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UH, DON'T LET ME FORGET
TO GET THE CREAMED ONIONS, EITHER.
OH, NO. MM-MMM.
WHAT'S THE MATTER? YOU DON'T LIKE CREAMED ONIONS?
NO, MAN, THEY CREEP ME OUT.
I'M BEING DEAD SERIOUS HERE, TOO.
JUST THE THOUGHT OF 'EM MAKES ME SICK TO MY STOMACH.
OK, PACEY, HOW ABOUT THIS?
I PROMISE TO KEEP ALL OFFENDING VEGETABLES
OUT OF YOUR LINE OF SIGHT AT ALL TIMES. GOOD?
YOU KNOW, JEN, WHEN I SUGGESTED THAT WE HOOK UP TODAY,
THIS IS NOT EXACTLY WHAT I HAD IN MIND.
BELIEVE ME, PACEY, I KNOW,
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, GRAMS' THANKSGIVING FEAST
TAKES PRECEDENCE OVER OUR BURGEONING SEX LIFE.
CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG,
BUT WE DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE A SEX LIFE YET,
DO WE?
WHAT, AND YOU THINK THAT THAT'S MY FAULT?
UH...YEAH.
I DO ACTUALLY THINK THAT THAT'S YOUR FAULT.
I'M SORRY, PACEY. I JUST FIND IT DIFFICULT TO...
TO WATCH YOU PAW AT ME WITH...
[LAUGHS]
FOREPLAY IS NO LAUGHING MATTER.
HOW DO YOU EXPECT A GUY TO DO HIS BEST WORK
IN THE FACE OF SCORN AND DERISION?
IT'S JUST THAT WE'RE FRIENDS...RIGHT?
AND SEEING AS HOW WE ARE FRIENDS,
BUT NOW WE'RE FRIENDS THAT...
DO THAT, UM...
IT'S JUST GONNA TAKE A LITTLE TIME GETTING USED TO.
ALTHOUGH MAYBE WE COULD FIND A MOMENT LATER?
I CAN'T.
I THINK I HAVE TO GO TO MY PARENTS'
OK.
I'M SORRY. I HAVE TO.
I FIGURE IT'S PROBABLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO,
SEEING AS THEY BROUGHT ME INTO THE WORLD AND ALL.
GEE, YOU SOUND SO EXCITED.
WELL, IT'S SUCH A JOYOUS OCCASION. JUST IMAGINE IT--
THE WITTER WOMEN SLAVING OVER A HOT STOVE ALL AFTERNOON
JUST TO BE TOLD THAT THE BUTTERBALL IS TOO DRY,
AND THIS COMING FROM A GUY WHO'S BEEN SITTING
ON HIS DERRIERE ALL DAY GETTING DRUNK AND WATCHING FOOTBALL.
WELL, EVEN DESPITE THE CREAMED ONIONS,
YOU GOTTA LOVE GRAMS FOR OFFERING AN ALTERNATIVE.
YOU DO.
SPEAKING OF, YOU KNOW YOU NEVER TOLD ME
WHO ELSE IS COMING.
DON'T WORRY, PACEY.
ANDIE POLITELY DECLINED THE INVITE.
HEY, I WASN'T GOING THERE.
PLEASE.
I THINK THAT SHE'S MAKING DINNER FOR JACK AND HER DAD TONIGHT.
SOUNDS NICE. IT'S GOOD FOR HER TO HAVE FAMILY
AT THANKSGIVING.
COME HERE.
MMM! GOOD LORD, DO YOU SMELL GOOD.
[SNORTS]
WHAT WAS THAT?
[LAUGHING]
OH, COME ON!
I'M SORRY!
I'M SO SORRY!
ON COME ON!
GO! GO! GO!
BLOCK! SOMEBODY!
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?
TELL ME THE TRUTH.
I WANT MY CONTRIBUTIONS
TO MRS. RYAN'S THANKSGIVING DINNER
TO BE STRAIGHT OUT OF GOURMET MAGAZINE.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE COVER OF THE NOVEMBER ISSUE TO ME.
AH. SO WHILE THOSE COOL,
I CAN NOW GET STARTED WITH THIS OYSTER STUFFING.
SO HOW GOES THE APARTMENT SEARCH?
OH, IT'S... IT'S COMING.
BUT YOU DON'T MIND, DO YOU?
I MEAN ME TAKING UP TEMPORARY RESIDENCE IN THE GUEST ROOM?
Mitch: GO! GO! TOUCHDOWN!
ALL RIGHT! WHOO!
[LAUGHS]
THIS IS STARTING TO FEEL ODDLY FAMILIAR.
WHAT, YOUR, UH, FATHER WATCHING FOOTBALL
AND ME IN MY APRON?
HEY, DAWSON, YOU'RE MISSING A GREAT GAME IN THERE.
WHOA! CHECK OUT THESE PIES!
DAWSON, GRAB A KNIFE. LET'S SEE IF THEY TASTE AS GOOD AS THEY LOOK.
UH-UH. DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT. HANDS OFF.
I CANNOT SHOW UP AT MRS. RYAN'S
WITH HALF-EATEN BAKED GOODS.
THAT HARDLY SEEMS FAIR, DOES IT, DAWSON?
SHE INVADES OUR KITCHEN, FILLS THE HOUSE WITH THE SCENT OF PUMPKIN PIE,
AND THEN TELLS US WE CAN'T HAVE ANY.
FAIR OR UNFAIR, NO ONE IS GOING TO SPOIL
THEIR THANKSGIVING DINNER ON MY WATCH.
[LAUGHS] WHY DO I SUDDENLY FEEL LIKE
I'M STUCK IN AN EPISODE OF THE WALTONS?
HONEY, WHY DON'T YOU GO CHANGE?
RIGHT.
GRAMS!
AH, THERE YOU ARE!
HEY, SAM SAYS HI.
WHO'S SAM?
YOU KNOW SAM, THE DELI GUY.
THE ONE WITH THE BAD DENTURES, THE LIVER SPOTS,
AND ALL THAT NOSTRIL HAIR?
I THINK HE LIKES YOU.
JENNIFER, THERE'S SOMETHING I NEED TO TELL YOU.
GRAMS, I KNOW, I KNOW. I WON'T EAT ANY OF THE FOOD
BEFORE THE MEAL IS SERVED.
I WILL CLEAN OUT MY CLOSET TO HANG UP THE GUESTS' COATS IN,
AND I WILL THINK OF SOMETHING TO BE THANKFUL FOR
SO I WON'T EMBARRASS YOU IN FRONT OF YOUR PRAYER GROUP.
YES. ACTUALLY, NO.
NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT--
GRAMS, YOU GOTTA RELAX. IT'S ONLY A MEAL.
IT'S A MEAL WITH A LONG HISTORY.
I'M SURE IT IS.
I GOTTA GO GET READY.
JENNIFER, I JUST WANT YOU TO BEAR IN MIND
THAT--THAT THANKSGIVING IS A HOLIDAY WITH A TRADITION,
A TRADITION OF PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENCES,
DIFFERENT IDEAS, DIFFERENT BELIEFS COMING TOGETHER...
SITTING DOWN TOGETHER, BREAKING BREAD TOGETHER IN HARMONY.
WELL, DESPITE THE FACT THAT I LEARNED ALL THAT IN KINDERGARTEN
WHEN WE MADE THOSE LITTLE INDIAN CONSTRUCTION PAPER HEADDRESSES,
I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE REFRESHER COURSE.
BUT DON'T WORRY. I PLAN TO STAY AS FAR OUT OF YOUR WAY ON THIS
AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE.
MOM.
HELLO, JEN.
I'M SO STUPID.
WHAT?
OH, MY GOD. THAT REMINDS ME.
I TOTALLY FORGOT-- I FORGOT THAT--
YOU KNOW, I FORGOT THAT THING THAT GOES INSIDE THE BIRD.
WHAT'S IT CALLED?
YEAH.
OH, YUCK.
I SWEAR, I MEAN, IF MOM WERE STILL ALIVE,
SHE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE HER OWN COOKING SHOW
ON THE FOOD NETWORK BY NOW. AND LOOK AT US.
THE TRUTH IS, I'M GLAD WE'RE HAVING THANKSGIVING AT THE RYANS'.
ME, TOO.
I DON'T KNOW. MAYBE IT'S JUST THE HOLIDAYS, BUT...
I JUST FEEL LIKE ANY MINUTE NOW,
SHE'S GONNA COME WALKING THROUGH THAT DOOR
AND...OUT OF THE KITCHEN, EVERYBODY!
[KNOCK KNOCK]
DAWSON?
COME IN.
HEY.
AH, YOU'RE WEARING YOUR NEW SWEATER.
MOM. HA.
SORRY.
UM...YOU KNOW, HONEY,
I DIDN'T WANT TO SAY ANYTHING EARLIER IN FRONT OF YOUR DAD,
BUT, UH...YOU'RE NEVER GONNA GUESS
WHO I RAN INTO THIS MORNING.
HELEN LINDLEY.
JEN'S MOM?
MM-HMM.
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT MEANS?
WHAT DO I THINK IT MEANS?
WHAT, YOU THINK IT'S NOT POSSIBLE AT THIS VERY MOMENT
THE TWO OF THEM COULD BE DISCUSSING A CERTAIN HALF-SISTER?
I THINK THAT'S HIGHLY UNLIKELY,
CONSIDERING JEN DOESN'T KNOW SHE HAS A HALF-SISTER.
NO.
DAWSON, I'M IMPRESSED.
I HAD NO IDEA THAT YOU HAD SUCH SELF-CONTROL.
I'D LIKE TO BRAG AND SAY IT WAS SELF-CONTROL,
BUT I THINK IT WAS MORE GUTLESSNESS THAN ANYTHING.
WELL, THEN IT'S JUST A COINCIDENCE.
WHAT'S JUST A COINCIDENCE?
WELL, THAT ONE WEEK YOU DISCOVER A SKELETON IN THE LINDLEY CLOSET,
AND THEN THE NEXT THE AFOREMENTIONED FAMILY
JUST HAPPENS TO GET TOGETHER
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A YEAR.
YOU'VE BEEN DOWN HERE FOR NEARLY A HALF AN HOUR NOW, JENNIFER.
YOU HAVE TO COME UP SOONER OR LATER.
HOW COULD YOU NOT TELL ME THAT SHE WAS COMING?
I DIDN'T KNOW.
SHE JUST... ARRIVED.
IT SEEMS YOUR FATHER WAS DETAINED
UNEXPECTEDLY IN EUROPE ON BUSINESS.
NOW THAT I CAN BELIEVE.
PROBABLY TOSSING BACK A *** MARTINI ABOUT NOW,
DROWNING HIS SORROWS...
AS IF HE ACTUALLY FELT ANY.
BE GENEROUS, JENNIFER.
WHY?
MY MOTHER ISN'T HERE 'CAUSE SHE REALLY WANTS TO SEE ME.
SHE'S HERE 'CAUSE SHE'S GOT NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.
YOU DON'T KNOW THAT.
YOU'RE RIGHT. I DON'T.
AND HOW WOULD I?
THE ONLY CONTACT THAT I'VE HAD WITH HER IN THE PAST YEAR
WAS A PHONE CALL.
YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK?
WHAT?
I THINK THAT UNDERNEATH ALL THIS,
YOU'RE REALLY PLEASED TO SEE HER.
WELL, MAYBE PLEASED ISN'T EXACTLY THE RIGHT WORD.
MAYBE IT'S MORE LIKE...PREPARED.
YOU ARE PREPARED
TO DEAL WITH THE PAST.
YOU'RE PREPARED TO START FACING
THE PROBLEMS BETWEEN YOU.
I CAN'T EVEN LOOK AT HER...
LET ALONE TALK TO HER.
MAYBE YOU CAN'T FIND THE RIGHT WORDS
BECAUSE THERE'S TOO MUCH TO SAY.
JENNIFER,
FOR THE PAST 14 MONTHS, I'VE BEEN WATCHING YOU.
I'VE WATCHED YOU CHANGE.
YOU'RE MORE SERIOUS NOW.
YOU'RE MORE AT PEACE WITH YOURSELF.
IT'S LIKE...YOU'VE CROSSED SOME KIND OF A THRESHOLD.
THRESHOLD.
IT'S MORE LIKE A CROSSROADS,
LIKE I...
LIKE I COULD JUST GO EITHER WAY.
WELL...I KNOW THAT YOU WILL CHOOSE THE RIGHT WAY.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME...
IN THE MEANTIME,
ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER,
STARTING IN THAT DIRECTION.
COME ON, JENNIFER.
YOU CAN'T STAY DOWN HERE ALL AFTERNOON.
PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO ARRIVE.
BESIDES, I'M WILLING TO BET YOUR MOTHER
IS JUST AS NERVOUS AS YOU ARE.
YOU THINK?
ABSOLUTELY. IN SOME WAYS,
THE TWO OF YOU ARE MORE ALIKE THAN YOU KNOW.
Jack: HEY, PACEY. HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
YEAH, YOU, TOO, MAN.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING, ANDIE.
YOU, TOO, PACEY.
I, UH...
I THOUGHT YOU GUYS WERE SPENDING THE AFTERNOON WITH YOUR DAD.
WELL, THAT WAS, UH, PLAN "A."
BUT HE GOT STUCK IN CHICAGO.
ANY OTHER DAD WOULD HAVE FOUND A PLANE, TRAIN, AUTOMOBILE.
ANYTHING TO SEE HIS KIDS, BUT NOT JOSEPH McPHEE.
YOU KNOW WHAT, JACK? I'M SURE HE DID EVERYTHING HE COULD
TO GET HERE.
WHAT'D YOU BRING, ANDIE?
APPLE PIE.
YEAH, SHE MADE IT HERSELF.
YEAH. IT LOOKS AMAZING.
Jack: UH...WHAT'D YOU BRING?
IT'S, UM...
HA.
IT'S...CRANBERRY SAUCE.
IN A CAN. HA HA.
LITTLE ON THE LAME SIDE, I KNOW, BUT IT'S ABOUT
THE EXTENT OF MY CULINARY EXPERTISE.
DON'T KNOCK CRANBERRY SAUCE.
I MEAN, IT'S THE BACKBONE OF ANY GOOD
THANKSGIVING DINNER.
YEAH.
SO HOW YOU BEEN, ANDIE?
ME? FINE!
WHY DO YOU ASK?
WELL, IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE YOU AND I TOUCHED BASE.
I JUST WANTED TO CHECK IN AND SEE HOW YOU'RE DOING.
HA HA. OK, CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE TELL ME
WHY GUYS ALWAYS DO THAT?
I MEAN, YOU WANT TO BE THE NICE, POLITE FRIEND
AFTER THE BREAK-UP. YOU KNOW WHAT, PACEY? YOU MADE A DECISION.
SO AT LEAST HAVE THE STRENGTH TO BELIEVE IN YOUR CONVICTIONS.
YOU'RE RIGHT. AHEM. YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
UM...LISTEN...
JACK, I THINK, UH, I'M JUST GONNA MOSEY.
YOU KNOW? I'M JUST GONNA GET OFF TO MY SECOND STOP
ON MY CAPESIDE TOUR OF THANKSGIVING.
NO, NO. YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE ARE THE ONES WHO CAME AT THE LAST MINUTE,
SO I REALLY SHOULD BE THE ONE TO...
ANDIE, I WOULDN'T THINK OF IT.
OK, LOOK.
YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE, AND NEITHER ARE YOU.
OK? IT'S THANKSGIVING.
NOW, I THINK IT'S PRETTY COOL OF GRAMS
TO PLAY HOST TO THIS GROUP OF MISFITS.
IF THE TWO OF YOU CAN'T GET OVER YOUR HISTORY FOR JUST A COUPLE OF HOURS
AND ENJOY THE COMPANY OF YOUR FRIENDS,
YOU SHOULD BE HOME EATING A TV DINNER UNDER A BARE BULB, OK?
SO GET OVER YOURSELVES ALREADY.
GOD.
ALEXANDER! YOU ARE SO BIG!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
IT'S WEIRD TO SEE YOUR PARENTS TOGETHER.
HA.
THEY SEEM TO BE GETTING ALONG.
SO IT WOULD APPEAR.
AH, HI, EVERYONE. HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
COME ON IN.
ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY. COATS.
SORRY. I DIDN'T REALIZE YOU WERE STILL HERE.
OH, PLEASE, WE CAN SHARE.
IT IS YOUR ROOM NOW, AFTER ALL.
NO. I WAS JUST GONNA DROP THESE COATS ON THE BED.
I'M SORRY.
JEN.
UM...WOULD YOU MIND?
THANKS.
MY GOD, YOU'RE GETTING SO BEAUTIFUL.
I'M SORRY. DID I SAY SOMETHING WRONG?
NO. NO, I--I--I WAS--
TELL ME.
I WAS JUST REMEMBERING HOW I USED TO WATCH YOU
IN THE MIRROR WHEN I WAS LITTLE.
WATCHING YOU PUT ON YOUR LIPSTICK
AND BRUSHING YOUR HAIR.
I JUST STUDIED YOUR EVERY MOVE.
LIKE I WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN THE WORLD.
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
HERE, I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU.
MOM GAVE THESE TO ME WHEN I WAS ABOUT YOUR AGE,
AND I FIGURED THAT IT'S, UM,
ABOUT TIME TO PASS THEM ON.
THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL, MOM.
YOU KNOW I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT SO.
BUT I CAN'T.
WHY NOT?
BECAUSE WHERE WOULD I WEAR THEM?
I MEAN, AT HOME, MAYBE, BUT...
I MEAN, IN NEW YORK, MAYBE, BUT HERE?
AND THIS IS WHERE I LIVE NOW.
SAVE THEM FOR A SPECIAL OCCASION.
MOM, YOU'RE THE ONE THAT TAUGHT ME
PEARLS LOSE THEIR LUSTER IF YOU DON'T WEAR THEM.
I GUESS THAT THEY'RE LIKE PEOPLE IN THAT REGARD.
YOU SHOULD KEEP THEM CLOSE TO YOUR SKIN.
JEN, PLEASE.
I NEED TO GO HELP GRAMS IN THE KITCHEN.
IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN HELP YOU WITH, MRS. RYAN?
PRAY.
GOT ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR?
GENERAL PRAYER WOULD BE FINE.
HEY.
RUMOR HAS IT YOUR MOM'S IN TOWN.
YEAH. ARE WE GONNA GET A CHANCE TO MEET HER?
UM, I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU GUYS TO MEET HER,
BUT--IT JUST THAT WE SEEM TO BE HAVING A LITTLE FAILURE
TO COMMUNICATE RIGHT NOW.
SHE'S CURRENTLY PRIMPING IN THE MIRROR.
I'M SURE THAT SHE'LL BE DOWN SHORTLY.
Dawson: DID YOU KNOW SHE WAS COMING?
NO. MM-MMM.
BIG SURPRISE.
GUERRILLA STYLE.
IT SEEMS MY MOM IS A GRADUATE
OF THE HO CHI MINH SCHOOL OF PARENTING.
IS SHE HERE FOR SOME REASON OTHER THAN THANKSGIVING?
ANY NEWS ON THE HOME FRONT?
WHAT, YOU MEAN IS SHE BEGGING ME
TO RETURN HOME TO THE FAMILIAL FOLD?
I DON'T THINK SO.
WELL, DID YOU TALK TO HER?
I MEAN, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.
SHE MUST HAVE A LOT TO TELL YOU.
LIKE WHAT?
LIKE MAYBE SHE MISSES YOU.
MAYBE SHE'S SORRY THAT SHE SENT YOU AWAY, YOU KNOW.
I MEAN, I KNOW SHE HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR YOU.
DAWSON, EVER SINCE I WAS 13 YEARS OLD,
THAT WOMAN HAS DONE NOTHING BUT STARE AT ME
WITH A LOOK OF MILD DISREGARD,
LIKE I WAS SOME STRANGER WHO SPILLED A COCKTAIL ON HER CARPET.
JEN, UM, WE'RE ALL STRANGERS TO OUR PARENTS.
I MEAN, THEY LOVE US, BUT THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW US.
AND SOMETIMES BEFORE WE GET THE CHANCE TO KNOW THEM,
THEY'RE GONE.
AND SO WE CAN'T ASK THEM ALL THE THINGS WE WANT TO KNOW
ABOUT TURNIPS OR TURKEY GIZZARDS
OR, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY WERE LIKE WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG.
JOEY, I'M SORRY.
OH, IT'S OK.
NO, I AM. I--I TOTALLY--
NO, LOOK.
WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS...
WHY DON'T YOU GIVE HER A CHANCE?
SHE'S YOUR MOM,
AND, UM, THE REALITY IS IS THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE CAME HERE TODAY
TO TALK TO YOU AND TO BE WITH YOU.
AND I THINK YOU OWE HER THAT MUCH.
MRS. LINDLEY.
HI, I'M DAWSON, DAWSON LEERY.
OH, GALE'S SON. OF COURSE.
HELLO. PLEASED TO MEET YOU.
PLEASED TO MEET YOU.
DON'T THINK I COULD HAVE IMAGINED A MORE BEAUTIFUL DAY.
SOMETIMES I FORGET HOW MAGICAL THIS PLACE COULD BE.
UM, YOU KNOW THAT JEN AND I
ACTUALLY DATED FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
WE--UH, WE'RE STILL VERY GOOD FRIENDS.
I CARE VERY DEEPLY ABOUT HER.
WELL, THAT'S NICE TO HEAR, DAWSON.
I'M GLAD THAT JEN HAS A FRIEND IN YOU.
UM...
THERE IS ALSO SOMETHING ELSE THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW.
YES?
IT IS NOT GOING TO BE EASY TO SAY THIS,
SO I'M JUST GONNA SAY IT AND YOU CAN TELL ME
IF I'M OUT OF LINE.
I'M LISTENING.
A FEW, UH-- NOT TOO LONG AGO,
I MET A GIRL WHO WAS JUST PASSING THROUGH CAPESIDE.
AND, UH, I GOT TO KNOW HER A LITTLE BIT,
AND IT CAME OUT THAT SHE HAD BEEN GIVEN UP FOR ADOPTION.
UM, SHE JUST RECENTLY DISCOVERED THIS,
AND SHE WAS DETERMINED TO FIND HER BIRTH MOTHER.
WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH ME, DAWSON?
MRS. LINDLEY, THIS GIRL WAS CARRYING A PICTURE OF YOU.
AND, UH, WHERE IS SHE? IS SHE STILL HERE IN TOWN?
NO, SHE'S NOT.
BY THE TIME I REALIZED WHO SHE WAS, SHE LEFT.
SO IT'S TRUE?
DOES JEN KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS?
NO.
I WRESTLED WITH TELLING HER, BUT I...
I ULTIMATELY DECIDED IT WASN'T MY PLACE,
WHICH IS WHY I'M REALLY GLAD YOU'RE HERE.
THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT AND A VERY PERSONAL ISSUE.
I'M SURE IT IS.
BUT AS YOU SAID, THE GIRL IS GONE.
THAT'S WHY I DON'T SEE ANY REASON
FOR JEN TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS.
THAT'S NOT ENTIRELY TRUE.
I MEAN, THERE'S NOTHING TO PREVENT EVE
FROM COMING BACK INTO TOWN.
EVE?
THAT'S HER NAME.
EVE WHITMAN.
AND, FOR ALL I KNOW, SHE COULD APPROACH JEN HERSELF.
SOMETHING TELLS ME THAT THIS INFORMATION
WOULD BE MUCH BETTER COMING FROM YOU THAN FROM HER.
REMEMBER WHEN YOU ASKED ME TO TELL YOU IF YOU WERE OUT OF LINE?
LOOK, I'M NOT AN AUTHORITY ON FUNCTIONAL FAMILIES,
BUT I-I'VE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN FAMILIES KEEP THESE KINDS OF SECRETS FROM EACH OTHER.
I JUST DON'T WANT TO SEE JEN GET HURT.
NEITHER DO I.
IT GETS EASIER, YOU KNOW.
WHAT DOES?
BEING IN THE SAME ROOM WITH HIM.
SHE EVER ASK ABOUT ME?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
I'M THINKING SHE'D PROBABLY HATE ME RIGHT ABOUT NOW.
AH, ONLY EVERY OTHER DAY.
ANDIE...
AS A VETERAN OF MULTIPLE BREAKUPS WITH THE SAME BOY,
I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH.
AND I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW
THAT THE DARK NIGHTS WILL PASS.
EVENTUALLY, YOU WILL FIND PEACE.
I WISH I COULD BELIEVE YOU, JOEY.
BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT'S JUST SO UNBEARABLE,
AND IT'S LIKE THIS FEELING OF BEING UNCOMFORTABLE IN MY OWN SKIN.
AND IT'S LIKE I HAVE TO KEEP BUSY
BECAUSE IF I STOP, EVEN JUST FOR ONE MINUTE,
ALL I CAN THINK ABOUT...
IS HOW BADLY I HURT HIM AND HOW BADLY I GOT HURT.
WELL, IT'S NOT A JUDGMENT, IT'S A FACT.
I MEAN, YOU BROKE MY SISTER'S HEART.
AND SHE BROKE MINE.
OK, SO, IMAGINE HOW MUCH PAIN SHE'S IN.
SO, YOU GUYS HAVE GOTTEN TO BE PRETTY GOOD FRIENDS LATELY.
YEAH. I MEAN, PACEY'S A ***,
BUT, YOU KNOW, HE HAS HIS MOMENTS.
SO, DOES HE TALK ABOUT ME?
NOT REALLY, ANDIE.
YOU KNOW PACEY. I MEAN, IF HE CAN'T COME UP
WITH A CLEVER QUIP ABOUT SOMETHING, THEN HE GOES STOIC.
THE WAY HE FEELS ABOUT YOU,
HE KEEPS THAT CLOSE TO HIS HEART.
IT'S REALLY PRECIOUS TO HIM, ANDIE.
[TAPS ON GLASS]
AND NOW MY FAVORITE PART OF THE MEAL.
SHALL WE ALL STAND AND JOIN HANDS?
DAWSON LEERY, WOULD YOU BEGIN?
Dawson: UH, SURE.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THANKS
FOR THE WONDERFUL FOOD THAT WAS JUST ON OUR TABLE.
INDEED.
All: HEAR, HEAR.
GREAT CRANBERRIES.
[LAUGHS]
UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO GIVE THANKS
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY,
WHO IN THE BEST OF ALL WORLDS ARE ONE AND THE SAME.
WELL, I'D JUST LIKE TO PASS MY THANKS ALONG
TO THE LADIES OF THE RYAN BROOD
FOR AN OUTSTANDING MEAL AND AN AFTERNOON OF PEACE.
BOTH OF WHICH WILL BE SORELY LACKING
FROM THE NOISY, DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY FEAST
I'LL BE HAVING IN ABOUT 45 MINUTES.
FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK MRS. RYAN
FOR HER KINDNESS AND FOR WELCOMING ME
INTO HER HOME AT THE LAST MINUTE.
OF COURSE, DEAR.
BUT I GUESS WHAT I'M MOST THANKFUL FOR
IS MY FRIENDS.
ALL OF YOU AROUND THIS TABLE
HAVE HELPED ME IN SO MANY WAYS THAT YOU'LL NEVER KNOW,
AND WITHOUT YOU I'D BE LOST.
UH, I'D LIKE TO GIVE THANKS
FOR THE KIND OF PEOPLE THAT TAKE STRAYS INTO THEIR LIFE.
AND THE KIND OF PERSON TO WHOM IT DOESN'T MATTER
WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE FAMILY.
JUST THAT YOU HAVE A HOME.
IT'S MY TURN, I GUESS. UM...
I GUESS I-- I WOULD JUST LIKE TO GIVE THANKS
TO ALL THE PEOPLE WE LOVE
WHO AREN'T NECESSARILY WITH US TODAY
FOR WHATEVER REASON.
JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT HERE
DOESN'T MEAN WE LOVE THEM ANY LESS.
IT'S YOUR TURN, JENNIFER.
LET ME THINK.
WELL, IN KEEPING WITH THE THEME,
I GUESS I'D LIKE TO GIVE THANKS FOR SECOND CHANCES.
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY AND REBUILD BRIDGES
THAT WERE ONCE THOUGHT BEYOND REPAIR.
AND FOR THE PROMISE OF MANY MORE THANKSGIVINGS TO COME.
THAT WAS LOVELY, DEAR.
EXCUSE ME.
GRAMS...
I'LL GO.
MOM. WAIT UP.
I DIDN'T MEAN TO UPSET YOU.
I MEANT WHAT I SAID. I WAS JUST BEING HONEST.
YOU DIDN'T UPSET ME. I WAS JUST THINKING.
ABOUT WHAT?
OH, MAYBE I DID SOMETHING RIGHT FOR A CHANGE.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
SENDING YOU TO LIVE WITH GRAMS.
SENDING ISN'T THE WAY I'D PUT IT.
FAIR ENOUGH, JEN.
BUT I DON'T THINK YOU REALIZE HOW LUCKY YOU ARE.
I'VE BEEN SEARCHING IN VAIN
FOR FRIENDS LIKE THAT ALL MY LIFE.
WELL, I'M GLAD THAT IT MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER,
BUT AS GOOD FRIENDS AS THEY ARE,
THEY'RE NOT FAMILY.
NO. YOU'RE RIGHT, JEN.
THIS PAST YEAR HAS BEEN ANYTHING BUT EASY FOR ME.
I'VE STUMBLED AND PICKED MYSELF UP
AND STUMBLED AND PICKED MYSELF UP.
OVER AND OVER AND OVER WITH NO SAFETY NET.
I KNOW I SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE FOR YOU.
I SHOULD HAVE WRITTEN OR CALLED.
SO WHY DIDN'T YOU?
I WISH I COULD TELL YOU THAT.
FOR A THOUSAND DIFFERENT REASONS, I KEPT WANTING TO.
YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH THAT HURTS.
I KNOW.
WHAT DID I DO THAT WAS SO BAD?
WHAT WAS SO WRONG?
NOTHING, JEN, NOTHING WAS SO WRONG.
THEN WHAT?
LET ME TRY AND EXPLAIN THIS.
YOU MIND IF I JOIN YOU?
WELL, OF COURSE NOT.
SWEETHEART, I WAS VERY PROUD
OF WHAT YOU SAID AT THE TABLE TODAY.
DAWSON, CHECK OUT YOUR MOM'S PIE.
IT'S WELL WORTH THE WAIT.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS, THAT'S ENOUGH.
WHAT'S WRONG?
YOU TWO, ACTING LIKE ROB AND LAURA PETRIE.
ONE MORE MOMENT OF FALSE, SITCOMY GOOD CHEER,
I'M GONNA THROW UP YOUR OYSTER STUFFING.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO BECOME FRIENDS AGAIN, DAWSON.
FRIENDS OR MORE THAN FRIENDS?
MOM, YOU MOVE BACK INTO TOWN
AND YOU TAKE UP RESIDENCE IN OUR GUEST ROOM.
WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?
ARE YOU PART OF THE FAMILY,
OR ARE YOU A TENANT, OR WHAT?
IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE, DAWSON.
[SIGH] IT NEVER IS WITH YOU TWO.
ALL RIGHT, LOOK. I'M OBVIOUSLY OUT OF THE LOOP HERE,
BUT MAYBE THAT'S FOR THE BEST, OK?
BECAUSE THE LAST THING THAT I WANT TO DO
IS BE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR DRAMA.
BUT...GUYS, IF THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON THAT AFFECTS ME,
THEN I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT.
OK, YOU GUYS HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH ME.
OK, LET ME SEE IF I UNDERSTAND.
MOTHER FINDS DAUGHTER IN COMPROMISING POSITION,
AND INSTEAD OF SHARING HER OWN EXPERIENCES AS A TEENAGER--
WHEN SHE ACTUALLY GOT PREGNANT AND HAD A CHILD--
MOTHER INSTEAD TURNS INTO A HYPOCRITE
AND SENDS HER DAUGHTER INTO EXILE.
IT WASN'T ONLY ME. THERE WAS ALSO YOUR FATHER TO CONSIDER.
RIGHT, I FORGOT ABOUT HIM.
JUST FOR A MINUTE, TRY TO PUT YOURSELF IN MY PLACE.
WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THIS EARLIER?
DIDN'T YOU ONCE THINK THAT MAYBE IT WOULD HELP ME
WITH WHAT I WAS GOING THROUGH
THAT YOU WOULD MAKE SOMETHING EASIER ON ME?
INSTEAD OF PUSHING ME AWAY AND TURNING YOUR BACK?
IT WAS A SHAMEFUL SECRET.
A SECRET I'VE HAD TO CARRY FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
SO THE ANSWER WAS THEN TO MAKE ME FEEL DIRTY AND ASHAMED?
THAT WAS NEVER MY INTENTION.
KNOW WHAT I THINK?
I THINK THAT YOU WERE JUST AFRAID OF DAD FINDING OUT,
ABOUT YOUR INDISCRETION.
THE STORY OF MY LIFE, JUST WAITING FOR THE DAY
THAT YOU DECIDE TO TAKE MY STORY FOR ONCE OVER HIS.
YOU CAN THINK WHAT YOU WANT, JEN.
BUT I WAS NOT AND AM NOT PREPARED TO WIND UP ALONE.
THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU AND ME, MOM.
BECAUSE I WOULD RATHER BE ALONE
THAN IN A PATHETIC, LOVELESS MARRIAGE.
DON'T GO.
MOM, YOU ARE THE MOST INTENSELY SELFISH PERSON
THAT I HAVE EVER KNOWN.
LOOK AT YOU. YOU CAN'T EVEN CRY.
SOMETHING'S TAKEN THAT AWAY FROM YOU. YOU'RE NUMB.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU'RE GRATEFUL FOR IT.
KNOW WHY YOU'RE SO AFRAID OF BEING ALONE?
BECAUSE THE DAY YOU ARE, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO LOOK INSIDE OF YOURSELF
AND YOU'RE GONNA SEE WHAT I'VE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME.
THERE'S NOTHING THERE.
[CRYING]
IT'S DEFINITELY TIME FOR US TO GO.
YEAH.
LET ME JUST SAY GOOD-BYE TO THEM, ALL RIGHT?
OH, JUST US, NOT YOU.
YOU STAY. BE WITH YOUR FRIENDS.
HI, BESSIE. ARE YOU LEAVING?
OH, YEAH.
SEE YA LATER.
HEY.
SO, I SAW YOU HUDDLE UP
WITH YOUR PARENTS OVER THERE.
WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEM?
SEE THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THE MITCH-GALE SAGA.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
THE DIVORCE IS FINAL.
THE LEERYS AT CAPESIDE ARE OFFICIALLY FINISHED AS A FAMILY.
YOU KNOW HOW SORRY I AM.
I KNOW.
SO WHAT DID YOU SAY TO THEM WHEN THEY TOLD YOU?
I REALLY LET THEM HAVE IT THIS TIME.
I LOOKED THEM BOTH IN THE EYE,
AND I SAID "CONGRATULATIONS."
GOOD FOR YOU, DAWSON.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I FIGURE AFTER A YEAR OF IF-ING AND BUT-ING,
ANY DECISION IS A GOOD DECISION.
RIGHT?
MM-HMM.
BESIDES, THE ONLY HOMES WE EVER HAVE
ARE THE ONES WE MAKE OURSELVES.
I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN.
SO WHAT DO YOU SAY WE REALLY CUT LOOSE TONIGHT?
YEAH?
ACT OUT OUR TEENAGE ENNUI IN WANTON, DESTRUCTIVE WAYS.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN MIND?
SEX, DRUGS,
ROCK AND ROLL.
OR WE...
WE COULD JUST SIT RIGHT HERE
AND HAVE A MIND-BLOWING 3-HOUR CONVERSATION.
COME HERE.
UH, WHERE ARE WE GOING?
TO THE GARDENING SHED TO PLAY IN THE ENRICHED POTTING SOIL.
DID I MISS SOMETHING HERE?
NO. WE AGREED TO BE AVAILABLE AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE.
BESIDES, DON'T YOU LIKE GETTING DIRTY?
I--I DO, BUT YOU SEE,
I DON'T WANT TO SOUND LIKE A PRUDE HERE, JEN,
BUT I ACTUALLY-- I REALLY CAN'T DO THIS RIGHT NOW.
COME ON, PACEY, I CAN SAY WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY
THAT THERE WILL BE NO GIGGLING RIGHT NOW.
YOU--YOU, UH, JUST NEED TO GIVE ME A SECOND
TO CATCH UP HERE.
PACEY, OUR ARRANGEMENT PRECLUDES ANY SORT OF EMOTIONAL FOREPLAY.
YES, IT DOES, WHICH BY EXTENSION
ALSO PRECLUDES THE IDEA OF ANGRY SEX.
NOW YOU WANT TO TELL ME
WHAT JUST HAPPENED WITH YOUR MOM?
NOTHING.
OK, LONG STORY SHORT. LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER.
SEEMS THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY GIRL
IN THE LINDLEY FAMILY WHO CAN'T SAY NO.
WELL, WAKE UP AND SMELL THE SANCTIMONY, MOM.
MY SENTIMENTS EXACTLY.
I PLAN TO FILE IT UNDER "WISH I NEVER KNEW."
I WOULDN'T BE SO HASTY.
WHAT, PACEY?
FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH,
AS A GUY WHO'S JUST GONE THROUGH THIS HIMSELF,
WHAT JUST HAPPENED TO YOU IS A DEFINING MOMENT.
WHEN YOU COME TO SEE YOUR PARENTS AS HUMAN BEINGS
WITH THEIR OWN PROBLEMS...
IT IS, ODDLY, KIND OF LIBERATING.
WHEN YOU REALIZE...
THEY'RE WAY MORE MESSED UP THAN YOU ARE.
IT'S NOT WORTH YOUR TIME OR ENERGY
TO GO ON DESPISING THEM FOR IT.
LEAVING SO SOON?
I THINK I'VE WREAKED ENOUGH HAVOC
FOR ONE HOLIDAY, DON'T YOU?
IF YOU'RE WORRIED THAT I'M GOING TO SPILL
YOUR LITTLE SECRET TO DAD, DON'T.
I WON'T GET IN THE MIDDLE.
IT'S YOUR MARRIAGE AND YOUR LIFE.
JENNIFER.
BUT I DON'T REGRET SAYING
ANY OF THE THINGS THAT I DID.
I WON'T TAKE THEM BACK.
I DESERVED THEM.
I DESERVE EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO ME.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
DON'T MARRY A COLD MAN, JEN.
DON'T WAKE UP AT 40 AND REALIZE THAT ONE FALSE MOVE
AND EVERYTHING YOU'VE BUILT YOUR LIFE AROUND
COULD BE PULLED OUT FROM UNDER YOU.
WHY DON'T YOU JUST DIVORCE HIM?
I CAN'T.
WHY NOT?
BECAUSE DO YOU REALIZE WHAT HAPPENS TO WOMEN LIKE ME
WHEN THEIR MARRIAGES FAIL?
THE CHARITY EVENTS STOP,
THE SOCIAL REGISTER INEXPLICABLY LOSES YOUR ADDRESS,
AND YOU DISAPPEAR.
YOU JUST DISAPPEAR.
EVER SINCE YOU PUT ME ON THAT PLANE,
I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT YOU HATED ME.
BUT YOU NEVER DID, DID YOU?
NO.
IF ANYONE, YOU JUST HATED YOURSELF.
IF I HAD REALIZED THAT EARLIER,
THIS PAST YEAR WOULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH EASIER FOR ME.
I'M SORRY, JEN.
I KNOW.
I GUESS NOW I HAVE TO STOP WORRYING
YOU'LL TURN OUT LIKE ME.
BECAUSE YOU'RE ALREADY SO MUCH STRONGER THAN I EVER WAS.
I GUESS I SHOULD BE GOING.
GOOD-BYE, HELEN.
BYE, MOM.
BYE, MOM.
CALL ME SOMETIME.
I WILL.
YOU ALL RIGHT?
YEAH.
I'LL BE FINE.
PACEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
AH, I JUST COULDN'T DO IT.
YOU KNOW, I GOT RIGHT UP TO MY FRONT DOOR,
AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF,
WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING HERE?
I MEAN, HONESTLY, WHO WOULD I RATHER SPEND MY TIME WITH,
MY FAMILY WHO THINKS I'M AN IDIOT,
OR MY FRIENDS WHO THINK I'M AN IDIOT?
[LAUGHTER]
WELL, I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE HERE.
YEAH?
THERE'S NO HARD FEELINGS FOR THIS AFTERNOON?
EXCEPT FOR ONES OF UTTER EMBARRASSMENT.
NO. I'M SORRY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.
SORRY? THERE'S NO NEED FOR YOU TO APOLOGIZE TO ME.
I KNOW THIS MAY BE A LITTLE HARD FOR YOU TO BELIEVE,
BUT IT'S ACTUALLY NOT EVERY DAY THAT A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN
THROWS HERSELF AT ME.
AND--AND THANK YOU.
FOR WHAT?
CONDUCT ABOVE AND BEYOND.
AH, IT WAS NOTHING.
PACEY, YOU'RE A 16-YEAR-OLD BOY.
THAT MUST HAVE TAKEN SUPERHUMAN RESTRAINT.
OH, JEN, YOU HAVE NO IDEA.
IS THIS SEAT TAKEN?
IT IS NOW.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M THINKING?
IT'S BEEN KIND OF A WHILE, YOU KNOW,
SINCE WE'VE ALL ENDED UP IN THE SAME SPOT TOGETHER.
I MUST SAY, IT'S NICE.
YOU KNOW, DAWSON, YOU'RE RIGHT.
I FEEL LIKE I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF
A CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING SPECIAL.
OH, I LOVE THAT ONE!
THAT'S WHERE THEY ALL EAT ON THE PING-PONG TABLE,
BUT IT KEEPS COLLAPSING,
AND THEN THEY END UP MAKING THE POPCORN.
Joey: YEAH, WELL, I THINK THE GROUP HUG
IS A LITTLE PREMATURE, HOWEVER.
I'M SURE WE'LL FIND A WAY TO BE ESTRANGED AGAIN IN NO TIME.
WELL, BEFORE WE DO,
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY
THAT IN A WORLD WHERE PEOPLE WHO RAISE YOU
END UP LETTING YOU DOWN,
IT'S AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE YOU GUYS TO TURN TO.
I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE OSCAR SPEECH.
I MEAN, THERE'S NOT GONNA BE A DRY EYE IN THE HOUSE.