Episode Report Card Wing Chun: D | 2 USERS: A YOU GRADE IT Parental Discretion Advised
By Wing Chun | Season 2 | Episode 22 | Aired on 05.25.1999
At the trailer, Joey is sitting out on a deck chair looking at the creek. Dawson approaches wearing the same clothes he had on in the fire. She greets him and observes that he's cold. He says, "What I have to tell you, you're not going to like, so I'm just going to say it really quickly. Joey, your father's dealing drugs again." Man, I really hoped that the plotline would be that he comes to this conclusion, tells Joey, and then turns out to be completely wrong. What an opportunity missed! Anyway, Joey looks horrified and says, "You don't know that," which, I will reiterate, HE DOESN'T, despite the fact that he answers, "Yes, I do; I caught him. And that's not all. This fire tonight was not all, but partially his responsibility. I talked to him about it, I talked to my parents about it. I didn't want to talk to you about it because I didn't want you to have to know, but now it's gone too far." Joey says, "He told me he had nothing to do with the fire. He swore to me." Dawson says, apparently deciding that sugar-coating it would only hurt them both, says, "He's lying to you." Joey says, "Well, I believe him." Dawson says, "I know you want to believe him." Joey says, "No, I do." Dawson says, "Joey, why would I lie about this?" Joey says, "Why are you doing this?"
Dawson says, "Because you need to know the truth. This is a very dangerous situation now, and your father can help apprehend the people who are responsible for this. If we went to the police, maybe you could work something out for your dad." With a look of naked horror, Joey says, "You want me to turn my father in? What kind of person do you think I am? Why are you doing this?" Dawson has the unmitigated gall to smirk as he says, "This isn't my fault," and that "There's no other option." Joey says, "You just couldn't leave well enough alone -- you had to get involved?" Dawson says, "Joey, I love you, all right? I'm not going to let you risk your life to protect someone who isn't protecting you." Joey says, "Dawson, this is my father. I am begging you. Please just stay out of this." Dawson pronounces, "I can't." Joey says, "Yes, you can. I mean, not just for me, and not just for my family, but for us. I am telling you, Dawson -- we won't survive this." Dawson says, "That's a risk that I'm willing to take, because I care about you more than I care about myself, and somebody has to do the right thing. If you can't, then I will." Joey shrugs, sits down, and starts to cry in earnest. I'm not saying Dawson is completely wrong, but declaring that he is going to sacrifice her happiness and her family's well-being because he cares about Joey more than he does about himself is pretty disingenuous, and is a pretty arrogant position to take. What a shock that Dawson's the one taking it.