COMING HOME

Joey: It's like 'A Wonderful Life' in reverse. Everyone seems better off without us.

Joey: I was just thinking.
Dawson: A much overrated activity.

Dawson: You don't choose what you love, it just chooses you.

FALLING DOWN

Gretchen : Yeah, but Dawson, Vanilla Ice? What were you thinking?
Dawson : I don't know, I was 10. Who has good taste in music when they're 10?
Gretchen : By the time I was 10 I could rattle off the name of every band on the sub-pop label. And I was telling anybody who would listen that a guy named Kurt Cobain was about to change the face of music as we know it.
Dawson : By the time I was 10, I could rattle off every cinematographer Steven Spielberg ever worked with. Which somehow isn't that impressive, is it?

Mrs Valentine : And what does Daddy do, dear?
Joey : Pharmaceuticals. Daddy made his fortune in the pharmaceutical world.

TWO GENTLEMEN OF CAPESIDE

Drue : Excuse a brother for picking up on the intense, dare I say, sexual vibe between the two of you? Must be the Star Wars thing.
Dawson : Star Wars thing?
Drue : It's classic. You're obviously Luke to this Pacey guy's Han Solo. See, you're the stuff of pre-teen daydreams. Cute, smart, non-threatening. Which is great and all, but not for Princess Joey here who's clearly smack dab in the middle of her bad boy stage.

Joey : Mr. Brooks says that there's a storm coming.
Drue : Mr. Brooks lives alone on the edge of town with a three legged dog named Boo.

Jen : You'd never be first to admit it's getting scary.
Pacey : This is nothing. I've seen this before.
Jen : Where? In 'The Perfect Storm'?

Pacey : If it gets any worse, they'll send someone for us.
Jen : We have no radio and we're heading for a cove that you don't know the name of. Who the hell is gonna find us there?"
Pacey : Dawson! Dawson will know!

Mitch : Just doesn’t seem fair, does it?
Dawson : What's that?
Mitch : That you saved the day, you still don't get the girl. Though maybe, just maybe you've done something more important.

Pacey : I've been wanting to tell you I'm sorry, Dawson. I'm really sorry for the way everything went down this spring. For my part in it. For the pain it must have caused you. And… I'm really sorry that I ruined your friendship, cause I miss it. Badly. And uhh, however far off it may be, I do look forward to the day when you and I might be friends again. So, until then.
Dawson : Until then.

FUTURE TENSE

Joey : I mean, you know maybe I'll just go to one of those fictional colleges. You know, like on those lame high school TV shows that go on for way too long, and then just in time to save the franchise, all of sudden it turns out that there's this amazing world class college just right around the corner where all the principle characters are accepted. Just to be safe, we should probably start the application process.

Drue : Jenny! Jenny! What, you no longer answer to Jenny?
Jen :  Not since I left the 2-1-2 area code.
Drue : Not so fast. Can I walk you home? Carry your books? Buy you a soda at the malt shop? It's what people do around here for fun in Pleasantville, right?

Dawson : So it's not your birthday, and yet people who call each other dude seem to be attending your birthday party. You might want to look into that.

Joey : Good. Because I… would like to make a toast. All the love and happiness in the world to my friend, Jen Lindley, on her birthday.
Jen : Well, thank you very much, Joey. But you do know, it's really not my birthday.
Joey : That's all right, we're not really friends. I'm just kidding. I'm kidding. I'm kidding. We are. I think we are. Do you think we are? I can't really pinpoint exactly when we became friends…
Jen : You know what, Joey? Let's not delve too far into it because we'll just remember why we're supposed to hate each other.
Joey : I don't hate you. I love you. I do.
Jen : Oh, Joey, you love everybody tonight.

Jack : So do you think we're the only two people not having fun at this thing?
Dawson : It's hard to tell. Everybody else could be having fun, or they could just be imitating the fun they see people have in movies.

Dawson : I've seen how much she loves him. I've seen it in her face. I've seen them hold hands; I've seen them kiss. And tonight, I saw them fight, which is something I've basically seen everyday of my life since the 1st grade.
Gretchen : But not like this?
Dawson : I think it was actually worse than the kissing.

GREAT XPECTATIONS

Pacey : So then, of all the guys in Capeside that want to befriend her, she picks Dawson. That doesn't bother you at all?
Joey : Pacey, he's the only person close to her age working at the restaurant. Makes perfect sense that they become friends.
Pacey : I asked if it bothered you.
Joey : No, it doesn't bother me.
Pacey : It bothers you.
Joey : No, it doesn't bother me. It... bothers you. You just want it to bother me, too.
Pacey : So then what's bothering you?
Joey : You!

Joey : Gretchen, Dawson has this way of hanging on to things since he was like 12. You know, sure he outgrows them in their proper perspective. But that doesn't always mean that they're gone. Sometimes I think they're just waiting around for the right moment to come out again… And maybe if he thinks there's the slightest chance…
Gretchen : Do you know what I think? If Dawson is waiting for some childhood crush to come around, he's not waiting on me.

Dawson : Nothing propels you into adulthood faster than the next generation nipping at your heels.

Joey : It's really sad to think that after 18 years of living down the creek from each other, there's going to be no one rowing our boats anymore.
Dawson : Well, I wouldn't put our boats in the dry dock just yet.
Joey: Making plans for that boat?
Dawson : I do. I think you should give yours to Alexander because I'm going to be giving mine to my new brother or sister.

Joey : Capeside wouldn't be Capeside without a little Leery running around.
Dawson : Or rowing across a creek to get to your house.

UNUSUAL SUSPECTS

Joey : Pacey, for five years your brother's been nagging you about spending a day with him observing police policy and you've always told him to just stick it. Then you take some meaningless career aptitude test and suddenly you're watching the lost episodes of Cop Rock and taking him up on his dubious offer.

Pacey : You ever find yourself sitting out here on the edge of the highway in your squad car. You got your radar gun in hand. Been out here for four hours in which only 3 cars have passed all going under the speed limit, and wonder just what the hell happened to your life?
Doug : Pardon me?
Pacey : Seriously man, look at you. For all your Elliotness dreams and Harry Calihan aspirations, you're nothing. I mean, nobody. At best you're the Barney Fife of this little Podunk town.

Molly : Just wait until I'm 17 and hot, he'll regret messing with me.

Gretchen (about Drue) : Whenever I see that guy, I can't help but hearing the Darth Vader theme.

Doug : I want you to listen to me very closely because I am only going to say this one time. If you ever in your life ever care about anything as much as I care about being an officer in this town, I will be shocked. If you ever in your life are as good at anything as I am at being an officer in this town, I will be shocked.

Dawson : Today when I was going through your things I found your high school year book. Underneath your picture, the caption said that your life's ambition was to become a Hollywood filmmaker. Pretty striking coincidence given that I've had the exact same dream for as long as I can remember.
Brooks : Good for you.
Dawson : Scared the hell out of me. Cause I don't ever want to be like you. I don't ever want to be the kind of person who pushes everything and everyone away from him. I don't want to be alone. And I know that you don't want to be alone, either. You can't get rid of me, Mr. Brooks. What you say and do to everyone else might work on them, but it's not going to work on me. So I'm back. And I'm going to finish the job I was hired to do.

Principal Peskin : "At 10:30 yesterday, your son was at Harry's hardware store purchasing a canister of white paint identical to the kind that was used to scroll the words "Class of 2001" on the sail of my boat. At 1:30 he was at the Leery residence returning Mitch's keys. Keys that could have easily been copied earlier that day at the hardware store, giving Drue access to my school. At 9:30 he made one final appearance, this time at the storage warehouse behind the Yacht Club, under the pretense of having received an anonymous phone call. Your son was conveniently present at all the necessary moments. He acquired the means and resources to do the job. And he had the time to pull it all off without a hitch."

Drue : Karma, finally caught up with me.

Pacey : Well, now I think it matters. I mean I know it matters to Mike. I know it matters to some dumb kid you're going to keep from killing all his friends in a car wreck when you pull him over for speeding and scare the crap out of him. And I'm guess it probably matters in a million other subtle ways that I with the subtlety of an elephant in an antique shop will never ever notice.

Dawson : "On the other hand, if we had wanted to pull off a prank, the three of us that is… Jack could have swung by the Peskin's sometime after he met Drue at the hardware store. He would have had time to leave the paint he accidentally took home and Chester the dog with the necessary food and water of course, tied up at a tree at a rendezvous point. I could have gotten into the storage facility sometime after 1:30 when Drue dropped off the keys and before 3:30 when I had to get back to Mr. Brooks' house. Pacey would have given me the code. And I would have the Mitch-mobile to tow the trailer back to the same rendezvous point Jack had been to earlier. And I would have left the boat and car with Chester and the paint. Later on Pacey could have had Drue drop him off somewhere near the rendezvous point. And once arriving at the location, Pacey could have gathered up all the essential materials and then taken the whole production to the gymnasium to finish off the job. And by 11 we'd be done, and everyone would still be none the wiser. Of course that's only hypothetical."

KISS KISS BANG BANG

Jen : Will.
Jack : Grace.

Joey : Dawson Leery’s having a party?
Gretchen : Not so much. I talked Mitch and Gale into letting me organize their holiday party.
Joey : Really? I love those. I mean, they've been a part of my life since I was, like, 5, I think. And they always put me in just the right mood for the holidays. Which is kind of weird considering Dawson and I would pretty much just hide up in his bedroom and watch old movies, but...
Gretchen : Which has it's own distinct charms. I mean, Dawson is one of those rare guys who can somehow make popcorn and a rented video seem like an event.

Dawson : Mr. Brooks, I need to know why you stopped making movies.
Mr. Brooks : What does that have to do with anything?
Dawson : 'Cause I’ve stopped, too.
Mr. Brooks : Well, that's a tragic loss for the arts.

Dawson: About what you said to me the other night. What did happen to me. Here I am. I'm applying to one of the best film schools in the country, and I'm not even sure I want to go. I'm not sure I deserve to go.
Gretchen: You know what you sound like, Dawson?
Dawson: What?
Gretchen: You sound like a guy who just broke up with this girl. And he's happy he broke up with her. I mean, at least he says he is, and he goes on and on about, you know, how much better off he is without her, but the thing is he can't stop talking about her. Everything comes back to this girl. You loved this girl, Dawson.

Mr. Brooks: 1956, Louis B. Mayer calls me into his office. He's got this brilliant idea. Wants to cast my best friend and my girlfriend in my next picture. Turn Away, My Sweet. Well, I got to agree with him. It's great casting. Till we started shooting and I am a madman. Crazed beyond belief. I don't even notice what's happening right in front of my eyes. My best friend falling in love with my girlfriend. By the time I realize it, it's too late. She's gone, and I still have half a picture to direct. Do you have any idea what that's like?

[Dawson and Gretchen are inadvertently standing under mistletoe]
Mr. Brooks: Why don't you quit flirting and kiss her?
Dawson: Excuse- you gotta be kidding me. I had nothing to do with this.
Gretchen: Ok, well, I guess we'd better get it over with, then.
Dawson: You think?
Gretchen: It's tradition, Dawson, and you don't monkey with tradition.

SELF RELIANCE

Jack: Oh, how does it feel to have a dream come true?
Dawson: Why? Do I look like I'm trapped in an elevator with Kate Hudson?
Jack: Dawson, come on. Last night at the holiday party, you kissed Gretchen Witter. I mean, you remember her, right? It's the girl you once described to me as your first crush.
Dawson: She photographs very nicely, doesn't she?
Jack: Ok. As much as I appreciate your attempt to feign coolness, ha ha ha ha. You can't tell me this means nothing to you.
Dawson: Oh, no, not nothing, but, uh, you know, virtually nothing. I mean, was she once the unapproachable, bikini-clad object of my preadolescent affection?
Jack: Yeah.
Dawson: Is she now? No. She's a friend. I would like to keep her one.
Jack: Uh-huh. Famous last words.
Dawson: Not every kiss has to be a life-altering event.

Jack: "Just take a look around, please. I mean, this is totally not my scene."
Jen: "How do you know?"
Jack: "For one thing... for one thing, I'm the only guy here with no piercings."
Jen: "Jack, the scene, as you so quaintly refer to, it basically consists of me, Dawson, and it pains me to say, Grams. Look, I know this is hard for you, but you cannot spend your entire life surrounded by straight people."

Toby : "Hey, are you here for the meeting?"
Jen : "Yes we are."
Toby : "Thank God. We need more lesbians with decent haircuts."

Toby : "...because he was gay."
Jack : "Oh God. If I hear the word 'gay' one more time I'm gonna scream."
Jen : "Jack, it's just a word."
Jack : "It's in every sentence the guy says."

Joey : "Pacey, I do think about the future. I do."
Pacey : "So what do you see when you see the future?"
Joey : "Us. Me and you, Pace. We grew up together. You see, Dawson and I, we didn't grow up. We are in that house, in Dawson's bedroom, eternally having the same argument over and over again, in this endless cycle that goes on and on. And... I can't stop it. Because whenever I'm around him, I become 15."

Toby : "I see. Is all of this getting a little too gay for you?"
Jack : "Yeah, as a matter of fact, it is getting a little too gay for me. I gotta admit, I just don't understand the point to it. To your group. The way you guys act. Your whole holier than though attitude."
Toby : "You wouldn't. I mean, not from where you're sitting at the fun and popular table with all the other football players and cheerleaders. But in the real world, the one the rest of us live in... People who fit in like you, beat up people who don't like me. I mean, you don't get that, do you? You know, you've probably never had a rough day in your entire life."
Jack  :"Hey, you don't know me well enough to assume anything about me. Or how rough it's been for me, or what my life is like or what it's cost me to get where I am."

Joey: "I brought you these Counting Cows CDs."
Dawson: "Joey, these are yours."
Joey: "I know, I... well, I just figured that we could pass them back and forth whenever we had something we needed to discuss."

Dawson (to Joey) : "Well, you should have let Pacey help you. Especially with Alexander, I mean, he's great with kids, mostly because he still is one. I mean that in a good way."

Mr. Brooks: "Do you know why so many great pictures are about love triangles? Simple. For every piece of happiness, there's also a piece of unhappiness. If you haven't told both sides, you haven't told the whole story. All right?"

Mr. Brooks: "When I was hitchhiking to the west coast, I tried to stay on route 66, you know, but I had to take such rides as I could get, and so somehow I ended up in Las Vegas, stranded at a little diner. That's where I met her. The girl from your movie. Ellie Andrews, waitress. Born and raised in Vegas and hated it. Said she couldn't understand why people would go out in the desert to take chances they'd be too afraid to take at home. Said she'd rather gamble on life than on the roll of the dice. One day a ride came by, toward L.A., And, uh, before I could say good-bye to her, she jumped over the counter and came with me."

Dawson (to Gretchen) : "I like you. There, I said it. I like you. And... That kiss meant more to me than just happy holidays. And every thing I said the other day was a lie. Well, not a lie because I think I meant it at the time. But I was basically just trying to fool myself because I didn't want to screw up our friendship. I was going to let that fear stop me, but I don't want to, and I'm not going to. Because I don't want to learn that lesson at 17 or anytime for that matter."

A WINTER'S TALE

Griffith: Well... You won, you old bastard. You get to see her first. What's the matter with you, kid? You look like you've seen a ghost.
Dawson: You're—
Griffith: Oh, not many people remember those old pictures, especially not young people. You must be Arthur’s grandson. The doctor said—
Dawson: I... I'm not his grandson, actually. I'm... I’m just a fan.
Griffith: Oh.
Dawson: He said he hadn't spoken to you in—
Griffith: 40 years. He wrote me last month, said he'd been a fool, asked for forgiveness. Forgive him for what? The only person he ever hurt was himself. I thought about calling after she passed away - my wife Ellie. I figured he'd be the only one who would understand.
Dawson: What stopped you?
Griffith: Oh, I realized how much greater his hurt would be than mine, how many oceans bigger. All the years I had with Ellie - 3 children, a home, a good life. Still, all that time, he had that part of her soul you give your first love. When he goes, he'll be with her. I suppose that's the way it should have always been. Well... Goodbye, Arthur. Thanks for writing and for staying till I could say goodbye.

FOUR STORIES

Pacey: So, typically when couples engage in the sort of activity that we engaged in last night, there is some sort of morning-after discussion.
Joey: About what?
Pacey: Well, it's a bit like a post-game wrap-up.
Joey: I see. You want to know if you were any good.
Pacey: Well, I'd really rather know if it was good for you.

Gretchen: That was sweet. Brooks was sweet.
Dawson: Yeah. Yeah, he was. Once upon a time, before he gave up. 5 people showed up at his funeral. 5 - you, me, my parents, and grams, which means that 3 of the people barely knew him. I mean, just think if I hadn't crashed his boat, nobody would have shown up. I'm sorry, I find that...Pathetic.
Gretchen: I don't think Mr. Brooks needs your pity, Dawson. I mean, this is a guy who saw his wildest dreams come true. That's a hell of a lot more than most of us get.
Dawson: Yeah, and this what he has to show for it?
Gretchen: What do you mean?
Dawson: Look around you. This is it. This... this... I mean, this is an entire life. It all comes down to this. Stuff. Stuff! A garage full of stuff.
Gretchen: Now you're starting to sound like him.
Dawson: Yeah, which is exactly what scares me, because at some point he just decided it was easier to stop caring. And he did, and by the time he woke up, it was too late. What's to prevent any of us from ending up like that?

Dawson: Because you're smart and you're funny and you always know what to say to make me feel better. You're beautiful. You're beautiful in a way that makes me remember those old-time movie stars. You know, like the ones in brooks' movies? You know, all style and grace. Plus, you smell good.
Gretchen: I do?
Dawson: Yeah, not like in a perfumey way, but in a really "pretty girl" kind of way.
Gretchen: You have no idea what you're doing, do you?
Dawson: No...
Gretchen: Good. Keep it that way. 'Cause the second you become aware of just how charming you are, you're gonna use your powers for evil.

Jen: Ok, I'm just going to ask. Am I totally screwed up?
Therapist: It's probably too early for me to guess.
Jen: Take care.
Therapist: But were I to hazard one, I'd say that the smart, sarcastic exterior masks a scared, lonely young woman who's relationship with her parents has scarred her in ways she hasn't even begun to process. She has a hard time trusting people - men, especially, and who can blame her? When parental ties are severed early on like that, it can send a young person searching for love and acceptance in a variety of destructive ways, which mayexplain your relationship with drugs, alcohol, and a best friend whose sexuality prevents him from ever fully returning your affections. But all that is really just dime store psychobabble. Truth is, we don't really know why you're here yet. But I would love to help you find out.

Therapist: Why don't we start with your friends?
Jen: Ok. Friends. Um... Well, I guess it really just started about 2 years ago. Um, it was the day before my first day of my sophomore year, and I'd just moved from New York City and, um... I don't know, I got out of the cabin and there they were. They were right in the middle of making this movie. This costume had things on it and Dawson, I had the biggest crush on the guy, like...

Dawson: Apparently, I have to do something great with it. The proviso in his will reads, and I quote, "Mr. Leery, this is the money "with which one achieves greatness, "so don't go blowing it on women and booze. "But should that be your choice, make sure it's great women and great booze."

MIND GAMES

Drue : The two of you need to break this up or start charging admission. (to Joey & Pacey making out in canteen)

Drue : As most of you know, voting ended yesterday in the hotly contested Capeside high class of 2001 Senior polls. And right here, I have, in my hand, fully certified for publication in this year's yearbook, results of said election. Now, uh, I can see that you're all dying of curiosity. But... Before we get to all that "most likely to eke out a miserable and mind-numbing existence on the edge of suburbia" crap, I just thought we'd start with class couple. You know, it's not much of a contest here, folks. Yes, it's those 2 people so in love they make the rest of us want to puke on a daily basis... Joey Potter... And Dawson Leery.

Jack: Yeah, right. Come on, and I wasn't lured here under false pretenses.
Jen: What false pretenses?
Jack: What - what are you, kidding me? The window seat, the 16 refills... We're stalking your therapist.
...
Jen: Please, you're my friend. This is exactly what friends do for each other. I've seen it in the movies.

Jen: Ok. There he is. Just don't look up. Look down.
Jack: One of us has to look up, Jen. Otherwise it defeats the purpose of this whole stalking thing.
Jen: All right, you look up.

Pacey: You know, ever since they invented the cartoon network, there's really no reason for humans to get up this early on Saturday morning.

Gretchen: Why don't you just ask Joey about this?
Pacey: You want me to ask Joey about the problem that you and Dawson are having?

Dawson: I want to apologize.
Joey: For what?
Dawson: For that question that I asked you a couple of weeks ago, that very personal question. I should never have asked you that. I... I don't even know why I did. It's some masochistic side of me that I haven't explored yet. Probably the same side of me that's sabotaging my relationship with Gretchen.

Joey: Do you miss it?
Pacey: The scenery?
Joey: No. When we weren't having sex. When everything and every moment wasn't about sex.
Pacey: I don't know that that time ever really existed.
Joey: I guess you're right. I mean, before... When we hadn't had sex... Everything was about sex, and now that we have had sex...
Pacey: Everything is still about sex. Do you think we're doing something wrong?

Joey: You know, let's just walk some more. I mean... We never do that anymore.

LATE

Dawson: A couple of weeks ago, I'm wandering through these halls, praying for somebody to die. And now here I am, same halls, praying for somebody to be born. Is it just me, or did life suddenly broaden this year?
Joey: It's not just you. I... think the stakes have been raised for everyone.

Joey: I want you to know something. Sex doesn't necessarily bring people closer together. It's just a magnifying glass. I mean, if there's a problem, it gets bigger. And if there's closeness... you get closer. As far as you and Gretchen are concerned, I mean... you guys are probably a lot closer than a lot of people who are having sex.

PROMICIDE

Jack: I'll admit I was a little... surprised when I emphatically stated my strong desire not to go to the prom with Tobey, to have him then call me up and say, "Jen told me everything, and my answer's yes, Jack. I would love to go to the prom with you." Now, yes, I'll admit, I was slightly... peeved. But then I remembered what you said - that you would go to the prom anyway, even if I brought Tobey.
Jen: Yeah, of course I'm still going to the prom.
Jack: So you promise and solemnly swear, no matter what.
...
Jack: Oh, nothin'. It's just that, uh, well, I realized why get mad when you can get even?

Drue: Jack told me everything, and my answer is yes. Jen, I'd love to go to the prom with you.

Drue: Hey, everyone. Happy prom. You're all probably wondering what I'm doing
here. Well, I'm here to meet my date, of course - the one and only Jen Lindley. Oh, cool. A baby. Can I hold it?
Everyone: No!

Dawson: Where's Pacey?
Joey: Uh...I don't know.
Dawson: Do you want to talk about it?
Joey: Mmm, I don't think so.
Dawson: Ok.
Joey: And that whole mini-mart thing. I... I don't really want to talk about that either.
Dawson: That's fine with me.
Joey: How long have you guys been -
Dawson: We haven't... yet. I mean, you know, we might tonight for the first time.
Joey: You in love with her?
Dawson: All I know is that it just... it just feels right.

Dawson: You know, I think for the longest time, I was just waiting to find somebody I loved as much as I loved you. I realize that's not gonna happen, you know. You were my first love.
Joey: I don't think I'll ever love anyone the way that I loved you, either. And that's a good and a bad thing.
Dawson: You want to dance?
Joey: It's our senior prom.

Pacey: You know what? It's the strangest thing, but ever since I got back from that trip with Doug, I've been feeling... really angry. But not angry at myself. It's actually worse than that. I've been feeling really angry at Joey. And I don't know why I'm angry at Joey. And that makes me feel guilty, and then the guiltier that I feel, the angrier I get, and I still don't know what to do about it.

Pacey: You know what I actually realized when I saw the two of you dancing there together? That is the happiest I have seen you all night. I mean, I think it's actually the happiest I've seen you in weeks. You want to know what's worse than that? I don't care. I saw the two of you dancing together, and I just don't care. I'm not angry. I'm not jealous. I'm not upset. I'm really not much of anything.

Pacey: No, it is about you! It's about you and how you make me feel when I'm with you! Ok? I feel like I'm stupid and I'm worthless and I'm never right. But you know what I realize? That it's not my fault! That it's not my fault. Because I'm with you, it's poor Pacey. He didn't get into college, and it's stupid Pacey forgot the limo and ripped the dress and messed up the corsage.
Joey: I told you I didn't care about any of that.
Pacey: But I want you to care! I want you to care! I don't want you to just accept it like that's the way it's supposed to be. We are not trapped on this boat. You and I are trapped in this relationship. I can't take it anymore, Joey. When I'm with you, I feel like I'm nothing. I feel like I'm nothing. That's why I flinch when you come to touch me. It's why I never touch you. Why I never even think about it. Because when I start to, it just reminds me that I'm not good enough.

Gretchen: Hey. How's Joey doing?
Dawson: Not so good. I'm sorry I took off back there.
Gretchen: Dawson, you don't need to explain. And it doesn't matter anyway because I know what I have to do. I've got to go on with my life. Go back to college, figure out who I am and what I want. This is not my place, not here and not with you. You're still chasing after Joey, I mean, literally and metaphorically.
Dawson: You.. you told me to go to her. I thought you understood about our friendship.
Gretchen: I do. I do, and watching you chase her, it just made everything more clear. I mean, Dawson, there are so many loose ends, so much that the two of you haven't resolved... and as much as you think you're beyond the drama of high school and the prom, you're a part of it. You're smack in the middle of it and that's right where you should be. You're a senior in high school... and I'm not.

SEPARATION ANXIETY

Gretchen: I leave the day after tomorrow.
Dawson: Do you? That soon?
Gretchen: I know.
Dawson: That's--that's... that's really soon. I feel ill-prepared.
Gretchen: Well, you still have a whole day and a half to come up with some fantastic going away speech for me.

Gretchen: "Dear Dawson... I've been thinking about what to say to you "since I left your house yesterday. I thought about waiting for you to come to my door, saying this face to face, but I knew it would be too hard. I realize that, as much as I need to move on, you need to stay here. Your whole life is about to change in a way that will never be the same. You're
opening a new chapter, and you have to give a proper good-bye to the old one. You don't want to miss these moments, even the sad ones, because you'll never get them back. So enjoy this time. Let it wash over you so that your memories of it are strong. Besides, I don't need to spend a month in a car to fall in love with you. I already am in love with you, even more than
you know. So good-bye, Dawson Leery. Thank you for changing my life and opening my heart again. You'll never know how much it meant to me. Have a bitchin' summer. Love, Gretchen."

Joey: So, what are you doing this summer, Dawson?
Dawson: This.

CODA

Dawson: You know, this sucks a lot more than I remembered it.
Joey: Dawson, need I remind you that 'Sea Creature From The Deep' won the jurors prize in the junior division at the Boston film festival, for which you were rewarded the princely sum of $2,500.
Dawson: Yeah, right. Which I then proceeded to waste on my next endeavor, which was entitled -- what was it called again?
Ah, that's right. Self-indulgent piece of crap.
Joey: Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
Dawson: Seriously, though, Jo. How did we get here? I mean, it... it feels like one second we're sitting here watching E.T. wondering what 10th grade is gonna be like, and the next... we're leaving for college.

Joey: What makes you think that I want him to stay?
Jen: You really want to know?
Joey: Yeah.
Jen: It's this little voice inside my head that says "I like your hair color. What number is that?"
Joey: You still hate me, don't you?
Jen: No, I don't hate you.
Joey: I mean, I don't get it, Jen. I mean, how am I supposed to feel about this? Am I supposed to feel good knowing that I have the power to change somebody's life?

Joey: I know we always joke about this, but... I feel like I'm never gonna see you again.
Dawson: That's crazy talk, Jo.
Joey: I know. I-- I know I'll see you again, and it probably won't be too long from now, you know, holidays, most likely, but...you'll be different.
Dawson: I will?
Joey: Well, you'll have a tan. And you'll have a girlfriend.
Dawson: I will?
Joey: She'll be incredibly pretty.
Dawson: Really?
Joey: You'll show me a picture, I'll immediately hate her, and the worse part is, deep down, I'll know she's as great as you say she is because...you like her.
Dawson: You sound pretty sure about all this.
Joey: Well, you can't keep it a secret forever, Dawson.
Dawson: What's that?
Joey: How incredible you are.

Dawson: You, all-time favorite song.
Joey: Daydream believer. Most embarrassing moment.
Dawson: Uh... that would have to be when the whole school watched me make out with Eve.
Joey: What are you talking about? That did wonders for your street cred.
Dawson: Ok. You, same question.
Joey: Hmm. That's easy. Right here in this room when I offered to have sex with you, and you turned me down cold.
Dawson: Y-y-y-yeah. Hey, could we introduce the "hugest all-time regret" category, because that would pretty much be mine.
Joey: Mine would be... lying to you about sleeping with Pacey.

Dawson: All-time most life altering moment.
Joey: Ever?
Dawson: Ever.
Joey: Well... there are a lot of winners there. But, you know, there was this one moment, um... a couple years ago... in this room. I was standing over there by the window, and, uh... and you kissed me. It changed everything. It's a pretty powerful thing when you get your biggest wish in one moment.

Joey: Dawson... I want you to stay.
Dawson: Excuse me?
Joey: I said, I want you to stay. And there, I said it.
Dawson: You don't think you could have maybe said something before I packed?
Joey: No, I said it, and now I want you to forget it.
Dawson: Forget it? Jo, how do I forget that?
Joey: Well, it's just something that I've been thinking about, and I wanted you to know that I was thinking about it. You know, I was just gonna... keep my mouth shut and let you go... but... It's not me. That's some merchant ivory movie, you know, where people suffer in silence, and you're supposed to be so impressed by their restraint.

Joey: So what was yours, by the way?
Dawson: What was my what?
Joey: Your all-time most life altering moment?
Dawson: For all I know, it could be this one right now... saying good-bye to you.

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