Christopher comes to town on a business trip with his girlfriend Sherry in tow. Since Sherry and Christopher’s relationship is getting serious, Sherry wants to begin bonding with Rory — on Friday night. Without consulting Emily, Lorelai excuses Rory from the Gilmore Friday night dinner, and takes Christopher with her instead. When Emily finds out about Sherry over cocktails, she has a meltdown and rushes off to the kitchen. Lorelai follows her there and finds out that Emily has always envisioned that Lorelai and Christopher would end up together. Now that she sees that this isn’t going to happen, Emily blames Lorelai for always keeping him, and everyone else, at arms length. After mulling over her mother’s words, the next morning Lorelai tells Christopher that she believes she’s always thought that they would get back together, too, and that’s one reason why she’s never had a relationship that lasted, including the one with Max. Christopher gets very angry, refusing to accept the responsibility for the way Lorelai’s romantic life has turned out. Lorelai immediately apologizes, saying she did not mean it blamefully, but more as self-realization, but Christopher is too angry to listen.

Rory embarks upon a campaign to improve Lorelai’s relationship with Jess, and convinces her to let him clean out their gutters so he can make some extra money. Luke, annoyed by his cramped living quarters, goes apartment hunting. With the help of Lorelai, Luke is able to find a great place, but is shocked when he finds out who owns the building. Meanwhile, Dean notices that Rory isn’t wearing the bracelet that he made for her. Rory makes up an excuse, but later flips into panic mode when she can’t find the bracelet.

When Emily and Lorelai go to a spa for a weekend of relaxation, Emily lets her hair down, kicks up her heels and ends up bonding with Lorelai in a way that only her daughter could inspire. Thrilled that she has the house all to herself, Rory hopes to spend a quiet night at home doing laundry and eating Indian food. Her plans are foiled — first by Paris, then by Jess, and finally by Dean. In the process, she discovers that she has a surprising savior, a secret suitor, and a skeptical sweetheart.

Lorelai and Rory pitch in at the diner while Luke plans his Uncle Louie’s funeral; Taylor is unhinged when a farmer’s market opens in the town square and puts a damper on his business; Emily goes completely overboard in helping Sookie plan her wedding; Rory prods Jess into being more of a help; Luke is upset when family and friends cite Louie’s unpleasant personality as a reason for not attending his funeral, but is comforted when Stars Hollow comes through for both him and his uncle in the end.