#222 - Rev. Pink 3/4/99
CONTINUED: (2)
JOEY
See ya, Daddy.
Joey gives Mr. Potter a quick kiss and they're off.
Dawson turns around, calling back to him.
DAWSON
Mr. Potter, if you need any last minute help with the
"renovations", you know how to reach me.
The message is clear.
MR. POTTER
(at a loss)
Will do, Dawson.
He watches Dawson as he and Joey (unreadable, assumably
something about them leaving.)
EXT. CAPESIDE HIGH - DAY (DAY 2)
Students mill about. Angle on JACK and JEN as they head
toward the building, carrying large doses of caffine.
JEN
If this doesn't help me survive today, nothing will.
JACK
You might need more than coffee after your all-nighter in the
den last night. I've never seen study-geek Andie put so much
effort into a paper.
JEN
I had a lot to say.
JACK
Yeah? What was it on?
JEN
Teen suicide.
A beat.
JACK
You had a lot to say about teen suicide.
Should I start planning the intervention?
JEN
Relax, I'm not on the window ledge yet.
Jack is completely unsure how to read her.
JACK
Yet? Well, this conversation has taken a decidedly gruesom turn.
JEN
No. Just realistic.
JACK
Realistic to who?
JEN
To most teenagers. The materials I read cite a high percentage as considering
suicide at least once. Haven't you ever?
This question takes Jack by surprise.
JACK
At one time, yeah, maybe. But since I've dealt with everything it hasn't
crossed my mind. The world doesn't scare me like it used to.
(beat)
So what's your answer?
JEN
Let's just say that sometimes the world stil scares me.
Jack isn't sure what to say next. But he doesn't have to speak,
a voice interrupts.
VOICE
Jennifer.
They turn. It's GRAMS. Standing on the sidewalk. From the look that passes
between she and Jen, it's clear this is the first time they've seen eachother
in a while.
JEN
Hi, Grams.
GRAMS
How are you?
JEN
Late for school.
Jen makes a move to head inside, but Grams moves towards her, imporing.
GRAMS
Jennifer, wait.
(Jen reluctantly pauses)
I thought about how we ended things. I've given it a great deal of consideration,
and dispite our differences I want you to come home.
Jen gives it a mere second's thought, before answering.
JEN
I have a home.
GRAMS
Two children cannot take care of themselves.
JEN
Three days and counting.
GRAMS
Jennifer. I know you want your independance, I do. But this situation is not
right.
JEN
It's right for me. Jack's used to taking care of himself, and I'm determined
to learn how. Together, we'll be fine.
GRAMS
Jack doesn't have an alternative, you do.
JEN
You've come here to welcome me back. But you haven't even addressed why I left.
And I don't feel like getting into it with you right now.
Grams closes her eyes. This conversation is so much harder that she thought it would be.
GRAMS
The invitation stands.
JEN
So does my answer.
With that, Jen tugs Jack off. Jack gives her a look, not happy with what he
just witnessed.
JEN
(softly)
Let's get to class.
INT. POLICE CAR - DAY (DAY 2)
SHERIFF WITTER is dropping PACEY at school. Pacey reacts to a report of a location he
hears over the police-radio.
PACEY
That's the Ice House. Are you guys staking it out?
SHERIFF WITTER
That's none of your concern.
PACEY
If this means you're gonna start harassing Joey's dad --
SHERIFF WITTER
I'm not harassing anybody. I wear a badge and I do a job.
PACEY
Mr. Potter's finally getting his family's life back together. He deserves a
break.
SHERIFF WITTER
I'll be the judge of that. In the meantime, you've got a final to get to. Don't
screw it up.
PACEY
Any chance of your advice ever taking a positive tone?
SHERIFF WITTER
I'm positive you better not screw up.
PACEY
Gee, dad, it's great we can have these morning chats.
Pacey moves to exit. Sheriff Witter clutches his arm.
SHERIFF WITTER
Since your little girlfriend left, your attitude has gone from bad to worse
and I don't approve of it. Furthermore, if you blow these finals because of
all this, I'll wring your scrawny neck. No girl's worth messing up your life over.
You hear me?
PACEY
Can i go now, please?
Sheriff Witter releases Pacey. Silent, Pacey gets out of the car and shuts the door.
EXT. CAPESIDE HIGH - DAY (DAY 2)
The Sheriff drives off without another look back, leaving Pacey standing alone on the
sidewalk, furious.
DAWSON arrives.
DAWSON
(Noticing Pacey's state)
What, did he run you over with the car on his way out?
Pacey shakes himself out of it.
PACEY
He may as well have. Bastard.
DAWSON
Screw him, Pace. You have finals to worry about right now.
PACEY
yeah, finals.
Dawson sences his friend's disillusion.
DAWSON
Lemme see, other things on your mind?
PACEY
How'd you guess?
DAWSON
Have you heard from Andie yet?
PACEY
(shrugging)
No, but she'll call. She's got a lot to deal with, y'know.
Pacey is trying hard to convince Dawson it doesn't bother him. Dawson sees
right through it.
DAWSON
Just remember. Andie knows better than anybody how hard you've worked this year.
She'll kick your ass if she finds out you gave up now.
This gets a small smile out of Pacey. They enter.
INT. CAPESIDE HIGH (illegable)
MR. MILO passes out a collection of blue books. Pacey sits staring out the window as the Milo drones on. (Sentence unedited)
MR. MILO
Your favorite guidance counseler is proctoring today's exam. Any questions, rais your hand and I'll come to you.
Pacey, frustrated stares blankly at the page. (Sentence unedited)
From the front of the room, Milo notices.
EXT. DOCKSIDE DAY (DAY 2)
Mr. Potter stands looking out onto the water. Dawson appears behind him. Mr.
Potter sences Dawson, and turns. The truth hangs in the air between them.
MR. POTTER
I suppose you want to know what the hell I think I'm doing.
DAWSON
No, not really. I'm here to tell you that whatever it is, I don't beleave it.
Mr. Potter looks at Dawson, confused.
DAWSON
I saw you the other night. With Pete, in the storeroom, but I don't beleave it
because I don't beleave that a man who claims to love his children with all his heart and soul
would jeopardize their happiness by trafficking cocaine through the family business.
MR. POTTER
Dawson --
CONTINUED (from another page)
JOEY
Right now I think I trust him more than I trust any of you.
A stalemate. Joey sits before them in tears and in full denial. The others
exchange glances, unsure of what to do.
EXT. GRAMS' HOUSE - DAY (DAY 3)
Grams folds laundrey on the screened in porch. Jen approaches the door
stnading and watching her grandmother quietly.
After a long moment, Jen opens the door and steps onto the porch, setting
her suitcase down. Grams turns, surprised. She smiles as she spots Jen's
suitcase.
JEN
I have three conditions.
Grams tries to disguise her releif and joy.
GRAMS
Oh?
Jen
One, we address the reality of why this didn't work out before.
I made a lot of mistakes, but sometimes even my best behavior wasn't enough
to be comfortable living with you. I never felt like I was good enough to
be here.
GRAMS
Jenniffer, you know that's not...
JEN
Two.
Grams quiets again, waiting patiently.
JEN
You acknowledge that I've been through a lot in my life -- more than most
girls my age -- and that I need support, not judgement. And certainly not
biblical judgement.
GRAMS
I think I can manage that.
JEN
What you have to understand, Grams, is that I don't need a legal guardian
to survive on my own. I can handle a lot more than you might expect. But what
I want is to live here with you. I want a family. I want us to take
care of eachother. I don't want to be alone anymore.
This admission moves Grams to tears.
GRAMS
(vulnerable)
Neither do I..
Peace, at last. They revel in it for a moment, then...
GRAMS
Was there a third?
JEN
Yes.
She guides Grams to the door and indicates the porch swing on the front lawn,
where...
JACK
Sits alone on the swing.
ON JEN AND GRAMS
JEN
There's someone else who doesn't want to be alone anymore, either.
Grams is a little shocked, but she recovers beautifully.
GRAMS
I've been meaning to clear out your grandfather's room for a while.
Jen smiles. She bounds across the front lawn to Jack. Grams watches as Jen delivers the good news to her new friend.
EXT. LEERY HOUSE - DAY (DAY 3)
Mitch stands by the water. Gale approaches, standing by his side.
MITCH
We did well with out son.
GALE
Yes. Our one success.
MITCH
We've had more success than that, Gale.
Gale's not sure how to take this, so she stays silent.
MITCH
The last twenty-four hours -- they've reminded me what I love so much about
being part of our family. Dawson was able to count on us when he needed to.
I felt like a father again and... if you'd beleave it, a husband.
GALE
I beleave it.
MITCH
It felt wonderful, Gale. And I know that we've disappointed each other more times
that we can count. But I guess what I'm saying is, if you'd like to try to make it work
again, make us work again, I'll get down on my hands and knees and
ask you not to move to Philadelphia.
These are the words that Gale has waited months to hear. And yet, somehow, she's not dancing.
GALE
Oh, Mitch...
Mitch makes good on his promise. Lowering himself down on his knee, a la a
marriage proposal. Imploring her.
MITCH
Stay here with me. With us. Please.
Gale reaches out to Mitch, clasping his hand tight. Squeezing as hard as she can.
GALE
I talked to Dawson earlier. With all that's happened, I'm not going to leave today.
But I am going to take the job.
Her statement takes Mitch by surprise. He removes his hands from hers, and rises up from
his knees.
MITCH
I don't understand.
GALE
Ever since you left I've prayed for the day you'd come back. Even when they
offered me Philly, I thought, "Now Mitch will have to profess his love for me
or else I'll go." But when it didn't happen, I saw Philly for what it was.
A new opportunity. Somethin gunexpected, un-hoped for. And oddly enough,
it felt more right than anything in a long time.
MITCH
We could be right too, Gale. I want my old life back. I want us.
GALE
You want what we had. We'll never have that again, Mitch. And that's mostly
my fault.
(beat)
So I'm gonna do something that's right for both of us. I'm gonna go the
unplanned route for a little while in the hopes that whatever we lost,
we'll both stumble upon it again.
Mitch smiles at this.
MITCH
Did Dawson understand?
GALE
He understands how much I love him. That's enough, I think.
MITCH
I guess it has to be.
They sit in peaceful silence together.
(Illegable- Location Change)
Pacey sits on a bench, staring out at the waterfront. Sheriff Witter approaches slowly.
He stands by his son's side for a second.
For a long while Pacey says nothing. Then...
PACEY
What are you doing here?
SHERIFF WITTER
For starters, you punched me.
____End of Script Selection_____
