THE ROAD BACK
Part II
Written By: LeeryAndPotter at LeeryAndPotter@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: Dawson, Joey, Pacey, Jen, Andie, and Jack property of Kevin Williamson and the WB network. I don’t own them, and I never will. I don’t own the song ‘Old Time Rock And Roll’ either, that’s the property of Bob Seger. X-Men is the property of Twentieth Century Fox and Marvel Comics Group.
Category: D/J, trust me, I wouldn't write anything else(well, anything else with either character.)
Rating: PG-13, basically, if you can watch the show, you can read this.
Spoilers: Dawson and Pacey have a anything-you-can-do-I-can-do-better mentality, Joey meets Gretchen, and Jen has a stalker.
Episode # 402
Chariots Of Fire
Cut to Dawson’s room, the camera points to the television, showing the end of ‘Chariots Of Fire’. We then see Dawson and Joey on the bed, facing the television. Dawson shuts it off and then gets up.
DAWSON: Well, that was intriguing. Nothing like a little competition to get the spirits up.
JOEY: I thought it was pretty unrealistic, I mean, absolutely no one is as competitive as that in real life.
DAWSON: Really?
JOEY: Yeah, it seemed as if their only goal was to prove that they were better than the other one.
DAWSON: Single-minded, yes. Unrealistic, no. Believe it or not, Jo, there are people who are that competitive
JOEY: Name one.
DAWSON: I’ll name two: me and your current boyfriend.
JOEY: You and Pacey? Okay, I’ll give you that one. But that’s pretty recent.
DAWSON: Pretty recent? Come on Joey, me and Pacey Witter have been in constant competition with one-another since we hit puberty.
JOEY: No you haven’t.
DAWSON: Oh yeah. Exhibit A; sophomore year; Pacey teases me about not being any good at sports, humiliates me in front of the entire gym class, then I break his nose with a basketball.
JOEY: By accident, right?
DAWSON: Right. Exhibit B; Pacey’s sixteenth birthday; I brag to him about…certain events that were happening at the time…, not to mention that I completely forget about his birthday. Then he overreacts to the point that I feel like a jerk.
JOEY: Continue.
DAWSON: And finally, exhibit C; I accuse him of stealing the PSAT answers, when he was drunk and depressed, which ends with us getting into a fist fight.
Joey thinks about this for awhile and starts to say something, but Dawson interrupts her.
DAWSON: Then last year it basically erupted with the…you know…the regetta, the anti-prom, if those events weren’t me and Pacey competing, then I don’t know what is.
JOEY: Okay, you’ve convinced me. But you didn’t really compete that much before the…you know…
DAWSON: Oh yeah? Every single chance he had, Pacey had to remind me how experienced he was with things that I had virtually no experience in whatsoever. He teased me about that constantly. And when he acted irresponsibly, I would put on the whole morality play. Me and Pacey are just like the guy’s in the movie, always trying to prove we’re better than the other.
Joey has a ‘You’ve got to be kidding’ look on her face.
DAWSON: As a matter of fact, we’re doing the same thing right this very moment
JOEY: How so?
DAWSON: Did you tell Pacey that you were coming over here for movie night.
THEME MUSIC STARS PLAYING
JOEY: Come on, Dawson. He knows that you’re my best friend. I’m sure he’ll understand.
DAWSON: You actually believe that.
JOEY: Yeah, I do.
DAWSON: Then you don’t know him as well as I do.
CREDITS BEGIN
Cut to outside of Capeside high after classes. Joey is walking down the sidewalk and we see Pacey running after her.
PACEY: Hey Potter? Wait up.
They kiss.
PACEY: Where you headed? Why go home when you can spend time with your favorite person in the whole wide world, namely me.
JOEY: Sorry, Pacey, but I have to get to work, maybe later tonight?
PACEY: Wait a minute? I thought you said Bessie fired you?
JOEY: She did. Fortunately I found a new job, I’m a waitress again. At Leery’s Fresh Fish?
PACEY: Leery’s…?
Pacey thinks for a moment, then a ‘wait a minute’ look comes over his face.
PACEY: By the way, where were you last night. I went to your house, but your sister told me you went out.
JOEY: Yeah, it was Wednesday, remember.
PACEY: So?
JOEY: Movie night?
Pacey pauses for a few seconds.
PACEY: You were at Dawson’s.
JOEY: Yeah. You know, this could be a good thing. If I’m friends with him again, then maybe I can convince him to forgive you, too.
PACEY: Sure…sure Joey, I guess I’ll see you later.
JOEY: Bye, Pacey.
Joey leaves. Pacey gets a nervous look in his eyes as he watches her leave, but then sees Dawson and Andie leaving the school.
Cut to a close-up of Dawson and Andie.
ANDIE: That was such a fun class. I mean, you get an entire credit just by talking about movies.
DAWSON: Yeah, it’s amazing how much you can miss something if you don’t take it for an entire semester. It’s not all talk, you know. Eventually, you’ll have to work on film projects as well.
ANDIE: Ahh. You forget, Dawson. You’re not the only person here with directing experience.
DAWSON: That’s good. You’ll be my first pick for partner during my next film project. I do not want to be stuck with more ‘Helmet’s Of Glory’ rubbish. Oh, oh. I’ve got to get to work before mom has a fit. See you later, Andie.
Dawson leaves. Andie stays there for a few seconds by herself, then Pacey appears behind her.
PACEY: What’s shaking, McPhee.
ANDIE: Pacey, hi. It’s good to see you again.
PACEY: It’s good to see you, too. So, how are things for you.
ANDIE: Good, I went to see my mom before school started, she’s getting better. But Pacey, that joke you told about Jack wasn’t very nice. He’s furious with you, and Jen isn’t very happy about it either.
PACEY: Yeah, I know. I guess it was a pretty dumb thing to do. (whispers) I seem to be losing more friends by the minute.
ANDIE: You still have me.
They hug.
PACEY: Thanks, Andie. It is really good to see you again.
They let go.
PACEY: But tell me, what exactly were you talking about with Dawson a few minutes ago.
ANDIE: Oh, I got accepted into the film class. Isn’t that great?
PACEY: Since when did you become interested in making movies, McPhee?
ANDIE: Not movies, specifically. But that play we worked on together last year has gotten me thinking about different career opportunities. This is our last year at high school, after all. How about you, Pacey? Have you given any thought to what you want to do after graduation.
PACEY: Not really. Heh, no thought about it whatsoever. As a matter of fact, I’m not so sure that I’m going to graduate.
Andie looks concerned, but before she can say anything Pacey speaks up.
PACEY: Anyway, congratulations. I’ll see you around McPhee.
ANDIE: Yeah, see you.
Pacey walks away, and Andie watches him silently leave, with an extremely sad look on her face.
Cut to Andie walking home solemnly, she arrives home and goes into her room. Once there she pulls out a picture frame, slightly rusted on the sides. It is the picture of her and Pacey that Pacey had dropped into the creek. Jack appears behind her and lays his hand on her shoulder.
JACK: It’s a miracle that you still have that at all. It would still be laying at the bottom of the creek if dad hadn’t accidentally caught it when we went fishing. Coincidence?
ANDIE: Maybe…maybe not?
JACK: Staring at that picture every day isn’t going to get him back, you know.
Andie remains silent. She then starts to cry.
JACK: Oh, Andie…I’m sorry.
Jack hugs her. The camera goes to a close-up of her hand, still holding on to the picture.
Cut to Joey in the back storeroom of Leery’s Fresh Fish. She is dressed in the restaurant uniform, putting her jean jacket on a hanger. She reaches into the jacket pocket and pulls something out. When she opens her hand, we see that it is a necklace, the same one that Dawson gave her last year. She examines it with a sad look on her face.
GALE: JOEY, YOU READY!
JOEY: Just a minute, Mrs. Leery.
Joey puts the necklace around her neck and the tucks it into the collar of her shirt, hiding it from view. She then exits the storeroom.
Cut to the restaurant dining room, Joey and Dawson are taking orders, while Jen is talking on the phone, half angry, half afraid.
JEN: Listen, you psycho. First you call my Grams’ house, then you call my work. That part of my life is over. J-just leave me alone. If you continue to harass me, I will call the police and they’ll cart your butt off to jail.
She slams the phone down, violently, just as Dawson and Joey approach her.
DAWSON: Who was that, Jen?
JEN: N-nobody, nobody important. Now hurry up, these people need to eat.
Jen heads to the kitchen.
JOEY: (to Dawson) Usually when someone says ‘nobody important’ like that, it was probably someone very important.
DAWSON: If she wants to tell us, she will. For now, lets just worry about the customers.
Cut to clock on the wall showing time has passed. Pacey comes in the restaurant. Him and Dawson give each other cold stares as her walks up to Joey.
PACEY: Hey, Potter, you look beat. What say we blow this joint and go somewhere a little more private.
JOEY: Not right now, Pacey. I’ve already lost two jobs by abandoning my post, I do not want to go for three.
PACEY: Come on, would you seriously rather spend an entire afternoon serving tables with the film freak over there, or come with me and have some actual fun.
DAWSON: I should have expected this kind of behavior from you, Pacey. You’re not satisfied with being a slacker, you need convince other people to join you.
Pacey walk up to Dawson viciously. Both look as if they are about to lose their tempers and start a fight.
PACEY: Hah. You just can’t admit that you can’t summon up the nerve to just do something other than sit on your butt and watch movies do ya. You just don’t have the guts, fish guts notwithstanding. Around the corner, Mitch and Gail hear the conversation. They shake their heads at the display. GALE: This is not good, he’d distracting them from their work, and if this keeps up any longer, Dawson is probably going to pick a fight with him. MITCH: Well, what do you want me to do? GALE: Just get rid of him. A large smile crosses Mitch’s face. He rounds the corner and heads towards the trio. MITCH: (to Dawson) Watch this. Picks Pacey off the ground and slings him over his shoulder. PACEY: What the ****? Put me down. Come on, Mr. Leery? This isn’t funny! MITCH: Not yet it isn’t? Mitch opens the back door and brings Pacey outside. He then throws Pacey out into the ally..
PACEY: AHHHHH! –THUD-
MITCH: Don’t come back unless you intend to buy something. And Pacey…don’t push Dawson. One of these days he might just decide to push back.
Mitch returns inside where Joey stares open mouthed, while Dawson is on the verge of cracking up with laughter.
JOEY: Was that really necessary?
MITCH: No, (smiles) but it was fun.
GALE: Alright, fun’s over. Everyone back to work. (whispers) Sometimes it’s like I have two teenagers.
Cut to later in the day Dawson is preparing to do go home. Gretchen comes through the door and heads towards Dawson.
GRETCHEN: So, Dawson, what’s the plan for today.
DAWSON: Gretchen? Well, actually, I was planning on going to the Rialto with some friends of mine.
GRETCHEN: Oh, that’s okay, I won’t mind tagging along. As a matter of fact, I’d like to meet your friends.
DAWSON: I really don’t think it’s such a good…
Dawson looks out the window and sees Pacey kissing Joey. Pacey sees Dawson, making sure that he is watching the entire display.
DAWSON: On second thought, why don’t you come along. I’d like my friends to meet you as well.
Cut to nighttime, Pacey and Joey are walking down the street.
JOEY: So, where are we going tonight.
PACEY: The rialto, why.
JOEY: (muttering) Watching movies, figures. (normal) So, what have you got in mind.
PACEY: X-Men
JOEY: Hmmm, oh well, it beats sitting at home doing nothing. Why chose this one.
PACEY: Are you kidding me, Potter. The star’s got claws.
JOEY: Actually, the star’s a Star Trek captain.
Cut to inside the Rialto, Dawson, Gretchen, Andie, Jack, Jen, and Henry get their tickets.
GRETCHEN: So, what we seeing tonight?
DAWSON: X-Men.
GRETCHEN: So, you want to introduce me to everyone.
DAWSON: Sure, this is Jen, Andie, her brother Jack, and…(surprised) Pacey and Joey?
Gretchen turns around and comes face to face with Joey, who seems to not like her being there with Dawson, but holds it in. Pacey is standing right behind her, but is the first to speak up.
PACEY: Please tell me you’re not here…
DAWSON: …to see X-Men.
Pacey slaps his forehead, while Dawson breathes a frustrated sigh. Joey continues to give Gretchen a cold stare.
JOEY: And this is?
DAWSON: Oh, Gretchen…meet Joey Potter, the guy behind her is Pacey Witter
GRETCHEN: We’ve met.
JOEY: You have?
GRETCHEN: Yeah, at Screenplay. I returned some video’s and…wait a minute. Potter? As in Potter’s Bread and Breakfast, the place I’m staying at.
JOEY: Yeah, I live there, I used to work there before I got fired.
HENRY: Come on, the movie’s about to start
Cut to inside the theater, the movie has been going on for some time. Pacey looks over at Dawson, then a michevious smile crosses his face. He puts his arm around Joey’s shoulder. Dawson sees this, then does the same thing to Gretchen. Joey sees Dawson and Gretchen, and gives Gretchen an evil look. Gretchen looks at Joey, then at Dawson, then at Pacey. Her face shows that she’s beginning to understand what is going on.
Just then, Dawson looks in Joey’s direction again. He then quickly turns around to talk to Gretchen.
DAWSON: I need to use the restroom, Gretchen. Be back in a few minutes.
Kisses her on the cheek, then heads to the lobby.
PACEY: I’ll be right back, Potter. I’m going to get some more popcorn.
Pacey kisses Joey, then heads out into the lobby. Closely behind Dawson.
JEN: (mutters) And the triangle continues.
GRETCHEN: (surprised) Triangle???
JEN: Whoops! I said that out loud, didn’t I.(blushes in embarrassment)
In the lobby, Dawson breaths a sigh of relief, just as Pacey shows up behind him.
PACEY: Hey, Dawson!
DAWSON: (annoyed)What is it, Pacey?
PACEY: Tell me, what exactly was Joey doing at your house last night.
DAWSON: Watching movies, Pacey. Hence the name ‘Movie Night’.
PACEY: Do I have to tell you to stay away from my girl, Leery.
DAWSON: To indirectly quote James Marsden "If you had to do that, she wouldn’t be your girl, now would she?"
PACEY: Oh, this is rich. And don’t think for a second that I didn’t see you talking with Andie back at school today. If you think for a second that jealousy is going to work, think again, because I am completely over her.
The camera points to the theater door, where we see Andie poking her head out, listening to the conversation. Upon hearing this she looks downwards, obviously very upset, then goes back in to the theater.
DAWSON: It seems to me that you’re already jealous of me, for no reason at all I might add.
PACEY: You’ve got it all scripted out, don’t you? You’re planning to use this girl as some sort of scheme to get Joey to dump me, am I right. Well, it’s not going to work.
DAWSON: (loudly) No I’m not!! And even if I was, you’re right, it wouldn’t work! Don’t you get it, Pacey? You won. You got the girl, and you’ve got me eating dust. Do you have to rub it in my face every time that you see me?
Pacey has a surprised look in his face, shocked by Dawson’s outburst.
PACEY: I’m sorry, Dawson. I…
DAWSON: Sorry, you’re always sorry. And you’re always forgiven by everybody, no matter what you do. Except by me, so that makes me the bad guy. But whenever I make a mistake, I have to pay for it. (almost whispering)Boy, do I pay for it. (normal) Joey just wants me as a friend now, no matter how much I wish it otherwise. You have nothing to worry about, so just leave me alone. Please.
Dawson walks back towards the theater. Pacey stands there for a few seconds, hanging his head, then follows him. They rejoin the rest of the group, then finish watching the rest of the movie in without any more interruptions.
Cut to the street outside the Rialto. The movie has finished, and all eight of them are walking together down the street.
GRETCHEN: Well, that was fun. Do you people have any clubs in Capeside. I really don’t feel like going home yet.
JACK: There’s one club, a jazz club, downtown. We might have some trouble getting in, though. Dawson and Andie sort of caused some trouble there back in sophomore year.
ANDIE: Maybe they won’t recognize us.
As the rest of the group heads towards the jazz club, Jen looks behind her. We see a young man standing near the Rialto, watching her. He appears to be 25, dressed in a leather jacket, and is watching her every move.
HENRY: Come on, Jen. What’s the matter? Is something wrong?
JEN: What? N-no Henry. Everything’s fine. Let’s catch up with the others.
Jen looks back at the Rialto, but the boy is now gone. A frightened expression creeps over Jen’s face, and she heads off to join the others.
Cut to the jazz club. Dawson, Joey, Pacey, Jen, Andie, Jack, Henry, and Gretchen are sitting at two tables, watching a band play extremely loud music on stage.
DAWSON: WOW! THIS IS WHAT THEY PLAY HERE NOW? IT’S A LITTLE LOUD, DON’T YOU THINK?
PACEY: OKAY, DUDE, YOU’VE CONVINCED ME. YOU DO BELONG IN THE FIFTIES. GET WITH THE TIMES MAN.
Music stops and the crowd applauds. The band leaves the stage, and the group begins to chat. After a while the announcer speaks up..
ANNOUNCER: Okay, everyone. It’s open-mike night. So if anybody wants to come up, now’s your chance.
PACEY: (to Joey) Hey, watch this.
Pacey gets up on stage and begins telling jokes on stage. It is quite apparent that the entire club thinks he is funny, and are all laughing. After a while, Pacey does a mock bow and then exits the stage.
PACEY: (whispers to Dawson) Beat that, Leery.
Dawson looks at Pacey with a ‘showoff’ expression. Then he gets an idea, he goes over to the other side of the table and taps Henry on the shoulder.
DAWSON: Hey, Henry? Jen tells me that you play the guitar.
HENRY: Yeah, why?
DAWSON: I’ve got an idea, come on.
He whispers something to Henry, who has a surprised expression on his face. They then go up on stage, where Henry picks up a guitar that the band left there. Dawson grabs the mike.
DAWSON: Hello, everyone. My name’s Dawson Leery, and the young man to my left is Henry Parker. You know…nothing personal but the band that was playing was a little loud for my tastes. Don’t get me wrong, they’re very talented, but it just isn’t my style. People tell me that I should ‘get with the times’(looks in Pacey’s direction), and that I belong in the fifties. But that’s just me, I guess I just like old time rock and roll.
Henry begins to play ‘Old Time Rock And Roll’ on the guitar, while Dawson begins to sing the lyrics.
Just take those old records off the shelf
I sit and listen to them by myself
Today's music ain't got the same soul
I like that old time rock 'n' roll
(Dawson begins to dance to the music, while continuing to sing)
Don't try to take me to a disco
You'll never even get me out on the floor
In ten minutes I'll be late for the door
I like that old time rock 'n' roll
(Pacey and Joey’s jaw’s drop upon seeing this)
JOEY: I can not believe that he’s doing this.
PACEY: I can’t believe he can do this?
(the rest of the gang is cheering them on)
Still like that old time rock 'n' roll
That kind of music just soothes the soul
I reminisce about the days of old
With that old time rock 'n' roll
Won't go to hear them play a tango
I'd rather hear some blues or funky old soul
There's only one sure way to get me to go
Start playing old time rock 'n' roll
Still like that old time rock 'n' roll
That kind of music just soothes the soul
I reminisce about the days of old
With that old time rock 'n' roll
(Jen looks away from the stage, and we see the boy from the Rialto standing 10 feet away. He is staring at Jen with a michevious smile plastered on his face.)
Call me a relic, call me what you will
Say I'm old fashioned, say I'm over the hill
Today's music ain't got the same soul
I like that old time rock 'n' roll
Still like that old time rock 'n' roll
That kind of music just soothes the soul
I reminisce about the days of old
With that old time rock 'n' roll
(The song ends and everyone applauds. Dawson and Henry bow and then leave the stage, heading back to the table. Before they get back, Jen heads towards the back of the club in the direction of the mysterious stranger.)
ANDIE: Wow, that was good Dawson.
DAWSON: Thanks, Andie. But Henry here deserves the credit. I couldn’t have done it without him.
PACEY: Excuse me, Jo. I think I need to get some fresh air.
JOEY: Pacey? What’s wrong?
PACEY: Nothing, it’s just a little stuffy in here. Stay here and finish your diet Coke, I’ll be back in a few minutes.
He leaves, Gretchen slowly gets up and follows him, making sure nobody sees her leave.
JACK: I wonder what that was about. Maybe he’s upset that you upstaged him, Dawson.
DAWSON: I wasn’t trying to upstage him.
JOEY: Yes you were, Dawson. Or was it just coincidence that you went on stage right after him.
DAWSON: Excuse me, I think I’m going to get another drink.
Dawson gets up and walks away.
JOEY: Dawson? (muttering) Great, now neither of them want to talk to me.
Joey gets up and follows Dawson. Jack looks at Henry, then at Andie.
JACK: Is it just me, or are we the only ones left at the table.
HENRY: It’s not just you.
ANDIE: Where did Gretchen go?
HENRY: As a matter of fact, where did Jen go?
Cut to Jen walking up to the mysterious boy.
JEN: So, it’s not enough for you to harass me on the phone. You have to come a stalk me all around Capeside as well.
BOY: It’s only stalking if you don’t like it, Jenny, and I think you do.
JEN: Dream on, Drew. What are you doing there, anyway?
DREW: To see you. Don’t worry, Billie-boy didn’t tell me anything. I remember you telling me that you grandma lived here, so here I am.
JEN: Okay, you saw me, now leave.
DREW: What you afraid of, Jen. That you lackey, Henry the music man, will be jealous. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of him.(smiles evilly)
JEN: You stay away from Henry, and for that matter, stay away from me, too.
DREW: You can’t hide from me, Jen. I’ll see you around.
With that, Drew leaves. Henry and Jack show up behind Jen, having missed the entire conversation.
JACK: Who was that?
JEN: Nobody, lets just sit back down.
She goes back to the table. Jack and Henry look at each other, obviously worried about Jen.
Cut to outside the club. Pacey is looking at the sky when Gretchen comes up to him.
GRETCHEN: Nice night, huh.
PACEY: Yeah… Why did he have to go and do that. Why must Dawson Leery have to be the center of attention all the time.
GRETCHEN: Probably because you told him to.
PACEY: Huh?
GRETCHEN: I heard your little ‘beat that’ comment after your stand-up routine. You were goading him on, why? Dawson told me that you used to be friends, why do you seem to want to increase the conflict instead of resolve it.
PACEY: I don’t see what I did wrong, why doesn’t he try to resolve it, he started it.
GRETCHEN: Pacey, when I met you, you called him ‘wimpish’, with that kind of attitude I’m surprised you were even friends in the first place.
PACEY: (quietly) It’s not like I mean it?
GRETCHEN: Then why do you say it?
PACEY: Because…because I’m jealous of him, okay. There, I said it.
GRETCHEN: Jealous? Jen told me about the whole triangle thing, but it seems to me that you won.
PACEY: Really? Well, did Jen tell you that the only reason that Joey went with me was because Dawson told her to.
GRETCHEN: I’m sure that’s not the only reason.
PACEY: Yeah, well, you haven’t been around here as long as I have. You learn to read between the lines. She still goes to his house as often as she can, she talks to him about things that she should be talking to me about. She’s supposed to be with me, but she still depends on him for some reason.
Gretchen looks at him sympathicly.
PACEY: You know what the funny thing is, I whish I were him. Not just because of Joey, but because I wish my life was like Dawson’s life. Heh…you know, my father has only hugged me once since I was five years old. He actually respects Dawson Leery more than he respects his own son. I always criticize Dawson about not being daring enough to just act upon things, but I wish I could think about things before I went through with them. Every time I’ve acted impulsively on something, I’ve regretted it, no matter how I reacted to the outcome. You want to know what the reason that I first went after Joey was.
Gretchen nods her head.
PACEY: I wanted to have the type of relationship with someone like what he had with Joey. Joey’s with me now, but we’re not like that. It’s funny, I have what Dawson wants, but Dawson has what I want.
Pacey looks back up at the sky, and so does Gretchen.
Cut to Dawson standing at the back of the club, holding a coke. Joey walks up to him.
DAWSON: Come to yell at me for embarrassing your boyfriend?
JOEY: Dawson, why are you so obsessed with your whole ‘I’m-better-than-you-are’ thing with Pacey.
DAWSON: We’ve already discussed this, Joey. Me and Pacey have always been in competition.
JOEY: But, why? Why do you have to be in competition? I hate being fought over, can’t you two just stop it?
DAWSON: Joey, this isn’t about you and me, this isn’t about you and Pacey, it’s about me and Pacey.
Joey looks at Dawson with a confused expression on her face, Dawson begins to speak quieter to make sure no one else hears him.
DAWSON: I’m jealous of him, not because of you, but because of who he is. When he wants something he doesn’t over-analyze the situation, he just goes for it. He doesn’t feel guilty about it, he just follows his instincts. He’s not held back by any moral code, or wondering if what he’s doing is right or wrong. I’d give anything to have that kind of freedom.
Joey looks at him, shocked at this news.
DAWSON: You want to know the real reason behind the whole Eve fiasco last year? I was trying to be like Pacey. I thought that if I didn’t worry about the consequences of my actions, I wouldn’t get hurt. But I did, didn’t I. I almost lost my best friend in the world, and I eventually lost the second best friend as well, didn’t I?
Dawson heads back to the table, while Joey thinks about what he just said.
Cut to outside the club. The gang walk down the street, each one oblivious to the conversations that the others had.
GRETCHEN: Well, this evening has been, educational. Maybe you should start singing more often.
DAWSON: You know, being able to sing and dance was a prerequisite for Hollywood back in the fifties.
(Pacey laughs)
DAWSON: Could it be? Could Pacey Witter actually be laughing at something I said.
PACEY: Don’t get used to it, Dawson. It’s going to be few and far between.
JACK: (whispers to the others) Well, they haven’t argued in ten minutes, it’s a start.
DAWSON: See you around, Pacey.
PACEY: Same here, Dawson.
They shake hands, and the whole gang heads in separate directions.
Cut to Dawson and Jen standing in front of Jen’s house.
JEN: Well, you and Pacey seemed to be getting along better at the end of the evening.
DAWSON: We’re not best buds yet, but I think we can learn to tolerate each other. For Joey’s sake, if nothing else?
JEN: Goodnight, Dawson.
DAWSON: Goodnight, Jen.
As Dawson leaves, he sees Drew standing near a tree beside Jen’s house. He looks at the door, but Jen is already inside. He then heads towards his own house.
Cut to inside Jen’s house. She picks up the phone and dials a number.
JEN: Hello…Billy? Look, don’t take this the wrong way, but I need your help. Drew’s here, he’s beginning to make threats. Come to Capeside, please, I need help.
Tears start to form in her eyes, and she falls on her knees
JEN: Please…
Cut to Dawson’s bedroom, Dawson is sitting on his bed. Joey comes in the window and looks at him.
DAWSON: Hey, Jo, what you doing here.
JOEY: Actually, I never went home yet. I’m still trying to avoid Bessie as much as possible. Plus, I think I need to apologize for the things I said earlier.
DAWSON: You don’t need to apologize for anything, Joey.
JOEY: Yes I do. See, there’s another thing you and Pacey have in common. You both seem to treat me like I’m the second coming. I have flaws, you know, I make mistakes too, and sometimes I can even admit that I’m wrong.
DAWSON: How noble of you, apology accepted.
JOEY: You know, Dawson. You and Pacey are a lot like the characters in that movie.
DAWSON: Chariots of Fire?
JOEY: No…X-Men. You’re Scott, he’s Logan. You don’t really hate each other, it’s just that you both have methods that differ so much, that it just leads you to conflict. And as someone who has been on both sides of this conflict, I can safely say that you are two sides of the same coin.
DAWSON: You think so?
JOEY: Yeah, you’re both after the same things in life, you just have different ways of trying to get them.
Dawson smiles, then looks at her.
DAWSON: Tell me, Joey? If I’m Scott and he’s Logan, that would make you Jean, right?
Joey reaches over, grabs a pillow, and hits him in the face with it.
DAWSON: Oh, you’re gonna pay for that one.
Dawson grabs a pillow and hits her back, they then begin a pillow fight as the camera pans out the window.
Cut to outside the B&B. Pacey arrives in his father’s police car and goes up to Joey’s window. He doesn’t notice Gretchen walk up to him.
PACEY: Hey, Potter? You in there?
GRETCHEN: She didn’t come home yet. Said something about needing to think about something. I don’t think she likes me very much.
PACEY: Of course not. You’re going out with Dawson, she hates everybody that goes out with Dawson. It’s a proven fact.
GRETCHEN: You have a really bad inferiority complex when it comes to Dawson, don’t you?
She moves closer to Pacey.
PACEY: We shook hands, I guess this means I’m not the Anti-Christ of Capeside anymore. Hey, thanks for listening to me earlier. I didn’t want to bore you with my complaining.
GRETCHEN: Don’t worry about it, I sort of enjoyed talking with you.
Pacey moves closer to her.
PACEY: You did? I’m surprised you even wanted to be near me, considering your boyfriend hated me at the moment.
GRETCHEN: He’s not my boyfriend. Not officially, anyway. I’m just here to have fun, Dawson’s sort of like a tour guide for me. Casual kisses, notwithstanding.
PACEY: Wow, I’m impressed. I didn’t know Dawson had it in him to not be serious about something. Opps, sorry, that slipped out. But really, I’m impressed.
They both move closer.
PACEY: Well, I’d better get home before Dougie realizes I took his car. When Joey comes back, tell her I stopped by.
GRETCHEN: I-I’ll do that.
PACEY: T-Thanks…I really…appreciate it…
They kiss. It continues for several seconds until Gretchen breaks it off.
GRETCHEN: (quickly)I-I’ve got to go.
Pacey stands there, obviously shocked by what had just happened. He has a very panicked look in his eyes. He appears to be thinking ‘what have I done’.
PACEY: (muttering) This is not good, this is not good.
The camera pans up, while Pacey puts his head in his hands.
Fade to black.
End Credits.
THE END OF PART II
Oh, oh, what’s going to happen now.
Two cliffhangers?
Who’s Drew, and what’s going to happen between Pacey and Gretchen, or Pacey and Joey for that matter.
And how does Dawson, our star, fit into all this?
I’ll try to have part III ready by next Weekend.
Until then, send me feedback.
Send it to: me Thank You, and goodnight