Beyond the Triangle
Part 16 - New Beginnings
Scene: Back inside Coffee Cup about an hour later. Pacey sits back down at the table with Dawson.
Pacey: Just when I think I have Dougie figured out, he throws a curveball like that.
Dawson: It appeared he wanted any excuse to arrest Peter.
Pacey: (grinned) Even if it's just overnight, it might wake him up.
Dawson pulls out a folded piece of paper.
Dawson: The other waiter told me to give this to you.
Pacey gives Dawson a strange look, then unfolds the sheet.
P-
Sorry I had to skip out on you guys. I really want to hear about what happened after Doug showed up. Call me at Cheryl's. I'm sure Dawson knows the number by heart.
-Jen
Dawson gives Pacey a quizzical look.
Dawson: Cheryl's?
Pacey: Which I guess answers the question of where Ryan is as well. (pulls out a cell phone)
Dawson: Since when do you have a phone?
Pacey: Borrowed it from Gretzilla for tonight. So, give me Harding's number already.
* * * * *
Scene: Harding living room. Ryan is leafing through the family's video collection while Jen is waiting anxiously on the couch.
Jen: We have to figure out a plan of action. (scribbling down notes on a piece of paper)
Ryan: I will call Kent in the morning. It's not as if he can do anything but worry himself sick until then.
Jen: Would this be news to him and Cher?
Ryan: Of course they know about the party.
Jen: I was referring to the relapses.
Ryan: (stops looking through the movies) Not exactly. They think about this the same way my mom does. That I was cured by the shrink in three magical sessions.
Jen: I don't understand how the doctor could miss it.
Ryan: Why don't you ask Jack that question? All the doctors that couldn't help his mom?
Jen: I guess you have a point. But you know you can't just say that you went to one counselor, didn't work, thereby implying that they're all quacks.
Ryan: (indignantly) I know that.
They are interrupted by the phone ringing.
Jen: Oh, I know I should have told you that I asked Pacey to call when he finished the confrontation.
Jen picks up the phone and brings the receiver into the living room. Ryan stops looking through the videos and sits down on the couch.
Jen: Harding residence.
Pacey: You sound so convincing when you say that.
Jen: (nods toward Ryan) Hi Pace.
Pacey: Doug's going to try to keep Peter in jail until Kent returns to town. He was arrested for disturbing the peace and harassment. Definitely got the cop on our side.
Jen: I'm relieved to hear that he's in jail.
Ryan breathes a sigh of relief.
Pacey: Peter tried to act as though I was causing the problem. But he slipped up and called me 'the convict's daughter's boy-toy'.
Jen tried to suppress a fit of giggles.
Jen: You're kidding.
-------
(back to Coffee Cup)
Pacey: (mutters to Dawson) She found it amusing too. (back to Jen) He was quite drunk, what can I say. So, if you're there then my guess is that you took Ryan home. How's he doing?
Jen: He'll be okay.
Pacey: As much as I've despised my father in the past, he would absolutely never outright humiliate me in public like that. If there was ever a guy that deserved to be beaten to a bloody pulp, it would be his father.
------
Jen tries to figure out an appropriate way to answer that.
Jen: I'm pretty sure the thought has crossed his mind.
Pacey: He's in the room, isn't he?
Jen: Yup.
------
Pacey: On to slightly happier matters. It suddenly occured to me how little time we spend together as a group. I mean, the three of us are supposed to be planning a scheme for Drue but I think we need to do some bonding. So, how about a movie date for Sunday?
Dawson: Wait a sec, Pace. I can't.
Pacey: (wide-eyed) Did I hear correctly? Dawson Leery refusing a movie night?
Jen: You'd better get him checked out. There must be a virus spreading.
Pacey chuckles. Dawson gives him a pained look.
Dawson: I'm supposed to help Joey and Bessie with their painting project. A couple of the rooms are in dire need.
Pacey: I can't believe I didn't know that.
------
Jen: What?
------
Pacey: He's going to be off with my girlfriend on a fun-filled trip at the B&B. Activities include scraping and painting a couple of guest rooms. Can you believe I was left off the guest list?
Jen: I'm sure you're thrilled about that.
Pacey: (seriously) But of course. Okay, so that's two down. What about you? You could invite Ryan if you want.
------
Jen covers the receiver.
Jen: Hey, you think you'd be up for a good time at the movies?
Ryan: I don't know if I could take Dawson's analysis of the social impact of Chocolat.
Jen: Dawson's not coming. Just Pacey.
Ryan: Oh, then why not?
Jen: (takes hand off receiver) The two of us are in. But how will you handle being the third wheel?
Pacey: I could always invite Jack.
Jen: (kiddingly) I always knew you wanted to go on a date with Jack.
Ryan covers over his laughter with a coughing fit. Jen gives him an odd look.
------
Pacey: You know what that really means is you'll have three hot guys to drool over. They're all yours for the day.
Dawson: Yeah right, Pace.
------
Jen: Let's see, one is my boyfriend, one is gay and the other has your personality. Yeah, this is so difficult a predicament.
Pacey: What will you do? What will you do?
Jen: I think I can handle it, Keanu.
-----
Pacey: I'd better get off before I lose all Gretch's minutes.
Jen: See you then.
Pacey: Bye. (shuts phone off)
Dawson: That was one odd conversation.
Pacey: It's kind of difficult when the one question you want to ask is the one you are forced to avoid.
Dawson: What question's that?
Pacey: How's she doing? She's in a very strange position right now.
* * * * *
Scene: Sunday afternoon. Pacey is sitting on a bench nearby the movie theater, lost in thought. Jen is the first to arrive.
Jen: (waves her hand in front of Pacey's face) Is there somebody home up there?
Pacey: Huh? Oh, hi Lindley.
Jen: Is something wrong?
* * * * *
Scene: The B&B. Joey and Dawson are in the middle of their painting project.
Dawson puts down his brush and stares at Joey. Joey doesn't notice this until a couple of minutes later. She slowly turns around.
Joey: Is something wrong?
Dawson: That's actually what I wanted to ask you. You've been focusing exclusively on the wall all day. You were painting when I got here. So, either, something happened or there's something you're avoiding telling me.
* * * * *
Pacey: We broke up.
* * * * *
Dawson: What? Joey, um, let me make sure I get this out right, (shakes his head) What?
Joey: Do that for about twelve hours and you'll be at the point I'm at right now.
* * * * *
Jen: (exclaimed) Was this what you were planning Friday? What you shrugged off as a rough spot?
Pacey: Look, all I told her is that we needed some time apart to figure out our goals for the future.
* * * * *
Joey: I remember we were fighting about our future when I was filling out college applications but I thought we'd resolved that.
Dawson: Is that what he said it was about?
* * * * *
Pacey: I said that there were issues we both had that we needed to deal with.
Jen: Issues meaning Dawson?
* * * * *
Dawson: Issues involving me? (defensively) I heard you were fighting about my role in your life.
Joey: Pacey keeps saying that I compare you two. I can't figure out why he insists on making (gesturing to Dawson) our past romantic relationship interfere with the present.
* * * * *
Pacey: Dawson is not the only issue we have. Or, I should say that I am concerned about.
* * * * *
Joey: There is something else besides that.
Dawson: Meaning?
* * * * *
Jen: Meaning?
Pacey: I shouldn't be following Joey wherever she goes unless I'm certain I wouldn't be sacrificing what I want to do.
* * * * *
Dawson: What does that imply? He's going back into acting?
Joey: Possibly. The point being that he said that he kept doubting what he and I had because he was doubting the future in general.
Dawson: That's making my head swirl. I guess I just forgot the kind of chats we used to have.
* * * * *
Jen: Would you mind my asking how you came to that sudden conclusion?
Pacey: Andie. I remember how apprehensive she was about leaving Capeside. She was wondering how she could possibly leave everything she knew behind.
Jen: (peering from the corner of her eye) I don't get it.
Pacey: I was already thinking about it and decided to trek over to Jack's. She had sent him a message about a date. A simple gesture but it showed that she was happy and found a life outside of Capeside. Or, in my case, a world outside of the Three Musketeers.
* * * * *
Joey: (shrieking) A world beyond the Three Musketeers? Does that even make sense?
Dawson: (slowly) Well..
Joey: You agree, don't you?
Dawson: Don't get me wrong, I'd love for you to be a part of my life. I just don't want to be held back should I have an opportunity to go to school in California. I wouldn't want to hinder anyone's future. Idyllically, you say nothing will keep you apart, but that's just not the best plan.
Joey: I can't believe you are suddenly diverting from the Hollywood story.
Dawson: According to the Hollywood story, if you were meant to be together, you will find a way into each other's arms.
* * * * *
Jen: I suppose that's true.
Pacey: Which, I'm sure you'll be relieved to know, means that I get to (lays his arm around Jen's shoulder) attend to a neglected friend or two. I guess it was secretly a good omen that Dawson and Joey were busy.
Jen: (sarcastically) I can't wait.
Pacey pretends to look hurt. Jen smiles and pats him on the head.
* * * * *
Joey: Do you see having a problem like that with Cheryl?
Dawson: (sadly) I think we'll probably be apart by the time the leaves fall.
Joey: Why do you say that?
Dawson: (picks his brush up) Just a prediction.
* * * * *
Pacey: Before the men in your life arrive, I have to ask, how are you handling all this?
Jen: How am I handling your breakup?
Pacey: (shakes his head) No, I meant what else happened Friday night besides our talk.
Jen: Oh, well, Ryan is doing better. Kent advised him not to visit his dad until after he attends a counseling session.
Pacey: I know from Doug that Peter's still in jail and that Kent's planning to file charges against him. I'm surprised Kent stayed in New York.
Jen: Only because his ex-wife got ill and he didn't want to leave her. Besides, Ryan convinced him that Cheryl rarely sees her mom and should stay for her sake. I'm actually unclear about what Cheryl knows about this.
Pacey: Do you mean that Ryan's the one going into therapy? I would think that the drunken lout flirting with teenage girls is the more likely candidate.
Jen: Let's just say that hearing crap like that for seventeen years can have devastating consequences.
Pacey: Say no more. In fact, say no more, I see them.
Jen turns around and, sure enough, sees Jack and Ryan heading in their direction. Pacey waves wildly to them, Jen jumping up to lower his arm.
Jen: You love to make a spectacle, don't you Pace?
Pacey: (teasing) See how much you forget about me when I'm not around?
Part 17 - The Less Obvious Case