Joey Potter quotes from Dawson's Creek

Dawson

Joey, thank you.

Joey

For what?

Dawson

For taking me in, getting me out. All evidence to the contrary, you really did make me feel better.

Audrey

You're not happy.

Joey

No, I am happy. That's the problem.

Audrey

Uh huh, because you're neurotic.

Joey

No, because I shouldn't be happy, I mean, my best friend in the entire world just left. I haven't seen him in almost a month and as soon as he walked out of the door, I felt relieved. How horrible is that?

Audrey

It's not horrible, that's honest.

Joey

Why do I feel so guilty?

Dawson

The truth is, Jo, I don't know what to do with myself.

Joey

Dawson, your dad just died. You've every right to be feeling that way.

Dawson

You know why I came here this weekend? It was to see a shrink. Well, a grief specialist to be exact.

Joey

Well, how'd it go?

Dawson

Didn't. I flaked.

Dawson

Joey, for the past 15 minutes, I've been trying to figure out a way to tell you how sorry I am, and I just don't know how. It's like... English is all of a sudden my second language.

Joey

Aren't we beyond the need for formal apologies at this point? I mean, besides... you were such a jerk last night, I figure you're feeling all kinds of stupid.

Dawson

Can I tell you something, even if it has the potential to make you sad? Joey, when I made the decision not to go back to L.A., all I could do was daydream about this one thing; kissing you. I was so looking forward to this day when it would finally feel right for you and me to give it another try, you know, and for the first time in forever it seemed possible. It seemed like just around the corner and then he died. It just went away. I was living in this fuzzy world of daydreams and I just got yanked out of it and I have no idea how to get back there. And what scares me the most is maybe I never will.

Joey

You'll find your way back. In the meantime, I'll be daydreaming for the both of us.

Audrey

[to a camera] I know, great birthday present. I mean what 14-year-old wants to fend for themselves like an adult? But, I have to forgive her, I know that. 'Cause forgiving her is the only way I'm ever going to be good to anyone else. The part that is really terrifying is that I think that... I don't know, I'm like turning into her. I'm loud, shameless, bossy, and I freak people out sometimes. But I don't think I can change that. 'Cause even if I don't particularly like who I am, at least I know who that is. And even if I tried to change, who the hell knows who I'll be?

Audrey

What? What's wrong?

Joey

Nothing's wrong. That's great, that's it. That's the one.

Audrey

But I'm just sitting there talking to myself.

Joey

Exactly.

Audrey

But isn't it kind of cheesy and vulnerable?

Joey

No, it's you. It's the real you. That girl in the video who's not afraid to look stupid, that's the real you. And for what it's worth, I met your mom and your're nothing like her.

Most people when they get to college feel really insecure. Seems like everybody around them knows so much more, so they race to catch up, they pretend to know things instead of slowing down to actually learn them, because they don't realize that the discomfort of uncertainty is the most precious part of the experience. If you can fee comfortable not knowing, you can learn anything, anything, and if not then you've stopped before you've begun.

Joey

Well for a while I was feeling insecure.

No!

Joey

And I just... I guess what I'm saying is, thanks for choosing me to be on this project.

Thank you for sticking with it.

Joey

You know, Jack. You grow up in this small town, you know? Thinking you have the most open mind and you're ready for anything. And then you finally hit the big city and, suddenly, there are still so many surprises, like, no matter how open you thought your mind was, there's still so much to learn in sometimes places you never would have even thought.

Jack

Yeah.

Joey

If a fraternity is what you need, we need to learn to accept that. I need to learn to be less extreme about it.

Joey

Who's Karen?

Pacey

Do you really want to have that conversation now?

Joey

Uh, no. Sorry. Sugar high.

Pacey

What the whole world needs is a good old-fashioned urban legend.

Jack

Yeah, that's all we need... more predictable stories about a guy with a hook for an arm that kills the amorous couple.

Pacey

Hey, those stories exist for a reason, Jack.

Joey

Right, to discourage teenagers from drinking and having sex in the woods.

Audrey

I'm just seeking clarification here. Are you the most bookwormy, pathetic person alive?

Joey

Well, according to your party-till-you- drop-out standards, apparently.

Joey

Maybe I've just lost the will to scream.

Pacey

Oh, please. You were once and will forever remain the number one skittish kitten in my life.

Pacey

It's not to worry. It's part of your charm.

Jen

Um, Joey. Just so you know, for whatever it's worth, and I don't know what that is... I just didn't, I didn't plan on this.

Joey

I never assumed that you did.

Jen

I know, I just... this boy has always been between us in one way or another and I feel like you and I were finally getting close and I would just... I would really hate for that to be negated by this development.

Joey

You know what? Everyone seems to be operating under this assumption tonight that we're all going to react a certain way to this and that that way is somehow going to be apocalyptic. I don't know how many different ways to say this, but I'm fine, really. You're a good person Jen. That's exactly what Dawson needs right now.

Audrey

Come on, Joey. That guy is gorgeous.

Joey

Ok, he's gorgeous and... familiar.

Audrey

We have to plot some smart, subtle way for you to meet him.

Joey

How about I go up to him and say, "Aren't you Charlie, the guy who dicked over Jen?"

Audrey

That's Charlie? Charlie the jerk?

Joey

In the flesh.

Joey

So tell me. Does this sort of thing actually work?

Charlie

I wouldn't know. I'm not like the rest of these pre-epoch Neanderthals in this place.

Joey

No?

Charlie

I've never done this before.

Joey

Really?

Charlie

Yeah.

Joey

So, you must've used a different tact with Jen Lindley, huh?

Charlie

Hmm. Joey, the smart girl from Worthington.

Joey

Charlie, womanizer from Boston bay.