Dawson Leery quotes from Dawson's Creek

Gail

[on TV] Well, Bob, it looks like tomorrow would be a good day just to stay in bed.

You've got that right, Gail.

Dawson

God, could they be any more obvious? So, Gail, what are your current views on the situation in Bosnia? Will you be jumping my bones after the broadcast?

Dawson

Look, maybe you better go, Joey. My verbal vomit's out of control today.

Joey

I know what you're going through Dawson. You're struggling to find answers. You want to know why she's cheating but it's all perception, Dawson. Let me just offer the one ounce of wisdom I can bring to this table. You know instead of asking why your mother's doing all these horrible things, may I suggest that you get down on your knees and thank God that you have a mother!

Dawson

Joey...

Joey

Sorry, Dawson, I forgot for a second. This isn't about me.

Grams

Mr. Ryan used to say, "If you want the rainbow, you've got to put up with a lot of rain."

Dawson

So you know, too?

Grams

I used to be a big fan of motion pictures. Frank Capra, It's a Wonderful Life, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Pocketful of Miracles. Simple desires fulfilled, aspirations realized.

Dawson

Fears of abandonment turned into fantasy spectacles of security and joy. Frank Capra and Steven Spielberg were often compared for their thematic content.

Grams

What I like most about those movies is the fact that no matter how far off the pedestal the character fell they always got a second chance. Forgiveness is one of the greatest gifts the Lord has given us with it comes understanding.

Dawson

Same way rain brings a rainbow.

Grams

From what I've seen of you so far, you better buy yourself a good umbrella.

Jen

I'm leaving, Dawson, um, but before I go there's--

Dawson

But, Jen, I'm--

Jen

No, no, hear me out, Dawson, please. Okay? Because this seems to be the day of truths, and I'm taking my turn. I lost my virginity when I was 12 to some older guy who got me drunk, I don't really remember his name but after the first pregnancy scare I went on the pill, and I used condoms most of the time, some of the times, I don't know, it's kind of blurry. I was really drinking a lot and having blackouts and stuff, um. I was sexualized way too young, and I don't wish that on anybody. I mean, sex at such a young age, more often than not, is a bad idea. I finally got caught having sex in my parents' bed. Daddy's little girl fornicating right before his very eyes. He still can't look me in the face but then again he shipped me 200 miles away so he wouldn't have to, but Dawson I'm not that girl anymore. I never really was, and I'm not that white-as-snow image you've got either, I'm somewhere in between and I'm just, I'm just trying to figure it out.

Dawson

Jen. It's not you. It's my own stupid hangups. My parents have this raging sex life and I just, I secretly used it as their measure of happiness.

Jen

Well, sex doesn't equal happiness.

Dawson

Yeah, I know. I know that now.

Jen

I'm sorry about lying to you, but I can't apologize for my past. I mean, I've learned from it, I'm a better person, it's gotten me here. And this is my chance to start over. It's my chance and it would be really nice if you'd be a part of that.

Dawson

On one condition?

Jen

What?

Dawson

That you'll have me, Jen, because my behavior has been unredeemable and I don't deserve someone as impassionate and open and honest and beautiful as you are. [They hug] Take 2?

Jen

Mm-hmm.

Jen

Gram's way of dealing with my point of view is pretending that it doesn't exist. Which, of course, infuriates me. It causes me to speak emotionally rather than rationally, and I become rude and defensive, and I...I give her even more of a reason to dismiss my viewpoints. Its like we're locked in this awful vicious cycle.

Dawson

Well, I don't know. You gotta do something. You just can't ignore her for three years until you go away to college.

Jen

I can't? Oh, there goes plan A.

Joey

You can't stand the idea that if a girl is choosing between two guys, she may not choose the romantic doofus who woos her with flowers and cheesy poems, you know? She just might choose the guy with the faster car or the bigger bicep or... the bigger joystick.

Dawson

Bigger joystick?

Joey

Yes.

Dawson

First of all, girls are attracted to romance more than anything.

Joey

Keep hope alive there.

Dawson

This is so Breakfast Club.

Jen

Breakfast Club?

Dawson

Yeah that John Hughes movie where the five kids are stuck in detention all day.

Joey

Yeah at first they hate each other and then they become really, really good friends.

Jen

Oh yeah that movie stunk. Whatever happened to those actors?

Dawson

Anthony Michael Hall developed some weird thyroid condition, Molly Ringwald lost her gawky teen ingenue appeal, and the rest are languishing somewhere in TV obscurity.

Pacey

No way! Emilio Estevez! He was in those Duck movies, remember? God, those were classics, so funny....[pause] What?

Jen

Hey Dawson. I like you.

Dawson

Yeah but it's not enough that you like me. I want you to want me.

Jen

You're like a God to me Dawson, and I don't even believe in God. I mean, this school hasn't exactly welcomed me with open arms. It seems like everybody here hates me and I don't know why. If it's because I'm from New York, or because I'm different. It seems like my life here is just one big detention that I can't escape, but then, I think about you. And about how I've met a guy who's so romantic, and so caring, and who I like, and who I want so much. Dawson it's because of you that I get through the bad days. And if you think I want you to be some big, varsity sex stud then you're crazy.

Dawson

I understand that you want to take things slow, I do. And I don't want to rush you. I don't want to be that guy. But I'm human, I have hormones. And to say that I've never thought about having sex with you, I'd be lying. The thought crosses my mind. About a thousand times a day.

Jen

Well just a thousand? That's nothing.

Hey, I'm looking for Jen. You don't know where she is this period do you?

Dawson

No, I don't. Sorry.

Well, give her a message, will you? Tell her I'm having a barbecue at my house this Saturday and I'd love it if she can make it. Hey, what the hell. Why don't you come too?

Dawson

Cool. Sounds great.

I don't know if you can help me with it. Jen doesn't have a boyfriend, does she?

Dawson

Uh, yeah. She does. Me.

Really?

Dawson

Yeah.

That's terrific, man.

Pacey

You're a regular Richie Cunningham. Billy, he's the Fonz.

Dawson

Congratulations, that makes you Potsie.

Pacey Witter has changed his program. Instead of a magical act he will perform a dramatic interpretation.

Pacey

[in a Scottish accent] Well, I'm not William Wallace. But I am Pacey Witter.

Dawson

[from offstage] Pacey Witter's seven feet tall.

Pacey

So they say. So they say. And they say that this Pacey Witter is a dangerous man who slaughters Capeside residents by the dozen with his bare hands. And if he were here he would destroy those who would judge him with sparks from his eyes and wits from his ass.

Pacey

Well, I am Pacey Witter. But who of you are in the position to judge me? Is it you, sir? And what sorts of human beings tolerate being judged? Well judgement stops today. And that which condones me, seems to own me. And I am willing to betray the trappings of my dysfunctional life for one chance, just one chance, to stand in front of my fellow countrymen and tell them that you may take my life, but you will never take my freedom!!! Thank you and goodnight.

Joey

Cliffhanger? Come on, Dawson. You of all people should know that a cliffhanger is merely a manipulative TV standard designed to improve ratings.

Dawson

No, a cliffhanger's purpose is to keep people interested. Keep them guessing what's going to happen in future episodes.

Joey

But just like in our own lives, they are so predictable. I mean, the producers put the characters in some contrived situation hoping that the audience will think something is going to change, but, you know what? It never does. Back to the same way it was before your so-called cliffhanger. It's boring Dawson.

Dawson

Well, what if this time it's different? What if this time in the cliffhanger something changes? You wouldn't want to miss that, would ya?

Joey

It still sounds like one big tease to me Dawson.

Dawson wait please. Tell me about her. Tell me about my daughter.

Dawson

What do you want to know?

Anything, everything.

Dawson

She's great. I mean, she's smart, she's beautiful, she's funny, she's a big ol' scaredy cat. If you creep up from behind her she'll jump out of her skin. It's pretty amusing. She's honest. She always calls them just like she sees them. You can always count on getting the truth from Joey even if the truth hurts. She's stubborn. We fight a lot. She can be so frustrating sometimes. But she's a really, really, good friend. I know her to a fault. She believes in me. And I'm a dreamer so it's so good to have somebody like that in my life. If she goes away, I don't know what I'm going to do. I mean, she's my best friend, you know? She's more than that. She's everything.

Joey

We're just friends. That's all.

Dawson

Joey, c'mon you know that's not true.

Joey

So what are we Dawson? You know, I am so tired of the way we relate to one another. We spend all of our time analyzing our sad little adolescent lives.

Dawson

I know we know too many big words. But it's a good thing to analyze.

Joey

But it doesn't get us anywhere. It doesn't move us forward. We're in the same place we were 3 months ago. It's time to grow up Dawson.

Dawson

I know, Joey. We can. We are growing up.

Joey

No we're not. Everyday is the same. We watch a movie, preferably a Spielberg film, find the appropriate life correlation and then we pat ourselves on the back for being so clever. You know, as much as our perception is right on, our honesty is severely lacking Dawson.

Dawson

There is something lacking.

Joey

And the reason I came here tonight is because we need to move on. Look, we're not kids anymore. And I'm not gonna do this anymore. And I just thought you should know, so...

Dawson

So, are you going to France?

Joey

Ah, the inevitable cliffhanger. Am I going to France?

Joey

Me not going to France...you and me talking dirty in the halls...I mean, do you think we're making some massive, monumental mistake? I mean, things have always been so complicated between...

Dawson

I think we'll be fine. I mean granted we'll be entering some uncharted boy/girl territory but I honestly think regardless of how complicated things are on a day to day basis, we'll be fine. We'll concentrate on the simple stuff.

Joey

Like what?

Dawson

Like a date.

Joey

A date?

Dawson

Mm-hm.

Joey

You and me on a date?

Dawson

Yep.

Joey

I don't know Dawson. I was gonna watch TV. I hear Luke Perry is returning to 90210.