Synopsis of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Written by Tamara Jaron
We begin in Dawson's bedroom. Dawson is watching a horror movie with someone. Who is it? Turns out to be Gretchen, and the movie is an A.I. Brooks flick.
"Wow," exclaims Dawson as the movie comes to an end.
"Wow look at the hidden treasure I've unearthed, or wow there's 87 minutes of my life I want back?" asks Gretchen.
"I wanted to hate it," says Dawson, "I really did. But I can't. I mean this is the heartbreaking work of a staggering genius."
"Are you trying to tell me that 'Turn Away, My Sweet' is the product of a genius?"
"As much as it pains me, yes."
"I don't know, Dawson, all I saw was some formula gangster movie. I mean, I'm still picking the pulp out of my teeth."
"Yeah it was pulpy, and it was by the numbers, but underneath was this great big thumping heart. This is a love story masquerading as a genre piece."
"Dawson, the girl hired the guy to kill her. How is that a love story?"
"Because just when she'd given up on love, he came into her life."
"Yeah and he tried to kill her."
"Right, but he couldn't because he fell in love with her. Right when she'd given up and stopped looking, she stumbled into her own fairytale. It's brilliant."
"I don't know. If you ask me, Tarantino does this stuff a lot better -- and in color."
"Now you're completely proving my point even more for me."
"Which is?"
"A.I. Brooks was way ahead of his time."
"I like you like this," says Gretchen.
"Dare I ask what 'this' is?" asks Dawson.
"Passionate, opiniated, irritating even."
Dawson is still fixated on the movie. "Why did he stop?" he wonders.
"Someone could ask you the same thing," says Gretchen. "When I left for college, you were like this unstoppable force of film geek energy. I mean you were all Spielberg this and Hitchcock that. I come back and film is like this unfinished project you've sorta stuffed in your closet. Which begs the question 'what ever happened to the talented young filmmaker Dawson Leery? Why did he stop and where is he now'?"
Mrs. Valentine approaches Joey at the yacht club.
"I'm not paying you to study for your GED, dear," she snips. Joey snips back.
A man approaches to ask Mrs. Valentine if everything is all set for the weekend. It seems there's a big party happening on Saturday and she needs Joey to waitress. Joey tries to explain that she can't work, but Mrs. Valentine interrupts saying that the man is the alumni rep for Worthington College and that he's hosting a networking party on Saturday for prospective students. She needs Joey to be there to wait on the partygoers.
"I can't," says Joey.
"You're quitting then?" asks Mrs. Valentine.
"No," says Joey.
"Oh, you've gone insane."
"Look Mrs. Valentine, I will be there."
"Yes, you will. Now Walter, where were we?"
"I don't think you're understanding me Mrs. Valentine. I'll be there at the party as a guest..."
Mrs. Valentine looks at her in disbelief and laughs.
"This young lady is one of our most promising applicants," says the admissions rep, suddenly recognizing Joey. "I would appreciate it if you gave her the evening off, and sat her at my table."
Mrs. Valentine concedes willingly. She is very eager to please Walter. But who will replace her on the wait staff? Joey suggests Drue. Touché.
Dawson is at the restaurant. He has just finished his college applications. Gretchen asks Mrs. Leery if they're having their famous Leery holiday party this year. Everyone becomes uncomfortable and Gretchen asks if she's said the wrong thing. Dawson explains that they haven't had a party for a couple of years -- what with all the marital troubles. Gretchen quickly offers the throw the party herself. Seems she's really eager to bring back this tradition, and she's willing to do all the work. Perhaps she just wants an opportunity to get closer to Dawson...
Jen is in her bedroom knitting (a sweater?) and Jack walks in glowing. Grams comes in and is cold to Jen. She is apparently not talking to her. Jack tells Jen that Grams will get over it and Jen suggests that they go out and see a movie. Jack says it would be a perfect opportunity to celebrate. Turns out he's finished the last of his college applications.
"If I ever in my life have to write about where I see myself in ten years, I'm going to have to say dead, because the prospect of writing about it will have driven me to suicide."
Jen gives him a half-hearted congrats and tries to change the subject. Jack asks her if she's finished her applications and she flat out lies. He grills her and she gets defensive. She gives him the "I'm fine" line and says she's changed her mind about seeing the movie. She asks him to leave and turns up her music.
Jack goes downstairs and confides in Grams. He's worried about Jen passing up the opportunity to go to college. He asks Grams to talk to Jen and Grams refuses.
"Jennifer is a big girl," says Grams. "God knows I've tried long and hard to aid her in making the right decisions, but she neither wants nor appreciates my help. So the only thing left for me to do is to let her make her own mistakes. If the girl chooses to drag her heels about college, so be it. She is on her own."
Mr. Brooks is eating lunch at the yacht club and Dawson sits down to join him.
"So," Dawson asks, "seen any good movies lately?"
"I saw a picture called Star Wars a while back. I didn't get it."
"I saw a great film last night. It was this incredible fusion of film noir, black comedy, and love story. What was the name of it? 'Turn Away, My Sweet'," he says with a grin.
Mr. Brooks is not amused. Dawson tries to pay him a complement, but Mr. Brooks is his grumpy old self. Dawson says that he's not fooled by the grouchy act, but Mr. Brooks drives Dawson away saying that he wants to eat his lunch in peace.
"I wanted to tell you that your pictures really had an impact on me. I thought you wanted to hear that."
Mr. Brooks starts to thank him, but Dawson interrupts.
"Can I just ask you about the chemistry between your two leads in 'Turn Away, My Sweet'? It was incredible. I mean they practically jumped off the screen."
Apparently Dawson has hit a sore spot. Mr. Brooks shoos him away with more unkind words.
Joey is at the store buying a dress for the networking party. Gretchen has tagged along to help. Joey explains that she feels bad dragging Pacey along to the party. Gretchen reassures her that Pacey will be supportive.
"Just don't let him do that nervous joke-telling thing that he does," says Gretchen.
Gretchen tells her about the party at Dawson's house. Joey is going to miss it because it's on the same night as the Worthington party. Joey is nostalgic and Gretchen gives away her growing interest in Dawson.
"Dawson is one of those rare guys who can still make popcorn and a rented video seem like an event."
"I know what you mean," says Joey.
Dawson is in the guidance counselor's office. She congratulates him on finishing his applications but still has one big problem with his USC application.
"Why do you want to big a filmmaker?" she asks.
"Doesn't my essay cover that?" asks Dawson.
She goes on to say that he needs to dig deeper if he's going to get into USC. He has to rewrite his essay.
Pacey doesn't want to go to the Worthington party. He's trying to talk his way out of it, but Joey won't let him. It means a lot to her and she wants him to be there.
"You know how important this party is to me," she says. "And being in a relationship means that you sometimes do have to do things that you don't particularly enjoy for that other person."
Pacey does not cave without a fight, but in the end he is not successful.
Grams is unpacking Christmas presents for Jen from her parents. Jen predicts that each of the gifts is thoughtless and instructs Grams to give them away.
Grams gets upset and Jen offers to go to her room. Grams suggests that she do just that and maybe even attempt to write some college applications. Jen suspects that Grams is trying to get rid of her and when Grams tries to explain Jen says, "I'm sorry, but you haven't spoken so much as a complete sentence since I disappointed you. So you don't get to instill me with motivation. You don't get to discuss my future. You lost that right when you wrote me off." She storms out of the kitchen.
Gretchen is giving Dawson advice on how to write the pesky college application essay.
"Tell them the truth," she suggests.
"The truth being what?" asks Dawson.
"That filmmaking will provide you with everything a young man could ever want or need. A three picture deal with Columbia, and a spot just high enough on the Premiere power list to bag yourself one of the girls of the WB."
"Moments like this it becomes glaringly obvious just how related to Pacey you are," remarks Dawson.
She asks for his help in hanging the mistletoe and suggests that he turn to Mr. Brooks for advice on his essay.
Jack and Grams are walking on the pier. Grams has had a change of heart about Jen's college applications. Jen hasn't completed them and she is worried. Jack suggests they gang up on her, but Grams says she has a better idea -- but she needs Jack's help.
Dawson goes to Mr. Brooks' house to talk to him. He walks in and nearly scares the living daylights out of him.
"If you came to ask me if I slept with Marilyn Monroe," he says, "you can crawl back from whence you came."
"No it's nothing like that. I...did you?"
"What is it I can do for you, Mr. Leery?"
"I need some advice," says Dawson.
Dawson explains the situation with the application essay. Mr. Brooks' is unsympathetic to his plight. Seeing that he is getting nowhere, Dawson cuts to the chase.
"Mr. Brooks," he says, "I need to know why you stopped making movies."
Instead of helping him, Mr. Brooks continues to insult him. He ridicules Dawson's problems and drives him away.
"I thought we were beyond this," says Dawson. "I guess not. I guess whatever happened to you made you the kind of person who would tear on a 17-year-old kid who's only mistake was to equate talent with wisdom and kindness." He walks out and Mr. Brooks is flabbergasted.
Joey and Pacey arrive at the party. Joey is nervous and Pacey is as Joey puts it "grinning like an idiot."
"I can't help it," he says. "I'm the only guy at this party who gets to walk in with Audrey Hepburn on his arm."
At the Leery party, Gretchen is looking for Dawson. She finds him in his room looking forlornly at his video camera.
"How's the party?" he asks.
"Somewhat lacking in cute high school boys at the moment," she answers. She tries to get him to come downstairs, but he asks for a minute to think. She pays him a big complement and gets a smile out of him.
Back at the yacht club party, Joey is talking to a very pretentious girl who is complaining about placing third in the class. When the girl finds out that Joey placed fourth, she is content knowing that she is speaking with someone beneath her. The girl catches a glimpse of Drue, and calls him over to flirt.
When Drue recognizes Joey, Drue pays her back for ruining his night by telling the girl that Joey is a waitress. The girl immediately bails out of the conversation, leaving Joey and Drue alone. Joey leaves Drue so as not to cause a scene.
At the Leery party, the school guidance counselor congratulates Jen on getting her applications done on time. Jen has no idea what she is talking about, but she doesn't blow it by letting on that she is clueless. Instead, having quickly figured out that someone gave her a helping hand, she accepts the counselor's congratulations.
Joey is having a hard time warming up to the upper class crowd at the networking party. The admissions rep notices that she is being quiet and tries to get her to talk about herself. Joey doesn't have much to say and when he tries to start a conversation about the Guggenheim museum, she naively assumes he is talking about a museum in New York. When she finds out the Guggenheim is actually in Spain, she is embarrassed and doesn't know what to say. The rep goes on to talk about the architecture of the museum, and Pacey jumps in with a witty statement -- comparing the museum to "a big artichoke." His comment is met with silence until the rep bursts into laughter and agrees with him. Pacey, realizing that he's amused the rep, steals the show from Joey.
Mr. Brooks arrives at the Leery party and discovers Dawson sitting alone outside. He's brought a gift for Dawson -- a copy of his biography entitled "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang." In a rare moment of honesty, Mr. Brooks opens up his life to Dawson and apologizes for snapping at him earlier in the day. It turns out that the movie Dawson had been so impressed with before had a personal significance to Mr. Brooks. Brooks' girlfriend and his best friend played the lead roles. Brooks had been so wrapped up in the filming that he hadn't noticed his girlfriend falling in love with his best friend. When it was all over and the damage had been done and Mr. Brooks left his film career behind and returned to Capeside.
Dawson sees the similarity between his current situation and Mr. Brooks' history. As Brooks turns to leave, Dawson invites him into the party. Mr. Brooks accepts the invitation.
"Why do you want to make pictures?" asks Mr. Brooks as he heads towards the house.
"How can you explain the things you love? You can't, you just do," answers Dawson.
"God help you, kid," replies Mr. Brooks.
Back at the Worthington party, Pacey is the center of attention.
"Joey," says the admissions rep, "I had no idea your boyfriend was such a charmer."
"Who knew?" replies a less than thrilled Joey.
"Worthington could use a young man like you, Pacey. Why haven't you applied?" asks the rep.
Joey is continuing to lose her composure. "Yeah Pacey," she says, attempting a not-so-subtle hint, "Why haven't you?"
"Well, I, to be perfectly honest," says Pacey, "both of my parents are really big lefties, so for me, it's Yale or nothing,"
"Well that certainly is our loss," says the rep.
Joey has had it. She pulls Pacey outside to talk to him alone.
"Pacey, I can't believe you just did that!" she begins, visibly upset.
"Just did what?"
"You lied!"
"Hold on..."
"And after that whole pseudo-motivational diatribe, you flat-out lied."
Pacey tries to state his case. "Joe can I have the floor for just one second please?"
Joey won't let him talk. "Pacey, why are you trying so hard to impress these people?"
"Are you done yet?" Now Pacey is getting fed up.
"I don't even know who you are right now."
Just then, the admissions rep approaches them and asks Pacey to meet the Worthington Dean. Pacey walks off with his arm around the rep and Joey is left feeling replaced and forgotten.
Jack arrives at the Leery holiday party and is immediately approached by Jen. She has guessed who was responsible for filling out her college applications and is upset that he interfered in her life.
"You didn't have any right to do what you did," she says.
Grams steps up behind Jack and says, "He had every right. As did I."
"Listen, I'm not looking to be saved here. I don't want to go to college. Could you just please leave me alone?"
"You do want to go to college Jennifer," replies Grams. "I know that for a fact and I know why you haven't applied."
"No you don't."
"Yes I do. You haven't applied because you refuse to ask your parents for help."
Jen admits that she won't ask her parents for help, that she can't. Grams says that she doesn't have to worry -- she won't let her ask them.
"I'm sorry that you haven't felt like you could talk to me lately, but you must understand something Jennifer. You must understand that no matter how angry or upset or disappointed I may be in you, I will always be there for you. You are going to college young lady. If I have to beg, borrow, or steal, I will get you there. You are the most important thing in my life Jennifer. And I love you."
"I kind of love you too," says Jack.
They have a big group hug and all is well.
Joey is in tears outside the yacht club. The admissions rep approaches her and appears concerned. Joey quickly wipes away her tears and begins to apologize to the rep. She thinks she blew her chance at getting into Worthington because she doesn't fit in.
He insists that she didn't blow anything. Her academic record is enough to make her stand out and he assures her that she is not being judged on her social skills.
"Be that as it may," he says, "you couldn't ask for a better character witness than that boyfriend of yours. Seriously. He just talked the dean's ear off all about you -- how you changed him, how you helped him. How he couldn't imagine a better life than one with you by his side. It's a rare gift -- to have someone say such things about you."
Back at the Leery party, Jen and Jack are discussing where she applied. Jack lists out the places where he sent her applications: Bard, Brown, Columbia, Emerson, Sarah Lawrence, and Boston University.
He explains that he had to break into her computer to put together the essay. And while he was snooping around, he discovered her journal.
"I didn't realize you still had those kind of dreams about me," he says.
Jen is suddenly uncomfortable. "More nog?" she asks him.
"Sure," he says suggestively, "I'd love some more nog."
Mr. Brooks and grams have a tete a tete at the piano. She picks on him and he picks back. They're obviously made for each other. Foreshadow to a possible relationship.
Dawson comes over and accuses him of flirting with Grams. He denies it and offers to give Dawson a lesson on flirting. Mr. Brooks is back to his old self.
"Just because we shared a moment out there," he says, "doesn't mean we have to get all chummy."
"I think I'm ready to make a movie again," says Dawson. Mr. Brooks is curious. He wants to know what the movie is about.
"You," says Dawson. "My picture is going to be about your life story." Mr. Brooks is speechless.
Joey and Pacey have a moment at the yacht club. Pacey accepts her apology before Joey gives it, and Joey wants to know what she has to apologize for. She is still upset with the lie he told.
"Did it ever occur to you that maybe I was doing that all for you?" he asks.
"And how exactly do I benefit from your distortion of the truth?" asks Joey.
"Well, maybe I just wanted these people to see you through my eyes. Just for one night to see this girl, this woman, who has more class and intelligence and beauty and grace than anyone else who is walking the face of the planet. And maybe things like this just come tumbling out of my mouth because I happen to be head over heels in love with you. But the really scary thing is -- I think that they're true."
Joey likes what she's hears.
"Sorry Pace, I just wanted to impress these people so bad, to fit in, and I completely froze."
"That doesn't matter," says Pacey.
"Yes it does," insists Joey. "I've never wanted anything so bad in my whole life and you, you just fit right in better than I ever will."
"Because there's nothing at stake for me, Joe. I have nothing to prove to these people. And Joe, this world -- it is opening its doors to you. And when you step through, you are going to be such an amazing part of all this. And wherever you choose to go, you're doing them the favor -- not the other way around."
Joey looks into his eyes.
"You know your mom should get a medal," she says.
"Mom, why?"
"Because she raised the perfect boy. And maybe things like that just tumble out of my mouth because I happen to be head-over-heels in love with you. But the scary thing is -- I think it's true.
They share a passionate kiss and head off to the Leery party.
Gretchen approaches Dawson at the party. Dawson is finally having a good time. Mr. Brooks points out that they're standing under the mistletoe.
Gretchen and Dawson share not one, but two sweet kisses just as Pacey and Joey walk into the party. They both stop dead in their tracks.
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