Dawson was flopped on his bed, watching "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" for what must have been the zillionth time in his life. Didn't matter to Dawson, he could watch Harrison Ford's quest for the holy grail over and over and still be fascinated. There's a knock on Dawson's door.
"It's open" replies Dawson, without taking his eyes off the screen.
There's another knock on the door. Dawson, repeats the phrase a little louder
"It's open, come in!" he says, eyes fixed on Indiana Jones.
There's another knock on the door. Dawson, irritated, puts stop on the movie, opens the door.
"I said it was-" Dawson is stopped in mid-phrase when he looks around and there is no one there. He goes down the hallway of the Leery household. He looks over down into the kitchen, and sees his father busy reconstructing his model restaurant. At the other end of the hallway, he sees his mother talking on the phone to her mother. Puzzled, Dawson walks back into his room.
He flops down on his bed, when his closet doors burst open. Out comes someone wearing a hockey mask, a definite tribute to the "Friday the 13th" movies.
"AAAAAAAHHH!!!!" yell Dawson, falling on the floor, frightened. The hockey masked figure starts cracking up, and takes the mask off to reveal that it is Pacey.
"Oh God, I'm sorry Dawson, but I had to, it was so easy. God, you should've seen the look on your face!" Says Pacey, cracking up. It was too good of a prank to resist
"Jesus, Pacey, what is your malfunction!?!?" snaps back Dawson, still a little angry.
"Isn't it great? Picked it up downtown this morning, thought it would be a cool souvenir." Pacey is still grinning, somewhat proud of the fact that he scared the living hell out of his friend.
"Next time, spare me the cheesy knock on the door. Do you have any idea how many times that has been used over and over in cinematic history? People have no originality these days, that's what's killing the box office and hurting the quality of movie making… It takes a truly original movie to win an Oscar now.." Says Dawson, kind of dejected.
"Dawson, get a grip on yourself - Amistad didn't have a chance in hell to even get a nomination compared to Titanic… Spielberg's got his masterpiece already… You said it yourself, Schindler's List was a work of art. I figure the Academy Awards brightened up this year, they awarded best movie to the one where a luscious looking woman takes off her clothes, and we actually get to see it on screen…" Says Pacey, with his typical wise ass style…
"It is the cynic minds like yours, Pacey, that is the downfall of the industry…"
The next day at school, Dawson is getting books out of his locker, when his lifelong pal Joey comes up.
"Gee, looks like you're finally going to get to see him in person after all…" Says Joey in a strangely good mood.
Dawson looks at her, perplexed, not having the least idea what Joey is talking about.
"Did I miss something here?? I'm going to see who in person?" asks Dawson, with a raised eyebrow. Knowing Joey, there is probably some clever punchline to this entire thing.
"No way! I cannot believe someone so obsessed would be so totally out of it!" Says Joey with a look of disbelief on her face.
"Joey, get to the point fast, I'm late for film class…"
"Spielberg! The man who you covet like a religious god is going to be shooting in Capeside for his next film! I swear Dawson, even for someone as obsessed with movies, you are pretty ignorant to the world around you… you may want to pick up the newspaper every so often…"
Dawson is in his room, watching all the Spielberg movies he owns in chronological order. He can't believe it, his idol is coming to Capeside to shoot a movie! His mother knocks on the door, and opens it…
"Dawson, dinner's ready…"
Dawson doesn't respond, he's just sitting there like a zombie, watching and quoting Jaws.
"You're gonna need a bigger boat…"
"Earth to Dawson… Earth to Dawson… Dinner's been served…" says Mrs. Leery, a little bit annoyed
Dawson, still totally into Jaws, doesn't even respond…
Mrs. Leery walks into her son's room, and shuts off the TV…
"MOM!!! What was that for!?"
"Son, it's one thing to be really into the art of film making, it's another thing when it interferes with your dining habits…"
"Dinner's ready? Hmmm, smells good… clam chowder??"
"It's just a phase, Gail… It's just a phase…" says Mrs. Leery to herself, rolling her eyes.
Down at the dinner table, over clam chowder, Mr. Leery tries to strike up a conversation with his son, who seems to be wolfing down his food as if it were his last meal.
"Hey, your mother got us 2 tickets to the Patriots season opener… The perks of having athletes on her news show… Since your mother isn't a football fan, I figured you may want to come…"
"Sounds great, when is it?" asks Dawson in between bites of his food
"Whoa, calm down, Dawson, it's not like there's gonna be a clam shortage in New England any time soon…"
"Oh, I know dad, I'm just trying to finish my food, so I can go back to watching Jaws."
Dawson and his dad look at each other, and grin, each with some food in their mouth, trying to keep from laughing.
"Smile, you son of a bitch!" they both quote, busting a gut, food flying all over the place from their mouths…
Mrs. Leery, totally disgusted at the display of father-son bonding, involving semi chewed food all over the dinner table, gets up and goes for some paper towel.
"I swear, when the 2 of you get like this, it's like a nightmare for me… Why couldn't I have a daughter??"
"I'm sorry, mom…" says Dawson, still grinning, cleaning himself from the food.
"Here, let me help you" offers Mr. Leery, still laughing.
Joey walks into the Leery kitchen, and sees the gross display of food all over the place.
"Oh, gross… Not even Alexander spits it up this bad…" referring to her nephew.
"Oh, hey Joey, didn't hear you come in!" says Dawson, rather surprised
"Of course not, why do you think I use the ladder?" remarks Joey
"Joey, hi! What brings you to Leery manor?" asks Mr. Leery, coming in with wads of paper towel.
"Oh, just my usual visit down the creek and up the ladder, Mr. Leery"
"Gail, Joey's here, why don't you get an extra placemat for her?" says Mr. Leery through the door
"Oh, no, Mr. Leery, I already ate… I need to keep my energy up for feeding and taking care of that little monster of a nephew…"
"That's OK, dad, I'm just about done anyways…"
"Thanks anyways for the offer, I'll take it up some other time, Mr. Leery…"
Dawson and Joey run up to Dawson's room, and Dawson pops out Jaws from his VCR and skips through his Spielberg collection straight to the Color Purple
"So Joey, I take it you brought a movie for Movie Night??"
"Actually, Dawson, I'm here to break a little bit of bad news…" says Joey, looking down at the floor. She can't bear to look Dawson in the eyes, for what she has to say will no doubt break his heart.
"You can tell me…" says Dawson, in his serious tone. Joey's been through a lot of bad news in her life, why some more now?
"See, remember Bodie's job interview up in Swampscott??"
Dawson could finish the sentence… His heart was breaking into a million little pieces as Joey went on…
"Well, it looks as if we're packing up and heading to Swampscott…" said Joey, tears half filled in her eyes…
Dawson couldn't control himself… Tears ran down his cheeks…
"Joey, you can't leave me! You're my best friend in the whole world!"
Immediately, Pacey walks in from the window, and smirks "I thought I was your best friend in the whole world!"
Pacey immediately notices the tears on both his friends face, and senses that something is obviously wrong.
"Hey, whoa… What the hell is going on!?!?" demands Pacey.
"I'm moving to Swampscott… Bodie got a job there… we're packing up in 4, maybe 5 months… I may not finish the school year…"
Pacey stares down at the floor, none of his wisecrack remarks would seem to fix the situation.
"Well, the meals at the Icehouse won't be the same, I guess…" says Pacey, trying to cheer everyone up
"Is that all you can think about?" asks a bewildered Dawson, trying to make sense out of the entire thing. "The food at the Icehouse won't be the same? Jesus, I knew you suffered from some occasional leaks of idiocy every now and then, but you just had a goddamn overflow! Get the hell out of my house, you son of a bitch!"
"No, Dawson, it's OK… It's a typical response from Pacey, I'd expect nothing else…" says Joey, holding back some more tears.
"I'm sorry Dawson, I thought I'd brighten up the mood bu…"
Dawson didn't even let him finish the sentence, and charged at Pacey, tackling him into the floor… Dawson, crying, let's loose a barrage of blows at Pacey, who's trying to curl up into a protective ball…
"JESUS, DAWSON, I'M SORRY, GET THE HELL OFF OF ME!!!" screams Pacey, through all the punches.
Joey has a look of terror in her face, grabs Dawson by the collar of his shirt, trying to break up the fight.
"Dawson, get off him, it's not his fault!"
The door bursts open, and Mr. Leery charges in. He sees Dawson beating up on Pacey, and Joey trying to break up the fight.
"Dawson Leery, you get off Pacey, right now!" booms Mitchell Leery
Dawson, looks at his father, and gets off Pacey… He realizes what he just did, and offers Pacey a hand in getting up.
"I don't know what's going on here, but when 2 friends start fighting like you guys just did, it can't be all that good… Jesus, you're making Joey cry!!!" says Mr. Leery staring at the 3 teens.
"Dad, it's just a misunderstanding…"
"It better be a misunderstanding… Now I'm going to close this door, and by the time I get back, this better be all worked out…" says Mr. Leery. Right then and there, Mrs. Leery brushes up behind her husband.
"Mitch, you can take care of this later… take care of me NOW!" she whispers into his ear.
A little embarrassed at his wife's request, Mr. Leery reddens a little…
"I'll be right back…"
"Take your time, Mr. Leery!" yells Pacey, still hurting from his friends attack
"Pace, man, I'm sorry, I just went off, looking for a good excuse to beat the crap out of something or someone…" said Dawson, staring at the floor.
"That's what I'm here for, the town punching bag… Deputy Doug broke me in, who else but my best friend in the entire world to continue the tradition?" remarks Pacey.
"Well, I gotta head home… I have to get up early tomorrow, the Icehouse is going to be packed…" says Joey, wiping away tears from her eyes.
"And you know that for a fact because???" asks Pacey, with a rising inflection in his voice.
"Spielberg and his crew have already booked reservations for lunch and dinner, they're going to film tomorrow down at the docks…"
The mood in the room is lightening up, as Dawson stares up off the ground and lays his eyes onto Joey
"Are you serious!? Joey, maybe, like I could, you know, just happen to be at the Icehouse tomorrow sometime, you know if you need the help and all…" asks Dawson, trying to get an invitation to meet his idol.
"Sorry, no can do, Dawson. Strict orders from Bessie not to bother Mr. Spielberg… However, doesn't mean you can't walk down to the docks sometime tomorrow, catch a glimpse of God at work…" says Joey, going out the window.
"You bet your ass I'll be there in person with my trusty video camera, and LOADS of tape…" says Dawson enthusiastically.
"Thank god Deputy Doug isn't on duty tomorrow, I'll finally be able to have a Saturday to myself, so you can expect me there!" adds Pacey.
Joey leaves through the window, and leaves the two guys alone in Dawson's room.
"Man, why does Joey have to move!? She can't move, it's like as if part of my brain will be missing when she's gone!" sighs Dawson, lying on his bed.
"Do I detect a note of sadness?" asks Pacey
"Well, it sure isn't a note from the bluebird of happiness…" remarks Dawson, unusually sarcastic
"No, I mean that are you sad she's moving because you're going to lose a best friend? Or are you sad she's moving because it puts a dent in your potential relationship?" asks Pacey, very intuitively
"Pacey, I think that you've messing around with the weed your brother strips from the local junkies…" says Dawson
"Sure, whatever… Dawson, you can fool yourself, and you've been fooling Joey for your entire life. But you haven't succeeded in fooling me, and Jen, well she saw right through you all along…" says Pacey
"Jen? How did she get involved in this conversation? And do you mean she saw right through me?"
"Don't make me spell it out for you, man! Why do you think she broke up with you? Don't tell me you believe the "I need some time to myself" crap! Man, she got to know you better than you know yourself in the span of what, 3, 3 and a half months?? The point is, she dumped you because she knows that deep down inside of that gray matter of yours filled with film facts and teenage concerns known as a brain, you're in love with none other than Josephine Potter!" says Pacey, smiling as he usually does
"What? Me? In love with Joey?" asks Dawson, trying to sound casual. Dawson's terrified a little bit, because not only did Pacey bring up something that Dawson indeed has in the back of his mind, but it's true.
"Dawson, your attempts at denial are pathetic, man…" says Pacey.
"Right, whatever Pace…" says Dawson, a little bit of anger rising in his voice
"Are you going to sit here and tell me with a straight face that you did not enjoy the kiss in detention? I can easily arrange a lie detector test down at the precinct, Deputy Doug being a relative of mine and all…" asks Pacey
"Yeah, of course I enjoyed the kiss, why wouldn't I ? I mean, you kissed Jen, that doesn't qualify you as being in love with her." retorts Dawson
"Ahhh… But she felt nothing… more importantly, neither did I…" says Pacey with a raised eyebrow. "The question at hand, my friend, is did YOU feel anything when you kissed Joey?"
Dawson didn't know how to respond to the question. Of course he felt something, it surpassed his first kiss with Jen at the ruins by leaps and bounds. Dawson wasn't about to let on.
"Pace, you have some weird theories…" replied Dawson, half heartedly…
"Dawson Leery, I have never met such a pathetic liar… Deny it all you want, but you know that you love her man…" smirks Pacey. "We can resume this enchanting little debate tomorrow, because I have to go, Deputy Doug needs someone to stay at home while he goes out on a date."
"Who's the lucky girl?" asks Dawson, just trying to make for some conversation, anything to avoid going back to the topic of Joey
"Hell, I don't even know if it is a girl, I'll fill you in tomorrow at the Icehouse" says Pacey as he leaves.
Dawson lies back in his bed and ponders for a while.
Yes, I love Joey… Why? Seems like an impossible question answer. I've known her my entire life, she's my best friend, my other brain… my better half… oh my god, she's my soul mate… Why can't I admit to it? doesn't seem like an impossible question to answer, it IS an impossible question to answer… Man, I don't think I'll ever find a solution to this in a Spielberg movie…
Meanwhile, back in the Potter household, Joey was in her sleepwear, trying to rock baby Alexander to sleep. A million thoughts raced through her mind. She started to talk to her nephew, blindly hoping that he could understand. It's better than keeping it bottled up.
"It felt worse than it should have been… I mean, I thought I was telling my best friend I was moving away. I WAS telling my best friend I was moving away… That and someone else… In this case, Pacey doesn't count as a human being. I was telling the person who I've bared my soul to time and time again. I was telling the person who knows me more than anyone else in the world…" tears started to roll down her cheek
"Oh god, I was telling the person I most deeply and truly care about, the object of my affection. Jesus Christ, Alexander, I love Dawson Leery…"
All the baby could do was lie in his cradle, and fall asleep.
Meanwhile, Joey, sitting beside the cradle, was rocking it with one hand, and wiping away her tears with the other. Bessie was in the doorway, as she overheard her younger sister pour her heart out onto her son. It broke her heart to see her baby sister like this, but it was the hard reality that they would have to move.
Joey gets up, and changes into some jeans and a t-shirt. She doesn't know what she's thinking right now, but she goes into her rowboat and decides to float around the creek for a while.
I love Dawson, and I'm moving away, this has a chance like a snowball in hell of making it… God, why does all this shit have to happen to me!?
Joey takes out a knife from her rowboat tool box, and holds it up to her wrist. She's ready, she's going to take her life because she can't stay with Dawson for the rest of her life. A quick slash to her wrist, and all Joey could see was the blood gushing out of her wrist.
"Oh my God, what have I done!?" says Joey to herself… The blood is flowing out of her wrist fast. She's closer to Dawson's house than any other persons house. She tries rowing to his house, but her energy is slowly fading away. Joey manages to tie up her boat to the dock, and slowly makes her way to Dawson's house. She tries crawling up the ladder but stumbles down.
"DAWSON!" cries Joey, tears rolling down her cheeks, blood all over her clothes…
Dawson, half asleep, looks out his window to see his best friend sprawled all over the ground, covered in blood.
"Joey! What happened to you!?" asks a concerned Dawson, as he scrambles down the ladder.
Joey was falling unconscious, as Dawson scooped her up into her arms, and rushed her to his bathroom… He wrapped her wrist in some gauze and washed off some of the blood. His mind was racing, Joey may die in his house…
"Oh god, what do I do?" panicked Dawson
Dawson woke his parents up, and alerted them of what was going on. Mr. Leery drove Joey and Dawson down to the local clinic, to seek medical attention, while Mrs. Leery phoned the Potter house
"Hello, Bodie?" asked a frantic Mrs. Leery
"Mrs. Leery, have you seen Joey! Bessie is over here worried sick about her!" says Bodie
"Dawson found her lying outside our house with a slashed wrist… Mitch is taking them to the clinic right now…"
Joey was lying a bed, asleep, with a bandaged wrist and a blood transfusion running into her veins. Dawson was sitting by her bed, with his sleeve rolled up, and his hand holding a wad of cotton on his elbow in place. Mrs. Leery comes into the room, and notices her son holding his arm.
"Dawson, what happened, are you ok? Why are you holding your arm!?" asks a worried mother
"It's nothing mom, just Dr.'s orders… I donated some blood, that's all…"
"Dawson, is that your blood that's being pumped into Joey as we speak?"
"None other, mom…"
Mrs. Leery hugs her son and kisses him on the head, and leaves the room. Dawson lets go of the cotton wad and grabs Joey's hand, she's fallen asleep.
Jeez, she looks beautiful… Like an angel, getting her energy up… Why would she try to kill herself? I mean, it's Joey here… She's been through more than anything I could ever imagine… Her mom, her dad, her sister and Alexander… God, who'd of thought that the idea of moving from Capeside after all this crap she's put up with would cause her to slash her wrist?