The story of us
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Part five

INT – Potter's Bed & Breakfast guest room– Day.

It is morning the next day. Joey is asleep in one of the guest rooms. Bright sunshine is streaming through the window and the light makes her stir uncomfortably. The door opens quietly and Bessie's face appears. The noise, though minimal, makes Joey open her eyes. She raises her head quickly but when she sees her sister she flops back heavily onto her pillow.

 

BESSIE

Good morning.

 

Joey mumbles incoherently and Bessie smiles.

 

BESSIE

(amused)

Still a morning person, I see.

 

She enters the room carrying a cup of coffee and places it by Joey's bedside. Bessie sits down on the window seat, waiting. After a moment Joey is roused by the smell of the rich coffee and reluctantly pulls herself into a sitting position. Her hair is a mess, and there are dark smudges under her eyes.

 

BESSIE

Rough night?

(seeing Joey's face properly)

Ooh, I guess so.

 

JOEY

Are you here to cheer me up?

 

BESSIE

No, just to torture you in the morning as always. How was the reunion?

 

Joey just sips her coffee, not answering.

 

BESSIE

Did you catch up with all your old friends?

 

Joey glances at her swiftly, trying to read any insinuation in the remark. When she finds none she looks back down at her coffee, still uncommunicative.

 

BESSIE

Okay. I can see you're just as chatty as Pacey this morning. It must have been some night.

 

JOEY

(quickly)

What about Pacey? Where is he?

 

BESSIE

(with a small frown)

He's downstairs making breakfast for Liam. Where else would he be?

 

JOEY
(mumbling)

Nowhere.

 

Bessie looks thoughtful while Joey appears evasive.

 

BESSIE

Okay, why don't you get up and join them? Go and have breakfast with your family.

(after Joey shakes her head)

Has this got anything to do with the fact that Pacey spent the night on the chair in Liam's room?

 

Joey gives her sister a bitter smile.

 

JOEY

So you're not here to torture me, you just wanted to find out if anything's wrong.

 

BESSIE

Is there?

 

Joey does not answer and looks away quickly. Bessie's frown returns.

 

BESSIE

Joey, is there?

(no response)

You know, you can talk to me. I'm your big sister, remember? Maybe I can help.

 

JOEY

(quietly)

I don't think you can help with this one, Bess.

 

BESSIE

What happened?

(no response)

 

Joey, I know there's something wrong. You and Pacey have been so distant ever since you go here. If you're having problems…

 

JOEY

Bessie, I really don't want to get into this.

 

BESSIE

(insistently)

Into what?

 

Joey closes her eyes, fighting back tears.

 

JOEY

(without opening her eyes)

I screwed up.

 

BESSIE

What?

 

JOEY

I really screwed up, Bessie.

 

BESSIE

Joey, what happened last night?

 

JOEY

(long pause during which she stares intently at her sister)

I kissed Dawson.

 

BESSIE

(unsure how to respond)

Why?

 

JOEY

It's a long story. But Pacey saw.

 

BESSIE

Joey, what is going on with you two?

 

JOEY

(sighing)

I don't even know how to begin to tell you…

 

 

INT – Potter's Bed & Breakfast kitchen – Day.

Pacey has cooked pancakes for breakfast while Liam sits at the table coloring. He places a plate in front of his son.

 

PACEY

Here you go, buddy.

 

Liam ignores the food and finishes what he is doing before he starts to eat. Pacey watches him for a moment, sighs, and then starts to clear up in the kitchen. There is a knock at the back door.

 

PACEY

(to Liam)

Are you expecting company?

 

Liam doesn't react to Pacey's complete lack of surprise. He opens the back door to reveal Andie standing there with a bright smile on her face.

 

ANDIE

Surprise! I thought I'd come and visit.

 

Pacey smiles tiredly and opens the door for her.

 

PACEY

I thought we were meeting for lunch.

 

ANDIE

We are, I just wanted to come by and see…

(she lowers her voice, seeing Liam is at the table)

How's he doing this morning?

 

PACEY

He's fine, Andie. You didn't have to worry.

 

ANDIE

Well, truth is I wanted to check on you and Joey too.

(she looks around the living room)

Where is everyone?

 

PACEY

Bodie took Alexander fishing and Bessie's upstairs.

 

ANDIE

And Joey?

 

PACEY

Still asleep.

 

Pacey returns to the kitchen to avoid any further conversation, but Andie follows him undeterred. She sits down at the dining table across from Liam and watches him while he eats his breakfast. She doesn't notice Pacey's withdrawn demeanor and continues to talk while he busies himself in the kitchen.

 

ANDIE

Did you have a good time at the reunion last night?

(no response from Pacey)

Wasn't it weird seeing everyone again? I mean some people have not changed in the slightest and others I barely recognised. Jen and Jack I've seen over the years but Dawson was a shock. I guess you have to be glamorous to live in LA. Don't you think?

 

She waits expectantly for Pacey's response, and is surprised to see a black look on Pacey's face.

 

PACEY

(short)

Can we not talk about this please?

 

ANDIE

(her face registering immediate concern)

Pacey, Is everything all right?

 

PACEY

Everything's fine thank you.

 

He walks over and sets down a glass of orange juice in front of Liam, but his son ignores him and slides off his chair. Liam walks away to the living room where he sits in one of the corners and starts playing with his toys. Rejected, Pacey sits down sadly in Liam's seat, watching as his son remains withdrawn in his own little world.

 

ANDIE

(softer, trying again)

Pacey, you're not all right. Something's obviously wrong. Is it about Liam?

 

PACEY

(with a bitter laugh)

I wish… Last night wasn't the first time he's had an episode like that. I know what to do… how to handle it…

 

ANDIE

Is it something else then?

 

PACEY

Andie, I don't want to talk about this.

 

ANDIE

Well, you obviously need to talk to someone, Pace. I'm worried about you. Is Joey okay?

 

PACEY

I wouldn't know about that.

 

ANDIE

(puzzled)

Can you talk to her about it?

 

PACEY

No. Actually she's the last person I want to talk to right now.

 

ANDIE

(thoroughly confused)

I don't understand.

 

PACEY

(annoyed)

It's very simple, Andie. After I brought Liam back here last night I went back for Joey and found her kissing Dawson down by the pier. Okay?

 

Pacey gets up abruptly, snatching up Liam's plate and cutlery and taking them into the kitchen. Andie sits at the table in shock. After a moment she gets up and joins him.

 

ANDIE

Oh my God, Pacey…

 

She places her hand on his arm but he flinches from her touch.

 

PACEY

No, I'm beyond that. I'm up to 'what the hell am I supposed to do now?'

 

ANDIE

Have you spoken to her?

 

PACEY

(putting the last of the plates into the dishwasher)

Nope.

 

ANDIE

Are you going to?

 

PACEY

I don't think that would be a good idea right now.

 

ANDIE

I'm sure there's an explanation, Pacey…

 

PACEY

None that will excuse what she did, as far as I'm concerned.

 

There is another knock at the door, and Pacey lets out an annoyed breath. He turns his back on the door and ignores it. Andie pauses momentarily before she answers it herself. She sees Dawson standing on the porch.

 

 

EXT – Potter's Bed & Breakfast porch – Day.

Dawson is surprised when Andie answers the door. She immediately looks worried, glancing nervously behind her.

 

DAWSON

Andie, what are you doing here?

 

ANDIE

(trying to close the door behind her)

What are you doing here, Dawson?

 

DAWSON

(determined)

I need to speak to Joey and Pacey.

 

ANDIE

I don't think that's a good idea… now's not a good time.

 

DAWSON

There's never going to be a good time for this, Andie, trust me. But I have to talk to them…

 

ANDIE

Dawson, trust me when I tell you now isn't the time.

 

She tries to urge him to leave but Pacey is suddenly at the door looking furious.

 

PACEY

What do you want?

 

DAWSON

Pacey, we should talk.

 

PACEY

(coldly)

No, I don't think we should.

 

DAWSON

Pacey…

 

ANDIE

Dawson, maybe you should just go.

 

DAWSON

This has nothing to do with you, Andie.

 

ANDIE

(caught in the middle)

I just think it would be better…

 

DAWSON

(ignoring Andie, looking only at Pacey)

Pacey, what you saw last night… it wasn't what it looked like.

 

PACEY

You weren't kissing my wife?

 

DAWSON

Well…

 

PACEY

Then it's exactly what it looked like.

 

DAWSON

She was upset…

 

Pacey looks disgusted and walks back into the house. Dawson starts after him but Andie tries to stop him.

 

ANDIE

Dawson, just go.

 

DAWSON

We have to talk about this, Andie. It was a mistake, it didn't mean anything.

 

ANDIE

Well, it obviously does to Pacey.

 

Dawson fixes her with a glare and the pushes past her and goes into the house.

 

 

 

INT – Potter's Bed & Breakfast living room – Day.

Dawson crosses the room to where Pacey is standing watching Liam. He tries once more to talk to him.

 

DAWSON

Pacey, please hear me out.

 

PACEY

We are not going to have a philosophical discussion about this. Why should I? After everything that we've been through, why should I? This isn't some adolescent flirtation, Dawson. We're not sixteen years old.

 

DAWSON

No, we're not. We're adults. So why can't we discuss it like adults?

 

PACEY

(raising his voice)

I don't want to hear your attempt at a reasonable explanation. There is nothing you could say to justify it, Dawson. She's my wife.

 

DAWSON

Then maybe you should try being a husband to her.

 

Pacey's eyes blaze with anger and he pulls his fist back to take a swing at Dawson. Joey enters at that moment after hearing Dawson's voice, just in time prevent the blow.

 

JOEY

(urgently)

Pacey, don't!

 

Pacey whirls around to glare at her, feeling betrayed that she would come to Dawson's defense. With a last hate-filled stare at Dawson, then Joey, he stalks out of the room. Andie tries to go after him.

 

ANDIE

Pacey?

 

PACEY

(thundering)

Leave me the hell alone!

 

Pacey disappears upstairs. Joey flinches when she hears a door slam. She looks sadly at Dawson, holding his gaze for a long beat. She doesn't stop staring at him while she addresses Andie.

 

JOEY

(quietly)

Andie, would you mind leaving please?

 

Andie protests at first, then walks to the door.

 

ANDIE

(reluctant to go)

Shouldn't someone go after Pacey?

 

JOEY

(turning her pleading eyes on Andie, whispering)

Please… just go.

 

Andie leaves without a word. Joey waits until she hears Andie's car start before rubbing her forehead tiredly. Dawson looks at her with concern, unable to find the words to say what he came there for. Joey's eyes fall on Liam in the corner of the room.

 

JOEY

Why are you here, Dawson?

 

DAWSON

(hesitantly)

I wanted to make sure you're all right. You barely said anything when you left last night, I wanted to make sure that nothing happened…

 

JOEY

(numbly)

I drove around for a few hours before I came back here. He was already asleep in Liam's room by the time I did.

 

DAWSON

Have you had a chance to explain?

 

JOEY

Explain what?

(beat)

No.

DAWSON

Joey, I don't want to cause more problems for you and Pacey.

 

JOEY

(bitterly)

Lord knows we have enough of those. And we caused them all, Dawson, not you. But coming here was a mistake.

 

DAWSON

I won't leave until I know you're all right.

 

JOEY

(tiredly)

I'll be fine. We'll talk, we'll argue… I don't know what I'm going to say, but I'm sure we'll manage to fight anyway. We've had a lot of practice.

 

DAWSON

Joey, I'm worried about you.

 

JOEY

Don't be. I'm a big girl. I can handle this.

 

DAWSON

But…

 

JOEY

Really, Dawson, you should just go.

 

DAWSON

Will you call me?

 

JOEY

(lying)

Sure.

 

Dawson goes reluctantly to the door. Joey follows him outside as she sees him to his car.

After several minutes, Joey returns inside. She closes the door and looks around the living room, but Pacey is nowhere to be seen. Liam still sits playing with his toys in the corner of the room, oblivious to her. She sighs and sits on the corner of the couch, deep in thought as she watches her son. There are heavy footsteps on the stairs and Pacey suddenly enters carrying his small suitcase and a Liam's toy bag. His face is clouded with anger.

 

JOEY

What are you doing?

 

PACEY

(short)

I'm leaving.

 

Joey watches him for a moment in surprise.

 

JOEY

Where's my bag?

 

PACEY

Upstairs where you left it.

 

JOEY

(surprised)

You're leaving without me?

 

PACEY

That's right.

 

JOEY

Pacey…

 

PACEY

I'm going to call the airline and get two seats for a flight tonight.

 

JOEY

You're just going to leave with Liam… without me?

 

PACEY

(petulantly)

Yes. Don't worry though, I'm sure you won't be lonely. You've got Dawson to keep you company.

 

JOEY

(in exasperation)

Jesus Christ! When are you going to get over this adolescent jealousy of Dawson?

 

PACEY

(his anger erupting)

Excuse me?

 

JOEY

After all this time… it all comes down to your obsession over Dawson and me.

 

PACEY

Were you or were not kissing Dawson last night? Last night, Joey, not ten years ago.

 

JOEY

Pacey, I made a mistake. I'm sorry, all right! Can we please just talk about this?

 

PACEY

Not when you accuse me of being obsessed over you and Dawson. You think I'm jealous of the two of you… Why do you think that is, huh? Because he's always there, Joey.

Who made it so difficult for us when we were in high school? Who almost ruined any chance we had? And when we finally made it he sneaks away from our wedding and you're upset about it for weeks. Our wedding night, Joey, do you remember it? You cried yourself to sleep.

(Joey balks, opening her mouth to deny it)

I know you did. You thought I was asleep but I wasn't. I spent my wedding night listening to my wife crying over the fact that her ex-best friend slash soul mate slash whatever had walked out on her.

 

JOEY

That's not fair, Pacey.

 

PACEY

No, Joey, not fair is finding out you wrote to him about the birth of our son without telling me. After everything that he did to you and me, you still wrote to him.

 

JOEY

(raising her voice)

Is that such a crime? God, Pacey… I don't understand why you would get so upset over a letter… It was no big deal.

 

PACEY

Then why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you just let me know that you were going to contact him, huh? Why the secrecy?

 

JOEY

(sarcastically)

Gee, maybe it's because I thought you'd overreact. I don't know where I got that idea from…

 

PACEY

(taking a step towards her menacingly, yelling)

Don't. Don't put this back on me. You've done it ever since we got together. You told me it was my imagination, that I was making a big deal out of nothing. And yet here we are ten years later and I caught you kissing Dawson last night.

 

Joey doesn't know what to say. Pacey is suddenly close to tears, fury in his eyes.

 

PACEY

So you'll forgive me if I try to salvage a little dignity and get the hell out of here before I become the laughing stock of Capeside all over again.

 

Pacey tries to shove passed her but Joey holds onto his arm to stop him.

 

JOEY

Pacey, please…

 

With a sudden violent twist, Pacey wrenches his arm from her.

 

PACEY

Get off me!

 

JOEY

(yelling)

You can't just leave!

 

PACEY

(just as loud)

Watch me!

 

JOEY

How will this solve anything? How will running away fix it?

 

PACEY

Who said I wanted to fix it?

 

Pacey starts to walk away.

 

JOEY

(angry)

Okay, fine. Leave. You're right I'm wrong. I'm the bad guy. Because you're perfect, aren't you, Pacey? None of this could possibly be your fault. You're just the perfect husband.

 

Pacey stalks back to her, his eyes blazing. Their loud arguing continues. In the corner, Liam begins to rock himself and covers his ears.

 

PACEY

Now you're blaming me because you kissed Dawson?

 

JOEY

Why do you think I did that, huh? Could it be that you haven't in over in a year?

 

PACEY

(furious)

This is my fault?

 

JOEY

I'm just saying you don't get to leave. You don't get to be indignant because I went looking for some compassion elsewhere.

 

PACEY

Compassion, is that what you call it?

 

JOEY

Yes. And it's something you've obviously forgotten about.

 

PACEY
(taking a step closer to her)

I can't believe you…

 

Joey recoils instinctively, but in her eyes there is a hint of triumph – she has hit a nerve.

Bessie enters the room after hearing their yelling. She bustles towards them, scared they are about to come to blows.

 

BESSIE

(urgently)

Hey! What’s going on?

 

In the corner Liam's rocking becomes more violent and he suddenly begins screaming. Pacey and Joey look at him in surprise and then back at each other for a split second before Liam begins to hit his head against the wall. The self inflicted blows are hard and repeated. Pacey and Joey rush over to stop him, but their intervention only makes Liam more agitated and he kicks and scratches like a wild animal, his high-pitched screaming getting louder.

Pacey pulls him away from the wall but blood is already running Liam's face. Trying to overpower him with greater strength, Pacey holds him tightly while Joey attempts to placate him. Nothing works… this is not a regular outburst. It has never been so violent or so frightening. Liam continues to struggle until he manages to rake his fingernails down Pacey's face. Pacey lets go more from surprise than pain and Liam wrenches himself away, huddling himself in the corner again, crying. He curls himself into a tight ball but does not continue hurting himself.

Pacey sits back, his face burning where he has been scratched, in shock. Joey, hands covering her mouth, is also frozen to the spot. They both realize what they have done. They both know how loud noises, particularly yelling, set Liam off. They are both desolate with guilt.

 

BESSIE

(recovering first)

He's bleeding. We should get him to the emergency room.

(when neither Pacey or Joey respond, she shakes Pacey's arm)

Pacey!

 

PACEY

(stunned)

He won't go…

 

BESSIE

He's cut his head! We have to do something.

 

JOEY

(mechanically)

Is there a doctor who can make a house call?

 

BESSIE

I think so, I could ask…

 

Bessie immediately runs to the phone and picks up her address book. As she calls the doctor, Pacey and Joey just watch Liam, still unable to believe what happened. Joey glances at Pacey whose face is also bleeding and drops to his side numbly. She lays a comforting hand on his arm but Pacey doesn't stop staring at Liam. Joey watches Pacey instead, silently begging him to acknowledge her. Her eyes cloud with tears and she sniffs. The sound makes Pacey look at her finally, but Joey sees his gaze is angry and accusatory. After a few seconds she gets up and runs from the room.

 

 

INT – Potter's Bed & Breakfast – Day. An hour later.

Joey is lying on the bed in her room. Her face is streaked with tears but she is no longer crying. She stares unseeing at the wall, her mouth slightly open. There is a soft knock at the door. Bessie does not wait for her response and slips quietly into the room.

 

BESSIE

Joey?

 

Joey doesn't answer. Bessie crosses the room and sits down beside her on the bed.

 

BESSIE

(gently)

The doctor came. Liam needed a couple of stitches but she says he'll be fine.

(after no response from Joey)

You know, Dr Stuart worked with autistic children during her residency. She knew just what to do to keep him calm while she worked on him. Pacey's talking to her now.

(still no response, Bessie becomes worried)

Joey? Are you okay?

 

Joey closes her eyes in the hopes that Bessie will go away. Bessie understands this and decides reluctantly to leave her in peace. She gets up and moves to the door, but looks back with concern at her little sister.

 

 

INT – Potter's Bed & Breakfast – Day.

Downstairs, Liam is lying on the couch with a small dressing on his head. A Sesame Street tape is playing on the television. Bessie descends from the second floor and smiles sadly when she sees him. Liam does not look at her. Bessie sighs and wanders to the backdoor where she spies Pacey sitting on the porch. She goes outside with him.

The doctor's car has gone and Pacey is slumped in one of the chairs. The scratch marks on his face have been cleaned up. Bessie takes a few steps towards him, prompting Pacey to wipe at his eyes quickly.

 

BESSIE

How are you doing?

 

PACEY

(lightly)

Hanging in there. You?

 

BESSIE

Pretty terrible, actually.

(she sits down next to him)

So is Joey.

 

Pacey doesn't react.

 

BESSIE

Pacey, you need to talk to her.

 

PACEY

I think we've done enough of that… What do you think caused this?

 

BESSIE

No, that was fighting. I said talk to her.

 

PACEY

We don't know any other way. Not anymore.

 

BESSIE

You have to try.

 

PACEY

(shaking his head slowly)

I think maybe it's too late for that.

 

BESSIE

It’s never too late, Pacey.

 

PACEY

(whispering)

Look what we've done to each other, Bess. Look what we've done to our son.

 

BESSIE

You got a raw deal, Pacey. No one should have to go through what you the two of you have. But the way I see it you can just give up and lose everything, or fight to save your marriage and your family.

 

PACEY

(bitter laugh)

What marriage?

(the words fall flat, and his face saddens)

I don't know if I have the strength to fight anymore… I don't know if Joey even wants to.

 

BESSIE

I guess you'll never know unless you ask, will you?

 

Bessie looks at him pointedly, and Pacey stands up stiffly and looks out at the creek. He's stalling. After a few moments he turns around, a silent question on his face.

 

BESSIE

I'll keep my eye on Liam, don't worry.

 

Pacey nods imperceptibly and stares at the door. A few seconds later he takes a deep breath and walks slowly inside.

 

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