Cut to Joey’s dorm.
Joey sits at her desk, typing, when she hears a knock on the door.
JOEY: It’s open.
Dawson enters.
DAWSON: Hey, what’s up?
Joey saves her work.
JOEY: Just finished chapter five.
Dawson grins.
DAWSON: Can I see it?
She shakes her head.
JOEY: All good things come to those who wait. What’d you bring?
Dawson holds up the paper bag in his hand.
DAWSON: I’ve got panzarotti. They’re like pizza, only folded.
Joey rolls her eyes.
JOEY: I know what it is, Dawson. You had better bought dipping sauce!
DAWSON: You know me better than that.
They walk over to the bed.
JOEY: So? How’s Pacey doing?
DAWSON: You want the truth or what you want to hear?
Joey cringes.
JOEY: That bad, huh?
DAWSON: He’s gone shut in.
JOEY: Shut in?
DAWSON: That thing when he pretends nothing’s wrong, when in truth everything’s wrong.
JOEY: You have a name for that?
Dawson nods.
JOEY: Well, hopefully this whole thing blows over soon and we can get back to a semblance of normalcy.
Dawson gives her a look.
JOEY: What?
DAWSON: Jo, someone tried to kill him.
Joey half-smiles.
JOEY: You actually believe that?
DAWSON: Don’t you?
JOEY: Dawson, this is just Pacey being paranoid. It was a fuel leak or something.
DAWSON: Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean somebody isn’t out to get you.
Joey looks back at him.
JOEY: Can we just…not talk about this? Death isn’t exactly one of my favourite subjects.
Dawson nods.
DAWSON: Ok.
They sit down to eat.
*****
Cut to Hell’s kitchen.
Chris is sitting at the table, going over some notes he’s scribbled down.
Audrey brings him a coffee, and sits down.
AUDREY: There…just the way you like it.
CHRIS: Mmm-hmmm…
Chris doesn’t look at her. He just continues to examine the papers.
CHRIS: Ok, check this out. Police sources say there was no visible tampering with the fuel line.
AUDREY: So?
CHRIS: So, that means this wasn’t an accident. Not only that, but it was very professionally done. As near as I can tell, the trigger was in the ignition, and…
AUDREY: Chris?
Chris finally looks at her.
CHRIS: Yeah?
AUDREY: Can you just cool it? As much of a turn-on as you playing junior detective is, you’re becoming as obsessed as Pacey.
CHRIS: He could be in danger.
AUDREY: If it’s all the same, I’d rather you not be in danger.
Chris sighs.
CHRIS: You’re probably right. Sorry.
She smiles, but doesn’t notice the look in Chris’ eyes. As if he’s thinking of something else.
*****
Cut to Capeside.
Pacey enters the Leery’s kitchen. Gale is sitting at the table, drinking coffee.
GALE: Morning, Pacey.
PACEY: Morning Mrs. Leery. Andie around?
GALE: She went out. Said she was going to go see her father.
Pacey nods, understanding.
PACEY: That’s good.
GALE: Did you consider following her example?
Pacey sighs.
PACEY: Consider, yes. Actually go ahead with it, no.
GALE: Your father’s a police officer. If anyone can help you, it’s him.
PACEY: Don’t know if you realize this, but I don’t have what you’d call a sane relationship with my family.
GALE: All the more reason for you to start, isn’t it?
Pacey doesn’t answer.
*****
Cut to elsewhere
Pacey stands outside the Witter house, contemplating whether or not to enter. Finally, after several minutes, he gathers his nerve and knocks on the door.
A moment later it opens, and a shocked Doug is staring at him.
DOUG: You?!? Well, this just completes my day.
PACEY: Is dad here?
*****
Cut to Rich’s office.
RICH: Ladies and gentlemen…I’ll cut right to the chase.
He marches back and forth, surveying the newcomers seated at the table.
RICH: I’m not here to baby you, or give you handouts. Simply put, you’re here because you believe you have a chance to make it in this business. By the end of the day, we’ll know for sure.
He takes a look out the window, and smiles.
RICH: I will tell you this, though. With a lot of hard work, and a little luck, I will make you all rich.
The camera pans over the ‘new recruits’, unless it falls on a familiar face.
CHRIS: When do we start?