Pacey and Dawson are in his room playing darts and Pacey has decided he's found his calling. Dawson is watching some movies as inspiration for his film. Pacey asks about one of them, The Great Santini, and Dawson tells him about the plot: a dysfunctional father-son relationship. Pacey promises him plenty of that on the fishing trip they have coming up. "Do you respect your father Dawson?" Pacey asks, Dawson dodges the question and asks Pacey the same thing. "John Whitter," Pacey replies, "The most well known, well respected man in Capeside. How could you possibly not respect a man like that." "Why do I sense disaster?" Dawson asks aloud. Pacey decides that if he can hit a bullseye, they'll be in for a nice calm trip full of fun and fish. He does. "Best two out of three?" Dawson asks. Pacey nods and sets up to throw again.
Dawson and Pacey are on their bikes and are pulled over by Mr. Whitter. He talks with Dawson about his future, making him to promise to remember Pacey from Hollywood some day, when his son is working in some fast food joint somewhere He goes on to tell Dawson to be prepared both mentally and physically for the fishing trip, he's hoping for a trophy. "Keep Pacey out of trouble for me," he says, and leaves without a word to his son. "Your father's classic Pacey," Dawson says. "The man thinks my IQ matches my age," Pacey replies.
In school, Joey asks how the movie is going and Dawson spews forth his typical pre-production chaos. He assures her Jen has everything under control, she has an innate talent for the job. Joey seems a little put off by the comments. "I'm not comparing to her with you," Dawson assures her, "I'm just saying it's a surprise, that's all." Jen finds them and Dawson complements her in person. Joey, obviously uncomfortable, tries to leave but it's her that Jen wants to talk with; she asks Joey for her help assisting Mrs. Leery in a news report on teenage girls as the new "consumer phenomenon." "She's just letting me watch her in action," Jen says, and they need girls to come by Dawson's house to answer questions. Joey is about to back out but Jen stops her. "We really need girls who are thoughtful and articulate," Jen says, "And no one that I know speaks their mind as thoughtfully and eloquently as you do." It works, Joey agrees to help out. Dawson and Mitch arrive at the dock the next morning, Mitch talking about chucking it all in for a fisherman's life. Mr. Whitter greets them and Dawson's face drops as Jack shows up to join them. The boat departs.
Joey and Andie arrive at the Leery house that morning. Abby is already there and already pissing people off. "It's going to be fun," Gail says, overly cheerful, "Don't you think?" The girls enter the house, Jen already beginning to doubt her little project.
Jack sets up his fishing rod as Dawson looks on. "I guess my little secret's out," Jack says, indicating his lifejacket, "You can't exactly call me Ishmael." Dawson ignores the reference and asks him why he came. "Why don't you and I try to get over our little problem, here?" Jack says. Dawson tells him he's surprised he left his girlfriend alone, because some new guy may show up and steal her away. "And trust me that sucks."
"Okay," Gail begins her report in the Leery living room, "What do you think is the most important issue facing teenagers today?" she asks Joey, who freezes up. No one else is eager to answer the question either. Gail pulls Jen aside and asks her what she thinks is wrong; they've been at it all afternoon and they have nothing. They come back into the room and Gail suggests turning it into a sort of Ladies' Night, so they can all just hang out and bond together. "Oh god," Abby says, "I'm gonna need a drink." Gail tells them there's no alcohol involved, but promises them plenty of junk food.
Mr. Whitter peers out over the ocean and tells everyone they're going to need to work together. "Somewhere out there is a fish a very big fish that' gonna hitch a ride with us back to Capeside." He gives everyone positions around the boat, everyone but Pacey. He tells Pacey needs him to bait hooks and take care of the boat. "This sucks," Pacey replies. "A lot of things in this life suck son," Mr. Whitter tells him, "My job is to prepare you for that inevitability."
"I'm bored," Abby says. She suggests a field trip upstairs to dig through Dawson's room. She runs upstairs and the girls reluctantly follow.
Jack offers Dawson a sandwich, which he refuses "Not imperative that you and I become friends," Jack tells him, "I just thought it might be nice, that's all. Know this alright, I didn't steal Joey away from you. You of all people should know she's got a strong will and the intelligence of a scholar, she's not the kind of girl that lets herself get stolen." "You don't know anything about her," Dawson tells him, "And secondly, if you think things are over with Joey and I, that we're done with," Dawson finishes, "You're severely delusional" "Maybe," Jack says, "The fact of the matter is Joey and I have something. You don't have to like it. But if you have any respect for Joey, you better respect me.
Abby opens Dawson's closet door and looks around inside. Jen and Joey promptly shut her in. Andie comes up from behind the bed and proudly shows off her find: a videotape labeled "Good Will Humping."
Back on the boat, someone loses a fish because Pacey had the wrong fishing rod in on that side of the boat. "The simplest instructions in the world and you find every excuse not to follow them," Mr. Whitter says to his son, "Don't think, just do." Dawson asks Pacey why Jack was invited and Pacey tells him he promised Andie, as Jack doesn't really know anyone in town and could use some time off from his hectic home life. "Some of us are just simple minded folk trying to make it…
The girls are all watching the porn movie wide-eyed in Dawson's room. "You are aware," Abby points out, "That where this tape begins, Dawson finished." Andie asks what she means, and the other girls all spit out euphemisms for masturbation. They wonder aloud why anyone would make these films and Abby suggests that maybe Jen would like the job. Gail enters and asks what they're watching. Andie tries to cover but Abby reveals the truth, blurting it out proudly. "I'm not going to lie," she says, "Unlike some people I do have morals." The girls follow Gail downstairs, but Jen stops Joey. "I've played armchair…"
The guys show up at a bar after their unsuccessful fishing trip. Mitch and Mr. Whitter decide to play some darts while Pacey, Jack, and Dawson find the pool table. "I hope my dad doesn't have too much fun," Dawson tells Pacey, "Otherwise by tomorrow he'll be drawing up plans to open a seedy dockside tavern." Pacey looks at him with disdain. "How can you possibly find justification to criticize a man like your father," he asks. Dawson asks him what's going on. "You don't see what's going on Dawson?" Pacey says. "If you're mad at your dad," Dawson responds, "Tell him. If you're mad at me let me have it." "It's just that simple for you Dawson, isn't it?" Pacey replies, "Just go up to your dad and say 'Gee whiz Pop, I have a problem. Let's talk about this heart to heart, man to man.' That's your wonderful life, not mine. You've gotten a glimpse into the hell that is my life." Pacey leans down to take his shot. "Then why am I suddenly such a detriment to your happiness?" Dawson asks him. Jack jumps in and answers the question for him. "Because Mr. Whitter has put you up on such a towering pedestal," he says, "Come on, it's an icon Pacey can't possibly live up to."
Gail is questioning the girls but Abby keeps jumping in, hogging all the camera time. "Every one of these girls is incredibly insecure," she says, "I can't even speak my mind any more without stomping on somebody's feelings. I make a cancer joke and Joey gets upset. Or I make a crazy joke and Andie gets upset. Or you make a crack about ho-bags and Jen starts humping the couch." Jen snaps back but Gail stops the camera and asks Abby to leave. She's upset, but complies.
Dawson wanders the deck of the boat later in the evening and stops to talk with his dad as he sets up sleeping bags. "What are you going to do?" Dawson asks Mitch, "With the restaurant, and Mom, your life?" "I wish I knew," Mitch replies. "Are you okay for money?" Dawson asks. Mitch tells him he is, for now. "I gotta be honest," Dawson continues, "As glad as I am that we can have this father-son bonding moment I would think a weekend fishing trip would be the least of your priorities. Shouldn't you be out trying to procure some kind of employment?" I'm sorry you're disappointed in me," Mitch replies, "I want to be the kind of man that you can respect. There must be something out there, something for me. Something that I can put my heart and passion behind. I can't stop looking for that until I find it."
Mr. Witter is out of partners at the dart board and asks Pacey to play with him. "Youth against the master," he says, slightly drunk. Pacey is beating him, the competition building. Mr. Witter throws his last dart. "Beat that!" he challenges. Pacey looks over to his father and throws one wide on purpose, losing the game.
Back at Dawson's house, the remaining girls are sitting around the living room, talking about themselves and their insecurities. "I think that Abby was right," Jen says, "About the fact that the reason that teenage girls such consumers is the fact that it extends from insecurity." "I have this need to look and be perfect," Andie tells them, "My home life is in total chaos and I feel that if I can get straight A's, or if I'm involved in every activity, people won't know that I'm this fraud and that I have no idea what I'm doing and where I'm going." "When I first came here from New York," Jen says, "I felt relief. Trying to compete in that hyper competitive world, I was in the fast lane to self annihilation. When I got here I figured I didn't have anything to prove and that I could finally slow down. But that experience came back to haunt me. In New York I was the precocious ingenue, and in Capeside all I'll ever be known is the New York wild child. The town slut." "When somebody comes along who has seen things that I've never seen, or experienced things that I've only dreamed about," Joey says, "My defenses go up, because I can't compete with that. If I ever feel like somebody is going to steal that measly bit of self that I have, or that small amount of love that I've somehow managed to accumulate, I feel threatened, and I go for the jugular, I admit it."
Dawson walks by Jack, who tries to stop him. Dawson shrugs him off but soon notices that Jack is quite seasick. "I'm trying to play cool but ever since I stepped foot on this boat I just want to barf," Jack says. "I know the feeling," Dawson replies, "This wasn't exactly how I envisioned this whole father-son outing." "I haven't had a father-son weekend in a long time," Jack says. Dawson asks Jack where his father is and Jack tells him that he's just not here, that while Andie and his mother will say he's in Providence taking care of the family business, he's actually in Providence because he couldn't stand to be with them. "I know how that feels." Dawson says. "Dawson," Jack says seriously, "Your dad moved up the street. My father's gone. Try and put that in perspective, huh?"
Pacey's helping his dad stumble home. Mr. Whitter falls down to the sand and Pacey sits beside him. "I guess this is as good a time as any to have that father-son talk," Pacey says. His father lays there, passed out, and Pacey carries out both halves of the conversation himself. "'So, how ya doin' in school Pacey' Actually Dad, I'm doing all right. I'm really turning things around. Turns out I'm pretty smart, maybe even college bound. 'Good man Pacey, always knew you'd turn out to be something. How the ladies treating you?' I met this woman… 'Is she cute?' Cute? Andie's beautiful. She's smart, she's funny, I tell you Dad, this girl's really something special, and for whatever reason she seems to think I'm pretty special too." He pauses for a moment, tears in his eyes. He looks down at his father. "Why can't you see me? When did you give up on me, when I was five? Ten? Twelve? I'm sixteen years old, Dad. I'm here and I'm not perfect, and I have tried so hard for you. It's your job. It is your job to love me no matter who I am or what I become, because you're my father. You're supposed to love me, and I can't do this by myself." His words are lost in tears as he sits beside his still unconscious father.
The next day, Jack gets a bite on his line but is a little too nauseous to handle it himself. Pacey steps in to help him out, coaching him in. Jack gives up the rod to Pacey, who's dad is enthusiastic for the first time on the trip. They work together, the group watching them as Pacey pulls in a huge fish.
Gail thanks Joey for her help and Joey turns to leave. Gail stops her and confesses that as she was listening to the girls talk the night before she felt a little sorry for herself. "I've always wanted a daughter," she begins, "Then I realized I have you. You're my surrogate daughter Joey, I've always felt that way, and I am so proud of the woman you've become." Joey is silent for a moment, not quite sure what to make of her sudden acceptance. They hug. "Thanks," Joey says.
Andie exits the house and finds Abby sitting out on the lawn. She asks what she's still doing here. Abby's waiting for her mom, who she never bothered to call to tell her she wasn't spending the night. "I play such a crucial role in this little circle," Abby says, "And you guys are just too unimaginative to notice. I'm the girl everyone loves to hate. I'm the scapegoat, the one you can take out all your anger and aggression on and never lose a moment's sleep over." "You have it mixed up Abby," Andie tells her, "You trash us. You're mean" "Being sweet is boring," Abby replies, near tears, "I don't have family lives like you guys. My mom isn't a lunatic. My dad isn't in prison. I'm not the prodigal daughter form New York. My parents' divorce is boring. My house is boring. There's no intrigue, no drama. I create drama, and I think it's a valid extra-curricular activity." "Abby," Andie replies, "You don't even realize how lucky you are. What you have I've always wanted, always dreamed of. A normal life with regular parents and regular problems." "Grass is always greener, right?" Abby says. Her mother pulls up and Abby turns to go, but stops. "Do you need a ride or something?" she asks. Andie accepts. "Thanks Abby," she says.
Jen is in Dawson's room when Joey finds her. "Listen," Joey begins. Jen tries to cut her off, but Joey presses on. "I've been thinking that it kind of sucks that the people who I respect the most are the people who I've become most competitive with and um… I wish there was some way to…" she stumbles over her words. "For all your thinking, Jen laughs, you're not being very articulate. I totally understand what you're trying to say and I think that you're right. We have been locked in a stalemate for way too long and there's room in Dawson's life for me without replacing you." Joey stops her. "I guess what I'm trying to say is that I respect you. I respect who you are." "Thanks Joey," Jen says, "You too."
Pacey holds the fishing trophy high and gets his picture taken with it. His dad is up there with him, smiling. Dawson says goodbye to Jack, somewhat more civilly than before, and they part. Mr. Whitter and Pacey are arm in arm, clasping the trophy and smiling. Pacey tells him how great it felt to pull the fish in and his dad tells him to keep the trophy. "Enjoy this moment," he says, "You probably won't have many more like it." Mr. Whitter goes off to brag to his friends, leaving a dejected Pacey behind. Dawson approaches him and speaks. "Do you have any idea how many times I've set myself up for that one?" he says, "Over and over and over again I just can't seem to stop myself from trying to get one, unqualified 'Good job, son' out of that bastard. I really must be a simpleton." "I know it's not the same," Dawson says, "But there are people in your life that recognize and respect your talent and intelligence. One of them is standing right in front you. And the other one is probably sitting in her bedroom right now having a perky coronary anticipating your return from the sea." "Yeah," Pacey says, "Thanks Dawson." They shake hands.
Dawson and Mitch return home, Mitch doing his best to explain the complications of the father-son relationship. "I'll keep trying to do the best I can," he tells his son, "To be the best father to you that I can." "Dad, I know," Dawson responds, "And thank you. For allowing me to make a multitude of mistakes and never making me feel inadequate. I know that my ability to dream without boundaries comes from you. You never disappointed me. I worry about you but I respect you more than anybody I've ever known. I know, especially after today, how lucky I am to have you for a father." "Come here," Mitch says. Dawson tells him not to get sappy, but he's forced into a hug. The two are about to enter the house when Mitch realizes that it's no longer really his house. He tosses the sleeping bag to Dawson. "Good night son," he says. "Good night Dad," Dawson replies, and watches his father drive off before going into the house.
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