Dawson's Creek

Dawson's Creek

Dawson's Creek is an American teen drama television series about the fictional lives of a close-knit group of friends beginning in high school and continuing in college that ran from 1998 to 2003. The series stars James Van Der Beek as Dawson Leery, Katie Holmes as his best friend and love interest Joey Potter, Joshua Jackson as their fellow best friend Pacey Witter, and Michelle Williams as Jen Lindley, a New York City transplant to the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts, zip code 90108, where the series was set. The show was created by Kevin Williamson and debuted on The WB on January 20, 1998. It was produced by Columbia TriStar Television (renamed Sony Pictures Television before the sixth and final season) and was filmed in Wilmington, North Carolina. Part of a new craze for teen-themed movies and television shows in America in the late 1990s, it catapulted its leads to stardom and became a defining show for The WB. The show placed at No. 90 on Entertainment Weekly's "New TV Classics" list in 2007. The series ended on May 14, 2003. During the course of the series, 128 episodes of Dawson's Creek aired over six seasons.

Year:
1998
7,405 Views

Jen:
Hi, Amy, it's mom. Well, by the time you see this, I won't be here anymore, and I know how much that sucks, for both of us. So seeing as how I won't be around to thoroughly annoy you, I thought I would give you a little list of the things that I wish for you. Well, there's the obvious. An education. Family. Friends. And a life that is full of the unexpected. Be sure to make mistakes. Make a lot of them, because there's no better way to learn and to grow, all right? And, um, I want you to spend a lot of time at the ocean, because the ocean forces you to dream, and I insist that you, my girl, be a dreamer. God. I've never really believed in God. In fact, I've spent a lot of time and energy trying to disprove that god exists. But I hope that you are able to believe in god, because the thing that I've come to realize, sweetheart... is that it just doesn't matter if god exists or not. The important thing is for you to believe in something, because I promise you that that belief will keep you warm at night, and I want you to feel safe always. And then there's love. I want you to love to the tips of your fingers, and when you find that love, wherever you find it, whoever you choose, don't run away from it. But you don't have to chase after it either. You just be patient, and it'll come to you, I promise, and when you least expect it, like you, like spending the best year of my life with the sweetest and the smartest and the most beautiful baby girl in the world. You don't be afraid, sweetheart. And remember, to love is to live.

Joey:
What's going on in that head of yours?

Pacey:
You're off the hook.

Joey:
What?

Pacey:
You're off the hook. I've never had much faith in that whole "if you love someone, set them free" crap, as evidenced by everything I've done in my life up until this very moment, but I am determined to be happy, Joey, happy in this life. And I love you. I have always, always loved you, but our timing has just never been right. And the way I figure it, time is no man's friend. Well, I have to get right with that and be happy now. Because this is it, this is all we got. If there's one thing that I've learned from losing Jen, that's what I've learned.

Joey:
Pace, I...

Pacey:
Actually, hold on, I'm not done yet, because I also want for you to be happy. So I want you to be with someone, whether it be Dawson or New York guy or some man you haven't even met yet, but I want you to be with someone who can be a part of the life that you want for yourself. I want you to be with someone who makes you feel the way I feel when I'm with you. So, I guess the point of this long run-on sentence that's been the last 10 years of our lives is that the simple act of being in love with you is enough for me. So you're off the hook.

Joey:
You know what, for the record, I don't want to be let off the hook. Because everything I have done has led me here, right now, and the last thing I want is to be let off somebody's hook.

Pacey:
Don't miss my point here...

Joey:
And don't miss mine. Pacey, I love you. You know that. And it's very real. It's so real that it's kept me moving, mostly running from it, never ready for it. And I love Dawson. He's my soul mate. He's tied to my childhood, and it's a love that is pure and eternally innocent. I can't be let off the hook because I just might get the notion that it's OK to keep running.

Doug Witter:
[Doug walks up to Jack, who is sitting on the beach with baby Amy asleep in a carriage next to him] Gram said you were here. Just thinking?

Jack:
Capeside's favorite pastime.

Doug Witter:
What about?

Jack:
Moving.

Doug Witter:
Moving? Where?

Jack:
I don't know. Boston. New York.

Doug Witter:
Why?

Jack:
Amy.

Doug Witter:
Jack, you can't do that.

Jack:
Yes I can. How many gay parents do you know in Capeside?

Doug Witter:
So? How many gay teachers were there, before you came back? How many gay sheriffs are there, for that matter?

Jack:
Last time I checked, none. I'm tired of being first, Doug. Half my life has been about reeducating this community, and what do I have to show for it?

Doug Witter:
You think there are prizes for inspiring people?

Jack:
I don't want to inspire people any more. All I want to do is give Amy a normal existence, and she's not going to get that here. She's gonna have the same childhood that I did, only instead of being the only gay kid, she's gonna be the only kid with a gay parent. I don't want that.

Doug Witter:
You're going to be a gay parent no matter where you are. And yeah-Amy is going to face rejection. That's what it means to be a teenager.

Jack:
I just want to be a good parent. I have to be.

Doug Witter:
Hey. Jack. Being a good parent means knowing that your child is bound to fall down. And you just have to show 'em how to get back up.

Jack:
What do you know about parenting?

Doug Witter:
Not much. Hoping to learn quickly.

Jack:
It's a sweet gesture, but no thank you.

Doug Witter:
It's not a gesture.

Jack:
Yes, it is. With everything that we've been through, I'll be damned if we're gonna get back together over your sense of... obligation, or worse, pity.

Doug Witter:
Screw pity. I love you. I love you, Jack. I love that you're the bravest person I know... and the kindest. I love that no matter what you do, your life is gonna stand out. I want to stand out with you... and your daughter. [sighs] If you'll let me. [They kiss, and an elderly couple walks by]

Jack:
Uh, it's the Dudleys. Right there.

Doug Witter:
Evening, Mr. and Mrs. Dudley. I was just, uh, kissing my boyfriend.

Dawson:
[Drunk] Time to make a wish? Time to make a wish, okay. I wish... I wish my mom never slept with her co-anchor. I wish that my father... would stop talking about getting a job and actually go out and get one... heh, heh... and I wish that the two of you would stop your petty bickering and at least pretend to be the adults around here. I wish that my best friend, Pacey, would just end this transformation into a do-gooder, "A" student, and all-around sanctimonious teen angel and just go back to do what he does best, which is make me feel good about my life because his is supposed to be worse! And there's Jen Lindley with her drunkenness and revolving boyfriends and her wild, wicked ways. I wanna party with you. Ah, and there's Jack McPhee - Jack McPhee, who likes guys, but doesn't mind stealing my girlfriend, tonight, ladies and gentlemen, starring in his very own version of "In and Out". [Applauds] He's in. He's out! He's in. He's out! He's in. He's out! In, out. Nice hair, by the way. Heh, heh, heh... And then of course, there's my Joey. My sweet... precious Joey... the only 16-year old in the world who needed to find herself. You - You know what? That's - That's okay. I accept that. You need to find yourself... and I accept it. [Looks around] Right? So, Joey? J-J-Joey? Wh-where's - ? Where's my - ? Excuse me. Joey? Joey? Joey? Excuse me, Mom. [Gets down on his knees and looks under the table] Joey, are you - ? [Gets back up] Joey? Joey? [Gasp] There she is. There she is. It's my Joey. Joey! [Grabs Joey and kisses her]

Joey:
Cut it out, Dawson! [Pushes Dawson away, and Dawson lands face-down on his birthday cake]

Dawson:
This has nothing to do with the money, Pacey. It's about us. We haven't been friends for a long time.

Pacey Witter:
You're right. We haven't.

Dawson:
Ever since three years ago when you took Joey away from me. Now that really turned my life upside down. But what made it even more worse was during our senior year in high school when you, my best friend in the world, turned his back on me!

Pacey Witter:
How dare you say that! You don't know anything about me.

Dawson:
I think I know you a hell of a lot better than you know Pacey, since you've been trying to shed this loser image that everyone has put on you.

Pacey Witter:
Hey, I'm not the one who lives in a fantasy world and wants to be the new Spielberg of the century. I went out and made a change in my life.

Dawson:
How? By taking an office job selling stock? Putting on a suit and tie, and slaving away at something that doesn't intrest you?

Pacey Witter:
Maybe. But at least I was good at my job. I sold many stock. I made lots of money.

Dawson:
Then why I'm I broke?

Pacey Witter:
Because that's life! I didn't plan this. I didn't expect this. What more do you want from me, Dawson? You may have lost all your money. I have lost literally everything! I not only lost every cent I made in my life, I also lost my job. I'm about to lose my car, my apartment, and my life that I built for myself!

Dawson:
That's the thing, Pacey. Since graduation, you turned our friendship into a compeition to see who can suceed in life. You're so obsessed with shedding that loser personality that your own parents stamped on you that you destroy everyone's lives around you. You really are a loser! Everything you do will turn out bad. That's not life. That's YOUR life!

Pacey Witter:
Dawson, there's something I need to tell you. It... oh boy. This is bad. We were so getting back to becoming friends again. It's a shame to ruin our friendship this way.

Dawson:
What are you talking about? What would ruin our friendship?

Pacey Witter:
Money, Dawson. That's what would ruin it.

Dawson:
What happened?

Pacey Witter:
[sighs] It's gone, Dawson. It's all gone. Every cent. Your money is gone. My money is gone. Some guy on Long Island money is gone.

Dawson:
What do you mean "gone"? Pacey, that was all the money I had!

Pacey Witter:
I know. Those bio-tech stocks that I put it all in... I-I don't know how this happened. I really thought Stepavich would take off. Everyone was saying that it was the sure thing. Some FDA announcement came back the day before yesterday at finding some side effects that it's wonder drug had on test subjects. The whole company is in bankrupcy. The stock is worthless. From 80-per-share to zero in a...

Joey Potter:
[shocked and angry] Not again. Pacey, not again with you!

Dawson:
[also shocked and angry] Oh, yeah right... right! Typical, so typical! Why else would you... Pacey! Why did you bluntly ignore my request to sell the stock on the day before this FDA annoucement was to take place?

Pacey Witter:
I don't know. I was trying to do the right thing. I thought it would double or triple in value when...

Dawson:
[interupting] Oh Jesus... God, Pacey! It's the same damn story with you! You ALWAYS try to do the right thing! But no matter how hard you try to help others or yourself, you don't have the intelligence or the common sense to see all the pieces of the puzzle. You never did. And you probally never will! God, of all the the countless times you let me down, screwed me over, you really did it this time!

Pacey Witter:
Now wait a minute. Need I remind you that you came to me with your dream. I didn't approach you. You approached me. You were the one that took the chance. You wanted me to help you with your dream of being a great film maker. You gave me your money to help you double it and to finance your movie. Yet again, this boils down to the fact that "I" screwed your over? If that's not a typical reaction on your part, then what is?

Pacey Witter:
Now hold on, what exactly do you want to talk to me about? From my way of seeing things, we are just two brothers trying to take care of our large family.

Doug Witter:
No, Pacey. I'm the one taking care of the family. I'm the one that's been taking care of the family for years.

Pacey Witter:
Now Doug, don't you dare get righteous on me. You cannot lower your resentment over me because that was your choice to stay here in this crappy small town and look after our drunkard parents, and our sisters, and our screaming, out-of-control nieces and nephews.

Doug Witter:
Yeah, I do happen to make choices. I know that's a foreign concept for you who likes to play musical careers!

Pacey Witter:
How did we get here? I'm I stepping on your turf or something? Are you the only member of the family allowed to be carring and compassionate? What did you expect me to do, Doug? Just chomp on my cigar on the other end of the phone and cut a check for the man's funeral? I am a member of this family.

Doug Witter:
Yeah, convenently. That's the way it is with you lately. You swoop in at Christmas after not calling or visiting for months, bringing your fancy and expensive gifts, and pull wool over the whole Witter family's eyes. And then you're out. Everybody forgets.

Pacey Witter:
Forgets what? That I'm the family failure? The black sheep? I'm never supposed to grow up? I'm not allowed to succeed? I'm I not allowed to want things?

Doug Witter:
We all want things, Pacey. Belive me, we all want things!

Pacey Witter:
Then what? Am I not supposed to get them? Is that it? Or is that Witter males like us are not supposed to get them? We're just supposed to follow tradition; stay in Capeside, get married, have four or five kids, become drunks who hit and abuse our wives and children every day and night just like Dad and Grandad, and later die from alcoholism before reaching age 50? So wait... ultimately, this is not about me or our father, which is kind of pathetic, Doug, considering the condition that man is in right now up there in that hospital bed. This is about you wanting to see my face every day and remind yourself that you're still the better son. That you're top dog. Well, that's just sad, Doug! That's just sad that you see things that way. It's sad that you resent me because I'm a laid back, free thinker and not the obedient lap dog like you... following our father's orders without question all your life just to nuzzle up to him in order to stay on his good side. I miss the daily beatings from our old man just as much as you do, but I had to leave sometime... whereas you chose to stay here close to our father, slash, domestic abuser.

Doug Witter:
Pacey, don't make this a celebration about your retreat from Capeside.

Pacey Witter:
I'm not! Listen... I came here to see you, and to see him. And you know what? He knows it, and he appreciates it. Perhaps he's even happy to know that I... his youngest son and youngest child, whom he ignored, abused, and verbaly put down for the better part of my whole life, is not going to hold a grudge against him until the day he dies. In a strange way, this might even be a good thing.

Doug Witter:
You know it is a good thing, Pacey. It's all yours. You can have it. Enjoy it while it lasts because our father will not be around forever.


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