Cut to inside the bar.

Dawson steps inside, to see Eddie slumped over in a chair. He sighs.

EDDIE: Come to gloat? Or just to get some payback?

Dawson looks at him for a moment.

DAWSON: Nope.

He sits down next to him.

DAWSON: I think you’ve punished yourself more than I ever could.

Eddie shakes his head.

EDDIE: I don’t get it.

Dawson raises an eyebrow.

DAWSON: So let me get this straight…you just assumed that Joey would dump me just because she saw you again?

Eddie shrugs.

EDDIE: Worked the last time.

Dawson laughs.

DAWSON: A little presumptuous, isn’t it?

Eddie gives Dawson a look.

EDDIE: ‘Presumptuous’? You actually used ‘presumptuous’ in a sentence? Look…I don’t know you, but…

DAWSON: You’re right…you don’t know me. So where do you get off judging me?

Eddie gets a guilty look.

EDDIE: Ok, so if you’re such a good guy, why’d you do it?

Dawson smiles.

DAWSON: You really wanna know?

EDDIE: Humour me.

DAWSON: Because I thought I’d never get a second chance. And here I am now, on my third, trying to understand why I feel sorry for someone I hated just ten minutes ago.

EDDIE: And why is that?

DAWSON: Because I’ve been in your shoes. I know what it’s like to have Joey Potter pick someone else over you. I’ve just never been the guy she chose before. It’s a good feeling. Empowering, in a way.

They get up from their chairs.

EDDIE: So, I hear you’re a movie guy?

DAWSON: If you want to go by laymen’s terms.

EDDIE: So, how do you handle it? I’ve been working for Todd a few months, and it’s still too fast-paced.

Dawson picks up a pool cue.

DAWSON: It’s kind of like pool, really. You need to know exactly what angle to hit, because each one goes in a separate direction. The rest is just instinct.

Eddie picks up another one, and goes to the other end.

EDDIE: Instinct, huh?

He shoots, knocking one of the balls in the side pocket.

EDDIE: Yeah…I get that.

There goes my hero
Watch him as he goes

There goes my hero
He's ordinary

*****

Cut back to the hotel, much later.

Joey checks the clock, which reads seven o’clock.

PACEY: He’s developing a habit of being fashionably late.

As if on cue, Dawson runs through the front door.

JOEY: About time!

Dawson kisses her on the cheek.

DAWSON: Pace? Where’s my tux?

Pacey points towards one of the rooms. He runs in that direction.

Joey then notices Eddie standing in the hallway. Pacey goes up to him.

PACEY: You really don’t know when to quit, do you?

EDDIE: Well somebody’s holding a grudge. You certainly seem ok with Mr. Director there.

PACEY: He I like. You I don’t!

Eddie turns to Joey for a second.

EDDIE: Can we talk?

Joey seems reluctant at first, but eventually follows him out into the hall.

*****

Cut to in the hallway.

EDDIE: I just wanna apologize for back at the bar. I was out of line.

She nods.

JOEY: Yeah, you were.

EDDIE: Your boyfriend there…well…he talks a lot. I mean, he REALLY talks a lot. More than you, and I didn’t think that was possible.

Joey laughs.

JOEY: You talked? About what?

EDDIE: Well, I know he made this movie for the festival about you. I don’t think there’s many other romantic gestures that can top that. I still think he’s a little…weird. But if you like him, he’s gotta be something special.

Joey smiles.

JOEY: He is.

Eddie holds out his hand.

EDDIE: Friends?

They shake.

JOEY: Yeah

Just then, Pacey and Dawson exit out of the hotel room.

JOEY: Ready?

DAWSON: As I’ll ever be.

They walk towards the elevator.

DAWSON: You know, Eddie…maybe you’re going about this all wrong?

EDDIE: Huh?

DAWSON: Have you ever thought about going into acting?

EDDIE: Acting?

Dawson grins.

DAWSON: Yeah. You’ve got this real ‘Kurt Russell’ look going for you.

Pacey groans.

PACEY: Oh, give me a break!

*****

Cut to the festival. Andie’s waiting out front, when the car pulls up. Pacey and Eddie exit, as Andie runs up to them.

ANDIE: Pacey? Ohmygod…you’ll never guess who I saw…?

I've been driving for an hour,
Just talking to the rain

*****

While back in the car…

JOEY: You ok?

They say I've been drivin crazy,
And it's keepin you away.

Dawson takes a deep breath.

DAWSON: Never been so scared in my entire life. My hands are sweating, Jo.

She smiles at him warmly.

So just give me one good reason.
Tell me why I should stay,

JOEY: You’re almost there.

DAWSON: I go out there, and there’s no turning back.

Joey clasps his hand in hers, then whispers into his ear.

JOEY: I’ll be with you every step of the way.

'Cause I dont wanna waste another moment
In saying things we never meant to say.

Together, they exit the car and head into the festival.

And I take it just a little bit.
I hold my breath and count to ten.
I've been waiting for a chance to let you in.

As they walk through the front doors, hand-in-hand, several photographers snap pictures of the two of them. Just ahead, they do the same to Pacey and Andie. Pacey waves to the crowd.

If I just breathe
let it fill in the space between
I'll know everything is alright.

Breathe
every little piece of me,
you'll see
everything is alright.
If I just breathe

Taking a cue, Dawson and Joey do the same.

*****

Cut to the auditorium, where the judges and guests are already seated. Near the back, Dawson and Joey watch in anticipation.

After a moment, the lights dim. A single spotlight shines near the screen, where Pacey quickly steps into.

He taps the collar mike.

Well its all so overrated
In not saying how you feel
So you end up watching chances fade,
And wondering what's real,

And I give ya just a little time.
I wonder if you realize.
I've been waiting till I see it in your eyes.

PACEY: This thing on? Good. Ladies and gentlemen, judges, how you doing? Let me introduce myself: I’m Pacey J. Witter, representative of Creek Side Pictures. Now, you’re probably wondering why you’ve never heard of us. The answer’s easy, friends. This is our first official movie.

In the audience, Dawson sneaks a glance over at Chris and Audrey, then at Andie, and finally at Todd and Eddie.

If I just breathe
let it fill the space between
I'll know everything is alright.

breathe
every little piece of me you'll see
everything is alright.
If I just breathe
breathe

PACEY: The movie you’re about to see has been dubbed ‘The Creek’, for obvious reasons. The work of one Dawson Leery, filmed last summer, it features a group of misfit teenagers faced with growing up. Now, at first, it might seem ‘been there, done that’…but nothing could be further from the truth…

Joey clutches Dawson’s hand again, smiling at him.

PACEY: I can almost assure you this movie is unlike anything you’ve seen before. Now, without any further ado…enjoy the show!

So I whisper in the dark
hoping you'll hear me.
do you hear me?

Pacey retakes his seat, as the camera begins to roll.

If I just breathe
let it fill in the space between
I'll know everything is alright.
Breathe
every little piece of me
You'll see
everything is alright.
breath

oooh yeah yeah...
Everything is alright.
Everything is alright if I just breathe...
I've been driving for an hour,
just talking to the rain

Fade to black

End credits

THE END

This week's episode included music by...

Foo Fighters

&

Michelle Branch