We open on an establishing shot of the creek, at sunrise. A flock of birds fly by, as a rowboat sails downstream.
At first, the person inside is in shadows. A second later, we get a closer look…it’s Dawson.
V.O.(Dawson): Sometimes you do get everything you want. Everything you dream of. But dreams, like everything else in life, always come with a catch. I know that better than anyone.
*****
Cut to Dawson’s room, where he is now inspecting a mounted camera.
V.O.(Dawson): My name is Dawson Leery. I’m a filmmaker. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to be, ever since I was a kid. This is my passion. This is my life.
He walks over to the desk, where a framed picture sits of himself and Pacey, back in high school.
V.O.(Dawson): This summer was a lot different from the last two…a real eye opener. Whereas the previous two years I’ve been living in LA, right in the centre of Hollywood…
*****
The scene switches to several months earlier. Dawson is stationed behind a camera by his dock, filming a scene with Harley.
V.O.(Dawson): I stayed in Capeside. Strangely, I did the exact same thing.
He applauds.
DAWSON: All right! We’re done!
The surrounding people start to applaud, as Dawson crosses his arms and smiles proudly.
V.O.(Dawson): There was a difference, though. At first I couldn’t explain it. Then it hit me…
*****
The scene switches to the Leery house, at night. Dawson is sitting on the couch in front of the television. Next to him is Gale, with Lily in her lap.
V.O.(Dawson): …in LA I was alone, more or less. No matter how many friendships I formed with Oliver, or Todd, something always felt like it was missing. Call it homesickness if you like, but I don’t think it was. It felt more like a part of myself was missing. In truth, making this movie in my own hometown has felt better than anything in a long while.
*****
Cut to daytime, outside Dawson’s window. Dawson slowly climbs down the ladder, and then walks out towards his dock.
V.O.(Dawson): Though ‘home’ is starting to feel less and less like it as time goes on. Jen and Jack are gone now. Living in New York City with Grams. I’ve phoned them a few times, but it’s not the same thing as having then here with me.
Suddenly, a blue van pulls up in the driveway. A familiar figure climbs out of the front seat.
PACEY: HEY DAWSON!
Dawson turns around and grins at him.
DAWSON: Then there’s Pacey. Three months ago, if you had told me we would be spending the summer hanging out together like we were fifteen again, I would have told you that you were dreaming. Nevertheless, there we are…best friends again.
*****
The scene shifts again, this time to Leery’s Fresh Fish. Dawson and Pacey are seated at a table, laughing about something.
V.O.(Dawson): He’s living in Boston right now, but comes down at least once a week just to hang out. Pacey’s working at a restaurant again. He seems to enjoy it. A few weeks back, he asked me ‘are you rich and famous yet’? His own unique way of asking me how the movie is doing.
Dawson shows Pacey a folder, filled with notes and pictures from the film. Pacey nods, sufficiently impressed.
V.O.(Dawson): For the first time since I can remember, everything’s perfect. Everything is as it should be.
*****
Cut to the dock outside Dawson’s house again. Dawson heads towards the front door, a wide smile on his face, when he pauses and looks back at the dock.
There, sitting lonely in the water, is an abandoned rowboat.
His face falls.
V.O.(Dawson): Well…almost everything. It’s the one thing Pacey and I haven’t talked about over the summer. The one thing we’ve purposely avoided talking about, pretending it…she…doesn’t even exist. Her. Joey Potter. My best friend. Who am I kidding…she’s more than that to me, and I know it.
*****
Cut back to Dawson’s bedroom. Dawson and Pacey are sitting on the bed, watching ‘Bandits’ on television.
V.O.(Dawson): When Joey just vanished three months ago, I thought she just wanted to be away from me. After awhile, I realized I was only half-right. She wanted to be away from both of us. Not because she wanted to, but because she had to. It was an impossible situation…two guys in love with the same girl. So, rather than have Pacey and I hate each other, she removed the one obstacle preventing us from being friends…herself.
PACEY: Ok, I don’t get this ending. She’s making out with both of them?
Dawson chuckles.
DAWSON: Well, it is one way to end a triangle, Pace. That way, there aren’t any losers.
PACEY: True, but it’s just…weird. There aren’t any winners, either. Well, except maybe the girl.
Dawson turns off the TV. Pacey gets up and examines a few knickknacks on one of the tables.
DAWSON: I don’t think it was ever really that important to the plot who she ended up with. The main conflict revolved around Willis and Thorton letting something come between them. She was just the plot device that activated that conflict.
Pacey doesn’t respond.
DAWSON: And you’re not listening to a single thing I’m saying, are you?
PACEY: Listening, yes…paying attention, so.
Dawson sighs, shaking his head.
PACEY: Hey, don’t think for a second that I’m not wise to your plan, Leery.
DAWSON: What plan?
PACEY: To get me talking about the one subject that neither you nor I have brought up in months. Involves a certain brunette.
DAWSON: I’m that transparent, huh?
PACEY: You are incapable to just watching a movie, Dawson. Every video rental choice you have ever made has some secret inner meaning. Ain’t hard to put two and two together.
DAWSON: I just think we should…I don’t know…try to contact her. Make sure she’s all right.
Pacey nods.
PACEY: I tried…no luck.
Dawson raises an eyebrow in confusion.
DAWSON: You have?
PACEY: Remember when I went to fix the radiator at the B&B?
A light comes on in Dawson’s eyes, understanding.
DAWSON: Oh…
PACEY: No such luck. She didn’t even tell Bessie where she was going. Probably ‘cuz she guessed we’d think of asking her.
Dawson smiles.
DAWSON: Thought of that too, huh?
PACEY: Why’d Joey have to be so damn noble, huh? We could have behaved ourselves.
DAWSON: No we couldn’t have. With Eddie gone, we would have been trying to upstage each other within a week.
Pacey starts to laugh. Then he offers Dawson his hand.
PACEY: Friends?
Dawson shakes it.
DAWSON: The best.
Pacey checks his watch, realizing the time.
PACEY: Whoops…gotta get going. See you later, bro!
With that, Pacey starts to climb out the window.
DAWSON: Yeah. See you.
Pacey leaves, practically sliding down the ladder, and making a dash to his truck.
Dawson watches, a grin on his face.
V.O.(Dawson): Two friends, in love with the same woman. It’s not really as unlikely as I once though, is it? Despite our obvious differences, Pacey and I do have a lot in common. We wouldn’t be friends if we didn’t. But he’s right about one thing…real life doesn’t end like the movie ‘Bandits’. So, that being said, the question remains…what happens if we ever see Joey again?