Cut to the elevator.
The box of chocolates is almost empty now, as Dawson and Joey continue to talk.
JOEY: Ok, next question.
DAWSON: I’m all yours.
Joey thinks for a moment.
JOEY: At what moment did you realize you were in love with me?
Dawson raises an eyebrow.
JOEY: Come on, you don’t own the trademark on corniness, Dawson.
Dawson laughs.
DAWSON: Ok, as I recall…
Joey shakes her head.
JOEY: Never mind. I know the answer to this, anyway. The beauty pageant thing, right?
He smirks.
DAWSON: Actually, no.
JOEY: No?
DAWSON: That was when I first realized I was attracted to you.
JOEY: Well…when was it then?
He pauses.
DAWSON: When we went to visit your dad in jail.
Joey rolls her eyes.
JOEY: You fell for me because we shared a motel room together?
Dawson chuckles.
DAWSON: No, after that. When you ran out of the room, he asked me to tell him about you. I…um…so I did. Just anything I could think of really. And the more I thought about it, and how you were planning on going to Paris…well, I just suddenly realized just how empty my life would feel without you there. Just how much you mean to me. And that those feelings were far more than friendship.
Joey gazes at him.
JOEY: You never told me that.
DAWSON: Films aside, there’s a lot I’ve never told you Joey.
They pause for a moment.
DAWSON: Ok, your turn.
JOEY: I just went.
DAWSON: No, I mean when did you first fall for me. I’m not sure on the exact date…just that it had been ‘for awhile’.
Joey bites her lip.
JOEY: The first time we went dancing.
Dawson’s mouth hangs open.
DAWSON: You’re kidding me? You fell for me because I gave Jack a black eye? Never knew you succumbed to that ‘macho’ thing.
Joey sighs in frustration.
JOEY: No, dummy! I mean the FIRST time we went dancing.
Dawson begins to understand.
DAWSON: Wait, wasn’t I…?
She nods.
JOEY: Yeah. You invited me along so you could track Jen down. I was so annoyed by that. I like to think we even started to have fun before you actually found her. But…um…afterwards, when you saw her on the docks, I started to watch the two of you. You were dancing in the moonlight, and I suddenly thought about how unfair it was. How much I wanted to be Jen Lindley right then and there. I know I made fun of your ideal thoughts of romance and all that, but that moment was perfect. The only problem was that it was with someone else.
Dawson appears saddened by her confession.
DAWSON: (quietly) Joey, I’m so sorry.
JOEY: It’s ok. You didn’t know.
He shakes his head.
DAWSON: I was so horrible that night, though. You told me that, Jen told me…god, I basically told Cliff to take a hike right there on the dance floor. When I finally got to talk to her at the end of the night, I told her I wanted to be her ‘boy adventure’ of all things.
Joey laughs.
DAWSON: You honestly expect me to believe you wanted to be in Jen’s shoes that night?
JOEY: Yes. Because, Dawson…all those ‘embarrassing’ moments…I think they would have made me smile. Up until that point in my life, I really didn’t have much to show that people cared about me. I mean, really cared about me. All those romantic ideals I made fun of back then, the truth is, I agreed with you. I just wish you used them on me.
They gaze at each other for a moment, before leaning into a kiss.
However, just then, the doors to the elevator swing open.
REPAIRMAN: Holy! Didn’t know there was anybody still in here. You kids okay?
Dawson and Joey get up
JOEY: We’re fine.
They collect their things and run out.
JOEY: We’ll never make dinner now. Guess this is another Valentines Day in the rut, huh?
A smile appears on Dawson’s face.
DAWSON: Maybe not.
He grabs her arm and starts to run.
JOEY: Wait! Where are we going?
DAWSON: I’ll explain on the way!
*****
Cut to the restaurant…
PACEY: What are you doing here Rich?
Rich shrugs.
RICH: I happen to like this restaurant.
PACEY: That was you at the theatre, wasn’t it? I thought I was going nuts, but you were there! Why are you following me?
Rich smirks.
RICH: As amusing as this fantasy of yours is, Pacey, your life just isn’t that interesting to me. Who’s the girl?
Rich looks over at Andie, who’s watching the two of them.
PACEY: None of your business!
RICH: Ouuu…harsh! Come on, Witter. I mean, if anybody should be upset, it’s me. Do you have any idea how much money you cost me? We lost that account, because they wouldn’t do business with anyone other than Pacey Witter.
PACEY: As I recall, you fired me!
RICH: You didn’t leave me much of a choice.
Pacey gives him a cold look.
PACEY: You know what? Thanks for the champagne, but I’ve got a dinner to get to. See you later.
Pacey storms off. Rich chuckles to himself.
RICH: (muttering) Sooner than you think, punk!
*****
Cut back to the bar.
Chris is staring at his reflection in the mirror of the men’s restroom. Behind him, he hears the door open.
CHRIS: You’re not supposed to be in here.
Audrey shrugs.
AUDREY: What can I say? I’m a rebel.
She walks up to him.
AUDREY: We should talk.
CHRIS: I agree.
They pause.
AUDREY: The last guy I was in love with didn’t love me back. Not really…at least he had doubts. That was enough. It’s given me this skewered view of relationships. To top it off, he’s back together with his high school sweetheart. Dawson and Joey are back together…how do I know good things don’t come in threes? I’m just afraid is all.
Chris takes her hand.
CHRIS: Audrey. Listen…
AUDREY: Did you love her?
He nods.
CHRIS: Yeah, I did. More than I ever thought I’d love anyone else. That is, until I met you. But I screwed it up. I got into a car accident that accidentally killed her best friend. Maybe it wasn’t my fault, but whatever there was between us ended then and there.
Audrey hugs him.
CHRIS: I just need to know you can trust me.
She looks at him.
AUDREY: I can try.
They kiss.
*****
Cut to a parking lot.
Dawson and Joey exit out of the car, walking up to the building.
JOEY: You’re completely insane, Dawson. What if we get caught?
He smirks.
DAWSON: No risk, no gain. Come on…aren’t you the least bit curious about what it looks like inside?
JOEY: Oh, give me a break. This place’ll never change.
They go inside, as the camera pans up. The building is revealed as Capeside High.
*****
Cut to inside the gym.
The walls are covered with various shades of red and pink. Steamers are hung up, and soft music is flowing through the air.
Joey looks at some of the students.
JOEY: Wow!
DAWSON: What?
JOEY: These people are so…young.
Dawson snickers.
DAWSON: I know. Hard to believe we used to be that age, huh?
JOEY: Bet people don’t gossip about me here anymore, huh?
They smile at each other. Dawson takes her hand, and they join the dance floor.
DAWSON: You know how to dance?
She half-smiles.
JOEY: Nope.
DAWSON: You do now.
They spin around.
DAWSON: See? It’s simple…just shake your butt back and forward.
Joey laughs.
They continue dancing for a moment.
JOEY: Hmm…
DAWSON: What?
JOEY: I can’t see Jen anywhere.
DAWSON: Eh, she’s probably with my brain.
They spin around again.
DAWSON: Hey, you’re pretty good at this.
They kiss.
After a moment, someone clears his voice behind them.
MR. GOLD: Mr. Leery…Miss Potter…
They turn towards him, cringing.
DAWSON: Um…Mr. Gold? What a pleasant surprise.
Mr. Gold smirks.
MR. GOLD: Now, I’ve heard more students were being held back these days, but this is a little overkill.
The two of them smile nervously.
*****
Cut to outside the restaurant.
Pacey and Andie exit the restaurant.
PACEY: How about we end this evening curled up on the couch?
She smiles at him.
ANDIE: I like the way you think.
Pacey takes his car keys out of his pocket. However, before he can walk another step, a valet runs past him and grabs the keys.
PACEY: HEY! My keys!
He tries to run after the valet, but one of the others stops him.
VALET: It’s ok, sir. We’ll handle it.
PACEY: Uh uh! No one ‘handles’ my car but me!
While Pacey is arguing, the other valet climbs into the driver’s seat. He puts the keys into the ignition...
PACEY: Look, I don’t care what the procedure is…
Everyone jumps at the loud noise, combined with the shockwave included. Pacey turns around to see a fiery wreck where his car once was.
VALET: (horrified) Oh my god…SOMEBODY CALL AN AMBULANCE!!!