Dawson's Creek s04e23 Episode Script
Coda
You know, this sucks a lot more than l remembered it.
Dawson, need l remind you that Sea Creature from the Deep .
.
won the Juror's Prize in the junior division at the Boston Film Festival for which you were rewarded the princely sum of 2500 dollars? Right, which l then wasted on my next endeavour which was entitled-- What was it called again? Oh, right.
Self-Indulgent Piece of Crap.
Seriously, though, Jo.
How did we get here? l mean.
One second we're sitting here, watching E.
T wondering what 1 0th grade is gonna be like.
And the next we're leaving for college.
Well, some of us are going sooner than others.
l mean, l have the entire summer to process my crippling anxiety.
-But you, on the other hand.
-Day after tomorrow.
My college career begins the day after tomorrow.
l think the summer program wasn't such a good idea.
Dawson, you have to focus on the good.
l mean, you got in.
And not only do they want you, but they want you early.
That's huge.
You might wanna consider packing, however.
When you're in the kind of denial l'm in, there's just no room for packing.
Okay.
Have you heard from him? No, the sea creature from the deep remains incommunicado.
l'm sorry.
Once he's ready, he'll call or write or-- Something.
l don't know.
Do you ever feel utterly incapable of sustaining a relationship? l think l'm in touch with that emotion.
l guess it's another in a seemingly endless string of life lessons.
Never get involved with a monster from beneath the sea.
No matter how charming it's just not gonna work.
l have to say that despite our mutual misery l've had a pretty decent time hanging out with you lately.
Me too.
l wish it didn't have to end.
Well, everything comes to an end, Dawson.
Thank you, Sylvia Plath.
l just wish it didn't, is all.
Shouldn't we all be looking for, like, summer jobs or something? Some of us already have those.
ls it just me, or does the Yacht Club uniform -keep getting sexier and sexier? -Bite me.
You guys know there's always work down at Leery's Fresh Fish.
We know.
l got one.
-Yeah, yeah, l got one.
Ready? -Okay.
Would you rather work two straight shifts at the fresh fish house naked or have sex once with Principal Peskin? -You got a better one, let me know.
-l got one.
Sex with Peskin or having to spend your entire freshman year living with a roommate who smells really, really bad.
Earth hippie, sworn-off-deodorant kind of bad? No, French-foreign-exchange-student bad.
-ls he cute? -Jack.
-l'm kidding.
-l got it.
l got one.
l've got a ''Would You Rather'' so brilliant in its perversity.
-This better be good.
-You know what? l wouldn't preface your brainstorms with '' brilliant.
'' lt just sets you up for failure.
-Will you two harridans let him speak? -Thank you.
Would you rather have sex with Peskin or watch Peskin have sex with Grams? Okay, okay, okay.
First of all: Grams would never have sex with Peskin.
And second of all: you win.
That's disgusting.
-That is disgusting.
-Mission accomplished.
l now leave town the reigning ''Would You Rather'' gross-out champion.
-You guys know what time it is? -lt's about 6.
l was supposed to meet my dad half an hour ago.
Wait, are we still on for the movies tonight? Yeah.
Meet at my house at 7.
-Bye.
-Bye.
-See you.
-See you later.
This baby does it all, Dawson.
-What more could you want? -l don't know.
-A Mac, maybe? -What? lt's become obvious to me that, in life, you're either a Mac or a PC person.
And the choice defines you.
Let me put it this way: Beatles or Elvis? -Beatles.
-See? This is no different.
l've done research.
The T21 is by far the best buy.
That's what we're getting.
ln that case, l'd just prefer you didn't get me a laptop.
You need a laptop for school, Dawson.
-l am getting you a laptop.
-Dad.
l appreciate this, but it's not fair to do it on your terms.
A father wants to spend thousands on his son, and it's not fair.
Why would you spend money on something l don't want? Because you need it.
lt's practical, it's functional -it'll last for years.
-lt's not what l want.
-Can l help you? -Yes, we'll take the T21 .
Excellent choice.
l'll bring that right out.
We shouldn't have left her alone for an hour.
That woman is an unstoppable cleaning machine.
Good, you're back.
l'm just about to head out myself.
One last potluck at the Ladies' Auxiliary.
Sorry.
l assume you two have eaten your usual quota of junk food.
Obviously.
You've done a number on that fridge.
No point in leaving it for the last minute.
But the movers don't come till tomorrow.
Eight a.
m.
Bright and early.
Which means someone has her work cut out for her with that room of hers.
Especially if she still plans to go to the movies with Dawson.
Oh, l get it.
This cheerful disposition is just a passive-aggressive attempt to get me to stay home, isn't it? Which, by the way, l gladly will.
Oh, don't be silly, dear.
lt's Dawson's last night.
You go out.
-Have fun.
-l know but, l mean, it is our last night in this house.
Maybe we should do something special to commemorate the occasion.
Our last night in this rickety old house, with no pictures on the wall no food in the fridge.
Honestly, Jennifer there's no point in being sentimental about these things.
All right, l'll tell you what.
You'll come home tonight, we'll have tea.
You packed the kettle.
Don't forget to wear a sweater.
lt's supposed to be chilly tonight.
Let's get this baby set up.
-Later, Dad.
Hey.
-Hey.
Aren't you a sight for sore eyes.
You ready to go? -Yeah.
-Where you going? Going to the movies.
l'll be back later.
Dawson, it's your last night at home.
And? l thought we'd spend it together, as a family.
l thought l'd spend time with my friends.
Listen, l don't wanna embarrass anybody here.
l'm sorry, Joey.
But l'd really appreciate it if you stayed for dinner.
-Mitch.
-Dad, l'll be home later.
Let me understand this.
You would rather go to the movies than spend what little time you have left with myself, your mother -and your little baby sister? -That's not what l said.
What's so criminal about hanging out with my friends? You've hung out with them all month.
-What is going on with you? -Nothing.
l'm just trying to figure out when my son became so insensitive.
ln--? Probably about the same time you became so overbearing.
-You'll stay for dinner then.
-No.
-No? -No, Dad.
Look, l'm stressed out enough about moving 3000 miles away without worrying about how l'm letting you down.
l'm gonna go to the movies.
l'll be back later.
And l'm not gonna feel guilty about spending some of my last night here with a few people who mean the world to me.
ls that okay? Do what you want.
-Mom? -Honey, go.
Have a good time.
-Dawson, we don't have to go.
-No, let's get out of here.
Come on.
Yo, Witter, you got a problem with paradise, man? Not so much, no.
Then take a break.
You're making me tired.
Hey, what do you think the chances are l could find a phone here? l got a call l need to make.
Here, man.
You try that, brother.
-Thanks.
-Then when you're done meet me at the bar for some drinks.
All right, then.
-l can't believe you leave tomorrow.
-Tell me about it.
L.
A.
is a galaxy far, far away.
And yet only five hours away by plane.
Nervous? Yeah.
l'm nervous, l'm excited, l'm.
l'm exhilarated, l'm depressed.
That pretty much sums it up.
Sure you don't wanna stick around? l'm painting Mrs.
Hammacott's house this summer.
God.
Do it with Joey.
l'm sure she'll jump at the chance to free herself from the clutches of Cruella De Valentine.
Yeah.
-Yeah, she's really gonna miss you.
-No, she's got plenty on her mind.
lnfiltrating the lvy Leagues, the whole devastating break-up thing.
Come on, man.
You know, l know that's all true.
But you and Joey saying goodbye, that's a fairly colossal event.
Why is everybody so determined to shake me out of my cocoon of denial? Because if you don't at least acknowledge the hugeness of this moment you are gonna wake up in some cold sweat in some USC dorm room and you're just gonna add one more thing to your list of lifelong regrets.
-Could you do me a favour? -Yeah, anything.
Don't sit next to me at the movies.
You're bumming me out.
Come on, man.
You can't tell me you haven't at least thought about it.
-What? -What? The opportunity to spend the entire summer with her.
Of course l've thought about it.
l've thought about it so much that it makes me mad because l can't understand why l can't stop thinking about it.
l fell in love with somebody else this year.
Do you have any idea how significant that is for me? l mean.
So why can't l stop thinking about her? You gonna miss him? -Aren't you? -Yeah, but that's different.
How is it different? Because l had all last summer to get sick of Dawson and his quirks his foibles.
The annoying things he does that make you wanna throw him in the creek.
-He is rather annoying, isn't he? -Yeah.
The way he makes you sit through all the credits at the end of the movie.
Out of respect for the filmmaker.
And the incessant picture-taking and crushing self-analysis.
That thing where he puts you up on a pedestal and makes you the centre of his universe.
God.
lf you asked him to stay, he would.
What? Give up the chance of a lifetime just so he can bum around Capeside for another summer? l don't think he'd see it as such a bad trade-off.
What makes you think that l want him to stay? You really wanna know? -Yeah.
-This little voice inside my head says: '' l like your hair colour.
What number is that?'' -You still hate me, don't you? -No, l don't hate you.
l mean, l don't get it, Jen.
l mean, how am l supposed to feel about this? Am l supposed to feel good knowing that l have the power to change somebody's life? l don't know.
l think that we all have the power to change each other's lives.
The question is, are you going to use it? Hi.
Four, please.
What are you girls talking about? Hello.
Hair, makeup, world peace.
Usual girl stuff.
There you go.
-Thank you.
-Thanks.
Here you go.
All right.
So who's hungry? Well, l should go home and check on Grams.
l feel guilty about leaving her.
But if-- You know what, if you guys wanna go eat, actually -food is good.
-l could eat.
Actually, you know what? l haven't packed yet.
l still have to do that tonight.
-Unless we just wanna-- -Yeah, why don't you guys go ahead.
l'm sure you've got a lot to talk about.
-And Jack and l'll just walk.
-l could walk.
Yeah.
Whatever.
l mean it's not like my evening will be incomplete without greasy diner food.
So, what did we just decide? l guess we decided to go home.
Great.
Home.
-Who's first? -Well, l live next door.
Yeah.
My car's at her house.
Guess l'm first.
Okay, which one do you lik e better? Lily looking adorable in her bassinet with her pink bow? Or Lily looking adorable in her bassinet with her yellow bow? Oh, and then of course we have this one of her looking adorable with Dawson.
They've got the same Leery eyes, don't they? -Self-aware with hidden depth.
-Same Leery cheekbones.
-The camera loves them.
-Same heartthrob smile.
Which is probably hiding a stubborn streak 1 0 miles long.
What do you say the odds are that 1 8 years from now Lily might have the sense to listen to me before she heads off to college? She might wanna spend some time with her family before facing the great unknown.
Big step, going away.
And it isn't always easy.
Neither is getting left behind.
And not being needed anymore.
-Excuse me? -That big stand you took earlier? That desperate plea for family togetherness? Obviously the last gasp of a dying dictatorship.
Funny word, ''dictatorship.
'' You're blaming me.
-l'm not blaming anybody.
-Yes, you're blaming me.
No.
l just think that certain people when they're insecure about the future would rather pick a fight and stomp around than face the fact that they're insecure about the future.
And did l happen to mention that those people are usually men? Why would l be insecure about the future? l'm not the one whose life is about to change.
l think we've just discovered where our son gets his talent for denial.
-Later, Joey.
-Hey, call me tomorrow, okay? Okay.
-So l guess this is it, right? -Yeah.
Let me walk you to the.
Great.
-Well, l had a really nice time tonight.
-Yeah, me too.
-lt's comforting, you know? -What's that? Well, seeing a movie that you've seen before.
Yeah.
You don't have to waste creative energy figuring out how it will end.
lt's gonna be weird, isn't it? -What? -Next year.
l mean, me in Boston, you in Los Angeles.
Yeah.
Well, you're gonna have celebrity sightings left and right, you know.
l don't think L.
A.
really works that way.
Sure, it does.
One day, you'll turn around in line in some pricey organic food store or you'll be in a movie line at some mall because there are tons of malls in L.
A and you'll see him, Dawson.
-Who? -Spielberg.
Actually, l'm in more of a Soderbergh phase right now.
Regardless.
-What would you say to him? -Spielberg? -Yeah.
-l don't know.
Dawson, come on.
l mean, this is the guy who shaped your entire world-view.
Who eased all your childhood traumas and made growing up just a bit more bearable.
ln that case, l guess l'd just have to say thank you.
Doesn't quite seem like enough, does it? No, it doesn't.
So l guess l'll see you at Thanksgiving.
Actually, my parents have talked about bringing Lily out to L.
A.
, so.
-Well, then Christmas.
-Christmas, definitely.
Definitely.
Yeah.
-Good luck.
-Hey, you too.
See you, Dawson.
See you, Joey.
-Well, should we give it to him now? -Now's good.
-All right.
-What? You didn't.
Well, we figured that you should have one in L.
A.
lt was either that or a BMW.
You guys didn't have to do this.
This is too much.
Don't get too excited.
We could only afford, like five minutes of airtime.
-This is great.
Thank you.
-Sure.
Okay, you guys.
Get it over with.
Hug.
-Come here.
-All right, man.
Have fun in L.
A.
, all right? Stay cool.
-l'll do my best.
-Shouldn't be too difficult.
Why? Because l was never really cool to begin with? You said it, not me.
-l'll see you guys.
-See you.
Bye.
Well, l guess geography is destiny, huh? Here you are, stuck with me on your last night in Capeside.
l wouldn't say ''stuck'' at all.
l think.
l think this whole neighbour thing worked out for the best.
Yeah? How so? Joey and Pacey and l grew up in mortal terror of this house.
Especially around Halloween.
Every time Grams came out to sweep her porch, we expected her to hop on a broomstick and fly away.
Sounds like her.
Pacey once offered Joey, l think, a whole dollar just to run up and touch the front door.
Did she do it? Are you kidding? She's still afraid of your grandmother.
l guess that makes me the Boo Radley of this scenario.
Exactly.
Except beautiful and with breasts.
Wit, we like that around here.
Come here.
Okay.
Go.
Get the hell out of here.
Walk across that lawn, have a great life, never call me again.
So l can confirm your worst fears about men? Yes, exactly.
Oh, wait.
l forgot.
We never slept together.
You got five minutes? For you? Always.
l'm sorry.
l didn't mean to interrupt.
Grams, it's fine.
l think we're all done here.
Doomed to be friends forever.
Sucks, doesn't it? Not the most practical choice, mind you, but l gotta admit it sure as hell looks cool.
-Cooler than the T21 ? -Hardly.
But, hey, to each his own.
You know, it's funny.
l knew l'd be sad to see you go.
What l didn't expect was this feeling of not wanting you to go.
Son or not, Dawson you are one of my favourite people.
Okay, all right.
Let me see.
Have l covered everything? You know not to have sex without a condom, right? l was the only kindergartener who knew what Trojans were.
Right.
Drugs? l can't swear to you that l'll never try some variety of narcotic.
But l can promise you l'll never get so strung out l steal your TV.
Can you promise me -you won't join a frat? -That l can promise.
So tell me what it was like.
Saying goodbye to Joey.
lt was like most other things in life you have too many expectations of.
You know, totally completely underwhelming.
Well, l will tell you this.
And it is the last piece of fatherly advice l dispense before you leave the nest.
lt ain't over till it's over.
That's it? That's your advice? A trite, hackneyed cliché? lt was all l could think of.
Major demerits, Dad.
You know, when l first got here l thought that l was being punished.
That my mom sent me away because she didn't love me or something.
-Oh, Jennifer.
-But l don't think so now.
l mean, l think that she really loved it here.
This house, the creek.
l mean, she was always looking for an excuse to bring me here.
At Christmas or a vacation, anything.
Those were good times.
But sad for her.
Why's that? Some people spend their entire lives chasing the happiness they had in high school.
Their teenage years.
Thank goodness that won't happen to you.
-Why do you say that? -You children, the way you carry on.
Always so dour and depressed about everything.
Things can only get better from here.
Good heavens, who could that be at this hour? l know.
l got halfway home and l decided l didn't like the thought of you two all alone in this house on your last night.
Another sentimentalist.
Now, as long as you're here.
Yes.
l thought you packed everything.
l still have a few tricks up my sleeve.
So you're really not sad to be leaving? Not sad.
Actually it's rather exhilarating, leaving all this behind.
You know, we three are about to embark on a great adventure.
Did you and Gramps always live here? No.
When your grandfather and l were married he was still in law school.
So we lived with his parents for a while.
l would not recommend that.
Then we moved downtown above his law office.
Oh, l didn't know that.
That apartment.
ln the summer, it was so hot.
Summer nights, we'd take a blanket up on the roof.
Look at the stars.
Stars and the lights from the summerhouses.
Saturday nights the owners would string Japanese lanterns along the docks and have these very fancy dinner dances on the lawn.
Nat '' King'' Cole, Frank Sinatra.
Drifting across the water.
-That sounds magical.
-Oh, it was.
So your grandfather and l decided the best way for us to be happy would be to buy one of those summerhouses and live in it all year round.
And it worked, right? You guys were happy here.
We certainly were.
But we were always cold in the winter.
-Hello? -Dawson, is that you? -Pacey? -Yeah, man.
-I hope it's not too late.
-No.
lt's fine.
-Where are you? -l'm in paradise, man.
Paradise.
Hey, you laugh.
But it's true.
So how's everything going? l tell you, it has been the hardest work l have ever done in my entire life.
But, you know, it's probably a good thing.
lt keeps my mind off of stuff.
-So how is she? -She's.
She's doing the same thing you are, Pace.
She's keeping busy.
She doesn't say much but l get the feeling she thinks about you every 1 0 seconds or so.
l know she'd appreciate a call.
You know, l just don't think that's a place l'm ready to go quite yet.
Yeah, l totally understand.
l can say something to her if you want.
No.
You know what? l think l'd prefer if you didn't.
And that's not why l called, actually.
l just-- l realized that you're the only person that l actually regret not saying goodbye to.
Because, you know, for a long time there, Dawson being your best friend was all I really cared about in my life.
l just wanted you to hear from me that despite everything that's happened and the miles that may be between us right now l still think about the way things were.
Back when we were dorks, wondering if a girl would ever look our way? Well, speak for yourself, huh? Pace, l'm really glad you called.
Because the worst thing about not saying goodbye was I didn't get to tell you something I wanted so badly to tell you.
What's that? l'm proud of you, Pacey.
Thanks, Dawson.
Good luck out there.
Yeah.
You too.
Hey.
Hey.
What are you doing here? Well l thought if l don't help you pack, Dawson you're gonna end up in L.
A.
with just the clothes on your back.
And chances are that after a while, they're gonna start to smell a little.
That's no way to make a good first impression.
My hygiene thanks you for your concern.
Sure.
-So where are you headed off to? -The Potter B&B.
What was your excuse gonna be? l was gonna work the '' l haven't said goodbye to Bessie or Bodie yet'' angle.
-Not bad.
-Come on.
l caught that.
Sue me.
lt's still my favourite movie.
This won the Oscar, right? How many times do l have to tell you? lt was Gandhi.
Right.
l need your help here.
l've said it before and l'll say it again: You're worse than a girl, Dawson Leery.
That's good.
Emasculate me.
lt's only the last time you're ever gonna see me.
Well, until Christmas, l suppose.
Which is six months away, a whole lifetime.
By then you'll be married to the first bimbo who slips you her headshot.
And you'll be with the first guy who offers you his beer bong.
Right.
Don't you wish we could just fast-forward four years -and see how it all ends up? -l don't have to, really.
Four years at Worthington, you'll be a pedigreed professional.
-And you? -l'll be working over at Kinko's.
Stop by and say hi.
-Dawson? -Yeah? l know we always joke about this but l feel like l'm never gonna see you again.
-That's crazy talk, Jo.
-l know.
l know l'll see you again.
And it probably won't be too long from now.
You know, holidays, most likely.
But you'll be different.
l will? Well, you'll have a tan.
-And you'll have a girlfriend.
-l will? -She'll be incredibly pretty.
-Really? You'll show me a picture.
l'll immediately hate her.
Worst part is l'll know she's as great as you say she is because you like her.
You sound pretty sure about all this.
You can't keep it a secret forever, Dawson.
What's that? How incredible you are.
Okay, film student all-time favourite movie? You wanna play that game? Jaws.
You, all-time favourite song? '' Daydream Believer.
'' Most embarrassing moment? That would be when the whole school watched me make out with Eve.
What are you talking about? That did wonders for your street cred.
Okay.
You, same question.
That's easy.
Right here in this room when l offered to have sex with you and you turned me down cold.
Yeah.
Hey, can we introduce the hugest all-time regret category? Because that would pretty much be mine.
Mine would be lying to you about sleeping with Pacey.
What's so funny? l'm the only one who has not had sex.
l didn't plan on graduating a virgin.
What happened? Best laid plans.
This mythical college girlfriend of mine, will she have sex with me? No, sorry, she's a prude.
Damn.
l had such high hopes the last American virgin would fare better as an undergrad.
All-time most life-altering moment.
-Ever? -Ever.
Well there are a lot of winners there.
You know what? There is this one moment a couple of years ago in this room.
l was standing over there by the window.
And you kissed me.
lt changed everything.
lt's a pretty powerful thing when you get your biggest wish in one moment.
-Better not forget that one.
-l almost forgot.
Dawson.
l want you to stay.
Excuse me? l said, l want you to stay.
There, l said it.
Think you could've said something before l packed? No, l said it and now l want you to forget it.
Forget it? Jo, how do l forget that? lt's just something l've been thinking about.
And l wanted you to know that l was thinking about it.
You know, l was just gonna keep my mouth shut and let you go.
But that's not me.
That's some Merchant lvory movie you know, where people suffer in silence and you're supposed to be so impressed by their restraint.
Well you know sorry, but screw that.
My best friend in the whole world is leaving tomorrow.
And a big part of me wants him to stay.
So l.
l hope you don't hate me.
l could never hate you, Joey.
And not for lack of trying, either.
These past couple of years, it's been one big soap opera.
l wouldn't take it back.
l wouldn't take any of it back.
But l'm glad that it's over.
Because l like the way things are now.
My life being the cruel joke that it is now that things are so nice you're leaving.
Jo.
lf l thought for one second it was the right thing to do l would stay.
But it's time to go.
lt's time for me to get out of this room.
lt's time for you to discover who you are without us.
This chapter's over, Jo.
l can feel it.
Do you believe in magic? l never used to.
l mean, how could l? Thirteen, your mom dies.
You hope against hope for.
For magic, something to make it all better.
lt never comes, and.
You know, you look to your father who's unable to overcome all of his tragic flaws.
Well, no abracadabra there.
And then there's Pacey, well.
Any magic that was there, that ran out, didn't it? But then there's you.
There's proof that someone out there is thinking of me.
My friend who is with me always.
lt's pure magic.
l guess this is pretty much just a long-winded way of saying that l'm gonna miss you, Dawson.
l'm gonna miss you too, Joey.
Well, l guess it's getting late, and you need to rest, so.
Kind of makes me wish that the ladder was still out there.
Make a classy exit, you know? Disappear out the window, into the night.
Yeah.
Far more cinematic.
l guess this is.
This is really it, huh? See you, Dawson.
l'll see you, Joey.
So, what was yours, by the way? What was my what? Your all-time most life-altering moment? For all l know, it could be this one right now.
Saying goodbye to you.
SDl Media Group
Dawson, need l remind you that Sea Creature from the Deep .
.
won the Juror's Prize in the junior division at the Boston Film Festival for which you were rewarded the princely sum of 2500 dollars? Right, which l then wasted on my next endeavour which was entitled-- What was it called again? Oh, right.
Self-Indulgent Piece of Crap.
Seriously, though, Jo.
How did we get here? l mean.
One second we're sitting here, watching E.
T wondering what 1 0th grade is gonna be like.
And the next we're leaving for college.
Well, some of us are going sooner than others.
l mean, l have the entire summer to process my crippling anxiety.
-But you, on the other hand.
-Day after tomorrow.
My college career begins the day after tomorrow.
l think the summer program wasn't such a good idea.
Dawson, you have to focus on the good.
l mean, you got in.
And not only do they want you, but they want you early.
That's huge.
You might wanna consider packing, however.
When you're in the kind of denial l'm in, there's just no room for packing.
Okay.
Have you heard from him? No, the sea creature from the deep remains incommunicado.
l'm sorry.
Once he's ready, he'll call or write or-- Something.
l don't know.
Do you ever feel utterly incapable of sustaining a relationship? l think l'm in touch with that emotion.
l guess it's another in a seemingly endless string of life lessons.
Never get involved with a monster from beneath the sea.
No matter how charming it's just not gonna work.
l have to say that despite our mutual misery l've had a pretty decent time hanging out with you lately.
Me too.
l wish it didn't have to end.
Well, everything comes to an end, Dawson.
Thank you, Sylvia Plath.
l just wish it didn't, is all.
Shouldn't we all be looking for, like, summer jobs or something? Some of us already have those.
ls it just me, or does the Yacht Club uniform -keep getting sexier and sexier? -Bite me.
You guys know there's always work down at Leery's Fresh Fish.
We know.
l got one.
-Yeah, yeah, l got one.
Ready? -Okay.
Would you rather work two straight shifts at the fresh fish house naked or have sex once with Principal Peskin? -You got a better one, let me know.
-l got one.
Sex with Peskin or having to spend your entire freshman year living with a roommate who smells really, really bad.
Earth hippie, sworn-off-deodorant kind of bad? No, French-foreign-exchange-student bad.
-ls he cute? -Jack.
-l'm kidding.
-l got it.
l got one.
l've got a ''Would You Rather'' so brilliant in its perversity.
-This better be good.
-You know what? l wouldn't preface your brainstorms with '' brilliant.
'' lt just sets you up for failure.
-Will you two harridans let him speak? -Thank you.
Would you rather have sex with Peskin or watch Peskin have sex with Grams? Okay, okay, okay.
First of all: Grams would never have sex with Peskin.
And second of all: you win.
That's disgusting.
-That is disgusting.
-Mission accomplished.
l now leave town the reigning ''Would You Rather'' gross-out champion.
-You guys know what time it is? -lt's about 6.
l was supposed to meet my dad half an hour ago.
Wait, are we still on for the movies tonight? Yeah.
Meet at my house at 7.
-Bye.
-Bye.
-See you.
-See you later.
This baby does it all, Dawson.
-What more could you want? -l don't know.
-A Mac, maybe? -What? lt's become obvious to me that, in life, you're either a Mac or a PC person.
And the choice defines you.
Let me put it this way: Beatles or Elvis? -Beatles.
-See? This is no different.
l've done research.
The T21 is by far the best buy.
That's what we're getting.
ln that case, l'd just prefer you didn't get me a laptop.
You need a laptop for school, Dawson.
-l am getting you a laptop.
-Dad.
l appreciate this, but it's not fair to do it on your terms.
A father wants to spend thousands on his son, and it's not fair.
Why would you spend money on something l don't want? Because you need it.
lt's practical, it's functional -it'll last for years.
-lt's not what l want.
-Can l help you? -Yes, we'll take the T21 .
Excellent choice.
l'll bring that right out.
We shouldn't have left her alone for an hour.
That woman is an unstoppable cleaning machine.
Good, you're back.
l'm just about to head out myself.
One last potluck at the Ladies' Auxiliary.
Sorry.
l assume you two have eaten your usual quota of junk food.
Obviously.
You've done a number on that fridge.
No point in leaving it for the last minute.
But the movers don't come till tomorrow.
Eight a.
m.
Bright and early.
Which means someone has her work cut out for her with that room of hers.
Especially if she still plans to go to the movies with Dawson.
Oh, l get it.
This cheerful disposition is just a passive-aggressive attempt to get me to stay home, isn't it? Which, by the way, l gladly will.
Oh, don't be silly, dear.
lt's Dawson's last night.
You go out.
-Have fun.
-l know but, l mean, it is our last night in this house.
Maybe we should do something special to commemorate the occasion.
Our last night in this rickety old house, with no pictures on the wall no food in the fridge.
Honestly, Jennifer there's no point in being sentimental about these things.
All right, l'll tell you what.
You'll come home tonight, we'll have tea.
You packed the kettle.
Don't forget to wear a sweater.
lt's supposed to be chilly tonight.
Let's get this baby set up.
-Later, Dad.
Hey.
-Hey.
Aren't you a sight for sore eyes.
You ready to go? -Yeah.
-Where you going? Going to the movies.
l'll be back later.
Dawson, it's your last night at home.
And? l thought we'd spend it together, as a family.
l thought l'd spend time with my friends.
Listen, l don't wanna embarrass anybody here.
l'm sorry, Joey.
But l'd really appreciate it if you stayed for dinner.
-Mitch.
-Dad, l'll be home later.
Let me understand this.
You would rather go to the movies than spend what little time you have left with myself, your mother -and your little baby sister? -That's not what l said.
What's so criminal about hanging out with my friends? You've hung out with them all month.
-What is going on with you? -Nothing.
l'm just trying to figure out when my son became so insensitive.
ln--? Probably about the same time you became so overbearing.
-You'll stay for dinner then.
-No.
-No? -No, Dad.
Look, l'm stressed out enough about moving 3000 miles away without worrying about how l'm letting you down.
l'm gonna go to the movies.
l'll be back later.
And l'm not gonna feel guilty about spending some of my last night here with a few people who mean the world to me.
ls that okay? Do what you want.
-Mom? -Honey, go.
Have a good time.
-Dawson, we don't have to go.
-No, let's get out of here.
Come on.
Yo, Witter, you got a problem with paradise, man? Not so much, no.
Then take a break.
You're making me tired.
Hey, what do you think the chances are l could find a phone here? l got a call l need to make.
Here, man.
You try that, brother.
-Thanks.
-Then when you're done meet me at the bar for some drinks.
All right, then.
-l can't believe you leave tomorrow.
-Tell me about it.
L.
A.
is a galaxy far, far away.
And yet only five hours away by plane.
Nervous? Yeah.
l'm nervous, l'm excited, l'm.
l'm exhilarated, l'm depressed.
That pretty much sums it up.
Sure you don't wanna stick around? l'm painting Mrs.
Hammacott's house this summer.
God.
Do it with Joey.
l'm sure she'll jump at the chance to free herself from the clutches of Cruella De Valentine.
Yeah.
-Yeah, she's really gonna miss you.
-No, she's got plenty on her mind.
lnfiltrating the lvy Leagues, the whole devastating break-up thing.
Come on, man.
You know, l know that's all true.
But you and Joey saying goodbye, that's a fairly colossal event.
Why is everybody so determined to shake me out of my cocoon of denial? Because if you don't at least acknowledge the hugeness of this moment you are gonna wake up in some cold sweat in some USC dorm room and you're just gonna add one more thing to your list of lifelong regrets.
-Could you do me a favour? -Yeah, anything.
Don't sit next to me at the movies.
You're bumming me out.
Come on, man.
You can't tell me you haven't at least thought about it.
-What? -What? The opportunity to spend the entire summer with her.
Of course l've thought about it.
l've thought about it so much that it makes me mad because l can't understand why l can't stop thinking about it.
l fell in love with somebody else this year.
Do you have any idea how significant that is for me? l mean.
So why can't l stop thinking about her? You gonna miss him? -Aren't you? -Yeah, but that's different.
How is it different? Because l had all last summer to get sick of Dawson and his quirks his foibles.
The annoying things he does that make you wanna throw him in the creek.
-He is rather annoying, isn't he? -Yeah.
The way he makes you sit through all the credits at the end of the movie.
Out of respect for the filmmaker.
And the incessant picture-taking and crushing self-analysis.
That thing where he puts you up on a pedestal and makes you the centre of his universe.
God.
lf you asked him to stay, he would.
What? Give up the chance of a lifetime just so he can bum around Capeside for another summer? l don't think he'd see it as such a bad trade-off.
What makes you think that l want him to stay? You really wanna know? -Yeah.
-This little voice inside my head says: '' l like your hair colour.
What number is that?'' -You still hate me, don't you? -No, l don't hate you.
l mean, l don't get it, Jen.
l mean, how am l supposed to feel about this? Am l supposed to feel good knowing that l have the power to change somebody's life? l don't know.
l think that we all have the power to change each other's lives.
The question is, are you going to use it? Hi.
Four, please.
What are you girls talking about? Hello.
Hair, makeup, world peace.
Usual girl stuff.
There you go.
-Thank you.
-Thanks.
Here you go.
All right.
So who's hungry? Well, l should go home and check on Grams.
l feel guilty about leaving her.
But if-- You know what, if you guys wanna go eat, actually -food is good.
-l could eat.
Actually, you know what? l haven't packed yet.
l still have to do that tonight.
-Unless we just wanna-- -Yeah, why don't you guys go ahead.
l'm sure you've got a lot to talk about.
-And Jack and l'll just walk.
-l could walk.
Yeah.
Whatever.
l mean it's not like my evening will be incomplete without greasy diner food.
So, what did we just decide? l guess we decided to go home.
Great.
Home.
-Who's first? -Well, l live next door.
Yeah.
My car's at her house.
Guess l'm first.
Okay, which one do you lik e better? Lily looking adorable in her bassinet with her pink bow? Or Lily looking adorable in her bassinet with her yellow bow? Oh, and then of course we have this one of her looking adorable with Dawson.
They've got the same Leery eyes, don't they? -Self-aware with hidden depth.
-Same Leery cheekbones.
-The camera loves them.
-Same heartthrob smile.
Which is probably hiding a stubborn streak 1 0 miles long.
What do you say the odds are that 1 8 years from now Lily might have the sense to listen to me before she heads off to college? She might wanna spend some time with her family before facing the great unknown.
Big step, going away.
And it isn't always easy.
Neither is getting left behind.
And not being needed anymore.
-Excuse me? -That big stand you took earlier? That desperate plea for family togetherness? Obviously the last gasp of a dying dictatorship.
Funny word, ''dictatorship.
'' You're blaming me.
-l'm not blaming anybody.
-Yes, you're blaming me.
No.
l just think that certain people when they're insecure about the future would rather pick a fight and stomp around than face the fact that they're insecure about the future.
And did l happen to mention that those people are usually men? Why would l be insecure about the future? l'm not the one whose life is about to change.
l think we've just discovered where our son gets his talent for denial.
-Later, Joey.
-Hey, call me tomorrow, okay? Okay.
-So l guess this is it, right? -Yeah.
Let me walk you to the.
Great.
-Well, l had a really nice time tonight.
-Yeah, me too.
-lt's comforting, you know? -What's that? Well, seeing a movie that you've seen before.
Yeah.
You don't have to waste creative energy figuring out how it will end.
lt's gonna be weird, isn't it? -What? -Next year.
l mean, me in Boston, you in Los Angeles.
Yeah.
Well, you're gonna have celebrity sightings left and right, you know.
l don't think L.
A.
really works that way.
Sure, it does.
One day, you'll turn around in line in some pricey organic food store or you'll be in a movie line at some mall because there are tons of malls in L.
A and you'll see him, Dawson.
-Who? -Spielberg.
Actually, l'm in more of a Soderbergh phase right now.
Regardless.
-What would you say to him? -Spielberg? -Yeah.
-l don't know.
Dawson, come on.
l mean, this is the guy who shaped your entire world-view.
Who eased all your childhood traumas and made growing up just a bit more bearable.
ln that case, l guess l'd just have to say thank you.
Doesn't quite seem like enough, does it? No, it doesn't.
So l guess l'll see you at Thanksgiving.
Actually, my parents have talked about bringing Lily out to L.
A.
, so.
-Well, then Christmas.
-Christmas, definitely.
Definitely.
Yeah.
-Good luck.
-Hey, you too.
See you, Dawson.
See you, Joey.
-Well, should we give it to him now? -Now's good.
-All right.
-What? You didn't.
Well, we figured that you should have one in L.
A.
lt was either that or a BMW.
You guys didn't have to do this.
This is too much.
Don't get too excited.
We could only afford, like five minutes of airtime.
-This is great.
Thank you.
-Sure.
Okay, you guys.
Get it over with.
Hug.
-Come here.
-All right, man.
Have fun in L.
A.
, all right? Stay cool.
-l'll do my best.
-Shouldn't be too difficult.
Why? Because l was never really cool to begin with? You said it, not me.
-l'll see you guys.
-See you.
Bye.
Well, l guess geography is destiny, huh? Here you are, stuck with me on your last night in Capeside.
l wouldn't say ''stuck'' at all.
l think.
l think this whole neighbour thing worked out for the best.
Yeah? How so? Joey and Pacey and l grew up in mortal terror of this house.
Especially around Halloween.
Every time Grams came out to sweep her porch, we expected her to hop on a broomstick and fly away.
Sounds like her.
Pacey once offered Joey, l think, a whole dollar just to run up and touch the front door.
Did she do it? Are you kidding? She's still afraid of your grandmother.
l guess that makes me the Boo Radley of this scenario.
Exactly.
Except beautiful and with breasts.
Wit, we like that around here.
Come here.
Okay.
Go.
Get the hell out of here.
Walk across that lawn, have a great life, never call me again.
So l can confirm your worst fears about men? Yes, exactly.
Oh, wait.
l forgot.
We never slept together.
You got five minutes? For you? Always.
l'm sorry.
l didn't mean to interrupt.
Grams, it's fine.
l think we're all done here.
Doomed to be friends forever.
Sucks, doesn't it? Not the most practical choice, mind you, but l gotta admit it sure as hell looks cool.
-Cooler than the T21 ? -Hardly.
But, hey, to each his own.
You know, it's funny.
l knew l'd be sad to see you go.
What l didn't expect was this feeling of not wanting you to go.
Son or not, Dawson you are one of my favourite people.
Okay, all right.
Let me see.
Have l covered everything? You know not to have sex without a condom, right? l was the only kindergartener who knew what Trojans were.
Right.
Drugs? l can't swear to you that l'll never try some variety of narcotic.
But l can promise you l'll never get so strung out l steal your TV.
Can you promise me -you won't join a frat? -That l can promise.
So tell me what it was like.
Saying goodbye to Joey.
lt was like most other things in life you have too many expectations of.
You know, totally completely underwhelming.
Well, l will tell you this.
And it is the last piece of fatherly advice l dispense before you leave the nest.
lt ain't over till it's over.
That's it? That's your advice? A trite, hackneyed cliché? lt was all l could think of.
Major demerits, Dad.
You know, when l first got here l thought that l was being punished.
That my mom sent me away because she didn't love me or something.
-Oh, Jennifer.
-But l don't think so now.
l mean, l think that she really loved it here.
This house, the creek.
l mean, she was always looking for an excuse to bring me here.
At Christmas or a vacation, anything.
Those were good times.
But sad for her.
Why's that? Some people spend their entire lives chasing the happiness they had in high school.
Their teenage years.
Thank goodness that won't happen to you.
-Why do you say that? -You children, the way you carry on.
Always so dour and depressed about everything.
Things can only get better from here.
Good heavens, who could that be at this hour? l know.
l got halfway home and l decided l didn't like the thought of you two all alone in this house on your last night.
Another sentimentalist.
Now, as long as you're here.
Yes.
l thought you packed everything.
l still have a few tricks up my sleeve.
So you're really not sad to be leaving? Not sad.
Actually it's rather exhilarating, leaving all this behind.
You know, we three are about to embark on a great adventure.
Did you and Gramps always live here? No.
When your grandfather and l were married he was still in law school.
So we lived with his parents for a while.
l would not recommend that.
Then we moved downtown above his law office.
Oh, l didn't know that.
That apartment.
ln the summer, it was so hot.
Summer nights, we'd take a blanket up on the roof.
Look at the stars.
Stars and the lights from the summerhouses.
Saturday nights the owners would string Japanese lanterns along the docks and have these very fancy dinner dances on the lawn.
Nat '' King'' Cole, Frank Sinatra.
Drifting across the water.
-That sounds magical.
-Oh, it was.
So your grandfather and l decided the best way for us to be happy would be to buy one of those summerhouses and live in it all year round.
And it worked, right? You guys were happy here.
We certainly were.
But we were always cold in the winter.
-Hello? -Dawson, is that you? -Pacey? -Yeah, man.
-I hope it's not too late.
-No.
lt's fine.
-Where are you? -l'm in paradise, man.
Paradise.
Hey, you laugh.
But it's true.
So how's everything going? l tell you, it has been the hardest work l have ever done in my entire life.
But, you know, it's probably a good thing.
lt keeps my mind off of stuff.
-So how is she? -She's.
She's doing the same thing you are, Pace.
She's keeping busy.
She doesn't say much but l get the feeling she thinks about you every 1 0 seconds or so.
l know she'd appreciate a call.
You know, l just don't think that's a place l'm ready to go quite yet.
Yeah, l totally understand.
l can say something to her if you want.
No.
You know what? l think l'd prefer if you didn't.
And that's not why l called, actually.
l just-- l realized that you're the only person that l actually regret not saying goodbye to.
Because, you know, for a long time there, Dawson being your best friend was all I really cared about in my life.
l just wanted you to hear from me that despite everything that's happened and the miles that may be between us right now l still think about the way things were.
Back when we were dorks, wondering if a girl would ever look our way? Well, speak for yourself, huh? Pace, l'm really glad you called.
Because the worst thing about not saying goodbye was I didn't get to tell you something I wanted so badly to tell you.
What's that? l'm proud of you, Pacey.
Thanks, Dawson.
Good luck out there.
Yeah.
You too.
Hey.
Hey.
What are you doing here? Well l thought if l don't help you pack, Dawson you're gonna end up in L.
A.
with just the clothes on your back.
And chances are that after a while, they're gonna start to smell a little.
That's no way to make a good first impression.
My hygiene thanks you for your concern.
Sure.
-So where are you headed off to? -The Potter B&B.
What was your excuse gonna be? l was gonna work the '' l haven't said goodbye to Bessie or Bodie yet'' angle.
-Not bad.
-Come on.
l caught that.
Sue me.
lt's still my favourite movie.
This won the Oscar, right? How many times do l have to tell you? lt was Gandhi.
Right.
l need your help here.
l've said it before and l'll say it again: You're worse than a girl, Dawson Leery.
That's good.
Emasculate me.
lt's only the last time you're ever gonna see me.
Well, until Christmas, l suppose.
Which is six months away, a whole lifetime.
By then you'll be married to the first bimbo who slips you her headshot.
And you'll be with the first guy who offers you his beer bong.
Right.
Don't you wish we could just fast-forward four years -and see how it all ends up? -l don't have to, really.
Four years at Worthington, you'll be a pedigreed professional.
-And you? -l'll be working over at Kinko's.
Stop by and say hi.
-Dawson? -Yeah? l know we always joke about this but l feel like l'm never gonna see you again.
-That's crazy talk, Jo.
-l know.
l know l'll see you again.
And it probably won't be too long from now.
You know, holidays, most likely.
But you'll be different.
l will? Well, you'll have a tan.
-And you'll have a girlfriend.
-l will? -She'll be incredibly pretty.
-Really? You'll show me a picture.
l'll immediately hate her.
Worst part is l'll know she's as great as you say she is because you like her.
You sound pretty sure about all this.
You can't keep it a secret forever, Dawson.
What's that? How incredible you are.
Okay, film student all-time favourite movie? You wanna play that game? Jaws.
You, all-time favourite song? '' Daydream Believer.
'' Most embarrassing moment? That would be when the whole school watched me make out with Eve.
What are you talking about? That did wonders for your street cred.
Okay.
You, same question.
That's easy.
Right here in this room when l offered to have sex with you and you turned me down cold.
Yeah.
Hey, can we introduce the hugest all-time regret category? Because that would pretty much be mine.
Mine would be lying to you about sleeping with Pacey.
What's so funny? l'm the only one who has not had sex.
l didn't plan on graduating a virgin.
What happened? Best laid plans.
This mythical college girlfriend of mine, will she have sex with me? No, sorry, she's a prude.
Damn.
l had such high hopes the last American virgin would fare better as an undergrad.
All-time most life-altering moment.
-Ever? -Ever.
Well there are a lot of winners there.
You know what? There is this one moment a couple of years ago in this room.
l was standing over there by the window.
And you kissed me.
lt changed everything.
lt's a pretty powerful thing when you get your biggest wish in one moment.
-Better not forget that one.
-l almost forgot.
Dawson.
l want you to stay.
Excuse me? l said, l want you to stay.
There, l said it.
Think you could've said something before l packed? No, l said it and now l want you to forget it.
Forget it? Jo, how do l forget that? lt's just something l've been thinking about.
And l wanted you to know that l was thinking about it.
You know, l was just gonna keep my mouth shut and let you go.
But that's not me.
That's some Merchant lvory movie you know, where people suffer in silence and you're supposed to be so impressed by their restraint.
Well you know sorry, but screw that.
My best friend in the whole world is leaving tomorrow.
And a big part of me wants him to stay.
So l.
l hope you don't hate me.
l could never hate you, Joey.
And not for lack of trying, either.
These past couple of years, it's been one big soap opera.
l wouldn't take it back.
l wouldn't take any of it back.
But l'm glad that it's over.
Because l like the way things are now.
My life being the cruel joke that it is now that things are so nice you're leaving.
Jo.
lf l thought for one second it was the right thing to do l would stay.
But it's time to go.
lt's time for me to get out of this room.
lt's time for you to discover who you are without us.
This chapter's over, Jo.
l can feel it.
Do you believe in magic? l never used to.
l mean, how could l? Thirteen, your mom dies.
You hope against hope for.
For magic, something to make it all better.
lt never comes, and.
You know, you look to your father who's unable to overcome all of his tragic flaws.
Well, no abracadabra there.
And then there's Pacey, well.
Any magic that was there, that ran out, didn't it? But then there's you.
There's proof that someone out there is thinking of me.
My friend who is with me always.
lt's pure magic.
l guess this is pretty much just a long-winded way of saying that l'm gonna miss you, Dawson.
l'm gonna miss you too, Joey.
Well, l guess it's getting late, and you need to rest, so.
Kind of makes me wish that the ladder was still out there.
Make a classy exit, you know? Disappear out the window, into the night.
Yeah.
Far more cinematic.
l guess this is.
This is really it, huh? See you, Dawson.
l'll see you, Joey.
So, what was yours, by the way? What was my what? Your all-time most life-altering moment? For all l know, it could be this one right now.
Saying goodbye to you.
SDl Media Group