Season 1
Episode 2
Original air date: 27 January 1998
Dawson and Joey are reviewing footage from Dawson’s movie. Dawson can’t get a good shot of the kiss because Joey can not kiss Pacey because HE IS GROSS.
Dawson tries to explain to her that it’s *acting*.
Joey asks if Dawson has kissed Jen yet. She says he better get on with it, Jen’s from New York where things move fast.
Dawson has made a papier-mâché version of Joey’s head. Hopefully for cinematic purposes.
That girl whose dad owns the video shop makes an announcement over the P.A. DON’T FORGET to get tickets for the big dance! Sorry I don’t remember her name, she’s not important.
Dawson decides to go bother the film teacher. As if he’s not overworked and underpaid. Dawson weasels his way into spending his study period in film class. Although the teacher informs him that he WILL NOT be part of the class.
Pacey tries to talk to Tamara aka Ms Jacobs before class. She tells him to go away, IS HE TRYING TO BE SUSPICIOUS.
She refuses to talk about the kiss, and he says she’s not being fair. Pacey. She could lose her job and/or be arrested, SHE CAN’T TALK ABOUT THIS IN CLASS.
Dawson has thought of a solution to Joey’s kissing problem. He’s going to kill her off, and her beautiful cousin (aka Jen) will arrive and take over the lead role.
It’s like Janet Lee in Psycho! Like Drew Barrymore in Scream! Sure.
Pacey glares at Tamara as she tries to teach the kids about Wuthering Heights. She uses it as a metaphor for her and Pacey. THEY WERE NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE TOGETHER.
The film class is also entering the film festival. Dawson makes judgey faces as Cliff, the quarterback, describes his film. He complains to Joey that Cliff is entering HIS STUPID FOOTBALL FILM in HIS film festival.
If you think it’s stupid, why are you worried?
Cliff introduces himself to Jen. Uh oh Dawson, better hurry up and make your move!
Dawson is looking for his video camera. Mitch tells him it’s next to their bed on his mum’s side and he should probably take the tape out. Bleurgh.
Dawson asks his dad for advice. HoW dO i KiSs A gIrL?
Mitch is like JUST DO IT. Then he tells Dawson about the first time he kissed Gail. She asked to borrow some chapstick, so he put some on his lips then smooched her.
Mitch tells Dawson to practice kissing on his papier-mâché Joey head.
Joey has climbed up the ladder to Dawson’s room, and is now up on the landing watching. Yes that’s it Dawson, kiss fake me.
She closes her eyes and pretends he’s kissing the real her. SHE’S SO IN LOVE WITH HIM.
Dawson tells his dad to forget this ever happened. Forget that you kissed a papier-mâché head while your dad encouraged you? Now, why would you want to forget a beautiful moment like that?
Joey overhears Gail hiding in the linen closet, whispering to her lover on the phone. Gail is flustered when she sees Joey. Joey says she was just looking for Dawson because they’re filming today.
“I’m getting killed today”
“That’s nice”
She tells her to be careful in the sun. Joey starts to leave but then turns and says
“I know.”
Filming goes well. The totally realistic papier-mâché head gets cut off. Jen follows Joey onto Dawson’s porch to help her clean off the fake blood.
Jen tells Joey, TOTES HETERO, DON’T WORRY, that she has nice breasts and a nice body.
Joey looks *uncomfy* and says she’s too tall.
Jen lists all the things she doesn’t like about her own body. Joey is shocked that Jen has insecurities.
Jen says she plans on making it very hard for Joey not to like her.
Pacey and Jen kiss on camera, a bit too enthusiastically which makes Dawson CUT THE KISS. Ohh so when the girl you like is getting kissed you’ll cut it but not when Joey is uncomfortable? Mmhmm.
Pacey says the woman of his dreams is going to be at the school dance so he will also be there. Dawson is having a John Travolta movie marathon, but Jen can’t go, sorry, she’s going to the dance with Cliff. BUT IT’S NOT A DATE.
Jen says she’s new and wants to meet people, but Dawson should stop by so they can dance.
Dawson rants to Joey, what does Jen see in Cliff? He can’t even write a good movie!
“You’re so dramatic”
Yes, Joey, yes he is.
Dawson asks why she would go out with Cliff and not him. Joey reminds him that he hasn’t asked her out.
Dawson decides he is going to the dance! He puts on his best Hobbit vest and goes to check his hair.
Joey heads downstairs and catches Mitch trying to eat Gail’s face. She waits by the front door so she can give Gail a lecture on her way out. She says that her dad cheated on her mum, and then she got cancer and died!
Your actions have consequences, GAIL.
Dawson comes downstairs and they pretend they were talking about dancing.
Savage Garden is playing at the dance, damn that is such a good album. Seriously, whoever was in charge of the music this season, good job. Guys in very 90s shirts are doing the worst dancing I’ve ever seen.
Cliff is impressing Jen with his smooth lines. She asks if there’s anything he’s not good at, he says dancing. PROVE IT she says, and he does.
Pacey arrives to harass Ms Jacobs. She wisely tries to get away from him.
Dawson and Joey arrive to see Cliff and Jen dancing. Dawson drags Joey onto the dance floor. THAT’LL SHOW JEN.
They dance over to Cliff and Jen. Joey and Dawson say hi, and Cliff recognises Dawson from film class.
Dawson catches up with Jen, she says she’s been looking for him everywhere. Really? Couldn’t find him in that tiny gym?
Jen says they should dance, and Dawson says oh are you sure Cliff won’t mind? He is your DATE. Dawson follows Jen into the Ladies’ but quickly leaves to a chorus of screams.
Joey wants to go, but Dawson wants to sit and stare at Jen and wallow in his misery.
Dawson feels like he’s known Jen forever, it’s like she’s Joey, but she’s *Jen*. Girls love hearing that.
Dawson tries to cut in on Cliff and Jen’s dance. He practically sticks a flag in her and says SHE’S MINE. Cliff’s like WTF, go away, you’re being so weird. Dawson’s like WHY DON’T YOU LEAVE. Jen says she’ll make it easy and she’ll leave. Good idea.
Dawson walks with Joey and Pacey. He says
“This could easily be the single most horrific night of my life”
So dramatic.
Dawson asks Pacey who his mystery woman is, but he’s not talking.
Dawson assumes that Cliff and Jen are making out at this very moment.
Gail arrives home. Mitch asks Gail if she remembers their first kiss. She pretends she doesn’t, and keeps guessing different occasions, but she applies her chapstick and gives him a big smooch. She does remember!
Pacey comes across Ms Jacobs by the dock. Is there another secret late night kiss on the cards?
FINALLY, someone mentions how this is illegal in a court of law. Thank you for acknowledging this, Tamara.
Pacey’s like I know I’m fifteen but this is consensual!
Tamara’s like this definitely can not happen again.
Pacey says he’s not good with girls. Okay, so just go straight for the teacher then?
Tamara says that will change, and says goodnight, looking longingly at Pacey’s lips. He grabs her and pulls her in for a kiss.
Joey says they should just stay home on Saturday nights and watch movies. Dawson’s like I ruined things with Jen blah blah blah.
Then, oh look who it is. Jen is buying some taffy from the taffy cart. That must be the only thing open in Capeside at this hour, he must be raking it in with all the post-dance munchies.
Dawson approaches Jen. She’s mad. He wants to know what’s going on between them.
He says he feels like he’s becoming the friend. Erghhh you just met, and you weren’t even going out!
He says he doesn’t want to be the one she comes home and tells all her boy adventures to, he wants to be the boy adventure.
“Can’t you be both?”
Dawson says not at 15, it’s too complicated.
Jen says she’s interested in an adventure. Dawson asks for a kiss.
Jen isn’t ready for that. She says she was moving so fast in New York, and she just wants to slow down. She asks him to dance.
Jen tells Dawson that the kiss is just the end result. It’s all about desire, and wanting, and romance.
Joey watches sadly from afar.