*Dawson's room - there's a miniature Capeside community built. Pacey, Dawson, and Jack are in the room.*

Pacey: I can't believe you made this whole thing by yourself.

Dawson: Congratulations, Jack.

Jack: Thanks. I'm not completely done. I still have this whole back section to paint.

Dawson: I-I-I'm....truly impressed. And grateful.

Jack: It's...a little unclear, though, as to why you want this. You're not going to like, blow it up or anything, are ya?

Dawson: No...um, there's no asteroid in my movie. It's for aerial shots. Establishing scenes....you get the right lense...the right light...perfect point of the Creekside village.

Pacey: It's amazing what a little camera trickery can do. Well, if you guys will excuse me, I have a ton of homework to do including Peterson's assignment which I haven't even started yet.

Jack: *sighs* Yeah, I haven't either.

Dawson: Pacey Witter is leaving early to do homework...a slightly less believable and inquiring light.

Pacey: Yeah, yeah, it's a disgusting habit.

Dawson: Alright, well, thanks guys, I'll see you later.

Jack: No, I can stay.

Dawson: Well, I'm just going to do a test-shot...

Jack: No, it's okay, I'd like to see it. It's alright.

Dawson: Okay. Cool.

Pacey: Well....ta-ta, gents. Don't stay up too late. It is a school night.

*Pacey leaves. Dawson laughs.*

Dawson: Speaking as his closest friend, your sister has had quite a profound relationship on him.

Jack: Yeah, well, relationships will do that.

*Dawson's face drops and he moves to get his camera. Jack realizes how it sounded.*

Jack: Sorry. I didn't mean that the way it came out.

Dawson: Look, Jack, this hasn't exactly been the easiest of situations for either of us. But your help in this film has been so significant. I just...

Jack: So we're cool?

Dawson: Yeah. So what's this Peterson stuff about?

Jack: Oh, a poem. He wants us to write something that's critical to our being, whatever. It's just another assignment I'm going to screw up.

Dawson: It's a poem. It can't be that hard.

Jack: You know, I read your script. You're the expert writer here. Any advice on how to get to the good stuff?

Dawson: Listen to yourself, you know? I mean poetry is a chance to give the world a peek of the innermost private part of yourself that you'd, in other cases, just stifle.

Jack: So just listen to myself?

Dawson: Yeah, I mean...you never know what you'll hear. Will you do me a favor and hit the lights?

Jack: Oh, yeah.

*The lights go off as Dawson adjusts the camera to focus in on a replica of the exterior of his house.*

Dawson: And there it is. The perfect Creekside village.

*The fake house fades into Dawson's real house and then we get a shot of the real creek.*

*Cut to Capeside High exterior. Pacey is waiting on the campus and he spots his counselor approaching.*

Pacey: Mr. Milo! Now, before you say anything, I want you to know that I have the situation under complete control.

Mr.Milo: And what situation is that?

Pacey: Well, whatever academic improprieties you were about to make me aware of.

Mr.Milo: Improprieties is the wrong word. Try kudos.

*Pacey looks confused*

Mr.Milo(cont.): I just received the midterm reports for all the students on academic watch. And after removing my jaw from the floor, I came to you. You posted 3 "B"'s and 2 "A"'s.

Pacey: That's impossible.

Mr.Milo: Well, one would think so.

*Pacey looks up and Mr. Milo smiles.*

Pacey: You know, I don't think I've ever seen you smile before, Mr. Milo. I'm liking this. The smiling thing I definitely like.

Mr.Milo: Well, you just keep up the good work, Mr. Witter!

*They enter the school and we cut to inside as Pacey happily heads towards Andie who is standing by Jack and Joey. Pacey picks Andie up and swings her around in the air and she screams. He sets her down and they kiss. Jack and Joey stare at them and laugh.*

Andie: Mm...what was that for?

Pacey: Just 'cause.

*Jack puts his arm around Joey and leans in.*

Joey: Don't even.

Jack: What? We can't kiss 'just cause'?

Joey: Sure, we can. In private. Massive suckface embraces are better left for bedrooms and private sunsets. *to Pacey and Andie* No offense.

Pacey and Andie: (simultaneously) None taken!

*Dawson walks up.*

Dawson: Hey Jack! I was just wondering when do you think you can get started on the set for the pageant scene?

Jack: Um, this weekend if you want.

Dawson: Great! I'll schedule the shoot for the weekend after.

*Jack nods and Dawson walks off to his locker. The bell rings.*

Pacey: Well, I hate to be the stickler but we are late for an hour of health.

Jack: Yeah, you got your poem Stickler?

Pacey: Of course!

*Andie and Pacey continue off down the hall.*

Jack: Well, see ya! I gotta go to class. Bye.

*They kiss*

Joey: Bye.

*She turns and walks toward Dawson at his locker, smiling.*

Joey: So....that was nice.

Dawson: What was nice?

Joey: You and Jack actually conversing! It was a surprise.

Dawson: Well, some people are capable of moving beyond those petty, long-behind rivalries to higher ground.

*Joey laughs*

Joey: Yeah, right! If Jack wasn't doing your movie, Dawson, he'd still be the enemy.

Dawson: Not true!

*Joey pushes him, jokingly.*

Joey: You are so Hollywood!

*He pushes her back, jokingly.*

Dawson: Am not!

*Cut to outside, Jen is sitting at a table and Ty comes up.*

Ty: Across the green...he spots her, stealthfully the lion crosses the green and settles beside his prey, the helpless llama.

Jen: *not enthusiastic.* Hey Ty.

Ty: Well, as far as I know, there's been three phone messages to you in this last week. Adorable phone messages with my number included. I was wondering why you haven't returned any of them.

Jen: You're on my 'To Call' list, Ty. I just am trying to get around.

Ty: Well, not to toot my own horn or anything, but I could swear you were into me that night.

Jen: Not to toot your own horn or anything.

Ty: It was the party, wasn't it? All that Bible-speak freaked you out.

Jen: Honestly...yeah. It did.

Ty: Jen, that's not all that I am, alright? For your information, I'm not some Bible-banging Dorkus-Magworkus here.

*Jen laughs.*

Jen: I'm not saying that you are, Ty. It's just...obviously, your religion is very important to you.

*Ty nods.*

Jen: I just see it as an inevitable obstacle in our relationship.

Ty: Don't you think we should go out on our first date before you map out our entire future?

Jen: Ty...you're sweet. And you're funny. But you go to these Bible meetings three times a week and that's probably how many times I've been to church in the past 10 years so...hopefully you can understand why that would present a problem with us being anything more than just friends.

*She gets up.*

Ty: See, that just goes to show how little you know me. See...I'm not funny at all. You know, I'm not giving up.

Jen: Now, that's a shame.

Ty: You know, I thought most women admired persistence.

Jen: Well, that just goes to show how little you know about me. I'm not most women.

*She walks off leaving Ty behind. Cut to Mr. Peterson picking up poems. He comes to Pacey who's flipping desperately through his notebooks looking for his.*

Mr.Peterson: Mr. Witter, empty-handed, I presume?

Pacey: No, no, I had it at my locker. I must have...*finds it* left it right here in my binder!

*He hands it to Mr. Peterson*

Mr.Peterson: 'Ode to the Sports Car'?

Pacey: Yeah, trust me, they're more exciting than Grecian arts.

Mr.Peterson: Trying out cursive for the first time?

Pacey: *sighs* I worked hard on that.

Mr.Peterson: I'm sure. However, you neglected penmanship and presentation is minus half the grade. So the way I see it, you have two choices. You can hand the poem in tomorrow, written legibly and lose credit for handing it in late, or you can hand it in as it is, and the highest grade you'll see will be your old friend the letter "D".

Pacey: That's not fair.

Mr.Peterson: Fairness is overrated.

Pacey: *to Jack* Is it just me or does that man get meaner everyday?

Jack: It's not you.

Mr.Peterson: Excuse me, Mr. McPhee?

Jack: Uh, nothing...

Mr.Peterson: I hope that your poetry assignment went well, Mr. McPhee. We're all very aware of how critical it is to your deficient grade in this class.

*Jack just nods.*

Jack: Sure, yeah...it went fine.

Mr.Peterson: Then, perhaps you would like to read your poem to the class.

Jack: *nervously* Um, you said these poems were just for you.

Mr.Peterson: I changed my mind. These things happen. Please, read us your poem.

Jack: Um...I'd really rather not...

Mr.Peterson: Mr.McPhee, what you would rather do is of no importance to me.

Jack: I-um, if it's okay with you, can I just hand it in?

Mr.Peterson: Read the poem.

Jack: Please. I don't--

Mr.Peterson: We're waiting.

Jack: *very nervously takes his paper and stands up* Um...*sighs*

Today

Today was a day the world got smaller. Darker. Even more afraid.

Not of what I am...

*Jack looks up, fearfully.*

Mr.Peterson: Continue...

Jack: (cont.) I grew more afraid. Not of what I am, But what I could be. I loosen my collar to take a breath. My eyes fade and I see... I see him. An angel of perfection, His frame strong. His lips smooth. I keep thinking what am I so scared of? And I wish I could escape the pain but these thoughts, They invade my head, Like shackles of guilt. They upleash at me.

*He's started to cry...*

Jack: Excuse me.

*He rushes out of the room. Pacey gets up to follow.*

Mr.Peterson: What are you doing?

Pacey: I'm going to see if he's alright.

Mr.Peterson: You'll do nothing of the kind. Sit down.

Pacey: But he was crying!

Mr.Peterson: I said SIT DOWN!

*Pacey slowly walks back to his seat.*

Mr.Peterson: Okay, everyone, open your books to pg.57.

*Pacey just sits there and gives him a deadly stare. Cut to Pacey and Dawson, in the computer lab. Dawson leans over to try to see Joey's screen.*

Joey: What are you doing?

Dawson: *smiles* Nothing.

Joey: What?

Dawson: Just trying to get a peek at your secret online handle. What is it? PCJoey? PerkyPotter?

Joey: What's yours? SpielbergStud?

Dawson: No.

*The camera pans to a group of boys at another set of computers right behind Joey and Dawson.*

Boy#1: And he started to cry...

Boy#2: No way.

Boy#1: I heard it from, like, half the class. He's reading this poem and he was just crying...

Boy#3: Wait a minute...who is this?

Boy#2: Jack McPhee, the new kid.

*Cut to Joey's face when she hears his name and she's listening to the conversation.*

Boy#2 (offscreen): Peterson makes him read his poem in class. He starts crying.

*The camera zooms out to show Dawson's reaction, too. He's listening intently, confused. Joey looks confused, also.*

Boy#2 (offscreen, cont.): Here's the best part. The poem was about a guy. McPhee's a total homo.

Boy#1: Total. I mean, look at him.

*Close up on Joey's confused reaction. Cut to Bessie and Joey helping a table.*

Bessie: *to customers* Thank you!

*Dawson walks in*

Bessie: Hi Dawson!

Dawson: Hey.

*He goes up to Joey.*

Dawson: Joey, hey, you got a second?

Joey: Sure.

Dawson: Um, have you talked to Jack yet?

Joey: No, we haven't really talked about it yet. He's still kind of upset about it...

Dawson: I can imagine. The rumor mill is going into overdrive on this one. I've heard about it twice more.

Joey: You think that's bad? I've heard everything from Jack is seen regularly wearing dresses down Main Street to he's checked into a monastery to deal with his sexual ambibilance.

Dawson: You're pretty flip about this.

Joey: What? It's all just a big joke?

Dawson: Is it?

Joey: What are you insinuating?

Dawson: I'm not insinuating anything. I'm just...I'm concerned about you.

Joey: What are you trying to do, Dawson? Give validity to some ridiculous rumor that Jack's gay?

Dawson: No, Joey, I never said that!

Joey: You pretty much did.

Dawson: Look, Joey, all I'm trying to do is find out what's going on and I hope that you would know me well enough to know that my concern is genuine, okay? There's no need to be so defensive about this.

Joey: Oh, I'm not being defensive, Dawson. Why don't we just say what this conversation is really about? Your passive-aggressive way to highlight some flaw in Jack that would get us to break up!

Dawson: That's way over the line.

Joey: No, from where I'm standing, I think it's perfectly in balance.

*Cut to the McPhee house. Andie and Pacey are sitting at the table, studying.*

Andie: So in 1936, the Stalin constitution was adopted. Communists everywhere boasted that now the Soviet Union was the most democratic country in the world.

*Jack comes down the stairs.*

Jack: I'm going to go down the the Icehouse and help clean up. I'll see you later.

Pacey: Later, Jack!

*He leaves.*

Pacey: Well, you're a bit frosty.

Andie: Pardon me?

Pacey: Jack. He's had a long day and you've hardly said two words to him this whole afternoon.

Andie: Well, I don't understand why he had to write that poem in the first place. If he hadn't written something that could be so easily misinterpreted then...

Pacey: What? If he'd have censored himself?

Andie: Don't twist my words. Look, I know Jack better than you do, Pacey, and ever since we were kids he's had this whole different Drummer thing going on and not everybody gets it. He should have known better than to expose himself to someone as venomous as Peterson, that's all.

Pacey: Well, Andie, I may be wrong here, but I don't think that guest-starring in his own public humiliation was Jack's intention. There's something deeper going on there.

Andie: Like?

Pacey: Like...maybe you should talk to him.

Andie: About what?

Pacey: Well, for starters, the poem. Maybe it wasn't misinterpreted.

Andie: I'm--no. No. Jack is not gay. He's talked about girls his entire life. He's crazy about Joey. He hates Madonna. He's not gay.

Pacey: Well, have you ever asked him?

Andie: No. I don't need to.

Pacey: Well, hypothetically speaking, if he were gay...how would that make you feel?

Andie: I guess I'd be disappointed.

Pacey: Disappointed. Geez, Andie...

Andie: You asked me how I'd feel! Look, I don't need this. I don't need to be criticized for a hypothetical feeling over a hypothetical situation that is completely unfathomable.

Pacey: Well, for Jack's sake, I hope you're right.

*Cut to Jen's house. The phone rings.*

Jen: Hello?

Ty: What if I didn't ask you out on a date, persay? Then, you wouldn't have to worry about our breakup due to ideological difficulties and you could still go out with me. And non-Bible related, I promise.

Jen: Sorry Jack.

Ty: Aw, Jen. Have a little faith in me. Maybe under this Sunday school venire lies a partying maniac.

Jen: I doubt it. I'm hanging up.

*She does and the phone rings again. She picks up.*

Ty: I told you I was persistent.

Jen: You know, persistent isn't exactly the word that comes to mind right now.

Ty: C'mon, Jen! I'll pick you up at 9.

Jen: No!

*She hangs up. The phone rings again. She picks up.*

Ty: 9:45. Going once, going twice...

Jen: You really are persistent.

Ty: C'mon Jen! Just a couple of hours.

Jen: Be here at 10.

*She hangs up. Cut to the Icehouse. Jack is washing off some tables and Joey walks up.*

Bessie: Jo! Did you get the cleaning supplies for the kitchen?

Joey: Got 'em right here.

Bessie: Great!

Jack: Here. I'll get 'em.

*He takes them and walks off.*

Bessie: He's been quiet as a church mouse all night. What happened?

Joey: You don't even want to know.

Bessie: Poor guy looks like he lost his best friend. Go talk to him.

Joey: But he doesn't want to! I mean, how do you talk to somebody about something that they've made perfectly clear they don't want to talk about?

Bessie: Well, I always start with 'Long day, huh?'. It opens the conversation up. So, I'm all through here. If you could lock up, that'd be great! See ya!

Joey: Okay...

*Jack walks in. Joey sighs.*

Joey: Long day, huh?

Jack: If you want to ask me something, I suggest you just ask it.

Joey: I'm sorry, Jack. It's just...people are already saying things.

Jack: Since when do you care what other people are saying?

Joey: Well, maybe it's because you still haven't offered me any kind of explanation for what you wrote.

Jack: I don't have to.

Joey: You're right. You don't. It's just that, you know, being the one that you are dating, it'd be nice to know if there was a particular reason you wrote a poem about a guy. It has to have some degree of importance in your life, considering it did make you cry in front of a roomful of people.

Jack: Alright, look, I sat down last night, before I went to bed, and for half an hour, I wrote what I was feeling. And one of the images that came into my head was masculine, nothing sexual about it, okay? It could have been me, it could have been the image of my brother. I don't know, Joey. But I do know that there was nothing gay about that poem. And as for the crying...I don't know. It hit a weird nerve as I was reading it. It just unleashed some stuff that I've been dealing with in my family. My brother's death...I don't know. It's the only explanation I can come up with and if it's not good enough for you then you can just believe what everyone else is saying.

Joey: Jack...I don't believe what they're saying.

Jack: I hope not. Because I adore you, Joey. And I assure you. If was to ever write a love poem....it would be about you. Nobody else.

*They hug*

*Cut to Jen and Ty walking into a club.*

Ty: I think you're really going to like this place.

Jen: If I'd of known we were going to a club, I would have brought my fake I.D.

*Ty spots a singer.*

Ty: Sherry!

Sherry: Hey!

Ty: Good evening. You singing tonight?

Sherry: Yeah, I'm up next. Any requests?

Ty: Yeah, um...something romantic. And two martinis.

Sherry: You've got it, Ty.

Ty: Thanks. Have a seat.

Jen: (missed line -- mumbling) Isn't that a little bit against the rules?

Ty: Who's rules?

Jen: Drinking, this whole Swinger lifestyle...it's not exactly Sunday school clean.

Ty: But...right now, we're not in Sunday school.

*Cut to the singer...then Jen and Ty dancing...Cut to school the next day. Copies of Jack's poem were copied and pasted all around school. Pacey and Andie are ripping them down.*

Pacey: Tonight on a very special episode of Capeside High...it's Jack's poem. This is ridiculous. Can you believe this?

Andie: Why? Why would they do this?

*Cut to Mr. Peterson's class.*

Mr.Peterson: Mr. McPhee?

Jack: Yes?

Mr.Peterson: Would you care to continue reading your now, very public, work of poetry?

Jack: You can't be serious.

Mr.Peterson: I am. You left us high and dry. If you want a completed grade, then you have to complete reading the poem. It's very simple.

Jack: Why are you doing this to me?

Pacey: Because he can.

*Pacey stands up and walks towards him*

Mr.Peterson: Mr. Witter, I suggest you sit down.

Pacey: No.

Mr.Peterson: SIT DOWN!

Pacey: You want somebody to read the poem. I'll read it.

Today

Today was a day the world got smaller. Darker. I grew more afraid. Not of what I am but of what I could be.

Mr.Peterson: I SAID STOP!!!!

*He grabs the paper away from Pacey.*

Mr.Peterson: You will listen to me when I talk to you, young man.

Pacey: Why should I?

Mr.Peterson: Well, that's it. I am writing you a pass and you can report immediately to Principal Markom's(?) office.

Pacey: What part of you is it that gets off on torturing students? Everyone in this class may be afraid of you, but I'm not! I see your miserable scare tactics for exactly what they are, the misguided lassions of a bitter, lonely old man who only feels good when somebody in the class feels worse.

Mr.Peterson: Thank you for the analysis, Mr. Witter. I'll send a check along with the 'F' you'll get on your report card.

Pacey: You can't fail me! I've gotten a 'B' or better on every test we've had in this class.

Mr.Peterson: Well, I can. I've been waiting to fail you all quarter.

Pacey: You disgust me.

Mr.Peterson: And you, Mr. Witter, are a failure. Destined to always be a failure. Trying to teach people like you is like spitting in the face of the entire educational system.

*Pacey spits in Mr.Peterson's face.*

Pacey: No, sir. That is spitting in the face of the entire educational system.

*Pacey walks out of the classroom. Cut to Pacey in the principal's office.*

Pacey: I won't apoligize.

Principal: Yes, you will, Pacey.

Pacey: No I won't.

Mr.Peterson: What did I tell you? The child's an insubordinate little waste.

Mr.Milo: Hey, you're hardly innocent either.

Mr.Peterson: And what does that mean?

Mr.Milo: You made a student cry and another student had an excessive reaction.

Mr.Peterson: You call a student spitting in a teacher's face excessive? That's the understatement of the year.

Principal: I suggest we reconvene tomorrow. Mr. Witter, hopefully, by that time you will have been capable of conguring up an apoligy and if not, I will have no choice but to give you a suspension.

*Pacey walks out and Jack is sitting on a bench.*

Pacey: Hey Jack. Listen, man, you didn't have to come down here. I appreciate it but...

Jack: I did. Mr. Milo wants to talk to me. I can't imagine what about.

Pacey: Yeah, they told me they wanted me to apoligize. I told them to go screw themselves.

Jack: That was stupid.

Pacey: Who's side are you on here anyway?

Jack: My own. I can fight my own battles. You know, I didn't need you to make a spectacle out of this whole thing.

Pacey: Wo, wo, wo. Stop right there, Jack. I thought I was doing you a favor in there.

Jack: Well, you weren't. Look, I didn't need a hero. I recognize it's an addiction of yours but this is one instance when you just should have kept your nose out of it!

*Cut to Jen and Ty outside.*

Ty: Well, they weren't selling roses. Cupcake?

*Jen takes it.*

Jen: Thank you.

Ty: So, full report. Tell me, was I not fun last night?

*Jen starts laughing.*

Ty: What's so funny?

Jen: You. This...

Ty: What?

Jen: Alternate identities.

Ty: You mean, student by day, ratpacker by night?

Jen: Some people would call it the height of hypocracy.

Ty: Well, it's not hypocritical at all. To me, it's something you go to church about on Sunday. Listen, my religion doesn't assume that I'm a perfect individual, Jen. In fact, it expects that I'm not.

Jen: Ah, I see. So it's a party now, confess later sort of thing?

Ty: You wanna do it again? C'mon. Your Grams likes me.

Jen: She likes what she knows about you which apparently isn't all that much.

Ty: And you plan on keeping it that way.

Jen: There's a thought.

*Cut to Andie, Pacey, and Dawson walking down the hallway.*

Andie: So what are you going to do?

Pacey: What do you mean?

Andie: Well, about Peterson. You're going to apoligize, right?

Pacey: No, I'm going to take the suspension.

Andie: What?

Pacey: After what that man did? I'm not going to apoligize to him, he doesn't deserve it.

Andie: It doesn't matter what he did, Pacey. You spit in his face.

Pacey: I was there. Thank you.

Andie: Dawson?

*Dawson just keeps walking with them, silently. Pacey stops in amazement at them.*

Pacey: You too, huh?

Dawson: Pacey, this is serious.

Pacey: You think I don't know that?

Dawson: All we're saying is be aware of the consequences.

Pacey: I am aware of the consequences, alright?

*Cut to Jack coming out of the office where Joey's waiting for him.*

Jack: These are pamphlets Milo coincidentally just happened to have on his desk. Ever feel like you're trapped in one of those Lifetime movies?

Joey: 'Gay and okay', 'What's my sexuality?', 'Am I gay?' God, this sounds like a bad game show.

*Cut back to Pacey, Andie, and Dawson walking down the hall.*

Andie: What about your gradepoint? You still care about that, don't you? It's not going to survive a suspension, Pacey. It will destroy all the hard work you've done and you'll be right back at square one.

Pacey: An academic loser.

Andie: That's not what I said.

Pacey: But it's what you felt. Andie, everything that I've worked for, everything that you've helped me to become, is somebody who believes in himself and his instincts and every instinct in me tells me that what that man did in that classroom was wrong.

Andie: But--

Pacey: It's just wrong!

*Andie gives up and turns around and she sees something and her face drops. The camera zooms out to Pacey's face which is very angry.*

Andie: Oh my God.

*Cut to Jack and Joey.*

Jack: I'm going to need your help with this, Joey. I have a feeling it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better.

Joey: I'm here.

Jack: Thanks.

*Jack and Joey look down the hall and both their faces drop. We cut to what they're looking at. On Jack's locker, some kids have spraypainted "FAG" in red and there's a crowd around it, staring at him and his locker. Everyone just stands there for a minute, then Jack slowly walks through the crowd, stares at his locker, and then starts doing the combination. People whisper. Cut to Joey who looks like she's about to cry. Jack fumbles around in his locker some more. The same group still stands there. Joey tries to get herself together, running scenarios of what she should do in her mind. Finally, she walks towards him.*

Joey: Kiss me.

Jack: What? Why?

Joey: Just cause.

*Joey pulls him in for a kiss and everyone in the crowd whispers among themselves. Cut to the McPhee house. Jack is drying dishes.*

Andie: Thanks for cleaning up.

Jack: Dialogue. That would mean you're talking to me again.

Andie: I've been really unfair the last couple of days.

Jack: It's okay. I knew you'd come around.

Andie: Do you have to be so immensely forgiving? Do you have an ounce of meanness anywhere in your body? At the very least it would make for our sibling squabbles more interesting.

Jack: Why make them interesting? I win them as they are.

Andie: It's just...been really hard.

Jack: For both of us.

Andie: But you're better suited for it.

Jack: Nobody's suited for public ridicule, Andie. You just deal with it.

Andie: I don't. When I first heard what happened to you in class, my initial reaction was resentment. Of all the possibilities, you know, I didn't even feel sorry for you. I just...thought, oh great, thanks, when things finally seemed to be slowing down in my life, and now I have to deal with this. And everything that has happened to us in our lives just made me so afraid. And I didn't think anyone could understand that, especially you. I mean you're so strong and independent and then....and then....*holds up folded sheet of paper* I read this. Your poem. I kept one of the ones I tore down. It's a really beautiful poem, Jack. And I don't know if it means that you're gay or not and I really don't care. But I'll tell you what I do know. The person who wrote this poem...he's just as scared as I am. Jack, you're terrified and I'm your sister and I had no idea. I just wanted to let you know that I'm here for you. And I love you. And you're not alone.

*They hug.*

Jack: Thank you.

*Cut to Joey running up the dock towards Dawson's house. Cut to Dawson's room where he's studying the mini-model of Capeside. Joey appears in the window.*

Joey: Dawson, can I come in?

Dawson: *surprised* Wo! Um...yeah.

Joey: Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. It's been a highly irregular few days and climbing this ladder is the sheerest form of normalcy I know.

Dawson: Yeah...come in.

Joey: I just wanted to say I'm sorry about yesterday.

Dawson: It's okay. I understand.

Joey: *sees Capeside model* Wow. This is amazing. This is the whole town.

Dawson: It's incredible, isn't it? Jack built it just for the film.

Joey: *sighs* Dawson, I need your advice. And I know because of the situation it may be hard to dispense it but...I really need it.

Dawson: Anything. Talk to me.

Joey: I'm thinking that maybe....you were right....about....Jack and the poem.

Dawson: That he meant to write it.

Joey: Well, he says he didn't and he has 1,000 reasonable excuses that all make sense only....they don't make sense. I keep wishing that I just would have done what you told me and just asked him if...um...*laughs at the situation* he was gay.

Dawson: So why don't you?

Joey: If I ask him then he'll know that I've considered it. And if he knows that I've considered it then it will always be there that I've considered it.

Dawson: It's the elephant in the room syndrome. The obvious but unspoken topic. The thing that's always lurking but never brought up. Of course, in your case, it's a gay elephant.

Joey: You know, this isn't funny.

Dawson: Sorry, I had to say it.

*Joey flops back on the bed.*

Dawson: You have to ask him. I mean, if there's one thing that I've learned about relationships in the past year is that they begin and end with honesty and if you want to save what you have with Jack, *looks down* and I believe it's worth saving, it's that you've got to be honest, you know? So, go. Go hunt an elephant.

*Joey gets up and slowly heads for the window.*

Joey: Alright...thanks...

*She turns around and considers Dawson's behavior.*

Joey: Thank you.

*She leans in and kisses him on the cheek and heads for the window. Dawson sighs. Cut to Dawson and Pacey sitting outside of the principal's office. Mr. Peterson walks in and looks at Pacey. He smiles evily before he enters the office.*

Pacey: Look at that guy. Tell me he does not have it out for me.

Dawson: Well, if he didn't already then he certainly does now.

Pacey: You know, maybe I should just do it. I should just apoligize.

*Dawson just sits there.*

Pacey: You don't think what I did was right, do you?

Dawson: I can't judge. I wasn't there.

Pacey: But would you have done it yourself?

Dawson: No.

Pacey: And if I go in there and I can't apoligize. Would you be ashamed of me?

Dawson: *smiles* In my lifetime, Pacey, I will never be ashamed of you.

*Mr. Milo comes out of the office.*

Mr.Milo: Pacey, we're ready for you.

*Pacey gets up and goes in. Inside, he walks over to the center of the room.*

Principal: Mr. Witter, I trust that you've had ample time to put into proper perspective the events of yesterday morning.

Pacey: I have, yeah.

Principal: Well, the ball's in your court. We're all ears.

Pacey: I should start my saying that I'm more ashamed for what I did in that classroom yesterday than anything I have done in my life. It was dead wrong and I have no case here and I'm sorry. However, I am not now, nor will I ever be, apolegetic for it's intention. Everyday we, the students of Capeside, come to a place where you guys are in charge. You tell us when to arrive, and when to leave, and when to move rooms, and when to eat. You tell us when we're doing well and when we need to be doing better and we never, ever question it because we're afraid to. To question it is to go against the belief that the entire system is built upon. The belief that you guys know what's right. And I'm not afraid to tell you that what happened in that classroom was not right. To make a student cry, to embarress him, to strip him of his dignity in front of his classmates, is not right. And while I do respect the system, I do NOT respect men like you, Mr. Peterson, I don't. I can't. And I never will. Not after what you did. You have a good afternoon.

*He leaves. Cut to Pacey sitting on a dock, alone, later that night. Andie walks up to him.*

Andie: How'd it go?

Pacey: As well as could be imagined. They're suspending me for a week. Why'd you bother coming down here?

Andie: Because I care about you.

Pacey: Do you?

Andie: What kind of question is that?

Pacey: It's a reasonable one, Andie. Do you have any idea what I went through today? Do you know how much I needed your support?

Andie: Pacey, I can't support everything you do. I never will.

Pacey: I don't need you to agree with everything I say, Andie. The world would be a boring place if you did. But what I do need to know is that somehow, some way, you're there for me.

Andie: How dare you. I challenge one action of yours and you throw it in my face as if it's some kind of weakness?

Pacey: It's not just me! You weren't there for your brother, either!

Andie: Oh, yes I was. I apoligized to him and I was coming to apoligize for you but for some reason, I was struggling with it all the way down here. That reason has become crystal clear. Jack is innocent, Pacey. What's happening right now he has no control over. But you. Pacey, you knew exactly what you were doing in that classroom.

Pacey: Well, what would you have me do, Andie? Just stand there and let Peterson do that to him?

Andie: There are other ways of handling--

Pacey: When I knew the whole time that IT WAS MY FAULT. It was MY fault. Peterson knew that he couldn't get the best of me so he went after your brother. If I hadn't of instigated him that day...none of this would have happened. I did whatever I could to stop it. I had to stop it.

Andie: Why didn't you tell me that you felt responsible?

Pacey: Because, Andie, you didn't want to hear it. You just wanted me to clean up the mess. But there are some messes you just have to live with. I'm going home now.

Andie: Do you want me to come with you?

Pacey: No. Not tonight.

*Pacey starts walking home. Cut to the Icehouse. Joey walks in while Jack is cleaning.*

Joey: Hey Jack.

Jack: Hey, where you been? I've been covering both shifts.

Joey: Are you gay?

Jack: Excuse me?

Joey: Are you gay? You don't have to answer right away. I just had to ask right away because it's just been building up inside of me and there's just no easy way for a girl to ask her boyfriend if he's gay so I know that you already explained to me that the poem wasn't about a guy but I feel like when we discuss it we never really discuss it and I never really ask the one important question that you can feel free to answer any minute now so that--

Jack: No. I'm not gay.

Joey: Okay. You don't know what a relief that is. I mean, I don't care, I would have dealt with it fine, I promise. Just who wants to deal with all the obvious and not obvious issues of a girl who's dating a guy who turns out to be gay and it's just so hard.

*Jack puts his hands on her shoulders and she shuts up. They kiss.*

Jack: Feel better?

Joey: You don't even know. Would you do me a favor?

Jack: Yeah, what?

Joey: No more poems for awhile.

Jack: You got it. No more poems.

*They kiss and then they hug and Joey's face is of contentment and Jack seems to be deep in thought about...his sexuality.*

The story continues with Episode 215, "...And That is the Question"