Episode Report Card Wing Chun: D | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Crime And Punishment
By Wing Chun | Season 3 | Episode 15 | Aired on 02.08.2000
Matt pulls into a parking lot in his evil black Durango. Pacey stalks toward him, talks some mild shit about Matt's truck, and then when Matt -- who, like all bullies, is not so tough without his Henchmen -- tries to walk away, shoves him up against the truck and muscles him into an admission of guilt and a promise to apologize. Pacey lets him go; Matt adjusts his coat and takes two steps, then turns back and punches Pacey. They fight, and Pacey pretty quickly has the advantage, ending up by straddling Matt and pounding the shit out of his face. Principatundé happens to roll into the parking lot just then and breaks it up.
Principatundé stomps out of his office. Over his shoulder, we can see Pacey and Matt sitting in front of his desk, looking sullen. Principatundé orders a random office peon to get him Dawson and someone named David Curran. He turns and starts to head back into his office, but Andie cuts him off at the pass and asks to speak with him. He puts her off, saying he's in the middle of something, but she insists that it's very important, and tells him she wants to quit the disciplinary committee. When he reacts with some confusion, she starts to tell him that she thinks he has an incorrect notion of her "unwavering integrity." He asks if they can talk about this at further length later, and she says there's nothing more for them to discuss, and books. Principatundé goes back into his office and closes the door.
Within, Dawson and this David person (a Henchman, I believe) have appeared to bear witness about the disagreement between Matt and Pacey, since neither Matt nor Pacey has elected to speak in his own defense. Principatundé turns to Dawson first, but Pacey warns him not to say anything. Principatundé says, "Mr. Curran?" and Matt tells him the same. Principatundé tells them all that someone had better say something soon, and, turning to Matt, threatens to call the dean at Dartmouth and thus jeopardize Matt's early-admission status. To Pacey, he notes that if Pacey gets one more suspension on his record, he'll have to forget any hopes he might have of higher education. Dawson's nostrils flare in concern. No one says anything, so Principatundé says, "I have no other alternative --" at which Dawson announces, "It's because of the mural." Pacey yells that this isn't Dawson's fight, and Dawson quietly replies, "It's not yours either." Principatundé correctly interprets Dawson's brief remarks, and reconstructs the events leading to Matt's bleeding nose. Matt says, "I went nowhere near [Joey's mural]. As if I could give a rat's ass about some stupid Chinese drawing." Oh, please. This is Capeside's criminal mastermind? Matlock could have broken this idiot half an hour ago, but since he's in Georgia, Dawson asks, "If you didn't go anywhere near it, how did you know what it was?" Matt's face screams, "And I would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling kids," and Principatundé notes that Dawson's is a very good question. Matt says that Joey'd been working on the mural for weeks, and anyone could have seen it. Dawson says that Joey had been working on it at night and before school, "but other than that it's been sealed up tight as a drum." Because that's good for wet paint. Dawson then alleges that he's one of Joey's closest friends, and that even given his favoured-nation status, he didn't know what the mural looked like.
Matt says that the inquisition is ridiculous, and Dawson goes full-on Miss Marple and asks why, if Matt really didn't give a rat's ass, he would go to the trouble of finding out what the mural depicted. Matt has no response to that. Pacey says, "Check the floor, Caufield. I think you just painted yourself into a corner." Matt finally realizes that it's over, sarcastically confesses and admits that he's "busted," but defends his actions by saying that Joey's mural was an eyesore. He adds, "Why do I have to look at some trivial girl's little message to the masses every morning? Frankly, it offends me." Principatundé asks, "Possibility is offensive to you?" The camera cuts to Dawson, who scoffs (and the closed caption even reads "[SCOFF]"). Matt says, "I'm white. I'm rich. That's all the possibility I need." Oh, COME ON. Even Pat Buchanan wouldn't say something that stupid. Principatundé sadly shakes his head.