A Black and White movie, “Mr. Smith Goes To Washington”, is playing on Dawson’s TV. Pacey isn’t paying attention. He’s eating. Pacey tells Dawson about the new release section at the video store. Dawson explains how it’s a classic about a man faced with his heroic nature. Pacey can’t connect to being morally ground. That’s Dawson’s style. He’s an endangered species. Last of a dying breed. Dawson’s the nice guy. Jen stagers through the window, drunk. She flops down on the bed. “Third time this week”. Dawson starts to take her shoes off. She gets up and feels sick. False alarm. Just gas. Dawson doesn’t know what to do with her. He should watch the rest of the movie. Jimmy Stewart would know what to do.
Mitch is reading the morning paper in the kitchen. Dawson asks what he’s doing here. Just a few things to pack up. Mitch offers to go out to lunch with him. “Do like a friend thing”. “I sorta have real friends for that”. Dawson doesn’t see how him moving out is a step in the right direction. It’s his decision, not Dawson’s. Mitch hands Dawson some mail that came for him. As Dawson leaves the house he opens it up. “Oh my god!”, Dawson says enthusiastically.
The guidance counselor is talking to Pacey about how he’s doing. He’s listing off all his failed classes. He failed the career aptitude test. He has zero career objectives. Disappointment all around.
Dawson rushes to Joey to tell her they won. Boston Film Festival. Best short film in junior division. They’ve been given $2,500 towards their next project. Joey doesn’t have the time right now for another movie.
Jack asks Joey what they have to do to get their friendship back on track. She’s had alot on her mind. She’s not mad at him. She’s mad at herself.
Dawson is typing away at his laptop in the cafeteria. Jen arrives. He’s writing a script. She is proud of him when she finds out he won the contest.
Pacey tells Andie of his meeting this morning. She starts rambling on about the school system, gradually getting louder and drawing more attention to herself. “Ladies and gentlemen, Andie McPhee!”
Chris and another guy ask Jen how she’s doing from last nights party. P-A-R-tey tonight. Jen’s going to it, and invites Dawson. Getting drunk isn’t his idea of fun. Jen goes off telling Dawson not to judge her. He’s not.
Pacey knows he’s a joke. Andie doesn’t think he is. He can change. He doesn’t know where to start. Anyone can change their fate. Hero’s are made, not born.
Jack is making the cafeteria food into a menu of French cuisine. He asks Joey what she’s doing tonight. He invites her out on a “dat”. Just like a date, but no rules and you have to have a great time. She accepts. “You know Jack, you do have a certain charm. But don’t worry. I’m gonna ignore it and hang out with you anyway”. Jack goes over to Andie and Pacey’s table. He tells them he has a date with Joey. Andie is happy. Pacey just wants to stay out of this. Jack asks if she could watch their mom tonight. She will. Her new medication is helping her out great. Jack says she’d not OK. Andie says she has it all under control.
Dawson meets Joey at her door. He gives her half the prize money. She’s thankful. For his next movie, he’s thinking of doing a love story. Girl loves boy. Girl gets boy. Boy looses girl. Boy gets girl back. As he leaves, he bumps into Jack. they stare at each other.
Dawson is at his Dad’s new place. He goes to leave, but Mitch tells him to stay, be his friend. Mitch tries to have a conversation, but Dawson isn’t co-operating. Mitch tells him he doesn’t have to like his decision, he just has to respect it. All he ever does is respect other people’s decisions. It makes everyone else feel better, but makes him feel like hell. Mitch isn’t out to get him. Mitch gives him a key and tells him to think of this place as his. Dawson tells him he doesn’t want a friendship or buddy, he wants a father.
Jen is getting ready to go out. Dawson asks if he can go still. He can go as long as he is open minded. It’s not a date. He’s too on the rebound.
As they arrive at the party, Dawson thinks he is watching the “destruction of young America”. Jen calls it fun. They run into Chris and his pal. They give Jen a beer and go inside to dance. Dawson stays outside.
Mrs. McPhee says hello to Pacey and Andie. She asks what they’re studying. History and Biology. “If Tim were here, he could help you. US History is one of his favorite subjects”. Andie says he mother just slips some times. “She has her good days and her bad days”. “And what day is this?” They go up to her room, loaded with awards on one wall . Andie says that Pacey’s in need of help.
Jack and Joey are eating in the park. Sheet lightning is in the sky. Jack says how he almost got hit by lightning when he was a kid. It made him fascinated. He knows all this stuff from watching the Weather Channel. Joey says that when she was young, Dawson and her tried to do the Ben Franklin experiment with the key. Almost electrocuted themselves. “You and Dawson”. Jack understands that they have a history. “Life is a movie to him. And in the movies the hero always punches out the bad guy. Not that your the bad guy, it’s just...” “He was upset”. “Yeah”.
At the party, Dawson drinks his straight Coke, while he watches Jen flirt with numerous guys at once.
Andie is trying to teach Pacey how to study right. The phone rings. She starts to get upset and nervous. Her mother is at the market again. At the market, Mrs. McPhee is standing dazed telling stories of her husband. She won’t leave. Pacey comes in and asks if she will make him a sandwich. She will, and they walk out together. Andie has a smile from what her boyfriend has done.
Dawson sees Jen go up stairs. He goes up stairs to see Chris and his friend groping and grabbing at the topless Jen. She’s enjoying it. Dawson runs in. Chris asks him if he wants to join in. Dawson picks her up over his shoulder and carries her out of the house. Jen is mad. Jen is drunk. She’s trying to have a good time. Dawson says this isn’t a good time, she’s pretending. She isn’t pretending. She throws up over the white picket fence. “How’s that for irony, huh? Bad girl throws up on white picket fence”. She tried to be like him but she didn’t have the hope that he has. He’s special. “Jen, your special”. “No, I’m not. You just want me to be”. Dawson knows somewhere they can go.
Jack and Joey return to her house. She had a “unique fun” time. Jack kisses her. “Your not going to stop speaking to me again, are you?” “No, I think your safe. Crescent moon”. She’ll try this night again, unless she gets hooked on the Weather Channel.
Andie puts her mom to sleep. She thanks Pacey for saving her mom and herself tonight. She kisses him. “I’m proud of you”. Pacey chuckles. “What’s so funny?” “Well, not really used to hearing those words”. Pacey grabs her arm and goes to go up stairs. “Where are we going?” “Upstairs, to your bedroom”. “Oh really? And what do you have in mind?” “What do you think?” “Pacey!” “I still have three chapters to read”.
At Mitch’s place, Dawson explains how his dad has always been this Harrison Ford, larger than life, character to him, but he isn’t. Mitch can be is father, and his friend if he lets him. “Then it’s done”.
Dawson gives Jen a glass of water. She asks what his movie is about. “Romance. Star-crossed lovers”. “How does it end?” “I don’t know yet”. “No happy ending. They’re bogus and pat and unrealistic”.
Joey climbs into Dawson’s room. He’s not there. Joey sits on the end of the bed, picks up a “Jaws” doll, smiles, then leaves the room.
