Cut to the festival. Andie is waiting by the entrance, in her blue sparkling dress. Her eyes examine the crowd carefully.
A moment later, Pacey arrives. He’s dressed in a tux, sans tie.
PACEY: Well? How do I look? Not overdressed, am I?
She smiles at him, then notices something.
ANDIE: You forgot your tie.
Pacey laughs, then pulls a tie out of his pocket.
PACEY: Not exactly. I tried to do it myself, but it’s like a Japanese finger trap.
She giggles, then takes it from him. In a few fluid motions, she gets it on him.
PACEY: You do good work, McPhee.
She grins.
ANDIE: I’m a woman of many talents.
They connect arms, and make their way into the festival.
PACEY: It’s been awhile since I’ve worn a suit, you know? I was worried it’d bring back some bad memories.
ANDIE: Has it?
He shakes his head.
PACEY: Not in the slightest. That chapter of my life is over. Rich can have his freaking desk job, movies is where it’s at. You know, I was the star of Dawson’s first movie?
ANDIE: And now you’re trying to sell it?
PACEY: Puts things in perspective. Fate has this weird way of circling back on you, sometimes.
Suddenly, Andie gasps.
PACEY: What? What’s wrong?
Andie points.
ANDIE: Toby Maguire! It’s Toby Maguire.
Pacey smirks.
PACEY: You know what? I think you’re worse than Dawson.
ANDIE: I think I’m gonna faint. Come on…let’s go talk to him!
Pacey shakes his head.
PACEY: I don’t think that’s such a good…
But before he can protest much, Andie pulls him along.
*****
Cut to a downtown bar. Inside, Dawson, Joey, Todd, and Eddie are surrounding a pool table.
JOEY: Must feel good being on this side of the bar for once, huh Eddie?
EDDIE: Yeah. Less angry people. Hey, bartender…I’d like a beer. Oh, my friend here will have a…what, Leery? Milk?
Dawson gives Eddie the ‘evil-eye’.
DAWSON: (monotone) I’ll have a coke.
The bartender nods.
BARTENDER: Coming right up.
Joey gives Eddie a dirty look.
EDDIE: What? It was a joke. I figured a clean-cut guy like Dawson would appreciate it.
DAWSON: I have a sense of humour.
Joey sighs in relief, smiling at Dawson.
Eddie smirks.
EDDIE: I’ll bet you do.
Joey picks up a pool cue.
JOEY: My turn, right Todd?
Todd nods.
Joey hits the cue ball, sinking at least three other balls.
JOEY: All right! Count em’.
Todd’s eyes bulge out.
TODD: That’s some firecracker you got there, Dawson! You wouldn’t happen ta have a sister, would ya?
JOEY: Sorry. Engaged.
TODD: Damn! Oh well…them’s the breaks. Sure you don’t wanna have a go, Ed?
Eddie, who’s facing Joey’s back currently, shakes his head.
EDDIE: Not me. I’m just enjoying the view.
Dawson grinds his teeth in anger, making a fist with his left hand.
Then he makes a decision.
DAWSON: Come on, Eddie. I’ll play you.
Eddie scoffs.
EDDIE: Nah, I’m ok.
DAWSON: What’s the matter? Scared?
Too alarmin' now
to talk about
Take your pictures down
and shake it out
There’s a pause, as Joey looks at him.
JOEY: Dawson?
Eddie gives him a look.
EDDIE: Of you? Please. Joey?
He takes the pool cue from Joey, as Dawson takes another one off the wall.
Truth or consequence,
say it aloud
Use that evidence,
race it around
EDDIE: Say your prayers, preppy.
DAWSON: Right back at you, slacker.
Joey looks over at Todd, hoping for him to put an end to this. Unfortunately, Todd’s enjoying the show.
There goes my hero
Watch him as he goes
There goes my hero
He's ordinary
*****
Cut to the hotel room door. Audrey exits the room, straightening her lavender dress.
AUDREY: We’re late!
She runs towards the elevator, with Chris close behind her.
CHRIS: Big deal. It’s not like we’re part of the production like the others. Ok, so you have a minor role. Harley’s not even here.
AUDREY: We don’t go to the festival, they won’t go to our play.
Chris smiles.
CHRIS: Thanks for ‘cheering me up’ anyway.
They kiss, just as the elevator doors close on them.
AUDREY: So? What happens next?
CHRIS: Simple. I find a job. Can’t be too hard, right?
AUDREY: Any ideas? I hear Hell’s Kitchen needs a part-time bartender.
Chris laughs.
CHRIS: Not likely. I learned a lot of things working for my dad two summers ago. Maybe I could get a desk job?
Audrey gives him a disgusted look.
CHRIS: What?
AUDREY: The last boyfriend I had with an office job didn’t end very well.
CHRIS: Ok then…something else. Any ideas?
AUDREY: Male stripper?
CHRIS: Dream on!
Audrey laughs.
AUDREY: Ok, let me think…you don’t want to be a bartender, so what else is there? I’d assume waiter is out of the question, too. You could always work for Dawson.
CHRIS: A job with virtually no income to speak of? I think not.
AUDREY: That leaves manual labour and retail.
They pause.
CHRIS: Manual? Hmm…
*****
Cut back to the bar…
Don't the best of them
bleed it out
while the rest of them
peter out?
The cue ball sends the others flying, as Eddie holds his hand up in the air triumphantly.
Dawson chalks up his own cue and goes to take his turn. However, he doesn’t see Todd standing directly behind him.
When he pulls the cue back, he accidentally hits Todd in the gut.
TODD: Oof! Careful, mate!
Dawson cringes.
DAWSON: Sorry.
Truth or consequence,
say it aloud
use that evidence,
race it around
There goes my hero Watch him as he goes
Eddie chuckles at him. Dawson takes his turn, and misses.
EDDIE: Oh, come on, Dawson! At least try to beat me.
Eddie takes his turn again…
There goes my hero
He's ordinary
Finally, ever ball has been sunk.
EDDIE: Rack ‘em! Anyone else wanna go?
A look of determination crosses Dawson’s face.
DAWSON: Best two out of three.
*****
Cut back to the festival. Andie follows Pacey, who appears very moody.
ANDIE: So he didn’t laugh at your joke. Big deal!
PACEY: I so hope Doc Ock cleans his clock in the next movie!
Andie rolls her eyes.
PACEY: Where’s Dawson? Shouldn’t he be here right now?
ANDIE: Maybe he is?
Pacey searches the crowd for them, but to no avail. Suddenly, he gets an idea.
PACEY: Glad I brought this thing.
Pacey pulls out a cell phone, then dials a number.
PACEY: Hey!
JOEY: (on phone) Pacey?
PACEY: Is Dawson there?
JOEY: Sorry, Dawson can’t come to the phone right now! He’s infected with a bad case of machismo! But if you leave your name and number…
Pacey sighs.
PACEY: Repeat that in plain English, Potter!
JOEY: He challenged Eddie to a game of pool. They’re out of control.
PACEY: Well, it’s not ‘Joust’, but tell him I’m behind him 100%. What’s the address?
Joey tells him, then hangs up the phone.
PACEY: I’ll be back as soon as I can, Andie.
He kisses her on the cheek.
ANDIE: Huh? Wait, what am I supposed to do until you get back?
Pacey shrugs.
PACEY: Stalk a few more celebrities.
He takes off again. Andie sighs, then her eyes light up.
ANDIE: No…freaking…way! Ben Stiller?
She runs in his direction.
*****
Cut back to the bar once again…
Eddie’s jaw drops.
Dawson smiles in triumph.
Kudos, my hero;
leavin' all the best
DAWSON: I’ve got a confession…I suck at sports. Never was any good at them. However…
He takes another shot, sinking the ball.
DAWSON: This doesn’t really need any athletic ability. It’s mathematics. Different angles plus the right amount of force. Once I figured that out…
He shoots again, sinking the final ball.
DAWSON: …everything falls into place.
Dawson twirls the cue like a bo-stick.
You know my hero,
the one that's on
There goes my hero
Watch him as he goes
There goes my hero
He's ordinary
DAWSON: Rack ‘em!
Before Eddie can respond, Pacey runs through the door.
DAWSON: Pacey? You’re just in time to…
PACEY: Can I talk to you for a second?
Dawson hesitates for a moment, before putting the cue down and following Pacey outside.
*****
Cut to outside.
PACEY: What was that you said about priorities?
DAWSON: Huh?
PACEY: I’ve been waiting at the festival for an hour, and you aren’t even dressed!
DAWSON: It’s not 8 yet. I said…
PACEY: I know what you said. But the Dawson I know would be ready three hours in advance, making sure everything’s ready. You’re not focused.
DAWSON: Can you blame me? That creep inside…
Pacey shakes his head.
PACEY: Screw it, Leery! I hate him, too. I was dumped because of him. But letting him get to you is the last thing you need to do right now. Jealously…it screws you up. It’s your kryptonite, bro!
*****
While inside…
JOEY: Where’d Todd run off to?
EDDIE: Had a few too many beers.
Joey nods.
JOEY: Ah.
EDDIE: That was intense, wasn’t it?
Joey smirks.
JOEY: There’s something you’ve got to know about Dawson, Eddie. He doesn’t like to lose.
EDDIE: No kidding. What did you ever seen in that guy?
Joey gives Eddie a look. He mistakes it, and leans in to kiss her.
However, before he can, Joey backs away.
EDDIE: What? What’s the matter?
JOEY: We’re…I mean, Dawson and I… We’re back together.
Eddie’s face falls.
Neither one notices Dawson and Pacey watching from the window, especially not Dawson’s angered expression.
EDDIE: You’ve got to be kidding me! Why?
JOEY: Excuse me?
EDDIE: Give me a reason. Why are you with him?
Joey looks offended.
JOEY: I love him. Isn’t that reason enough?
EDDIE: Isn’t this the same guy who slept with you when he was seeing something else? What’s to stop him from doing the same thing to you?
*****
At the window, pure rage fills Dawson’s face. He storms towards the door.
Pacey moves in front of him, blocking the path.
PACEY: Woah, wait a sec, Dawson! What are you going to do?
DAWSON: I’m going to kick his ass, that’s what!
Pacey chuckles.
PACEY: As amusing as that would be to watch, I’m going to have to say ‘no’! Ok, so he tried to kiss her. Ok, so he’s talking trash about you…
DAWSON: If this was Andie, you wouldn’t hesitate to clean his clock!
Pacey’s expression changes serious.
PACEY: Yeah, I would, Dawson. You wanna know why? Because I’ve learned my lesson. What has lashing out ever gotten me before? What has it ever got you? Besides dumped? You hit him, and you’re the bad guy. Just…just wait a second…
*****
And inside…
JOEY: What happened then isn’t as simple as you think it is.
EDDIE: You don’t think he wouldn’t?
JOEY: I know he wouldn’t! That not the kind of person he is.
Joey laughs.
JOEY: And to think, I asked him to ‘play nice’. Shows what I know.
She storms out, seeing Dawson and Pacey outside.
She sighs.
JOEY: How much did you hear?
Their silence answers her.
JOEY: Come on. Let’s go!
DAWSON: Let Pacey drive you back to the hotel. I’ve gotta do something.
Joey looks at him, concerned. Pacey does, too.
DAWSON: I won’t hurt him. I promise.
Joey hugs him, then follows Pacey to the car.
Dawson takes a deep breath, and heads back inside the bar.