Cut to the newspaper rack, somewhere in Boston. Andie picks out a paper.
PACEY: So, what do you say, McPhee?
ANDIE: Hmm…correct me if I’m wrong, Pacey, but didn’t we already go on our first date? Back in high school?
PACEY: Yes we did, which ended up being somewhat of a letdown, as I recall. Which gives us all the more reason to get it right the second time around. Now that we’re older, more mature…more experienced…
Andie smirks at him.
ANDIE: What did you have in mind?
PACEY: I don’t know. We can see a movie. Or go dancing. Heck, these days I can afford to bring you to eat somewhere that doesn’t ask ‘would you like fries with that’?
She sighs.
ANDIE: I just like being with you, Pacey. It’s not necessary.
PACEY: It is to me. Ok, I’m still feeling guilty for screwing up with the whole Audrey thing. I wanna make it up to you. The best way I know how is to wine and dine you and treat you like royalty until you forgive me. Sorry, that’s just the way I am.
ANDIE: (sarcastically) Well, that’s a shame.
Pacey chuckles.
ANDIE: Lead the way, handsome.
They continue walking, as Pacey puts his arm around her shoulder.
PACEY: I was thinking something quiet. Bring you to see a play. Dinner at that place with the French guy at the door. Then, to top off the evening, a carriage ride through the park.
ANDIE: What if we get mugged?
PACEY: We sing to the guy. Apparently that works, according to Joey.
Andie laughs.
PACEY: I’ll protect you, don’t worry.
She raises an eyebrow.
ANDIE: You know martial arts? What’d you do with the real Pacey?
PACEY: I have watched every single Jackie Chan movie from start to finish. Even the sucky ones!
ANDIE: Oh, I am so feeling safe right now!
They both laugh as they walk off.
*****
Cut to the studio. Oliver is jumping around the editing room, grinning ear to ear.
OLIVER: Oh, we SO rule! Don’t we rule, Leery?
Dawson shrugs.
DAWSON: I guess…
OLIVER: Look out, Oscars…here we come!
He chuckles.
DAWSON: Let’s not celebrate just yet.
Oliver rubs his hands together.
OLIVER: This is it, Dawson! I can feel it. From here on out, it’s clear sailing! God, I am so hyped right now!
At that precise moment, Joey walks through the door. Oliver grabs her by the side of the face and gives her a big, sloppy kiss on the cheek.
OLIVER: Mwa!
JOEY: HEY!
He giggles, then skips downstairs.
Dawson can’t stop laughing. Joey rubs her cheek.
JOEY: Well, that certainly shatters my illusion that there was at least one guy I know who hadn’t kissed me. He get lucky or something?
DAWSON: He’s jumping to conclusions about his movie.
Joey crosses her arms.
JOEY: You done it, yet?
DAWSON: Almost. Just have two or three scenes left, but that’s not why he’s excited. We’re submitting it to the review board tonight.
JOEY: Review board?
DAWSON: For the Sundance film festival.
Joey eyes go wide.
JOEY: Sundance? Wow! That a big one?
DAWSON: The biggest. If we get in, it guarantees recognition. Maybe even a theatre release. If we win…I don’t even want to get my hopes up.
She smiles.
JOEY: I’ve got my fingers crossed.
DAWSON: Wanna tag along?
Joey shakes her head.
JOEY: Nah…got a date.
Dawson appears surprised.
DAWSON: A date…?
JOEY: Don’t go into a tizzy, Dawson. She’s sixteen and female. Hetson’s made me chaperone for her school dance.
DAWSON: Again?
She raises an eyebrow.
JOEY: Again?
DAWSON: Pacey filled me in on the last one. Well, mostly because you dumped him for Eddie that night, but it still sounds hectic.
Joey groans.
JOEY: I just hate these things, Dawson. High school dances just give me the Wiggins.
Dawson snickers.
JOEY: What’s so funny.
DAWSON: You saying ‘Wiggins’. It’s cute.
Joey half-smiles.
DAWSON: They’re not really that bad, are they?
JOEY: Dawson, I went to four dances in High School. On all four occasions, I ended the evening by getting in a screaming match with my date.
DAWSON: I recall. Three of those times were me, remember?
JOEY: Heh…yeah. Which is why you should be on my side about them being nothing but trouble.
Dawson shrugs.
DAWSON: You want me to tag along? Maybe make up for all the times we came to blows at these things?
JOEY: Nah, it’s ok. I’d rather handle this alone. Besides, if you bail on Oliver, he’ll never forgive you.
Dawson nods. An uncertainty hangs in the air a moment.
JOEY: Well, see you!
Joey takes off.
DAWSON: Yeah. See you, Jo.
*****
Cut to the music store. Audrey is shifting through the stacks frantically.
Suddenly, someone waves a CD in front of her face.
CHRIS: This what you’re looking for?
AUDREY: Thanks.
She takes it, attempting not to make eye contact.
CHRIS: Um…I think we should talk?
She walks over to the register.
AUDREY: About what?
He sighs.
CHRIS: We kissed, remember?
Audrey shakes her head, paying for the CD.
AUDREY: Correction. You kissed me. I had nothing to do with it.
Chris crosses her arms and stares at her.
AUDREY: What?
He smirks.
CHRIS: You liked it, though. Didn’t you?
Her mouth hangs open.
AUDREY: Why you arrogant, self-centred, indulgent, arrogant…
CHRIS: You already said ‘arrogant’.
AUDREY: It’s for emphasis.
He rolls his eyes.
CHRIS: While I admit the timing was a little off, you didn’t try to stop me, did you?
AUDREY: I was confused by the whole Pacey thing. You had me in a moment of weakness…thanks, by the way!
He shakes his head.
AUDREY: And another thing…
CHRIS: You want me to do it again, don’t you?
Her eyes go wide.
AUDREY: What?
CHRIS: I can see it in your eyes. You’re not like your friends…you don’t get nervous about these kinds of things. The only reason you’re avoiding me is because you don’t want to admit you feel something, too.
She scoffs.
AUDREY: You don’t know what you’re talking about.
She heads towards the door.
CHRIS: Three hours.
She turns to him for a second.
AUDREY: Huh?
CHRIS: You’ll be calling me in three hours.
AUDREY: Keep dreaming, Chris!
Chris smirks one last time, before she leaves.
*****
Cut to Hetson’s house. Joey is in Harley’s room, going through her closet.
JOEY: Hey, how about this?
Joey pulls a blouse out of the closet, and turns towards Harley, who is sitting on the bed. Harley sighs.
HARLEY: Oh, please…that’s so last year!
Joey groans.
JOEY: You could at least try and look forward to this.
HARLEY: What’s the point, Joey? Patrick’s just going to want to dance with everyone except me. Just like last time!
JOEY: Even under threat of death?
Harley smirks at her.
HARLEY: Very funny. It would help if he didn’t go into a drooling fit whenever my personal watchdog shows up.
JOEY: I can’t help it. Trust me, whatever it is that makes men fall like dominos for me, you can have it! It’s caused me nothing but trouble!
Harley giggles.
HARLEY: Really?
JOEY: Really. Now, enough about me…what are your plans for tonight?
HARLEY: Hmm…the usual. Go to social even, embarrass myself…
Joey rolls her eyes.
JOEY: Things are going to be fine.
HARLEY: Promise?
Joey smiles.
JOEY: Promise.
*****
Cut back to the house. Pacey and Andie wander through the front door.
ANDIE: Stop it…I’m getting giddy!
Pacey grins.
PACEY: Good. My goal tonight is to do everything in my power to ‘wow’ you.
She smirks.
ANDIE: Not hard to do.
They start to laugh, just as Dawson comes down the stairs.
DAWSON: Hey, guys. Glad I caught you.
PACEY: Hey, Dawson. What’s up?
DAWSON: Can you do me a huge favour, Pace? I need you to work tonight.
Pacey freezes.
PACEY: Huh?
DAWSON: Tomorrow’s the last day of filming. The shooting schedule needs to be done up, the call sheets…
PACEY: Why can’t you do it?
DAWSON: Because I’m going to be out all night trying to sell this thing to the review board.
Pacey sighs.
PACEY: Dawson, I kinda got plans tonight.
DAWSON: Just reschedule them. It can’t possibly be this important.
Pacey chuckles.
PACEY: Actually…
DAWSON: Thanks, man!
Dawson runs out before Pacey can argue the point. Andie looks up at him.
ANDIE: So…?
PACEY: We’re staying in.