Cut to outside the Leery house, the next morning.
V.O.(Joey): Eventually, the storm pasted, as they usually do. The world more or less returned to normal. Although there were a few loose strings, of course.
Dawson and Joey wander along the side of the house, as they see Mitch placing a bag in the trash.
Dawson sighs.
DAWSON: I have to try and talk to him. Sort this out before anymore time passes.
Joey nods.
JOEY: I’ve gotta go home and check on Bessie, anyway. I’ll be back later.
They kiss. Joey takes off towards her boat, as Dawson walks towards his father.
DAWSON: I was hoping I’d catch you before you left.
Mitch turns around in surprise.
MITCH: Yeah.
He looks towards the house.
MITCH: You know, it’s hard to believe I don’t live here anymore. I still think of this place as ‘home’.
DAWSON: You never know. If mom moves to Philly…
Mitch bites his lip. That being brought hits a sore spot.
MITCH: (muttering) I don’t want her to go.
Dawson stares at him, surprised.
DAWSON: Well, don’t tell me that. Tell her.
He sighs.
MITCH: I can’t.
DAWSON: Why not.
MITCH: I just can’t. Not right now. You don’t understand.
DAWSON: You’re right, dad. I’ll never understand why anyone would just let the love of their life walk away like that, when all they have to do is just say the words.
MITCH: When you’re older you’ll realize that sometimes that’s not an option. There’s a difference, son, between what I want and what’s best.
Mitch turns around, not wanting to meet Dawson’s eyes for a moment.
DAWSON: You were pretty cool back there.
Mitch smirks.
MITCH: I was?
DAWSON: Oh yeah! Fearless, almost. One thought kept creeping back into my mind: that’s my father up there! Wow!
Mitch turns to face him, smiling.
MITCH: Dawson, I need you to understand something. Whatever happens between me and your mother…or me and anyone else…it doesn’t have anything to do with you.
DAWSON: I still don’t like her. Ms. Kennedy. Don’t think I ever will, and not only because of…this.
Mitch nods.
MITCH: Fair enough. She really hated your movie?
Dawson nods. Mitch shrugs in response.
MITCH: Well, I said she was gorgeous. Never said she was smart.
Dawson laughs. Soon enough, Mitch joins in.
MITCH: And if you ever repeat those words…
DAWSON: My lips are sealed.
They hug.
MITCH: I’ll see you soon.
Mitch walks off, turning back to wave at him one last time.
*****
Cut to the bus station.
Chris Wolfe checks his watch, sighing as he sees the time.
CHRIS: Five minutes.
He looks up, and sees Jen standing a few feet away. Slowly, she walks up to him.
CHRIS: What are you doing here?
She smirks.
JEN: Came to say goodbye.
CHRIS: Oh? The last lingering memory of the old Jen Lindley?
JEN: Maybe.
They stand in silence for a moment.
CHRIS: I’ve been thinking about what you said last night. About ‘starting fresh’. You really think that’s possible? I’m not so sure. Maybe we’re stuck as who we are, and there’s nothing we can do about it.
JEN: If that were true, I’d be on the first bus to New York by now.
He smiles. Not his usual smirk, but an honest one. Perhaps the most honest thing he’s ever done.
CHRIS: One for the road?
Jen chuckles.
JEN: Bye, Chris.
He sighs.
CHRIS: Hey, a guy’s gotta try, right?
He turns and heads towards the bus. Once he’s a few feet from the bus, Jen speaks up…
JEN: What the hell?
She runs up, and kisses him full on the lips. A moment later, they break it off…and Chris is stunned speechless.
JEN: Have a safe trip.
With that, she leaves. Chris boards the bus, a smile still on his face.
Then it drives off, as he begins to start his new life.
*****
Cut to Dawson’s room. Dawson places the last of the videos back on the shelf, as Joey climbs in the window.
JOEY: Hey.
DAWSON: Hey. Everyone in one piece?
JOEY: More or less. Alexander was up half the night crying, so of course I got the third degree for not being there. ‘Don’t you make out with Dawson Leery enough during the day’?
Dawson scoffs.
DAWSON: Actually, I don’t think you do it enough.
Joey half-smiles.
JOEY: Well then, allow me to rectify that.
They kiss.
DAWSON: Ok, bad news…Pacey’s on his way here.
JOEY: Ugh. Way to kill a mood, Dawson.
DAWSON: Sorry. During our break-up, he became my movie-viewing companion. We’re going to watch St. Elmo’s Fire.
Joey shrugs.
JOEY: Might as well. I’m a sucker for those 80’s movies. Though if he makes one crack, I’ll make him wish the storm dropped a house on him.
Dawson laughs.
They lay down on the bed.
DAWSON: I’ve been thinking about what dad said.
JOEY: Yeah?
DAWSON: About how you have to weather bad times before you can appreciate what you have. You think that’s true about us?
Joey half-smiles.
JOEY: Trust me, Dawson. We’re going to go through worse
DAWSON: Cynic.
JOEY: Realist. I somehow think a pair of high school flings are the most minor of obstacles in the Dawson & Joey saga.
DAWSON: And you say I kill a mood?
Joey leans over and kisses him. Just at that moment, the door opens. Pacey and Andie walk in.
PACEY: Oh, wonderful! I have a lousy sense of timing.
They break off the kiss.
PACEY: You know, I think we’ve done the impossible. Found a way to distract Dawson from a movie. Think you could cure a few diseases while you’re at it?
DAWSON & JOEY: Bite me, Pacey!
In response, Andie nibbles on Pacey’s ear. Joey rolls her eyes.
JOEY: Me and my big mouth.
Pacey laughs.
PACEY: Not so funny when the shoe’s on the other foot, now is it?
Pacey and Andie sit down.
PACEY: You know what? Let’s take off.
Andie looks at him, confused.
ANDIE: What? Now?
PACEY: No, for the summer. I’m doing good at school, so I think I deserve a summer vacation. On the road. Just the two of us.
Andie grins from ear to ear.
ANDIE: Music to my ears.
JOEY: Wait! Pacey Witter out of my hair for three whole months? I’ll pay for your trip myself.
The other three laugh.
At that moment, Jack and Jen enter.
JACK: Hey, did we miss the movie?
ANDIE: Nope. Just in time. The opening credits are about to start.
Dawson looks at her.
DAWSON: You invited him?
ANDIE: Yeah. Is that a problem?
DAWSON: No, just…it’s getting crowded.
JOEY: (imitating Roy Schneider) We’re gonna need a bigger bed…
Dawson gives her a look, then the others laugh.
*****
Cut to much later. The movie has just finished, as Dawson leaps off the bed.
DAWSON: Ok…movement break! Is anyone else struck by the humour of this moment that we’re all in the same room at the same time?
Jack shrugs.
JACK: Yeah, I think it’s bizarre…I mean, the way we all started the school year and how we all managed to come out as friends…
Andie smirks, pointing to the TV.
ANDIE: Yeah, like St. Elmo’s.
Joey scoffs.
JOEY: St. Elmo’s from hell!
Dawson gives her a look.
DAWSON: That would be a negative spin.
She smirks at him.
JOEY: I just think it’s important in times of model and reflection to incorporate a little honesty.
JEN: You know what? I happen to agree with Joey. I mean, sure, we’ve all grown to tolerate each other, but we’re still a long way off from 90210-land of ‘best friends forever.
Pacey gets up in front of the group.
PACEY: I don’t know…I kind of think that Andie’s got a point. I mean, there has been a lot of hanging out lately.
JACK: Oh yeah? Like when?
PACEY: Like right now, for instance. Have we even stopped to consider why we’ve all come here together tonight if not our need to go habitate in, dare I say it, a clique.
With those words, everyone freezes. Various looks of shock and disgust crosses their faces.
JEN: Ew.
JOEY: Scary.
Dawson shakes his head.
DAWSON: Wait…wait a minute. I mean, no offence to anybody here, but I just called up Pacey to invite him over to watch a couple of movies. That hardly qualifies as a group hanging out.
PACEY: Yeah, but then I invited Andie…
ANDIE: …I invited Jack…
Joey gives Dawson a look.
JOEY: And I BETTER not need an invitation!
Jen sighs.
JEN: And I live here now…
Pacey chuckles.
PACEY: Let’s face it, guys…we are this far away from the Peach Pit.
Everyone stares at him.
JOEY: Let’s just kill him!
Andie grins, grabbing a pillow.
ANDIE: ATTACK!!!
All six of them grab pillows, and start hitting each other. A massive pillow fight ensues, causing feathers to fly everywhere. Laughter can be heard, as the camera pans up…
*****
Cut back to the cabin, present day.
AUDREY: A pillow-fight?
Joey nods. Pacey laughs, pointing at her.
PACEY: She started it, though.
Joey scoffs.
JOEY: Oh sure…blame me.
Dawson puts up his hand, indicating for everyone to be quiet.
DAWSON: Wait! You hear that?
JEN: What?
She smiles.
DAWSON: Exactly.
*****
The eight of them step outside. The rain has finally stopped, as the sun peers through the clouds. Off in the distance, they can see a rainbow forming.
PACEY: Look at that! It’s beautiful.
ANDIE: Oh! Rainbow!
JACK: I wouldn’t go looking for a pot of gold, Andie. We’re running late enough as it is.
PACEY: I’ll finish packing the car.
Pacey and Andie head towards the vehicle, carrying the last of the bags.
PACEY: You know what? We never did end up going on that trip, did we?
ANDIE: Well, duh Pacey! Things…happened.
He smirks.
PACEY: Things aren’t happening now, are they?
She smiles at him.
*****
Cut to by the docks. Dawson and Joey look out on the river.
DAWSON: I kind of miss it, you know?
JOEY: Miss what?
DAWSON: Everything being so simple. It didn’t seem it at the time, but my life was so much easier when all I had to worry about was some bitter film class teacher. That I could handle.
Joey laughs.
JOEY: You’re impossible, you know that?
At that moment, Pacey shows up behind them.
DAWSON: Ready to hit the road?
PACEY: Almost. Just one more thing we gotta do.
Jack sighs.
JACK: What?
JEN: Yeah, spit it out, Pacey!
PACEY: Well, I just thought that, with all the nostalgia going around, everyone would like to ‘cool off’ before we spend the next several hours cooped up like sardines.
He takes a look at the dock, as the other seven’s eyes follow his.
Pacey smirks.
PACEY: Comprende?
With that, they all race towards the dock. One by one, they leap off, splashing into the lake.
We can hear laughter and splashing around, as the camera pans up.
Fade to black.
End Credits