Dawson Leery quotes from Dawson's Creek

Joey

OK, so let me get this straight...

Dawson

Oh, no. Why do I feel a quasi-feminist rant coming on?

Joey

Shut up. So basically, spring break is hunting season, Florida is the forest, and girls are the target.

Amy

You are a passionate guy, Mr. Leery. The secret is out, and someday, you are gonna meet someone who drives you absolutely mad, who you are gonna fight with and laugh with and do totally insane things for. Someone who turns your life wildly upside down.

Dawson

[Sighs] I think I've already met that person.

Amy

Really? Why aren't you with her?

Dawson

Bad timing... I suppose.

Amy

Look at you, all Harrison Ford in Working Girl.

Dawson

I'd rather be him in Raiders.

Amy

Cuter in the former.

Dawson

Cooler in the latter.

Dawson

What makes a girl decide to spend the night with a guy she hardly knows?

Amy

The same things that make a guy want to. Of course, with girls, the deciding factor is usually the shoes.

Dawson

You decided to sleep with me because of my Skechers?

Amy

I could tell you were okay, safe, genuine, a kindred spirit.

Dawson

And Mr. Car Cover?

Amy

Loafers.

Joey

When did you become the fatalist?

Dawson

Right about the same time I went to kiss you and you turn your head like you're on a bad blind date.

Joey

I was scared.

Dawson

Of what?

Joey

Of going backwards, of never growing up.

Dawson

Damn it. You have this annoying habit of making me not want to get on planes.

Joey

You're gonna get on this plane, Dawson, and you're gonna go make movies. 'Cause that's your dream, and you're gonna be good to everyone you meet along the way because that's who you are. And if you ever get lost, you remember.

Dawson

What?

Joey

I love you, too.

Joey

You seem... different.

Dawson

Different how?

Joey

Just different. A good different... like living your dream agrees with you.

Joey

What are you doing?

Dawson

I was gonna ask you to dance.

Joey

Are you crazy?

Dawson

Yeah, but the offer still stands.

Dawson

You know what you were saying before, about how living my dream agrees with me? I've been thinking about that and I want you to know that I probably would not be living any dream at all if it weren't for you. I mean, more and more I keep on finding myself in these incredibly surreal situations and every time... I always kind of, in the back of my head just think, "what would Joey think if she could see me right now?" You know, I guess everyone has someone who challenges them and makes them shoot for something just beyond their reach. You're that person for me. So, yeah, maybe we didn't talk this summer, and who knows, maybe we'll find ourselves talking less and less as time goes on and life gets more and more in the way, but... I gotta say, Jo, I don't feel it. 'Cause you're with me everywhere I go. Happy birthday.

Joey

Thank you.

Dawson

Time's the enemy, right? Our enemy?

Joey

Mmm, you're not planning on turning into a pumpkin at midnight?

Dawson

No, but I am leaving tomorrow.

Joey

And then what?

Dawson

And then I come back.

Joey

Back to what, exactly?

Dawson

To us.

Joey

[the morning after they slept together] So we should probably stop and think about this. You know, about what it means. I mean, about how this will change... [Dawson kisse her] ...things.

Dawson

Maybe later.

Dawson

We didn't talk at all this summer, which was your choice as much as it was mine.

Joey

So I asked you to lie to me?

Dawson

Joey, you and I both know if either one of us had stopped and thought for even a second last night, then what we did never would have happened, and I for one am not sorry that it did. If you are, then that's... that's a completely separate argument. That's actually a much bigger deal than...

Joey

Dawson, you have a girlfriend! How is that not a big deal?

Dawson

Had a girlfriend, Joey. And, look, I'm willing to admit that the timing on this is far from perfect, but I'm sick of waiting for this so-called perfect timing that's obviously never gonna happen for us.

Joey

Oh, yeah, right. You know, it's... better to just get it over with and move on, you know? "Slept with Joey. Just... cross that off my list of things to do."

Dawson

You know that's not how I think.

Joey

How do I know that, Dawson? I haven't talked to you all summer. Apparently you've changed so much that you're willing...

Dawson

You really think I'd wanna sleep with you and not want it to mean more, Joey? You think I've been waiting all these years for us to have one night together and then go our separate ways?

Joey

Oh, I'm sorry you got sick of waiting, Dawson. I'm sorry that I wanted our first time to mean something more than just...

Dawson

It does mean more, Joey! It... I mean, it... it means everything to me. I... I don't know what it means to you.

Joey

Oh, you're saying that I wanted this to happen?

Dawson

No, 'cause that would involve you actually knowing what you want, which we both know is not likely to happen anytime this decade.

Joey

Oh, great, you know? Use something from when I was a child!

Dawson

You're still a child, Joey. You're still the same scared little girl who...

Joey

Who what? Who what, Dawson? Who broke your heart? God! Is the statute of limitations ever gonna end on that one? Ever?! Dawson, I'm sorry I don't have the same dreams I had when I was 15 years old, and I'm sorry that I moved on faster than you did, but you know what? Maybe not everything that happens to you is my fault! And maybe just because I want more from my life than...

Dawson

More than what? More than us? You don't know, do you? You've never known. The entire time I've known you, all you've wanted to do is escape. From me, from Capeside. I mean, you say that I'm the dreamer. I'm the one who doesn't wanna live in the real world. Well, I'm doing it, Joey. Right now. I'm living in the real world. It's you who wants the fantasy.

Joey

I want the fantasy?

Dawson

Yes.

Joey

Who lit the candles? Who bought the champagne?

Dawson

Who dumped who 4 years ago? Joey, I know what I want. I've always known what I want. Before we destroy whatever chance we might actually have at having a relationship, I'm asking you, please, stop and think about this. Is this really what you want? Is this... really the way that you want things to end between us?

Dawson

Why are you doing this, Joey?

Joey

We're doing this, Dawson. It's what we do. It's what we always do.

Dawson

Last night was real. Today was real. It's you, not me, who doesn't wanna deal with the realities of an adult relationship.

Joey

You're right.

Dawson

That's it? I'm right?

Joey

I want the fantasy. I want more than anything for us to be together. But not like this. Not screaming at the top of our lungs about things that happened 4 years ago.

Dawson

But if we can't argue like this and get past it, then...

Joey

Maybe there's nothing here worth saving. Maybe last night was just...

Dawson

Just what?

Joey

Just two old friends making a huge mistake.

Dawson

Wow. If that's the way you feel, then... then I... should go.

Joey

Maybe it's the only way that we could finally stand on our own. You know, to... hurt each other so much that we have no choice but to let go. Maybe otherwise we never would.

Dawson

Yeah. Maybe.

Dawson

Do you think it would have worked out between us if I... if we hadn't... if things had been different?

Joey

I don't know. I mean, that's the thing with us. They never are, are they?