Gilmore Girls 4.04 “Chicken or Beef”

by Arieanna on February 18th, 2008

Gilmore Girls 4.04 "Chicken or Beef"
Original Air Date: October 14, 2003 (Recap date: February 18, 2008)
Photos, Recap & Discussion

Gilmore Girls 4.04 Chicken or Beef

Discussion Questions:

Is Lorelai hurt to see Rory got her hair cut without mentioning it? Why?
Has Rory’s style evolved into something more posh? With what money?
Do you think Dave and Lane are still dating?
Why didn’t Dean invite Rory, regardless of whether he knew she’d be home or not?
Is Rory uncomfortable about Dean’s wedding?
Why didn’t Michel ask to be a part of the Inn?
Didn’t Rory already get Dean a wedding gift?
Is Taylor blocking Lorelai’s renovations out of spite? Why?
Why is Dean marrying Lindsay if he still loves Rory?
Is Dean marrying Lindsay to forget about Rory?
Is Taylor blackmailing Lorelai?
Do you think Luke wanted to tell Dean not to get married?
Do you think Dean remembers what he said?
Does Luke think Rory being at the wedding may trigger Dean not to marry Lindsay?
Do you think Rory regrets not being with Dean?

Gilmore Girls Episode Recap & Photos:

Rory is home from Yale, and she has a new haircut. She walks inside and the home alarm is activated. Lorelai is distracted from turning off the alarm by Rory’s haircut. She didn’t know Rory was getting a haircut. Bit more than a trim. But Lorelai likes it. After getting out of the way of the motion detectors, the alarm turns off. Lorelai says Kirk is working with a security company and has decided Lorelai, "the pretty spinster", needs an alarm. She came home and it was there.

The new mail carrier is delivering mail to the wrong houses. At least he does it consistently to the same wrong house. Taylor doesn’t know where his is yet. Rory moves and the alarm goes on again. No place like home.

Lorelai has mapped out a path - the "yellow stick road" - through the house that will avoid the sensors going off. The Post-It path leading out of the house has been disturbed, so which way is out? Lorelai mimes the "I Dream of Genie" nod.

Rory parks herself in the Stars Hollow gazebo to read. Her repose is interrupted by a crew setting up something for the next day. That something is Dean and Lindsay’s wedding. Rory goes to ask Lane why she didn’t relay the news.

Zach and Brian come out of the closet Lane stuffed them into thinking Mrs. Kim was coming. They are in a band meeting to find a new guitarist since Dave went away to college in California. Rory bursts Zach’s bubble by citing all sorts of famous rockers who went to college.

Rory leaves Lane’s with the intention to be careful of where she goes, but immediately runs into Dean. It’s a little awkward with talk of the wedding and why Dean didn’t invite Rory, thinking she’d be at school. Dean invites Rory and Lorelai to the wedding - says he wants them there. Already knows the answer to the Chicken or Beef option for both - beef. Doesn’t ask if she wants to go, just Rory where to be.

Kirk is back to fix the alarm, but doesn’t know what he’s doing. The guy who installed it is out of town. He was just trying to do something nice, and even the high volume was his idea to protect Lorelai. They put in a new code - one thing Kirk does know how to do. Then he goes to repair the phone, which he accidentally cut off.

Sookie tells Lorelai that Michel is angry that he’s not included in the Dragonfly and that Lorelai didn’t return his call. However, she was away when he called. And Michel knows they always intended to take him with them, or so Lorelai thinks. They are not quite so they ‘need’ Michel and his obnoxious ways, but go to talk with him.

They go to "where Calvin Klein models come to die", the place where Michel works. All the fashionable black-clad men with headsets. Michel says he’s very happy where he works and sounds ’surprised’ to know their Inn is still in the works. He pretends not to remember calling Sookie (and crying, in fact). And yes, his job is "impressive"; and how great to never get lonely. Even in the bathroom, someone can start chattering through his headset. They welcome Michel aboard. They leave and Michel says "thank God."

Lorelai asks about Dean’s behavior when he asked them to the wedding. Rory says there was a bit of "darty eye". Some nervousness. So, to go or not to go? Is it weird to go? What will it look like if they don’t go? They give up - fate is making them go. Lorelai hope fate also coughs up money for a salad spinner. Luke says there is no fate, no luck, no destiny. Astrology is bunked and tea leaves only make tea. Lorelai pretends to by psychic to annoy him.

Miss Patty has tracked down Lorelai to give her her mail - one is marked urgent. Patty wants to kill the new mail carrier, she doesn’t care that he doesn’t have a tongue. Taylor has sent Lorelai a cease and desist order for the Inn. He says all renovations must be approved by the historical preservation society. Lorelai goes to calmly talk to Taylor - as a professional business owner.

Lorelai orders ice cream (Rory loves her chocolate chocolate chocolate) and tells Taylor they have a construction crew coming Monday, and that they intend to preserve the history of the building. Taylor sounds like he’d prefer the building not to have running water. Lorelai needs to give a presentation to get approval, and there is a town meeting that night.

Taylor drags on the town meeting to astonishing lengths. Michel is dying from the b.o. of the guy next to him. Rather than move onto the presentation, Taylor talks about a story written by 4th grader entitled "The Happiest Doughnut." Residents start to exchange all their mail. So Taylor adjourns the meeting. Lorelai protests and he says they are bringing it up late. He insultingly tells the town to stay and hear the presentation. Taylor continues to interrupt with snide comments and questions, shaking his head. Then infers they are not only destroying the land but creating a party spot perfect for murderers. Then points out that the Independence Inn burned down.

Lorelai’s cell is ringing from her home number. It’s Kirk, responding to a prowler. Lane and her band. Rory goes home to sort it out. Taylor adjourns the meeting without a resolution. Then he ran out of the meeting to evade Lorelai. Lorelai goes after him. Taylor then informs Lorelai that the historical society members need to do a walk-through of the property. He says he’s ’sure’ he mentioned it before. Without looking her in the eye, Taylor says they can do it in the next month or so. Lorelai protests, so he suggests 6am the next morning.

Dean’s bachelor party comes for a pit-stop to Luke’s, singing the Stars Hollow High Fight song. Dean is quite drunk. Luke wants to close up, but makes them coffee. Phase 1 of the party was a case of beer in the JC Penny parking lot then batting cages and laser tag. Luke offers to make pancakes to soak up the alcohol. Dean is wasted and dejected - says "Rory." So Luke takes control and kicks everyone out and offers to take care of Dean.

"She’s smart, man, you know she’s so smart?"

Dean mumbles to Luke, as he is dragged upstairs. Says Rory could fix the world.

"She’s the one, you know?… and her hair, her hair. She has the prettiest hair… I miss her. Why didn’t she love me?"

Luke has put Dean into bed and looks on him sadly. Sighs. Let’s Dean fall asleep.

Lorelai and Sookie are listing all the horrible things they’d rather be doing than waiting for Taylor & his cohort to finish inspecting the Inn. Taylor is filling out a form and looks disapproving. Lorelai begs Miss Patty for some pull with Taylor, but she has her own renovation coming up.

The deck is only 23 years old and is rotten, but Taylor says they have to keep it, but guests can’t walk on it. "How do you think things get to be historical?" he asks. Lorelai grabs Taylor and asks what she did to make her deserve this?

"The hoops! The hoops and the jumping and the fire and the hoops!!"

Lorelai is nice to Taylor, eats his food, shops in his store. Lorelai wants to be put out of her misery and asks what she can do to make this happen. Taylor says:

"I want an ice cream truck!"

The only place to park it is slightly in front of Luke’s, and Taylor says Lorelai has pull with Luke. He promises everything will be expedited if she does this.

Lorelai runs to Luke’s.

"Give him his ice cream truck… I forced a stream and I almost got attacked by a beaver and I’m not leaving here until you agree."

Lorelai makes her case on why Luke should agree, and even describes herself hanging from a tree if he says no. Luke says fine, what does he care? It’s a public street. Taylor never asked. Lorelai has learned a business lesson - "it’s about scratching backs and kissing things," she says. About dirty back room deals. Done venting, she goes to close the deal with Taylor.

Luke brings Dean a shake to get over his hangover. He doesn’t remember how he got there. Luke looks like he wants to say something to Dean, but doesn’t. Dean, doing the "darty eye", says thanks to Luke. Luke wishes Dean luck.

Lane struck out finding a guitarist. Luke is looking for Lorelai but runs into Rory. Luke tells Rory not to go to the wedding. Won’t say why, just to trust him. That it’d be better that way.

Kirk says the alarm is disconnected and the roof will be fixed. Lorelai doesn’t ask. Kirk apologizes and says he’s related to a 12th Century knight, has a sense a chivalry. Lorelai gives Kirk a kiss on the cheek in thanks. Rory tells Lorelai what Luke said, that Luke sounded upset and serious. Kirk follows the girls in his security vehicle - looking out for Lorelai the Kirk way.

Michel spouts sarcasm about not being in the "breaking in" shot at the Inn, but he’d already framed the shot and set the timer. When the girls beckon him over, he smiles and they have started work on the Inn! Lorelai is impressed by the history of the place - its past, its future. For a little while, they are a part of its life.

Dean and Lindsay come out of the chapel, married! Rory watches on nearly in tears as the crowd cheers.