Synopsis of The Unusual Suspects
Written by Tamara Jaron
This episode is a regular "whodunit?" complete with criminal interrogations, mysterious music, and hidden surprises.
It begins at school. A student runs into the hall yelling, "Everybody, the swimming pool, you've got to see what they did to the swimming pool." Teachers, students, and principal gather at the pool to discover that someone has taken the principal's sailboat and put it in the water with the words "Class of 2001" painted in white on the sail, and the principal's dog sitting happily at the bow.
The principal is furious, and when they pull the boat in to edge of the pool, the dog leaps off and runs directly to the feet of Jack McPhee. Is he being fingered as the mastermind of this dastardly crime? Jack denies knowing the dog, but has a guilty look on his face.
Later in the day, an announcement comes over the PA system, calling the following people to the principal's office: Jack McPhee, Zack Estrin (a writer/producer for Dawson's Creek), Dawson Leery, Dave Bousin, and Pacey Witter.
Let the interrogations begin...
The principal and Mr. Leery have narrowed the suspects down to three people: Pacey, Dawson, and Jack.
They grill each one separately, moving quickly between suspects. Through each round, they point out why each is a suspect.
For Jack: "The dog fingered me..."
For Dawson: He had access to his dad's keys to the school.
For Pacey: He had access to the boatyard where True Love used to reside.
One by one they are asked to explain, from their point of view, where they were for every moment of the previous day.
We begin with Jack.
THE DAY BEFORE
Jack starts off his morning by showing up at Jen's house with flowers for Grams and a proposition for Jen. He bangs on the door until he awakens her from her slumber, and she stumbles out on the porch saying, "Oh, I'm still asleep, and this is a dream in which you're heterosexual."
Jack explains that he needs her help with the soccer team (since Andie is no longer around), and he tells her that he has convinced the police that volunteering for the team would be an appropriate way to perform her community service. She is reluctant to do it, but when he admits that he is really desperate since his star goalie broke his leg, she finally agrees to help.
"I'll be back at 12:45 p.m. sharp," says Jack. Jen offers to make him breakfast, but he says he has to go meet Drue at the hardware store. Jen wants to know why he's hanging out with Drue and Jack replies, "Long story. It's a karma thing." Hmmm, mysterious.
THE DAY BEFORE
Pacey's day begins outside the police station where he is meeting his brother for an introduction to law enforcement. He and Joey are sharing a passionate moment. Joey wants to know why he's finally agreed to go on duty with his brother after refusing for so many years, and Pacey responds smartly, "Don't you think I'd look sexy in a uniform?" That's affirmative. Joey is amused, and when big brother arrives Pacey pulls away saying, "Well, say goodbye before I hit the rough and tumble asphalt jungle."
THE PRESENT
Dawson's dad is giving him an especially hard time during the interrogation.
"When I got up yesterday, you weren't at the house," he remarked.
"Which proves I kidnapped Chester (the dog)," jokes Dawson. "Aren't you guys working the whole NYPD Blue angle a little hard?"
Begin Dawson's story.
THE DAY BEFORE
Dawson's mom gives him a ride to Mr. Brooks' house, since Dawson misplaced his dad's keys the previous night. Mr. Brooks instructs Dawson to start cleaning his office, but Dawson insists that he had repaid his debt and that if Mr. Brooks wants him to continue to work, he'll have to pay him. Mr. Brooks reluctantly agrees.
THE DAY BEFORE
Jack and Drue are at the hardware store buying supplies for a project they are working on together. Drue goes to buy some white paint while Jack picks up some new netting for a soccer goal. I am Jack's alibi.
THE DAY BEFORE
The first thing Pacey and Doug do on their adventure into the world of law enforcement, is stop at a local eatery for donuts. Go figure.
"I'm shaking my head in disbelief," comments Pacey.
"Don't judge a book by it's prologue, wiseass. There's plenty more coming up fast. More than any episode of Cops could teach you."
"Well, let me brace myself for that," jokes Pacey.
THE PRESENT
"And that's it. I spent the rest of the morning alone in the study," says Dawson, continuing to tell his story to his dad and the principal.
THE DAY BEFORE
Mr. Brooks' study was a shambles. Dawson dives in to begin cleaning and he discovers Mr. Brooks' old high school yearbook. After flipping to his picture, he finds out that Brooks' aspiration was to become a great Hollywood filmmaker.
THE PRESENT
"Dawson," says Mr. Leery, "I think it's time we discussed your infamous 9th grade senior pact."
Dawson cringes. "Dad, that was four years ago." The principal is curious. He thinks he's found the culprit. He wants to know what the pact was about and Dawson explains that he and Pacey promised devise the "prank to end all pranks."
"So it was you," cries the principal.
"No, it wasn't me. In case you haven't noticed, Pacey and I aren't exactly Butch and Sundance these days. I didn't even remember the pact until you..." he trails off.
"Well," asks his dad, "what is it?"
"I can tell you I didn't do it," says Dawson. "I can't speak for Pacey."
THE PRESENT
Jacks interrogation continues. He is nervously sipping water. They want him to continue his story.
THE DAY BEFORE
Jack is out one goalie, so he approaches Molly (the young girl on his team that he's befriended), and asks her if she's up for the challenge. She declines and Jen suggests that Jack goad her into it by making her angry.
THE PRESENT
The principal is trying to play bad cop. Pacey gets smart to this and warns him that if he wants to know the whole truth, he's going to find it quite boring.
He continues...
THE DAY BEFORE
Pacey is sitting at a speed trap with his brother. Nothing is happening.
"Doug," says Pacey, "you ever find yourself sitting out here, on the edge of the highway, in your squad car -- you've got your radar gun in hand, been out here for four hours in which only three cars have passed -- all going under the speed limit -- and wonder just what the hell happened to your life?"
"Pardon me?" asks Doug.
"Well seriously, man, look at you. For all your Elliot Ness dreams and Harry Callahan aspirations, you're nothing. I mean nobody. At best you're the Barney Fife of this podunk town and what's that?"
Doug is visibly hurt. "Does this diatribe have a point, Pacey?"
Pacey realizes the mistake he's made and is hesitant to respond. "No, not really," he says. "I'm just a little disconcerted by it all."
THE DAY BEFORE
At 12:30 p.m., Dawson leaves Mr. Brooks' house with Gretchen. As he is leaving, Brooks yells at him for shirking his responsibility and says "If you're not back here in three hours, you can forget about being paid."
THE PRESENT
"Jen's insight into the 10-year-old psyche seemed valid," continues Jack.
THE DAY BEFORE
Jack convinces Molly to play goalie by taunting her to prove herself to the boys on the team. "Just wait until I'm 17 and hot," she says. "They'll regret messing with me." Since when does a 10-year-old talk like that?
THE DAY BEFORE
Dawson arrives home with Gretchen and finds Drue waiting for him on the lawn.
"Whenever I see that guy," says Gretchen, "I can't help but hearing the Darth Vader theme."
"I'm making an effort," says Dawson.
"Not to be cruel, but why?" asks Gretchen.
"Kind of a karmic decision," answers Dawson. Hmmm, there's that pesky karma again.
Drue is there to return Dawson's dad's keys -- turns out he left them in Drue's car after getting a ride home from the movies the night before. Drue thanks Dawson for his kindness at the movie theater.
"You reached out to the new kid -- what goes around comes around," Drue says.
"That is so true," responds Dawson.
THE DAY BEFORE
Pacey and Doug are responding to a report of a missing dog (Chester). Doug is being short with Pacey.
"Don't tell me you're still angry at your little brother for that whole 'wasting your life' shtick," says Pacey. "I only sorta meant it -- honest."
Doug turns abruptly to Pacey and says, "I want you to listen to me closely, because I'm only going to say this one time. If you ever in your life care about anything as much as I care about being an officer in this town, I will be shocked. If you ever in your life are as good at anything as I am at being an officer in this town, I will be shocked. If you ever in your life presume to judge me again...so help me god, I will beat the ugly right out of you." He walks away.
THE PRESENT
Pacey is tired of the interrogation.
"Mitch, you are a sane and reasonable man, and it is obvious that I am not responsible for this whole fiasco, so why are we still here?" he asks.
The principal explains that new facts have come to light. Pacey knows exactly what he's talking about.
"You discussed my 9th grade pact with Dawson," he says.
They press the issue further and Pacey admits that it was his idea.
"It was my idea," he says, "but did it ever occur to you that my not-so-close acquaintance slash former best friend has hinted or possibly even implicated me only to divert suspicion from himself?"
The principal is not moved. "If Dawson is responsible, we'll nail him. Just as we'll nail you."
THE PRESENT
Mr. Leery and the principal want to know where Dawson was after 5:30 p.m., when the crime was committed.
He explains.
THE DAY BEFORE
After his trip home, he goes back to Mr. Brooks' house. Brooks begins to chew him out for leaving and proceeds to fire him.
"I thought we had an agreement," says Dawson.
"We did, you broke it, you're fired," responds Mr. Brooks.
"On what grounds?"
Mr. Brooks goes on to insult Gretchen and Dawson becomes upset.
"Just because you are alone and your life is full of abandoned dreams, does not give you the license to inflict your pain on me," says Dawson.
"How dare you presume to understand me," says a fuming Mr. Brooks. "who I am, where I've been, what I've done. Get the hell out of here."
"Fine," says Dawson as he leaves.
THE DAY BEFORE
After 5:30 p.m., Jack finds himself getting ready for his first playoff soccer game of the season. As the team is preparing, the psycho soccer dads approach him to say that if he lets Molly play goalie, he will lose his job. Jack tells them he'll take their threat under advisement.
THE DAY BEFORE
Pacey is still hanging out with his brother. Doug is pretty much ignoring him and he makes Pacey sit in the back seat of the patrol car while he runs an errand. He picks up a blind man and helps him bring his groceries back to his apartment. Pacey is surprised to see this part of his brother's job, and he appears to be reconsidering his earlier statement.
THE DAY BEFORE
Dawson goes back to Mr. Brooks' house and walks straight into the living room.
"Today when I was going through your things," he says, "I found your high school yearbook. The caption said that your life's ambition was to become a Hollywood filmmaker. Pretty striking coincidence given that I've had the exact same dream for as long as I can remember."
"Good for you," says Mr. Brooks.
Dawson continues. "It scared the hell out of me, 'cause I don't ever want to be like you. I don't ever want to be the kind of person who pushes everyone and everything away from him. I don't want to be alone. And I know that you don't want to be alone either. You can't get rid of me Mr. Brooks. What you say and do to everyone else might work on them, but it's not going to work on me. So I'm back. And I'm going to finish the job that I was hired to do."
Mr. Brooks doesn't say anything. He walks out of the room.
THE DAY BEFORE
Jack's soccer team has won the game thanks to Molly's help as goalie. The soccer dads have not forgotten that he disobeyed them and they point out that although they won, Molly let three goals slip by -- these goals can count against them if future games are tied. They follow through on their threat, and fire Jack. Both Jack and Molly are heartbroken.
THE DAY BEFORE
Pacey's educational field trip continues. This time, he and brother Doug go to investigate a call about a missing boat at the boatyard. Pacey lets Doug in with the gate code and they run into Drue, who explains that his mother got a similar call reporting the theft. Doug accuses Drue of being the guilty party and Drue denies any involvement.
"You can frisk me if you want," he says. "I bet you'd like that. Come on, let's do the man dance."
Doug is disgusted and let's Drue leave. Pacey decides to grab a ride home with Drue, and Doug reminds Pacey that he's supposed to hate Drue. Pacey explains that he's trying to be a better person.
"Besides," he says, "it's a karma thing." That sounds awfully familiar. He gets in the car with Drue and they leave.
THE PRESENT
The principal decides to let the three of them go -- he believes he's figured out the mystery. But before Pacey and Dawson leave their interrogations, they both stick up for each other. Mr. Leery gets a knowing look in his eye, but says nothing.
THE PRESENT
Drue is pulled into the principals office along with his mother. The principal is sure that he is the culprit. His mother defends him, but the principal lays out all the facts:
At 10:30 a.m. he was in the hardware store buying white paint -- paint used to vandalize the sailboat.
At 1:30 p.m. he was at the Leery's returning Mitch's keys -- keys that he used to break into the school.
At 9:30 p.m. he was at the boat yard, making off with the boat.
Drue is the guilty one. He is suspended for two weeks and put on probation for the rest of the year. His mother slaps him and he is clearly dumbfounded. In the hallway, he runs into Joey while cleaning out his locker.
"Send a message to the boys for me," he says. "Tell them that I admire the brilliance of their design. No, wait, just tell them touché."
"Which boys," asks Joey. "What happened?"
"Karma," responds Drue. "Finally caught up with me."
Joey is stupefied.
Pacey brings a box of donuts to his brother as a peace offering. He apologizes for the inconsiderate things he said before.
"What you do," he says, "it matters as much, if not more than any job I'll ever be able to hold down."
Doug advises him not to become a cop.
"Pacey," he says, "I think that you're a daring original. I think you have a talent for flying in the face of conventionality, and I think you were born to break the rules, not enforce them. And you know what -- I actually admire that in you."
"What," says an incredulous Pacey, "did my big brother Doug just admit that he admired me for the first time ever?"
And all is well in Witter land.
Dawson is at the restaurant, searching for Mr. Brooks online. He has a theory that he's missing some important information. After a little guidance from Gretchen about how to go about searching, he finally finds the name A.I. Brooks associated with a list of movies from the 1950's.
Molly and her older sister show up at Jack's house. Molly is in tears because she thinks it was her fault that Jack lost his job. He reassures her and they console each other.
Joey shows up at Dawson's house and is let in by Mr. Leery. He directs her upstairs, and gives her a message for Dawson.
"If he is up there," he says, "tell him I know, and congrats."
Joey is confused and when she walks into Dawson's room, she finds Dawson, Pacey, and Jack, all cleaning up the evidence. The three of them did indeed pull off the caper.
Joey accuses them and Pacey denies it. "We all know Drue did it," he says.
Dawson admits that it might have been possible for them to commit the act had the following things occurred:
Jack picked up the paint and the dog.
Dawson got into the boat yard in the afternoon and towed the boat to a rendezvous point.
Pacey got dropped off by Drue later that night at the rendezvous point, and found the hidden materials (and the dog). He then painted the sail and deposited the boat in the swimming pool.
"The truth is," says Pacey, "that Drue Valentine is, was, and will always be, the lone arch criminal behind it all."
"Karma," says Joey.
"Exactly."
After everyone has gone, Pacey and Dawson are burying the evidence in the woods.
"What are you thinking?" asks Dawson.
"I'm thinking we pulled it off," answers Pacey. "And I'm thinking that something's been right tonight that hasn't been right for a long, long time. I just keep on forgetting why we're not still friends."
"You know it's not that simple."
"Of course not, it's just..."
"I know," says Dawson.
"I gotta tell you Dawson, when you told me you'd never be able to trust me again, that was probably among the top five worst moments in my life."
"When I walked out on my back porch and saw you and Joey -- that was my worst. Number one with a bullet." Dawson wins this one...
"Do you think," asks Pacey, "it's possible that someday I can convince you that maybe I'm the type of person you can trust again?"
"I would like to believe that it is," says Dawson.
"I gotta try," says Pacey. "I'm not ready to give up on you." He finishes his task and begins to walk away. Dawson follows.
"If it doesn't work out," says Dawson, "we could always just kill each other."
Now that would make for a great NYPD Blue episode.
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