Dawson's Creek s04e02 Episode Script
Failing Down
They want to see me in the guidance office after school.
-So? -So do they wanna see you in the guidance office after school? -No.
-No.
That right there's a bad sign.
lt means they're singling me out.
Don't worry, sweetie.
They probably wanna extend a hand to help you fulfil your destiny as the world's greatest gas-station attendant.
-Oh, that's cute.
-Teasing's out of the question? Oh, no.
Tease away, you little hussy.
But you raise an interesting point.
We should talk about it now that we're back to school.
Talk about what, exactly? Well, our mutual wants and needs.
Did you actually just say that out loud? Like you said, we're a couple, Potter.
As a couple, there's a couple of things we need to discuss.
Such as? Kissing in public.
Maybe.
-Maybe? -lf it's of the spontaneous variety.
Good Lord, woman.
You really are a fickle mistress, you know that? l mean, without kissing, what do we really have left? Precious little.
-We should probably break up.
-Yeah.
Well, we had a good run, huh? Excuse me.
Wow, senior year, then before you know it, college.
lf l don't find a job soon, the only thing that l have to look forward to is CCC.
Capeside Community College.
Hey, well, there's always CYC.
-What's that? -Capeside Yacht Club.
My father was just telling me they're looking for a waitress.
You're high.
Joey, come on.
lt's the lce House with cute rich boys and way bigger tips.
Something tells me the beautiful people would probably frown on the applicant whose name is synonymous with scandal.
-So make like you're one of them.
-Yeah, right.
Here's what you do.
lf you think the interview's starting to go south you drop a name.
Whose? l'd say you could use mine but these days McPhee is synonymous with gay, crazy and dysfunctional.
How about the Rosses? They're on the board.
Charles, Kate and son, Owen.
Oh, my God, he is so gorgeous.
So our age and so eligible.
And so perfect for me if l actually cared about those things.
But you digress.
So anyway, Joey, where else are you gonna make that kind of money? Well, there is always that strip club on the edge of town.
Dawson Leery.
Gretchen.
Hey, what are you doing? Scouting out some new digs.
Until my brother, Douglas, finds a suitable and l finger-quote, '' partner,'' he's best off living by his lonesome.
So it looks like l'm gonna be shacking up with my other equally irritating yet decidedly less anal brother.
That's great.
Good luck with that.
Listen, this is, of course, none of my business but it breaks my heart to see once-inseparable best friends so estranged.
lf there's anything that l can do.
Clearly, something you'd rather not talk about.
Sorry.
My bad.
lt's okay.
-Oh, my God.
-What? Dawson, this is the most offensive collection of music l've ever seen.
Which is why l'm trading them in.
Yeah, but Dawson, Vanilla lce? What were you thinking? l don't know.
l was 1 0.
Who has good taste at 1 0? When l was 1 0, l could rattle off the name of every band on the Sub Pop label.
And l was telling anybody who would listen that a guy named Kurt Cobain would change music as we knew it.
l could rattle off every cinematographer Steven Spielberg had ever worked with.
Which somehow isn't that impressive, is it? Okay.
What else do we have here? Okay.
The Grateful Dead.
Now, why are you returning this? My parents got me that CD.
l just wasn't a big fan.
Okay.
Okay.
l can't believe l am standing in front of a teenage guy whose parents have better taste in music than him.
Shame on you, Dawson.
Shame on you.
You gotta be kidding me.
That's the umpteenth time -you checked your e-mail.
-You lie.
Thanks.
l don't know.
Every time l went by the computer lab, l saw the same bosomy blond behind the same blueberry iMac.
All right.
All right.
l admit it.
You're right.
Jack, l think it's clear that Henry has forsaken me for another.
Give the poor guy some time to get acclimated.
l don't know.
l mean, it's weird.
lt's becoming a thing.
-What do you mean, ''a thing''? -A thing.
An alarming trend.
All summer long there were phone calls e-mails, lM'ing each other to the point of exhaustion.
But now, when l go online, he's never there.
And when l call, he's strangely unavailable.
l mean, l'm starting to feel like l did something wrong.
ls it possible l'm not a good cybersex partner? l'm sure you're a very generous and giving cyber-lover, Jen.
You've got mail.
Who wrote you? No one.
Now, what exactly is an lce House? lt's a restaurant.
Well, it burned down last year.
How unfortunate.
Sounds like a charming little joint.
Daddy thought it was a good idea for me to get out there and mingle with the little people.
And what does Daddy do, dear? Pharmaceuticals.
Daddy made his fortune in pharmaceuticals.
Well, then why is it, l wonder that l don't see the Potter name on our roster? l guess we're just not much of the joining kind.
-Where do you summer, then? -l spent my summer sailing, actually.
Oh, that sounds lovely.
l have to ask, were you a deck hand or a stowaway? Excuse me, but before l submit to another second of your thinly veiled bitchery do you need a waitress or not? Yes.
Now that l recall, that position's already been filled.
Terrific.
l'll be sure to tell the Rosses that you said hello.
Excuse me -you know the Rosses? -Charlie, Kate and Owen? Oh, from way back.
How do you think l heard about this position? They're on the board here, aren't they? Miss Potter, l think perhaps you and l got off on the wrong foot.
Please.
Hey, there, Mitch-- --ster Leery.
What are you doing here? l'm just filling in until they find a new guidance counsellor.
What'd they do with the old counsellor? Right.
You mean the one who referred to you fondly as, and l quote: ''One of the most aggressively mediocre students ever to galumph his way through the halls at Capeside High.
'' The man was heard muttering your name as he stumbled into retirement.
Poor guy.
So why does this bring me here? Okay.
So here's the deal.
They have dumped some of the special scheduling cases into my lap.
What's so special about me? Apart from the obvious, of course.
For starters, you lack a certain amount of classification at the moment.
And you seem to lack a certain amount of clarity at the moment.
What happened to you this summer? Nothing.
l went sailing.
Right.
But from the look of things, you should've been somewhere else.
-And where's that, exactly? -Right here.
-Here? -ln summer school, Pacey.
That sounds like a terrible way to spend the summer.
Tell me something.
Before you took off, did you happen to look at your report card? No.
l took off a couple days after school let out.
Had you looked, you might've noticed you flunked science, history and English.
Three biggies, Pacey.
Well, that sucks.
Look, Pacey, l don't really know how to do this, exactly.
l've had the distinct pleasure of watching you grow up.
You're one of the most endearing pests.
But l'm not your teacher.
Okay? l'm not your guidance counsellor.
l'm just your friend.
So help me out here, okay? Cut the glibness and just listen to me for a second.
-You're in deep trouble here.
-So, what can l do about it? You can take these classes over.
-When? -Every day, after school.
l was gonna get a job.
l kind of need the money.
l don't think you understand.
You'll have to work your ass off this year.
-And what if l can't do it? -No, you can.
You just focus.
But what if l actually can't? Come May, you're gonna watch your friends graduate without you.
Start their lives without you.
They'll be heading off for higher education you'll be gearing up for another year at Capeside High.
How's that sound, Pacey? -What do you think? -Oh, l think l hate it.
-Well, l think it's charming.
-Charming? lt's like something out of Better Homes and Crap.
Okay, you see crap.
l see potential.
Well, no, l see potential too.
l see the potential for rats to gnaw at our extremities while we sleep.
lt needs but a fresh coat of paint and a woman's touch.
All we need to do is get word out that the local crack den is shut down.
-Why are you being such a naysayer? -Because it becomes me.
Okay, face facts, Pacey.
We don't have a lot of money.
So that killer condo that you had your eye on is pretty much out of the question.
But this place, while lacking in many creature comforts is totally within our budgetary limitations.
And you know what that means? l'm guessing it means we get to split the utilities with the cockroaches.
No.
lt means we are going to turn this place into a home, Pacey.
l promise.
Until then, we just have to get used to brushing our teeth with brown water.
Okay.
You seem to have a particularly nasty case of ''first day of school.
'' Does senior status not bring you any joy whatsoever? You know, it's funny you should mention that because as it turns out, l'm not exactly a senior.
Oh, yeah? Then what exactly are you? Well, l'm screwed.
l'm totally screwed.
Okay, elaborate.
Well it seems as though l managed to fail three classes last year.
Yeah, three.
You know, so now l gotta retake those three classes and pass all of this year's classes if l want any hope of graduating.
Okay.
Okay, so you do it.
You work really hard this year, and you do it.
lt's not that big of a deal.
And what does Joey think? You haven't told her? Why? Because Joey is smart, but Pacey is an idiot.
And l'm trying not to make her more aware of that fact.
You are not an idiot, Pacey.
Something tells me that Joey's feelings for you are not contingent on your GPA.
Listen, l can stand here and tell you that everything is gonna be okay.
But it's gonna sound a lot better coming from her.
So tell her.
Okay? Excuse me.
-Excuse me.
-Can l help you? That's up for debate, actually.
Well, l don't really have time for verbal Ping-Pong.
Half an hour ago, l dropped down on one knee and begged you for an iced tea and a club sandwich.
You're right.
l am so sorry.
Don't worry about it.
l know how it is.
Somehow l doubt that.
Let me guess.
The boyfriend bailed when the stick turned blue leaving his rusted-out Camaro up on blocks on your lawn forcing you to drop out of school and rely on your not-so-reliable alky mom to watch the little carpet monkey while you wait tables on your high horse.
None of which is my problem, hon.
This is seriously gonna cut into your gratuity.
Oh, come on.
Where's your sense of humour? l was kidding.
Well, not kidding, actually.
More like conducting an experiment.
My father, who is a world-class cretin says that to the help all the time.
l always think, ''What an idiot.
'' You know? They're gonna go back in the kitchen and spit in his food.
Or worse even.
Fancy that.
Will you excuse me while l check on your order? You would, wouldn't you? -What? -Spit in my food.
-Or worse even.
-l knew it.
You strike me as very much in touch with your dark side.
Thank you for your candour.
-All my pleasure.
-First day on the job, huh? Yes.
-How much do you hate them already? -Who? The superficial snobs laying down huge sums to frolic with other members of their tribe.
-Creeps.
-Wow.
Cue the violins.
You know, nothing tugs the heartstrings like the anguished cry of a poor little rich boy.
-Will you sign, please? -Sure.
Something wrong? Your order will be right up.
Hey.
Do l detect something vaguely of my generation? Yeah.
l've been giving the Grateful Dead album you and Mom gave me a second chance.
l don't get it.
l still don't have the slightest inclination to drop acid or start using hemp products or incorporate anything tie-dyed into my wardrobe.
Dawson the Dead were a phenomenon to be experienced live with thousands of nomadic fans, the endless jams.
That's never gonna come through those headphones.
Ever get the feeling that you and Mom are cooler than l am? lt's a burden.
But we cope.
Good to know.
l saw Pacey at school today.
Yeah? Me too.
l had to sit down with him about his schedule this year.
He's in trouble, Dawson.
And that concerns me how? Well, look, l know that Pacey isn't your favourite person right now but you're not always gonna feel that.
-l could see it standing the test of time.
-Hear me out.
Pacey has gotten himself into some real academic trouble.
Without the support of his friends, he might not graduate.
-What do you expect me to do? -l don't know.
But l've always taken pride in the fact that my son is someone his friends can turn to when they need him.
Okay.
Dad, l.
l realize this seems hyper-dramatic from the calm perspective of an adult.
But this is my world.
My life.
My '' best friend'' pursued a relationship with a girl l've loved in one way or another for as long as l can remember.
And that hurts so much that sometimes l can't sit still.
l think l've done a pretty good job of trying to move forward.
But it doesn't mean Pacey can reap the benefits of my friendship.
He's on his own.
l can't help him.
Maybe you know someone who can.
You're kidding me.
He wants to break up with her? No, no.
He said he wants to take a break.
After all that? After doggedly pursuing her for an entire school year.
After scores of grand romantic gestures.
After behaviour that, clearly, licensed professionals would call stalking.
He wants to take a break? Yeah.
Well, look, he's at a new school girls are flirting with him and he's confused.
Henry's a great guy, but you know, he's 1 6.
Guys are maddening creatures.
Tell me about it.
So, what'd you tell him? l said l'd talk to her.
No, Jack.
l don't think that's a good idea.
ln fact, it borders on the terrible.
-Why? -Because whatever is between Jen and Henry is firmly and clearly between Jen and Henry.
Besides, if a guy was gonna break up with me l'd hope that he'd be big enough to do it on his own instead of sending an intermediary in.
So glad we could make reservations.
Personally, l find the food leaves a little something to be desired.
But l love the atmosphere.
So how was your day, honey? Oh, it was just swell.
l think you're grumpy because we're not in the middle of the Atlantic.
Look, l could have this baby packed up and ready to go in 1 5 minutes.
You just gotta give me the word.
All this school stuff will still be here when we get back.
-Root beer? -No, thanks.
Our summer at sea was an exceptionally lovely then but this is now.
lt's our senior year.
Do you have any idea what that means? lf l had a car, l could park it in the senior lot.
That'd be pretty cool.
Read my lips, Pace.
One more year.
Then no more classes.
No more books.
No more Dawson's dirty looks.
So, what was that whole guidance counsellor office thing about, anyway? You know what? Can we pretend like we're one of those couples that can consume a meal in blissfully dysfunctional silence? Okay.
Thanks.
Well, you wanna hear about my new job? What new job? You're looking at Capeside Yacht Club's newest serving wench.
Congratulations.
Don't sound too excited for me there, Pacey.
l didn't know you were so fixated on getting a job.
Well, yeah.
You of all people should know how badly l need to make the extra money.
l mean, without it, l'm doomed to roam the streets of Capeside for eternity which is unacceptable l'm not ending up some townie.
When did you become a snob, Miss Potter? -What are you talking about? -What's wrong with being a townie? -Nothing-- -No, honestly.
Living in one place your whole life makes you a bad person? -No, of course-- -What if l was a townie? You're not that kind of person.
l didn't ask what type of person l was.
l said, ''What if l became a townie?'' What, would that somehow make me less desirable to you? Guess that's my answer.
What's going on with you? -Nothing.
-Why are you trying to pick a fight? -l'm not trying to pick a fight-- -Yes, you are.
Something's going on with you.
You obviously don't wanna talk about it, which is fine.
l understand that.
But, l mean, please don't sit here and pick some random fight with me just to make yourself feel better.
-Wagner? -Here.
-Wilson? -Present.
Witter? Witter? Young? Here.
Can l get you anything else? Okay, weird girl, what gives? -What do you mean? -First, you haven't let my tea get past the halfway mark all afternoon.
Second, you've been smiling like a mental patient.
Worst of all you dropped that snappy sarcasm thing you had yesterday.
l'm just trying to do my job.
Yeah.
Well, at least yesterday you were entertaining.
Today you're just creeping me out.
Hey, sit down for a second.
-Why? -l want you to see something.
What am l looking at? Okay.
What do you see? A guy in a polo shirt trading stock tips with Mr.
and Mrs.
Dull Normal.
Pretty boring, huh? Sure.
What if l told you that Polo Shirt Guy has thrice-weekly motel room meetings with Mrs.
Dull Normal? Really? Does Mr.
Dull Normal know? Of course not.
He's too busy acting out his own midlife crisis with the poor man's Pamela Anderson over there.
-Are those real? -Hardly.
Her silicon valley is the work of that gentleman over yonder Capeside's own Dr.
Liposuction, who is a creep of the highest degree.
And that one? She is the worst of them all.
She was married to one of the beautiful people this New York City rainmaker who, well as these things tend to go, traded her in for a younger model.
Divorce followed quickly thereafter which came as a real nasty shock to the system because the poor gal got used to the money.
So she packed up the kid and got a job where she could be around the Fortune 500 set all day.
And now she's the next best thing: Rich by association.
Wow, no wonder she's such a bitch.
How do you know all this stuff? Hang around long enough, you absorb a lot of useless information.
lt's so funny, these people.
All the money in the world, not an ounce of class.
-What's happening, gorgeous? -Hey.
So you rang, l ran.
What's up? l don't know.
Sit and talk to me.
-Here? -Yeah, why not? Just, it's kind of romantic, don't you think? Are you thinking about a crossover episode? Because if so, now's bad timing.
l's a taken woman.
-Any word from Henry? -No.
But l was thinking about what you said the other day, and you're right.
l'll give him time.
Let him settle in.
We'll talk, and things will be fine.
Yeah.
You know, let me ask you something.
What if? -What if it went the other way? -What other way? You know, what if you guys talked and things weren't fine? And why would that be? Oh, l'm just saying have you thought about the possibility of things not working out? Where's this stuff coming from? Nowhere.
Forget it.
l'm sorry.
Tell you what.
Let's get some dinner.
All right? -Okay.
-Come on.
Jack? Have you talked to Henry? Yes.
What's the hell's going on? l'm just worried about you, Jen.
He asked you to talk to me.
No.
No, he-- No.
Jack, is Henry breaking up with me? He's lying to you, and you're lying to me.
-No, Jen.
Come on-- -Just leave me alone.
l got it.
-Hey.
-Hey.
-lt's not too late, l hope.
-Oh, no, no.
Of course not.
-Come on in.
-Okay.
l wanted to return these.
You're kidding me, right? No.
l was going through my CD collection, trying to weed out some of the more embarrassing reminders of my callow youth and l came across your Counting Crows collection.
Dawson, you borrowed those, like, three years ago.
Yeah, l know.
l apologize for my appalling lack of etiquette.
No.
l.
So l should go.
-Why? -Because it's none of my business.
What isn't? Pacey.
You're gonna have to start making some sense, Dawson.
You know, just.
Just talk to Pacey.
Okay? -About? -About school.
He's in trouble.
What are you talking about? He didn't show up for school today.
lf he's not careful, he'll flunk out.
l can't, for the life of me, figure out why l should even care about this.
But l'm here, and if there's anyone who can help him out, it's you.
So.
No offence, Dawson, but if Pacey was in such dire straits -don't you think l'd know about it? -No, l don't.
-Why? -Don't you get it, Jo? When you love someone, you want her to be proud of you.
You want her to think that there's nothing in the world that you can't do.
And the thought of disappointing her is.
lt's crippling.
Good night.
There he is.
Try not to bruise him.
Hey, there's my girl.
Why weren't you in school today? Why are you flunking out? Why do l have to hear it from Dawson? Why does Dawson know more about your life than l do? Well, because apparently Leery, Senior has a very big mouth.
-l bet Junior loved that news-- -Can we just stick to the point please? No, honestly.
l'm sure he loved hearing that.
He's salivating.
He gets to swoop in on his soul mate with a big, fat '' l told you so.
'' Are you delusional? -Dawson has zero to do with this.
-Yeah, sure.
Do you have any idea how insulting it is to know that l come up last on your list of people to contact in an emergency? Jo, this is not that big a deal, you know? l'm handling it.
And how does cutting school translate into handling it, Pacey? Why does this even surprise me? What is that supposed to mean? Exactly what l said.
This is how you deal with everything.
You run away.
You take the easy way out every time.
l guess that's why l'm such a loser.
You're not a loser, Pacey.
l didn't spend my summer with a loser building what l thought was an incredible foundation for a relationship.
l thought that we were a great team.
lt turns out l guess l couldn't have been more wrong.
l want you to get up, take a shower button up your best bowling shirt and go apologize to that girlfriend of yours.
Do you think maybe you could just leave me alone? Pacey, this girl is a keeper.
And l cannot, in good conscience allow you to blow it because you're scared.
What are you talking about? What? Scared? Like a little girl.
-What do you know? -And if you're not careful you're gonna sabotage the relationship before it has a chance to become something.
l'm gonna sabotage it, huh? You've been watching a little too much Oprah.
l am serious, Pacey.
What do you expect? l've had to listen in stereo all my life to my brother and my father telling me how stupid l am.
How can l help not feeling like a moron sometimes? You're right.
They're jerks.
Both of them, you know? But get over it already.
Dad and Doug have so many problems between them you should just throw them a huge pity party.
And they're not your problem.
Oh, please, tell me, great oracle of Capeside, who is? Your problem is Dawson.
And don't tell me you don't hear him.
Whispering in your ear, telling you that you're not good enough.
But he's just a ghost, Pace.
She picked you.
And now you have to deal with it.
You wanted to see me? Have a seat, Miss Potter.
l was going over yesterday's receipts and l noticed that a couple of them were signed by Owen Ross.
Right.
Thought you were a friend of the family.
l am.
Then wouldn't you know that they're in Paris until the first of the year? -That doesn't make any sense.
-No, it doesn't.
Mrs.
Valentine, he was here.
l served him.
He was very rude.
Yeah.
l'm not sure this is going to work out, Miss Potter.
Actually, Mom, the Ross kid was here.
Drue, honey, l'm right in the middle of something here.
Got you, Moms, but maybe you didn't hear what l said.
Owen Ross, he was here.
l saw him.
Own two eyes.
And l saw Joey here waiting on him.
You might want to commend her for the way she handled him because that guy, he can be real high maintenance.
What just happened in there? Hey, could you watch your tone please? l think l just saved your job.
Who the hell are you? Drue.
Drue Valentine.
-Mrs.
Valentine, that's your mom? -Hey, you pick up quick.
-You said that horrible stuff about her.
-Which doesn't make it any less true.
-You lied to me.
-Correction, l was playing with you.
-Why? -lt was fun.
My mom told me about the new girl who was a ''friend'' of the Rosses.
l took one look at you and knew that you lied to get the job which l totally dig about you, by the way.
-You're a freak.
-Okay, all right.
So l'm not who l said l was.
Big deal.
l'm actually a lot more fun.
-lt's okay to be hurt, Jen.
-l'm not hurt, Dawson.
lt's just that the only real boyfriend that l ever had enlisted the help of my best friend to dump me, and.
You know, and l'm just angry.
Take it from someone who spent last spring angry at the world.
lt's not worth it.
lt might numb the pain a little bit.
But it's basically just a distraction.
l don't know.
The point is, if you do it right, Jen, loving somebody is gonna hurt.
The sooner you let yourself feel that, the sooner you'll be able to love again.
l really don't need one of your sappy self-help seminars right now.
-l'm just trying to repay a favour.
-What? You've been sage to my simpleton more times than l care to count.
God, why didn't you just throw me into oncoming traffic? Well, because you've helped me through the worst of times.
l've really learned a lot from you, Jen.
Really? Like how to downward spiral your way into adulthood? No.
No, you didn't-- You're the one who taught me that love can suck.
That feelings change, passions fade, partners come and go.
But that, through it all, one thing remains sacred, and that's friendship.
And it's true because.
Without you guys, this summer just would've been a huge black hole of depression for me.
You have to be so damn earnest? lt's disgusting.
l mean, it makes me wanna drown you in the creek.
lt's part of my charm.
The funny thing about friends sometimes they bring you the worst news.
lt's always with the best of intentions.
-Jack.
-Hey.
Thank God.
Take her off my hands for a little while? -Sure.
-l'll see you, man.
Hey.
All right.
l think l owe you a fairly huge apology.
Okay.
That was supposed to be my line.
You're sorry, l'm sorry, somebody's always sorry.
l mean, relationships are just one big sorry after another culminating in a big final messy sorry.
Sounds like someone's drowning herself in an economy-sized vat of self-pity.
Come on, Jack.
Aren't the recently dumped allowed to wallow just a bit? -l'm really sorry, Jen.
-Me too.
l'm sorry for killing the messenger.
l just didn't need you to be the one to give me the bad news.
l needed you to be my shoulder.
Come here.
Better late than never.
There's my girl.
You're not liking me so much right now, are you? Not so much, no.
So l'm talking to my sister, and she says that it's actually not a bad idea to discuss problems with your girlfriend.
Nice to know someone in the Witter family can boast a brain cell or two.
You're not gonna make this easy on me, are you? Okay.
So where do l start? Wherever you want.
Well, l should probably just start first by saying that you, Josephine Potter have just wrecked me.
ln the best possible way, you have absolutely wrecked me.
Because, you see, l fell in love with you knowing that there was never any possibility of being with you.
Knowing full well that a sizeable chunk of your heart would always be wrapped up in our friend, Dawson.
And that much was actually okay with me right up until the point that you chose me.
Because then you just turned everything on its head.
Then l got everything that l wanted.
And from that day forward l've just been a wreck.
-Why? -Because now all l can do is just wait for the other shoe to drop.
You know, just wait for you to realize what a big mistake you've made.
Wait for you to realize that l'm just gonna be a big disappointment and just wait for you to realize that.
That Dawson is the guy that you want to be with.
Pacey, what does Dawson have to do with you screwing up at school? Well, nothing and everything.
Dawson Leery would never have screwed up like l did, Jo.
lt just wouldn't have happened.
You know that.
You're right.
Do you know what else Dawson would never do? He would never inspire me to run away with him for the summer.
lt just wouldn't happen.
And you know that.
We had a magic summer, Pacey.
We shared something l'm gonna remember for the rest of my life.
l mean, don't you see? We're creating our own history here.
A history that has nothing to do with Dawson.
-That's a nice way of looking at it.
-Yeah.
But, you know, this is.
This is where it gets rough.
What do you mean? We spent three months on the sea but we haven't even come close to weathering the storm.
l mean, we ran away.
We made our own reality.
-And it was so wonderful.
-But it couldn't last forever.
Nor should it.
Pacey, a relationship isn't about a romantic three-month cruise.
lt's gonna be the details that define us.
You know? The moments.
Okay.
Joey, l am really scared.
l think that l screwed up, and l'm gonna flunk out of high school.
So l need your help.
Really badly.
That's all you needed to say, Pace.
Easy for you to say.
Whatever it takes, we're gonna fix it.
You know? l mean, everything's gonna be okay.
How can you be sure? l'm not going anywhere without you.
Potter? Yeah? How come you're so much smarter than l am? l'm not that much smarter, Pace.
You just happen to be a little emotionally retarded.
-ls that it? -Yeah.
That's such a load off my mind.
Let's go make out somewhere, all right? Sounds romantic.
Well, you're far too cynical for my romantic overtures.
Doesn't mean you don't earn points for trying.
Oh, come on.
You love me.
You bug me.
SDl Media Group
-So? -So do they wanna see you in the guidance office after school? -No.
-No.
That right there's a bad sign.
lt means they're singling me out.
Don't worry, sweetie.
They probably wanna extend a hand to help you fulfil your destiny as the world's greatest gas-station attendant.
-Oh, that's cute.
-Teasing's out of the question? Oh, no.
Tease away, you little hussy.
But you raise an interesting point.
We should talk about it now that we're back to school.
Talk about what, exactly? Well, our mutual wants and needs.
Did you actually just say that out loud? Like you said, we're a couple, Potter.
As a couple, there's a couple of things we need to discuss.
Such as? Kissing in public.
Maybe.
-Maybe? -lf it's of the spontaneous variety.
Good Lord, woman.
You really are a fickle mistress, you know that? l mean, without kissing, what do we really have left? Precious little.
-We should probably break up.
-Yeah.
Well, we had a good run, huh? Excuse me.
Wow, senior year, then before you know it, college.
lf l don't find a job soon, the only thing that l have to look forward to is CCC.
Capeside Community College.
Hey, well, there's always CYC.
-What's that? -Capeside Yacht Club.
My father was just telling me they're looking for a waitress.
You're high.
Joey, come on.
lt's the lce House with cute rich boys and way bigger tips.
Something tells me the beautiful people would probably frown on the applicant whose name is synonymous with scandal.
-So make like you're one of them.
-Yeah, right.
Here's what you do.
lf you think the interview's starting to go south you drop a name.
Whose? l'd say you could use mine but these days McPhee is synonymous with gay, crazy and dysfunctional.
How about the Rosses? They're on the board.
Charles, Kate and son, Owen.
Oh, my God, he is so gorgeous.
So our age and so eligible.
And so perfect for me if l actually cared about those things.
But you digress.
So anyway, Joey, where else are you gonna make that kind of money? Well, there is always that strip club on the edge of town.
Dawson Leery.
Gretchen.
Hey, what are you doing? Scouting out some new digs.
Until my brother, Douglas, finds a suitable and l finger-quote, '' partner,'' he's best off living by his lonesome.
So it looks like l'm gonna be shacking up with my other equally irritating yet decidedly less anal brother.
That's great.
Good luck with that.
Listen, this is, of course, none of my business but it breaks my heart to see once-inseparable best friends so estranged.
lf there's anything that l can do.
Clearly, something you'd rather not talk about.
Sorry.
My bad.
lt's okay.
-Oh, my God.
-What? Dawson, this is the most offensive collection of music l've ever seen.
Which is why l'm trading them in.
Yeah, but Dawson, Vanilla lce? What were you thinking? l don't know.
l was 1 0.
Who has good taste at 1 0? When l was 1 0, l could rattle off the name of every band on the Sub Pop label.
And l was telling anybody who would listen that a guy named Kurt Cobain would change music as we knew it.
l could rattle off every cinematographer Steven Spielberg had ever worked with.
Which somehow isn't that impressive, is it? Okay.
What else do we have here? Okay.
The Grateful Dead.
Now, why are you returning this? My parents got me that CD.
l just wasn't a big fan.
Okay.
Okay.
l can't believe l am standing in front of a teenage guy whose parents have better taste in music than him.
Shame on you, Dawson.
Shame on you.
You gotta be kidding me.
That's the umpteenth time -you checked your e-mail.
-You lie.
Thanks.
l don't know.
Every time l went by the computer lab, l saw the same bosomy blond behind the same blueberry iMac.
All right.
All right.
l admit it.
You're right.
Jack, l think it's clear that Henry has forsaken me for another.
Give the poor guy some time to get acclimated.
l don't know.
l mean, it's weird.
lt's becoming a thing.
-What do you mean, ''a thing''? -A thing.
An alarming trend.
All summer long there were phone calls e-mails, lM'ing each other to the point of exhaustion.
But now, when l go online, he's never there.
And when l call, he's strangely unavailable.
l mean, l'm starting to feel like l did something wrong.
ls it possible l'm not a good cybersex partner? l'm sure you're a very generous and giving cyber-lover, Jen.
You've got mail.
Who wrote you? No one.
Now, what exactly is an lce House? lt's a restaurant.
Well, it burned down last year.
How unfortunate.
Sounds like a charming little joint.
Daddy thought it was a good idea for me to get out there and mingle with the little people.
And what does Daddy do, dear? Pharmaceuticals.
Daddy made his fortune in pharmaceuticals.
Well, then why is it, l wonder that l don't see the Potter name on our roster? l guess we're just not much of the joining kind.
-Where do you summer, then? -l spent my summer sailing, actually.
Oh, that sounds lovely.
l have to ask, were you a deck hand or a stowaway? Excuse me, but before l submit to another second of your thinly veiled bitchery do you need a waitress or not? Yes.
Now that l recall, that position's already been filled.
Terrific.
l'll be sure to tell the Rosses that you said hello.
Excuse me -you know the Rosses? -Charlie, Kate and Owen? Oh, from way back.
How do you think l heard about this position? They're on the board here, aren't they? Miss Potter, l think perhaps you and l got off on the wrong foot.
Please.
Hey, there, Mitch-- --ster Leery.
What are you doing here? l'm just filling in until they find a new guidance counsellor.
What'd they do with the old counsellor? Right.
You mean the one who referred to you fondly as, and l quote: ''One of the most aggressively mediocre students ever to galumph his way through the halls at Capeside High.
'' The man was heard muttering your name as he stumbled into retirement.
Poor guy.
So why does this bring me here? Okay.
So here's the deal.
They have dumped some of the special scheduling cases into my lap.
What's so special about me? Apart from the obvious, of course.
For starters, you lack a certain amount of classification at the moment.
And you seem to lack a certain amount of clarity at the moment.
What happened to you this summer? Nothing.
l went sailing.
Right.
But from the look of things, you should've been somewhere else.
-And where's that, exactly? -Right here.
-Here? -ln summer school, Pacey.
That sounds like a terrible way to spend the summer.
Tell me something.
Before you took off, did you happen to look at your report card? No.
l took off a couple days after school let out.
Had you looked, you might've noticed you flunked science, history and English.
Three biggies, Pacey.
Well, that sucks.
Look, Pacey, l don't really know how to do this, exactly.
l've had the distinct pleasure of watching you grow up.
You're one of the most endearing pests.
But l'm not your teacher.
Okay? l'm not your guidance counsellor.
l'm just your friend.
So help me out here, okay? Cut the glibness and just listen to me for a second.
-You're in deep trouble here.
-So, what can l do about it? You can take these classes over.
-When? -Every day, after school.
l was gonna get a job.
l kind of need the money.
l don't think you understand.
You'll have to work your ass off this year.
-And what if l can't do it? -No, you can.
You just focus.
But what if l actually can't? Come May, you're gonna watch your friends graduate without you.
Start their lives without you.
They'll be heading off for higher education you'll be gearing up for another year at Capeside High.
How's that sound, Pacey? -What do you think? -Oh, l think l hate it.
-Well, l think it's charming.
-Charming? lt's like something out of Better Homes and Crap.
Okay, you see crap.
l see potential.
Well, no, l see potential too.
l see the potential for rats to gnaw at our extremities while we sleep.
lt needs but a fresh coat of paint and a woman's touch.
All we need to do is get word out that the local crack den is shut down.
-Why are you being such a naysayer? -Because it becomes me.
Okay, face facts, Pacey.
We don't have a lot of money.
So that killer condo that you had your eye on is pretty much out of the question.
But this place, while lacking in many creature comforts is totally within our budgetary limitations.
And you know what that means? l'm guessing it means we get to split the utilities with the cockroaches.
No.
lt means we are going to turn this place into a home, Pacey.
l promise.
Until then, we just have to get used to brushing our teeth with brown water.
Okay.
You seem to have a particularly nasty case of ''first day of school.
'' Does senior status not bring you any joy whatsoever? You know, it's funny you should mention that because as it turns out, l'm not exactly a senior.
Oh, yeah? Then what exactly are you? Well, l'm screwed.
l'm totally screwed.
Okay, elaborate.
Well it seems as though l managed to fail three classes last year.
Yeah, three.
You know, so now l gotta retake those three classes and pass all of this year's classes if l want any hope of graduating.
Okay.
Okay, so you do it.
You work really hard this year, and you do it.
lt's not that big of a deal.
And what does Joey think? You haven't told her? Why? Because Joey is smart, but Pacey is an idiot.
And l'm trying not to make her more aware of that fact.
You are not an idiot, Pacey.
Something tells me that Joey's feelings for you are not contingent on your GPA.
Listen, l can stand here and tell you that everything is gonna be okay.
But it's gonna sound a lot better coming from her.
So tell her.
Okay? Excuse me.
-Excuse me.
-Can l help you? That's up for debate, actually.
Well, l don't really have time for verbal Ping-Pong.
Half an hour ago, l dropped down on one knee and begged you for an iced tea and a club sandwich.
You're right.
l am so sorry.
Don't worry about it.
l know how it is.
Somehow l doubt that.
Let me guess.
The boyfriend bailed when the stick turned blue leaving his rusted-out Camaro up on blocks on your lawn forcing you to drop out of school and rely on your not-so-reliable alky mom to watch the little carpet monkey while you wait tables on your high horse.
None of which is my problem, hon.
This is seriously gonna cut into your gratuity.
Oh, come on.
Where's your sense of humour? l was kidding.
Well, not kidding, actually.
More like conducting an experiment.
My father, who is a world-class cretin says that to the help all the time.
l always think, ''What an idiot.
'' You know? They're gonna go back in the kitchen and spit in his food.
Or worse even.
Fancy that.
Will you excuse me while l check on your order? You would, wouldn't you? -What? -Spit in my food.
-Or worse even.
-l knew it.
You strike me as very much in touch with your dark side.
Thank you for your candour.
-All my pleasure.
-First day on the job, huh? Yes.
-How much do you hate them already? -Who? The superficial snobs laying down huge sums to frolic with other members of their tribe.
-Creeps.
-Wow.
Cue the violins.
You know, nothing tugs the heartstrings like the anguished cry of a poor little rich boy.
-Will you sign, please? -Sure.
Something wrong? Your order will be right up.
Hey.
Do l detect something vaguely of my generation? Yeah.
l've been giving the Grateful Dead album you and Mom gave me a second chance.
l don't get it.
l still don't have the slightest inclination to drop acid or start using hemp products or incorporate anything tie-dyed into my wardrobe.
Dawson the Dead were a phenomenon to be experienced live with thousands of nomadic fans, the endless jams.
That's never gonna come through those headphones.
Ever get the feeling that you and Mom are cooler than l am? lt's a burden.
But we cope.
Good to know.
l saw Pacey at school today.
Yeah? Me too.
l had to sit down with him about his schedule this year.
He's in trouble, Dawson.
And that concerns me how? Well, look, l know that Pacey isn't your favourite person right now but you're not always gonna feel that.
-l could see it standing the test of time.
-Hear me out.
Pacey has gotten himself into some real academic trouble.
Without the support of his friends, he might not graduate.
-What do you expect me to do? -l don't know.
But l've always taken pride in the fact that my son is someone his friends can turn to when they need him.
Okay.
Dad, l.
l realize this seems hyper-dramatic from the calm perspective of an adult.
But this is my world.
My life.
My '' best friend'' pursued a relationship with a girl l've loved in one way or another for as long as l can remember.
And that hurts so much that sometimes l can't sit still.
l think l've done a pretty good job of trying to move forward.
But it doesn't mean Pacey can reap the benefits of my friendship.
He's on his own.
l can't help him.
Maybe you know someone who can.
You're kidding me.
He wants to break up with her? No, no.
He said he wants to take a break.
After all that? After doggedly pursuing her for an entire school year.
After scores of grand romantic gestures.
After behaviour that, clearly, licensed professionals would call stalking.
He wants to take a break? Yeah.
Well, look, he's at a new school girls are flirting with him and he's confused.
Henry's a great guy, but you know, he's 1 6.
Guys are maddening creatures.
Tell me about it.
So, what'd you tell him? l said l'd talk to her.
No, Jack.
l don't think that's a good idea.
ln fact, it borders on the terrible.
-Why? -Because whatever is between Jen and Henry is firmly and clearly between Jen and Henry.
Besides, if a guy was gonna break up with me l'd hope that he'd be big enough to do it on his own instead of sending an intermediary in.
So glad we could make reservations.
Personally, l find the food leaves a little something to be desired.
But l love the atmosphere.
So how was your day, honey? Oh, it was just swell.
l think you're grumpy because we're not in the middle of the Atlantic.
Look, l could have this baby packed up and ready to go in 1 5 minutes.
You just gotta give me the word.
All this school stuff will still be here when we get back.
-Root beer? -No, thanks.
Our summer at sea was an exceptionally lovely then but this is now.
lt's our senior year.
Do you have any idea what that means? lf l had a car, l could park it in the senior lot.
That'd be pretty cool.
Read my lips, Pace.
One more year.
Then no more classes.
No more books.
No more Dawson's dirty looks.
So, what was that whole guidance counsellor office thing about, anyway? You know what? Can we pretend like we're one of those couples that can consume a meal in blissfully dysfunctional silence? Okay.
Thanks.
Well, you wanna hear about my new job? What new job? You're looking at Capeside Yacht Club's newest serving wench.
Congratulations.
Don't sound too excited for me there, Pacey.
l didn't know you were so fixated on getting a job.
Well, yeah.
You of all people should know how badly l need to make the extra money.
l mean, without it, l'm doomed to roam the streets of Capeside for eternity which is unacceptable l'm not ending up some townie.
When did you become a snob, Miss Potter? -What are you talking about? -What's wrong with being a townie? -Nothing-- -No, honestly.
Living in one place your whole life makes you a bad person? -No, of course-- -What if l was a townie? You're not that kind of person.
l didn't ask what type of person l was.
l said, ''What if l became a townie?'' What, would that somehow make me less desirable to you? Guess that's my answer.
What's going on with you? -Nothing.
-Why are you trying to pick a fight? -l'm not trying to pick a fight-- -Yes, you are.
Something's going on with you.
You obviously don't wanna talk about it, which is fine.
l understand that.
But, l mean, please don't sit here and pick some random fight with me just to make yourself feel better.
-Wagner? -Here.
-Wilson? -Present.
Witter? Witter? Young? Here.
Can l get you anything else? Okay, weird girl, what gives? -What do you mean? -First, you haven't let my tea get past the halfway mark all afternoon.
Second, you've been smiling like a mental patient.
Worst of all you dropped that snappy sarcasm thing you had yesterday.
l'm just trying to do my job.
Yeah.
Well, at least yesterday you were entertaining.
Today you're just creeping me out.
Hey, sit down for a second.
-Why? -l want you to see something.
What am l looking at? Okay.
What do you see? A guy in a polo shirt trading stock tips with Mr.
and Mrs.
Dull Normal.
Pretty boring, huh? Sure.
What if l told you that Polo Shirt Guy has thrice-weekly motel room meetings with Mrs.
Dull Normal? Really? Does Mr.
Dull Normal know? Of course not.
He's too busy acting out his own midlife crisis with the poor man's Pamela Anderson over there.
-Are those real? -Hardly.
Her silicon valley is the work of that gentleman over yonder Capeside's own Dr.
Liposuction, who is a creep of the highest degree.
And that one? She is the worst of them all.
She was married to one of the beautiful people this New York City rainmaker who, well as these things tend to go, traded her in for a younger model.
Divorce followed quickly thereafter which came as a real nasty shock to the system because the poor gal got used to the money.
So she packed up the kid and got a job where she could be around the Fortune 500 set all day.
And now she's the next best thing: Rich by association.
Wow, no wonder she's such a bitch.
How do you know all this stuff? Hang around long enough, you absorb a lot of useless information.
lt's so funny, these people.
All the money in the world, not an ounce of class.
-What's happening, gorgeous? -Hey.
So you rang, l ran.
What's up? l don't know.
Sit and talk to me.
-Here? -Yeah, why not? Just, it's kind of romantic, don't you think? Are you thinking about a crossover episode? Because if so, now's bad timing.
l's a taken woman.
-Any word from Henry? -No.
But l was thinking about what you said the other day, and you're right.
l'll give him time.
Let him settle in.
We'll talk, and things will be fine.
Yeah.
You know, let me ask you something.
What if? -What if it went the other way? -What other way? You know, what if you guys talked and things weren't fine? And why would that be? Oh, l'm just saying have you thought about the possibility of things not working out? Where's this stuff coming from? Nowhere.
Forget it.
l'm sorry.
Tell you what.
Let's get some dinner.
All right? -Okay.
-Come on.
Jack? Have you talked to Henry? Yes.
What's the hell's going on? l'm just worried about you, Jen.
He asked you to talk to me.
No.
No, he-- No.
Jack, is Henry breaking up with me? He's lying to you, and you're lying to me.
-No, Jen.
Come on-- -Just leave me alone.
l got it.
-Hey.
-Hey.
-lt's not too late, l hope.
-Oh, no, no.
Of course not.
-Come on in.
-Okay.
l wanted to return these.
You're kidding me, right? No.
l was going through my CD collection, trying to weed out some of the more embarrassing reminders of my callow youth and l came across your Counting Crows collection.
Dawson, you borrowed those, like, three years ago.
Yeah, l know.
l apologize for my appalling lack of etiquette.
No.
l.
So l should go.
-Why? -Because it's none of my business.
What isn't? Pacey.
You're gonna have to start making some sense, Dawson.
You know, just.
Just talk to Pacey.
Okay? -About? -About school.
He's in trouble.
What are you talking about? He didn't show up for school today.
lf he's not careful, he'll flunk out.
l can't, for the life of me, figure out why l should even care about this.
But l'm here, and if there's anyone who can help him out, it's you.
So.
No offence, Dawson, but if Pacey was in such dire straits -don't you think l'd know about it? -No, l don't.
-Why? -Don't you get it, Jo? When you love someone, you want her to be proud of you.
You want her to think that there's nothing in the world that you can't do.
And the thought of disappointing her is.
lt's crippling.
Good night.
There he is.
Try not to bruise him.
Hey, there's my girl.
Why weren't you in school today? Why are you flunking out? Why do l have to hear it from Dawson? Why does Dawson know more about your life than l do? Well, because apparently Leery, Senior has a very big mouth.
-l bet Junior loved that news-- -Can we just stick to the point please? No, honestly.
l'm sure he loved hearing that.
He's salivating.
He gets to swoop in on his soul mate with a big, fat '' l told you so.
'' Are you delusional? -Dawson has zero to do with this.
-Yeah, sure.
Do you have any idea how insulting it is to know that l come up last on your list of people to contact in an emergency? Jo, this is not that big a deal, you know? l'm handling it.
And how does cutting school translate into handling it, Pacey? Why does this even surprise me? What is that supposed to mean? Exactly what l said.
This is how you deal with everything.
You run away.
You take the easy way out every time.
l guess that's why l'm such a loser.
You're not a loser, Pacey.
l didn't spend my summer with a loser building what l thought was an incredible foundation for a relationship.
l thought that we were a great team.
lt turns out l guess l couldn't have been more wrong.
l want you to get up, take a shower button up your best bowling shirt and go apologize to that girlfriend of yours.
Do you think maybe you could just leave me alone? Pacey, this girl is a keeper.
And l cannot, in good conscience allow you to blow it because you're scared.
What are you talking about? What? Scared? Like a little girl.
-What do you know? -And if you're not careful you're gonna sabotage the relationship before it has a chance to become something.
l'm gonna sabotage it, huh? You've been watching a little too much Oprah.
l am serious, Pacey.
What do you expect? l've had to listen in stereo all my life to my brother and my father telling me how stupid l am.
How can l help not feeling like a moron sometimes? You're right.
They're jerks.
Both of them, you know? But get over it already.
Dad and Doug have so many problems between them you should just throw them a huge pity party.
And they're not your problem.
Oh, please, tell me, great oracle of Capeside, who is? Your problem is Dawson.
And don't tell me you don't hear him.
Whispering in your ear, telling you that you're not good enough.
But he's just a ghost, Pace.
She picked you.
And now you have to deal with it.
You wanted to see me? Have a seat, Miss Potter.
l was going over yesterday's receipts and l noticed that a couple of them were signed by Owen Ross.
Right.
Thought you were a friend of the family.
l am.
Then wouldn't you know that they're in Paris until the first of the year? -That doesn't make any sense.
-No, it doesn't.
Mrs.
Valentine, he was here.
l served him.
He was very rude.
Yeah.
l'm not sure this is going to work out, Miss Potter.
Actually, Mom, the Ross kid was here.
Drue, honey, l'm right in the middle of something here.
Got you, Moms, but maybe you didn't hear what l said.
Owen Ross, he was here.
l saw him.
Own two eyes.
And l saw Joey here waiting on him.
You might want to commend her for the way she handled him because that guy, he can be real high maintenance.
What just happened in there? Hey, could you watch your tone please? l think l just saved your job.
Who the hell are you? Drue.
Drue Valentine.
-Mrs.
Valentine, that's your mom? -Hey, you pick up quick.
-You said that horrible stuff about her.
-Which doesn't make it any less true.
-You lied to me.
-Correction, l was playing with you.
-Why? -lt was fun.
My mom told me about the new girl who was a ''friend'' of the Rosses.
l took one look at you and knew that you lied to get the job which l totally dig about you, by the way.
-You're a freak.
-Okay, all right.
So l'm not who l said l was.
Big deal.
l'm actually a lot more fun.
-lt's okay to be hurt, Jen.
-l'm not hurt, Dawson.
lt's just that the only real boyfriend that l ever had enlisted the help of my best friend to dump me, and.
You know, and l'm just angry.
Take it from someone who spent last spring angry at the world.
lt's not worth it.
lt might numb the pain a little bit.
But it's basically just a distraction.
l don't know.
The point is, if you do it right, Jen, loving somebody is gonna hurt.
The sooner you let yourself feel that, the sooner you'll be able to love again.
l really don't need one of your sappy self-help seminars right now.
-l'm just trying to repay a favour.
-What? You've been sage to my simpleton more times than l care to count.
God, why didn't you just throw me into oncoming traffic? Well, because you've helped me through the worst of times.
l've really learned a lot from you, Jen.
Really? Like how to downward spiral your way into adulthood? No.
No, you didn't-- You're the one who taught me that love can suck.
That feelings change, passions fade, partners come and go.
But that, through it all, one thing remains sacred, and that's friendship.
And it's true because.
Without you guys, this summer just would've been a huge black hole of depression for me.
You have to be so damn earnest? lt's disgusting.
l mean, it makes me wanna drown you in the creek.
lt's part of my charm.
The funny thing about friends sometimes they bring you the worst news.
lt's always with the best of intentions.
-Jack.
-Hey.
Thank God.
Take her off my hands for a little while? -Sure.
-l'll see you, man.
Hey.
All right.
l think l owe you a fairly huge apology.
Okay.
That was supposed to be my line.
You're sorry, l'm sorry, somebody's always sorry.
l mean, relationships are just one big sorry after another culminating in a big final messy sorry.
Sounds like someone's drowning herself in an economy-sized vat of self-pity.
Come on, Jack.
Aren't the recently dumped allowed to wallow just a bit? -l'm really sorry, Jen.
-Me too.
l'm sorry for killing the messenger.
l just didn't need you to be the one to give me the bad news.
l needed you to be my shoulder.
Come here.
Better late than never.
There's my girl.
You're not liking me so much right now, are you? Not so much, no.
So l'm talking to my sister, and she says that it's actually not a bad idea to discuss problems with your girlfriend.
Nice to know someone in the Witter family can boast a brain cell or two.
You're not gonna make this easy on me, are you? Okay.
So where do l start? Wherever you want.
Well, l should probably just start first by saying that you, Josephine Potter have just wrecked me.
ln the best possible way, you have absolutely wrecked me.
Because, you see, l fell in love with you knowing that there was never any possibility of being with you.
Knowing full well that a sizeable chunk of your heart would always be wrapped up in our friend, Dawson.
And that much was actually okay with me right up until the point that you chose me.
Because then you just turned everything on its head.
Then l got everything that l wanted.
And from that day forward l've just been a wreck.
-Why? -Because now all l can do is just wait for the other shoe to drop.
You know, just wait for you to realize what a big mistake you've made.
Wait for you to realize that l'm just gonna be a big disappointment and just wait for you to realize that.
That Dawson is the guy that you want to be with.
Pacey, what does Dawson have to do with you screwing up at school? Well, nothing and everything.
Dawson Leery would never have screwed up like l did, Jo.
lt just wouldn't have happened.
You know that.
You're right.
Do you know what else Dawson would never do? He would never inspire me to run away with him for the summer.
lt just wouldn't happen.
And you know that.
We had a magic summer, Pacey.
We shared something l'm gonna remember for the rest of my life.
l mean, don't you see? We're creating our own history here.
A history that has nothing to do with Dawson.
-That's a nice way of looking at it.
-Yeah.
But, you know, this is.
This is where it gets rough.
What do you mean? We spent three months on the sea but we haven't even come close to weathering the storm.
l mean, we ran away.
We made our own reality.
-And it was so wonderful.
-But it couldn't last forever.
Nor should it.
Pacey, a relationship isn't about a romantic three-month cruise.
lt's gonna be the details that define us.
You know? The moments.
Okay.
Joey, l am really scared.
l think that l screwed up, and l'm gonna flunk out of high school.
So l need your help.
Really badly.
That's all you needed to say, Pace.
Easy for you to say.
Whatever it takes, we're gonna fix it.
You know? l mean, everything's gonna be okay.
How can you be sure? l'm not going anywhere without you.
Potter? Yeah? How come you're so much smarter than l am? l'm not that much smarter, Pace.
You just happen to be a little emotionally retarded.
-ls that it? -Yeah.
That's such a load off my mind.
Let's go make out somewhere, all right? Sounds romantic.
Well, you're far too cynical for my romantic overtures.
Doesn't mean you don't earn points for trying.
Oh, come on.
You love me.
You bug me.
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