AMY´S CREEK - EPISODE S01E23 - THE BIG WRAP-UP

Author´s Note: September 2021. That´s how long it had been, since this series was put on ice and it´s been on my guilty conscience ever since, that I haven´t continued it. At the time, by far most of the reason was that it hadn´t had all that many readers, with most episodes struggling to reach ten views and I never got any reviews for the episodes, which also helps to suck the fun out of writing it. Although, I try not to let the amount of views and reviews dictate what I write, at some point you also start to measure how long you spend on working on something, compared to how much you feel like you´re getting back, and it was in doing so, that I completely lost my motivation for continuing it for a long time.

Since then, however, it has continued to get constant views, to the point where it´s reached a few thousand now in total and it would be foolish of me to not at least give it one try at a "revival", so to speak. If there´s enough of an interest in it, then I might end up continuing it beyond this episode. But, for now it´s more about finishing what I started and wrapping up the "movie storyline".

If you want to see the series continue, then leaving a review or comment is your best way of helping to make this happen. With all of that out of the way, let´s get on with why you´re here!

1. Int. Large Cinema. Evening.

We´re at the Cannes Film Festival, where Dawson and Audrey are about to be interviewed by a reporter from a TV station. Both of them are dressed properly for a big opening night like this.

Reporter:

This year´s buzz movie here at Cannes is the American indie movie "Running from Myself", that already took Sundance by storm earlier this year, and tonight is getting it´s big European opening. I have the movie´s director Dawson Leery and one of it´s star actresses Audrey Lidell here with me. Dawson, it has to be a dream come true, how well the movie has been received?

Dawson:

We knew it was a good movie, but I have to admit that this is a little overwhelming.

Reporter:

Are you on the lookout for an international distributor?

Dawson:

Yes, that´s mainly why we´re here.

Audrey:

That and to use it as an excuse for a romantic getaway.

Reporter:

Yes, I heard about that! Are there wedding bells in your near future?

Dawson and Audrey smile at one another.

Dawson:

There´s definitely a part of me that thinks we´ve waited long enough. Oh, what the hell!

He gets a small box out of his pocket and gets down on one knee in front of Audrey, who looks overjoyed. The reporter looks excited too, at getting a scoop like this.

Dawson:

I was going to do it tonight, anyway. Will you marry me, Audrey?

Audrey:

Yes, Dawson!

Dawson and Audrey kiss, when the episode pauses.

Joey (voice over):

Audrey, I thought we agreed that we´d tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

Audrey (voice over):

I know, but my story is so much better, than how he really proposed to me earlier that day!

Joey (voive over):

Isn´t the most important thing that he did and you´re getting married tomorrow?

Audrey (voice over):

Yeah, I guess. I just wish I had a better proposal story, than me accidentally finding the ring, so he had to ask me on the spot, with no real preparation.

Joey (voice over):

Do you want to get us started, or should I?

Audrey (voice over):

You go ahead. I´ll fill in the blanks, as we go along.

Joey (voice over):

It all started that one night in L.A.

OPENING CREDITS

2. Int. Audrey´s House. Evening.

We´re back where we left our characters at the end of the last episode, at the reunion party with Dawson and his old friends at Audrey´s House. Dawson and Joey are talking alone, while everyone else is mingling.

Joey (voice over):

As you may remember, Pacey and I had decided to invest our life savings in Dawson´s movie and with that, I felt like it wouldn´t be too unfair for us ...

Audrey (voice over):

By which you mean you!

Joey (voice over):

To have a say in the movie, we were investing in.

Joey:

How much do you have finished so far?

Dawson:

We have around 75 to 80 percent of it shot, barring any last minute changes.

Joey:

What does your gut feeling tell you?

Dawson:

It tells me that it´s the best thing, I´ve ever done.

Joey:

You know, what I think, it could use?

Dawson:

You haven´t even seen it yet!

Joey:

It could use having your old AD on the set as an associate producer, don´t you think?

Dawson looks pleased.

Dawson:

What about the restaurant back in Capeside?

Joey:

Pacey can run things by himself for the few weeks, we´re talking about. Anyway, someone clearly has to play the Jen, like she was in helping me and Pacey get together, for you and Audrey. What are you waiting for, a sign from the Gods?

Dawson:

I can´t just go in there and proclaim to her in front of eveyone that I´m still in love with her!

Joey:

Says who?

She grabs him by the hand and tries pulling him with her, but he won´t budge.

Dawson:

Joey, I´m not some teenager anymore! That´s not how adults do it.

Joey:

Do it or you won´t get your money. Not that I want to threaten you with it, but if you do that right now, she´ll love you forever for it, and you know it. I mean, we´re talking about Audrey here, the drama princess to end them all!

He sees that she´s right and lets her drag him over to the others. Audrey is busy talking to Pacy and Jack, when they come over to them.

Joey:

Audrey, Dawson has something, he needs desperately to twll you.

Audrey:

What is it, Dawson?

Everyone staring at him clearly makes Dawson feel like an insecure teenager again, but a motivating look from Joey helps him to gather his nerve.

Pacey:

If you´re trying to build up suspense, man, then it´s working!

Jack:

I´ve seen that look before!

Jack smiles at Dawson, who has to smile too. Audrey also does, ablbeit a little teasingly.

Audrey:

I´m still waiting!

Dawson:

Audrey, I know that we´ve had our up and downs, but I can´t imagine myself with anyone, except for you. If you´re willing to, then I´m ...

Audrey:

Just shut up and kiss me, you old, romantic dope! You know that I love you too!

Dawson and Audrey kiss, while their friends look happy for them.

Audrey (voice over):

Thanks for that, by the way!

Joey (voice over):

You´re more than welcome. That took care of problem number one. Now, all we had to do was get the movie finished.

3. Int. Soundstage. Day.

Joey is enjoying getting to work on a movie set again after this long, and is helping Melina with setting up for a scene. Meanwhile, Todd looks like he´s losing his mind again.

Todd:

Where in the bloody hell are Dawson and Audrey? I swear, I´m the only one keeping this whole sodding production together!

Melina:

The last time I saw them, they were ... busy.

Todd:

As in getting busy?

Melina:

Kind of, yeah.

Todd:

Go and get them!

Melina runs off to find Dawson and Audrey. Joey smiles at Todd.

Joey:

You can´t blame them for it. Haven´t you ever gotten back together with an ex?

Todd:

To tell you the truth, luv, most of my exes wanted to see me hang, more than they wanted to get back together! We´re wasting time here!

Joey:

What´s really bothering you?

Todd:

What´s bothering me is that everyone else seems to be treating this, like they´re on bloody vacation!

Joey:

You really love your swear words, don´t you?

Todd:

It´s called being British.

Dawson and Audrey come back in, both a little embarrassed that they let their desires get the best of them.

Todd:

That´s three times in four days, Leery and Lidell! Do I have to put leashes on you two, so we can keep you apart long enough, for us to finish this so-called masterpiece?

Dawson:

Sorry, Todd. It won´t happen again.

Audrey:

It was my fault, really. Ever since we´ve gotten back together, I ...

Todd:

I don´t need to hear it! Bleeding buggery, it´s like you´ve become a pair of teenagers again!

Joey:

A double swear combo! You get extra points for that, Todd!

Todd shakes his head at them.

Todd:

Can we get back to work, as opposed to standing here talking and wasting more money, than we already have today?

Melina:

We´ll have the scene ready in a minute.

Todd:

Thank you, Mel! You´re the only one here, I wouldn´t fire right now, if I could afford to!

Joey and Melina get back to work, while Audrey puts her arms back around Dawson.

Audrey:

That gives us a minute more of make-out time!

They kiss and smile at one another.

Audrey (voice over):

Talk about feeling like you´re 14 and in love for the first time again! This time, I know we´re going to last! Not that my mom think so, she´s all like "What makes you think that it´ll end differently, than all of the other times you´ve tried it with him, Audrey". But, I´m choosing to follow my heart and my heart says that he´s the only one for me.

Joey (voice over):

And if you don´t last this time either, I´ll be there to help you get back together again, like I usually do.

Audrey (voice over):

I´m so lucky to have you in my life, Joey. You´re like, my romantic guardian angel!

Joey (voice over):

Aww, thanks! You weren´t the only ones, who found love on the set, though.

4. Int. Small Cinema. Evening.

The cast and crew, as well as the main investors have been invited to a preview screening of the movie. We see that Damon and Kathy are holding hands and looking very in love, sitting next to one another and watching the movie.

Joey (voice over):

Damon and Kathy surprised us all, when they announced before the preview screening that they´ were moving in together. He also officially tore up the girl´s contracts that day, saying that it was because he didn´t want to date an employee of his. As for the screening itself, it went beyond expectations and not only did Dawson and Todd secure themselves a North American distributor for the movie, they also got a nice little advance payment, so Dawson could pay off his bills and soon after, sign his apartment over to Melina.

Audrey (voice over):

So that he could move in with me, I should add!

Joey (voice over):

What Melina didn´t know at that time however, was that a very special person to her, would be invited to the premiere of the movie, which it only seemed fitting would be taking place back at the same cinema, where it all started for Dawson and happened to be re-opening that day.

5. Ext. Street in Capeside. Evening.

People are flocking to the old cinema, where Dawson and Joey had their first date, all of those many, many years earlier. It´s been shined up a little from the outside for sure, to mark the big re-opening. Many of the faces we already know from thsi series are there, including Amy and her friends, who look excited for what´s to come. One, we haven´t seen before is a young Latino man of around 25, that no one pays much attention to, as he enters the cinema with the free ticket, he had been sent.

6. Int. Cinema. Evening.

Dawson is presenting his new movie to the people of his hometown, as well as those of the cast and crew, who are there.

Dawson:

When we started out on the journey, that making this movie was, together, it was because first of all, we and by that I mean myself, needed some sort of income to get by on.

He gets a small laugh from the crowd.

Dawson:

But, mostly it was as way for me and Todd to find the love for the medium of movies again, both of us had lost along the way. I had sunk so low that I was taking whatever jobs, I could get, just to try to get by in Hollywood, while he was wasting his talent on making mustard and car commercials, so he could support his family. Then, one day, a girl came into our lives, from a small town down south, who by the time we met her had already changed her name three times, because she couldn´t find her way into, who she was inside.

We get a small cut to both Melina and the Latino guy, we saw in the last scene, smiling to themselves at what he said, before cutting back to Dawson.

Dawson:

It´s in no small way thanks to her, and not just because it´s her story we´re telling in this movie, that we found our way back to that love for what we do again. Although, I´ll be the first to admit that it can be hard to tell with Todd sometimes, especially when he´s telling some poor boom mike operator what he´s going to do with that boom mike, if he messes up another shot. Then again, if he didn´t act like that, then he wouldn´t be his same eccentric self, and I wouldn´t want that in a million years either.

We quickly see Todd, with his wife and family sitting next to him, smiling at Dawson´s words about him.

Dawson:

I won´t take up much more of your time, except to say one last thing. It´s been a long time, since I lost my dad in a meaningless accident and since then, a big part of my life has been about striving to feel like I was making him proud of me and the work, I did. It´s probably safe to say that if it hadn´t been for his unwavering support of a kid, who had his head full of big plans and ideas, then those ideas never would have made their eay onto the screen. For the past many years, I didn´t feel like I was, but if he could have been here tonight to see this movie with the rest of us, I know in my heart that he would be. Thank you.

The crowd applauds him, including Dawson´s mom, who has to shed a tear at what he said. She wipes it off her face, just as the lights dim and the movie starts up. Dawson takes his place in between her and Audrey, who has Natasha on her other side..

7. Int. Theater Lobby. Evening.

Dawson and the others are getting congratulations on the success of their movie, from friends and family.

Pacey:

That wasn´t too bad, Dawson.

Dawson:

You mean that I actually managed to make a movie, where you didn´t have to lie about liking it?

Pacey:

It feels good, doesn´t it?

The Latino guy from the previous two scenes comes over to Melina, looking a little nervous. They make eyes contact and her face practically goes numb, making Natasha curious.

Natasha:

Who´s that guy?

Melina:

I´m not sure, but I think, it could be my older brother.

Her and the guy smile nervously at one another, as he comes over to them.

Roberto:

I practiced over and over again, what I would say. When I got this ticket in the mail and the address for here, telling me that not only had a movie about my little sister been made, I could also get to meet her here in person, it made me happier, than I´ve ever been in my life.

She smiles widely with joy.

Melina:

Is it really you, Roberto?

Roberto:

This time, I´m not ever letting us become estranged again!

Melina:

You got that right!

They have a big reunion hug, while Dawson and Pacey smile at the sight of it.

Dawson:

I don´t know how this happened, honestly. I didn´t ...

Pacey:

I may have had a little something to do with that. After you told me her sap story, I re-told it to my brother, who used the Police database, to track him down. Oh, and by the way, he told me to tell you that you owe him a big favor now!

The two old friends smile at each other.

Dawson:

You still can´t help yourself, can you, Pacey? Whenever there´s a girl in trouble, here comes Prince Pacey on his shiny white steed to her rescue!

Pacey:

At least, I´ve learned enough not to date any of them anymore! Did I ever tell you about that crazy chick, who decided that she was going to kill herself by crashing her car, with me as an unwilling witness to it, sitting in the passenger seat next to her?

Dawson:

No, I don´t think you´ve mentioned her before.

Pacey:

Trust me, there´s more than enough messed up material there to fill up your next movie! Aren´t you glad, we´re past that time of our lives?

Dawson:

Are you?

Pacey:

The only thing I miss from that time is the one girl, who had to settlle for being here in spirit tonight. As for my life right now, I wouldn´t change a thing.

Dawson:

I wouldn´t either. It would be nice to have a few million in my bank account, though!

Pacey:

That goes without saying!

Joey and Audrey come over to their men.

Audrey:

Don´t stand there and be anti-social all evening! Mingle!

Joey:

Didn´t you have plenty of chances to discuss every topic in the world, back when you still lived here, Dawson?

Dawson:

We can still think of new things to talk about!

Audrey:

Like what?

Pacey:

Like how lucky you two are that we decided to take pity on you and make you our wives.

Joey and Audrey pretend to be offended.

Audrey:

Do you hear how they´re talking about us, Joey?

Joey:

We should just dump this pair of losers and move on, shouldn´t we?

Dawson:

Don´t you dare!

Dawson and Pacey both get a kiss from their respective girls, while Melina and Roberto look happy to be reunited.

Joey (voice over):

Now, three months and 13.92 million dollars in ticket sales later, according to the latest data, I could find, and with their next movie already in pre-production, it doesn´t look like there´s anything that can stop C&L Productions from being a success, for a long time to come. As for Melina, her brother Roberto moved into Dawson´s old apartment with her and from what I can gather, they are as close as any brother and sister that I´ve seen in my lifetime.

Audrey (voice over):

Which only leaves us with one huge piece of unfinished business.

Joey (voice over):

Are you excited?

Audrey (voice over):

You betcha!

8. Ext. Dawson´s Mom´s Garden. Day.

The garden of Dawson´s mom´s house has been shined up for this very special day, the wedding of her one and only son. Many known former and present faces are here, including Andie, who´s enjoying reminiscing about old times with her brother and Pacey.

9. Int. Dawson´s Old Room. Day.

Joey is helping Dawson with his tie and putting the final touches on his look for his wedding.

Joey:

It´s kind of fitting that we´re right back here, where it all started, don´t you think?

Dawson:

How many hours do you think we spend lying on that bed, either watching movies together, talking about our lives or both?

Joey:

Untold thousands!

Dawson:

That sounds about right!

Joey:

Did anyone ever get any action on that bed, yourself included?

Dawson:

I think the one who came closest, was probably Pacey with Jen that one time.

Joey:

Can you imagine the ramifications, if those two had actually managed to make it work? Me and him never would have happened for one thing.

Dawson:

You could have ended up going with me to California and never met Audrey. Pacey and Jen would have no doubt had a whole bunch of unruly kids by now, because none of them would ever want to be the strict parent, that said no to them.

Joey:

I could easily see that happening. She would have been so happy for both you and Audrey, if she could have been here. I don´t think there was any bigger supporter for you two, than she was.

Dawson:

Maybe we should name our first daughter after her. If it´s a girl we´re having, of course.

Joey smiles widely at the news.

Joey:

Audrey is pregnant?

Dawson:

She didn´t want to tell anyone, in particular her parents, until after the wedding is over. I guess, it´s finally happening, Joey. The little boy with the Peter Pan syndrome is about to become a grown-up.

Joey:

Both you and Audrey are 35 years old! Trust me, you´re ready for it!

Dawson:

What about you and Pacey? Isn´t it time, you two got to work on the kid front?

Joey:

You are aware that Pacey is still basically one himself, aren´t you?

Dawson:

Yeah, but we´re not kids anymore, are we?

She finishes the job and looks him over with a small smile on her face.

Joey:

There was a time, when the idea of you marrying anyone else, would have sent shivers down my spine. Now, I can with all honesty say that I´m just as happy, as I would have been then, if it had been you and I walking down the aisle together.

Dawson:

Do you think, me and her will last this time?

Joey:

All I can tell you is that if you keep loving each other, like you do right now, then I don´t think there´s anything, the two of you can´t do together.

Dawson:

So, how do I look?

Joey:

Like a guy, who´s about to marry the Ying to his Yang.

Dawson takes her comment with a smile.

9. Ext. Dawson´s Mom´s Garden. Day.

Dawson is already waiting with the priest, who is Andie, and Pacey, who´s his best man and Joey, who´s Audrey´s maid of honor. A string quartet plays the wedding march, as Audrey is led down between the rows of chairs with her father, who´s there to give her away.

Audrey (voice over):

So, here we are! My dream wedding to my dream guy. Of course, when I was younger, I pictured it to be enormous, with hundreds of guests and for a while there in my punk rock phase, it also included having The Breeders playing the wedding march, while I walked down the aisle, in a rocking version that freaked my parents out, it goes without saying! That was me then, however. My wild and crazy partying days are behind me and I´m ready to become a mommy for the first time, or at least I hope so!

She comes up to Dawson and they smile at one another.

Andie:

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join these two in holy matrimony ...

Audrey (voice over):

I´d show you the whole thing, but she went on and on for what felt like forever! I know that she´s pals with all of the Capeside Crew and Jack´s sister, but jeez! Let´s just skip to the part, you all want to see.

We cut to a little bit later.

Andie:

If anyone has any objections as to why these two should not be married, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.

No one says anything, as expected.

Andie:

In that case, as a registered minister in the state of Rhode Island, I hereby pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss one another.

Audrey and Dawson kiss, as the band begins playing again. Joey and Pacey look happy for them too.

10. Ext. Dawson´s Mom´s Garden. Day.

Audrey and Dawson have their arm around one another and look like a happy couple, as they talk to Dawson´s mom Gail.

Gail:

Your dad would have been one big smile, if he had seen you now.

Dawson:

Yeah, he would have. It still felt like, he was here in spirit, though.

Audrey:

Do you think, he would have liked me?

Dawson and his mom both laugh a little.

Gail:

He would have been the first one to welcome you into the family.

Dawson:

If there´s one thing, you could say about him, it´s that he was welcoming to everyone, no matter what their background was or whether they were a little out of ordinary.

Audrey:

Is that a nice way of calling me nuts?

Dawson:

It´s just who you are. I wouldn´t want it any other way, anyway.

We cut to Joey, who´s talking with Natasha, Melina and Todd.

Joey:

So, Todd. Tell me about this next movie of yours,

Todd:

Well, it has the lovely Natasha here starring as a highly ambitious restaurant manager, who falls for one of her employees, a young and talented cook, whose girlfriend works at the same restaurant too. She then goes crazy, when he doesn´t want to leave his girlfriend and rejects her, before she tries to kill both herself and him in the movie´s climax. You could say that it´s a neo-noir thriller.

Natasha:

It sure beats making mustard commercials, doesn´t it?

Tood:

The two can´t even be compared! That before, that was just working to pay the bills, this is the joy of film-making that´s relighting a fire in me, I thought got extinguished years ago.

Joey:

Does that mean, it´s not back to the car selling trade anytime soon, Natasha?

Natasha:

I´m taking it day by day. If there´s one thing being famous one time before taught me, it´s how fleeting fame can be and how little it means, compared to the really important things in life.

Todd:

How are things going by the way, with that cameraman, you hooked up with after the launch party?

Natasha:

Let´s just say that it´s looking promising. Who knows? I still could end up tying the knot before I turn 40!

Todd:

It´s nothing to be ashamed of, luv. I didn´t meet Mary until I was your age and look where I am now. A happily married father of five and part owner of my own successful production company. I dare even say that my old man would have told me that he was proud of me, if he could have seen me now.

Joey:

I´m sure, he would have,

Natasha:

What about you, Joey? Any big plans for the coming years?

Joey shakes her head.

Joey:

Nah. I´ve always been a Capeside girl to the core, even when I wasn´t living here. Me and Pacey have the restaurant and I have most of those I love close to me all of the time. All of that need, I used to have, to seek out new adventures, it went out of me a long time ago.

Natasha:

Never say never, Joey! Half a year ago, I thought for sure that I knew, how everything would turn out and now, my entire future feels like it´s open again.

Todd:

You don´t think, you´ll end up getting bored here eventually? It´s not like L.A. or Boston, where something is happening all the time.

Joey:

I know, but I´ve always been a smalltown girl at heart. That´s one part, I couldn´t take out of myself, even if I wanted to.

She looks fine with being who she is.

Joey (voice over):

That´s about it for this story. Here in Capeside, things never change too much and I´ve grown to like it that way. Perhaps a new friend or two will enter into my life and I´m sure, me and Pacey haven´t had the last fight of our lives, but it feels like I´m where I belong and exactly where I should be in my life right now. Not bad for a girl, who once had to help send her own dad back to prison, don´t you think?

CLOSING CREDITS

IF THIS ENDS UP BEING THE LAST EPISODE, THEN A HUGE THANKS TO ALL OF YOU, WHO TOOK THE TIME TO READ THE SERIES. I CAN WITH MY HEAD HELD HIGH, SAY THAT EVERYTHING IN THE SERIES CAME FROM THE HEART AND A LOVE FOR THESE CHARACTERS.

THANK YOU AND HAVE A NICE DAY!