Opening, as always, in Dawson's room, we watch as Pacey takes out his frustrations on a dart board. He's not even really trying, but he's still pretty good at it, as he notes to Dawson. "Darts may be my destiny, you know? I could travel around the world as an international renowned master of the darts. It could be my calling!"
Dawson's not really interested though, he's too absorbed in watching movies that delve into complicated relationships and explore the complexities of characters. Apparently, he wants to layer the characters in his own (melo)drama, Creek Daze (yes, that's what it's called ... you heard it here first), and is looking for inspiration. Pacey picks up one of the movies Dawson is screening, The Great Santini, and asks what it's about.
"It's a classic," Dawson replies. "A father who thinks his son's a failure and screw-up." Pacey sardonically notes that Dawson could skip the BlockBuster moment and turn towards him for a life-imitating-art rendition. "It's the story of my life," he notes sadly, adding that Dawson will get plenty of insight into that on their little fishing trip the upcoming weekend.
While Dawson acknowledges that Pacey's dad is, granted, "a bit tense," he thinks his buddy is exaggerating the situation a little (given his own penchant for hyperbole, that's a pretty ludicrous thing for him to say, I thought!). Getting back to The Great Santini, Dawson tells his friend that even though the father and son in the film have their struggles, in the end, they wind up respecting each other.
Clearly, this is a touchy subject for Pacey, who asks if Dawson respects his own father. "I'd hate to live in a world where I didn't," Dawson replies enigmatically. It won't wash with Pacey though, who calls him on the fact that that wasn't really an answer. In typical Dawson fashion, he turns it around and asks Pacey the same question about his father.
"Ah yes, John Witter, the most respected, well-known man in all of Capeside," Pacey begins mockingly. "He fights crime, provides safety, locks up bad guys, helps little old ladies across the street ... how can you not possibly respect a man like that?" he sneers. Now it's Dawson's turn to call him on the fact that that wasn't really an answer, either.
The pair discuss the good old fashioned fishing trip Sheriff Witter has concocted for the weekend, with Dawson groaning, "Why do I sense disaster?" Pacey, however, is content to let the darts do the talking (guess he has no choice after Andie sank his magic 8-ball back on his birthday). "If I hit the bulls-eye, you and I are in for good fun, big fish and good, old-fashioned father-son bonding." Pacey steps up to the mound, he shoots, he ... misses. (yes, I know I'm mixing baseball and hockey phrases here ... your point being?) He turns to Dawson and sighs. "Best two outta three?"
Later on (the next day?) we find the same pair riding their bikes downtown Capeside, when they are pulled over by the familiar siren and flashing lights of Sherrif Witter in his squad car. "Dawson Leery!" Pacey's dad booms. "Capeside's own cinematic wunderkind!" He urges Dawson to make he remembers his fellow Capesiders after he makes it big in Hollywood, reminding him in particular to come back and visit Pacey in whatever fast food restaurant Pacey will be working in then.
The comment grates on Pacey's nerves, as he sarcastically notes that Witter men come from a long line of illustrious professions that require uniforms. (In Pacey's mind, being a cop is probably worse than working at Mickey D's) Ignoring the dig, Sherrif Witter orders Dawson to ensure he and his father are on the Capeside docks at oh-six-hundred hours for the ubiquitous fishing trip. "Come prepared physically and mentally," he says crisply, adding that they will be fishing in the presence of greatness and will be expected to bring back the tournament trophy "or end our lives at sea." (if Dawson wonders where Pacey inherited his tendency to exaggerate from, there's his answer)
Timidly, Dawson suggests that he and Mitch aren't exactly candidates for the Fishin' With Orlando Wilson show, but that they will try their best. Sherrif Witter agrees. "No doubt with your brain and commitment to excellence, you'll make a first rate first mate," he tells him admiringly. "In the mean time, keep Pacey out of trouble for me." And off he goes, in search of cats to rescue from tree branches or doughnuts and coffee to swill.
"Aye-aye, Captain," Pacey mutters. Dawson's take on the situation is understandably lighter. "Your father's classic," he chortles. "Oh, he's a classic," Pacey agrees. "He thinks my IQ matches my age. Did you hear that crack about flipping burgers?" he fumes. Dawson notes that Sherrif Witter was obviously kidding, but by the look on Pacey's face, he isn't so sure.
At school, Dawson and Joey are catching up on Dawson's latest cinematic endeavour. Dawson tells her they still have to scout locations, finish casting, iron out kinks with props and wardrobe, and all this on a budget that isn't really as much as Dawson thought it was ... "it's your typical pre-production chaos," Joey notes with a grin. But she's not quite right, as he explains to her. "Actually, it's not really chaotic. Jen has it under control. She's a trouble shooting dynamo," he says admiringly, noting that she can put out fires before they even begin.
Joey, predictably, isn't so easily impressed. "She's never worked in the business before," she says doubtfully, "so how does she know what to do?" Dawson replies that he doesn't know, but that she has an innate talent for it, which in turn lets him step up and flex his directing muscles more. As pleased as he is with the situation, Joey is not. "Too bad Jen didn't work on your last project," she notes. "It could have been a lot better than what it was." (I've said it before ... she doesn't wear green very well, does she?)
Typically, Dawson doesn't see Joey's jealous nature peeking through, and takes the comment at face value. "Are you kidding?" he asks her. "Working with you was one ofthe best period on my life! It's just surprising, that's all. Who would have thought it?" Before Joey can reply, the object of her lack-of-affection approaches them in the halls. Dawson enthusiastically tells Jen that they were just talking about her. "Dare I ask?" she asks with a smile. "Actually, I was just singing your praises," he responds with a matching smile. "I was telling Joey what an incredible job you did producing."
Jen is genuinely touched by his compliment and softly says thanks. It's too much for Joey to stomach, and she decides to leave before physically turning green on the outside to match her greenness on the inside from being jealous. But before she can make a break for it, Jen tells her she wants to speak with her. Dawson exits, and Jen tells Joey that she needs her help.
Immediately, Joey's defenses go up and she's wary. Jen begins enthusiastially, telling her that she's giving "Gale," a.k.a. Mrs. Leery, a hand on a news report she is doing on teenage girls as a new consumer phenomenon ... what they're like, what makes them tick .. but before she can go any further, Joey's greenness gets the better of her. "Oh, so in your spare time you're helping produce news reports for Gale?" she says with spite.
Jen won't be deterred, though. Using the same persistance she does on the movie set, she calmy explains to Joey that she's only watching Gale at work to pick up a few tips of the trade, adding that they really need girls to come by Dawson's house to ..."
But again, before she complete her sentence, Joey interjects, teetering on the edge of a deep green sea. "To what? Spill their guts on local TV?" (splash ...) "No," Jen replies, quietly throwing her a life preserver while ignoring the larger situation at hand. "To answer questions about what it's like to be a teenager. Joey, we really need girls who are thoughtful and articulate, and no one I know speaks their mind more eloquently and honestly than you do." Jen's got her there, and Joey's face indicates she'll think about it.
Next we see Mitch and Dawson standing on the Capeside docks, at precise oh-six-hundred-hours, no doubt. Mitch is waxing poetic about the boundlessness and mystery and romance of the ocean, feeling quite at home amid "all these people with profound connections to the sea." Dawson's a little worried about his father's rose-coloured slant on things, and Mitch's sudden love of all things oceanic, including his sudden yearning to be a fisherman. "Is that a viable career option for you now?" he asks, in a worried tone.
Before Mitch can answer, though, the pair are ushered aboard by Cap'n Witter, who greets them with a hearty "Ahoy, matey! Permission to come aboard granted!" (I'm rolling my eyes just about here) They step on board, and so begins the quartet's quest to win the Capeside Annual Fishing Classic. Except, oops, we'd better change that from a quartet to a quintet: Pacey looks off into the distance beyond Dawson and a pained look crosses his face. "Oh God," he sighs. "You know, I completely forgot to tell you something yesterday, and you are gonna totally kill me for it ..."
"Now who's being melodramatic?" Dawson jokes, but the joke's on him when he sees what Pacey's referring to. Or rather, who Pacey's referring to. All of a sudden, none other than Jack McPhee himself climbs aboard the Reel Action, apologizing for his lateness. Dawson almost splutters something at Pacey, but is cut short by Pacey's father, who barks at his son to clear the lines.
Meanwhile, back on land, Andie and Joey arrive at the Leerys, ready and un-willing (at least on Joey's part) for the documentary. Jen greets them at the door and thanks them for coming. Her warmness is met with yet another caustic remark from Joey, who sarcastically remarks that she couldn't resist seeing Dawson's hot new producer in action. Speaking of sarcasm, just then Abby, Miss Sarcasm herself, bounds out of the Leerys' house and sizes up the cameramen who are unloading equipment on the lawn. "Oh God, not you!" Andie groans. "Rude! Where's the love?" Abby answers in mock-innocence.
Gale interjects just then and suggests the group go inside and get started. "This is going to be fun, don't you think?" she asks Jen, but walks inside before Jen can answer. Joey, who has overheard the question, smiles at Gale but tosses a disparaging glare in Jen's direction as she passes by, leaving Jen with an oh-no-I've-created-a-monster look on her face.
Back out on the high seas, Jack attempts to set up a fishing pole in his usual clumsy manner, much to the amusement and disgust of Dawson. "I guess my little secret is out," Jack says sheepishly. (um no, that'd be two weeks from now ...) "Guess you can't exactly call me Ishmael." (no, but we *can* call you a dick, as in Moby Dick, as in the novel where that line comes from) Dawson doesn't find Jack's literary prowess very funny, to which Jack sulkily replies that "this is gonna be a fun weekend."
Predictably, Dawson's pissed at his remark. "So why'd you come then?" he demands. "Look Dawson, I didn't realize you were going to be here," Jack explains. "And it's too late for me to make an exit now and survive (yeah, so? I say do it anyway, in fact, all the more reason to), so I suggest you just deal with your little problem." Dawson counters that there is no problem per se, he's just amazed at Jack's confidence for leaving his "girlfriend" all alone that early in their "relationship," because "it's right about now that some new guy, some bumbling, na•ve, artsy type is gonna steal her away from under your nose, and trust me, that sucks." Ah, the lost art of subtlty.
Over at the teen angst session at Leery manor, Gale poses the "What do you think is the most important issue facing teens today?" question to the group. She askes Joey, who has no reply. The silence in the room is deafening. Abby rolls her eyes, and Gale starts to panic. She pulls Jen aside, mentioning that they've been at it all afternoon and they still have nothing to show for it. "Do you think the formality is making everyone uncomfortable?" Gale asks. "I think having everyone in one room is making everyone uncomfortable," Jen responds glumly.
Never one to miss an opportunity, Abby coos at Perry the cameraman. "Oooh, that camera equipment looks really heavy ... you must be built Ram tough." Proving he's more brawn than brains, ole Perry tells her dumbly it really isn't that heavy, and Abby bursts into nauseatingly fake giggles. Gale comes back out with Jen in tow at that moment, and suggests that they spend a little time getting to know each other before they delve into the Feminine Mystique with each other. She wants them to have a ladies night, but is immediately met by criticism from Abby (who else?). "How long are we gonna be here?" she whines. "Yeah, Abby's gotta make the rounds on her broom," Andie responds. But Abby's ready with a zinger of her own, "Yeah, and Andie's mom might start roaming the city, foaming at the mouth ..."
Gale interjects before the claws really come out, urging them all to connect with each other as women and seizing the opportunity to get to know each other better. "Oh God, I'm gonna need a drink," Abby wails. (funny, given her love of hot gossip, you'd think she'd be dying to hear all the inside skinny on Jen, Joey and Andie?) Gale ixnays the booze, but suggests there is enough junk food in the kitchen to fulfill anyone's cravings, if they'll just bear with her.
Out on the high seas, Cap'n Crunch is churning out commands with the precision of a drill sargeant. "Gentlemen! This is not a pleasure trip! You are not on a Carnival Cruise! There's a job to be done, and we need to work together like a well-oiled machine!" He orders Mitch and Dawson to take up the fight against the fish on the port side, while himself and "Jackie Onassis" (I was on the floor laughing uncontrollaby for that one) will handle the starboard poles.
Guess who the odd man out is? Good father that he is, Cap'n Cook has given up his own son in favour of ... Jack. (talk about adding insult to injury!) Pacey knows this too, and makes mention of the fact that while he may not be a member of the National Brain Trust, he thinks he knows how to handle a fishing pole. But his father has an answer ready for him. Turns out, Pacey gets to do everything else, which includes rigging the baits, backing up the anglers, raising and lowering all the anchors ... basically playing lackey. "You're the most important," his father tells him, adding that General McArthur wasn't the one who raised the flag during WWII, it was the grunts.
Pacey isn't impressed though. To him, it's just another example of his father not wanting to spend time with him, and delegating him into another role so he won't have to deal with him. "We're fishing, Dad. Not storming the beaches at Normandy," he says exasperatedly, and a little dejectedly, too. "This sucks," he mutters. His father jumps all over him though, reminding Pacey that a lot of things in this life suck, and it is his job to prepare Pacey for it. (Yeah, like he's been preparing Pacey for the past 16 years not to believe in himself or to have any self-esteem. Gotcha, Cap'n Kirk, I understand totally now ...)
In the Leerys' kitchen, Abby is predictably bored, and suggests a field trip upstairs to Dawson's bedroom to peruse its contents. "Don't even pretend you're not interested, she tells an indignant Joey and Jen." But even when they refuse to accompany her, she remains undeterred. "Fine," she shrugs. "I don't mind flying solo (there that broom reference coming into play again!). Catch you later!" and she slinks off down the hall in search of trouble. After a millisecond of hesitation and exchanged looks among themselves, Andie follows her, followed closely by Joey and Jen.
Jack offers Dawson a peace offering by the way of half a sub sandwich, which Dawson refuses. "It's not imperative that you and I become friends," he snaps. "I just thought it might be nice, that's all," Jack begins, charitably enough, but then loses his patience a little. "Know this. I didn't steal Joey away from you. You of all people should know how strong willed she is," adding that Joey has the intelligence of a Rhodes Scholar and isn't the type of girl who allows herself to be stolen in the first place.
"You don't know anything about her!" Dawson explodes. "And if you think things are over and done with between Joey and me, you're severely delusional!" (Dawson doesn't wear green very well either, does he?) Jack then proves once again why his name is interchangeable with Jerk with the remainder of his reply: "Maybe. But the fact of the matter is, Joey and I have something. You might not like it, but if you have any respect for Joey, you better respect me." (ooooh, another threat? How very butch of him. Hey, here's an idea, when he does come out of the closet in a couple of weeks, maybe Pacey can hook him up with Deputy Doug and they can take turns playing the tough guy ... ya think?)
But anyway ... hold the phone a sec here, people. Could someone please clue me into when exactly it was that Jack and Joey started having a "relationship"? To paraphrase something I read on a mailing list, and with apologies to the original author, one date, one nude posing session, and one case of male stage fright at a critical moment do not a relationship make. Especially if we're going to compare it to Joey's past relationship with Dawson. No contest. Then again, it could be a question of semantics and phonetics -- maybe Joey is under the impression the two of them are still only "dat-ing," but in Jack's sad little mind, he's made it official by adding that "e" in there, and he thinks they've crossed the line to "date-ing." Who knows?
And speaking of closet cases, back in Dawson's room, Abby is entirely inside Dawson's wardrobe, rifling through racks of Dawson's shirts and jeans in search of "incriminating scandalous contraband." (what's she gonna find, a pirated copy of "Saving Private Ryan" before it comes out on video?) Just when she proclaims to have hit "pay dirt," Jen and Joey, who are standing outside the closet doors, slam them shut behind her and trap her inside. It's a cute scene, and nice to see Jen and Joey pull together despite their growing tensions.
At that moment, Andie interupts their budding camaraderie by showing off her own freshly-found incriminating scandalous contraband, found tucked behing a copy of "Jaws" ... a copy of "Good Will Humping." Abby bursts out of the closet just then, a wide smile on her face.
On the ocean, Jack seems to think he's caught the big one, but is having trouble reeling it in. (Huh. Sounds like his relationship with Joey) Pacey and his father wrestle over the fishing line, with the latter harshly asking where the new pole is. When Pacey replies it's over on the starboard side, his father goes ballistic. "This is what I mean! It's the same thing over and over! I give you the simplest instructions in the world and you find any excuse not to follow them!"
Pacey argues that it doesn't matter what side the pole is on. (and if we're really going to get picky here, it's a continuity error anyway -- Jack and Cap'n Picard are supposed to be on the starboard side in the first place, remember? So the pole should be right there near them and not "over on" the starboard side. But anyway ...) "How can you expect more responsibility if you can't adhere to the most modest directions?" Cap'n Ahab booms. "When I speak, you listen! Don't think, just do! Please ... I'm not asking that much," he finishes angrily, storming off.
In his place, Dawson approaches Pacey, but instead of offering words of comfort, he admonishes him for inviting Jack-o-Lantern along for the ride. "Can you tell me what the hell you were thinking when you invited him along?" Dawson demands. Instead of blowing up (I would have!), Pacey controls his temper, bites his tongue and apologises, telling him Andie has been nagging him incessantly to include him in activities because he doesn't know any guys around Capeside (ha ha ha, I bet that's about to change!), and that Mrs. McPhee is getting worse by the minute. "I guess I took pity on him, yeah?"
Dawson can accept that, but he still wants to know why he wasn't informed of their little stowaway. "You could have prepared me so I knew I would be facing my adversary!" he says moodily. It's a bit too much for Pacey, an apology is one thing, but typical self-absorbed Dawson can't see the wood for the trees, or, um, the ocean for the fish as it were in this case. He should really get over himself, and Pacey tells him that, although not exactly in those words. "Screw you, Dawson!" (in those words!) he shouts. "Not all of us can be the fair-haired embodiment of perfection! Not everyone gets wunderkind and genius attached to their name! Some of us are just simple-minded folk trying to get through the day without breaking something."
In the porn palace otherwise known as Dawson Leery's bedroom, Abby, Jen, Andie and Joey are perched at the edge of his bed, enjoying (?) front-row seats to the type of screening they never figured our golden-haired hero to show. The girls' facial expressions say it all ... hands clamped over gaping mouths, giggling, raised eyebrows, closed eyes, general squirming ... this is one genre of film none of them are overly-familiar with (right age group, wrong gender).
"You are aware," Abby notes, "that where this tape begins, Dawson ends." Jen catches her drift, and after her recent encounter and discussion with Jack, Joey gets it too, but poor na•ve, innocent Andie, despite losing her virginity just the other week, is lost. "Ends what?" she asks. More giggling ensues as the other three come up with euphemisms for an activity most males have a general knowledge of, even if not direct experience with. "Test firing the missile!" Abby shouts gleefully. "Boxing the bald-headed bishop," Joey chimes in. "Shaking hands with the unemployed," Jen giggles. Suddenly Andie clues, flushing a lovely shade of fuchsia.
The girls continue watching, half-awestruck, half-horrifed. It's like resisting the urge to look at a car crash on the highway ... you know you really shouldn't, you know you might see something you really aren't prepared to see, yet you find yourself drawn to it in spite of yourself. "How does she do that?" "I'm not that limber!" "Ohhhh! Where do these women come from?" they wonder. "What sort of career is this?" Jen marvels. Abby has a quick answer, though. "Getting paid for something you're good at ... in a couple of years, Jen, that could be you!" Joey giggles, but Jen is not amused. "That's really not funny," she tells her hotly, although Joey defends herself by remarking she didn't say anything.
Just then, a figure in the door puts an end to the gang of four's little skinflick fest. "Hey ladies, whatcha watching?" Gale asks with a tight smile. Andie jumps up, quick to cover. "Uh ... uh ... nothing! We're watching an ... educational video. We're studying human anatomy!" Typical Abby, she insists on calling a spade a spade. "It's porno!" she proclaims, leaping up from the bed. "We borrowed it from Dawson's video collection. Mrs. Leery, you have to face the music, your son is a pervert!" "Abby!" Andie shouts indignantly. "What?" she replies with mock-self-righteousness, (Is that a word? It is now!) "I'm not going to lie! Unlike some people, I have morals." (oh yeah, watch for it soon, the canonization of Saint Abby the Blessed Virgin Martyr)
Gale won't stand to have her only child's name sullied any further. She boots them out of Dawson's room. Andie leaves gingerly, Abby strides out, while Jen confronts Joey in the hallway, obviously still steamed about Joey laughing over Abby's previous catty comment about Jen's illustrious future in the Adult Film industry. Jen explains that she's played armchair psychologist for hours, trying to figure out why Joey has been so consistently hostile in her actions and attitude, and the only theory she can come up with is that Joey somehow feels threatened by Jen's relationship with Dawson. But even that doesn't make sense to her, because as Jen herself puts it, "You won that rivalry, hands down."
She isn't finished yet, though, she's going to speak her mind and Joey is going to hear it, like it or not. "Why are you treating me like I'm this vixen that came into town and stole away your one true love?" Jen demands. "You're so disingenuous," (dis-in-jen'u-us,a. Not open, frank and candid; crafty; cunning) Joey sneers. "Stop encroaching on what's mine!" She rebukes Jen for continually recasting herself in Joey's role. "Every time I turn around, you replace me in some capacity, then feign shock and surprise when I resent you for it! First as girlfriend, then producer, then best friend ... now his mother! You've adopted his interests and dreams ... what's next? A job at the Ice House and taking up watercolours?"
"I love how you demonize me rather than face your own rampant insecurities," Jen blazes. "Fine," Joey counters. "Maybe I am slightly insecure, but maybe you won't own up to your own motives. When Dawson chose me, deep down, your ego was bruised, and deep down, you still want to win. You still want him back."
Thing is, they're both right, and they're both wrong. Jen is as jealous of Joey as Joey is of Jen. Each has made assumptions about the other, each wants to be the key female in Dawson's life and it's a deadlocked, take-no-prisoners, battle to the death. You know what they say ... All's Fair In Love And War, which in this case, happens to be the same thing.
The seafaring quartet has washed ashore for the night and are busy nursing their wounds and bruised egos from The One That Got Away at a "seedy dockside tavern," as Dawson puts it. Popeye the Sailor Man, a.k.a. Sherrif Witter, is content to put the group's previous display of angling ineptitude behind them and move on to his other two passions: darts and drinking (and not in that order, either). He tells the rest of the gang there's a dart board calling his name, and challenges anyone to go toe-to-toe with the "master." Interesting choice, as that's what Pacey referred to himself as when he was playing darts earlier in Dawson's room.
As the younger men take to the pool table, Dawson cheekily notes that he hopes his own father doesn't have too much fun tonight, or next thing you know, he'll be drawing up plans to open up his own cheap fishing bar. Pacey thinks Dawson is being too hard on his father, demanding to know how Dawson can find justification to criticize a man like Mitch Leery. Dawson replies he's merely afraid Mitch's mid-life crisis isn't going to end, but that only adds fuel to Pacey's fire. "Can't you see what's going on?" he shouts. "No one is that clueless, even you!"
Wrong, Pace. Apparently Dawson is that clueless. "What is up your ass?" he shouts at his best friend. "You're about to rip the felt! If you're mad at your dad, tell him, if you're mad at me, let me have it!" Pacey scoffs at his idea to just unleash his own fury on his father, explaining that it isn't that easy. "Gee whiz, pop, let's talk about this man-to-man," Pacey mocks. "You've seen a glimpse into the hell that is my life!" he yells, indicating that there is no way such a conversation could ever take place in the Witter household.
"Why is my mere presence such a detriment to your happiness?" Dawson asks exasperatedly. Finally Jack pipes up. "Because Mr. Witter puts you up on such a towering pedestal that it's an icon Pacey can't possibly live up to." He's right, but ole Jackie boy has enough of his own stuff to deal with, and just shouldn't go there, especially with Dawson, he's stepped on his toes enough for one day.
Back at the Leery home, the atmosphere has considerably loosened a bit, much to Gale's delight. On with the interview: She asks Andie why she thinks teen girls are such trendsetters, but before poor Andie can get a word in edgeways, Abby puts in her $2 worth. "It's not because they're cutting edge," she replies. "It's because they're insecure and pop culture capitalizes on that. If you buy that lipstick, or watch that TV show or listen to that group, you'll be popular." (Yet another in-joke from the writers: teen girls are DC's #1 demographic, and as a result, it's become a very cool show to tune in to)
So far, she's made a valid, intelligent point, but Abby being Abby, she has more to say on the subject, and this is where it starts to get mean and personal. "I mean, look around this room, everyone of these girls is insecure! I can't even speak my mind any more! I make a joke about cancer, Joey gets upset, I make a joke about crazy people, Andie gets upset, I make a joke about ho bags and Jen starts humping the couch!" It's ironic that Jen's past friendship with Abby is being thrown in her face now. When they bonded, Jen told Abby about her sordid NY past, and now it's coming back to haunt her. "Screw you, Abby!" Jen yells.
Gale tells the cameraman to stop rolling. "I think we've heard enough of your opinions, Abby, so thanks for coming." She stands up as if to usher Abby out of the house. "You're asking me to leave?" Abby screeches. "What about sisterhood and that bunk about female bonding?" "Good night," Gale replies firmly. "What kind of journalist are you?" Abby demands indignantly. "Oh, I know, a trashy one that sleeps around!" That's it, final straw, Gale escorts her out of the house.
At the same time, Mitch and Dawson are sharing a father-son bonding moment, albeit one where the traditional roles are reversed. As they arrange their sleeping bags on the dock beside the boat, Dawson asks Mitch what he's going to do with the restaurant, and Gale and his life in general. "I wish I knew," Mitch replies. "Are you okay for money?" Dawson wonders. "Yeah ... for now," Mitch answers. Dawson tells him that as glad as he is that they can have this moment together, at the same time, a fishing trip should be the least of Mitch's priorities. "Shouldn't you be out procuring some kind of employment, or establishing a game plan?" he asks with a twinge of worry.
"I'm sorry you're so disappointed in me," Mitch the son says sadly to Dawson the father. "I want to be the kind of man you can respect. But I don't know ... there must be something out there for me, something I can put my heart and my passion behind ... and I can't stop looking until I find it." Spoken like a true midlife-crisis victim.
Pacey and his father, meanwhile, are having their own father-son moment, although I'm not so sure I would refer to it as bonding. "Where'd everybody go?" Cap'n Witter slurs. Pacey remarks they've all gone back to the boat, and that his father is drunk (fortunately, he's too drunk to hear that criticism, or else all hell would have broken loose, I'm sure). But the Sherrif doesn't want to hit the hay, instead he challenges his son to a dart match. "Look Pace," he begins affably. "I know you think I'm being hard on you, but it's my job to protect you. C'mon, show me what you got! Let's see what you can do! Youth against master."
His partial explanation softens Pacey a little bit, as he chuckles at his father. "Master, huh? Watch this!" The dart game begins good-naturedly enough, with the two of them bantering back and forth, egging each other on. And for a moment, we really believe (or want to believe) that Pacey's father is just a gruff soul who is pursuing his own warped version of tough love with his younger son, someone who means well, he just has no idea how to express himself. Pacey even feel relaxed enough at one point to comment jokingly that it must be tough for his father to lose to his second-born. He throws a pretty good shot next, then grins. "Beat that." Unfortunately, Cap'n Sensible does, but his good humour and kidding around fall by the wayside. After his near-perfect shot, he slaps his son on his back a little too vigorously and crows, "Beat THAT!" a little too loudly.
Pacey's a bit taken aback, his savoir-faire is definitely ruffled and he's not sure if the line between messing around and serious competition has been smudged or not. He takes aim, focussing and projecting all his energy and concentration onto the dart board. He looks over his shoulder at his father, who has edged up very close behind him, just waiting breathlessly for him to fail, to fall short, to lose. They lock steely eyes for a moment, the tension almost palpable. Pacey fires and ... just falls short of the target.
Triumphant, his father hoots and hollers, announcing his victory to the rest of the tavern patrons. "There's nothing wrong with losing, Pacey, as long as you do it gracefully," his father admonishes him, although it's entirely without basis -- Pacey is a good loser, the problem is his father, who is a poor winner. And considering how many times his father has reminded Pacey what a loser he thinks he is, it's a wonder Pacey has turned out as well-adjusted as he is, all things considered.
The Cap'n & Tenille celebrates his victory with another round of drinks, while Pacey collects the darts, and decides to pitch one last time. Of course, he gets a bullseye the first try, and the screen fades on his face, as we're left wondering if he threw the darts match on purpose, so he wouldn't rock the boat (so to speak) with a drunken, belligerent father and have to face his wrath and suffer the consequences, or if he really did mean to win, to prove he wasn't a failure, but fate decided to award him the victory after the clock stopped ticking.
It doesn't matter. Point is, his father wasn't around to see him score the perfect shot, he was too busy drinking. His father doesn't realise his own son's worth, whether it's shooting a bullseye, landing a fish or scoring an A on a History quiz. Pacey has these quiet victories in his life, but after years of being beaten down (emotionally, but I'm willing to bet on occasion, physically, too), he resigns himself to the fact that he's worthless and even his minor victories will ring hollow in the eyes of his father.
From the fade out of Pacey's thoughtful face, we fade in to an equally thoughtful Jen, who is taking in Andie's interpretation of why teenage girls are such consumers. Shock and horror, she actually agrees with Abby on this one: "It stems from insecurity. I have this need to look and be perfect because my homelife is in total chaos, and if I get straight A's or get involved in every activity, then people won't know that I'm this fraud and that I have no idea what I'm doing or where I'm going ..."
Her words inspire Jen enough to share her own insecurities. "When I first came from New York," she begins, "I felt relief. I was trying to compete in a hyper-accelerated world, and I was in the fast lane to self-anihilation. I figured when I got here I figured I didn't have anything to prove, I could finally slow down. But in New York I was known as a precocious ingenue and the label stuck. In Capeside, all I am ever known as is the New York wild child, the out-of-town slut and bad girl ..."
Now it's Joey's turn to be moved. "When somebody comes along who has seen things I haven't, and experienced things I haven't, my defenses go up, because I can't compete with that. I'm just Joey Potter, the small-town girl who will live and die on the creek. And much as I completely disdain that identity ... it's all I've got. So if I feel like somebody is going to steal that measly bit of self that I have or that small amount of love that I've somehow managed to accumulate, I feel threatened, and I go for the jugular." Casting a sideways glance at Jen, she finishes. "I admit it."
Back on the boat, Dawson tries to sneak past what he thinks is a sleeping Jack. But of course, Jack wakes up on hearing Dawson and tries to start a conversation. Dawson refuses, telling Jack whatever it is, he is tired and has had enough drama for one day. Jack ignores his request, blurting out that he feels sick and nauseous. "Ever since I set foot on this boat, I've felt like I was gonna barf," he states eloquently. "I know the feeling," Dawson mutters in reply. "This is not exactly how I envisioned this father/son outing."
"I haven't had a father/son weekend in a long time," Jack says quietly. When Dawson asks exactly where Jack's dad is, he replies that if someone asked Andie or his mother, the pair of them would reply that he was up in Providence, taking care of the business. "Truth is, he's up in Providence because he left us," says Jack. "I know how that feels," Dawson nods, trying to empathize a little. Suddenly I get the feeling that Dawson is getting the feeling that maybe there's a tad more he and Jack have in common than their passion for a certain brunette. "Dawson," Jack replies, "Your father moved up the street. My father's gone. Try and put that in perspective, huh?"
Much as I don't like Jack, I have to give credit where it is due. Dawson is being typically narcissistic and irritating with his woe-is-me mantra. He needs to get over himself, big time, and realize that even though he can't play Happy Families anymore, he's still got it pretty good, comparatively. And of all people, it's his arch-nemesis who helps him come to this conclusion. Classic.
Speaking of father/son relationships, Pacey has a chore and a half on his hands -- supporting (literally) his inebriated father and helping him try to walk off some of his drunken stupor on the beach. "We've run aground," Cap'n Wit-less mutters before stumbling to the ground, dragging Pacey down with him. Within seconds, he has passed out cold. The guy might have his sea legs, but they're proving to be useless to him when he's full of liquid himself.
"I guess this is as good a time as any to have that father/son talk," Pacey notes ironically. He's not joking, though. It's only when his father is defenseless to the point of being unconscious that Pacey can truly bare his soul to him. It paints a vivid picture of their relationships using bolder colours and fewer brushstrokes than the obvious verbal sparring beforehand. The truth is, Pacey is terrfied of his father. Not only can he not stand up to him, he can only tell him how he really feels when he knows the man can't respond.
"So, how are you doing in school, Pacey?" he begins, assuming the role of his father. "Well actually, Dad," he replies to himself, "I'm doing all right. I'm really turning things around. Turns out I'm pretty smart, maybe even college material." "Good man, Pacey, I always knew you'd turn out to be something. How are the ladies treating you?" "Well, I met this one girl ..." "Is she cute?" "Cute? Huh. Andie's beautiful. She's smart, funny ... I tell you, this girl is really something special dad, and for whatever reason, she seems to think I'm pretty special too."
Pacey's smile fades as he continues his soliloquy. "So why can't you see that? Hmm? Why can't you see me? When did you give up on me? When I was five? Ten? Twelve? I'm 16-years-old dad ..." It's all too much to bear any longer. He breaks down, as he continues unleasing his hurt and pain on the oblivious prone figure beside him. "... And I'm here and I'm not perfect and I tried so hard for you and it is your job to love me, no matter who I am or what I become. Because you're my father, dad ... you're supposed to love me, you son of a bitch ..." Pacey buries his face in his arms then, crying for all those lost years. "I can't do this my by myself ..." he sobs into the night.
It's a wonderful piece of acting by Josh which really gets to the core of Pacey's character. He plays up to his reputation as the class clown and the town joke because for him, it's a way to be accepted. It's a way to get the attention he so desparately needed and didn't get growing up. If only his father had instilled some confidence in him, spent some time with him, showed him a bit of affection or bolstered his self-esteem, Pacey wouldn't think of himself as such a screw up.
The next day. The boys are out on deck, each doing his earnest to catch the biggest fish in the ocean. (note to wardrobe people: Lose the glasses on Kerr Smith, he looks like an effeminate punk pixie, but you can keep them on Josh ... most def.) Suddenly, Jack, of all people, gets a tug on his line and begins to reel it in, under instruction from Pacey. After a while Jack panics, and hands off the rod and reel to Pacey himself. Now Pacey is under unstruction from his father on how to land the fish, which he does, after much struggling and effort. During the tug of war, Cap'n America is actually behaving like a normal father, encouraging him, bracing and steadying him and offering suggestions and advice. It's a male ritual at its finest, and for a rare moment, we sense Pacey's father really is proud of him.
It's funny, I've never quite understood that whole thing with fishing. It must be because I'm testosteronally-challenged, although I was a fishing widow for many a year. I just don't understand why someone would voluntarily want to get up that early, in the cold, stand around bored for hours on end waiting for something to happen, and then when it finally does, go through all that effort and energy only to throw the damn thing back into the water ... I don't get it. Anyway, Pacey does hoist the fish above his head triumphantly, as the screen captures a black and white snapshot of the image.
Also the next day, we find Gale and Joey in the Leery kitchen, cleaning up from the bonding session the night before. Gale thanks Joey for everything, then tells her she has a confession to make. "As I was listening to you girls talk so beautifully about your fears and your dreams, I started feeling a bit sorry for myself." She goes on to tell Joey that although she loves Dawson more than life itself, men are men and women are women. "The great divide," Joey nods sagely.
"I've always wanted a daughter," Gale confesses, "but then I realized I have you. You're my surrogate daughter. I have always felt that way. And honey, I"m so proud of the woman you've become." Though she's terribly embarrassed, Joey needs to hear this. Not only is it an affirmation that she still "belongs" and hasn't been replaced by Jen, it's an affirmation that despite her hopes and fears that she discussed the night before, she's turned out okay ... much better than okay, actually. Gale draws her into a warm hug and Joey whispers a soft thanks to her. "You're welcome," Gale replies equally softly and kisses her. Not only is Gale in need of a surrogate daughter, Joey is in need of a surrogate mother. It's a beautiful relationship.
Speaking of beautiful relationships ... outside the house, Andie finds Abby bundled up on a deck chair with a blanket. When she asks what Abby's still doing there, Ms. Morgan snaps that she's waiting for her mother, who thought she was spending the night at the Leery home (another continuity error: Abby was the one whining about how long they would have to stay the night before when the initial idea of a ladies night was brought up).
"You stayed out here all night?" Andie asks incredulously. "What do you care?" Abby bitches. "I don't," Andie replies truthfully. "I bet you don't," Abby echoes. Her feeling-sorry-for-herself routine doesn't wash with Andie, though, who reminds Abby that Abby's favourite pasttime is to make her life a living hell. "That's not what I do!" Abby insists petulantly. "I play such a crucial role in your little circle and you're all too unimaginative to see it. I'm the scapegoat. The girl everyone loves to hate. (Well Jeez! She makes it so easy...) The one you can take out all your anger and aggression on and never lose a moment's sleep over."
Listening to her sob story, you almost start to feel sorry for her ... but then you remember her coming on to Dawson, taking Jen for a wild ride earlier in the year, smearing Andie and Jack's mother's illness all over the school, causing friction between Joey and Jen every chance she gets, exposing Pacey and Andie's personal life in the most public of ways ... the list is endless. Andie remembers it all, too and tells Abby she has it all mixed up. "You trash us. You're mean."
Even though it is convoluted and non-sensical by even the broadest of definitions, Abby has a reason for her behaviour. "Being sweet is boring!" she cries. "I don't have family lives like you guys! My mother's not a lunatic, my father's not in jail, I'm not the prodigal daughter from New York ... my parents' divorce is boring. My house is boring. There's no intrigue, no drama." So, in her own delusional and twisted little way, Abby creates drama where none exists. "And I think it's a valid extra-curricular activity," she sniffs. Poor baby. You almost feel sorry for her here ... almost, although you're not exactly sure why ...
"Abby, don't you realize how lucky you are?" Andie asks. "What you have, I've always wanted and dreamed of ... a normal life, with normal parents." (I think even Andie's overdoing it a bit here, after all, she had the perfect Normal Rockwell home and life for 15 years, it only crumbled after the car accident and that was only a year and a bit ago!) "The grass is always greener," Abby notes with an almost wistful smile. (I thought Monica looked very pretty in this scene) The two make an odd sort of peace with each other through this newfound understanding, which is broken when Abby's mum pulls up. She's about to leave when she asks Andie if she wants a ride, which to no one's surprise but her own, she accepts. Could this be the makings of a beautiful friendship? Doubtful. But it's a start.
Ditto that upstairs, where Joey and Jen find each other in Dawson's room. It's an ironic yet appropriate place for them to have the discussion they both know is looming in the air above them. Joey begins awkwardly, then Jen interrupts, then Joey interrupts the interruption, and so forth and so one until Joey finally asks Jen to let her proceed. "I've been thinking," she begins again, "that it kinda sucks that the people who I respect the most are the people who I become the most competitive with. I wish there was some way to ..." her voice trails off as she mulls over her words in her mind.
"For all your thinking, you're not being very articulate," Jen teases. "I'm trying to apologize here," Joey smiles through gritted teeth. "I know, I'm kidding, I'm sorry" Jen smiles back, continuing, "I totally understand what you're trying to say. You're right. We've been locked at a stalemate for way too long." Jen comes to the conclusion that there is room in Dawson's life for her without replacing Joey.
Joey comes to a conclusion of her own. "Listen, we can sit here and rehash all of our old problems and psychologically deconstruct all of our petty rivalries ... but I guess what I"m trying to say is that I respect you. I respect who you are." Jen's face says it all, she's just thrilled to hear these words, especially after telling everyone earlier on how she felt people labelled her as a big-city tramp and had no respect for her whatsoever. "Thanks," she smiles softly, "you too." Joey smiles her trademarked lopsided grin at her and they sit there, in silence.
On the docks, Pacey and Cap'n Cook are posing with their mammoth fish and an equally large trophy (and according to Dawson's Desktop, first prize is a cheque for $1,000). It isn't much other than a nice photo op, but at least it's something, as they smile away together to the click of cameras.
As Dawson watches them pose, Jack comes over, hand outstretched. They shake, and an unspoken, albeit threadlike, bond of respect is formed between them, too. Pacey comes over after Jack leaves, still on an adrenaline rush from it all. His father approaches them and gives Pacey the trophy. "You should be proud of yourself," he begins, and for a brief, shining moment, we think Sherrif Witter (he isn't a Captain anymore, now that they've come ashore) is actually genuinely pleased with something his son has done, but of course we're sadly mistaken. "Enjoy this moment, you probably won't have many more like it." And with that he walks off to his waiting buddies, who are ready to congratulate him with a drink.
Pacey looks after him, an utterly defeated look on his face. "Do you have any idea how many times I've set myself up for that one over and over and over again?" he asks Dawson. "I can't seem to stop myself from trying to get just one unqualified 'good job, son!' from that bastard ... I really must be a simpleton," he finishes gloomily.
"I know it isn't the same thing, but there are people in your life who recognize and respect your talent and intelligence," Dawson says comfortingly. "One is sitting right in front of you, and the other is sitting in her bedroom probably having a perky coronary in anticipation of your return from the sea." (When he said that, I got this mental image of Andie's face on a cocker spaniel's body, just waiting at the door, tail wagging impatiently, for its master to come home!)
Pacey nods in acknowledgement of Dawson's logic, then puts his glasses on and walks away. Certainly, Dawson's little we-still-love-you speech is heartwarming and hopefully made some sort of impression on Pacey, but it isn't exactly the same. After all, blood is thicker than water, right?
The other father/son pair, Mitch and Dawson, arrive back at Casa Leery after their expedition into the deep blue. "Father son relationships are excruciatingly complicated," Mitch states. "I've spent my entire life trying to figure out the dynamic I have with my own father ... but I will keep trying til the day I die to do the best I can, to be the best father to you that I know how."
Dawson is touched, and merely thanks his father, not just for being there, but for allowing him to make his own mistakes, and for never making him feel inadequate. "My ability to dream without boundaries comes from you," he smiles. "You've never disappointed me. I worry about you, but I respect you (there's that word again) more than everybody I've ever known. (what about Joey?) And I know, especially after today, how lucky I am to have you as a father."
Now it's Mitch's turn to be touched, and he envelops Dawson in for a long embrace, despite Dawson's chiding "not to get all sappy on me." After they break apart, Mitch heads up the porch stairs towards the front door, when he suddenly catches himself in his mistake. He realizes it isn't his home anymore, but nonetheless, he hesitates for a split-second before heading down the stairs, saying goodnight to Dawson and walking back to his sport-ute. Dawson looks after him, a little defeated, and watches the car pull away before walking sadly up the stairs and into the house.
So, at the end of the day, with the battle lines divided along gender lines, we have the following tallies: For the males, we score a minor victory / breakthrough with Jack and Dawson, and a moderate one between Mitch and Dawson. Unfortunately, the major war to be fought has resulted in no clear-cut winner, as one of the participants didn't even realize there was a conflict to be resolved in the first place. Which in a strange way, is oddly comforting -- after all, we didn't just expect 16 years of emotional and psychological drama to magically unravel with a bit of sea air, salt water and a king-size mackeral, did we? (or did we?)
The girls fared a little better than the guys did, I think. Victories of all shapes and sizes all around ... Abby and Andie, Joey and Gale, and especially Joey and Jen. Major respect and admiration going on here between some unlikely pairs. Sigh ... now if only we could take all this individual gender respect and cross-pollinate it between the two sexes ... then again, February Sweeps is just around the corner ...
Fade to black ...