Dawson's Creek s01e10 Episode Script

Dawson's Creek - Season 01 - Episode 09 "The Scare" It's been two weeks since Jen and I broke up.
She hasn't made an effort to get together.
Spend some time, go to the movies.
You think it's odd? It seems a little odd to me.
Dawson, you are aware that she broke up with you, right? Of course I am.
There's a certain way to handle these things.
I thought Jen would hold herself to that standard.
You don't sound like a guy who's disappointed in Jen's breakup etiquette.
You sound like a guy who can't face the reality that it's over.
Not to sound harsh, but you can't live in the past.
You have to start preparing for life after Jen.
Something tells me Joey has a theory.
There are three main areas to focus on.
- First: public perception.
- Such as? From now on you'll be known as the guy Jen dropped.
Most girls will view you as tainted goods and a few will feel incredibly sorry for you and offer a certain kind of sympathy.
My advice: avoid them.
- That's easy enough.
What's next? - Other guys.
- Other guys? - Look, Dawson.
You should prepare for the possibility Jen will begin dating again.
Seeing her around school with her new boyfriend watching her from this very window as she pauses coyly by your garden gate and accepts a good-night kiss from a guy you feel superior to in every way, and you can't possibly Okay, Joey, I get the point.
- What's the third thing? - You and Jen.
- Me and Jen? - Yeah.
The inevitable conversation which I'm surprised you haven't had yet.
You know, she'll ask you if you think the two of you can be friends again.
Because she'd really like that if you could.
And you say? Come on, Dawson.
You have to have an answer.
You say I don't know! I I wanna be her friend, but then again, I don't.
I mean, how? How can you be friends with someone when all you think about is how much more you want? Well, you know, I'm no expert at this, Dawson but I think it can be done.
Hello.
Yeah, hold on.
She's right here.
Gale.
Hello, this is Gale.
You know, this is probably Yes.
Why don't we talk about this in the office? Yes.
Okay.
Goodbye.
Was that Calvin? I wish I'd known.
I haven't talked to him in a long time.
- No, it wasn't Calvin.
- No? His voice sounded familiar.
Who was it? It was work-related.
It isn't what you think it was.
- He has the nerve to call here? - He had a simple question.
Oh, well.
You tell Bob that the next time he calls here and interrupts my breakfast to call my wife the only question he'll need an answer for is "Do you have health insurance?" He didn't mean anything.
You don't have to be angry with him.
Wonderful.
No greater way to start the day than hearing my wife defend her former lover.
Yes, I'm angry.
It just doesn't happen to be at Bob.
Honey.
Mitch.
Mitchell - Dawson.
- Hi, Jen.
- Hi.
How you doing? - Great, great.
You? Great, great.
Dawson? Look, I know that sometimes after a breakup well, there's that awkward period.
You know, where two people who had so much to say to each other suddenly find their conversations reduced to the merest of small talk.
- So, what are you saying? - What somebody always says.
And what somebody else never wants to hear but do you think it's possible in any conceivable way that we could still be friends, Dawson? She asked you if you'd be her friend.
What did you say? I didn't say anything, really.
I just kind of stared at her.
Then I told her I needed time to think about it.
That's okay.
We still got some work to do here but we can salvage this.
- What are you talking about? Between us, you have no interest in simply being Jen's friend.
You still carry around this huge torch for her that has no hope of extinguishing itself soon, correct? - Yeah.
- The last person who needs to know this is Jen.
Let her know that you're completely over her.
It's yesterday's news.
That's the quickest way to get Jen back.
- How do I do that? - Hey, Daws.
- Hey, Mary Beth.
- We're getting midterms back today.
Yeah? Can't wait.
Upgrading Jen to girlfriend status is really a two-pronged attack.
But the first thing you gotta do is let her know you're completely cool with being her friend.
The quicker you feign indifference the less special she'll feel.
And the more she'll crave that special feeling that comes from being Dawson's girlfriend.
It's a feeling that's not included in the friend package.
I can do that.
So, what's the second thing? - Let's not get ahead of ourselves.
- Okay, the rumor is true.
You will be getting your midterm exams back today.
Good news is most of you did quite well.
But I'd like to see the following people after class.
Those people are: Pacey Witter Well I guess that's it.
Look, Pacey, I know you're a bright kid.
Know what I did right after I finished grading your exam? - Stopped laughing? - I went to the guidance office and looked at your test scores.
You have an aptitude for this stuff, Pacey.
So when a student who's bright makes a 32 on a midterm you know whose fault that is? - Yours.
- Of course not.
It's entirely yours.
Maybe marine biology's not your thing.
Fine, I'm not offended.
But I'm gonna make you an offer that I highly recommend you accept.
I want you to complete an extra-credit project for me.
Show me that you understand everything we're learning and I'll pass you by the skin of your teeth.
Yeah, sure.
What do I have to do? You have to wait for a student from my sixth-period class to arrive.
Another rocket scientist, I presume.
Then I'm going to assign a project the two of you will work on after school and on free periods.
Hi, Dr.
Rand.
- Oh, I can come back.
- No.
You're right on schedule, Joey.
I'd like you to meet your new lab partner.
- Him? - Her? Dr.
Rand, I'd like to lodge a formal protest.
You never told me I was gonna be working with a control freak.
You never said my grade depends upon some remedial underachiever.
Well, wonderful.
I see no introductions are necessary.
- Jen, hi.
- Hi.
I'm a little embarrassed.
You asked me a simple question and I really should've given you a very simple answer.
- Jen, I'd love to be your friend.
- Really? Absolutely.
And to ease any of your remaining doubts I'll prove it to you.
- Okay.
- Okay.
So let's have a friendly conversation.
- How was your day? - Not too bad.
And yourself? Excellent.
Any exciting plans for the upcoming weekend? Look, Dawson.
Your friendship means a lot to me, but maybe this isn't such a good idea.
Come on.
We're friends now, okay? - Whatever it is, I think I can take it.
- Okay.
Okay, then in the name of friendship, however misguided I have a date with Cliff this weekend.
We're going to the carnival on Saturday.
Is that what you didn't wanna tell me? - Because quite frankly, I'm relieved.
- You're relieved? I also have a date, and we're going to the carnival.
- Isn't that a coincidence? - Yeah, it is.
If you want us to go someplace else, we can change our plans.
We shouldn't run away from these things.
We should look at them as opportunities.
- Opportunities for what? - For a double date.
- Are you serious? - Of course I'm serious.
What do you say? The four of us.
Well, I'd say it's a little unexpected.
- But, hey, if you're okay with it.
- Completely.
Yeah.
Okay.
- Great.
- All right.
- So I will see you Saturday.
- Yeah.
It's not really all that bad.
I told you getting Jen back was a two-part process.
- Yeah.
- Well, this is the second part.
Humiliating myself at an amusement park? No, man.
Dating other women.
This is your chance to let Jen see you in action with other girls.
Now, I'll admit that going on a double date with the ex is an advance maneuver but this could be exactly the thing you're looking for.
- Except for one thing.
- What's that? My companion for Saturday is fiction.
That's not really a problem.
It's short notice, but there's a lot of young ladies who'd give up their plans for a date with Dawson Leery.
- Yeah.
In fact, I think I have the perfect candidate right there.
Mary Beth.
- Oh, hi, Dawson.
- Mind if I join you? - Oh, no.
That would be nice.
- Look, I was Maybe this is short notice.
If it is, I apologize but I was wondering if you wanted to go out with me on Saturday? - Saturday? Like on a date? - Yeah, of course.
- Is there something wrong? - No.
Yeah.
Well, yeah.
It's just, I know that you just broke up with Jen.
And while I don't know the particulars of it all I do know it's a common mistake made by many people to begin to date before they're really ready.
I'm ready.
Completely ready.
Could not be more ready.
- Honest? - Honest.
Boy, this is fascinating.
I'm sorry there are no cartoons to make this interesting for you.
But it's not designed to be fascinating.
- It's designed to be educational.
- Well, thank you, Dr.
Schweitzer.
Now refresh my memory as to why we're here again.
We're observing the reproductive process of Pulmonata snails.
Dr.
Rand said that they reproduce more when they're happy.
By varying the contents of the tank, we can determine what is most conducive to reproduction.
- Why didn't you just say that? We'll buy them a couple drinks and just come back in a couple days.
You never fail to disappoint, do you, Pacey? Why did I think that the prospects of repeating marine biology next summer might cause you to take this project seriously? - Please, summer school? - Yeah.
It'll never happen.
Only morons go to summer school.
The last time I checked, you were pulling a stellar F minus.
So without this extra-credit project, I'm certain your grade will not only place you among the morons but you may very well be their leader.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Sorry to interrupt.
I was just wondering if anyone had called that I should know about.
Nope.
Nothing.
What about yesterday? Any calls yesterday? I leave your messages on the pad next to the answering machine.
Forgive me, Dawson.
Maybe I'm not being clear.
I didn't ask if anyone had called for me personally.
I asked if anyone had called that I should know about.
No.
He didn't call.
Well, then.
Very good.
Thank you, Dawson.
It was your responsibility last night to check on these snails and now they're dead.
Their shells are empty.
- I know.
I'm sorry.
I really am.
- It's ridiculous.
Yesterday, we had a science project, and today we have a charm bracelet.
I'll just tell Dr.
Rand that this experiment within an experiment isn't working out.
- Hey.
Before you run off to Dr.
Rand there is an explanation for this.
You know how you said this experiment was about seeing which environment was best for these snails? I did come in last night.
I was watching the snails and there's nothing happening.
So I added some food, and then I added some water.
Still nothing happened so I thought maybe the problem wasn't the environment.
Maybe these snails didn't like each other, right? I told you yesterday.
Pulmonata snails are single-sex.
They don't need another organism to reproduce.
I would've remembered that if I listened when you talked to me but I thought that maybe snails are just like guys.
That their ultimate fantasy is to be with two female snails at the same time.
Maybe that's what this project needed to get moving along.
Let me get this straight.
You've tried to create a snail ménage á trois? It sounds stupid when you say it out loud but I just saw this really pretty snail in the tank over by the window and last night, it just seemed really brilliant.
Let me fill you in on something here.
This pretty little snail over here by the window? It's what you call a carnivorous snail.
Do you know what they eat? - Other snails.
- Yeah, other snails.
Other snails such as our snails we're desperately relying on to raise our biology grades.
- Okay.
I'm sorry, okay? I know how important this project was for you.
Okay, to us.
Okay.
So whatever I need to do, okay? However I can make this up to you, Joey.
I'm disappointed in you, Dawson.
It's obvious that you're using Mary Beth to make Jen jealous.
You think I don't know that? I'm a heel of the worst kind.
The kind that preys upon an innocent young girl and convinces her to go out with me for my own personal gain.
Well, if you know that, then don't do it.
Just call her up and say you have to stay in to wash your hair or something.
- I can't, Joey.
That's just it.
If I was the person I thought I was, I'd consider Mary Beth's feelings and cancel the date.
But I I just I don't feel like myself lately, you know? Pacey says I should look at this as an opportunity.
Wait, you're taking romantic advice from a guy who tried to get 3 snails to sleep with each other? When you put it that way Look, Dawson, your little departure into jerkdom is understandable, but it's nothing to be proud of.
- Promise you won't make a habit of it.
- Jo, I won't.
I promise.
Because despite current evidence to the contrary you're one of the good ones, Dawson.
The other side is populated enough.
Trust me.
Jo, all things considered I really wish I was taking you with me today.
Well All things considered, I kind of wish you were too.
Come on, let's get a move on.
I see my deviant lab partner has arrived.
Pacey's graciously volunteered to transport me to the tidal pool so we can find a pair of replacement snails.
I'll see you.
- Dawson! - Mary Beth.
Hi.
Hi.
So is it too forward if I tell you that you look really nice? No, it's not.
Thanks.
So do you.
Oh, no.
You shouldn't feel obligated to say that.
I mean, I'm Let's just start over again.
Hi, I'm Mary Beth.
- Dawson.
- Perfect.
- We're just in time for introductions.
- Hi.
Yeah.
Mary Beth, this is Jen Lindley.
And Cliff, her date.
- Mary Beth, it's nice to meet you.
- Same here, I think.
- Dawson, a word, please.
- Sure.
We'll catch up.
- This wasn't a freak coincidence.
- In a word, no.
Look, maybe on your planet taking an ex-girlfriend on a double date is a good idea, but where I come from, it's not.
It's a lousy idea, especially when you fail to inform your companion.
Wait.
It's not what you think.
Before you tell me what I think, let me tell you.
It's pretty obvious that you're still hung up on her.
- Mary Beth - Please know that I am not often wrong about these things.
Until now.
- Humor me.
- Okay, here's the absolute truth.
I regard trolling for snails as one of the underrated ways to spend time.
Despite what you may think this isn't my first choice for a Saturday afternoon either.
But then again, I wasn't the one who tried to turn our aquarium into Plato's retreat.
Actually, Joey, I'm really curious about something.
I thought you were this great student.
So, what happened to you on this midterm, huh? - What do you mean what happened? - Well, what grade did you get? Was it a massive failure like mine, or just one of those near misses? You know what? We're almost there, and we don't have a lot of time.
So let's just save the chitchat for later, okay? - So you're really doing this for Jen? - Exactly.
It's one of her first dates with Cliff.
She probably doesn't wanna be alone with him.
Probably doesn't even know if she likes him.
So in order to take the pressure off, she asks you to make it a double.
God, Dawson, that is really very sweet of you.
Don't mention it.
I can imagine some of these guys sabotaging their ex-girlfriend's date.
Really? - That's terrible.
- Yeah, I know.
So, anyway, what should we do now? For the lady.
I think I have an idea.
All right, the water's getting kind of high, so we should probably - Pacey.
- What? Tell me that you tied our boat up and the one that's floating downstream isn't ours.
I tied our boat up, and the one that's floating downstream isn't ours.
Great.
- Tough luck, D-Man.
- And we got a winner.
- All right, which one? - Go ahead, you decide.
I trust you.
Great.
We'll take - That one.
- Big cat for the little lady.
The Ferris wheel is working again, so if anybody wants to take a ride - Once more.
You and me.
- What's that? You heard me.
Rack them! Look, Dawson, there's no shame in losing here.
I did come in third in pitch, hit and run regionals last summer in Boston, so if you don't wanna get Your turn.
Classic pissing contest.
After you.
Daws.
No pressure, man, all right? - Yes! - We got a winner.
So, my friend, who's the lucky lady? We need to talk.
Look, it's no big deal.
The boat will wash ashore eventually.
Believe it or not, the boat isn't my first concern.
I should've known that once you did in our snails that I wouldn't be far behind.
God, I'm freezing.
It's just a little cold water, all right? You're gonna survive.
It's a prediction I make with all due regret.
Clever.
Speaking of survival I thought creatures with your level of brain power went extinct a few years back.
Amazing, personality like yours, you still can't get any dates.
Even more amazing: Personality like yours, and you can.
We'll get some dry clothes when we get over to your house.
For right now, just change into this.
A blanket? You want me to change into that? Yeah, wrap this around you, just like I'm gonna do.
Wait a second.
You want me to get naked? This is not for my enjoyment.
It's so you don't get sick.
But if you got your heart set on pneumonia, feel free.
Fine.
No peeking.
Yeah, seeing you in your birthday suit is really my idea of a thrill.
A lot of people would consider you a lucky woman.
Many people would consider you a very deluded man.
Okay.
All set over here.
How are you doing? You take one more step and I can almost guarantee you a permanent disability.
Tell you what.
Why don't I just start the car? Good idea.
What? - Nothing.
- What? What's that smile of yours? - Is it because I look ridiculous? - No.
Or is it that my misfortune amuses you? Maybe you just enjoy putting me in awkward situations and watching me squirm.
No, it's none of that.
I was just thinking to myself that when you loosen up, you're not half bad to be around.
Bordering on fun even.
- Home, Jeeves.
- Yes, Miss Daisy.
- Mary Beth.
- Oh, God.
I'm so embarrassed.
Good old Mary Beth, creating scenes wherever she goes.
Please.
I'm the one who should be embarrassed.
I owe you an explanation, and this time, I owe you the truth.
You have every right to be upset with me.
Everything that you said before everything I convinced you wasn't the truth, it was.
You were right, I'm not over Jen, not nearly.
And I'm on this date not to help her, but to get her back.
Dawson, you're a nice guy.
I like you.
Do I like you like you? No.
You're a little too neurotic for that.
Okay.
Well, then why did you go out with me? First, I felt sorry for you.
It was clear you were still hung up on Jen but, I don't know, you seemed harmless enough and my Saturday wasn't exactly action-packed.
Okay.
So if it wasn't my feelings for Jen that upset you, what was it? Mary Beth? Do you ever notice the way Cliff's eyes sort of smile when he talks to you? Oh, God.
You have a crush on Cliff? It was at that moment that I processed that he has absolutely no interest in me.
- He's totally hung up on Jen.
- He is.
She's pretty hung up on him too.
- She is? - Afraid so.
Move over.
This doesn't mean that we still can't help each other out.
- You having a nice time, Jen? - Yeah.
Yeah, it's great.
- All right, you ready? - Ready.
- Let's do it.
- Looks like we're finally next.
Perfect.
So, Cliff, why don't you ride with me? - We've hardly chatted all night.
- But Thanks for the clothes, Jo.
Don't thank me.
Thank Bodie.
They're his.
You know, Joey, we are on dry land and you never did answer my question.
- And what question was that? - Your midterm grade.
I know you're a little embarrassed, so let me remove the stigma.
- I got in the neighborhood of a 32.
- Pacey.
Come on, Joey.
Just toss it out there.
- No.
- Okay, then let me guess at it.
- Fifty-eight, 38, 1 8.
- Ninety-eight.
Nine-eight? Which one was it, a nine or an eight? Both of them, okay? Okay.
I assume there's a suitable explanation for that story, right, Jo? - You want an explanation? Look around you, Pacey.
Look at what my life is.
I'm a boarder in my sister's house.
My bedroom's the living room.
And my social life consists of a part-time job.
There are only two ways to make my life better.
The one not involving discovering it's been a dream involves a college scholarship.
I better have the grades that don't give them a choice.
A scholarship is pretty much my only way out of Capeside.
And if I don't get out of here, Pacey, well I'll be a sadder story than I care to imagine, okay? You don't have to worry, Jo.
You're gonna make it out of here.
You'll go to some great school and send me postcards back here where I'll be tending bar or pumping gas.
- Come on, Pacey.
You'll get out too.
- Yeah, if the circus is hiring.
I'll tell you what though.
I wouldn't bet against that Potter girl.
- So you having fun tonight or what? - Yes.
Is that a yes to the fun or a yes to the what? The fun.
Oh, great.
I'm sure they'll have it fixed in a minute.
Do you know what I find fascinating? The word "flammable" and "inflammable" mean the same thing.
Isn't that bizarre? - You and Cliff seem pretty together.
- I wouldn't exactly say that.
What would you say? I would say it's only a date.
I would say we're just getting to know each other and I don't think I wanna talk about this with you anymore.
Dawson, I know I made a big deal out of remaining friends with you.
And at the risk of sounding rude, I think I should retract my offer.
- What's that supposed to mean? - It means you shouldn't be here.
I don't know why you wanted to come, or why I let you but at this point in time I don't think that a seamless transition into friendship is in the cards for us.
I'm not sure you'd have time for me anyhow what with your hectic dating schedule.
I'd love to get off this Ferris wheel without insulting each other further.
- Am I insulting you, Jen? - Yeah.
Is that what I'm doing? That's not my intent.
My intent, since we seem to have the time for it is to ask for one clarification.
- And what's that? - Okay.
When you broke up with me among the many questions I asked you was, "Why?" Do you remember that? And do you remember your very convincing, very heartfelt response? You needed to be alone.
There were too many men in your life and that you needed time away from those men.
- Dawson - Correct me if I'm wrong, Jen but Cliff Elliot isn't exactly with the women's auxiliary.
It's a date.
It's not like I'm planning our engagement party.
Then why didn't you just tell me the truth? Why didn't you? Why didn't you just say what I'm only now to my dismay and embarrassment, beginning to realize? That you weren't tired of men.
You were simply tired of me.
Hey, that is not true.
Dawson, all right - That is not true.
- It's not? Prove me wrong, Jen.
Look at me and tell me that I was wrong that I completely misread this situation.
Jen, look at me.
Dawson, I don't wanna do this right now, all right? You asked me two questions, and I'd like to answer them.
First of all, why am I here? For all the obvious reasons, Jen.
All the clichés about the ex-boyfriend who's still hung up on his ex who doesn't wanna say goodbye, who can't let go.
Why did you allow me to come? Could it possibly be your reasons are the same as mine? That you need me just as much as I need you? Jen? Dawson Okay.
Just Just don't tell me that I was wrong.
Yeah, yeah.
What are you guys doing here? Just checking out some of the famed Capeside nightlife.
Actually, I needed to talk to you, Dawson.
- Okay.
- In private.
All right.
So how'd tonight go for you? Let me put it this way: terribly.
You? Wasn't so bad, actually.
And that's what I'm here to talk to you about.
I got to ask your permission for something.
- Permission? - You know that Joey and I have never particularly liked each other, right? That's why it seemed like such a bad idea when we got stuck together on that bio thing.
But funny thing is, it wasn't.
And somewhere, somehow in there I not only stopped disliking her so much I actually came to sort of like her.
- As a friend.
- At first.
At first implies that your feelings for Joey have grown beyond the friendship stage.
That's good.
Because that's exactly what I meant to imply.
You have the hots for Joey? Pacey, have you been inhaling too many lab chemicals? - You and Joey are mortal enemies.
- Mind keeping your voice down? This is not public knowledge at this point.
- You're serious.
- Yeah.
Okay, so you like Joey.
What do you need my permission for? I don't know how to say this but I know you two have this long, tortured subtext together.
I wanted to make sure that if I was to do something about this like kiss her, that I wouldn't be stepping on any toes.
Look, you're my friend.
Joey's my friend.
I don't care who she kisses.
But if it's you, so much the better.
My two best friends kissing.
What could be better than that? - Great.
So you're cool with this? - Yeah.
- Excellent.
I'll see you later.
- All right.
No.
Wait.
I'm not cool with this.
- You're not.
- No.
So, what do we do now? Nothing.
Because you know what? Because I am fine with it.
Momentary lapse there.
I just I couldn't be more fine with it.
Yeah.
Go for it.
Kiss her.
Go ahead.
You have my blessing.
- You're sure this time? - Absolutely.
Definitely, yeah.
Okay.
Am I gonna have to fail another midterm or can we do this again sometime? We still have a report to finish.
So I'm pretty sure we're gonna be spending a lot of time together.
Actually, that's not what I was talking about, Joey.
Then what did you mean? Well, let me put it to you this way.
Pacey! Jeez, what the hell was that for? Well, if I have to explain myself it clearly didn't have the desired effect.
Why in the world would? I guess I know why you would.
Why would you? Why? Because I really had a nice time today.
A nice time that exceeded my wildest expectations.
I was confused and surprised and attracted.
You? Well, confused and surprised.
- But not - Sorry.
That's okay.
I can deal with the rejection pretty effortlessly.
Just so long as we don't extend this really awkward moment any longer than we have to.
- Okay.
Good night, Pacey.
I had a nice time too today.
- I'll see you.
- Jo? Yeah? If by some slim chance you had actually kissed me back you'd have probably been thinking of somebody else, right? Let it ring.
Look.
Pacey.
Figured you'd be here.
What we talked about before I changed my mind.
I don't want you to do it.
You'll have to refresh my memory so we're on the same page.
- You know what I'm talking about.
- You don't want me to kiss Joey? You seem a little worked up here, Dawson.
I don't know how to break this to you.
- Break what to me? - Well, you're a little late.
- You kissed her? - Well, yeah.
Not only that, she kissed me back.
Right there in the front seat of the Witter family truck.
Played tonsil hockey for about an hour.
She invites me in, but it was a little late, so I didn't.
She's cooking for me tomorrow night.
She says she always wanted to cook for the right man.
I guess she found him.
We were thinking about heading up to this cozy B & B spend a little quality time this weekend.
- You're so full of it.
- Yes, I am.
And so are you.
It's time you started asking yourself some serious questions, Dawson.
You exhaust way too much time and energy on a girl you call your friend.
Let's just set the record straight here.
Who's it gonna be? Is it Jen, or is it Joey? Do you like the blond, or do you like the brunette? These questions are not gonna go away, Dawson.
It's time that you provide some answers.
SubRip by Szabby (szabby@freemail.
hu)