215 - ...That is the Question
Dawson arrives, with Pacey’s homework, to his own bedroom, where Pacey is watching “Jerry Maguire”. Pacey will return to his house once his suspension is over. Pacey asks how everyone’s doing. Dawson tells him to call Andie. They haven’t talked for a week. He’s not going to apologize. He stood up for something he believed in. Jerry (Maguire) took a stand. “And he lost everything. He had to beg, grovel and crawl to get it all back. And he was not sleeping on his best friends floor.” “I thought you said I could have the bed tonight.” “I don’t think so.” “Joey gets the bed.” “Ha ha. Don’t go there.”
Ty and Jen kiss each other goodbye. She tells Dawson Ty’s a good guy, then invites Dawson to come along with them tonight. “Bible party?” “Not exactly.”
Joey is looking for a book in her locker, and hands everything to Jack. A student walks by. “Nice purse McPhee!” Jack says they should make love on the student green, or have a going “in” party. Everyone can come dressed as their favorite straight person. they kiss goodbye and go to class. Dawson finds Joey trying to gather her thoughts. He asks her to come along with him and Jen to a party. She can’t. Jack and her are studying. Dawson thinks they should do something fun. they should do something alone.
Pacey has all four assignments complete, that he missed while he was away. Mr. Peterson hands him back his poetry assignment. F. “What exactly was wrong with this?” “Well, in my educated editorial analysis... it stunk.” “So as my teacher, you have no comments or advice on how I might compose a poem to your liking?” “Yes, write better.”
Pacey sees Andie in the cafeteria. Dawson tells him to go talk to her. “I will. Just wanna give it a second.”
Joey hands Jack a menu. It’s what she’ll be cooking tonight. What happens after that, only fate can say.
Pacey walks over and sits with Andie. They argue about who should have called first. She gets up and leaves. Jack asks her what that was all about. She can’t talk. She has to meet with Mr. Milo. He does too. They enter the office and Andie runs in. “Daddy!” Jack stands at the door watching his dad and Andie hug.
Jack phones Joey to tell her he has to cancel. His dad is taking them out to dinner. Joey phones up Dawson.
Ty, Jen, Joey and Dawson are at the jazz club. Ty orders them four usuals. “What’s a ‘usual’?” “It`s a surprise. A rather stiff surprise.” “I’ll take a coke.” “Me too”, Joey and Dawson both say. Ty gets up on stage and plays the piano to the next song. Dawson asks “What’s his deal? Doesn’t his religion frown upon this?” “Yeah, well, he’s got issues.” “He’s perfect for you.” They take a minute to look at there situation. He’s sandwiched between two women who both dumped him. Jen’s dating a bible humping hypocrite. Joey’s boyfriend may be gay.
Pacey is looking at the code of conduct books for teachers in a library.
Andie is telling her “daddy” all about her news. Jack is quiet. Mr. McPhee isn’t happy about his trip down here, after Mr. Milo phoned him. “Are you gay, Jack?” “Would you care?” “That’s not an answer. And, yes, I would. This family has enough problems. We don’t need to add to them.” “And it would be a problem?” “You’re the only son I have now Jack. You don’t have Tim to hide behind anymore. People notice you now.”
Dawson and Joey dance at the club. He tells her the thought of Jack being gay has crossed his mind once, maybe twice. “I don’t know? You know him better than I do. Do you know him as well as me?” “No, of course not. I can’t read his eyes the way I can yours.”
Ty doesn’t get why Joey would want to be with a fruit fly. Jen doesn’t think he’s a fruit fly. “C’mon Jen. If it looks like a dusk, talks like a duck, quacks like a duck: It’s a duck.” Ty thinks it’s choice to quack. Jen doesn’t. “All ducks choose to quack, and Jack’s definitely a quacker.”
Andie tells Jack she wants her daddy to stay. Jack doesn’t think he needs to stay. He asks Andie if she’s proud of her dad.
Grams tells Jen she likes Ty. Ty and Jen continue their discussion on quacking. Ty asks Grams about the bible saying homosexuality is a sin. Jen tells Grams to stay out of it. They argue over if being gay is a choice. Grams can’t stay out of it. “If Jack is gay, he does not need your judgment, young man. The lord will be the one to judge him as he will all of us. What he needs from you, from me, from everyone in this world is love and tolerance.”
Dawson walks Joey home. She asks him id she’s sexual. She’s wondering if Jack chose her because she’s safe. He says she’s sexual, but she wonders why he fell for Jen, sex-machine, first. Just took him time to see what was there. He reassures her she’s sexual. “I think the real question is why did you choose Jack.”
Pacey is waiting for the principle to arrive at school. He has a paper he made last night. Mr. Peterson is on violation of almost every law of ethics for teachers. He wants him publicly reprimanded for his behavior.
Mr. McPhee is leaving. He gives Andie the names of nurses to possibly hire. He’ll be back in a few weeks. Jack comes down. “Don’t bother.” “Excuse me?” “I said don’t bother coming back.” He goes to leave but Jack gets in front of him and blocks the door. “Ask me the question again. Ask me if I’m gay. Ask me.” “You are not gay.” “Yes, I am! You know it! I see how you look at me, and I know you know. Think about the way that you treated me and the way you treated Tim. Because he was the real son, and I was different. And as hard as you’ve tried to stamp it out, and to ignore it, I have tried harder! Harder than you to be quiet and to forget it, and to not bother my family with my problem. But I can’t try anymore because it hurts. I’m sorry dad. Andie, I’m sorry. I don’t want to be going through this, but I am.” He and Andie start crying. Mr. McPhee tells them to stop crying. Andie yells “Just leave. Get out of here.” Mr. McPhee grabs his bags and leaves.
Jack arrives at school and approaches Joey. He wants to meet with her tonight. She accepts and kisses her goodbye.
Jack tells Pacey that Peterson isn’t having class today. Jack says thank you to Pacey. “Your welcome, man.” Pacey sees Peterson sitting at his desk. He enters and asks him why class isn’t in session. “Oh, you didn’t get the latest update? Your favorite teacher is leaving this godforsaken institution.” He was going to retire in six months, but he gave him a reason to leave early. Pacey says he’s sorry. He tells him he was admirable and not to ruin it with an apology. Pacey says he’s learned that “respect is not commanded through fear... it’s earned through compassion.” “Should I respect you? Your responsible for ending my career. Where’s the compassion in that?”
Ty approaches Jen. She can’t get beyond some of his views. “So we can’t disagree? Can’t we just see what happens next?” “You certainly have a charm, don’t you?”
Pacey and Andie meet. They’ve been looking for each other and have alot to say. they argue over who should apologize first. Pacey apologizes, then she does. Her apology was better. “I always loose to you.” She kisses him. “Mmm. I take that back. I’m definitely the winner here.”
Jack arrives at Joey’s candle lit dinner by the creek. “You shouldn’t have done this.” They stare at each other. “This is the part where I say ‘uh-oh’, right?” “Look Joey... I don’t know what to say really, or even where to begin.” “Just be honest with me.” “This morning, I told my father that I was gay.” Joey has a blank look on her face. “So you are. You’re gay.” “Well... I mean... not...” “So your not gay?” “No...” “Part gay?” Jack chuckles. “Please, don’t laugh at me, Jack. I don’t know what you’re trying to say. Are you gay?” “When I wrote that poem... it clicked something inside of me that had been quiet for so long. And it made me realize... that whatever it is I’m going through is not going to go away... maybe ever. I care about you so much, you’ve been such a great friend to me, which is why I can’t stand the fact of loosing you. But I don’t want to hurt you either.” “Look, I um... I know the rest. Thank you for being honest with me.” “Thank you for being you.”
Dawson is watching TV on his bed, when Joey climbs through the window, crying. “Joey?” She lies her crying head on him and he hugs her, supporting her, no words needed between these two best friends.
