Cut to inside a movie theatre.
V.O. (Dawson): A storyteller is unique. They don’t really have a purpose, when you think about it. They don’t build things, or grow them, or manage money, or anything like that. Storytellers only seek to entertain.
On the screen, ‘Big Fish’ is playing.
DOCTOR: Doesn’t the first version sound a lot better?
The person he’s talking to, played by Ewan McGregor, considers his words.
In the audience, Dawson and Joey share a bowl of popcorn as they watch the film intently.
V.O. (Dawson): Just think about it for a moment. Our ultimate purpose in life is to use our imagination and write it down. Or make a movie about it. Or a song. Or a painting. All in the hope that someone else will be entertained by it. To help them escape from their everyday ordinary life.
*****
Cut to outside the theatre. Dawson and Joey walk down the street together.
JOEY: Well, what did you think?
DAWSON: Me? I don’t know…it’s kind of depressing.
Joey raises an eyebrow.
JOEY: I liked it. You just have to look at the film from a different perspective.
Dawson sighs.
DAWSON: The whole father/son thing just gets to me sometimes, I guess.
JOEY: Oh, please! You and Mitch were two of a kind. Those two hadn’t spoken to each other for three years…obvious difference.
DAWSON: I guess.
JOEY: Ok…so next week we go see ‘Win A Date With Tad Hamilton’?
Dawson groans.
JOEY: What?
DAWSON: Do I have to?
JOEY: You made me sit through the entire Golden Globes last week…it’s only fair. Well, I guess we could always spend the night out for the Oscars…
Dawson’s eyes go wide.
DAWSON: Over my dead body!
Joey giggles, and then kisses him.
JOEY: Then it’s a deal.
DAWSON: Pardon me, Jo, but isn’t it strange how all we seem to do is watch movies. Either it’s on television, or we rent a DVD, or we go to the theatre. Didn’t you used to hate that?
JOEY: That was when we lived in a one-movie house town. Boston has more options.
DAWSON: And twice the price…
Joey grabs his arm.
JOEY: Come on…you can walk me back to the dorm.
Dawson complies, as they walk side-by-side.
V.O. (Dawson): Wanna know why I love movies so much? Because real life is boring. In movies, you get to live through amazing experiences and go places you never would otherwise. Ok…so maybe mine is the exception. What I wouldn’t give for some ‘boredom’ once and awhile.
V.O. (Dawson): Maybe I’m just a big kid, but I get the biggest thrill from coming up with these ideas to put into script. It takes control of me, letting my imagination run wild. Sometimes the fine line between fantasy and reality gets a little blurred, though. Guess me and Edward Bloom have something in common.