Episode Report Card Wing Chun: D | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT A Perfect Wedding
By Wing Chun | Season 2 | Episode 18 | Aired on 04.17.1999
In the kitchen, Dawson encounters Joey and divines that she's been crying: "Don't tell me nothing's wrong, Joey; I know you." Joey tells him it's been a hectic day, but she's fine. Then she relents and gives him what he wants: "I'm just really scared. I finally get him back, and then -- what if he hurts me again?" Her voice breaks as she concludes: "I can't keep getting my heart broken by him." "Joey," Dawson croons. "I can't," she says more firmly. Dawson says, "In the back of your mind, you always kind of felt that as soon as your father got back, everything would be fine. Life would be perfect. I think your father probably felt the same way too -- that as soon as he got back he could just clean up every mess and right every wrong. But he can't. You two are both suffering under the burden of such impossibly high expectations right now, and all this hurt and pain and anger that you're feeling isn't going to just disappear. And that's okay. Joey, these past three years, you have been so unbelievably strong. You've let the petty gossip and judgments of this town roll right off you. Don't let them get to you now. Now is the time to dig in your heels and show them that you have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. And you're not alone in this. You have your father now. You have a family again. And you'll always have me." Joey breathes, "Thank you," and then they hug. And, you're not going to believe this, but now -- now that Dawson's had his big long emotional soliloquy -- the video on my tape starts to come back.
I don't know about any of y'all, but the Dawson's Creek CD actually isn't the soundtrack I've been waiting for. Sorry!
Joey comes back into the kitchen as her dad asks how it's going out there. She says she thinks it's fine. Then she conversationally, and yet in a tone of great significance, asks, "Dad, do you remember Melissa Barry? She used to wear her hair on top of her head in a ponytail." Mr. Pothead says, "Right, she was a friend of yours." Joey continues in the same tight voice, "Yeah. Um. The day you were arrested? Um, I was at school, in the bathroom, in one of the stalls, and I overheard her talking about you, about, um, how you were a drug dealer, and we lived in a crack house, and she was laughing, and I remember I was so upset that I ran home and I cried for hours, and Dawson came over and cheered me up. The next day, I went back to school, and I walked up to her and I looked her straight in the eyes, and I smiled, and I walked away like nothing had happened." Mr. Pothead says, "Joey, I'm sorry."
Joey says, "That's not my point, Dad. People are always going to talk. Let 'em talk. And I'll always walk with my head held high, and they can't crush me. And I know that you've been through a lot. You've made your mistakes, but you're my dad. I'm proud of you. And the thing is, protecting me from the outside world is one thing. Please don't pretend with me, and I promise I won't pretend with you. And I just wanted to say that I love you. And I'm really glad that you're home." Okay, I'm not proud. This choked me up. Then they hug, of course. Joey starts tugging at his sleeves, saying, "Come on. I want to show my dad off tonight." Mr. Pothead demurs, saying, "No, Joey, I think you were right before. When it comes to the outside world, I think we should take things slow." Joey says, "Dad, I don't care about the outside world. I care about you! There's a celebration going on, and we have so much to celebrate. Come with me." Mr. Pothead says, "I'm not ready, Joey. Not yet. Sorry." Joey probably looks disappointed at this. I can't tell, because the video's out again.