(Dawson is showing his film to his mother. It ends. He turns to look at her reaction.)
Gail: Dawson, that was ...very impressive. It was moving. It was funny. (pauses) It was real.
Dawson: You're just saying that because you're my mother.
Gail: No, I'm not! You are incredibly talented.
Dawson: (gets up to go turn off the lights) You are incredibly biased. (pauses and turns around) You know what? I had such a distinct and clear vision for this movie. I-I mean, I saw every moment. I heard every word of dialogue. I guess I just...failed to translate that vision onto film ...bring it to life. And what about all the visions that I have for the future? What if I can't bring those to life either?
Gail: Sweetheart, the trick is to stay tenacious. Not to let any minor, (looks at the screen) and in this case, very minor, setback derail your vision.
Dawson: I supposed I could re-edit it.
Gail: There you go. Your movie may not be Citizen Kane ...but it's no Bride of Chucky either.
Dawson: The way my film teacher described it, you'd think it was the worst, most expensable, piece of junk ever captured on film.
Gail: Ah, honey, that is just one person's opinion. (She walks towards the door and turns around) Speaking of teachers at your school, how's your father enjoying his new profession?
Dawson: He likes it, I think. I mean, it's weird to see him in the teacher's lounge ...consorting with the enemy. (pauses) You really miss him, don't you?
Gail: Yeah. (pauses) Lately more than ever.
Dawson: Well, if you know what you want, maybe you should take some of your own advice.
Gail: (smiles) Maybe...
(She walks out of the room. Cue opening credits.)
Commercials. Cut to Joey watching her dad cook breakfast.)
Mr.Potter: 'Morning Joey. Hope you're hungry. I think I might have overdone it here.
Joey: Dad...
Mr.Potter: I am so glad to be home. I never thought making breakfast for my two daughter's would make me so happy.
Joey: I thought, for sure, that I would wake up this morning and discover that last night was just a dream...
Mr.Potter: It's all over, Joey. I'm not going anywhere ever again.
(Bessie walks in.)
Bessie: Hey Dad. I was thinking with the catering and expanding our hours, our finances are going to be straightened out in no time. (sees Joey) Joey! Good morning!
Mr.Potter: Your sister and I were up this morning scheming up ways to turn up a profit with the restaurant.
Bessie: Remember my friend Pam? She's getting married this Saturday at the Atheneom and the caterer fell through and--
Mr.Potter: Icehouse to the rescue.
Bessie: So do you think you could ask a few of your friends to work as servers?
Joey: (shocked and trying to digest everything) Sure...
Mr.Potter: Give me my grandson (reaching for Alexander.) C'mere. (Takes him out of the room)
Bessie: Isn't this exciting? I mean, we're finally on our way to getting out of debt!
Joey: Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, we're not an upscale catering service. We grill cheeseburgers!
Bessie: Don't worry ...with Dad's help we'll be fine.
(Mr. Potter walks back into the room.)
Mr.Potter: We're the Potters. We're quick studies and we always land on our feet, right?
(Bessie takes Alex back and Mr.Potter looks at Joey's worried face.)
Mr.Potter: Joey, I'm the father. It's my job to do the worrying. Your days of worrying are over. (pauses) I missed you so much.
(They hug and Joey closes her eyes and says with her face held close to her father's shoulder...)
Joey: I missed you, too.
Mr.Potter: We're a family again. Everything's going to be better. You'll see.
(Bessie smiles, agreeing.)
Mr.Potter: You'll see.
(Joey's face drops to a face clouded with worry. Cut to Jack and Joey walking out on the schoolyard.)
Jack: (confused) Since when do we cater weddings?
Joey: (speaking quickly) Since my father got paroled and took over the restaurant.
(Jack stops. He stares at Joey questioning the situation and her reaction to the situation.)
Joey: Yeah, I know. Yeah, I walked home last night ...and, ah, found him standing on the porch.
(Jack's is shocked by this and he searches Joey's face for some kind of a reaction to this.)
Jack: You must be thrilled (he smiles).
Joey: (smiles, looks a little faked) Yeah! I mean...it's ...uh, just a little weird. (pauses) Like I've been broadsided by a bus. A happy bus. But, just reeling from the shock I guess...
Jack: Sure! Of course. (studies her expression) Something's wrong.
(She looks at him and she shows that there is. She walks towards a bench and sits down.)
Joey: Jack...I don't know..
(He sits down beside her.)
Joey: Last night I was laying in bed, I couldn't sleep. I was shaking. (pauses) I have a pit in my stomach the size of a granade and...I've seen my dad one time in three years. I mean, we can't just pick up where we left off. This whole catering plan is just compounding my anxiety. I mean, all the blue-bloods of Capeside are going to be at this wedding. I mean, this isn't the most low profile setting for my father to reemerge into society.
Jack: Yeah. Maybe you need to tell your father that this catering plan is ill-conceived. Too much, too soon, you know? And I think that you need to deal with this reunion with your father on a personal level before you do it in public.
Joey: You should have seen Bessie's face this morning ...she was so excited. I don't want to rain on their parade.
Jack: Well, don't worry. (pauses and leans in close to her) I'll be there.
(Joey smiles. Cut to Pacey and Dawson walking down the halls.)
Dawson: So I think I'm going to go back and re-edit the ending because I'm thinking maybe I just put the pieces together wrong, you know?
(Pacey shrugs. Dawson spots his father with his film teacher in the teacher's lounge.)
Dawson: You know, it's bad enough that my parents are separated and my mother is heartbroken, should I really have to be subjected to this?
Pacey: Well ...she does have certain assets, Dawson.
Dawson: Pacey!
Pacey: I'm sorry, bro! But--
(Jack walks up and interrupts.)
Jack: Hey guys. Did Joey talk to you yet?
Dawson: About what?
Jack: Well, the Icehouse is catering a wedding on Saturday and we need some extra hands. (raises his eyebrows like meaning 'You interested?') It'd pay $60 for the day.
Pacey: Sold! For $60 I'd cater your ass!
Jack: Well, ...that won't be necessary.
Dawson: The Icehouse is catering weddings now?
Jack: Yeah, Mr. Potter's brainchild.
Dawson: (confused) Mr. Potter?
Jack: Mm-hm. You--(realizing) oh, Joey's dad got paroled yesterday.
Dawson: (his eyes bug in shock) Really?
Jack: Yeah...he's back home.
Dawson: Wow...
(The bell rings and Jack makes motions like he needs to be going and he leaves. Dawson stands there absorbing everything for a minute, sighs and then goes into class. Cut to the girl's bathroom. Abby is putting on a horrid feathery black jacket over her outfit. Jen walks in.)
Jen: I figured I'd find you in here. Abby, could I, um, talk to you for a second?
Abby: Funny. I've been under the misconception that we weren't speaking. After Dawson's movie wrapped, I figured you had no use for me.
Jen: (sighs) You know, you're right. Nevermind. (walks towards the bathroom door and out) See you later.
Abby: (follows) No! Jen, wait!
Jen: Abby, I woke up this morning ...so frustrated. Like, all I wanted to do was climb the walls or, or light the place on fire.
(Abby starts laughing.)
Jen: No, it's not funny. I am so serious, I am so tense. And I am so ...just bored. And I feel like I'm going berserk. I feel like I'm going berserk here.
Abby: Well, Jen, there was once this scientific experiment where they put this rat in this small box without any of it's ...rat toys or sawdust or stimulation. Well, eventually, the rat started gnawing off his own feet.
(Jen laughs.)
Abby: You are that rat. Capeside's the box. Need I say more?
Jen: I mean, I've tried changing my image. And if no one here's going to accept me, what's the point in living this pristine and tedious existence, you know? And then, thinking back on all the fun times I've had this year ...I've had them with you.
(Abby laughs.)
Abby: I think that's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me.
(Jen smiles.)
Jen: So, then, what do rats do for fun on the weekend?
Abby: Oh, I don't know, but, you know us rats. We can always sniff out something (smiles).
(They laugh and turn to go into their class.)
Abby: Late again.
(Cut to Andie and Pacey walking out the door of school.)
Pacey: 60 bucks for you, 60 bucks for me equals 120 dollars.
Andie: Do you have an abacas in your pocket or did you just add that in your head?
Pacey: What I was thinking is a trip to New York, dinner, catch a show, then a nice romantic carriage ride through the park, what do you say?
Andie: On $120?! What decade do you think we're living in?
Pacey: Alright, not the Big Apple but how about a nice romantic evening here in Capeside.
Andie: I hate weddings. Bridesmaids in hideous dresses, people getting all gooey...it's too sentimental for me.
Pacey: Too sentimental for you? A girl who just yesterday was brought to tears by a Nike commercial.
Andie: Well, I draw the line at weddings. The whole institution of marriage is an antiquated construct. I think that if a couple wants to stay together, they should do so by choice. I mean, all those sweeping vows and public ceremony, it just sets people up to fail miserably!
Pacey: I know you have issues where this is concerned, but you've never been to a wedding with me. You come with me on Saturday. If by the end of the night, you're not convinced that they are the most beautiful ritual that mankind has ever created, I'll let you keep the money. All of it. Yours and mine.
Andie: Hm. I have been itching to buy a new pair of Nikes that I just recently saw advertised...
Pacey: Andie McPhee, your days as a wedding cynic are numbered.
Andie: Ah, we'll see about that one.
(They hit their bottles of water together and then take a drink.)
(Cut to Joey coughing talking to her dad.)
Joey: I think...that you may have overdone that on the horseradish. It did clear my sinuses though.
(Mr. Potter spots Dawson.)
Mr.Potter: Dawson Leery, I thought for sure that when I came back you two would be a couple what happened?
Joey: Long story.
Mr.Potter: Hello, Dawson!
(They shake hands.)
Dawson: Mr. Potter.
Mr.Potter: You're a sight for sore eyes.
Dawson: Thank you, congratulations, welcome back!
Mr.Potter: Thank you. (pauses) You're looking good.
Dawson: Thank you.
Mr.Potter: You kids are all grown up. It's amazing, but let's catch up later. I have a horseradish issue to deal with.
Dawson: Ah..
Joey: We're catering a wedding.
Dawson: I know. I told Jack I could help out.
Mr.Potter: Good! Tell your parents I said hello.
Dawson: You'll actually be able to tell them yourself. They'll be guests at the wedding on Saturday.
(Mr.Potter smiles and goes back into the kitchen. Dawson looks at Joey and raises his eyebrows.)
Dawson: Wow! So your dad's back? How long have you known?
Joey: Total surprise.
Dawson: (sympathetic) That's got to be a lot to deal with. (concerned) How are you doing?
Joey: (she stares almost in a daze into his eyes and snaps out of it) I'm okay.
Dawson: Okay?
Joey: I mean, I was kind of on an emotional overload this morning, but, uh, I ran into Jack and with his typically intuitive insight, he was able to calm me down.
Dawson: (seems a little envious of Jack, smiles fakely) Great!
Joey: I was looking for you ...but then I had to cut school early to come here to help out.
(Awkward pause.)
Joey: Taste this. (she turns around and grabs a plate) Horseradish and smoked salmon. We're serving it at the wedding.
(She puts the fork up towards his mouth when they overhear a conversation between two women at a nearby table.)
Woman #1: ...what he did to their mother? He cheated on her while the poor woman was dying of cancer! I don't think he should ever be allowed back into Capeside. I mean, he's a drug dealer!
Woman #2: Shhh! Keep your voice down!
(Cut back to Dawson and Joey. Joey's obviously upset by this)
Dawson: Well, that's Capeside for you.
Joey: (talking fast, the way she always does when she's trying to escape something) You know, I gotta get back into the kitchen but thank you for helping out this weekend!
(She walks back towards the kitchen.)
Dawson: Joey! (pauses) Joey!
(Commercials. Cut to Joey giving orders before the wedding.)
Joey: Okay, Pacey and Andie, I need you to take care of the wedding cake and arrange the tables. (they nod) Jack and Dawson, if you guys could take care of the champagne and the appetizers. (they nod) (to all) And if there are any catastrophes, you can come to me. I'll either be in the kitchen or out on the floor.
(Bessie walks in.)
Joey: Bessie, the guests are already starting to arrive. We're going to survive this, right?
Bessie: Of course we will! Just relax, and breathe.
Joey: I don't have time to breathe...
(Joey starts turning the corner and Dawson follows her holding two champagne bottles.)
Dawson: Joey! About those women at the Icehouse...
Joey: What about them, Dawson? They're just a bunch of Capeside's ignoramuses. What do they know? I mean, it's bound to happen when your father's an infamous philanderer and drug dealer.
Dawson: Are you okay, though? I'm worried about you.
(Joey quickly snaps towards him, obviously jumpy and stressed.)
Joey: I'm fine! Dawson, I'm fine. Honestly, I don't care about those idiotic women, there are 100 people out there, waiting to eat, and at this point, getting them fed is the only thing on my mind!
(She walks off quickly and Dawson looks after her and sighs. Cut to Dawson out on the floor serving glasses of champagne. He runs into his mother.)
Gail: Hey, Dawson. Have you seen your father?
Dawson: No, I haven't.
Gail: Well, you were right that I should take some of my own advice. I've decided that this has gone on long enough. I'm going to get your father back.
Dawson: (smiles) Well, you look beautiful.
Gail: Thanks, honey.
(She kisses him on the cheek and walks past as Dawson glances at the entrance and sees his father with his film teacher. He looks back at his mom, who is also noticing. Dawson accidentily knocks over the last champagne glass standing and he goes to clean up the mess. Cut to Andie and Pacey wheeling in the cake into a room.)
Pacey: Isn't this romantic, sweetheart? I mean, can't you just feel the anticipatory excitement in the air? Two young lovers about to be united in the bounds of holy matrimony. I'm getting goosebumps, how about you?
Andie: Yeah, don't push me. I've got a cake knife in my hand, Pacey.
Pacey: (laughs) Okay, let's just finish this thing off and we can get out there and watch the ceremony.
Andie: I'm not watching the ceremony.
Pacey: Sure, you are. You can watch it from my lap.
Andie: Yeah, right, in your dreams.
Pacey: You know, I wish I had money like these people. When someone in my family gets married, you end up wearing polyester, they serve fishsticks for appetizers, and the whole thing winds up in a drunken brawl. That's why I like to make moments like this perfect. Beautiful location, best champagne, and every penny in place.
Andie: It may look perfect, but stretch beneath the surface and you will find distrangement, despair, and dysfunction. I mean, at least your family's imperfection reflects reality. My family, we look perfect, but on the inside we're falling apart.
Pacey: You're just a regular Polyanna today, aren't ya? Go easy on the sunshine, sister.
Andie: (angry) Alright, Pacey. I told you I didn't want to come to this wedding. I told you it would only put me in a bad mood, and you forced me to come. So you know what? Now you're going to have to deal with the consequences--
(She moves her hands out to prove her point and she knocks over the top layer of the cake which smashes to the ground. Joey saw the cake drop and she closes her eyes and sighs.)
Andie: Ahh..
Pacey: Oh, dear lord...
(Cut to Dawson going into the room where the bride's at. She's sitting in a chair, obviously upset.)
Dawson: (surprised) Hi.
Pam: Hi...
Dawson: Are you okay?
Pam: I think I'm having a heart attack.
Dawson: D-do you want me to get somebody?
Pam: No! Don't get anybody! Just help me get this window open (she goes over to a window.)
Dawson: Wh-What are you trying to do?
Pam: (hesitantly) Can you keep a secret?
Dawson: Yeah..
Pam: I'm not going through with this. I can't get married.
Dawson: W-why not?
(Pam starts crying.)
Pam: I want to diieee....oh, please, just let me die...
Dawson: What's the matter? Don't you love him?
Pam: I don't know. That's the thing. What if I marry him and it's the biggest mistake of my life?
Dawson: I-I don't know what to say...
(Dawson just kinda stares at her wondering how the world he got himself into this mess. Cut to Jen's house. Abby and Jen are in Jen's room.)
Grams: Jennifer! Would you please turn that down!
Jen: Sorry, Grams!
Abby: (mocking) Jennifer! Would you please turn that down!
(They laugh)
Abby: I'm bored.
Jen: What do you want to do tonight, huh? I'm determined to have a blast no matter what.
Abby: I don't know. I think we're in desperate need of the 3 B's: booze, boys, (tries to think of the other, starts over)...booze, boys..
(Jen laughs.)
Abby: Well, that's only two B's. So what are Dawson and those other lame excuses for teenagers doing tonight?
Jen: The Icehouse is catering this wedding at the Atheneom...everybody's there. Guess nobody thought to invite me. I guess I'm not really part of the 'inner cir