Cut to the hallway. Dawson goes up to the snack bar.
Andie looks at him.
ANDIE: Can I get you something, Dawson?
DAWSON: Not unless they passed a law that allows you to serve alcohol in movie theatres.
Andie tsks him.
ANDIE: We both know that alcohol doesn’t mix well with either of us. Remember? Watch what you eat, cause you’ll see it again.
She smirks.
ANDIE: And again…and again…
Dawson manages to laugh.
ANDIE: Come on. What’s the matter?
DAWSON: When my dad died, well…I blamed Joey for that for a long time. Months. I don’t really even remember why anymore. When I finally wised up, she had already moved on with someone else. I thought I’d lost her for good maybe. I had this one-night stand with a film critic that was reviewing a movie I helped make, but I never told Joey about it. She knew we went out, but not…not how far we went. She’s here tonight. Joey knows.
Andie takes his hand.
ANDIE: You remember Mark?
DAWSON: Who?
ANDIE: Pacey never told you?
DAWSON: About some guy named Mark? No.
ANDIE: Mark was somebody I met in the hospital. The summer you and Joey broke up.
Dawson realizes what she’s talking about.
DAWSON: Is that the guy you…
Andie nods.
ANDIE: The person I cheated on Pacey with. The reason we broke up.
DAWSON: Joey and I weren’t even together when this happened. I wanted us to be, but…
ANDIE: That’s not the point. I betrayed his trust, but that’s not what hurt him the most. What did it was the thought that I was with someone else. Someone who wasn’t him. I know it because…because the look he gave me was the very same look I gave him when I found out about Tamara. And what Joey’s feeling right now is probably the exact same thing I was feeling when I found out about that English teacher.
DAWSON: That’s kind of selfish, isn’t it?
ANDIE: Of course it’s selfish. But ask yourself…how do you feel when you think of other guy’s she’s been with?
Dawson’s face falls.
DAWSON: Horrible.
ANDIE: Yeah, me too. I’m naive enough to believe that Pacey hadn’t slept with anyone while I was away. There’s pretty good odds that I’m friends with two of them. But if I dwell on that, I’ll drive myself crazy.
DAWSON: So what do you do?
She smiles.
ANDIE: I count myself lucky that I get a second chance.
*****
Cut to inside the theatre. Audrey plops down in the seat next to Harley, laughing.
AUDREY: You can thank me later.
HARLEY: For what?
She smirks.
AUDREY: For the unfortunate ‘accident’ Patrick had with the cola.
Harley looks back towards Patrick’s seat and grins ear-to-ear.
HARLEY: You didn’t?
AUDREY: I did.
HARLEY: You are the best.
Hetson rolls his eyes.
HETSON: Could you please be quiet?
*****
On the screen, another scene is taking place.
AUDREY: Really, it’s no problem officer!
COP: I still feel the need to apologize for my clumsy brother.
In the audience, Doug’s eyes go wide. He gets out of his seat, grabs Pacey’s arm, and drags him out into the hallway.
Once outside…
PACEY: Hey, I sorta gotta be in there. What if the screen goes wonky?
DOUG: We talk. Now!
PACEY: About what?
DOUG: Tell me Dawson made that up. Tell me he used that stupid rumor you came up with to add drama, and you told him what we were doing during Hurricane Chris.
PACEY: Just calm down, Doug. I didn’t want you to figure it out this way. I was so worried about Tamara seeing this thing that I didn’t think…
Doug moves his hands through his hair, not believing what he’s hearing.
DOUG: It wasn’t a rumor? You SLEPT with Tamara? How could you be so stupid, Pacey?
PACEY: Yeah, I did, Dougie! I did, and because of it, I got my heart broken, and she lost her job. If you want to give me the third degree, I’m sorry to say it, but you’re about five years too late.
Doug shakes his head.
DOUG: No wonder you didn’t want me dating her. God…do you realize what could have happened?
Pacey nods.
PACEY: Yeah, I do. I’m living in fear right now that Tammy’s going to track me down because of this movie. Looking back on it, I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into. Just a stupid kid not thinking with his head. Or maybe I knew exactly what I was doing. I really loved her, you know?
Doug looks at him.
DOUG: I’m glad I came here today?
PACEY: You are?
DOUG: Yeah. Because if I saw this movie in Capeside, it would have been my duty to tell the authorities.
PACEY: Yours? You mean dad’s replacement, right? You’d tell whoever…
DOUG: Pacey, who do you think dad’s replacement is? I joined the force right out of high school, and have followed dad’s every word since. Who do you think they elected as the new sheriff?
Pacey’s mouth hangs open.
PACEY: No way?
DOUG: Why do you think dad told me first. He knew.
PACEY: You don’t want the job? I don’t get it. You love being a cop.
Doug laughs.
DOUG: I don’t want that kind of responsibility. Do you have any idea what that’s like. Everything that goes on in Capeside…it’ll be my job to keep the peace. I can’t handle it.
PACEY: Yes you can.
Doug shakes his head.
PACEY: Listen to me, cause I’m only going to say this once…you’re good at what you do. You’re probably the best. Tell me…have I ever broke the law?
DOUG: Not that I’m aware…at least nothing I could charge you with.
PACEY: That didn’t stop you from keeping an eye out for me, right? Letting me live with you so I wouldn’t get into trouble, wandering the streets to protect people from that hurricane. It’s not just a job for you…protecting people is what you love to do. That’s why they want you for sheriff. Not because you’re ‘heir to the throne’ or anything. You care…maybe too much. That’s something to be proud of.
Doug gives him a look, possibly seeing Pacey for the very first time.
DOUG: Who are you? What have you done with my snot-nosed brother?
Pacey laughs.
PACEY: We all gotta grow up sometime. Something my big brother taught me.
DOUG: I know. Just never thought you’d beat me to it.
Pacey smiles, and they hug.
PACEY: You do know incest is against the law, right?
Doug lets him go.
DOUG: Pacey!
PACEY: Joking!
Doug smirks.
DOUG: Let’s go back inside. I wanna see you get dumped.
PACEY: Oh, that hurts.