Dawson and Joey are arriving at Capeside High's film lab.
"Dawson, don't you already own a video camera?" Joey asked
"Yes, but not a film camera" he replied
"And the difference is..."
"Sort of like the difference between an etcher sketch and a plotter"
Nikki exited the room the two were about to enter, holding a camera
"The Aeroflex" Dawson observed
"She is a beauty" Nikki said
"And she's all mine for the next seven days" Dawson said, conceitedly
"I don't think so" Nikki said "I've just come from Mr Jordan's office and he's agreed I can have it for as long as I need. Joey, right?"
"And you must be Nikki" Joey replied
"And how long is that?" Dawson said over her
"Film-making isn't fast food. You can't rush it. You can have it when I'm done" Nikki said, walking off. Dawson was exasperated and Joey was amused.
Pacey decided to watch Jen at cheer-leading practice. He expected it to be a laugh, but was in no way prepared for what he saw.
The cheerleaders were wearing short, black skirts and black tank tops with a red letter A with a circle around them in red over the left shoulders. Pacey swore this seemed familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.
1, 2, 3, 4, we don't care if we don't score, 5, 6, 7, 8, a few points would be really great, that's alright, that's okay, you're going to work for us someday. Gooooo Capeside
Pacey was absolutely stunned.
"Hey Pace" Jen said approaching him. Give me a minute to change and I'll be right with you
A moment later, she emerged in a black coat and jeans.
"Let's walk and talk" Pacey said and they did
"You are having way too much fun with this" he added
"Just think of it Pacey. I'm responsible of killing off the last vestiges of Capeside's school spirit. And all it took was a few sardonic, self aware cheers. This is what they get for electing me the head of their little Junta. Once I figured out they were genetically predisposed to not having their own identity, it was easy"
"And cheer-leading outfits for a certain Nirvana video"
"That too"
"Smells Like Teen Spirit, right?"
"If you say so"
"Why are you doing all this?" Pacey finally asked
"Its what Daria would want" Jen said matter of factually
"You're still on that, can't you just create your own identity? Why do you have to base yourself on someone else, you realise this makes you no better than your little minions, on some level"
"Maybe I don't like who I am, or who I used to be. Maybe I just need this right now"
"If you say so" Pacey said "Anyway, there's something I wanted to show you"
The once decrepit boat Pacey had gotten from impound thanks to his family connections, was starting to take shape. He showed Jen the name plate that bore the name 'True Love'
"So, could you give me a hand?" Pacey asked
"With what?"
Pacey pulled out a drill. "Just hold the sign in position, while I drill it into place"
She did. While Pacey was drilling, he explained his plan. To take Andie sailing around the Bahamas the following summer and propose to her.
"And that is why no one can ever know" Pacey said to cap it off
"Just so you know, I'll never breathe a word of it" Jen assured him
"But?" Pacey said, suspecting that there was something more
"But, how do you think this ends for you?" Jen added
Pacey said nothing
"Because best case scenario, you and Andie are trapped in a loveless marriage, you grow to resent one another and the stress of this secret causes you to die of an ulcer at the age of 45" Jen said
"If I'm lucky" Pacey replied, sardonically
They both realised this was an impossible situation and figured the best thing to do was to leave it for the moment.
Andie was directing a school play. The play was a stage adaptation of Beowulf. Jack was assisting her.
"I'm here to audition for the role of the King of Denmark." It was Will.
"Whenever you're ready" Andie said. She was somewhat desperate, because this role was proving to be the hardest
"This land has been terrorised by a beast named Grendel" Will read from the script
"I shall slay this beast for you" Another actor, playing the role of Beowulf read
"I sent ten of my bravest kinsmen to slay the beast. Not one returned. What chance do you have"?
"That's enough" Andie said
and then she said to Jack "What do you think?"
"I think we've found our King. But we may want to recast our lead" Jack said
Dawson walked up to Nikki's house to find her sitting out the front
"Is this about the camera?" Nikki asked
"I just wanted to mention something" Dawson said
"Go ahead"
"I know you're the Principal's Daughter, but I don't think that should entitle you to special treatment" Dawson said. Nikki was shocked, but before she could reply, her father walked out from inside the house.
"I thought I heard a familiar voice. If it isn't my second favourite student filmmaker. How are you Dawson?" he asked
"I'm good" Dawson replied
"I knew the two of you would hit it off. Why don't you join us for dinner?"
"I can't..." Dawson said awkwardly
"Daddy, I'm sure he has other plans" Nikki said, just as awkwardly
"Now wait a minute. As your father..." He said indicating Nikki "And as your principal" he said indicating both of them "I'm gonna have to pull rank. Besides, how often do I get the chance to have a meal with one of my students? I promise not to talk too much about my lovely daughter. Come on" He said in a genteel, yet authoritative tone and pointing inside.
"Dawson, you are looking maybe the only little girl that wanted a super8 camera for her birthday. Do you want to know the name of her first film?" Principal Greene asked
"Oh god" Nikki said, awkwardly. Dawson was all ears
"A Day in the life of Daddy" he said, then asked "Has she enlisted your help for her newest project?"
"No. I don't even know what its about" Dawson replied
"That's between me and my crew"
"So, in order to find out, I have to offer my services"
"Are you offering?" she asked
"I think that's a wonderful idea" Principal Greene interjected
"That won't be necessary" Nikki said firmly
"Forget I mentioned it" her father replied defensively
Nikki invited Dawson into her bedroom.
"Your love of film isn't evident in your decor" he observed
"Let me guess, you room is a shrine to Spielberg?"
"Er, pretty much. Is that a bad thing?"
"Its just, there's so much to be passionate about. Why limit yourself to one thing?" Nikki said
"But if you're lucky enough to find that one thing, why not immerse yourself in it?"
"To be clear, I love film. In part, because it allows me to explore all the other subjects I'm interested in"
Dawson was sceptical, but listening
"If all you care about is film, you'll just end up making movies about other movies and what good is that? Sorry about my dad. He's been really aggressively trying to get me to make friends ever since the divorce" she said, switching subjects abruptly, yet seamlessly
"I know the feeling" Dawson admitted
"So you're parents are.."
"Separated since, well, the end of the last school year. Mom got a job in Philly and I've been living with my dad ever since. So, are you okay with it?"
"Not really" she admitted
"But you seem so…
well adjusted" Dawson observed
"It a well crafted mask. Underneath, I'm a really angry kid"
"How angry"
"Angry enough to make a movie about it"
"So, that's what your movie is about"
"Basically"
Jack was running lines with Will backstage.
"I shall slay the beast Grendel" Jack read from the script
"I sent ten of my bravest kinsmen to slay the beast. None survived. What chance do you have?" Will said, without consulting the script
"Your kinsmen may have been brave, but they obviously lacked my skill"
…
Will forgot his line
Jack showed him the script.
Their faces got somewhat close to each other. They leaned into kiss one another, but then stopped. Then they heard Andie yelling in the next room. She was clearly in a panic and needed Jack.
"Our Beowulf isn't working out. We need a new Beowulf" Andie protested
"What did I do this time?" the actor asked defensively
"You're just not right for the part" Andie said, and looked like she was about to break down.
Just then, Joey entered the room from one side and Pacey and Jen approached from the other and the two of them hung back for the moment. Joey approached Andie.
Joey grabbed Andie's shoulders and said "Andie, look at me. Listen to my voice"
Andie did, but she was still panicked
"Close your eyes. Take a deep breath, in, and out." She did
"Repeat after me. 'I can do this'"
"I can do this"
"say it with conviction"
"I can do this!"
"once more"
"I CAN DO THIS!"
"You can do this!" Joey reiterated, and released her shoulders, giving them one last tap.
Andie calmed down and her breathing slowed
Pacey whispered to Jen "That, right there. That's why no one can know" Jen realised she had a point.
Pacey then stepped onto the stage
"So, I hear you need a new Beowulf?" Pacey said
"Okay Pacey, let's see what you've got"
Pacey read from the script, and nailed it from the start (Partly because he and Will had such great chemistry).
"Darren" Andie said to the actor who was previously playing Beowulf "You're back to understudy"
"Fine" Darren replied, in a mildly annoyed tone
Two weeks later, they opened. Jack was handing out programs at the door. Andie was backstage, ensuring things went smoothly (they did). Will and Pacey did some last minute rehearsals. Joey and Jen arrived together and spotted Nikki and Dawson. Introductions were made and the four sat together.
The crowd lights went down. They stage lights went on and everything came together beautifully. At least for that one night. But things wouldn't stay that way for long.