Episode Report Card Pamie: A | 16 USERS: C+ YOU GRADE IT Back In The Saddle Again
By Pamie | Season 2 | Episode 18 | Aired on 2002.04.23
Rory pouts out of the Jeep and tells Lorelai that Richard was miserable. They're walking up for Friday dinner, so you figure it all out. Lorelai says when Richard gets mad he gets taller. The night she told him she was pregnant he got twenty-four feet tall. Rory feels guilty, but Lorelai tells her she did nothing. Rory asks Lorelai not to talk about work, retirement, school, or Chilton. They ring the doorbell. Lorelai says she'll only discuss politics and religion. Emily answers the door solemnly. She invites them in. She says that dinner is almost ready and calls to Richard. She says he came home silently, slammed the door to his study, and has been holed up in there ever since. Lorelai asks if Richard's still up there. Emily says she would have seen it if he left the room: "Not everybody leaves this house by climbing out the window and jumping into a waiting hot rod." Heh. She asks Rory what happened today. Rory says the project went badly. Emily says she's at her wit's end and can't believe he's falling apart over a high-school project. Lorelai says it's a weird time for Richard right now. She says maybe he should talk to a psychiatrist. Emily says that they don't go to psychiatrists. They aren't disturbed deviants with multiple personalities that hear dogs talking, who roam the streets licking parking meters. "Next thing you know you'll be suggesting I go to a psychiatrist," Emily says. Lorelai takes a second and then says quietly to Rory, "Too many comebacks. I cannot pick."
Richard arrives, full of life and happiness. He says he's starving and asks what's for dinner. Emily asks what he means. Richard asks what sort of food products will appear on various plates. Emily is shocked that Richard came home in such a state, locked himself in his room all day, and now comes down without even a mention of his prior behavior. Richard says he had a lot of thinking to do. He thanks Rory for making him have to do all that thinking. He says this entire week with Rory and the first-aid kit (he calls the people at Rory's school "yarnheads," which is the best insult I've heard in months and I cannot wait to start calling people "yarnheads") has made him realize that he doesn't want to be retired. He hates it. Everyone's hating on things this episode. Rory asks what he's going to do. Richard says he's going to go into business for himself. Emily asks what he's going to do. Richard isn't sure yet. He could consult or teach. He says he's qualified to teach at that business college where Lorelai takes classes. "Oh, my God," Lorelai moans. "Who's the Boss: The Later Years." Why is Emily in that Sgt. Pepper uniform? Richard says he's got the buzz and he owes it all to Rory. Rory, who once again hasn't done anything, says she's glad she could help. Lorelai tells Emily that licking parking meters might just be around the corner for Richard.