True Love
(Dawson and Mitch meet up with Joey and Gale in the street)
Mitch: Well, if it isn't my blushing bride-to-be and her maid of honor.
(they embrace and kiss)
Gale: Hi. We just stopped by C'est Magnifique and Debbie said the dresses
will be ready tomorrow but the cake's ready right now and I want you to come
see it.
Mitch: Let’s go.
Gale: (turns to Dawson) Bye honey. Thanks Joey.
(Dawson and Joey watches Mitch and Gale as they walk off with arms around
each other)
Dawson: They are as happy as I've ever seen them, if you can believe that.
(they start walking, with Joey swinging a couple of bags after her shopping
trip with Gale)
Joey: I can. So how's the ring?
Dawson: It's beautiful. And the dresses?
Joey: Oh, your mother's is gorgeous. However I'm starting to believe everything
I've heard about the unflattering nature of bridesmaid's dresses.
Dawson: I'm sure you'll look amazing. (Joey looks uncomfortable and a pause
ensues) Joey, thanks for doing this again. I really appreciate it.
Joey: Dawson, it was an honor when your mom asked me. How could I refuse?
Dawson: Well I know it means a lot to her, but it also means a lot to me.
I couldn't imagine you not being a part of this ceremony. And in spite of
any awkwardness that this might stir up---
Joey: You know, it's an important day for your parents and I'm not counting
on it changing either of our lives so it's not going to stir anything up
unless we let it, right?
Dawson: My point exactly. Yeah.
Joey: So you know what? I have to go. I– I have something borrowed but I
don't have anything blue yet.
(Joey begins to walk away)
Dawson: Shouldn't be too hard. (Joey turns) Seems to be some of that going
around these days.
Joey: Yeah.
(At the pier where “True Love” is moored – Doug stands on the dock as Pacey
emerges from below deck)
Doug: Hey Pace, are you sure this trip is such a good idea?
Pacey: I already cleared it with dad OK? Stay close to shore, call home every
week, I know the drill.
(Pacey grabs a box of supplies from the dock and is about to head below
deck again)
Doug: Uh, that's not exactly what I'm talking about.
Pacey: (pauses) Are you going to miss me, is that it Doug?
(Pacey smiles and goes below deck)
Doug: You know, what you think you're leaving behind here is just going to
be that much bigger when you're out there all alone. (Pacey emerges again)
Does Joey know you're leaving?
Pacey: If she does I didn't tell her.
Doug: I guess she doesn't really know how you feel about her, either. Right?
Pacey: She knows how I feel.
Doug: Pacey, have you spelled it out to her? I mean, in clear, unwavering
terms, have you done that?
Pacey: (stands with hands in pockets) And what exactly do you think would
happen if I did that, Doug?
Doug: Worst case, nothing. Best case... she gives you a reason to stay.
Pacey: (leans against the sail) You see, that right there is what happens
to the male mind when it is exposed to too many Katharine Hepburn movies.
Doug: Every time you look at the stars you're going to see her face. You
can't run away from her, Pacey.
Pacey: Well, I can try.
(he grabs another box of supplies and heads below deck)
( ) ( )
(Capeside High – Jen stands at her open locker with rubbish bin nearby, obviously
cleaning it out – Jack is a few metres away also cleaning his locker out
as well)
Jen: You know, there really is a certain pleasing symmetry to this. You me
together again, president and vice president of the bitter club reunited
for one last session.
Jack: Yeah, I am not bitter.
Jen: Yeah, sure. Everybody wants their prom night to end with the person
they’re most attracted to in the whole, entire world speeding away from them
on a commuter train.
(Jen sees Henry approaching)
Jen: (to Jack) Hey Jack, when he comes over here would you mind tell him
I still mean everything that I said, that I haven't changed my mind, and
I hope that football camp in Cleveland is sweaty, gross, girl-free, not to
mention painful and debilitating?
Jack: Do you realize how immature this is?
(Jen forcefully throws some papers in the bin and walks back over to
her locker – Henry comes up and stands right behind Jen)
Jen: Geez.
(Henry gives up and walks over to Jack who’s standing next to the bin)
Henry: Jack, could you do me a favour? Could you tell Jen that I left my
copy of Siddhartha in her– in her locker? I want it back.
Jack: No.
Henry: (surprised) Why not?
Jack: (points at Jen) Because she’s standing right here.
Henry: Could you just ask her please?
Jack: Henry, this is ridiculous. (with sarcasm) Hey Jen, guess what? Henry
has come over here with this ridiculously lame Siddhartha related pretext
because he's secretly hoping that you'll give him another chance.
Henry: Wait, that– that's not what I said---
Jen: (Gesturing toward the trash can) Why don't you tell Henry that if he
would like his book back he should probably start digging.
Jack: Hmmm. (points to at Jen and then to bin) Translation
Jen: (turns to Jack) OK., I am not a drama queen, and I'm not the only one
who totally freaked out.
Jack: Personal affront. Must be the going rate for converting young lover
subtext into text these days.
Henry: (walking over to Jen) He's right, Jen. Neither one of us is being
very direct right now. So how's this? I'm sorry.
Jen: You know what Henry? I'm sorry too. I'm sorry that we ever met.
(Jen brushes past him and walks over to the bin)
Henry: That's too bad. (walks over to Jen) Because I'm not. (Pause) You've
nothing else you want to say to me?
Jen: Nope, nothing.
Henry: I guess that finishes that.
(Henry walks away)
( ) ( )
(Dawson's house – a man in overalls carrying equipment for the wedding
opens the door and files past Andie who’d rung the doorbell)
Dawson: Andie! (Andy enters) Hey come on in, it's a little hectic around
here.
Andie: Yeah, so I see. I guess that's why you ran out of school without signing
this – my yearbook. (she hands him a Capeside High Yearbook)
Dawson: (laughs) As much as I admire your unswerving devotion to high school
ritual, I can't believe you paid $34.95 so you could one day look back on
the disaster otherwise known as junior year. (opens to the front cover)
Andie: Oh wait, no no no, I marked a page for you. (she opens to a picture
of Pacey and Dawson)
Dawson: Subtlety is not exactly your forte, is it?
Andie: He's leaving. He’s going to take this, um, summer sailing trip, you
know, some macho adventure.
Dawson: Well, good for him.
Andie: Yeah. (pauses) So, um, well we're gonna have this– this little send
off tomorrow night, you know, a– a picnic down by the docks.
Dawson: Tomorrow night's the rehearsal dinner, so... even if I wanted to
go, which I don't.
Andie: Dawson, you do realize that one of you is going to have to make the
first move, don't you?
Dawson: It's not going to be me and it's not going to be tomorrow night,
so, (hands the yearbook back to Andie) there you go. I signed on the page
with all the faculty head shots.
(Dawson goes to walk away)
Andie: Dawson? (he turns) For what it's worth, I'm not over the pain of this
yet either. Letting go isn't a one time thing. It's something you have to
do over and over again every day.
(Dawson just stares at her noncommittally)
Andie: (shrugs, giving up) OK. (holds yearbook up) Thanks.
Dawson: Sure.
Andie: (encounters a workman on her way out the door) Excuse me.
( ) ( )
(Joey driving – lights of a police care flash and siren blares – Joey
pulls over and undoes her seatbelt with a “what now?” expression on her face
– Doug pulls up in front of her then gets out and walks over)
Doug: Driver's license and registration please.
Joey: Your kidding me, right?
Doug: Driver's license and registration please. (Joey reaches over and retrieves
them from the glove box and hands them to Doug) Miss Potter I clocked you
going roughly—
Joey: You have a radar gun?
Doug: Visual assessment. You were going 5-7mph below the posted speed limit
on this particular Capeside thoroughfare. But I'll let it go with a warning
this time. (he hands back licence and registration)
Joey: I promise to be careful.
Doug: Not that kind of warning. I just though that you might like to know
that unbeknownst to you that a particular attitudinally challenged younger
sibling is preparing to leave Capeside for the summer. Seems he's going to
sail himself down to the Florida keys for the next three months.
Joey: (surprised and alarmed) When does he leave?
Doug: In a couple of days. I just thought you might like to know about it
before it was too late for you to, uh, say or do something.
Joey: Thank you.
Doug: It's not a problem Miss Potter. Passenger advisory is typical officer
protocol. (he smiles)
(Joey half-smiles, but she looks very worried and concerned)
( ) ( )
(Joey sees Pacey coming out of a store with a paper bag of food)
Pacey: (holding up a candy bar) Want a bite?
Joey: (accusingly) This is your solution?
Pacey: (the begin walking) What are you talking about?
Joey: You're leaving.
Pacey: Uh-huh.
Joey: Just when things get tough you're going to pack up and leave?
Pacey: Well, that's the general idea, yeah.
Joey: (sarcastic) Oh, real mature, Pacey.
Pacey: Well what do you want me to do? Sit around all summer and watch from
afar as you and Dawson attempt to resuscitate your ailing relationship? No
thanks.
Joey: Well I expected you to at least say good-bye.
Pacey: Oh, yeah, the good-bye scene. Played that one over a thousand times
in my head. I come to you heart in hand and announce my plans, you look at
me, pained, but then of course the Potter sarcasm kicks in, and I leave never
getting what I came for.
Joey: And what is that Pacey?
Pacey: You never ask me to stay. Ever.
Joey: Look, that's not my decision.
Pacey: Yes it is. It always has been. You may be too afraid to make it but,
let's be honest with each other here, the decision to be together or not
be together has always been yours.
Joey: All I asked for was time.
Pacey: And that's exactly what you got. You're gonna get three more months
of it. (takes another bite of his candy bar)
Joey: You know, I may be undecided, Pacey, but at least I'm not running away.
You can dress it up any way you want, it still comes down to the same thing.
You're giving up.
Pacey: I'm giving up?
Joey: Yeah. You.
Pacey: Me?
Joey: Uh-huh.
Pacey: (chuckles) Turn around. (She turns to see the wall, which only has
the background white painted) It's your wall.
Joey: Hmm-mm.
Pacey: It's unfinished, just like us.
Joey: Believe it or not, Pacey, this is not the ending that I asked for.
Pacey: Me neither, but it's the ending we got, isn't it.
Joey: (walking away) Yeah, I guess it is.
( ) ( )
(Wedding rehearsal – on a platform erected in the Leery’s front yard)
Minister: At this time, Gale will begin her vows to Mitch.
Gale: No offense, Reverend, but I have at least 20 people coming for dinner
in about an hour...
Mitch: Yeah, and seeing as how Gale and I have done all this before...
Minister: Go on, we'll do the rest when it's for real.
Gale: Thank you Reverend. (the both rush off inside and the Minister soon
follows)
Dawson: I haven't finished my best man speech yet. Any thoughts?
Joey: (scoffs) Oh, I don't have much to say about relationships these days,
Dawson.
Dawson: If you have someplace else you'd rather be, why don't you just go?
Joey: What are you talking about?
Dawson: Do I have to spell it out for you? Pacey's going away party.
Joey: I'm here, aren't I?
Dawson: Yeah, in body, but not in spirit, Jo. You've got nothing positive
to say. You're basically going through the motions with a scowl on your face.
Joey: (getting annoyed) Dawson, I'm doing the best that I can, can you cut
me some slack?
Dawson: Cut me some slack, Joey! Don't make me feel like this.
Joey: Like what?
Dawson: Like you're stuck with me, alright? I don't deserve that.
Joey: You're right. You don't. I’m... I'm sorry.
Dawson: Well, why don't you just go. All right? Give the guy my best.
Joey: (after a moment) I'm staying.
(she walks away towards the house)
( ) ( )
(Pacey’s going away party by the docks – the group sits at a table)
Grams: Oh look, star light, star bright, first star I see tonight. OK, who
wants to make the first wish?
Jen: Oh, my God, Ow! That's a piece of crab shell. Chipped my tooth. Great.
Great. Just what I need to keep men permanently away from me.
Andie: Well, if that doesn't work you can always join me this summer in the
nunnery.
Jack: Hey, at least you got to have relationships before they failed.
Grams: Good grief. You all sound like a bunch of old ladies.
Andie: Grams, it's been a tough couple of months.
Grams: You don't know what tough is.
Jen: No offense, Grams, but you have no idea what our lives are like.
Grams: What, you think I've never been in love before?
Jen: (taking a drink) Yeah, once, with one man, your whole entire life.
Grams: You know, when I was just a few years older than you I was working
at Brunswick Naval Hospital and I met a boy who had the most beautiful blue
eyes I had ever seen. He was leaving for Pusan in the morning but we had
an entire glorious day on the beach. And at the end of that day, he leaned
in close to me and whispered, "Will you wait for me?"
Andie: So what did you do?
Grams: I froze. I knew if I leaned just two inches closer the world as I
knew it would be changed forever.
Pacey: So you did nothing? You didn't kiss him, you didn't try to speak to
him, you just did nothing?
Grams: Nothing.
Jack: Did you ever wonder what your life might have been like if you had
kissed him?
Grams: That is just the point. I don't have to wonder. The very next day,
I got my best friend Sally to cover the shift for me. And after seven turbulent
hours in the cargo hold of a C130, I arrived in San Diego, went straight
to the dock, and in front of the entire crew of the USS Missouri, I kissed
him.
Jen: That's funny, I had no idea Gramps was in the Korean war.
Grams: He wasn't. Thomas Culpepper, the boy with the most beautiful blue
eyes I've ever seen, died in Pusan, in shallow water, before he ever made
it off the boat. (pauses) And two years later, I married your grandfather.
So I’ve had 46 wonderful years with one man, and one perfect kiss with another,
and I have no regrets. I wonder how many of you will be able to say that
about your lives?
( ) ( )
(Leery household -- rehearsal dinner – Gale comes up to Dawson on the
porch)
Gale: Honey, have you seen your dad?
Dawson: No, have you seen Joey?
Gale: No.
(Dawson looks out past the screen door and sees Joey walking along
the dock -- a moment later he strolls up to Joey and sits next to her)
Dawson: Bessie called. She says she wants you to stop by the store on your
way home.
Joey: Thanks.
Dawson: Sure. (sighs) Joey, about this afternoon... I don't want to fight.
That's the last thing I want to do.
Joey: Well, I don't... I don't want to fight either, Dawson. I'm sorry. (pauses)
If we're going to have an honest relationship Dawson, then there's something
you should know. I broke things off with Pacey, not entirely, but in large
part because... I didn't want to lose you. I may have lived across the creek,
but it was only when I was rowing in this direction that I actually felt
like I was rowing home. You're so much of my life, Dawson. I mean, your house
is my house and your family is my family, and there's not a single significant
event I’ve experienced that you haven't experienced with me, and I was so
afraid of losing that. But if that wasn't the choice... and if I thought
that there was a chance that you would forgive me, I may have chosen differently.
And you deserve to know that.
( ) ( )
(In Gram's car on the way back home from Pacey’s going-away dinner
– Jennifer looks sullen and upset)
Grams: Jennifer? What's wrong?
Jen: I wish that I hadn't let Henry go without telling him how I really feel.
I wish... now it's too late.
Grams: It's never too late.
Jen: Yeah, I suppose.
Grams: Here's what I suppose. (Turns the car around, screeching the tires,
knocking over trash cans)
Jen: Grams, what on earth are you doing?
Grams: We're going to catch that bus and you are going to tell that boy exactly
how you feel.
( ) ( )
(Joey is walking past the wall -- Pacey has written "ASK ME TO STAY"
on it)
Pacey: What took you so long? (takes a drink of milk) I got thirsty. I called
Bessie, Bessie called you. I tell you, it is not easy work finishing things
off.
Joey: Pacey, what does this mean?
Pacey: Well, it means that you were right. That my leaving would be giving
up on you. And I'm not quite prepared to do that just yet. But it also means
that I need to know that you're not quite prepared to give up on me yet,
either. So, all that being said, I refer to the wall, with its hastily yet
adoringly written S.O.S. which I guess kinda speaks for itself. I spent an
hour and a half staring at this half-painted wall after we talked last night.
Just staring and thinking. So, the way I figure it, it's your turn to stare
now. (Pacey leaves)
( ) ( )
(At the wedding)
Gale: I do promise to love you in good times and in bad, in sickness and
in health. I loved you before I knew you. I will love you for all eternity,
for you are my beloved, Mitch. You're my best friend.
Mitch: I loved you before I knew you. I will love you for eternity, for you
are my beloved. You're my best friend.
Minister: And now, by the power vested in me, I'm happy to pronounce you
husband and wife. Again. Mitch, you may kiss the bride.
(they kiss – the wedding guests applaud – Mitch and Gale walks down
off the platform and past the guests – Dawson and Joey do the same and Dawson
looks to find Pacey is at the rear watching)
( ) ( )
(In Grams car as it speeds along – Jen sits in the front – Jack holds
a can of softdrink in his hand)
Andie: (trying to read a map) Grams, we've been driving for hours. His bus
could be anywhere by now.
Jen: Yeah, we could have missed him.
Grams: You cannot miss a giant gray bus filled with high school football
players. (She spots the bus at a rest stop) Like that one right there.
Jen: Where? Oh, my God.
(Grams floors it and they pull into the rest stop with a screech of
tyres – Jen’s quickly gets out and begins the frantic search for Henry)
Jen: Henry? Um, Henry? Henry Parker? (She runs toward the men's room) Hey,
Henry? Henry Parker. (brushes aside people) Come on, outta my way, come on.
(reaches the door to the men’s room) Henry, you in there?
(the door opens and a man emerges and restrains Jen)
Man: (speaks quickly) Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa! You can't go in there! What,
have you lost your mind?
Jen: Well, quite possibly, yes, I might have lost it. (she spots Henry and
runs toward him) Henry, nine months ago you paid $500 to kiss me and I was
too dumb to realize what that meant or what you were really offering me,
but– but I know now. It means that there really is such a thing as a second
chance and that no matter how old or how jaded you are when you meet the
person you are supposed to be with everything is going to be new, a sunset,
a cheesy love song, and– and especially sex. (the guys cheer) Henry, I'm
the reason we didn't have sex after prom.
(fellow football players gather around the couple)
Henry: Trust me, I know.
Jen: Not because I was mad at you but because I was more nervous than you
were. I have been with guys before but I have never been with anybody that
I loved, and in that way I am more of a virgin than you could ever be. (The
guys all laugh)
Henry: (looks around, embarassed) Thanks a lot.
Jen: Come on, what do you care? Come here.
(they kiss to the cheers of the guys and the smiles of Grams, Jack
and Andie – the chant of “Henry, Henry” goes up)
( ) ( )
(At the wedding reception – Pacey stands by the screen door with arms
crosses – Joey looks over and decides to approach)
Joey: Look, I can't do it, Pacey. I can't give you a reason to stay. I have
so much junk to work through I don't even know where to begin to process
it all, I mean how I feel about you and– and how I feel about Dawson—
Pacey: Then you've made your choice. Right there, you've made your choice.
Good for you.
Joey: I guess I have.
Pacey: Yeah. Wasn't so hard, was it? You should have made it months ago.
Saved us all a lot of time and energy... and heartache.
(Dawson approaches)
Dawson: I see all members of the triangle are present and accounted for.
Joey: (takes a camera off Dawson) Um, can I have this camera? I'm going to
go take some pictures. (she begins to walk away)
Pacey: Jo?
Joey: (turns) Yep?
Pacey: I don't even get a good-bye?
Joey: (looks from Pacey to Dawson to Pacey again) Good-bye Pacey.
(she walks away)
Dawson: I’m just wondering, what the hell are you doing here?
Pacey: Ease up man. I'm here for the wedding.
Dawson: Last I heard you were sailing the seven seas.
Pacey: As indeed I am, tomorrow. Today I'm here for your parents.
Dawson: I'll be sure to pass on your congratulations.
Pacey: Yeah, speaking of congratulations, I guess I should be passing some
on to you.
Dawson: What are you talking about?
Pacey: Well, she made her choice, Dawson. You're it. You got what you wanted.
(pauses and sighs) Things are never going to be the same between us,
are th
Dawson: No.
Pacey: Yeah. Yeah, I didn't think so.
( ) ( )
(As the football bus is leaving)
Henry: I'll write you every day!
Jen: Just come back in one piece!
Andie: (laughs) That was awesome!
Jack: You know, you gotta resign from that bitter club now.
Jen: I'll still be there in spirit.
Grams: Oh, I am so proud of you. You showed great, great courage today. How
does it feel?
Jen: Well, I feel like an idiot. A happy idiot.
Grams: Did she say happy? Oh, you don't know how long I've waited to hear
that word.
Jen: Yeah, you and me both. Been waiting a long time to feel it. (Grams hugs
her) OK, enough hugging for today. You know, I tink that we've still got
one thing left to do on our Carpe Diem road trip. Jack, it's your turn.
Jack: No. No. No way.
Jen: Our era of regret ends right now. What's the fastest route to Boston?
( ) ( )
(Wedding reception – Dawson and Joey are dancing)
Dawson: You know, I used to be able to look in your eyes and know everything
you were thinking. These days... I haven't a clue.
Joey: I was just thinking about the summer, how much there's going to be
to do and, I mean, we didn't get a chance to spend last summer together,
you and I. We're going to have a lot to catch up on. There'll be waterskiing
with your dad, and fourth of July on Waldeck Island and, I mean, we can even
go into Boston for the weekend. I mean... that would be fun.
Dawson: Yeah.
(Joey looks very unhappy)
( ) ( )
(Boston – Ethan’s Prep school Bingham Breeley & Buckingham – Jack
gets out of the car)
Jack: Wish me luck.
(Jack begins looking around and sees Ethan sitting at a table outdoors
with a guy – he walks over)
Ethan: Jack!
Jack: Hey.
Ethan: Uh, what are you doing here?
Jack: I just drove a really long way to tell you, um... more sort of to try
to explain, really. No, no, I don't mean that. I wanna show you. Yeah, I
wanna show you that I can and that I'm not afraid to... oh hell, this. (He
kisses Ethan – Ethan pulls away)
Ethan: Uh, Jack, no, uh.
Jack: I know there's people around. But who cares, right? That's the point.
I finally have the courage to do this.
Ethan: Jack this is Brad.
Jack: As in your ex-boyfriend Brad?
Brad: No, as in his boyfriend Brad. I think I'm going to let you two talk
this one out. See you at practice. (he leaves)
Ethan: Wow. Um, OK, explanation time.
Jack: No. No explanation necessary. It's very clear to me that I just inducted
myself into the halls of the permanently pathetic.
Ethan: Please Jack, just listen. The timing, it just isn't there right now.
And Brad and I...
Jack: Yeah, I don't really want to hear the details of your joyful reunion
right now, OK?
Ethan: Sure, Jack. I'm sorry. I really am. (Ethan leaves)
( ) ( )
(Wedding reception – Dawson taps a fork against his champagne glass
to get everyone’s attention so he can make the toast)
Dawson: The first time my parents got married they were very young. They
were just out of college, and um, I remember looking at the photo album as
a kid and wondering why I wasn't in any of the pictures. It's hard when you
love someone that much to imagine them having this entire life that you weren't
even there for. And I have to say that uh, being here today, experiencing
this firsthand, finally getting to be in all the pictures, I wouldn't trade
this for anything. Cause I'd much rather be a part of what you guys have
now than what you had then. That point where everything is forgiven, and
I think that's what love really means. That you can forgive anything. So,
to my parents. Who taught me that love does not conquer all, that love ends
and begins again. Cheers.
(Dawson and Joey look at one another)
( ) ( )
(The dock by Dawson’s house – Dawsons stands looking out over the creek
as Joey approaches)
Joey: Hey. Your speech was beautiful.
Dawson: Thanks.
Joey: What you said, did you mean it Dawson?
Dawson: Every word. Which is why you should turn around and go. To Pacey.
Joey: What?
Dawson: Last year you had the opportunity to go to Paris and study and because
of me, you didn't.
Joey: Dawson, that wasn't your fault.
Dawson: Yes it was my fault. Because I should have made you go. But I was
selfish, and I didn't want you to go. I wanted you to stay here with me.
And I refuse to make that mistake again.
Joey: Well, Dawson, I mean, what if it's my choice? What if I want to stay?
Dawson: Joey, come on. Even I can see it. Pacey is this year's Paris. And
this time, you have to go. You have to see for yourself, all right? I can
stand here and tell you that it's a colossal mistake and that all roads lead
back to me but that's not gonna make any bit of difference. Words and speeches
sound great, but they don't add up to anything. All that matters right now
is what you want.
Joey: I don't even know what I want, Dawson.
Dawson: Yes you do. You want him. You want him like I want you. You love
him like I love you. (Joey begins to cry) The only difference is he loves
you back the same way. And you deserve that. O.K.? And I'm not going to be
the one who stands in the way of you getting that. You're free. You can do
whatever you want.
Joey: But Dawson, I want us to still be friends and I want to know that you
don't hate me—
Dawson: They're just words, Joey, They're just words, ‘cause after you're
done dispensing your pleasantries here you're going to turn around and you're
going to walk away from me, aren't you?
Joey: I have to, otherwise I'll never know...
Dawson: Stop.
Joey: But Dawson—
Dawson: Jo, go, I'm telling you. Before I take it all back. All right? Just
go. Go!
(Joey starts running toward the pier, Dawson collapses in tears – Grams
and the gang arrive back home – Jen gets out to see Mitch and Gale driving
off, Joey running past her and Dawson sits on the pier with head in hands)
( ) ( )
(Jack’s house – he walks in the door)
Mr. McPhee: Hey, Jack, I'm glad you're back. I want to show you something.
Jack: I'm not really in the mood right now.
Mr. McPhee: Hey, what's the matter?
Jack: I just wanna be alone. (he walks off down the hallway)
Mr. McPhee: Hey, hey, hey, you can talk to me.
Jack: This is something you really don't want to hear about, believe me.
Mr. McPhee: You don't know that.
Jack: (turns and walks back to his dad) Really? You wanna hear that I found
out that Ethan got back together with his ex? You wanna hear that I found
that out after I kissed him?
Mr. McPhee: Well, that's... interesting.
Jack: Yeah, that's interesting, right? Come on, admit it. The thought of
me kissing another guy disgusts you. I disgust you.
Mr. McPhee: Hey, not that is not true!
Jack: Yes it is!
Mr. McPhee: Look, you're angry, you're hurting right now but I will not let
you pick an argument with me just so you can vent your frustration.
Jack: No, no, I spent an entire year developing this relationship, and working
on it. Now it's awash. The whole year is awash. My whole life is awash!
Mr. McPhee: Your life is not a wash. You hurt now because you had the guts
to put yourself out there, to go after what you wanted.
Jack: (tearfully he crouches in the corner of the kitchen) I can't. I can't
keep going through this. It's like having all the problems of a typical teenager
and there's this whole other level of constant fear... and pain. Do you know
the anguish I went through over a kiss? One stupid little kiss? Most people
don't have to do that.
Mr. McPhee: You're right. They don't.
Jack: Then why me? I don't want to be different. I didn't ask to be gay.
Mr. McPhee: No more than I asked for a gay son. But boy, am I glad I got
one.
Jack: You don't mean that.
Mr. McPhee: Yeah, I do. (Mr. McPhee holds Jack and as he cries)
( ) ( )
(Dawson’s bedroom – he stands in the doorway to find Jen, Andie, and
Jack all sitting on his bed)
Andie: (gestureing to the others) Oh, behold, your official pick-me-up posse.
Jen: Yeah, Andie and I were chatting and thought that you could use a little
company.
Andie: So then I took it upon myself to call Jack Attack here and tell him
to hurry over.
Jack: And then I took it upon myself to run over to the video store and grab
some movies.
Dawson: Thanks, guys. I really appreciate you coming over but I– I really
think what I need right now is to just—
Andie: Sorry, Dawson. No can do.
Jen: Yeah, I think that the words "I want to be alone right now" are used
far too often around here.
Andie: Kinda ranks right up there with, uh, "Can we talk?"
Jack: (chuckles) Yeah, and there's those countless references toward all
things Freud and Spielberg.
Jen: Yeah, I'm pretty sure of it. We're not in Capeside anymore, Toto. This
is some alternate reality where our intellects are sharper, our quips are
wittier, and our hearts are repeatedly broken while faintly in the background
some soon-to-be out of date contempo pop music plays.
Dawson: So why does it hurt so much?
Andie: Because our pain makes us real Dawson. But we can't do it alone. None
of us can.
Jen: (pats the bed) Sit down.
Dawson: (entering the room) So what did you guys do today?
Andie: Oh my God, you are not going to believe these two. It all started
with Jen...
( ) ( )
(Joey arrives at the pier where True Love is moored – she has changed
clothes to jeans and top)
Joey: (yelling) Pacey! Pacey! Pacey! Pace! Pacey!
Pacey: (walks down the pier behind her) You want something, Jo?
Joey: I want to talk to you.
Pacey: No, No. A bit late for this now. I'm leaving. You can't stop me. Don't
even try.
Joey: No, that's not why I'm here.
Pacey: So why are you here? You want to say good-bye again? Maybe you want
to rub it in a little bit, huh?
Joey: Look, I don't want to stop you, Pacey. And I don't want to stop Dawson,
and I don't want to be stopped, not by either of you, not by anyone. See,
I mean that's what this whole year has been about. We've been trying to stop
each other from moving on and from growing up, but not you. You're different.
And you've challenged me every step of the way, and you've been there every
step of the way.
Pacey: Jo, departure time is in T-minus 30 seconds so if there's a point,
I suggest you get to it. (he steps aboard)
Joey: I think I'm in love with you.
Pacey: (pauses) You think, or you know?
Joey: I know. I've known it since the moment you kissed me and maybe even
before that, and scary as it is I don't want to deny it anymore, Pacey. I
don't want to run from it and I don't want to let it run from me.
Pacey: So, what are we gonna do here, Jo?
Joey: I wanna come with you.
Pacey: What? Are you crazy?
Joey: I wanna stop standing still. I wanna move forward. I wanna come with
you.
Pacey: What about Bessie and the B&B? They need you.
Joey: Not as much as I need you, Pacey.
(Joey attempts to step aboard)
Pacey: Nuh-uh-uh.
Joey: (smiles and holds out hand) Permission to come aboard?
Pacey: Permission granted. (They kiss)
Pacey: You can swim, can't you?
Joey: Of course. I'm just kind of worried about the next change of clothes.
Pacey: That's nothing to worry about. We're going to hit the next port in
a few of days.
Joey: A few days?
Pacey: Yeah, or a few days after that. Who really cares?
(They set sail – we see the boat slowly sail away as the sun sets)