Footnotes to the TV series
RORY: I’m not staring at you.
JESS: Then how do you know I’m staring at you?
RORY: I am dancing. I cannot control where my glance goes. And the few moments that I can control it, my glance goes to Dean, not to you.
JESS: So you can’t control when you look at me, but you have to force yourself to look at him? Sorry, man. That’s cold.
This rates as one of Jess Mariano’s best comebacks. And it’s all true!
JESS: I’m just trying to support my town.
RORY: Good, then go back to New York.
JESS: Ooh. Zing. I’ve been snapped.
Zing – a statement used to acknowledge a zinger, that is, an unkind joke or tease.
Snap – a slang word to express surprise or consternation at a clever comment made at your expense.
Jess is, of course, being sarcastic.
MRS. KIM: Who are you?
JESS: Jess . . . ma’am.
Jess is the town bad boy with a smart mouth for everyone. Only Mrs Kim can bring him instantly into line and force him to speak respectfully, and she does it with three words and a stern look. You can’t help thinking that if Jess had had a grandmother or aunt like Mrs Kim, he would be a very different kid.
It seems as if the fake egg sandwiches are the only food provided at the 24 hour dance marathon, which is pretty terrible. And there’s no refrigeration, so this seems like another salmonella outbreak waiting to happen on the show.
JESS: I noticed Rory’s not dancing with Dean … How come? Trouble in paradise?
Trouble in paradise is an idiom meaning that there is a problem in a supposedly idyllic situation, nearly always referring to a marital or romantic relationship. The phrase seemingly dates to the late 19th century, and refers to the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden from the Bible.
LANE: Go away, Jess. No one asked for a Tony Manero wannabe to drop by.
Tony Manero, the lead character in the film Saturday Night Fever, previously discussed.
Lane really doesn’t like Jess at all, which may be another reason why it’s been hard for Rory to admit her feelings for him. It’s a shame, because Lane and Jess both love music and punk rock in particular, so you’d think they’d have at least one thing in common as a basis for friendship.
Apart from not being impressed by Jess’ behaviour in school, I think Lane has always romanticised Rory’s relationship with Dean, and she can’t imagine Rory with anyone else.
[Lorelai notices Kirk running right on their heels]
LORELAI: Kirk, what are you doing?
KIRK: I’m drafting you.
Kirk is probably referring to drafting or slipstreaming, a technique used in racing sports, especially cycling and driving, where you remain behind another competitor to reduce the effect of wind resistance, thus allowing you to conserve energy.
In cycling, the effect can be significant. In running, where the speeds are slower, the benefit is much less. One of the problems is that you need to be very close behind the other competitor to get much effect, and this obviously risks antagonising them (like Kirk antagonises Lorelai). It is, however, perfectly legal, and is not classed as cheating, although some might consider it unsportsmanlike.
Indoors, where there is no wind at all, the benefit would be very small, while the chance of annoying others would be greatly increased. This seems on brand for Kirk.
In cycling, one warns another cyclist of their intention by saying, “I’m drafting you” as a courtesy. I have been unable to find any such examples of this in running.
EDIT: One of my favourite things about writing this blog is when someone writes in to correct something I got wrong, or to add something that I missed. I’m only one ordinary person, so there’s no way I can get everything right.
So a big, big thank you to blog reader melcauble for putting me on the right path with this one. I know it probably seems like a long time to wait for a rewrite, but I try to get there eventually.
RORY: How much longer?
LORELAI: I don’t know. I just know that every year I block this part out.
After already dancing for more than fourteen hours, the dancers are then forced to race each other around the gym for an undetermined period, with the last five couples to complete the lap when the music stops being eliminated from the competition. The “runaround”, as it is known, is taken directly from the film They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?, in which “elimination derbies” are held to maintain the spectators flagging interest. The consequences are fatal for one of the characters in the film.
Lorelai says she blocks this part out every year. Apparently Rory has blocked it out too, even though she’s only ever watched, as she has no knowledge of it. It seems they’ve only ever had a runaround after Rory has either gone home or fallen asleep in the bleachers.
JACKSON: Oh, I’m not mad. I just didn’t realize that when I married Sookie, I also married you. I didn’t realize I was a Mormon, my mistake.
Mormonism, the religious tradition and theology of the Latter Day Saint movement of Restorationist Christianity started by Joseph Smith in Western New York in the 1820s and 1830s.
Polygamy (plural marriage) was practised by the church during the 19th century, and although the practice was officially ended in the early 20th century, some sects continue the tradition today.
Predictably, Jackson is not happy to learn Sookie has discussed their private marital problems with Lorelai. Although he has a valid point, he immediately throws an immature tantrum instead of discussing it with Sookie, so his communication is as poor as hers (or worse).
RORY: How much longer?
LORELAI: Oh, chin up soldier.
“Chin up” is a British informal idiom meaning “be brave, stay cheerful”, said in difficult or challenging circumstances.
They have now been dancing for fourteen hours, so it’s 8 pm.
[Jess and Shane walk across the dance floor to the bleachers]
LORELAI: Well, look who’s suddenly interested in dance.
RORY: Yeah, he’s a regular Martha Graham.
Martha Graham (1894-1991), modern dancer and choreographer. Her style, the Graham Technique, is still taught worldwide. Founded in 1926, the Martha Graham School in New York City is the oldest school of dance in the US.
The Annotated Gilmore Girls 