Gilmore Girls 4.15 "Scene in a Mall"

Gilmore Girls 4.15 "Scene in a Mall"
Original Air Date: February 24, 2004 (Recap date: March 4, 2008)
Photos, Recap & Discussion

Discussion Questions:

• Why is Luke so tolerant of Lorelai’s computer?
• Why does Lorelai want to know if Nicole is involved in the money?
• Do you think Lorelai and Rory are growing apart?
• Is Lindsay the ‘Donna Reed’ wife that Dean always wanted?
• Did Lane not consider what living on her own would entail?
• Why does Emily have a meltdown now? What changed?
• Is Emily proud of Lorelai?
• Is Dean bored in his marriage?
• Why do Lindsay’s parents interfere so much in Dean’s marriage to her?
• Is Dean more aware of his feelings for Rory now?
• What is happening between Emily and Richard?

Gilmore Girls Episode Recap & Photos:

Luke asks if Lorelai is ok after her ‘meltdown in the park.’ Luke is her knight in shining armor. Kirk comes in with a purse ‘gay bag’, Luke’s words – a pink polka dotted dog carrier. Kirk is watching Lulu’s dog Buster. Luke teases Kirk with a list of guy’s names that could be girl’s names – Kirk is paranoid Lulu is not really with ‘girlfriends.’

Lorelai has her laptop hooked up to Luke’s fax line, which he has never used since the day Lorelai nagged him to put it in. But the line is in the way of the counter. Lorelai waxes on about how email harks back to letter writing days – picturing Dickens. She and Rory write several times a day. Luke then clues in that Kirk’s dog bag came with a dog. Lorelai has adjusted her line so Luke can limbo under it easier. Kirk is talking to his man purse "you’ve got sleepy face, you got to tinkle?"

Rory is sick, and Paris is paranoid about germs. Lane calls all excited – she has a new apartment. Will be sharing it with Zack and Brian. Lane will get the bedroom, they will use the livingroom. Not finding the disinfectant, Paris uses fire to disinfect the doorknob.

Lorelai is all done with her email. Luke shiftily looks side to side, then passes Lorelai an envelope. Luke tries to shush Lorelai, but Lorelai, stunned, says out loud "a cheque to me for $30,000." Lorelai wanted to do it more formally with a repayment plan and charts and a nice dinner. Lorelai puts the details on a napkin for them to formalize – Lorelai wants to know if the money is joint with Nicole. Luke says she’s not involved. Lorelai writes thank you.

Dinner (loins – funny to Lorelai) is burnt at the Gilmore house, so Emily is on the phone trying to get a reservation at a restaurant. Emily says Lorelai has worn that dress a dozen times, she should update her wardrobe. Richard makes snide remarks about how much Emily shops. Richard suggests a restaurant where he at with Moby. Emily is set on her restaurant, and says ‘maybe’ the Beatles will be there. They argue about how many Beatles are dead. Emily tries to nag Richard into shaving his moustache.

Lorelai asks where Rory is. Emily says she’s been sick all week. Lorelai didn’t know. Later, Lorelai calls Rory to say they have an email relationship. Lorelai is saddened that their very close relationship has degraded to email. Plus, Rory is using chat shorthand and they talk about meaningless stuff. This is the first time they’ve connected on the phone in a while. Lorelai admits to being needy. Lorelai tells Rory the verdict of the Beatles argument – that "Paul and Bingo" are dead. Nice. Rory has some free time tomorrow, and Lorelai can skip some Inn stuff. Lorelai suggests shopping – they are both broke, but they can enjoy looking.

Kirk is now a dog walker and is playing ‘tracker’ with them. He seems to really be enjoying it.

Rory asks Dean for an autograph – Village People reference. She’s at the Inn with a rose in her lapel for Lorelai to recognize her. Rory says she’s fine now – a nervous breakdown does wonders. Lindsay comes by with a picnic for "Dean-O" and her "big" news of finding a new drycleaner. According to Lorelai, Lindsay and her mom bring food for Dean every day. Though Lindsay is finding cooking ‘hard’ to learn – she’s a bad cook. Linked arm in arm, the girls window shop.

Lane goes to visit her mom & pack up her stuff. Lane’s cousin is there to help. She’s another Lane – humble on the outside, loud on the inside. Is in awe of Lane. But Lane is a little testy. Lane and Mrs. Kim share a look before she goes… but that’s all.

The girls are tired of window shopping – too many mental notes, not enough shopping. Going in the stores and still not shopping is also not fun. They are going down an escalator… and Emily is coming up. She notices them. Insists they come up. Window shopping sounds boring to Emily – so she invites them to shop with her. Aggressive today.

Lane, Zack and Brian have three stereos but nothing for the kitchen at all. And no curtains. And no fridge. Or towels. Brian brought bunk beds. Lane is stressing about it all but is touched that the guys saved her a shelf.

A personal shopper greets Emily as she enters the store. There was no appointment, but she knows Emily’s style. Barely with any thought Emily buys whatever is presented. Spending thousands and thousands of dollars. Out of spite, Emily has them toss in "jewelry appropriate for a man with a moustache" like bracelets and the most expensive moustache comb they have. Even insists on buying display pieces.

Emily insists on the girls buying anything they want, all on Richard. Lorelai tells Rory to insist – it’s all a symbol, and they don’t know what for. Yells at Lorelai to insist she buy her a diamond watch. Emily is buying them stuff left, right and centre. Including a Vera Wang wedding dress for Lorelai!

Lorelai asks Emily what she’s doing – why she’s buying things she doesn’t need. Emily wants them. Doesn’t take well to the "crazy" reference. Emily blows her top – says Richard’s moustache and job are crazy, that Richard is working more and going to clubs and having lunches with ex-girlfriends. According to Richard, this is what Emily does. So she’s doing it. Richard is not slowing down – he has a whole new life, so why can’t she? Emily makes a scene.

The girls take Emily to the food court, which she’s never seen before. Lorelai and Rory order something from everywhere – to show it all to Emily. Emily enjoys her Orange Julius and can now tell the guy who owns a couple dozen of them that she likes his product! Emily wants to know how loud she was back there – she’s aware she caused a scene. Emily praises Lorelai on how forcefully she handled a business call. Lorelai says she learned from the best – but Emily doesn’t believe Loreali is referring to her.

Emily says she’s never done things. She’s only ordered people around and bought things she doesn’t want. Lorelai says she has family and friends and so much more. That Emily needs to talk to Richard. A serious talk, not bickering. Clear the air. Emily says she admires Lorelai’s life.

Kirk is putting up posters and seems in a panic – lost dog? Luke goes to the arcade to get change – Dean is playing there. Dean is the reigning champ of every game in the arcade. He goes to play after dinner, Lindsay and her mom like him out of the way. Lindsay’s mom helps with cooking and cleaning and her father with fixing things – so what is there left for Dean? Dean loses his train of thought when he sees Rory outside.

Rory and Lorelai are taking inventory of their shopping. They would prefer to return it all, but need to keep some things for Emily to see them in. They fight over the free tote bag. The rest is "worthless rich people stuff."

Kirk has not lost a dog, exactly. He has a dog that has no owner – he has no idea who the dog belongs to. The dog isn’t responding to Kirk’s random sounds. The girls try to schedule in time to see each other. Rory is worried about Emily and her relationship with Richard. Lorelai thinks they’ll be ok, they’re a team. Luke brings plates for the pie Lorelai swiped – Lorelai gives him her rose. Luke walks away smelling it.

Richard and Emily are sitting on the opposite ends of the long table, Richard trying to make sure Emily gets the gardens tended to while he goes out of town to some trendy place in NY with Jason. Richard says he’s "always liked those" to the brand new glass decorative Emily bought. Emily looks at Richard with displeasure and sadness, but does not say anything. The clock ticks. 

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