Dawson's Creek (1998–2003): Season 3, Episode 1 - Like a Virgin - full transcript

After spending the summer with his mother in Philadelphia, Dawson returns to Capeside and meets a beautiful, outgoing, young woman, named Eve Whitman, on the bus from Philadelphia. Eve soon brings trouble to Dawson's ho-hum life when he accidentally wrecks his father's boat during an outing with her and tries to come up with $3,000 to repair it before Mitch finds out. So, Eve helps out by throwing a rave party at the Leery house with strippers from the club she works at. Meanwhile, Joey, who has frozen Dawson out all summer for forcing her to rat out her father, realizes that she still has feelings for him again when they meet during the first day back at Capeside High as juniors. While working at the Capeside Marina, Joey deals with the come-ons from her sexist boss Rob Logan. Jen gets more than she bargained for when she tries out for Capeside High's cheer leading squad and faces off in a war-of-wits against the mean-spirited head cheerleader, and acquires her position. Also, Mitch gets a new job as Capeside High's varsity football coach, and a new charismatic, but very stern, principal, named Howard Green, arrives to administrate the school.

-Sorry?
-You're drooling on your chin.

Saliva from sleep.

You're a very heavy breather,
did you know that?

No.

And a scintillating conversationalist.
Just my luck.

What's in your lap?

Not that. The movie.
What are you watching?

Risky Business.

-With Tom Cruise?
-And Rebecca De Mornay.

Where they do it on a train, and it's
unbelievably sweet and meaningful...

...even though he's a virgin
and she's a hooker...

...who's slept with hundreds of men.

lt's more of a modern myth.

Joseph Campbell meets Sigmund Freud
meets Holden Caulfield.

Teenage boy passes into manhood...

...by way of a sexual encounter
with a woman...

...who's essentially a fantasy character
of his own creation.

Hey, you're adorable.

-What's your name?
-Dawson.

Dawson Leery.

-You all right?
-My dad taught me:

''When shaking hands, always make
sure the other guy releases first.

lt imparts a subtle yet powerful
advantage in all human intercourse.''

Actually, l meant your skin.
Do you have a fever or something?

Oh, that's just me. My temperature.
l run a few degrees hot.

So when are you gonna tell me
about your girlfriend?

l'll take it from here.

l thought you were supposed
to be here by 8:00.

lsn't that sweet? Little girl's nervous
about missing the first day of school.

Oh, the salad days.
Yes, l remember them well.

You can spare me
the Shakespeare, Rob.

My last class ends at 2:30,
so l should be back here by 3.

Don't be late.

-What?
-What?

And how long have you two
been married?

What happened when you woke up?

She morphed into an octogenarian
Spanish woman with a hairy upper lip.

l hate it when that happens.

lt was the weirdest thing.
She was this perfect girl.

One minute, she's sitting right next
to me, and the next, she's gone.

When l have moments like that,
l gotta change the sheets afterwards.

Maybe she wasn't real.

What about the one that is real?

-What about her?
-Well, today's the day.

Dawson Leery and Joey Potter
have been apart for months now.

Summer has passed, and the world
is waiting to figure out what'll happen.

Perhaps you and the world haven't heard
the last 50,000 times l've said it's over.

Yeah, sure it's over,
until she speaks to you.

She won't.

l think you underestimate
the healing powers of time, Dawson.

Time for Joey to forgive and forget.

Even if Joey came up to me and said,
'' l forgive, and l forget,'' l wouldn't.

l wouldn't forget that most of the past
year has been a hellish nightmare...

...verbalizing and angst-ing
instead of living.

l need to just learn how to exist
and ask questions later.

Ladies and gentlemen,
Capesidians of all ages...

...new and improved and fresh
from Philadelphia, l bring you...

...Dawson Leery.

Now, just to play
devil's advocate here...

...let's say you go to school...

...and Joey comes up
and starts apologizing to you.

She does that cute
little hair-flip thing...

...and then she locks those truly, truly
remarkable brown eyes of hers on you.

What do you do?

l tell her that it's over
and that it's been over...

...and that we're better off
without each other.

Dawson, l'm off to my
coaching conference.

l'll write down the number
at the hotel where l'll be.

-Coaching conference?
-What, you haven't heard yet?

Substitute Mitch is Capeside High
School's newest varsity football coach.

Congratulations, Mr. Leery.
How are our trusty Minutemen doing?

What's the streak at now?
lt's, like, 0 and 38, right? 0 and 39?

Oh, ye Pacey of little faith. l can assure
you, as a former Minuteman myself...

...that this season
will be a winning one.

-Thanks. See you Sunday, Dad.
-All right.

What, that's it?
You're gonna walk out just like that?

No fatherly warnings,
no rules and regulations...

...no promises of impending doom
should your sainted son misbehave?

Good idea.
Keep Pacey out of the house.

lf l start to fall asleep,
don't wake me up.

Jen Lindley. How was your summer?
Host any gangbangs?

You know, Belinda, l could think
of a really scathing comeback...

...but l figure l should show you
a little sympathy...

...seeing as how the lipo didn't take.

-She should be here any minute.
-Pacey.

lt's the junior assembly, man,
she has to come.

That's enough, all right?

Good morning, l'm Principal Green.

Like all of you, in my junior year
of high school, l had a new principal.

My first day back,
he stood before us...

...and imparted some earnest
and touching words...

...which were meant to usher us...

...into what he called
one of the best years of our lives.

This is not that speech.
We live in a different time.

You children are living and thinking
like people twice your age...

...and why shouldn't you?

The rites of passage, which once
marked growing up, are all but extinct.

-She just walked in.
-ln short, l'm on to you people.

She's back there,
just over my shoulder.

And l'm one step ahead of you.

For example, like that gentleman
in the fifth row who's talking.

-Me?
-Please stand, sir.

-That didn't take long.
-What's your name, sir?

l don't suppose you'd accept
'' Che Guevara,'' would you?

-Probably not.
-Pacey Witter.

Mr. Witter.
Mr. Witter, l'd like to applaud you...

...for being the first student l've met
at Capeside who behaves like one.

lt is my hope that someday
you all will act as such.

Reclaim your youth.
Live, learn, screw up.

Keep up the good work, Mr. Witter.

And...

...l'll see you on Saturday
for detention.

Sally, who are we kidding?
Lay off the hot dogs, and try 4-H.

That's where they're looking
for the prize hogs.

She only came over here
because somebody made...

...one too many pit stops
at Krispy Kreme this summer.

Now l know how anthropologists feel
when they stumble across a lost tribe...

...whose ancient rituals
have remained untouched by time.

Yeah, well, l don't understand...

...why anyone would want to become
a cheerleader in the first place.

There's one way to find out.

Jen, what are you doing?

l'm signing up for tryouts.

Let me think about that. Not.

Belinda, haven't you wondered
if l've got what it takes...

...to hold up those pompoms?

Okay, Lindley, you're on.
Tomorrow at 3.

-Be prompt.
-Will do.

Mr. Green seemed like a cool guy.
Good sense of humour.

He was kidding about
that whole detention thing, right?

No, Pace. He seemed....

Dawson?

Dawson, there's an ending
to that sentence or...?

You're right, l'm gonna break.
l'm gonna crumble.

Joey Potter at 3 o'clock.

Just get me out of here. Anywhere.

-Anywhere?
-Anywhere that Joey will not find me.

Well, for a mere 25 dollars, young sir,
l think l have just the place.

-Hey, Jo.
-Oh, it's not Joey.

lt's the shell
of her exhausted remains.

Bessie, if l have to work
another hour for that nimrod boss--

lt's just until the insurance
check comes.

Then we'll have enough
to get a sitter, and l'll get a job.

No speech required. l remember
the bargain, if you can call it that.

So tell me everything.

-We got a new principal.
-Not about school, about Dawson.

What was it like seeing him again?

-lt was great.
-So, what'd he say?

Come on, Joey, l spend most of my
conversations with a teething baby.

Your sister could use a little
vicarious pleasure. Come on.

Well, he....

l mean, he looked at me...

...and l looked at him...

...and in that split second, it was like
we forgave each other for everything.

Then we talked about it until we were
blue in the face, like old times.

l'm glad, Jo.
You two are meant for each other.

Now, if l'm sure of anything, that's it.

l think l'm having
a religious experience.

That would be Wendy...

...who is a second-year
marine biology student at Wood's Hole.

-How do you know that?
-lt's in her bio.

According to this, she also
likes small children, big men...

...snowboarding and the colour green.

-What can l get you, gentlemen?
-Well, l would love a couple of beers...

...and my friend here will have
a tall glass of milk. Please.

You know, sitting here,
something occurs to me, Dawson.

-What?
-The meaning of life. Specifically yours.

Not another diatribe on
my manhood or lack thereof.

l'm being serious here.
l have just had a blinding vision...

...of the purpose of your junior year.

You mean besides massive
and debilitating college anxiety?

Yes. At some point during this year,
you, my friend, are going to get laid.

lt's in keeping with this
whole-new-attitude thing you got going.

-You met that girl on the bus.
-Yeah, l put her to sleep...

...by talking about my ex-girlfriend.
lt's safe to assume...

...l'm not going to be
hearing from her.

Thank you.

This is actually root beer.

-You don't remember me, do you?
-Should l?

Feel this.

That's right.

lt's me.

As day number two folds
on our quiet little creek-side village...

...Dawson Leery has again
proven successful...

...in his endeavour
to avoid Miss Joey Potter.

l am starting to question
your commitment to the vida loca.

-Because l don't wanna talk to my ex?
-No.

-You didn't hook up with bus girl.
-Number one, she was working.

l gave her my number.
lt's up to her to use it.

-And if she does?
-She won't.

Dawson, l wouldn't be
so sure about that.

What's the likelihood that a woman
with that degree of life experience...

...and sexual liberation
is gonna regard seriously...

...the interest of someone
who hasn't even taken his PSATs?

About the same as the chances
of her being in your living room.

-Hey, Dawson.
-Hi.

What are you do--? l'm sorry.
How did you--? Did you just--?

This is all overexcited teenage male
for '' How did you get in?''

Thought l'd surprise you and take
you up on your offer for a date.

lt was hot outside, and the door
was open, so l let myself in.

lt's Capeside. We don't exactly lock up.

lnteresting.

What else don't you do?

l need to talk to you for a second.

Okay. Normally, at this point in the
plot, the best friend exits stage left...

...leaving the brand-new
Dawson Leery all alone...

...with the mystery woman
in his parentless house.

l'm freezing up. This is too high
in the too-good-to-be-true category.

Speaking as someone
who's been there before...

...l'm telling you, all you need
is just a little bit of separation...

...time to calm down,
catch your breath...

...and realize that you are
in complete control of this situation.

l am not in complete control.

Oh, but you will be.

-The boat.
-What about it?

l think you should take it out
for a little spin.

Pacey, that's my dad's boat. '' Dad''
being the possessive in that sentence.

Dawson, given the circumstances...

...l think he'd understand.

Thank you. Next.

l didn't finish my cheer.

Stacey, get a mitt and catch a clue.

lt's your third year trying out
for the Minutegirls.

Your waistline is thicker.
Your hairstyle is even more outdated.

The only reason
we let you get this far...

...is because we wanted to see
what lame song you'd pick to cheer to.

Next up, Miss Jen Lindley.

Do you still wanna do this?

Are you kidding me?
Now more than ever.

Good luck.

l'm sure you'll dazzle us, Jen.

l mean, after all,
we all know how flexible you are.

When you see Belinda
and her clique in the hallway...

...you're desperately wishing
you were walking with them...

...and thinking that maybe
if you were wearing the right shoes...

...sporting the latest hairstyle and
using the hottest shade of lip gloss...

...then maybe they would toss
a glance in your direction.

Ever wonder why they force...

...their narrow-minded opinions
down our throats?

lt's because they have
an inkling of what the future...

...has in store for them
beyond graduation.

Cut to 25 years from now.

Belinda McGovern wakes up
one morning feeling empty.

Maybe it's because her...

...Dartmouth-educated lawyer-husband
Tad has run off to Tijuana...

...with her daughter's roommate
from boarding school.

Or maybe it's because the twins,
Timmy and Tommy...

...call her by her first name
and their housekeeper '' Mom.''

Or maybe it's Belinda's daily
2:00, 5:00, 7:00 and 9: 1 5 showdown...

...with her bottle of Prozac.

Her life has become a domestic
wasteland. Avoid this fate.

Don't let yourself become
another cookie-cutter blond...

...size 4, rah-rah, sis-bam-boom,
mindless, soulless, spineless wench.

Screw these auditions,
screw cheerleading...

...and screw Belinda McGovern.

l'm changing here.

l'm sorry. l didn't know
you were back here.

l just wanted a Coke.

You just happened to get thirsty right
when l'm standing here half-naked?

l hadn't noticed that coincidence.

You know, l think l'm in the mood
for a 7 UP instead.

l will...

...knock the next time.

l'll lock the door the next time.

What are you staring at?

You should take off your shirt.

What's the matter,
too brazen for you?

No. No.

l guess l'm just a little nervous.

How come you're nervous?

-For the same reason you're not.
-Oh, but l am.

-You are?
-Of course.

Listen, Dawson, anything
that's worth anything is scary...

...or dangerous in one way or another.

-That's a pretty extreme world-view.
-Not at all.

Without fear, there'd be
no accomplishments...

...no testing of our limitations...

...no fun.

A number of questions
present themselves.

-Fire away.
-What's your name? Where do you live?

Why on earth are you
hanging out with me?

ln short, you know, who are you?
Where do you come from?

You said it yourself, Dawson.

l'm a fantasy...

...of your own creation.

l can feel your heart beating.

-You can?
-lt's going a million miles an hour.

Slow down.

-l'm sorry?
-The boat.

That's better.

You're a virgin, aren't you, Dawson?

What comes before a virgin?

Everything but.

Everything but what?

That's what comes before.

Be careful, l can't see.

What--?

At least tell me your name.

Eve. You can call me Eve.

Eve. That's a biblical name.

l'll try and live up to it.

Are you okay?

l....

l think so.

Crashes are so intense.

Joey, this is Eve.

Eve, Joey.

Suddenly, everything becomes clear.

Wait a minute.
You know this moron?

l thought l did.

Salvage charges plus yard costs
plus carpentry and repainting....

You're looking at three grand, easy.

Provided none of the gaskets leaked
or engine mounts cracked...

...as a result of the collision.

-Three thousand dollars.
-Give or take.

l should have gone down
with the ship.

No argument here.

Things could be worse.

That's what they said to King Lear
before he lost his mind...

...and his daughter killed herself.

-Or was it the other way around?
-Come on, Dawson. No one was hurt...

...and you'll never forget
this day as long as you live.

That's what l'm afraid of.

Everybody always wants life
to go smoothly...

...but the truth is, it's the mistakes
that keep things interesting.

Another treacly truism, l think
my sweet tooth is gonna start to ache.

Wait a second. You're mad at me.

-You made me crash my father's boat.
-Made you what?

l didn't make you do anything.

-Maybe l'm just not ready for this.
-Ready?

Dawson, l've only known you
for 48 hours...

...but l think it's safe to say, you have
got to stop living from the neck up.

No. Wait. Don't go.

You're gonna have to do
a lot better than that.

A man's character is his fate.

-And?
-And this isn't me.

Okay, l don't meet
strange girls on buses.

l don't drive my father's boat
without permission.

l mean, look what happens when l do.
Unmitigated disaster.

Well, that's too bad, because this
girl just wants to have fun.

Hey, Jen.

-You look like your dog just died.
-l don't have a dog.

Yeah, l know that.

-Oh, yeah, you do know that, don't you?
-Seriously, what is it?

-Way to go.
-Who's that?

No idea.

Oh, God. Shoot me.

Why? What's--?

The unthinkable has happened.

Good job, Miss Lindley.

-What? You've become popular?
-Worse.

lt was a coup d'?tat,
a mutiny, a slave revolt, really.

Belinda has been excommunicated
by her brainless bishops.

Help me out, because l don't
know what you're talking about.

They're the golden ones
with the rhinestone-studded handles.

Don't tell me they made
you a cheerleader.

-Oh, no.
-Thank God.

They made me head cheerleader.

That's cool.

Yeah, but l thought you said that--

Forget what l said. l was lying,
or at least hoping for the best.

The truth is, Dawson has been
dodging me for two days.

Dodging you and crashing
Mitch's pride and joy.

One Dawson left for Philadelphia
and another one came back.

-Yeah, his evil twin.
-Oh, sis.

l just wish he would have told me,
and then l wouldn't feel like a fool.

About the girl, you mean?

One look at her, and l knew.
l mean, she's everything l'm not.

She's wild and confident and blond.

l remember the time when there
was another blond in the picture.

And look how well that turned out.

lt's different now.

Yes, it is.

l found two nickels, a shoelace...

...and a pair of sunglasses
that l lost two years ago.

Well, unless you plan
on finding a Rolex...

...l think you're
kind of wasting your time.

l have a combined total of $42.78.

Even if l sell my DVD player,
l'm still close to 2000 dollars short.

There's about 400 dollars in here.
lt's a collection.

-A collection?
-l told the girls at the club the story.

They thought it was so cute, they took
a collection of last night's tips.

'' Cute.'' Now l'm officially mortified.

Well, never underestimate
the kindness of strippers, Dawson.

Lady Eve, on behalf
of my luckless buddy right here...

...we will gladly accept
your contribution.

No.

-We gladly don't.
-Why?

Because it's your money,
and it's my problem.

-Just take the money.
-l can't.

Look, l feel responsible
for what happened...

...and l don't feel
responsible that often.

lt was still my fault.

Hold on a sec.

These young women
don't have to give of their wallets...

...but only of their time
and considerable talents.

-l like where you're going with this.
-l don't.

We'll throw a party here tonight.

-lt's genius.
-lnsane.

You'll make the cash
in two hours, tops.

l'm not gonna turn my house
into a strip club.

Dawson.

Teenage boys will come, Dawson.

They'll arrive at your house
for reasons they can't even fathom.

They'll turn up in your driveway
not really sure why they're doing it.

They'll arrive at your door
as innocent as children.

''Well, of course we don't mind if you
come in and look around,'' you'll say.

'' lt's only 20 dollars per person.''

And they'll pass over that money
without even looking at it.

For it is money they have,
and breasts they lack.

Oh, yes, Dawson,
teenage boys will come.

They most definitely will come.

Step up and have the money
in hand...

...for you are about to enter
the Leery den of iniquity.

And, gentlemen, my pal Gino here
has strict orders...

...to break any part of your body
that touches the ladies. Understood?

Yes? All right. Get up in there.

At the rate we're going, we'll have
something left over for Jerry's Kids.

There's something
not right about this.

Dude, this is so frigging awesome.

Are you all right?

l'm gonna go lie down.

Hey.

Hey.

Rager downstairs, huh?

Yeah.

You know me.

Less than one week
into junior year...

...and already my life's
in complete and utter upheaval.

Then l'm probably
the last person you want to see.

You're a lot of things, Joey, but you're
never the last person l wanna see.

Dawson...

...l'm sorry.

Not just about today.

Everything.

You know, about my dad. l was wrong.

l mean, in that total moment
of adolescent anguish and upset, l--

l lashed out at the one person who
cares about me the most, and who...

...l care about the most.

You should have called me, Joey.

-Should have written me, contacted me.
-l should have done a lot of things.

l was...

...ashamed.

And l figured l would just
ignore life for a while...

...but you can't do that forever,
can you?

No, you can't.

So who is she?

Eve? l just met her.

Are you two...?

Hardly.

So did you miss me?

You know l did.

Good.

Because l missed you too.

Things aren't the same anymore, Jo.

lt doesn't have to be
the same, Dawson.

lt's a new year.

Things can be different.

And they can be better.

No.

What is it? What's wrong?

Everything's wrong, Joey.
This isn't you.

l can be sexual, Dawson.

l know you can, but we can't do this.

Not now. Not like this.

Put your shirt on.

Go to hell.

-Joey, l'm sorry if you're hurt--
-Hurt?

Why would l be hurt?
l hope you're not delusional enough...

...to think this is some embarrassing
attempt at getting you back.

-Besides, sex is all you're about.
-Sex is not all l'm about.

You should know that.

-Don't blame me for your inexperience.
-l'm not blaming you.

l never stopped you
from being with anyone.

That was clear when you dumped me.

There was time for you to have fun.
lt's not my fault if you're still a virgin.

What happened between us
or didn't happen...

...was because we both
wanted it that way.

Then what's wrong?

What's so wrong with me?

lt's not you. lt's us.

l can't go through it all again.

And you're saying it'll be different,
but it won't be.

-You don't know that.
-Yes, l do.

And so do you.

Joey...

...one more year like last year and
there will be no love left between us.

Well, is...? ls there any now?

Yes.

So you love me...

...you just don't want me.

Come here, baby!

Could l get everybody's
attention, please?

Everybody!

All right. Gentlemen
and esteemed exotic dancers...

...now l'd like to present to you
the man who made this all possible...

...Mr. Dawson Leery!

All right, now.

l think the preliminary results
of our pledge drive are in.

So, Gino, if l could have
the envelope, please.

The unofficial tally for tonight's
festivities comes to...

...31 62 dollars!

Now, call me crazy, call me insane...

...but l think it's time to open this thing
to the public. What do you say?

Yeah!

Come on.

-Where are we going?
-l have a surprise.

l should probably stay and make sure
nobody burns my house down, right?

-Why would you do that?
-Pretty much to avoid wondering...

...whether l'm going to sleep with you.

Follow me, Dawson,
and all secrets will be revealed.

You go ahead. l'll be right there.

She wants me back.

-Joey?
-Yeah.

And as we speak, the ever-tempting
Eve stands waiting in the wings.

lt always comes down to this,
doesn't it, my friend:

The Madonna or the Jezebel?

Oh, God, you should
have seen her, Pace.

She was standing before me
as innocent and as beautiful as ever...

...and l wanted her just
as much as l ever have...

...but, l don't know, as large
a part of me wanted her...

...there's a part of me
just as large that knows...

...that now is not the right time for us.

Yeah.

l need to know that she's okay.

Can you talk to her, watch out
for her for a couple of days?

Oh, no, no.

She needs somebody.
She'd never admit it, but she does.

Dawson, man.

Look, you'd be doing it
as a favour to me.

Pace, please?

Yeah.

Thank you.

You wanna go for a ride?

-ls that yours?
-lt's my boss'.

Talked him into letting me borrow it.

l was kind of hoping we'd graduated
from the open ocean to dry land.

lf at first you don't succeed....

Dawson!

-Who's that?
-That's my father.

-Unexpectedly home from the hill.
-Listen, Dawson...

...you are one step away
from the rest of your life.

Get in.

l crashed his boat, and l wrecked
his house. l can't just leave.

There's nothing you can do
tonight, anyway.

Be honest. What's gonna change
between now and tomorrow morning?

Nothing.

Except maybe me.

Last chance.

l can't.

You know what, Dawson?

l don't know who's
the bigger mystery...

...me...

...or you.

Ahoy there. Anyone ashore?

What are you doing here?

lt's the damnedest thing.
l just got into Dawson's rowboat...

...and it magically drifted
towards your dock.

Yeah, well, magically drift
any closer and l'll kill you.

You know, l almost believe that.

He told you, didn't he?

-Didn't he?
-Well, what do you think?

l think l hate you both.

Well, then you're really gonna hate me
when you hear what l have to say.

He did the right thing.

The two of you need
to be apart right now.

How would you know what l need?

Yeah.

You know, you're probably right.

How could l possibly know how
hard it is to let somebody go, right?

The pain of knowing...

...that even though the two of you
are right for each other...

...that doesn't necessarily mean that
you're right for each other right now.

What would l know about that, right?

How could l possibly know
that sometimes it just...

...makes you want to scream...

...hit somebody...

...sit out at the end
of a dock and cry?

Of all the people to see me
like this, it had to be you.

You know, it's a new year.

Who knows? You and l
might even become friends.

Pacey...

...l'm upset enough as it is.

Come here, Potter.