Episode Report Card Pamie: A | 1 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT Sniffles, Part Two
By Pamie | Season 1 | Episode 10 | Aired on 12.20.2000
Within, Lorelai sees Grampa in his bed, looking just a bit uncomfortable. His eyes are closed. Lorelai walks but doesn't know what to do with her hands. She has them jammed into the back of her pants. She stands at the foot of his bed and quietly watches him. The view switches back and forth between Lorelai staring and Grampa in bed and it's that moment that you have when you look at your parent, and he or she is sick, and you realize for the first time in your life just how mortal your parents are. Not only do they not have all the answers, not only do they make mistakes and say things they don't mean and get upset for the wrong reasons and love you no matter what you do, no matter how much of a hero they may or may not be for you -- they are just people. They are just human. And their time is limited. And you'll never know how long you have and you know you'll never be able to say or do all of the things you want with them because you can't control the moment they are taken away from you. The scene might be silent, but it's filled with words. Grampa rustles a bit from his sleep. He blinks his eyes a few times, and then settles on Lorelai. He opens his mouth to say something. She does, too. Just then the door opens with a bustle. The doctor, Emily, and Rory all enter the room. The doctor says that it was just a touch of angina. Lorelai smiles at Grampa and holds back her tears. Emily says that Grampa will have to watch his diet. As the doctor starts telling him what he can and cannot eat (Emily reminds him that golf doesn't count as exercise, fixing his sheet), Lorelai smiles and walks out of the room. We hear the faded voices of Rory asking if he's fine and the doctor saying he will be as long as Grampa does what he's told.
Lorelai walks back out into the hospital hallway. Luke walks up and says he knows that everything is okay. She says they're going to keep him overnight, but that he's going to be fine. Lorelai breaks down and starts crying, and Luke pulls her into a hug. He says he knows this is the part where they guy is supposed to give the girl a handkerchief, but he doesn't carry one and he thinks that's kind of gross. Lorelai laughs, wipes her face, and says she's okay. Luke has brought her a mug of coffee. She asks where he got it. "Nurses' lounge," he says. Lorelai laughs. "What? You're not the only one who can flirt," he says. He then admits that he just walked in when he saw the door open, and asks what else he can do. Lorelai asks him to take Rory home; she's going to stay with Emily at the hospital tonight. Rory walks out and hugs Lorelai, saying that he's going to be fine. Lorelai tells her that Luke will take her home. Rory says she can stay too, but Lorelai tells her to go home and call CuteDean: "Talk mushy to each other and then spend an hour arguing over who's going to hang up first." "You are gross," Rory smiles. Rory hands over the keys and says she's going to come back tomorrow. She kisses Lorelai goodbye. Luke makes a quick exit out of the hospital. Lorelai sits down on the chair in the hallway. Emily walks out. She sits beside Lorelai and says that Grampa is almost asleep. She asks where Rory is. Lorelai tells her that she sent them home and that she's going to stay there in case "anybody needed anything." She says she knows Emily doesn't need any help, but there might be someone in the hospital that would need something. Emily asks if she'd like to go to the cafeteria with her for some food. Lorelai says she'd like to do that because there might be someone in the cafeteria that needs something and it'll be good if Emily is there to watch her do her good deed.