Dawson's Creek (1998–2003): Season 3, Episode 16 - To Green, with Love - full transcript

Joey relies on the support of Pacey and A.J. to rally the students in a major school protest against the school superintendent, Dr. Fielding, after he forces Principal Green to resign for ...

-This isn't going well, is it?
-Well, it depends on who you ask.

lf you're an enraged parent with
a misguided agenda, it's going great.

l mean, correct me if l'm wrong,
superintendent.

l don't recall the Board of Ed passing
a rule that allows a lunatic...

...to start handing out
death sentences...

...just because one of our kids
acted like a kid!

Please, please, please.

-As l've mentioned...
-Unbelievable.

...l've strongly urged Principal Green
to reconsider his decision.

But as much as l wish it weren't so,
Principal Green has final say...

...in all Capeside High
disciplinary matters.

-Dr. Fielding, Dr. Fielding, may l?
-Yes, please.

-Please, Mr. Caufield.
-You consider yourself...

-...a member of this community?
-Yes.

Are you gonna let the prejudices...

...of an outsider ruin my son's future?

l can't take this anymore.
l have to say something.

This is ridiculous. This whole thing
has been blown out of proportion.

This is a PTA meeting,
young lady, not a pep rally.

Now, you'll have your seat, please.

Anyone gonna defend Principal
Green for everything he's done?

Miss Potter, our son tells me you're
the one whose mural was destroyed.

-This has nothing to do with me.
-You're exactly right.

What it has to do with
is the scare tactics...

...of a man whose extremism
and notions of justice...

...are better suited
for an urban war zone...

-...than our civilized community.
-You did not say what l think you said.

What l'm saying
is that if this educator...

...were doing his job
in any capacity...

...none of us would
have to be here tonight.

lf you were doing your job
as a parent, Mr. Caufield...

...maybe your son would still be
in school.

He has a file in the guidance office
over an inch thick.

Look, Principal Green is a fair man.

l'm sure he seems that way
to you, dear...

...and to some of the other students
whose families don't--

-Don't what?
-Don't embrace the values...

-...that we as a community--
-Come on!

You don't know anything
about her family!

People, that's enough!

As of this Friday at 3:00...

...if Principal Green has not reduced
Matt Caufield's expulsion...

...to a more reasonable sentence...

...l will ask him
to tender his resignation.

This is ridiculous.

Did what l think
just happened happen?

Fielding's gonna railroad Green
into changing his ruling.

-Either that or out of town.
-Okay.

Let's go.

He'll be expecting
Green's resignation.

For now, this is Sherry Eisler
of WKWB...

...reporting from downtown Capeside.

-Hello, Sherry.
-Miss Leery.

l mean, Gale.
lt's great to see you.

-You look terrific.
-So do you.

Hey, congratulations
on making field reporter.

lt's a long way from
the shy intern l hired.

Well, l could say l owe it all to you.

The new generation of female
reporters would be nowhere...

...without veterans like yourself.

-So, what's your story?
-You were inside. Didn't you see?

l saw out-of-control parents,
which for this town is hardly news.

Maybe, but what about the principal
expelling a kid for the rest of the year?

-He sounds like a wacko to me.
-Come on, Sherry, we gotta move.

We gotta get going,
got a deadline to make.

You remember those days.

lt was great seeing you, Gale.

You too, Sherry.

What happened in there
was so unjust.

Not to mention
personally demoralizing.

You know how
this system works, Jo.

Convicts, mental defectives
and people under the age of 1 8...

...are denied the chance
to participate in decisions...

...that affect their everyday lives.

Problem is, the squeaky wheel
gets the grease.

l mean, all these idiots who rant
and rave about low test scores.

People who are happy
with the way things are sit back...

-...and mind their business.
-True. Happy people...

...rarely attend
emergency PTA meetings.

And teenagers. They'd have
to be coaxed and prodded...

...before they'd set down
PlayStations, turn off TRL...

-...and do something about something.
-You said it, sister.

So who's gonna rally the troops?

-Obviously nobody.
-You could.

Yeah, Joey Potter
against the system.

What am l gonna do,
paint another mural? That'll help.

l don't know why l bothered to go.
lt was a waste of time.

There were barely any students.

l got two sentences out
before l was attacked.

Joey, you can't expect people to rally
around a cause that doesn't exist.

-They need leadership. They need--
-That's what Pacey said.

Pacey? What kind of a name
is Pacey?

-You'll want to see this.
-l'm on the phone.

No, really. l think you're gonna
want to see this.

Sorry, hold on, A.J.

Concerned parents demanded
actions and answers tonight...

... from Capeside School
Superintendent Byron Fielding.

The uproar started
when a high school girl...

...painted a mural that was intended
to bring unity.

Instead, all it brought was discord...

...and the potential resignation of
a high school principal under siege.

Howard Green has thus far
refused to comment publicly...

... on his controversial decision
to expel Matt Caufield, a senior...

...accused of vandalizing
the so-called Unity Mural...

...and fighting with another boy
who took exception to the prank.

The other boy was let off
with only community service...

... leading some in this community
to question Green's motives...

...and wonder whether he's let
some kind of personal agenda...

...affect his judgment.

Joey Potter,
the girl who painted the mural...

... was at tonight's meeting
and summed it up best...

... when she said this
about Caufield's harsh punishment.

This is ridiculous. This thing
has been blown out of proportion.

-l never said that.
-We believe you, sis.

l mean, l said it,
but not in that context.

l mean, this isn't fair. This--

No one is gonna give me the chance
to say everything l wanna say.

You're right, they won't.

Not unless you stand up
and demand to be heard...

...show them you won't be ignored.

What are you suggesting?

Well, Norma Rae, looks like
you took my advice.

-And what advice was that?
-This meeting.

Rallying the troops. l have to say,
this is a big step for you.

l'm known as the Capeside Crusader
far and wide...

...breaking down sexual stereotypes,
eradicating rogue teachers...

...but you're definitely
the rebel without the cause.

So look, l just wanted to say...

...don't hesitate to ask for any help
you might need...

...seeing as this whole thing
was my idea in the first place.

You were encouraging, yes, but
this meeting was hardly your idea.

That's the way you want to play it, fine.
lf you wanna pretend...

-...you devised this call to action--
-l didn't!

-l'm all out.
-Me too.

Oh, that's right. You guys have--
You guys have never met.

Pacey, this is A.J.
A.J., this is Pacey.

Right, the one
with the peculiar name.

How you doing?

A.J. came down to help us
rally the troops.

Yeah, give Capeside a small taste of
tried and true college protest action.

Quick! Green's coming inside...

...and you guys gotta see this.

Green's too extreme!
Green's too extreme!

Green's too extreme!

Joey. After you.

Concerned parents showed up
at Capeside High today...

... to express their outrage
at a principal who many think...

...has gone too far.

Thanks for helping out
tonight, honey.

Don't thank me. Thank Dad.

He's the one who indentured me
to servitude.

Not a moment too soon.
l must say, this restaurant stuff...

...it's a lot more work
than l expected.

l'm sorry l couldn't be here
any sooner.

What happened
with that meeting at Joey's?

You should've seen her.

Totally confident. Totally inspired.

-You're proud of her.
-Yeah.

l mean, how could l not be?
She's standing up for herself...

...and fighting back the way
l always knew she could.

You know....

l can't help but feel part of that.

She's organizing an action tomorrow
outside the superintendent's office.

She's got a tough road
in front of her.

Especially with that
spokesmodel-turned-journalist...

-...misrepresenting her story.
-Superintendent Byron Fielding--

You know what kills me
is to see an important story...

...done badly because
the person covering it...

...has no idea how to decipher
truth from popular opinion.

Sounds like you miss it.

Yeah, l'd be lying if l said l didn't,
but, hey, l got this place now.

Onward and upward.

What if...

...you tried to tell the real story
about what's going on?

Relive my glory days
as a field reporter?

All you need to get back
in the game is a camera.

-And a crew.
-ln these days of digital video...

...a crew is one person.

And just who would
my one person be?

You do have one indentured servant
at your disposal.

l don't know, honey.
Even if we did this and we did it right...

...there's no promise
the station would run it.

They've made it clear many times
that my services are past their prime.

We're not doing it for the station.

We're doing it for you.

And for Principal Green
and for Joey.

We barely have people
to fill a softball team...

-...let alone change the world.
-Rome wasn't built in a day.

Thanks for doing this.
Hot coffee is great for morale.

No problem. So where's Jo?

She's getting ready for her close-up.

She's great, isn't she?
A born leader.

She's a peach, all right.

l'm gonna ask
about the nature of the protest...

...where the movement came from...

-...and then we should concentrate--
-What's this?

l'm doing a story
on the Green situation.

-For cable?
-l don't know. Truth be told...

...l was thinking about submitting it
to Roger at the station.

Good luck with that.

l would love a follow-up
interview with you.

ln your frosted blond dreams, Barbie.

-You don't think l was too hard on her?
-Sounded about right to me.

-What is it?
-Superintendent Fielding...

-...wants to see you.
-Me?

The first signs of resistance falling.

-Why don't l get that feeling?
-Fielding's an unscrupulous...

...jerk who cares
more about job security...

...than about what
anybody here thinks.

He's only gonna threaten you, Jo.

l don't think you should go in there.

What do you think?

l'd go.

We're on the Green team!
We're on the Green team!

-Miss Josephine Potter, correct?
-Yes.

Have a seat.

l assume you know who l am.

The man who comes
to football games and graduation.

l appreciate a sense of humour.
l prefer to think...

...of my involvement in your life
as a touch more personal than that.

l hear you're responsible
for that dissonant clamouring outside.

-That true?
-Well, parents can picket a school...

...students can picket
a superintendent's office.

Fair enough.

What is it you intend to accomplish
with this First Amendment display?

Well, it's our belief
that Principal Green was right...

...in expelling Matt Caufield.
He shouldn't be forced...

-...into changing his ruling--
-No one's forcing him.

Pardon me, Dr. Fielding, but you
threatened to ask for his resignation--

That wasn't a threat.

That was a direct request.

As a representative
of the student body...

...l'm telling you what's happening
to Green is wrong.

Far as l know, you represent
that handful of students...

...out there right now.
And that's it.

-Well, there's more of us.
-Oh, really?

Yeah. A lot more.

ln fact, we have a student-signed
petition with 300 signatures.

-Three hundred?
-There's a rally tomorrow night.

lf you think the crowd last night
was vocal, wait until tomorrow.

l didn't know about this.

Make no mistake, there's a voice...

...that doesn't agree
with what's happening.

-That voice will be heard.
-l'm all ears.

l suggest that you and your friends
hurry back to school...

...before that principal
you love dearly...

...has to serve you with detention
for cutting class.

Who's cutting class?

l'm out sick with a cold.

Dawson, Mrs. Leery.

To what do l owe
the late-afternoon honour?

-We're here for your interview.
-lnterview? What interview?

For the story l'm hoping
to run on Channel 3.

About the community situation as
a result of Matt Caufield's expulsion.

l talked to Nikki.
She said it was okay.

l just wanted you to have
an opportunity to speak...

...for everyone to know
your side of the story.

l know my side of the story.
That's what matters.

-My daughter misinformed you.
-Mr. Green, for what it's worth...

...people misinterpreted you
and this situation.

Are you sure you don't want
a chance to explain your actions?

lt's not my job to prove to people
l'm a fair and decent man.

lf they don't know that by now...

...some sound bite on
a television show is not gonna help.

''When you see a good fight,
get in it.'' Dr. King's words...

-...but your lesson to me.
-This is not a good fight, Nikki.

The more l try to prove myself, the
more l empower this insane notion...

...that l'm an enraged man
on a bigoted tirade.

l'm sorry, but l can't
grant you the interview.

Have a nice day.

lt might've been nice
to have a heads up...

...before you invented a petition
with 300 signatures.

l don't think we have
300 students at school.

How else was she gonna get
the guy's respect?

Right. Look, it'll be fine, Pacey.

Tell us what we do
to get people to the rally.

That bluff's a bit harder to pull off.
A petition is easy enough to fake.

You convince kids you're
campaigning for chocolate milk days.

-For a rally, you produce bodies.
-Those are problems.

-We need solutions.
-All right, which we have.

Pacey here said, ''Think lnternet.''
So Jack is now...

...putting an announcement
on the website.

Andie is getting word out
the old-fashioned way.

lf you don't come, then forget
about me participating...

...when it comes to putting
names and faces...

...together in the yearbook, okay?

Great.

A personal touch is always nice
when it comes to blackmail.

Hello? Hello?

-No. Hold on one second. Bessie!
-Yeah?

For you.

Joey.

We designed a new flyer,
for your approval, of course.

-Great.
-Good.

-l already ordered 500 copies.
-How are we gonna pay for that?

We're not.
Pacey managed to convince...

...a civil-minded copy shop owner
to run them for free.

-He did?
-Yep.

Yes, he did.

Okay.

Okay, attention, everyone.

l know you're all working very hard
and we're only 20 people right now.

But by tomorrow night,
we have to be 200 at least.

So keep up the hard work.

We got many miles to go
before we can sleep.

So great job.

-You sure you've never done this?
-Yeah.

l can't believe l'm doing it now.

Well, believe it,
because it's happening.

Thanks to you.

You convinced me to do it
in the first place.

You came all the way here.

l couldn't have done it without you.

You okay?

Yeah, yeah. l think l'm just gonna
hang some of these flyers up.

-Okay, l just got a phone call.
-What is it?

A concerned citizen
wanted me to know...

...letting students use my place...

...as their point of attack...

...is not the best way
to keep my business afloat.

-l don't get it.
-You don't, do you?

You never do.

Bessie, it was probably just
a stupid little prank.

l wouldn't be surprised
if Matt Caufield did it.

Bess, relax.
l'm sure it's no big deal.

What if it wasn't a prank?

We can't antagonize the people who
hold the mortgage on this house.

Bodie and l can't. We'll be living here
when you go to college.

l'm supposed to sit and wait patiently
until l get out of this town?

l'm not allowed to criticize it
or try to change it?

-l didn't say that.
-Look, l can't stop now, Bessie.

-ls that what you want?
-No one's asking you to stop.

l think Bessie just wants you
to be realistic about the situation.

-l am being realistic.
-Spending a lot of time...

...defending a man
who won't defend himself...

-...how's that realistic?
-He shouldn't defend himself.

-He didn't do anything.
-You sure this kid...

-...doesn't deserve a chance?
-l am.

Everyone knows Capeside High
is a better place...

...without Matt Caufield.
The students know it.

-Teachers know it.
-The parents up in arms are wrong?

Yes. You weren't at that meeting.

You don't know
what Mr. Caufield said.

He's got his own personal agenda.

-l'm not talking about saving his son.
-What do you mean?

She means all these
concerned citizens...

...wouldn't be fighting this decision
if Principal Green were white.

-They would still be upset.
-Upset, yeah.

And they might take action,
but not like this.

There wouldn't be this level of anger
and hostility and misunderstanding.

They certainly wouldn't
threaten the family...

...of some teenage girl
trying to speak her mind.

l give up. You wanna change
the world from our living room?

Fine. Whatever.

Sorry.

lt's okay. Too bad
you're not a paying guest.

This scene would have been
even more heinously awkward.

Look, this is probably not
the best time to say this...

...but....

You're leaving?

Yeah. l figure since l've
alienated you from your sister...

...and undermined the financial
viability of your family business...

...my work here is done.

You can't leave.
l mean, we just started.

l could give you another room,
maybe without nautical wallpaper.

No, no. l gotta go.

l got papers to write.
Actually, papers to grade.

Listen, Jo, you think you need me,
but you don't.

You're surrounded by a lot
of people who believe in you.

Good people.
Smart people.

l mean, even Pacey turned out
to be not such a bad guy.

What gave you that idea?

Well, l'm an excellent
judge of character.

l found you, didn't l?

Pacey, l think
you got that one covered.

A hurricane won't take it down.

lt might make you feel better
if you talk about it.

Talk about what?

About what's bothering you.

-There's nothing bothering me.
-Fine.

Fine. l'm fine.

Okay. So l do kind of
have a problem.

Yeah, l noticed.

lt's that obvious, huh?

Yeah, it's becoming so.

Do you think it would be
at all possible to...

...l don't know, pretend like
it wasn't that obvious?

Well, only if we pretend...

...to have a conversation about it.

You really wanna make me do that?

Okay.

Okay.

Let's say,
for the sake of argument...

...that l had gotten myself
into an impossible situation.

That l had,
hypothetically speaking...

...fallen for or was
in the process of falling for...

...the worst possible person
that l could ever fall for.

What would you tell me to do?

Well, l guess l would tell you...

...that impossible situations
are only made better...

...by doing something about them.

So l should just go
and declare myself to her...

...so she could laugh in my face?
Great idea.

How do you know
that's how she'd react?

l have it on good authority that
my rough charms don't register...

...on her rarefied romantic palate.

Let's face it,
l got '' Duckie'' written all over me.

-Duckie?
-Yeah, Duckie.

Molly Ringwald's best friend
from Pretty in Pink?

The guy who does not get the girl.

But he makes the girl feel good
about herself. He does.

He stands by her through
innumerable fashion emergencies.

He even humiliates himself
by lip-synching in public...

-...and takes her to prom.
-Where she dumps him...

...for another guy.

All right.
The question is, Pace:

This girl...

...that you have developed
impossible feelings for...

...are you going to stand by her
in a very Duckie-like fashion...

...or are you gonna let
hurt feelings prevent you...

...from being the friend you
so innocently purport yourself to be?

l guess it just hurts, that's all.

Well, that just means
that it isn't pretend anymore.

Why are we doing this?
lf Green won't talk...

-...why are we interviewing Fielding?
-There's two sides to every story.

-lt's not our job to editorialise.
-Yeah, but....

lt's my editorial opinion the world's
heard enough from this side.

lf l didn't do this interview,
l'd be just like Sherry.

Picking the news that l wanna tell.

Why shouldn't you?
Everyone else does.

Not the best journalists.
The best ones ask the right questions.

That's the only way
that the truth can surface.

Dr. Fielding will see you now.

What we're asking
Principal Green to do...

...is not an unreasonable request.

Simply readmit one student...

...who may have caused
a little trouble here or there.

But most of Matt Caufield's
fellow students...

...side with Principal Green
on this one.

Green could offer to shorten
the school day by 1 5 minutes...

...they'd follow him anywhere.

They can make a lot of noise, though.
This rally, for instance.

They can rally all night
for all the good it's going to do them.

Howard Green has until Friday
at 3:00 to rescind his ruling...

...or it's going to be
his last day at Capeside.

lt would seem to me
that firing Principal Green...

...is as extreme as him choosing
to expel Matt Caufield.

Now, are you really sure
that firing their principal...

-...is what's best for the students?
-lt's what's best for this community.

And that's who
you're responsible to...

-...the community?
-Ultimately, yes.

Could l ask you
to read something for me, sir?

-Of course.
-Could you please read...

...line item number one on that page?

'' l hereby declare to, above all else,
protect and serve the welfare...

...of each student in this district
to the best of...

...my ability.''

-What is this?
-A contract...

...for Capeside's
superintendent of schools.

The one which states
what he's hired to do.

ln fact, that is your signature
on the bottom of that page...

-...Dr. Fielding, is it not?
-Yes. Yes, it is.

So, what you're holding is a contract,
which you've signed...

...which states your
number one priority...

...should be to these students
and their welfare.

lt doesn't say anything
about the community...

...anywhere in that contract, sir.
Correct?

This interview is at an end.

Nikki.

Can a concerned father ask
where his daughter's going?

He can, but he's not
gonna like the answer.

-Joey's rally.
-You could come with me, you know.

You know my position on that.

l'm not sure l know your position
on anything anymore.

You've spent so much time trying
to protect how you're seen...

...for fear they're gonna
paint you as some angry man.

l am angry.

And why shouldn't l be?

Nikki, do you have any idea
how much it hurts...

...to know that l did the right thing?

And l'm doing the right thing.

And because of someone's
deep-seated fears, it's not working.

l don't want to leave these kids.
l don't want to leave this town.

And l certainly don't want
to put you through this.

So yes, l am angry.

But if l show men like Robert Caufield
one flash of this anger...

-...they will use it against me.
-The people tonight aren't like that.

They're on your side.
They support you.

They're fighting for you, for us.

And they need to know that,
win or lose, you support them.

l'd say Pacey did an impressive job
of getting the word out to people.

-Don't you think?
-Yeah.

But speaking of Pacey, l haven't
seen or heard from him all day.

Testing. Testing.
One, two, testing.

Uno, dos. Okay.

We're not having
any technical difficulties...

...so l'd like to turn it over to the lady
who's responsible...

...for gathering us all here.
Let's give her a round of applause.

Without further ado,
Miss Joey Potter!

l warmed them up for you.

Well, everyone's been
coming up to me in the last week...

...asking me why l'm doing this...

...even people in my family.

l've certainly asked myself
plenty of times.

And it's not because Matt Caufield...

...trashed my extracurricular
art project...

...and l've sworn eternal vengeance
against him.

lt's because some people think...

...that our principal
doesn't know what's best for us...

...that he's some sort of an outsider.

How can he be an outsider
when he's been there...

...walking the halls of our school
with us every day since September?

When he's taken time to know us,
to figure out our talents...

...whether they be filmmaking,
student government, painting...

...and supported and encouraged all
of us who don't know our talents yet?

How can he be an outsider when
he's been there with us every day...

...trying to make our lives better?

l thought that's what
we could do tonight...

...talk about how Principal Green
has made our lives a lot better.

Okay, no hands.

l'm starting to feel like l'm back
in Mr. Peterson's English class.

That's better.

-Andie.
-The two most important things...

...l learned from Principal Green
were that mistakes and setbacks...

...aren't necessarily irreversible.

And if you can't learn from yourself,
then you can't learn from anybody.

-He doesn't treat us like children.
-He treats us with respect...

...and listens to what we have to say.

We've been trying to form this....

l don't really know very many of you.

l'm the new kid and all...

...but what l do know about you
is what my father tells me...

...at home over dinner,
while we're watching TV...

...when we're doing the dishes...

...because that's what he talks about.

That's all he talks about:

His students, his school.

l had mixed feelings
about coming here this evening.

After sitting at home
and thinking about things...

...my daughter said earlier...

...it was clear that l needed to come.

She said, '' Dad, those people
are on your side.

They're fighting for you.''
And so l wanted to come...

...and to say thank you
for your support.

Now, neither myself nor Dr. Fielding...

...seem to be willing to budge
on this particular issue...

...and so it looks like l'll be leaving.

But as l look around this evening...

...l'm motivated. Because l see
a room full of people...

...who have chosen to harness...

...their inner power as individuals.

But regardless of the outcome
of this situation...

...know that l thank you.

All of you.

Thank you.

So you did it.

You rallied to a certain someone's side
in a very Duckie-like manner.

Yeah, mission accomplished.

How do you feel?

To be honest?
l feel like dog meat.

She didn't even thank me.

-She will. One day.
-How can you be so sure?

Because every duck has his day.

Just ask Henry.

-Ready to go?
-Whenever you are.

-Think she'll let us in the house?
-Bessie?

lf she doesn't, we'll sleep in the car.

Wanna drive?

Stick shift? No, thanks.

l think l've had enough...

-...challenges this week.
-Backing down from a challenge?

That doesn't sound like
the Joey l know.

lt certainly wasn't the one in front
of all those people tonight.

-You saw?
-Yeah.

Alexander here,
he just insisted on coming.

See, he's extremely proud
of his Aunt Joey.

-Really?
-Oh, yeah.

When you're not around,
he goes on and on...

...about how talented you are
and how smart...

...and how brave.

You know, on second thought,
maybe l will drive us home.

Come in.

Miss Potter. You haven't been
in my office in a long time.

You haven't gotten yourself
in trouble, l hope.

You know, you have a few minutes.
You--

-You could still change your mind.
-ls that what you want?

No, l....

Maybe.

-l don't know.
-Why is that?

l know that you're doing
the right thing, it's just....

l can't help but feeling
that maybe l....

l failed you.

We couldn't stop them.

We weren't loud enough...

...or strong enough.

And l'm really sorry.

Joey.

Look at me.
Look at me.

ln all my years in education...

...l have never felt more successful...

...than l feel right now.

Do you understand that?

Thank you for fighting for me.

You're welcome.

l guess it's time to go home.

After you.

l'll see you, Mr. Green.

See you, Joey.

Tell everyone l can be down there
in less than an hour.

Okay. Hey, l'll see you then.

That sounds like
distinctly good news.

They're gonna run it.
Our story, tonight.

They want me to race down
and tape an intro at the station.

-Mom, that's terrific.
-Oh, and that's not all.

One of the executive producers
asked me if l would be interested...

...in doing a few other special reports
in the upcoming months.

That's great.
What'd you tell them?

l told them l'd get back to them...

...in about 20 years, if and when
l retire from the restaurant business.

You're kidding.
l thought this is what you wanted.

No, l think what l wanted...

...was just my chance to say no.

To leave on my own terms.

To start fresh with no regrets.

And l can do that now
because of you.

-What did l do?
-Well, what you always do.

You inspired me, honey,
the way that you inspire everybody.

As much as you think
you've changed, Dawson...

...you're still the quiet hero.

Stepping in at the right time,
lending your efforts...

...never asking
for a reward in return.

You're smart, capable, sincere.

See, l think you're editorialising.

Come on. lt's just
a little bit farther. Right up here.

A couple more steps. Right here.
Stop. Right there.

Perfect. We're here.

l don't know where here is,
but seems to me we're nowhere.

Think back with me for a second.

Remember how this thing started?
lt started with a girl, a wall...

-...and a paintbrush.
-You bought me a paintbrush?

No, lame-o. l stole this
from your permanent collection.

-You bought me a wall?
-Not bought. Rented.

lt didn't come cheap.
lt cost 1 00 bucks.

You bought me a wall?

You said that already.

lt's a limited time offer.
Get cracking.

Pacey, did you fail to notice
the size of this thing?

Your next endeavour should be bigger
and better than your last.

lt's important you keep on growing
both as a person and as an artist.

l got you this.
lt's not gonna cover all of it.

As the saying goes,
''The journey of 1 000 miles...

...begins with a single step.''

l'm going to need
your help on this one.

No, no, no. Not this time.
You're on your own, sister.

Pacey, you're unbelievable.

As soon as l think
l have you figured out...

...you go and you do something
so outrageous...

...that completely challenges me...

...in a way that no one else
would even think of, that--

ln case l don't say it enough...

...thank you.

lt's about time, Potter.

lt's about time.