She turns and runs, leaving Dawson there alone.

*****

Dawson’s face dissolves into Pacey’s, who’s sitting expressionless in the car.

JOEY: Oh, quit being such a baby, Pacey! We’re almost there. You’ll thank me later when Audrey doesn’t kill you.

He doesn’t answer. Instead, his mind wanders again.

*****

Cut to the docks behind Pacey’s house.

PACEY: I can tell you why this is a bad idea, Andie. I could give you reason upon reason until I’m blue in the face! I could tell you that you’re going to be hurt, and that he’s the wrong guy, and I could beg you not to go, but it’ll make no difference. None at all.

Andie’s almost in tears as he says these words.

ANDIE: Pacey…

PACEY: At the end of the day, these are just words, right? Just stupid words that don’t mean a thing. Because when I stop saying them, you’re still going to go to him. Right? So go.

She turns and runs, as Pacey collapses to his knees.

*****

The scene shifts back to the car.

JOEY: Didn’t you hear me? What’s wrong with you?

Pacey’s expression is unreadable. He looks completely miserable.

PACEY: I think I’ve just been hit with the worst case of self-loathing known to mankind.

Joey sighs.

JOEY: Let me guess…you just sent Andie’s dad to prison?

PACEY: Just go on without me, ok! I’m really not comfortable being around you right now!

Joey gets back in her seat and locks the door.

JOEY: So that’s what this is about, huh? I knew this whole thing was leading up to something.

PACEY: (muttering) I’m a horrible friend.

JOEY: No you’re not!

PACEY: Up until this point I’ve convinced myself what happened back then was all his fault. That Dawson was the one who wouldn’t let go or could act when he had the chance. I really never saw things from his point of view. Not until now. God, I never realized how much he hates me.

JOEY: For the record, Dawson never hated you.

Pacey laughs.

PACEY: Yeah, right!

JOEY: I’m serious. I doubt he has the ability to hate anyone. He does, however, have the unfortunate weakness of letting his emotions get the better of him. That’s one of the things I love about him. He was angry, and he stayed angry a long time. Now look at the two of you…you’re living together. And about you being a horrible friend…Dawson cheated on his girlfriend last year. Does that make him a horrible boyfriend?

PACEY: Yes.

Joey rolls her eyes.

JOEY: He made a mistake. Just like you made a mistake. You both have a long way to go to catch up to the sheer volume of mine. There’s no doubt we’ll all make more in the years to come, and we’ll fight and yell and scream at each other. Listen to someone who knows Pacey…if you dwell on the past enough, you can’t move on with your life. The only thing to do is to try not to repeat those mistakes.

He relaxes.

PACEY: Live in the present, not the past?

JOEY: Not the present. The future.

He smiles.

PACEY: Now that I like the sound of. Don’t we have a party to get to?

She nods, and they exit the car.

*****

Cut to inside the party. Audrey is chatting with an unknown couple when her attention is suddenly diverted.

AUDREY: I’ll see you later!

She runs to the entrance of the apartment, and flings her arms around Joey, who has just entered.

AUDREY: Yay! You made it! Knew you wouldn’t let me down!

She hugs Pacey in turn.

PACEY: Well, what can I say…anything for a friend.

Audrey smirks at him.

JOEY: Is Dawson here?

Audrey shakes her head.

AUDREY: Nope. No-show as yet. I’m sure he’ll get here soon. We’ve still got two hours until midnight.

She grins, just as Chris walks up behind her. She gives him a look.

AUDREY: And we all know what happens then, right?

Pacey smiles.

PACEY: Fireworks…yes!

Joey, Audrey, and Chris all give him awkward looks.

PACEY: Uh…or not?

CHRIS: Uusally when the clock strikes midnight on New Years Eve, people scream ‘Happy New Year’ and kiss.

PACEY: Oh, I knew that…did you think I meant literal fireworks? There’s still going to be fireworks though? Right?

Audrey rolls her eyes.

AUDREY: Everybody mingle, ok?

The four friends separate, each going their separate ways. Pacey passes through the crowd, as the room around him begins to change…

*****

…then, finally, he sees her. Andie. He smiles.

PACEY: Hey. Shouldn’t you be dancing?

She shrugs.

ANDIE: Dawson needed some fresh air. I could ask you the same. Where’s Jen?

PACEY: Fresh air. Coincidence?

Andie laughs. They stand side-by-side, looking out at the party.

PACEY: I think this whole thing wierds her out. Senior prom and all. Major flashbacks.

ANDIE: I know it wierds me out.

They stand there and smile for a moment.

PACEY: Can I be honest with you for a minute, Andie? When Jen and I first got together, I put it in my mind that I had to find somebody I loved as much as I loved you. It’s only now starting to occur to me that it just ain’t gonna happen. It shouldn’t really. I think…I think we love each person in our lives a different way, you know?

She nods.

ANDIE: I don’t think I’m ever going to love someone the way I do you. That really isn’t such a bad thing.

She smiles.

PACEY: Thank you.

They pause for a moment.

PACEY: Well, since my date ditched me, and your date ditched you…

She giggles, and offers her arm.

ANDIE: Shall we?

They go out on the dance floor. They dance together for several minutes, before Dawson and Jen show up at the door. Dawson’s face falls…then slowly becomes angry.

He marches over in Pacey’s direction.

*****

ANDIE: Dawson, wake up!

Dawson’s eyes snap open suddenly, as he forgets where he is.

DAWSON: Wha?

ANDIE: We’re here! We’re in Boston!

Dawson leaps to his feet, dusting the hay off his jacket. Grabbing his bag, he follows Andie to exit the boxcar.

First, they peer outside to make sure no one’s looking. Then they hop out, slowly creeping away.

DAWSON: I can’t believe this worked. I always wanted to do that. I’m officially a rail rider.

Andie laughs.

ANDIE: We should do this more often. It’s fun.

DAWSON: Cheaper, too.

ANDIE: And also slightly illegal, but that’s not what I meant. I meant hanging out with you.

Dawson raises an eyebrow.

DAWSON: Wait…am I hearing right? You think I’m funner than Pacey?

She scoffs.

ANDIE: God, no! It’s just different. Pacey…well, he has it in his mind that he has to protect me.

Dawson chuckles.

DAWSON: He has it in his mind that he has to protect ME, Andie. The guy’s a protector.

ANDIE: That’s just it…I can talk to you about certain stuff that I can’t talk to him about. Because if I do, he gets all worried and…

DAWSON: And does that thing where his eye twitches and he starts acting all paranoid and inquisitive.

She laughs.

ANDIE: Exactly.

They look at each other for a moment.

DAWSON: This is usually the part where I start questioning my loyalties.

ANDIE: No worried…I don’t find you the least bit attractive.

DAWSON: Really?

ANDIE: It’s the forehead…major turn-off.

Dawson snickers.

DAWSON: Well, how else am I supposed to fit all those big brains inside?

ANDIE: In your dreams, Leery!

They walk away laughing.

*****

Cut back to the party. Pacey is in the corner, examining a marble statue of a woman dressed in what looks like roman robes.

Joey walks up to him, curiously.

JOEY: What are you doing?

He turns around and smiles.

PACEY: Potter, I’d like you to meet Miranda.

Joey raises an eyebrow.

JOEY: Miranda?

PACEY: Yeah. See, I have no intention of looking pathetic when the clock strikes midnight. So this lovely lady is going to be the lucky girl.

Joey sighs.

JOEY: Pacey, you are not actually going to kiss a statue?

Pacey gasps, and puts his arm around the marble woman’s shoulders.

PACEY: Now, don’t you be calling her names, Josephine. I don’t wanna have to separate you two.

Joey shakes her head is disbelief. She faces the statue.

JOEY: Sorry, Miranda. You’re a cute couple…both blockheads. Seriously, are you ok, Pacey?

Pacey thinks for a moment.

PACEY: Yeah. I think so, anyway. Pardon me, but since when are you such a paragon of maturity?

JOEY: What do you mean?

PACEY: I break down and totally expect you to run screaming in the other direction. But instead you’re worried about me. I dare say that this is a sign I haven’t seen before. This because of Dawson?

JOEY: Nope. This is because of me.

He raises an eyebrow.

JOEY: Dawson’s just the side effect. It recently occurred to me that, well…I’ve had these hard experiences in my life. Each time, though, I’ve depended on other people to carry me through them. When my mom died, I leaned on Dawson. If I couldn’t, I went to Bessie. Or you. Or Audrey. But I shouldn’t have to. I’ve been through so much in my life, and it’s made me stronger. Or it should, anyway. That’s what I want to do. I want to use my experiences to help other people.

PACEY: Like certain ex-boyfriends going through a mid-mid-life crisis?

She smiles.

JOEY: Aren’t you supposed to buy a flashy car for that?

PACEY: Well, there’s still that Viper I’ve always wanted…

Joey sighs.

JOEY: Haven’t those gone out of style yet?

PACEY: You kidding me? Let me explain something to you, Joey. The Viper never goes out of style. They’re like M&Ms or swashbuckling movies.

Joey laughs.

JOEY: Come on…let’s get some punch.

They head towards the snack tray.

Act 5