402: Failing Down

402: Failing Down

(Outside Capeside High, P/J are walking toward the school, holding hands.)

Pacey: You know, they want to see me in the guidance office after school.

Joey: So?

Pacey: So do they want to see you in the guidance office after school?

Joey: No.

Pacey: No. See, that right now is a bad sign. It means they're singling me about already.

Joey: Ahh, don't worry, sweetie. They probably just want to extend a hand and let you know that they are there to help you fulfill your destiny as the world's greatest gas station attendant.

Pacey: Oh, that's cute.

Joey: What, suddenly teasing is out of the question?

Pacey: Oh no, tease away you little lassie. But you do raise an interesting point. I think we should talk about it now that we're back at school.

Joey: Talk about what exactly.

Pacey: Well, our mutual wants and needs.

Joey: Did you actually just say that out loud?

Pacey: Well, like you said, we're a couple now, Potter. And as a couple, I think there's a couple things we need to discuss.

(They continue inside Capeside High)

Joey: Such as?

Pacey: Well, kissing in public.

Joey: Maybe.

Pacey: Maybe?

Joey: Well, if it's of the spontaneous variety.

Pacey: Good lord, woman. You really are a fickle mistress, you know that? I mean, without kissing, what do we really have left?

Joey: Precious little. We should probably break up.

Pacey: Well, we had a good run, huh?

Joey: Mmm-hmm. (They smile at each other and kiss.)

***************

(At the beach house)

Pacey: Well, it seems as though I managed to fail three classes last year. Yeah. Three. You know, so now I gotta retake those three classes and pass all of this years classes if I want to have any hope of graduating.

Gretchen: Okay. Okay, so you do it. You know, you work really hard this year and you do it. It's not that big of a deal. What does Joey think? (Pacey looks away.) You haven't told her? Why?

Pacey: Because, Joey is smart and Pacey is an idiot. And I'm trying not to make her any more aware of that fact than she already is.

Gretchen: You are not an idiot, Pacey. And something tells me Joey's feelings are not contingent on your GPA. Listen, I can stand here and tell you everything's going to be okay. But it's going to sound a lot better coming from her. So tell her, okay?

***************

(At the docks on True Love, they are eating pizza.)

Joey: I'm so glad we could make reservations. You know, personally, I find the food leaves a little something to be desired. But, gotta love the atmosphere. So, how was your day, honey?

Pacey: Oh, it was just swell.

Joey: I think you're just a little grumpy because we're not in the middle of the Atlantic anymore.

Pacey: Hey, look, I could have this baby packed up and ready to go in about 15 minutes, you just gotta give me the word. I guarantee that all this school stuff will still be here when we get back. (He gets up to get a drink from inside the boat.) Root beer?

Joey: No thanks. Our summer at sea was exceptionally lovely then, but this is now. It's our senior year. Do you have any idea what that means?

Pacey: Well, if I had a car, I guess I could park it in the senior lot. That would be pretty cool.

Joey: Read my lips, Pace. One more year. Than no more classes, no more books-

Pacey: No more Dawson's dirty looks.

Joey: So what was that whole guidance counselor office thing about anyway?

Pacey: You know, can we just for tonight pretend like we're one of those couples that can consume a meal in blissfully dysfunctional silence?

Joey: Okay. (she takes the parmesan cheese from him) Thanks. So you wanna hear about my new job?

Pacey: What new job?

Joey: You're looking at Capeside Yacht Club's newest serving wench.

Pacey: Congratulations.

Joey: Don't sound too excited for me there, Pacey.

Pacey: Well, I didn't know you were so fixated on getting a job.

Joey: Well, yeah. I mean, you of all people should know how badly I need to make the extra money. I mean, without it I am doomed to roam the streets of Capeside for eternity, which is unacceptable. You know, I'm not ending up some townie.

Pacey: When did you become a snob, Miss Potter?

Joey: What are you talking about?

Pacey: Well, what's wrong with being a townie?

Joey: Well, nothing.

Pacey: No, honestly. Someone lives in the same place their whole life, that somehow makes them a bad person?

Joey: No, of course not-

Pacey: What if I was to become a townie?

Joey: Well, you're not that kind of a person.

Pacey: I didn't ask what type of person I was. I said what if I became a townie? Would that some how make me less desirable to you? (Joey doesn't say anything) I guess that's my answer.

Joey: What's going on with you?

Pacey: Nothing.

Joey: So why are you trying to pick a fight with me all of a sudden?

Pacey: I'm not trying to pick a fight with you-

Joey: Yes, you are. I mean, something is going on with you, and you obviously don't want to talk about it, which is fine. Okay. I understand that. But please don't sit here and try to pick some random fight with me just to make yourself feel better.

***************

(Potter B&B - the doorbell rings. Joey moves to get it.)

Joey: I got it! (She opens the door, and Dawson walks in.)

Dawson: Hey.

Joey: Hey.

Dawson: It's not too late, I hope.

Joey: Oh, no, no, of course not, I… come in.

Dawson: (He hands her 3 CDs.) I wanted to return these.

Joey: You're kidding me, right?

Dawson: No, I was going through my CD collection trying to weed out some of the more embarrassing reminders of my callow youth. I came across your Counting Crows collection.

Joey: Dawson, you borrowed those like three years ago.

Dawson: Yeah, I know. I apologize for my appalling lack of etiquette.

Joey: (She gestures to the pitcher she is pouring, asking him he wants any.) Hmm?

Dawson: Uh, no. I, uh, so I should go.

Joey: Why?

Dawson: Cause it's none of my business.

Joey: What isn't?

Dawson: Pacey.

Joey: Okay, you need to start making some sense here, Dawson.

Dawson: You know, just talk to Pacey, okay?

Joey: About?

Dawson: About school. He's in trouble.

Joey: What are you talking about?

Dawson: Well, he didn't show up for school today and if he's not careful, he's going to flunk out. I can't for the life of me figure out why I should even care about this, but… I'm here, and if there's anyone who can help him out, it's you, so…

Joey: Well, no offence, Dawson, but if Pacey was in such dire straights, don't you think I would know about it?

Dawson: No, I don't.

Joey: Why?

Dawson: Don't you get it, Jo? When you love someone, you want her to be proud of you. You want her to think that there's nothing in the world that you're incapable of. The thought of disappointing her, it's crippling. (after a long pause) Good night. (and then he leaves.)

***************

(Pacey and Gretchen's place - Pacey is standing on the back porch working on something. The sliding door opens and Gretchen walks out.)

Gretchen: There he is. Try not to bruise him. (Joey steps out toward Pacey while Gretchen goes back inside.)

Pacey: Hey. There's my girl.

Joey: Why weren't you in school today? Why are you suddenly in danger of flunking out? Why do I have to hear about it from Dawson? Why does Dawson know more about your life right now more than I do?

Pacey: Well, because apparently Leery senior has a very big mouth. And, oh, how I bet junior loved being on the receiving end of that news…

Joey: Oh, Pacey, can we just stick to the point, please?

Pacey: Honestly, I'm sure he loved hearing that, you know? Now he's salivating, the guy gets to swoop in on his soulmate with a big fat, 'I told you do'.

Joey: Are you delusional? Dawson has zero to do with this, Pacey.

Pacey: Sure.

Joey: Do you have any idea how insulting it is to know that I come up last on your list of people to contact in case of an emergency?

Pacey: Jo, this is not that big a deal. I'm handling it.

Joey: And how does cutting school translate into handling it, Pacey? Why does this even surprise me?

Pacey: What exactly is that suppose to mean? Joey: Exactly what I said. This is how you deal with everything. You run away. You take the easy way out every time.

Pacey: I guess that's why I'm such a loser.

Joey: You're not a loser, Pacey. I didn't spend my summer with a loser. You know, building what I thought was an incredible foundation for a relationship. I thought that we were a great team. It turns out I guess I couldn't have been more wrong.

***************

(It's morning at Pacey and Gretchen's Place - Pacey is sleeping on the couch.)

Gretchen: I want you to get up, take a shower, button up your best bowling shirt and go and apologize to that girlfriend of yours. (She says as she opens the curtains and walks over to Pacey and pulls the covers off of him.)

Pacey: Do you think maybe you could just leave me alone?

Gretchen: Pacey, this girl is a keeper, and I can not in good conscience allow you to blow it because you're scared.

Pacey: What are you talking about? I'm not scared.

Gretchen: Like a little girl.

Pacey: What do you know?

Gretchen: And if you're not careful, you are going to sabotage this relationship before it has a chance to become something.

Pacey: I'm going to sabotage it, huh? Me thinks you've been watching a little too much Oprah. (He gets up and goes into the kitchen.)

Gretchen: I am serious, Pacey.

Pacey: What do you expect, huh? I've had to listen in stereo all my life to my brother and my father tell me how stupid I am. How can I help not feeling like a moron sometimes? (He goes into the fridge and grabs some OJ and drinks right out of the jug.)

Gretchen: You're right, they're jerks. Both of them. You know, but get over it already. I mean, Dad and Doug have so many problems between them, you should just throw them a huge pity party. And they're not your problems.

Pacey: Oh, please, tell me, great oracle of Capeside, who is?

Gretchen: Your problem is Dawson. And don't tell me you don't hear him. Whispering in your ear, telling you that you're not good enough. He's just a ghost, Pace. She picked you. And now you have to deal with it.

***************

(Joey is sitting at the docks as Pacey walks up to her.)

Pacey: There's my girl. (He pauses.) You're not liking me so much right now, are you?

Joey: Not so much. No.

Pacey: So, you know, I'm talking to my sister, and she says to me that it's actually not such a bad idea to discuss your problems with your girlfriend.

Joey: It's nice to know that someone in the Witter family can boast a brain cell or two.

Pacey: You're not going to make this easy on me, are you? Okay. So where do I start?

Joey: Where ever you want.

Pacey: Well, I should probably just start first by saying that you, Josephine Potter, have just wrecked me. In the best possible way, you have absolutely wrecked me. Because you see, I fell in love with you, knowing that there was never any possibility of being with you. Knowing full well that a sizeable chunk of your heart would always be wrapped up in our friend, Dawson. And that much was actually okay with me. Right up to the point that you chose me. Cause then you just turned everything on it's head. And I got everything that I wanted, and from that day forward, I've just been a wreck.

Joey: Why?

Pacey: Because now all I can do is just wait for the other shoe to drop. You know, just wait for you to realize what a big mistake you've made. Wait for you to realize that I'm just going to be a big disappointment. And just wait for you to realize that Dawson is the guy that you want to be with.

Joey: Pacey, what does Dawson have to do with you screwing up at school?

Pacey: Well, nothing and everything. (He sits down next to her.) Dawson Leery would never have screwed up like I did, Jo. It just wouldn't have happened. You know that.

Joey: You're right. Do you know what else Dawson would never do? He would never inspire me to run away with him for the summer. It just wouldn't happen. And you know that. We had a magic summer, Pacey. I mean, we shared something that I'm going to remember for the rest of my life. I mean, don't you see? We're creating our own history here. A history that has nothing to do with Dawson.

Pacey: That's a nice way of looking at it.

Joey: Yeah. You know, this is where it gets rough.

Pacey: What do you mean?

Joey: We spent three months on the sea, but we didn't come close to weathering the storm. We ran away. We made our own reality, and it was so wonderful-

Pacey: But it couldn't last forever.

Joey: Nor should it. Pacey, a relationship isn't about a romantic three month cruise. It's going to be the details that define us. You know, the moments.

Pacey: Okay. Joey, I am… REALLY scared. I think that I screwed up and I'm going to flunk out of high school. So I need your help. Umm… really badly.