...Must Come to an End

With everyone at the hospital anxiously awaiting word of Jen's condition, Grams' effort to downplay its seriousness doesn't provide much comfort. Summoned to her room, Jack learns the awful truth when Jen admits that her failing heart has left her with little time to live. And as the grim reality of her impending death sinks in, everyone shows up at the hospital to say good-bye. Meanwhile, Doug uses the moment to try and bridge the gap between them, but Jack remains unsure about their future together. And when Joey arrives at the restaurant looking for a chance to talk, Pacey makes it clear that his feelings for her are as strong as ever. As Joey's reluctance to return his frequent calls telegraphs a growing uncertainty in her feelings for Christopher, she finds the resolve to call and tell him that their relationship is over. As a result, Jen makes clear that one of her dying wishes is for Joey to finally decide between Pacey and Dawson. But just as Joey is about to reveal the decision she's come to for herself, Dawson arrives to help Jen videotape a touching message to leave for her daughter, Amy. Then, after Jen makes it clear to Pacey that she expects the trio to remain friends regardless of how their romantic triangle is resolved, Dawson tells Joey of the toll working in Hollywood has taken on his life. And after telling Jack that she wants to leave Amy with him, Jen quietly slips away. At the gathering of family and friends following Jen's death, Pacey seizes the moment to tell Joey that he's stepping aside so that she can pursue a romance with Dawson. Balking at the idea, Joey finally moves to square things with Dawson, making it clear that while what they have between them will last forever, it's Pacey she chosen to spend her life with. Finally, as Jack debates where to live as a single gay parent, Doug makes it clear that he wants him and Amy to stay in Capeside, regardless of what anyone thinks of their relationship. And after Pacey and Joey call to congratulate him on the season finale, Dawson announces that he's finally getting the break that he's always dreamed of.

...That Is the Question

Continuing to be intrigued by Ty, Jen asks Dawson to join them for an evening at a nightclub where he frequently plays the piano. And when an unexpected visit by his father forces Jack to cancel a romantic evening together, Joey is free to accept Dawson's invitation to join them at the club, too. Meanwhile, upon returning to school, Pacey sets out to prove that Mr. Peterson is harassing him. After Mr. McPhee makes clear his concerns over the rumors about Jack, Andie encourages her brother to ignore their dad's harsh criticism in hopes of restoring their family. But Jack refuses. And when Jack finally admits to being gay, his sister finally sees their father for the heartless and cruel man he really is. Meanwhile, Jen is taken aback by Ty's homophobic comments, but is even more surprised by her grandmother's vigorous defense of Jack. As a result of Pacey's research, Mr. Peterson decides to take an early retirement rather than face the school board's questions. And in the wake of the showdown with her dad, Andie apologizes for doubting Pacey. But, while Joey is ready for a very romantic evening together, Jack's admission that he's gay sends her seeking Dawson's consolation.

99 Light Years from Home

As Dawson and Oliver head for New York to meet with an agent who's interested in their film, Joey is persuaded to join her friends for a Spring Break pilgrimage to Florida. At a beachfront home owned by Audrey's parents, Joey fends off Charlie's persistent phone calls. But just as she thinks she's given him the slip, Charlie manages to track her down. As Audrey wonders about the seriousness of her romance with Pacey, childhood friend and actor Chris Mackenzie shows up unexpectedly. And after Chris reveals that he wants to rekindle their long dormant romance, Audrey is disappointed when Pacey refuses to be upset. With Joey's encouragement, Pacey goes to tell Audrey just how she feels about her, only to find her kissing Chris. As Jen begins worrying about Jack's drinking, she warns Joey against getting involved with Charlie. But after making it clear that she's sure he can change, Joey heads off with him anyway. Meanwhile, after hearing how much Dawson regrets how things have turned out with Joey, Oliver persuades him to postpone their meeting so that they can head to Florida. And as Joey throws caution to the wind in order to see where things are going with Charlie, Dawson arrives at the beach house where he is immediately forced into action to save Jack from drowning. After listening to Jack's drunken lament about how things have turned out for him in college, Dawson has little advice to dispense. When Pacey gives Audrey the unvarnished truth about his feelings for her, he's surprised to find that she's in love with him, too. And while Oliver hopes against hope that he can change Jen's opinion of him, Pacey warns Dawson not to get his hopes up about reconciling with Joey Finally, as Dawson retreats to the beach to ponder Pacey's advice and his own next move, Joey and Charlie take the first tentative steps towards romance.

A Family Way

When Gale doesn't recover from a bout with the flu, a home pregnancy test shows that she's going to have a baby. While Dawson is less than thrilled about the prospect of suddenly becoming an older brother, his dad is sure that things will work out just fine. But when they go to see her doctor, Gale lets Mitch know that she's very uncertain about having another child. Meanwhile, after joining Andie to coach a youth soccer team, Jack doesn't know what to do when a player's older sister comes on to him. Seeing Joey worrying over what to about her looming sexual relationship with Pacey, Jen insists that she visit the local clinic for some birth control advice. But instead making her comfortable, the experience leaves Joey feeling even more ambivalent. After Gale announces that she's decided to have an abortion, Dawson turns to Gretchen for advice and learns that her sudden return to Capeside was the result of a miscarried pregnancy. And when Bessie stumbles upon the items Joey brought home from the clinic, the two sisters have an all-too-public argument about the prospects of her becoming sexually active. Once Andie tells Caroline Say that her brother is gay, she and Jack suddenly find that many parents are not going to let their children play for the team anymore. And after Bodie works to calm things down between the sisters, Joey decides to take things slow when it comes to having sex with Pacey. As Dawson gives his parents reason to think twice about an abortion, Jack worries about having his sexual orientation made even more public. Finally, in the wake of some harsh critiques of his work, Dawson is surprised when Mr. Brooks finds something promising in his photographs of Gretchen.

A Perfect Wedding

As a way of helping the family business out of debt, Mr. Potter gets their restaurant hired to cater a fancy wedding. And despite the low opinions that most everyone in town has of her dad, Joey agrees to pitch in and even gets her friends to help out. When the bride begins to have second thoughts about getting married, Dawson does his best to give her some advice. But it's Jack who steps in and, with some comforting words, persuades her to go through with the ceremony. Meanwhile, boredom sends Jen to see Abby. After Pacey and Andie accidentally ruin the wedding cake, they do their best to repair the damage before anyone finds out. And when Mr. Potter overhears her doubting his ability to hold their family together, Joey must apologize for her stinging remarks. Then, with some advice from Jack, Dawson steps in to give Joey the strength to persevere, regardless of the rumors about her family. Meanwhile, Jen and Abby decide to crash the wedding reception. At the reception, Mitch introduces Gail to his new girlfriend. With everything seemingly under control, Pacey asks Andie to dance. And as Joey begins to rekindle her love affair with Dawson, she comes to grips with having her father back in her life, too. Finally, after she and Jen are sent away by Andie after getting drunk, an accident claims Abby's life.

A Weekend in the Country

Because of a slow start for the new Potter Bed & Breakfast, Bessie suggests mortgaging the house in order to make ends meet. When Joey is adamantly opposed to jeopardizing their home, Dawson offers to make a promotional video for the flagging business, while Pacey convinces an influential travel writer to come for a weekend visit. Meanwhile, as Henry makes it clear that he still wants a date with Jen, Andie asks Jack to move back home. In order to give Fred Fricke something to write about, Pacey enlists everyone to pose as weekend guests. While Dawson is upset to find his parents sharing the inn's honeymoon suite, Joey balks at Pacey's plan. Yet upon Fricke's arrival, she does her best to put on a good show, despite the inn's glaringly obvious faults. As the tension surrounding the weekend comes between Joey and her sister, Mitch encourages Pacey to focus on the good things he's done for his friends, while Grams asks Jen to give Henry a chance. While Dawson grills his mom and dad on the status of their relationship, Andie begins to understand why Jack continues to stay with Grams and Jen instead of coming home. Following a heart to heart talk with Dawson in which Jen agrees to reconsider her opinion of Henry, Joey is surprised to find that their efforts to make a good impression have started to turn Fricke around. Finally, as Mitch makes an effort to reconcile with Gale, Jack decides that the time has come for him to go back home. And as Dawson thanks Pacey for all his efforts on Joey's behalf, Jen decides to give Henry a shot at a date after all.

A Winter's Tale

Amid high expectations and emotional ambivalence, the annual Capeside High School Senior Class ski trip has arrived. Sneaking Anna Evans on board the bus as his date for the weekend, Drue joins Pacey, Joey, Jen and Jack for the trip. When a snowstorm forces them to spend the night in a small town along the way, Drue makes sure that the room key assignments pair off him and Anna, Pacey and Joey, and Jen and Jack. Because of Mr. Brooks' failing health, Dawson has stayed behind with Grams. However, a decision to keep Brooks on life support leaves Dawson facing a surprising and difficult choice. And as the Leery's and Grams wrestle with the decision, too, back at the lodge, Pacey and Joey confront their own sexual tension. As an injury forces Jen to rely on Jack for help getting around, Anna finds a way to expose which boys on the trip have come prepared for sex. But even though Pacey refuses to take the bait, the condom in his wallet convinces Joey of his real intentions. As Joey turns to Jack for advice, Anna zeroes in on Pacey as her next sexual conquest. Convincing Drue to turn his attentions to Joey, Anna then invites Pacey to join her in the lodge's hot tub. Meanwhile, back in Capeside, Gretchen helps Dawson come to grips with the enormous decision he's being forced to make. And with the help of one of the aging director's old friends, Dawson sees what Brooks would have wanted him to do. As Joey calls home and learns of Dawson's dilemma, Anna does her best to seduce Pacey. Unable to exploit Joey at her most vulnerable moment, Drue mentions the hot tub invitation. But as she lurks amid the shadows, Joey sees Pacey rebuff Anna's advances by making it clear that he's in love with someone else. Finally, as Jen wisely puts the brakes on some alcohol-fueled sex with Jack, Joey decides that the time has come for her and Pacey to make love. And confident that it is what Mr. Brooks wanted, Dawson authorizes his doctor to end the life support.

Abby Morgan, Rest in Peace

Just as Dawson and Joey are getting their romance back on track, news of Abby's death throws Capeside into a tailspin. While Joey tries to keep the tragedy from reviving memories of her own mother's untimely death, Jen avoids everyone's efforts to help her cope with the grief. And though she's accused by Jen of being partly responsible for the accident, Andie is asked to deliver the eulogy by Abby's mother. Meanwhile, as Dawson learns that his mom has been offered a job in Philadelphia, Jen lashes out at Grams. In hopes of finding something nice to say at the funeral, Andie enlists Pacey in an effort to sneak into Abby's bedroom. And even though her diary reveals that she was just as mean in private as she was in person, Andie continues to look for something positive. Meanwhile, as Mitch refuses to talk Gail out of moving, an argument with Gram's leads Jen to suggest that she may find someplace else to live. At the funeral, Jen speaks her mind, stunning everyone with her unvarnished description of Abby. And as Grams gives up on being able to do anything for her granddaughter, Andie does her best to salvage the situation with some kind, yet honest, remarks. Meanwhile, when Joey begins to find comfort in her mom's memories, she asks Dawson to join her at her later mother's gravesite. And despite an apology, Grams insists that Jen move out, landing her on the Leery's doorstep.

Admissions

While Joey is stunned to be accepted at Worthington College, Dawson is upset over his rejection by the film school at NYU. Though she has good reason to celebrate, Joey can't help but feel Dawson's pain and share his bleak outlook about his other choice, USC. As Gretchen lifts Dawson's sagging spirits by encouraging him to use the money he inherited from Mr. Brooks to make his own films, Bessie and Bodie plan to celebrate Joey's good news. But not until the party is about to begin does Joey learn that admission to Worthington didn't come with enough money to attend. Meanwhile, Jack's wanting to attend college together in New York forces Jen to revisit the strained relationship with her parents. Though having to come up with $15,000 has all but killed Joey's chances at being able to attend Worthington, with everyone at the house to celebrate, she insists that Bessie keep the bad news a secret for now. But when Pacey learns the truth, he cannot keep from telling Gretchen that he's not unhappy about the prospect of Joey staying at home. Meanwhile, as Jack presses Jen to use her therapy sessions to come to grips with her feelings about her family, Dawson gets word that he's been accepted at USC. And once Joey lets him in on her bad news, he offers her Mr. Brooks' money so she can attend Worthington. During her next session, Frost encourages Jen to try and remember what happened with her father that has left her so scarred. But in order to do so, she has to ask Drue for help. After Pacey encourages her to accept the money for college, Joey realizes that the time has come to tell Dawson the truth. And while Dawson turns to Gretchen for help dealing with Joey's news, Drue, Frost and Jack all try to help Jen recall a traumatic encounter with her dad. Finally, as Pacey insists that Joey do what's right for her, regardless of what it might mean for him, changing circumstances put Dawson's own relationship with Gretchen in a new light as he insists that Joey take the cash.

After Hours

As both Jack and Joey struggle to catch up in advance of their final exams, Dawson takes a break from his studies by taking in a movie. But after running into him at the theater, film critic Amy Lloyd invites Dawson home where they engage in some spontaneous, passionate lovemaking. Meanwhile, even though he's got her rehired at the restaurant, Audrey quits, convinced that the new manager, Alex Pearl, is just using the gesture as part of a plan to seduce Pacey. When Audrey accuses Pacey of being interested in Alex, Joey insists that he would never cheat. Yet, after offering to walk her home after a long night at work, it's clear that there's some romantic tension between Pacey and his boss. And after Alex shows up unexpectedly at Pacey's apartment, Audrey also arrives unannounced, just in time to see them kissing. Meanwhile, as Dawson learns that Amy aspired to be a filmmaker once upon a time, Jack's former frat brothers refuse to help him study for a particularly difficult calculus exam. Though Pacey tries to claim that there was nothing going on, Audrey refuses to accept his explanation and bolts. But upon returning to the apartment prepared to take things further with Alex, Pacey is stunned to find that she appears to have been just leading him on all along. Finally, as Eric risks expulsion from the fraternity for offering to help Jack, Dawson resists Amy's efforts to break off their romance just as it's getting started.

All Good Things...

Several years into the future as he and his friends convene in Capeside for his mom's wedding, Dawson has turned his life story into a successful television series called The Creek. Now living in New York City where she is carving out a career in publishing, and a romance with author Christopher Payne, Joey has sent her regrets. But after suddenly changing her mind, she heads for home and the inevitable reunion with her old friends. Capeside High's newest English teacher, Jack is caught up in a romance with Police Chief Doug Witter, while at the restaurant he now owns, Pacey is having an affair with his married manager, Maddy Allen. And having come back to Capeside for the wedding with Grams, a clearly exhausted Jen -- now a single mom who's brought her baby girl Amy along, too -- heads to school to see Jack. Hoping he can leave behind the pressure cooker atmosphere and looming deadlines of his show's successful first season, Dawson lands at home with his grateful mom and adoring little sister before joining his old friends at Pacey's restaurant for an evening drinking, reminiscing, and discussing how their lives have been portrayed in his hit show. Later, as Jack and Jen are at the Potter Bed & Breakfast trading advice about their increasingly complicated lives, Pacey is back at the restaurant all alone when Maddy's husband and a pair of friends show up unannounced to teach him a lesson about having an affair with his wife. At home struggling to write his TV show's season finale, Dawson is pleasantly surprised by Joey. Yet, when Dawson convinces her to stay the night, it's clear that the years since childhood have done little to ease their mutual anxiety. And after his simmering disagreement with Doug begins to boil over, Jack suggests that they call it quits. Finally, the wedding reception, Pacey enlists Joey to help him get rid of Maddy once and for all. But while dancing with Dawson, Jen passes out and collapses to the floor.

All the Right Moves

In the wake of her Christmas dinner disaster at the Leery's, Audrey arrives in Boston to seek the forgiveness of to her friends before going to Emma's apartment, where she finds she's about to be replaced as the band's lead singer. Yet, convincing Emma that she's cleaned up her act, she's offered a chance to prove herself the following night when they perform on a bill with the girl group, The Donnas. While clearing out Eddie's locker at work, Joey is intrigued upon finding a collection of his unpublished short stories. And with Harley egging her on, she's encouraged to track down the missing ex-boyfriend. Meanwhile, despite their testy relationship, Rich rewards Pacey's performance with an invitation to join him at a wealthy client's lavish party. Although she impresses everyone during the pre-show soundcheck at the club, Audrey falls back into her old ways and is unable to resist temptation when she's invited to a party. When Joey balks at talking to Eddie by phone, Harley takes control and, cutting class in order to track him down at his parent's house, convinces him to come back to Boston by claiming Joey is pregnant. And when Professor Hetson shows up at Hell's Kitchen looking for his daughter, both he and Joey are surprised when Harley arrives with Eddie in tow. Meanwhile, a beautiful -- and elusive -- woman tells Pacey just how much his arrival at the party has been anticipated by everyone, including their host, Stepatech CEO Roger Stepavich. With Hetson holding Joey responsible for Harley's disappearance, Eddie learns that he's been dragged back to Boston under false pretenses. While Joey says his stories are good enough to launch a writing career, Eddie balks, claiming he's embarrassed by his working class background and lack of any prospects. Yet, when he's encouraged to read the manuscript, Hetson offers to help get him into a prestigious writer's workshop. Finally, though Pacey is stunned by Stepavich's offer to make him a key major player in the sale of his company's stock, the beautiful woman warns that it may be too good to be true. And after following Eddie home in hopes she can persuade him to consider Hetson's offer, Joey returns to the dorm to find Audrey dangerously drunk.

Alternative Lifestyles

For their economics class, Dawson and Jen must prepare a budget that assumes that they are a wealthy married couple. For the same assignment, Pacey and Andie pretend they are a lower middle class husband and wife struggling to make ends meet, while Joey prepares the budget of a single mother with a successful business. And though Dawson reassures Joey that she needn't worry, Abby encourages Jen to use the project to win him back. Meanwhile, as Mitchell and Gail ban her from their son's bedroom, Joey must help Bessie prepare for a health department inspection at the restaurant. Arriving to work on their assignment, Jen makes her move, not expecting that Dawson would send her home. While Joey decides to ask businesswoman Laura Westin for advice on her budget, Andie and Pacey are at odds over the assignment. And when Pacey suggests that she'll never even face problems with money, Andie storms off. Meanwhile, as Mitchell moves towards having an open marriage, Abby devotes her energies into helping Jen get Dawson back. When Dawson's mom and dad are each out for the evening, Jen sets out to take advantage of the time alone. But when she makes a blatant sexual advance, Dawson again sends her away. Meanwhile, after the time she's spent working on the assignment has caused her to neglect the restaurant, Joey pitches in to help out and makes it clear just how much she admires her sister. And after learning that he's been all wrong about Andie's family finances, Pacey bails her out by finishing the assignment on his own. Finally, as Dawson and Joey both breath a sigh of relief now that the project is complete and Jen continues to plot how to get him back, Pacey is unaware that Tamara has returned to Capeside.

Appetite for Destruction

Upon returning from their weekend at the film festival, Dawson and Jen arrive at Grams' house to find all their friends right in the middle of preparing what they hope will become a weekly dinner together. Immediately sensing that something is going on between them, Audrey takes Joey aside to talk, while Pacey and Jack force Dawson to explain the unexpected developments with Jen. And with their friends in the kitchen voicing their concern over their new relationship, Dawson and Jen struggle to find a way to make the evening less uncomfortable. Hoping to just get through the evening as quickly as possible, Joey talks Pacey into hurrying dinner before telling Jen that she's fine with whatever is happening. But Dawson throws a wrench into the works when he suggests he might move to Boston to attend film school, and possibly live with Grams, too. And as things are made even more complicated by Charlie's unexpected arrival, Pacey lets Joey know that he'll be there for her, no matter what. Meanwhile, Jen dismisses Charlie's efforts at reconciliation by telling him that she has embarked on a serious relationship with Dawson. With Audrey applauding Pacey's ability to keep the food coming under difficult circumstances, Jen tells Jack how things managed to get this far with Dawson, a conversation that reveals just how far apart they've grown since moving to Boston. Left to do the dishes together, Dawson tries explaining to Joey how his father's death has changed things forever, including his feelings for her. As Pacey brings on the dessert just in time for Grams' arrival, Jen and Joey suggest that more dinners together might help ease the building tension. As the evening finally winds to a close as Audrey and Jack heading off to a party together, Pacey catches up with Joey for the walk home, while Dawson settles in for the night at Grams' house, leaving the decisions about his future, and Jen, for another day.

Baby

While in the school bathroom telling Dawson about the possibility of he and Tamara going out on a real date, Pacey doesn't realize that there's someone listening nearby. Once the rumor spreads, Pacey is in danger of having the relationship exposed. And after giving Pacey the benefit of her long years of experience as the object of a small town's gossip, Joey arrives at home to find her sister about to give birth. Meanwhile, rumors about their affair prompt Tamara to suggest she and Pacey break up. With their phone out of order and no way to get to the hospital, Bessie asks her sister to get them to Dawson's house to call for help. But after a harrowing and difficult journey, Bessie is already well into her labor. Realizing that the ambulance won't get there in time, Joey then heads next door to ask Jen's grandmother for help. And while Bessie disapproves, Grams doesn't let her own feelings interfere with her duties as a nurse. After Pacey's brother accuses him of spreading the rumor about himself and Tamara, when the school board meets to consider what to do, Pacey claims he made the whole thing up. After making it clear that she disapproves of Doug's harsh treatment of his younger brother, Tamara thanks Pacey for keeping her out of trouble and then decides to leave town and end their affair. Meanwhile, as she challenges Bessie to get through the birth, Grams begins to realize that things aren't going so smoothly. And with Joey and Dawson waiting anxiously outside, she and Jen get Bessie through the difficult birth together.

Barefoot at Capefest

On the eve of an annual music festival known as Capefest, Jack runs into Ethan, the first gay teenager he told about his own sexual orientation. Bringing Jen along for moral support, Jack heads for the festival to find him again. But when a tour of the grounds brings Jen face to face with Henry, she sees just how much being ignored by her has hurt the lovesick freshman. Meanwhile, after Andie is named assistant director for the upcoming school play, she's none too happy when Mr. Broderick casts Pacey in the lead role. As Dawson squares off with the principal's daughter over a camera they both need for their film class projects, neither Pacey nor Andie is going to be the first to give up on the play. And as access to a camera forces Dawson to offer some help on Nikki's film, the theft of Ethan's camping gear produces an invitation to stay with Jack. But once Jen heads off to give them some privacy, Jack is confused and disappointed when Ethan doesn't want to have sex. And after Henry makes an emotional appeal for her attention, Jen apologizes for being careless with his feelings. Despite the dismal performances he is getting from his cast, Mr. Broderick refuses to listen to any of Andie's recommendations. While Dawson and Nikki find common ground in their respective parent's divorces, Ethan encourages Jack to keep looking for just the right first gay experience. And as Henry and Jen work on being friends, Andie salvages the play when Mr. Broderick doesn't show up for a rehearsal. But once he's back, Broderick quickly takes credit for all of her good ideas. Finally, as Pacey tries to reconcile with Andie, Dawson and Joey struggle to close the rift between them.

Be Careful What You Wish For

Unaware of the surprise sixteenth birthday party his friends have in store, Dawson sets out to persuade a reluctant Joey to revive their romance. And while Andie begins seeing a therapist, Jack finds that being openly gay has attracted Abby and her friends. Meanwhile, as Jen wonders why Ty is resisting a physical relationship, Dawson's mom and dad disagree over surprising him with a new car for his birthday. As the party gets underway back at the Leery's, Pacey and Andie take Dawson out on the town to distract him. While Pacey isn't looking, Dawson and Andie proceed to get very drunk. Once they make it back to the party, Dawson makes a fool of himself with some uninhibited comments directed at his friends and family. Meanwhile, Joey accidentally walks in on Abby and Jack's impassioned kiss. As Dawson and Andie finish their evening by getting sick together, Mitch and Gail agree not to give their son the new car after all. And while Jack tells Joey that his encounter with Abby was simply an effort to feel less like an outsider, Ty's inability to reconcile his religion with his sexuality leads Jen to break off their relationship. Finally, as Andie regrets putting Pacey through a difficult night, Joey accepts Dawson's heartfelt apology, but still insists on taking time to find herself.

Beauty Contest

When Gail is asked to judge the Miss Windjammer beauty pageant, she hires Dawson to record the event for the evening news. While not interested in entering herself, Jen encourages Joey to do it as a way to win $5,000 for her college education. And as Joey concludes that she will in spite of the humiliation, Dawson suggests that Pacey enter to win enough to cash to help find an apartment of his own. Meanwhile, as Pacey finds himself at odds with fellow contestant Hannah Von Wenning, Joey questions Jen's motives for helping her. While Dawson's reaction to seeing Joey beautifully decked out for the pageant spawns some jealousy in Jen, Pacey is stunned when Gail says he has no chance of winning because he's a boy. So after Joey's impassioned singing stuns Dawson and the audience, Pacey decides to forgo his magic act for a blistering dramatic interpretation that attacks the pageant and its organizers. Meanwhile, Joey is disheartened after overhearing Hannah's opinions of her. But with Dawson's encouragement, she presses on. As Joey's first runner up status beats Hannah, much to the relief of the pageant organizers, Pacey doesn't win either. Then, as both her beauty and performance at the pageant cause Dawson to have second thoughts about a romance with Joey, she decides to go it alone. And once Jen offers to give their relationship another chance, Dawson is left wondering what to do as Pacey and Hannah find common ground in their respective family problems.

Boyfriend

When Jen's old boyfriend, Billy, arrives in Capeside unannounced, he talks her into spending the day with him but cannot convince her to resume their relationship. Unwilling to drive back to New York just yet, he asks Jen for a place to spend the night and she turns to Dawson for help. And though stunned to discover that Billy is the one whose sexual relationship got Jen shipped off to Capeside, Dawson agrees to put him up for one night. Meanwhile, with Dawson playing the reluctant host, Joey takes some delight in having Billy making a play for Jen. Although Jen insists her relationship with Billy is over, she still cannot tell Dawson that she still doesn't have feelings for him. So, as his parents struggle to keep their marriage alive, Dawson resigns himself to attending a big party without Jen. And hearing Dawson will be there alone, Joey takes Pacey's advice and attends, too. However, when Jen arrives unexpectedly, she and Dawson immediately set to discussing how Billy has affected their relationship. And when Billy arrives, too, he ups the tension by revealing that he and Jen kissed. Seeing Dawson and Jen together leads Joey to drink too much. But when a classmate tries to take advantage of the situation, Pacey steps in. After he and Pacey take her home, Dawson admits to being more than a little confused about how things are going between them and is taken aback by Joey's unexpected kiss. And as his parents try getting back to basics in their own relationship, Dawson mulls over the meaning of Joey's kiss. However, after Billy leaves town, Dawson tries to apologize to Jen for his behavior, only to discover that she has decided to break up with him, too.

Capeside Revisited

While at dinner with Audrey and Jen, Joey spots Pacey at the restaurant and discovers that he's been living in Boston for weeks. Taking Grams' advice, Dawson heads for Capeside to tell his mom and dad that he's having second thoughts about staying in Los Angeles. But, upon announcing that he's decided to move to Boston to be near his friends, Dawson finds that his dad isn't about to hear any talk of dropping out of film school just yet. Meanwhile, as Jen begins questioning her solely sexual relationship with Charlie, Jack cannot believe that the members of Sigma Epsilon really want him as a fraternity brother. As Jen and Charlie pledge to go twelve hours without sex, Audrey takes Joey to task over her relationship with Dawson. And after admitting to being gay, Jack is surprised to find that the brothers of Sigma Ep knew all along and still want him to pledge. With Jen trying to use their hiatus from the bedroom as an opportunity to learn more about Charlie, Dawson seeks his mom's support for his decision to move. Meanwhile, as Jack seeks Grams' advice on what to do about Sigma Ep, Pacey learns that the long hours he's spent slicing potatoes were David's way of training him for a much more important job. Finding it impossible to stick to their twelve hour no sex pledge, Jen and Charlie raid the student health center in search of condoms. While Joey tracks down Pacey in an effort to renew their friendship, Jack become convinced that he's not being asked simply to fill a campus quota and accepts the offer to join Sigma Ep. Despite pressure from his dad to return to L.A., Dawson prepares to rejoin his friends in Boston. And feeling the weight of the responsibility at work, Pacey asks Karen, a waitress at Danny's restaurant, for her help and advice. Finally, Dawson arrives in Boston to tell Joey of his decision to stay, unaware that his father has been in a serious car accident.

Castaways

Having agreed to be his date for a big client's charity event, Joey begins to regret it once Pacey turns his attentions to another beautiful guest. Claiming Joey is his sister, Pacey makes a date to meet the beautiful woman later that evening. But, while taking Joey home, he stops off at a superstore retailer for some condoms. And when Joey ends up making a detour to the rest room, they are locked inside when the store closes for the night. Desperate to make his big date, Pacey uses a payphone inside the store to call the police. However, because their predicament isn't a priority, he and Joey are just going to have to wait. And once Joey realizes why he stopped in the first place, the two old friends find themselves dragged into a conversation about their least favorite topics, sex and romance. So, with no choice but to wait it out, Pacey and Joey find it nearly impossible to avoid any discussion of the relationship that might have been. Taking advantage of everything the store has to offer, the pair settles in for the night. And after Joey manages to convince Pacey to let her shave his beard, their romance is suddenly rekindled with a kiss. As a result, Pacey admits to having wanted to be with her all along, even though he spent the evening flirting with someone else. Yet, after agreeing that a love affair between them isn't in the stars, the two old friends climb into separate beds to wait out the rest of the night. And upon being set free once the store reopens the following morning, their friendship has been reaffirmed.

Catch-21

Eagerly anticipating the fortune StepaTech stock is going to make for him and clients like Dawson, Pacey is excited about his budding romance with business reporter, Sadia Shaw. And as Audrey learns that she's on the verge of being expelled from Worthington, Eddie helps prepare Joey for Professor Hetson's upcoming final exam. After he makes a point of getting her to the classroom on time, Joey does her best to resolve the differences between her boyfriend and Hetson before settling in for the exam. And once she's done, Eddie surprises her with an invitation to join him on trip across Europe before they each return to separate schools next fall. Meanwhile, after Jack asks for a chance to explain himself, David seeks Jen's advice before reluctantly agreeing to listen. As they are discussing their trip, Joey suggests scaling it back so they can each spend some time earning money for school. However, when Eddie balks and accuses her of not wanting to go at all, the two end up going their separate ways for the night. As Pacey works to please Sadia, he advises Dawson to keep his money in StepaTech until after the FDA's much anticipated approval of their new flu drug. And while Jack does everything he can think of to win back his trust, David makes it clear that this isn't the relationship for him and breaks things off. After an unfavorable FDA ruling sends StepaTech's stock into a nosedive, things for Pacey get even worse when Sadia reveals that she's engaged to be married. In an effort to make up for his mistake, Pacey asks Rich for a loan so he can cover Dawson's losses. But when Rich refuses and things between them turn ugly, a fistfight costs Pacey his job. Finally, after an A minus on the final saves her grade for the course, Joey notes that, while she doesn't intend to sign up for any more of his classes, she does want Hetson to be her advisor. And after Jack calls Jen to talk him through the disappointment over being dumped by David, and Pacey heads for Capeside to break the bad news to Dawson, Joey learns that Eddie has left once again.

Ch...Ch...Ch...Changes

For his film class final, Dawson wants to make a video chronicling the changes in Joey's life. When Joey refuses to cooperate, he turns to Jen, who also turns him down. And after Dawson asks Jack and Pacey, Mr. Potter offers to participate in the project in exchange for help remodeling the family restaurant. But her dad's videotaped confessional forces Joey to confront some uncomfortable moments in her past. And when she suggests turning the camera on himself, Dawson balks for fear of what he might discover. Jack and Andie are upset to learn that their father wants to move them back to Providence in an effort to heal their shattered family. When Jack admits that he can't change his father's mind about moving, Pacey confronts Mr. McPhee and insists that he can help Andie as much as anyone. And while Jack announces that, regardless of what his dad might have to say about it, he's staying in Capeside to get on with his life, Andie decides to go with her parents. As things with Grams reach a standstill, Jen calls her parents to ask about the possibility of moving back home. Even though her parents don't want her, she's still set on leaving Capeside. However, tracking her down at the bus depot, Jack asks Jen to be his roommate now that his family is moving. Finally, as Andie departs with her mom and dad, she leaves an anguished Pacey behind. And after making it clear to Joey that he's serious about their relationship, Dawson discovers that Mr. Potter has resumed dealing drugs.

Cigarette Burns

After screening his new film for Joey, Dawson is surprised, and upset, to learn that Oliver has organized a public screening without asking him first. As they struggle to get acceptable edited version, Oliver asks for Dawson's approval and advice on how to court Jen. And while Joey begins to wonder if there's a chance for a romance with Charlie, Audrey seeks her counsel on how much to tell Pacey about her own sexual history. Meanwhile, as she and Jack are preparing to leave for the screening, Jen is stunned to meet Grams' African-American boyfriend, Clifton Smalls. Audrey's claim of having sex with twenty-seven men causes Pacey to have a minor car accident on the way to the screening where Dawson has unwittingly insulted Amy Lloyd, the influential local film critic Oliver has invited to see their film. As Charlie tries to interest Joey in sitting with him, Oliver insists that Dawson do whatever it takes to get Amy back to see the film. So, tracking her down, Dawson uses some time over coffee trying to get the critic to change her mind about him. Meanwhile, as everyone waits impatiently for the movie to start, Charlie's insensitivity sends Joey running, while Audrey stuns Pacey by claiming that she's actually slept with fifty-seven men. Despite Oliver's best efforts, Jen insists that she isn't the least bit interested in dating him. As some revealing insights into why he wants to be a filmmaker inspire her to return with him to the screening, Amy pretends she sees an ex-boyfriend in order to give Dawson a kiss. Finally, while Pacey makes it clear that nothing about her sexual history will dissuade him from being her boyfriend, Audrey confesses that she's actually only had sex with five men. And as the attraction between Dawson and Amy intensifies, Charlie convinces Joey that he's worth a second chance.

Cinderella Story

When A.J. is being honored with a prestigious creative writing award, he invites Joey to attend the ceremony in Boston. But when he sends a longtime friend to meet her train, Joey senses something both special and familiar about A.J.'s relationship with Morgan. Back in Capeside, Pacey has been assigned to mentor nine-year-old Buzz Thompson. And when the defiant youngster proves almost impossible to control, he's put to work painting Pacey's boat. Meanwhile, as the pressures of opening a new restaurant to mount for Gail, Dawson hires Jen to waitress as Andie and Jack offer to screen the prospective chefs. After a series of bad cooks severely test Andie and Jack's, Dawson realizes that his mom needs more help and enlists his dad to pitch in. But once Gail sees what Mitch has done, it's clear that they have very different visions for the business. Meanwhile, the more Joey sees them together, the more she believes that Morgan should be there on A.J.'s big night, too. And after realizing that Morgan is really his muse, Joey convinces A.J. to seek her out to celebrate his success while she returns to Capeside. Although Pacey is inclined to drop working with Buzz altogether, a visit with the boy's social worker convinces him to give it another try. And while Jen points out that Dawson is using the restaurant to try and put his family back together, Gail clearly isn't interested in resuming their marriage. But when she does hire Mitchell as her general manager, he brings Bodie on board and promotes the very clumsy Jen to hostess. Finally, after meeting Joey's train at the station, Pacey tries pushing their relationship to a new level with a kiss.

Clean and Sober

After Pacey buys a new big screen television for their apartment, he and Jack plan a big party to show it off. While Joey and Jen each express skepticism over the conspicuous display of consumerism, they are overshadowed by Emma's announcement that she's getting married to Gus, a repulsive punk who's taken up residence in the apartment. Only after he's at the party does C.J. learn that his one time nemesis, Pacey, is their host. And when Joey arrives to join in the festivities, she's determined to throw caution to the wind and take full advantage of whatever might come her way. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Dawson drops in on Audrey at rehab and is stunned to find legendary movie producer Toni Stark living there, too. But after Audrey encourages him to seize the moment, Dawson ends up looking naïve and foolish in front of the woman he considered a role model. With the party in full swing, the alcohol prompts Joey to fill David in on her prior history with Jack. Seeing that things could easily spin out of control, Pacey does his best to keep an eye on the increasingly tipsy Joey as she recalls their summer romance at sea. Pressed for details, Emma reveals that she's marrying Gus in order to stay in the country. And when Jen panics after Pacey gives C.J. a drink, she tries to intervene to keep the recovering alcoholic from falling off the wagon. Meanwhile, Dawson tries using a rehab counseling session with Toni and her agent as a way to persuade the former producer to consider a return to making movies. As Pacey and Jack share their concerns about Gus, C.J. takes Jen to task for feeling like she has to rescue him. With their relationship hanging in the balance, Joey enlists everyone in a game of spin the bottle that sends C.J. and Jen into Pacey's bedroom to get their romance back on track. When the loutish Gus clumsily destroys the prized new TV, Emma calls off their engagement. Finally, as David presses for details about his past, Jack offers to marry Emma so that she can stay in the country, while Pacey puts a very drunk Joey to bed in his room. And after being dismissed yet again by Toni, Dawson encourages Audrey to look up her friends once she is sober.

Coda

As he prepares to leave for college, Dawson uses the remaining time with Joey to avoid packing. And as she and her friends contemplate how to spend their last summer in Capeside, Joey wonders when, if ever, she'll hear from Pacey. While Jen is taken aback by Grams's lack of sentimentality as they pack for the move to Boston, Mitch's choice of a new computer for school doesn't sit well with son. And when Dawson would rather spend his last night in Capeside with friends than at home with family, his dad is upset. Meanwhile, from a Caribbean port, Pacey repeatedly backs off calling Joey. At the urging of their friends, Dawson and Joey each look for a way to take advantage of their last moments together. However, as their evening out draws to a close, neither of them is able to find the courage to be honest about their feelings. As Bessie encourages her sister not to let the moment slip by, Mitch uses an apology to press Dawson to see his last night with Joey doesn't go to waste. Meanwhile, though he can't find the nerve to call Joey, Pacey phones Dawson to settle their differences. Just as Dawson is preparing to go and bid her a proper goodbye, Joey arrives at the Lerry's house to do the same. And following a night of sharing fond and bittersweet memories, Joey makes it clear that she doesn't want him to leave. Yet, realizing that fate has far more in store for them, Dawson and Joey punctuate their last goodbye with a heartfelt kiss.

Coming Home

After spending the summer aboard his boat, Pacey and Joey return to Capeside filled with apprehension about what awaits them as they start their final year of high school. Promising not to say anything about what happened sexually during their weeks together, they agree to spend the next twenty-four hours apart. And while Joey is more than a little stunned to discover that the once struggling Potter Bed & Breakfast has flourished in her absence, Pacey is bewildered to find that his place on brother Doug's couch has been appropriated by their sister, Gretchen. Meanwhile, as Dawson uneasily looks ahead to Joey's return, Andie grabs her one last chance for a summer fling when a pair of French tourists lands in town. As Jen peppers her with questions about what happened on board the boat, Joey holds to her promise and divulges no details before accepting an invitation to join their friends, including Dawson -- at an annual rite of summer in Capeside, a movie at Stupmuck Cove. After trying to get to the bottom of Gretchen's sudden appearance, Pacey heads back to the boat to stay. And when Joey tells him about the film, he agrees to go along, if only to keep an eye on her and Dawson. Meanwhile, Andie does her best to accommodate the French-speaking Jean and his silent friend, Jean Jean. When Joey tentatively approaches Dawson for their first meeting in months, things end quickly when she gets a cool and detached welcome. And when he and Joey are at odds over what to do next, Pacey goes back to the boat alone. Following some disappointing news about Jean's Parisian girlfriend, Andie discovers that Jean Jean is actually an American who speaks perfect English -- and has understood everything she said. As Andie eagerly accepts J.J.'s kiss, Dawson offers the stranded Joey a ride home. And while he's unsure about what to do with a gift she brought him, she makes sure he understands that, sexually speaking, nothing happened with Pacey during their voyage. Finally, back on the boat, Joey apologizes to Pacey before taking up the post that they both shared all summer long.

Crime and Punishment

As the unexpected arrival of their sister and her children sends Pacey to stay with Doug, Joey works to complete an inspirational mural commissioned by Principal Green. But when everyone is present for it's unveiling, Joey is shocked to discover that her work has been defaced. Meanwhile, following her unsuccessful effort to persuade the Capeside High Disciplinary Committee to harshly punish Matt Caufield for cheating on a test, Andie gets word that her own tainted college entrance exam has identified her as one of the nation's top students. Ignoring Dawson's suggestion that she not let it get to her, Joey cannot face returning to school following the disastrous ceremony. After setting out to find who defaced the mural, it doesn't take Pacey long to discover that the culprit is Matt. And during an angry confrontation in which Matt confesses, he and Pacey are caught fighting. Meanwhile, Andie's guilt over her own cheating prompts her to resign from the Disciplinary Committee. Under pressure from Green, Matt admits to vandalizing Joey's artwork. And as Andie tells Jack her own terrible secret, Joey discovers that Dawson and Pacey conspired to watch out for her following their break up. After Joey takes Dawson to task for the arrangement, Principal Green expels Matt, but goes easy on Pacey following the fight. Finally, Andie is stunned when Green suggests that there may be an alternative to expulsion for her cheating on the PSAT, while Pacey volunteers to help Joey repaint her damaged mural.

Crossroads

Desperate to discuss his mom and dad's warning about the dangers of becoming a sexually active teen, Dawson overlooks the fact that it's Pacey's sixteenth birthday -- an oversight made worse by the fact that Pacey just failed his driver's license exam. Suffering rejection of her own, Jen suggests that Pacey throw his own birthday party. As Jen finds a sympathetic ear in classmate Abby Morgan, Dawson reads a less than flattering entry in Joey's journal. And when Dawson wants to discuss it, Joey realizes that he's violated her privacy. As the party puts Pacey face to face with Andie, Dawson seeks out Pacey for advice on getting out the jam he's in with Joey. And it's then that Pacey's reaction reminds Dawson that his own self centered behavior caused him to completely overlook his friend's birthday. Meanwhile, Mitch seeks an old friend's marital advice as Gale turns to Grams. And while Gale hopes that being more domestic will lure him back, her husband considers having an affair. Upon arriving at the party, Joey tracks down Dawson to explain how she used her journal to lash out at him when she was angry. And while Joey claims to have the utmost regard for his talents, Jen sees them walking hand in hand after making up and drunkenly admits to Abby that she still loves Dawson. Finally, as Andie tries making amends with Pacey, Dawson offers to take the road trip they always said they would for his birthday.

Dance

As they are struggling to finish Dawson's entry in a big video competition, Joey refuses to cooperate by kissing Pacey. And seeing how pressed he is for time, Jen offers to help. Told of an upcoming school dance, Joey claims they'll be too busy with the film. However, football star and aspiring filmmaker Cliff Elliot still asks Jen to go with him. Meanwhile, Pacey fights to regain Tamara's attention following their romantic liaison, Dawson regrets rewriting his script so Jen gets kissed instead of Joey. Stunned to learn that Jen is going with Cliff, Dawson decides his only recourse is to attend the dance, too. Convincing Joey to go with him, he arrives at the dance, only to then lose his nerve. Left with no other choice, Dawson confronts Cliff. But much to their collective surprise, Jen decides she doesn't like how either of them is competing for her attention. Meanwhile, as Pacey seeks help in getting Tamara to notice him, Joey lets Dawson's mom know that she's aware of her extramarital affair. As he and Pacey are recounting their mutual failures, Dawson spots Jen on the boardwalk and sets out to make amends for his behavior at the dance. Having spotted Tamara, too, Pacey tries to understand her confusion as he does his best to explain his own attraction to her. And though Tamara insists they cannot see each other again, her response to his kiss belies her best intentions. Finally, as his mom conceals her own confusion over the affair, Dawson discovers that Jen hasn't lost interest in him yet.

Dawson's Creek

On the eve of starting high school, fifteen-year-old Josephine "Joey" Potter suggests their emerging sexuality dictates that she and longtime childhood friend Dawson Leery stop spending the night together. When Dawson, an aspiring filmmaker who worships Steven Speilberg, objects, Joey agrees to remain friends no matter what. However, her resolve is quickly tested by newcomer Jennifer Lindley, a beautiful fifteen-year-old who's come to live with a grandmother who is Dawson's next door neighbor. Meanwhile, as he works on his latest film with the help of his friend Pacey, Dawson must also deal with the embarrassment caused by his over-sexed parents. While working at the local video store, Pacey develops a crush on an older woman with an apparent interest in younger men. On the first day of school, he's stunned to discover that Tamara Jacobs is also his English teacher. So, in a scheme to meet Tamara at the movies, Dawson invites Jennifer to come along and asks that Joey pretend to be Pacey's date, too. At the theater, Joey's probing questions of Jennifer make everyone uneasy, Dawson struggles to keep his date on track while Pacey makes his own move on Tamara, only to find that she's already with someone. Pressed by Dawson, Joey admits to feeling ignored ever since Jennifer's arrival. And while Dawson's evening ends with his finding Jennifer just as interested in him as he is in her, Pacey's hurt feelings are soothed by a reassuring kiss from Tamara. Finally, after Dawson returns home to find her waiting in his bedroom closet, Joey apologizes and heads for home, but not before discovering the truth about Mrs. Leery's extramarital affair.

Day Out of Days

As the completion of the film finds Natasha and Dawson parting on less than amicable terms, Joey arrives in Boston where she's ambushed at work by Professor Hetson's teenage daughter, Harley. Admitting to having bailed out of a school field trip, Harley reveals that she's come to live with her dad. And after sending Harley back to school, Joey starts tracking down the elusive Eddie. Meanwhile, as Pacey finds Emma having lunch at the aquarium near where he works and Jen discovers that having C.J. train her as a peer counselor is going to be harder than she thought, Jack and David take their relationship to the next level with an AIDS test. Back in L.A., Dawson struggles to keep Todd from alienating the studio executives. But when Todd balks at changing the film, they want Dawson to finish the job instead. And when Audrey and her friend Jack Osbourne are stranded in Malibu following a wild night out, they also call Dawson for help. Finding Hetson just as difficult as ever, Joey warns that he's in danger of losing control of his daughter. And as Emma convinces Pacey to skip work in order to spend the afternoon with her, Jen's hostility towards C.J. erupts at her next training session. Though encouraged to start spending his afternoons with Emma, Pacey considers just how much he would be giving up and leaves her waiting when he balks at quitting his job. As her training inches forward under C.J., Jen grows into her job at the counseling center. And as Harley comforts her after they discover that Eddie has moved, Hetson grudgingly thanks Joey for watching over the wayward teenager and then hires her to spend even more time with her. Finally, despite having already turned down the job, Dawson learns that, with Todd's encouragement, the studio has hired him to finish the film.

Decisions

When a classmate turns the offer down, Joey is invited to spend a semester studying abroad, but has to make the decision fast. And while Jen sees it as the perfect opportunity to get rid of her competition for Dawson, he's in conflict over what Joey's trip to Paris means for him. Meanwhile, as Jen gets word that her grandfather has come out of his coma, Joey must visit her imprisoned father for his birthday. Talking Dawson into joining her, she arrives at the prison too late for visiting hours. And rather than enduring the long bus ride home, they agree to spend the night and see Mr. Potter the following day. As the prospect of a night together away from home forces Dawson to re-examine their relationship, Joey's anger causes her visit with her dad to go badly. Deciding to accept the Paris offer despite what Dawson has to say, Joey heads home to prepare. However, when Pacey suggests making amends with her father before it's too late, she returns to the prison where she learns that not only does her dad love her, but that Dawson does, too. Meanwhile, following her grandfather's sudden turn for the worse, some unexpected advice from Grams leads Jen to ask Dawson if she can stay all night. Returning to Capeside to find Jen in Dawson's bedroom, Joey bolts without letting him explain. Yet, seeing him react to Joey's pain, Jen realizes that a romantic relationship with Dawson is out of the question right now. Meanwhile, Pacey and his brother Doug find common ground over feelings about their demanding father. And as Jen gets word that her grandfather has died, Dawson finally makes an impassioned plea for Joey to reconsider leaving for France.

Detention

After listening to Dawson lament his lack of sexual activity with Jen, Joey's well-timed punch to classmate Grant Bodean secures her a spot in Saturday detention. Once Jen's salty classroom language lands her a spot in detention, too, a fight with Pacey gets Dawson assigned to the Saturday punishment as well. On Saturday morning, Pacey shows up unexpectedly before Joey arrives to complete the group. And they are all more than a little disappointed to find they will be sharing their eight hour punishment with Abby Morgan. While Pacey remains secretive about why he's there, Dawson, Jen and Joey all admit their crimes without hesitation. But it's Abby who entices her fellow detains with vague references to an orgy in the boy's locker room before challenging them all to a game of Truth or Dare. And while Dawson is unhappy when Pacey kisses Jen on a dare, he strikes back with a long kiss of his own for Joey. After Dawson engineers an escape while Mrs. Tingle is preoccupied, the growing tension between the two boys cannot be contained, so they square off over basketball in the gym. And it's there that Abby forces Jen and Joey to own up to the fact that they are both in love with Dawson. When the escapade is broken up by Mrs. Tingle, it's only upon being dismissed for the day that everyone learns that Abby's orgy story couldn't have been farther from the truth. When Pacey still won't admit to his crime, Dawson accuses him of flaunting his sexual experience and of trying to steal his girlfriend. However, once Jen admits to having no romantic feelings for him, Pacey reveals that he was caught masturbating in the boy's bathroom. Finally, as he and Pacey reconcile their differences, Jen admits to having strong feelings for Dawson, while Joey confesses to having some strong feelings of her own.

Discovery

Although Dawson has inadvertently taped Tamara making love, he still can't make out the identity of her partner. When Pacey wants to see the tape, Dawson first assumes that it's only because of a prurient interest. However, when caught rifling through his things in search of the tape, Pacey is forced to admit that he's the unidentified man. Meanwhile, a kiss from Dawson prompts a warning from Jen's grandmother. While at a local department store with Joey, Dawson is surprised to run into his mom shopping with her co-anchor Bob Collinsworth. While Dawson doesn't yet know the truth, Joey can barely conceal her contempt for the fact that Mrs. Leery and Bob are having an affair. But when he spots them during a passionate moment, Dawson realizes that his mom has been unfaithful and lashes out at Joey for not telling him sooner. When Jen admits moving to Capeside because of her sexual promiscuity, Dawson is taken aback. And after pressing Tamara about her relationship with Mr. Gold, Pacey learns that the teacher is gay. As Dawson worries that Jen's sexual experience will ultimately embarrass him, he decides to tell his dad the truth about his mom's affair, only to fail when the time comes. Sought out for her advice, Joey urges Jen to give Dawson a chance to grow up, while warning Dawson about pushing Jen away. And when finally forced to explain his confusion, Dawson admits to being in love with both girls.

Double Date

Two weeks after breaking up, Jen suggests that she and Dawson try being just friends. After he decides to give it a try and Jen reveals that she has a weekend date with Cliff, Dawson suggests going somewhere with him and his date. In need of a date, Dawson then asks Mary Beth. However, when he fails to mention that they will be double dating and Mary Beth discovers the truth, Dawson claims it's all part of a plan to help Jen. Meanwhile, Pacey's failing grade on a midterm exam gets him teamed up with Joey for an extra credit assignment. At the carnival where they've gone for their double date, an impromptu contest with Cliff makes it clear that Dawson's romantic interests still lie with Jen. But as he's trying to explain the situation to an exasperated Mary Beth, Dawson learns that she has a crush of her own...on Cliff. Meanwhile, a trip to find some new snails for their marine biology project suggests that Pacey and Joey could learn to like each other. While Dawson presses for the reasons behind their break up and Jen suggests that being friends might not be such a good idea, Mary Beth realizes that Cliff isn't quite who she thought and heads for home. When he and Joey arrive following their field trip, Pacey asks how Dawson would feel about him pursuing a romance with his best friend. And while Dawson has reservations, he gives Pacey the go ahead. But only after Pacey discovers that Joey doesn't share his feelings does Dawson admit to his own discomfort with the situation.

Downtown Crossing

While stopping at a bank cash machine en route to Professor Wilder's house, Joey is accosted by a small time drug addict and dealer. Initially downplaying the moment, Sully asks Joey for her money, and then threatens to use a gun to get it. Although Joey does her best to defend herself, Sully gets her cash, cell phone and credit cards before forcing her to clean out her savings account, too. Then, after stealing her coat to give to his girlfriend, Sully takes off, only to be seriously injured when a passing car hits him. Although he's determined to leave under his own power, Sully's injuries force Joey to call the police for help. As they are waiting for the ambulance to arrive, Joey and her attacker find that they have a lot in common when it comes to their fathers. As the police take Sully into custody, Joey passes out from shock, landing her in the hospital, too. Treated and given the doctor's OK to go home, she comes across a five-year-old girl in the ER waiting room and agrees to stay with her while her mom goes to find out what she can about the father's injuries. And it doesn't take long for Joey to realize that the little girl's dad, and Grace's husband, is none other than Sully. Unable to interest Grace in sticking around to see what's happened, Joey is stunned to hear that Sully is actually calling for her. Told that his injuries are extremely serious, she does her best to comfort him as he explains why he needed the money -- and just how much he still loves his wife and daughter. And after Joey talks about how the connection between a father and daughter can transcend even the worst examples of parenting, Sully dies, leaving her to concoct a story that makes him a hero in his daughter's eyes before turning to Dawson for some comfort of her own.

Eastern Standard Time

Though Pacey and Drue's poor academic standing has left them behind, Dawson, Joey, Jen and their classmates have all made plans for Capeside High's annual Senior Ditch Day. While Dawson persuades Gretchen to join him for a road trip, Joey accompanies Jen on a trip to visit a college in New York City. But when they arrive in Manhattan, it becomes clear that Jen's agenda is driven by a plan to confront her father. And after a flat tire strands them on a Maine country road, Dawson and Gretchen walk the six miles into town looking for help. Meanwhile, Pacey takes Drue up on his offer to skip school together. Upon learning that Jen has been accepted at the University of New York, Theodore Lindley takes her and Joey out to celebrate. However, when he's called back to the office on business, Theo leaves the two girls on their own. At a diner in Maine, Gretchen is forced to fend off the advances of a pair of locals, while in Capeside, Drue takes Pacey to a local bar. But once their cash runs out and he and Drue are tossed out, Pacey's brother Doug saves him from being arrested. And when Dawson cannot pay for a new tire, he and Gretchen are left outside of town to fend for themselves. When Gretchen starts hitchhiking just as a truck carrying the two men she confronted back at the diner passes by, they are forced to run. And while the moment seems right to Dawson, Gretchen rebuffs his sexual overtures. Realizing just how much she loves New York and wants to return for school, Jen has no choice but to confront her dad about their last painful meeting. As Jen tearfully recalls how, as a twelve-year-old girl, she walked in on him having sex with a neighbor, Theo struggles to deny that it ever happened. Finally, as a relieved Jen reunites with Joey for their return trip home, Pacey sees a friendship with Drue is growing.

Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell

While preparing to front Emma's band for another performance at Hell's Kitchen, Audrey accuses Joey of being so distracted by Eddie that it caused her to miss the fact that she's broken up with Pacey. As Joey comes to grips with the self-absorption that blinded her to all the emotional turmoil, Jen presses on with her efforts to land a date and, when Jack invites David to join them to hear Audrey, she asks CJ to come along, too. But, after learning that he's leaving for a post in Chicago, Jack s plans for the evening are upended when Professor Freeman invites him to a party. And stunned to learn that Freeman is leaving his wife, too, Jack decides to linger at the party a little longer. Meanwhile, to celebrate passing the broker's exam, Rich Rinaldi takes Pacey and his colleagues to New Orleans for a wild weekend. As Audrey's pre-show drinking wears on Eddie, Joey steps in to defend her roommate's obnoxious behavior. Following Audrey's incendiary, alcohol-fueled performance, Joey defends her against Emma's criticism, too. Yet, having already been pushed aside by her roommate, things for Joey get even worse when Eddie says there's no hope for a serious relationship with him either. Meanwhile, as CJ's attention is drawn towards Joey's increasingly out of control roommate, Jen learns that he is recovering from a destructive drinking problem. And down in the Big Easy, Pacey lands back at his hotel room with a beautiful woman. As Freeman struggles with how to express what he's feeling towards him, Jack makes it clear that he's moving on with his life. Back at the club, CJ refuses to relax his self-imposed ban on dating and sends Jen home before turning his attention to Audrey. After Jack shows up to make things right with David before telling Freeman goodbye, Eddie arrives at the dorm to put a romance with Joey back on track. Finally, upon learning that the woman in his room is actually a high priced call girl hired by his boss, Pacey angrily confronts Rich. And when she steps in to defend Pacey, Denise also gives Rinaldi a piece of her mind and the back of her hand.

Escape from Witch Island

In an effort to come up with an original class project, Dawson finds inspiration in The Blair Witch Project and sets out to make a documentary about the local legend of Witch Island. After enlisting Pacey, Joey and Jen, he begins questioning Capeside residents about the legend. And once Dawson and his crew are ready to make their way to the island, even the ferryman's eerie warnings fail to deter them. Meanwhile, as Dawson and Joey examine the state of their on again off again relationship, Andie decides to exercise her authority as the head of the school's disciplinary committee. Upon arriving at the island, Dawson and his friends are met by the Capeside Historical Society's Wendy Dalrymple. As Dawson and Joey ask Wendy for information about the thirteen alleged teenage witches who died in a tragic fire, Jen and Pacey find some erotic spells while browsing in the gift shop. However, once Pacey and Jen wander off and fail to make it back in time for the last boat to the mainland, Dawson and Joey stay behind rather than leave them alone on the island all night. Meanwhile, Joey finds an ally in Belinda McGovern for her campaign to clean up Capeside High. As Pacey and Jen fall under the spell of the potions they concocted and begin to explore the idea of some casual sex, a witch's diary leads Joey to conclude that things aren't all that different over three hundred years later for her and Dawson. And after they are all brought together at the island's church by the ringing of a phantom bell, some unexplained noises give everyone reason to worry about the legend. Putting sex with Pacey on hold, Jen decides that the time has come for them all to find a way off the island as soon as possible. Finding that the ferryman left them a boat, the four teens escape back to the safety of the mainland. However, after Dawson premieres his documentary to favorable reviews at school, a faint image suggests that Wendy and the ferryman are really ghosts. Finally, after Principal Green brings an end to Andie and Belinda's reign of terror, Jen makes it clear that her offer to Pacey still holds.

Everything Put Together Falls Apart

As the arrival of film star Max Winter causes Dawson to worry about its impact on Natasha, Eddie graciously offers Joey his apartment so she can study for the upcoming final in Hetson's class. Coming home late, he then takes to the floor in order to give her an uninterrupted night's sleep. But when Eddie gets her up in plenty of time to get to campus for the test, the two of them end up in bed together. And by the time Joey awakens, she's just about slept through the entire final. Meanwhile, a new dress and his promise to clean the apartment are what it costs Pacey to get Emma to agree to be his date for an office holiday party. Despite Eddie's efforts to calm her down, Joey rushes frantically back to the campus hoping to convince Hetson to let her take the final. Even as she does her best to make a good case, Hetson stands fast, refusing to make an exception for her, or anyone else. And though he notes that, despite failing the final, she will still pass, Joey insists that a low grade will jeopardize her scholarship and force to her leave Worthington. Meanwhile, as Dawson worries that the on-screen heat between Natasha and Max will translate into an off-screen romance, too, Emma arrives at the party in her drastically altered new dress. And while Pacey is horrified when she then on the offensive against his boss, Rich Rinaldi, Emma comes unglued upon finding she's been tricked into a "hot date contest" that could net her roommate one thousand dollars. With Joey worried about losing her chance to attend Worthington, Eddie does his best to help her put the setback into perspective. And though Joey is certain that her future is ruined, seeing Eddie jeopardize his own prospects by slugging Hetson convinces her that their relationship may be just what she needs right now. After overhearing Natasha downplaying him so she can be with Max, Dawson is left to seriously question their future together. Yet, on Todd's advice, he chooses to keep his concerns to himself when Natasha arrives at his hotel room to spend the night. Finally, following the fiasco at work, his thanking her for helping him see Rinaldi and company for who they really are leads to Pacey and Emma's first kiss.

Failing Down

As he and Joey begin their final year at Capeside High, Pacey gets off to a rocky start when Dawson spies them kissing outside of class. But Joey is relieved when Andie not only forgives her for everything, but also gives her a lead to a job at the Capeside Yacht Club. Although her interview with the club's manager, Mrs. Valentine, doesn't go well at first, things start looking up when Joey heeds Andie's advice and drops the name of a prominent member. Meanwhile, a sudden absence of e-mails from Henry leads Jen to wonder if he's giving up on her. And after Gretchen decides to take Dawson under her wing, she persuades her brother, Pacey, to join her in renting a ramshackle beach house. Hired to fill in until the school can find a full time guidance counselor, Mitchell Leery draws the unpleasant duty of telling Pacey that he'll have to work overtime to make up the three classes he failed the previous year. In an effort to make sure Pacey graduates with his friends, Mitch asks Dawson to enlist Joey's help. At the yacht club, Joey quickly finds herself the object of attention from a young man she thinks is the son of the member whose name she used to impress Mrs. Valentine. Meanwhile, Jack is asked by Henry to tell Jen that their romance is over. And while Joey senses something is wrong, Pacey refuses to tell her about his trouble at school. As Joey's new acquaintance fills her in on some of the yacht club's juicier gossip, Jack is forced to deliver Henry's bad news to Jen. And after talking to Dawson, Joey angrily takes Pacey to task for not sharing his troubles with her. Once Mrs. Valentine discovers that she lied about knowing the Ross family, Joey's job is saved by the rich kid member she thought was Owen Ross--and who actually turns out to be Mrs. Valentine's son, Drue. Finally, after Dawson consoles Jen over the loss of her boyfriend, Pacey apologizes to Joey, who offers whatever help she can to get him through the school year.

First Encounters of the Close Kind

After completing his latest film, Dawson and his friends head to Boston for a young filmmaker's competition. As Dawson is shepherding his picture through the festival's entry process, Joey and Andie visit a prestigious university while Jack uses the opportunity to secretly explore the local gay scene. After negotiating his way past a volunteer who makes no secret of her feelings towards him and his film, Dawson is stunned when his movie receives a tepid audience response. Meanwhile, after a mix up results in Joey being assigned a male roommate for the weekend, Andie tries talking her way into see a dean without an appointment. Sensing his disappointment, the same volunteer that gave him such a hard time does her best to comfort Dawson. Although he doesn't want to recognize Nikki as being credible, Dawson changes his mind after seeing her own well-received festival entry. Instead of the audience she wanted with the dean, Andie gets a much more insightful meeting with his secretary, sixty-eight-year-old Fran Boyd. And when Joey is stunned by a harsh critique of her favorite novel, roommate A.J. Moller offers to smooth things over with a campus tour. Meanwhile, as Dawson offers Nikki his congratulations and Andie tells Fran about her own tumultuous childhood, A.J. does his best to help make Joey more comfortable with him and the school, while an encounter at a gay bar sends Jack running. When Nikki's film fails to win, it's Dawson's turn to comfort her over the loss. And on the train back home, he is surprised to find she's coming to live with her dad, Capeside High's principal. As Andie shares the benefits of meeting Fran, Jack gets some helpful advice from another gay teenager who is also en route to Capeside. Finally, after A.J. makes it clear that he'd like to see her again, both Joey and Dawson share how much the weekend taught them about life outside their insular world at home.

Four Scary Stories

For Halloween, Jen makes her college radio debut by taking over Charlie's show on the campus station. When she asks her listeners to call in with their scariest story, the first one has Pacey and Karen driving home after a late night at work in their boss Danny Brecher's car. Ignoring Karen's warnings, Pacey tries to warn an oncoming driver that his headlights are off, and his efforts to be a Good Samaritan end up with them being run off the road. Refused refuge in an out of the way diner, they are thrown back on the road where another encounter ends with the mystery car being run off the road and into a ditch. But when they go to accost the maniac behind the wheel, they find no one there. The next caller's story has Audrey trying to persuade Joey to attend a Halloween party instead of spending the night studying at the school's nearly deserted library. Despite Audrey's suggestion that Hopper, a middle-aged library patron, looks like trouble, Joey insists on staying, even though there have been rumors around campus of women who have been attacked there at night. However, when Joey turns to Ray, a library worker, for help in avoiding Hopper's lurking presence, she quickly discovers that Ray is the one she needs to be afraid of. But after Joey calls on her new kickboxing skills to fend off Ray's attack, she learns that Hopper was actually an undercover cop working to catch the library's elusive assailant. The next tale has Jack learning of an old fraternity brother who killed himself in 1968 after finding his girlfriend in bed with someone else. Investigating a noise coming from a frat house closet, Jack finds someone stashed inside. Claiming it was part of a hazing ritual, Tad says that that no one in the house likes him, but were forced to pledge him because his dad was a member. And after Tad admits that he's being harassed because he's gay, Jack spots a photo of the pledge class of 1968 that includes him, and the pledge mysteriously disappears. Finally, for her last tale of the evening, Jen uses her own experience as a late night Halloween DJ. Hearing the sound of a branch brushing up against a window, she goes outside to remedy the problem, only to end up being locked out. And as she tries to get back inside, she comes face to face with a clown before getting back inside just as a body comes crashing through the window... right before Charlie arrives to pick her up.

Four Stories

When Drue's prank causes them to miss the bus back to Capeside, Joey and Pacey's senior class ski trip ends with them being left at the ski lodge where they have just spent the night together. While Pacey is anxious to learn how he was in bed, Joey doesn't want to talk. But when pressed, the lack of superlatives in Joey's analysis leaves Pacey hurt. After their discussion turns to what Dawson would think, Pacey quickly realizes that he's at risk of losing Joey right on the heels of their long awaited first time. So when he tracks Joey down to tell her how much he loves her, she declares that she's glad they did it, and that she's ready to do it again. Following Mr. Brooks' funeral, Dawson and Gretchen arrive at the late filmmaker's garage to meet with Grams. Amidst a large collection of memorabilia chronicling his career, Grams encourages a cynical and bitter Dawson to take something to remind him of Brooks. And it's after they come across a play Brooks wrote over fifty years ago that Gretchen and Dawson make clear what it is they like about each other. Meanwhile, left alone in the garage with his memories of the old man, Dawson is approached by a lawyer asking to speak with him about Mr. Brooks' will. Because she was caught drinking during the ski trip, Jen is sent to see psychologist Tom Frost. Already skeptical of therapy, Jen's low opinions aren't altered by Frost's terse questions. However, once the doctor touches upon the pain and fear resulting from her fractured relationships with her parents, Jen decides not to walk away. Meanwhile, in an effort to find a respite from their respective problems, Dawson and Joey both end up at a local movie theater. On Joey's suggestion the two old friends head for a nearby diner to talk. After revealing that Brooks left him a lot of money in his will, Dawson notes that there's something different about Joey. And when a look back at memories from their lifelong friendship leads Dawson to ask if she had sex with Pacey, Joey looks him in the eye and denies it.

Four to Tango

After using Dawson's bedroom in an effort to ignite some sexual heat between them, Jen manages to get away unnoticed, although Pacey doesn't. After concocting a lie to explain his presence, Pacey arrives at school to learn that he's in danger of failing math. So when Joey needs the college scholarship being offered by a local ballroom dance studio, she agrees to tutor Pacey in exchange for his being her partner. Meanwhile, when Jack is deluged with letters from supporters and detractors alike, Andie encourages him to meet one of his gay teen admirers. Finding a stray condom that was left behind in his bedroom leads Dawson to suspect that Pacey is having an affair. Secretly following him to the dance studio, he and Jen see Pacey and Joey together. But when the dance instructor spots them lurking in the hallway, Dawson and Jen cannot avoid being roped into the class, too. Meanwhile, as Pacey seeks Joey's advice on sex without commitment, Andie helps set up Jack on a blind date with another gay teen athlete. When Dawson confronts Pacey about the condom, he concludes that he and Joey are sexually involved. Though Pacey disputes the contention, he does warn Dawson that Joey will find another boyfriend if he fails to act soon. Then, after being caught kissing in the studio's coatroom, Jen and Pacey agree to call their sexual experiment to a halt, leaving Dawson and Joey to disagree over its implications. Finally, after Jack loses his nerve and bails out before introducing himself to Ben, Andie comforts him over the failed blind date. And while Jen suggests that Pacey is far more attracted to his dance partner than he is willing to admit, Joey discovers that the scholarship is no longer being offered.

Full Moon Rising

As Pacey decides to ask Andie out, Jen accepts a date of her own with Vincent. However, as Andie struggles to keep Pacey from meeting her mom, Abby turns on Jen upon learning of her plans. With her grandmother out for the evening, Jen feels safe to have Vincent in for coffee -- unaware that Abby is next door watching from Dawson's bedroom window. Meanwhile, Andie panics when a mix up sends Pacey to her house to meet her. After questioning his parents about their failing marriage, Dawson insists they work out their problems and not just walk away. And when Jen tries calling a halt to their evening, Vincent doesn't want to take "no" for an answer. But once he learns she's only sixteen, he bolts as Grams arrives. Meanwhile, as Andie arrives at home to tell Pacey that her mother is mentally ill, a stranger's advice lead Joey and Jack to kiss after they've averted the crisis at the restaurant As Jen squares off with Grams over Vincent, Dawson's mom and dad realize they have no alternative but to split up. And as Dawson seeks comfort in Joey, she's struggling to contain her confusion over her feelings for Jack. Meanwhile, when pressed for details, Andie tells Pacey about a car accident in which her mom's drunk driving led to her older brother being killed. As a result of the tragedy, Andie's dad left, while her mom still refuses to believe that her son is really dead.

Future Tense

As the college application season shifts into high gear, Jack hopes that football will help place him at a good school, while Dawson looks to the west coast in hopes of getting far away from Capeside -- and Joey. While Andie leaves no stone unturned in her quest to get into a top Ivy League school, Joey worries that even her outstanding academic record may not get her into her first choice. And as Pacey struggles just to graduate, Jen admits that she isn't taking the application process very seriously. Meanwhile, Jack's plans come to painful halt when an injury during practice sidelines him for the entire season. And as Gale hires Gretchen to tend bar at the restaurant, Drue sets out to reestablish his relationship with Jen by throwing her a fake birthday party. When the faux birthday party gets underway, Joey ignores Pacey's warnings about the consequences and chooses to spend the evening drinking just like one of the guys. After making sure Drue knows that she sees through his clever party plans, Jen joins Andie and an increasingly drunk Joey for a walk. And while Andie sets out to make sure everyone else's college application process is as thorough as hers is, the three girls take a stab at predicting their futures. Meanwhile, Gale warns Dawson against choosing a distant college for all the wrong reasons. When Joey returns to find Drue has dragged him into a game of strip poker, Pacey must do everything he can to see that she doesn't join in, too. Then, as the party is winding down, Jen is none to happy to find that Drue's "birthday" gift to her is a small supply of the drug Ectasy. And as Andie apologizes for all the pressure she's been putting on Jack, Joey wonders if leaving Capeside for college is what she really wants to do. Finally, Gretchen consoles Dawson on losing Joey to her brother... and his former best friend.

Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road

In the wake of his stock investment disaster, Pacey arrives in Capeside to tell Dawson that he's lost all his money. Yet, seeing Dawson moving ahead with his plans to make his film, he cannot bring himself to break the bad news and returns to Boston. To force Grams to open up about her breast cancer, Jen has secretly arranged for her mom, Helen, to visit. Still not having told the women why she's brought them together, Jen does her best to keep the evening on track by inviting both Jack and C.J. to join them for dinner. Meanwhile, after leaving Audrey to help Jack Osbourne explore his enrolling at Worthington, Joey returns for a summer in Capeside where, after reading the script for his film about their relationship, she heads to the Leery home where Dawson has painstakingly recreated his childhood bedroom for the movie. Over dinner at Grams', it quickly becomes clear that inviting both Jack and C.J. will only fuel the evening's underlying tension. As C.J. discusses his plans to go to school in New York, Jen takes Jack to task for his overly territorial behavior. But when C.J.'s Uncle Bill arrives unannounced and news of the cancer is suddenly thrust into the open, Jen is forced to reveal her plan to move with Grams to New York to live with Helen. Meanwhile, as they are discussing his script, Joey and Dawson reflect on their past and the difficulty of spending a year apart. And back at Hell's Kitchen, upon seeing Pacey deeply wounded by his failure as a broker, Audrey presses him to confront his problem head on and not simply retreat into a bottle. Returning from Boston, Pacey heads for the Leery's where he admits to losing all of Dawson's money, leaving Joey struggling to bridge the gap between her closest childhood friends. Although she does her best to persuade him to try and heal the breach with Dawson, Pacey refuses to be consoled and Joey retreats, leaving the two old friends haunted by the circumstances that have brought them this far. Finally, with Jen and C.J. joining her in New York with Helen, Grams insists that Jack come along, too. And as she prepares to get her own life back in order, Audrey takes the stage at Hell's Kitchen at a show hosted by Jack Osbourne.

Great Xpectations

While encouraging Jen to get started on applying to college, Andie learns of her own early admission to Harvard. Despite the relief and her family's obvious pride, Andie cannot get excited about the news. So when Drue announces an all night dance party in Capeside, Andie decides that it is just what she needs to help her celebrate. As they are preparing to leave for the rave, Andie spots the Ecstasy that Drue gave Jen as a gift. And while Jen doesn't take any, Andie does. Meanwhile, after begging off Gretchen's invitation to the rave, Dawson has second thoughts and arrives at her house ready to go, only to end up joining Pacey and Joey, too. At the party, Jen warns an unsuspecting Jack to keep an eye on his sister. But after Drue sees that Andie is high, he sets out to take advantage of the situation. Once Jen realizes that Andie is gone, she enlists Jack in an effort to find her. And in her drug addled state, Andie makes it clear that she still has strong feelings for Pacey. Meanwhile, when pressed by Joey, Gretchen insists she has no romantic designs on Dawson and makes sure that he understands they are just good friends. After Andie collapses as a result of the drugs, Jack discovers that his sister has taken Ecstasy on top of her already powerful anti-depressants. With her condition growing worse by the second, Andie is rushed to the hospital. Seeing Jen stung when Jack blames her for Andie's condition, Drue steps in to comfort her as Dawson, Joey, Gretchen and Pacey all head for the hospital. And though the others leave once her condition has stabilized, Pacey stays to be with Andie and her family. Finally, as Jen resists Drue's efforts to turn her away from her friends, Dawson finds himself alone with Joey.

Guerilla Filmmaking

As Dawson questions whether he's up to the task of directing Oliver's movie, Joey freezes while attempting to reveal her true feelings to Professor Wilder. And as the tension between Pacey and Audrey grows, Jack is surprised when Eric encourages him to stay at the fraternity house. But, after a very revealing private moment, Eric claims that Jack came on to him. Meanwhile, when Dawson decides that the problem with the film is a lack of chemistry between Oliver and his co-star, Audrey, Jen enlists Charlie to take over the lead role. After listening to Pacey and Audrey's advice, Joey tells Wilder how sorry she is that romance has intruded on their student-teacher relationship. Yet, even after claiming she can no longer stay in his class, Joey's resolve begins to weaken. Enlisting Pacey to help her rehearse for the film only serves to amplify Audrey's growing sexual tension. And once she's back on the set, she finds that working with the hormonally charged Charlie is more than she bargained for, too. Meanwhile, though his fraternity brothers try an talk him out of it, Jack decides to move out, but not before clearing the air about Eric's conflicted sexuality. To help him concentrate on completing the film, Dawson decides to send Jen home until it's finished. And though Audrey worries about betraying their friendship, Joey consents to her pursuing a romance with Pacey. Finally, after listening to Joey's advice, Dawson decides to rewrite the end of Oliver's movie in order to make it his own.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

When Grams invites everyone for Thanksgiving, Pacey helps Jen shop for dinner while discussing their as yet to be fulfilled pledge to be casual sex partners. And as Dawson and his dad watch Gail prepare their contribution to the feast, Joey and Bessie reflect on the Thanksgivings spent with their late mother. After Jen is stunned to find that her mother has unexpectedly arrived for Thanksgiving, Andie and Jack's plans for the holiday are ruined after their dad can't make it for a family dinner. So, as Jen struggles to comprehend Helen's visit, Jack and Andie are extended a last minute invitation by Grams. While neither Pacey nor Andie wants to stay, Jack insists that they put aside their differences for the day. Following a tense encounter with her mom, Jen is encouraged by both Dawson and Joey to give her a chance. And after telling Helen what he knows about her other daughter, Dawson agrees to keep the news about Eve between them for now. Meanwhile, when Jen uses an opportunity to extend a conciliatory hand, Helen is overcome with emotion and bolts. After being told of her mother's unplanned pregnancy many years ago, Jen accuses Helen of hypocrisy. And as Dawson discovers that his parent's divorce has been finalized, he turns to Joey for comfort. Though Jen tries to seize the moment to make good on her promise of sex with Pacey, he's unwilling to let their first encounter be dictated by problems with her mother. Finally, after Jen says goodbye to Helen, she and her friends sit down for a dinner they can all find reason to be thankful for.

High Anxiety

When his doctor suggests seeing a psychologist in Boston about his panic attacks, Dawson calls Joey to let her know he'll be in town, but then turns down her offer of a place to stay. Yet, upon arriving for his appointment, he bolts from the waiting room before seeing the doctor. While Audrey warns Joey to be prepared for trouble when her mom comes for a visit, Jen turns to Pacey for solace after finding that Charlie is seeing someone else. And to avoid having to help Danny cheat on his wife, Pacey is forced into throwing a party aboard the boat. Once Kay Liddell arrives, it doesn't take Joey long to pick up on the long, tense history between mother and daughter. And when Kay insists that she join them for dinner, Audrey refuses to let Joey avoid the invitation. At Grams' house looking for a place to stay, Dawson is persuaded to join Jack and his fraternity brothers for a few beers. Meanwhile, when an unannounced visit to his dorm room exposes Charlie's two-timing ways, Jen enlists the other woman in the triangle in her plan to exact revenge. Having heard enough of Kay's relentless criticism of her daughter, Joey heads for Pacey's party with Audrey in tow. When Dawson arrives drunk, he makes it clear that he holds Joey responsible for his father's death. But waking up with a hangover the following morning, he immediately regrets his actions of the night before and realizes just how important his friends really are. Finally after she and her mom part on better than normal terms, Audrey thanks Joey for her help. And as Pacey finds evidence that points to Karen's having an affair with their boss, Dawson has another panic attack at the train station that leaves him unconscious.

High Risk Behavior

Having completed the script for his next film, Dawson asks Jen to be his producer. After learning of Jen's new role, Abby suggests she use it to rekindle her romance with Dawson. Meanwhile, as Pacey and Andie begin to share sexual fantasies, Jack's clumsiness ruins Joey's latest art class assignment. And in order to keep her from failing, he offers to help by posing in the nude. Following a disastrous casting session in which Chris's boorish behavior sends Abby running, Jen suggests that Dawson's autobiographical tale needs a dose of realism. While Dawson insists the movie isn't about his failed love affair with Joey, Jen isn't convinced. And after learning that she's been cast as the character based on Jen, Abby is stunned when Chris is given the film's lead role. Meanwhile, as Andie barely manages to avoid Pacey learning about her anti-depressants, Joey's effort to sketch Jack in the nude gets off to a very uncomfortable start. With some encouragement from Abby, Jen once again approaches Dawson about his script, suggesting he rewrite it with more passion and lust. And as Jack's confessions about his own passions help Joey relax, Pacey recreates Andie's sexual fantasy, only to have second thoughts about actually going through with it. Once their modeling session is complete and Joey has a remarkably good picture of Jack, the two give in to their pent up passions for each another. Finally, as Dawson slips into Jen's bedroom late at night, Pacey and Andie end their evening by agreeing not to act on their impulses just yet.

Highway to Hell

When Charlie's band needs a new singer, he presses Joey to help out. With Audrey's encouragement, she rises to the task. But after agreeing to give the two women a ride to the bar where the band is playing, Pacey is more than a little annoyed to discover that Charlie will be joining them, too. Meanwhile, after shocking Jack with a passing reference to her plans to break up, Jen joins him, Dawson and Grams in Capeside to celebrate Lily's first birthday. And still unaware of what Jen has in store for him, Dawson is taken aback to discover that his mom may be dating someone new. During the drive, Pacey's irritation and anger with Charlie boils over and their roadside fight forces Audrey and Joey to intervene. Then, at the roadhouse where the band is playing, it's clear that the drunk and rowdy crowd may be too much for Joey to handle. As Joey expresses her reservations about accepting the job, Audrey reminds her that her decision is due, in part, to her unresolved feelings for Charlie. And when Joey meekly takes the stage, Charlie steps up and inspires her to seize the moment as they sweep the audience off its feet. Back in Capeside, Jen tries explaining to Jack her changing feelings towards Dawson. And when Dawson seeks Jen's some advice on his suspicions that his mom may be seeing someone, he senses there's a widening gulf between them. Audrey and Pacey's decision to stay the night in a nearby motel leaves Joey sharing a room with Charlie. With her friends settling in for an uninterrupted night of romance, Joey does her best to avoid Charlie's considerable charms. And following some encouraging words from Pacey, a more confident Joey and an Charlie spend a chaste night together. Finally, after turning to his mom for answers, Joey's present for Lily prompts Dawson to reflect on their many years of friendship. And, reunited on the steps of their old high school, Jen and Dawson both realize that their days as a couple are numbered.

His Leading Lady

With their friendship seemingly back on track, Dawson finds the courage to ask Joey to help finish his new film. Dropping by her art class with a new script, Dawson is pursued by a nude model who, impressed with his project, agrees to read for a part. And despite Devon's harsh critique, Dawson casts her in the role inspired by Joey. Meanwhile, as Pacey discovers she's been taking anti-depressants, Andie's new doctor refuses to refill the prescription. As Devon throws herself into researching the part, both Joey and Jen suspect there may be a romance with Dawson in the offing. And while Jack sees evidence that Dawson is not over his romantic involvement with Joey, Devon senses that Joey hasn't put it all behind her either. However, once Joey confronts him about the film's exposing the details of their failed love affair, Dawson argues that she was the one who broke things off. Meanwhile, though intrigued by her grandmother's introduction to a new boy, Jen is surprised when Ty takes her to a Bible study session on their first date. Even as Pacey offers to help in whatever way he can, Andie decides that she will have to live without him, at least for now. And though Dawson suggests that he break things off, Pacey will hear nothing of it and heads for Andie's house to save their teetering relationship. Finally in an effort to finally put their failed romance behind them once and for all, Dawson graciously sends Joey home with Jack before settling in alone to contemplate his new film.

Home Movies

When the opportunity to have it shown on national television arise, Dawson sets out to make a documentary about Capeside High's new gay football player. Worried that it could jeopardize his team's chances in an upcoming game, Dawson's dad refuses to cooperate and asks that he not do the story. Meanwhile, when Jen announces that she's quitting the cheerleading squad; her classmates insist that she participate in a silent auction where the prize is a kiss from her. And after Pacey and Joey are caught cutting class, Andie worries that her cheating on the college admission exam is about to be exposed. Despite his father's wishes, Dawson forges ahead with his story and persuades Jack to cooperate. Upon learning that Dawson interviewed the opposing coach, Mitchell accuses him of undermining his efforts to produce a winning team by exposing Capeside's secret weapon. And when Mitchell's worst fears are realized when Jack becomes the opponent's target, Dawson enlists Jen in an effort to make things right. Meanwhile, as Andie as nervously prepares to confess, Principal Green finds just the right punishment for Joey and Pacey. In an effort to turn the game around, Dawson and the cheerleaders try distracting the other team by using mud and makeup to disguise Capeside's players. And when the ruse works, Jack scores the winning touchdown. Finally, Andie is relieved to learn that no one knows she cheated, while Henry gets the kiss he paid $500 for. And as Jen is named Homecoming Queen, the football victory provides some common ground for Dawson and his dad.

Homecoming

After learning that Eve is really a new high school classmate with a purely sexual interest in him, Dawson is enlisted to produce a propaganda film to boost the morale of the school's perpetually losing football team. To surprise Andie, Pacey and Joey arrive a day early at the mental hospital where she's spent the summer. After managing to sneak past some very tight security, a surprised Pacey finds his girlfriend in the company of a handsome fellow patient named Marc. Meanwhile, Jack discovers that his dad isn't ready to have him move back home just yet. And while discussing his plight with a sympathetic Jen, he unwittingly finds himself drafted to play for the football team. As she steadfastly refuses to discuss her relationship with Marc, Andie resists Pacey's efforts to spend time alone, insisting on having their friends around as much as possible. Yet when he continues to press for answers, Pacey discovers that Andie and Marc had sex. And though Andie apologizes, Pacey is in no mood to accept it. In preparation for his big date with Eve, Dawson gets some advice from Jen. But when Eve chooses the pep rally for Dawson's first sexual experience, they discover that the whole school is watching. Suddenly a campus celebrity because of being caught in the act, Dawson admits that he still hasn't gotten over Joey. As freshman quarterback Henry Parker is barely able to conceal his growing infatuation with Jen, Pacey gives Andie a chance to explain her affair with Marc. While Pacey cannot bring himself to forgive, Dawson and Joey decide that their future is not going to be a romantic one for now. Finally, after seeing his son with the team, Mr. McPhee asks Jack to move back home.

Hopeless

As Dawson tentatively agrees to join Gretchen and some old college friends for a night on the town, Mrs. Valentine insists that Joey help out Drue on his date with the daughter of the influential president of the yacht club. With Pacey at her side, Joey tries to make the best of an uncomfortable double date as Drue makes it clear he has no respect for Anna's feelings. Meanwhile, Tobey drums up a new community service project as a way to get closer to Jack, while Dawson is pleasantly surprised with Mr. Brooks' response to his documentary film. Over his mother's objections, Dawson heads off for an evening with Gretchen, Keira and Jessica. But it doesn't take long for him to feel like he's just tagging along. On their double date, Pacey gallantly steps in to deflect Drue's relentless sarcasm. As Pacey comforts Anna, Joey makes sure that Drue doesn't go unpunished. However, when Drue manages to exploit her insecurities, Joey is left with some nagging doubts about Pacey and Anna. Meanwhile, when Jack sees that Tobey's real motive is romance, he makes it clear that he's not interested. And when the girl talk gets a little too personal, Dawson ends his evening early and heads home alone. With Joey's criticism still ringing in his ears, Drue decides to try and finish his evening with Anna on a positive note. Though glad it's over, Joey worries about Anna after seeing her kissing Drue. Coming home to find her waiting up, Dawson clears the air with his mom. And when Gretchen arrives, Gale leaves her son and his new girlfriend to discuss their future. Finally, as Joey and Pacey end their evening with a heart to heart talk about their fear of a sexual relationship, Dawson discovers the ailing Mr. Brooks unconscious.

Hotel New Hampshire

With Joey already going with him to an important Sigma Epsilon formal, Jack offers to line up Audrey for a fraternity brother's date, promising that she'll be available for easy sex. With some encouragement from Dawson, Pacey tries to salvage his friendship with Karen. Though reluctant to get involved, Karen cannot resist Pacey's charms when he asks her out. Meanwhile, Jen is upset to find that Charlie has been trying to woo Nora back, but not her. So, to help ease the sting of rejection, she accepts Dawson's invitation to join him for the weekend at a film festival in New Hampshire. Once she gets a look at Eric, Audrey couldn't be happier that she agreed to the blind date. Yet, it doesn't take long for her to see that she could be in for a very long evening. Overhearing Jack talking to his frat brother, Joey realizes what he and Eric have in store. And after confronting Jack, she lets Audrey in on the plan and the two women angrily storm off. Meanwhile, as Dawson and Jen find that they've been given the honeymoon suite to use during the festival, back in Boston, Pacey's fast thinking salvages what could have been a dinnertime debacle with Karen. Yet, despite promises to keep things uncomplicated, the evening ends with them in bed. When the judges award his documentary about the late A.I. Brooks the festival's top prize, Dawson takes Jen back to their suite for a celebration that, surprisingly, lands them in bed together. While Jen questions what his first sexual encounter will mean for their friendship, Dawson assures her that he's more than willing to explore life as a couple. When Pacey suspects that Karen is using him to get back at Danny, he decides that she's left him no other choice but to quit his job. But when Pacey discovers that she has already beat him to the punch, Danny offers to keep him on in spite of the obvious discomfort. Finally, after she and Audrey extract an apology from Jack, Joey forgives his reprehensible behavior.

Hurricane

As Dawson and family prepare to ride out a hurricane, Pacey reluctantly accompanies his older brother Doug, the town deputy, as he makes sure everyone is secure as the storm approaches. And Pacey's irritation only increases after watching Doug trying to make time with Tamara. As Bessie and Bodie disagree over circumcising their child, things at the Leery's grow tense when Jen arrives with her grandmother just as Dawson tells his mom that he knows about her extramarital affair. As Gail struggles to explain herself, Dawson is surprised when both Joey and Jen seem to jump to her defense. While Bodie and Grams are squaring off in the Leery's kitchen, a confrontation with Dawson forces Gail to tell Mitch about her affair. And as Mitch struggles with the news, Bessie and Bodie continue to argue as Grams points out that circumcision is the least they should be worried about. With Jen and Joey discussing his predicament, Grams then suggests that Dawson give some thought to forgiving his mom. Meanwhile, Pacey's efforts to derail a friendship between his brother and Tamara appear to backfire. As the hurricane skirts Capeside and leaves the town undamaged, Pacey gets some satisfaction when Tamara turns down a date with Doug. And while Bessie and Bodie agree on a game of chance to determine their child's fate, Jen tells Dawson the details of her own sexual experiences. Finally, while Jen seeks redemption with Dawson and Pacey returns to see Tamara on his own, Gail sets out to explain and hopefully heal her marriage.

Importance of Being Too Earnest

Ignoring Audrey's uncannily prescient advice, Joey decides to e-mail Dawson her thoughts about their most recent break up. Yet, tired and exhausted by the time she's done, she mistakenly sends the letter not to Dawson, but to the entire Worthington College e-mail distribution list. And if that wasn't humiliating enough, Joey is mortified when, upon arriving for class, she finds Professor Hetson using it as the basis for a group discussion. Meanwhile, as Jack and Emma negotiate the initial ups and downs of being roommates, Pacey arrives for his first day of work to find he's already hours behind his more eager colleagues. And as Audrey mulls over the possibility of transferring from Worthington to Boston Bay, Jack struggles with an infatuation with his teacher, Professor Freeman. Seeing that he's ready to give up before he even gets started, Rich Rinaldi challenges Pacey to make a sale to a wealthy hermit whose reluctance to invest is the stuff of office legend. Yet, after landing Eli Topper as a client, Pacey is quickly disillusioned when his boss garners all the attention, and all the rewards -- by claiming the sale for himself. At work following her massive misstep on campus, Joey takes some bar patrons to task after overhearing them talking about her revealing e-mail. And when Hetson arrives for lunch, a caustic encounter leaves Joey questioning her future in his class. Already disappointed when the professor failed to recognize him at school, while attending a movie he recommended, Jack nervously telegraphs his affection for the married Freeman. And upon confronting Rinaldi about his stealing credit for the sale, Pacey is ready to quit. However, after advising Joey on her latest dust up with Dawson, Audrey gives Pacey some words of encouragement that renew his determination to succeed. Finally, as Jack tells Emma his tale of woe about Freeman, Joey returns to Hetson's class to challenge his opinions of her.

In a Lonely Place

In the wake of the mugging that left her attacker dead, Joey is spending more and more time with Dawson. While Dawson proves to be a great comfort following the attack, Joey is dismayed when Professor Wilder makes it clear that their fledgling romance has come to an end. Meanwhile, when Audrey balks at the prospect of having sex with him again, Pacey seeks Jack's advice. And with Jen being sent to review a concert by an up and coming rock band, Audrey tags along hoping for a distraction from her own problems. At a movie with Dawson, Joey is surprised to see Wilder with a female colleague. Though clearly troubled at watching the professor getting kissed by his date, she refuses to talk, leaving Dawson to wonder what's going on. Following the concert, Jen and Audrey bring two bandmembers back to the radio station for an interview. Fending off Steve, Jen is left with questions about the passion in her relationship with Dawson. And after rebuffing Audrey's advances, Wynn sets her to rethinking the "no more sex with Pacey" pledge. Meanwhile, surprised to find that Jack has taken him to a gay bar to talk, Pacey is unaware of the potential for misunderstanding as he lobbies a local critic to reconsider his opinion of Danny's restaurant. Although Joey does her best to avoid a confrontation, Wilder approaches her at the movie with questions about Dawson, as well as some well-timed advice about her future. And when Dawson refuses to dismiss the conversation as nothing, Joey is pressed into admitting she considered having an affair. Finally, as he's trying to delicately reveal the truth about his own sexual orientation, Pacey is a little disappointed to find that the critic was really interested in Jack all along. And as Audrey takes Wynn's advice and reconsiders a relationship with Pacey, Jen returns home hoping to resolve questions she has about her and Dawson.

Indian Summer

After reporting a prowler at Jen's house, Dawson is stunned to discover that it's Eve. Threatened with having his stolen copy of the college entrance exam exposed, he's forced to cover when Pacey's brother Doug is the police officer sent to investigate. But after Dawson tries tracking her down later at both the club where she works and at school, he discovers that no one knows her. Meanwhile, as Jack encourages Jen to give Henry a chance, Joey is surprised to find that her boss has set his sights on Andie. Determined to uncover the mystery, Dawson turns to Doug for help before enlisting Pacey in an effort to find Eve. But, after following her to Capeside's marina, he is caught by Doug while investigating on board the boat where she's been secretly living. Meanwhile, Jack plays matchmaker when he sets Jen and Henry up on a surprise blind date. However, as Joey tries keeping Andie out of trouble by tagging along on her date with Rob, Jen takes Jack to task for trying to set him up with Henry. After Dawson finds her in his bedroom looking for a picture he took from the boat, Eve admits to having lied about being a student at Capeside as part of her effort to find her real mom. And as he's helping Grams install an air conditioner, Dawson spots a photo that suggests that Eve and Jen are sisters. Finally, Joey's meddling gets her fired from her job at the marina.

Instant Karma!

In Boston to finish shooting Todd's movie, Dawson discovers that the firing of a production assistant has left leading lady Natasha Kelly stranded at the airport. Though Dawson manages to rescue Natasha in time for her big scene, he cannot keep her from showing up drunk. And while neither of them have told Todd of their summertime romance in Los Angeles, Natasha is nonetheless ready to make Dawson pay for her being unceremoniously dumped. Meanwhile, after begging off an invitation to join Audrey, Jack and Jen so he can study for an important stockbroker's exam, Pacey is ordered to join Rich and his colleagues for a night on the town. And though he's steadfastly avoided several women during the evening, Pacey is in trouble when Audrey catches Rich and company taking him to a strip club. Despite classmate and Hell's Kitchen bartender Eddie Doling's efforts, Joey resists all his questions aimed at finding out just what makes her tick. But when she's unable to avoid going along to help Eddie deliver a large food order, Joey arrives to find their customer is to none other than the set where Dawson is working. And once there, Joey finds herself in the middle of an embarrassing, and revealing, encounter with a drunk and jealous Natasha. Meanwhile, as Jen struggles to keep Audrey from using alcohol to mask her disappointment with Pacey, Jack is taken aback upon running into Professor Freeman at the party. As a result of his argument with Natasha, Dawson finds that a very reluctant Todd is firing him. But after seeing just how hurt Dawson is by the encounter with Joey, Natasha backs down and gets him rehired. As Jack discovers that he and Freeman share a lot in common, Jen's friend CJ steps in to help keep a male partygoer from taking advantage of Audrey's inebriated state. And after being helped her back to room, Audrey has no interest in listening to Pacey's apology, but allows him to stay the night anyway. Finally, as Jack is stunned to discover that the married father-to-be Professor Freeman is interested in something beyond a student-teacher relationship, Joey ends her shift back at the restaurant by kissing a very surprised Eddie.

Joey Potter and Capeside Redemption

With Pacey having lost all of the money for the project, Dawson gives up on the idea of ever finishing his film. Already resigned to working hard all summer at his mom's restaurant in order to pay off his debts, Dawson has no idea just how far Joey is willing to go to help him realize his dream. Enlisting the help of everyone she can think of, Joey pulls together a cast and crew to help make the picture. Yet, despite her best efforts, she still cannot get Dawson and Pacey to reconcile. With Harley and her boyfriend Patrick playing Joey and Pacey, and Audrey in the role of the high school teacher who introduced the young Witter to sex, Dawson and his crew are struggling to get through a day on location in Capeside when, much to their surprise, Todd arrives ready to pitch in and help. With Todd turning out be to just as high maintenance as ever, it falls to Audrey to augment her part in the film with a stint as the celebrated director's personal assistant. As Joey is doing everything humanly possibly to see that the project stays on track, Jen, Jack, and Grams are packing for their move to New York. And just as they are pulling away, one last look back brings all her memories of Capeside flooding back for Jen. Meanwhile, on his own, Pacey tries making up for his mistake by soliciting anyone who'll listen for help in underwriting the project. At a local restaurant to pick up some food for the hungry cast and crew, Joey runs into him as he is wrapping up his long and frustrating day of fundraising. But when Pacey tries giving her the money he's raised for Dawson, she refuses to take it, not wanting to be in between the feuding friends any longer. At the end of a long day, Todd talks Audrey into joining him in his room, while Dawson and Joey find themselves in the childhood bedroom that helped define their friendship. After asking Joey to spend the night for old time's sake, Dawson awakes to find Pacey there instead. And after they agree that it was their love for the same girl that ultimately drove them apart, as Joey looks on from a distance, Dawson and Pacey finally accept that there could be redemption in their future after all.

Kiss

While dreaming of his first kiss with Jen, Dawson is given a chance to join Mr. Gold's film class provided he devote a weekend as an assistant on Cliff's movie. And though he agrees, it's at the expense of his plans to use his own film to seduce Jen. Meanwhile, as Pacey uses failing grades to get Tamara's attention, Joey is intrigued by a customer at the restaurant where she's filling in for her pregnant sister Bodie. So, while Pacey persuades Tamara to be his tutor, Joey leads Anderson Crawford to believe that she's a wealthy boarding school student. Unable to tell Anderson the truth, Joey continues to pretend she's a rich New Yorker. As Dawson discovers that Jen agreed to take a part in Cliff's film only because she knew he'd be there, Joey continues to avoid any romantic entanglements with Anderson that could compromise her story. However, Dawson is still forced to help her cover when Anderson comes dangerously close to learning the truth. As another careless slip leads Anderson to believe that Joey has not been totally truthful, Dawson takes Jen to an out of the way spot to film a scene for his own movie...hoping it will lead to their first kiss. However, when Jen realizes he's taping the whole thing, she balks. But as he struggles to explain and finally does get what he came for, Dawson's camera accidentally records Tamara and Pacey making love.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Unearthing a copy of Mr. Brooks' final film of his directing career forces Dawson to reexamine his feelings for the old man. However, when Dawson asks why he suddenly stopped directing, Brooks quickly dismisses him without an answer. As Joey forces Mrs. Valentine to give her the night off so she can attend a party hosted by a prestigious and exclusive private college, Jack suspects Jen hasn't done anything with her own college applications. Meanwhile, Gretchen offers to help revive the Leery's annual holiday party. When he must rewrite his essay for admission to USC Film School, Dawson is forced to confront his reasons for wanting to make movies. Noting that Mr. Brooks is the only real filmmaker he knows, Gretchen convinces Dawson to ask his advice. But when Dawson tries, Brooks curtly dismisses him once again. Meanwhile, as Grams and Jack conspire to get Jen's college applications submitted on time, Joey persuades Pacey to be her date for the dinner. At the Worthington dinner, Joey senses that things aren't going all that well for her. But things take a dramatic turnaround when Pacey's down home sense of humor impresses their host, Mr. Kubelik, and the schools' dean. At the Leery's holiday party, Jen is confused when a counselor congratulates her for submitting her applications. And though she takes Jack and Grams to task for doing it without her knowledge, she also makes amends with them both. After Gretchen convinces Dawson that his love of movies is reason enough to attend film school, Mr. Brooks uses the abrupt end to his own career to inspire him to pursue the dream. And as the hint of a romance flares between him and Grams, Mr. Brooks learns that Dawson is making a documentary about him. Finally, after Mr. Kubelik makes sure that Joey understands what a gift she has in Pacey, the Leery's holiday bash ends with a kiss between Dawson and Gretchen.

Late

Though contractions seem to suggest that Gale's overdue baby is about to arrive, a trip to the hospital proves to be a false alarm, sending the Leerys back home to wait. While Gretchen tells Dawson that she's interviewing for a job in Boston, Joey is unusually anxious about Pacey's return from a trip with his older brother. Pressed by Gretchen, Joey admits that she's worried about being pregnant. And though Gretchen makes it clears that she's available to talk, Joey insists on handling her problem alone. Meanwhile, following a late night tutoring session, Jack worries when Tobey doesn't show up the next day. At a shower to help Gale pick a name for the baby, Bessie discovers that her sister may be pregnant. And as labor pains that send Gale back to the hospital prove to be just another false alarm, Jack learns that Tobey was mugged because he is gay. Told of the assault, Jen insists that Jack reach to out help his friend. So, with the help of a Capeside police officer, he encourages Tobey not to ignore the attack. Meanwhile, with both of them on the verge of leaving Capeside, Gretchen admits that getting more involved with Dawson now would be a big mistake. As Gretchen recalls her own history with pregnancy in an attempt to counsel Joey, labor pains send Gale to the hospital yet again. Before joining the Leerys at the hospital, Joey gets some words of support from Bessie. And after listening to Dawson talk about his uncertain future with Gretchen, Joey makes it clear that having sex doesn't necessarily bring two people any closer together. Finally, as Jack gets Tobey to return to tutoring, Dawson learns that he now has a new baby sister. And after a pregnancy test's results give Joey a reason to relax, Gretchen and Dawson again flirt with the possibility of sex.

Like a Virgin

After spending the summer in Philadelphia with his mom, an encounter with a beautiful girl during his bus ride home ends with Dawson recalling the sad tale of his ill-fated romance with Joey. And while Pacey encourages him to make amends, Dawson is adamantly opposed to seeing Joey again. However, things take an interesting turn when Dawson and Pacey find Eve, the girl from the bus, working at a local strip club. Meanwhile, as Jen decides to try out for cheerleader, Joey isn't so sure she wants to be avoided by Dawson. Though sure that he'll never hear from Eve again, Dawson is surprised to find her waiting for him at home. After taking her out on his dad's prized boat, a very nervous Dawson's first sexual encounter with Eve is interrupted when he runs into a pier. And to make matters worse, Joey is there to see it all. With Dawson facing a large repair bill, Eve offers to enlist the strippers at work for a benefit performance at the Leery's home. And in search of a way to win Dawson back, Joey arrives for the big party, too. Meanwhile, after using her tryout to publicly humiliate head cheerleader Belinda McGovern, Jen suddenly becomes the most popular girl on campus. While Joey is prepared to have sex in order to re-ignite their romance, Dawson is reluctant to go along. And even after the party raises enough money to repair the boat, Dawson is still forced to explain when his dad unexpectedly arrives home right in the middle of the festivities. Finally, as Dawson faces a choice between two young women and Jen is unexpectedly elected head cheerleader, Pacey counsels Joey on her romance.

Living Dead Girl

As Halloween approaches, the responsibility for planning the film crew's party falls to Dawson. Already worried that Todd may be rekindling his affair with Natasha, Dawson is told that Melanie Ray, an actress who was murdered by her jealous husband a half century ago, is haunting the very soundstage they are using. As Pacey stumbles upon evidence that Audrey is in danger of flunking out of college, Jen asks CJ and his obviously gay friend, David, to join her and Jack at Dawson's party. And after getting him to promise to allow Eddie back into his class, Joey agrees to babysit Professor Hetson's defiant and high-strung daughter, Harley. Arriving for one last look at the party preparations, Dawson sees a fleeting figure he suspects is Melanie. Dismissing Dawson's claims of seeing a ghost, Todd then continues stirring up trouble with his attentions to Natasha. At the party, Pacey confronts Audrey about her failing grades, only to learn that she has no interest in talking about it. And as Jen struggles to learn the truth about CJ's sexual orientation, Dawson continues to be haunted by images of Melanie, especially after her murder shows up on their film. Meanwhile, though Harley has no interest in cooperating with Joey, she eagerly agrees to go to a Halloween haunted house as long as Eddie goes, too. But as Joey and Eddie argue over his return to Hetson's class, they lose track of the teenage girl. While Dawson sees parallels between his own life and Melanie's murder, Natasha suggests that he's just jealous of the attention she's getting from Todd. Stumbling upon Natasha and Todd in bed, Dawson angrily quits his job. But before he can storm off the set, Todd and Natasha reveal that their affair, like Melanie's "ghost," are all part of an elaborate Halloween prank. Overhearing him telling Emma that he's not sure that he's actually in love anymore, Audrey suddenly breaks things off with Pacey. As Jen discovers that CJ has no interest in a date, Eddie helps Joey find an apologetic Harley. Finally, while Eddie has no intention of going back to the class, he does have an interest in Joey. And after learning the prank was her revenge for being dumped, Dawson admits to still having strong feelings for Natasha.

Love Bites

After getting over the shock of Eddie's unexpected return to Boston, Joey says she has no interest in restarting their romance. And when Pacey calls to arrange another date, Joey claims she can't go out with him either, now that she's committed to chaperone Harley Hetson's school dance. Yet, when Pacey offers to help out, Joey cannot turn down his generous offer to be a chaperone, too. Meanwhile, as Dawson gives Pacey some money to invest in the hope it can be used to finance his next film, Jen is stunned to learn that Grams has breast cancer. Upon arriving at the dance, Harley immediately takes her date to task for the attention he's giving other girls. However, once Harley decides to give Patrick a taste of his own medicine by dancing with someone else, he loses his cool, forcing Pacey to break up the ensuing brawl. Moving back to Capeside to complete his script, Dawson is surprised by his mom's suggestion that he have a back up plan in case his filmmaking career doesn't get off the ground. But after learning that his mom gave up a once promising acting career, Dawson redoubles his commitment to achieve his own dream. In the wake of the fight, Patrick admits to actually liking Harley. And as Joey is using her own sad personal history to help Harley cope with the disastrous evening, Pacey encourages Patrick to tell her just how he feels. However, when Pacey takes his own advice and tries convincing Joey that they have something between them that is worth pursuing, he's stunned when she tells him of Eddie's return. Finally, as Jen presses Grams to open up about her fear of dying, Patrick makes it clear just how he feels about Harley. And after doing her best to put her friendship with Pacey back on track, Joey heads to see Eddie, determined to give their relationship a second chance.

Lovelines

While doing her best to deflect Eddie's sexual advances, Joey is surprised by Audrey's early return to their dorm. Seeing how excited her roommate is over being on the same flight as Lovelines medical expert Dr. Drew Pinsky, Joey points out that, along with co-host Adam Carolla, he's in Boston for a Crisis Center benefit hosted by none other than Jen. So, determined to meet Pinsky, and more, Audrey sets out to get an introduction. Meanwhile, after failing to respond to C.J.'s efforts to cheer her up, Jen abruptly tells him that they are going to have to break up. And when he catches him innocently flirting with another man, David worries that Jack may be interested in someone else. At the benefit session of Lovelines, things couldn't be tenser between Joey and Eddie, Jen and C.J., and Jack and David. While Audrey continues to look for a way to meet Dr. Drew, Carolla doesn't waste any time trying to convince her to spend some time with him instead. As the show gets started, and Jen scours the audience for someone with a question for their guests, their loud argument over sex pinpoints Joey and Eddie as needing help. And when C.J. decides to seek some advice about their problems, too, Jen is unable to keep herself out of the spotlight. As Joey grows increasingly uncomfortable with the questions being leveled by Dr. Drew and Adam, David can no longer contain his anxiety and suspicion about Jack. Jumping into the fray, Audrey looks for some sympathy with the story of her stay in rehab before brazenly propositioning Dr. Drew. As Dr. Drew and his sidekick struggle to keep up with the problems plaguing Joey and her friends, Jen bails out and turns the hosting duties over to Audrey who, following a wild exchange of relationship information, brings the evening to a close. Finally, as Eddie persuades Joey to give him another chance in the bedroom, Jen confesses her anxiety over Grams' illness to the sympathetic C.J. And as David insists that Jack apologize or risk ruining their relationship, Audrey fends off another advance from Adam before Dr. Drew agrees to give her a ride home.

Merry Mayhem

As Pacey sends Emma off before heading home himself, Eddie turns down Joey's invitation to spend Christmas in Capeside, leaving her to bring Audrey home for the holidays when her roommate misses her flight to Los Angeles. While Jen arrives home to find Grams despondent after being dumped by her boyfriend, Joey is pleasantly surprised to wake up the following morning to find that Eddie has changed his mind and come after all. And as an increasingly unstable Audrey alerts Mike Potter to his daughter's budding romance, Joey's dad grills Eddie about his intentions. While Joey accepts Eddie's invitation to join his family following dinner at Dawson's, Doug Winter tells Pacey he's suspicious of his newfound wealth. With Jen pressing Grams to come to dinner, Natasha's request to have sex in Dawson's bedroom is met with an account of just how hurt he was by her affair with actor Max Winter. As the Leery's guests arrive, Audrey's condition goes from bad to worse when she takes some medication she found in Gail's medicine cabinet. Once Grams leaves the task of saying grace to Todd, Dawson is forced to ask the drunken director to tone down his remarks. And after Mike blurts out his dissatisfaction with Eddie as a potential suitor for Joey, Audrey seizes the moment to weigh in as well before storming off and crashing her car into their host's living room. Pacey's offer to assume responsibility for the damages prompts Doug to warn him that Audrey needs help. With Audrey insisting on being left alone to sleep it off, Joey confronts her dad for his attack on Eddie. But when Mike insists that he only wants what's best for her, he and Joey begin bridging the gap between them. As Natasha announces that she's leaving for L.A., she reveals that Dawson's suspicions about her and Max were right. Finally, as Eddie heads home alone and Jen continues to comfort her heartbroken grandmother, Joey is left to find some solace in her friendship with Dawson.

Mind Games

Following the Senior Class Ski Trip, Pacey and Joey are determined to find someplace where they can continue their sexual relationship without interruption. It's when Pacey suggests that she spend the night with their brother Doug that Gretchen realizes what's happened. And after promising not to say anything, she heads to Dawson's thinking she just might take advantage of his mom and dad's going away for the weekend. Meanwhile, as Drue deviously engineers Joey and Dawson's election as Senior Class Couple, Jen enlists Jack to help her learn more about therapist Tom Frost. While Joey is determined not to let the prospect of Dawson and Gretchen having sex ruin her hard won evening with Pacey, over at the Leery's things aren't going so smoothly. When Dawson claims that Joey denied having sex with Pacey, Gretchen decides that the time isn't right for them and leaves. And as Dawson shows up at the house the following morning to talk with Gretchen, Pacey must keep him from learning Joey spent the night. Meanwhile, after she and Jack are caught stalking Tom at a local bookstore, Jen covers by accepting his invitation to a poetry reading. When Joey is left having to face her, Gretchen admits to knowing that she lied to Dawson about her sexual relationship. As Jen and Jack arrive at the poet Robin Ellsworth's reading to find she is Tom's girlfriend, Dawson fails to convince Drue to change the yearbook poll. Still unaware of what's happened between Pacey and Joey, Dawson arranges for them to help him change the yearbook without Drue's help. Finally, as Gretchen asks Dawson to promise he'll always be honest with her, no matter what, Pacey and Joey realize just how much sex has changed their relationship.

Neverland

While Andie tries to keep their evening together light and carefree, Jen offers Joey a sympathetic ear if she wants to discuss Pacey. Dragging Joey and Andie to the local roller rink in their pajamas, Jen is stunned to find Henry and his family there celebrating his birthday. After Dawson agrees to camp out at a spot they frequented as kids, Buzz shows up with some friends, forcing Pacey to invite them along, too. While struggling to keep Buzz and his pals entertained, Dawson and Pacey use childhood memories to reaffirm their friendship. Meanwhile, Jack cannot understand when Ethan tries to court his dad's friendship. And as Ethan does his best to win over Mr. McPhee, Jack refuses to accommodate any of his dad's attempts to get along. Though Henry accuses her of crashing his party and embarrassing him, Jen insists that nothing could be further from the truth. And once she and Henry have patched up their differences, Jen points out that Joey has strong feelings for Pacey that she refuses acknowledge. Finally, after realizing that telling Dawson about his feelings is just too hard to do, Pacey does his best to reconcile with Joey. And over a late night game of chess, Jack takes the first small steps towards making up with his dad.

None of the Above

With an important college entrance exam already keeping them occupied, Dawson and his friends must also contend with the recent changes that have upended their lives. As Andie tries putting her break up with Pacey behind her, Dawson is tempted by Eve. And as Joey worries about how the exam will affect her chances at a scholarship, Jack must also contend with some grueling football practices. However, Dawson faces a dilemma when Eve gives him a copy of the test to study in advance. When Dawson consults his friends about the exam, everyone but Pacey says he should give it back without opening it. But before he can decide what to do, it mysteriously disappears. Assuming that one of his friends stole it, Dawson asks that exam be returned to him at once. And while Joey questions why he didn't immediately refuse the test when it was offered, Dawson suspects Pacey of being the thief. Meanwhile, as Andie returns all of Pacey's gifts in an effort to finalize their breakup, freshman quarterback Henry Parker works to keep Jack from quitting the team. Between breaking up with Andie and being accused of theft, Pacey turns to drinking to help calm his emotions. And when their conflict comes to a head, he and Dawson end up in a fight that forces Joey to intervene. As Pacey turns to Joey for comfort, Dawson concludes that Eve is a destructive force in his life. Finally, as Dawson and Pacey reconcile after they both decide to skip the exam for now, Andie forges ahead, knowing she has all the right answers.

Northern Lights

A bad case of stage fright just before the opening of the school play sends Pacey to see Joey for help. However, while Pacey hopes she'll be there on opening night, Joey announces that she already has a date with a college student named A.J. And if the leading man's stage fright weren't trouble enough, Andie is thrust into the spotlight when the drama teacher suddenly takes ill. Meanwhile, as Jen asks Henry to join her at the play for their date, Dawson decides to take a break from filmmaking. After her leading man fails to show up on time and a frantic Andie sends Dawson to find him, Pacey arrives at the school just minutes before he's supposed to take the stage. While he gets off to a slow start, Pacey eventually comes through for Andie and the cast. Although he's excited about a long awaited date with Jen, Henry is disappointed to find that she's brought Grams along, too. Meanwhile, a kiss from A.J. sends Joey running back to join her friends at Pacey's stage debut. As everyone celebrates a successful opening night for both Andie and Pacey, Dawson tries to explain his sudden disinterest in film as a dramatic gesture by Henry forces Jen to make her feelings for him known. After Joey attempts to explain her own sense of confusion to Pacey, A.J. shows up at the cast party. As Joey tries to help him understand why she bailed out on their date, Andie and Pacey each applaud the other's effort in making the opening night a success. Finally, as Jen stuns Henry with an affectionate kiss, Dawson and Joey once again seek each other's comfort and guidance.

Parental Discretion Advised

While Dawson decides to let Mr. Potter know that his drug dealing is no longer a secret, Pacey and his father square off over Andie's leaving. As Grams asks Jen to move back in with her, Pacey learns that his dad, the local sheriff, has Mr. Potter under surveillance. Although Joey is upset over Sheriff Witter's sudden interest in her father, Dawson avoids telling her the truth when she turns to him for support. Meanwhile, as Gale decides to leave Capeside for a new job, Jack encourages Jen to make amends with her grandmother, only to have her offer to move out on him, too. As Pacey and his dad argue over his flagging schoolwork, an arsonist's bomb lands inside the Potter's restaurant. After getting rid of any incriminating evidence, Mr. Potter is grateful when Dawson saves his life. But he continues to refuse any suggestion to turn himself in. Though Sheriff Witter suspects the fire is the work of competition in the local drug trade, Pacey refuses to believe it and then lashes out when his dad embarrasses him in public. And as the Potter family struggles to cope with the damage to their business, Dawson tells his parents what he's learned about Joey's dad. Meanwhile, Jack worries that Jen is considering suicide. Encouraged to tell the police what he knows, Dawson asks for an opportunity to speak with Joey first. And at his urging, she offers to help bring her father in. Meanwhile, Jen is ready to move back in with Grams, but only if she can bring Jack, too. And as Gale agrees to put her plans to move on hold, Sheriff Witter finds new respect for his son after speaking with Andie. Finally, while agreeing to wear a hidden microphone proves instrumental in her father's arrest, it ends Joey's friendship with Dawson.

Promicide

Despite the disaster of just a year ago, Pacey is determined to make sure Joey has the best senior prom ever. While Gretchen ignores the obvious age gap as she prepares to attend with Dawson, Jen encourages Jack to ask Tobey to be his date. Unwilling to take his 'no' for an answer, she tells Tobey that Jack wants to ask him. Cornered, Jack then agrees to go through with it, but not before getting revenge by arranging for Jen to have an escort, too -- Drue. And on the night of the prom, things get off to an even shakier start when, after the corsages he picked out arrive wilted, the limousine Pacey rented turns out to be a battered and beaten up airport shuttle van. As Jen turns to drinking to get through an evening with Drue, seeing Dawson buying condoms en route to the dance worries Joey. On board the boat where the prom is being held, Jen tries everything she can think of to get rid of Drue. Confronted by his recent lack of intimacy, Pacey admits to feeling pressured by Joey to be the perfect boyfriend. And when Pacey claims he's been unfairly marked a loser and feels trapped in their relationship, there's little Joey can do to alleviate his rage. Meanwhile, as Drue worries to see Jen drunkenly flirt with suicide, Dawson comforts a distraught Joey, only to find they are under the watchful gaze of Pacey and Gretchen. As Jack's confusion and uncertainty over sex drives a wedge between him and Tobey, Drue listens as Jen tells of feeling torn over her decision to return to New York. With Joey seeking Dawson's help to deal with her mixed feelings about Pacey, Jack apologizes to Tobey. And when Gretchen insists that they cannot be involved in a relationship while he's still unsure about his feelings for Joey, she leaves Dawson. So, as the evening draws to a close, both Dawson and Joey are left alone together.

Psychic Friends

As he works to impress film teacher Nicole Kennedy, an increasingly cynical Dawson makes it clear that he's unhappy with his father's new job -- teaching at his high school. And as Jen encourages Dawson to show Nicole the film, Joey turns to Jack to discuss her boredom with Capeside. However, after a fortuneteller at the town's winter fair predicts the arrival of a tall dark stranger in her life, Joey meets photographer Colin Manchester. Meanwhile, the fortuneteller's predictions send Andie running. After some encouragement from Jack, Joey approaches Colin, who asks her to pose for some photos. After Joey accepts the offer, Jack joins her at the photo session. However, Joey learns that it's Jack that Colin wants to know better. But when she arranges for them to meet, Jack balks. Meanwhile, as Nicole offers to see Dawson's film, Jen encourages Grams to accept a long lost classmate's invitation to dinner. And as Jen helps her reluctant grandmother prepare for the date, Dawson is stunned by Nicole's harsh critique. After doing his best to reassure Andie, Pacey returns to the carnival to take on the fortuneteller. But when Madame Zenovich retaliates with her insights into his life, Pacey is given reason to pause. As Colin apologizes for dragging Joey into his love life, Grams returns early from her date after learning that Whit is happily married. And as the fortuneteller sees the return of a romantic interest into Dawson's life, Joey is stunned by the unexpected return of her father.

Reunited

Following Abby's funeral, Jen is living with the Leery's as Dawson and Joey work on resuming their romance. When Joey complains that they've already fallen into a rut after just a few weeks, Dawson surprises her with plans for a romantic dinner. But a mix up at the restaurant forces them to share a table with his dad and Nicole. Meanwhile, as Andie's mental state grows increasingly fragile, she confides in a secret admirer. As Joey tries to calm the anger Dawson is directing at Nicole, things at the restaurant become even more uncomfortable when Jen and Gale arrive for dinner, too. In a moment alone with his dad, Dawson makes it clear how unhappy he is with the breakup. And while Nicole suggests that she and Jen leave, Gale leaves it up to Mitch to decide what's best. Meanwhile, after surprising her at home, Pacey overhears Andie talking. And after they argue over whether she's seeing someone else, it becomes clear that Andie's confidant is none other than her late brother, Tim. As the mood at the restaurant continues to deteriorate, Joey and Jen conspire to get the Leerys back together. And once they are prodded into a dance, Mitch asks Gale to reconsider moving away for a new job. Meanwhile, after he and Jack realize that Andie is delusional, Pacey begs to be the one to help her recover. And as Jack calls their father for advice, Andie accepts Pacey's offer of help. Finally, as Gale realizes that it will take more than one dance to come between Mitch and Nicole, Dawson asks Joey to consider consummating their relationship.

Road Trip

When Jen's ex-boyfriend Billy decides to stick around Capeside a little longer, he offers to boost the dejected Dawson's sagging spirits with a trip to a nightclub in Providence. However, he leads Jen to believe that he's taking Dawson and Pacey to see a prostitute. While on the ferry to Providence, Dawson decides to prove he has a mischievous streak, enlisting Pacey and Billy in a practical joke to punish a pair of unruly passengers. Meanwhile, after fending off football star Warren Gary's advances, Joey is stunned to learn that he's telling everyone they had sex. So Jen counsels her to get revenge by letting word out that she's pregnant. Challenged by Billy to find a girl at the nightclub, Dawson meets an attractive, older film student. And after Billy does his best to steal her away, Nina suggests she and Dawson leave for someplace a little less crowded. Meanwhile, as Joey finds herself getting some unwanted pregnancy counseling, Warren becomes the object of a back-stabbing campaign at school. And though Joey is ready to bring it all to an end, Jen urges her to continue punishing Warren for his mean-spirited lie. Although Nina offers to make things look good for Billy and Pacey by having him spend a chaste night at her apartment, Dawson refuses, unwilling to jeopardize whatever chance he still has with Jen. Accused of being a failure, Dawson then lashes out at Billy, claiming he's trying to undercut his reputation with Jen. Leaving Dawson and Pacey to fend for themselves, Billy returns to Capeside alone to make one last play for Jen's affection. Finally, after Joey threatens to confirm rumors about his impotence, Warren publicly denies they ever had sex as an exhausted Dawson comes home hoping to get some sleep.

Rock Bottom

After persuading Audrey to fly home to California to enter rehab, Joey is surprised when Eddie shows up to announce that he's decided to move west to enroll in a writing program. Though she expresses little interest in Eddie's plans, even when he thanks her for influencing his decision, Joey changes her tune after a phone call from Mrs. Liddell reveals that Audrey never made it home. Tracked down at a hotel room where she's spent the night with a man she met at the airport, Audrey agrees to let Joey and Eddie drive her to California, but only if she can bring her date, Bob. Meanwhile, as Jen tries to comfort Grams over the loss of her boyfriend, Dawson discovers that his inexperience could make finishing Todd's movie next to impossible. On the open road, Bob's personal habits give Audrey second thoughts about getting involved. Then, accusing Joey of conspiring with her mom, she takes off in the car with Bob. As Joey struggles to understand why Eddie left her, especially after he admits to being in love, several miles down the road, Audrey takes to a roadside dive's stage in a riveting karaoke performance. And when Eddie and Joey finally manage to catch up, they find her violently fending off a local's unwanted advances, she admits she's ready to enter rehab after all. Despite C.J.'s warnings, Jen presses him to set Grams up on a date with his widowed Uncle Bill. And after Natasha takes a firm stand against doing any nude scenes for the film, studio executive Heather Tracy orders Dawson to change her mind, or lose the project. Though initially disgusted by Uncle Bill's crude behavior, Grams finds something to like about him after all. And with his career on the line, Dawson starts firing whoever it takes in order to make it clear that he's in control of the picture now. So, as the unexpected success in pairing Grams with Uncle Bill helps to revive a relationship between Jen and C.J., Dawson's renewed sense of control proves attractive for Natasha. And after leaving Audrey at her parent's home, Joey finally heads back to Boston after she and Eddie agree to put any romance between them on hold for now.

Secrets & Lies

As Pacey tries getting the Potter's back on their feet by helping convert their old home into a bed and breakfast, Jen is approached by eighty-year-old Constance Freckling and some other of Capeside's past homecoming queens about their annual gala tea. As a former queen herself, Gail comes home and asks Dawson to be her escort to the event, which is traditionally hosted by Constance and the newest queen. However, while Jen is quick to dismiss the suggestion that she take it seriously, Henry encourages her to reconsider. After ignoring a warning about Rob's intentions, Andie calls on Joey to rescue her from a party gone awry. Hurrying with Joey to the Logan home, Pacey then angrily turns against Rob. While Joey insists that she report a sexual assault, Andie places herself under Pacey's watchful eye instead. And though Pacey tries to keep things platonic, Andie won't take no for an answer. Meanwhile, after Jen changes her mind about hosting the tea and then asks Henry to be her escort, Gail tells Dawson that she's considering a move back to Capeside. And as Rob asks Joey to help head off a sexual assault complaint, Andie insists that she and Pacey are back together again. As Jen puts her own stamp on the tea by hiring a trio of female impersonators to entertain, Dawson learns that his mom was asked to leave her job in Philadelphia because she looked too old. As Jen comes to appreciate what it means to be Homecoming Queen, Constance intervenes on Henry's behalf. But while Jen tries to let him down gently, Henry is still left with a broken heart. Although Andie tries to revive their romance, Pacey uses the opportunity to break up and leaves her crushed. Finally, as Dawson encourages Gail to move back home and make her marriage work, Andie accuses Joey of being behind Pacey's decision.

Self-Reliance

After pressing Dawson over the significance of his holiday party kiss with Gretchen, Jack joins Jen in Provincetown for a meeting of the Gay-Straight Teen Alliance. While Dawson discovers that Gretchen meant nothing with the kiss, Jack balks at the gay teen group's activism. Yet, despite Jack's reluctance, Jen presses him to join a protest of a bowling alley's discriminatory policies. Meanwhile, after sending her sister and brother-in-law away for a brief vacation, Joey tries caring for her nephew alone as she studies for an important exam. While continuing to insist that Dawson's kiss meant nothing, Gretchen encourages Pacey not to give up on his own relationship with Joey. Inspired, Pacey arrives back at the bed and breakfast to find Joey upset. And while Joey claims it's because of she did poorly on the exam, Pacey thinks that it was seeing Dawson kissing Gretchen that has her worried. Meanwhile, as Mr. Brooks lays out strict conditions before he'll cooperate with Dawson's documentary, Jack reluctantly joins Jen for the bowling alley protest where he squares off with Tobey, the gay teen group's militant young leader. In an effort to resolve her own sense of confusion, Joey seeks some answers about Gretchen. And while Dawson is certain that Gretchen has no interest in him, Joey wonders why not. Finally, as Pacey convinces an English teacher to allow Joey to retake the exam, differences of opinion with Tobey get Jack expelled from the alliance. And even at the risk of jeopardizing his own health, Mr. Brooks tells about becoming a director and of the woman who inspired him, prompting Dawson to act on his own feelings for Gretchen.

Separate Ways

Upon returning from in Florida to learn that his band is being asked to go out on a ten-city tour, Charlie asks Joey to come along. Realizing that her life is at Worthington, Joey seeks Audrey's advice on how to avoid going without hurting his feelings. But when Charlie decides not to jeopardize their relationship by going, Joey is uncomfortable about being his reason for up on the opportunity he's been waiting for. Meanwhile, as Dawson and Oliver prepare to meet with an agent about their film, Audrey and Pacey get word that the restaurant has been sold. And upon meeting with manager Alex Pearl, Pacey is asked to stay on to run the kitchen until a new head chef is hired, while Audrey is told that she's being let go. At their meeting in New York with Andrew Waller, Oliver's offensive comments and posturing get him and Dawson sent on their way. While Oliver is certain that their next project will get the attention he thinks they deserve, Dawson isn't so sure. So, after Oliver takes the train back to Boston alone, Dawson stakes out Waller's office in hopes of getting a chance to make amends. Meanwhile, upon learning that Audrey has been fired, Pacey promises to use his influence with Alex to get her job back. At the band's next performance, Audrey tries convincing Charlie to break up by claiming that Joey has been seeing Pacey, too. But even after Charlie sees through the ruse, Joey still says he shouldn't miss pass up the tour on account of her. Finally, after ambushing Waller as he's leaving his office, Dawson's passion persuades the agent to take him and Oliver on as clients. And after Pacey refuses to sleep with the beautiful and seductive Alex in exchange for getting her to bring Audrey back, Charlie says goodbye with an early morning serenade, leaving Joey turning to Dawson for companionship once again.

Separation Anxiety

In the wake of a disastrous prom night, Dawson and Gretchen's relationship is on the rocks. Told that she gave notice at the restaurant, Dawson finds that Gretchen is leaving Capeside for a month-long road trip before returning to college. And as Jen is reconsidering her plans to attend college in Boston with Jack, she learns that Grams has put the house up for sale to raise money for her tuition. Meanwhile, when Worthington's Dean of Admissions reveals that he wants to speak with Pacey, Joey is sure it's about attending school with her in the fall. One look at the retirement community where Gram's has decided to live is all it takes for Jen to decide that she cannot move away. With Gretchen preparing to leave her hometown and Dawson behind, Mitch persuades his son to make one last try at hanging onto her. And when he goes to make his pitch, Dawson invites himself along on the trip. Meanwhile, at a party for incoming students, Pacey discovers that the Dean wants him to help crew his yacht on a Caribbean cruise. While writing a letter explaining everything to his mom and dad, caring for his baby sister prompts Dawson to rethink his decision to follow Gretchen. But when he goes to see her, he finds that Gretchen has already made up her mind to go it alone. After Jack asks her not to make a hasty decision about college, Jen decides to go after all, but only if Grams will come to live in Boston. Finally, after she and Pacey reconcile themselves to her leaving, Joey and Dawson realize that their friendship is far from over, too.

Sex and Violence

In the wake of his first real date with Joey, Pacey prepares to settle in to his new position at work. When Joey drops by his office to congratulate him, she catches Pacey just as his assistant is being fired by his boss, Rich Rinaldi. And when Rich learns that Joey is about ready to begin her spring break, he convinces Pacey to hire her to fill in. As C.J. complains to Jen about their flagging sex life, out in LA, studio executive Heather Tracy tells Dawson that, in order to sell her boss, Larry Newman, on his film, going to have to include a lot more sex. And after Newman makes it clear that he considers getting Natasha in bed to be Dawson's greatest achievement, what started out as a sensitive coming of age film is suddenly transformed into a teen sex romp. As Jen annoys C.J. by referring to his sexual frustrations while fielding a call to the crisis center, Pacey discovers that Joey isn't quite cut out to be his, or anyone else's, assistant. Making matters worse, when writer Sadia Shaw arrives at the office to interview Rich and Pacey about the company, Joey does everything she can think of to make it difficult for the beautiful financial page reporter. Yet, Pacey's efforts to take her to task for her disruptive behavior end up with them kissing passionately atop his desk. Meanwhile, as Dawson seeks Todd's advice on how to handle Larry's offer, C.J. and Jen find their sex life has become a point of contention. With their relationship coming apart over their differing expectations in the bedroom, Jen and C.J. enlist Grams to mediate. Seeing his film drifting further and further from the vision he had, Dawson decides to turn down the offer -- and Larry doesn't waste a moment in starting the search for a new director for the project. Finally, after making it clear that having her at the office just isn't going to work out, Pacey lets Joey know that she's been fired. But once they've kissed and made up, Joey's life suddenly becomes more complicated when Eddie arrives at the bar.

Sex, She Wrote

While Joey asks Jack not to immediately dissect what happened between them after he posed in the nude, sneaking into Jen's bedroom late at night has led Dawson to make some important changes in his new script. And when Andie goes to thank him for their wonderful evening together, Pacey is unusually distracted, claiming he has to study for a test. Meanwhile, an unsigned note on the floor of their English class leads Abby to conclude that one of the three couples has recently engaged in sex. And for a class assignment, she enlists Chris in an effort to expose them. Though Jen seems to confess that she and Dawson have done it, Abby needs confirmation. But when Chris suggests that Jen has been talking, Dawson refuses to take the bait. After telling Andie that Pacey has been spreading rumors about their sexual relationship, Abby then goes to work on Jack. And when Chris approaches Joey, she walks away, but not before accidentally leaving the nude drawing behind. To get Dawson to crack, Abby makes sure he sees the picture. And having sewn the seeds of mistrust, she and Chris stand back and watch as the couples turn on each other. Once Abby reveals the contents of the letter, Dawson and Joey explode and try claiming credit. But after Jack and Jen each say that they didn't have sex with either of them, all eyes turn to Pacey, whose confession sends an embarrassed Andie running. Once Jen's scathing review of their deceitful plan gives Chris second thoughts about having helped, when the time comes to present her work to the entire class, even Abby thinks better of it. As Chris continues to try and get Abby's interest, Jack and Jen discuss why they each turned down a chance at having sex with Joey and Dawson. And once he gets Andie to listen, Pacey reveals that his confusion over their relationship has been complicated by the fact that he received an "A" on a test for the very first time. Finally, after apologizing for trying so hard to hurt each other, Dawson and Joey resolve to restore the friendship they once shared.

Show Me Love

As Joey fails to get Pacey to agree to mend fences with Dawson, Jen is forced to acknowledge Henry's efforts to make up. Though Pacey makes an effort to communicate, Dawson remains cool and determined to make things right by winning the regatta. While Will announces that he'll be leaving for school once the race is over, Joey tries in vain to get Andie to accept her apology. As the race gets underway, Jack's lack of sailing experience becomes painfully obvious and allows Pacey and Will take the lead. But when Dawson refuses to back off a dangerous and illegal course, his efforts to best Pacey end up getting him disqualified. Jen's coming home after a night spent with Henry sparks Grams' disappointment. As Will says his good-byes to old friend and new, Gale comforts Dawson after Joey balks at his efforts to reconcile. And while Jen regains Grams' respect by assuring her that she and Henry didn't have sex, Gale arranges for a romantic dinner to settle her own differences with Mitch. Finally, when Joey balks at being treated like a trophy, Dawson asks for a chance to prove that he really is in love with her. So, after letting Pacey know that all she wants is to back up their relationship to a more comfortable, less threatening, place, Joey heads to Dawson's for a movie and to start them on the road to recovery.

Sleeping Arrangements

As Dawson and Jen are learning how to live together at Grams', Melanie arrives to let Pacey know that, although her uncle has sold the boat, he's bought an even bigger one and wants him for a Greek island cruise. But when Pacey tries to tell Danny about the offer, he finds the chef too busy to listen. Back on campus where classmate Elliot Sawyer is pursuing Joey, Jen discovers that her radio show has become the place for young women to seek advice about sex. And as Jack is moving his things into the fraternity house, he begins to suspect that not everyone is comfortable with him living there. Told of the job offer aboard the schooner, Audrey makes it clear that Brecher deserves a heads up from Pacey. Yet, contrary to what he expected, Pacey is surprised when Danny encourages him to take the job. And after offering to give Audrey a ride home, Pacey changes his plans when Melanie shows up to give a special send off all her own. Meanwhile, Jack learns that he's getting a private room because his freshman roommate, Eric, didn't want to live with someone who's gay. As Dawson urges Jen not to pull away just as their relationship is getting started, Jack discovers that Eric is worried that people might think he was gay if they were sharing a room. And when pressed about what happened between them at a party back when the school year began, Audrey tells Joey that she and Elliot never slept together. So, as Jen decides to try and meet Dawson halfway in their fledgling romance, Joey chooses to let down her guard to see what might happen with Elliot. Finally, as Eric is shamed into giving life with Jack a chance, a send off party organized by Audrey convinces Pacey that he shouldn't leave Boston after all. And without a place to live, he prepares to move in with Grams, too.

Something Wild

Just as Joey cuts her stay at home short and eagerly heads back to Boston with Pacey, Jen arrives in Capeside to spend the holiday at the Leery home. And when a plumbing problem at the restaurant leaves her alone with Gale, Jen discovers she has an unexpected ally in her efforts to persuade Dawson to enroll at a film school in Boston. Arriving at the dorm, Pacey and Joey discover Audrey never left for a family ski trip. And when Audrey complains about needing more money, a visit to the restaurant lands her a job. Meanwhile, unable to resist her obsession with grades, Joey heads to the bursar's office where she discovers she's getting all A's. So, to celebrate their mutual good fortune, Audrey takes Joey out for a night on the town. Though expecting to be given some bad news at work, Pacey discovers that, along with a raise and a bonus, he's being promoted. At the local hangout where she and Audrey have gone to celebrate, Joey notices Jen's ex-boyfriend, Charlie, playing in the house band. And once Pacey joins them, he and Joey are surprised when Audrey takes the stage to sing. Failing to recognize her as Jen's friend, Charlie then tries to strike up a conversation with Joey. Even after realizing his mistake, he continues to try and interest her in joining him for a drink. And though she's put off by his attitude, not to mention how he mistreated Jen, Joey is tempted. Meanwhile, back in Capeside, Dawson's dismissing her advice offends Jen. As Pacey and Audrey share a seductive game of pool, Joey takes the stage with the band for a song of her own before giving Charlie a very big kiss. Meanwhile, Gale insists that Dawson stop feeling responsible for her and get on with his own life by enrolling in film school and moving in with Jen. And after hearing the good news, Jen takes Dawson next door to Grams' old house to spend the night. Finally, Joey resists any further efforts at seduction by Charlie and chooses to walk home alone, while Audrey and Pacey end the night on a gently romantic note as they look forward to starting work together at the restaurant.

Something Wilder

As Dawson begins film school in Boston and Joey toys with dating with her classmate, Elliott, Jen discovers that failing grades have placed Jack on academic probation. Though certain he can pull up his grades, Jack is taken aback to find that his fraternity brothers are suddenly avoiding him. Meanwhile, as Joey is invited to a dinner with Professor Wilder on the same night she's agreed to see Elliott, Dawson is asked to direct a film written by his classmate Oliver. And with Jen learning that her newfound, upbeat attitude has put her in danger of losing her show on the campus radio station, Dawson looks for a way to tell Oliver that he isn't interested in directing his film. However, despite his reluctance to get involved, Dawson cannot keep from commenting on the script. After seeking Audrey and Pacey's advice, Joey begs off on her dinner date with Elliott in order to join Wilder and his students instead. Alone together following the dinner, an unexpected kiss sends both Joey and Wilder hurrying home alone. Yet, even after finding a gift left for her by Elliott, Joey decides to head off any relationship with him in order to pursue something with her professor. Though a turnaround in his grades gets him back into the fraternity's good graces, Jack begins to see just how fickle their support can be. And as Jen tries to recover the cynical edge she had prior to her romance with Dawson, she's disappointed at his lack of support as he becomes increasingly involved with Oliver. A drunken brawl with his brothers suggests that Jack isn't quite as welcome at the fraternity as he thought. But, though Pacey and Audrey make sure he gets to the hospital to treat the wounds he sustained in the fight, Jack still refuses to believe that his fraternity brothers could abandon him. Finally, as a result of the anger over having her opinions dismissed by Dawson and Oliver, Jen regains the angry edge that has made her a popular fixture on the campus radio station. And after deciding he's been too tough on Oliver, Dawson agrees to direct the film, only to find that his classmate has cast himself in the lead role.

Spiderwebs

After Dawson gives his friends some concert tickets, Jen convinces Emma and Jack that going to see the band No Doubt would be just the thing to reunite Pacey and Audrey. So, as Joey uses a pair of seats to tempt Eddie into joining her and her friends for the evening, Jen lets Audrey in on her plan. But when Jen invites C.J., too, she doesn't realize he's really interested in Audrey -- and that the two of them have already had sex. Meanwhile, persuaded to give the crew a weekend off, Todd gives Natasha and Dawson another pair of tickets and backstage passes to the show. As Joey forgets their tickets and Eddie sets out to get them in anyway, Natasha and Dawson are refused admission because their seats are for another night. While avoiding being seen by Dawson and his date presents Joey and Eddie with a perfect opportunity to sneak in, Natasha finds that, when it comes to getting past the tight security, her feminine charms aren't as effective as she thought. Inside the arena, Jen puts the unsuspecting Pacey face-to-face with his ex-girlfriend, only then to uncomfortable and surprising truth about Audrey and C.J. With Jen not wanting to talk about it, Audrey angrily lashes out at C.J., who insists he's still interested in her. However, when C.J. goes on to make makes it clear how little he thinks of Pacey, a fight breaks out that gets them thrown out just as the show is getting underway. Following Eddie through the bowels of the arena to where his father is supervising a maintenance crew helps give Joey some important insights into his past, while up above, a police officer mistakes Dawson and Natasha for ticket scalpers, and Emma warns Pacey against rekindling his ill-fated romance with Audrey. Treating the wounds he received in his fight with Pacey, Jen makes it clear that she has lost all interest in C.J. And as the heterosexual turmoil swirling around them once again interrupts Jack and David's efforts to spend an evening together, Todd bails out Dawson and Natasha, while Audrey sends the chastened C.J. packing and Joey's date has the fairytale ending she dreamt it would have.

Stolen Kisses

In preparation for their ritual Spring Break visit with his Aunt Gwen, Dawson and Joey invite Andie and Jack to join them. When Jack begs off at the last minute, Pacey asks if he and an old friend who's back in Capeside for a visit can come along, too. And while Pacey and Joey do their best to avoid any uncomfortable confrontations, Andie takes a liking to the enigmatic Will Crudski. Back at the restaurant, Mitch and Gale learn about the untimely death of an old friend who was the best man at their wedding, while Jen discovers that one of the waitresses is interested in Henry. As Will offers to teach Andie the finer points of shooting pool, Dawson and Joey stay to help Gwen at home. When Gwen, an artist whose second husband died of a heart attack, presses for why they aren't involved with each other, Dawson and Joey recount their rocky romantic history - an explanation that fails to persuade his aunt. Watching Will lure an unsuspecting pool hall patron into a game and then fleecing him of all his cash, Andie isn't sure whether to be attracted or repelled. Meanwhile, the death of their friend causes Mitch and Gale to reflect on a life that might have been. And though Jen insists that she isn't jealous of Shelly's interest in having sex with Henry, she tells her to stay away from him&or else. As Andie manages to get the normally close-mouthed Will to divulge his innermost secrets, the trip reinforces the long and complex history between Joey and Dawson. But as Pacey wonders if he could ever have a chance with Joey, a surprised Aunt Gwen catches them kissing. While Gwen encourages Joey to tell Dawson the truth, already reeling over his conflicting emotions, Pacey is knocked for another loop when he realizes that Andie is falling for his old friend, Will. When Joey tries talking to Dawson, Gwen interrupts again. And when she and Pacey try to analyze what's going on between them, they end up locked in another romantic embrace. Finally, as Jen admits to being jealous, an old friend's tragic misfortune helps Gale and Mitch view their own problems in a new light.

Swan Song

As Audrey prepares to leave for LA, she and Joey find that, following his dismissal from the restaurant, the Capeside Yacht Club has hired Pacey as a security guard. Over dinner with the two women that night, Dawson admits that he made his unexpected Spring Break trip to Florida to tell Joey that he loved her, only to find her with Charlie. But when he tries to make his feelings for her clear with a kiss, Joey balks. Failing to persuade Joey to come with her for the summer, Audrey joins Dawson at the airport where, arriving hours early for the flight, they spot Todd Carr, the film director who sent Dawson fleeing from California, as well as Jack and Jen awaiting their plane, too. At the airport, things take yet another unexpected turn when Jack's former fraternity brother, Eric, arrives after failing to tell his parents that he's gay. And the surprises refuse to stop when Dawson catches Grams leaving on a secret getaway with boyfriend Clifton Smalls, while back at the yacht club, Pacey has an unexpected encounter with his former boss and mentor, Danny Brecher. After Dawson asks her to reconsider spending the summer with her mom and dad, Jen encourages Jack him to stay in Boston with Eric while she heads home to New York. Meanwhile, a conversation with Dawson proves that a recent filmmaking failure has done little to temper Todd's arrogance. Persuaded by her sister to do something exciting, Joey heads for the airport with Pacey after convincing him that he's about to lose his final chance to make things right. Arriving with precious little time to make his case, Pacey commandeers the airport's public address system for a very public declaration of his love for Audrey. As Jen prepares to board her flight to New York, Joey buys a ticket for a much dreamed about trip to Paris. But after sharing a romantic kiss with Dawson before putting him on his plane, she's left wondering just where she should spend her summer. Finally, having decided to give Pacey a second chance, Audrey joins him for the long cross-country drive to Los Angeles.

Tamara's Return

While looking at a building his dad is considering for a new restaurant, Dawson is stunned to find that it's being sold by Tamara. But when an effort to tell Pacey makes Dawson frustrated, it's only while walking around town with Andie that Pacey runs into Tamara himself. Meanwhile, as Abby presses Jen to join her on a shopping spree, Joey decides that Dawson isn't taking her new interest in art seriously. And unsure about how to handle her growing feelings for Pacey, Andie seeks Dawson's advice. Stunned by her sudden appearance is Capeside, Pacey's uncomfortable visit to Tamara's reveals many unresolved emotions which still cloud the air. While Dawson cautions against seeing Tamara again, he lets Pacey know that Andie likes him, but he ignores the warnings. And when he heads back to Tamara's house, Pacey finds it difficult to say good-bye for good. Meanwhile, as Joey balks at Dawson's efforts to take more of an interest in her art, Jen is surprised by Abby's interest in a man easily twice her age. But when Vincent expresses an interest in Jen, Abby is incensed. Joey is surprised to learn that Andie's clumsy brother Jack also has an interest in art. So, when Dawson tries to bridge the growing gap between them, Joey isn't so sure she even wants to try anymore. As Abby accuses Jen of stealing Vincent's attention, Dawson makes one more effort to resolve their differences and discovers that Joey's artwork has made her realize how much her life revolves around his. Finally, as Pacey struggles with his feelings for Tamara, he sets out to make something of Andie's feelings for him.

Text, Lies and Videotape

With Jen's encouragement, Dawson sees psychologist Rachel Weir, who tells him that the panic attacks are not unusual given the emotional trauma he's suffered following his father's death. As Audrey is hurriedly trying to assemble an audition tape for the popular TV show Real World, Joey struggles to find the confidence to stand up for what she believes as the lone freshman on Professor David Wilder's project to catalogue the letters of poet Rose Lazare. Meanwhile, when Pacey confronts Karen about her affair with their boss, Danny Brecher, he's warned to steer clear of the subject. And upon returning home to Capeside, Dawson is shocked to discover that his dad may have neglected to amend his will to include his little sister. While struggling to find something relevant to offer at the next meeting with Wilder and her fellow students, Joey suggests that Audrey uses an audition tape that is the most honest and revealing. After Karen apologizes and explains the circumstances surrounding her affair with Danny, Pacey is given the responsibility of cooking for the restaurant's all-important anniversary party. But when Danny's wife, Emily, makes an unexpected appearance, it's Pacey who's left to cushion Karen's obvious disappointment. Dawson returns to Boston to continue his therapy, and Rachel urges him not to let his late father's expectations guide his choices. As the anniversary party draws to a close, Pacey cannot keep Karen from hurrying off after she sees Danny and Emily together. But when he arrives at her apartment with dinner, Pacey's effort to make Karen feel better is undermined by a phone call from Danny. Finally, Joey's insights into Rose's letters impress Wilder, while an unexpected film festival prize lets Dawson know that his father had already accepted the fact that he might not return to film school.

That Was Then

In the wake of their night spent locked together inside a store, Pacey and Joey find themselves at his apartment discussing the relationship that might have been, and the one that still might be. Still hesitant to get involved, Joey heads back to the Worthington campus where she's once again roped into taking care of Professor Hetson's teenage daughter, Harley. And when word that his dad has suffered a heart attack sends Pacey hurrying back to Capeside, Dawson also heads home to discuss his fledgling career with the town's high school students. Upon Pacey's arrival at the hospital, older brother Doug immediately takes offense at his effort to take control of the situation. Yet, as the two argue, they are both surprised to find that the son Mr. Witter wants most to spend time with right now is none other than Pacey. And when Pacey tries to make things right by encouraging Doug to spend some time with their ailing dad, the years of conflict and competition that have defined their relationship come boiling bitterly to the surface. Deciding to give Dawson a taste of his own medicine, Capeside High's film teacher, Mr. Gold, pairs him with George, an earnest student looking for some feedback on his latest project. And back in Boston, Joey is stunned to find that, instead of studying, Harley is hiding a teenage boy in her bedroom. Pressed for his opinion, Dawson's own insecurity makes it hard for him to give George the critical feedback he craves. Meanwhile, Harley takes offense when her boyfriend, Patrick, suddenly turns his attention towards Joey. But after sending the teenage boy on his way, Joey's comforting advice to Harley reveals some insights into her own problems with romance. So, when she returns to her dorm, Joey takes the plunge and places a call to Pacey. Finally, after running into each other and sharing their respective dilemmas, old friends Pacey and Dawson settle in for an evening together.

The Abby

As their freshman year at Worthington draws to a close, Audrey finagles an invitation to spend a few days in Capeside, while Joey learns that a short story she wrote for David Wilder's class has been included in the school's annual literary review. And as Dawson and Oliver are invited to spend their summer working under a Hollywood film producer, Jen and Jack plan for a summertime adventure of their own. In preparation for an important investor's luncheon, Alex turns up the heat on Pacey and the rest of the restaurant's staff. But when her surly behavior gets to be more than anyone can bear, Pacey organizes the staff in a walkout on the day of the luncheon, leaving the tempestuous Alex in a jam. Back home in Capeside, Joey leaves Audrey with Dawson for a day so that she can go visit her dad in prison, only to learn he was paroled several months earlier without ever saying anything to her or Bessie. After she and Jack decide to summer in Costa Rica, Jen is surprised to learn that her estranged parents are hoping she will spend the vacation with them. But when Jack offers to return their tickets so she can accept the invitation, Jen asks him to wait, wanting more time to think over her decision. Delighted at the news of Dawson's plans, Audrey insists that he stay at her parent's home for the summer. But when telling Joey, Audrey realizes that Dawson has yet to reveal his plans to anyone else. While packing up after being fired from her job at the restaurant, Alex offers Pacey a ride home, an offer he soon regrets accepting when it seems like she wants to kill them both. But after narrowly avoiding injury in an accident, Alex's tough-girl façade cracks as she breaks down crying in Pacey's arms. Finally, as Joey gets the good news about Dawson's summer and then tracks down her dad for a long overdue visit, Grams convinces Jen that a summertime reunion with her parents can wait until she's ready.

The All-Nighter

As he and his mom try to cope with their tragic love lives, Dawson and his friends face an important English midterm exam. As Pacey struggles to keep Andie from learning about his sordid sexual history, the study session Mr. Peterson scheduled is cancelled. Since his parents are away, the school's resident Lothario, Chris Wolfe, offers to convene at his home in hopes spending some time with Jen. After Pacey persuades Andie to come, she turns around and asks Joey. However, when Pacey invites Dawson, too, it creates an uncomfortable situation. As Andie unveils a schedule that will get plenty of work done prior to the test, her well-made plans are undermined when everyone else wants to take a magazine's "purity test." As they take turns reading the revealing test questions, Pacey shocks Andie when he's forced to admit to his affair with Tamara. Meanwhile, as Dawson and Joey struggle to find some common ground, Chris's little sister sets her sights on Dawson. And as Dawson warns of their host's intentions, Jen assures him that she's completely in control of the situation while making it clear to Chris that she's interested in whatever he has in mind. As Pacey tries to explain his lack of candor to Andie, Dina claims that Joey's test revealed she's been in love more than once, leaving Dawson to conclude that it's Jack. Continuing to rebuff Dina's advances, he's stunned to find that Chris succeeded in getting Jen into bed. After Joey tries to console Dina, everyone wakes up the following morning with only four hours left before the big test. As Pacey's organizing everyone in an effort to cover as much material as possible impresses Andie, Dawson expresses his disappointment in Jen before turning to Joey one last time to make peace. And after the two of them agree that, despite their love for one another, some time apart would be for the best, illness forces Mr. Peterson to postpone the exam.

The Anti-Prom

To help Jack, Dawson organizes an alternative to the school-sanctioned prom. With his parents agreeing to let him use the restaurant, he enlists his friends to sell tickets, which quickly become popular with Capeside's fringe elements. And when Pacey learns that Andie was planning to attend the Junior Prom alone, he asks her to be his date to Dawson's "Anti-Prom." However, as the event gets underway, Jack is uncomfortable about the prospect of dancing with Ethan, while Joey worries about having both Dawson and Pacey there. And Jen is surprised to learn that Henry is planning to attend an eight-week long summer football camp Feeling as though Dawson is treating her like some sort of trophy, Joey heads outside for some time alone and finds Jack escaping an uncomfortable situation with Ethan. Returning to the dance to see Pacey, Joey breaks both Andie's and Dawson's hearts. As the evening careens towards disaster, everyone heads home to nurse their emotional wounds. While their differences prove too much for Jen and Henry, Jack cannot find the courage to kiss Ethan. And as Pacey apologizes to Andie and then reveals his plan to leave on his boat just as soon as school is over, she insists that he first tell Joey about his feelings. Finally, as Joey decides to put her rekindled romance with Dawson on hold, Mitch and Gale make the commitment to revive their marriage.

The Bostonians

As Joey's writing career gets off to an inauspicious start at Worthington College, a sought after internship at a film studio is making impossible Dawson's upcoming weekend visit. With Joey despondent, especially with having to accommodate her roommate Audrey's frequent dorm room sexual trysts, Jack and Jen are discovering that Boston Bay College is a hard partying school. And when they are invited to a big fraternity party, Jack persuades Jen to go. Meanwhile, as Dawson's first day on the set exposes wunderkind filmmaker Todd Carr as a jerk, Jen finds Pacey living on a yacht in Boston Harbor. When Jack and Jen ask her to join them and Audrey expresses concern over her reclusive habits, Joey decides to go to the frat party. As Audrey drags Jack into the festivities, Jen and Joey are left to negotiate the mob of revelers. And while Jen fends off a drunken student's advances, Joey immediately regrets brushing off a classmate's efforts to talk, and then decides that the time has come to leave Dawson behind and reinvent herself. After telling off Todd gets him fired, Dawson heads to spend a weekend in Boston, unaware that Joey already left a message telling him that their romance is over. Back in Boston, Jen's attitude nearly drives off Charlie, an attractive and interested member of the band hired to play at the party. And after taking Audrey with them back to Grams' house, Jen, Joey, and Jack recount the night's events. Finally, back at her dorm room the following morning, Joey is surprised, and delighted, when Dawson arrives unannounced.

The Dance

Despite their skepticism, Andie persuades Dawson, Pacey and Joey to go to their school's homecoming. As Joey suggests that Jen come along too, Abby prepares to use the dance to come between Brett Tompkins and his girlfriend, Christy Livingston. And Andie asks if her brother, Jack, can tag along too, unaware that his kiss has left Joey reeling. Meanwhile, Dawson learns that his parents have decided to separate. After his mom and dad say a tearful goodbye, Dawson reluctantly goes to the dance with his friends. While Joey and Dawson dance as Andie and Pacey don't, Jen senses that she and Jack have been set up. As Joey learns of Andie's efforts at matchmaking and about the Leery's breakup, Abby sets her own devious plan into motion. Meanwhile, when left alone for a moment, Jack and Joey discuss the implications of their kiss, unaware that Dawson overheard it all. And upon confronting him about the kiss, Dawson levels Jack with a punch. With Brett distracted by Abby, Christy heads outside where she finds Pacey. And when Pacey suddenly reconsiders his self-imposed ban on dancing, Andie is devastated to find them together. As Mitchell and Gail's first night apart proves difficult, Joey tracks down Dawson and argues that what's happening between them is much more than about a simple kiss. Meanwhile, as Jen encourages Jack not to give up on Joey just yet, Pacey apologizes for ignoring Andie and they make amends over a dance and a first kiss. Finally, even though they both admit to being in love, Joey decides that it would be best if she stopped seeing Dawson for now.

The Election

When Andie decides to run for sophomore class president, she enlists Pacey as her campaign manager and then goes to work on Joey to be her running mate. Though reluctant at first, a harsh warning from rival candidates Abby and Chris convinces Joey to join in the fight. While Abby searches for something to use against her, Andie is determined to keep her campaign clean. But her efforts are set back when Abby uses a debate to reveal that Andie's mother suffers from a severe mental disability as a result of the accident that killed her older brother. Meanwhile, as Jen urges him to be more spontaneous, Dawson inadvertently sees his parents having sex. Following the disastrous debate, Pacey's efforts to bring Andie around prove fruitless. As a result, Jack suggests going back on the medication she had been taking for depression. When Dawson asks about reconciliation, his dad insists there's no chance he and Gail will be getting back together. In search of a diversion, he then turns to skinny-dipping with Jen. And while Dawson assumes that she's also interested in sex, Jen makes it clear that she wants to keep their relationship a platonic one. Although she's determined to go on with her campaign, Andie freezes up during her final speech. In an effort to expose Abby's deviousness, Pacey lures her into admitting that she's only using Chris's popularity in her own quest to rule the school. And her campaign is derailed when Pacey broadcasts the confession over the public address system. Finally, as Dawson learns that his father has filed for divorce, Jack apologizes for not telling Joey about his mother's illness. And as Dawson seeks comfort from Jen, a distraught Andie returns to taking medication in order to right her own sinking ship.

The Graduate

As Joey nervously anticipates having to give a commencement address, Pacey learns that his hopes for graduating rest on an English Literature final. Refusing an offer of help from Doug, he arrives for the test. But after accusing his teacher, Mr. Kasdan, of not caring whether he graduates or not, Pacey walks out without taking it. Meanwhile, as Tobey presses Jack to publicly acknowledge their fledgling romance, an argument with his mother sends Drue to Jen's house looking for a place to spend the night. After Pacey rebuffs her offer to help him take the test, Joey begins working on her speech. Seeing her struggle, Bessie decides that the time is right to give her sister a letter their late mother wanted her to have upon graduating from high school. And after asking Dawson to read it aloud, Joey lets her mother's spirit be her inspiration for the speech. Meanwhile, as Jack celebrates Andie's return from Italy by admitting that Tobey is his boyfriend, Drue enlists Jen in a graduation prank. And while Pacey had no intention of asking for another chance, Mr. Kasdan arrives at the beach house and convinces him to take the exam. At a pre-graduation party, Pacey tells Andie that he managed to pass the final, but that he'll be missing the ceremony so he can leave for a job aboard a yacht in the Caribbean. Because their plans for the prank are exposed, Drue and Jen are unable to attend the party after they land in trouble with Principal Peskin. Finally, as Pacey seizes the moment to make up with his brother before leaving town, Andie tells Jack that she's put Harvard on hold for a year so she can return to Italy. And as graduation brings Drue's estranged dad to Capeside, Joey's inspired speech touches the hearts of her classmates and their guests, while Drue's prank comes off without a hitch.

The Imposters

As Joey and Eddie struggle with the aftermath of their unexpected kiss, Dawson and Todd receive a surprise visit from production executive Heather Tracy. Unhappy with their falling behind schedule and disappointed with the footage she's seen, Heather announces that the studio is shutting down production until Todd can find an actress to replace Natasha Kelly. But when Dawson speaks up for their star, he convinces Heather to give Natasha another look. And though Todd has no reservations about dumping her in order to save his own job, Dawson sets out to prepare Natasha for a scene that could keep her in the picture. Meanwhile, after finding that Professor Freeman gave him a low grade on his first paper, Jack suspects that their failed effort to start a relationship may have something to do with it. As she struggles to find a way to return to being comfortable around Pacey, Audrey is surprised and delighted when Emma offers her a chance to sing with her band. Determined to see that Pacey witnesses her singing debut at Hell's Kitchen, Audrey refuses to leave his office until he agrees to come. Back on campus, Joey doesn't know what to think after Eddie challenges Professor Hetson's harsh critique of her class presentation. But after finding out where he lives so she can thank him, she's stunned to learn that Eddie isn't actually enrolled at Worthington. Seeing Heather ready to dismiss Natasha without even giving her a serious second look, Dawson ignores industry protocol in order to make a pitch for the film's leading lady. And while Todd is stunned by his assistant's brash behavior, Heather concedes that Dawson may have a point after all. Then, after Jack challenges the low grade, Freeman relents and changes it, but not before lecturing him on the difficulties of keeping his sexual orientation a secret from his wife and family. Finally, as Eddie arrives at the club to apologize to Joey, Audrey's excitement about her successful debut is diminished when she and Emma arrive back at the apartment to find that Pacey fell asleep and missed the whole thing.

The Kids Are Alright

Back in Boston following a short-lived Capeside summer romance, Joey prepares for another year at Worthington. Following their poorly timed hallway collision, she meets Greg Hetson, an English professor who gives her the rest of the day to read a book to prove just how much she wants to get into his advanced class. Yet, while Joey is determined to prove she's worthy to take Hetson's class, a word that Dawson wants to meet sends her off to an aborted rendezvous. Meanwhile, having agreed to give MTV celebrity Jack Osbourne a cross country ride to Boston, Audrey arrives for school as Pacey sets his sights on landing a job -- with some well-placed help from his girlfriend's father. And as Jen returns home energized by the news that her parents are getting a divorce, Jack rebounds from being dumped by carrying on a series of sexual flings right under Grams' nose. After a cell phone call from Dawson disrupts the first session, an ill prepared Joey discovers that keeping pace in Hetson's class, and with classmate Eddie Doling - won't be easy. As Jen tries to recover from the shock of learning that Grams has enrolled in college, Jack and Pacey agree to find an apartment together. Though Pacey finds what he's sure is the ideal place, music student Emma Jones balks at living with two men, especially after learning that Pacey doesn't have a job. And at a local tavern where Emma works as a waitress, Pacey finds that introducing her to Jack has gotten them no closer to landing the apartment. Having warned Pacey against doing anything that would break Audrey's heart, Joey fields a job offer from Emma. So, as Pacey weighs getting ready for his upcoming job interview against a night at a luxury hotel with Audrey, Jen and Jack help Joey choose between working at the bar and an offer to be Hetson's assistant. Just as Joey is about to call it a night, she's surprised when Dawson finally shows up. And after sharing their stories of a summer that's about to end, they end up back at her dorm room where, taking advantage of the opportunity to celebrate her birthday a few minutes early, the two old friends finally end up in bed together.

The Kiss

With the possibility of spending a year in Paris bringing their friendship to a crossroads, a kiss completely changes things between Dawson and Joey. As Dawson tells Pacey, and Joey is pressed by her sister for details, word that Jennifer's grandfather has died creates an awkward moment. Meanwhile, Pacey plays a practical joke on a new student who's just moved to Capeside. And determined to get even, Andie promises to introduce Pacey to Christy Livingston, the girl of his dreams. Pacey is convinced that his luck has changed when Christy agrees to a date. And as Joey decides to stay in Capeside rather than going to France for a year, Jennifer is surprised at how easily her grandmother has accepted her husband's death. Doing his best to comfort Jen over both the loss of her grandfather and the demise of their own romance, Dawson prepares to start over with Joey by taking her on a date. However, after misreading Dawson's intentions, Jennifer arrives at the movie, too, creating yet another uncomfortable situation. Leaving her to wait while he tries to explain to Jen, Dawson returns to find Joey is gone. And as Pacey learns that Christy only agreed to see him because Andie claimed he has a fatal heart problem, Gail finds evidence that Mitchell is considering a divorce. While Jen seeks her grandmother's comfort, Pacey makes it clear that he didn't enjoy Andie's trick. And as Andie tries to get Pacey to trust her just one more time, Gail asks for a chance to make their damaged marriage work again. Finally, while pledging to do everything he can to make his new relationship with Joey work, Dawson is paralyzed after seeing Jen watching nearby.

The Long Goodbye

In the wake of his dad's untimely death, it falls to Dawson to hold his shattered family together. Tracking Pacey down with the tragic news, Joey encourages him to rise to the occasion and offer his support to Dawson. Yet, when Joey drops in as Dawson is recalling happier times with Mitch, she finds that he still isn't ready to accept any help. Meanwhile, after Jack counsels Jen on getting over her fear of seeing Dawson again, Grams uses a post-funeral gathering to reach out with an offer to help the grieving Leery clan. And as Jen struggles to console Dawson, Joey recalls life with Mitch as she offers to help Gale. Finding Gale focussed on how she failed her late husband, Joey encourages her to remember all the good things about their marriage, and especially the two wonderful children it produced. Following a family friend's effort to comfort him, a tape recording of his dad's voice causes Dawson to snap in front of the guests. With Dawson blaming himself for the accident that took his father's life, Joey insists that she's prepared to do whatever it take, including not returning to school, to help him and his family cope with their loss. Pacey tries his best to lift Joey's sagging spirits, and even encourages her to pursue the long-smoldering relationship with Dawson. After Dawson assures his mom that he won't ever let the memories of his dad die, Pacey arrives at the Leery home to check on his former best friend. And in order to stop him from blaming himself, Pacey takes Dawson to the site of the crash that took Mitch's life. Finally, as a distraught and exhausted Joey finds comfort in her roommate, Audrey, the full impact of the recent events wash over Dawson as his emotions come rushing to the surface.

The Longest Day

Turning back the clock for another look at how Dawson got the news, Joey tries to take Jen's advice and tell him at once - but finds she cannot. And while Andie realizes that she misses Pacey more than she's been willing to admit, Dawson again overhears the argument on his front porch and reveals that he already knew something was going on. Going back to just before the christening yet again, Will presses Dawson for some "first date" advice. And after Dawson offers Will his rowboat for a romantic evening on the creek, Jen lets Pacey and Joey's news slip out. Devastated, Dawson heads home. Interrupting their argument on the porch once again, he reveals that he already knows much more than Pacey and Joey thought. And though they struggle to explain, he's in no mood to listen Realizing that she is responsible for breaking the bad news to Dawson, Jen blames herself for the outcome. And when Henry awkwardly tries to make her feel better, she sends him packing. Upon returning the boat to the Leery's dock, Andie hears what has erupted. And as she helps Pacey understand the seriousness of his transgression, Joey tries in vain to explain it all to Dawson. Finally, in the wake of the mess they've created, Pacey and Joey decide that their nascent romance has to end before it does any more damage.

The Lost Weekend

At the end of his weekend visit to Boston, Dawson finally hears Joey's drunken phone message announcing the end of their romance. With the tension between them approaching an all-time high, Joey heads off to drop her writing class, leaving Dawson to take a campus tour alone -- unaware that his guide is none other than her flirtatious roommate, Audrey. Meanwhile, as Doug sets Pacey up to work at a trendy Boston restaurant, Jack helps Jen track down Charlie at the campus radio station where she goes on the air to make clear just how much she likes him. As Audrey begins working her way into Dawson's confidence, Joey's finding them together undermines the prospects of making up prior to his return to Los Angeles. And after finally getting her chance to drop David Wilder's class, she discovers that he has sabotaged her efforts in hopes he can persuade her to stay, and will only allow her out once she's convinced him of her sincerity. While Pacey has no interest in being a dishwasher at Danny Brecher's restaurant, needing money for a date with the wealthy niece of Worthington's dean prompts him to convince the supremely arrogant chef to hire him as a kitchen assistant. As Jen's romance with Charlie takes off, Dawson finds himself becoming increasingly uncomfortable with Audrey's advances. As a result, he heads for the airport to catch his flight back to Los Angeles. After convincing Wilder to let her drop the class, and then changing her mind at the last minute, Joey returns to her room where Audrey says that Dawson is heading back to California for good. So, as Charlie refuses to let Jen walk out on their fledging romance, Joey heads to the airport to ask Dawson not to go.

The Reluctant Hero

Following a pair of disappointing encounters with both his father and Jen, Dawson learns that he and Joey have won $2,500 at the Boston Film Festival. When Joey won't agree to team up for another film, Jen invites Dawson to a party being given by a friend of Chris Wolfe. Meanwhile, as Joey and Jack try to come to an understanding about their friendship, Andie worries about Pacey's low self-esteem. Convinced that Pacey can change if only he would apply himself, Andie invites him over to study for an upcoming exam. But when Jack gets Joey to agree to a date, Andie is left having to take care of their mentally unstable mother with Pacey there. Following another difficult encounter with his dad Mitch, Dawson gives Joey her share of the prize money. And after a tense encounter with Jack, he decides to accept Jen's invitation to the party. As Pacey and Andie settle in to study and Jack and Joey look for some ground rules to govern their relationship, Dawson must do something when he sees a drunken Jen heading off to a bedroom with Chris and Todd. And Pacey is also forced into action when Andie's mother wanders away from home and ends up at a local supermarket. As Pacey's gentle intervention persuades Andie's mom to return home, Dawson drags a drunk and uncooperative Jen away from the party. Because she's in no condition to go home, Dawson takes Jen to his father's apartment to sober up. As a result, when Joey drops in following her date with Jack, Dawson isn't home. Finally, as Mitch's assistance with Jen helps bring him and Dawson closer together, Pacey's heroic efforts with her mom convince him and Andie that he can change.

The Scare

As word of a serial killer's crimes reach Capeside, Dawson is preparing for his annual Friday the 13th celebration. Although Jen won't be there because of a date with Cliff, she's still put out when Dawson goes out of his way to frighten Pacey and Joey prior to his party, but not her. So when she begins getting threatening calls, Jen is sure that it's Dawson. Meanwhile, as they are stocking up on party supplies, Pacey and Dawson overhear an argument that another customer, Ursula, is having with her boyfriend, Eddie. And after she offers to get some wine for Pacey, Ursula joins them at their car where Joey giving a stranger directions. At home with Ursula and his friends, Dawson is surprised when Cliff brings Jen to the party. However, as Ursula suggests that she could be the serial killer they've been hearing about, everyone's nerves are set on edge when the lights go out unexpectedly. As Dawson and Ursula check the fuse box, Pacey and the others suspect that their host is behind the sudden blackout. So once Dawson and Ursula rejoin the others, they are the victims of a scary practical joke. While Dawson assures Jen that he isn't the one who's been trying to frighten her, Eddie arrives, threatening to kill both Pacey and Ursula. As Pacey locks the door, Dawson tries calling for help, only to find the phone wire has been cut. Climbing in a window, Eddie then tries strangling Pacey, forcing Joey to take matters into to her own hands by attacking him with a frying pan. But before Eddie can get revenge, Ursula ushers him away as Cliff admits to being behind the efforts to scare Jen. Finally, as Jen decides that she really isn't interested in dating anyone just yet, the serial killer who's apprehended turns out to be the stranger who asked Joey for directions.

The Song Remains the Same

As Dawson and Joey wake up in her dorm room to face the inevitable questions following their night together, in an expensive Boston hotel, Audrey helps prepare Pacey for a job interview arranged by her dad. Upon meeting future boss Rich Rinaldi and the other prospective tele-sales stockbrokers, it doesn't take long for Pacey to commit to the job, regardless of how difficult it sounds. And as Dawson is being paged by his own impatient boss, he and Joey struggle with mixed emotions as they plan their next rendezvous. Meanwhile, recognizing her voice from her days at the campus radio station, a handsome student asks Jen to consider becoming a peer counselor. But when she arrives at the meeting to learn more, Jen disappoints C.J. by deciding that it isn't for her. As he struggles to keep pace with the frustrating and difficult Todd, Dawson's head is swimming with thoughts of Joey as he resolves to keep their relationship from falling apart again. And as Joey looks forward to seeing Dawson again, too, she heads for the tavern where Emma works to apply for a job, only to find her classmate and intellectual sparring partner rival, Eddie Doling, working there, too. Determined to persuade Emma that he and Jack would make great roommates, Pacey enlists Audrey into helping them get one more chance. So, when they discover she has already agreed to rent it to a lesbian couple, and despite the fact that Audrey isn't excited about Pacey living with Emma, Jack deviously persuades the other prospective roommates to bow out. As a birthday surprise, Dawson arranges a romantic picnic for Joey on a soundstage where he's built a mock up of his Capeside home for Todd's latest movie. But back at the dorm where another surprise party awaits, things become strained once Dawson reveals that he has been dating someone in LA. And after Joey takes him to task for having slept with her without ever mentioning that he was seeing someone, even though Dawson makes it clear that he has no intention of letting anyone come between them this time, she isn't convinced. Finally, as Pacey and Jack learn that Emma is giving them a chance after all, Joey and Dawson break up amidst a litany of slights dredged up from their on again, off again romance.

The Tao of Dawson

While working to restore their friendship, Dawson stuns Pacey with the news that he is in love with his sister. As Jack suggests that Dawson tell Gretchen just how he feels about her, Pacey hopes to use a trip to retrieve the car she left at school to dissuade his sister from any thoughts of a romance. And when they arrive on campus where Gretchen's ex-boyfriend, Nick Taylor, presses them to stay for a big party, Pacey sees an opportunity to keep his sister from getting involved with Dawson. Meanwhile, when Drue accidentally locks himself and Joey inside a storage room at the club, there's little hope that they can be rescued until after the weekend. After Gretchen reluctantly agrees to stay the night, Pacey gets to work convincing Nick not to give up on her. When Pacey finally concludes that Nick is bad news, Gretchen tells him about the pregnancy and subsequent miscarriage that caused her to leave school. But while Pacey is ready to return home, Gretchen cannot resist Nick's charms. As Dawson learns that Mr. Brooks and Grams are dating, he turns to Jack with his concerns. Deciding to tell Grams that Brooks is terminally ill, Dawson is surprised to learn that she isn't going to let it interfere with their romance. Meanwhile, efforts to take advantage of their being trapped result in a black eye for Drue. As Pacey looks on, a drunken Nick manages to get Gretchen to join him in his room. However, before things can go too far, Nick passes out, allowing Gretchen to make a graceful exit. Back in Capeside, Brooks convinces Dawson not to worry about his relationship with Grams, while Joey sets Drue straight on the state of her personal life. And after being forced to spend the night locked in the room together, she discovers that he had a phone with him the whole time. Finally, realizing that Pacey has decided to accept their relationship, Gretchen heads to see Dawson.

The Te of Pacey

Noting the long history of disasters surrounding attempts to celebrate his birthday, Pacey asks that Joey do nothing for his eighteenth beyond the two of them spending a quiet evening alone. Though Joey says she agrees, secretly she's already planned a surprise party at his parents' home. And while Dawson is prepared to use the party as an opportunity to let everyone know they are dating, Gretchen wants to keep their relationship under wraps just a little longer. Meanwhile, for her final hours of community service -- chauffeuring drunken teenagers home safely -- Jen is teamed up with Jack's gay teen nemesis, Tobey. When the Witter's reaction at the party makes Joey see that she's made a big mistake, she promises to get Pacey through the night unscathed. But after defending Pacey's decision to attend college to a skeptical Mr. Witter, it's Joey who ends up being the one who's scarred when she walks in on Dawson and Gretchen locked in a passionate embrace. Just as Pacey expected, things at the party just keep on getting worse. And while Dawson tries explaining their involvement to Joey, Gretchen still isn't sure she wants everyone to know. Meanwhile, Tobey's harsh opinions force Jen to defend Jack. When the evening turns to everyone's favorite story about Pacey, he storms off after revealing that the only college he thought he had a chance to attend has rejected him. While Dawson and Joey fail to find Pacey, Mr. Witter does. And after a heartfelt and revealing admission about his own bout with a devastating personal setback, he and Pacey find some common ground for the first time in many years. Recognizing more than a little of herself in a drunken teenage girl, Jen heads for Pacey's party, where Tobey's arrival immediately ignites friction with Jack. Finally, as Jen urges Tobey to give Jack a chance and Dawson presses Gretchen not to give up on their romance, Joey encourages Pacey not to let one setback keep him from realizing his dream.

The Unusual Suspects

Following a senior class prank that ends with the school principal's sailboat and dog in the middle of Capeside High's swimming pool, Dawson, Pacey and Jack are among the suspects rounded up for interrogation. When questioned regarding his whereabouts the previous day, Jack begins by recalling asking Jen to help him coach his youth soccer team. And while Pacey initiates his defense by saying he was on a police ride-along with his brother, Doug, Dawson's alibi is working for Mr. Brooks. Meanwhile, as Dawson discovers that Mr. Brooks aspired to be a famous filmmaker, Jack defies conventional wisdom and asks young Molly Say to be his soccer team's goalie. Under questioning by Mitch and Principal Peskin, the three boys all maintain that they couldn't have been anywhere near the prank. However, when Mitch recalls their ninth grade pact to pull off the best senior prank ever, suspicion falls back on Dawson and Pacey. Meanwhile, as Dawson attempts to answer for his whereabouts during the time of the prank, Jack recalls how moving Molly to goalie angered some parents and cost him his job as the coach. Forced to account for his whereabouts, Pacey explains how he was with Doug at the yacht club investigating Principal Peskin's missing boat. And after Pacey recalls leaving the club to get a ride home from Drue, Peskin lets him off the hook. Having listened to the trio's alibis, the principal then calls Drue and his mom in for questioning. And even though he didn't really do it, all suspicion suddenly falls on Drue. Finally, having conspired with Jack to place the blame for the prank squarely on Drue's shoulders, Dawson and Pacey decide to renew their friendship.

To Be or Not to Be

As Dawson and Jack continue to find common ground over the making of the film, Ty asks that Jen not be misled by his taking her to a Bible study session. And even though she's certain that religion will eventually come between them, he pushes for a second date. Meanwhile, after threatening Pacey with a bad grade on a poetry assignment, Mr. Peterson brings Jack to tears by insisting that he read his poem to the class -- one which seems to suggest that Andie's brother is gay. As the rumors spread quickly across campus, both Joey and Andie struggle to believe that Jack couldn't really be a homosexual. And while Andie is reluctant to confront him, Joey finds the courage to speak with Jack, who insists that the poem was really about his brother's death. When Mr. Peterson insists that Jack continue to read the following day, Pacey steps in to defend him and ends up spitting in the teacher's face. And when asked to apologize, he refuses. Meanwhile, Jen is surprised when Ty takes her out to a nightclub for drinks. In the wake of the rumors about his sexuality, everyone from Joey to his guidance counselor wonder if Jack is gay. Seeing how he's holding up under the intense pressure, Andie admits that she shares many of the fears her brother voiced in his poem. To put the rumors to rest, Jack insists that Joey give him a very public kiss. But when Joey continues to have her doubts, Dawson urges her to confront Jack, who isn't totally comfortable with the truth. Meanwhile, when Pacey stands his ground against Mr. Peterson's behavior, he's suspended from school. And the incident comes between Pacey and Andie when she doesn't totally support his principled stance.

To Green, with Love

In the wake of Matt Caufield's expulsion, Principal Green comes under fire from an angry Capeside community. Under considerable pressure himself, Superintendent Byron Fielding makes it clear that if he doesn't rescind the expulsion order, Green will be asked to resign. Pressed to rally some support for their embattled principal, Joey calls on A.J. for guidance, especially after seeing television journalist Sherry Eisler's one-sided report. And after Dawson offers to help revive her journalistic career, Gale tries to set the record straight with a balanced report on Green's plight. When she's summoned by Superintendent Fielding, Joey exaggerates the size of a protest she's planning in support of Principal Green. Realizing that the Superintendent is worried, Joey asks her friends to round up a large crowd. While Nikki is dismayed by her dad's refusal when Gale requests an interview, threats against their business prompt Bessie to ask Joey to reconsider using their bed & breakfast as the rally-planning site. Yet, when Bodie notes that racism is behind the effort to oust Green, Bessie backs off. Meanwhile, seeing that Pacey is falling in love prompts A.J. to back away from Joey. As Jen encourages Pacey not to abandon Joey in her hour of need, Gale reminds Fielding of his responsibility to the school's students. And after Nikki admonishes her dad for refusing to participate in the rally supporting him, he shows up to thank them. Despite the show of support, Fielding refuses to back down over Green's resignation. But before leaving, the principal makes sure that Joey realizes just how much her efforts have meant to him. Finally, although her story on Green brings an offer to do more reporting, Gale turns it down in order to open her new restaurant. And in an effort to reward Joey's heroism and jump-start a romance between hem, Pacey provides a new venue for her work.

True Love

With their disastrous high school junior year having drawn to a close, Dawson and Joey prepare for the wedding to remarry his mom and dad. His feud with Dawson still unresolved, Pacey finalizes his preparations for a summer trip aboard his boat. Yet, upon realizing that his brother hasn't yet told her about his plans or his feelings for her, Doug arranges for Pacey and Joey to meet. And as Jen and Henry go through an uncomfortable break up, Andie plans a going away party for Pacey. Though it means missing Pacey's party, Joey insists on staying at the wedding rehearsal with Dawson, despite the obvious discomfort for both of them. And after confessing some regret over breaking things off, Joey finds Pacey ready to try one last time to change her mind. Meanwhile, her own bittersweet romance many years ago prompts Grams to insist that Jen make up with Henry before it's too late. And after catching up with his football camp-bound bus to get Henry to reconcile, Grams then insists that it's Jack's turn to track down - and kiss - Ethan. At the Leery's wedding, Pacey shows up hoping Joey will ask him to stay home for the summer. When she can't, he congratulates Dawson on winning her back. But after toasting his parent's reunion, Dawson realizes that he's holding Joey back, and he encourages her to follow her heart... and Pacey. Finally, though Jack is disappointed to find Ethan back together with an old boyfriend, he returns home to a father who's anxious to repair their fractured relationship with a summer-long project. And as Joey joins Pacey for his summer adventure, Andie, Jen and Jack band together to help Dawson recover.

Two Gentlemen of Capeside

Newcomer Drue Valentine's smart aleck classroom behavior gets him teamed with Dawson and Joey for a report on Shakespeare's "Two Gentlemen of Verona." So when Pacey wants Joey to go sailing to celebrate his first "A" of the school year, she suggests that he take Jen instead. Despite signs of bad weather, Pacey encourages Jen to relax and enjoy the water while, back at the yacht club where Joey and Dawson are doing their best to keep Drue in line, elderly member Arthur Brooks warns them of an approaching storm. Meanwhile, when she's charged with conducting one of Andie's college interviews, Drue's mom, Mrs. Valentine, stumbles onto the truth about her mental illness. As she and Dawson argue over their own parallels with Shakespeare's romantic triangle, Joey grows increasingly worried about the weather outside. As news of an approaching hurricane hits Capeside, the weather finally strikes Pacey as a problem, too. And after a huge wave disables the radio, he looks for shelter on an island where he and Dawson played as boys. Certain that Pacey will head for Crescent Island, Dawson decides to "borrow" Mr. Brooks' boat for a risky rescue. Unwilling to let Dawson go alone, Joey insists on joining him. After letting Jen know that he regrets not patching things up with his former best friend, Pacey is glad when Dawson finds his way to the cove. Meanwhile, Andie's take charge attitude keeps the situation at the yacht club from deteriorating. When Dawson refuses to leave without him, Pacey is forced to abandon his boat to the storm. Back at the yacht club, Gale makes it clear what a foolhardy mission it was as Mitch applauds their son's bravery. But, when Mr. Brooks demands that Dawson pay for the damage to his boat, Grams makes it perfectly clear that it will not come out of his college fund. As Andie threatens Mrs. Valentine's job in order to get a good recommendation, Joey presses Pacey to make amends with Dawson. But, while Pacey agrees to try, he still finds Dawson in no mood to let bygones be bygones. Finally, following her ordeal, Jen runs into an old friend from her wild days in New York... Drue.

Uncharted Waters

After watching Gail struggle with a news segment on trends among Capeside's teenage girls, Jen offers to assemble a group of articulate teenagers to provide some insight into what local young women are thinking. And though she's already put off by how well Jen is doing as the producer of Dawson's new film, Joey agrees to join Abby and Andie for the interviews. Meanwhile, as Pacey withstands his dad's constant criticism, Dawson is stunned when Jack joins them for a father-son fishing tournament. When the tension between the girls undermines the project, Jen suggests they first try to relax. However, when Abby drags everyone upstairs for a look inside Dawson's bedroom, they are shocked by a pornographic videotape found hidden in his closet. Meanwhile, Pacey is stung when his dad teams up with Jack during the contest. And when Dawson complains about not being told that Jack was coming, Pacey turns on him, too. While spending the night on board the boat, Dawson's inquiries into his father's plans leave him unsatisfied. But when Jack seeks help with seasickness, the two boys begin to find they have something in common. After Abby's venomous answers get her thrown out, the rest of the girls draw closer together. And after Gail makes it clear just how much she respects her, Joey tries to put her negative feelings about Jen aside. Back at the tournament, Pacey is called on to help when Jack hooks a fish he can't handle. And while his landing it wins the trophy, his dad still won't give Pacey the unqualified praise he craves. Finally, after listening to Pacey complain, Dawson tells Mitch just how lucky he feels to have him for a father. And after finding that Abby spent the night on the Leery's front porch, Andie warily tries to bridge the gap between them.

Use Your Disillusion

With his mom's encouragement, Dawson accepts Joey's offer to visit Boston. Nervously preparing for Dawson's arrival, Joey learns that her English professor, David Wilder, has selected her for an important and prestigious assignment. And as Jack is preparing for the final week of his fraternity's rush, Tobey's unannounced arrival forces him to divide his time between the two. Meanwhile, when his boss, chef Danny Brecher, wants to take his wife on a romantic evening cruise, Pacey offers his sailboat. When Charlie claims he has to work, Jen asks Pacey to join her for an evening of Shakespeare. But when she spots Charlie with another woman, Jen immediately jumps to conclusions. And despite Pacey's efforts to calm her down, she angrily confronts Charlie -- only to find that the girl is his sister! In order to distract Dawson, Joey takes him to a party at David's home. But soon after they arrive, an anxiety attack forces Dawson to ask her to leave at once. Meanwhile, as Tobey bristles at his being at their beck and call, Jack's frat brothers warn him against pursuing a long distance relationship. As Pacey learns that Danny lied about who he took out on the boat, Tobey decides to head home. And while hoping that Jack would be at the airport to see him off, he's disappointed when Jen is the only one there. When Dawson decides that he needs to get back to Capeside, Joey is upset to find that he's left behind a book she bought to help him through the tough times, and never saw the touching note she wrote inside. Finally, as Pacey barely conceals his contempt for Danny's infidelity, Jen takes Jack to task for the way he treated Tobey before arriving at the dorm to find Charlie with another woman.

Valentine's Day Massacre

On the eve of a big Valentine's Day party being given by Capeside High's resident hedonist, Matt Caulfield, Joey reluctantly agrees to attend, if only to keep Dawson out of trouble. As Andie and her friends prepare for the party, too, Jack's old girlfriend, Kate Douglas, arrives in town having just discovered that her current boyfriend is gay. And as Jack hesitates to reveal that he's also gay, Pacey encourages Dawson to try and catch Kate on the rebound. Meanwhile, Henry sells his own blood to raise the money for a first date with Jen At the golf course where Caulfield's celebration is already well underway, Joey expresses her disgust when Pacey encourages Dawson to take advantage of Kate's fragile emotional state. And while Jack looks for the right opportunity to tell Kate his news, Dawson's kindness impresses the newly jilted girl. But as Joey and Andie discuss how Pacey managed to lure everyone to Matt's party, Deputy Doug Witter arrests the two girls as the police move in to bust up the big event. Meanwhile, after his restaurant reservation falls through at the last minute, Henry suddenly faints as a result of his overzealous blood donations. After Dawson gets her away from all the hustle and bustle, Kate breaks the sexual tension by vomiting. And things get even worse when they and their friends are arrested along with Joey and Andie. While Jack uses their time in jail to tell Kate about his homosexuality, Joey takes Pacey to task for dragging Dawson into trouble. With everyone else already released from jail, Doug encourages his brother to do something about his growing feelings for Joey. Finally, after Jen comes home early from her date, Grams convinces her to return to the hospital to be with Henry. And once Jack helps Kate come to terms with his newfound sexual identity, Dawson finds that his parents are going to be far less forgiving of his adolescent lapses in judgment from now on.

You Had Me at Goodbye

As Joey struggles with who should write a college recommendation from "The Person Who Knows You Best," Dawson discovers that painting Mr. Brooks' house isn't quite enough to pay him back for his boat. And while Jen continues keeping Drue at more than arms length, Andie uses her recovery from the drug overdose to ponder how she might help repair her friend's fractured relationships. However, Andie is taken aback when her dad suggests taking off the last semester of high school in order to spend some time in Italy with her Aunt Georgia. But when she breaks the news to her brother, Andie discovers that Jack doesn't want her to go. When Drue claims that the two of them are responsible for Andie's overdose, Jen is given community service as her punishment. While Grams cannot hide her disappointment, she's unaware that the confession was a set up by Drue in order to get closer to Jen. As Joey asks Dawson for the recommendation, Andie fails to bring Jen and Jack together. And after a revealing dinner with Mr. Brooks helps Dawson arrive at a decision about the essay, Andie seeks Pacey's advice about taking some time off. Meanwhile, as Drue attempts to use their community service as a way to worm his way back into Jen's life, Dawson turns down Joey's request, leaving Pacey hurt over not being asked first. In order to announce her decision, Andie schemes to bring everyone to the Leery's restaurant for dinner. And as she reveals that she'll be leaving to spend six months in Florence, Andie asks everyone to heal the wounds that now divide them. As Joey encourages Pacey to say his good-byes to Andie, Jack and Jen take advantage of the moment to regain their own friendship. And after realizing that he is the one who should be writing the recommendation after all, Dawson tells Joey that he's changed his mind before taking a group picture that suggests the healing Andie hoped to achieve has finally begun.