Episode Report Card Wing Chun: D | 1 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT Decisions
By Wing Chun | Season 1 | Episode 13 | Aired on 05.18.1998
Jen picks up the phone and says, "No, this is her granddaughter." Grams comes up behind her and Jen says, "He's gone."
Dawson walks past the bench where Joey had been sitting, but which is now empty.
I take a dramamine to settle my stomach so I can sit through the rest of this interminable montage.
Joey mopily walks down the sidewalk.
Dawson jogs through downtown Capeside, and rakes both hands through his hideous hair.
Grams sits alone in the front pew at church. Jen walks in, wearing a dress and cardigan, and looks around at the stained glass, and then spots Grams and goes to sit next to her. Grams snuggles next to her and says, "He's in the Lord's hands now. Oh, please, Lord, take unto him my dearest love. Please keep him safe for me." "Me too," Jen says wanly. Grams breaks down. Grams has, in the space of fifteen seconds, out-acted every other performer on this show. With the possible exception of Pacey.
Dawson storms into the Sanctum; no doubt, he's all sweaty and stinky from having run all over town all damn day. He yanks open his closet door and finds Joey sitting inside. She looks up at him balefully, and he yells, "Joey, god! I've been looking everywhere! Look, there's nothing going on between Jen and me." She tells him he doesn't have to explain, and he says, "Yes, I do, Joey!" Joey tells Dawson that he and she are just friends, and he says, "Joey. Come on. You know that's not true." Joey scoffs, "So what are we, Dawson? I am SO TIRED of the way we relate to one another. I mean, we spend all our time analyzing our sad adolescent lives." Sing it, Larry Spine! Dawson feebly protests, "I know we know too many big words, but it's a good thing to analyze." You may know the words, but, two years on, you STILL don't know what they mean. Joey tells him that the analysis doesn't get them anywhere, and that it's time to grow up. He lurches toward her and declares, "I know, Joey. We can. We are growing up." Joey replies, "No, we're not. Every day is the same. We watch a movie -- preferably a Spielberg film -- find the appropriate life correlation, and then we pat ourselves on the back for being so clever. You know? And as much as our perception is dead-on ["more like dead wrong" -- Wing Chun], our honesty is severely lacking, Dawson." Dawson takes another step toward her and says, "There is something lacking." She says, "The reason I came here tonight is because we need to move on. Look, we're not kids anymore. I'm not gonna do this anymore, and I thought you should know." Joey makes for the window, and Dawson whines, "So, are you going to France?" She wearily turns back and scoffs, "Ah. The inevitable cliffhanger. Am I going to France?" "Are you?" he demands pitifully. Joey says, "Look, I am tired of all the drama in my life right now, Dawson, and leaving town makes the most sense to me, so --" "No, it doesn't!" Dawson squeals. Joey demands, "Why should I stay? Is there some new release at the video store I don't know about? It's time to grow up, Dawson." No duh. And, again, TWO YEARS LATER, it's STILL time for them to grow up. Dawson pouts, "Well, then, we'll do it together. Joey, I can grow up! Give me a chance! Even Spielberg outgrew his Peter Pan syndrome." Joey says she could have told him that months ago, and turns back to the window. Dawson says, "You did." She very slowly turns back and says, "Yeah."
Dawson gives her The Look, and Joey tearfully says, "I am so tired of dancing around these big words. You know? I just want to be honest with you." Dawson replies, "Me too. Jo, more than anything, I just want to be honest." Joey asks, "Do you think we're ready for that honesty?" Dawson whispers, "Yeah. I do." She asks him if he's sure, and he is so close to her face, and, ugh, I know what's coming, and she goes on, "Honesty is a big word, and it changes things, and it complicates things, and...are you sure you're ready for everything that comes with telling the truth?" Joey looks more horrified than excited and when Dawson still doesn't make his move even though her lips are like an inch from hers, she sways back and cries, "I'll see you, Dawson," and takes another step toward the window. It's like with each attempt she makes to get to the window, they're teasing me -- and cruelly, I might add. Dawson swallows hard, and then says, "Joey -- Joey!" He grabs her arm and turns her around and very awkwardly lays one on her. She sways back again -- and, again, looking more horrified than surprised -- and he grabs her by the neck and seizes her face, and...well, sucks said face. She smiles and kisses him back, and the lip mics are cranked up to Jesus (tm owen), and from outside we see them macking against the window shade. And now...you're up to date. I need to take about forty showers.