Cut to the Witter house, upstairs. Pacey looks around a small room, belonging to one of his sister’s kids.
JOHN: Quite a sight, isn’t it?
His dad comes in.
JOHN: Hard to believe it used to be yours, huh?
PACEY: Yeah…Dawson’s room looks exactly like it did five years ago. Kinda weird to see the old place like this.
JOHN: Well, you never really felt at ‘home’ here, did you? That’s partly my fault.
They walk down the hallway.
PACEY: Why didn’t you side with Doug on this whole Potter thing?
John smirks.
JOHN: Because he’s a good guy. Not a strong guy, but a good guy. Just one that’s made a lot of mistakes. But he’s got a pair of really good kids, and that had to have come from somewhere. You know why Doug became a cop?
PACEY: Because he wanted to be just like you.
Pacey sighs.
JOHN: Yeah, I know. You wanna know why I wanted to become a cop?
Pacey looks at him.
JOHN: I always wanted to be a hero like in the pictures. You know…beat the bad guy. Save the girl. Get the admiration and respect of the people around me. Somewhere down the line, I ended up being the kind of guy I hated when I was a kid. It took being sent to the hospital for me to realize that.
PACEY: I don’t understand.
John smiles at him.
JOHN: I never wanted my kids to be a carbon copy of me. No, I wanted them to be better than me. To now get trapped in Capeside and live out their dreams. Doug will be here until he’s a old man, but you won’t. What I’m saying, son, is that I don’t care if you’re a sailor or a chef or and suit…I’ll be proud of you either way.
Pacey looks at him, surprised.
PACEY: Wait…did you just say…?
JOHN: And for the record, when I’m stone-drunk, I hear absolutely everything said to me. I’m just too stubborn to do something about it.
Pacey smiles.
PACEY: Thank you.
JOHN: Hey…if you’ve got a gorgeous girl like that blonde downstairs on your arm, you must be doing something right.
They hug.
*****
Cut to Capeside cemetery. Dawson stands over a grave, staring into space.
He shivers from the cold, and stands there for a long moment.
Do you remember me?
I sat upon your knee
After awhile, footsteps are heard behind him. A figure steps out of the fog.
I wrote to you with childhood fantasies
DAWSON: I’m I imagining things, or are you really here?
The person beside him shrugs.
MITCH: It’s late and cold. You’re brain’s probably freezing. Instant recipe for hallucinations.
DAWSON: Not to mention my movie-addled subconscious would probably come up with the whole ‘Field Of Dreams’ scenario, huh? It’s Christmas. You would think I’d go with ‘A Christmas Carol’ or ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’.
Well I'm all grown up now
And still need help somehow
Mitch smiles at him.
MITCH: Well, how is your life?
DAWSON: It’s good. I, uh…Pacey and I just started up our own production company: ‘Creek Side Pictures’. It feels really good to have him by my side again. We entered a movie in the Sundance film festival.
I'm not a child
But my heart still can dream
Mitch raises his eyebrows.
MITCH: Sundance? Wow! Are you nervous?
Dawson chuckles.
DAWSON: Extremely. But they say we have a good chance of winning. You know, Joey and I are together again.
He smiles warmly.
So here's my lifelong wish
MITCH: Congratulations. I always knew you two would figure it out.
DAWSON: Yeah, you did didn’t you? It ain’t over until it’s over, right?
My grown up Christmas list
MITCH: Exactly.
They stay in silence for a moment.
Not for myself
But for a world in need
DAWSON: I love her so much, dad. And when she told me she loves me, I believed her. I never wanted anything as much as I want her.
MITCH: Not even movies?
Dawson sighs.
DAWSON: It almost feels like the two go hand in hand sometimes.
No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
MITCH: Do you remember when you were a little boy, and we watched ‘The Neverending Story’ for the first time?
Dawson nods.
DAWSON: I always loved that movie because of the message that it gave. In movies, a character always goes through an arc that changes them or their life, but their lives don’t stop once the end credits roll. My movie…well, it ends when the two friends kiss for the first time. You know it doesn’t end there. They could break up, they could get back together…a hundred different possibilities.
Everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end
MITCH: The story goes on.
DAWSON: Yeah. One chapter after another. I’ve scripted my entire life like a film, but I have no idea what’s coming next. I’m scared, dad.
This is my grown up Christmas list
MITCH: It’s going to be ok, Dawson. I can’t tell you what happens next, but I can promise you this. It will be greater than you can ever imagine..
Dawson has tears in his eyes. They hug.
DAWSON: (whispering) I miss you so much.
As children we believe
The grandest sight to see
Was something lovely
Wrapped beneath the tree
Mitch smiles.
MITCH: I miss you, too.
But heaven only knows
That packages and bows
Can never heal a heartached human soul
With that, Mitch Leery…be he ghost or hallucination, disappears into thin air. Once again, Dawson is left in the cemetery, alone.
But not for long…
JOEY: Dawson?
Dawson turns around to see Joey walk towards him.
DAWSON: Hey.
No more lives torn apart
JOEY: You disappeared from the party, so I went out looking for you. I had a feeling you were here.
She walks up close to him, and they hug.
DAWSON: Thank you.
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
She smiles.
JOEY: For what?
DAWSON: Everything. For being my best friend. For understanding me even when I don’t understand myself. And for helping me see that my dreams aren’t as far-fetched as I thought.
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
They kiss for a long moment. However, in the middle of the kiss, something happens. A white flake falls from the sky, and melts on Joey’s nose.
And love would never end
They break apart, as more flakes start of fall.
JOEY: Oh my god!
This is my grown up Christmas list
*****
Cut to the Leery house porch. Jen smiles as she sees snow start to fall outside.
JEN: Thanks.
What is this illusion called
the innocence of youth
*****
Cut to the fountain, as Pacey and Andie walk past. They looks surprised.
PACEY: Damn! Now that’s what I call timing!
Maybe only in our blind belief
can we ever find the truth
Andie laughs.
ANDIE: And look where we are!
She points towards the fountain. Pacey grins, and offers his hand.
PACEY: I believe I owe you a dance, McPhee.
They start to sway back and forth, reliving their first dance.
*****
Both of them grin ear-to-ear, as the snow begins to pile up on the ground.
JOEY: It’s snowing! It’s snowing on Christmas Eve! The first snowfall is on Christmas Eve…how contrived is that?
No more lives torn apart
Dawson raises an eyebrow.
DAWSON: Contrived?
JOEY: And fitting. So…what do you wish for?
That wars would never start
He smiles.
DAWSON: Wishing on the first snowfall?
JOEY: Of course.
Dawson puts his arms around her.
And time would heal all hearts
Everyone would have a friend
DAWSON: I wish…that I can spend every Christmas just like this. Here with you. I love you.
JOEY: I love you, too.
And right would always win
And love would never end
They take each other’s hands, and walk out of the cemetery. As they leave, the camera focuses on the grave of Lillian Potter.
*****
Cut to a montage of scenes. We see Jen watches to snowfall, then Pacey and Andie dancing, snowflakes in their hair.
Finally, we see Dawson and Joey walking through the abandoned Capeside streets. They’re still holding hands, staying close to one another.
They watch in awe as the snow covers the town in a sheet of solid white. The camera pans up on the couple, reaching into the sky.
This is my grown up Christmas list
This is my only lifelong wish
This is my grown up Christmas list
*****
Cut to much later, at the Leery house. The door swings open, letting in a snow-covered Dawson and Joey.
CHRIS: Where did you two cut off to?
DAWSON: Long story.
They take off their coats, hanging them up. Attention is soon diverted from the pair, as everyone goes back to their own business.
JOEY: Come on…I wanna talk to Bessie.
They walk a little ways, before they stop dead in their tracks.
DAWSON: What? What is it? What’s wrong?
Joey looks up. Dawson’s eyes follow, until he notices a small green plant above their heads.
DAWSON: Heh. Mistletoe. I guess this means…
Joey half-smiles.
DAWSON: You mind?
They move in closer.
JOEY: What can I say? Creature of habit…
They kiss.
Just at that moment, Pacey and Andie enter the door, as every person in the room focuses their attention again.
PACEY: It’s really coming down out…great googly moogly!!!
Pacey’s eyes go wide, as he sees Dawson and Joey…kissing.
Realizing their cover has been blown, the couple breaks apart.
DAWSON: Um…uh…
JOEY: We were just…
DAWSON: You know…the mistletoe and…
Their excuses aren’t convincing. They both blush, showing full well what is going on. They receive a few wolf-whistles from the crowd.
PACEY: Well, well, well…my mouth drops.
JACK: Ok…first you and Andie, now these two! Am I just oblivious to these things?
ANDIE: It’s about freaking time!
They all laugh, as Dawson puts his arm around Joey’s shoulder.
JEN: Pacey? You ok?
Pacey shrugs.
PACEY: Hey, it’s his loss!
Joey rolls her eyes.
DAWSON: Pacey?
PACEY: Yeah?
DAWSON: Bite me!
*****
Cut to the next morning.
A montage of scenes shows everyone in the house fast asleep. The couches and spare rooms are filled up with the guests.
Eventually, we see inside Dawson’s room. Joey and Dawson are curled up together on the bed, fully-clothed, but still very close together. Slowly, their eyes open.
JOEY: Merry Christmas, tiger.
Dawson smiles
DAWSON: Merry Christmas!
He leaps out of bed, opening the window. He peers out, looking outside at the snow-covered ground.
He screams at the top of his lungs…
DAWSON: MERRY CHRISTMAS, CAPESIDE!!!
At the bottom of the ladder, Pacey looks up at him.
PACEY: Well, thank you George Bailey!
Dawson smiles.
DAWSON: Everything ready?
PACEY: If you two lovebirds aren’t occupied.
Dawson climbs back inside, putting his boots on.
Joey scrambles out of bed, looking confused.
JOEY: Wait…what’s going on?
DAWSON: It’s a surprise. I’ll tell you on the way.
JOEY: Where are we going?
DAWSON: Your house.
*****
Cut to the Potter’s B&B. The door suddenly swings open, much to everyone’s surprise.
Then, in pops Pacey, dressed in a Santa Claus suit.
PACEY: Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas!
He’s followed by Andie and Joey, both in elf suits. Dawson is as well, trailing behind.
JOEY: I can’t believe I let you talk me into this. I believe even less that Pacey agreed to play Santa.
Pacey eyes Andie’s legs, with are covered in a pair of red-and-white tights.
PACEY: What can I say…the suit’s a turn-on.
Joey raises an eyebrow.
JOEY: And here I thought the pointy ears would have the opposite effect.
PACEY: You kidding me? Have you never seen ‘Enterprise’? Besides, I was referring to the candy-cane motif.
Dawson looks Joey over.
DAWSON: Well, now that he mentions it…
Joey rolls her eyes.
JOEY: Come on…we’ve got presents to hand out.
They get to work. Alex, Lily, Dina, and Harley are there, with the adults present.
A montage of scenes show the kids unwrapping their gifts.
Eventually, Mike goes over to Pacey.
MIKE: I wanted to thank you for your help last night. That was a pretty brave thing you did.
PACEY: Hey, no sweat.
Mike leaves. Dawson goes up to Pacey.
DAWSON: What was that about?
PACEY: I’ll tell you later.