Cut to Worthington University, in the elevator…
JOEY: So…what’s in the bag?
Dawson smirks.
DAWSON: It’s a surprise.
JOEY: Oh? I like surprises.
She grins at him.
JOEY: So, you’re sure we’re not going to be interrupted this time?
DAWSON: Mom and Hetson are going to ‘Entre Nous’, Chris and Audrey are road tripping down to New Mexico, Pacey and Andie don’t even know where we’re going, and Jen and Jack are safely in Manhattan. Tonight, it’s just you and me. I promise.
Joey kisses him.
JOEY: Good.
Before they even break off the kiss, the lights in the elevator go out.
JOEY: (mumbling) What just happened?
They break apart.
DAWSON: The elevator stopped moving.
JOEY: Duh! I mean why did it stop moving?
Dawson presses the open door button. Nothing happens.
DAWSON: Uh oh!
JOEY: Uh oh? Uh oh is not good!
Both of them begin pressing every single button on the panel, with no result.
DAWSON: I think the power just went out.
The two of them give each other a look of panic.
They rush to the door, pounding on it with their fists.
JOEY: HELLO?
DAWSON: IS ANYONE OUT THERE?
BOTH: LET US OUT!
They continue pounding on the metal door.
*****
Cut back to the bar, somewhere in New Mexico.
SHARON: Wait, you’re Joey’s roommate? As in Joey Potter?
Audrey attempts to smile sweetly.
AUDREY: And yet she never mentioned you?
SHARON: Oh, I only know her by reputation. Back home, Chris kept complaining about this ‘uptight poor girl’ from his hometown.
Audrey gives Chris an accusatory look.
CHRIS: I didn’t know her that well back then, ok?
Audrey chuckles.
SHARON: So, Audrey, what do you do?
AUDREY: Well…I’m an actress. And a singer. You?
SHARON: Biology, mostly. Though I have a keen interest in physics…
Audrey’s eyes go wide.
AUDREY: Oh.
Sensing the awkwardness of the moment, Sharon tries to change the subject.
SHARON: So, how’s Boston?
CHRIS: Oh, it’s great. Really big city. You should see the lake in the fall there…
Audrey grabs Chris’ arm.
AUDREY: Could you excuse us for a moment?
SHARON: Sure. Go ahead.
Audrey drags Chris over to the corner.
CHRIS: What’s wrong?
AUDREY: Smart girl there.
He raises an eyebrow.
CHRIS: I guess…
AUDREY: Guess hitting the books a lot is a quick way to get guys to flirt with you, huh?
Chris’ eye go wide.
CHRIS: Flirting? I wasn’t…
AUDREY: Then what’d you call the twenty questions back there?
He sighs in frustration.
CHRIS: This is an old friend that I haven’t seen in almost a year. I’m curious what’s going on with her.
Audrey looks at her doubtfully.
AUDREY: An ‘old friend’. Ex-girlfriends aren’t ‘old friends’. They’re ex-girlfriends.
Chris starts to become offended.
CHRIS: I can’t believe you’re jealous. Do you see me freaking out whenever you talk to Pacey Witter?
AUDREY: You know I’m not interested in him anymore.
CHRIS: Oh, really? Is that why you wanted to make him jealous the night at the library? Or why you were in tears when he picked Andie over you? The thing is, I trust you. Don’t you trust me?
AUDREY: Have you ever given anybody a reason to?
A hurt expression comes over Chris’ face. Audrey immediately regrets her words.
AUDREY: I didn’t mean…
CHRIS: (coldly) I’m going to get some air…
Chris leaves.
*****
Cut to a restaurant, somewhere in Boston.
Pacey and Andie enter. It’s a fancy place, with plants and a podium at the entrance.
ANDIE: Pacey, I think you need to make a reservation to get into a place like this.
PACEY: Hey, you never know. We could be lucky.
ANDIE: How can you even afford this?
Pacey smirks.
PACEY: Haven’t you ever wondered why Dawson and I can live on our own without any disposable income?
ANDIE: I thought Mr. Carr handled that.
PACEY: Oh, no. Todd gave us a loan to refurbish the place and some materials for the movie, but not for basic living. See, back when I worked at that office, I made some investments that didn’t pan out. At least at that time they didn’t. Nothing big like that last one, but I never sold the shares. Little did I know that, over the summer…
Andie’s eyes went wide.
ANDIE: Exactly how much did you make?
Pacey grins.
PACEY: Triple.
Andie gasps.
PACEY: Granted, I didn’t have that much money on it to begin with. A few hundred. But it was enough to keep us in food and power for a few months. Now, with that movie actually being successful…well, I can afford to treat.
The waiter walks up to the two of them.
WAITER: Mr. Leery?
Pacey looks at him, confused.
PACEY: Huh?
WAITER: We were starting to wonder whether or not you were coming. Your reservation was for fifteen minutes ago. Trouble in traffic?
A smile appears on Pacey’s face.
PACEY: Oh, yeah…that’s it. The roads are murder. Valentines Day and all.
WAITER: Of course. Now, if you’ll just follow me?
Pacey and Andie follow him.
PACEY: (whispering) How do you like that? By pure luck we think of the same place.
ANDIE: (whispering) You think they’ll be mad?
Pacey shakes his head.
PACEY: Nah. Dawson probably thought of a different way to spend the evening.
*****
Cut to the elevator.
Dawson and Joey are sitting on the floor, leaning their heads against the wall.
JOEY: Did you bring your cell phone?
Dawson shakes his head.
DAWSON: Didn’t want to risk any interruptions this time. You?
JOEY: Same.
They both sigh.
JOEY: God, I’m starving. If we don’t get out soon, I may eat my way through the door!
Dawson reaches into his bag, pulling something out.
DAWSON: I was going to save this for after supper. We’re never going to make our reservation now, so…
He hands her a heart-shaped box, which Joey eagerly opens. Inside are chocolates, as well as a little folded note.
She smiles, then puts it in her purse.
JOEY: I’ll read it later.
She eats one of the chocolates, then passes the box over to Dawson. Dawson takes one himself.
DAWSON: Not the most nutritious meal, is it?
Joey laughs.
JOEY: Still…I have no problems.
Dawson hangs his head.
JOEY: Hey, come on…this isn’t your fault.
He looks at her.
DAWSON: It’s not that. It’s just…I had this all planned out. The perfect romantic evening for two, and it’s successfully ruined. We’re stranded in a elevator. I’m starting to think I’m cursed. I have all these romantic ideas, but all the time I try to execute one, something goes wrong!
JOEY: Maybe the problem is that you had it all planned out?
DAWSON: What do you mean?
JOEY: You can’t script out life, Dawson. Some things you just have to let happen.
He sighs.
DAWSON: I know…I know. I just wanted tonight to be special for you. A celebration of us working together. Of us, period. You know? That maybe we could make up for lost time?
Joey takes his hand.
JOEY: We didn’t really get to talk at all for almost a year. How about we start by making up for that?
He smiles.
DAWSON: Well…what do you want to talk about?
JOEY: What was it like in LA?
*****
Cut to outside the bar.
Chris wanders along the side of the building, an angry look on his face. He kicks over a bunch of trash cans in his way.
SHARON: What’d those cans ever do to you?
He turns around and sees Sharon standing only a few feet away.
CHRIS: I’d really like to be alone right now.
SHARON: Well, I’d really like a million dollars. We can’t all get what we want.
Chris manages a small smile.
CHRIS: Very funny.
She goes up close to him.
CHRIS: Can I ask you a question, Sharon? Do you trust me?
SHARON: Of course I do.
CHRIS: Then why doesn’t anyone else? I thought maybe Audrey was different. Shows what I know.
SHARON: Yeah, I heard. I think she’s just scared.
He turns away.
CHRIS: She has a right to be.
She puts her hand gently on his shoulder.
SHARON: Chris, what happened…the accident…it wasn’t your fault. I never blamed you.
CHRIS: But I blame myself. If I would have been more careful, maybe he wouldn’t have…
A sad look comes over his face.
CHRIS: Do you ever think about me?
She nods.
SHARON: All the time. I wonder what things would be like if things were different. A part of me wished Audrey was right…but she’s not. I know she’s not, Chris. I don’t have any illusions.
She takes his hands.
SHARON: But I hope I can still be your friend.
He smiles.
CHRIS: I’d like that.
*****
Cut to the restaurant.
A violin player goes up to Pacey and Andie’s table, and begins to play a romantic song. Andie smiles in delight.
ANDIE: This is wonderful.
Pacey smiles proudly.
PACEY: Guess that’s another one I owe him. Ah, who’s counting anyway?
She giggles.
A moment later, the waiter brings over a bottle.
WAITER: Here’s your champagne, sir.
They both look confused.
ANDIE: I don’t really drink.
PACEY: We didn’t order any.
WAITER: Oh, I know. The gentleman over there provided it.
Pacey looks across the room, but the person’s face is obscured from view.
He gets up from the table.
PACEY: I’ll be right back.
Then, Pacey wanders across the floor.
He arrives at the table, where finally he sees the guy’s face.
RICH: Oh, no thanks necessary, Witter!
Pacey gasps.
PACEY: You?
Rich smirks at him.
RICH: Nice to see you, too.