[Outside Joey's House] (Through a window, we can see Pacey inside.)

Pacey: Tomorrow night will be your night. We'll do whatever you want.

Joey: Something wild, insane and crazy?

Pacey: I promise.

Joey: Like what?

Pacey: Like I'll come home from work early and we'll wallpaper each other. (Inside. Joey pauses to look at the script.)

Joey: No way. Sorry, we're done.

Pacey: What? We can't stop now! I don't know this stuff at all!

Joey: Sorry, Master Thespian, but the whole next page consists solely of cooing, tickling and lap-sitting -- three things definitely not in my range as an actress.

Pacey: (angrily) Okay, you're gonna be sorry tomorrow night when I get up on that stage and panic, draw a complete blank and then just start ad-libbing obscenities to the crowd.

Joey: (hesitantly) Actually, Pacey, I kinda thought I'd go on Saturday.

Pacey: (looks crestfallen) Saturday?

Joey: Yeah.

Pacey: No, no, you don't wanna come on Saturday. You gotta come on Friday, it's opening night! Much better chance you'll get to witness some amusing disaster. You know, like seeing me falling on my head or perhaps my co-star hyperventilating from one of my intoxicating stage kisses.

Joey: (drolly) Yeah, you're known for those.

Pacey: (laughs) So, what do you say? Front row center?

Joey: (wiping the table) I can't. I kinda have this thing I have to do on Friday night.

Pacey: (suspiciously) What thing?

Joey: (quietly) It's just this thing-- this guy.

Pacey: What guy?

Joey: AJ.

Pacey: (really high pitched) College guy?!

Joey: He's coming out to the Cape for a party and he invited me to go with him.

Pacey: (high pitched again) You're goin' to a frat party?!

Joey: He's not that kind of a college guy, Pacey. I mean, have you ever heard of the Aurora borealis?

Pacey: (knowingly) The northern lights.

Joey: Yes.

Pacey: (slightly offended) Yeah, I've heard of them. I mean, I may not be Ivy League material, but if you give me a road map and a remote control, I can probably find my way to The Discovery Channel and back.

Joey: Yeah, well there're like ten nights out of the year when you can actually see the northern lights from this part of the world and tomorrow may be one of them. And if you factor in the recent sunspot activity, there-

Pacey: Northern lights, my ass. This guy is obviously just trying to separate you from the Potter pantalones.

Joey: (annoyed) Pacey, read a newspaper once in a while. You cannot fake geomagnetic activity.

Pacey: What? Well, yeah you can. Sure you can. You can fake anything.

Joey: No.

Pacey: Especially if you're some Ivy League egghead and its all part of some grand astronomical make-out scam. I'm talking as the voice of reason here, okay? I mean, come on. The chances of the northern lights appearing in the night sky above Capeside are about as good as the chances of me acquitting myself with distinction on that stage tomorrow night.

Joey: Yeah, well call me crazy, but I'll take those odds any day.

[Credits]

[Outside Capeside High] (Dawson and Joey walk to school)

Dawson: So what do you think?

Joey: What do I think?

Dawson: Yeah.

Joey: I think you're going to be pretty bored in study hall, Dawson.

Dawson: It could be a very interesting opportunity to study some human behavior while I figure out what my next move is going to be.

Joey: Just don't go joining the yearbook, okay? I mean, it's bad enough that Pacey's doing this whole play thing.

Dawson: Tonight's opening night isn't it?

Joey: Yeah I- (She's interrupted as Nikki comes up to Dawson)

Nikki: You dropped film class? Are you insane?

Joey: Um... I can tell you guys have a lot to discuss, so see you later. (She leaves)

Nikki: (unsurely) This doesn't have anything to do with the film festival, does it?

Dawson: No, its just, I need to walk away for a little while, you know? Recharge my batteries.

Nikki: Well, the least you could've done was given me a heads up. We're partners, Dawson. And in three days, we're supposed to stand in front of our entire class and pitch a feature film.

Dawson: Nikki, I'm sure Mr. Jordan would be more than happy to give you an extension and get you another partner.

Nikki: I don't want another partner. I want you.

Dawson: Look, who are you kidding? You've probably got the entire assignment done already.

Nikki: (guiltily) Well, yeah. But I was gonna ask for your ideas!

Dawson: Well, if you did you would've realized that I don't have any.

Nikki: You don't have any ideas? Dawson, you are the most creative person in the class!

Dawson: See, that's where you'd be wrong, because as of 8:15, I'm now the most creative person not in the class.

[Backstage at Capeside High] (Pacey and "Corie" walk nervously)

Corie: How are we supposed to go up tonight if you keep forgetting your lines?

Pacey: I know the lines, okay? It's just that I got a bit of recall delay, that's all.

Andie: (walking frantically) Where's Mr. Broderick? Our play is falling apart at the seams! (She passes Pacey who's just kind of standing there) Pacey. Just take it from the top.

Pacey: Sure thing, boss. (He just keeps on standing there.)

Andie: Your entrance.

Pacey: Entrance, right. (He goes off. Jack enters)

Jack: Andie, Andie.

Andie: (exasperated) Not now, Jack. I- I- we're trying to do this line read-through but Pacey has conveniently chosen to leave his memory at home.

Jack: Yeah, well about thirty minutes ago in English class, Mr. Broderick...

Andie: What?

Jack: Just come with me. Come on.

[Capeside High Nurse's Office] (Mr. Broderick lays on a cot, a damp cloth on his head.)

Mr. Broderick: (quite the martyr) The nurse thinks its a kidney stone. My wife's picking me up in five minutes.

Andie: No, no, no, no. The play's going up in less than 8 hours!

Mr. Broderick: I'm sorry, Andie. I'm not gonna make it there. You're gonna have to take my place.

Andie: No, you don't understand. See, I have, um, tickets to sell and the after party to set up. I can't do everything by myself.

Jack: I can do the tickets and the after party.

Mr. Broderick: There you go. Jack will help you.

Andie: But- but--

Mr. Broderick: I have faith in you, Andie. I mean, who am I kiddin'? It's been your show all along. This is your night. (He hands her a black binder) Here.

Andie: Your director's binder?

Mr. Broderick: It's yours now. And as the house lights fall over that magic place we call the theater, all I ask is that you give pause for a fleeting moment... and think of me. (Andie looks stricken. Jack tries not to laugh, but can't help but chuckle.)

[Capeside High Hallway] (We see Jen as she walks towards the stairs. She looks down and sees Henry at his locker.)

Jen: Henry!

(Henry immediately closes his locker and runs off. Jen goes down the stairs after him.)

Jen: Wait, Parker! Parker, wait up!

(She chases him. He's running out of the building. She cuts him off and catches him as he's coming out the door.)

Jen: Hi, Henry.

Henry: Jen. (He starts walking away. She follows him.)

Jen: Okay, why are you avoiding me?

Henry: Why are you canceling my dinner tomorrow?

Jen: What makes you think that I'm canceling?

Henry: Ever since you agreed to this little dare-I-call-it date, you don't even make eye contact with me in the hallway. It's like you've got this giant blind spot in exactly my shape and size.

Jen: Okay, don't you think that maybe you're just being a little bit paranoid?

Henry: Are you or are you not canceling our date?

Jen: I'm not. I'm not canceling anything.

Henry: (stops and smiles) You're not?

Jen: No. No, I'm- I'm just postponing. (Henry turns and walks away angrily.)

Jen: Look, see its Pacey's opening night and I just figured that maybe I should be there to support him.

Henry: So that's all this is about? The play?

Jen: Yeah. Yeah, that's all this is about.

Henry: Well, great.

Jen: (caught off guard) What do you mean, great?

Henry: I'll go with you. To the play. What time's curtain?

Jen: (pauses, somewhat reluctantly) Seven.

Henry: Alright, I'll be there. I mean, if that's all right with you.

Jen: (not believably) Yeah. Yeah, that's fine. (She watches him walk away, looking guilty.)

[Joey's house] (Bessie is attempting to get Joey to use an eyelash curler)

Joey: Don't even think about coming near me with that medieval torture device. (There's a knock on the front door)

Joey: (panicking) That can't be him.

Bessie: Relax. I mean, let Bodie get it and finish telling me how I'm not supposed to worry about you going out with some much-older guy.

Joey: He's not that old, Bessie. He's like 19. (There's a knock on the door of their room. Bessie opens it, shuts it)

Bessie: Well, it's a boy. Just not the one we expected. (She opens the door again and lets Pacey in as she leaves.)

Pacey: (talking very fast this whole scene) Okay, so I tanked. I did. I completely tanked.

Joey: (motherly) Calm down, Pacey. You're just nervous.

Pacey: No, no, no, this is way beyond nervous. You know that read-through I had today? I couldn't remember a single line.

Joey: (calmly) I don't know why you're psyching yourself out like this. You know the play, Pacey. We went through it two nights ago.

Pacey: No. I know the play when I'm running it with you. When I gotta do it with actual human beings, nothing.

Joey: I know I suck for not being there. I'm sorry.

Pacey: (a little angrily) You do suck for not being there, don't ya? (going back to the fast talking) Listen I'm gonna give you the opportunity to get back in my good books, okay? There's still the after party I told you about and, you know, don't say no too quickly because you're definitely going to need a shoulder to cry on after this whole northern lights thing doesn't work out.

Joey: (chuckles) Okay, I'll try but don't count on it, alright? Current geomagnetic conditions are extremely favorable for auroral activity, actually.

Pacey: Where did all this scientific mumbo-jumbo come from? I thought this AJ dude was a poetry geek.

Joey: (proudly) He's interested in more than just that. He's a Renaissance man.

Pacey: Fantastic. He can bore you in 7 languages.

Joey: No, just three actually. English, French and Latin.

Pacey: Latin?

Joey: Mm-hmm.

Pacey: Who speaks Latin? I mean, like Spanish, now that's the foreign language of the people. But Latin, that's a dead language. (Bessie comes back inside)

Bessie: He's here.

Pacey: Okay, thank you. (He promptly puts his hand on her face and pushes her out of the room, shutting the door behind her.) It's not too late to bail, okay? Believe me.

Joey: (getting annoyed) Why would I want to do that, Pacey?

Pacey: Because this guy's an operator, okay? I can tell, I mean, you know the first thing he's gonna do when he comes through that door is he's gonna pay you some lame compliment about how incredible you look tonight. (He says the last few words with complete honesty as he looks her over.)

Joey: Pacey--

Pacey: I'm just lookin' out for you! (He follows her out of the room) And then he'll try something cute, like a negligible, but not entirely insignificant, amount of physical contact, you know what I mean? Like helping you on with your coat, hmm?

Joey: (angrily) It's called being a gentleman, Pacey. I'm surprised you've heard of it.

Pacey: (even faster) And this party he's supposedly taking you to, I bet it doesn't even exist. And if it does exist, I will lay you money that our boy wonder over there (motioning towards AJ who's standing in the foyer, looking anxious) seizes the first possible opportunity to get you alone.

Joey: (commands Pacey as she would a dog) Stay. (She walks over to AJ. They stare for a second at each other.)

AJ: Hey.

Joey: (quietly) Hi.

AJ: You look, uh you look amazing.

Joey: I should get my coat. (Pacey watches as she gets it out of the closet. AJ helps her put it on. Pacey looks on with hurt and anger. She looks at him for a second with half-guilty, half-annoyed eyes.)

[Commercials]

[Outside a large house on the Cape] (AJ walks down a staircase with two pewter mugs in his hands. He brings them over to Joey who's looking up at the sky)

Joey: (greeting him) Hey. Thank you. So, who are all these people?

AJ: Well, the guy who owns the place is a mathematician. Once upon a time, he was my mentor.

Joey: And everybody else?

AJ: His grad students mostly, some astrophysicists and left-leaning impoverished academics, can't you tell?

Joey: And how would I tell?

AJ: Well, by the cheap haircuts, the unfortunate fashion sense, (he takes a drink and grimaces) the pretentious taste in beverages. (throws it out) It's mead. It's what Beowulf drank before he slew Grendel. (Joey starts to drink)

AJ: (stops her) You know, I wouldn't its-- (he takes the glass)

Joey: Can't I have some?

AJ: No, no, no. It's alcoholic.

Joey: Ah. I thought that's what college guys look for.

AJ: What?

Joey: Opportunities to get high school girls all liquored up.

AJ: Well, only ones with very little imagination. Alcohol isn't exactly the most sophisticated way to seduce a girl. (realizes what he just said) I mean, there are better ways to go about it. Not that I'm- I mean… I wasn't-I'm not planning on--

Joey: (looking around) Where's everyone going?

AJ: Oh. Cloud cover. Viewing conditions aren't exactly clear.

Joey: Does that mean no lights?

AJ: Well, not necessarily. It could clear up before midnight.

Joey: (sadly) Midnight?

AJ: Yeah, for some unknown reason, midnight, astronomical midnight to be exact, is the best time for viewing auroral displays.

Joey: (laughing) So… that means we have quite a wait in store for us.

AJ: You're not gonna turn into a pumpkin if I keep you out that late, are you?

Joey: (she shakes her head and shivers) But I might freeze to death so… maybe we should go in side…mingle with those astrophysicists.

AJ: Let's take a walk first, want to?

Joey: (looking pensive) Sure.

[Capeside High School outside the auditorium] (Jack is at a table handing out programs. Dawson is at the table to get one. Andie walks up, dressed all in black)

Andie: (frantically) Oh, Dawson, there you are! Where's Pacey?

Dawson: Uh, as director shouldn't you have a better idea of that than I do?

Andie: (panicking) Oh!

Jack: What's going on?

Andie: Well, it's only twenty minutes till curtain call and my lead is nowhere to be found.

Jack: I swear I saw him come in earlier.

Andie: Okay, so he's got to be around here somewhere, right?

Dawson: I'll go look for him.

Andie: Okay, Dawson, don't look, just find, please? And tell him not to worry, I'm not going to kill him. Till after the show. (Jack gives Dawson a worried look as Andie walks away)

[Capeside High School Gym] (Pacey is playing basketball, already decked out in his costume and fake sideburns. Dawson enters and watches him for a moment. Pacey gets a basket and Dawson claps. Pacey turns, surprised to see him)

Pacey: How'd you find me?

Dawson: I have the misfortune of knowing how your brain works. (Pacey takes a shot and makes it)

Pacey: You know, I seem to recall that the last time you and I were on a basketball court together, I ended up getting my nose broken, didn't I?

Dawson: (he takes the ball) Pacey, we don't have time for this. You've got a show to do.

Pacey: Just a couple more. You know it helps, it's part of the whole acting process. (Dawson passes the ball to him)

Dawson: So what are you so nervous about? It's not like you've never acted before.

Pacey: (nervously) Yeah. How many times did it take me to actually get that sea creature thing right?

Dawson: Good point.

Pacey: Yeah. And at that point how many people were watching me? (Pacey shoots) And for that matter, how many ex-girlfriends were there counting on me to do a good job?

Dawson: (rebounds the ball) Let me ask you this…acting… do you like it? You having fun?

Pacey: I kinda got blackmailed into the whole thing, but yeah, I'd have to say it's been fun. Actually, it's been a blast.

Dawson: So then go in on stage tonight and have a blast. (He spins the ball on his finger and then shoots it) That's all that matters, man, find what you love to do and do it.

Pacey: (rebounds the ball) This is coming from a guy who just gave up his life's passion to hang out with the underachievers in fourth period study hall, right?

Dawson: I didn't give it up. (Pacey shoots) I just decided to spread it around a little bit (Dawson goes for the ball)

Pacey: (annoyed) When did you become all zen? I thought you of all people would be freaking out big time right now.

Dawson: Why?

Pacey: Well, I don't know, maybe because of Joey's big date with college guy?

(Dawson shooots and misses,.he runs after the ball)

Dawson: (laughs) I really suck at this game. (anxious to change the subject) Alright, come on Olivier, your public awaits.

Pacey: What- what if this guy is some big sex maniac?

Dawson: (calmly) Joey's a big girl. I'm sure she can take care of herself.

Pacey: Take care of herself? That's all you've got to say about this? You know were talking about Josephine Potter, the girl whose destiny is intrinsically linked to your own?

Dawson: It had to happen eventually. You said that yourself. Let's go. (Dawson exits and Pacey grudgingly follows)

[Capeside High Auditorium] (Henry walks around looking lost. He spots Jen in one of the seats. She looks back and waves)

Jen: (trying to get his attention) Hi. Henry.

Henry: Jen, I thought we were gonna meet out front.

Jen: Oh, I thought that whoever got here first was supposed to save seats, so I did. (She turns to Grams who's sitting beside her) Henry, I'd like you to meet my Grams.

Henry: (stuttering) Your- your grandmother?

Jen: Yup, uh, Grams this is Henry Parker.

Grams: Oh, well what a pleasant surprise. I've heard so much about you.

Henry: Nice to meet you.

Grams: Jennifer, why didn't you tell me Henry was coming? I would have gladly stayed at home so that you two could be alone.

Jen: (as the lights dim) You know what, it looks like the show's starting. We should take our seats. (She maneuvers so that Grams is sitting between her and Henry. He looks miserable as the audience applauds)

[Backstage] (Andie runs frantically, as we hear the actors giving their lines onstage)

Telephone man: How long did you say you've been married?

Corie: Six days.

Telephone man: He won't notice the place is empty till June.

Andie: (directing one of the actors) Dawn, we've got to get you buttoned, okay? You look great, don't be nervous.

Pacey: (entering) Andie- Andie.

Andie: (really fast)_Pacey, no! How could you do this to me? I sent your understudy into makeup fifteen minutes ago!

Pacey: (nervously) That's good, um, I think he should stay there, cuz, Andie, I can't do this.

Andie: But you can! (dragging him over and putting a tie on him) Come here. You know what, I gave up on you knowing this word for word a long time ago, so you're just going to get the general gist of it and you are gonna be fine, okay? Come on, let's go.

Pacey: (hesitantly) Uh-

Andie: (pushing him towards the stage) Let's go, you're up!

Pacey: Uh, I don't know, uh--

Andie: Come on, come on, come on. Oh wait! No, no, no, suitcase! (she picks up a suitcase that's laying around and hands it to him. He looks out warily at the audience) Okay, go! (She pushes him onstage)

Corie: (running to him) Oh, Paul darling! (She gives him a long, forceful kiss)

Pacey: (tongue tied) Uh--

Corie: Well? Say something! (Dawson looks on from the audience)

Pacey: Uh- (breathes heavily and looks nervous) (From backstage, Andie motions for him to do something)

Pacey: (still breathing heavily, regaining his composure) It's six flights! Did you know that it's six flights? (He throws down his coat. The audience laughs)

Corie: It isn't, it's five! (Backstage, Andie rejoices)

[Outside on the beach] (Joey and AJ walk in the moonlight)

AJ: Think you wanna go to an Ivy League school?

Joey: (shrugging) I dunno. I just know that if I don't try, you know, I'll always wonder.

AJ: Wonder what?

Joey: If I was good enough, smart enough to do something really important with my life.

AJ: You sound pretty driven.

Joey: (laughs) Yeah, driven by fear of failure.

AJ: You know, I think maybe sometimes that happens to girls who lose their mothers when they're really young. They're really driven to succeed.

Joey: Like Madonna? (laughs)

AJ: Well, I was thinking more along the lines of the Bronte sisters, but--

Joey: For a while, I thought I liked art.

AJ: But now you don't anymore?

Joey: No, it- I do, I-- It's-- I don't know. It's like there's this person that you wanna be for other people, you know, and to make them happy and to make them proud of you. And then there's yourself and sometimes its really hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. Does that make sense?

AJ: Yeah. Completely. You know, in Medieval Europe, they used to think the Northern Lights were spirits of dead warriors.

Joey: And now?

AJ: Well, now we just know that they're charged particles of the sun interacting with the earth's atmosphere.

Joey: (laughs) Charged particles. Not too romantic.

AJ: Think about it from the particles' point of view. Explicably drawn to something, unable to resist. (He moves in and they kiss. They pull away and stare at each other open-mouthed)

Joey: (smiles and looks nervous) Um, you know, I just remembered I'm supposed to meet someone somewhere.

AJ: Now?

Joey: Yeah. Can we go?

AJ: Yeah, sure.

[Commercials]

[Capeside High Auditorium] (Pacey (Paul) is up in the rafters while Corie looks on)

Pacey: I'll come down when you've said it again, loud and clear.

Corie: What? Anything, Paul!

Pacey: Paul Bratter--

Corie: (repeating) Paul Bratter--

Pacey: Rising young attorney--

Corie: (she screams) Rising young attorney--

Pacey: Is a lousy stinkin' drunk!

Corie: Is a lousy stinkin' drunk… and I love him.

Pacey: I love you too, Corie. I mean, even when I didn't like ya, I loved ya.

Corie: Then please come down, Darling, please! (Andie looks on and smiles)

[The After Party] (Jack comes up to Andie with a large bouquet)

Jack: For you.

Andie: Oh, you shouldn't have.

Jack: If you don't want em, that's--

Andie: No. I cannot believe that you did this in one afternoon, Jack, I mean it's amazing.

Jack: Come on, you're the amazing one, Sis, and one word about how my people excel at decorating, you're dead.

Andie: (to Jen who stands nearby with Henry and Grams) Hey.

Jen: Congratulations.

Andie: Oh, thank you so much. (Andie and Jack walk away, leaving Jen with Henry and Grams. She looks antsy)

Jen: You know, if you guys wanna grab some punch or something, I'm, um- um- I'm just gonna be right back. (She walks over to Pacey as Henry looks on nervously)

Pacey: You know, you better watch out. I think Grams is moving in on your date.

Jen: And I think you'd better stick to comedy that's scripted.

Pacey: Good enough. Thanks for coming tonight.

Jen: I wouldn't miss it for the world. Opening night, packed house--

Pacey: And not a Witter in attendance, what a surprise. But Dawson's here.

Jen: Yeah, I saw him.

Pacey: And Jack.

Jen: That he is.

Pacey: And of course, you.

Jen: I am. But you know who's not here?

Pacey: Uh, the critic from the Capeside Clarion?

Jen: Joey.

Pacey: She couldn't make it. Big date.

Jen: That's too bad. She missed a great show and an incredible leading man.

Pacey: Well, thank you much.

Jen: Of course, you hardly noticed.

Pacey: Hardly.

Jen: Barely missed her. (Joey comes up behind them)

Joey: Missed who?

Pacey: Nobody.

[After Party] (Dawson sits alone at a table, Nikki comes up to him with a plate)

Nikki: I come bearing crudite.

Dawson: Thank you, I think.

Nikki: You know, Dawson, I think you're taking this whole precocious teenager thing a bit too far. I mean, people shouldn't get disillusioned and give up the biz until they're at least, I don't know, 25.

Dawson: It's not that big a deal, all I'm doing is drooping an elective.

Nikki: Film. You dropped film. I thought that was who you are.

Dawson: It's part of who I am. Remember at your house how you were talking about how there were so many different things to be passionate about?

Nikki: Sure.

Dawson: Well, on that day I took all the movie posters off my walls. Every last one. There's this image that I keep on coming back to. I'm ten years old, my parents have take n me to see Jurassic Park. I'm sitting there, fourth row center, popcorn in lap, flanked by Mom and Dad. These two teenagers walk in, a guy and a girl, probably about our age. They sit in front of us and they proceed to make out throughout the entire movie. And I remember sitting there just being shocked that anyone would rather kiss than watch this miraculous fantasy unfold on screen, you know? But actually I tapped the guy on the shoulder and asked if he wouldn't mind keeping it down. He looked at me like, one day kid you'll get it. And here I am, all these years later, and I'm still not the kid who goes to the Movie Theater to make out, and I'm not the kid who sat between his parents. I'm this third person who's so busy analyzing everything that I can't enjoy anything. I mean, the other two guys, they were having fun. I'm just not anymore. And that's why I dropped film.

Nikki: So, uh, where are you gonna find this joy you once had but have now lost?

Dawson: I have absolutely no idea. Any suggestions?

Nikki: Where were you when you had it last? (Dawson eats, but doesn't answer)

[After Party] (Joey and Pacey talk)

Joey: So you're a huge hit. I told you everything would work out.

Pacey: What're you doing here? Renaissance man bail on you?

Joey: No, it's just that it was getting late and the clouds are moving in and since it's overcast there's really no chance of actually seeing the Northern Lights from this latitude, plus it was getting cold so we just decided that-

Pacey: He kissed you, didn't he?

Joey: (freezes) What makes you say that?

Pacey: (sincerely) He'd have to be a moron not to… and your lipstick is smeared all over your face.

Joey: (rolls her eyes) That's what I get for letting Bessie talk me into Very Berry, I guess.

Pacey: So are you gonna see this guy again?

Joey: I don't know. I mean, what's the point? I mean, he's older than me, he's smarter than me, lives far away, a very not-insignificant problem seeing as I can't even drive yet. How could I ever feel about him the way that I--

Pacey: Feel about Dawson?

Joey: No. I was-- I was actually gonna say felt.

Pacey: Wanna know something, Miss Josephine Potter? I think the world may just surprise you yet. I mean, you fall in love, it doesn't work out and you think that it'll never happen again. But it does. Believe me, it does. In the strangest of places.

Joey: What makes you such an expert, Pacey?

Pacey: (lightly) I'm an actor. You know, a poor player strutting and fretting and all of the rest of that Shakespearean stuff. And as such, it is my job to understand the sophisticated inner workings of the human heart.

Joey: (nods) I think I liked you better when you were brooding and defeated.

Pacey: Uh-huh. (He looks past her)

Joey: What?

Pacey: Well, I think your date may not be over so soon after all. (He points across the room. AJ is standing there. Joey looks and turns back)

Pacey: Well, go on. You know you want to.

Joey: Okay. (She hands him her drink) Thanks. (She walks away while he watches sadly)

Henry: Jen! (The crowd looks up)

Jen: Henry, what the hell? (He has climbed up into the rafters just as Paul did in the play) Crowd members: He's up in the rafters! Check it out!

Henry: Jen!

[Commercials]

[After Party] (Henry is up in the rafters)

Jen: Henry, get down.

Henry: No.

Jen: I'm- I'm not kidding. Get down from there.

Henry: I'll come down when you say it loud and clear.

Jen: What? Say what?

Henry: I, Jen Lindley--

Jen: (embarrassed) I, Jen Lindley--

Henry: Am embarrassed to be here on a date with Henry Parker.

Jen: Am embarrassed to be here on a date with Henry Parker. Now get down!

Henry: I ignored him--

Jen: I ignored him--

Henry: I've taken him for granted--

Jen: I've taken him for granted--

Henry: And spent the last five months of my life making him miserable. All to disguise the horrifying fact that I like him.

Crowd member: Get over it, Jen!

Jen: (not going to give in) Henry, get down. (Henry looks crestfallen)

Henry: Could someone get a ladder? (The crowd laughs)

[Docks] (Joey and AJ walk along the water)

Joey: What made you come back?

AJ: I-- I never left. Since I dropped you off, I've been sitting in the parking lot, thinking about how when someone says something you don't understand, you're suddenly faced with this rather limited window of opportunity in which you can ask the person to explain what they mean t, or spend the rest of your life pretending you understood them. I just thought I'd reopen the window. Did I do something wrong?

Joey: No, uh, AJ. I kinda panicked. And you know that thing called grace under pressure? Well, I don't really have it, not even a smidge.

AJ: Joey, it was jut a kiss. It wasn't the running of the bulls in Pamplona.

Joey: When you kissed me, I suddenly realized that I was standing there with this person who, you know, has skipped about a zillion grades and knows everything about everything. And I knew that the minute that you stopped kissing me, you would realize that you had made a terrible mistake because--

AJ: Because why?

Joey: Most things that you talk about, I don't even know what they are. Things like literature and science and history just pour out of you like you're this Good Will Hunting impersonator. Is there anything that you're not an authority on?

AJ: Girls. Beautiful girls: their hopes, their dreams, what makes them tick. I wish I knew a little more about that.

Joey: Me too.

AJ: You might know more about that than you think you do.

Joey: (looking up) So I guess we never got to see the Northern Lights.

AJ: No. Next time. You know, I've seen them before.

Joey: Could you tell me about them?

AJ: It's like the sky you've know n your whole life, the one you've looked up at every night as a kid, only you look up at it and it's like it's on fire. You're flooded with all these brilliant colors.

Joey: Sounds kind of scary.

AJ: Yeah, it is. But beautiful.

[After the After Party] (Andie and Jack clean up)

Jack: Not too glamorous, huh? Stuck with clean up duty on your big night.

Andie: I don't mind.

Jack: I'm sorry Dad couldn't be here.

Andie: Oh, don't be sorry. That actually kinda made it better. You know, all these people around who don't know me so well, who believe in the person I am today, that don't really know everything that I used to be. It was great. The whole night, I felt like--

Jack: The belle of the ball?

Andie: No. More like me, like myself.

Jack: Now that is some of the best news I've heard in a long time.

Andie: I had this, uh, this mantra in the hospital. You wanna hear it?

Jack: Yeah.

Andie: Structure and purpose. I mean, I know it was just a stupid little school play, but that's what it was to me: structure and purpose. I think when you have something like that in your life, you know, to hold on to, that's not another person, but it's more like a part of yourself, like a goal or a dream, the whole world falls apart around you, you'll be okay.

Jack: And you are okay?

Andie: Yeah, I'm great.

Jack: Sure you're that great? (He points to Pacey, who's sitting outside)

Andie: There's one way to find out. (She gets her coat and goes out)

[Outside] (Pacey sits on a bench. Andie approaches)

Andie: Hey.

Pacey: (surprised) Hey.

Andie: You weren't exactly the life of the party tonight.

Pacey: No. I- I guess I got a lot of stuff on my mind.

Andie: Yeah. It's too bad your parents couldn't come.

Pacey: Well, as it turns out, there were a lot of people who couldn't make it tonight. So, c'est la vie.

Andie: Yeah, but I mean, too bad they couldn't see you being the star and all.

Pacey: I think you and I both know who the real star of that production is. I mean, the actors, all we do is come on at the last moment and grab all the glory. Whereas the people who work behind the scenes, you guys are the ones that make everything happen. I mean, nobody even knows all the work that you guys do.

Andie: They know. So, uh, looks like you're gonna get that guaranteed C in English.

Pacey: You're disappointed, aren't ya? About my pathetic return to the depths of academic mediocrity.

Andie: I'm not disappointed. Girls have these idiotic, misguided notions about guys. I mean, we think we can spruce them up and turn them into something they're not.

Pacey: In your defense, I wasn't exactly what you'd call a luxury model. I did have fixer-upper written all over me.

Andie: Yeah, you pretty much were a price to sell weren't ya?

Pacey: Yes I was. Damaged goods.

Andie: But, uh, thing is, Pacey, I was wrong. There was never anything about you that needed fixing up. And there never was and there never will be, cuz you're perfect as is.

Pacey: You too, Andie. (They hug)

Andie: So, uh, what do you think my next project should be? Definitely won't be involving you.

Pacey: No, no, my people will certainly not be calling your people.

Andie: I was thinking maybe an all-girl cast.

Pacey: Or perhaps puppets. Puppets are very good, they're very direct, unlike myself.

[Outside] (Henry and Jen walk together)

Henry: I can't remember when I've felt this depressed. Oh yeah, ten minutes ago.

Jen: You'll get no sympathy from these quarters.

Henry: I know. For a second there I thought I saw you smiling.

Jen: You are not like other boys, has anybody told you that before?

Henry: Yeah, you.

Jen: It's just that you've got to stop it with these grand gestures, these larger-than-life public declarations. I- You're like the Christ o of teenage crushes.

Henry: Who's Christo?

Jen: He's kinda like a sculptor, he does these really large-- nevermind. It's just that you don't have to try so hard.

Henry: It's just that I wanna know you, Jen Lindley. I wanna be honest with you, totally and completely honest.

Jen: Nobody can ever be completely honest, Henry. No one over the age of six, that is.

Henry: I can.

Jen: You know what, you can, can't you? I don't know what it is or how you manage to keep it for so long, but you've definitely got that thing that children have.

Henry: You have it, too, you've just forgotten about it.

Jen: No, Henry, I don't think that I ever had it.

Henry: Then I can teach you. Just say whatever's in your heart right now, right at this instant.

Jen: (She give him a peck on the lips) Is that honest enough?

Henry: Almost. I'd say about 70 %. (He kisses her)

[Joey's doorstep] (Joey walks to the door as AJ drives away. Bessie is there waiting for her)

Bessie: Not so fast. A certain boy we both know is waiting to see you. (Joey goes around to the side of the house where Dawson is waiting)

Joey: Dawson?

Dawson: Yeah, I'm sorry to show up like this. I know you just got back from your date.

Joey: If that's what this is about--

Dawson: No. It's not. It's not, I swear.

Joey: (She walks up cautiously) How did you know about my date anyway?

Dawson: Pacey told me. And you don't have to explain. If anybody has to explain, it's me, showing up like this.

Joey: (Sits) So why did you show up like this?

Dawson: (Sits) I needed to see you, you know? I just suddenly felt very lost.

Joey: How did you think you were gonna feel after you took down all your posters and suddenly decided to drop film class?

Dawson: Well, I didn't think. I just did.

Joey: And now you're thinking and you realize you don't know who you are anymore?

Dawson: Something like that, yeah.

Joey: I think you lost your True North, the fixed point in the night sky that you guide yourself by.

Dawson: What about you? What's your True North.

Joey: I don't think I have one.

Dawson: (looks up) What is that? (Joey looks up and sees bright lights in the sky)

Joey: The Aurora Borealis.

Dawson: The Northern Lights? Aren't we a little far south for that in Capeside?

Joey: Apparently not. It's funny, I have been waiting all night for this and it happens now. With you.

Dawson: Is that a bad thing?

Joey: No. It's- it's just typical. (There's a long pause as they both look up at the sky) I thought that they'd be bluer than this.

[End]