Nighttime, out in the street. Joey and Andie wait, as crowds of people walk past. It’s late, and everyone’s out for a night on the town.
A moment later, Audrey arrives…which Chris in tow.
JOEY: What’s he doing here?
Chris fakes being offended.
CHRIS: You’re not happy to see me? I’m hurt!
JOEY: You will be in a second.
Chris grins, and turns to Andie.
CHRIS: Hey, Andrea! You’re looking splendid. Paris must agree with you.
ANDIE: Italy.
CHRIS: Ah, of course.
ANDIE: Funny, your name came up earlier.
He raises an eyebrow.
CHRIS: Really?
ANDIE: Yeah. Remember the time you were made a hopeless lackey of Abby Morgan?
Joey laughs.
CHRIS: I still have that tape, you know?
JOEY: Is that a threat?
Audrey steps between them.
AUDREY: Do I have to separate you guys? Come on…I invited him, ok? Behave.
Joey gives him a cold look, but them lets it go. Andie smiles, and then looks down the street.
ANDIE: Ok, who’s ready to party?
She starts to walk, with the others close behind.
*****
Cut back to ‘Starlight’, in LA. Dawson is seated at a table in the corner, talking to Todd.
TODD: You are no fun!
DAWSON: Come on, Todd.
TODD: I’m serious. I feel you disappointed the girls back there.
DAWSON: I’m kind of a one-woman man.
TODD: Hell, so am I. Only one at a time for me…my bed’s not big enough for more. Plus, I’m an old man, remember?
DAWSON: That’s not what I…
Dawson sighs.
DAWSON: Nevermind.
They check over by the bar, where Pacey is talking to them. He seems very, very nervous.
TODD: See? Your friend there’s keeping ‘em company.
DAWSON: He looks like he’s gonna break out in a nervous sweat.
Todd laughs.
TODD: You’re a classic! So, what’d you wanna talk to me about, Leery? Come on, then…you didn’t fly all the way out here just to check up on me.
DAWSON: Paramount contacted me. They want to produce the movie.
Todd’s eyes go so wide that it appears they’ll pop out?
TODD: You’re joking?
Dawson shakes his head.
TODD: I’m jealous. You’re making me jealous, Dawson…that’s never happened before.
Dawson sighs.
DAWSON: There’s one problem.
TODD: There’s a problem? How can there be a problem?
DAWSON: There’s always a problem.
TODD: Well? Out with it then!
DAWSON: I don’t want them to produce it.
Todd’s jaw drops.
TODD: And why the hell not? You get a bump on the head? Your noggin ain’t working right?
DAWSON: I want to do it myself, ok? I’ve got a plan.
Todd looks at him, slightly confused.
DAWSON: My experiences in the world of LA filmmaking leave a lot to be desired. The first critic I went to referred to it as a ‘self-indulgent piece of crap’. The movie I made with Oliver was direct-to-video, and ‘Wicked Dead’…
Todd puts up his hand in protest.
TODD: No need to explain that one, mate! Still an open wound.
DAWSON: Right. What I’m trying to get past is that most of those failures were the result of the final stage. The middlemen who decide what is or isn’t good enough to go to the general public. My idea is to cut out the middlemen. I want to set up a production company.
TODD: Where? In Boston?
Dawson nods.
TODD: How many directors could possibly be near there?
DAWSON: Several, believe it or not. After you fired me, the first time, I spent a semester at an arts college in the area. There were tons of would-be filmmakers, but could never get anyone to listen to their idea. With this, not only would it let me make my movies the way I want to make them, but they would as well. All I need is the money to get it off the ground.
Todd stares at him for a moment, making sure he’s done.
TODD: You have any idea how risky this is?
DAWSON: Yes. I’ve gone through the idea in my head a dozen times…I know the risk, and I accept it.
TODD: It’s not that easy. You need a crew, an office…those things don’t come cheep. You could lose everything.
DAWSON: I already have. More times that I can care to recount. But some things are worth the risk.
*****
At that exact moment, Pacey is over at the bar, trying to talk his way out of an uncomfortable situation.
GIRL: So…how old are you?
PACEY: Not old enough to be in this place, I assure you.
They giggle.
Pacey looks over his shoulder, and sees a group of people dancing. He smiles.
Just the distraction he needs.
PACEY: Excuse me a moment.
He ducks into the crowd, with the three women close behind him. The four start to dance for a moment, before Pacey ducks down. The other three look around, but can’t find him.
Back at the table, Todd looks underneath it.
TODD: What you doing down there?
PACEY: (whispering) Are they gone?
Todd laughs.
TODD: You’re killing me, Percy!
Pacey sits up, next to Todd.
PACEY: It’s ‘Pacey’, ok Mr. Hollywood?
Todd laughs once more.
TODD: You’re funny, you know that? How’s a guy like Dawson end up with a scoundrel like you for a pal?
PACEY: How’s a guy like Dawson end up with a rock hound like you for a boss?
Todd smirks.
TODD: You got wit, friend. I respect that. Drink?
Todd slides a beer over to Pacey, which he takes.
PACEY: Thanks. Where’d Dawson take off to?
TODD: The little boy’s room, at least that was the excuse. I think my answer didn’t please him.
PACEY: What was your answer?
TODD: That I didn’t know.
Pacey chuckles.
PACEY: Sounds like him. Don’t get me wrong, Dawson’s a great guy. But sometimes it’s either his way or the highway. What I don’t understand is, if he hates it in LA so much, why’s he even here?
TODD: Same reason everyone is, I guess. Looking for something.
Pacey nods.
TODD: Why are you here?
Pacey looks at him, confused. As if he doesn’t understand the question.
PACEY: Keeping Dawson company. Plus, I don’t actually have any place to live at the moment…
TODD: Rubbish. C’mon, what do you do? What’s your thing?
Pacey laughs.
PACEY: Pick one.
TODD: What were you in high school? A jock? A preppy? A geek? What?
PACEY: I wasn’t anything. Slacker, I guess…I don’t know. At first I wanted to be a sailor.
Todd chuckles.
PACEY: You’re laughing?
TODD: No, no…I’m sorry. It’s just…go on!
PACEY: I’d always loved hearing about pirates, you know. Living on the high seas, searching for buried treasure, rescuing damsels…that was what I wanted to be. But that was a fantasy. There’s no stability there. You go from place to place without ever being grounded. So, after a summer cruising around the Caribbean, I hung up my cap and tried to make something of myself. A chef, believe it or not.
TODD: You cook?
PACEY: Yeah. Probably better than you.
TODD: Of that I have no doubt.
PACEY: Anyway, I loved that job. I was doing something I was good at, and I felt great. Then my boss, the guy I looked up to…well, he ended up being a creep. So I quit, and thought ‘here’s where I make something of my self’. I got a well-paying job where I wore a suit, worked in an office, and drove a fancy car. But the price was too high. I had to do things that went against everything I stood for. It was liked being trapped in ‘Boiler Room’. It’s like everything I try to do with my life backfires on me.
Todd gives him an inquisitive look, putting his hands together like an interrogator.
TODD: So what are you, Mr. Witter? You a pirate, a chef, or a businessman?
Pacey thinks for a moment.
PACEY: I don’t know. That’s the thing. I didn’t do those things because I liked them. Make no mistake, I enjoyed doing the first to, but that wasn’t the reason. I look at Dawson, who’s known what he’s wanted to do since he was, like, five. And he’s good at what he does. Really good. I guess I just wanted to be that good at something. Then maybe…
TODD: Maybe what?
Pacey shakes it off.
PACEY: Nothing.
TODD: Well, Leery may be good behind a camera, but he lacks any business expertise, I assure you. He wants to set up this bloody enterprise while he doesn’t even have somewhere to live. Much less set up shop…
At that moment, a look of realization comes over Pacey’s face. He has an idea.
PACEY: Hold that thought! I just had an idea.
Todd looks confused.
TODD: Huh?
PACEY: I’ll explain later.
Pacey gets up from his seat and runs towards the exit. He runs out into the street, and finds the nearest payphone.
He puts a quarter in and dials a number.
PACEY: (into phone) Hey, I’d like to make a collect call to New York City…
*****
Cut to Boston, at a local nightclub. Various scenes are shown of Joey, Andie, and Audrey dancing.
Andie appears to really be letting loose, which is surprising to Joey. She’s acting nothing like the Andie she knew back in Capeside.
Meanwhile, Chris is spending his time cutting in and out of dances. He’s switching girls every two minutes.
Eventually…
GUY: Hey!
Joey spins around. She looks side-to-side, making sure he’s talking to her. The guy is young, and looks very non-threatening.
JOEY: Um…hello.
GUY: Cool party, huh?
He pauses.
GUY: Ok, that was lame. It’ll probably go down in history as one of the worst opening lines ever thought up.
Joey shrugs.
JOEY: I’ve heard worse.
GUY: Thanks for saying that. Um…so, would you like to dance?
For a second, Joey seems interested. Then she stops herself.
JOEY: I’ll pass, thanks.
The guy seems hurt.
GUY: What’s wrong? You here with someone? Do I have some huge zit I’m not aware of?
Joey shakes her head.
JOEY: No, it’s…I’ve gotta to meet a friend.
GUY: Oh? How about afterward…?
JOEY: Sorry.
Joey takes off. After she’s a few feet away, she sighs in relief.
*****
Elsewhere, Audrey finds Andie at the bar. She’s drinking, with evidence that it’s not her first one displayed on the bar.
Audrey looks at her, concerned.
AUDREY: How many have you had?
ANDIE: Mmm…a few!
AUDREY: Well, I think you should slow down. Too much partying can be a drag.
Andie scoffs.
ANDIE: No way. I’m just getting started!
A guy walks up to Andie, grinning like an idiot.
GUY: Hey? You wanna dance?
Andie smiles at him.
ANDIE: Just try and stop me, boyo!
She waves at Audrey, and then takes off with the guy. Audrey stands there, feeling defeated.
*****
Back in LA, outside ‘The Starlight’, Dawson and Todd are shown leaving the club.
TODD: I’ve made my decision, Leery! I’ll give you your money!
Dawson’s eyes go wide in surprise, then he smiles enthusiastically.
DAWSON: Thank you so much, Todd. I promise you won’t regret it.
TODD: I’d better not, for your sake, friend. But I’ve got one condition.
DAWSON: A cut of the profits when we start making them.
Todd chuckles.
TODD: Besides that.
Dawson stand there, waiting for him to continue. It never comes, though, because at that exact moment, Pacey runs up to them, completely out of breath.
PACEY: (panting) Consider…all your problems…solved…
Dawson helps him up.
DAWSON: Hey, slow down, Pacey. What is it?
Pacey grins.
PACEY: You can thank me later. I just fixed your residential problem. I just got off the phone with Jen.
DAWSON: How’s she doing? Is she ok?
PACEY: Oh, yeah…she’s great. So great, in fact, that when I told her about your elaborate plan, she was only too eager to ask Grams.
DAWSON: Ask her what?
PACEY: Remember their house? Well, nobody ended up buying it, so it’s still there. They’re giving it to us. Well, technically to you, but I’m hoping you’ll let me stay there since I just saved your butt!
Dawson’s jaw drops.
DAWSON: Pacey, you genius!
They hug, laughing excitedly.
TODD: All right, girls…break it up! You still haven’t heard my condition.
Pacey looks at Todd, then at Dawson.
PACEY: Condition? He’s gonna help?
DAWSON: So, spill it, Todd! What do you want me to do?
Todd smirks, then points at Pacey.
TODD: I want you to make that man your assistant.
Now it was Pacey’s turn to act surprised.
DAWSON: What?
PACEY: WHAT?
Todd crosses his arms, proud of himself.
TODD: Your assistant. You know, let him do for you what you did for me.
DAWSON: That’s…that’s just…
TODD: He’s charismatic, knows what people want to hear…you can’t buy that type of PR person. Besides, if you’re serious about this, Dawson, I’m pretty sure you can’t do it alone.
Dawson gives Pacey a look.
DAWSON: Deal.
Pacey’s still shell-shocked. He doesn’t know what to say.
*****
Back in Boston, Audrey is wandering across the busy dance floor. She notices Joey sitting at a nearby table, looking depressed.
Audrey goes over and sits down next to her.
AUDREY: Ok, who ran over your dog?
Joey scoffs.
JOEY: Very funny! This single thing is a lot harder than I thought it’d be.
AUDREY: Wanna get out of here?
JOEY: You want to leave? The old Audrey had a lot more fun at these things.
AUDREY: Yeah, well…the old Audrey was a lot unhappier.
She pauses.
AUDREY: I’m worried about your friend.
Joey sighs.
JOEY: Yeah, me too. It’s funny…I spent all summer in Paris, but I never even made an attempt to go and see her. Back in high school, we were all so close. But then Andie left and we just started to drift away from her. Does that make me a bad friend?
AUDREY: Of course not.
JOEY: Well, I still feel responsible.
AUDREY: This is the last time I’m going to tell you to lighten up! Not everything is your fault, Joey Potter. Not everything revolves around you…good or bad!
JOEY: Maybe…
*****
While they’re busy talking, Chris has made his way across the dance floor. The boyfriend of the girl he’d been dancing with just arrived, giving him an angry look. Chris quickly got far away.
Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Andie dancing with the same guy from earlier. She seems very, very drunk.
The guy starts nuzzling her neck.
GUY: Come on…let’s go someplace quiet.
ANDIE: (muttering) No…I shouldn’t…
GUY: Come on, baby…
Chris’ eyes narrow. Quickly, he makes a beeline towards Joey and Audrey’s table.
CHRIS: Hey!
Joey looks annoyed.
JOEY: What do you want?
However, Chris’ expression looks very, very serious.
CHRIS: She’s in trouble.
Joey and Audrey get up from their seats, and follow Chris over to where Andie and the guy are dancing.
CHRIS: Excuse me!
The guy stops, and turns towards Chris. Andie’s eyes are only half-open.
GUY: Do you mind?
CHRIS: The lady said ‘no’!
The guy chuckles.
GUY: Get lost!
He turns back around.
JOEY: Listen, you little…
But before Joey can finish her sentence, Chris springs into action. He grabs the guy from the back of his collar, and throws him to the ground.
Andie starts to collapse, but Joey and Audrey catch her.
Quickly, the guy gets up and throws a punch at Chris. Chris ducks it, and hits the guy.
CHRIS: Get her out of here, Potter! Go!
Nodding, Joey and Audrey help carry Andie out of the club as fast as they can.
*****
Sunset Boulevard, in the dead of night. A lone two people are walking down the street, taking one last look at their surroundings.
PACEY: Can I tell you a secret?
Dawson nods.
PACEY: I’ve always envied this. You ability to escape into something this incredible whenever you want. It probably makes things seem not so bad, huh?
Dawson smiles.
DAWSON: Sometimes.
PACEY: I just don’t think I can handle it.
They stop, and Dawson looks him over.
DAWSON: This is really important to me. You know that, right?
Pacey nods.
DAWSON: Can you promise me you won’t screw this up?
Pacey sighs.
PACEY: I can’t promise that, Dawson. I can’t…not with my track record. But what I can promise you is that I’ll do my best not to.
DAWSON: Fair enough.
Dawson puts out his hand.
DAWSON: Welcome to the world of filmmaking.
Pacey grins. They shake hands.
PACEY: Glad to be here, Mr. Leery!
Dawson laughs.
DAWSON: Don’t call me, ‘Mr. Leery’, ok? I’m not your boss.
PACEY: You’re not?
Dawson smiles.
DAWSON: You’re my partner.
They start walking again.
PACEY: Well, ‘partner’, anything you want to do before we head to the airport?
Dawson thinks.
DAWSON: Joey’s not here…but there is one thing you and I always wanted to do here, remember?
Pacey grins.
The two of them start dancing down the street, humming the song ‘Side By Side’.
They do a complete spin around.
DAWSON & PACEY: (singing) But we’re traveling along, singing a song…side by side!