Train
Awhile later, the group is sitting at the table is silence. The lights are turned down.
JOEY: Maybe we should try to get some sleep?
No one responds. After awhile, someone finally speaks.
PACEY: I’m sorry I hit you, Chris.
Chris stares at him.
CHRIS: No you’re not!
Pacey nods.
PACEY: You’re right. But I still wish I hadn’t. You hit a real sore spot there.
DAWSON: He tends to hit people when they bring it up. I know from experience.
Pacey smirks at Dawson.
DAWSON: Pacey…about that kiss. It didn’t mean anything.
PACEY: Yeah, I know that Dawson. That’s not why I was upset. It’s…something else.
JOEY: What?
Pacey sighs.
PACEY: You, partially.
JOEY: Pacey…I know it hasn’t been easy, but you and I…
He shakes his head.
PACEY: No, don’t say it, ok? Please don’t say it. The reason I’ve been acting all ‘weird’ as you put it, well…
He thinks for a moment how the best way to put it will be.
PACEY: The reason isn’t because I’m mad at you or anything like that. That talk we had last week…it opened my eyes up to a lot of things. About you and me, and something I’d been avoiding for a long time.
JOEY: What?
PACEY: That I don’t want that anymore. I…don’t want you…anymore.
Joey looks at him, surprised.
PACEY: I don’t know exactly when it happened…it just happened. At some point you stopped being someone I wanted to be with for you and turned into someone I just needed to prove myself to. You turned into Christy.
JOEY: Why were you so scared to tell me this?
PACEY: I guess I was worried you’d be hurt by it. I don’t know. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt you, Joey. Dawson knew, and he didn’t say a thing. Thanks, pal.
Joey looks over at Dawson, surprised.
DAWSON: No problem.
Chris sighs.
CHRIS: Well, isn’t this just a hallmark moment? Still doesn’t change that you took out your frustration on me!
AUDREY: Like you didn’t ask for it? That stupid dare was almost an invite.
CHRIS: You’re the one who told me to make it.
Andie’s eyes go wide.
ANDIE: Excuse me?
Audrey shakes her head.
AUDREY: He wasn’t supposed to kiss you…he was supposed to kiss me!
Dawson stares at her.
DAWSON: Um…no offence, Audrey, but I’m not really interested…
Audrey rolls her eyes.
AUDREY: Don’t flatter yourself, Dawson. I just wanted Pacey to be jealous. Which he was, obviously.
PACEY: I was not jealous. I was pissed off…completely different thing.
CHRIS: I couldn’t do it, ok?
AUDREY: Why not?
ANDIE: Yeah, good question? Why not!
CHRIS: (muttering) I didn’t want to…
AUDREY: Speak up!
CHRIS: I didn’t want you to kiss him!
Everyone else freezes. Everyone except Audrey.
AUDREY: And why the hell not.
Chris closes his eyes, defeated. He can’t bring himself to say it. However, the truth soon dawns on her.
AUDREY: (quietly) Oh…
DAWSON: (whispering) My mouth drops…
Joey shakes her head, refusing to believe it.
AUDREY: You…I mean…you…you like me?
Chris nods his head.
AUDREY: When did this…?
CHRIS: The first time I laid eyes on you. Why did you think I was so eager to join that play? To be a part of this group. I just wanted to be close to you.
JOEY: Why didn’t you say anything?
Dawson looks at Joey disbelievingly.
DAWSON: I think if anyone knows the answer to that question, it’s you.
Joey bites her lip, realizing what he means.
JOEY: He was scared, Audrey. That you wouldn’t like him back.
AUDREY: How am I supposed to react to this? After I’ve seen what you’re really like.
He looks at her pleadingly.
CHRIS: No! I’m not like that. Not at all!
Oliver scoffs.
OLIVER: Your actions today go against that, pal.
Chris sighs, then turns to Pacey.
CHRIS: You still want to know why I came back?
PACEY: Yeah.
CHRIS: The reason I disappeared suddenly was my parents. They knew how much I was hanging around with Abby. So when she died…well…they thought I might have drove her to that. They wouldn’t even let me go to her funeral.
ANDIE: Abby didn’t kill herself.
CHRIS: Try telling my parents that. They took a page from the Lindley’s book and sent me to New Mexico to live with my uncle. Wanted to get me as far away from my sister as possible to spare her my ‘influence’. I didn’t know anyone there. I didn’t have any friends, and I didn’t even know my uncle that well. There was this girl…
He closed his eyes, trying to picture her in his mind.
CHRIS: She reached out to me. We became close. But for some reason, this wasn’t like Jen or any of the other girls back in Capeside. I…I actually fell for her. Head over heals. Her and her friends were like the family I never had. Then just last year, there was a car accident. One of her friends was killed, and I…I just lost it.
AUDREY: Lost it?
CHRIS: I started acting like my old self again. Only worse. I was drinking heavily and partying. Just trying to forget what happened. Well, it didn’t work. All I did was end up making everyone hate me…including the one person who meant everything to me. God…the way she looked at me that last time. With such disgust.
Chris looks over at Joey, his eyes red.
CHRIS: Kinda like you do, Joey. You know…every time to remind me what I’ve done, and you don’t even know the worst of it. So the next time you want to point out how I’m scum…how I have no redeeming qualities, and how I’d be better off dead…why don’t you save it? Thanks…I already got the memo!
PACEY: (whispering) Guess I got that one wrong, huh?
ANDIE: I don’t get it. Why have you been acting like your old self since you arrived in Boston? It doesn’t make sense.
CHRIS: I was hoping that it would help me forget who I was. Maybe I could become that person again if I tried hard enough. Oh god…this was so much easier when I didn’t care. When it didn’t matter what other people thought.
DAWSON: Welcome to the human race.
For the rest of the time, they just sit in silence.
*****
Morning comes. Inside the library, everyone is asleep on the floor.
Then, without warning, the door suddenly opens.
LIBRARIAN: Oh my god!
The sudden commotion wakes everyone up. They all climb to their feet, rubbing the sleep out of their eyes.
LIBRARIAN: Have you been here all night? Why didn’t you call for help?
JOEY: Phone was busted.
The librarian picks up the phone at the desk, but notices there’s no dial tone.
LIBRARIAN: Damn! When are they going to fix this thing? I’m really sorry about this.
ANDIE: It’s ok. It was an…interesting experience.
PACEY: One I do not want to repeat any time soon.
At that moment, they hear a ringing sound.
OLIVER: Oh, I’ve got to get that…excuse me…
Oliver pulls a cell phone out of his pocket, much to the shock and horror of everyone else.
Joey knocks it out of his hand.
OLVIER: Hey!
JOEY: You had a CELL PHONE? This entire time?
OLIVER: Well…yeah. But I can’t use it at night. They charge extra.
A look of pure rage appears in Joey’s features.
JOEY: Charge…extra…? I’m gonna kill you!
Oliver dashes out the door, making sure to grab his cell phone on the way out.
JOEY: Ahhhh! I can’t believe this!
She turns around to see Dawson, Pacey, and Andie all laughing at her.
JOEY: This isn’t funny!
PACEY: Oh yes it is!
*****
A few moments later, they arrive outside. Joey is carrying a few books she has checked out.
DAWSON: I’m going to go talk to Pacey for a moment. Can you wait a second?
Joey shrugs.
JOEY: I’ve waited this long…what’s another five minutes?
Dawson smiles, then heads back inside the library. Joey’s eyes locate Chris, who is sitting underneath a tree. Swallowing her pride, Joey walks over to him.
JOEY: It’s funny, isn’t it? You and me having something in common?
Chris looks up at her.
CHRIS: Please go away.
Joey shakes her head.
JOEY: Sorry, can’t do that? Not before I say I’m sorry. For all my talk about people judging me and my family unfairly, I don’t follow my own advice. I just made up my mind about you without seeing who you really are. And for that, I’m sorry.
Chris smiles.
CHRIS: Apology accepted. You finished now?
JOEY: No. I have one piece of advice for you.
She crosses her arms.
JOEY: That first time when I was in detention, I thought my life was so horrible. But if I knew then what I know now, maybe I would have been more patient. I have no problem with you liking Audrey, Chris. But if you like her, then don’t just sit here feeling sorry for yourself. Do something about it!
He nods.
CHRIS: I might. Thank you.
Joey smiles, then walks away. Chris leans back against the tree, contemplating just how exactly he’s going to do just that.
*****
Cut back inside. Dawson is standing by the doorway, talking to Pacey.
DAWSON: So, what’s the truth, Pace? What you told me or what you told Joey?
Pacey thinks for a moment.
PACEY: A little bit of both, actually.
DAWSON: If that’s the case, why did you only tell me half the truth?
Pacey chuckles
PACEY: Isn’t it obvious?
Dawson doesn’t think so.
PACEY: Man, you are the most oblivious person in the world, you know that Dawson? I did it because you still want her. Don’t try to deny it. I figured that, if you thought I was stepping aside only because I wanted you to be happy, you wouldn’t feel guilty. You’d be free to go after her without our friendship as an obstacle
Dawson chuckles.
DAWSON: Pacey, with or without you as an obstacle, it’s never been that easy with me and Joey. We have so many things to sort through that are completely independent of you. After all that’s happened, I don’t know if we’ll ever have a shot at a relationship again.
Pacey smirks.
PACEY: Well, I hope you’re wrong.
Dawson raises an eyebrow.
DAWSON: And why is that?
PACEY: Because that girl means a lot to me, pal. And there’s a lot of creeps and jerks in the world. In all honestly, I’d rather my best friend was looking after her than some guy who won’t treat her right.
Dawson smiles.
DAWSON: I’ll keep that in mind. You wanna go to Capeside? There’s room for one more.
Pacey grins.
PACEY: Nah. Somebody’s gotta mind the store while you give your mom the good news. Go on…enjoy yourself. Get outta here!
Dawson takes off. Pacey watches him leave, chuckling.
ANDIE: How noble of you?
Pacey turns around to see Andie leaning against the wall.
PACEY: Hey McPhee. Where’d you learn how to eavesdrop?
ANDIE: Picked it up somewhere. That’s a pretty brave thing you did there. So…what’s the real reason? Disinterest or sacrifice?
Pacey puts his hand over his heart in mock shock.
PACEY: You calling me a liar, Andie?
ANDIE: I just think you like to tell people exactly what they want to hear.
He smirks.
PACEY: My reasons are my reasons. All I know is that I’ve got my best friend back, Joey doesn’t hate me, and for some reason I feel really good about myself for once.
ANDIE: I always knew you had it in you, Pacey. It was only a matter of time before you realized it, too. Now, how about that omelette you’ve been promising me?
Pacey laughs.
PACEY: Just lead the way.
*****
Cut back to Capeside, inside the Leery house. The front door slowly opens, as Hetson and Gale enter.
HETSON: Ok, I take it all back. I love this town.
Gale laughs.
GALE: I thought you would. You fit right in, you know? A man with a lot of hang-ups.
HETSON: Very funny. Any idea what happened to Joey?
Gale sighs.
GALE: Not a clue. Don’t worry, though. She can take care of herself.
He nods.
GALE: So, what are your plans for the evening?
HETSON: Well, I’m going to pick up Harley and bring her to the marina. It’s about time I meet her co-star, right?
Gale raises an eyebrow.
HETSON: Forget that. It’s about time I start acting like a father to her.
GALE: I don’t think it’s entirely your fault, Greg. Lord knows I’m dreading when Lily hits sixteen. If she’s anywhere near as much of a handful as her brother was, I’m in a world of trouble.
Hetson laughs.
HETSON: I really enjoyed spending time with you. We’ll have to do this again sometime.
She smiles at him. They start to notice how close they are.
*****
Cut to outside. A car pulls up to the driveway, as Dawson and Joey exit it.
I need a sign
to let me know you’re here
All of these lines are being crossed
over the atmosphere
DAWSON: Ah, be it ever so humble.
They start to walk across the lawn.
JOEY: So, why didn’t you want to tell me?
DAWSON: Tell you what?
She smirks.
I need to know
that things are gonna look up
JOEY: That the ‘Pacey and Joey Saga’ had reached its uneventful conclusion. Considering you were its central detractor, I expected you to announce it from the high heavens.
Dawson laughs.
DAWSON: Well, it’s not that simple.
JOEY: I’m listening.
Cause I feel us drowning
in a sea spilled from a cup
A serious looks appears on Dawson’s face.
DAWSON: I just thought that, if I told you, you’d take it the wrong way. That it was something I was happy about. That you would think the only reason I told you was to win you back. I don’t want you to see me as selfish, Jo. Plus, there was always the chance you’d be upset about it. Are you?
She shakes her head.
When there is no place safe
and no safe place to put my head
JOEY: Not really. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll always wonder ‘what if’. But right now I’m trying to concentrate on myself rather than who I’m with. It’s almost relieving to discover that I don’t have someone else’s feelings to worry about.
Dawson looks at her.
DAWSON: And what about the ‘Dawson and Joey Saga’. You think that will ever conclude?
When you can feel the world shake
from the words that I said
JOEY: I honestly don’t know. I’m starting to think it never will. I hope that, whatever happens with us, Dawson, that I can still turn to you when I need to.
He smiles.
DAWSON: That I can promise.
They arrive at the window outside Dawson’s bedroom.
DAWSON: Ladies first.
Joey climbs the ladder, with Dawson following soon after.
And I’m calling all angels
And I’m calling all you angels
JOEY: Sometimes I wonder whether you’re letting me go first out of a sense of chivalry or if you’re just trying to check me out.
Dawson laughs.
They enter the bedroom finally, taking a look around.
JOEY: Just how we left it. Ok, confession time. What did we learn from this adventure?
And I won’t give up if you don’t give up
I won’t give up if you don’t give up
I won’t give up if you don’t give up
I won’t give up if you don’t give up
DAWSON: What? Besides that we all have no self control, that Chris is in fact human, and that Andie’s a surprisingly good kisser?
JOEY: Oh, shut up!
Joey shoves him, to which Dawson simply laughs.
DAWSON: I think I found out that I was right about one thing.
JOEY: And what is that?
DAWSON: You remember that assignment I had to do on Casablanca? The one you didn’t want me to use you for?
She nods.
I need a sign
to let me know you’re here
Cause my tv set
just keeps it all
from being clear
DAWSON: Well, I came to a conclusion about people. That most of the time, they don’t really change. Look at Rick. By the end of the movie, he’s still the same tough guy he always was. His decisions didn’t change him, nor did his actions. The only explanation I could come up with was…well, people change for love.
Joey continues listening contently.
DAWSON: I mean, look at Chris. The person he was when we knew him is a far cry from the person he is now. What changed him? He fell for somebody. He really, truly, felt love for another person, and that feeling made him want to become more than he was. Love changed him. Lord knows it changed Pacey.
He pauses.
DAWSON: And it changed me. When we were back there, I looked at the guy to through a basketball at his best friend because of a stupid childhood nickname, and he’s completely unrecognizable to me. I tried pinpointing when exactly everything changed, but the only thing I can come with is because of the people in my life. Natasha, Gretchen, Eve, Jen…you most of all. Somewhere along the line, you all made me grow up. One by one. If it wasn’t for you, I probably wouldn’t be the person I am today. And you know what? I think you could say the exact same thing. As much as I hate to admit it.
Joey smiles.
JOEY: That’s pretty powerful.
I want a reason
for the way things have to be
I need a hand to help build up
some kind of hope inside of me
He nods.
DAWSON: Yeah, I know. It’s amazing to think we have the power to change a person’s life.
JOEY: We all have the power to change someone’s life, Dawson. Someone told me that once.
Dawson smiles at her.
DAWSON: Come on…let’s go say hi to my mom.
And I’m calling all angels
And I’m calling all you angels
They exit the room, and descend the stairs.
DAWSON: Mom? Sorry we’re late. You’ll never guess what…?
When children have to play inside
so they don’t disappear
While private eyes solve marriage lies
cause we dont talk for years
Dawson and Joey suddenly freeze in their steps. Their eyes go wide at the sight that greets them.
It’s Hetson and Gale…kissing.
And football teams
are kissing queens and
losing sight of having dreams
After a moment, they break apart…realizing they have company.
GALE: Oh, um…hi honey…
Dawson stares, open-mouthed.
In a world where all we want
is only what we want untill it’s ours
HETSON: Miss Potter…you’re late.
Neither one says a word. They just stand there, struck dumb.
And I’m calling all angels
And I’m calling all you angels
And I’m calling all angels
And I’m calling all you angels
Calling all you angels
Calling all you angels
Calling all you angels
Fade to black
End credits
Train