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WE'RE A FAMILY AGAIN.
EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE BETTER NOW.
YOU SHOULD BE LIVING WITH SOMEONE ELSE, SOMEONE YOU RESPECT.
AND CLEARLY, I AM NOT THAT PERSON.
I WANT YOU TO MOVE OUT.
WHAT'S THE SENSE IN TRYING TO SUPPORT A FAMILY THAT YOU DON'T EVEN CARE ABOUT?
ALL RIGHT, THAT'S IT. GOOD-BYE, ANDIE.
YOU HAVE YOUR FATHER NOW.
YOU HAVE A FAMILY AGAIN.
AND YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE ME.
I'M NOT LIKE MOM. I'M NOT!
I SEE TIM, AND HE IS HERE.
GO AWAY!
GO AWAY! YOU'RE NOT REAL!
GO!
I KNOW THAT I'LL NEVER HAVE THE STRENGTH TO LEAVE YOU AGAIN.
AND LASLO?
OH, YOU'LL HELP HIM NOW, RICHARD, WON'T YOU?
YOU'LL SEE THAT HE GETS OUT.
THEN HE'LL HAVE HIS WORK,
ALL THAT HE'S BEEN LIVING FOR.
ALL EXCEPT ONE.
HE WON'T HAVE YOU.
Dawson: "COMPARE AND CONTRAST
HUMPHREY BOGART'S CHARACTER ARC IN CASABLANCA
TO ONE IN YOUR OWN LIFE. USE EXAMPLES."
EXAMPLE ONE. MISS KENNEDY.
HER CHARACTER STARTS OUT
AS THE SADISTIC FILM TEACHER/SLASH FATHER'S NEW GIRLFRIEND
WHO MALICIOUSLY CONJURES UP A FINALS ASSIGNMENT
FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF SLOWLY TORTURING HER HELPLESS NEMESIS--
PLAYED BY DAWSON LEERY-- TO DEATH.
AN EXAMPLE OF A PURELY EVIL CHARACTER
WITH ABSOLUTELY NO ARC WHATSOEVER.
WHY IS IT WE'RE SO RIDICULOUSLY INTENT
ON PLEASING THE PEOPLE WHO DISLIKE US THE MOST?
I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU'RE MAKING SUCH A BIG DEAL OUT OF THIS, DAWSON.
I MEAN, IT'S YOUR FILM FINAL.
THIS SHOULD BE A NO-BRAINER FOR YOU.
I KNOW.
WHY DON'T YOU JUST, I DON'T KNOW...
I-INTERVIEW SOMEBODY?
ON CAMERA.
THAT'S IT. PRESENT MY FILM FINAL ON CAMERA.
I'M BOUND TO GET POINTS FOR INGENUITY, IF NOTHING ELSE, RIGHT?
THERE YOU GO.
SO, JOEY...TALK TO ME.
NO. FORGET IT, DAWSON.
HA HA. AND YOU'VE GONE THROUGH CHANGES THIS YEAR.
YOU HAVE A CHARACTER ARC.
NO, YOU'VE ALREADY IMMORTALIZED THE LIKENESS OF MY CHARACTER ON SCREEN.
WITHOUT MY SIGNED CONSENT, I MIGHT ADD.
FIND ANOTHER SUCKER--
UH, SUBJECT.
MIND JUST A FEW QUESTIONS?
THE CAMERA LOVES YOU.
OK, DAWSON. BEING THE OVERLY GENEROUS,
KIND, LOVING, CARING GIRLFRIEND THAT I AM,
I WILL SAY SOMETHING.
WHAT?
[SIGHS]
GOOD LUCK.
SEE YOU TOMORROW.
BYE.
DADDY.
HELLO, ANDIE.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
I CAME TO SEE YOU.
FUNNY, UM...I SEEM TO REMEMBER THAT...
YOU'RE NOT WELCOME HERE.
I KNOW YOU AND I HAVE A LOT OF THINGS TO WORK OUT.
AND WE WILL.
BUT RIGHT NOW, I'M HERE BECAUSE I'M WORRIED ABOUT YOU.
I KNOW ABOUT TIM AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S BEEN GOING ON WITH YOU.
WELL, YOU DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT ME,
BECAUSE I'M FINE.
UH...PACEY AND JACK WERE HERE, AND...
THEY HELPED ME THROUGH MY ROUGH WEEKS, SO...
I DON'T REALLY NEED YOU HERE.
ANDIE...
THIS IS SERIOUS.
SO WHY ARE YOU HERE?
I CALLED HIM.
HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO ME?
I'M SORRY.
YOUR BROTHER WAS CONCERNED, AS AM I.
I HAD NO IDEA THAT YOUR...SITUATION WAS THIS EXTREME.
"MY...SITUATION"?
WHAT IS THAT, ANOTHER VAGUE DESCRIPTION OF EVENTS
SO THAT YOU CAN DEAL WITH IT?
WHEN WE GET HOME, WE'LL DISCUSS ALL THIS.
YOU SHOULD START PACKING.
PACKING?!
YOU DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT LEAVING.
IT'S A DECISION I'VE COME TO.
OHH!
N-N...I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR DECISION!
WE HAVE FINALS. WE CAN'T LEAVE.
JACK WILL STAY ONE MORE WEEK.
AS FOR YOU, I'LL CALL THE SCHOOL AND ARRANGE FOR MAKE-UPS.
NO! YOU CAN'T TAKE ME AWAY! I'M NOT GONNA LET YOU!
YOU NEED PERPETUAL SUPERVISION RIGHT NOW.
YOUR MOTHER DOES, TOO.
I'VE SPOKEN TO YOUR CURRENT DOCTOR
ABOUT OUR OPTIONS.
WE'LL GET THROUGH THIS.
SO WE HAVE NO CHOICE?
ANDIE...I'M NOT ASKING.
I'M SORRY. I'M--I DIDN'T KNOW.
Jen: WHAT IN THE WORLD AM I SUPPOSED TO SAY?
YOU JUST TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE CHANGES
YOU'VE GONE THROUGH IN THE PAST YEAR.
OH, GOD, WHAT IS THIS, AMERICA'S MOST HIDEOUS VIDEO MOMENTS?
JEN, COME ON.
LET ME GUESS. CANDID CAMERA.
NO, I'M SERIOUS.
OH. OH, WELL, IF YOU'RE SERIOUS,
THEN BY ALL MEANS, LET ME REVEAL MY DEEPEST, DARKEST,
MOST INTIMATE SECRETS OF THE PAST YEAR FOR YOUR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT.
OH, COME ON.
IF THIS IS AT ALL OFFENSIVE, FORGET ABOUT IT.
NO...NO, I...
NO, ACTUALLY, IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD THING. UM...
I SHOULD TALK ABOUT IT, SO...
I GUESS IT ALL BEGAN THAT DAY, UM...
I MEAN, HOW AM I EVER GONNA BE ABLE TO FORGET
THAT ALL THIS DRAMA BEGAN TO UNFOLD. I, UH...
I DON'T KNOW. ALL OF A SUDDEN, I JUST...
I JUST DID IT.
DID WHAT?
CUT IT OFF.
CUT WHAT OFF?
MY HAIR.
JEN...
OH, I'M SERIOUS, DAWSON.
MAKING A MAJOR HAIRSTYLE CHANGE LIKE THAT IS A VERY TRAUMATIC EVENT
IN A YOUNG GIRL'S LIFE.
AH, DAWSON, ANY OTHER DAY BUT TODAY,
I'D BE GLAD TO TELL YOU ABOUT MY WELL-PUBLICIZED LIFE CHANGES,
BUT, UH, TODAY'S KIND OF A DISASTER.
I'M SORRY, MAN.
OH, YEAH. IT'S NO PROBLEM.
THANK YOU.
NO.
COME ON, JOEY, I'M DESPERATE.
WHY NOT?
LOOK, STALKER PAPARAZZI IS NOT A FLATTERING OCCUPATION, DAWSON.
GIVE IT UP.
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW PEOPLE GROW AND CHANGE.
WELL, FOR JUST 3 EASY PAYMENTS OF 29.95,
YOU, TOO, CAN GO FROM TOWN PARIAH TO FINE, UPSTANDING CITIZEN
IN JUST 6 MONTHS.
HERE?
SURE.
SO, SERIOUSLY, THOUGH, I MEAN...
HOW'D YOU DO IT?
I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING, DAWSON.
YOU AND I BOTH KNOW THAT LEFT TO MY OWN DEVICES,
I WOULD BE REPEATING THE TENTH GRADE AT BEST.
AT WORST, I'D PROBABLY BE LIVING UNDER A HIGHWAY
SOMEWHERE RIGHT NOW.
[LAUGHS]
GIVE ME A BREAK, PACEY.
I MEAN, Y-YOU HAD SOME OUTSIDE INSPIRATION, BUT YOU KNOW,
YOU'RE THE ONE WHO GRABBED YOUR LIFE BY THE BALLS
AND TURNED THINGS AROUND.
DAWSON, MY ONLY ACCOMPLISHMENT THIS YEAR
WAS TO FIND AN INSPIRATION LIKE ANDIE.
AND EVERYTHING ELSE JUST STEMMED FROM HER.
CLASSIC HERO WHO CHANGES FOR THE LOVE OF A WOMAN.
NOT EXACTLY, BUT...
EVERY DAY I WAKE UP, I'M HOLDING MY BREATH,
JUST WAITING FOR SOMEBODY TO EXPOSE MY FRAUDULENT ACT.
YOU KNOW, LOCK ME UP FOR IT.
FIGURE OUT THAT THIS WHOLE THING WAS JUST A BIG LIE.
WE CAN DO THIS LATER.
ARE YOU ALL RIGHT? WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOU?
[SIGHS]
EVER SINCE ME AND ANDIE...
WELL, I MEAN, LITERALLY COLLIDED,
SHE MISTOOK ME FOR SOMEONE ELSE,
AND SHE GAVE ME SOMEBODY TO BE.
AND NOW THAT SHE NEEDS MY HELP,
THERE'S NOT A DAMN THING THAT I CAN DO FOR HER.
I'M FAILING HER, DAWSON.
LISTEN...YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIND YOURSELF ANOTHER HERO.
ANDIE?
OH, PACEY.
ANDIE, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU? YOU WEREN'T IN CLASS THIS MORNING.
YEAH, UH--UH, MY DAD CAME BACK INTO TOWN, AND...
HE'S GONNA MAKE US GO HOME.
HE'S TAKING US BACK TO PROVIDENCE.
WHAT?
OK, ALL RIGHT, UM... COME ON.
GOD, HE WANTS ME TO GET HELP, OK?
HE WANTS US TO BE A FAMILY AGAIN,
BUT HE'S BEEN ABSENT FOR OVER A YEAR, PACEY.
AND NOW THAT I'M FINALLY STARTING TO MAKE A LIFE FOR MYSELF HERE,
HE JUST WANTS TO WRENCH ME AWAY.
OH, GOD, I JUST--OHHH...
HE MAKES ME SO ANGRY!
OK, LISTEN, CAN'T HE JUST GET YOU YOUR HELP HERE?
YOU ALREADY HAVE A THERAPIST IN TOWN, SO...
NO, PACEY. HE'S THE MOST STUBBORN MAN IN THE WORLD.
IF HE EVEN THINKS THAT I SHOULD LEAVE,
THEN I MAY AS WELL START PACKING.
ANDIE, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT TO DO?
WHAT DO I WANT TO DO? PACEY, I WANT TO STAY HERE.
GET HELP HERE. I...
I WANT TO BE WITH YOU.
I--I MEAN, THE THOUGHT OF US NOT BEING ABLE TO BE TOGETHER, IT'S--
SO, ANDIE, WE FIGHT HIM ON THIS.
OK? THIS AIN'T OVER YET.
HE WANTS TO LEAVE TOMORROW, PACEY.
OK...THAT'S FINE. UH...
THAT'S FINE. ANDIE, IT'S FINE. IT'S FINE.
BECAUSE WHEN HE HEARS WHAT WE HAVE TO TELL HIM,
HE'S NOT TAKING YOU ANYWHERE.
BITE OF MY SUBWAY FOR YOUR TROUBLES?
MY DAD'S BACK.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I CALLED HIM.
ANDIE IS NOT DOING WELL, AND...
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.
YOU DID THE RIGHT THING.
NO, I DIDN'T, BECAUSE I THOUGHT
HE WAS GONNA STAY AND HELP,
AND INSTEAD, HE WANTS TO TAKE US BACK TO PROVIDENCE.
YOU KNOW WHAT, JACK? THERE'S A BRIGHT SIDE TO THIS.
MAYBE ANDIE'S GONNA GET BETTER.
MAYBE IF YOU AND YOUR DAD MOVE BACK,
THEN THERE'S A CHANCE FOR RECONCILIATION.
HA HA. YEAH. RIGHT.
US AND THE MIDDLE EAST.
WHAT'S YOUR DEAL ANYWAY, HUH?
YOU GONNA STAY AT THE LEERYS' FOREVER?
OH, OUCH! I DON'T KNOW.
THE SITUATION'S KINDA DIRE.
WHAT ABOUT YOUR MOM AND DAD?
THEY MADE IT PRETTY CLEAR HOW THEY FELT ABOUT ME WHEN THEY SENT ME HERE.
WELL, YOU'RE DIFFERENT NOW.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT THE SAME GIRL THEY SENT AWAY.
AFTER WHAT HAPPENED WITH GRAMS,
THEY'LL NEVER BELIEVE THAT ANYTHING'S CHANGED.
WELL, GIVE THEM A CHANCE. I MEAN, WHO KNOWS?
MAYBE...
MAYBE YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO'S CHANGED.
HERE YOU GO.
HEY.
HEY. MMM.
COME HERE.
LOOK AT THIS PLACE.
IT'S THE LOUNGE.
MUSIC NIGHTLY FEATURING EAST COAST'S FINEST ENTERTAINERS.
HEY, AM I GONNA NEED A TIE TO GET IN HERE NOW?
I THINK YOU MAY HAVE SOME PULL WITH THE OWNER.
THAT IS NOT MY FATHER.
HE'S TURNED INTO THIS MR. SATURDAY NIGHT SITCOM FATHER OF THE YEAR.
THE MAN I KNEW WAS THIS GRUMBLING, DEJECTED MASS OF NEGATIVITY.
YOU MEAN, A RELATIVE OF YOURS WAS GRUMBLING AND NEGATIVE?
I--THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE.
I'M HAPPY. SO SUE ME.
TRUST ME. I LOVE THIS NEW...
HAPPY-GO-LUCKY JOEY POTTER.
I'LL BE BACK. I HAVE WORK TO DO.
OK.
Mr. Potter: HEY, DAWSON.
HEY.
THIS IS AN OLD FRIEND PETE.
HI. HOW YOU DOIN'?
NICE TO MEET YOU.
WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT OUR DAYS IN THE MERCHANT MARINES TOGETHER.
NOT EXACTLY THE GOOD OLD DAYS.
I HAVE--I HAVE A QUESTION. UM...
ACTUALLY, WHAT I NEED IS A, UH,
A SUBJECT FOR ONE OF MY FINAL PROJECTS.
I NEED SOMEBODY IN MY LIFE
WHO HAS DEMONSTRATED A MAJOR CHARACTER CHANGE.
IF YOU MEAN ME, I'M-- I'M FLATTERED, DAWSON.
SO YOU WOULDN'T MIND IF I INTERVIEWED YOU?
NOT AT ALL!
GREAT. GREAT!
IN RETURN, THOUGH, I GOT SOMETHING FOR YOU TO DO.
OK. SURE.
WHAT DOES THIS DO?
WHAT?
NOTHING.
WHAT?
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
PACEY, FROM THE LOOK ON YOUR FACE,
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE HEARD THE BAD NEWS.
YEAH. SO WHAT'S THE RUSH, JACK?
I MEAN, WHY NOW? TOMORROW MORNING?
IT'S MY FAMILY'S FLAIR FOR HISTRIONICS.
IT WOULDN'T BE A McPHEE DEPARTURE IF WE WEREN'T DOING IT IN THE EARLY DAWN
WITH, LIKE, A FEW HOURS TO PREPARE.
OK, SO HOW DO WE STOP THIS?
I DON'T THINK WE CAN.
I MEAN, MY FATHER'S DECISIONS, THEY'RE FINAL. THERE'S NO POINT IN ARGUING THEM.
I KNOW HOW THAT IS. OK, BELIEVE ME, I DO.
BUT NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO GIVE UP.
THERE'S TOO MUCH AT STAKE HERE, JACK.
WHICH IS PRECISELY WHY SHE'S LEAVING NOW.
MR. McPHEE. I'M PACEY WITTER.
I KNOW ALL ABOUT YOU, SON,
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR VEHEMENCE REGARDING MY DAUGHTER'S SITUATION,
AS I'M SURE YOU APPRECIATE MY OWN CONCERN.
I DO, ABSOLUTELY.
I'M JUST WONDERING WHY YOU'RE MAKING HER LEAVE NOW LIKE THIS.
BECAUSE HER DOCTORS IN PROVIDENCE SUGGESTED THAT WE WASTE NO TIME
GETTING HER THE PROPER CARE.
OK, SO WHY NOT HERE?
BECAUSE I'M NOT HERE.
BUT SHE HAS FRIENDS HERE, A WHOLE SUPPORT SYSTEM.
ARE YOU SUGGESTING THOSE THINGS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN FAMILY?
NO, SIR. I...
I'M JUST SUGGESTING THAT ANDIE'S BUILT A FAMILY HERE,
ONE THAT I'M A PART OF, AND I CAN HELP HER.
SHE IS MY RESPONSIBILITY.
WELL, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, SIR,
YOU KNEW OF ANDIE'S CONDITION WHEN YOU LEFT HER AND JACK HERE,
SO TO TAKE HER HOME NOW
BECAUSE YOU'VE SUDDENLY DEVELOPED SOME SORT OF GUILTY CONSCIENCE
IS NOT FAIR.
IT'S NOT FAIR TO WHOM, TO MY DAUGHTER OR TO YOU?
BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST TOO SELFISH TO LET HER GO.
YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
I'M NOT JUST HERE ON ANDIE'S BEHALF,
BECAUSE IF SHE LEFT ME, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'D DO.
SO I GUESS I'M BEGGING YOU FOR BOTH OF US, SIR.
PLEASE, LET ANDIE STAY.
I'M SORRY. MY MIND'S MADE UP.
MOM.
HEY, IT'S JENNIFER.
YEAH.
YEAH, UM, I FIGURED THAT SHE MIGHT HAVE CALLED YOU.
UM, I'M JUST--I'M STAYING NEXT DOOR WITH THE LEERYS.
UM, THEY'VE BEEN REALLY GREAT.
NO. NO, THEY DON'T SEEM TO MIND AT ALL, UM...
ACTUALLY, THAT'S WHAT I'M CALLING ABOUT, UM...
I WAS WONDERING IF THE...
I MEAN, I KNOW IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS,
BUT I WAS JUST...
CURIOUS AS TO WHAT THE SITUATION IS WITH ME, UM...
COMING HOME...
TO STAY...
WITH YOU AND DAD?
Dawson: OWW!
[TO HIMSELF] OH, GOD, I SUCK AT THIS.
HEY!
HEY!
YOU KNOW, I'VE DECIDED THAT, UM,
THIS WHOLE NEW MACHO WORKING MAN THING...
DEFINITE TURN-ON.
REALLY?
MM-HMM.
I WAS THINKING, HOWEVER, THAT MAYBE YOU NEED A MAKEOVER.
YOU KNOW, THE REBEL LOOK.
TIGHT T-SHIRT, DENIM LEATHER JACKET.
YOU KNOW, GREASE THE HAIR BACK.
SURE, I COULD DO THAT.
OK...I'M READY.
ALREADY? OH, OK.
I'LL, UH, FINISH THIS LATER,
AND I'LL GO SET THINGS UP.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.
I KNOW.
DON'T SAY ANYTHING.
Mr. Potter: I GUESS EVERYBODY MAKES MISTAKES.
SOME OF US ARE JUST BETTER AT IT THAN OTHERS.
YEAH, BUT YOU WERE ABLE TO OVERCOME YOUR MISTAKES.
WELL...
AT FIRST, I THOUGHT I WOULD DIE OF SHAME.
LITERALLY.
I--I JUST, UH, I LOST EVERYTHING THAT I LOVED.
AS MUCH AS I DIDN'T WANT TO THINK IT, DAWSON,
DEEP DOWN, I WAS A WEAK MAN.
IT FELT HOPELESS, AND--AND...
EVEN IF I COULD TURN THINGS AROUND,
WOULD MY DAUGHTERS EVER FORGIVE ME?
COULD THEY EVER FORGET WHAT I DID TO THEIR MOTHER?
HOW COULD--
THIS'LL BE GOOD FOR YOUR MOTHER AND ANDIE AND YOU.
PUT OUR FAMILY BACK TOGETHER.
WHAT IF, UM...
WHAT IF YOU STAYED? MOVED HERE WITH US?
I CAN'T LEAVE MY BUSINESS.
THEN START UP A NEW ONE.
OR MOVE IT HERE, OR TAKE DAY TRIPS, I DON'T CARE.
IF YOU REALLY LOVED US, YOU'D STAY.
THERE'S NO ONE HERE TO HELP ANDIE.
NO. THERE'S PACEY.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN 2 PEOPLE THAT HAVE WHAT THEY HAVE TOGETHER.
I CAN ONLY OFFER WHAT I'VE OFFERED.
YOU HAVEN'T OFFERED EVERYTHING.
YES, I HAVE.
YOU HAVEN'T OFFERED HER A CHOICE.
I--I CAN'T DO THAT!
IT'S BEST FOR EVERYONE IF WE ALL LEAVE, JACK.
YOUR MOTHER AND YOUR SISTER NEED SERIOUS MEDICAL ATTENTION.
AND--AND YOU'RE CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO GET THE HELP YOU NEED HERE IN CAPESIDE.
HELP? EXACTLY WHAT KIND OF HELP DO I NEED?
IF YOU COULD TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT YOUR PROBLEM.
YOU KNOW WHAT? JUST DON'T EVEN GO THERE.
JUST--JUST HEAR ME OUT.
LOOK, I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE C-CONFUSED WITH THESE GAY IDEAS.
THE ONLY PROBLEM THAT I HAVE
IS THE PROBLEM THAT YOU HAVE WITH ME BEING GAY.
THIS ISN'T ABOUT ME ANYWAY OR YOU.
IT'S ABOUT ANDIE AND WHAT'S BEST FOR HER.
JUST, GOD, DAD...
L-LET HER MAKE THE CHOICE.
LET HER MAKE THE DECISION.
YOU KNOW HOW DAMAGING IT WOULD BE TO TAKE HER AWAY NOW?
AWAY FROM PACEY?
I HARDLY THINK A TEEN ROMANCE IS THE SOLUTION TO HER MEDICAL PROBLEMS.
HER SOLUTION WILL COME FROM THE PEOPLE THAT LOVE AND CARE FOR HER.
I KNOW THAT'S NOT YOUR SPECIALTY, DAD.
Pacey: OK, THIS IS RIDICULOUS, ANDIE,
FOR THE TWO OF US TO BE SITTING HERE
PASSIVELY AWAITING OUR INEVITABLE DOOM.
YOU COULD USE THIS TIME TO START STUDYING FOR YOUR FINALS.
FORGET ABOUT MY FINALS.
I GOT A MUCH BETTER IDEA.
YOU AND I, WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TOMORROW BRINGS,
BUT TONIGHT IS OURS. SO...
SO WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
WELL, I'D LIKE TO GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE IF WE COULD.
WHERE ARE WE GOING?
WELL, ANDIE McPHEE, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE YOU ON A DATE,
ONE WHERE I CAN COME OVER AND PICK YOU UP...
AND TAKE YOU OUT TO DINNER,
MAYBE A MOVIE...
SOME MOONLIGHT...
A LITTLE ROMANCE.
BELIEVE ME, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU AND I NEED.
PACEY, UH...
IT'S JUST THAT THERE'S SO MUCH THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND...
I, UM...
I JUST...
YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU'RE RIGHT.
A NIGHT OUT ON THE TOWN, JUST THE TWO OF US...
IT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED.
NOW YOU'RE TALKING.
WE'LL DEAL WITH TOMORROW TOMORROW.
BUT TONIGHT...
TONIGHT WILL BE MAGICAL.
OK.
I'LL SEE YOU LATER.
OK.
WHAT DROVE YOU TO YOUR LOWEST POINT?
UH...
JOEY'S MOM WAS GETTING WORSE. THE BILLS WERE MOUNTING.
WHY ELSE WOULD SOMEONE MAKE THE IDIOTIC DECISION
TO RISK EVERYTHING FOR THE ALMIGHTY BUCK?
I FOUND MYSELF IN WHAT SEEMED AT THE TIME TO BE AN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION,
SO I BEGAN TRAFFICKING MARIJUANA.
DAD, DIDN'T YOU PROMISE BESSIE YOU'D BRING HER AND ALEXANDER DINNER?
DAWSON, CAN WE CONTINUE THIS LATER?
YEAH.
WHAT'S THE MATTER?
LOOK, THIS WHOLE DAWSON LEERY
INVESTIGATIVE-REPORTER- AT-LARGE THING,
IT'S INTRUSIVE.
WHY ARE YOU MAKING MY FATHER RELIVE
SUCH AN EXCRUCIATINGLY PAINFUL TIME IN HIS LIFE?
TH-TH-THAT'S THE HEART OF THE PIECE, JO.
I'M TRYING TO GET A COMPLETE PICTURE OF A MAN
WHO'S CHANGED SO COMPLETELY AND SO HEROICALLY.
BUT DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND... I DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN THE PAST.
WE'VE WORKED SO HARD TO CLOSE THOSE DOORS AND MOVE ON...
GOD, JO, I'M SORRY.
IF YOU'RE SO HELL-BENT ON MAKING THIS ASSIGNMENT ABOUT SOMETHING REAL,
THEN WHY ARE YOU BASING IT ON ANOTHER PERSON?
WHY DON'T YOU JUST DO THE OBVIOUS?
TURN THE CAMERA ON YOURSELF.
WELL...I CAN'T.
WHY NOT?
WHY NOT?
BECAUSE I'M AFRAID, OK?
I'M AFRAID THAT I'M NOT ENOUGH FOR YOU
AND THAT I NEVER WILL BE, ALL RIGHT?
AND IF I DO THIS,
YOU'RE JUST GOING TO REALIZE THAT YOU'VE GROWN WAY BEYOND ME,
AND THEN I'M...
I'M JUST GONNA LOSE YOU AGAIN.
[KNOCK KNOCK]
HEY.
HEY.
I TALKED TO DAD.
THEN WHY ARE YOU SMILING?
BECAUSE HE SAID THAT IF I WANTED TO STAY,
HE'D TRY TO WORK IT OUT.
WOW, THAT'S GREAT NEWS, THEN, HUH?
I GUESS.
ANDIE, WELL...
I MEAN, YOU CAN'T ACTUALLY TELL ME
THAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT LEAVING?
I DON'T KNOW.
COME ON, I THINK THE DECISION HERE IS PRETTY OBVIOUS.
IS IT?
YEAH.
I MEAN, MOST DAYS I FEEL FINE, JACK. I DO.
BUT I'M NOT FINE.
IN FACT, I'M GETTING WORSE.
AND I THINK THAT WHOLE TIM THING
IS JUST A CLEAR INDICATION OF THAT.
AND THE IRONIC THING IS--
IS THAT THE MORE TIME I SPEND HERE
WITH EVERYBODY AND--AND WITH PACEY,
THE MORE I WANT TO GET BETTER.
YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO DRAG HIM DOWN WITH MY PROBLEMS.
I DON'T THINK PACEY FEELS BURDENED BY YOU, OK?
I KNOW I DON'T.
BUT I DO.
I FEEL BURDENED BY THE KNOWLEDGE
THAT I KNOW HOW HARD IT MUST BE
FOR YOU GUYS TO HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF ME,
AND THAT'S WHY I'VE DECIDED THAT I THINK
THAT IF I LEAVE, YOU SHOULD STAY.
NO WAY.
YOU'RE MY FAMILY, OK? YOU GO, I GO.
WHAT ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT?
I MEAN, YOU'RE ALWAYS SO SELFLESS, JACK.
WILL YOU PROMISE ME THAT YOU'LL THINK ABOUT YOURSELF THIS TIME?
BYE, GRAMS.
THAT'S IT. YOU'RE GETTING THE HANG OF IT. GOOD WORK, SON.
THANK YOU. UM...
I, UH... LOOK, MR. POTTER,
I'M REALLY SORRY IF I MADE YOU
DREDGE UP SOME PAINFUL MEMORIES TODAY.
DON'T WORRY. IT'S NOT LIKE SOMETHING
I DON'T THINK ABOUT EVERY WAKING MOMENT.
BUT YOU ASKED ME WHY I CHANGED.
THE TRUTH IS I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH I'VE CHANGED,
BUT I KEEP TRYING
EVERY DAY TO BE A BETTER PERSON FOR MY FAMILY.
TO PUT SOMEONE ELSE'S NEEDS BEFORE YOUR OWN BECAUSE YOU LOVE THEM...
MEANS EVERYTHING.
I'M GONNA TAKE A WALK.
I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE LAID IT ALL OUT LIKE THAT.
I'M A LITTLE EMBARRASSED.
DAWSON, YOU HAVE IT ALL WRONG.
I MEAN, CAN'T YOU TELL BY JUST LOOKING AT ME
MY LIFE IS PERFECT RIGHT NOW.
I HAVE JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING I'VE EVER DREAMT OF.
I MEAN, MY DAD IS BACK, MY FAMILY IS TOGETHER AGAIN,
BUSINESS IS GOOD...
BUT BEST OF ALL, I...
I HAVE YOU IN MY LIFE.
ADD A WHITE PICKET FENCE TO THIS LITTLE SCENARIO
AND THE FAIRY TALE WOULD BE COMPLETE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE YOU PROUD OF ME.
I LOVE YOU...
AND I BELIEVE IN YOU.
AND I'M SO PROUD OF YOU,
AND I'M NOT JUST PROUD OF YOU...
I'M PROUD TO BE WITH YOU.
YOU CAN EVEN BE A GREAT CARPENTER SOMEDAY. WHO KNOWS?
ARE YOU MOCKING ME?
[CLICKING ON KEYBOARD]
I'M STAYING.
AND YOUR SISTER?
I DON'T KNOW HER DECISION.
WHATEVER IT IS, I'M NOT GOING.
SO, YOU WANT ME TO LEAVE YOU HERE ALONE AT 17.
I DON'T THINK SO, JACK. I'M GONNA BE SELLING THE HOUSE.
DAD, I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE HOUSE.
I CAN'T LIVE WITH YOU, NOT THE WAY THINGS ARE.
YOU KNOW, WITH YOUR MOTHER'S ILLNESS AND ANDIE'S PROBLEMS
AND EVEN WITH TIM'S DEATH,
THOSE I COULD FIND REASONS FOR.
BUT WITH YOU...
I FEEL LIKE I'M TO BLAME.
BUT YOU AREN'T.
IF I'D JUST BEEN AROUND MORE.
IT WOULDN'T HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE.
I'M GAY FOR THE SAME REASONS THAT TIM WASN'T, OK?
IT JUST HAPPENED THAT WAY.
BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CHANGE.
THEY GO BACK.
I'M HARDLY THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE GAY EXPERIENCE,
BUT I'D WAGER TO SAY THAT THEIR CHANGE IS SKEPTICAL.
HOW DO YOU KNOW UNLESS YOU TRY?
I DON'T WANT TO TRY, OK? YOU WANT ME TO TRY.
BECAUSE I CANNOT UNDERSTAND
HOW ANYONE WOULD CHOOSE THAT KIND OF LIFE.
I DIDN'T CHOOSE IT. THE ONLY THING I CHOSE WAS JUST TO BE HAPPY.
LOOK...
I CAN'T GO BACK WITH YOU BECAUSE, SLOWLY BUT SURELY,
I'M GOING TO SACRIFICE MY HAPPINESS FOR YOURS
BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO BE PROUD OF ME. I DO.
BUT NOT UNDER YOUR TERMS. IT JUST--IT WON'T WORK.
JACK. JACK...
DO YOU KNOW WHERE WE ARE?
WE'RE BY THE WATER?
YOU DON'T REMEMBER?
UH...
OF COURSE I REMEMBER. THIS WAS WHERE WE FIRST DANCED.
AND WHERE WE HAD OUR FIRST KISS.
I REMEMBER MY KNEES WERE SHAKING LIKE CRAZY.
I KNOW, MY HEART, IT WAS, LIKE, BOOM-BOOM-BOOM- BOOM-BOOM-BOOM.
I WAS DELIRIOUSLY HAPPY.
I DIED AND WENT TO HEAVEN THAT DAY.
MAN, THAT WAS A LONG, LONG TIME AGO.
IT SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY.
WHAT WAS I BACK THEN?
A SLACKER.
THAT'S WHAT YOU THOUGHT, ISN'T IT?
YOU THOUGHT I WAS A LAZY BRAT.
AND YOU THOUGHT I WAS A SPOILED PRINCESS.
MAN, YOU DIDN'T LET ME GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING BACK THEN.
YEAH, AND YOUR FAVORITE PASTIME WAS MAKING ME MISERABLE.
OH, BOY, I HATED YOU.
NO, I HATED YOU MORE.
OH, ANDIE, I DON'T REALLY THINK THAT'S POSSIBLE.
IT'S BEEN A WILD RIDE.
IT'S ONLY JUST BEGUN.
MAY I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF THIS DANCE, MISS McPHEE?
YES, MR. WITTER, YOU MAY.
WHAT'S WRONG? WHY ARE YOU CRYING?
I'M JUST SO HAPPY TO BE WITH YOU.
AND, UM, I'M SO SAD, TOO...
BECAUSE I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, PACEY.
AND I CAN'T HIDE FROM THE TRUTH ANYMORE.
I'M NOT GETTING ANY BETTER.
ALSO BECAUSE...
I'M GONNA LEAVE TOMORROW.
I HAVE TO.
I KNOW.
I KNOW.
UM, NO GOOD-BYES, OK?
NO, NO GOOD-BYES.
HELLO. GOOD MORNING.
DAWSON, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
I'VE BEEN HERE ALL NIGHT. SHUT YOUR EYES.
LOOK, IT'S 7:00 IN THE MORNING.
SHUT YOUR EYES.
I HAVE MY PAJAMAS ON.
CLOSE 'EM. YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL. COME ON.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
WALK WITH ME. KEEP YOUR EYES SHUT.
OK, STAIRS COMIN' UP.
DAWSON.
I GOT YOU. READY?
1, 2, 3. YOU'RE ON THE GROUND. OK.
OK, STOP, STOP, STOP. OK?
NOW, OPEN 'EM.
A WHITE PICKET FENCE.
YEP.
WHEN DID YOU DO THIS?
IT TOOK ME ALL NIGHT.
IT'S A LITTLE CROOKED DOWN AT THE END THERE,
BUT, UH...
YOU KNOW.
THANK YOU.
I FIGURED IT'LL PROBABLY TAKE ME
THE REST OF THE SUMMER TO FINISH THE THING.
YOU HANGING OUT IN MY FRONT YARD ALL SUMMER?
I THINK I CAN HANDLE THAT.
MAYBE IT'S TIME I STARTED CLIMBING THROUGH YOUR WINDOW FOR A CHANGE, HUH?
CHANGE COULD BE GOOD.
YOU DIDN'T THINK YOU WERE GONNA GET AWAY
WITHOUT A SEND-OFF, DID YOU?
OH, WELL, YOU MISSED THE PARADE. IT JUST LEFT.
WELL, LOOKS LIKE YOUR PARENTS SAID YES.
NOT QUITE.
I CALLED MY MOM,
AND SHE CASUALLY INFORMED ME
THAT NOW IS NOT NOT A VERY GOOD TIME
FOR ME TO RE-ENTER HER LIFE, AND...
AND MY DAD SAID THAT HE'S STILL GETTING OVER MY LAST STAY WITH THEM.
I TOLD HIM I WAS DIFFERENT
AND THAT I WOULDN'T BE A WORRY THIS TIME.
HE WANTED TO KNOW IF THIS WAS JUST A PLOY TO GET MORE MONEY EVERY MONTH.
JEN, I'M SORRY.
I JUST FIGURE, SCREW IT, RIGHT?
LOOK, I DON'T NEED THEM AS MY DESTINATION.
IF I'M GONNA LEAVE CAPESIDE, THEN WHAT'S HOLDING ME BACK?
YOU DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER PLACE TO GO?
NO. I'VE GOT EVERY PLACE TO GO.
THERE'S JUST NOBODY THERE.
LOOK, I OFTEN WONDER HOW MY MOM WOULD REACT
IF SHE WAS AWARE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH ME,
IF SHE WAS MENTALLY CAPABLE OF COMPREHENDING IT.
I DON'T THINK SHE'D HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT
BECAUSE MY MOM LOVES ME FOR THE BEST REASON POSSIBLE--
NO REASON AT ALL.
SEE, THAT'S HOW OUR PARENTS SHOULD LOVE US, JEN. UNCONDITIONALLY.
SAD AS IT SOUNDS, MOST DON'T.
BUT AS MUCH AS IT HURTS, IT'S WORSE FOR THEM.
IT IS WORSE TO BE INCAPABLE OF LOVING THAN TO NOT BE LOVED.
WAIT. NO, JACK. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
WELL, I AM, UM,
I'M TAKING YOU BACK TO MY PLACE.
IT'S PRETTY EMPTY,
AND, UH, I CAN USE A ROOMMATE.
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
YEAH.
YEAH.
MR. POTTER?
I GOT YOUR TOOLS.
LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL.
HEY.
WHAT'S WRONG?
NOTHING.
NOTHING'S WRONG.
OK.
I'LL SEE YOU SOON.
I'M NOT THE BEST FATHER, I KNOW THAT.
BUT I DO WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY.
THANK YOU.
ANDIE, ANDIE.
HEY.
PACEY, WE SAID NO GOOD-BYES.
I DON'T WANT TO SAY GOOD-BYE. I JUST WANT TO LOOK AT YOU.
I WISH I HAD SOME ELOQUENT PARTING WORDS FOR YOU,
BUT ALL I COULD THINK OF WAS THIS--
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR ME.
THANK YOU FOR FORCING ME
TO BE THE MAN THAT YOU'VE MADE ME.
JUST THANK YOU.
I'M SO GRATEFUL TO YOU, ANDIE.
OH, I DON'T WANT TO LET YOU GO, PACEY.
JUST REMEMBER YOUR PROMISE, OK?
YOU AND ME,
TOGETHER AGAIN, HAPPY, HEALTHY,
AND MORE IN LOVE THAN EVER.
I'LL REMEMBER.
GO GET BETTER, McPHEE.
THEN YOU HURRY BACK TO ME.
PACEY, KISS ME.
MY KNEES ARE SHAKING.
MY HEART, BOOM-BOOM, BOOM-BOOM.
[CAR ENGINE STARTS]
Dawson: WE'RE TAUGHT TO BELIEVE THAT IN THE MOVIES,
THE MAIN CHARACTER GOES THROUGH AN ARC AND CHANGES.
BUT WHAT IF THAT'S NOT TRUE?
BY THE END OF CASABLANCA,
BOGART'S THE SAME LONELY TOUGH GUY THAT HE ALWAYS WAS.
HIS DECISIONS DIDN'T CHANGE HIM,
NOR DID HIS ACTIONS.
THEY SEEMED TO REVEAL WHAT WAS ALWAYS THERE--
A MAN WHO WANTED TO CHANGE, BUT FEARED HE COULDN'T.
IF BOGART REALLY WANTED TO CHANGE, HE WOULDN'T HAVE SENT HIS LOVE AWAY.
HE WOULD HAVE HELD ON TO HER FOR DEAR LIFE,
BECAUSE I THINK LOVE IS CHANGE.
OR AT LEAST I HOPE SO.