Dawson's
inability to face the facts, regarding his breakup with Jen, is making
it more and more difficult for Joey to stand idly by. It has been several
weeks since Jen dumped Dawson, yet he insists on searching for ways to
win back her heart. The episode opens with Joey explaining to Dawson that
he needs to move on with his life, regardless of his lingering feelings
for Jen. It isn't just Dawson who is finding it difficult to put the past
behind him. Mitch, Dawson's father, is still attempting to move beyond
the pain of his wife's infidelity. When Bob telephones the Leery household
to speak with Gail, his still fresh wound is reopened. Even though the
call was strictly work related, the subtle reminder forces Mitch to deal
with his emotions. He is torn, should his anger be directed toward Bob
or rather toward Gail?
While at school Dawson runs into Jen in the hallway. During the uncomfortable
meeting, Jen expresses interest in remaining "friends." To the inevitable
question, Dawson has no response. When asked for advice, Pacey suggests
indifference as an approach to regaining Jen's affection. He feels that
the best way for Dawson to get her back is to let her experience life without
him, hopefully forcing her to realize what she is missing. Going against
the advice of his friend, Dawson approaches Jen the next opportunity he
gets. He tells her that he does in fact want to remain friends. He is taken
a little off guard when she tells him that she has a date with Cliff to
go to the carnival on Saturday. Stunned, he replies that he too has a date
to the carnival and that they should all go together. Jen, admitting that
the idea is unexpected, agrees to the double date. Now that Dawson has
gotten himself into this fix, he needs to find a date for Saturday, otherwise
Jen will know he was lying all along. Pacey suggests that Dawson ask Mary
Beth, a fellow student who seems to have a crush on Dawson. He asks her
out, and after brief contemplation she accepts.
Meanwhile Pacey's relationship with Joey is about to be tested. The two have never
gotten along all that well, and we wonder if it is possible that this is
going to change? After receiving a score of 32 on his Marine Biology midterm,
Pacey finds himself in need of an extra-credit experiment to prevent him
from failing. After accepting the assignment, he learns that Joey is his
new lab partner. The two are assigned an experiment involving snail reproduction.
As expected, Joey does all of the work while Pacey does all the relaxing.
The two exchange insults as Joey performs the experiment by herself. The
next day they both arrive at the lab to find the empty shells of their
once live snails. After a while Pacey comes clean and admits to adding
a "pretty" snail to the tank, with the hopes that it might spice things
up a little. Joey informs Pacey that the so- called "pretty" snail that
he added, in an attempt to create a snail menage a trois, was carnivorous.
If the missing snails aren't replaced they will fail the assignment, and
for Pacey the class. The two head out to the creek to round up a few suitable
replacement snails. After obtaining the necessary specimens, they head
back to the boat. Unfortunately Pacey forgot to tie it up, and it is now
on its way downstream without its passengers. Cold and wet, the two wade
their way back to Pacey's truck. When they arrive, their wet clothes need
to be shed, and the only things for them to change into are blankets. While
Joey is changing, Pacey sneaks a peek at her through the rear view mirror.
It is obvious that he is pleased with what he sees. When they get home,
Pacey questions Joey about her reason for needing the extra-credit project.
He admits that he got a 32 on his midterm and needs it to prevent failing,
but he can't figure out why she does. She tells Pacey that she got a 98
on the midterm. This serves to confuse Pacey even further. She then explains
that the only way for her to afford college is if she receives a scholarship.
Pacey is slowly learning more about Joey as a person, and he is starting
to warm up to her.
At the carnival things couldn't be going any worse for Dawson. When Mary Beth
realizes that her date with Dawson includes Jen and Cliff she is understandably
upset. Dawson then proceeds to dig himself a deeper hole when he tells
Mary Beth that the double date was all Jen's idea and he was just helping
her out. His story seems believable enough and the double date continues.
While at a carnival stand, Dawson challenges Cliff to a game. The object
is to knock down all of the milk bottles with a ball. The game comes down
to the last throw, with Dawson surprisingly emerging victorious. Mary Beth
is again angered, realizing that this contest was simply an attempt on
Dawson's part to impress Jen. When she confronts him, in private, the truth
emerges. It isn't just Dawson who has eyes for someone else; Mary Beth
has had her eye on Cliff for a while now. They conspire to help each other
accomplish their ultimate goal of a date swap. After some careful maneuvering,
Mary Beth ends up on the Ferris wheel with Cliff while Dawson is alone
with Jen. At the top of the loop, the Ferris wheel suddenly stops. Assuming
that this is the perfect moment, Dawson lets out his true feelings for
Jen. The plan completely blows up in Dawson's face. Not only does Jen not
have the same feelings for him, but she isn't sure if she even wants to
remain friends.
Dawson, runs into Joey and Pacey, who have also decided to spend a night at the
carnival. When Joey steps away, Pacey takes the opportunity to speak with
Dawson. Pacey reveals that he is starting to have feelings for Joey, and
asks Dawson for his permission to pursue her. Dawson tells Pacey that it's
cool with him if he tries to kiss Joey. He then proceeds to retract his
permission but soon switches back to his original stance. With the consent
he was looking for Pacey walks away leaving Dawson looking distraught.
When Pacey drops Joey off at the end of the night, he sees his chance and
goes for it. He moves in to kiss Joey but when their lips meet she hastily
pulls away. The rejection was courteous, but a rejection none the less.
Dawson is tormented by his decision to give Pacey permission. He eventually
goes to look for him and retracts his consent. He finds Pacey in the video
store and asks him what happened. After a halfhearted exaggeration, Pacey
admits that nothing happened between him and Joey. Dawson is visibly relieved
by this knowledge while Pacey is slightly annoyed by Dawson's indecision.
He lets Dawson know that now is the time for him to finally decide between
Jen and Joey. Who will he chose to pursue?
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