Episode Report Card Sars: C | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT R U Experienced?
By Sars | Season 4 | Episode 13 | Aired on 01.30.2001
Reconciliation Ranch. Dawson lets himself in; the Hussy dozes on the couch. "Waiting up for me?" Dawson nostril-flares. "I'm a mother, that's what we do." She stretches and asks if he had a good time. He didn't, actually: "I fear I'll end up number seven on the loser list." Aw -- buck up, little camper! You're always number one on my loser list. He hates to admit it, but Dawson thinks the Hussy might have had a point about him and Gretchen. The Hussy graciously says no, she's wrong, and she's spent the night regretting what she said to him before. Dawson sits down in front of her and fixes her with an expectant gaze as she says that, "like it or not," she's going to have to let her "first baby" go. Dawson bites his lip and says that he probably will get hurt, that Gretchen has a lot more life experience than he does, but the Hussy points out that Gretchen's life experience makes her "the person that she is," someone who "is clearly crazy" about Dawson, and that's why he has to see where it goes and not "be afraid to put [his] heart at risk. That's the only way that you will ever find love…again." Good advice from the Hussy.
Just then, a knock at the door. It's Gretchen: "I hope it's not too late." The Hussy comes in to say goodnight to Dawson, and he kisses her tenderly on the cheek, but before she goes upstairs, she warns Gretchen that she hopes they both agree Dawson "will never be number seven on any list." Reowrrrr…fffft. Gretchen looks afraid. The Hussy departs.
Dawson walks over to stand in front of the fire, and there's a shot of him with his hair foofed up on the sides; it looks like an ass, literally. Gretchen tells him hesitantly that, if it makes him feel any better, she got to Dex's, immediately felt bad, and had the cab take her to the Ranch instead. He says that it does make him feel better. Gretchen adds that she got "the uncensored new-guy evaluation," and Dawson did quite well. "The age thing didn't bother them?" Dawson asks, and Gretchen says that even if it did, she doesn't really care: "It doesn't bother me." "It bothers me," Dawson whines, adding that he wants to do stuff with her, like go to clubs and order wine at dinner, and he doesn't want "to be some guy who's holding you back from what you wanna do." Gretchen says she's doing exactly what she wants to do: "I'm with you." Barf. Dawson reminds her of the not-shredding-her-heart comment, and says it's true that he'd never hurt her, but she can't use Dawson to find safety after a bad relationship "because there's no risk involved." Nostril flare: "I need to know that I've made some sort of impression." "It's already done," she whispers, leaning in. Yeah, no kidding. "Really?" "Oh, yeah." Oh, barf. Kissing. Barfing. "So when do I get to see Lucky?" Dawson smarms. "We'll see," Gretchen says. Yes, I suppose we will. Unfortunately. Dawson leers at her some more.