to not get along with "Herr Huntzberger," and to just ignore him. Rory plans on "doing just that." He apologizes for not having any openings at the Gazette, but "expect[s] to hear great things" about Rory in the future. Rory gets off the phone happy, as she’s already sent out "a hundred and twenty five thousand resumes."

Lane tells Rory she may have done something stupid – she told Lorelai about Rory being back. Rory says it’s ok that Lorelai knows.

Sookie is preparing food at Lorelai’s for the housewarming, even though Luke is also preparing food. Jackson and Luke argue about how to barbeque. With the boys back outside, Sookie wants to see the bedroom. Lorelai says she’s trying to rise above it. Sookie agrees it’s terrible – and uncomfortable. Lorelai still doesn’t feel like she can tell Luke it’s horrible. Sookie questions Luke’s taste in liking the furniture.

The answering machine picks up a call – it’s Christopher. He tells Lorelai he wants to talk and that he has good news. Luke walks in and Lorelai slams the answering machine off. Luke questions if Lorelai was going to tell him Chris called, and asks why she shut the machine off. Luke asks how long it’s been going on. Lorelai says there’s nothing, but the "fine" Luke retorts sounds like anything but fine. Luke says he won’t discuss it with people in the house. Lorelai says it’s rude to sulk through dinner. Luke says they are "not fighting… yet."

Jackson does all the talking at dinner. Luke won’t look up and Lorelai looks sad. Jackson thinks Luke is angry because his burgers are more of a hit than Luke’s burgers. Luke admits the burgers are better, looking slyly at Lorelai saying he has no problem telling someone something, no matter how uncomfortable it may make them. Lorelai sarcastically replies at how "subtle" Luke is being. Sookie tells Jackson that Lorelai and Luke are not fighting, but Luke still insists they are not, since that would be "rude."

It doesn’t take long for the conversation to escalate when Luke gets a little too rude at Sookie for making chicken and dumplings. Luke says he didn’t start this. Lorelai says she wasn’t hiding anything and was just about to tell him about it. Luke insists that it wasn’t appropriate to talk about it then, so Lorelai retorts that he’d prefer to sit and be mad for no reason?

"So it was just a weird coincidence that I walk in and Christopher happens to be leaving a message and it happens to be the first time you’ve had contact with him in a month?"

Lorelai says a year, she hasn’t seen him since Luke saw him a year ago. Luke says he doesn’t believe in coincidences, and Lorelai says that’s not fair.

"I have a right to expect a little honesty from my fiancée!"

That sparks Lorelai, who gives him some honesty about how she hates the bedroom set. That it’s old and creepy. Luke is sarcastic in reply:

"Well, thank you very much for your honesty about my grandmother’s furniture! Too bad you’re not a little more forthcoming about the other men in your life!"

Lorelai calls Luke a drama queen and references Wisteria Lane (for Desperate Housewives). Luke storms out. Lorelai excuses herself from the table to give Paul Anka her burger. Jackson whispers to Sookie if it was because of his meat rub, and Sookie looks him point blank and says it was.

Lorelai goes to find Luke drinking alone in his old apartment. Lorelai says he won’t be able to run away to his clubhouse when they’re married. Luke makes a snide remark about "when we’re married", saying "gee, when’s that going to be."

Luke says he’ll never be ok with Christopher being in her life. Lorelai says Christopher will always be in her life, that he’s Rory’s father. Lorelai tells Luke again that she hasn’t been talking to Christopher. Luke says they need to be honest with each other all the time. He won’t like it when Christopher calls, but they need to tell each other everything. Luke asks Lorelai if she really hates the bedroom set, and she says she does.

Luke asks Lorelai to come to him. She curls up in his lap making Santa jokes, and they kiss passionately. They agree to no secrets. They kiss again. Then Lorelai tells Luke a secret from the 5th grade when she told everyone that Eric Estrada was her boyfriend. Luke says "shh" and they kiss again.

Rory is sitting in the waiting room of the Stamford Eagle-Gazette. Rory is there without an appointment to see Mr. Wooles, the man who offered to write Rory a glowing reference. Rory proudly says she’s there to ask for a staff writing job. He is confused and said he told Rory he had no jobs open. Rory just ploughs on giving him her resume and portfolio and binder of pitch ideas. Rory asks if he can sit down with her about a job. He tells her there are no jobs.

"I know, but see, earlier, when we were on the phone, you were so positive and optimistic, and you said so many complimentary things! I mean, frankly, you made me sound great! So great that I thought, hey, you should hire that girl."

Mr. Wooles shakes his head, but Rory says she knows the staff and rhythm. Rory says Mitchum was wrong, she’s a good writer with a voice and point of view. Mr. Wooles insists he has no job. Rory thinks they can "work that out" if he would sit down with her. He insists he has no time for that. Rory is trying to find the right place for her and thinks it’s there.

"Well, it’s not the right place for you, because there is no place for you! I have no job openings!"

Rory says she can change his mind in ten minutes, but he insists he has no time. Not five minutes. He hands Rory back her resume and portfolio. Rory sits down and says she can wait. Mr. Wooles walks away exasperated.

The stove is going "blinky" in Luke’s Diner, and Ceasar is sending out some orders wrong. A girl with an overprotective bicycle helmet comes into the diner looking for Luke. Luke looks at her and asks what she’s wearing. She doesn’t want to order food, but follows Luke around eagerly. Luke thinks she’s selling something, which she’s not. Luke asks her to take off her helmet, which she does.

The girl tells Luke she needs his hair. She tells Luke that she goes to middle school with this guy Samuel who always win, and she wants to win this year:

"This year I have the perfect project. I’m going to take hair samples from three men, run DNA tests on them and figure out which one’s my father!"

Luke just says "what?". The girl continues that her uncle works for a lab and will oversee the test. Luke is stuck on the "father" bit.

"See, science fairs have gotten so political lately. It’s no longer the simple act of science being appreciated. There’s got to be a twist, a gimmick. Something flashy. I figure this is perfect. Real science, DNA testing, with a flash of human drama. Who’s My Daddy? Huh? Catchy, right?"

Luke doesn’t understand. The girls says Luke is her last stop and starts talking about the pasta she’d eat at the winners banquet. Luke says "no" but she pulls out some of his hair and takes a camera from her pocket and takes Luke’s photo. She says thanks then runs out. Luke watches, astonished.

Rory is reading the newspaper, waiting in the lobby. Different day, different outfit. Rory runs after Mr. Wooley and Harry, pitching in an idea to help with a story. Mr. Wooley is impressed, and Rory says "thanks boss", though he yells back that he’s not Rory’s boss. Rory asks for five minutes again, but he’s too busy. Rory says she’ll wait.

Michel is putting away books at the Inn, telling Lorelai he got a new linen service and hired a horse whisperer for Cletus, since he’s being clingy. Michel says someone also called wanting a job reference for Rory. Michel says nice things and expects a weekend off in return. Lorelai just crosses her arms and repeats "job reference", digging for details Michel can’t remember.

Richard calls Lorelai saying that Emily is missing. He just got back from a trip and can’t find her, and hasn’t heard from her in two days. Richard shares his outrage about Rory moving out and not telling him. Lorelai asks if maybe Emily and Rory had a fight, but Richard doesn’t know and isn’t sure where Emily is.

Lorelai storms into the kitchen visibly upset. Sookie comes to see if she’s ok.

"Something’s going on, Sookie."

Lorelai don’t know what it is, but Rory moved out and Emily is AWOL. She thinks there must have been a big fight. And she doesn’t have Rory’s cell number since she wanted to give Rory space. Now Lorelai thinks she should have her head examined. Lorelai doesn’t know what to think. She calls Emily’s cell and leaves a message that she and Richard are worried about her. Lorelai leaves to go find out what’s going on.

Lorelai goes to Lane’s place but Rory is not there, just Brian and Zack. Zack suggests to Lorelai that she chip in some rent for Rory. Lorelai brings up that they used her garage for jam space for 3 years rent free.

Emily returns Lorelai’s call. She’s at the airport. Lorelai finds Emily in the cockpit of a private jet. She’s thinking about buying it. Lorelai tells Emily that Richard is worried. Emily was at the home last night and made the bed herself, so that mystery is solved. Emily says the plane is a time-share, shared with other people. With a pilot on-call, they could go anywhere anytime they wanted. Lorelai points out that Emily can already do those things.

Emily snaps and tells Lorelai she’s tired of her attitude toward her. Emily thinks Lorelai looks at her as a thing of amusement, something to pity.

"Poor out-of-touch Emily. She has nothing. She lives to organize parties and frivolous affairs. Who would want to do that? To be that?"

Lorelai says she’s never thought that. Emily says she’ll buy a plane if she wants it. Emily then spins out of control about Rory:

"It’s my fault that Rory dropped out of Yale. It’s my fault that she didn’t go back. It’s my fault that she’s with Logan, it’s my fault that she’s not happy! It’s my fault! It’s all my fault!"

Lorelai says it’s not Emily’s fault, and Emily knows that. Emily says she did everything for Rory – got her clothes, a job, guided her, introduced her to people and threw her parties. Emily sarcastically says Lorelai would have been proud for how Rory talked to her. She tears up.

"Oh, yes. She looked at me just like you used to. With that defiant, ‘who are you to be telling me what to do’ sort of look. Then she left. Packed her things and moved out when I wasn’t even there to see her go. No thank you, no goodbye. You would have been very, very proud."

Emily cries for Lorelai to let her be firvolous and shallow and to buy her plane. Lorelai says she’s not sure what happened with Rory, but it’s not the same. Emily says she lost Rory the way she lost Lorelai. Lorelai says she didn’t lose Rory, that Rory was never supposed to be there in the first place. That she was supposed to be at school, and has not just gone back to where she belongs. Lorelai turns to go and tells Emily she didn’t lose her either. Emily cries. 

It’s another day of waiting for Rory at the Stamford Eagle-Gazette. Rory has taken over getting coffee for people. Mr. Wooley comes storming out asking Rory if that’s [what he's holding] her portfolio. He’s angry with her for going into his office. The office of the editor is private. Rory looks crestfallen, but as he walks away he tells Rory she has five minutes. He read her stuff and walks away mumbling about her being a bargian.

Luke walks into the science fair and finds the girl who took his hair. Luke walks up to her booth and sees that his face is circled as the answer to the question "Who is my dad?". Luke is her father. The girl looks up and notices him there. Luke asks her if she’s sure, and she hands him her report. Luke says she’s smart and is breathing uncomfortably fast. He looks down at the name on the report – April Nardini.

Luke has a realization about who her mom is – Anna. Luke hasn’t seen Anna in (April fills in) about 12 years. Luke says he needs to sit down, and April offers him her stool. Luke says he’s overwhelmed. He looks at April:

"So… I’m your father."

April says yes. Luke says he didn’t know, and if he did, he "would’ve, uh…" As people pass the project, Luke says "it’s me." April didn’t win the competition (she got second), the solar pizza oven took first. Luke asks April if she wants an ice cream or something, but she has to stay to give a presentation. Luke asks if he should stay, but that confuses April. Luke takes his copy of the report and leaves.

Lorelai looks restless. She paces her living room and turns on the television. Then turns it off. The magazines are also a bust and Paul Anka won’t play fetch. Lorelai rushes to the phone when it rings - it’s Rory:

"I got a job!"

Rory says it pays less than the gas to get there, but it’s a writing job. Lorelai says "Yes!" and then Rory tells her she’s going back to Yale. She talked to her dean and arranged it all. She needs to find a place to live, but will figure it out. Lorelai asks if this is what Rory wants, and Rory says yes. Lorelai is so happy! Rory tells Lorelai about moving out, which Lorelai knew.

Rory asks if she’s at home and if she can come over. Lorelai says "yes, yes" she can! Rory says she’s staying at Lane’s, but… To which Lorelai tells Rory to tell Lane that she’s moving out and to get right over!

Rory is already there! She pulls up in her car and Lorelai says she looks so much more silver than she remembers. Rory asks for a heartfelt greeting after their lengthy separation. Both girls drop their phones and run to each other. Rory says she’s sorry, and so does Lorelai. Rory was mixed up, and Lorelai says she should have pulled Rory out of there. Rory says "I love you, Mom" and Lorelai holds her tight saying "Oh, kid, you have no idea!"

Luke is wiping a table at the diner in deep thought. Lorelai runs in saying Rory is back. Luke just says "What?" Lorelai tells Luke that Rory is home, back at school, has a job, and she did it on her own. Lorelai grabs donuts and asks for junk food. She smiles and kisses Luke, saying:

"We can set the date. We can get married now, because Rory’s back!"

Luke looks stunned.

Image: TheWB.com

Tags: gilmore girls, gilmore girls season six, gilmore girls season 6, nardini, april nardini, anna nardini, prodigal daughter, the prodigal daughter returns, gilmore girls episodes, gilmore girls recaps, rory returns