Unable
to find a television program worth watching, Dawson is channel surfing
when Joey enters the room using her usual ladder method. After venting
to Dawson about her sister Bessie's new baby keeping her up all night,
Joey lays down in Dawson's bed. After a few moments she has drifted into
slumber. It is clear that Bessie's child has taken a toll on the entire
household.
The situation between Mr. and Mrs. Leery is still extremely awkward, as evidenced
by their breakfast conversation. Later in the episode interaction between
the two becomes more and more confrontational. Gale questions when Mitch
will finally forgive her infidelity. Mitch responds emotionally when he
admits that he will not forgive her until the hurt, caused by her actions,
recedes. At this point it becomes apparent that the future of their marriage
may be in question. Both parties are doing their best to work things out,
but it just doesn't seem to be happening.
The Leery's marriage is not the only relationship on rocks in this episode.
The introduction of Jen's ex-boyfriend, Billy Konrad, makes waves for Dawson.
We catch our first glimpse of Billy when he pulls into town and almost
runs Pacey over. The two engage in conversation and Billy asks Pacey for
directions to the High School. Pacey provides the directions and proceeds
to indirectly ask Billy for a ride to school in return. Billy denies his
request and drives off, leaving Pacey to catch the bus. As Jen and Dawson
are on their way to class, the leather clad mystery man appears in the
hallway. Visible at this point only to Jen, she says goodbye to Dawson
and tells him that she will catch up with him later. When Jen approaches
Billy, Dawson secretly views their conversation. Dawson later confronts
Jen about this man from her past. She assures Dawson that there is no longer
anything between her and Billy and that he is the only one for her now.
The whole situation gets even worse for Dawson later when Jen asks him
to allow Billy to stay with him for a day or so. Dawson hesitantly accepts,
allowing his current girlfriend's ex-boyfriend to stay with him.
Meanwhile, Cliff Elliott has invited Jen and Dawson to a beach house party. At the
party Dawson, alone at this time, runs into Joey who has come with and
since been abandoned by Pacey. Neither of them are having that great of
a time, so they agree to go home together and watch a movie. On his way
to refill his drink, Dawson runs into Jen who has just said goodbye forever
to Billy. Caught up in the moment the two walk off together leaving Joey
by herself. After a while one of the partygoers begins to hit on Joey.
When she realizes that Jen has arrived and taken Dawson away from her,
she becomes more receptive to his advances. Influenced by the alcohol,
Joey begins to dance downstairs. Pacey, noticing that Joey is visibly drunk,
attempts to break the two apart. When Joey's dancing partner refuses to
let her go, and takes a swing at Pacey, Pacey punches him in the face and
pulls Joey away. Dawson and Joey then decide that it would be best to take
Joey home. While Dawson is putting her to sleep, Joey lifts up and kisses
Dawson on the lips. Dawson is convinced only the alcohol motivated the
gesture, and it takes Pacey to point out her affection for him on the boat
ride home.
Back at the Leery household the arguments continue as Mitch and Gale come home
from a failed scuba diving excursion. The two talk it out and come to the
realization that the healing will be a slow, hard process. It looks like
they will indeed make the difficult journey together as they share a dance
on the porch. Unfortunately, the problems facing Jen and Dawson can't be
resolved as easily. When Dawson joins Jen on the dock for what he hopes
will be a romantic moment he instead learns that she believes her dependence
on boyfriends contributes to her emotional problems. There, under the moonlight,
Dawson is emotionally devastated when Jen finally tells him that it would
be best for her to not have a boyfriend at this point in her life.
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