Cut to the front door.
After a few knocks, Pacey answers the door. He’s greeted by Jen and Charley.
PACEY: Hey, you’re back…(bitterly) and you brought Charley.
JEN: That a problem?
PACEY: No…no. You’re just in time to watch Dawson permanently slaughter his love life.
Jen sighs.
JEN: What’d he do now?
*****
Cut to the living room, where everyone is seated on the couch and the floor. Pacey pulls a aluminium plate out of the roaring fire.
PACEY: Jiffy pop is now ready.
The room is pitch dark, except for the light from the TV and the fireplace.
JEN: Explain to me why we’re watching this.
Dawson smirks.
DAWSON: I thought it’d be fitting.
Joey scoffs.
JOEY: Oh yeah, Dawson. We’re in a cabin, and we’re watching a movie about people getting eaten by zombies while staying in a cabin.
PACEY: Technically they’re called ‘Deadites’.
Everyone looks at Pacey.
PACEY: What? I saw ‘Army of Darkness’. And let me just say that this movie was filmed before Bruce Campbell got his coolness. The man is a geek here.
CHRIS: Well, it was filmed in the 70’s.
DAWSON: You know, the script wasn’t long enough for a full-length film? So, to compensate, Rami filled up the remaining time with pure gore.
Joey, Jen, Andie, and Charley all have disgusted looks on their faces.
CHARLEY: Gross! You actually like this stuff?
DAWSON: Only for its historical significance, mostly. Believe it or not, this was a B-movie.
AUDREY: Totally explains the oh-so-fake moon.
They sit still awhile longer.
CHRIS: Wait…isn’t this the movie with the tree?
JOEY: They’re in the woods. There’s tons of trees.
CHRIS: No, I mean…oh great! Here it comes…
All ten of them look at the screen in disgust.
DAWSON: Ewww!
Andie covers her eyes.
ANDIE: I can’t watch.
JOEY: I think I’m gonna throw up.
PACEY: Oh, now that is just wrong!
They stay silent for a moment, until Jack looks towards the pile of firewood.
JACK: Who wants to burn more wood?
Everyone volunteers.
*****
Cut to outside, as a large bonfire lights up the area near the lake.
EDDIE: Let me get this straight…that director is the same guy that made Spider-Man.
DAWSON: That’s right.
Eddie shakes his head in disbelief.
EDDIE: Sounds like he’s come a long way.
DAWSON: Yeah. After years of practice, your skills will eventually develop. You define your craft.
JEN: Kinda like you, you mean?
Dawson smiles.
Chris is sitting across from Dawson, drinking a beer.
DAWSON: How many of those have you had?
CHRIS: Just a few. Don’t worry about me, Leery.
PACEY: Man can’t help, Chris. A lot of us here, we really don’t have anyone to look after us.
Pacey then steals a glance towards Jack.
PACEY: So we keep an eye on each other. We look after our own. I know that, if I was in any kind of trouble, you’d all help me. And you know what, I’d do the same for you. Any of you.
Jack looks back at him.
PACEY: Yeah. We might fight every now and then, but it doesn’t change anything.
JACK: What do you want? Ok, we’re all impressed with your speech, Pacey…what is it you want me to do?
PACEY: I just want you to forgive me.
JACK: Forgive you? I thought the popular opinion around here was that you didn’t do anything wrong.
PACEY: I sacred you, ok? I hurt your feelings or something. In my book, that means I’m in the wrong.
Jack sighs.
CHARLEY: Did I…miss something here?
JEN: It’s a long story.
ANDIE: Jack, come on. What is it?
JACK: You went off the Europe, even though I wanted you to stay with me. You never came back…not until I already moved away. A few months later, you’re dating Pacey. It’s just…is that the only reason you came back? To be with him?
She shakes her head.
JACK: Of course. Even if you did, you’d never admit it. Maybe it’s just me or something. Maybe I’m just not good enough to beat him.
Pacey looks at Dawson, who then looks at Jen.
JEN: We’ll just see about that.
*****
Cut to the docks…
JOEY: Are you sure this is a good idea? It’s kinda dark out.
AUDREY: Hmm…good point. They could do this skinny-dipping.
Joey and Chris give Audrey a look.
AUDREY: Geez…just trying to liven the place up, people!
Pacey and Jack have changed into bathing suits, posed on one of the docks. They’re side-by-side, facing the water.
Jen walks between the two of them.
JEN: Let’s lay down the rules, boys. No kicking, no punching, no trying to pull the other one under. You’re to swim out, touch that rock over there, then swim back here. The first person to returns to the dock first wins.
JACK: Is there any actual prize?
Jen scoffs.
JEN: You think I’m made of money or something? All right, gentlemen…start your engines!
She steps back a few feet, putting her hand in the air.
JACK: See you at the finish line, Witter.
Pacey smirks, just as Jen releases her arm.
JEN: GO!
Immediately, Pacey and Jack dive in, and start to swim.
EDDIE: Come on! Go, Jack!
DAWSON: Faster, Pace! You can do it!
Amongst a barrage of splashing, we can see the two of them racing one another. They reach the rock, almost at the same time.
It appears to be an even race, until Pacey starts lagging behind.
PACEY: Dammit!
A smile appears on Jack’s face, and he starts to swim even harder.
JOEY: Come on!
It’s no use. Jack reaches the dock, where Jen helps him back up.
JACK: YES! Oh yeah!
Dawson helps Pacey back on the dock.
DAWSON: What happened back there?
PACEY: It was dark. I could see.
Jack grins at Pacey smugly.
JACK: Ha! Beat that!
PACEY: Yeah, yeah…you kicked my ass. Big deal.
Jen shakes her head at the macho display in front of her.
JEN: Well, at least they’re talking again.
Joey yawns.
JOEY: Well, I’m beat. You mind if I get some shut-eye?
DAWSON: Yeah, me too.
AUDREY: Knock yourselves out.
Dawson and Joey head back inside.
Chris reaches for another beer.
*****
Cut to inside Dawson and Joey’s room. Dawson sits down on the bed, removing his shoes.
DAWSON: Can you believe those two?
Joey laughs.
JOEY: Hey, I remember the last time Pacey raced somebody over a girl. You didn’t have any problems with that.
DAWSON: With the exception of making myself look like a complete idiot.
JOEY: Pft, you were cute.
He raises an eyebrow.
DAWSON: I was?
JOEY: In a rebellious sort of way.
DAWSON: Weren’t you mad at me?
JOEY: Yeah. But you were still cute.
She heads towards the bathroom.
DAWSON: Hey? Where you going?
JOEY: I’m going to take a shower.
She pauses, turning around.
JOEY: You coming or not?
Dawson’s mouth hangs open.
*****
Back outside, the others are gathered around the fire. All except for Pacey, who’s sitting on the porch, and Chris, who’s walking near the docks.
CHRIS: Hey…you can hardly see anything out here. Not even my hand…look!
He waves his hand, in front of his face, then laughs.
AUDREY: Get away from there, Chris, you’re drunk.
Chris scoffs.
CHRIS: I’m perfectly fine…
He looses his balance, and falls in the lake.
AUDREY: Chris! Oh my god…CHRIS!!!
Pacey gets up off the porch and starts running towards the dock. He quickly pulls off his shirt and dives in after him.
*****
Meanwhile, inside…
JOEY: (whispers) Dawson…
Dawson and Joey are in the shower together, kissing each other hungrily. The warm water from above falls down on the two of them.
After several minutes, they break off the kiss.
DAWSON: I love you.
JOEY: …love you…
The both of them are breathing heavy, gazing at each other with half-opened eyes.
They kiss again.
*****
While outside…
Pacey gasps as he breaks the surface of the water, desperately getting air back in his lungs. He drags Chris back up on the docks.
Chris coughs, excess water escaping.
CHRIS: Oh man…
Audrey hugs him tightly.
AUDREY: You’d better not scare me like that ever again.
Jack looks over at Pacey, reconsidering some things.
*****
Back inside…
Dawson and Joey fall down on the bed, completely breathless. Joey turns to him, a dozy smile on her face.
JOEY: Remind me again why we waited so long to do that?
She curls up on his chest, cuddling against him.
DAWSON: Mmmm…wish I knew.
Joey giggles.
JOEY: So, what was the second time like?
He raises an eyebrow.
DAWSON: What is with you and ‘second times’?
She shrugs.
JOEY: You get to think about them. It’s less to do with nature and more to do with a conscious decision.
DAWSON: Is it weird that those big words are turning me on?
They kiss again, letting it linger this time.
DAWSON: (whispering) You’re so beautiful.
Joey blushes.
JOEY: Just hope we didn’t miss anything important.
DAWSON: I don’t care if they discovered gold out there…it was worth it!
Joey cuddles up closer to him.
JOEY: I’m just glad it worked.
DAWSON: What worked?
She bites her lip.
JOEY: You’re gonna hate me.
DAWSON: Not possible.
JOEY: Um…ok. I sort of, well, planned this.
Dawson’s eyes go wide.
DAWSON: Planned it?
JOEY: Yeah. I know how you were all worried about us, you know…’consummating’, because of what happened last year. I know how you always like things like this to happen in the perfect setting. Cabin by the lake…the ideal Dawson Leery setting.
Dawson smiles.
DAWSON: Heh.
JOEY: What?
DAWSON: Nothing. Just realizing how ironic my life is.
With that, he flips the two of them over, so that he’s leaning over Joey.
JOEY: Ok…what are you doing?
He grins.
DAWSON: Come on, Jo. You know me. When I hear talk about the second time, it makes me in the mood for a third.
He ducks his head under the covers, moving closer to her.
DAWSON: And forth…and fifth…
Joey giggles, and joins him.