Dawson's Creek s03e17 Episode Script

You never know how things are gonna turn out.
Very true, Potter.
Who would've thought that I'd actually be able to use those dance lessons? - There'll be dancing at this? - Yeah.
I thought it was just self-congratulatory award-giving.
This is a big deal.
A.
J.
's going to be reading his work in front of several very important alumni.
- He's the youngest person to win- - Creative "viting" award? - Creative writing.
- Yeah, I'll say.
- It's calligraphy.
- It's pretentious.
You know what? Don't mind me.
Just have a good time this weekend.
I will.
I mean this could be the most romantic night of my life.
I mean, it's not every day that I get invited to elegant dinners with distinguished guests, accompanied by a friend who- Friend? Is that what you and A.
J.
are? No, I- A.
J.
and I are It's none of your business what A.
J.
and I are.
A.
J.
and you are friends who kiss.
Pacey look, long-distance relationships don't necessarily follow the same rules and definitions as regular relationships.
No, they don't.
And that's why they're perfect for you.
- Because they're not real.
- What is that supposed to mean? Don't you see? Little scrubber girl Joey gets to go to the ball with college Prince Charming.
That's not real.
It's a fairy tale.
Say what you will, but fairy tale or not I still feel what I feel, Pacey.
What I'm saying is, all you have here is an eyes-closed wish.
- Sometimes wishes come true.
- Yes, sometimes wishes do come true.
Sometimes even in unexpected places.
But reality always finds a way of creeping back in, Jo.
Clock inevitably strikes midnight.
Then it's pumpkin city.
The fantasy fades.
Try to have a good weekend, Pacey.
- Thanks for the ride.
- Have a good time.
- We could have a winner here.
- I really hope you're right.
Because my restaurant opens in less than a week and I haven't found a chef? Or waiters or menus.
The menus still haven't arrived from the printers? We sent them back, remember? We decided $2200 was a little pricey for scampi.
All right, just keep screening applicants for my wait staff.
Hopefully, we have found our kitchen talent.
The chowder smells amazing.
- What do you think? - I don't know fine food.
I know enough to tell you that this sucks.
Sure we don't wanna steal Bodie from the Potters? Not unless Bessie and Alexander don't need a home and I don't need Joey as a friend.
Chowder isn't easy to master.
Here, try his breaded monkfish.
It looks great.
I gotta get off to the printer.
Oh, and, honey, don't worry.
Everything's gonna be fine.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Thank you so much for picking up the sign.
I really appreciate it.
Unfortunately, this may exacerbate the insanity.
Unless you wanna keep the place a secret.
- What? - The guy told your mom he had to have a name by today.
He's already got another job.
I thought it was the Fish Bistro.
A woman has the right to change her mind.
- Not this late in the game.
- Well So the restaurant could be, like, one of those hip no-name clubs.
- You know, too cool to have a name.
- Excuse, please.
I look for restaurant of fish.
I am trying out for chowder man.
You guys hungry? So who is this kid worthy of being a Witter "mentee"? Someone your school administration and I thought would be appropriate.
How exactly do you guys go about making that determination? You'll see.
If there are any problems, I can always assign you to someone else.
I think I'll probably be able to handle a 9-year-old, thanks.
Buzz Thompson, meet Pacey Witter.
Hey.
How you doing, kid? How old are you? - I'm 16.
How old are you? - You have 5:00 shadow.
Well, I'm mature.
Is that what you call it? I get it.
You're a smart ass.
That's why they put us together.
People think I'm a smart ass too.
But when they really get to know you, they discover under the gruff exterior lies a vulnerable beating heart.
Get real! I'm not like one of those kids on 7 th Heaven and I'm not like you, Pissy! - Pacey.
- Whatever, Pissy! Pacey.
And you don't know anything about me, kid.
I know you think you don't wanna be here but you're just dying to throw your arm around me and have a warm and fuzzy.
Don't bother, because you're gonna be back here trying to get rid of me.
I give you 48 hours, kid! Hi, I'm Joey Potter.
- Of course you are.
- And you are? I'm Morgan.
I am A.
J.
's oldest friend.
- Where is A.
J.
? - Jumpy boy is still trying to decide on what to read for tomorrow night.
Why do I feel like I fell asleep and suddenly woke up the protagonist in a Kafka story? - Well, there's the wit, just like he said.
- The wit? The famous Potter wit.
He's told me all about you.
Artist, political agitator.
Oh, and a size eight foot.
Put these on.
We're gonna go blading.
Thanks.
Is this the fun part? Is this the part where we're having fun? Or did I blink and miss it? You got me.
I don't wanna be here any more than you do.
I got stuck with you.
But this still doesn't have to be so horrible.
Here comes the honesty.
Next is the intimacy.
What exactly do you want? Let me make this easy for you.
Read my lips.
Pikachu.
Something that has to be treated with antibiotics? Man, your generation is so out of it.
- Pokémon, you putz.
- I knew that.
I got Alakazam through Metapod, but I'm in serious need of a Poliwrath.
- There's a vendor right over there.
- You gotta be kidding me.
No way I'm spending $20 on a Japanese trading card.
You have a serious problem with anger.
I hope the Capeside mentoring program knows who I'm dealing with here.
Okay, if I buy you the stupid card would you shut up for two seconds, please? Okay.
Here, take these and go whack some moles and stay out of trouble while I'm gone.
- Whatever, Pissy.
- Stupid.
- You guys playing? - Step aside, ass-wipe.
- You ass-head! - Hey! What the hell is going on over here? What are you doing? - He hit me in the head with the mallet.
- Popped me right in the nose! - They tried to push me off my game! - Okay, that's it.
You're done.
No more decisions for you.
Now we do something I think is fun.
Hey.
Hey.
- Where's Joey? - Showed her around, like you asked.
You didn't? You did.
Joey, hey.
It's great to see you.
- Hey.
You too.
- How was your trip? It was a trip.
I'm so sorry I wasn't there to meet you, but I still haven't picked a reading.
- Do you hate me? - Completely.
Hi.
Oh, good God.
Get a room.
I hope she didn't totally wear you out.
No, it was actually very informative.
I had no idea that the Charles River ran through so much of the city.
- Took her on the Charles River circuit? - She did better than you.
I asked her to pick you up, not take you on an endurance test.
He can't blade to save his life and any time a girl shows greater skill than him, he gets threatened.
What? - How long have you known each other? - Since we were zygotes.
Morgan and I grew up together.
Same town, same high school- Same college? Actually, I got bored with this geek and decided to make some new friends so I went to school last semester at Sorbonne.
I've always wanted to study in Paris.
- Sorry, my French isn't very good.
- Morgan likes to embarrass me so I'm not letting you two hang out together anymore.
See? Threatened.
Don't let the friendly banter fool you.
We can't stand each other.
You know, you are all he wrote about in his letters to me.
Really? I'll bet he never told you a thing about me.
Yeah, well, I can see that you two need some time together.
Thank you.
At least you can take a hint.
Joey, I'm glad that you're here.
I was beginning to think - you might be one of his fantasies.
- No, she's real.
Told you.
Yeah.
Flesh and blood.
That's me.
Joey Potter, flesh and blood.
Here's another one.
Says his Spanish mackerel quiche is world famous.
- Anybody have any idea what that is? - You don't wanna know.
The lady who did the cod flambé, that was my favourite.
Yeah, she was a gem, huh? You should see the kitchen ceiling, covered in burnt fish bones.
Your mom needs some serious help.
I wanna know what rock these people have been cooking under.
- Hi, you guys.
- Hey! - Hey, Jen.
- You.
I know you.
You were at a rally, right? No, or was it the hacky sack circle at Capefest? Very funny, yeah.
I know, I've been a little out of circulation lately.
Been spending most of my time with Henry.
That's understandable.
I think there's a six-week honeymoon period whenever you get into a new relationship.
But then one day, you realize you've got the relationship and not much else.
- Bring them all in! - Well, If you're in need of sustenance - you've come to the right place.
- I was thinking about serving - said sustenance.
- Jen Lindley wants to be a waitress? Yeah, I think it would be a great way to meet new people.
I could earn enough to occasionally take Henry out.
- And I'm tired of living off my Grams.
- Okay.
Well, as you can see, my mom is in immediate need of assistance.
- Come on! - How soon can you start? Can you believe I haven't decided on a reading? It's only the most important opportunity of my lifetime.
- What's wrong with me? - She's pretty.
- Who? - Morgan.
- She's really pretty and so smart.
- Yeah.
Real smart.
- Sorry.
- It's okay.
A.
J.
, why didn't you tell me about her? I don't know.
I guess we have so little time together I figure I'd concentrate on the big things.
You don't think one of your oldest friends is big enough to tell me about? Yeah, but, I mean, how much do you talk to me about your friends? - I guess you're right.
- So I'm trying to decide on something I did more recently or one of my older pieces, I don't know.
Did you two ever date? Joey, look, I promise you, you have nothing to worry about.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Damn this stuff.
Just wanna make sure no foreign elements get introduced to your hemoglobin because that's- I know what that is.
Sorry.
You know, I I know something that might work better than this.
Is that better? Well see, now I'm feeling a little light-headed.
- Really? - Yeah, I don't think my hemoglobin is transporting enough oxygen through my body.
That could be a problem.
I was thinking- Oh, I guess you guys got that room.
No, wait.
What were you thinking? I was thinking, Arthur - the " nature of love" piece.
- It's not too old? - Arthur? - They know your new stuff.
They wanna know where it comes from.
Be honest and show them your roots.
Yeah, you're right.
Yeah, that's a great idea.
What's up with the double-breasted jacket and the rep tie? You win an award and you turn Ralph Lauren? No, I just wanna look respectable.
It'll take a lot more than a boring jacket.
Why not just be yourself? You know, khakis, sweater, loafers.
That's you.
- Oh, and I have something for you.
- Bye.
Who's Arthur? - You can't make me do this.
- The hell I can.
This is slave labour.
Can you do anything besides whine, kid? - I can write letters.
- You could paint.
Look.
Watch and learn, all right? It's up, and then down.
And then up, and then down.
You got it? Have you ever heard the expression "don't go against the grain"? Who got you to sit still long enough to teach you how to paint? - My dad.
- Really? - Where is your dad now? - Somewhere in the Atlantic.
- Oh, yeah? Your dad's a sailor? - Nope.
Fish food.
Scattered his ashes off Nantucket.
Where's yours? My dad? He's probably hanging up his holster right about now.
A cop! That explains your authority issues.
- I don't have authority issues.
- Issues, issues, issues.
I don't have issues, okay? - Look how you handled the arcade.
- You got into a fight! There are better ways to handle confrontations - than playing whack-a-kid.
- Okay, mentor how'd you get in this stupid program? - I hit a guy.
- What? - I hit a guy.
- That's it.
I'm out of here.
Hey, come back.
Hey! Come back here! Or what? You'll whack me upside the head? - You little brat.
- Help! Help! Child abuse! Let go of me, you hypocritical maniac! His father's name is Arthur, so they named him Arthur Jr.
- That's what the A.
J.
stands for.
- I can't believe he never told me.
You would've gotten it eventually.
Who's that? A friend.
He's gorgeous.
Wow, these drawings are incredible.
I can't believe people just draw these on the sidewalk.
Actually, sidewalk chalk drawings are a classic Parisian tradition.
Yeah, but who does this kind of work? Me.
That one took three days.
People just walked around while I worked.
This semester I'm studying photography.
I guess I was wanting something more substantial in my life.
Here, take this.
It's beautiful.
Yeah, well, he may chicken out and not even show up tomorrow night.
You know, sometimes you really have to kick his butt.
I mean, once I gave him some thick, grey Crane paper.
Told him to fill it with words before he talked to me.
And he didn't talk to me for two weeks.
Wow, there are so many things that I'm learning about him every day.
Did you know that he likes to eat all the peanuts out of Chex Mix? - Really? - Yeah.
He's been banned from social gatherings in over 20 states.
Well, I have been witness to his pasta slurping.
Does he conjugate Latin verbs under his breath when he's nervous? - Yeah, adamo, adamas, adamat.
- He is such a mess.
Yeah but he can kiss.
- Yeah, well- - You don't have to.
Once.
Afterwards, we felt really weird and silly and Well, we just- We know each other too well.
And we have way too many fights.
But there's just no mystery.
So there's absolutely and positively nothing there.
Do you have any plans for tomorrow night? Actually, one of my favourite activities.
- Get the early Sunday Times and just- - Come with us.
- That's your thing.
- No.
You're A.
J.
's oldest friend.
- You should be there.
- Yeah, but you're his girlfriend.
Isn't it possible for the both of us to be a part of A.
J.
's life? You're all right, Joey Potter.
- Oh, my gosh.
- Hey, you guys are leaving already? Dawson, I've eaten so much over the last few hours, I just can't be objective.
I've got a good feeling about the guy back there.
Well, I can still be objective.
If this guy is half as bad as the dozen before him- - He says that his sal- - No! No, no, no.
Don't even mention anything that comes from the sea.
- Thank you.
- I promise to stop doing this - before you guys open.
- Don't worry about it.
Is everything okay? Oh, God, what happened? Your wait staff is just experiencing the difficulties of proper serving.
Hi.
Jen, I'd be happy to demonstrate the standard way of carrying a stack.
Oh, thank you, God.
Thanks for the offer, but I think we've got it covered.
- Well, okay then, what can I do? - What do you mean? Well, I'm here.
Reporting for work as requested.
Who requested that you come to work? You can't keep treating me this way.
There are laws.
You have to feed me.
- Here.
- Wieners? - It's all beef.
- Wanna know what part of the beef? Come here.
When are you taking me home? My mother's cooking her meatloaf and mashed potatoes tonight.
You wanna wait for meatloaf and mashed potatoes, wait.
Who's the girl? - What girl? - The one you named your boat after.
"True love" isn't a person, it's an idea.
An unattainable idea.
Who's the unattainable girl? You love getting under my skin, don't you? - Have you kissed her? - I told you, there's no girl.
- Why don't you kiss her? - Shut your mouth.
You have no problem taking a swing at a guy but can't tell a girl how you feel about her.
Man, you're pathetic.
All right, you wanna go home? You're bluffing.
You need me to finish your boat.
- I don't need you.
Let's go.
- Bluffing coward! - Let's go.
- Fine.
Tomorrow you better find something creative for me to do.
I'm not working on this pitiful raft anymore.
Well, maybe tomorrow I just won't show up.
Make my day, loser! What am I doing here? I had a good life, good friends, a modest but promising little future teaching at a junior college in a pleasant suburban town.
At this time, it is my honour to introduce the young man who made this institution so proud.
Tonight, he will share with us his imaginative mind and distinctive voice.
There's still time.
Wanna make a break for it? - A.
J.
, come up here and share with us.
- Too late.
Greetings.
Tonight I'm reminded of FDR's immortal words: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
" Of course, FDR never stood up here.
"Silent Dream.
" " It had always seemed like a silent dream to her.
The many meaningless passings in the hallway the sense of disconnection from those she supposedly knew so well.
But when she met him, the boy she'd already known all her life she realized that love unspoken is the loudest sound of all.
Then she awoke.
Her name was Mary, and more than anything she loved to read the Sunday Times on Saturday night.
Mary dated frequently and, sadly, found her time spent alone was the only shelter from the rain.
It seemed no one else noticed the dawn of her heart.
I fell into her and awoke by the radiance she beamed.
Her silent dream is my courage.
Her dance is my freedom.
Her smile is a painting of my soul.
" - The kid hates me.
- Well, don't take it personally.
He's been through four mentors in the last year.
Then you've been expecting this conversation? I had hoped not to have it with you but I'm not surprised.
His mother works all hours, and the program isn't really designed - to be a cheap babysitting service.
- I tried to do more than just babysit.
He has the highest IQ in his class, but he's constantly failing.
He can't seem to finish anything he starts.
Guess that thing with his father screwed him up.
Wouldn't it screw you up if your father ran off with a young woman? - Ran off? - Started a whole new family.
In Nantucket? That's why he behaves the way he does.
- He feels rejected.
- Well, I know that feeling.
So he tests the people in his life, just to see if they'll come back to him.
If you like, we can reassign you immediately.
Reassign? You thought I came in here because I couldn't handle the kid? There's not a kid on Earth that Pacey Witter can't handle.
The only reason I came in was to ask if I could pick him up early tomorrow.
- Sure.
I think we could arrange that.
- Cool.
I'm really angry with you, Dawson.
You had no business telling your father that I needed help.
- But, Mom, you do.
- Where'd you get that ridiculous idea? Ridiculous? Like the state this place is in right now? Mom, you open in less than a week, and I can't do it all.
I only asked you to screen applicants for my wait staff - oversee some tastings.
- Things I know nothing about.
Bringing in my ex-husband certainly isn't the solution.
Mom, you and Dad have made it clear how much you want to be a part of each other's lives.
- I thought I was confused before.
- You want people to tell you how to direct your movies? No.
You need people to act, take direction.
This is my career now, Dawson.
God, I thought you would understand that! Excuse me for not wanting to see you fail, Mom.
You've taught me that you shouldn't be ashamed to ask for help, right? I don't understand why you can't take your own advice.
Can you believe the Pynchon look-alike gave me a bottle of Dom? It's definitely your night.
You have no idea how lucky he is you broke your heel.
The guy can't dance to save his life.
Well, here we are.
Here we are.
Have you guys thought about heading to the arboretum? I bet it's amazing down there tonight.
I wanna go back to your room.
Okay.
Good.
I'll have the arboretum all to myself.
I'll catch you kids later.
This is yours.
- Thank you, Morgan.
- You're welcome.
What's the matter? You tell me.
You're feeling guilty right now, aren't you? Guilty? No.
I don't like the idea of Morgan hanging out by herself at night.
That's all.
Go join her.
I wanna go back to your room alone.
What? Tonight is one of the most memorable experiences of your life, A.
J.
.
- And you should share it with Morgan.
- I don't understand.
You've gotta be the thickest Mensa member around.
A.
J.
, Morgan is your muse.
- No, she's just my friend.
That's all.
- No, she's more.
She picks out paper for you, encourages you to write she demands you be yourself, and does it in such a selfless way that you can't even begin to comprehend- Wait.
Did she tell you something? Did she say that she wants more? - No, I- - No, then where is this coming from? I know what it's like to To harbour feelings for somebody that you deny.
And I know how horrible it is to realize those feelings way too late.
And this is coming from my own experience, my own life, which honestly you know very little about.
Well, God, Joey, give me a chance.
Let me get to know more about you.
Isn't that the fun part? Yes, it's fun, and it's romantic and exciting and unbelievable.
- But it's not real.
- Well, then let's make it real.
See, you already have something that is real.
And Morgan has just recently realized it.
Why do you think she came back from France? Can't you hear it too? Hear what? The loudest sound of all: Love unspoken.
The feelings between you and Morgan.
Joey, you're reading way too much into this.
- Am I? - Yes.
A.
J.
, then why the look? - What look? - In the reading, you paused and you looked at her.
I don't know, I was reading something and- - Okay, I guess it made me think of her.
- It's because it's about her.
No, it's a made-up character, Joey.
No.
A.
J I want you to go to her.
And I want you to To look into her eyes and look deep and see just how made-up that character is.
Is that what you really want? Yes.
So that's it? I mean What about us? " Us" is " Us" is something that I'm gonna remember for the rest of my life.
But, see " us" is a memory and you and Morgan, a reality.
I used to think a broken heart was just hyperbole.
Now I know the truth.
A.
J.
, there are worse things than a broken heart.
Like the love that you don't explore.
I guess I'll see you around Potter, Joseph.
I gave at the office.
I just wanted to tell you something about your work on the boat.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
It ain't half bad, kid.
Yeah.
If you pay attention, I'll teach you a thing or two.
What do you know about making meatloaf and mashed potatoes? You have to work it with your hands.
- Like this? - You're getting the hang of it.
Good thing your mom had to work late, huh? Yeah.
And so you know, my father's not entirely dead.
Her name is Joey.
Is she a hottie? - I'm not answering that.
- Come on, I'm 9.
I have years before I get there.
The least you can do is cough up a description.
Okay.
She's so beautiful that every time you look at her, your knees tremble, your heart just melts and you know right then, without reservations that there is order and meaning to the universe.
- She's a hottie.
- Yes, she is.
Where is she? Right now, she is probably out having the time of her life.
Looks like you've been out here for a while.
- Yeah.
- I bet you could use a friend.
For somebody so wrapped up in her own world, you're pretty perceptive.
Well, that's just the kind of girl I am, thoughtful, empathetic.
And I can see everything that happens out here from the restaurant.
You heard the fight I had with my mom.
Yeah.
And then I caught a mini version of her wrath myself.
Just after I broke a few more plates.
I think the pressure of the restaurant has finally gotten to her.
You saw, all I was trying to do was help her out and she completely unloaded on me.
No, I think you were trying to do a little more than just help her.
You were trying to help yourself too.
Help myself? You're trying to put your family back together, Dawson.
What? No, I'm not.
You saw how angry I was at the B & B when they tried to pose - as husband and wife.
- Exactly, because that was a fa?ade.
Of course that upset you.
What's going on in the restaurant is real.
What's going on in the restaurant is chaos.
We invariably return to what we know, Dawson, what's in our bones.
And your family, that It's in your bones.
Yeah, but I know that they're not getting back together.
So So, what am I doing? Do you remember a couple of years ago at that spot, right over there you asked me to dance and you said that you wanted to be my boy adventure? Did I really say that? - I was so naive.
- And sweet and honest.
On the outside, you're not that same naive little boy anymore.
And you've been through too much recently.
But deep down at your core there's always gonna be a part of you that rejects reality and that's eternally hopeful and And that just wants his parents back together.
Hey.
- Hey.
- So, what happened? Nothing happened.
You got bored? You got homesick? He finally ripped off his rubber mask and revealed his true alien features? - I don't wanna talk about it.
- Oh, well, forgive me if I'm having a little bit of trouble with the no-questions-asked part.
Good morning.
I came to apologize for undercutting your authority around here and to offer my services, but it looks like you're doing just fine without me.
- This coffee tastes like clam chowder.
- Oh, that's good.
That is good.
This isn't the place I left last night.
Oh, you mean, you weren't at Leery's Fresh Fish? - I thought Leery's Fresh Fish was- - It's her name too, Dawson.
Okay.
- So, what's going on? - You were right about what you said.
I do need a partner, and I was just too proud to admit it.
Don't be so hard on yourself.
Running a restaurant takes many talents.
You've got the most important one.
You know how to delegate.
- So you made Dad a partner after all? - No.
That would never work.
- She hired me as a general manager.
- " Hired" being the operative word.
And my first order of business was to strongly suggest - she make Bodie her partner.
- Bodie? But wait- Well, yeah, he's gonna own He's gonna provide me with his recipes, oversee the kitchen work only nights.
It won't take him away from his B & B.
And we're gonna have to fire Jen from the wait staff.
As a waitress, she's gonna put me out of business in a week.
But she'd make a charming hostess.
I think she would like that.
Apparently, you guys work well together.
So are you ever gonna speak again? Come on, Jo, say something.
What do you want me to say, Pacey? You were right? You were right, okay? Right as always.
Pacey Witter, the only person in my life who ever speaks the truth.
That's not entirely accurate.
Well, you told me what was going to happen.
Which was what, Jo? What happened up there? There was another girl.
I'm sorry, Jo.
The whole time that I was watching them, I just kept thinking: "This is it.
This is real.
Just like Pacey said.
This is the real thing.
" And it reminded me, once again, what exactly I don't have.
- If you keep looking, you'll find it.
- No, I won't.
I mean, isn't that obvious by now? I'm not meant to.
Why? Because you're 16 and alone? Come on.
Because I'm 16, and in my entire life, there have been two people - who have known me, Dawson and- - This A.
J.
guy didn't know you.
He didn't know you, because if he did, he never would have walked away.
I was going to say you, Pacey.
Okay.
- Have you totally lost it? - Not totally, not yet.
- All right, what did you mean by that? - About what? About me knowing you better than anybody.
Exactly what I said, Pacey.
You know me, okay? - In a way nobody besides Dawson- - We're not talking about Dawson.
We're talking about me.
You can't keep on doing this! What? So I count on you and tell you secrets- And call in the middle of the night to pick you up.
Why? - I'm sorry I called.
I thought I could- - I'm not mad you called.
I just wanna know why you called me.
You were the first person that I thought of.
- What does that mean, Jo? - It means that I guess it It means that I can talk to you - and you're there for me.
- Don't you ever get tired of talking? - No, I don't get tired.
- I don't wanna talk anymore.
What are you trying to say, Pacey? Why are we standing here? I don't-