Synopsis of Mind Games
Written by Tamara Jaron
Joey and Pacey are making out like lovebirds in the school cafeteria. Pacey's scheming for a romantic evening alone with Joey -- his idea is to check into the B&B while Bessie is away for the weekend. Joey, appearing to have had the same idea, sadly explains that there are no vacancies at the family establishment.
"Well," says Pacey. "What do you think about you and me...the boiler room right now?"
"No," says Joey, smiling.
"You considered that, didn't you," says Pacey. "You did, I saw it in your eyes. You, Josephine Potter, actually considered skipping AP bio and engaging in elicit sexual activities with your boyfriend...on school grounds no less. Naughty girl." He kisses her hand.
They start to make out again and are rudely interrupted by Drue who's come to announce the winners of the yearbook senior polls. His first announcement: The winners of "class couple." Joey and Pacey are too caught up in each other to even care what he is saying.
"It's not much of a contest here folks," says Drue. "It's those two people so in love they make the rest of us want to puke on a daily basis. Joey Potter...and Dawson Leery." The romantic moment is broken between Joey and Pacey and they both look up in shock.
Joey confronts Drue in the hall. She shoves him up against a locker and grabs his shirt collar. Pacey looks on amused and then makes a quick exit. Drue tries to talk his way out of the situation with his usual benign banter, but Joey is not fooled. She accuses him of rigging the vote as a practical joke. She is not amused and she wants Drue to stop messing with her life. She wants him to fix the poll. Drue is saved by the appearance of Dawson who has come to see what all the conflict is about. Drue just assumes that Dawson hasn't heard the news, but Dawson has already heard. He actually thinks it's funny -- because it's so absurd. He suggests that Joey not let it bother her, and she releases Drue, who scrambles away to class.
Joey has come to the Leery restaurant to ask Gretchen if she wouldn't mind spending the night away from their house. His blatant request clues Gretchen in to his recent accomplishment with Joey. She figures out that Joey and Pacey have finally slept together. Pacey tries to deny it, realizing that he's let too much slip, but eventually he gives in to the urge to talk about it with someone. He figures he can trust his sister not to spill the beans. She swears not to tell anyone and agrees to not come home that night.
Jen is back in the therapist's office. He is asking her why she considers Jack to be such a good friend. She replies that she trusts him, and he asks if this trust has anything to do with the fact that he's gay. She denies that. He then asks her about her relationship with girls, and after misunderstanding him at first (she thinks he's asking about a physical relationship with girls), she admits that "girls suck."
They start to talk about her past and the bad decisions she made. At the top of her list is having sex before the age of thirteen and getting too heavily into alcohol. She starts to get nervous about divulging so much information without any reciprocity, so she asks the therapist if he'd like to share any stories about his first sexual experience. He doesn't share anything -- they're out of time.
Dawson comes to the restaurant to hang out with Gretchen. She finds out, by way of his mom, that his parents are out of town for the weekend. She wonders why he didn't tell her, and he admits that it sounds like a bad come-on. She likes that answer and proceeds to invite herself over.
Joey arrives at the Witter abode and pounces on Pacey.
"Good God woman," says Pacey, "it's not even nighttime yet." Joey pushes him onto the couch. "There's not even a hello, how are you doing, how was your day after school today Pacey?" he continues.
"Hi," says Joey, continuing her assault.
"You know," says Pacey, "I don't think I like this turn that our relationship has taken here. You have no respect for my feelings, we never talk anymore..."
"Pace," says Joey, "we spent nine months talking. We've been doing this for two weeks."
"That still doesn't mean that you get to treat me like a sex object," he says.
"Oh, I can tell you're all broken up about it."
"Yes I am."
Joey suddenly pops up and asks when Gretchen is getting home. Pacey explains, with a big smile on his face, that Gretchen is not coming home for the entire night. Joey understands the implication of this.
"So she knows?" she asks.
"Gretchen? Yeah. She knows, but it wasn't me that told her. She figured it out for herself. Are you mad?"
"No, I'm not mad. I'm just a little embarrassed, but it'll pass."
"But this isn't a problem, right? Because if this is a problem, I'm pretty much willing to do anything in the universe to make sure that this isn't a problem anymore."
"It's not a problem," she says, resuming her kissing. As she hugs him, she gets a distracted look on her face -- it is a problem.
Jen has dragged Jack along to stake out her therapist. They are sitting in a coffee bar across from his office. Jack accuses her of being a stalker, but she insists that she just wants to learn something about his personal life since he knows so much about hers. When they spot the therapist, Jen convinces Jen to go along as they follow him.
Pacey is ordering pizza for him and Joey when Gretchen comes home to pick up a few things for the night. Joey takes her aside and asks her if she would keep her newfound knowledge to herself. She doesn't want to hurt Dawson by telling him. Gretchen agrees with her and promises not to tell Dawson anything -- but she warns her that this kind of news won't stay a secret for long. When Gretchen tells them that she's off to Dawson's house, Joey gets a nervous look on her face.
Jack and Jen have followed the therapist to a bookstore and are successfully spying on him. Jack thinks he's gay because he picks up Interview with the Vampire, but Jen doesn't see the connection.
"Straight people read Anne Rice," she says.
Jack disagrees. "Hello, you party all night with the terminal youth and a great wardrobe. Now what other segment of the population does that appeal to?"
"How did you manage to surpass me in the knowledge of all things gay?" asks Jen.
"Sex in the City," he answers.
As the follow the therapist out of the store, they make a wrong turn and run right in to him. In an attempt to cover up their spying, Jack grabs a book and starts to read it upside down. Jen introduces the two of them and then decides to make the most of the opportunity by asking the therapist what he likes to read. Instead of answering, he asks her the same thing and, seeing that they're standing in the poetry section, asks whose poetry she likes. Jen is obviously clueless about poetry, but her therapist picks up a book by his favorite poet and then invites them to a reading by the author.
Over pizza, Joey is trying to reassure Pacey that Dawson and Gretchen are not up to anything illicit -- despite the fact that Dawson's parents are out of town. Pacey didn't know that his parents were away.
"I'm sure it's nothing," says Joey.
"It has to be nothing," agrees Pacey, "because frankly the alternative is just too horrifying to contemplate."
"She's your sister, he's our friend -- any way you look at it, it's weird."
"How weird would you say it is?" asks Pacey.
"Out of four stars, or on a scale of one to ten?"
"Be serious here for a second," says Pacey. "Do you care?"
"No," answers Joey, halfheartedly, "you?"
"No," says Pacey. Neither of them is confident in their answers. Pacey asks if she's sure that it doesn't bother her, and she insists that it doesn't. In order to change the subject, she starts to kiss him.
Dawson and Gretchen are curled up on the couch watching movies. When the first one finishes, Gretchen reaches into her bag to pull out the next, and pulls out a change of clothes with it.
"You go out every Friday night with pajamas and a toothbrush?" asks Dawson.
"No, no I just like to be prepared, for whatever possibility might come up," answers Gretchen.
"And you spending the night is a possibility?" asks a suddenly uncomfortable Dawson.
"Do you want it to be?" she asks.
"Uh," stammers Dawson.
"This is really awkward," says Gretchen.
"Yeah," he agrees.
"So, hell, let's just talk about it -- sex. We'll talk about it, we'll get it out in the open, and then we're going to feel a lot better."
"Okay," says Dawson.
There is an awkward moment of silence.
"You're not talking," says Gretchen.
"And neither of you," laughs Dawson. "This is ridiculous, what do you want me to say?"
"Okay, fine, be that way. I'll start. The first time I had sex was with my high school boyfriend."
"Not that moronic basketball player," says Dawson.
"You remember him?"
"Oh, God. Yes I remember him, I hated him. Now I hate him even more." They share a moment of laughter.
"This is good," says Gretchen. "We're laughing, which is a whole lot better than sitting her not talking to each other."
"Right," he agrees.
"Your turn," she says.
"This is totally unfair," says Dawson.
"Why?" she asks.
"Because I've never had sex," admits Dawson. As if she couldn't tell.
"So?" asks Gretchen. "I've never been to the Middle East, but I still have feelings on the topic. You've obviously thought about it."
"Yeah, obviously," he says.
"And?"
"With Jen, I was 15 years old -- I don't think it would have occurred to me to ask, really. With Joey, I kind of thought everything was perfect. But she wanted to wait, which was fine. And then everything that happened, happened. And then, when they got back, at first I was relieved, which is lame, I know. But part of me was still clinging to the notion that Joey and I were destined to lose our virginity together."
"I guess it's not all that insane. I mean, she was your first serious girlfriend."
"Yeah, but, now I just kind of wish they did it on the boat. You know, or that they'd do it now and get it over with. Put the final nail in the coffin of Dawson and Joey."
"How do you know they haven't?" asks Gretchen, treading on thin ice.
"She told me," he answers. "I asked her, and she told me."
Gretchen just smiles at him, not knowing what to say.
Gretchen and Dawson are now sitting at opposite ends of the couch. It appears they've had a fight. She is completely distracted. Dawson asks her what the problem is, and she says she should probably get going. Dawson doesn't understand what the problem is or what he's done wrong. She is not forthcoming and doesn't want him to ask her anymore questions.
It's the morning after for Joey and Pacey. Joey wants to cook breakfast for Pacey, but she needs Pacey to run to the store and pick up a few things. Pacey is reluctant to leave, but after a few kisses, he heads for the door.
On his way out he runs into Dawson. Dawson's come over looking for Gretchen. When he sees that she's not there and Pacey explains to him that she spent the night at Doug's, he asks if he can come inside and call to make sure she's alright. Pacey tries his best to keep Dawson out of the house, but there's only so much he can do without making Dawson suspicious. Finally he gives in and lets Dawson come inside.
Luckily, Joey hears them coming inside and makes a beeline for the bathroom.
Jen and Jack have come to the poetry reading to see if they can learn a little something about Jen's therapist. Jack is not happy to be there and thinks that Jen is stalking him because she has a crush on him. Jen insists that is not the case and Jack wants to know what this is all about.
Pacey calls over to Doug's and finds out that Gretchen did indeed spend the night at his place and she is fine. On his way out, Dawson asks Pacey to tell Gretchen that he stopped by and then he changes his mind -- he wants to see if she'll call first. Perceptive Pacey says that if they've had a fight he'd be happy to say something on Dawson's behalf. Dawson thanks him but says they didn't have a fight. Turns out he thinks that Gretchen has changed her mind about their relationship.
After he leaves, Joey comes out of the bathroom with a look of relief on her face.
Back at the poetry reading, there is no sign of the therapist and Jack is trying to convince Jen to leave. As they stand up to go, the therapist walks up and sits down beside them.
Dawson is enjoying a cup of coffee when Drue sits down to join him. They have a little argument about the school yearbook and Drue accuses Dawson and Joey of still being in love with each other. When Dawson realizes that Drue is not going to change the yearbook he gets up and leaves.
Joey finds Gretchen sitting out on the porch in a somber mood.
"So what's the deal?" asks Joey.
"Meaning?" asks Gretchen.
"I don't know, I kind of got the impression that everybody was worried about you."
"And by everybody you mean Pacey and Dawson -- that would pretty much be everybody now wouldn't it. Sometimes I wish that I had been here last year. Because I would really like to know how you guys got into this mess to begin with. You're all so worried about hurting each other, everybody's trying to be so nice all the time."
"Except you?" asks Joey.
"Yeah, except me." Agrees Gretchen. "I'm really not feeling too nice at the moment."
"Look Gretchen, I know that you and Dawson had a fight or something, and I know that you didn't spend the night at his house last night."
"Did you want me to?" asks Gretchen. "You know all these lies, these lies that you're all telling to protect each other, they're not going to solve anything."
"What lies?" asks Joey.
"You lied to Dawson about you and Pacey having sex," says Gretchen.
"I made a decision, a very private decision about my life, and I really don't want the whole world to know about it," says Joey, defensively.
"You really don't want Dawson to know about it," says Gretchen.
"It's the same thing."
"No it's not," snaps Gretchen, "I don't want to be the ogre here, but lying to Dawson isn't going to solve anything. It's not fair to him, and it's not fair to somebody who's trying to have a relationship with him."
"Meaning you. You know Gretchen, you're right about one thing. You weren't here last year, and you don't know what it's like, so there's no way that you could possibly understand."
"But you have to tell Dawson the truth. There's no other choice here. And if you won't do it for him or for me, then just do it for Pacey."
At that moment, Pacey comes back from the store. Joey comes up with a story about having to go home and makes a quick exit.
Pacey comes out on the porch to talk to Gretchen. He wants to know what she and Dawson were fighting about, why Joey left in such a rush, and why Dawson came over in the morning.
"Dawson was here?" she asks.
"Dawson was here, but I'm not supposed to tell you that so you didn't hear it from me, and unlike you, he does seem to be under the impression that you had a fight last night, he just doesn't know what it was about."
"Pacey, you don't want to hear about me and Dawson, so just stop, okay?"
"Stop what?" asks Pacey.
"Stop asking!"
"Now I really want to know Gretchen."
"No you don't," she says, "believe me, you don't"
"Yes I do," he answers, "because I'm starting to have this horrifying feeling that it somehow involves me."
She gets up off the porch swing and walks down onto the lawn.
"Ah, no comment," says Pacey.
"Why don't you just ask Joey about this?" says Gretchen, as she walks away from Pacey.
"You want me to ask Joey about the problem you and Dawson are having?" asks Pacey.
"Yeah. No, no look Pacey, I'm just really not in the best of moods right now, okay? I mean, let's just say that you were right about me and Dawson, maybe he's too young for me."
"My goal is not to be right," says Pacey. "My goal is to figure out what's going on -- especially if it involves me and Joey. You should just tell me what's going on. Whatever it is. And I won't mention it to Dawson or Joey."
"Great, more lies," says Gretchen. "That's really going to help."
"What do you mean more lies?" asks Pacey, getting exasperated, "What lies? Because the only lie that I can see that's being perpetrated right now is you, my own sister, lying to me."
"Joey lied to Dawson," says Gretchen. "I don't know why, I don't know what it meant. He asked her flat out whether you guys were sleeping together and she lied. And that's the truth Pacey."
The poetry reading is over and the therapist is asking Jen which poem she liked the best. She obviously didn't absorb anything and is hard-pressed to answer him. Jack tries to give her a hand, but she just ends up coming off as completely clueless. As she is stumbling with her words, the poet walks up -- turns out, she's the therapist's girlfriend. So Jack was wrong, he's not gay. Jen does not look happy to find out that he has a girlfriend. Perhaps she did have a crush on him.
Joey meets Dawson in the yearbook staff room. She is surprised to see him there and even more surprised to discover him drinking black coffee.
"There's a lot we don't know about each other," she says sadly. "That's not how it used to be. We used to be able to tell each other everything."
"Yeah," agrees Dawson. "I'm not sure that was such a good thing."
"That's not a very Dawson Leery-like thing to say," remarks Joey.
Dawson asked to meet her so that he could apologize about asking her whether she and Pacey had sex. He doesn't feel like it was a fair question and he thinks it's that part of his personality that's sabotaging his relationship with Gretchen. Joey tries to reassure him, but she doesn't tell him the truth.
She notices that Dawson is working on the senior polls. Turns out that Dawson has volunteered his time for the yearbook staff in order to correct Drue's little joke. He's fixing it so that Joey and Pacey are remembered as "class couple."
Jen is talking alone with her therapist. She's trying to pry more personal information out of him, but he's not offering up anything. Turns out he knows that she's been spying on him. He wants to talk about it during their next meeting, but Jen wants to talk right now. He says that he knows the reason why she found it important to follow him -- trust. She had to know she could trust him. She says he's right and that she can trust him.
Dawson runs into Gretchen on the pier and tries to make up for whatever he did. Gretchen assures him that her problem has nothing to do with him, but she makes him promise to always be honest with her. She says it's not about the sex. Dawson says he bought her a present in case she was dumping. He pulls out a toothbrush, explaining that she left her old one at his house and it was really gross. They make up.
Pacey and Joey are walking among the sand dunes.
"Nice thing that Dawson did for you," says Pacey.
"Why just for me?" asks Joey.
"Well you're the one who was so upset by the whole thing," says Pacey.
"I'm glad we walked, it's really nice out here."
"Yeah, it's not too cold."
"It's kind of freaky, the way the snow's all melted. It's going to be spring soon."
"Well," says Pacey, "our new pastime is much more of an indoor sport."
"You know Pacey, sometimes I wonder if we should have done it on the boat. When we were alone."
"Nah, we would have missed all the scenery."
"Do you miss it?" she asks.
"The scenery?"
"No," she says, "when we weren't having sex, and every moment wasn't about sex."
"I don't know that that time every really existed," says Pacey.
"I guess you're right. Before, when we hadn't had sex, everything was about sex. And now that we have had sex..."
"It's all about sex," says Pacey. "Do you think we're doing something wrong?"
"No," says Joey, "do you?"
"No. If you don't think we did anything wrong, I don't know why that you would..." Pacey trails off.
"Pacey, did Gretchen say something to you this morning after I left?" asks Joey.
"No, why?" he lies.
"No reason," she says. "Let's just walk some more. We never do that anymore."
They turn around and head back out into the dunes.
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