Cut to Worthington. Specifically the dorms.
Joey quickly looks over the printout as it leaves the printer. She smiles proudly, and stables them together.
A moment later, there’s a knock on the door. Joey puts the paper on her desk and answers the door.
DAWSON: Hey.
She smiles at him.
JOEY: Hey. Sorry about last night.
DAWSON: Don’t worry about it. I just forgot the about strenuous homework involved with school. Get everything done?
JOEY: Just finished. Bad news, though…just about to head to classes again.
DAWSON: Oh, I know. Just thought I’d drop this up before you left.
Dawson reaches into the hall and drags the large box in.
JOEY: What’s this?
DAWSON: Don’t know. It’s from Bessie.
JOEY: Probably old clothes or photo albums or something equally as suburban. I swear Dawson, my sister is turning into…
DAWSON: Well, maybe it’s the fact she’s getting married.
JOEY: Yeah, I know. I’m just having a hard time seeing my sister as ‘settled down’.
Joey checks her watch.
JOEY: Uh-oh…I’m going to be late.
She kisses him.
JOEY: See you tonight.
She leaves. Just then, Dawson notices something on her desk. It’s a paper, with the title ‘The Amber Shadow’. It’s marked with today’s date.
DAWSON: Oh no!
Dawson grabs the paper and runs out into the hall.
DAWSON: Joey?
Joey’s nowhere to be found. Dawson sighs.
Then he looks at the paper. He hesitates for a moment…
…then starts to read.
*****
Cut to the house.
Pacey walks inside. He notices Dawson sitting on the couch, reading something.
PACEY: Hey, what you reading?
DAWSON: ‘The Amber Shadow’.
Pacey shrugs.
PACEY: Enjoy. I’m going to hit the Xbox.
Dawson puts up his hand, indicating for Pacey to stop.
DAWSON: Wait…listen to this first: ‘This joint looked seedy. I could tell. Most of the guys in here didn’t know what to make of me. A dame gumshoe was probably beyond their grasp. Just as well…being nervous makes them careless.’
Pacey nods.
PACEY: Nice. Kinda Garner meets Bogart. You do good work.
Dawson smirks.
DAWSON: I didn’t write it. Joey did.
Pacey’s eyes go wide.
PACEY: Joey? I didn’t know she was that good. Almost as good as you.
DAWSON: Better than me, Pace! The detail alone…
PACEY: So she asked you to read it?
Dawson bites his lip.
DAWSON: Actually…I kinda did it on my own. She forgot it in her room, so I’m going to bring it to her before Hetson’s class starts.
PACEY: Wait, wait…hold up here! You read it without her permission? Are you insane, Dawson? Remember what happened the last time you did that?
Dawson pauses.
PACEY: Well? Got anything to say for yourself?
DAWSON: Umm…whoops.
PACEY: ‘Whoops’ he says.
Dawson bites his lip.
*****
Cut to the theatre.
On stage, Audrey finishes her song. The curtain goes down, and she giggles with excitement.
She runs backstage, where Chris is waiting.
AUDREY: Was I fabulous? Tell me I was fabulous!
Chris grins, and spins around. His cape flapping in the air, as he bows on one knee.
CHRIS: The crowd was awestruck, m’lady!
She laughs.
AUDREY: Why thank you, monsieur.
Suddenly, the stagehand comes backstage. He waves at Chris.
CHRIS: Whoops…we’re on.
Chris puts on his mask and hat, and then heads back onstage.
*****
Cut to the audience.
Pacey an Andie are sitting a few rows from the front, watching the play.
Masquerade
Paper faces on parade
Masquerade
Hide your face
So the world will never
Find you
Pacey is humming along with the melody. Andie gives him an amused look.
PACEY: What? It’s a cool song. I thought this thing would be boring.
ANDIE: Shhh
PACEY: (whispers) Sorry…
Pacey looks behind him at the crowd.
PACEY: (whispering) Look at how many people showed up. You know, with the right amount of work…
At that moment, Pacey freezes. Something catches his eye. Someone familiar.
Rich.
PACEY: I’ll be right back!
He gets up from his seat and wanders towards the back of the theatre. He searches around, determined.
No sign of him. Pacey runs out into the hallway…still no one.
PACEY: Rich?
Nothing. A scared look comes over Pacey’s face.
*****
Cut to Worthington University.
Joey makes a beeline towards Hetson’s class. However, before she can make it there, Dawson arrives out of nowhere.
He steps in front of her.
DAWSON: Hey!
She smiles, delighted to see him.
JOEY: Hey, Dawson. What are you…?
He hands Joey her paper.
DAWSON: Forget something?
Joey sighs in relief.
JOEY: Thank god! I can’t believe it. The last thing I need to deal with right now is an ‘incomplete’.
DAWSON: Glad to help.
Joey kisses him on the cheek.
JOEY: What would I ever do without you?
She heads into class.
*****
Later on, Joey is left waiting in class.
She goes up to Hetson, who is still seated at his desk.
HETSON: Can I help you, Miss Potter?
JOEY: If it’s not too much trouble, I was wondering if I can find out how I did?
Hetson smirks, and hands her back her paper.
Her face falls.
JOEY: A B?
HETSON: You’re lucky you got that high. Extra points for the imagination.
Joey shakes her head.
JOEY: I can’t believe this…
HETSON: Yeah, me neither. I thought that by now you would have learnt not to be so wordy…
Joey gives him a cold look.
JOEY: I spent all night working on this. I had to miss a date because of it!
HETSON: And that’s my problem how exactly?
Joey doesn’t answer. She just picks up her books and leaves the classroom.
*****
Cut to the park.
Dawson and Joey are walking by the water. Joey has an upset expression on her face.
Dawson watches her, looking for any signs of change.
JOEY: A B? Can you believe that?
DAWSON: That’s still pretty good.
Joey scoffs.
JOEY: You know what this is? Jealousy. Yep, that’s right. He’s depressed that he’s stuck in a teaching job, while all these students go on to become something. Who does he take it out on? Me, of course.
DAWSON: He’s obviously full of it. Wouldn’t know a good story if it slapped him in the face.
Joey smiles.
JOEY: Thanks for saying that.
DAWSON: I mean, the attention to detail alone was incredible. You managed to capture the feel of that era in everything from the weather to the dialogue. It was like I was there myself…
Suddenly, Joey’s expression changed from one of gratitude to one of shock.
JOEY: Excuse me?
Realizing his mistake, Dawson froze.
DAWSON: Um…that is…
JOEY: You read it?
He nods.
Joey shakes her head, and starts to walk the other way. Quickly, Dawson follows her.
DAWSON: I liked it! It was really good!
JOEY: You’re just saying that…
DAWSON: No! No…Jo, I’m not speaking as a boyfriend, I’m speaking as a director. ‘The Amber Shadow’ was…it’s unbelievable.
Joey rolls her eyes.
JOEY: Well, Professor Hetson certainly didn’t seem to think so.
DAWSON: Well, he’s a moron.
Joey turns around to face him.
DAWSON: He wouldn’t know talent if it jumped up and bit him!
JOEY: Well, what if he’s right? What if I’m not destined for anything other than mediocre work…?
DAWSON: He’s wrong. I can see this going places. I know I’d love to see a movie like this…
Joey chuckles.
JOEY: (muttering) Typical.
DAWSON: What?
JOEY: I said ‘typical’. As in ‘typical Dawson’…always looking at how something can benefit him.
Dawson’s mouth hangs open at her accusation.
DAWSON: Joey, I swear I’m not trying to take advantage of you like that. I just want to help. Don’t you want to succeed.
JOEY: Yes I do, Dawson. What I don’t want is to succeed solely because my success was handed to me by you. Don’t you get it? That’s what this has always been about! You read something of mine without my permission. Again. And now you want to just ‘fix’ it for me?
DAWSON: Joey…?
JOEY: Just…just don’t, ok? I can’t do this!
Joey walks away from him.
Dawson sighs.