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# 4 1 0 - S e l f  R e l i a n c e


Please note: I had this script on my HD. I don't remember where I got it from, so if you want to provide a link to its original site, E-mail me. Thanks!
[Dawson's Dark Room - Dawson is in final stages of developing some film 
with Jack.] Jack: Hmm. How does it feel to have a dream come true?
Dawson: Why, do I look like I'm trapped in an elevator with Kate Hudson?
Jack: Dawson, come on! Last night at the Holiday Party, you kissed 
Gretchen Witter! I mean, you remember her, right? As the girl you once 
described to me as your first crush.
Dawson: (looking at a picture of Gretchen that he pulls out of a tray) She photographs very nicely, doesn't she?
Jack: Okay. So much as I appreciate your attempt to feign coolness… 
(Dawson laughs) You can't tell me this means nothing to you.
Dawson: Well, not nothing, but virtually nothing. I mean, was she once the 
unapproachable bikini clad object of my pre-adolescent affection, yeah. Is 
she now? No. She's a friend and I would like to keep her one.
Jack: Ahh. Famous last words.
Dawson: Not every kiss has to be a life-altering event.
Jack: I know. Believe me, I know. (Dawson laughs) All right, I gotta go.
Dawson: (handing Jack a picture of Grams) Can you take this with you to 
Jen's house, give to Grams?
Jack: How do you know I'm going over there?
Dawson: Please.
Jack: Yeah, okay. We're going over to Province town. We're going to 
something called a gay/straight teen collation.
Dawson: Sounds vaguely political.
Jack: (they head upstairs) Yeah, well (missed words). Anyway, should be 
interesting.
Gretchen: (in the foyer) Hey.
Dawson: Hey.
Jack: Hey.
Gretchen: I came by to, you know, help clean up. Since it was sorta my 
party and all. But you've obviously done that already.
Dawson: Yeah, sorry. (Gretchen and Dawson look at Jack expectedly)
Jack: Yeah, okay, I'm gonna go.
Dawson: All right. (Dawson opens the door for him and as Jack walks out, 
he gives Dawson this hilarious look that Gretchen doesn't see) Later.
Gretchen: Later.
Dawson: Ahh…
Gretchen: Look, Dawson… The reason I came by is because I reacted 
stupidly. When the whole mistletoe thing happened, I should have just 
cleared the air right then and there. I mean, that's certainly policy on 
things like that.
Dawson: You have a policy on kissing your younger brother's former best 
friend underneath the mistletoe at holiday parties?
Gretchen: No. No, I just… I didn't say anything at the time because I was 
afraid that you might think it meant something more than it did. I mean, 
you're young…
Dawson: Well, I'm not that young…
Gretchen: No, right. Of course not. So obviously you didn't think that it 
meant something more.
Dawson: Obviously.
Gretchen: Because sometimes if we don't clear these things up, than they 
can get kinda awkward and that would suck.
Dawson: Tell me about it.
Gretchen: So to sum up, last night was strictly a season's greetings kinda 
kiss.
Dawson: (He opens the door for Gretchen and they stand close) Uh, yeah. 
Happy holidays. 
Gretchen: Happy holidays. (Dawson closes the door as Gretchen leaves)
[Potter B&B - Pacey and Joey are waving bye to Bessie and Bodie who are 
about to pull away in their truck.]
Joey: Bye! Don't worry! (the truck pulls away and Joey and Pacey walk back 
into the house)
Pacey: You know, this ain't gonna be half bad. Two of us together, three 
nights alone.
Joey: Yeah, Pace. Alone. With a toddler in his terrible twos and a test 
tomorrow in transcendentalism. If that doesn't sound like a prescription 
for fun, I don't know what does. (she begins picking up toys and stuff off 
the patio)
Pacey: You know, you still haven't talked about last night.
Joey: Yeah we did. And we're both in agreement that you were the hit of 
the party.
Pacey: No, not that party. The other one.
Joey: What, the Leery's?
Pacey: Yes. The Leery party. You know, the one with the mistletoe where 
Dawson was kissing my sister.
Joey: Look, Pacey, please. I have too much on my plate right now to even 
think about that, okay? I mean, I'm up to my eyeballs in Thoreau, I 
haven't even started Emerson. And we have about an hour left until 
Alexander wakes up from his nap, if we're lucky. (Alex starts to cry) 
Brace yourself. This is where the fun begins. (she walks into the house)
[Gay/Straight Collation - Jack and Jen arrive at the coffee shop.]
Jack: Just take a look around, please. I mean, this is totally not my 
scene.
Jen: How do you know?
Jack: For one thing… (a guys walks in front of him, cutting him off from 
Jen. Jack watches him, then catches up to Jen, keeping his voice low) For 
one thing, I'm the only guy here with no piercings.
Jen: Jack, your scene, as you so quaintly refer to, it basically consists 
of me, Dawson, and it pains me to say, Grams. Look, I know this is hard 
for you, but you cannot spend your entire life surrounded by straight 
people. (to coffee shop cashier) Hi. Can I get two skinny Vanilla Latte's, 
extra hot, no foam.
Cashier: Right away.
Toby: Hey, are you here for the meeting?
Jen: Yes we are.
Toby: Thank God. We need more lesbians with decent haircuts. I'm Toby.
Jen: Jen. But I'm actually here as just a friend. Jack, Toby. Toby, Jack.
Toby: Have we met?
Jack: No, I don't think so.
Toby: I've definitely seen you in something. I know, you're the gay 
football player. Last year, from the news. We always wondered about you. 
(Jack looks down) Hey, uhh… I'm sorry, was I wrong? You're not the gay 
football player?
Jack: No, I am. I'm just not comfortable with labels like that.
Toby: I see. And which label bothers you more? Gay or football player? (he 
walks away)
[Mr. Brooks' House - Dawson and Brooks walk down the road a bit, outside 
the house.]
Brooks: A documentary about me. And what do you get out of it?
Dawson: I get a chance to learn about filmmaking. Picture making. Sorry. 
Lots of good directors dedicated themselves to studying their cinematic 
forbearers. (Missed a name) Hitchcock, (missed a name) and John Ford. 
Billy Wilder, Cameron Crowe. I know you've never heard of him.
Brooks: I lied. Tall as a (missed word?), shaggy hair, doesn't hold a 
candle to Hanson fella… LA Confidential. Best picture of the 90s.
Dawson: So you have been to the movies since Star Wars.
Brooks: My (missed word?) card gives me a nice discount at the Rialto.
Dawson: So what makes LA Confidential so great?
Brooks: You really want to know?
Dawson: I wouldn't be here if I didn't.
Brooks: Well come back tomorrow, to lesson number 1 at the A.I. Brooks 
school of Cinema.
Dawson: So you'll do it?
Brooks: A producer credit above the title. You'll be director in name 
only. Like Flemming in Gone with the Wind. You have a problem with that?
Dawson: No problem at all.
[Coffee Shop - Toby is speaking to the group. Jack looks bored.]
Toby: …because he was gay.
Jack: Oh, God. If I hear the word 'gay' one more time I'm going to scream.
Jen: Jack, it's just a word.
Jack: It's in every sentence the guy says.
Toby: So, our new people. Jack, wasn't it? Why the sudden interest in 
joining our little coffee klatch?
Jack: (looking at Jen, and Jen motioning him to talk) Well, I…
Toby: Oh, on your feet.
Jack: (standing) I was coaching a peewee soccer team over in Capeside and…
Toby: Ahh, say no more. The parents fired you when they found out you were 
queer. No, of course they were very careful not to fire you BECAUSE you 
were queer.
Jack: I wouldn't exactly put it that way.
Toby: But it's what happened, wasn't it? So, what did you do?
Jack: I did the only thing I could. I left.
Toby: Ahh, of course. Though as everybody here knows, the only way to make 
society better is to confront prejudice head on. Which brings me to our 
last order of business. (to Jack) You can sit down now. (Jack looks at Jen 
like, what the hell?!) As those of you who have read more than just the 
sports pages now, two of our favorite lesbians, Anna and Sarah, got kicked 
out of Stardust Lanes in upper Weymouth this week for kissing. Now the 
owners claim that they are against all forms of public displays of 
affection, gay or straight. And we plan to put this policy to a test.
Jack: (whispering to Jen) God forbid future generations of gay teenagers 
are denied the right to bowl.
Jen: Jack, we're keeping an open mind here, okay?
Toby: I'm sorry. You two in the back? Do you guys have something you'd 
like to share with the group?
Jen: Yeah! No, I mean, we were just wondering what time. (Jack looks at 
Jen) For bowling.
[Potter B&B - Joey is reading. Some banging can be heard in the 
background. She finally gives up reading and goes around the corner to 
find Pacey sitting on the kitchen floor with Alexander in his lap. Alex is 
banging on a cookie sheet with two wooden spoons.]
Joey: What may I ask is going on in here?
Pacey: Well, we were just doing some reorganizing.
Joey: What happened to reading him to sleep?
Pacey: He got a little antsy. I just thought I would let him tire himself 
out. (Joey takes Alexander)
Joey: I should have known better, Pacey. You always do this.
Pacey: What?
Joey: Get him all riled up. And now he'll never get to sleep and I'll 
never get a chance to study.
Pacey: You can study right now. Look, I'm telling you, I got this whole 
baby putting to bed thing under control.
Joey: (she grabs his hand and leads him to the front door) Out.
Pacey: What, of the kitchen?
Joey: No, of the house. As in, good bye. You're sleeping at home tonight. 
Your home.
Pacey: Look, you can't kick me out. You need me here.
Joey: No I don't.
Pacey: Yes you do.
Joey: (she yanks his beaner over his head, pulling it down forcefully, 
covering his entire face) Hat.
Pacey: Oww! Oww! Hair! Face! Okay!
Joey: (she slips one of his arms through a sleeve and is yanking it over 
his neck) Coat.
Pacey: What is this? I… Look, I can put on my own coat.
Joey: (draping his scarf over his neck) Look, Pace, look. I appreciate 
that your intentions are good, but I think I can handle this way better on 
my own. (she opens the door and expects him to leave. When he doesn't, she 
pulls his arm out the door)
Pacey: Oh, you… who's going to look after the baby??
Joey: (she swings around to finish pushing him out) Goodbye.
Pacey: I'm looking after the baby!
Joey: (grabbing the door) Goodbye!
Pacey: I am looking after the baby.
Joey: (closing the door) Bye, Pace! I'll see you tomorrow!
Pacey: What are you… (she closes the door)
Joey: (to Alex who is sitting on the floor) Okay Alex. Bedtime. I mean, we 
can either do this the hard way or we can do this the easy way, but 
please. (some knocks on the front door) Pacey! What part of goodbye do you 
not… (she opens the door and sees a man and woman outside)
Man: We saw your sign. We could really use a room.
Joey: Sure. What's two people…? (the man and woman move aside and two 
small children run into the house) Four? Welcome. (they move inside and 
she closes the door)
[Pacey's Place - Pacey sits at the table and Gretchen walks up.]
Gretchen: What are you doing here? I thought you were (reading a note) "At 
Joey's"?
Pacey: I was. But she kicked me out. Which funny enough, leads me to this 
question I've been meaning to ask you, which is, uhh… What the hell were 
you thinking kissing Dawson at Leery's holiday party the other night?
Gretchen: Oh, you saw that, huh?
Pacey: Oh yeah, I saw that! And so did somebody else I know. And as much 
as I would LOVE to erase that image from my mind, I'm afraid it's pretty 
much burned in there evocable. So please, please, explain yourself to me. 
Tell me why you had to kiss Dawson and not somebody else your own advanced 
age.
Gretchen: Do you we have to talk about this before I have my coffee?
Pacey: Yes!
Gretchen: Okay, look, it was an accident. Pure mistletoe. Okay? It meant 
nothing. He knows that. I know that. It was just a kiss.
Pacey: There's no such thing as just a kiss. Especially not in Capeside.
Gretchen: Didn't you people ever play Spin the Bottle?
Pacey: (grabbing some orange juice out of the fridge) No, unfortunately, 
that quaint little 80s tradition of yours gone the way of the dodo by the 
time I hit puberty.
Gretchen: And besides, why do you care who Dawson kisses?
Pacey: Personally, I don't care. But someone that I know does.
Gretchen: (Pacey drinks out of the container) Okay, so why aren't you at 
Joey's? Talking to her instead of harassing me. And drinking all the 
orange juice.
Pacey: I'm not a complete moron, you know. I tried that already.
Gretchen: And?
Pacey: And, she says she hasn't had time to run her mind over it yet.
Gretchen: Oh. Big lie.
Pacey: Yeah. Huge lie. So, now I really have two options. I can either 
take the high road and pretend like I believe what she's telling me. Or, I 
can take the low road, force the issue, and just come off looking like a 
world class jerk. What do I do, Gretch?
Gretchen: I think you should just be the best boyfriend you can be. I 
think you should be understanding and sweet and kind.
Pacey: And if none of that works?
Gretchen: Force the issue. Be a world class jerk. You can do it, Pacey. I 
know you can. I have complete and total faith in you.
[Capeside High - AP English. Joey sits at her desk going over notes 
frantically, marking things and reading. Dawson, who takes a seat next to 
her, watches her curiously.]
Dawson: Are you ready for this test?
Joey: Oh, sure. Why wouldn't I be?
Dawson: Well, I've never seen Joey Potter with Crib notes before.
Joey: Dawson, they are just a supplementary study aid.
Dawson: Right. (she goes back to reading) You would tell me, right? If 
something was wrong?
Joey: Sure.
Teacher: (walking in) Okay people! Success in the copy room. (he starts 
passing out the exam) Now, as a change of pace, this test includes short 
answers as well as essays. (Joey flips through her test with a concerned 
look on her face. Dawson notices this concern and they smile faintly at 
each other as they begin their tests.)
[Hallway - Jack comes out of a classroom, followed by Jen.]
Jack: I'm not going.
Jen: I think you are, Jack.
Jack: I'm not. I mean, this whole group thing… It's just a bad idea.
Jen: Come on, what group thing? We're not joining the Manson family. We're 
just going bowling. It'll be so much fun.
Jack: Wait! That's impossible, okay? In the entire history of existence, 
bowling has never been fun. Funny, yes. But not fun.
Jen: Okay, so we don't have to bowl. We don't even have to rent those 
shoes. We can just go and hang out and make some new friends.
Jack: Oh, like that guy Toby? No thanks.
Jen: Oh, come on. I think he's sweet.
Jack: You would.
Jen: Meaning what?
Jack: Meaning the guy loves you. He practically started drooling on site.
Jen: Oh, please. He does not love me. He just worships my more diva like 
qualities. I happen to think he likes you. (Jack looks at her) You know, 
beneath all that militant, angry, young gay man pashing, which is sexy.
Jack: Yeah, very far beneath. The guy's a fascist dictator. And for the 
record, even if I wanted to meet new people, which I don't, it's a totally 
unnatural way to do it.
Jen: Okay. Point taken.
Jack: I mean, it's like, "Hi! I'm gay, and that's all I am." How weird is 
that?
Jen: You know… it's totally weird. It is.
Jack: Just because a bunch of people share the same sexual orientation, 
doesn't mean that they have anything else in common.
Jen: I know. You're right.
Jack: Why are you agreeing with me?
Jen: Easy. I'm going without you. (she walks away)
[Brooks' House - Dawson is taping Mr. Brooks, who sits in an armchair.]
Dawson: Is it true that there's only 6 stories?
Brooks: No, there's three. Guy loves girl, guy gets girl, guy loses girl. 
What in the hell are you doing?
Dawson: Moving the camera.
Brooks: Trying to make your viewers sea sick?
Dawson: No.
Brooks: Well then hold the camera steady. Get over there. Unobtrusive.
Dawson: Don't you think that kind of thinking is a little outdated?
Brooks: Good enough for Howard Hass, good enough for you.
Dawson: Yeah, but you can't just write off the technological advancements 
that we've made. I mean, movies like Fight Club and the Matrix… That 
kung-fu sequence alone…
Brooks: Kung fu?! Next you'll want me to know about Gladiator pictures.
Dawson: Which would be your cue to tell me what you think was wrong with 
Gladiator.
Brooks: A tad over the top. Lacking in complex human emotions.
Dawson: Which is what made LA Confidential so great.
Brooks: Yeah, and that sexy blonde. (Dawson smiles) You know, there hasn't 
been a picture that good since The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence. You have 
seen that one, haven't you?
Dawson: Yeah, the great love triangle. Like a lot of great movies.
Brooks: Well, what's your point?
Dawson: I thought you might have one.
Brooks: You know why so many great movies are about love triangles? 
Simple. For every piece of happiness, there's also a piece of unhappiness. 
If you haven't told both sides, you haven't told the whole story. All 
right? I think we're done for the day. (he gets up to leave)
Dawson: Hold on, you can't just quit when you get to the good part.
Brooks: Oh, yes I can. I'm the star. No star, no picture.
Dawson: You keep going on all afternoon about the importance of asking 
fundamental questions about truth, honor and friendship. Now that I 
finally ask them, you have nothing to say? Who was this girl who made you 
give up filmmaking?
Brooks: That's what you want to hear? The salacious details?
Dawson: No. Complex human emotion.
Brooks: All right. Come back after supper. I'll try to dredge up some 
painful memories for you.
[Potter B&B - Joey is filling the cupboard with groceries, talking to 
someone.]
Joey: So I messed up the short answers. But who knew that Thoreau actually 
was Emerson's handy man anyway? I mean, I think the worse it possible 
could have been was a B-. Who am I kidding? (she sits on the floor in the 
kitchen next to Alexander - whom she's been talking to this whole time) 
It's a C. I know it. I'm dead. Alexander. Please do yourself a favor. Stay 
off the road to over achievement. I'm telling you, it will lead to nothing 
but heartache. (Pacey walks in, and when Joey hears the door close, she 
gets up and come out from behind the counter. Pacey has a bag of 
groceries.)
Pacey: Hey. I went shopping.
Joey: (holding up a box of something) Me too.
Pacey: Yeah, well, you can never have too many groceries. Especially if 
some more unexpected guests drop by like last night.
Joey: Well, then I'll take care of it, like I did last night.
Pacey: (to Alex) Come here, baby. (picks him up) All the way up? Top 
floor? (Alex gets a little whiny, but Pacey makes little noises to calm 
him - how sweet! Alex actually says "Momma") Momma.
Joey: Is this some sort of intervention or something?
Pacey: What? (Alex hiccups. To Alex) You got the hiccups? (rubs his back. 
To Joey) I just thought I would come by and cook us some supper. You know, 
build some Lego castles. That way you could study.
Joey: I don't need to study tonight, Pacey. I needed to study last night 
when I kicked you out. Remember that? Is it all coming back to you now?
Pacey: Well, judging by your mood I'd say the test went really well. (puts 
Alex down and takes a seat at the counter while Joey puts more groceries 
away)
Joey: It doesn't matter, okay? It doesn't matter how I did on that stupid 
test. I can't really undo it. I can't retake it. It's over.
Pacey: So, you're really this upset by some stupid test?
Joey: I'm sorry if I can't let things roll of my shoulders, Pacey. I don't 
really have the energy to buck up and be in a good mood, okay? I'm tired. 
I'm so tired of worrying about Alexander. I'm so tired of waiting on 
people. And I'm so tired of doing everything by myself.
Pacey: (picking up Alex and bringing him to Joey) Come here, baby. Jo, you 
don't have to do it by yourself. That's why I'm here. I want to be able to 
help you. I just can't help you if you won't tell me the truth.
Joey: This is the truth.
Pacey: No, it's not. The truth is, what's really bothering you is what 
happened between Dawson and Gretchen.
Joey: I'm not upset about Dawson and Gretchen.
Pacey: No, okay. Maybe you're not. But you're certainly upset about Dawson 
and you.
Joey: That is not true.
Pacey: It's not true?
Joey: No.
Pacey: Please, tell me the truth. Because it's certainly not about you and 
me. I haven't screwed up for at least a day or two.
Joey: No, you haven't. You never do. You are the perfect boyfriend. You 
win the perfect boyfriend contest. You beat Dawson. Is that what you want 
to hear, Pacey? (Joey picks up Alex and walks away)
[Potter B&B - Pacey sits in the living room reading a magazine. Joey walks 
in, still in a huff.]
Pacey: Is he asleep?
Joey: Yes. (she goes to the couch with a book)
Pacey: I did the dishes.
Joey: Thanks.
Pacey: You know, I didn't come over here tonight to fight about Dawson.
Joey: Yes you did.
Pacey: (moves to sit on the coffee table across from her) Yeah, you're 
right. I did come over here tonight to fight about Dawson. But only 
because I don't want this to become one of those things we never talk 
about and then I look up one day and you're gone.
Joey: What things, Pacey?
Pacey: Well, things like the future. Joey: We talk about the future.
Pacey: No, Joey, we talk around the future.
Joey: That is not true. (long pause) I don't know why it should bother me, 
this Dawson and Gretchen thing.
Pacey: But it does bother you. Look, it's okay that it bothers you. I just 
want you to be able to tell me that. Don't shut me out from these things.
Joey: Pacey, I do think about the future. I do.
Pacey: So what do you see when you see the future?
Joey: Us. Me and you, Pace. We grew up together. You see, Dawson and I, we 
didn't grow up. We are in that house, in Dawson's bedroom, eternally 
having the same argument over and over again, in this endless cycle that 
goes on and on. And… I can't stop it. Because whenever I'm around him, I 
become 15.
Pacey: Well, if that's the problem, and believe me, this isn't easy for me 
to say, but… You have to talk to Dawson. And then would you please call 
me? (he stands up and kisses her on the forehead before leaving.)
[Stardust Bowling - Toby and Jen are walking towards their lane.]
Toby: I have no idea how you and Mr. Quarterback got to be such good 
friends.
Jen: Ugh, simple. We're both terminally unlucky in love. Oh, and he's not 
the quarterback. He… they throw him the ball and he catches it.
Toby: Ahh, a love of sports. No wonder we get along so famously. (noticing 
Jack walking in) Ahh, there he is. Captain America. I thought you said he 
wasn't coming?
Jen: He wasn't. I kinda blackmailed him into it. Jack! Hello! Over here.
Jack: Hey.
Jen: Hey, you changed your mind.
Jack: Ahh, fake surprise. It looks good on you.
Jen: Toby, you remember Jack.
Toby: Yeah, how could I forget. Nice jacket.
Jack: Oh, yeah, thanks. (he moves to take it off)
Toby: (to Jen, softly) He's kidding, right?
Jen: About what?
Toby: The jacket. It's like ironic, right? It's something he got at a 
thrift store.
Jen: No, it's really his jacket.
Jack: (noticing they were talking about him, but not about what) What, is 
there a problem?
Jen: Uh-uh. No! No. But I think it's time to bowl. (grabbing a bowl and 
handing it to Toby) Toby, pink. (he takes it and goes to bowl) He's sweet, 
huh?
Jack: Pff. I'm gonna get some shoes.
[Brook's House - Dawson is filming. Brooks is in his armchair again, and 
since it's dark out, lights are set up around him.]
Brooks: I started hitchhiking to the West coast. South of Chicago I hooked 
up with route 66. You've heard of that, haven't you?
Dawson: Yeah, sure.
Brooks: On a TV show, no doubt. I bet you haven't read Grapes of Wrath, 
either.
Dawson: I saw the movie.
Brooks: How come I'm not surprised by that. Ahh, John Houston, now there 
was a director.
Dawson: John Ford directed Grapes of Wrath. Directed all those Henry Fonda 
movies. Young Mr. Lincoln, Drums Along the Mohawk.
Brooks: Oh, yeah, I guess you're right. Houston didn't make his first 
picture til A Tribute to Sierra Madre. Maltese Falcon. That was Houston's 
first picture, not Sierra Madre.
Dawson: Mr. Brooks, if you're not feeling well, we can do this some other 
time. Can I get you some water or something?
Brooks: That would be good, yeah. Water, ice, bourbon. Hold the water, 
hold the ice.
Dawson: Ahh, I'm not quite sure that's a good idea.
Brooks: I don't give a tinker's damn about your opinion. If it's too much 
trouble for you, I can get it myself.
Dawson: Never mind. Sit right there. I'll get it. (he goes to get the 
drink. When he returns, Brooks is asleep. Dawson places a blanket over 
him, then turns out the lights and leaves.)
[Stardust Bowling - Jack is up at the lane, Jen stands next to him.]
Jen: Jack, are you embarrassed to be here?
Jack: On gay bowling night? Yeah, I'm embarrassed. Not about the gay 
thing, about bowling.
Jen: All right. I'm with you. I admit, the bowling thing is kinda whacked. 
But, you know what, his heart is in the right place and people need to be 
willing to stand up for what they believe in.
Jack: You're beginning to sound like your new friend Toby.
Toby: (walking up as Jack moves to throw the ball) How is Captain America 
doing? (he knocks all but one pin down) Oh my God, he's even good at 
bowling. (Jack approaches)
Jen: Well, I'm thirsty. (to Jack) You?
Jack: Yeah.
Jen: (to Toby) You?
Toby: No thanks. (Jen leaves)
Jack: You know, I'm gonna bite. Captain America?
Toby: Super hero. Marvel Comic. Don't worry, it's a compliment. He's not 
gay or anything.
Jack: Oh, okay, I see. So that's what all your comments are about. I'm not 
gay enough for you? I don't fit into some pre-existing stereotype in your 
head?
Toby: I see. Is all of this getting a little too gay for you?
Jack: Yeah, as a matter of fact, it is getting a little too gay for me. I 
gotta admit, I just don't understand the point to it. To your group. The 
way you guys act. Your whole holier than thou attitude.
Toby: You wouldn't. I mean, not from where you're sitting at the fun and 
popular table with all the other football players and cheerleaders. But in 
the real world, the one the rest of us live in… People who fit in like 
you, beat up people who don't like me. I mean, you don't get that, do you? 
You know, you've probably never had a rough day in your entire life.
Jack: Hey, you don't know me well enough to assume anything about me. Or 
how rough it's been for me, or what my life is like or what it's cost me 
to get where I am.
Toby: Which is where exactly?
Jack: Anywhere but here. (he walks away)
[Dawson's Bedroom - Joey sits at his window looking out. Dawson walks in.]
Dawson: Hey.
Joey: Hey, Dawson. Umm, your mom said you'd be home soon, so I thought I'd 
wait. I hope you don't mind.
Dawson: Not at all.
Joey: I brought you these Counting Crow CD's. (she hands him the CDs)
Dawson: Joey, these are yours.
Joey: I know. I just figured we could pass them back and forth whenever we 
have something we need to discuss.
Dawson: Okay. What do we need to discuss?
Joey: So, this afternoon in Kasdin's class, I lied. I wasn't okay. I 
totally blew that test. Bessie and Bodie, they were gone and suddenly 
these people just showed up at the B&B and I had to get all these rooms 
ready and then I had to take care of Alexander and I tried to stay up all 
night cramming, but I fell asleep somewhere in the middle of chapter 7 The 
Bean Field. (Dawson laughs a little) Don't laugh. This is tragic.
Dawson: So you're gonna die if you get a B on the test?
Joey: Basically. Dawson: Well, how did you get into this situation in the 
first place? Wasn't Pacey with you?
Joey: Yeah.
Dawson: And he wasn't helping?
Joey: Uhh, I kinda wouldn't let him.
Dawson: Well, you should have let Pacey help you. Especially with 
Alexander, I mean, he's great with kids, mostly because he still is one. I 
mean that in a good way. (hands her a box) Umm, here. Open your Christmas 
present.
Joey: Listen, you shouldn't have done this. I don't have yours. It's not 
Christmas yet.
Dawson: I know. Open it. (she does. There's a beautiful photograph of her 
and Pacey that was taken at the Holiday party. It's black and white and it 
was obviously taken when Pacey and Joey were unaware they were being 
watched. They are standing next to the Christmas tree. Pacey stands behind 
Joey with his arm around her waist and he seems to be kissing her 
shoulder. Joey's head is turned toward the side, almost as if to look over 
her shoulder at Pacey. One hand is placed over Pacey's hand on her waist, 
and the other is brought up touching her chin. They look absolutely 
adorable. Looking at it, it takes Joey's breath away. Her eyes glisten 
with unshed tears.)
Joey: It's beautiful.
Dawson: Yeah, I'm doing better, aren't I? Joey: That's not what I meant, 
but… I meant…
Dawson: I know what you meant.
Joey: The party was fun.
Dawson: Yeah. It had it's moments.
Joey: Like you and Gretchen.
Dawson: That was not a moment. That was only a holiday tradition.
Joey: So, what's the deal. You guys friends, or…?
Dawson: Yeah, we're friends. What else could we be?
Joey: But you guys were kissing.
Dawson: Sophisticated, cool, 21 year old college girls don't generally 
fall for dorky high school seniors.
Joey: So you are not interested in her?
Dawson: Even if I were, she's not interested in me, so… Why ruin a 
perfectly good friendship?
Joey: Things don't always have to work that way. Look at us. Look at all 
that's happened. And we're friends. If we weren't, you wouldn't have… you 
wouldn't have given me this. And I wouldn't be sitting here, telling you 
to do what your heart tells you to do. Truth is, Gretchen would be very 
lucky to have someone like you. (she moves off the bed and goes over to 
Dawson. She kisses him on the top of the head and then walks out.)
[Capeside High - Kasdin's room. Mr. Kasdin is packing up some papers when 
Pacey walks in.]
Teacher: Pacey Witter. I thought we weren't destined to meet today til 4th 
period. Or would you like to hang around in junior English and have 
another go at Bartably the scrivener.
Pacey: No thanks. I should prefer not to.
Teacher: Bartably based humor. Very impressive, Mr. Witter. So what can I 
help you with?
Pacey: Well, you guys in AP English, you had a test yesterday. A big test.
Teacher: Yeah.
Pacey: Well, let's suppose for a moment that you had this person in your 
class who is normally phenomenal student…
Teacher: He or she?
Pacey: Do you think we can keep it at they for right now. Just for 
argument sake, remain gender neutral.
Teacher: And contribute to the further corruption of the English language 
as it's spoken in the North American continent. Please, by all means.
Pacey: Okay. So suppose this person needed to retake this test.
Teacher: Cause of illness?
Pacey: No.
Teacher: Family emergency?
Pacey: No, not exactly.
Teacher: Well then, case closed.
Pacey: Mr. Kasdin, if you just hear me out for a second… This student is 
honestly under an incredible amount of pressure. She sets these ridiculous 
goals for herself. She's not willing to accept help from anybody. She's 
under the false impression that if she gets one single B, the entire 
universe is going to start to fall apart.
Teacher: She?
Pacey: Uh, yeah. She.
Teacher: I think I understand where you're coming from, Mr. Witter. Pacey: 
Ahh, you do.
Teacher: I still have to say no. If I bend the rules for one person, I 
have to bend the rules for everybody.
Pacey: I had to give it a try.
Teacher: Which you did. Admirably. (Pacey walks out)
[Capeside - Jack approaches his bike parked at a bike rack. Toby is 
posting some fliers on a board near by.]
Toby: Nice town you got here. I figured I would come by and hang some 
fliers. You know the gays. We're always recruiting. (he hands a flier to 
Jack who looks at it) By the way, you're officially kicked out of the 
alliance. (he pulls the flier out of Jack's hand)
Jack: I'm crushed.
Toby: I can tell.
Jack: Look, there's something about me that obviously intimidates you. 
It's not my fault. I'm not going to let you push me around anymore than 
those damn soccer parents.
Toby: Finally something we agree on. Look, you're right. I don't know you. 
I can't possibly understand your life. And if I jump to conclusions based 
on appearances, it's just because that's the way I've been treated my 
entire life. When I was nine I used to walk home through this baseball 
field. All these older kids would hide in the dugouts and wait for me to 
walk by. They'd call me fag, sissy, queer. The full spectrum. Till my 
older sister would come along and scare them away. I mean, that's when you 
really know you're gay. When your sister has to fight your battles for 
you. But you don't know what that's like, do you?
Jack: No. I don't. It doesn't make me any more straight. (he rides away on 
his bike)
[Capeside High Library - Joey is highlighting in her book. Mr. Kasdin 
approaches.]
Teacher: A more prudent approach, would be to have read the book before 
the test.
Joey: I blew it, didn't I?
Teacher: C-. Certainly not your finest hour. And I'm guessing you already 
knew that, considering the little visit I had this morning from your… I 
guess it'd take to use the term, better half.
Joey: Pacey?
Teacher: He asked me to give you a second chance. I said no, of course. 
However, Ian Crane was at the orthodontist again. So I'm giving a make-up 
tomorrow. And if you'd be interested in retaking the test, you could do 
that.
Joey: I would, please! I would really really appreciate it…
Teacher: Don't thank me yet. I plan to penalize you half a letter grade. 
By the way, you're doing some serious damage with this highlighter. (he 
takes her highlighter and marks two lines in her book, then indicates for 
her to read it)
Joey: (reading) Near the end of March, 1845, I borrowed an axe and went 
down to the woods by Weldon pond. Nearest to where I…
Teacher: What's the most important word in that sentence?
Joey: (she studies the sentence) Woods?
Teacher: Borrowed. The important thing to remember about the 
transcendentalist, is that while self-reliance is a most admirable trait, 
Thoreau wasn't really all that alone out there by Weldon pond. He had 
neighbor's, friends, people he could rely on. We should all be so lucky.
[Mr. Brooks' house - Dawson walks in.]
Dawson: Mr. Brooks? (a woman walks out) Oh, I’m sorry. I can come back 
later…
Nurse: I know. He told me. You've been really tiring him out with that 
video of yours.
Dawson: Not intentionally.
Nurse: I think you're the reason he's not taking his medication. He says 
it's because it makes him forget things. And I said, well, forgetting can 
be a good thing. And then he said, Not when you're making a documentary.
Brooks: (walking out) Louise here has a big mouth. Loves to chat with nosy 
teenagers. You'd think I was paying her to talk. Nurses can be replaced, 
you know.
Nurse: I know. I'll see you tomorrow. (she leaves)
Brooks: All right. Secrets out. Not to worry, I'm not dead yet. I'm just 
holding short, waiting for a clearance. So what can I help you with?
Dawson: Uhh, I left my video camera here yesterday.
Brooks: Oh, sorry. Sorry about that. (he leads him into the parlor) There 
it is. See. I didn't steal it or anything. Probably beyond me. You know, 
major motion picture director that I am. Couldn't figure out how the damn 
thing works anyway. (Dawson starts to pack up) Hey, hey, wait a minute. 
What are you doing? You can't abandon the A.I. Brooks story. Epic motion 
picture progress.
Dawson: But the nurse said that…
Brooks: Look, I'm not going to be around forever. Might be nice to leave 
something behind, you know? Something for people to remember me by. Since 
the A&E Biography folks aren't going to get to me anytime soon. Would you 
still be willing to direct this little picture of ours?
Dawson: Sure.
Brooks: Alrighty then.
Dawson: So, where do you want to start? (Dawson starts the camera)
Brooks: I was hitchhiking to the West Coast, though I tried to stay on 
route 66, you know, but I had to take such rides as I could get. So 
somehow I ended up in Las Vegas. Stranded at a little diner. That's where 
I met her.
Dawson: The girl from your movie.
Brooks: Lily Andrews. Waitress. Born and raised in Vegas and hated it. 
Said she couldn't understand why people go out into the desert and take 
chances they'd be too afraid to take at home. Said she'd rather gamble on 
life, than rolling the dice. One day a ride came by towards LA. Before I 
could say goodbye to her, she jumped over the counter and came with me.
Dawson: Just like that?
Brooks: All the way to Sunset and Vine. God, I miss her. She was a good 
woman. You would have liked her. I miss her.
[Potter B&B - Pacey walks in, looking for Joey. She comes out from one of 
the rooms.]
Pacey: You rang?
Joey: Thought I would call my boyfriend cause I needed a little help with 
something.
Pacey: Where's Alexander?
Joey: Watching a video in Bessie's room.
Pacey: All right, now I'm starting to get suspicious. What's going on?
Joey: I wanted to say thank you.
Pacey: For what?
Joey: The test. You got Mr. Kasdin to let me retake the test.
Pacey: I did? I mean, I know that I did, but I didn't know that worked. 
This is great! So how did you do?
Joey: (she hugs him) Well, I retake it tomorrow after school. So tonight… 
(she kisses him. He kisses her then pulls away) Is there a problem?
Pacey: Well, you tell me.
Joey: I did what you asked. All those locked firmly away. Except for the 
ghost of Christmas future. Then there's really no reason.
Pacey: Well, there is something else we probably should be doing. (Pacey 
sits in his chair in the living room, Joey sits on the floor leaning 
against his legs, with Alex in her lap. They go over some cue cards, Pacey 
reading the questions and Joey answering. When she gets one wrong, he gets 
a kiss and they move on.)
[Leery's Fresh Fish - Dawson waits outside for Gretchen, who walks in. 
They both walk towards this huge Christmas tree in the middle of the 
square, waiting for the lights to turn on.]
Gretchen: Dawson! Just in time! You didn't miss anything yet. They got a 
good one this year, don't you think?
Dawson: Uh, yeah. Yeah. Actually, I didn't come for the ceremony. I came 
to talk to you.
Gretchen: Oh. Oh, well, just don't tell your mom I'm out here. She thinks 
I'm doing inventory in the stockroom.
Dawson: Okay. Umm… Do you like to gamble?
Gretchen: Are we talking bingo or more serious stuff?
Dawson: Anything. Cause I don't. And I never understood why anybody did 
it. Until today.
Gretchen: Dawson, if this has to do with what happened the other day, I 
think I know what you're going to say.
Dawson: I like you. There, I said it. I like you. And… That kiss meant 
more to me than just happy holidays. And every thing I said the other day 
was a lie. Well, not a lie because I think I meant it at the time. But I 
was basically just trying to fool myself because I didn't want to screw up 
our friendship. I was going to let that fear stop me, but I don't want to, 
and I'm not going to. Because I don't want to learn that lesson at 17 or 
anytime for that matter. And you can tell me that you're too old, you can 
tell me that I'm too young, and you can tell me that I'm not over Joey, 
but nothing that you say is going to change the fact that I said it. And 
I'm really glad that I said it, because you're worth risking everything 
for.
Gretchen: What am I going to do with you?
Dawson: Just tell me the truth.
Gretchen: The truth. Sometimes a kiss is just a kiss. And sometimes a kiss 
means… (the tree lights up)
Dawson: Happy holidays.
Gretchen: Happy holidays.
(End credits)



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