Cut to Capeside. Harley is sitting outside of Joey’s house, when Elliot walks up to her.
ELLIOT: You think I’m crazy, right?
HARLEY: No. I think you let that certifiable friend of yours talk you into stupid things a lot, but that’s just gullibility.
He laughs.
ELLIOT: How did I get here? I’m taking advantage of some poor girl who has a crush on me in order to…what? Get Kim jealous? To get back at her? What am I doing, Sam?
She smiles at him.
HARLEY: Hey, if you were as far gone as you thought, you wouldn’t be feeling guilty about it. Face it, Wade…you’re one of the good ones. Stay that way, cause personally…the other side is crowded enough as it is.
He smiles.
ELLIOT: Thanks.
They hug.
ELLIOT: I’ve got to tell you though…all things considered, I really wish I was taking you with me tonight instead.
Harley pauses suddenly.
HARLEY: All things considered, I wish you were, too.
*****
The screen suddenly changes back to a view of the studio, where Dawson and Joey are still having their interview.
HOST: If you’re just joining us, that was a clip from the film ‘The Creek’. We have here with us the director of that film, Dawson Leery. Now Mr. Leery, I’ve got a few more questions concerning the film.
DAWSON: Ok.
HOST: Firstly, something to be noticed is that one of the central characters, Wade, is a prospective filmmaker. Was it anyway influenced by real life experiences?
JOEY: You have NO idea!
Dawson looks at Joey wide-eyed, and the host seems intrigued.
JOEY: Whoops.
HOST: Care to comment, Dawson?
DAWSON: What do you think, Jo? Should I comment?
Joey sighs.
JOEY: Might as well.
HOST: I’m somewhat lost here.
DAWSON: Well, um…the thing is. I guess you could say ‘The Creek’…I sort of based it on my own experiences growing up. Many of the characters in it were based on people I know.
HOST: Where did the title come from? ‘The Creek’ seems awfully similar to your production company name.
DAWSON: It goes back to Capeside, where I grew up. It’s this tourist town, and my parent’s home is right next to a creek.
JOEY: I used to use my rowboat to get to his house everyday.
HOST: Like Sammy in the movie?
Joey blushes.
HOST: Am I right to assume Wade and Sammy were based on your relationship?
DAWSON: Art imitating life imitating art.
The woman laughs.
HOST: How about Petey? Is he a real person?
JOEY: He just likes to believe he is.
*****
Back at Grams’ house.
JACK: Ouch! Dissed on live television? Wonder what Pacey thinks of this.
*****
Meanwhile, at Tamara Jacobs’ apartment.
PACEY: What the HECK is going on here?
Standing in the doorway is Doug and Tamara, both looking like the cat who ate the canary.
TAMARA: I would think it would be obvious.
Pacey chuckles.
PACEY: This is not happening…
Doug looks at Tamara.
DOUG: I’ll talk to him, ok?
She nods, then leaves Pacey outside with him.
Doug pauses for a long while, unsure of how to starts.
DOUG: I know what this looks like…
PACEY: It looks like you’re sleeping with my ex-girlfriend, that’s what it looks like.
Doug sighs.
DOUG: You mean the one you were seeing illegally?
PACEY: Ok…my sister going out with my ex’s father, and my brother is going out with my other ex. Tell me…when did I become the Witter with the normal relationship?
DOUG: Just relax, ok?
PACEY: Easy for you to say. You’re the one who just got walked in on.
DOUG: I like her, ok? I’ve liked her since I first saw her, but then a certain someone had to open his big mouth and make me convinced she was annoyed by our entire family. I had no idea it was because you were involved until just recently, so forgive me if I jumped at the chance to…
PACEY: You could have asked me, ok?
DOUG: Would you have said yes?
PACEY: Probably. I thought you were gay, remember? Obviously I was mistaken, but you hide it really well, bro!
Doug bites his lip.
DOUG: Pacey, I’m about to say something I’m going to regret, so you have to promise me it doesn’t leave this hallway.
Pacey gives him a look.
DOUG: Promise?
PACEY: Ok…ok, I promise. Spill.
DOUG: All this time you’ve been…saying things about me. Teasing me about it. Well, you weren’t completely wrong.
Pacey’s jaw drops. He points at the door.
PACEY: Weren’t you just in there…
Doug raises his hand, cutting him off.
DOUG: I know. I like women, Pacey. However, I also…you know?
Pacey stares at him a moment.
PACEY: So, um…what you’re saying is you, well, ‘swing both ways’?
Doug rolls his eyes.
DOUG: Thank you, Pacey, for trivializing one of the few genuinely sincere moments in our entire relationship.
PACEY: Ok, ok…I’m sorry. It’s just…wow. You’re…it comes as a shock. Does she…?
DOUG: Know? Yep. She has that ‘radar’ thing, or whatever you call it.
Pacey shakes his head, still in shock.
PACEY: Man…
DOUG: You can not tell dad about this!
PACEY: Wouldn’t if I wanted to.
*****
Cut back to the studio…
HOST: How about Kim? Was she based on a real person?
JOEY: Most definitely.
She smiles.
HOST: Did you hate her as much as Sammy did?
Joey laughs.
JOEY: We’re actually very good friends now. We still keep in contact.
Dawson points towards the camera.
DAWSON: Actually, she’s standing right next to the cue card guy at this very moment.
Jen gasps. She grabs one of the cue cards from the guy and holds it in front of her face as the camera turns towards her.
DAWSON: Say ‘hi’ to the people at home, Jen.
JOEY: She’s a bit camera shy.
JEN: I am so going to kill the both of you!
HOST: HA!
The camera goes back towards the three of them. Jen gives back the cue card, and gives them an evil stare.
HOST: So, how much of what happened in the film was based on real-life events?
DAWSON: I decided to focus on a certain period of time. In reality, everything took place within three months, but in the movie I had it within a period of two weeks.
HOST: Did she really break your friend’s nose?
Dawson bites his lip.
DAWSON: Artistic license. I was the one who did that. But mostly, everything in the film happened in real life. The dance thing, the Saturday detention…
HOST: Do you find it interesting that, even though Wade and Sammy are obviously the main focus of the story, Petey seems to be many people’s favorite character.
DAWSON: Everyone loves a rebel. I didn’t touch on it much in the movie, but me and him have always had somewhat of a competition between the two of us. ‘Petey’ is actually my business partner, and he’s a good friend…I don’t think I would have been able to do this without him.
HOST: How about the affair with the teacher? Was that…?
Joey cuts in.
JOEY: It’s a rumor he started in 10th grade. He was having some problems with English, so stayed after class for some tutoring. Back then, he’d do anything for attention.
DAWSON: Yeah, I decided to go a step further. You know…make his story a bit more interesting.
*****
Cut to central park.
Pacey is standing on the bridge, tossing rocks into the water. After awhile, Andie walks up to see him.
PACEY: Thought you were waiting at Grams’?
ANDIE: I got worried.
They stand there together a moment, looking down at the water.
ANDIE: Are you going to tell me what happened?
PACEY: I caught her and Doug together.
Andie raises an eyebrow.
ANDIE: Doug? Your brother?
PACEY: The very same.
ANDIE: By ‘together’, do you mean…?
He nods.
ANDIE: Wow…that’s just…
PACEY: I know. I’m not jealous, if that’s what you’re thinking. Any leftover feelings I had for Tamara Jacobs were gone a long time ago. I just, I don’t know…
ANDIE: Never thought the ‘next guy’ would be your big brother?
PACEY: It’s not just that. It’s the fact that he felt the need to keep it a big secret from me. Like he doesn’t trust me? If he would have just asked for…
ANDIE: Permission?
Pacey smirks.
PACEY: Sounds kind of nuts when you say it out loud, doesn’t it?
ANDIE: So does half the things I say, Pacey.
Pacey leans over and kisses her head.
PACEY: Today I found out more about Dougie than I ever wanted to, McPhee. Most of my life, it’s been a huge competition between us. He was always the ‘favorite son’, who got dads approval. The perfect child. The one who never screwed up, and that’s the image I have in my head of him. It’s kinda jarring to find out that he’s a person, too.
Andie thinks for a moment.
ANDIE: Hold on for a minute, Pacey. Let me get this straight: your sister is dating Joey’s dad, and your brother is dating your other ex-girlfriend?
PACEY: I know. I’m just glad my screwy family stayed away from you.
Andie bites her lip.
PACEY: What?
ANDIE: Pacey, there’s something I have to tell you…
Pacey’s eyes go wide in shock.
PACEY: Oh no…Andie, you didn’t…
Andie grins from ear-to-ear.
ANDIE: Got ya!
Pacey gives her a dirty look. Then he starts to tickle her.
PACEY: Oh, you think you’re pretty funny, don’t you?
Andie laughs, as the camera pans up over the water.
*****
Cut back to the studio…
HOST: So, what’s next for you two? Any other books in the works, Joey?
JOEY: Not at the moment. I graduate from university in a month, so I’m going to get that out of the way first. Although…
HOST: What?
Joey smiles at Dawson.
JOEY: We’re going to be adapting ‘The Amber Shadow’ into film.
HOST: Oh? Your first joint project?
DAWSON: She’s a creative genius.
Joey blushes.
JOEY: Come on, you’re embarrassing me!
He laughs.
HOST: How about you, Dawson? Any plans for a sequel to ‘The Creek’?
Dawson freezes.
DAWSON: Hadn’t actually thought about that.
HOST: Really? Why not?
DAWSON: Well, truth be told, I feel that the story really should end right there. I won’t spoil what happens for your viewers, but the final scene is really definitive about the characters to me. This movie isn’t about their romantic relationship…not really. It’s about friendship, and how they fall in love. The first taste of it. Whatever happens next should be kept up to imagination.
JOEY: Plus, you wouldn’t want to ruin people’s image of Wade and Sammy. The source material…let’s just say it wouldn’t be them in the most positive light.
DAWSON: I second that.
HOST: And here I thought you were the perfect little angels.
Dawson and Joey laugh.
DAWSON: I wish it were that simple.