AMY´S CREEK - S01E02 - IN JEN´S SHADOW
Disclaimer: I don´t own Dawson´s Creek or the characters from it.
Author´s Note: I hope you enjoyed the first episode and thanks for giving the second one a chance. I thought it turned out okay, but like with all "Pilots", I still have to find the right balance on some things. I know, this won´t be for everyone (since it´s VERY different), but I hope it can build a small fanbase anyway. With that out of the way, let´s get on with the show!
1. Int. Graveyard. Day.
Jack, Joey and Amy come up to Jen and Grams´ burial plot.
Amy (voice over):
This is the only place, I can visit my mom. She´s buried next to my great grand mother.
Jack:
It´s hard to believe, it´s been 12 years already.
Joey:
It still seems unfair.
Amy (voice over):
I like coming here with them, but I never know what to say. It´s not like I remember her or anything.
Jack:
She lives on in you, Amy.
Joey:
It´s becoming clearer every day.
Amy smiles to herself.
Amy:
I wish, I had the chance to get to know her.
Joey puts her arm around her.
Joey:
Me too, Honey. If she´d been alive, you would have been like two peas in a pod.
Jack:
You have that same big heart. Keep following it and you can´t go all wrong.
Amy (voice over):
There´s good parts to being Jen Lindley´s daughter.
2. Int. School. Day.
Amy and Vicki are working together on a bench.
Amy (voice over):
The bad part is that I don´t want to be seen as "Jen Lindley: The Sequel". Who would want to be seen as a younger copy of someone else? There´s things I don´t do, just because I know, she did them. I know she made movies with her friends, so I was apprehensive about joining the AV Club. I´m glad, that Vicki talked me into it. Our first assignment is to make a short movie, no more than three minutes long.
Vicki:
What kind of story can we tell in three minutes?
Amy:
A very short one.
Vcki smiles to herself.
Vicki:
How about a love story?
Amy:
Starring you and me? Lydia Johns and her Christian Group will lose it.
Vicki:
Which is exactly why we should do it.
Amy:
So, two girls meet, have a short conversation, followed by an extremely quick break up.
Vicki:
I was thinking more like one scene. Like their first romantic moment or something.
Amy:
I don´t know. I know, you´re from the city, where everyone can be liberal and level headed, when it comes to same sex issues. Around here, it´ll make everyone think we´re gay.
Vicki:
If that´s true, we could do it to freak them out.
Amy:
It´s enough reason for me!
Amy (voice over):
And so, our project begins.
OPENING CREDITS
3. Int. Waiting Room. Day.
Joey is in the waiting room of a Psychiatrist´s office. She´s looking nervous.
Joey (voice over):
Marriage counselling. I never thought me and Pacey would end up here. There´s no shame in it. It worked for Dawson´s parents and if my parents had tried it ... my dad would probably still have ended up in jail, but my mom wouldn´t have felt as bad about it. Why am I so nervous, then? Because in there you come clean about things and I have a skeleton in my closet. A big one.
Pacey comes into the waiting room. There´s a moment of awkwardness among them, that´s broken by a boyish smile from him. It makes her ease up too.
Pacey:
Can I sit next to you, or is that against the rules?
Joey:
It´s fine with me.
He sits down next to her.
Pacey:
How have you been?
Joey:
I´m trying to stay busy. You?
Pacey:
Mostly the same.
Joey:
How is business?
Pacey:
Still pretty good. It´ll drop, when the last of the tourists leave. I don´t need to tell you. You know how it is.
Joey:
Are you as nervous about this, as I am?
Pacey:
I´m terrifed. But I´m willing to try anything, if it can help us. I still love you, Jo.
Joey looks pleased to hear it.
Joey:
I love you too, Pace. I hope, you still feel the same way after this.
Pacey:
I can´t see, how that would ever change.
The secretary comes in.
Secretary:
The Witters?
Pacey:
That´s us.
They get up and follow after her.
4. Int. Laura´s Office. Day.
Joey and Pacey are sitting next to each other on a couch. The marriage counsellor Laura Richards (a professional looking woman in her 50´s) is sitting on a chair and taking notes.
Laura:
How have you been handling your time apart?
Pacey:
I can go first. I´ve been running the restaurant, as I have for years now. I´m there twelve hours a day, six days a week. After I get home, I´m so beat, that I fall asleep on the couch, within the hour.
Laura:
It doesn´t leave much room for socializing.
Pacey:
I knew, that´s how it would be, when I opened it. I wish, I could hire more help, but that´s the way it is.
Laura:
What do you do on your days off?
Pacey:
I try to get the most out of them. Two weeks ago I went to a ball game in Boston with my brother, his husband and his daughter. Last week I helped out my dad, who´s restoring an old car. You know, stuff like that.
Laura:
What about you, Joey?
Joey:
Busy as a bee. I´ve started my own on-line company, where I do freelance editing for publishers and on-line courses. It takes a lot of work to start up, but I´m glad, I finally did it. It´s an idea, I´ve had for years.
Laura:
Why haven´t you done it until now?
Joey:
Things were always busy with the restaurant and I guess, I was afraid, I´d fail.
Laura:
What about your free time?
Joey:
I read a lot and there´s friends here and there, I can visit. I hang out a lot with my sister too.
Laura:
It´s important that you´re both honest in here, or I won´t be able to help you.
Joey:
Of course.
Laura:
In your time apart, have either of you had romantic relations with others?
Joey and Pacey both look uncomfortable.
Pacey:
I should have known, it was coming.
Laura:
You´ve been apart for five months. People need closeness in their lives. But if you don´t come clean about it, it will hang like a dark cloud over your relationship forever.
They see, that she´s right.
Pacey:
I had a ... fling with Allie.
Joey looks shocked.
Joey:
Allie? Our waitress, who´s what? 15 years younger than you?
Pacey:
It happened and it´s over. There´s nothing, I can do about it now.
Joey:
Did you sleep with her?
Pacey:
A few times.
Joey:
How many is "a few", Pacey? Two, three, more?
Pacey:
Five times, okay? Five times.
Joey:
That´s more than a few in my book!
Laura:
Joey, it´s a good thing, that he told you. Try to remember that. We have to get to the bottom of your problems here.
Joey:
Alright, I guess. Can I still be angry with him?
Laura:
Your feelings are all your own, Joey. Have you had any romantic relations?
Pacey looks her in the eyes and she gets nervous.
Joey:
Ehm ... no.
Laura:
Are you sure? You hesitated for a bit.
Pacey:
It can´t be worse, than what I did.
Joey:
I´m sure.
Joey (voice over):
Why did I say that? This was my chance to get it out!
She looks annoyed with herself.
5. Int. Amy´s Room. Evening.
Amy and Vicki are working on the script.
Amy (voice over):
We went back to my house to work on the script. We agree on most things, except for one big detail.
Vicki:
It won´t be the same, if we don´t end it with a kiss.
Amy:
What if we stare longingly into each other´s eyes?
Vicki:
They won´t get that. It has to end with a smooch. It´s just acting!
Amy:
They´ll lose their minds over it.
Vicki:
Who cares, what a bunch of brain washed drones think? They need to have their minds blown!
Amy doesn´t look entirely convinced.
Vicki:
I promise, I won´t have bad breath or anything.
Amy:
It isn´t, that I have a problem with kissing a girl. Don´t tell anyone, but my first kiss was with a girl.
Vicki smiles to herself.
Amy:
It was Ash and it was just to try it. We were only ten, so I don´t know if it counts.
Vicki:
I´d say, it does. My first was on a dare, when I was 12.
Amy:
Who was he?
Vicki:
His name was Warren. Some girls at camp dared me to, so I just ran up to him and laid one on him.
Amy giggles.
Amy:
How did he react?
Vicki:
I don´t know. It was a total hit and run kiss. He did tell me later that day, that he thought I was nice, but he had a girlfriend at home.
Amy:
At least, he took it well. Even if it was sexual harassment.
Vicki:
So, where are we on the movie? Kiss or no kiss?
Amy:
Let me sleep on it. We don´t shoot until tomorrow, anyway.
Vicki:
Cool. You know where I stand.
Amy (voice over):
She´s oddly excited about kissing me, isn´t she?
Jack comes in.
Jack:
How´s it going?
Amy:
We have a few details to work out and then were done.
Jack:
Are you staying for dinner, Vicki?
Vicki:
I´d love to. I just have to let my mom know.
Jack:
I´m making Moussaka. You´ll love it!
He leaves them and they smile at each other.
Amy:
He can be a lovable dork sometimes.
Vicki:
That´s okay. I wish my mom were more like him and your other dad. She´s always serious these days.
Amy (voice over):
Vicki´s parents are going through a divorce and I know, it isn´t easy on her. You know what? I´ll agree to do the kiss, just to cheer her up. But I´ll wait until the last moment to tell her. It´ll be a pleasant surprise.
6. Int. Kitchen. Evening.
Jack joins Joey in the kitchen.
Joey:
Why didn´t I tell him?
Jack:
Are we still on this subject?
Joey:
I should just drive over to Pacey´s, knock on his door and say Pacey, this is what I did. Please forgive me.
Jack:
It would be the logical thing to do.
Joey:
What if he hates me for the rest of his life?
Jack:
You have a long string with Pacey. He slept around too.
Joey:
While we were technically broken up. I got mad over it for a second, but I can´t stay mad at him.
Jack:
Even if he robbed the cradle?
Joey:
Pacey is her age mentally, at the most. Whatever daddy issues she has, I hope she got it out of her system with him.
Jack laughs to himself.
Joey:
I can start by driving over there. Then I can find out, if I have the nerve.
She looks resolved.
7. Ext. Parking Lot. Evening.
Joey comes out of her car and looks up at Pacey´s door.
Joey (voice over):
It´s show time, Potter!
She sees Allie come out and makes a face.
Joey (voice over):
That lying son of a bitch! I´m gonna teach both of them a lesson!
Allie comes down the stairs and Joey walks up to her.
Allie:
Hi, Joey. Long time, no see.
Joey:
It wasn´t long enough!
Allie:
Joey, I ...
Joey:
Keep your hands to yourself, slut! Find some other middle aged man, to work out your issues on!
She shoves a shocked Allie, who falls down.
Allie:
Take a chill pill, Psycho!
We see Pacey coming out of his door after hearing the commotion.
Joey:
He´s mine! We´re gonna work it out!
Pacey smiles to himself and walks down towards them.
Allie:
Then it´s a good thing, he doesn´t want anyone else!
Joey realizes her mistake.
Joey:
Oh.
Allie:
I tried to get him back, but you´re the only one, he wants to be with.
Joey offers her a hand and helps her up.
Joey:
I´m sorry, I pushed you and called you a slut.
Allie:
It´s okay. As long, as you don´t do it again.
Pacey comes down to them.
Joey:
Please tell me, you didn´t hear that.
Pacey:
The entire neighborhood did. You just got the best unemployment insurance ever, Allie.
Allie:
You two need to sit down and talk. It can´t be impossible to work out your problems.
She leaves them.
Pacey:
I´m yours?
Joey looks embarrassed, which Pacey finds endearing.
8. Int. Pacey´s Apartment. Evening.
Pacey is giving Joey the tour of his apartment. It´s a quaint little place, but small.
Pacey:
It´s different from living in a house, but I manage.
Joey:
The house isn´t the same without you.
Pacey:
What did you think of marriage counselling?
Joey:
I guess, it was what I expected.
Pacey:
Me too. It was nice to clear the air on some things.
Joey:
Don´t think, I blame you over what you did with Allie. As long, as it´s over.
Pacey:
It is. 100 percent.
Joey:
Look, there´s something I should have said in the session. I ...
She has trouble getting it out.
Pacey:
It´s okay, Jo. Whatever it is. We´re starting fresh.
Joey:
I ... took money from our joint savings account, to start my business. I´m really sorry.
Pacey:
I already knew.
Joey:
You did?
Pacey:
Do you think, I don´t check my inbox? I Half of that money was yours. You can do with it, what you want.
Joey:
What about the renovations to the restaurant?
Pacey:
They can wait. It´s not like, it´s falling apart ... yet!
He gets a smile out of her.
9. Int. Car. Evening.
Joey is in her car and puts her seatbelt on. She´s annoyed with herself.
Joey (voice over):
You should put on a chicken costume and run around singing "I´m a coward"! Oh well, you´ll get there. At least, tonight was nice.
She shakes her head and starts the car up.
Joey (voice over):
That was a really weird image with the chicken costume! Am I going crazy, or are everyone this weird in their own thoughts?
She ponders it and starts driving.
10. Int. Joey´s House. Evening.
Joey is talking on the phone with Dawson. We cut between her and Dawson, who´s in an apartment somewhere, throughout the scene.
Joey:
Now I´m even more wrecked with guilt.
Dawson:
Do you want me to come back, so we can tell him together?
Joey:
He´s gonna freak, I know it.
Dawson:
You´re not the only one involved here. I want to get it out of the way too.
Joey:
Even if you lose your oldest friend?
Dawson:
He deserves to know the truth. You´ll feel better afterwards.
Joey:
I know.
Dawson:
Look, I´m coming back to Capeside, for my mom´s 60th birthday. That´s in three weeks. If you haven´t told him by then, I will. It´s for your own good.
Joey:
I´ll tell him before then. Don´t worry about it.
Dawson:
Sleep tight, Joey.
Joey:
You too, Dawson.
She hangs up and takes a moment to take it in.
11. Ext. Creek. Day.
Amy, Ash and Vicki are in a rowboat in the Creek, we saw Joey rowing across so many times in the series.
Amy (voice over):
We decided to shoot it on a rowboat. Say what you want about Capeside, but it´s not short on beautiful places to shoot.
Ash tries to make sense of the equipment.
Ash:
You should have found someone, who knows, what she´s doing!
Amy:
You´ll do fine, Ash. I´m more worried about our acting.
Vicki:
Have you made a decision?
Ash:
On what?
Amy:
The ending. We´ll do it your way.
Vicki smiles widely.
Vicki:
It´s gonna be great, you´ll see.
Ash:
So, what´s the movie about?
Vicki:
It´s a lesbian love story. I play the city girl, who finds herself attracted to a sweet, local girl. This scene shows us discovering our love for each other.
Ash looks a little overwhelmed.
Ash:
And you want me shooting it? I don´t know, if I can hold the camera straight!
Vicki:
There´s a few techniques, I can show you. But it´s real easy. You´ll soon get the hang of it.
Ash look reassured.
12. Int. The Icehouse. Day.
Joey comes into The Icehouse and sees Pacey serving a young couple, who look very in love. She smiles at the sight of them. Pacey comes over to her.
Pacey:
Remember, when we were like that?
Joey:
Only, we could never afford to eat here.
Pacey:
What brings you here?
Joey:
I was thinking, that on your next day off, you could come over for dinner.
Pacey smiles.
Pacey:
Cool. I promise, I´ll behave better, than the last time I was there.
Joey:
You´d better! Anything special, you want me to cook?
Pacey:
Surprise me.
Joey:
I will. Is Amy around?
Pacey:
I gave her the afternoon off. She´s shooting a short movie for AV club.
Joey:
That´s right! She told me about it. Say hi to her from me, when she gets here.
Pacey:
I will. You´re welcome to eat dinner here, if you want. It´s still 50 percent your restaurant.
Joey:
I´m joining Gail for dinner. She´ll be disappointed, if I cancel on her.
Pacey:
Say hi to her from me.
Joey:
I will.
Joey leaves him.
Joey (voice over):
That gives me six days to work up my nerve. That should be enough, right?
She tries to look convinced.
13. Int. Amy´s Room. Evening.
Amy is editing the movie on her laptop, while lying on her bed.
Amy (voice over):
It´s not half bad, actually. And it only took us 23 takes.
She gets to the point, where the two girls kiss and smiles to herself.
Amy (voice over):
Did she mess up the ending three times, so she could kiss me three more times? Poor Ash. She wasn´t prepared for a girl on girl make out fest. It did feel nice, though. Kissing Marco was was nothing like this. So exciting and new. Am I gay?
She rewinds the video and plays the kiss again.
Amy (voice over):
Maybe I am.
She closes the laptop, lies down on the bed and puts both hands behind her head. She stares up at the ceiling, as she wonders.
Amy (voice over):
I can´t deny, that I wish, she were here. Kissing me and touching my forbidden places. Is she having the same thoughts right now, about me?
She undoes her pants and sticks her hand down the front of her panties.
14. Int. Kitchen. Morning.
Amy is eating breakfast with her parents, when the doorbell rings.
Dougie:
Who could that be, at this time?
Amy:
I´ll get it.
She gets up from the table and goes to answer the door. It´s Vicki. Amy is pleased to see her.
Amy:
Hey!
Vicki:
Can we talk?
Amy:
It couldn´t wait for school?
Vicki:
It´s about the movie.
Amy:
Sure.
Jack:
Don´t be too long. We leave in fifteen.
The girls head up the stairs.
15. Int. Amy´s Room. Morning.
Vicki sits down on the bed next to Amy.
Vicki:
I have something to confess. I like you. As in like you, like you.
Amy smiles.
Vicki:
And I tricked you into kissing me, which is totally wrong, I know. Then I messed up the scene on purpose, so I could kiss you again. I´ve barely slept, because I felt guilty about it. You´ve been so nice to me and ...
Amy takes her hand and it´s like a small shock goes through her body.
Vicki:
I shouldn´t have ...
Amy moves in closer to her.
Vicki:
Taken advantage of you.
Amy:
I like you, like you too. I had no idea, I liked girls, until we kissed.
Vicki:
I´m glad, I could be of help.
They kiss passionately.
Amy (voice over):
That´s one thing, my mom never did!
CLOSING CREDITS
