Episode Report Card Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Ch...Ch...Ch...Changes
By Sars | Season 2 | Episode 21 | Aired on 05.18.1999
Mournful music plays. The lyrics, once again doing the work the writing can't, mutter "something went wrong" as Jen climbs the steps of Grams "Goooooooaaalll!!!" Ryan's porch with suitcase in hand. She approaches the front door, stands in front of it biting her lip, starts crying, and turns away without knocking. Long shot of Grams's lighted window as Jen walks away in the dark.
Over at The Icehouse After Dark, Dawson checks a board with a level as Mr. Potter encourages him. Dawson, still way too disgustingly sweaty, apologizes if he made Mr. Potter "dredge up some painful memories today." Mr. Potter says it's okay, it's not like he doesn't think about it "every waking moment" anyway. Then he gets around to answering Dawson's question from before: "But you asked me why I changed? The truth is, I'm not sure how much I've changed. But I keep trying, every day, to be a better person for my family. To put someone else's needs before your own, because you love them, means everything." Dawson smiles condescendingly at Mr. Potter; he wouldn't have the first idea what that entails. Joey appears out of the shadows, and Mr. Potter says, "I'm gonna take a walk." Joey draws closer to Dawson sort of shyly, and Dawson says that he probably shouldn't have "laid it all out there like that. I'm a little embarrassed." Joey shakes her head resolutely and says, "Dawson, you have it all wrong. I mean, can't you tell by just looking at me, my life is perfect right now. I have just about everything I've ever dreamt [sic] of. My dad is back, my family is together again, business is good, and best of all, I -- I have you in my life." Waiter? Waiter! A gallon of Maalox and an extremely sharp fondue fork, please! Thank you!
Dawson smiles, gratified, and Joey continues, "Add a white picket fence to this little scenario and the fairy tale would be complete." Dawson says earnestly, "I just want to make you proud of me." Joey stares into his eyes and proceeds to do a weak job of selling the following speech: "I love you, and I believe in you, and I'm so proud of you, and I'm not just proud of you -- I'm proud to be with you." Well, if having the boyfriend with the biggest cranium in three counties fills you with proprietary pride, okay then. An alterna-geek wails "everybody cries" on the soundtrack as they kiss, again, with the lip mics mercifully drowned out by the music. Joey pokes fun at Dawson's non-carpentry non-skills, and he asks, "Are you mocking me?" in a major shout-out to the Wrap.