203 - Alternative Lifestyles
Mitch takes down "Joey’s Ladder" from the side of the house. He knows there’s been a lot of late night sneaking around and he’s just taking standard precautions. Dawson says he’s in denial that he’s grown up. He’s a sexual being. “Are you having sex with Joey?” “I did not say that, but I am a sexual being. You are having trouble facing that reality. The sooner you accept it, the sooner you and I will have an honest relationship.” “Are you and Joey having sex?” “No!” “No?” “But... one day I’m gonna have sex. Stop acting like a typical parent and let Joey and I hang out in my room unsupervised.” “No.” “Why not?” “It’s my duty as a parent to be paranoid.” “Didn’t you grow up in the sixties?” “Parent me. Child you.” Mitch leaves Dawson’s room. Then Joey comes out from the closet to kiss Dawson. Mitch opens the door to see them kissing. Dawson acts surprised and says; “Joey? What are you doing here?” “What did I just say Dawson?” “You Jane. Me Tarzan?” “No. Parent me. Grounded you.” Mitch takes Joey away. “Bye Joey. See you in a few minutes” “No you won’t.”
Bessie tells Joey that the health department is having an inspection for The Icehouse today and she needs her to check up and fix some things. “You seem to be forgetting something. It’s called first period.” Joey agrees as Bessie is having problems with young Alexander.
Dawson asks Mitch if when he was his was he sneaking around makin’ out with girls. Yes, he was. “It was the fear of being caught that made it so exciting.” “So, by restricting my access to Joey, you’re really trying to liven up my sex life?” “Now you’re twisting my words again. Dawson. Go to school.” “Ever notice that whenever your parental authority is in question, you start barking out orders?” “Go. Now.” Dawson runs off leaving Mitch and Gale alone. “I think your son’s training to be a lawyer He has become the master of manipulation.” “Wonder where he learned that?” “Meaning?” “Meaning, you both can come up with incredible rationalizations when it comes to acting out your sexual impulses.” Mitch explains that they don’t have to have an open marriage if she’s against it. She’s not against it, but she’s not for it.
Jen and Abby discuss who they find sexy. Abby points out two gym junkies she likes. Jen doesn’t like them. Abby adds “They’re so completely disgusting it’s almost erotic.” Jen says she only has eyes for Dawson Leery. Abby has three words for her. Make it happen.
Andie says she needs help. She needs notes from the reading. Pacey doesn’t have the notes, ‘cause he didn’t do the reading. “What if Mr.Madock calls on me in class?” “Do what I always do. Say `Pass`.” “Pacey. I don’t say `Pass’.” “It’s just one assignment.” “Yeah, but you get behind by one day and you’re always struggling to catch up. Next thing you know, you’re drunk and wheeling a shopping cart.” “Andie. You’re rich. Rich people don’t end up in the street. They end up in Florida.” The teacher calls upon Andie for an answer she doesn’t have. After trying to make it up, she passes. A student, Kenny, has no problem answering the question. The teacher is going to pair everyone up and they are to come up with a budget for their fictional household. He will assign them identities and strongly recommends research trips into the field. Andie picks Pacey’s name from the hat. They are a lower-middle class family with three children. Pacey is a bus driver. Andie’s a sales clerk. Abby picks the geek Kenny. Trey picks Jeff. (the two guys from earlier) They are a well-to-do same sex couple. “What do you mean same sex?” “As in gay. Your wedding expenses have to be factored into your budget.” “What do you mean gay?” Dawson picks Jen. they are a wealthy couple. Dawson’s a stock broker. Jen’s an engineer. Two kids in College, house at the beach. $400,000 annual income. Joey’s the odd women out. She is a successful single mother raising two kids on her own.
Joey asks Dawson; “We’re pretending to be people we aren’t. Budgeting money we’re never going to have. What’s the point?” “To get us thinking about economic problems we will face in the real world.” “Hate to break it to you Peter Pan, but some of us are already dealing with those problems. It just gets me thinking about how I have no idea what I want to do with my life. You’ve got it all mapped out. Go off to Hollywood, become some high profile movie director, make millions of dollars, get a drug addiction, end up in the Betty Ford clinic, marry some... When I close my eyes and wonder where I’ll be in 10 years it’s blank.” “You will one day. I think this project will be fun.” “And are you as excited about pairing up with Jen as she is?” “You have nothing to worry about.”
Abby asks Jen if she’s going to be passive and really piss her off, or is she going to be pro-active and grab him by the dipstick, and make her proud. He’s totally into Joey, Jen points out. He’s in love with her. “He’s a 15-year-old boy! He doesn’t know what love is. All he does know is that he goes to sleep each night jerkin’ his gherkin and wakes up humping his mattress.” Kenny wants to talk to Abby about the assignment. Abby tells him to go away. “Can you just do the assignment and put my name on it? Great. Thanks. Bye.” Kenny leaves. “You need to show him some of the old naughty Jen. This new Jen just isn’t working.” “I don’t know? I don’t want to jump the gun.” “I want you to jump the gun. His gun.”
Jack isn’t doing anything right at The Icehouse. Joey explains her school problems to Bessie. Bessie says she’s basically a single career mother (Where’s Bodie?) and she can help. Joey turns her down. Bessie really wants to help, but Joey thinks she’ll find somebody else.
Andie and Pacey are having troubles with the budget. Over by $30,000. Pacey tells her he really doesn’t need a Jacuzzi, as long as he gets his Viper. He is a Bus driver. She is a sales clerk. They aint gettin’ any Viper. They have 3 kids, so they should get a 4 bedroom house. Pacey says not everyone gets to grow up like her. A fairy princess. She wants a divorce. She can have the kids. He gets the Viper. Andie says he can get his Viper if they can find an affordable 2-bedroom apartment by apartment scouting.
Gale gets out of a man’s car at home. They kiss each other good-bye. Gale explains to Mitch how she had to get a ride home. They have no trust. From this moment on, Thursday night is date night. Whoever, wherever. Only rule is they have to be honest about it.
Dawson and Jen are talking about their kids in Jen’s room. Jen points out how compatible they are and that they can still hang out. Jen starts to flirt. Dawson gets up and is going to go. Jen’s door is always open for him.
Andie and Pacey are looking through grungie apartments. Pacey blames Andie for the fact they have nothing. Andie goes into Pacey about his “I don’t care” attitude. Pacey explains how he has been labeled the black sheep in his family. Pacey tells Andie that she’s never had a problem in her life and she finds this fascinating to budget money. “Your rich and spoiled, and that’s what it comes down to.” “Your right. I don’t know anything about you and you know even less about me. Just leave me alone!”
Joey visits a “successful career woman”. Her name is Laura and she’s a designer. Joey really takes a liking for her. She asks Joey to look at some floor plans of a restaurant they’re designing. Joey points out a problem. They make a trade. Joey can get help on her project, and Joey will help Laura on some things.
Jen informs Abby that she hasn’t got anything from Dawson. Kenny tells Abby she should help on the project. She doesn’t have time. She has a very demanding social life. Abby says that Joey has that nice fresh face in a J. Crew kind of way, but Jen is a sexy kitten and she can work it to her advantage. She tells Jen to wear something “scandalous” tonight, for this is her last shot. His tighty whities will be in a ball by the end of the bed before you can say “Joey Potter is a virgin”.
Gale has candles set up on the dinner table. When Mitch walks in, she tells him dinner’s ready. He made other plans. It’s Thursday night. Mitch goes off as Gale blows out the candles.
Joey asks Dawson to come to the Icehouse with her. He can’t. He has to finish his project with Jen. Joey’s done hers. Laura said she can intern at her place anytime. Looks like Joey has some career aspirations after all. Gale goes out and just tells Dawson to tell his Dad it’s Thursday night. Joey thinks they should take advantage of this lack off supervision. Jen shows up in a dress. Joey leaves. Dawson asks where they should do this. Jen says his bedroom.
Jeff and Trey are fighting over their project at the Icehouse. They leave as Joey arrives. Joey is late for work. Jack and Bessie were swamped. Joey tells Bessie about some ideas Laura has for the place. Bessie snaps. She doesn’t need Laura’s help, she needs Joey’s. Joey isn’t her “full-time” slave. Bessie says she isn’t. Joey disagrees. Bessie tells Joey to go home.
Pacey asks Jack for a cup of coffee, even though The Icehouse is closed. He recognizes him as Andie’s brother. Pacey asks if she’s on any medication. Jack says nothing could be further from the truth about her being a spoiled princess. Pacey knows their family is totally loaded. Jack responds, “You think I’m working here for kicks?” “All those nice clothes? The Saab?” “Remains of a decaying dynasty. those days are over know. Give Andie a break. She deserves it.”
Gale goes to a Coffe house and sits alone at a table. Mitch stands by himself at a bar.
Dawson finishes the project. They are exhausted. Jen offers tog give him a massage. Dawson says he’s all right. Jen asks if she can crash at his place for the night, as her dress strap slides off of her shoulder. “Actually, yeah. I do mind. You should go home.” Jen says Joey’s putting ideas in his head about her. He blames Jen for her actions. “I can’t handle you throwing yourself at me every second. Don’t you find that humiliating?” “I know your with Joey, and I accept that. I just don’t respect it. You’ve got options, and I’m one of them.” “Who are you? What happened to Jen?” “She got bored. She decided to livin things up a bit.” She kisses him and leaves the room. “I hope you can handle her Dawson.” We see her after she left the room and she looks like she doesn’t know if that was right.
Mitch and Gale go to bed. They each had fun. They said they met some people, had a good time, but we know it’s a lie.
Bessie returns home and finds Joey. She doesn’t want to rob Joey of her childhood. She’s proud of Bessie.
In class, Jeff and Trey have worked things out. Kenny says that Abby didn’t do anything. She said he had snot all over his face and she didn’t want to get ill. Andie said she did half of the project, as Pacey is absent. Pacey shows up and hands in the project, for both of them.
Joey and Dawson kiss outside the school. Abby says “Get a room” as she walks by.
Andie thanks Pacey. Pacey apologizes for his behavior. Pacey says he had to get a Viper. They have a one-bedroom apartment. Andie and Pacey have one of their arguments, as we see a familiar face. Miss Tamara Jacobs has returned, and is watching Pacey and Andie.
