Episode Report Card Kim: B | 0 USERS: N/A YOU GRADE IT Happy Birthday, Baby!
By Kim | Season 3 | Episode 18 | Aired on April 21, 2003
Lorelai thanks her parents for the dinner, and then reaches into her purse and pulls out an envelope, which she gives to Emily, joking that it's from her long-missing rabbit. Emily, suddenly very serious, asks what it is. Lorelai says it's the money she owes them for Rory's school, which she promised she would pay back. Lorelai thanks them very sincerely for helping out, and adds that Rory wouldn't be going to Yale if it weren't for Emily and Richard. Emily stonily says that Lorelai's welcome and then says that Lorelai must be relieved that her debt is paid and that she doesn't need her parents anymore. Lorelai is confused, because she didn't say that. Emily says that Lorelai won't have to talk to them or come over for dinner anymore. Lorelai protests, but not as strongly as you might think. Like if she had just said right here, "We'll still come over for dinner," it seems like this whole thing could have been avoided. Lorelai says that she's just paying back the money she owed. Emily thinks it's unkind of Lorelai to use her birthday to inform her parents that she won't be coming over anymore. Lorelai didn't say that. Emily thinks the money says that. Lorelai suggests that it might be better if she and Rory came over voluntarily and not due to some threat. Emily asks if that would happen. Lorelai doesn't answer the question, instead saying that she always promised to pay them back, so it shouldn't be a surprise, and she was trying to do a good thing with the money Richard gave her.
Emily is surprised to hear that Richard gave the money to Lorelai. Richard says it was Lorelai's money. Lorelai tries to explain, but Richard angrily tells her to stay out of it, and insists that he told Lorelai not to mention the money to Emily. Which he never said, which Lorelai points out. Richard says that was why he met her in the daytime at a restaurant. Richard explains to Emily that he knew she would be upset, but that he was legally obligated to give Lorelai the money. Emily tells both Richard and Lorelai not to talk to her. Lorelai says that just because the debt is not paid doesn't mean that Rory and Lorelai won't come over again, even if it's not every week. Emily says it won't happen, because she doesn't need any favors, so she's relieving Lorelai of her obligations. Emily stomps out of the room and Richard follows. Then the maid shows up with two gigantic pieces of cake. Does anyone else feel like Richard's investment story is a bit fishy?