Andie: Because I didn’t want a pity ask, okay? And it doesn’t matter anyway because all of my friends are going to be there and at this point I’m just going to support the whole stupid alternative prom thing.

Pacey: Well, you should have been able to tell me. And it wouldn’t be a pity ask, because it can’t be pity if it’s an honor. Andrea McPhee, would you go the prom with me? (Andie smiles)

[Potter B&B – Dawson walks up the front yard to the house in his tux as Bessie walks up with a camera. Joey makes her way out of the house in a long black dress with spaghetti straps and a shawl.]

Dawson: Wow! You look…

Joey: It’s the dress, Dawson.

Bessie: Okay, picture time. (Joey and Dawson stand together as Bessie takes a couple pictures.)

Joey: We should probably go, we don’t want to be late.

Bessie: Oh, you’ve always hated having your picture taken. Well, so Dawson, where’s the corsage?

Dawson: Uhh, we made a deal. No corsage. But I had to bring something. (pulling a jewelry box out of his pocket and opening it) I thought you could wear (showing Joey the inside) these.

Joey: Diamond earrings?? Dawson, I can’t take these.

Dawson: Relax, they’re my mom’s. They’re on loan. Like the Academy Awards. I thought they would look amazing on you.

Joey: I can’t wear them. I mean, what if something happens?

Dawson: Something happens to what, you’re earlobes? Stop, put them on.

Joey: They’re beautiful.

Bessie: So put them on! And I’ll get one more picture. (Joey does so.) One. Two. Three. (she takes another picture)

[Leery’s Fresh Fish – the alternative prom has already started. Gail and Mitch notice the weird people that are showing up.]

Gail: An interesting crowd.

Mitch: Lock the cash register.

Gail: I’m on it.

(Jack and Ethan sit at a table alone. Jack watches the people around him. Ethan sits uncomfortably in silence. Trying to break the ice…)

Ethan: Hey, can you believe we wore the same thing? (Jack doesn’t laugh, Ethan does.) Yeah, well, I thought it was pretty funny. You know, Jack, I’m not expecting you to dance with me, if that’s what you’re worried about.

Jack: No… I’m not worried about anything.

(Jen and Henry walk up.)

Jen: Hi there!

Henry: Hey!

Jack: Hey!

(Dawson and Joey walk up.)

Dawson: Hey, Jack!

(They all take seats at the 4 empty chairs at Jack and Ethan’s table.)

Jen: Hey guys. Joey, I love those earrings.

Joey: Thank you.

(Andie and Pacey walk up to the table, but Joey and Dawson don’t notice.)

Jack: Hey, Andie. Hey Pacey.

Andie: Hey guys. What’s going on?

(Pacey stares at Dawson and Joey together. As Joey and Dawson notice Pacey there, they both look a little shocked. Joey looks uncomfortable and Dawson looks upset.)

Dawson: (to Joey) Shall we dance? (As Joey and Dawson get up, Joey steals a look at Pacey then continues out onto the dance floor.)

Jen: Come on, sit down.

Andie: Great. (Pacey pulls her seat out for her and she sits.) Wow, Jen, your dress is fabulous!

Jen: Thank you. So is yours.

Andie: Thank you. (Pacey takes a seat next to her and looks out onto the dance floor at Joey) Hey Ethan. Hey Henry. (Joey out on the dance floor notices Pacey watching her. She looks at him for a bit and then looks away. Later, Dawson and Joey continue to dance. Pacey dances with Andie and Jen dances with Henry.)

Jen: So, here we are.

Henry: Yup.

Jen: At the prom.

Henry: Yup.

Jen: So what are you thinking?

Henry: I wasn’t thinking about sex, okay?

Jen: Henry, sure, you’re allowed to think about sex.

Henry: I, I wasn’t.

Jen: No, I’m sure. I’m just saying if you were, it’s fine. I mean, you can think about sex. I can think about sex. It’s just that tonight it’s not a factor, right?

(Jack and Ethan are standing at the edge of the dance floor, watching people dance.)

Ethan: I’m glad, you know.

Jack: That I what?

Ethan: That you had the courage to bring me, Jack. I know it’s not easy. Even for me. When Brad and I first told people what was happening…

Jack: Could we maybe put a pin in the ‘when I was a young gay boy’ stories tonight? It’s not providing me with a lot of solace right now.

Ethan: What I was going to say, Jack, is that Brad and I never did anything together. In fact, for all my bravado, I’ve never asked a guy to anything like this.

Jack: You mean, all that crap about actualization? You mean you haven’t actualized?

Ethan: I guess I thought it was a hurdle we could jump over together.

Jack: At my high school prom, where you know no one and I know everyone? Tell me, how together is that, do you think?

Ethan: So you win in the courage department.

Jack: No, no, I don’t. Cause I was tricked into it. Courage would have been telling you that I’m not ready for this. That however healthy this might be for my sexual identity, I really don’t want to be here right now.

Ethan: Well, I’m sorry.

Jack: So am I.

Ethan: Where are you going?

Jack: I’m going to get a soda. You know, I was wondering, wise, gay sage that you are… Coke, Diet Pepsi, what’s better for my self-actualization? (he walks away)

(Jen and Henry continue to dance.)

Jen: You know, there are other things that we could talk about. I mean, besides sex.

Henry: Of course. I mean, we could talk about…

Jen: Summer. We can talk about what we’re going to do this summer. I thought that we could take a couple day trips up to Nantucket. Go see some concerts up in Boston…

Henry: Sure, when I get back from football camp.

Jen: What-ball camp?

Henry: Football camp. Cleveland, eight weeks. I leave at the end of June.

Jen: You’re leaving me for the whole summer to go to football camp and you tell me this now?

Henry: Well, what’s wrong with now?

Jen: You don’t devastate your girlfriend with the news of an impending two months separation in the middle of the prom. That kinda ruins the night.

Henry: I’ve ruined the night?

Jen: And as far as later goes, whatever slim possibility may have existed that you and I might actually have sex – well you can just forget about that now.

Henry: I thought we already established we weren’t gonna have sex tonight?

Jen: Oh, come on, Henry. That’s just what you say to alleviate the pressure and make it seem spontaneous when you actually do it. Of course there was a chance, it’s our prom. (Jen walks away. Henry seems a bit shocked at everything that just happened.)

Henry: Damn!

(Pacey and Andie are dancing and though he looks away occasionally, he spends most of his time watching Dawson and Joey dancing.)

Joey: Can I ask a brazen, but obvious question?

Dawson: Yeah, of course.

Joey: Why’d you bring me here tonight, Dawson?

Dawson: What?

Joey: Was it just so that you could throw jabs at Pacey?

Dawson: What are you talking about? I had no idea Pacey would be here.

Joey: You don’t think I get the subtext of every single one of those looks you keep throwing his way? I mean, you might as well go on the PA and scream, ‘She’s mine, Pacey. Ha!’

Dawson: Actually, that’s not what I’m thinking.

Joey: Then what are you thinking?

Dawson: I’m thinking, what right did he have to show up to my mother’s restaurant at a prom that I organized? What exactly is he trying to accomplish?

Joey: You know, given the circumstances under which this night originated, what right do you have to exclude anyone?

Dawson: I’m not excluded him. Joey, I haven’t said a word to him.

Joey: That hasn’t stopped you from parading me around all night like I’m some sort of a prize.

Dawson: Parading you? Joey, I’m not parading you around. Joey, you’re my date and I’m dancing with you. It’s not my fault if he keeps staring at us.

Joey: You’re right. None of it’s your fault. None of it’s anybody’s fault, it’s just happening. But who cares what it’s doing to me.

Dawson: Okay. You know, let’s just start over, okay? It’s just Dawson and Joey at the prom, having a good time. Okay? (Joey shakes her head as if that idea would never work. She takes one look at Pacey and then slaps Dawson on the chest.)

Joey: Look, I need a breather. (She walks off.)

(Outside on the pier next to the restaurant, Joey walks over to Jack who stares out over the water.)

Joey: Care to make a run for it?

Jack: Yes please.

Joey: So what are you hiding from?

Jack: I am hiding from Barbara Johns.

Joey: She’s here?!

Jack: No. Yeah, in a way, she is. She was right, Joey. I don’t belong here. I’m not gonna dance with Ethan, I’m not gonna have my picture taken with him. And whatever good time I was gonna have time, I just ruined it by the way I treated him.

Joey: You really like him, don’t you? I remember a conversation less than a year ago. Under these very stars. And all you could see was the pain and the loneliness that made your life different from everyone else’s.

Jack: As opposed to now, when all I can see is the pain and loneliness that makes our lives the same? Look, I know how sad it is to hide from something that you really want, Joey.

Joey: I just want everything to go back to the way it was, you know? All of us friends again and me not caught in the middle.

Jack: If you want things to get back to the way that they were, you have to set the example. Dawson and Pacey, those two just are not gonna do it themselves right now.

Joey: How about we hide out here for awhile first.

Jack: That sounds good to me. (they hold hands)

Joey: Thank you.

Jack: Thank you.

(Back inside, Mitch and Gail are out on the dance floor dancing.)

Gail: You know, this might be a tad presumptuous but, I took the liberty of packing a bag. I thought maybe I could stay over.

Mitch: I’m not sure that’s such a good idea, Gail.

Gail: Mitch, what are you talking about?

Mitch: I’m not here just for your whim, Gail.

Gail: (laughing) Excuse me?

Mitch: Go ahead and laugh, but you know, we’ve finally gotten back to this point in our relationship by being honest with each other. I’m not going to stop that honesty now.

Gail: Okay, so the honest thing is to talk about it. Let’s talk about it.

Mitch: I can’t keep playing this game. Is it a slip up? Is it a relationship? Is it a Saturday night arrangement?

Gail: What do you want it to be?

Mitch: You know what, Gail? I’m sick of being the one always anxious to define our relationship, or lack thereof. What I want is for you to define it for once. (He walks away)

(Joey walks over to the table where Pacey is sitting. He has his back to her so he doesn’t notice.)

Joey: I’ve been meaning to ask you something all night, Pacey. (Pacey turns to look at her) Would you like to dance with me? (she takes his hand. Pacey looks at her hand in his for a moment.)

Pacey: Yes. (they move out to the dance floor and begin to dance) How come this feels do right?

Joey: It was those dance lessons. (they both smile. Andie walks back into the room and notices them dancing together.)

Pacey: (slightly caressing her ear as he pretends to touch her earrings. Joey looks up at him, obviously feeling something by his touch. He looks at the earring) Where did you get those? They’re not you.

Joey: (as Pacey pulls his hand away from her ear, he gently pulls on a wisp of hair that’s loose from her French twist) Why, because I’m just a poor tom boy, or…? Dawson gave them to me.

Pacey: Nah-uh… (raising her hand with the bracelet on it and caressing it softly) See this? This is you. (he moves the bracelet around on her wrist, rubbing her hand) It’s not showy or gawdy. It’s simple. Elegant. (taking her hand in his) Beautiful.

Joey: (a little taken aback) It’s my mom’s bracelet.

Pacey: I know.

Joey: (pulling her head back to look at him, a little surprised) How do you know?

Pacey: Well, because you told me. Six months ago. (caressing her arm) You were wearing that blue sweater with the snowflakes that you have. You were walking down the hallway at school. I was annoying you as per usual. (rubbing her wrist where the bracelet is) You said, ‘Look, Pacey, I just found my mother’s bracelet this morning, so why don’t you cut me some slack?’

Joey: (laughing slightly, like he’s weird) You remember that?

Pacey: (after a pause, whispering) I remember everything.

(They dance cheek to cheek now as Pacey rubs her back. Joey is definitely affected by his touch and sways gently with him. Pacey just can’t stop touching her skin. Andie watches from the side and it looks like she’s about to cry. Suddenly Joey is broken from her trance when she looks over Pacey’s shoulder and sees Dawson watching. He looks very upset. Pacey can feel Joey’s body stiffen in his arms. Dawson walks out, and Joey looks at Pacey with a sad look on her face. After the commercial, Joey rushes out after Dawson and catches up with him on the street.)

Joey: Dawson! Dawson, wait! Dawson, wait!

Dawson: How could you do that to me? Are you trying to hurt me??

Joey: No! I’m trying to set an example. I’m trying to get things back to the way they were.

Dawson: You can’t go back to the way they were. Joey, don’t you get it? You can’t climb through my window, pop in ET and have it be the same, okay? You can’t dance with him at the prom I organized and expect me not to be hurt.

Joey: You said tonight was about you, me and our friendship. If that was really the care, it wouldn’t matter who I danced with.

Dawson: I said tonight was about moving forward. What did you think that meant? You can’t have thought that’s all I wanted. The whole reason I suggested this whole stupid alternative prom, wasn’t about Jack. It was about you. And maybe I tried too hard, but I didn’t want to miss my chance to dance with you, to hold you, to make you remember what it was like. I thought maybe I could make it perfect…

Joey: And that I would pick you? Say it Dawson. You thought if you orchestrated this whole evening that I would be convinced in to picking you over Pacey, right?

Dawson: You have to pick somebody, Joey. I just wanted to remind you what you would be missing if you didn’t pick me. You’d be missing a lot. So would I. I’d be missing everything. (he kisses Joey softly) That’s how the evening was supposed to end. (He walks off leaving Joey on the street.)

[Gram’s House – Henry opens the porch door and Jen walks in.]

Jen: I think I can take it from here, thanks.

Henry: Wow. I think those were the most words you’ve said to me since I told you about football camp.

Jen: Henry, I’m not in the mood.

Henry: Fine. Than can we please talk about something else? Like why would you make such a big deal about there being no possibility of us having sex, if you were planning on doing it all along?

Jen: I wasn’t planning on anything. I mean, I thought that maybe if it happened, if it felt right and natural, than maybe we would. You know, it doesn’t even matter.

Henry: Cause of football camp? You know, I hate it when you do this. You get extreme about the future of our relationship at the first sign of one of your insecurities.

Jen: This isn’t about my insecurities. It’s about your cowardice. And the fact that I planned our entire summer together and you weren’t even thinking about spending any time with me. For the first time in my life I made myself vulnerable to somebody. And now I just feel stupid.

Henry: Jen, my decision to go, that’s got nothing to do with you.

Jen: Exactly. But if this were a real relationship, your choice for those 8 weeks, it would have had at least something to do with me. Goodnight, Henry. (she opens the door and walks inside)

Henry: Jen, I won’t go through this again. This time there won’t be any posters or grand declarations of my feelings towards you. You walk in that house, it’s not just goodnight. It’s goodbye.

Jen: Goodbye.

[Capeside Train Station – Ethan still in his tux carries his bag and is about to walk out to the train terminal. Jack, also in his tux, runs in to stop him. Everyone else in the room walks out, leaving them alone.]

Jack: Ethan, wait! Wait. What are you doing? Are you leaving?

Ethan: Are you kidding me?

Jack: Look, I’m sorry for the way that I acted tonight.

Ethan: No, Jack, I’m sorry. You clearly weren’t ready for this.

Jack: That’s just it. Because I don’t know what “this” is. So maybe we should define “this” before we decide who’s ready. (he takes a seat. Ethan drops his bag)

Ethan: What are you saying?

Jack: I’m saying… I’m saying that tonight… I don’t think that I was uncomfortable with bringing a guy to the prom. I think I was uncomfortable taking someone who doesn’t feel the same way about me as I feel about him.

Ethan: Jack, I really like you.

Jack: Then why all the hurdles? Why this whole journey for us to be together when all you have to do is lean over and…

Ethan: Kiss you.

Jack: Yeah, something like that.

Ethan: Cause, Jack. I don’t want to kiss someone who isn’t ready. And I don’t know if you’re ready, so I’m afraid you’re gonna have to kiss me first.

Jack: How do you know that I couldn’t?

Ethan: I don’t know. I’m guessing.

Jack: (standing up and walking up to Ethan) Well then maybe you’re guessing wrong. And maybe I’m ready.

Ethan: Okay. So here we are. A lone train station. No one around. No lights, no cameras, no network television to cut to commercial. Just you and me. So kiss me, Jack. I dare you. (Jack doesn’t move. Ethan grabs his bag and walks out.)

[Capeside Pier – Pacey is walking Andie home.]

Pacey: I honestly believed that when I came over to invite you to the prom, it was because I wanted to go to the prom with you. And I can’t tell you how much I wished that were the truth. But as soon as I got there, I realized that I wanted to go to the prom because she…

Andie: I know why you wanted to go to the prom, Pacey. And I’m sorry that it didn’t work out for you. But at least you got to dance with her.

Pacey: What can I do? Really, I’ll do whatever it takes to make this up to you, Andie.

Andie: What it would take is something that I don’t think you can give me right now. And I’m not mad at you, Pacey. Honestly, I’m not. I just… I really feel bad for you.

Pacey: Did I tell you what I’m gonna be doing this summer? I’m gonna sail “True Love” down to Key West. Just me and the sea. How’s that for Hemmingway-esk?

Andie: So when are you gonna leave?

Pacey: Right after finals.

Andie: Have you told her how you feel?

Pacey: Andie, she already knows how I feel.

Andie: I mean, have you really told her, Pacey? You can’t just leave without letting her know. I mean, that’s not like you. You don’t just stand and let things happen and you don’t run away, either. You have to tell her that you love her. (starting to cry) And you have to try to get her back. Because if you don’t, I promise you, you will regret it.

Pacey: Maybe.

Andie: No, Pacey. You will.

[Leery Residence – the next day Dawson sits out on the lawn chairs as Joey walks up. She’s carrying a jewelry box.]

Dawson: Hey.

Joey: Hey. I brought these back for you. (places the box on Dawson’s chair) They’re so beautiful. I’m not quite sure they’re me, but, I had a really fun time wearing them. So, I’m not going to deny that when you kissed me last night, I felt something. Something that I wasn’t expecting and something that probably will always be there. I can’t keep hurting people, Dawson. And I can’t choose. So I’m telling you the same thing I told Pacey. Please don’t make me. I’m not ready and I can’t do it.

Okay.

Okay?

I’ll wait. Call me an eternal optimist. But I have faith. This whole year has been a soul searching journey and I feel like I’ve finally come to the end. And what I found, was you.

(Gail runs past them and into the house. Joey looks up and watches her. Dawson sees this and turns to watch Gail, too. Gail rushes into the house.)

Gail: Mitch!

Mitch: What?

Gail: (taking his hands and leading him into the living room) Mitch! Come here

Mitch: What is it?

Gail: Just come here. Umm, sit down.

Mitch: (sitting down) What are you up to?

Gail: Just this… (she kneels in front of him) Last night you asked me to define this relationship, and I wasn’t ready to do it. (Dawson and Joey walk into the house and stand outside the living room watching Mitch and Gail) I had just been so afraid of screwing up, making the same mistakes twice. But I’m not gonna let that fear stop us from being together anymore. So, if our fate is to make the same mistakes all over again, than by God I hope we make those mistakes as well as we did the first time. (Mitch smiles at her) Is that a yes?

Mitch: Well, you didn’t ask me a question.

Gail: You know the question.

Mitch: (they stand up) You know the answer.

(The two begin to kiss. Joey and Dawson watch them for a bit. Joey smiles up at Dawson, and Dawson smiles as he watches his parents. Fade to credits.)