Previously on Dawson's Creek
My dad came back into town
and he's going to make us go
home, he's taking us back to Providence.
I love you.
And I'm so proud of you.
And proud to be with you.
I'm taking you back to my place.
It's pretty empty and, uh...
I could use a roommate.
You go get better, McPhee.
And you hurry back to me, okay?
Let the good times roll.
Is it your idea I should live with you as your mistress?
I want...
Somehow I want to get away with you
and find a world where words like that don't exist.
Oh, my dear.
Where is that country? Have you ever been there?
Hey, there. Abrupt.
I've had enough unrequited love for one evening, ok?
It's too torturous.
I wonder what sick part it is about me
that thrives off of these kinds of love stories.
The kinds that end unhappily?
No, the kinds that never really end.
When you think about it, to continue loving somebody
when there's no promise of that love ever thriving,
that is romance.
That is tragedy.
Not all love stories
have a built-in happy ending, Dawson.
True, but why revel in the ones that don't?
I'm sorry. Sad stories are just more powerful.
I prefer them.
But then do you think that...
Speak.
Don't you think that that kind of preference
has some kind effect on your own love story?
It absolutely does.
And that doesn't worry you?
No, because the effect is positive.
I mean, it's movies like these that remind me
of how unmovable and strong love can be.
But they don't end happily.
I mean, Daniel day-Lewis
never gets Michelle Pfeiffer.
It's not their fault.
It's just the circumstances.
But what good is their love
if it's not strong enough to overcome the circumstances?
Because in spite of the circumstances
they never stop loving.
So tell me, Joey Potter.
Huh?
Will you always love me...
No matter what the circumstances?
It doesn't matter.
We get the happy ending.
I need some father-son advice.
What do you do when you know something really bad
about someone who's really close
to someone you care about?
Do you tell the someone that you care about,
or do you just try and forget that you know the bad thing?
How bad is bad?
Let's say "beyond bad" bad.
Well, then you have 2 choices.
You can either tell the someone that you care about
what the someone they really care about has done,
or you can go straight to the someone
who's done the bad thing and confront them directly
in the hopes that they'll do the right thing.
Wow. Dad's got nothing on you.
And, uh, speaking about your dad...
Honey, I've decided to take the job in Philly.
I'm gonna fly down there tomorrow
and officially accept, sign the contract,
and firm up my plans to relocate.
Is this really what you want?
Well, the someone that I really care about
has done nothing to even remotely suggest
he may care about me.
Hey.
I just need a minute.
Um, good morning.
Morning.
Do you have the review for geometry?
I can't find mine.
I was counting on you.
2 minutes.
How's it going, Dawson?
Good.
Ready for exams?
Hope so. How about you?
Doing good. Doing real good.
And legal?
Ready. I hate exams.
You know, you guys, since the Ice House is closed
for the last stage of renovations,
you can use it as a study haven if you want to.
There are plenty of old menu items to eat up.
You could invite your friends.
Sounds cool. Dawson?
That sounds good.
Thank you. I'll see you.
Bye.
I'll see you, Mr. Potter.
See you, Dawson.
If this doesn't help me survive the morning, I don't know what will.
You're gonna need a lot more than coffee
after that all-nighter you pulled in the den last night.
I've haven't even seen study-geek Andie
put that much effort into a paper.
Yeah, well, I had a lot to say, so...
Yeah. What's it about?
Teen suicide.
You have a lot to say about teen suicide?
Should I start to plan the intervention?
Well, not just yet.
I mean, I'm not on the window ledge ...right now.
Right now?
This conversation just took a decidedly gruesome turn.
No, it's just realistic.
Realistic to who?
Well, to most teenagers.
The materials that I read cite a high percentage
as having considered suicide at least once.
Come on, haven't you ever?
Uh. Maybe at one time, yeah,
but since I've been dealing with everything,
it hasn't really crossed my mind.
The world doesn't scare me as much as it used to.
What's your answer?
Jennifer?
Hi, Grams.
How are you?
Late for class.
Jennifer, wait.
I thought about how we ended things.
I've given it a great deal of consideration,
and despite our differences, I want you to come home.
I have a home now.
Jennifer, I know you want your independence,
but this situation isn't right.
Listen. Jack is used to taking care of himself,
and that's something that I'm determined to learn how.
Together we're gonna be fine.
Jack has no alternative, you do.
You come here to welcome me home,
but you haven't even addressed why I left.
And to be quite honest,
I don't want to get into it right now with you.
Unit 7 continuing surveillance
at 52 Pier Avenue.
That's the Ice House.
You guys staking it out?
That's none of your concern.
Pop, if this means you're gonna start harassing Joey's dad--
I'm not harassing anybody.
I wear a badge, and I do a job.
Mr. Potter's finally putting his family's life back together.
The guy deserves a break.
I'll be the judge of that.
In the meantime, you got a final to get to.
Now, don't screw it up.
Is there any possibility that your advice
will ever take on a positive tone?
I'm positive you better not screw it up.
Dad, you know it's really great
that we can have these talks every morning.
Since your little girlfriend left,
your attitude has gone from bad to worse,
and I don't approve of it.
No girl is worth messing up your life over, you hear me?
May I go now, sir?
Is he trying to run you over
with the car this morning?
May as well have, the bastard.
Screw him.
Have you heard from Andie yet?
Uh, no. No, I haven't, not yet. She'll call.
Your favorite guidance counselor
will be proctoring this exam today.
If you have any questions,
please raise your hand,
and I will come to you.
Dawson.
I suppose you, uh...
Wanna know what the hell I think I'm doing.
No...
Not really. I'm just...
Here to tell you that whatever it is, I don't believe it.
I saw you in the back room with Pete the other day
when I was returning your tools...
I don't believe it.
I don't believe that a man who claims
to love his children with all his heart and all his soul
would traffic cocaine through the family business.
Dawson-- I do believe
that anyone engaged in such a blatant criminal activity
would put the well-being of his family ahead
of his own selfishness
and remove himself from the situation.
And what if that man found himself stuck?
Could you believe that?
Well, if that were true,
a smart man would do absolutely everything in his power
for the sake of the people who love him...
To unstick himself...
And he'd do it fast.
So Dawson will stay here with you.
I think it's a mistake to uproot him now,
with school and everything.
I agree.
And I was hoping that you'd move back into the house.
And this summer, he can come down to Philadelphia,
maybe intern at the station.
If he wants to.
If he wants to, yes.
Mitchell, I know he's happy here.
But you're obviously not.
Well, I didn't say that.
But I have a job opportunity I wanna take.
You know that I've outgrown my career here.
So what you're saying is that your decision
is based on what's best for you
and not what's best for our son.
What I'm saying is, what's best for me
is ultimately what's best for our son,
and he, believe it or not, understands this,
which is more than I could hope for from you.
Is there anything else you'd like to tell me?
Just that I'm leaving tomorrow.
What are you doing here, Pacey?
We're signing a peace treaty.
Studying, pop, studying.
Joey, is your father around?
Hello, John.
Restaurant's closed.
Hi, Mike. Can I speak to you for a moment in private?
Sure. Come on back.
Pacey, what's going on?
Don't look at me.
My father's crusades are his own deal.
Hi, Mike. How you been?
Good. And you?
Good, thanks.
Listen, you seen this guy around?
Pete Lewis. He's an old friend.
Yeah, with an alleged history in narcotics, Mike.
I wouldn't know, John.
We have a strictly social relationship.
He stopped by for a visit-- catch up, that's all.
Excuse me.
Find everything you need, Mr. Witter?
Sure did, Joey. Thank you.
You need any more help back here, Dad?
No, we're done.
Listen, have a good night.
The place is looking great, Mike.
Thanks.
Hey, stop by next week when we're open.
I'll get you a free dinner.
I'll do that. Thanks.
What's going on?
He's just giving me an official welcome, that's all, Joe.
Go back to your friends.
They're never gonna leave us alone, are they?
Not for a while.
I guess we'll just have to ignore them.
You ok?
Why is Pacey's dad doing this?
Because that's his job.
No, it's his job to serve
and protect Capeside from criminals, not my dad.
He doesn't belong in that category anymore.
Look, I know you're mad--
You should be mad, too.
You're part of this family now.
When you say it like that, I'm furious.
You know, it sounds like she wants to reconcile your differences.
To the untrained ear, maybe,
but to me it's just the same doublespeak,
and I'm not the girl she wants around.
She did ask you back.
I don't wanna go back.
Well, no one's saying that you have to, but she is right.
Your situation isn't mine.
What, you don't think that I've been under the same kind of scrutiny?
We all have our rough hours, Jen.
I thought that we had developed a closeness.
We have.
So then why do you want me to go?
I never said that I wanted you to go.
Yes, you did.
I mean, bringing up my grandmother,
talking about me moving back--
it's obvious where that leads.
Is this what you did with her?
You turned her words all around
until you're convinced that she wants you to go?
You don't have any idea what you're talking about.
No, I think I do.
You act like moving in with me is gonna be some great salvation.
Let me tell you something. It isn't,
because my dad's gonna have to sell the house soon,
and then we're both gonna be homeless.
Hopefully by then I will have put myself out of my misery.
What are-- don't say that.
Don't worry, Jack.
Statistics are on my side,
but I'll be gone by tonight.
You stay outta this, Pacey.
You and I got a whole 'nother problem to deal with.
Well, of course we do.
You had a phone call at the house.
Andie?
Mr. Milo. He's worried about you.
He told me you've blown 2 of your finals.
I got it under control, ok?
Pacey, he said you didn't write word one
on either exam. That true?
What were you thinking?
I was thinking that it doesn't really matter, ok?
The hell it doesn't.
You get your things. You're coming home.
No.
I don't want you hanging out here, Pacey.
Mr. Potter's a known felon.
It doesn't make me look good.
Is that what this is about?
Get your stuff.
I said no!
I said get your stuff!
Get your hands off me!
I'll be in the car.
Does anybody smell that?
Smoke.
Where's it coming from?
There's a fire.
From the back.
Joey!
Dad!
Dad. Dad!
Dispatch, this is chief Witter.
Wait, wait!
Careful, careful.
Dad! Dad!
Joey!
Joey, get outta here!
Dad! No!
Get everyone outta here!
Dad!
Stay back, stay back!
Everybody out! Everybody get out! Jack, get her out!
Jen, Jen, come on!
Let go of me!
Dad!
I can't get there. Stand back!
Oh, my god.
Dad.
Is this your idea of taking care of things?
It's not that simple, Dawson.
You need to go to the police
and tell them everything you know.
I can't. It's too dangerous.
This is too dangerous.
I'm all checked out.
They asked for the hero next.
That would be you.
I'm not a hero, Joey.
Don't be modest, Dawson.
You saved my life. You're the hero.
Some situations are too tragic to have a hero.
This is one of them.
Dawson! Are you ok?
I'm fine. I'm all right.
Yeah?
Yeah.
That bastard was lying to me.
He's in it up to his neck, and he knows it.
Come on. You don't even know if this has anything to do with him.
A random arson incident
in the middle of Capeside?
Let's consider the likelihood of that, Pacey.
If God hadn't blessed you
with my good looks,
I wouldn't know whose son you were.
Why don't you drive yourself home
before you make another embarrassing comment?
I think I'll walk.
As if I cared.
Nobody assumed you did, pop.
You'll have to excuse my son, boys.
His girlfriend moves away,
and suddenly it's his time of month.
Screw you, ok?
Come here.
Get your hands off me, all right?
You don't touch me again ever!
Finally my boy gets a pair.
And all it took was getting his heart broke
by some little girl with a few screws loose.
Andie did more for my life in 6 months
than you did in 16 years, you rotten son of a bitch.
So if you wanna make fun of me,
you wanna bust on me, that's fine.
But you make one more even slightly disparaging comment about the woman I love,
and I swear to god, you're gonna be policing this town
from a hospital bed. You understand me?
And one more thing.
Even if Mr. Potter was involved in all this,
he's still 10 times the father you ever were.
There's no reason if we can get
an inspector out there tomorrow
that we can't file a claim--
What's going on?
Your sister and I are going over the insurance papers.
I mean with the police. Why is the Ice House taped off?
The fire was arson-related.
It's typical investigative procedure.
So there's nothing else going on?
Joey, what are you saying?
I'm just asking Dad
if he knows why the police are so interested in the fire
or why there was even a fire in the first place.
As God is my witness, I have no idea.
You're positive?
Josephine Potter, you stop right now.
No, I want him to swear.
I just swore to you, Joey.
I know, but I need you to swear again.
I need to know that you're telling me the truth.
Do you have any idea who started that fire?
No.
Ok.
There's no question.
You have to go to the police.
And immediately.
Whoever Joey's dad is dealing with,
if they are capable of burning down a building,
honey, they are capable of much worse.
I realize that, but how can I do this to Joey?
She finally gets her family back,
and I'm gonna be the one who's gonna take it away from her?
Joey's father is responsible here, not you.
All right, but what if-- what if I just gave him some time?
Maybe he could fix things.
The man just got out of prison less than a month ago,
and he's already committed the same crime
that put him there in the first place.
I just wish I never... Saw what I saw.
There is a reason that you did, honey.
Joey's in danger, and she needs your strength,
even if that strength doesn't come
in the way she may want.
You have to go to the police.
There's really nothing else left to do.
There is one thing.
You didn't make a move tonight.
You stood there, and you watched that fire,
and you didn't run away from it. Why?
Because I was just in shock, all right?
No, I don't believe you.
I don't remember what happened, Jack.
I want the truth, Jen.
All your little comments--
How much do you mean them?
I'm not the kind of person
that would take their own life,
if that's what you're thinking, Jack. But...
But when I was standing there...
Staring at that fire,
I just kept thinking that maybe...
Maybe this is fate's way
of providing me with an out.
Jack, I don't wanna die, but I just didn't...
Care enough to run.
I understand what you're going through.
I know how numbing that...
Pain of hating yourself is.
And how it makes you wanna push everybody away,
especially the people that care about you the most.
But you can't.
Not if you plan on ever being happy.
Hey.
Hey. You called.
Yeah. Um...
Ahhh...
What I have to tell you, you're not gonna like.
So, um...I'm just gonna say it quickly.
Joey, your father's dealing drugs again.
You don't know that.
Yes, I do. I caught him.
And that's not all. This fire tonight
was not all, but partially, his responsibility.
I talked to him about it.
I talked to my parents about it.
I didn't want to talk to you about it because I didn't want you to have to know.
But now it-- it's gone too far.
He told me he had nothing to do with the fire.
He swore to me. He's lying to you.
Well, I believe him.
I know you want to belie-- - No, I do.
Joey, why would I lie about this?
Why are you doing this?
'Cause you need to know the truth.
All right, this is a very dangerous situation now.
Your father can help apprehend the people who are responsible for this.
If we went to the police, maybe you could work something out for your dad.
You want me to turn my father in?
What kind of a person do you think I am? Why are you doing this?
Joey, this isn't my fault. Yes, it is!
There's no other option!
Just couldn't leave well enough alone? You had to get involved?
Joey, I love you. I'm not gonna let you risk your life
to protect somebody who isn't protecting you.
Dawson, this is my father. I'm begging you. Please, just stay out of it.
I can't.
Yes, you can.
I mean, not just for me,
and not just for my family's sake, but for us.
I'm telling you, Dawson... We won't survive this.
That's a risk that I'm willing to take...
Because I care about you more than I care about myself.
And somebody has to do the right thing.
If you can't, then I will.
If I have to wait until I have enough proof to arrest your father,
he's goin' away for life.
You don't even have proof?
So why should I go along with this?
Joey, the men who tipped me off to your father's dealing
are his competitors.
They're also responsible for that fire last night.
Now, if your father doesn't help me get them,
they're gonna keep helpin' me until I get him.
You guys have no idea what you're asking me to do.
He is putting your entire family in danger, Joey.
Yeah, well, it's my family, Mr. Witter.
And what benefits my family is being together and trusting each other.
Don't you think your father's betrayed that trust?
You know, right now I think I trust him
a lot more than I trust any of you.
Could we just have a couple minutes alone?
Yeah.
He wants to help, Joey.
He cares. We all do.
I appreciate the concern, Dawson.
What I don't appreciate is having the solution forced down my throat.
I tried to talk to your father.
Yeah, that's just it, Dawson.
You tried. But he's not your father, Dawson.
It doesn't matter if he goes off to prison
for the rest of your life, does it?
That's why I came to you.
Yeah, with the decision already made.
Joey, I--I wish there was another option.
There isn't. You have to understand that.
I understand, Dawson, that in that black-and-white world in which you live,
you didn't see any choices.
But that's not my world.
I see things in gray, and that's what makes us different,
and that's what made me fall in love with you,
and that is what is tearing us apart.
We did well with our son.
Our one success.
We've had more success than that, Gale.
The past 24 hours...
Have reminded me what I love so much
about being part of our family.
Dawson was able to count on us when he needed to,
and I...felt like a father again. You know?
And, if you can believe it... A husband.
Oh, Mitch.
Stay here with me.
With us.
Please.
You see...
Ever since you left,
I have prayed for the day that you'd come back.
And when that didn't happen,
I started seeing Philly for what it was.
And oddly enough, it felt more right
than anything had in a long time.
But we can be right again, too, Gale.
I want my old life back. I want us.
No. You want what we had.
We'll never have that again, Mitch.
So...
I'm gonna do something that's right for both of us.
I'm gonna take the unplanned route for a little while...
In the hopes that...
Whatever we lost...
We'll be able to stumble upon again.
And did Dawson understand?
He understands how much I love him.
That's enough, I think.
I have 3 conditions.
Oh?
1...that we address the reality
of why this didn't work out before.
I know that I made some mistakes,
but...but even on my best behavior,
I never felt like I was comfortable living here with you.
I never felt like I was good enough.
Oh, Jennifer, you--
2.
I need you to acknowledge
that I've been through a lot in my life...
More than most girls my age, and...
And what I need is your support, not your judgment.
Especially not biblical judgment.
I think I can manage that.
What you need to understand, Grams, is that...
I don't need a legal guardian to be able to survive...
A-And that I can handle a lot more than you might think, but...
But that what I want... Is to live here with you.
I want a family.
I want us to take care of each other.
And I don't want to be alone anymore.
Neither do I.
Was there a third?
Yes.
There's somebody else who doesn't want to be alone anymore, either.
Well...
I've been meaning to clear out your grandfather's room
for a while.
What are you doin' here?
Well, for starters, you punched me.
Well, if you came lookin' for an apology,
you're barkin' up the wrong tree.
No. I don't need one. I deserved it.
Good for you for doin' it.
You had another phone call today.
From Andie.
We talked for a long time.
She's, uh...
She's kinda chatty, that one.
Yeah, she is.
She sounded sweet as hell, Pacey.
So I'm sorry, what I said yesterday.
I--I really don't know anything about her.
Apology accepted.
I'm not done.
As little as I know about her, I...
I know even less about you--my own son.
I realized that as Andie was trying to fill me in
on what you two had been through...
I didn't know about any of that.
She said you were her hero.
It was nice to hear.
Anyway, I called the school, and I... explained things to them.
They're gonna let you make up the finals next week
when you-- when you feel up to it.
Uh...
Thank you.
Well, that's the least I could do.
I'm sorry I haven't been the kind of father
that you felt you could share your story with.
There is one other thing here.
Andie wanted me to give you something.
Dad.
I miss her so much.
I miss her so much, it's killin' me, pop.
I know you do, son. I know.
Dad.
Joey. Where'd you run off to this morning?
I cooked you breakfast.
I was with...
I was with the police.
Oh.
Are you dealing drugs again?
Yes.
Why?
Joey, I wish I had an answer for you.
I wanted to provide for my family.
Not just survive, but provide.
I thought if I just made a little extra money,
get ahead, then maybe there'd be a chance for us.
Yeah, but you served your time. You were supposed to start a new life.
I wanted to, Joey. But what you don't understand
is the burden that I felt.
We were a burden?
Not you! You girls are my gift.
The burden was self-inflicted.
Ever since I moved back in here with you,
I have been haunted...
By the knowledge that I have failed you.
Then why didn't you tell me about this?
I mean, we could've found a way. We could've done something.
I was just too weak, Joey.
I have been up...
Night after night after night
wondering what compelled me to take that road both times,
and I just don't have an answer for you.
But I trusted you.
And you lied.
And you ruined everything
that Bessie and I have worked so hard for.
I mean, we could've died in that fire, and it would've been your fault.
I know, I know, I know, and I hate myself for it so much
that I wish I had died in that fire!
I just... Don't know what to do.
I don't know how to fix this.
All I know is that I am so, so sorry.
I'm sorry, too.
I took care of it for you.
I'm so sorry.
Don't be.
How are you feelin'?
Like hell.
Is there anything I can do?
No, thank you.
You did the right thing, Joey.
No, Dawson.
You did the right thing.
What I did...
The word "right" doesn't even come close to.
We both did what we had to do.
What I have to say, you're not gonna like,
so I'll say it quickly.
I hope one day that I will be able
to forgive my father for all this.
And I don't know if I'll ever be able to forgive myself.
But I know...
That I will never...
Forgive you.
You see, Dawson, there are certain circumstances
that love cannot overcome.
And from now on...
I don't want to know you.
See ya, Joey.