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| Episode 11 A Frightening Engagement |
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| Episode 11
A Frightening Engagement
Scene: Potter B&B guest room. Pacey and Mindy are sitting on the bed watching Joey empty a suitcase into the closet and chest of drawers.
Pacey: Personally, I’d just live out of the suitcase. We’re only going to be here two days.
Joey: Well, that’s the difference in you and me, Pace. I can’t do that. My clothes will wrinkle.
Mindy: Ooooh, and Joey wouldn’t look perfect. (Teasingly)
Joey: Hey, you’re supposed to be on my side.
Pacey: My point exactly, Mindy. Who are we here to impress? People we’ve known our entire lives. Half of them have seen you naked, Jo.
Joey: Shut up! They have not. (Mindy laughs)
Pacey: Let’s see now, there’s Bessie, and ............
Joey: Stop it, Pacey. So, not very funny. (Pacey walks up behind and hugs her.)
Pacey: Now, now. What’s the big deal, Jo. We’re here for a party with our oldest friends. Why are you so uptight?
Joey: (turns around and kisses him on the cheek then pushes him away and continues unpacking)
It happens to be our engagement party, Pacey. We need to look nice.
Pacey: If it hasn’t escaped your attention, it also happens to be Halloween. You don’t think there maybe a little bit of a coincidence here. I’d lay odds that Dawson is up to something here.
Joey: He wouldn’t.................you don’t think he would do you?
Mindy: What? What are you guys talking about?
Joey: Dawson has always had this thing for Halloween, Mindy. If he didn’t have a party, he’d be playing practical jokes on people all day. He’s scared the you know what out of me more than once.
Pacey: Try he’s scared the pants off of you every year of your life. (Grins)
Mindy: Sounds like fun.
Joey: But this years different. Jack assured me that this is our traditional get together, but it’s really only because of scheduling that we’re doing it on Halloween.
Pacey: And just because it’s Jack, you believe him.
Joey: Yes, don’t you?
Pacey: We’ll see. Jack enjoys a good laugh from time to time himself. ( he moves toward the door.) I’m going to go down to the Icehouse and look things over. Can I bring you ladies anything back?
Mindy: No thanks, Pacey.
Joey: We should be fine. Mindy and I will probably go shopping later anyway.
Pacey: Okay, I’ll see you in plenty of time to get ready for the party. (Pacey leaves)
Joey: I hope he’s wrong about Dawson and Jack.
Scene: Jack’s dining room. Jack is hanging decorations in the house in preparation for the evenings party while Grams is making preparations of her own.
Grams: You’ve certainly put a lot of work into this party, Jack. It’s very sweet of you.
Jack: Well, I’m the logical person. Dawson, Andie, Gretchen..........they all live elsewhere. If we ever have a chance to do this it has to be in Capeside and I thought why not? It’ll be fun.
Grams: Halloween does seem an odd time though.
Jack: I know. I hope they understand. Dawson is in Boston on business. It’s Andie’s weekend off. Gretchen was confident she could get the weekend off and the others all live here. It was just too convenient to pass up.
Grams: Well, I’m confident they will appreciate the effort and the love being shown no matter when it comes. I better go check on Amy.
(Jack reaches into the box and pulls out a cardboard cut-out skeleton, considers it and puts it back. He continues with the candles, balloons and crepe paper decorations considered to be more appropriate for an engagement party.)
Scene: Jack’s house. Pacey, Joey and Mindy are just arriving and getting out of the car. The house is lavishly decorated on the outside with Halloween decor. Giant spider webs and spiders hang from the trees, Jack o lanterns and ghosts adorn the yard. Ghostly music plays quietly complete with sound effects coming from the porch.
Joey: Uh oh.
Pacey: Now, Jo. Don’t overreact. (He chuckles)
Mindy: What awesome decorations.
Joey: He’s gone all out alright. I just hope it’s not for us.
Pacey: These don’t look like typical party decorations. I’m sure it’s just his thing.......probably does it every year. Doug was always into Halloween, too.
(The front door opens and Jack steps onto the porch)
Jack: Hi, guys. (He notices them looking around) Don’t worry. (Laughing) I promise you, there’s no Halloween decorations inside here. Come on in.
Joey: (walks up the steps and hugs Jack) Jack, it’s so sweet of you to do this for us.
Jack: I’m probably more excited than you are. I didn’t think Pacey would ever get up the nerve and I wasn’t sure you’d ever stop..........
Joey: If you say running I’m going to hit you.
Jack: Okay, try walking briskly..........
Joey: Oh!! ( Joey punches him in the arm and walks in to hug Grams waiting by the door.)
Mindy: Hi, Jack. It’s good to be home. Hi Grams. Anything I can do to help?
Pacey: Hey, Jack. Got anything to drink? I think I’m going to need it. (Grins)
Jack: Sure thing, Pace. Come on in. Doug and Gretchen are already here.
(They enter the house and as Jack is about to close the door, he sees a car pull in. He steps out on the porch and watches as Andie exits her car and approaches. Jack walks down the steps and hugs his sister.)
Jack: Andie, I am glad you could make it. It’ll mean so much to them too.
Andie: I had to call in one favor and trade one shift but it will be worth it. I’m so excited for them. I can’t believe Pacey ever got up the nerve to ask.
Jack: (smiling) Maybe he didn’t. They’re not talking about it for some reason. We’ll have to try to worm it out of them tonight.
Andie: You don’t mean you think Joey asked? Surely not!
Jack: Well, I doubt that too. It’s probably more to do with some embarrassing story they don’t want to tell. Remember how hard it was to get their Key West story out of them? Let’s go on in.
(Scene: Dining room, Jack’s house. Mindy is helping Grams set the table. Through the doorway Joey can be seen talking to Doug, Andie and Gretchen.)
Mindy: Everything is so nice, Grams. I know you need some help though. I should’ve come over as soon as we got into town.
Grams: Everything is under control, Mindy, dear, but I can use your help on some last minute details.
Mindy: I , actually, thought about having Pacey drop me off over here on our way into town, but it’s so entertaining watching those two spar with each other.
Grams: I’m very happy for them. I wish my granddaughter could have been here tonight. She loved them both very much.
Mindy: And they are so happy, too. They were a lot of fun before the engagement, but now, it’s almost so sickly sweet I can’t stand to be around too much.(She grins. Joey enters and walks to Grams and hugs her.)
Joey: It’s so good to see you. And it’s so sweet of you and Jack to go to so much trouble for us.
Grams: Nonsense, my dear. If we weren’t doing this, we would be having a Halloween party. Which do you think I prefer?”
Joey: (laughs) I see what you mean. You don’t think............I mean, he’s not going to make this a combination engagement and Halloween party is he?
Grams: I think you’re safe. I made that one of the ground rules for my help. He can decorate outside all he wants but inside is strictly your party. I believe he’s planning on living up to his bargain.
Joey: Oh thank you. Our little group has been famous for it’s Halloween fiascos. I wasn’t looking forward to this being another of those.
(Scene: Living room of Jack’s house. Jack and Pacey stand near the door talking. Doug, Gretchen and Andie continue to talk near the fireplace in view of the dining room door. The door bell rings and Jack answers. He opens the door to see Bessie and Mike Potter along with B&B guest, Dawson.)
Jack: Alright. You made it! (He hugs Dawson and Bessie, shakes hands with Mike. Pacey greets them in kind.)
Pacey: Mike, good to see you. Joey will be glad you’re here. I think she’s in there with Grams.
Mike: Congratulations, Pacey. I talked to Joey on the phone and she couldn’t be happier. So, welcome to the family.
Bessie: Yeah, little brother.(grins) Before you go back to New York I have some work for you to do on my heater.
Pacey: (shock) You’re kidding......right?
Bessie: Of course, I’m kidding. (Kisses Pacey on the cheek) I always wanted a brother.(smiles and walks off to the dining room.)
Mike: Have you talked to Ray? Business is really good.
Pacey: Yeah, we spoke this afternoon. He’s already depending on you a lot it sounds like. I appreciate that, Mike.
Mike: I’m doing what I love doing, and for once I have a good reason to want to do a good job. Thank You, Pacey.
(Cut to Dawson and Jack talking with Gretchen, Doug and Andie.)
Gretchen: Jack was saying he wasn’t sure you could make it.
Dawson: I was already in Boston, but one meeting got cancelled and another postponed. Six months ago I would’ve been stuck with no way out, but I seem to have a little more clout now. I postpone my meeting too.(smiles)
Doug: Dawson Leery has arrived.(smiling)
Gretchen: So you just told the Hollwood big shots that you had a party to go to, and they could just rearrange their schedules?
Dawson: Yeah. That’s pretty much it.
Andie: So the important stuff. Tell us how the movie’s coming along.
Jack: And Sandra Bullock!!
Gretchen: Jack!! You’re gay, remember?(laughing)
Jack: Hey! It’s not every gay guy who has a friend dating movie stars.
Dawson: (laughing) It’s not what it looks like. She and I just attend things together that our PR guy sets up for us.
Doug: That’s it? Really?
Dawson: Yes, really. She’s a beautiful and very nice lady, but, we’re just...........friends. I guess we are. We’re friends.
Andie: (stealing a furtive glance with Gretchen) Well you’ve sure got all of those photographers fooled.
Dawson: They believe what they want to believe and what our publicity people want them to believe.
Jack: So, the movie?
Dawson: (shrugs and hesitates, then in a qualifying manner) It’s going really well. Shooting actually finished last Tuesday. We’ve probably got another few months in the studio, editing and sound work. Then it’s up to the marketing people and the studio. It could be 6 months. It could be 2 years.
Andie: A little more complex than Swamp Thing, I guess? (Andie notices Gretchen moving her head toward the dining room and she follows her there. They join the other ladies in conversation.)
Andie: Joey, congratulations. I don’t know how you did it, but it’s just great!
Gretchen:(laughing) I doubt it was that hard, Andie. Little brother’s head has been in the cloud over this girl for years.
Joey: Thanks, you guys. It means a lot to me.
Andie: I believe in being direct. Why don’t you want to tell anybody about the proposal?
Gretchen: ANDIE!!
Mindy: (laughing) She won’t tell anybody.
Joey: It’s not that, you guys. It’s special......private.
Andie: Joey, we all no that Pacey has been famous for all his life for making the grand gesture. This one had to be huge.
Mindy: Or did she ask him?
Joey: Mindy! I told you. I did not ask Pacey.
Andie: Okay, then confess. What happened? You were in Maine. We know that. On the beach? In front of the fireplace?
Joey: Alright! We were eating blueberry pancakes. ( they all look shocked)
Mindy: No he didn’t. You guys told me the pancake story and it had nothing to do with a proposal. (Joey gives her a dirty look)
Grams: (off handedly remarks while setting a dish on the table.) Then he must’ve done it in bed.
(They all turn to look at Joey quickly and quietly blushing)
(Cut to Jack and Pacey)
Pacey: So Jack, Joey was dead certain that this was going to be at least 50% Halloween party so you could get another shot at scaring the wits out of her.
Jack: (feigning innocence) Pacey, does that sound like something I would do? (Pacey opens his mouth to respond) Don’t answer that! It sounds exactly like something I would do.
Pacey: If you are, it’s okay. No one likes to scare Joey more than I do.(g)
Jack: Sorry, Pace. I promised Grams nothing goes on inside this house tonight that’s not official engagement party business.
(Dawson joins them)
Dawson: So guys, what am I missing?
Jack: Pacey thinks we probably set them up for a Halloween gag tonight. (Dawson grins)
Pacey: Now, I did not say that. I just asked and I didn’t include Dawson at all, but now that you mention it............
Dawson: What’s a Halloween prank without me, huh?
Pacey: Exactly.
Dawson: Well, if I had been here instead of tied up in Boston, you probably would’ve been right. As it is, I’m lucky to even be here. Sorry to disappoint. (Jack notices Grams motioning him over)
Jack: It looks like it’s probably time to eat. (Loudly) Everyone, have a seat. It’s time for dinner.
(Scene: Jack’s house at the dining room table.)
Jack: Everyone, welcome to our home. I’d like to thank Grams for all the hard work she’s put in to prepare our meal tonight. Where would we all be today without her.
Grams: Thank you, Jack. No thanks necessary though. You children have added long and fruitful years to my life, and I’m grateful to you all in return. Now, if you all don’t mind, I’ll say grace. I’m not sure I could deal with a repeat of the Christmas thanks given a few years ago. (Smiles)
Mike: Ms. Ryan, I’d appreciate it very much, if you’d allow me to say grace.(Grams nods almost imperceptibly and bows her head)
Mike: Dear Lord, we gather here tonight to give thanks and to celebrate the engagement of my beautiful Joey, and my boss. I’m thankful that she still loves me despite my failures. I’m thankful to him for believing in me when most people would not have. I’m thankful that you’ve allowed them to become so happy. I’m also thankful for my other daughter and my beautiful grandchild, and Bodie who makes them happy. I thank you for the wonderful friends who have filled their lives and even now work to fill mine as well. Thank you for Ms. Ryan and the food she has prepared for us. Amen.
(All say, Amen)
Jack: Family style everyone. Grab it before it’s all gone. (They begin filling their plates, and passing dishes around the table. Conversation is animated and lively as they eat. Finally, one at a time they begin to settle back from their plates, satisfied and happy. Joey rises.)
Joey: I noticed Grams making coffee. Can I get anyone a cup? (Grams begins to rise)
Gretchen: No, Ms. Ryan. You stay. Let me help.(Doug, Jack, Mike and Andie indicate they’ll take a cup and the ladies leave the room.)
Pacey: That was a wonderful meal, Ms. Ryan. It’s no wonder Jack doesn’t often eat at the Icehouse.
Mike: Absolutely. It was terrific.(all around the table the others mutter their assent.)
Doug: (standing) When the ladies come back, I’d like to make a toast to Pacey and Joey. Does everyone still have at least a little wine? (Jack stands and refills their glasses, even giving a small amount to Mindy. Joey and Gretchen return, serve the coffee and sit.)
Doug: From the day, my little brother told me about this girl he was crazy about, I saw him begin to change. A few weeks later he told me he kissed her and that she pushed him and shoved him. He was discouraged. I told him, if she didn’t have some feelings do you think she would’ve responded so strongly? Shortly thereafter, I was helping my Dad hunt for the two of them up and down the Massachusetts coast, unsuccessfully I might add, because they were on their way to Key West. It’s been an up and down relationship, but no one’s ever doubted their love for one another. To my brother, Pacey...........may you and the love of your life live in peace, joy and happiness always. ( He raises his glass and says cheers. Everyone says cheers and drinks. The conversation resumes around the table and the door bell rings.)
Jack: I wonder who that could be? Everyone’s here but Bodie.
Bessie: And he said he couldn’t make it until much later.
(Jack goes to answer the front door. He opens it and one of the boys who works at the Icehouse, Dennis Harper, is at the door.)
Jack: Hi, Dennis. What brings you around here?
Dennis: Hi, Mr. McPhee. Actually Mindy called and told me she was going to be here. Can I talk to her maybe?
Jack: Sure, I don’t see why not. We’re pretty much through eating anyway. Come on inside.
Dennis: No, thanks. If it’s all the same to you, I’ll wait here on the porch.
Jack: Okay, suit yourself. (Jack turns and calls) Mindy. The door’s for you.
(Mindy rises and walks to the front door. Jack stops her momentarily by the arm.)
Jack: Don’t worry, I won’t tell them he didn’t just happen by. ( Jack grins and Mindy blushes)
(Mindy goes outside and closes the door. Jack returns to the table.)
Jack: It’s Dennis Harper, from the Icehouse, Pacey..............for Mindy? Shouldn’t you go threaten him or something?
Pacey: Well, he is one of the good ones, and (turning to Joey) our little girl IS growing up.
Dawson: I would think you’d be happier with her growing up here than in New York.
Joey: That’s a good point, but we’re her family now........at least for now, and we’re in New York.
Dawson: So Pacey, we haven’t had a chance to talk. What’s the story on the Icehouse going to Boston? Are you really looking to expand again?
Pacey: It’s a little soon for me too. But we are doing well, and my financiers have always wanted to open shop in their own................
(All glance up as they hear a squeal of tires, followed by a crash. Doug and Jack quickly arise, but before they can cross the room, they hear a door slam and another squealing of tires. Pacey and Dawson stand also and all move toward the front door. As they go outside, they notice a car parked curbside has been smashed and pushed up almost far enough to block the driveway. Dawson’s car, the last car in the driveway has a punctured tire. Doug is on his cell phone immediately calling in a report.)
Dawson: What the........?
Pacey: Hit and run, I guess. Doug will have someone on it soon. But why puncture a tire?
Doug: I’ve called it in. There’s a couple of cars in the immediate area. Too bad we don’t know what kind of car. Maybe we can tell by paint marks, but it’s pretty dark. (Doug walks toward the back of the wrecked vehicle and stops.) Dawson!! Call 911.
Pacey: What is it, Doug?
Doug: It’s Dennis, Pace. He’s here. Get the flashlight out of my car.
Jack: What is it, Doug? Is he okay?
Doug: No, I don’t think so. It looks like his throat is cut.
Pace: Here’s the flashlight. What is it?
Doug: You guys need to back away. I think we have a crime scene here. Where’s Mindy?
Jack: Oh my gosh. Where IS Mindy?
Pacey: What the hell is going on here. MINDY!!
(Pacey and Jack start walking the edges of the property looking for Mindy and find traces of blood near the front of the wrecked vehicle.)
Jack: Doug, there’s blood here too. Oh my god, poor Mindy.
Doug: Okay, guys. I know you want to help but...........
Pacey: Doug, I’ve got to get this car out of the way. I’ve got to look for her.
( on the porch Joey and the ladies are all standing, trying to see what’s happening)
Joey: What’s going on, guys? Was it an accident?
Doug: Joey, please get these guys back up there. They can tell you all about it. Pace! Please, go back to the house. We’ll find her.
Dawson: Come on, Pace. We better do as he says.
(They reach the porch and they’re quickly surrounded by the questioning ladies.)
Pacey: There’s some kind of an accident. The wrecked car is blocking the drive. Dawson’s car has a tire punctured and apparently Doug found the Harper kid lying behind the car. Mindy’s nowhere to be found.
Joey: Where is she, Pacey?
Jack: We don’t know......there’s blood out by the front of the car though and did you guys see Dennis?
Dawson: Yeah, I did.
Pacey: I didn’t.What about him?
Jack: It looked like his throat was slit.
Joey: (as all the ladies gasp and start to murmur amongst themselves) Oh my God, Pace. You don’t think it’s her........
Dawson: There’s no way to know, Jo.
Pacey: I’ve got to get out of here. I’ve got to look for her.
Jack: Doug’s right, Pacey. Everything out there is a crime scene. If we mess it up we may mess up the very thing that will help us find her. And it’s been too long already. You don’t even know what kind of car you’re looking for.
Joey: They’re right Pacey. Come here, honey. (She takes him in her arms and hugs him) She’s going to be okay. I know she will.
Pacey: Where’s the police? What’s taking them so long?
Grams: Ladies, why don’t we go back inside. It’s chilly and there’s nothing we can really do.
Joey: I’m going to stay.
(Grams, Andie and Gretchen re-enter the house. A solitary police car arrives without lights or sirens. Doug can be seen speaking to the officer through the window of his car. He drives away.)
Pacey: What is he doing? What’s with our local police force?
Dawson: Now calm down, Pace. I’m sure it’s not as bad as it seems.
Pacey: (turning on Dawson) Mindy’s been kidnapped, maybe killed and you say it’s not as bad as it seems?
Joey: Pacey! Calm down. You’re not making things any better.
Pacey: I just feel so impotent.
Jack: I hear a siren...............sounds like it’s coming this way. Let’s go back out there. Just stay where we’ve already been and away from the cars.
(They begin to walk back out, this time Joey accompanies them.)
Pacey: Doug, what the hell’s going on? Where is everybody?
Doug: Relax, Pacey. We’ll find her.
Jack: Doug, is he..........?
Doug: Yeah, he’s dead.
Joey: (gasps) Oh..............(she turns and buries her face in Pacey’s chest.)
Dawson: The sirens are closer. They can’t be more than a few blocks.
Doug: That’s the ambulance. The sirens are different.
Pacey: Well, I guess he might as well turn the sirens off. I think I have the Harper’s phone number in my cell phone. I better call his family.
Doug: I’d wait, Pacey. The family doesn’t need to see him like this. We’ll call them after they take him.
Pacey: What could this be about, Doug? I’d lay odds this kid wasn’t into drugs.
Dawson: Maybe nothing Pacey. Just random.
Jack: I doubt it. The slashed tire, the accident......it looks planned to me.
Dawson: I’m like Pacey, then. Who in Capeside could do something like this?
(The sirens shriek louder and the hear squealing tires and see flashing lights as the ambulance turns the corner in the next block. It roars down the neighborhood at a quick but safe pace and slams to a stop in front of the house. The driver pulls forward in the street as the technicians jump out and backs in with the rear doors facing the driveway. Doug greets the EMT team as the four friends stand by and watch)
Pacey: I’m not without sympathy, but this does Mindy no good.
Joey: Stop it, Pace. You have to believe she’s going to be okay.
(As the EMT techs and Doug approach the body, the driver exits the driver’s door and opens the rear doors. A shout rings out from inside the vehicle.......... TRICK OR TREAT!!! Doug, Dawson, and Jack turn to Pacey and Joey and repeat, Trick or treat.)
Pacey: What the hell? What are you guys doing?
Joey: This isn’t funny. That poor boy...............(she stops as she sees Dennis Harper sit up and grin at them from his death bed.)
Pacey: You didn’t.( Just then from the Ambulance..........)
Audrey: How RUDE? Isn’t anyone going to say Hello?
Joey: Audrey? You guys, this is SO not funny.
Jack:(cracking up laughing) That was priceless.
(Audrey and Randy, along with Mindy exit the ambulance)
Mindy: You guys, I had NOTHING to do with this. They really did grab me off the streets and I had no idea who these people were until Audrey told me what they were doing.
Joey: Dawson, you did this, didn’t you. All the cars, and ambulances and blood..........oh, I hate you(shaking her head and trying not to smile.)
Pacey: (leaning back on the car’s fender) I’ve never been more scared in my life. (He walks toward Audrey..........) Are we even now? (Grinning as Audrey jumps to him and hugs him)
Audrey: Pacey, this is Randy. I like to call him the Anti-Pacey.(smiles)
Pacey: Ah, yes. So I've heard. (They shake hands) We should compare notes, my friend.
Joey: Well, at least something good is going to come of this. I can’t believe you guys. Jack, how could you?
Jack: Grams made us promise no Halloween inside the house (the tricksters all break into laughter. As we cut away we see Gretchen and Andie laughing. Grams simply shakes her head and goes in the house.) |
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| Great episode jim! Well it always is. MORE PLEASE!!! :D |
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| Wow great episode!! I have alot to catch up on!! But I loved it! :D |
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| Hey Jimi, when are you posting the next episode? Because I'm dying for more.... feedback jimi :) |
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| when is the next episode coming out? Your writing is phenomenal, and I am so ready for the next episode. Please, please, please! |
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