Episode Name: The Election
Original Air Date: Wednesday, December 16, 1998, WB Network
Written By: Darin Goldberg & Shelley Meals
Directed By: Patrick Norris
Starring: Katie Holmes (Joey Potter), Mary-Margaret Humes (Gale Leery), Joshua Jackson (Pacey Witter), Monica Keena (Abby), Meredith Monroe (Andie McPhee), Nina Repeta (Bessie Potter), John Wesley Shipp (Mitch Leery), Kerr Smith (Jack McPhee), Michelle Williams (Jen Lindley), James Van Der Beek (Dawson Leery),
Episode Summary
As usual, this episode begins in Dawson's room. This time Jen is there also,he is allowing her to read his newly unveiled script. She reads it and offers Dawson some constructive criticism. Jen seems to think that Dawson's point of view is from an over-analytical too mature fifteen year old. Also claiming that Dawson needs to regain his "missing childhood". (See Picture One)
At school, Andie makes a futile effort to convince Joey to run for Vice-President. Since Andie is running for president, she would like a good running mate. Joey politely declines, fearing her un-Cleaver like past would affect Andie's chances of winning. Andie, unperturbed, informs Pacey that he is her campaign manager. They then run into Chris Wolfe (Of the All-Nighter episode) and Abby, who are also planning to run for president and vice-president of the sophomore class. Also at school, Jen tries to convince Dawson to ditch school. Therefore pleasing his rebellious side that goes much neglected. Dawson, however, claims he has a history quiz and goes along his merry way.
Gale, Dawson's newly single mother, calls Mitch, Dawson's father, over to help fix the ailing dish washer. He comes over and does his best to fix it. He turns on the dish washer and water sprays everywhere, drenching the former married couple. They laugh, tease, and one thing leads to another. Soon they are making-out on the kitchen table. Dawson accidentally walks in on this on his way back home from school. Usually he'd be repulsed by the sight of his parents doing the deed in a generally public area, but this time he thinks it might be a sign his parents are getting back together.
Jack and Joey are the only two working at the Icehouse that night. Joey teases Jack about the way he tries to evade questions of his family and personal life. Abby and her running mate, Chris, enter the Icehouse. Chris questions Abby about her decision of coming to the Icehouse to discuss their campaign to which Abby makes a derogatory comment about the Icehouse never having customers. Joey and Jack ignore Abby and Jack asks Joey why she isn't running for student council with Andie. Jack claims that Joey has that "girl next-door" charm that everyone likes. Abby, who is listening in, insults Joey about her father and family. (See Picture Two). Joey retaliates by dumping a a pitcher of water over Abby's head. She then tells Jack to inform his sister that she will run for Vice-President.
Andie and Pacey are sitting discussing their campaign at a table near the docks. Pacey surprises Andie with his determination to help her win. He has even read a book about politics, which provides him with various tidbits of information. They have a handful of flyers for their campaign. Joey walks up, she has been posting signs, and is furious about Abby and Chris' smear campaign. She wants to retaliate, but Andie convinces her that honesty is the way to go.
Jen, in hopes of making Dawson more of a rebel, takes Dawson shopping with her. She hands Dawson a tube of lipstick and tells him to put it in his pocket. He is reluctant, but follows her orders. When outside Jen gushes over the rush of shoplifting for the first time, to which Dawson nods his head. When she asks him to hand over the lipstick he looks sheepish. She then discerns that he didn't actually steal it, he left the lipstick in the store.
The candidates for student council hold a debate in the gym. Each candidate has its own podium. Andie and Chris' speech consists only of pathetic jabs at the other candidates. Since Andie and Chris are the most popular, it is the assumption that they will win. In order to assure their chances of winning Abby reveals the past of Andie's family, including the situation of her mother. Andie tries to regain her composure after such a great secret is let out, but fails. She runs out of the gym in tears. Joey runs after her and consequentally runs into Jack. She tells him that she is sorry about questioning him about his family. Jack, who has heard about the debate, brushes Joey off. He is rather rude to her, which makes Joey feel guilty.
Pacey finds Andie inside the girls bathroom. He tries to tell her that the gossip in Capeside changes everyday, and not to worry about it. Andie doesn't believe him and in frustration, flings a book at the mirror. The mirror breaks and shatters into shards of glass.
On the way home from school, Dawson stops at his father's apartment. His father tells him that what Dawson saw last night was merely a slip. A mistake.
Andie is still devastated about what happened during the debate. She is sitting and crying at a window in her house. Jack walks in and tries to talk to Andie. He tells her that he is worried about all the mood swings she has had recently. THen Jack suggests she goes back onto her medication.
Jen and Dawson rush through the woods near the creek after they have toilet papered their school counselor's house. This was Jen suggestion to help Dawson understand what is wrong with his script and to help him write in a more realistic fashion. Jen then suggests skinny-dipping in the freezing waters of the creek. Dawson is weary at first, then he finally agrees and the two have fun in the water. (See Picture Three) Dawson then kisses Jen, who pulls away. She claims she doesn't want to ruin the friendship that they finally have.
The student council candidates have to make their final speeches over the school's PA system. After Chris and Abby make their speech it is Joey and Andie's turn. Andie sits down and then doesn't find the courage to do it, she runs out of the room. Abby, who is confident, smirks and grins. Pacey then begins talking to Abby, who is unaware that Pacey turned the PA back on. She then reveals that Chris is only her running mate for the popularity vote and what she thinks of the Capeside student body. Kenny is the only one left standing and he celebrates.
That night, Dawson finds a stack of papers on the table in the kitchen. He asks his mother what it is and she informs him that Mitch served her with divorce papers. Dawson is devastated to say the least.
Jack encounters Joey at the Icehouse and apologizes for his rude behavior at school the previous day. Joey tells Jack that of all people he could talk to her. She would understand about dysfunctional families.
At the McPhee household Andie is standing in front of a mirror looking at her tear-stained face. She takes a bottle of prescription pills out of the cupboard and swallows them.
Dawson, finding he has no one to confess to, goes over to Jen's house. He then cries on Jen's shoulder as she tries to console him.
This episode showed the weaknesses of the McPhee family. That plot line was very interesting and revealing, but the rest of it was uninteresting and rather boring. Gale and Mitch's late night rondevoux was unrealistic and pointless other than to boost the surprise factor when Gale was served with divorce papers. Rating: Two and a half stars.
~Danielle
