Dawson's Creek s03e11 Episode Script

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you already own a camera? - A video camera, yeah.
- And the difference is? Well, imagine Schindler's List shot on a family camcorder.
I mean, video's a great format to learn on but the look and the feel are strictly amateur.
Film is key, and I think I'm finally ready to give her another spin.
- Her? - The Arriflex.
Capeside High's one and only 16-mm camera.
She is a beauty, Dawson.
Nikki.
Hey, what are you doing here? Extra credit for Jordan's film class.
Plus, I get to be near all the equipment.
How very earnest of you.
You're Joey, right? Right.
Hey.
I've heard wonderful things about your film.
Really? From who? Speaking of equipment, hand her over.
Sorry, Dawson, she's checked out.
- That's highly unlikely.
- Yet completely true.
- How long has it been checked out? - About seven days.
Then it's due back today.
Nope, she's checked out for the next four weeks straight.
- There's a one-week maximum.
- I cleared it with Mr.
Jordan.
You did? - You checked out the camera? - Me checked out the camera, yes.
- There's a project I want to start on.
- There's a project that I am working on.
Okay.
Well, then, when can I have the camera back, exactly? - When I'm done.
- And when will that be? Filmmaking is not fast food, Dawson.
You can't rush it.
Wait a minute.
Three boxes of cereal, Jack? You'll need an explanation before you put those in the cart.
First, we have our Grape-Nuts combination of taste and nutrients to make it the perfect day-starter.
From there, we move on to the premier afternoon snack the underrated but ever-tasty Cocoa Pebbles.
And then we round out the cereal lover's perfect day with that yummy late-night staple, Cap'n Crunch.
If there was ever a concern that you are not Andie's brother, it's been solved.
What are you-? Come on.
You're a good man, Jackie Brown, but as a grocery shopper, you blow.
I'm afraid I must leave you with the Grape-Nuts.
- Fascist.
- Pig.
At least you fought the good fight.
Hey, Jack.
Ethan.
From the train, Ethan.
I prefer just plain " Ethan.
" Wow.
What are you doing here? Food shopping.
I hear it's pretty standard in one of these places.
I meant, I thought you were going back to school last weekend.
I did.
I came back for Capefest.
What is that? Is it, like, a feed-the-poor type of thing? Which one of us lives here year-round? It's a concert.
A free concert in the park.
Oh, okay, so it's like a 'Palooza-type deal? Moshing, stage-diving, overpriced bottled water.
Anyway, there's a campsite outside the concert where everyone hangs out.
I'm going down to get a spot tomorrow.
Cool.
That sounds like a blast.
Well, if you're a fan, you should come.
Yeah, I mean, I'm a total fan.
Telltale fan quiz: Who's your favourite Foo Fighter? Courtney Love.
You're in the alternative nation just not quite in the right zip code.
You should come anyway.
Cute.
Gay.
Aren't they all? Excuse me, Mr.
Broderick, can I speak with you? - And you are? - Andie McPhee.
And you want to waste my time about? - The school play.
- I see.
Auditions are after school.
- If you don't mind - If you could just give me a minute.
I am not auditioning at this time, comprende? I am eating lunch.
I assume you eat lunch on your planet, do you not? - But I'm not here to audition.
- I know, you want to star in the show.
- Assistant director.
- I'm very familiar with the scenario.
Look, Mr.
Broderick, I want to be assistant director.
I'm smart, bossy and super-efficient.
And the truth is, you need me.
Why didn't you just say so? " Filmmaking is not fast food, Dawson.
" She's entitled to the equipment too.
Look, you check out a camera, you return it in a timely fashion.
That's all I'm asking.
Mom? - What's going on? - Hey.
Look, honey, I'm going to be taking some furniture over to my place.
- Okay.
- Just the family room and guest room.
It's part of the settlement.
I asked your dad not to say anything, because I wanted to explain myself.
Mom, you don't have to explain yourself.
That's how it works.
I need you to keep being as positive as you can be.
It's gonna make it so much easier on all of us.
Well, I aim to please.
Thank you for understanding.
Wanna talk? What's there to say? About what you're feeling? I'm thinking my parents are divorced, and I'm glad it's finally over.
Dawson, I said, what you're feeling.
I'm still working on that one.
This'll be great.
Sleeping out under the stars fresh breeze off of that ocean, call of the wild.
It's the call of nature I'm worried about.
Where are the chemical toilets? I don't know.
What do you say we set up here? I thought I'd go to extreme measures to get in some guy's pants.
I'm not trying to get in his pants.
This is the first gay guy I've conversed with.
Excuse me for wanting to get to know him.
Jack, I know.
Just be aware that you're venturing into new territory here.
And before you take this emotional leap you should be willing to admit you're taking it.
Don't just try and brush it off as simply wanting to get to know somebody.
I'm telling you, that's all it is.
Okay.
Even still, take my advice.
Play it cool.
Let him come to you.
I'm gonna see if I can find him.
Okay, Corie, maybe you're right.
Maybe love isn't enough.
Maybe two people should have to take more than a blood test.
Maybe love isn't enough- Okay, Corie, maybe you're right.
Maybe love isn't enough.
Maybe two people should have to take more than a blood test.
Maybe they should be checked for common sense- for common sense, understanding Maybe they should be checked for common sense, understanding and emotional maturity.
Okay, Corie, maybe you're right.
Maybe love isn't enough.
Maybe two people should have to take more than a blood test.
Maybe they should be checked for common sense understanding and emotional maturity.
I like him.
What do you think? I think I'm getting a migraine.
I think he's got a certain dramatic flair.
I've got someone else in mind.
Who "someone else"? We are out of someone elses.
Granted, the boy I know is a deplorable student and he has the ethics of a billy goat.
We have already cast our Corie and Velasco.
Please don't let our only Paul slip away.
Have no fear, Miss McPhee.
I cut a deal with one of my students.
The kid is a natural with comedy.
Okay.
Mr.
Broderick, if I may be so bold from my limited perspective, I see but two kinds of actors: Those with talent and those with the ability to expand on that talent which requires maturity which requires a sense of responsibility which requires the ability to come both prepared and on time.
Hey.
I'm sorry I'm late.
I'm here to read for the role of Paul.
- Pacey Witter.
- That's him.
That's our Paul.
Dawson, tell me this isn't an attempt to repossess the camera.
I just want to reiterate something.
- Reiterate away.
- Okay.
I get this little ego trip.
I know you're the principal's daughter but that does not give you the right to be rude.
I didn't know you wanted to use the camera but you're just gonna have to get used to it.
I thought I heard a familiar-sounding voice.
If it isn't my second-favourite student filmmaker.
- How are you, Dawson? - Principal Green.
Good.
So I understand you and Nikki have become fast friends.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I had a feeling you two would hit it off.
Listen, why don't you stay and join us for supper.
- I couldn't, I've got- - I'm sure Dawson has other plans.
As your father and as your principal, I'm gonna have to pull rank here.
How often do I get a chance to have a nice meal with one of my students? And I promise not to talk too much about my lovely little daughter.
Come on.
Hey there.
So you decided to show.
Well, one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.
You here by yourself or with? With.
A girl.
She's a friend of mine.
Setting up our tent.
- What about you? - All by my lonesome.
So you want to go grab a bite to eat, take a walk, what? Yeah.
To both.
Whatever.
Come on.
I'll lead the way.
After the train ride, I thought for sure you'd ask for my number.
Yeah, well, typical paranoia set in.
What can I say? I figured as much.
How come you didn't ask for mine? Because I could.
It's more important that you learn to ask.
You're the newbie, remember? Yeah, newbie.
A " barely-out gay kid soon to have his heart broken," right? - Good recall.
- There's not much I'm gonna forget about that conversation.
That was a first for me.
That was your first time talking to another gay kid? Yeah- Well, unless you count the Internet.
I don't.
- Wait, man.
Where'd you get that? - Over there.
Guy's a genius with a veggie burger.
Veggie burgers! Get them while they're hot.
No crowding.
Plenty for everyone.
All meatless.
No cows died to make these.
You want your bun toasted? Thought you'd never ask.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Quite a crowd you have here.
I really don't have time for small talk at the moment.
Did you want a burger or not? Yes.
I was wondering if maybe you could give me a hand with my tent.
I was never much of a Girl Scout.
Stanley, take over here for a minute, will you? So you never told me that you were a vegetarian.
You never asked.
Do I detect a note of ambivalence in seeing me? That would be correct.
Any particular reason? You mean besides the fact that you led me on for the sole purpose of crushing me underfoot? - That's not true, and you know it.
- You could have fooled me.
What are you talking about? Don't tell me that you're not taking some small satisfaction in it.
In what? Being on the requited side of unrequited love.
Henry, I thought that you and I agreed to be friends.
Friends? You haven't even noticed, have you? - What? Noticed what? - That we haven't spoken in a month.
The past four weeks, I've given you the silent treatment and it hasn't even registered on your radar screen.
Hell, I could have fallen off a cliff - That's not true.
- Look, you know what? You can put up your own damn tent.
Dawson, you're looking at the only little girl in America who wanted a super-8 camera for her 1 Oth birthday.
Nikki, should I tell him the name of your first cinematic achievement? - Don't you dare.
- A Day in the Life of Daddy.
- She followed me around all day long.
- The James Cameron of third grade.
So tell me, has she enlisted you for her new film? She hasn't.
I don't even know what it's about.
That's between me and my crew.
So in order to bask in the glory of this mind-bending idea of yours - I have to offer my services? - Is that an offer? - Are you asking for my help? - I don't need any help, Dawson.
It would be a great idea for you two to work together.
- Forget it.
- I don't think that- Sorry I mentioned it.
Yep.
You knew that young that you were attracted to men? No, I knew that young that I was different.
Being gay isn't about what sex you're attracted to.
It informs so much of who and what you are.
- You lost me.
- I'll make it simple.
You haven't talked to another gay kid so you definitely haven't kissed one, right? - No.
- But you still know you're gay.
- Sure.
- How? I just know, I guess.
Everyone always wants to define "gay" and "straight" by who you sleep with.
It's not about that.
It's about moments.
It's about being too nervous to ask for my number.
It's about conversations like this.
It's about who and what you love.
That's why you can't erase it.
Because it's not just a part of your life it's everywhere.
- Unlike my stuff.
- What? My camping gear.
It's gone.
- Well, after you.
- I want you to quit.
- Listen, he saw my potential, okay? - No, no, no.
- This was my after-school activity.
- But I'm the lead in the play.
I want you to quit! Listen, the guy said he'd give me a C in English.
What do you want? Oh, that's what it's come to, anything for a C? - What's happened to you? - Not that this is any of your concern but Mr.
Broderick thinks I might be good at this, and so do I.
Okay, listen.
Mr.
Broderick may be a lousy English teacher but as a theatre director, he is probing new lows, Pacey.
Rumour has it that he has botched every school play for the past five years.
And it's only by sheer force of will that the past student theatre geeks have managed to sandbag his bi-hourly nervous breakdowns.
So, what's your point? My point is, I got into this to get over you, okay? To give myself a new focus and instead, your presence is giving me perpetual myopia.
We haven't done one rehearsal.
You want me to throw my theatre career to the wind? Okay, listen, Sir Barrymore our director is irrational and your lack of ability, though not apparent to him yet is enough to send him over the edge, and me with him.
- Fine.
You quit, then.
- I most certainly will not.
I'm not gonna quit.
Witters aren't quitters.
Oh, that's really cute.
You know what? Fine.
Just don't.
Fine.
I won't.
- Dawson? - Hey.
I must say, film geekdom is definitely not evident in your bedroom décor.
Your room, let me guess, wall-to-wall Spielberg one-sheets? Yeah.
Well, it's a shrine.
Figured as much.
- You say that like it's a bad thing.
- Oh, it's not.
It's just there's so much to be passionate about.
It seems kind of silly to only focus on one.
If you find that one thing, why not immerse yourself in it? Don't get me wrong, Dawson.
I love film.
But I love it because it allows me to explore all of the other subjects that interest me.
If all you care about is film then you're just gonna end up making movies about other movies.
What good is that? I'm really sorry about my father.
Ever since the divorce, he does this really aggressive thing when it comes to me making friends.
It's so weird.
But, you know, I try to cut him some slack.
So So you're cool with it, the divorce? The constant shuttling between living quarters the continually veiled and not-so-veiled comments my parents make about each other the never-ending expectation that I look on the bright side of things? Oh, sure, I'm just dandy.
That's the oddest thing.
Judging from how you come off I would assume you're not affected by it at all.
It's a well-crafted disguise, Dawson.
Inside, I'm just another angry kid.
How angry? Angry enough to make a film about it.
So that's what your movie's about.
More or less.
It's about the American family.
What makes them functional or, as more often seems to be the case, dysfunctional.
Well, Capeside should provide you with a healthy supply of material there.
What about you? Your parents are divorced.
How do you feel about it? I don't mean to probe.
I'm sorry.
No.
No, I mean, you were honest with me.
The least I could do is be honest back, right? The truth is, most of the time I'm fine with their not being together.
You know, I mean, maybe I'm just self-obsessed but I just don't think about it that much, you know? And then other times, it just kind of sneaks up on you.
You know? I mean, it's like the disappointment of being the product of something that didn't work out.
Because that's what our parents are.
They're our primary examples of love.
And my example just wasn't I guess, strong enough to- - Dawson? - I should get going.
Tell your dad "thanks.
" Oh, Jack.
Thank God you're back from your stalk- I mean, walk.
You're never gonna guess who I ran into here, of all- - Hi.
- Hello.
Ethan, Jen.
Jen, Ethan.
- Nice to meet you.
- It's nice to meet you.
Looks like you could use a little help with this tent.
Yes.
Please.
Relieve me of all of my feminist illusions about the equality of the sexes concerning spatial relations.
Listen, all of his stuff got stolen, okay? All of his gear.
So he needs a place to stay tonight.
You, being the kindhearted soul that you are, offered him a spot in our tent.
So could you take a walk for a couple hours, come back around midnight? - You're kidding me.
- Nope.
Go mix.
Mingle.
Write letters for Amnesty International.
You'll make new friends.
I've got a better idea.
Me and the car go back to Grams' house and we pick you up in the morning.
Besides, Jack, I thought that you two were just getting to know each other.
Do you guys want a hot dog or something? Yeah.
Any of you guys want a hot dog? Why don't you sleep at your club? It's not that kind of club.
It's a locker room and a handball court.
To sleep there, I'd have to keep winning the serve.
No, stop right there.
In theory, your character may deliver his lines like that but in concept, no.
- In concept, no.
- Yes.
What precisely is the difference between " in theory" and " in concept"? I think what Mr.
Broderick means is- What Mr.
Broderick means is that he can speak for himself.
You see, Paul desires his young bride to know she knows nothing of the real world.
Right.
Which, practically speaking, means what? Louder and angrier.
Louder and angrier.
Yes.
Let's do it again right now.
Louder and angrier.
It's not that kind of club! It's a handball court with a locker room.
To stay there, I'd have to keep winning my serve.
Good.
I liked it.
You liked that? Well, except for the hand stuff.
You were gesticulating.
Hey.
Gesticulating, me? Never.
- Sometimes in the privacy of my home- - Wait, wait, Pacey.
That, just now.
That's it.
You nailed it.
- What "just now"? - The joke.
The dry, smug delivery.
That's the character.
Miss McPhee, am I or am I not the director here? You're confusing my actors.
- Well, I just thought that- - Don't think, ever.
Let's do it again.
Louder and angrier.
It's not that kind of club! It's a handball court with a locker room attached.
And to stay there, I'd have to keep on winning my serve.
This is really cool of you guys.
Jen won't mind if I take her sleeping bag? No, no.
Definitely not.
She's She's a bit of a night owl.
- Old girlfriend? - No, not exactly but we did get set up once.
Let me guess.
School dance.
Yeah.
How'd you know? Punch bowl, wrist corsage, all the trappings of straightdom.
Until you realize you both like boys.
Oldest story in the world.
Well, good night.
Good night.
Aren't you gonna turn off the light? Look, I was thinking, maybe that we could talk some more.
You know what? I'm really beat.
We've got a big day ahead of us tomorrow.
There's 20 bands starting at daybreak.
Hey.
That was really beautiful.
I mean, it was more than beautiful, it was - It was awesome.
- Whatever.
I didn't know you could sing.
I think we established there's a lot you don't know about me.
- Henry? Henry, wait up for me.
- Why? Because I wanted to talk to you.
You can't- You can't keep doing this to me.
- Doing what? - Trying to be my friend and then pushing me away when my feelings scare you.
Okay, I admit it.
I miss you.
I miss the goofy way that you used to look at me with all that passion and intensity.
You made me feel like I was actually worth the fuss.
You know, I used to spend every day thinking about you and dreaming about you.
And every time you walked by, I lost myself.
Do you know what that feels like? - Do you? - No.
Then you couldn't possibly know what it feels like to have that person not have the same feelings back.
Look, I'm sorry you miss how I looked at you but I don't miss how you never looked at me.
Have I stepped into some parallel universe? - Say it isn't so, Dawson.
- It's very so, Jo.
Is this about your parents? Truth be told, I don't know what it's about.
All I know is, I was at Nikki's house today we were talking, and it hit me.
The kid who hung these posters up, I'm not him anymore.
I don't see the world the same way.
My viewpoint then was so limited.
And now I don't know what I see, but I don't see this.
So you were at Nikki's house, your worst enemy A, she's not my worst enemy.
B, have you missed everything I've told you? I never thought I'd say this about you, Dawson - but you're such a sellout.
- What? First, Eve practically tugs you around town by a dog collar.
Now this film girl breezes into town, and you're tossing your identity.
I'm not tossing my identity.
If anything, for the first time in my life I'm getting close to discovering what my identity is.
I talked to Nikki.
She helped me sort through all this weirdness with my parents.
I wanted to talk to you about that, and you didn't want to.
No, I didn't.
How did this become about you? - Because you ran to her.
- I did not- What did you do then? You wanna cite themes for our friendship, try this on for size, Joey.
Every time I express one iota of interest or even mere respect for anyone of the opposite sex, you attack me like I'm a criminal.
- And you don't attack me? - No, I don't.
As you notice, I have not once asked about Mr.
Ivy League.
Yeah, that's noted.
His name's A.
J.
, okay? Maybe your not asking about him is worse than my attacking.
No.
It's not.
My choice is civil.
- And I'm not civil? - No.
You're yelling.
You're yelling too.
Out with the old, in with the new, huh? Have fun.
Well, I'm gonna go grab some breakfast before the music starts.
Thanks again for letting me crash here.
Sure.
Aren't you forgetting something you're supposed to ask me for? - I don't think so.
- My number, Jack.
So you can call me, we can talk, get together.
I don't get this.
Last night, you didn't even seem interested enough to want to talk to me.
Now you want me to have your number.
I was tired.
I wanted to sleep.
That's got nothing to do with us being friends.
Friends.
- I figured you were probably interested.
- And you're not.
Even if I was, I would never go there with you.
You're so not ready.
How could you possibly know what I'm ready for? It doesn't mean that I'm not interested in you.
It just means that if I'm gonna stay in your life and I want to that I'm a lot more likely to stick around this way.
So you are interested.
No comment.
Well, this is This is sort of funny.
I mean, as much as I didn't want to admit it you were the first guy that I was ready to take that next step with and you said no.
I guess I should be somewhat discouraged.
I don't know.
I mean, I'm bizarrely optimistic just to know that there's someone like you out there.
Take care, Jack.
I had a date.
I ditched a perfectly good date for a non-rehearsal.
Okay.
Be patient.
He'll show.
Oh, joy, then we can do more " louder, angrier.
" Well, why not just start without the grand pooh-bah? Andie's here.
She could direct us.
How about not? I've been in the dungeon enough, thank you.
All we're gonna do is run a few lines.
Besides, was it not you who said that this is actually your after-school activity? Okay.
Fine.
Pacey, do your deadpan thing.
Corie, when the phone rings I want you to do it just like the stage directions.
You know, confidential, laughing at times, provocative.
Okay? Okay, on my direction.
Okay.
And begin.
The stage is over there.
You lost or something? Kind of.
Actually, I came here to apologize.
For what? For being careless with your heart.
And for thinking that just because I'm older, I knew better.
Last night, I stayed up all night thinking about what you said and you're right.
I don't know what it's like to be in love like that.
I don't know what it's like to completely lose yourself in somebody else.
But I'd like to.
And if one of us is younger than the other here I don't think that it's you, Henry.
You got that right.
Now how do you like your coffee? You can't say we didn't try.
- Yeah.
Almost two whole weeks.
- Better than finding out in two years.
I like it.
I like where this is going.
We started running it with Andie- All those exercises I've been throwing out at you - they're paying off.
- We ran through it with Andie.
I like the pacing, the funny, the energy.
Get the set designs, would you? I'm telling you, all those things were Andie's ideas.
I mean, I was beginning to doubt myself there for a moment but you guys are definitely in the groove.
The rest is just grunt work, memorization, pacing, the easy stuff.
Andie, these aren't the set designs we discussed.
They are.
I told Lauren you wanted a completely simplistic set.
Freestanding doorways, hanging windows and minimal props.
Well, then I changed my mind, didn't I? The actors will send this stuff flying around the stage like a trapeze.
- No.
But, Mr.
Broderick, we don't- - Andie, don't argue.
Just follow orders.
All right, let's run the scene again.
Same way.
No changes.
Don't leave like this.
You said yourself, he thinks he's theatre caesar.
He's terrified somebody will find out he's not.
No.
I can't work under these conditions.
It's hard enough as it is.
Okay.
All right.
If it's hard, I'll quit.
You can't do that.
I mean, you're- You're actually good.
Thank you, but the fact still remains that you're better, all right? We need you in there.
Even if that guy's a jerk, you gotta stick it out.
I need you, McPhee.
What am I supposed to do, resume kissing his ass? Yeah, basically.
- Well, is he gonna stay out of my way? - Who, Broderick? No.
You're talking crazy talk.
He'd never do anything like that.
It'd be too easy.
All right.
Then what's in it for me? Well, that depends.
Are we talking in concept or in theory? Come on, what's the verdict? Yes or no? I think - no.
- All right.
Good.
Actually, that's kind of what I expected you to say.
- So I'll see you at rehearsal then.
- No.
Pacey, I said no.
I can't hear you.
It's good to hear you're so fired up about this.
- We need that kind of passion.
- Pacey, I said no! Pacey, I said no.
So all your efforts to secure some face time with the new beau backfired? Well, it turns out that the gay version of the " let's be friends" speech is basically the same as the straight version.
So would that mean that the part where you were rude and insensitive and sent me off into the cold, dark night unescorted - that was all for nothing? - " Rude" is such a strong word.
I prefer something more like "momentarily self-involved.
" That does have a certain ring to it.
Am I forgiven? Yes, Jack, you are forgiven.
It's a happy point in a girl's life when her gay best friend finally dumps her for another boy.
They should make a greeting card for that.
- Hold on.
What happened? - What? The good attitude.
You're wigging me out here.
Explain.
What did I miss? Remember when you told me to make new friends? I thought we already established that was not my finest hour.
I know.
Well, let's just say that while I was wandering around, I may have inadvertently stumbled upon somebody.
A friend? Yeah.
Anyone I know? Yeah.
Yeah.
Most definitely someone that you know.
- Who is it? - I'm not telling.
Who is it? You're not gonna get it out of me.
Do I still have ladder privileges? I suppose so.
I come bearing gifts.
You remember? Remember that summer we came across Mitch and Gale's old Beatles albums listened to them on the porch every day for hours? Grams yelled for us to turn down that hippie music.
Yeah, and you wanted to be John Lennon.
You wanted to write songs and change the world through music.
- I did? - You did.
You weren't just about Spielberg.
You weren't limited.
You were about so many things.
I just wanted to remind you of that.
I also wanted to remind you that even though sometimes my emotions particularly jealousy sometimes get the best of me I still hear you.
No matter how much we yell or no matter how quiet you are I hear you, Dawson.
I hear you too, Joey.
Listen, I know what's going on inside of you is huge.
It's okay if you don't share it with me.
Just promise me you'll keep trying to share it with someone.
Do you want to give me a hand? So, what do you think? You think John will inspire me to walk my own path? You've always walked your own path, Dawson.
You just needed to widen it a little.
And be on the lookout for your Yoko.