Jen: What on earth are you doing?

Grams: You’re going to catch that bus and you’re going to tell that boy exactly how you feel.

[Capeside – Joey’s wall. Joey is walking down the street with a bag of groceries. As she passes her wall, she looks up at it suddenly. Painted on the wall is the words, ‘As me to stay’. She stops and stares at it as Pacey walks up to her.]

Pacey: What took you so long? (he grabs a 1/2 gallon jug of milk out of Joey’s bag, opens it and takes a drink.) I got thirsty. I called Bessie, Bessie called you. I tell you, it is not easy work finishing things off.

Joey: Pacey, what does this means?

Pacey: It means you were right. That might leaving would be giving up on you and I’m not quite prepared to do that just yet. But it also means that I need to know that you’re not quite prepared to give up on me either. So, all that being said, I refer to the wall. With it’s hastily, yet adoringly written S.O.S. which I guess speaks for itself. I spent an hour and a half staring at this half painted wall after we talked last night. Just staring and thinking. So, the way I figured it, it’s your turn to stare now. (Pacey walks off)

[Leery Residence – the wedding is underway. Gail is in the middle of her vows.]

Gail: I do promise to love you, in good times and in bad. In sickness and in health. I loved you before I knew you. I will love you for all eternity. For you are my beloved Mitchell. You’re my best friend.

Mitch: I loved you before I knew you. I will love you for all eternity. For you are my beloved. You’re my best friend.

Priest: Now, with the power invested in me, I’m happy to pronounce you, husband and wife, again. Mitch, you may kiss the bride. (Mitch does)

(Mitch and Gail turn to their guests who stand and clap as they walk down the aisle. As Dawson and Joey turn to follow, they notice Pacey standing out in the crowd. They walk down the aisle.)

[Grams’ car – on the road. It’s day time now and they are still in search of Henry’s bus.]

Andie: Grams, we’ve been driving for hours. He could be anywhere by now.

Jen: Yeah, we could have missed him.

Grams: You can’t miss a giant gray bus filled with high school football players, (spotting the bus at a rest stop) like that one right there.

Jen: Where? Oh my goodness. Okay. (Grams speeds up and peels around the corner into the rest stop. Jen scrambles out of the car and rushed through the group of football players everywhere.) Henry! Umm, Henry! Henry Parker! Hey! Henry Parker! (pushing her way to the men’s bathroom door) Come on! (a coach comes out and Jen tries to push past him) Henry, you in there?

Coach: (Henry is standing looking out over the water and finally hears Jen, he turns to look at her) Whoa whoa whoa whoa! You can go in there! Have you lost your mind?

Jen: Quite possibly yes I might have lost it somehow. (she turns and sees Henry and goes to him. Grams, Jack and Andie get out of the car and watch from a distance.) Henry, 9 months ago you paid $500 to kiss me and I was too dumb to realize what that meant and what you were really offering me, but I know now. I mean, there really is such a thing as a second chance, and that no matter how old or how jaded you are, when you meet the person you’re suppose to be with everything’s going to be new. A sunset, a cheesy love song, and especially sex.

Football players: (all gathering around to listen) Ooooh!!!!

Jen: Henry, I’m the reason we didn’t have sex after prom.

Henry: Trust me, I know.

Jen: Not because I was mad at you but because I was more nervous than you are. I have been with guys before, but I have never been with anybody that I loved and… in that way I’m more of a virgin than you could ever be.

(The football players laugh.)

Henry: Thanks a lot.

Jen: Come on, what do you care? Come here. (she kisses him)

Football players: Yeah! (clapping) Oooooh!!! Henry! Henry! Henry! Henry!

[Leery Residence – the reception is underway. Joey stands at the edge of the reception which is in front of the house. She suddenly turns around to face the house and sees Pacey standing on the steps staring at her. She walks over to him.)

Joey: I can’t do it, Pacey. I can’t give you a reason to stay. I have so much junk to work through I don’t even know where to begin to process it all. I mean, how I feel about you and how I feel about Dawson…

Pacey: So you made your choice. Right there you made your choice.

Joey: I guess I have.

Pacey: Yeah. That wasn’t so hard, was it? You should have made it months ago. Saved us all a lot of time and energy. And hard ache.

Dawson: (walking out to join Pacey and Joey) (missed a couple words) present and accounted for.

Joey: Can I have this camera? I’m gonna go take some pictures.

Pacey: Jo?

Joey: Yup?

Pacey: I don’t even get a goodbye?

Joey: Goodbye Pacey. (she walks off)

Dawson: (moving next to Pacey) I was just wondering… What the hell are you doing here?

Pacey: Ease up, man. I’m here for the wedding.

Dawson: Last I heard you were sailing the 7 seas.

Pacey: As indeed I am. Tomorrow. Today I’m here for your parents.

Dawson: I’ll be sure to pass on your congratulations.

Pacey: Yeah, speaking of congratulations, I guess I should be passing some on to you.

Dawson: What are you talking about?

Pacey: She made her choice, Dawson. You’re it. You got what you wanted. Things are never going to be the same between us, are they?

Dawson: No.

Pacey: Yeah. Yeah, I didn’t think so.

[Rest stop – the bus is pulling away with Henry inside. Jen holds his hand through the window.]

Henry: I’ll write you everyday!

Jen: Just come back in one piece!

Football players: Whooo!!! (the bus leaves)

Andie: That was awesome.

Jack: Yeah, you gotta resign from that bitter club now.

Jen: Oh, I’ll still be there in spirit.

Grams: Oh, I’m so proud of you. You showed great, great courage today. How does it feel?

Jen: Well, I feel like an idiot. A happy idiot.

Grams: Did she say happy? Oh, you don’t know how long I’ve waited to hear you say that word.

Jen: Yeah, you and me both. I’ve been waiting a long time to feel it. Okay, okay, enough hugging for today. You know, I think we still have one thing to do on our Carpe Diem road trip. Jack, it’s your turn.

Jack: No, no, no way.

Jen: Our error of regret ends right now. What’s the fastest route to Boston?

[Leery Residence – Dawson and Joey are dancing on the dance floor. Joey is deep in thought.]

Dawson: You know, I used to be able to look into your eyes and know everything you were thinking. These days, I haven’t a clue.

Joey: I was thinking about this summer. How much there’s going to be today. I mean, we didn’t get a chance to spend last summer together, you and I. We’re gonna have a lot to catch up on. You know, there’ll be water skiing with your dad and fourth of July on Wildock island. And we could even go into Boston for a week. That would be fun.

Dawson: Yeah. (Joey looks like she’s about to cry but covers it up and continues dancing.)

[Boston – Ethan’s school. Grams pulls up and Jack gets out of the car.]

Jack: Wish me luck! (he rushes away from the car and through campus looking for Ethan. He finally spots him sitting at a table with another guy. Jack rushes over to him.)

Ethan: Jack!

Jack: Hey!

Ethan: Hey. What are you doing here?

Jack: I just drove a really long way to tell you, umm… More sort of try to explain, really. No, I don’t mean that. I want to show you. I want to show you that I can, that I’m not afraid to, well, this… (Jack kisses him. Ethan pushes him away)

Ethan: Jack, no.

Jack: Look, I know there’s people around but who cares, right? That’s the whole point, I finally have the courage to do this.

Ethan: Jack, this is Brad.

Jack: As in your ex-boyfriend, Brad?

Brad: No, as in his boyfriend, Brad. I think I’ll let you talk this one out. See you at practice. (he grabs his bag and walks off)

Ethan: Well, uhh… Hey, explanation time.

Jack: No, no explanations necessary. It’s very clear to me that I just inducted myself into the halls of the permanently pathetic.

Ethan: Please, Jack, just listen. The timing just isn’t there right now. And Brad and I…

Jack: I don’t really want to hear about the details of your joyful reunion, okay?

Ethan: Sure, Jack. I’m sorry. I really am.

[Leery Residence – Dawson clinks his glass with his fork to begin his speech.]

Dawson: The first time my parents got married, they were very young. They were just out of college. And umm, I remember looking at the photo album as a kid and wondering why I wasn’t in any of the pictures. It’s hard when you love someone that much to imagine them having this entire life that you weren’t even there for. And I have to say that being here today, experiencing this first hand, finally getting to be in all the pictures, I wouldn’t trade this for anything. Cause I’d much rather be a part of what you have now than what you had then. That point where everything is forgiven. And I think that that’s really what love means. (Joey begins to think about what Dawson is really saying) That that you can forgive anything. So, to my parents, who taught me that love does not conquer all. That love ends and begins again. Cheers. (people clap and clink glasses)

[Dawson’s Pier – Dawson stands at the end as Joey makes her way over there.]

Joey: Hey. Your speech was beautiful.

Dawson: Thanks.

Joey: what you said, did you mean it, Dawson?

Dawson: Every word. Which is way you should turn around and go. To Pacey.

Joey: What?

Dawson: Last year you had the opportunity to go to Paris to study, because of me you didn’t.

Joey: Dawson, that wasn’t your fault.

Dawson: Yes it was my fault cause I should have made you go. But I was selfish and I didn’t want you to go. I wanted you to stay here with me. And I refuse to make that mistake again.

Joey: Well, Dawson, what if it’s my choice? I mean, what if I want to stay.

Dawson: Joey, come on. Even I can see it. Pacey is this year’s Paris. And this time you have to go. You have to see for yourself. I can stand here and tell you that it’s a colossal mistake and that all roads lead back to me, but that’s not going to make any bit of difference. Words and speechs sound great, but they don’t add up to anything. All that matters right now is what you want.

Joey: I don’t even know what I want, Dawson.

Dawson: Yes you do. You want him. (Joey begins to cry) You want him like I want you. You love him like I love you. The only difference is, he loves you back the same way. And you deserve that, okay? And I’m not going to be the one who stands in the way of you getting there. You’re free. Do can do whatever you want.

Joey: But, Dawson, I want us to still be friends and I want to know that you don’t hate me…

Dawson: They’re only words, Joey. Just words. Cause after you’re done dispensing your pleasantries here you’re gonna turn around and you’re gonna walk away from. Aren’t you?

Joey: I have to, otherwise I’ll never know.

Dawson: Just go.

Joey: Dawson…

Dawson: Joey, go! I’m telling you, before I take it all back, alright, just go. Go! (Joey nods and runs back towards the house. Dawson bursts into tears. Joey rushes through the crowd of guests who are waving to Mitch and Gail pulling away from the house. Joey rushes past them and down the road. Grams and Jen pull up home and Jen sees Joey rushing off. She looks out to the pier and sees Dawson collapsing to the ground in tears.)

[McPhee Residence – Jack walks through the front door as Mr. McPhee works on something in the kitchen.]

Mr. McPhee: Hey, Jack. Glad you’re back. I want to show you something.

Jack: I’m not really in the mood right now.

Mr. McPhee: What’s the matter?

Jack: (walking towards his bedroom) I just want to be alone.

Mr. McPhee: Hey, you can talk to me.

Jack: This is something you really don’t want to hear about, believe me.

Mr. McPhee: You don’t know that.

Jack: (coming back into the kitchen) Really? You wanna hear that I found out that Ethan got back together with his ex? You wanna hear that I found out after I kissed him?

Mr. McPhee: Well, that’s interesting.

Jack: Yeah, that’s interesting, right? Come on, admit it! The thought of me kissing another guy disgusts you. I disgust you.

Mr. McPhee: That is not true.

Jack: Yes it is.

Mr. McPhee: You’re angry, you’re hurting right now, but I will not let you pick an argument with me, just so you can vent your frustration.

Jack: Oh no, I spent an entire year developing this relationship. And working on it. Now it’s a wash. The whole year’s a wash. My whole life is a wash.

Mr. McPhee: Your life is not a wash. You hurt now because you had the guts to put yourself out there. To go after what you wanted.

Jack: I can’t… (squatting to the floor and leaning against the kitchen cabinet) I can’t keep going through this. It’s like having all the problems of a typical teenager and then there’s this whole other level of constant fear and pain. Do you know the anguish I went through over a kiss? One stupid little kiss. Most people don’t have to do that.

Mr. McPhee: You’re right, they don’t.

Jack: Then why me? I don’t want to be different. I didn’t ask to be gay.

Mr. McPhee: No more than I asked for a gay son. But, boy, am I glad that I got one.

Jack: You don’t mean that.

Mr. McPhee: Yeah, I do. (goes to Jack and hugs him. Jack begins to cry.)

[Leery Residence – Dawson walks through the empty wedding set up and into his empty house. He goes up to his room and finds Jen, Andie and Jack there waiting.]

Andie: Oh, behold! Your official pick-me-up posse.

Jen: Yeah, Andie and I were chatting and thought that maybe you could use a little company.

Andie: So then I took it upon myself to call Jack Attack here and tell him to come right over.

Jack: And then I took it upon myself to run over to the video store and grab some movies.

Dawson: Thanks, guys, I really appreciate you coming over, but… I really think what I need right now…

Andie: Sorry, Dawson, no can do.

Jen: Yeah, I think that the words ‘I want to be alone right now’ are used far too often around here.

Andie: Kinda ranks right up there with ‘Can we talk?’

Jack: Yeah, then there’s those countless references towards all things Freud and Spielberg.

Jen: Yeah, I’m pretty sure that we’re not in Capeside anymore, Toto. This is some alternate reality where our intellects are sharper, our quips are wittier and our hearts are repeatedly broken while faintly in the background, some soon to be out of date contempo pop music plays.

Dawson: So why does it hurt so much?

Andie: Because our pain makes us real, Dawson. We can’t do it alone. None of us can. Sit down.

Dawson: So, what did you guys do today?

Andie: Oh my gosh! You are not going to believe these two… (the camera moves to the painting of Dawson and Joey as kids that Aunt Gwen gave to him)

[Capeside – Joey is running as fast as she can. Though she had time to run home and change. She is running towards “True Love”, frantically looking for Pacey.]

Joey: Pacey! Pacey! Pacey! Pacey! (she climbs aboard the boat and looks inside) Pace? Pacey!

Pacey: (coming from around the other side of the pier with a drink) You want something, Jo?

Joey: I want to talk to you!

Pacey: No, nope. It’s a bit late for this now. I’m leaving, you can’t stop me, so don’t even try.

Joey: No, that’s not why I’m here.

Pacey: (climbs aboard True Love) So why are you here? Maybe you want to rub it in a little bit, huh? (he jumps off the boat and unties it from the dock)

Joey: Look, I don’t want to stop you, Pacey. And I don’t want to stop Dawson, and I don’t want to be stopped. Not by either of you, not by anyone. See, I mean, that’s what this whole year’s been about. We’ve been trying to stop each other from moving on and from growing up. But not you. You’re different. And you’ve challenged me every step of the way and you’ve been there every step of the way.

Pacey: (walking past her) Jo, departure time is in T-minus 30 seconds, so if there’s a point, I suggest you get to it. (he climbs back aboard. Joey thinks for a second, then turns around)

Joey: I think I’m in love with you.

Pacey: (with his back towards Joey) You think or you know?

Joey: I know. (Pacey turns to look at Joey) I’ve known it since the moment you kissed me and maybe even before that. As scary as it is, I don’t want to deny it anymore, Pacey. I don’t want to run from it and I don’t want to let it run from me.

Pacey: So… what are we going to do here, Jo?

Joey: I want to come with you.

Pacey: What? Are you crazy?

Joey: I want to stop standing still, I want to move forward, I want to come with you.

Pacey: What about Bessie and the B&B? They need you.

Joey: Not as much as I need you, Pacey.

(He smiles at her, she smiles back. She takes this as a yet and tries to climb aboard.)

Pacey: (stopping her) Uh uh uh uh!

Joey: (smiling, raising her hand up to his) Permission to come aboard?

Paey: Permission granted. (he takes her hand and she climbs aboard. They kiss.) You can swim, can’t you?

Joey: (taking a seat) Of course. I’m kinda worried about the next change of clothes.

Pacey: (getting the boat going) Nothing to worry about. We’re gonna hit the next port in a few days.

Joey: A few days?

Pacey: Yeah. Or a few days after that.

(The boat moves out onto the water. Joey watches as Pacey steers them off into the sunset. And things are how they should be.)