Emotions in Motion
Pilot episode of Dawson's Creek
Written by: Kevin Williamson
Directed by: Steve Miner
Transcribed by: Greeneye90@aol.com
DISCLAIMER: I do not own the characters in this story, nor do I own any rights to the television show Dawson's Creek. They were created by Kevin Williamson and belong to him, Ultimate TV, Columbia Tri-Star, and the WB Television network.
~~~~~~~~~~Part Two~~~~~~~~~~
Jen's Grandparent's house. Jen walks into her grandfather's room where he's sleeping. She looks both ways in the hall before sitting down.
Jen: Good morning Granddad.
She looks at his scar, visible under his pajamas. She touches it lightly.
Grams: (walking in) What are you doing?
Jen: Oh, Oh I was just saying good morning.
Grams: Your breakfast is ready.
Jen: Oh (pause) I'm glad to be here Grams.
Grams: Don't wanna be late your first day.
She walks out of the room leaving Jen holding her Grandfather's hand.
Close up on a pan of scrambled eggs being stirred. Pull back to reveal Jen at the breakfast table.
Jen: You know I don't usually eat in the morning Grams. I mean I appreciate the thought and all but my eyes are barely propped open by noon. Just a coffee fix and I'm set.
She pours herself a cup.
Grams: (setting a plate in front of her) Well I'll remember that in the future.
Jen: (holding the mug) So tell me about this Dawson guy next door. He looks so different. He used to be kinda short and compact.
Grams: You stay away, that boy is trouble.
Jen: Aren't they all? (pauses) Well, what about the girl who lives down the creek...Joey I think her name is?
Grams: (sitting down) That girl from down the creek has been crawling into the window of that boy next door for the past ten years. Neither goes to church, I believe they're what you call the wrong element.
Jen: (sipping her coffee) Right.
Grams lowers her head to say prayers. Jen sets her coffee down and lays her napkin in her lap. Grams looks at her out of the corner of her eye.
Grams: Say grace dear.
Jen: That's okay, you do it.
Grams: It would be nice if you did it.
Jen: I don't think so Grams. Thanks for the offer.
Grams: Is their some reason you don't want to thank our Lord this morning?
Jen: You know Grams, I really didn't want to get into this, you know. Kinda causes a headache but um, (pauses) I don't really do well with church and the Bible and this prayer stuff.
Grams: Beg your pardon?
Jen: I don't covet a religious God, Grams. I'm an Atheist.
Camera lingers on Grams shocked expression. "Tubthumping" by Chumbawumba plays.
Flash scenes of Capeside High School. Kids getting off their bus, tossing footballs and Frisbees. Cut to school hall. Pan down to Jen, at her locker, putting things in her backpack. She holds her schedule in her teeth while trying to fit things in. Nellie walks up.
Nellie: (smiling) Hi, I'm Nellie Olsen.
Jen: (removing schedule from her mouth) Nellie as in Little House...
Nellie: I know, I know. Little House on the Prairie, it was like my mom and dad's favorite show. But no preconceptions okay? I'm not like her at all.
Jen: Uh, I'm Jen.
Nellie: From New York. I know. How's your grandfather? He has us all worried. He's still on the prayer list at church, you party?
Jen: Excuse me?
Nellie: Par-ty?
Jen: Uh, party as in do I like to have a good time, or party as in drink and use drugs?
Nellie: It's objective.
Jen: I like to have a good time. Substance free.
Nellie: Maybe we should call you Nellie. (shrugs) See ya!
She walks away. Jen turns, a little dazed, back to her locker.
Dawson: (walking up) Hey! How's it going?
Jen: I could really use a cigarette.
Dawson: (surprised) You smoke?
Jen: Uh, I quit. I'm just a little tense.
Dawson: (smiling) Well you're hiding it well.
Jen: I have a great denial system.
Dawson: Yeah, it's the first day, we're all a little tense. It'll get easier.
Jen: Good.
Dawson: How's your schedule? They screwed up mine.
Jen brings her schedule out and they look it over.
Dawson: Who do you have first period?
Jen: Um...Briston. Biology.
Dawson: I was just heading that way.
Jen: (Smiling) Were you?
She closes her locker and they walk off down the hall. "Tubthumping" plays.
Cut to Pacey in a classroom. He balances a book on his head as other student enter, talking and take their seats. The door opens and Tamara enters. Pacey turns in time to see her, surprised. He grabs the book from off his head.
Pacey: Tamara.
Tamara: (smiling) Hello Pacey. Tell you what, why don't you call me Ms. Jacobs during school hours?
Pacey: Right of course.
He takes his seat, staring at her as she puts her things on her desk.
"Tubthumping" plays.
Cut to Jen walking into biology. She looks around and spots Joey. Joey also notices and shrugs down in her seat, trying to be invisible. Jen walks over.
Jen: (taking the seat next to her) Hey, I was hoping we'd have a class together.
Joey: (smiling fakely, she taps her fingers on the table) Here we are.
Cut to Dawson opening the door of a classroom. A TV set plays Psycho. Dawson watches as he walks up to the teacher at the front of the room.
Dawson: Psycho.
The teacher, startled, turns around.
Mr. Gold: (pushing pause on the remote) You know the film?
Dawson: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Universal, 1960. Little known fact: Did you know that Hitchcock surprised Janet Leigh with freezing cold water in order to get her to scream so effectively?
Mr. Gold: Who are you?
Dawson: Dawson Leery.
Mr. Gold: Then I take it you'll be in my fifth period film lab.
Dawson: Actually that's why I'm here. (he pulls his schedule out from backpack) There seems to have been some confusion with my schedule. I was denied admittance to your film class.
Mr. Gold: Then you must be a sophomore.
Dawson: (pausing) And that's not a good thing?
Mr. Gold: It's a very popular class Dawson. Seating is limited. Theirs a waiting list, priority goes to upperclassmen.
Dawson: Well that's stupid.
Mr. Gold: Excuse me?
Dawson: Who made that rule?
Mr. Gold: I did.
Dawson: Oh.
Mr. Gold: Why are you so adamant?
Dawson: (smiling) Passion, Mr. Gold. Pure, mad-driven passion. Movies are my life.
Mr. Gold: (getting up to sit at desk) Oh I see.
Dawson: I'm sorry. I'm not coming across well at all here. The point is I'm going to be a filmmaker. It's my life's ambition. It always has been. How many students do you have in this class that can say that?
Cut to Mr. Gold's face.
Dawson: (continuing) This is a small town Mr. Gold. Theirs not a lot of opportunity for me. You have the power. You could easily override this bizarre rule that denies students their education.
Mr. Gold: Your very convincing Dawson Leery. But I'm afraid the class is maxed out. I wish I could make case by case exceptions but that would be unfair and problematic. I'm sorry to say that no is my definitive answer.
Dawson: But...
Mr. Gold: No, Period. It's a complete sentence.
Cut to Dawson's face. A bell rings. Joey and Jen walk out of Biology into the already crowded hall.
Jen: Hey Joey. Um, can I ask you something kinda up front?
Joey: Sure.
Jen: Are you and Dawson (laughs nervously) a thing?
Joey: (shrugging it off) No, were just friends.
Jen: Like were going to be, I hope. (pause) You know, my Grams warned me about you. She said you're severely troubled.
Joey: Well, no offense but your Gram's is cracked.
Jen: Why does she rag on you?
Joey: Pick a topic. There's my dad, the imprisoned convict or my sister impregnated by her black boyfriend.
Jen: Your father's in prison?
Joey: (kinda proudly) Conspiracy to traffic marijuana in excess of ten thousand pounds.
Jen: Wow, so then um where's your mother?
Joey: (looking away) Oh, she had this cancer thing. It got her.
Jen: So then you live with your sister?
Joey: And the black boyfriend. (pause) He likes you, you know.
Jen: (confused) Who the black boyfriend?
Joey: (interrupting) Dawson. Don't abuse his feelings.
Joey walks away. Jen stares after her and sighs.
Capeside cafeteria. A balding, overweight man walks past Dawson, Jen and Joey at a lunch table.
Dawson: Okay, the bald man, Mr. Herman. He teaches a timid calculus class and packs a .45 magnum. Last year opened fire and took out two students and a custodian.
Jen: Pled justifiable homicide. They didn't have a hall pass.
The two laugh. Joey watches them.
Dawson: Woman in funky black dress. Periodic drinker. Blacks out after two glasses of cheap whine and runs through town with her dress over her head.
Jen: Singing Neil Diamond songs.
They share another laugh. Joey is disgusted.
Dawson: You're good. I should bring you in to touch up my dialogue.
Joey: (handing him her script) Um, we're supposed to be working Dawson.
He takes it from her.
Dawson: Yeah, um would you mind taking a look at Act Three. I'm having a climax issue.
Jen: (picking it up) Sure.
Joey sets her hand in her chin and rolls her eyes.
Cut to Tamara eating lunch at her desk. Pacey walks in with his backpack.
Pacey: Tamara...(correcting himself) I mean, Ms. Jacobs. How was The Graduate?
Tamara: Just as I remembered.
Pacey: Are you looking for romance tonight?
Tamara: (smiling) Why, you got any suggestions?
Pacey: Uh, have you ever seen The Summer of '42?
Tamara: (leaning back in her chair) Refresh my memory.
Pacey: Well, it's about a beautiful woman who seduces a young boy on the verge of manhood.
Tamara: It's a favorite.
Pacey: I, uh, could reserve it for you if you like?
Tamara: Actually, tonight I'm going to see that new film playing at The Realto.
Students start to enter and take their seats. Pacey looks disappointed.
Pacey: Yeah.
Tamara: It's getting great reviews.
Pacey: (brightening) Uh yeah. I guess I'll maybe check it out then.
He walks backwards into a student.
Boy: Hey, watch it!
Pacey waves goodbye and heads out. Tamara watches him, thoughtful. A bell rings.
Pacey and Dawson walk down a hall. Pacey puts his arm around Dawson's shoulder.
Pacey: Hey man. Video woman is my new English teacher. Okay, you, me, the movies tonight. We are stalking a faculty member.
Dawson: Dude, negative.
Pacey: What?! I actually have the possibility of losing my virginity in a high level fantasy fashion.
Dawson: (stopping at a water fountain) Pacey, go home. Walk your dog. It's not going to happen.
Pacey: Not tonight! That's not the plan, man. I just want to familiarize her with the gaze, the smile, the charming features, you know.
Dawson: Don't do this to yourself!
Pacey: Look, it is a fact that a large percentage of older women are attracted to young boys on the verge of manhood. It keeps them feeling young. I read that in Cosmopolitan.
Dawson: What are you doing reading Cosmopolitan?
Pacey: Look, I have three menstrually diverse sisters, Cosmo is my savior.
Dawson: (laughing) What do you need me for?
Pacey: Moral support. Okay, It'll be cool. You can invite Ms. Teen New York.
He looks down the hall as he talks and sees Jen conversing with a boy in a letterman's jacket. Dawson notices also.
Jen: (talking to the boy) That sounds good.
Pacey: Unless somebody's beaten you to it. C'mon man, get in there. Be assertive. Talk to her alright? You should be the one reading Cosmo. It'll build your female esteem. (pushes him) Go on...
Dawson punches him jokingly and walks down the hall towards Jen. He looks back as he passes the boy and reached Jen.
Jen: Dawson, hey, how's it going?
Dawson: Pretty good. I see you've met Roger Fullford.
They begin to walk.
Jen: Yeah, nice guy.
Dawson: Yeah (pause) Jock quarterback by day, schizophrenic transvestite by night.
Jen: (laughing) Oh really.
Dawson: Has what you call a Tori Spelling complex. He's partial to Victoria's Secret.
Jen: But can he run in pumps?
They snicker.
Dawson: Hey, uh Pacey and his crew's directing a trip to the movies tonight, nothing big, just a few of us. Would you like to come?
Jen smiles as the camera pans over them.
Cut to Joey waking home along the boardwalk. Dawson rides up on his bike, a backwards cap on.
Dawson: Hey Joey! I need a favor.
He gets off his bike and walks it besides her.
Joey:(smiling) Uh, oh.
Dawson: I have a semi-quasi date with Jen tonight, were going to the movies with Pacey and I need you come with us.
Joey: (dead panning) I'd rather go down in a plane crash.
Dawson: C'mon it's going to really, really weird with just two guys and Jen. It'll even it out.
Joey: So, would it be like a double date?
Dawson: Sorta, but not really. Pacey's on this hormonal mission...
Joey: (interrupting) Are you having an aneurysm? No way!
Dawson: It's not like a date-date. It's just so that Jen won't feel uncomfortable.
Joey: We wouldn't want that.
Dawson: C'mon, Joey please? Please, please, please, please, please! (he stops and grabs her arm) C'mon, Joey please?!
Joey: (giving in) Whatever.
Dawson: Thank you! You're the best, I mean it. I know your worried about our relationship and everything but I told you. Nothing has to change. I can tell you anything.
He rides off leaving Joey to continue walking by herself, downhearted.