Recap: At Casa Leery, Dawson is railing to Joey about how Jen hasn't called him since the breakup. He somehow finds it odd that Jen wouldn't want to get together and go to the movies with him, and says he's disappointed that she wouldn't hold herself to the standard of remaining friends with the guy she unceremoniously dumped just two episodes ago. As he flops atop his bed and stares moodily into space, Joey urges him to face the reality that it's over with Jen, and to brace himself for the strong possibility that she's going to start hooking up with other guys. Shaggy D.A. gets a work-related call from her ex-lover, and when Mitch learns that she was talking to Bob just now, he becomes enraged that the cheeky home-wrecker would dare call his house. At Capeside High, Dawson runs into Jen, who asks him if he's up for the two of them being friends, and Dawson responds by staring back at her mutely. In marine biology class, Dawson describes the interaction to Pacey, who points out that it's probably not possible for him to remain friends with Jen - but advises him to pretend that he's A-OK with the breakup for the sake of his dignity. A few seconds later, a reasonably cute girl named Mary Beth wanders over to inform Dawson that they're getting their midterms back today, and Dawson mumbles, "Oh joy." The teacher (Dr. Rand) enters the classroom soon after and announces that 1) he's about to hand back everyone's midterm, and that 2) he wants to see Pacey after class to discuss whaddup with his poopy performance on the midterm. After class, Dr. Rand informs Pacey that he got an F on the midterm - but suspects he's a bright guy who's just not applying himself. He proposes that Pacey complete an extra credit project with another classmate so he doesn't fail the class, and Pacey seems grateful for the opportunity - until he learns that, by scripted coincidence, the classmate is Joey. Dawson tells Jen he's now ready to answer her earlier question, then says he'd love nothing more than to be just friends with her. He asks her what she has planned this weekend, so she tells him that on Saturday she has a date to go to the carnival with Scott Foley. Dawson's like, "What a coincidence! I have a date to go to the carnival [with a to be determined female] on Saturday too!" He suggests they all meet up at the carnival and consider it a double date, and Jen mulls over the weirdness of that proposition, but then decides 'sure, what could possibly go wrong with that?'
In the cafeteria, Dawson tells Pacey he fibbed to Jen about having a date for the carnival on Saturday...and Pacey nods approvingly and says that at this stage of their post-breakup relationship, it's important that Jen see him "in action" with other girls. When Dawson points out that he doesn't actually have a date for the carnival, Pacey breezily says there are lots of girls who'd probably be willing to throw all good taste to the wind and be seen in public with him. When Dawson spots Mary Beth eating alone at a table, he quickly makes a beeline over to invite her to be his plus one at the carnival this weekend. She asks him if he's really ready to date so soon after getting the heave-ho by Jen, and Dawson assures her that he's positively absolutely, undeniably ready to start dating again. Mary Beth just kind of shrugs in a 'yeah sure, what the hell else do I have going on this Saturday?' kind of way. LOL. Over in the science lab, Pacey looks bored by the extra credit project he's been assigned to work on with Joey and asks her what exactly they're supposed to be doing with the snails. Joey explains that their task is to determine which factors or conditions make it most conducive for the snails to reproduce, so Pacey jokingly suggests giving them a few drinks and dimming the lights. Joey chides him for not taking the project seriously and warns that if he doesn't straighten up, he could wind up in summer school with the rest of the Capeside High morons. Mitch asks Dawson if anyone has called that he should know about...and by anyone he should know about, he really just means Bob. Dawson assures him that, as far as he knows, the man who's responsible for his cuckolding hasn't been calling the house. When Joey returns to the science lab the next morning, she blows a gasket when she learns that the snails Pacey was supposed to be monitoring have inexplicably died. Pacey explains that since nothing amorous was happening between the two, he figured 'why not try to spark a ménage à trois by adding in the pretty little snail in the aquarium by the window?' ... then replays in his head what just spilled out of his mouth and admits that his thought process sounds a whole lot stupider when it's said aloud. Joey lets out a long growl and informs the dolt that 'the pretty snail in the aquarium by the window' is a carnivorous snail who must have eaten the two snails they were tasked with observing. Pacey's like, "Uh oooh.." and promises to somehow fix this debacle.
Later, at Casa Potter, Joey chides Dawson for using Mary Beth to make Jen jealous...and Dawson admits that, yep, that's exactly what he's doing - but that he still isn't willing to cancel the date. He says that Pacey suggested it would be a good idea to get back in the dating game in full view of Jen, and Joey just rolls her eyes and asks him why he'd take advice from someone who just tried to broker a snail three-way...then implores him to not make it a habit of being a cold-hearted jerk 'cause she considers him "one of the good ones". A few seconds later, Pacey arrives to take Joey on a hunt for replacement snails. Dawson meets up with Mary Beth at the carnival - just as Jen and Scott Foley wander over to say hey. Mary Beth scrunches her face confusedly at the foursome she's suddenly a part of and asks Dawson if they could speak privately. She tells him what a truly horrible idea she thinks it is for him to be going on a double date with the ex-girlfriend he's so obviously still hung up on, not least 'cause he didn't even have the courtesy to let her know what was going on. While canoeing in the creek, Pacey asks Joey what she got on her midterm, but she's like, "None of your damn business" and says they need to focus on the task of finding replacement snails. Dawson tells Mary Beth that he only agreed to the double date in order to take the pressure off of Jen, 'cause it's her first date with Scott Foley. Mary Beth chews on that fib for a few seconds and decides it's actually a pretty sweet thing for him to be doing. As Joey and Pacey begin their snail hunt, Joey is aghast when she notices their canoe floating downstream and snappishly tells Pacey he obviously forgot to tie it to the dock. Dawson and Scott Foley compete in a baseball/milk bottle throwing game...and when Scott Foley wins a stuffed animal for Jen, a miffed Dawson insists on another round. Mary Beth rolls her eyes in annoyance while muttering, "Classic pissing contest." Dawson eventually wins the second round and hands the stuffed animal prize to Mary Beth - after looking as though he would have preferred to give it to Jen - then tells Mary Beth, "We need to talk." Pacey and Joey wade into the creek in an unsuccessful attempt to get the canoe back, then reemerge on shore soaking wet. They head back to Pacey's truck, where Pacey hands Joey a blanket and says, "Here change into this." Joey's like, "No way I'm getting undressed in front of you" - but Pacey points out that she could be risking pneumonia. He unashamedly rips off his clothes, then wraps a blanket around himself before getting into the driver's seat and covertly sneaking a peek at Joey while she undresses. When she climbs into the passenger seat, Pacey grins stupidly and tells her that when she doesn't act like a total bitch she's not entirely unbearable to be around. Dawson ambles over to the carnival parking lot and finds a sheepish looking Mary Beth sitting on the back of car...and when she tells Dawson she's embarrassed by her pissing contest remark, he says he's the one who should be embarrassed. He admits that she was right about him not being over Jen, and that his motive in asking her out was purely to make Jen jealous. Mary Beth tries to keep a straight face while clarifying that she likes him - but doesn't like like him on account of he's such a neurotic freak-dork. A perplexed Dawson asks her why she got so upset then, so she confesses that she totally digs Scott Foley - but knows that she has zero chance with him 'cause he's soooo into Jen. She then perks up, motions in the direction of the carnival, and says, "Maybe we can still help each other out."
Mary Beth invites Scott Foley to ride the Ferris wheel with her, and he's all, "Say wuh?" while Jen scrunches her face confusedly. Over at Casa Potter, Pacey asks Joey again what she got on her marine biology midterm. He assumes that she's embarrassed by her low grade, so he tells her he got 32% - yikes - so Joey reveals that she scored 98% ... then explains that she invests so much time studying 'cause she's desperate to earn a college scholarship and get the hell out of Capeside. Pacey assures her that she'll definitely escape Capeside, and that she's destined to go on to bigger and better things...whereas he, on the hand, is such a dead end loser that he'll most likely be stuck pumping gas for a living. Dawson and Jen get stuck at the top of the Ferris wheel, while Mary Beth attempts to engage in chitchat with Scott Foley, but just gets a non-response. An irked looking Jen tells Dawson that, upon further reflection, she doesn't think they can really be friends after all. Dawson demands to know why she broke up with him...then answers his own question when he says it really just seems like she got tired of him and swiftly cut him loose so she could go out with more appealing, chill guys like Scott Foley. That evening, Dawson is sitting on a bench, looking sad, when Pacey and Joey arrive at the carnival. Pacey pulls Dawson aside and says he needs his permission for something, then explains that the something is acting on his sudden attraction to Joey. Dawson chuckles in disbelief, but Pacey insists he's serious, and that he doesn't want to step on any toes, given the "long tortured subtext" that he and Joey have had going for years. Dawson assures him he doesn't give a rat's ass if he pursues Joey and gives him his blessing, but then stares morosely into space as Pacey happily scampers off.
After Pacey drives Joey home, he leans in and gives her a smooch - but she shoves him away and is all, "What the hell?" LOL...ouch. He explains that he had such a nice time with her today and figured she'd be up for some lip-on-lip action, but she's like 'uh, gross' and says she definitely does not feel the same way about him. He glumly asks her if she would have been thinking about someone else had she decided to kiss him back, and she's like, "Well duh." Dawson heads over to the video rental store to inform Pacey that he's rescinding his blessing regarding him pursuing Joey. Pacey grins and smugly retorts, "You're a little late" and says that Joey was so turned on by his kiss that she kissed him back, offered to cook dinner for him tomorrow night, and agreed to accompany him to a romantic bed & breakfast this weekend. Dawson's like, "You're full of shit" and Pacey admits that, indeed, he is full of shit...then tells Dawson that one day soon he's going to have to ask himself, "Is it Jen or Joey? Do I prefer the blonde or the brunette?" As Dawson stares contemplatively into space, Pacey barks, "Decide already!" ... while not clarifying that "preferring" Jen would be pointless, given that she dumped him like yesterday's news. Thanks for reading! If you are enjoying TVofYore's recaps, consider thanking me by buying me a "coffee"!
1 Comment
Myriam
1/1/2021 03:53:34 pm
Scott Foley is so cute. I wish his character had stuck around longer! Leave a Reply. |
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