Cut to the hallway at Worthington. Joey and Audrey are walking towards Hetson’s office.
AUDREY: …so, then she told us we had to wear these costumes, which is a real drag because they’re all old!
JOEY: You do realize that ‘Phantom’ is a period piece, right Audrey? They wouldn’t be wearing khakis.
AUDREY: Well, at least Chris gets the white mask and vampire cape. It’s like Halloween for him. I, on the other hand, am stuck with the frocks.
Joey laughs.
JOEY: You’ll do great. So, when is it?
AUDREY: Not until after Christmas break. There’s going to be a lot of preparation, so no worries there. Chris is a fast learner.
JOEY: A fast talker, too. Just be careful around him, ok? He likes to use people, so have a care at what exactly he wants to rehearse.
Audrey scoffs.
AUDREY: I can handle it.
As they approach Hetson’s office, they see him talking to someone. Joey looks in shock as they realize who it is.
AUDREY: Hey, isn’t that…?
He turns around, and they see that it is. Professor David Wilder.
Joey stands frozen, while Audrey waves enthusiastically.
AUDREY: Hey! Professor Wilder!
He smiles and walks up to them.
WILDER: Hello…Audrey, wasn’t it? You’re looking positively stunning.
Audrey grins at his comment.
AUDREY: You’re not looking so bad yourself.
He then turns towards Joey.
WILDER: Hello, Joey.
Joey won’t meet his eyes.
JOEY: Hey…
Just then, Hetson goes up to them.
HETSON: You two know each other?
WILDER: Oh, yeah Greg. She was in one of my classes in her freshman yeah.
HETSON: Wow! You have more patience than I thought.
Wilder laughs.
WILDER: Gregory’s an old friend. He asked me to tutor his daughter for him.
HETSON: I’d ask you, Joey, but you seem to be too busy with your all-night frat parties.
Joey gives him a cold look.
JOEY: That wasn’t…
She sighs.
JOEY: I’ve gotta get going.
She grabs Audrey by the arm and drags her away.
WILDER: See you later, Miss Potter.
Joey takes a deep breath, forcing herself to remain calm.
*****
In the student centre, Pacey is pinning a sign to the post. It reads:
Auditions for untitled independent movie
To be filmed on the Worthington campus
Leads & extras required
Pacey finishes putting it up, then turns to Andie, who is going through a checklist.
ANDIE: Ok, that’s two wings down. Two more to go. Oh, and we also need to put some over at that arts college.
PACEY: The website up?
ANDIE: Did it this morning!
Pacey takes a deep breath.
PACEY: Why is it the more we get accomplished, the worse I feel. You would think that the hard part was getting this all set up?
ANDIE: It’s just nerves, Pacey. Trust me, you’ll do fine. We all will!
Pacey nods.
PACEY: Why don’t you try out for the lead?
Andie laughs.
ANDIE: Because I’m much more comfortable working behind the camera, Pacey. Me…an actress?
PACEY: Come on! You’re certainly cute enough, McPhee. You’d knock em’ dead!
ANDIE: Why, thank you, ‘Witter’! But no way!
Pacey grins.
ANDIE: So, you got the Dean’s ok?
PACEY: Yeah, as long as we don’t interfere with classes.
A worried look comes over her face.
ANDIE: What about the scenes that take place inside?
PACEY: Dawson’s got it all covered. He’s using that warehouse Todd leant him as a soundstage.
Andie jumps up and down excitedly.
ANDIE: Oh, I can’t wait! This is gonna be so fun. It’s like back in high school, isn’t it? Um…not that I meant to bring back any unpleasant memories.
Pacey shakes his head.
PACEY: Don’t worry about it. That part wasn’t exactly unpleasant. Just what came after.
She smiles.
ANDIE: Yeah…
PACEY: Come on…we’re supposed to meet Dawson in five minutes.
The two of them walk away, as the camera goes for a close-up on the poster.
*****
Elsewhere at the school, Pacey and Andie meet up with Dawson.
DAWSON: Everything set?
PACEY: Just about. How about your side?
DAWSON: Oliver’s going mental with last-minute script revisions. I had forgotten how enthusiastic he was.
ANDIE: Worse than you?
Pacey chuckles.
PACEY: He makes Dawson look stoic.
Andie bites her lip.
ANDIE: Ok…yikes!
DAWSON: There’s a fine line between genius and insanity. Oliver walks that line.
PACEY: So where is Hannibal Lecter, anyway?
DAWSON: At his school. He’s trying to get some crewmembers on board.
At that moment, Joey and Audrey show up.
ANDIE: Well, look who’s here.
Joey goes up to Dawson.
JOEY: We need to talk.
Joey steps towards them, curiously.
PACEY: Sure. What about?
Joey shakes her head.
JOEY: No. Alone.
Dawson looks at her suspiciously, then back at Pacey.
DAWSON: Excuse us a moment.
They walk off, with Pacey watching them with a confused look on his face.
ANDIE: What was that about?
Pacey doesn’t respond. He just has a hurt look on his face.
*****
A moment later, Dawson and Joey sit down at a staircase.
DAWSON: So, what’s wrong?
Joey bites her lip.
JOEY: He’s back. Wilder’s back.
It takes a moment for Dawson to recollect who he is.
DAWSON: Wilder? Professor Wilder? The teacher? The guy you…?
Joey nods.
DAWSON: Wow! What’d he say to you?
JOEY: Nothing. He’s a friend of Hetson’s. I couldn’t say anything, I was just frozen is shock. Dawson…I’ve made a lot of mistakes the past few years, but getting involved with Wilder was, by far, the worst of them. God…why does my past always have to haunt me like this?
Dawson sighs.
DAWSON: Well, only by facing your past can you move to your future, right? Maybe this is your chance to make amends with what happened then?
Joey thinks about it.
JOEY: That was around the time I was mugged, wasn’t it? That guy just reminded me so much of my dad, and…Wilder left without so much of an explanation right after.
DAWSON: You ok?
She shakes her head.
JOEY: Maybe you’re right. Maybe I do have to talk with him. Deal with this while I have the chance.
They get up and face each other.
JOEY: Thanks for listening, Dawson. It really helps.
He smiles.
DAWSON: No problem. My ear’s always open, to paraphrase.
Joey takes off up the stairs, while Dawson goes back towards the hallway.
However, he’s surprised to see Pacey there waiting for him.
PACEY: Hey! Where’d Joey go?
DAWSON: Oh, she needed to do something.
Pacey looks at him suspiciously.
PACEY: What’d she want to talk about?
Dawson pauses, not knowing how to respond.
DAWSON: Nothing much.
Pacey doesn’t believe him.
*****
Outside the main building, Joey is busy searching for Professor Wilder. She stops and asks a fellow student if she’s seen him, and she gives her directions.
Finally, Joey sees him off in the distance.
JOEY: Professor Wilder!
He doesn’t hear her. Also, as Joey quickly notices, he’s not alone either.
Harley’s with him. She seems very flattered while he talks to her. Like a girl with a crush. Wilder then starts to hold her hand tenderly.
A worried look comes over Joey’s face. She does not like the look of what’s happening. Not one bit.