Dawson Leery quotes from Dawson's Creek

Dawson

If you could try to look welcoming, that would be great. Anxiety doesn't really fit in with this whole homey, "come stay with us" thing we're looking for.

Joey

Dawson, I do toilets, I do windows. I draw the line at faux perkiness.

Dawson

Growing up does not have to equal growing apart.

Joey

Somehow it does.

Dawson

I thought I heard something out here.

Joey

Dawson, uh...we were just-

Dawson

Having an argument, obviously...what about? [Long pause]

Pacey

Us, Dawson. [They look at each other then back at Dawson] We were arguing about us. Me and Joey, there's an us here now. I'm sorry man, we didn't want to tell you this way.

Dawson

You didn't tell me.

Joey

You know, don't you?

Dawson

Yeah, I know...[Pause] So were you planning on telling me or was this just going to be a secret fling?

Joey

Look, it's not like that.

Dawson

Then how was it, Joey? 'Cause Jen was a little short on details.

Joey

She told you?

Dawson

Well, she thought I knew. I mean, I had to be pretty freaking stupid not to know, that the two people I trusted most in the world were lying to me. [Pause] So are you...are you bored, or are you confused, or just malicious?

Pacey

Hey, look, I started this thing, okay? If you're going to get angry at someone, get angry at me, It's my-

Dawson

I don't think you're in any position to talk about what's fair. You were my best friend.

Pacey

I still am.

Dawson

I'm finding that a little hard to process right now.

Pacey

It's the truth, Dawson.

Dawson

So I guess it's safe to assume that friendship doesn't come above sex on your list of personal priorities.

Pacey

This has nothing to do with sex.

Dawson

Oh, what are you, in love? Is that what this is? [Pacey pauses and looks at Joey] Oh god, don't look-don't look at her, alright? Don't-I...you know what, Pacey, I feel sorry for you, because when all of this is over, you're really going to need your friends and you're not going to have any, not a single one.

Joey

Look, I didn't intend for this to happen, Dawson-

Dawson

Joey, what you intended does not provide me any solace. What? Do-do you love him? Are you-are you-do you just want to sleep with him?

Joey

No, how could you say that! I-

Dawson

Because it's what he's going to expect.

Joey

We're not together, Dawson. And we haven't been for a long time, almost a whole year has gone-

Dawson

Is-is this punishment?

Joey

No, I'm not punishing you!

Dawson

Because I didn't want to get back together with you?

Joey

No, why would you think I would do that-

Dawson

Then Joey, why? Why? Joey, because I-you keep on saying that you need to go find yourself. Is-is this what you've been looking for the whole time? Is Pacey what you've been looking for?

Joey

No!

Dawson

Then explain it to me, explain to me how two people who can barely stand to be in the same room with each other end up outside my window arguing about the future of their relationship.

Joey

I can't, okay. I can't explain it, it happened. [Pause] Everything between you and me is so complicated.

Dawson

Jo...God...if things between us are complicated it's because you made them that way, okay? And you think that whatever was wrong when you with me is magically going to get better when you're with him?

Joey

I don't know, Dawson. I don't know, okay. I just know that I...I need him.

Dawson

Do you need him like you need me? [Pause] Joey, it's a simple question, do you need him like you need me?

Joey

Look, you can't do that Dawson. You can't. Those two things have nothing to do with each other and you know that the way I feel about him is completely separate from the way I feel about you and our friendship.

Dawson

Friendship? Joey, right now we don't have a friendship.

Joey

What?

Dawson

We don't have a friendship right now-

Joey

What?!

Dawson

As of this moment we do not have a friendship.

Joey

That is not fair!

Dawson

You can't have both of us! You can't have him as your boyfriend and me as your consolation prize, you're going to have to make a choice.

Joey

No. [shakes her head]

Dawson

And I'll tell you right now, that if you choose him, I'm not going to be around to pick up all the pieces when it all falls apart. This ruins everything! There's no going back.

Joey

Okay...What do you want me to say, Dawson? What-tell me what you want me to say, what do you want to here?!

Dawson

I don't want you to say anything, I want you to leave.

Pacey

What are you trying to prove?

Dawson

Just trying to help Joey.

Pacey

[Under his breath in a disbelieving tone] Just trying to help Joey. Look, man, why don't you just take a swing at me? I mean, honestly, just take a poke, get it over with, save us both a lot of time and trouble. Wouldn't involve our friends.

Dawson

[Scoffs] Or family.

Pacey

Do you think that by indulging yourself in this James Dean meets Grease Lightning fantasy that you're actually going to prove that you're a better man than I am?

Dawson

I don't have to prove that. You made that clear when you moved in on Joey.

Pacey

For the very last time, Dawson. I made a mistake. [Pause] I thought you of all people would understand falling for Joey Potter.

Dawson

[Laughs rudely] Are you delusional enough to believe that you actually have something real with Joey?

Pacey

Well if I do, it's because of our own free will.

Dawson

Do you really think that a couple confused weeks means anything compared to the lifetime that we've had?

Pacey

And do you actually think that you could possibly hold onto that beautiful woman with some sort of selfish ultimatum?

Dawson

Answer my question Pacey, do you really think that you can compete with history?

Pacey

Some history. 15 years of watching PG movies in your bedroom followed by another year and a half of pretending to be grown up only to drop each other at the first sign of crisis. That's your history? Come on, man...and you call this woman your soul mate?

Dawson

Yes, I do and you knew that and you went after her anyway.

Pacey

Right after you rejected her.

Dawson

Oh, so she was vulnerable. Perfect for you, 'cause you're only interested in girls you can save or screw, right Pace? [Pacey just stares at Dawson and walks away]

Dawson

We won!

Joey

No you didn't, Dawson, you lost.

Dawson

What?

Joey

If you knew a little more about sailing, you would know that you got disqualified for- [Pacey walks up]

Pacey

For nearly killing me!

Dawson

What, I got disqualified?

Joey

Yes!

Dawson

Okay, let's not forget who started this, Pacey! You're the one who said you want to-

Joey

Okay, stop! The both of you, stop this. I'm not some damn trophy.

Pacey

No, Jo...[Turns to Dawson] Let's not forget who started this, okay. Let's not forget who pushed me towards Joey Potter in the first place, it was you!

Dawson

Pushed you?

Pacey

Yes, it was you! Because you couldn't be bothered-

Dawson

Because I didn't want to get hurt again, Pacey, I still had feelings for her, I still loved her! I-i still love her [He looks at Joey. Pause as Pacey scoffs and shakes his head]

Joey

I-I hate this. I hate all of this! God, I hate you for kissing me and forcing me to figure out what it all means, Pacey! And I hate you, Dawson, for forcing me to make a choice between our friendship and what I might have had with him. And I hate myself, I mean, I wish we could go back to the way it was, I wish I could take it all back, but I can't. Nothing is worth going through all of this. No one person is worth this. Neither one of you and especially not me.

Dawson

I’m well aware of the Potter neuroses.

Joey

I prefer to think of them as quirks.

Joey

But Dawson, I want us to still be friends and I want to know that you don't hate me and...

Dawson

They're only words, Joey, they're just words. 'Cause after you're done dispensing your pleasantries you're gonna turn around and you're gonna walk away from me, aren't you?

Joey

I would like to offer it to you as a...

Dawson

Please don't say symbol.

Joey

As an emblematic artifact representing the foundation of... of a new friendship.

Drue

Must be the Star Wars thing.

Dawson

Star Wars thing?

Drue

It's classic, you are obviously Luke to this Pacey guy's Han Solo. So you're the stuff of pre-teen daydreams, cute, smart, non-threatening. Which is great and all, but not for princess Joey here who is clearly smack dab in the middle of her bad boy phase.

Joey

And where do you fit in to this whole scenario Drue? Jabba the Hut, I think.

Drue

[cell phone rings while they are working on a project] Hello, hey gorgeous.

Dawson

Unbelievable.

Joey

Unacceptable. [grabs cell phone] Hello, gorgeous is it? Hi, yes, this is Drue's doctor and he's gonna have to get back to you when the syphilis clears up, ok? Bye-bye.

Mitch

[watching Joey and Pacey kiss] Just doesn't seem fair, does it?

Dawson

What's that?

Mitch

Well, you saved the day and you still don't get the girl. [pause] But maybe, just maybe, you got something more important.

Dawson

[sigh] How do you figure that?

Mitch

You have this moment. No matter where your life takes you, you can look back on this and know that you did a great thing. That's something that all the girls and all the things in the world can't replace.

Pacey

Look, I know that things between you and I are pretty much beyond repair right now. And, I wouldn't presume to be able to solve everything with a conversation 'cause that's just not the way it works. But, I've been wanting to tell you that I'm sorry Dawson. I'm really sorry for the way everything went down this spring. For my part in it, for the pain that it must have caused you. And, [sigh] I'm really sorry that I ruined our friendship, because I miss it, badly. And, uh, however far off it may be, I do look forward to the day when you and I might be friends again...so until then.

Dawson

Until then.

Gretchen

But you know what my teacher said was the most bogus line in Hollywood cinema?

Dawson

What?

Gretchen

"There's no place like home."

Dawson

The Wizard of Oz.

Gretchen

Guys, Gale's been throwing up a lot, right?

Mitch

Yeah.

Gretchen

And she's still hungry and putting on some weight. She's tired all the time. Her back hurts. Irritability. Mood swings.

Dawson

Yeah.

Mitch

The worst. How'd you know?

Gretchen

Sounds to me like she'll be feeling a lot better in about nine months.