Dawson's Creek s04e16 Episode Script
Mind Games
We check into the B and B.
We use assumed names.
Bessie won't know, and we finally get a night together.
What do you say? There are no vacancies.
There's some winter arts festival over in Wellfleet.
What do you think about you and me, the boiler room, right now? No.
Pacey.
You considered that, didn't you? l saw it in your eyes.
You, Josephine Potter, actually considered skipping AP bio and engaging in illicit sexual activities with me.
On school grounds, no less.
Naughty girl.
lt is second semester, senior year.
These grades don't count for anything.
Coming through here, people.
Excuse me.
Okay, you either need to break that up or charge admission.
Everyone, can l have a little attention, please? Attention.
Voting ended yesterday in the hotly-contested Capeside Class of 2001 senior polls and right here, l have, in my hand fully certified for publication in this year's yearbook the results of said election.
l see that you' re all dying of curiosity.
But.
Before we get to all that ''most likely to eke out a miserable, mind-numbing existence in suburbia'' crap l just thought we'd start with class couple.
lt's not much of a contest here, folks.
Yes, it's those two people so in love they make the rest of us want to puke on a daily basis: Joey Potter and Dawson Leery.
Okay, now, how is this a fair fight? What do l do, hit her back? -She's a girl.
-Sucks, doesn't it? One of the few advantages of being female.
You have this situation in hand.
l'm going to skedaddle off to class.
-Okay? -Bye.
Thanks, pal.
Remind me to tell him about the dimpled chads for him and some Ms.
Jacobs chick.
Whoa.
Hey, chill.
Have you no sense of humour about this? Personally, l think it's funny that our classmates still care after all this time.
You and Dawson went out about as long as the Spice Girls were popular.
Please.
Majority my ass, Drue.
lt's obvious you rigged this thing.
Okay.
l see.
Do you vote? Did l vote? No, of course not.
Most popular? Best-looking? Who cares? -Obviously you do.
So-- -You know what? This isn't a joke.
This is my life.
Okay? And Dawson and l are not a couple.
We don't resemble a couple.
We're just friends.
lt's taken a long time to get there, and l won't let you hurt him or Pacey by dredging up the past.
-So l suggest that you fix this-- -Look, it's your friend, Dawson.
-ls this bugging by invitation only? -You want to tell him, or should l? About your latest pathetic attempt at a practical joke? l heard.
And? -Pretty funny, actually.
-You think this is funny? How could it be anything else? lt's so patently absurd.
How can we be class couple? We' re just friends.
That word again, ''friends.
'' He's just trying to get a rise out of us, Jo.
And we' re late.
Later, kids.
-You want me to drink with Doug? -Yeah, why not? lt'd be fun.
You don't have to be home at any specific time because of me.
ln fact, you could crash on Doug's couch if you wanted.
l'm beginning to see where you' re going with this.
l'm not going anywhere with this.
Drinking and driving's a big no-no.
And that couch is primo.
Thing's goose down.
You'll sleep like a baby.
You did it, didn't you? You and Joey? What? No.
l didn't say that.
You didn't have to.
You did it.
Now you wanna do it again, which is why you want me to stay at Doug's and why you've been happy since the ski trip.
Why can't Pacey be in a good mood? l want you and Dougie to reconnect-- l can't believe l didn't notice before.
Only two things make a man this happy and the other one is free beer.
Oh, God.
This is not why l came over here, Gretchen.
Oh, come on.
l think it's sweet.
No, l think sweet would probably be doing it and then not telling anyone.
lf that's the only thing you' re worried about, then buck up, there, stud because you didn't tell me, l pried it out of your cold, dead hands.
And you have my solemn word l won't tell anyone.
-Anyone? -Anyone.
l used to be a high school girl too, and in the spirit of those days how about l just conveniently fail to come home tonight? -You'd do that? -Sure.
And if Doug won't have me, l' ll crash at Mom and Dad's.
-You' re sure? -Sure.
But you owe me, big time.
l always do, Gretch.
You' re the best.
Freak.
So, what makes your relationship with Jack so ideal? l don't know.
He listens to me.
We have fun together, and.
And l feel like l can really trust him.
And if he were straight, you couldn't trust him? l didn't say that.
What about girls? -You mean, sleeping with them? -Trusting them.
You said before you find it easier to be friends with guys than girls.
Right.
Girls suck.
lt's like they get a lobotomy the day they hit puberty.
One day, you' re at FAO Schwarz in the Rainbow Brite section the next day, somebody gets breasts and it's all about getting boys to like you.
And whoever dies thinnest wins.
ls that what happened to you? You wanted boys to like you? Teenage sluts aren't born, they' re made.
That kind of thing? You said before that you made some bad decisions when you were younger, some decisions you regret.
Yeah.
The whole sex-before-the- You told me you were drunk the first time you had sex.
And the second and third, but l think we've already been over this.
Unless, of course, you would like to share some embarrassing details of your first sexual experience.
Aren't you gonna ask me why that's important to me? -You want me to? -No.
But every time l ask a personal question you wanna know why it's important to me.
-Not this time.
-Why, is time up or something? l'm not asking because l don't have to.
l know why it's important to you.
l'm much better at this than you think l am.
Also, it's time.
Right.
Okay, then.
-See you Tuesday? -See you Tuesday.
There you go.
-Hey.
ls that for me? -No.
One of the waitresses flaked, and l'm so not working tonight.
But l told them l'd wait until they find someone or until your mom gets here.
What's in here? There's never enough coffee in your coffee.
Leery's Fresh Fish.
Hi, Gale.
Yeah.
l know what you mean.
Traffic on 95 is always a bitch.
Sure.
Yeah, l' ll tell Bodie.
No problem.
Okay.
Have fun.
Monday.
Bye.
-That was your mom.
-How is Mom? Dawson, did you forget to tell me something? Something about your parents going out of town this weekend? Hey, guess what.
My parents are going out of town this weekend.
How is it l'm the last person to get this information? -My mom didn't tell you? -No.
-That's odd.
-You never mentioned it either.
Okay.
Busted.
What was l supposed to say? How about, '' My parents are going out of town this weekend''? You say it like normal conversation.
l say it like the world's worst come-on.
Okay.
l guess l shouldn't come over later with a couple of videos -and some microwave popcorn? -Well, l didn't say that.
Good God, woman.
lt's not even nighttime yet.
No '' Hello,'' '' How you doing,'' or '' How was your day -after school today, Pacey?'' -Hi.
Yeah, hi.
l don't think l like this turn that our relationship has taken here.
You have no respect for my feelings.
We never talk anymore.
Pace? We spent nine months talking.
We've been doing this for two weeks.
That doesn't mean you get to treat me as a sex object.
-l can tell you' re all broken up about it.
-Yes, l am.
-When's Gretchen coming home? -Never.
Get serious.
She lives here.
She'll come home eventually.
Yes, to pick up some things and then-- -And then? -And then she's going to crash somewhere else so that we can have the whole place to ourselves.
Which is exactly what we wanted, right? lt's great.
-So she knows? -Gretchen? Yeah.
She knows, but it wasn't me that told her.
She figured it out for herself.
Are you mad? No, l'm not mad.
l'm just-- l'm a little embarrassed.
But it' ll pass.
But this isn't a problem, right? Because if it's a problem, l'm willing to do anything to make sure this isn't a problem anymore.
-lt's not a problem.
-Okay.
l take it you like this whole therapy thing? What makes you say that? You started going three times a week.
Oh, yeah.
Right.
You know, isn't his office around here or something? -Something like that, yeah.
-Yeah.
lt's possibly right across the street, that building you keep staring at.
l'm not staring.
Yeah, right, come on.
And l wasn't lured here under false pretences.
What false pretences? What, are you kidding me? The window seat, the 1 6 refills.
We' re stalking your therapist.
We're not stalking anybody.
We're.
We' re sitting, we' re having coffee and conversation.
We' re completely immobile.
lf Dr.
Frost should happen to walk out of his anally-retentive, Scandinavian-designed office-- You might be able to find out something about his personal life.
Now, how is that not stalking? Jack, he knows everything about me, things that l haven't even told you.
l don't know anything about him, the kind of car he has, where he lives.
The guy could be a Promise Keeper or a Christina Aguilera fan.
And we' re gonna find all that out by sitting here in this window? Well, not exactly.
Wow.
There he is.
-So? -So up you go.
Up l-- No.
You said we' re sitting.
We' re going to remain immobile.
But, Jack, if we don't follow him, how are we going to find out -anything about him? -That's simple.
We' re not.
Please.
This is exactly what friends do for each other.
-l've seen it in the movies.
-Yeah, on what planet? Come on.
You' re always saying l should have a hobby.
All right.
l think l liked you better as a matchmaking nudge.
l'd like to order a large pizza, please.
Hi.
l'm not really here.
l'm just picking up some stuff.
Large, dude.
Grande.
Hey, how do you say ''cheese'' in Portuguese? Try fromage.
-Fromage, grande.
-Gretch, can l talk to you? -Yeah.
-That's not it.
How about queso? l know that Pacey told you, that you know.
-l was just hoping that you could-- -l can keep my big fat mouth shut? Don't look so serious.
Who am l gonna tell? lt's just that certain people have no need to know this because it would hurt and bring back painful memories.
That's not what l want this to be about.
You guys are just friends.
We are.
We just don't tell each other everything the second it happens.
lf he were to hear something like that, about me -l would want it to be from-- -Joey, l think we' re in agreement here.
-We are? -Yeah.
l am not gonna say anything to Dawson on the subject of you and Pacey.
But l gotta warn you, as a friend and as a vaguely older and wiser sister-type figure this kind of information, it's not all that hard to guess.
l know.
-l mean, you look happy, Joey.
-See you then.
Bye.
He tells me it' ll be here in 45 minutes.
But l have no idea what' ll be on it.
-lt could be dried insects.
-Great.
-Okay, l am out of here.
-All right, then.
Hi and bye.
Where you going, anyway? Dawson's.
See you.
Okay, there he is.
Just don't look up, look down.
One of us has to look up, Jen, or it defeats the purpose of stalking.
-All right, you look up.
-Okay.
What's he doing? Well, he's in a bookstore.
He's looking at books.
And what's he looking at? At the moment, looks like Interview with the Vampire.
So he's obviously gay.
Can we go now? No.
Wait a minute.
Obviously gay? Straight people read Anne Rice.
Hello.
You party all night with eternal youth and a great wardrobe.
Now, what other segment of the population does that appeal to? How did you manage to surpass me in the knowledge of all things gay? Sex and the City.
He's moving.
Which way? He's going that way.
So this way.
No, No.
Oh, jeez.
Oh, my God.
l'm so sorry.
-No problem.
Hi.
-Hi.
This is my friend, Jack.
Jack, this is my-- -Friend.
Tom Frost.
-How are you? -Just browsing for books.
-They seem to have those here.
Any recommendations? -ln poetry? -What? That's where you' re browsing, in poetry? -Right.
Yeah, l love poetry.
-l'm quite fond of this person.
Right.
Robinson Ellsworth.
l love him.
Her.
She's reading tomorrow at the arts festival over in Wellfleet.
-Wow.
-Maybe l' ll see you there.
-Take care.
-You too.
l do like poetry.
-Where the Sidewalk Ends? -Yeah, right.
l'm sure she's just stopping by Dawson's, then they'll go out.
Then she'll go back to Doug's, spend the night, just like she said.
So what if Mitch and Gale are out of town? Mitch and Gale are out of town? Last pre-baby trip, at least according to Bodie.
l'm sure it's nothing.
Well, it has to be nothing, because, frankly, the alternative is just too horrifying to contemplate.
She's your sister.
He's our friend.
Any way you look at it, it's weird.
How weird would you say it is? Out of four stars, or on a scale from 1 to 1 0? l'm being serious here for a second.
Do you care? No.
You? No.
Are you sure? Of course l'm sure.
lt's entirely none of our business, Pace.
And besides, it ruins the mood.
l'm not gonna let that happen after we've waited so long for this night.
Come on, it was sweet.
l mean she loved him so much, she made the same mistakes all over again.
And got to sleep with the motorcycle guy.
All that crap about her and Nic Cage being soul mates.
Come on.
-Jim Carrey was good, though.
-Yeah.
Okay.
Next? Okay.
l have an American movie classic.
-Okay.
-lt's somewhere in here.
You go out every Friday night with pyjamas and a toothbrush? No, no, l just like to be prepared, you know for whatever possibility might come up.
Then you spending the night is a possibility? Do you want it to be? -This is really awkward.
-A little.
Yeah.
So, you know, hell, let's just talk about it.
Sex.
You know, we' ll talk about it.
We' ll get it out in the open, and then we'll feel a lot better.
-Okay.
-Okay.
-You' re not talking.
-And neither are you.
This is ridiculous.
What do you want me to say? -Okay, fine.
Be that way.
l' ll start.
-Okay.
The first time l had sex was with my high school boyfriend.
Not that moronic basketball player.
-You remember him? -Yes, l remember him.
l hated him.
Now l hate him even more.
-This is good.
See? We' re laughing.
-Yeah.
Which is better than sitting here not talking to each other.
Right.
Okay.
Your turn.
This is totally unfair.
Why? Because l've never had sex.
So? l've never been to the Middle East, but l still have feelings on the topic.
-You've obviously thought about it.
-Yeah, obviously.
And? With Jen, l mean, l was 1 5 years old.
l don't think it would have occurred to me to ask, really.
With Joey, l kind of thought everything was perfect.
But she wanted to wait, which was fine.
And then everything that happened, happened.
And then.
When they got back, at first, l.
God, l was relieved, which is lame, l know.
lt's just.
Part of me was still clinging to the insane notion that Joey and l were destined to lose our virginity together.
Well, l guess it's not all that insane.
She was your first serious girlfriend.
Yeah, but.
Now l just kind of wish they'd done it on the boat.
Or they'd do it now and get it over with, you know? Put the final nail in the coffin of Dawson and Joey.
How do you know they haven't? She told me.
Pretty adult, huh? Especially for us.
l asked her and she told me.
What's this movie about, anyway? l have no idea.
All l know is, every time you get up to get a drink you move further away from me on the couch.
You' re right, which is why l should go.
Don't you think that's kind of a drastic solution? -Dawson, don't, okay? -Don't what? This is not why l came here tonight.
l gotta go.
Gretchen, hold on.
This is silly.
This is obviously a misunderstanding.
You know what? l know it is.
But l have to go.
l was really wrong about something.
Very wrong.
So just don't ask me any more questions, okay? Just let me go.
You know, ever since they invented the Cartoon Network there's no reason for humans to get up this early on Saturday morning.
-l wanted to make you breakfast.
-You'd do that for me? Well, l don't make breakfast for just anyone, Pace.
l mean, in the past year l've made it for like, what? Two, three hundred strangers.
That's very funny.
You know, you should wear my clothes more often.
-You like it? -Yep.
When was the last time you washed it? l don't know.
When was the last time you did my laundry? That would be never.
Never? Well, then, l think you have your answer.
When l told you that whole thing about telling me what you want l didn't really expect the requests to come in writing.
Milk, eggs, syrup.
l know what this really is.
You' re trying to get rid of me.
You had your way with me.
My conversation became tiresome.
-And now you' re giving me the boot.
-Go.
l'm gonna get in the shower.
Okay.
But only if you promise me you' ll be wearing that when l get back.
Bye-bye.
Hey.
Hey.
l'm sorry to drop by so early.
l'm just looking for Gretchen.
She's not with you? She was last night.
She never came home? No, but that's no big deal.
She's probably just over at Doug's.
All right.
You know what? You' re probably right.
She's probably fine.
l just would really like to know if she got home okay.
-Sure.
l' ll call her and then call you.
-Could we do it now? You wanna call her? Yeah.
l'll just borrow your phone.
-Yeah, sure thing.
-Thanks.
-You can sit on the couch if you want.
-l'm sorry, l don't mean-- No, l hear you, that's cool.
Since when do you get up before noon on the weekends? You know, a man's gotta eat.
-Okay, l don't see him.
-He's just late, all right? -How do you know that? -Obviously because he invited me.
He didn't invite you, okay? He was just making polite conversation.
At least l hope he was.
l'm sensing that you don't have a high opinion of psychiatrists.
With my family history? Forgive me for not thinking psychiatry is foolproof.
Not all therapists know what they' re doing.
They' re just as fallible as auto mechanics.
Probably even more so.
And any therapist that's gonna date one of his patients is just not worth having around.
Jack.
God, l'm not trying to date him, all right? l mean, you've seen the guy.
He's obviously not my type.
So you absolutely, positively do not have a crush on this guy? No.
l don't have a crush on him.
God.
l don't know why you' re asking me all this.
lt's fairly common for people to develop a thing for their shrinks.
That's not what's happening here, all right? Forgive me for asking, then what are we doing here? Why do you need this guy to like you so much? l don't need him to like me.
Right.
Yeah, l forgot.
You love poetry.
That's what l thought, Doug.
Okay.
Thanks.
Bye.
-Problem solved? -Yeah, great.
Thank you.
-l appreciate this.
-Better safe than sorry, right? Yeah.
Yeah.
So just let her know l stopped by.
Actually, you know what, on second thought, don't tell her l stopped by.
Don't tell her and l' ll see if she calls.
Dawson, look.
lf you guys had a fight and you want me to say something.
We didn't have a fight.
lt's just l.
l just think she's seen the light.
But, thanks.
l' ll be right back.
Great.
He's not here.
He's not gonna be here.
Yeah, he never was gonna be here.
Okay, you win.
Happy? Yeah.
Can we go? Please? You know, would it kill you to sit and listen to some poetry? Yeah.
Yeah, it would.
Okay, you' re right.
Come on.
You saved me a seat.
Welcome, everyone.
And thank you so much for getting up this early.
The first poem is called ''So lt Never Will Crumble.
'' Dr.
Adel-Adel Through the accident of mitigation Discovered the formula for contrition This is my bathroom Thank God.
These places can be so lonely.
That's one of the attractions.
You' re mad about my little practical joke.
No.
l forgot it in the wake of personal tragedies.
But since you're here-- You want me to un-fix the election? Let Joey and Pacey win class couple? Sorry.
Can't do that.
lt's too boring.
Where's the conflict? -Where's the drama? -There isn't supposed to be drama.
See, it's thinking like that that keeps yearbooks mired in mediocrity.
Are you saying they should be fiction rather than fact? Personally, l find the truth to be a slippery little devil.
-And lacking in the fun department.
-And you don't care who gets hurt? lt's downright sweet, all this concern you seem to have for Joey.
But l should probably warn you, all it really does is prove my point.
l wasn't aware that you had one.
Oh, God, please, this whole friend dance that you guys do.
As if you were actually over each other.
As if you hadn't wounded each other's psyches and doomed all your future relationships.
l mean.
l'm sorry.
This is great stuff.
lt's what makes you and Joey far and away the more compelling couple.
As much as l appreciate having my life explained to me by you it sounds like you have no intention of un-fixing the problem.
-My hands are tied.
-l guess mine are too.
Hey.
You' re back.
l am.
So, what's the deal? Meaning? l don't know.
l got the impression that everyone was worried about you.
And by everybody, you mean Pacey and Dawson.
That would pretty much be everybody, now, wouldn't it? Sometimes l wish l had been here last year because l'd really like to know how you guys got into this mess.
You' re all worried about hurting each other.
Everybody's trying to be nice.
Except you? Yeah.
Except me.
l'm really not feeling too nice at the moment.
Look, Gretchen, l know that you and Dawson had a fight or something.
-You didn't stay over at his house.
-Did you want me to? All these lies, these lies that you' re all telling to protect each other -they' re not gonna solve anything.
-What lies? You lied to Dawson about you and Pacey having sex.
l made a decision, a very private decision, about my life.
And l don't want the whole world to know.
No, you don't want Dawson to know.
-lt's the same thing.
-No, it's not, Joey.
l don't want to be the ogre here, but lying to Dawson won't solve anything.
lt's not fair.
lt's not fair to somebody trying to have a relationship with him.
Meaning you? You know what, Gretchen? You' re right about one thing.
You weren't here last year.
And you don't know what it's like, so you couldn't possibly understand.
But you have to tell Dawson the truth.
There's no other choice here.
And if you won't do it for him or for me, then just do it for Pacey.
What's up, you guys? Bessie had some sort of a meltdown.
l gotta go.
l'll see you.
All right, give me a call, yeah? Yeah.
All right, so, what did l miss? Nothing.
You and Dawson had some sort of fight, didn't you? Since when do you care, Pacey? What, l can't take an interest in your life? No.
Okay, well, if not, what were you and Joey talking about? And why was he here at the crack of dawn this morning? -Dawson was here? -Yeah.
Dawson was here.
But l'm not supposed to tell you that.
Unlike you, he thinks you had a fight.
He just doesn't know what it's about.
Pacey, you don't want to hear about me and Dawson, so just stop.
-Stop what? -Stop asking.
-Now l really want to know.
-No, you don't.
Believe me, you don't.
Yes, l do.
Because l'm starting to have a horrifying feeling that it involves me.
No comment.
Why don't you just ask Joey about this? You want me to ask Joey about the problem you and Dawson are having? Yeah.
No.
No, look.
Pacey, l'm just not in the best of moods right now, okay? Let's just say you were right about me and Dawson.
Maybe he's too young.
My goal is not to be right.
lt's to figure out what's going on especially if it involves me and Joey, so you should tell me what's going on.
Whatever it is.
l won't mention it to Dawson or Joey.
Great.
More lies.
That's really gonna help.
What do you mean, more lies? What lies? The only lie that l can see right now is you, my own sister, lying to me.
Joey lied to Dawson.
l don't know why.
l don't know what it meant.
But he asked her whether you guys were sleeping together and she lied.
And that's the truth, Pacey.
-Hi.
-So which one was your favourite? -Which one? -Which poem? -Which poem? -Which poem.
-God, they were so good.
-They were all pretty good.
-Probably the last one would be good.
-Yeah.
Definitely.
You' re right.
lt had this really.
lt had this really surreal quality to it which, all the same, it was very deep and totally original but really great imagery that she used.
Don't ditch me, okay? l have to do this linger-and-talk thing.
Robin, this is Jen and Jack.
-Hi.
Thanks for coming.
-Sure.
Jen was just telling us how much she liked the last one.
That's his favourite too.
Not that he gets it.
-You guys high school students? -Yeah.
l told you all hope was not lost for the youth of America.
When we were high school students, the things we did-- Shouldn't you be mixing? Only if you mix with me.
lt was nice meeting you both.
-You too.
-You too.
Definitely not gay.
No.
This is by far the strangest place you've ever asked me to meet you.
Yeah.
l decided to, you know, pitch in.
Make sure the right people ended up on the right pages.
Not buying it? We both know that yearbook is a shameful, squalid waste of time.
All will be revealed in good time.
Would you like some coffee? -You drink black coffee? -Oh, yeah.
l drink it.
l don't like it, but l drink it.
l figure everybody's gotta have at least one vice, right? l guess there's a lot we don't know about each other.
That's not how it used to be.
l mean, we.
We used to be able to tell each other everything.
Yeah.
l'm not sure that was such a good thing.
Not a very Dawson Leery-like thing to say.
Which brings me to something else that l want to say to you.
l want to apologize.
For what? For that question l asked you a couple of weeks ago, that personal question.
l should never have asked you that.
l don't even know why l did.
lt's some masochistic side of me that l haven't explored yet.
Probably the same side of me that's sabotaging my relationship with Gretchen.
Do you think you' re sabotaging your relationship? Mentioning you every 30 seconds l'm sure doesn't help.
l'm just.
l'm so terrified of making mistakes l've made in the past that when l'm with her, there's this battle in my head.
Do l show her the confused mess that l really am? Or do l attempt to act cool and be the kind of guy who gets the girl? Maybe you are the guy that gets the girl.
l didn't get you.
Anyway.
Senior polls? lt occurred to me that Drue is kind of like one of the more lame TV Batman villains.
Evil with a short attention span.
He went through the trouble of rigging the election then quit the yearbook staff before his plan could be fully realized.
So you' re volunteering your services to yearbook.
l figured l'd follow through for him.
For posterity's sake, if nothing else.
At least let the record reflect the truth of senior year.
She seems really nice, your girlfriend.
She is nice.
So she's your girlfriend? Like l said, l am glad you came.
-So l could make an idiot of myself.
-No, because you like poetry.
And sitting in coffeehouse windows.
And browsing in independent bookstores.
We have a lot in common, you and l.
lf you knew, why didn't you just stop me? Because it was obviously important to you.
What's less obvious is why.
We will talk about that on Tuesday.
Why? Can't l just want to know things about you? l can't just be curious? About me? l'm not really all that interesting.
l think there was some bigger question you needed answered.
-What big question? -Tuesday.
-A clue.
-What, like, ''five letters starts and ends with the same consonant''? lt's not a crossword puzzle.
lt's what we were talking about.
You were there, weren't you? ln body, if not in spirit? Trust.
-ls that the question? -What's the answer? Yeah.
Yes.
That l can trust you.
This may not be the best place for you to hang out if you're trying to avoid me.
Of course, if you' re trying to break up with me, then.
That's not what l'm planning.
But you have been avoiding me.
Yeah.
lf l, in any way, gave you the impression that l'm not over Joey or made you feel unimportant -or that l don't want this to work.
-That's not it.
You didn't do anything wrong last night, Dawson.
All you were was honest with me.
So then, what's the problem? ls this about sex? No, it's not.
-Look, just promise me something.
-Anything.
That you' ll always be as honest with me as you were last night.
Because that's the hardest part about a relationship.
l mean, it's so much harder than sex.
Trusting someone is like this gigantic act of faith.
You put it out there and you can't be sure that you' re gonna get it back.
And sex.
Sex is just mechanical.
lt's like.
l don't know, like brushing your teeth.
-Funny you should mention that.
-Why? Because l got you something.
ln case you were dumping me.
Though given the turn in conversation, it does seem ridiculous.
ln case l was dumping you, you got me a present? Yeah.
You changed my life.
l didn't want you to go without a token of my affection.
-So it was sort of like a parting gift.
-Yeah, exactly.
You left your old one at my house and it was really disgusting.
You should get a new one every millennium.
-l know.
-That's why they colour the bristles.
Okay, l get it.
Shut up.
-Thank you.
-You' re welcome.
That was a nice thing that Dawson just did for you.
Why just for me? You' re the one who was so upset by the whole thing.
l'm glad we walked.
lt's really nice out here.
Yeah.
Yeah, it's not too cold.
lt's kind of freaky, the way the snow's all melted.
Like, it's gonna be spring soon and l didn't realize.
Our new pastime is much more of an indoor sport.
You know, Pace, sometimes l wonder if we should have done it on the boat.
When we were alone.
No.
We would have missed all the scenery.
Do you miss it? -The scenery? -No.
When we weren't having sex.
When everything and every moment wasn't about sex.
l don't know that that time ever really existed.
l guess you' re right.
Before, when we hadn't had sex, everything was about sex.
-Now that we have had sex.
-Everything is still about sex.
Do you think we' re doing something wrong? No.
Do you? No.
But if you don't think that we did anything wrong, l was just.
l mean, l don't know why that you would.
Pacey, did Gretchen say something to you after l left this morning? No.
Why? No reason.
You know, let's just walk some more.
We never do that anymore.
We use assumed names.
Bessie won't know, and we finally get a night together.
What do you say? There are no vacancies.
There's some winter arts festival over in Wellfleet.
What do you think about you and me, the boiler room, right now? No.
Pacey.
You considered that, didn't you? l saw it in your eyes.
You, Josephine Potter, actually considered skipping AP bio and engaging in illicit sexual activities with me.
On school grounds, no less.
Naughty girl.
lt is second semester, senior year.
These grades don't count for anything.
Coming through here, people.
Excuse me.
Okay, you either need to break that up or charge admission.
Everyone, can l have a little attention, please? Attention.
Voting ended yesterday in the hotly-contested Capeside Class of 2001 senior polls and right here, l have, in my hand fully certified for publication in this year's yearbook the results of said election.
l see that you' re all dying of curiosity.
But.
Before we get to all that ''most likely to eke out a miserable, mind-numbing existence in suburbia'' crap l just thought we'd start with class couple.
lt's not much of a contest here, folks.
Yes, it's those two people so in love they make the rest of us want to puke on a daily basis: Joey Potter and Dawson Leery.
Okay, now, how is this a fair fight? What do l do, hit her back? -She's a girl.
-Sucks, doesn't it? One of the few advantages of being female.
You have this situation in hand.
l'm going to skedaddle off to class.
-Okay? -Bye.
Thanks, pal.
Remind me to tell him about the dimpled chads for him and some Ms.
Jacobs chick.
Whoa.
Hey, chill.
Have you no sense of humour about this? Personally, l think it's funny that our classmates still care after all this time.
You and Dawson went out about as long as the Spice Girls were popular.
Please.
Majority my ass, Drue.
lt's obvious you rigged this thing.
Okay.
l see.
Do you vote? Did l vote? No, of course not.
Most popular? Best-looking? Who cares? -Obviously you do.
So-- -You know what? This isn't a joke.
This is my life.
Okay? And Dawson and l are not a couple.
We don't resemble a couple.
We're just friends.
lt's taken a long time to get there, and l won't let you hurt him or Pacey by dredging up the past.
-So l suggest that you fix this-- -Look, it's your friend, Dawson.
-ls this bugging by invitation only? -You want to tell him, or should l? About your latest pathetic attempt at a practical joke? l heard.
And? -Pretty funny, actually.
-You think this is funny? How could it be anything else? lt's so patently absurd.
How can we be class couple? We' re just friends.
That word again, ''friends.
'' He's just trying to get a rise out of us, Jo.
And we' re late.
Later, kids.
-You want me to drink with Doug? -Yeah, why not? lt'd be fun.
You don't have to be home at any specific time because of me.
ln fact, you could crash on Doug's couch if you wanted.
l'm beginning to see where you' re going with this.
l'm not going anywhere with this.
Drinking and driving's a big no-no.
And that couch is primo.
Thing's goose down.
You'll sleep like a baby.
You did it, didn't you? You and Joey? What? No.
l didn't say that.
You didn't have to.
You did it.
Now you wanna do it again, which is why you want me to stay at Doug's and why you've been happy since the ski trip.
Why can't Pacey be in a good mood? l want you and Dougie to reconnect-- l can't believe l didn't notice before.
Only two things make a man this happy and the other one is free beer.
Oh, God.
This is not why l came over here, Gretchen.
Oh, come on.
l think it's sweet.
No, l think sweet would probably be doing it and then not telling anyone.
lf that's the only thing you' re worried about, then buck up, there, stud because you didn't tell me, l pried it out of your cold, dead hands.
And you have my solemn word l won't tell anyone.
-Anyone? -Anyone.
l used to be a high school girl too, and in the spirit of those days how about l just conveniently fail to come home tonight? -You'd do that? -Sure.
And if Doug won't have me, l' ll crash at Mom and Dad's.
-You' re sure? -Sure.
But you owe me, big time.
l always do, Gretch.
You' re the best.
Freak.
So, what makes your relationship with Jack so ideal? l don't know.
He listens to me.
We have fun together, and.
And l feel like l can really trust him.
And if he were straight, you couldn't trust him? l didn't say that.
What about girls? -You mean, sleeping with them? -Trusting them.
You said before you find it easier to be friends with guys than girls.
Right.
Girls suck.
lt's like they get a lobotomy the day they hit puberty.
One day, you' re at FAO Schwarz in the Rainbow Brite section the next day, somebody gets breasts and it's all about getting boys to like you.
And whoever dies thinnest wins.
ls that what happened to you? You wanted boys to like you? Teenage sluts aren't born, they' re made.
That kind of thing? You said before that you made some bad decisions when you were younger, some decisions you regret.
Yeah.
The whole sex-before-the- You told me you were drunk the first time you had sex.
And the second and third, but l think we've already been over this.
Unless, of course, you would like to share some embarrassing details of your first sexual experience.
Aren't you gonna ask me why that's important to me? -You want me to? -No.
But every time l ask a personal question you wanna know why it's important to me.
-Not this time.
-Why, is time up or something? l'm not asking because l don't have to.
l know why it's important to you.
l'm much better at this than you think l am.
Also, it's time.
Right.
Okay, then.
-See you Tuesday? -See you Tuesday.
There you go.
-Hey.
ls that for me? -No.
One of the waitresses flaked, and l'm so not working tonight.
But l told them l'd wait until they find someone or until your mom gets here.
What's in here? There's never enough coffee in your coffee.
Leery's Fresh Fish.
Hi, Gale.
Yeah.
l know what you mean.
Traffic on 95 is always a bitch.
Sure.
Yeah, l' ll tell Bodie.
No problem.
Okay.
Have fun.
Monday.
Bye.
-That was your mom.
-How is Mom? Dawson, did you forget to tell me something? Something about your parents going out of town this weekend? Hey, guess what.
My parents are going out of town this weekend.
How is it l'm the last person to get this information? -My mom didn't tell you? -No.
-That's odd.
-You never mentioned it either.
Okay.
Busted.
What was l supposed to say? How about, '' My parents are going out of town this weekend''? You say it like normal conversation.
l say it like the world's worst come-on.
Okay.
l guess l shouldn't come over later with a couple of videos -and some microwave popcorn? -Well, l didn't say that.
Good God, woman.
lt's not even nighttime yet.
No '' Hello,'' '' How you doing,'' or '' How was your day -after school today, Pacey?'' -Hi.
Yeah, hi.
l don't think l like this turn that our relationship has taken here.
You have no respect for my feelings.
We never talk anymore.
Pace? We spent nine months talking.
We've been doing this for two weeks.
That doesn't mean you get to treat me as a sex object.
-l can tell you' re all broken up about it.
-Yes, l am.
-When's Gretchen coming home? -Never.
Get serious.
She lives here.
She'll come home eventually.
Yes, to pick up some things and then-- -And then? -And then she's going to crash somewhere else so that we can have the whole place to ourselves.
Which is exactly what we wanted, right? lt's great.
-So she knows? -Gretchen? Yeah.
She knows, but it wasn't me that told her.
She figured it out for herself.
Are you mad? No, l'm not mad.
l'm just-- l'm a little embarrassed.
But it' ll pass.
But this isn't a problem, right? Because if it's a problem, l'm willing to do anything to make sure this isn't a problem anymore.
-lt's not a problem.
-Okay.
l take it you like this whole therapy thing? What makes you say that? You started going three times a week.
Oh, yeah.
Right.
You know, isn't his office around here or something? -Something like that, yeah.
-Yeah.
lt's possibly right across the street, that building you keep staring at.
l'm not staring.
Yeah, right, come on.
And l wasn't lured here under false pretences.
What false pretences? What, are you kidding me? The window seat, the 1 6 refills.
We' re stalking your therapist.
We're not stalking anybody.
We're.
We' re sitting, we' re having coffee and conversation.
We' re completely immobile.
lf Dr.
Frost should happen to walk out of his anally-retentive, Scandinavian-designed office-- You might be able to find out something about his personal life.
Now, how is that not stalking? Jack, he knows everything about me, things that l haven't even told you.
l don't know anything about him, the kind of car he has, where he lives.
The guy could be a Promise Keeper or a Christina Aguilera fan.
And we' re gonna find all that out by sitting here in this window? Well, not exactly.
Wow.
There he is.
-So? -So up you go.
Up l-- No.
You said we' re sitting.
We' re going to remain immobile.
But, Jack, if we don't follow him, how are we going to find out -anything about him? -That's simple.
We' re not.
Please.
This is exactly what friends do for each other.
-l've seen it in the movies.
-Yeah, on what planet? Come on.
You' re always saying l should have a hobby.
All right.
l think l liked you better as a matchmaking nudge.
l'd like to order a large pizza, please.
Hi.
l'm not really here.
l'm just picking up some stuff.
Large, dude.
Grande.
Hey, how do you say ''cheese'' in Portuguese? Try fromage.
-Fromage, grande.
-Gretch, can l talk to you? -Yeah.
-That's not it.
How about queso? l know that Pacey told you, that you know.
-l was just hoping that you could-- -l can keep my big fat mouth shut? Don't look so serious.
Who am l gonna tell? lt's just that certain people have no need to know this because it would hurt and bring back painful memories.
That's not what l want this to be about.
You guys are just friends.
We are.
We just don't tell each other everything the second it happens.
lf he were to hear something like that, about me -l would want it to be from-- -Joey, l think we' re in agreement here.
-We are? -Yeah.
l am not gonna say anything to Dawson on the subject of you and Pacey.
But l gotta warn you, as a friend and as a vaguely older and wiser sister-type figure this kind of information, it's not all that hard to guess.
l know.
-l mean, you look happy, Joey.
-See you then.
Bye.
He tells me it' ll be here in 45 minutes.
But l have no idea what' ll be on it.
-lt could be dried insects.
-Great.
-Okay, l am out of here.
-All right, then.
Hi and bye.
Where you going, anyway? Dawson's.
See you.
Okay, there he is.
Just don't look up, look down.
One of us has to look up, Jen, or it defeats the purpose of stalking.
-All right, you look up.
-Okay.
What's he doing? Well, he's in a bookstore.
He's looking at books.
And what's he looking at? At the moment, looks like Interview with the Vampire.
So he's obviously gay.
Can we go now? No.
Wait a minute.
Obviously gay? Straight people read Anne Rice.
Hello.
You party all night with eternal youth and a great wardrobe.
Now, what other segment of the population does that appeal to? How did you manage to surpass me in the knowledge of all things gay? Sex and the City.
He's moving.
Which way? He's going that way.
So this way.
No, No.
Oh, jeez.
Oh, my God.
l'm so sorry.
-No problem.
Hi.
-Hi.
This is my friend, Jack.
Jack, this is my-- -Friend.
Tom Frost.
-How are you? -Just browsing for books.
-They seem to have those here.
Any recommendations? -ln poetry? -What? That's where you' re browsing, in poetry? -Right.
Yeah, l love poetry.
-l'm quite fond of this person.
Right.
Robinson Ellsworth.
l love him.
Her.
She's reading tomorrow at the arts festival over in Wellfleet.
-Wow.
-Maybe l' ll see you there.
-Take care.
-You too.
l do like poetry.
-Where the Sidewalk Ends? -Yeah, right.
l'm sure she's just stopping by Dawson's, then they'll go out.
Then she'll go back to Doug's, spend the night, just like she said.
So what if Mitch and Gale are out of town? Mitch and Gale are out of town? Last pre-baby trip, at least according to Bodie.
l'm sure it's nothing.
Well, it has to be nothing, because, frankly, the alternative is just too horrifying to contemplate.
She's your sister.
He's our friend.
Any way you look at it, it's weird.
How weird would you say it is? Out of four stars, or on a scale from 1 to 1 0? l'm being serious here for a second.
Do you care? No.
You? No.
Are you sure? Of course l'm sure.
lt's entirely none of our business, Pace.
And besides, it ruins the mood.
l'm not gonna let that happen after we've waited so long for this night.
Come on, it was sweet.
l mean she loved him so much, she made the same mistakes all over again.
And got to sleep with the motorcycle guy.
All that crap about her and Nic Cage being soul mates.
Come on.
-Jim Carrey was good, though.
-Yeah.
Okay.
Next? Okay.
l have an American movie classic.
-Okay.
-lt's somewhere in here.
You go out every Friday night with pyjamas and a toothbrush? No, no, l just like to be prepared, you know for whatever possibility might come up.
Then you spending the night is a possibility? Do you want it to be? -This is really awkward.
-A little.
Yeah.
So, you know, hell, let's just talk about it.
Sex.
You know, we' ll talk about it.
We' ll get it out in the open, and then we'll feel a lot better.
-Okay.
-Okay.
-You' re not talking.
-And neither are you.
This is ridiculous.
What do you want me to say? -Okay, fine.
Be that way.
l' ll start.
-Okay.
The first time l had sex was with my high school boyfriend.
Not that moronic basketball player.
-You remember him? -Yes, l remember him.
l hated him.
Now l hate him even more.
-This is good.
See? We' re laughing.
-Yeah.
Which is better than sitting here not talking to each other.
Right.
Okay.
Your turn.
This is totally unfair.
Why? Because l've never had sex.
So? l've never been to the Middle East, but l still have feelings on the topic.
-You've obviously thought about it.
-Yeah, obviously.
And? With Jen, l mean, l was 1 5 years old.
l don't think it would have occurred to me to ask, really.
With Joey, l kind of thought everything was perfect.
But she wanted to wait, which was fine.
And then everything that happened, happened.
And then.
When they got back, at first, l.
God, l was relieved, which is lame, l know.
lt's just.
Part of me was still clinging to the insane notion that Joey and l were destined to lose our virginity together.
Well, l guess it's not all that insane.
She was your first serious girlfriend.
Yeah, but.
Now l just kind of wish they'd done it on the boat.
Or they'd do it now and get it over with, you know? Put the final nail in the coffin of Dawson and Joey.
How do you know they haven't? She told me.
Pretty adult, huh? Especially for us.
l asked her and she told me.
What's this movie about, anyway? l have no idea.
All l know is, every time you get up to get a drink you move further away from me on the couch.
You' re right, which is why l should go.
Don't you think that's kind of a drastic solution? -Dawson, don't, okay? -Don't what? This is not why l came here tonight.
l gotta go.
Gretchen, hold on.
This is silly.
This is obviously a misunderstanding.
You know what? l know it is.
But l have to go.
l was really wrong about something.
Very wrong.
So just don't ask me any more questions, okay? Just let me go.
You know, ever since they invented the Cartoon Network there's no reason for humans to get up this early on Saturday morning.
-l wanted to make you breakfast.
-You'd do that for me? Well, l don't make breakfast for just anyone, Pace.
l mean, in the past year l've made it for like, what? Two, three hundred strangers.
That's very funny.
You know, you should wear my clothes more often.
-You like it? -Yep.
When was the last time you washed it? l don't know.
When was the last time you did my laundry? That would be never.
Never? Well, then, l think you have your answer.
When l told you that whole thing about telling me what you want l didn't really expect the requests to come in writing.
Milk, eggs, syrup.
l know what this really is.
You' re trying to get rid of me.
You had your way with me.
My conversation became tiresome.
-And now you' re giving me the boot.
-Go.
l'm gonna get in the shower.
Okay.
But only if you promise me you' ll be wearing that when l get back.
Bye-bye.
Hey.
Hey.
l'm sorry to drop by so early.
l'm just looking for Gretchen.
She's not with you? She was last night.
She never came home? No, but that's no big deal.
She's probably just over at Doug's.
All right.
You know what? You' re probably right.
She's probably fine.
l just would really like to know if she got home okay.
-Sure.
l' ll call her and then call you.
-Could we do it now? You wanna call her? Yeah.
l'll just borrow your phone.
-Yeah, sure thing.
-Thanks.
-You can sit on the couch if you want.
-l'm sorry, l don't mean-- No, l hear you, that's cool.
Since when do you get up before noon on the weekends? You know, a man's gotta eat.
-Okay, l don't see him.
-He's just late, all right? -How do you know that? -Obviously because he invited me.
He didn't invite you, okay? He was just making polite conversation.
At least l hope he was.
l'm sensing that you don't have a high opinion of psychiatrists.
With my family history? Forgive me for not thinking psychiatry is foolproof.
Not all therapists know what they' re doing.
They' re just as fallible as auto mechanics.
Probably even more so.
And any therapist that's gonna date one of his patients is just not worth having around.
Jack.
God, l'm not trying to date him, all right? l mean, you've seen the guy.
He's obviously not my type.
So you absolutely, positively do not have a crush on this guy? No.
l don't have a crush on him.
God.
l don't know why you' re asking me all this.
lt's fairly common for people to develop a thing for their shrinks.
That's not what's happening here, all right? Forgive me for asking, then what are we doing here? Why do you need this guy to like you so much? l don't need him to like me.
Right.
Yeah, l forgot.
You love poetry.
That's what l thought, Doug.
Okay.
Thanks.
Bye.
-Problem solved? -Yeah, great.
Thank you.
-l appreciate this.
-Better safe than sorry, right? Yeah.
Yeah.
So just let her know l stopped by.
Actually, you know what, on second thought, don't tell her l stopped by.
Don't tell her and l' ll see if she calls.
Dawson, look.
lf you guys had a fight and you want me to say something.
We didn't have a fight.
lt's just l.
l just think she's seen the light.
But, thanks.
l' ll be right back.
Great.
He's not here.
He's not gonna be here.
Yeah, he never was gonna be here.
Okay, you win.
Happy? Yeah.
Can we go? Please? You know, would it kill you to sit and listen to some poetry? Yeah.
Yeah, it would.
Okay, you' re right.
Come on.
You saved me a seat.
Welcome, everyone.
And thank you so much for getting up this early.
The first poem is called ''So lt Never Will Crumble.
'' Dr.
Adel-Adel Through the accident of mitigation Discovered the formula for contrition This is my bathroom Thank God.
These places can be so lonely.
That's one of the attractions.
You' re mad about my little practical joke.
No.
l forgot it in the wake of personal tragedies.
But since you're here-- You want me to un-fix the election? Let Joey and Pacey win class couple? Sorry.
Can't do that.
lt's too boring.
Where's the conflict? -Where's the drama? -There isn't supposed to be drama.
See, it's thinking like that that keeps yearbooks mired in mediocrity.
Are you saying they should be fiction rather than fact? Personally, l find the truth to be a slippery little devil.
-And lacking in the fun department.
-And you don't care who gets hurt? lt's downright sweet, all this concern you seem to have for Joey.
But l should probably warn you, all it really does is prove my point.
l wasn't aware that you had one.
Oh, God, please, this whole friend dance that you guys do.
As if you were actually over each other.
As if you hadn't wounded each other's psyches and doomed all your future relationships.
l mean.
l'm sorry.
This is great stuff.
lt's what makes you and Joey far and away the more compelling couple.
As much as l appreciate having my life explained to me by you it sounds like you have no intention of un-fixing the problem.
-My hands are tied.
-l guess mine are too.
Hey.
You' re back.
l am.
So, what's the deal? Meaning? l don't know.
l got the impression that everyone was worried about you.
And by everybody, you mean Pacey and Dawson.
That would pretty much be everybody, now, wouldn't it? Sometimes l wish l had been here last year because l'd really like to know how you guys got into this mess.
You' re all worried about hurting each other.
Everybody's trying to be nice.
Except you? Yeah.
Except me.
l'm really not feeling too nice at the moment.
Look, Gretchen, l know that you and Dawson had a fight or something.
-You didn't stay over at his house.
-Did you want me to? All these lies, these lies that you' re all telling to protect each other -they' re not gonna solve anything.
-What lies? You lied to Dawson about you and Pacey having sex.
l made a decision, a very private decision, about my life.
And l don't want the whole world to know.
No, you don't want Dawson to know.
-lt's the same thing.
-No, it's not, Joey.
l don't want to be the ogre here, but lying to Dawson won't solve anything.
lt's not fair.
lt's not fair to somebody trying to have a relationship with him.
Meaning you? You know what, Gretchen? You' re right about one thing.
You weren't here last year.
And you don't know what it's like, so you couldn't possibly understand.
But you have to tell Dawson the truth.
There's no other choice here.
And if you won't do it for him or for me, then just do it for Pacey.
What's up, you guys? Bessie had some sort of a meltdown.
l gotta go.
l'll see you.
All right, give me a call, yeah? Yeah.
All right, so, what did l miss? Nothing.
You and Dawson had some sort of fight, didn't you? Since when do you care, Pacey? What, l can't take an interest in your life? No.
Okay, well, if not, what were you and Joey talking about? And why was he here at the crack of dawn this morning? -Dawson was here? -Yeah.
Dawson was here.
But l'm not supposed to tell you that.
Unlike you, he thinks you had a fight.
He just doesn't know what it's about.
Pacey, you don't want to hear about me and Dawson, so just stop.
-Stop what? -Stop asking.
-Now l really want to know.
-No, you don't.
Believe me, you don't.
Yes, l do.
Because l'm starting to have a horrifying feeling that it involves me.
No comment.
Why don't you just ask Joey about this? You want me to ask Joey about the problem you and Dawson are having? Yeah.
No.
No, look.
Pacey, l'm just not in the best of moods right now, okay? Let's just say you were right about me and Dawson.
Maybe he's too young.
My goal is not to be right.
lt's to figure out what's going on especially if it involves me and Joey, so you should tell me what's going on.
Whatever it is.
l won't mention it to Dawson or Joey.
Great.
More lies.
That's really gonna help.
What do you mean, more lies? What lies? The only lie that l can see right now is you, my own sister, lying to me.
Joey lied to Dawson.
l don't know why.
l don't know what it meant.
But he asked her whether you guys were sleeping together and she lied.
And that's the truth, Pacey.
-Hi.
-So which one was your favourite? -Which one? -Which poem? -Which poem? -Which poem.
-God, they were so good.
-They were all pretty good.
-Probably the last one would be good.
-Yeah.
Definitely.
You' re right.
lt had this really.
lt had this really surreal quality to it which, all the same, it was very deep and totally original but really great imagery that she used.
Don't ditch me, okay? l have to do this linger-and-talk thing.
Robin, this is Jen and Jack.
-Hi.
Thanks for coming.
-Sure.
Jen was just telling us how much she liked the last one.
That's his favourite too.
Not that he gets it.
-You guys high school students? -Yeah.
l told you all hope was not lost for the youth of America.
When we were high school students, the things we did-- Shouldn't you be mixing? Only if you mix with me.
lt was nice meeting you both.
-You too.
-You too.
Definitely not gay.
No.
This is by far the strangest place you've ever asked me to meet you.
Yeah.
l decided to, you know, pitch in.
Make sure the right people ended up on the right pages.
Not buying it? We both know that yearbook is a shameful, squalid waste of time.
All will be revealed in good time.
Would you like some coffee? -You drink black coffee? -Oh, yeah.
l drink it.
l don't like it, but l drink it.
l figure everybody's gotta have at least one vice, right? l guess there's a lot we don't know about each other.
That's not how it used to be.
l mean, we.
We used to be able to tell each other everything.
Yeah.
l'm not sure that was such a good thing.
Not a very Dawson Leery-like thing to say.
Which brings me to something else that l want to say to you.
l want to apologize.
For what? For that question l asked you a couple of weeks ago, that personal question.
l should never have asked you that.
l don't even know why l did.
lt's some masochistic side of me that l haven't explored yet.
Probably the same side of me that's sabotaging my relationship with Gretchen.
Do you think you' re sabotaging your relationship? Mentioning you every 30 seconds l'm sure doesn't help.
l'm just.
l'm so terrified of making mistakes l've made in the past that when l'm with her, there's this battle in my head.
Do l show her the confused mess that l really am? Or do l attempt to act cool and be the kind of guy who gets the girl? Maybe you are the guy that gets the girl.
l didn't get you.
Anyway.
Senior polls? lt occurred to me that Drue is kind of like one of the more lame TV Batman villains.
Evil with a short attention span.
He went through the trouble of rigging the election then quit the yearbook staff before his plan could be fully realized.
So you' re volunteering your services to yearbook.
l figured l'd follow through for him.
For posterity's sake, if nothing else.
At least let the record reflect the truth of senior year.
She seems really nice, your girlfriend.
She is nice.
So she's your girlfriend? Like l said, l am glad you came.
-So l could make an idiot of myself.
-No, because you like poetry.
And sitting in coffeehouse windows.
And browsing in independent bookstores.
We have a lot in common, you and l.
lf you knew, why didn't you just stop me? Because it was obviously important to you.
What's less obvious is why.
We will talk about that on Tuesday.
Why? Can't l just want to know things about you? l can't just be curious? About me? l'm not really all that interesting.
l think there was some bigger question you needed answered.
-What big question? -Tuesday.
-A clue.
-What, like, ''five letters starts and ends with the same consonant''? lt's not a crossword puzzle.
lt's what we were talking about.
You were there, weren't you? ln body, if not in spirit? Trust.
-ls that the question? -What's the answer? Yeah.
Yes.
That l can trust you.
This may not be the best place for you to hang out if you're trying to avoid me.
Of course, if you' re trying to break up with me, then.
That's not what l'm planning.
But you have been avoiding me.
Yeah.
lf l, in any way, gave you the impression that l'm not over Joey or made you feel unimportant -or that l don't want this to work.
-That's not it.
You didn't do anything wrong last night, Dawson.
All you were was honest with me.
So then, what's the problem? ls this about sex? No, it's not.
-Look, just promise me something.
-Anything.
That you' ll always be as honest with me as you were last night.
Because that's the hardest part about a relationship.
l mean, it's so much harder than sex.
Trusting someone is like this gigantic act of faith.
You put it out there and you can't be sure that you' re gonna get it back.
And sex.
Sex is just mechanical.
lt's like.
l don't know, like brushing your teeth.
-Funny you should mention that.
-Why? Because l got you something.
ln case you were dumping me.
Though given the turn in conversation, it does seem ridiculous.
ln case l was dumping you, you got me a present? Yeah.
You changed my life.
l didn't want you to go without a token of my affection.
-So it was sort of like a parting gift.
-Yeah, exactly.
You left your old one at my house and it was really disgusting.
You should get a new one every millennium.
-l know.
-That's why they colour the bristles.
Okay, l get it.
Shut up.
-Thank you.
-You' re welcome.
That was a nice thing that Dawson just did for you.
Why just for me? You' re the one who was so upset by the whole thing.
l'm glad we walked.
lt's really nice out here.
Yeah.
Yeah, it's not too cold.
lt's kind of freaky, the way the snow's all melted.
Like, it's gonna be spring soon and l didn't realize.
Our new pastime is much more of an indoor sport.
You know, Pace, sometimes l wonder if we should have done it on the boat.
When we were alone.
No.
We would have missed all the scenery.
Do you miss it? -The scenery? -No.
When we weren't having sex.
When everything and every moment wasn't about sex.
l don't know that that time ever really existed.
l guess you' re right.
Before, when we hadn't had sex, everything was about sex.
-Now that we have had sex.
-Everything is still about sex.
Do you think we' re doing something wrong? No.
Do you? No.
But if you don't think that we did anything wrong, l was just.
l mean, l don't know why that you would.
Pacey, did Gretchen say something to you after l left this morning? No.
Why? No reason.
You know, let's just walk some more.
We never do that anymore.