Dawson comes across as smug and smarmy and almost obnoxious in this scene at the beginning, I thought, he follows Mitch around with this amused look on his face and comments that Mitch simply can't handle that the little boy he brought into the world is growing up and is a "sexual being." (Okay ... Dawson as a sexual being just made me burst into laughter, he's like an anti-sex-symbol to me!!)
Dawson tells Mitch that the sooner his father accepts this facet of Dawson's personality, the more honest their relationship will be. Mitch sputters and asks him at two different points if he and Joey are having sex. Dawson, who would have been absolutely APPALLED by such a question mere months ago (i.e. last season) coolly smiles and says no ... not for now. "But one day down the road," he adds, "I'm gonna have sex, whether you like it or not, and you're not going to stop me, so why don't you just put the ladder back, let Joey and I stay in my room, at night, unsupervised, and let things take their natural course?"
Mitch ponders this for a microsecond, then says "No." in a very firm voice ... truly laughable!
Mitch then follows Dawson up to his room, reiterating that it is his duty to be paranoid about his 15 year old son having sex in his house. Dawson dismisses it with psychobabble, and Mitch replies that Dawson can psychologically deconstruct it all he wants, but it boils down to this: "Parent me, child you." He repeats this, just for clarity's sake, while Dawson stifles a laugh, then storms off in a huff.
The minute Mitch leaves, Joey sneaks out of the closet and tells Dawson cheekily that she thought he handled Mitch very well, and they start to kiss. Guess who walks back into the room just then for a follow-up to the evening's Child Rearing 101 lecture?
Joey and Dawson take their time stopping the kiss and almost laugh, with Dawson saying "Um ... Joey! How did you get here?" She tries not to laugh, but before she can answer, Mitch escorts her out of the room, asking Dawson if he didn't hear him earlier? Dawson replies with a laugh, "Yeah, me Tarzan, you Jane" and Mitch says, "No. Me parent, you grounded." Mitch hauls Joey off down the hall, and Dawson calls out "Bye Joey! See you in a few minutes!!" to which Mitch hotly replies "No, you won't."
It's a great scene, Dawson and Joey clearly aren't taking Mitch's chaperoning efforts seriously, in fact, they're quite amused by it. It's a huge switch from last season, where Dawson was the uptight one about sex and Mitch was all open and into letting it all hang out (uh ... I meant that figuratively speaking, of course!). The roles are completely reversed here, perhaps because now Dawson is the one with the happy relationship and Mitch's love life has disintegrated?
Next we see Bessie and Joey at home, discussing the Icehouse. Bessie mentions that she'd like Joey to stop off there and clean it up a bit because the Health Department is coming for a spot check. Joey agrees, but grudgingly because she'll miss first period at school, and why can't Bessie just do it? Bessie replies that she has to drop Alex, who is crying at the top of his well-developed lungs, as usual, off at the sitter. Joey points out the baby is missing a shoe, so Bessie dumps him on Joey while she hunts for it. She then asks Joey to wipe the counters and mop behind the freezer at the Icehouse, while she's there. (Cinderella, anyone?)
Back to the Leerys. Dawson walks in with the confident stride of a young man whose hormones are getting a workout. Mitch mutters "Well, if it isn't the sexual being himself" as his son enters the room. Dawson tells Mitch that he bets when Mitch was his age, that he did the same thing. Falling right into his trap, Mitch replies that of course he did, that was the whole fun of being 15, the fear of getting caught made it more interesting. Dawson nods and replies that he understands now, that the restrictions Mitch is placing on himself and Joey are really just an effort to try and spice up their sex life. "What sex life?" interjects Gale, alarmed. But before she gets an answer, the Sexual Being himself waltzes out the door with a smile on his face.
Mitch is spluttering and vexed, he says that Dawson must be in training to be a lawyer, because he's a master of manipulation and that he twisted his words. Gale breezily replies that she wonders where Dawson learnt that from. Mitch takes offense to this, and they lapse into a discussion about their open marriage again (and for the record, here's my official take on the subject .... Eeeeeeeeeew!). Wearily, Gale concedes that while she is not for it, if it is what Mitch needs, she'll do it. Mitch asks if it what she needs, and she replies by telling him she loves him. They kiss.
Just before first period starts, Jen and Abby are strolling along outside the school. Abby's wearing this weirdo '70s, baby-blue, maternity top-thingie and navy-blue skintight velour pants ... tres strange. Anyway, Abby needs Jen's opinion on something right this instant, very very important ... Jen asks what, and Abby indicates Jeff Burdis and Troy (not sure of the name) Carter, two guys in the distance. The million dollar question she asks is, which one would Jen rather sleep with? Jen, disgusted, replies neither, that they're both gym junkies whose interests are limited to pornos and football. Abby agrees, but adds that they are so disgusting it's almost erotic. Then she chides Jen for her own tastes in the male sex, telling her she can't believe that she, Abby Morgan, is actually friends with someone who has eyes for Dawson Leery. Guilty as charged, replies Jen. Well then, purrs Abby, Make it happen, just do something about it.
Into the hallways of Capeside High we go, where Pacey is at his locker (it's moved, yet again) getting ready for first period. In comes Hurricane Andie, whirling out of control towards her epicenter, Pacey. Pacey sighs and tells her he's having a mellow morning thus far, devoid of accidents or terminal heart defects, so ... buh-bye. But she blathers on and on about how she left her knapsack with her Economics homework at school the night before, so she didn't do the readings and she didn't do the notes on the readings and could she please just borrow Pacey's so she knows what's going on? She begs, and he replies that he didn't do the homework (surprise), spare him the guilt trip because that's what his parents are for, and that he can't help her out. She continues that she hates to get behind because then she's always struggling to catch up and one day she'll wind out drunk and dirty on a streetcorner pushing a shopping cart because she'll flunk out of school. Pacey sneers that she's rich, and that rich people don't end up on the streets, they end up in Florida. Andie wails that she doesn't know what to do if she's called on? Do what I do, just say "pass" Pacey replies, and walks into class. I felt sorry for Andie here ... granted, the girl talks a mile a minute, but she's harmless enough. Pacey's being really horrible to her, of course that's because he likes her, he just doesn't know it yet. (shades of Grade 2!!)
In Economics class the whole gang is present: Abby, Jen, Pacey, Dawson, Andie and Joey (she must be a marathon sprinter to have made it to the Icehouse and back before first period even begins!), as well as the two jocks Abby was talking to Jen about, Trey and Jeff. (You know, I've never had a class in school where ALL my friends and acquaintences were in it at once ... but maybe that's just me ...) The teacher begins a discussion about macro versus micro Economics, which I am going to stay out of here, because I don't know the first thing about it. He asks Andie a question, who hems and haws and finally says "pass" in a defeated voice. Pacey, sitting adjacent to her, gives her a thumbs up signal. Kenny Reiling, the stereotypical fat, bespectacled geeky brainer answers the question correctly, to which Abby rolls her eyes. The depiction of students in class is great here ... some yawn, some pass notes, others doodle, some exchange looks, others check their watches ... the interaction is just like a real classroom ... well, it reminded me of my high school days, at any rate.
The teacher, Mr. Maddock, then assigns the class into pairs to work on a micro Economicsomic assignment about alternative lifestyles and household budgets. Names are pulled out of a hat to see who is working with whom. Andie pulls Pacey's name, and you can hear the disappointment in her voice. They are told they are a lower-middle class family with 3 kids and that Pacey is a busdriver and she is a sales clerk. Abby gets Kenny Reiling and whines about wanting to change partners, which she is told she cannot do. To say she is not impressed is an understatement. No info is given about their marital situation (the writers screwed up here, cause everyone else's was given).
Next up are the two jocks, Trey Carter and Jeff Burtis, who work together. They are like, totally psyched man, about it, until the teacher explains that they will be a well-to-do same sex couple who are planning their wedding. Uhhh ... what do you mean, same sex? Asks one of them in a tone worthy of Beavis himself. As in gay, replies the teacher. Uhh ... what do you mean, gay? he asks again, but the teacher has already moved on.
Jen chooses Dawson, and she is very, very pleased about that, as is clearly evident by the look on her face. They are a wealthy couple with 2 college-age kids, a beach house and annual income of $400,000. Jen is very impressed with this scenario, and as impressed as she is, Joey is not. Joey is, in the teacher's words, "odd woman out" (clever play on words from the writers), and she is told she is a single mother, successful, with 2 kids.
In the cafeteria, Joey laments the stupid assignment, saying that she doesn't understand the point of pretending to be someone she's not and spending money she doesn't have. Dawson says it's a good thing, because it gets you thinking about the future. Joey replies that that is fine for him, who has his whole life planned out ... Hollywood, directing, cocaine habit and stay in the Betty Ford Clinic ... (she's joking, of course ... Dawson strikes me more as the heroin addict kind ... ), but that she doesn't know what she wants to do and that the thought of where she'll be in 10 years is depressing and makes her draw a blank. She also points out that Jen is very pleased to work with Dawson, and asks he is as pleased to work with her. He tells her she has nothing to worry about, she replies "famous last words."
Jen and Abby enter the caf just then and watch Dawson & Joey nuzzle each other with their noses and kiss. It's enough to put Jen off her food, and Abby tells her to stop drooling. Jen laments that Dawson is so in love with Joey that she doesn't stand a chance. Oh please, sighs Abby. He's a 15-year-old boy ... he doesn't know what love is. He goes to bed every night jerking his gherkin and wakes up humping his mattress. (uh ... well put!) She's disgusted in Jen, but admits that if Jen really wants Dawson back, this assignment is a perfect excuse ... they'll be working one-on-one all night, role-playing that they're married ... and that Jen can either play it all passive, which would piss Abby off, or she can be pro-active, grab ole Dawson by the dipstick and do her proud.
Kenny, Abby's Economics partner and pseudo-husband, lumbers over, wanting to discuss their assignment. Abby has no idea who she is and after he introduces himself, changes into superbitch mode. She tells him to just go ahead and do the assignment and sign her name to it, bye-bye now. She focuses her attention back to Jen and basically tells her to throw herself at Dawson and convince him how compatible they are during the Economics assignment. She tells her that the new Jen isn't working, so it's time to revert back to a little New York ingenuity. Jen says she doesn't want to jump the gun, and Abby replies that she should jump the gun ... Dawson's gun, and that she wants all the gory details when they emerge.
Over at the Icehouse, Jack is demonstrating how not to wash a floor by dumping out all the water in a bucket, sloshing it all over the floor and trying in vain to suck it all up with a mop (doesn't this boy go to school?). Joey comes in and demands to know what he is doing, then demonstrates the finer points of washing a floor. Bessie comes in, and Joey asks to go because she has to do her Economics project about a successful single-mother career woman, Bessie tells her to stay put and clean up, in anticipation of the Health Department inspection, and that she will volunteer her services as role model for Joey's project. Joey says thanks but no thanks, Bessie isn't quite what she had in mind, but that she likes the idea of getting a role model to talk to. Bessie's face conveys that she's a little hurt that Joey doesn't think she's successful enough or smart enough to use for her project. (Since when did Joey become such an insensitive bitch is what I'd like to know ... everytime Jack sees her, she's fighting, either with Dawson or Bessie, or just snapping at him ... if I were him, I wouldn't be developing a thang for her, I'd be intensely disliking her ...)
Next up, we have the happily married Witter-McPhees. Pacey informs his "wife" that he forsees a new Viper in their household budget, while she informs him that no, they can't afford a new toy, they're already in too deep (spoken like a true wife ... sigh), and that they should focus on where they're going to live. Andie figures with 3 kids, they should get a 4-bedroom house. Pacey interjects that kids don't need their own rooms, and that not everyone grew up like Andie did, in a world of privilege. She sighs, wanting a divorce. Pacey says sure, she can take the kids, and he'll take the car. Disgusted, Andie asks him if he minds acting out the worst of male stereotypes, to which he replies he doesn't care, just as long as he gets his car. She agrees to compromise, and says he can get his car as long as they find a suitable two-bedroom apartment in which to live (oh yeah, that's gonna work, 4 kids squashed into one bedroom ...)
At the Leerys, Mitch is doing something on some object ... not really sure, but it looked like he was scraping the paint off the outside of a barbecue. All of a sudden a car pulls up (on the lawn, no less, what the hell happened to the driveway?) and out hops Gale from the passenger side. She hugs her driver, he leaves, and she tells Mitch her car broke down and that Frank from accounting dropped her off. Mitch is not impressed with this, and declares that the open marriage is back on. Thursday night is now officially reserved for date night, with the only caveat being complete honesty. Otherwise, each of them can do what they want and go where they want with whom they want.
Later that evening, Dawson and Jen are working on their Economics project in Jen's room. Dawson grumbles about the cost of sending their kids to college, and wonders if a state school would be better. Jen, who is obviously a little too caught up in the assignment, insists their kids would be Ivy-League material, then starts laughing. Dawson, perpetually clueless, wonders what's so amusing, and Jen says the whole conversation ... that talking about mortgages and sending their kids to college, it makes her think that in 20 years time, it could actually be them, and it could actually happen. She thinks they could actually be married. Her surreal delusions are obviously affecting our boy wonder, because he abruptly changes the subject and starts talking about travel expenses. She won't give up, though. Jen insists they vacation somewhere hot, like the Florida Keys or Hawaii or Jamaica. Or, what about Fiji? Dawson likes Fiji, and asks if the kids are going. Nah, replies Jen, they'd be in school and probably sick of us, and besides, its more romantic if it's just the two of us. She snuggles up to him and softly states that it feels like nothing has changed between them sometimes, like right now for instance ... but he shoots her down. Dawson decides the study session is over and leaves, but not before Jen tells him her door is always open for him, if he knows what she means. He replies that he's pretty sure he knows exactly what she means and leaves.
Back to the Witter-McPhees, who are apartment hunting. A crabby old landlady shows them this run-down dump of a place, which Andie is trying to take seriously and Pacey is not. He complains that they've looked at about 12 places already ... are they doing a project or are they moving in together? He's worried the assignment is due the next day and there's nothing on paper yet, and that it isn't because he's lazy, it's because she keeps taking him on this ridiculous apartment scavenger hunt. Andie states that there's lazy, and then there's Pacey.
The argument carries out into the street, where Pacey tells her he isn't lazy, it's just that he's the proverbial black sheep, and if he brought home an A+ or an F- it really wouldn't make a blind bit of difference, because it still wouldn't be good enough -- hell, the Nobel Prize wouldn't be good enough -- so it's hard for him to be motivated in such an atmosphere. Andie apologizes, but he won't give it up, he starts tearing strips out of her, saying that the only reason she's enjoying this project so much and getting into character is because being poor is a novelty for her, because she's rich and she's spoiled. He's really venomous here, just horribly, horribly mean. I felt so sorry for her, she should have decked him! She gets tears in her eyes and tells him that perhaps she knows nothing about him, but that he knows even less about her, and storms off. After a second or two, he realizes he was out of line, but it's too late by that point, she's gone.
Joey is doing her own research, too. She goes to an interior designer's office (recommended by her Economics teacher) and meets with the owner, a woman named Laura (if you watched Party of Five a few seasons ago, she's the actress who used to play Grace, Charlie's ex-girlfriend that ran for public office). Joey is impressed and inspired by her, as the woman built her empire out of nothing. She tells Joey that she will gladly help her out with the project, if Joey will look at some of her designs and constructively criticize them.
Next, Abby and Jen bond and talk dirty over some lattes at a coffee shop. Jen is lamenting that nothing has happened with Dawson because he's so hung up on Joey, and that she can't compete. Abby doesn't think Joey is anything special, and is sure she will be backed up by Kenny Riley (her Economics partner), who is sitting at the next table. She calls out to him and asks him what he thinks of Joey Potter. "She's hot!" he replies enthusiastically. "SHUT UP!!" replies Abby. "What do you know? You're just a four-eyed mouth breather!" (ouch.) Kenny (poor glutton for punishment that he is) lumbers over and asks Abby when they are going to get together and do some Economics work. Abby shrieks that he is bugging her, and that he should just get out of her hair and finish the thing by himself, that he can't possibly expect her to work on it because she has a demanding social life and he doesn't. He slinks away, defeated.
Abby generously offers that while Joey may be pretty in a fresh-faced, J-Crew kind of way (classic, cause the DC cast did model for the J-Crew catalogue! That's 3 inside jokes, one per episode! First the 90210 comment, then the "I'm gonna get me my own storyline" from Pacey, and now this!! Love that writing!), anyway, Abby says that while Joey may be all that, Jen is a sex kitten, and should work it to her advantage and go for broke. Jen can borrow one of her dresses, put on some perfume, and work those big, red, pouty lips ... and Dawson's tightie whities will be in a ball by the foot of the bed before you can say 'Joey Potter is a virgin.' Uhhh ... well put, again, Abby. (she has a knack for these things, no?) Though slightly embarrassed, Jen definitely likes the idea, after all, what does she have to lose? she wonders.
Back at Leery manor, Gale has prepared a candlelit dinner for her and Mitch. Unfortunately, she didn't check her calendar. It's Thursday, and Mitch has plans for the night, toodle-loo! Defeated, Gale blows out the candles and looks sad.
Meanwhile, on the front porch, Joey and Dawson are cuddled together. She asks him to come to the Icehouse with her while she has to clean up, and he says he can't, cause Jen is coming over to work on the project. Just then Gale comes out, and tells them she's going out and will be back later. She marches off. Joey wonders what that was about, and Dawson sighs and says he's given up trying to figure out his parents. It suddenly dawns on Joey that they're home alone, so why don't they take advantage of it? They start making out, and along comes Jen, to interrupt, although Jen generously offers to come back later (yeah, right.) Joey says she was just leaving then, and makes a point of kissing Dawson right in front of Jen (you go, girl!!). She gives Jen the once over, and says "nice dress," to which Jen replies that she borrowed it. "I'll bet" replies Joey. This exchange reminded me of their comments way back in the very first episode when they all went to the Rialto, the part where they were talking about hair colour and lipstick. Joey was jealous then, and she's jealous now, although for two different reasons -- back then, she knew Dawson wanted Jen. Now, she knows it's the other way around.
After Joey leaves, Dawson asks Jen where she wants to do the project. She replies somewhere they can be comfortable ... like his bedroom. She purposefully marches past him to the room (the girl has moxie, I'll give her that).
At the Icehouse, we are treated to Jeff and Trey, the same-sex "couple" from the Economics class, getting into a lover's tiff about Europe and Land Rovers and their wedding. "You're so selfish!" one spits at the other and storms out. This little bit of surrealism was just hysterically funny, I thought. Joey wanders in, late. The place is a pigsty, and Bessie is stressed to the nth degree. Joey is full of bubbling information about Laura, the interior/graphic designer and the tips Laura gave Joey on how to improve the Icehouse's overhead and bottom line. Bessie doesn't care about Laura's help, only Joey's (or lack thereof) and puts her to work, because the Health Department inspection is looming and there's a lot to be done. Joey belligerantly states that she is not Bessie's full time slave, and that she does have a life. Jack comes over to ask a question, but Bessie and Joey are fighting and ignore him, so he walks away. Bessie tells Joey to go home, that she and Jack have it covered. Jack give her a nervous glance, then she storms out. Jeez. She's not making a very good first impression on him, is she?
As Joey leaves, Pacey enters. Jack informs him that they are closed, but Pacey begs for a cup of coffee, which Jack gets for him. Pacey then realizes Jack is Andie's brother and asks him if she's on medication. (he's brave! That's not the most tactful thing to say to a big brother, I wouldn't think). Jack chuckles and asks what Pacey did to her, Pacey replies nothing, he just called her a spoiled princess and she went psycho. (okay, he's either very brave or very stupid ... take your pick). Jack insists their family isn't totally loaded, but Pacey won't have any of that, after all, she drives a Saab and dresses well. Jack cryptically states that those are the last remains of a decaying dynasty, and if they were rich, would he be working at the Icehouse? Pacey doesn't understand, but Jack is not in the mood to explain it, he just asks Pacey to give Andie a break because she deserves it. At least Jack defends his sister, that's one nice thing I can say about him (the ONLY nice thing, so far ...)
We then see Mitch, alone in a bar, looking about as awkward as Dawson did when he, Billy and Pacey went to that bar in Providence. The scene is intercut several times with Gale, sipping coffee, alone at a coffee house. Seems date night is a real bust.
Jen's planned seduction of Dawson is also a real bust. In his room, they've completed the assignment, and both are physically drained from it. Jen gets up off the bed and leans over in front of Dawson, who is sitting at his desk, with her cleavage hanging out and not much left to the imagination. She then tries to massage Dawson's neck, but he doesn't want that and politely tells her so. Jen tries another tactic. She tells him she's really tired, so much, in fact, that she can't even make it next door (pathetic, really) and would he mind if she just crashed there for the night? Yes, he would mind. She gets self-righteous and says can't they hang out anymore, to which Dawson points out there's a difference between hanging out and sleeping together. Jen insists she wasn't talking about them sleeping together (sure you weren't, Jen) and that she knows the reason he's acting so weird is because of Joey.
Dawson replies no, that he isn't oblivious (I don't think that was meant to be an "in-joke" with the writers, but I found it screamingly funny nonetheless) ... that Jen comes over makes suggestive comments, dresses like that and that she keeps throwing herself at him. Jen replies that she knows he's with Joey, she accepts it. She just doesn't respect it. Jen wants Dawson to know he has options, and that she is one of them. Who are you? He asks her. What happened to Jen? She got bored, Jen replies. And, for the second time in as many episodes, she kisses him.
Now to his credit, he doesn't kiss back. But he doesn't exactly pull away instantly, either. And, even more importantly, he doesn't tell Joey about it (well, at least not yet, but I'm willing to bet he didn't mention the kiss at the pier party to her, either). Dawson asks if it bothers her that she's being so degrading towards herself, and she replies that she doesn't see it that way. Jen tells Dawson she hopes he can handle it, and slinks out of the room. In the hallway outside his room, though, she falls apart, closing her eyes and looking sad.
Meanwhile, Mitch and Gale are back from their exciting Swinging Singles nights (okay, wait a sec ... it isn't okay for Dawson to be in his room alone with Joey, but it is okay for him to be in his room alone with his ex-girlfriend who looks like a teenage prostitute? Mitch and Gale are down the hall and don't mind this?). Both lie about how their nights went. Mitch says he went to a bar, met people and danced, while Gale said she went for drinks with a friend. Gale is hurt, but keeps it in. She tells Mitch she's glad he had a good night, turns on her back and ignores him. He's a bit surprised as he lies there in the darkness. He was expecting more of a reaction. I can't remember the song playing in this scene exactly, but it's something about "not knowing the truth from lies" and it fits perfectly.
The next morning, Joey is waiting on the porch of her house for Bessie, who's pulled an all-nighter at the Icehouse cleaning. Joey feels bad, couldn't sleep all night, and apologizes for her outburst. Bessie says it was okay, that Joey was right and fires her. Joey can't believe it, Bessie says that she doesn't want to take away Joey's teenagehood from her, and that the problems in Bessie's life are her own, and not Joey's and that it is unfair to expect her to clean up her messes.
Joey disagrees, and says they are her messes too, because they are a team. She even goes so far as to say she loves Bessie and Alex. She tells Bessie not to feel like she's in it alone. Bessie protests that she's supposed to be taking care of Joey, and Joey says gently that she does. Bessie vows to get it together one day, so that Joey will be proud of her, and Joey says she already is, and that her sister is amazing. Yeah? Says Bessie, pleased. A little, says Joey, cheekily. They hug. (note to DC writers: very, very sloppy form not to even MENTION Bodie at this point. If Bessie is truly a single mum, and he's skipped town, tell us, because the last we knew, he was living with them. And if he's living with them, make him help out a little, or at least show his face, for crying out loud! He especially should have shown his face in this episode, considering he's the Icehouse's cook and there's a Health Department inspection looming.)
At school, the Economics assignments are due. Kenny Reiling can't hand his in without informing the teacher and the whole class that though Abby's name is on the paper, she didn't help at all, and that she threatened his life if he didn't do all the work (what a moronic wuss ... Abby's no Joey Potter, she couldn't beat up an egg). Abby, outraged, insists the reason she couldn't help is because Kenny had snot hanging out all over his face, and she didn't want to get sick. Mr. Maddock, the teacher, suggests that the two of them budged ample finances for marital counselling. He then asks the same-sex jocks how their wedding went, they reply that they had a small, casual wedding by the ocean with only friends and family, so they could spend more on the honeymoon. (Looks like Jen wasn't the only one who got a little over-enthused about her assignment) Andie hands in a very thin report, reasoning that as marriage is a 50/50 partnership, she just did her part from the wife's perspective. Just then, her husband enters the class -- late as usual -- and saves the day, handing in a comprehensive, thick, well-written report on behalf of the two of them.
After school, Dawson and Joey are walking on campus, and Dawson teases her about climbing the ladder of corporate America. They kiss, much to the disgust of Abby (and Jen, too) who is passing by and mutters at them, "Get a room." (too funny!) Joey asks what that was about, and Dawson replies he has no idea. (Uh ... what was that about being honest a few episodes ago, Dawson?)
Finally, we have Pacey and Andie, who have come to some sort of temporary truce. Pacey says they are both suffering from a case of false impressions, and that he talked to her brother and she's right, he really doesn't know anything about her situation. She accepts his apology, but skirts around discussing her life story. Instead, she asks him if they got the Viper. Sheepishly, he says he just had to have it, and she replies that she can't believe he stuffed all the kids into one room for a car. Hey, the family that lays together stays together (sounds a little too much like that old "incest is best when it's kept in the family" rhyme for my liking), and they banter back and forth down the street.
The camera pans to the side mirror of a very familiar red convertible, where a sunglassed-face is observing the two bickering students. The glasses are pulled off to reveal none other than one Ms. Tamara Jacobs.
Fade to black ...