Dawson is unsure about whether to tell Joey about her father's drug dealing. Sheriff Witter stakes out the Icehouse, believing that Mr. Potter is back to his old tricks. When the gang is studying in the restaurant, one of Mr. Potter's unruly competitors sets it on fire with everyone still inside, increasing Dawson's anguish. Gail tells Mitch that she has been offered a new job in Philadelphia, and that she intends to accept it, with Mitch moving back into the Leery house to supervise Dawson. Pacey becomes depressed now that Andie is gone; his father mocks his pain, which results in a physical confrontation between them. As a result, Sheriff Witter comes to understand Andie's importance in Pacey's life and that he has been a bad father. Jack becomes worried that Jen is suicidal when she didn't immediately leave the burning Icehouse. Later, Grams and Jen reconcile, causing Jen to move back in; Jack joins them, as the McPhee residence has been sold. Dawson has already confronted Mr. Potter about backing out of the drug business; the arson convinces his parents that he should go to the police, but instead he goes to Joey. She aids the police in arresting her father, understanding it is the right thing to do, but afterwards tells Dawson she will never forgive him for his role in forcing her decision, bringing their romance to a second grinding halt.

Dawson returns from spending the summer in Philadelphia with his mother, and on the journey home meets a beautiful blonde girl, Eve (Brittany Daniel), who takes a liking to him. He hasn't spoken to Joey all summer. Jen gets an unexpected offer after she stands up to the school's popular crowd. Mitch becomes the new coach of the high school football team, and leaves for a coaching conference. Eve shows very clear interest in Dawson, and he takes her out on Mitch's motorboat with the intent of impressing her; it works, but during a moment of distraction (which is implied to have involved fellatio), he crashes the boat into the docks. Eve, it transpires, is a stripper, and Pacey, who is trying to distract himself while waiting for Andie's return, hatches a plan to host a house party with her co-workers at the Leery residence to raise repair money. Joey takes that moment to return to Dawson's life. She offers herself to Dawson, but he rejects her.

Dawson struggles with whether or not to tell Jen the truth about Eve, who has by now left town. Later, his mother returns to Capeside, but it isn't initially clear why. Jen is reluctant to plan a big homecoming event thrown by all the homecoming queens of Capeside High, but is persuaded to get involved by Henry who is friends with the host of the event. She repays him by asking him to be her date to the party, but later disappoints him when she rejects his advances. Dawson also attends the event as an escort for his mother, herself a former homecoming queen, and accidentally discovers that she is having career difficulties. Elsewhere, Andie calls Joey in a panic: she is at a party with Rob and claims he has pushed her too far. Joey and Pacey rescue her, and Andie and Pacey spend the night on Pacey's still-being-refurbished boat, True Love. However, in the morning, Andie is convinced they have gotten back together while Pacey feels no such thing, and politely but firmly sets her straight. Meanwhile, Rob tells Joey that he made no unwelcome advances. Andie accuses Joey of sabotaging her chances of a reunion with Pacey, all but admitting that she falsified the story of Rob's sexual assault, but the two girls end up bonding when Andie realizes Joey is not to blame.

In an effort to add excitement to a dull school project, Dawson decides to make a documentary, enlisting the help of Joey, Pacey and Jen. The group head to a small island near Capeside, rumoured to be haunted by the ghosts of thirteen girls killed in the 17th century after being accused of witchcraft. Joey finds similarities between her own life and that of one of the dead girls, which provokes some deep reflections on her strained relationship with Dawson. After some exploratory conversations, Jen and Pacey make the decision to become friends with benefits. Back at school, Andie gets a little too involved with her role as head of the school disciplinary committee. When Dawson screens his documentary for his class, Joey is forced to again question her opinions about love and happiness.

Dawson, Joey, Jack and Andie spend the weekend at a Boston university for an advance look at college life. Dawson enters his "Witch Island" documentary in a student film festival; it is derided as a The Blair Witch Project knockoff. Elsewhere on campus, "Joseph" Potter is assigned to English major and Teaching Assistant A.J. Moller (Robin Dunne); the two get off to a rough start, but smooth things over after bonding over childhood literature. Andie's pursuit for an advanced admissions interview leads her to some inspirational advice from an unlikely source, and Jack takes a risk and explores the local gay community. The weekend ends with the promise of three new romances: Joey gives A.J. her number; Jack bonds with a gay man, Ethan Brody (Adam Kaufman), who is returning to Capeside after a failed romance; and Dawson encounters another young filmmaker, Nikki Green (Bianca Lawson), who coincidentally turns out to be his principal's daughter.

Joey is chosen as one of only a handful of students selected to paint an inspirational mural on a school wall. At the unveiling, it is revealed that Joey's mural has been vandalized, and when Pacey identifies Matt Caulfield as the culprit, he takes vigilante action which lands him in trouble. As part of his punishment, Principal Green enrolls him in the Capeside mentoring scheme, and Pacey seems excited at the chance to help local kids; Caulfield is expelled after his alibi accidentally reveals that he is the only person (besides Joey) who actually knows what the mural looked like. Andie's PSAT scores come back and Principal Green reveals that she is one of the country's top scorers. Racked with guilt about her dishonesty over the test, Andie, against the advice of Jack, confesses the truth to Principal Green, who is deeply disappointed. Pacey's home life becomes over-crowded when his sister Carrie and her children come to stay. He decides to move in with Doug, who is less than pleased with the idea. Pacey and Joey bond further when Dawson inadvertently pushes Joey to see how much Pacey genuinely cares for her.

Jen and Henry go through a bumpy time when she is consumed with jealousy over his friendship with waitress Shelley (Sarah Lancaster) at Gail's restaurant. Dawson, Joey, Andie, Pacey and Will Krudski (Rodney Scott), a childhood friend of the gang who has remained close with Pacey (Will appears in two subsequent episodes as an introductory character for Young Americans, a backdoor pilot and spin-off for Dawson's Creek),^[59] head to the house of Dawson's Aunt Gwen (Julie Bowen) to spend their school holiday away from Capeside. The trip is filled with tension as Joey and Pacey attempt to fight their feelings. Andie and Will appear to have a connection, and Dawson tries to bond again with Joey, who is preoccupied by her feelings for Pacey. Encouraged by Dawson's aunt, the friends have a karaoke contest. Pacey kisses Joey again and informs her that she must make the next move. At the end of the episode, Joey initiates a kiss with Pacey.

The day Pacey and Joey's relationship goes public is played out four times, each time revealing a little more of what happened, a structure inspired by the film Go. Each repetition stars a different character:

• As Pacey christens True Love, he promises Joey that he will tell Dawson the truth about their burgeoning relationship. He encounters Andie and Will at the library, where Will asks advice on asking Andie out on a date. As Pacey goes up the steps to Dawson's house, Joey intercepts him to stop him, and the two get into an argument until Dawson hears them and emerges with questions.
• As Joey hesitates over what to tell Dawson, she admits the entire affair to Jen. She thinks twice when Andie admits Will has asked her out, but Andie cannot agree due to her rekindled feelings for Pacey. Dawson asks Joey to join her for a movie night; she finds him watching The Last Picture Show, the film he and Joey watched on their first date, concerning unrequited love tearing apart three friends. Unnerved by Dawson's oblivious commentary, she intercepts Pacey outside Dawson's house, and the two get into an argument until Dawson hears them and emerges with questions. Dawson reveals that he already knows what they're about to tell him.
• As Dawson hands Pacey a bottle of champagne with which to christen his boat, he fails to notice the tension between Pacey and Joey. At the library, Will asks for advice on staging first dates. He goes to talk to Jen, and she drops the bombshell about Pacey and Joey's secret relationship -- believing, incorrectly, that Dawson has already learned of the situation and needs a shoulder to cry on. He returns home and Joey drops in as he watches The Last Picture Show, and his description of the film -- which Joey perceived as oblivious commentary -- is revealed to be pointed derision. When Joey and Pacey get into an argument, Dawson emerges and castigates them for their betrayal.
• As Jen hangs out with Henry, Dawson interrupts and she accidentally reveals the situation. Henry seems oblivious to the emotional turmoil she has caused, and they fight. Meanwhile, Will and Andie have their first date, but it ends when they stumble upon the argument outside Dawson's house. Andie upbraids Pacey for falling for Joey, who she claims is unavailable due to her allegiance to Dawson.

As the looping perspectives end, Dawson gives Joey an ultimatum: if she continues her relationship with Pacey, she will be subsequently ending their friendship. Joey is brokenhearted at losing one of them, but reluctantly ends things with Pacey.

While Andie is recovering from her near-fatal overdose at the party, Jack blames Jen for the whole incident and refuses to talk to her. Jen blames Drue for her life falling apart when he turns Grams and the whole town against her by telling everyone that they intentionally gave Andie the drugs. After Andie comes home from the hospital, her father offers her the chance to spend the rest of the school year in Italy with a relative, telling her that she has more than enough credits to graduate. Andie decides to go and plans a goodbye dinner with the whole gang. She tells them how important life is and not to waste valuable time with useless bickering. Jack and Jen get things straight and Andie tricks Dawson and Pacey into playing nice with each other, resulting in the last photograph of the six main characters together as friends.

The population of Capeside High (minus Andie) arrive to find that this year's senior prank involves a sailboat belonging to Principal Peskin (Harry Shearer) in the school swimming pool with the words 'Class of 2001' emblazoned on the sail in white paint. On board the boat is his dog, Chester, who was kidnapped the previous day. Dawson, Pacey and Jack are prime suspects: Pacey is the only senior with access to the boatyard whence Peskin's boat was stolen, Dawson has keyholder access to the school through access to his father's keyring, and a nervous Jack attracts attention from Chester, as well as admitting to buying white paint. However, their alibis are airtight: Jack, after meeting Drue by the hardware store, was teaching a soccer game (from which he got fired, after he puts a girl in as goalie over the objections of several helicopter dads); Dawson, after Drue drops off some keys he had accidentally lost, spent the afternoon cleaning Mr. Brooks' house and bonding with him after learning that Mr. Brooks is an established film director; and Pacey spent the day on a ride-along with Doug, during which he helped Drue investigate a call of trespassing at the boatyard. Peskin concludes that Drue organized the prank; Drue is suspended without appeal, and Mitch tells Joey to congratulate "the boys." When she does so, Dawson reveals that, hypothetically, he, Pacey and Jack could have indeed orchestrated the prank and pinned it on Drue; he later works with Pacey to bury the evidence.

Dawson has discovered that Mr. Brooks was a former movie director, and waxes rhapsodic over the chemistry between the lead actors in Brooks' final film, Turn Away, My Sweet; he turns to the older man for advice in writing a college application essay to USC film school. Joey takes Pacey to a dinner hosted by (the fictional) Worthington College, an Ivy League institution she has applied to, hoping to impress the alumni rep Walter Kubelik (Peter Jurasik). This prevents her from attending the Leery Christmas party, which Gail and Mitch were not going to throw until Gretchen convinces them she can organize it single-handedly. Jack learns that Jen has yet to submit a single college application. He collaborates with Grams, who hasn't spoken to her since Andie was hospitalized, and at the Christmas party Jen learns that the two have filed applications on her behalf. Joey is perturbed by how well Pacey fits in with the college crowd, and almost has a breakdown before realizing that Pacey is schmoozing on her behalf. Mr. Brooks, attending the Leery Christmas party, admits he left moviemaking after the leads in Turn Away, My Sweet -- his best friend and his girlfriend -- fell in love under his nose. He then finds Dawson and Gretchen under the mistletoe and encourages them to kiss; Joey and Pacey walk in just as Dawson does so.

Joey can't find a moment alone to study or deal with her feelings concerning Dawson kissing Gretchen. Dawson's collaboration with Brooks -- a documentary of the director's life -- begins, rejuvenating his filmmaking spirit. Jen takes Jack to a "Gay-Straight Teen Coalition" meeting, but she seems to fit in with the crowd more than Jack does: Jack is uncomfortable being reduced merely to a stereotype. This results in conflict with the coalition's leader, Tobey (David Monahan), who seems intent on doing just that -- though the stereotype of Jack's he's most wary of is "jock." Finally, Dawson approaches Gretchen about their kiss during the party, and is disappointed when Gretchen dismisses as merely the spirit of the moment.

Dawson, who is finally hanging out with Pacey again, admits that he is crushing on Gretchen. Pacey hates the idea, so when he and Gretchen go on a road trip to college to retrieve her car from her ex-boyfriend Nick (Christian Kane), Pacey tries to get them back together. However, he soon sees Nick is not nearly as good a guy as Pacey thought; Nick, attempting to seduce Gretchen for one last tryst, posits that Gretchen can't resist him because he's the jar of cookies she's been forbidden to sample. Gretchen admits that the girl she was did indeed feel that way about him... but that she is no longer that girl. Back in Capeside, Joey has her fair share of problems when she gets locked in the Yacht Club's basement storage room with Drue, who has been given bus tickets and ordered to see his father in order to secure child support payments; they are freed when Drue's mobile phone goes off, but Joey inadvertently learns Drue orchestrated the "accident" to avoid seeing his father. Dawson observes the affection growing between Brooks and Grams and fears that Grams will get hurt when she finds out that Brooks is terminally ill; Grams, who has been a nurse for decades, points out that she knows already, and made her decisions with his condition in mind. When asked what he plans to do about Gretchen, Dawson claims that the eponymous "tao of Dawson" is to do nothing; but dual influences from Jack and Mr. Brooks convince him to go for it. Gretchen, returning with her car, new perspective, and Pacey's approval, reciprocates, and the two kiss.

Joey decides to help Pacey's mother (Jane Lynch) throw a surprise 18th birthday party for Pacey, not knowing about Pacey's self-professed 'birthday curse'. The party goes downhill fast as Pacey's family humiliates him; his father declares he's not college material, and Pacey is forced to admit that he has received no college acceptances whatsoever. Dawson becomes upset when he feels that Gretchen doesn't want anyone to know about their new relationship and postpones their first real date to go to the party. Pacey and Joey again walk in on Dawson and Gretchen kissing, this time more passionately, and Gretchen admits that she feels the need to hold back in case she leaves; Dawson convinces her to live in the moment. Jen, doing community service, correctly suspects that Toby might be harboring romantic feelings for Jack. Pacey's father apologizes to him, explaining that (he is doing a distinctly bad job of trying to warn him that) Pacey would feel stifled in a university setting, and should feel free to make his own way in the world.

The senior trip is coming up and Joey needs to get the time off from work; Mrs. Valentine agrees to the trade, but requires that Joey and Pacey double-date with Drue and Anna Evans (Sabine Singh), a girl (whose family Mrs. Valentine orders that) Drue wants to impress. This is difficult, as Drue is his typical self-centered, dishonest self, to the point that he cannot admit he does in fact like the girl; Joey and Pacey help the two sort out their feelings. Dawson has his own problems when he and Gretchen go out with her friends from college and he is confronted with their age gap. Jack gets some positive attention from Toby, who encourages him to volunteer at the library teaching kids to read in lieu of coaching youth soccer; however, this is intended as a segue to Toby's romantic intentions, which Jack declines. Pacey and Joey, prompted by the fact that Drue and Anna have already slept together, confront the topic of their own (non-existent) sex life; Joey admits that fear is holding her back. Finally, Dawson and Grams learn that Mr. Brooks has been refusing his pancreatic cancer medications, preferring to go out on his own terms; Dawson, the next morning, finds him passed out on the floor.

With Mr. Brooks in critical condition, Dawson remains in Capeside, skipping the senior ski trip. Joey and Pacey are confronted with their celibacy by Drue and Anna, who are still together. Jack and Jen are forced to revise their plans when Jen sprains her ankle; she breaks into the mini-bar and the two get drunk. They share their fears of being alone, and begin to kiss, only for Jen to pull back. Dawson is approached by Mr. Brooks' doctor (Tony Hale), who reveals that Dawson has been granted power of attorney over his fate, leaving Dawson to struggle with what to do; even a visit from Brooks' erstwhile best friend Andrew Lieven (guest star Andy Griffith), who starred in Turn Away, My Sweet before eloping with Brooks' then-girlfriend Evelyn, does not provide him guidance. In the end, Dawson decides to let Mr. Brooks go, screening one of his pictures to his parents, Grams and Gretchen as a tribute. Pacey bares his troubles to Anna, but immediately turns her down when she propositions him; Joey, seeing this, consummates her relationship with Pacey.

The episode deals with four different vignettes.

• "About Last Night": Pacey and Joey talk discuss their feelings the morning after they had sex (in private -- Drue tricked the bus into leaving without them), and Joey convinces Pacey that, though his performance was not perfect, she will always look fondly on her chance to have her first time with a man she loves. (She also, she admits, can't wait to do it again.)
• "The Big Picture": Dawson, with the help of Gretchen and Grams, struggles with the death of Mr. Brooks, particularly the nihilistic realization that only five people came to his funeral -- and that, had Dawson not "borrowed" his boat the previous fall, none of those five would have been present. He is surprised to discover he has been named in Mr. Brooks' will, becoming the beneficiary of a sum of money sufficient to pay for college tuition.
• "Excess Baggage": As punishment for breaking into the mini-bar, Mr. Kasdan decides to send Jen to a psychologist, Dr. Tom Frost (Rob Nagle), where she can discuss her issues. Despite initial frostiness, she decides to take advantage of the opportunity and begins to discuss her feelings of parental abandonment, unhealthy relationship with drugs and alcohol, and the fact that she's fallen in love with a gay man who can never fully return her affections -- all part, or so Dr. Frost claims, of her coping mechanisms.
• "Seems Like Old Times": Joey and Dawson happen to run into each other, and they spend an evening catching up on the past weekend and its many happenings. Dawson asks if Joey retains her virginity, and Joey -- who, when she and Pacey returned from their summer on True Love, admitted that she could never lie to Dawson about this topic -- claims that she does.

Absent: Meredith Monroe

Secrets spiral out of control as Pacey begs Gretchen to find somewhere to overnight, so that he and Joey can have the place to themselves. As it turns out, the Leerys will be out of town, and Gretchen makes herself comfortable with Dawson; but, as they discuss the overnight supplies she brought, she learns that Joey lied about her virginity and excuses herself. She confronts Joey and advises her to come clean. Meanwhile, Jen confronts her trust issues... a discovery she makes about herself when she finds herself enlisting Jack to help her stalk Dr. Frost, whom she knows nothing about.

Joey and Dawson are independently called to the principal's office to receive news. Dawson learns that he has been rejected by the NYU film school. Joey learns she has been accepted by Worthington, and Bessie throws a celebratory barbecue over the first Potter to be accepted by an institute of higher learning; however, Joey's elation collapses when she discovers that she has failed to secure the necessary scholarships and cannot afford tuition, and is crushed further when Dawson learns he's been accepted to USC. Jen and Jack begin discussing what university they would like to attend together; Jack is set on something in New York City, but Jen rejects the idea of returning home. At the best of Dr. Frost, she begins trying to remember the last argument she had with her father, which she believes is the source of her alienation. Dawson resolves Joey's concerns by offering her a portion of the money Mr. Brooks left him, and apologizes for prying into Joey's sex life; she then confesses the truth. Dawson, after digesting this, declares that their friendship is too important to abandon, and gives her the money. The only person unsatisfied is Pacey, who agrees with Dawson that Joey is bound for greater things... and is concerned that those greater things will require her to leave him behind.

As Senior Ditch Day arrives, Joey is excited to find herself accompanying Jen on an excursion to NYC under the guise of attending a college meeting. It isn't long before Joey sees that they are there for an entirely different reason: Jen is here to confront her father Theodore (Don McManus). She reveals the source of her trauma: witnessing him in bed with a girl his daughter's age. Having confronted this event and its effects on her life, she ends her sessions with Dr. Frost. Meanwhile, Gretchen and Dawson take off on a road trip, but develop a flat tire and cannot pay the nearest mechanic (Pat Hingle) for its repair. They spend the night on the beach, and tell each other they love each other, but hold back from consummating their relationship as Gretchen sees Dawson is trying to prove something rather than making a genuine expression. Back in Capeside, Drue tries to bond with Pacey over being the only seniors in school (which isn't true, as Pacey is technically repeating junior year). Drue sneaks them into a bar with fake IDs, but they are arrested for public drunkenness. Doug comes to fish them out, and Pacey lashes out at him for his censure, pointing out that if he is not allowed to enjoy what little of life remains to him -- specifically, public drunkenness -- he will have nothing left.

As Gail's delivery date approaches, the women in her life throw a baby shower for her. Specifically, the women suggest names, as the Leerys have not settled on one. The story of the afternoon comes from Bessie, who describes her mother Lillian's 32-hour labor with Joey concluding after she called her name and begged her to enter the world. All of this is deeply discomfiting to Joey, who cannot reach Pacey (Doug has spread the lie that the two are fishing, but Gretchen confesses they are camping somewhere as Doug tries to help Pacey through his frustrations) with news: her period is late. Gretchen offers her support, but it's Bessie who ultimately comes up with the pregnancy test, which turns out negative. Dawson confronts the possibility of his relationship with Gretchen ending: the latter has gotten a job offer that requires her to move to Boston, and he's going to USC in southern California. Meanwhile, Jack bonds with Tobey after the latter is gay bashed, encouraging him to report the crime to law enforcement despite his shame. Finally, Gail -- after numerous false starts -- gives birth; the overnight delivery is resolved when she calls the baby's name, "Lillian," and begs her to enter the world.

Senior Prom causes every relationship to implode. Pacey has returned, but Joey is concerned about his lack of interest in anything remotely sexual (she did not tell him about the pregnancy scare). Jen lies to Tobey that Jack wants to ask him to prom but is too shy, leading Tobey to call Jack with a spontaneous Yes; Jack thanks her, but warns that turnabout is fair play, and Drue arrives to make the same speech to Jen. Pacey sets out to make Joey's prom special, but does poorly with both corsage and limousine arrangements. As prom arrives and the four couples (Dawson and Gretchen, Joey and Pacey, Jen and Drue, Jack and Tobey) depart from the Leery home, Drue learns that Jen has secreted numerous miniatures in her purse; as prom progresses, it becomes clear that she is having enormous trouble confronting the idea of returning to New York, and Drue must save her from falling into the ocean in a drunken stupor. Confronted, Jack admits that his claims of platonic feelings towards Tobey were a lie; while his own closeted nature clashed with Tobey's confident outness, Jack has come to appreciate it, and the two kiss. Gretchen, who can legally buy alcohol, feels utterly out of place at a high-school prom, and breaks up with Dawson, realizing she needs to move on with her life. Finally, Pacey confronts Joey about his failures with the corsage and limousine, and how Joey has been utterly patient and uncritical; he admits that he needs her to be critical, needs her to expect more of him, and that he cannot continue to feel like a charity project. The night ends with the four couples heading home in the tawdry limousine, eschewing the afterparty to work on their own issues.

The school year draws to a close, and changes are abound for the class of 2001. While Joey and Dawson deal with their respective break-ups, Jen learns that Grams is selling her house to put Jen through college and planning to move to a poorly-run retirement community. Dawson learns that Gretchen plans to return to school after a brief summer road trip. He offers to come with her so that he can face the rest of his life with no regrets, and she agrees. Mr. Kubelik, the alumni rep from Worthington, asks Joey to bring Pacey with her to a party for incoming freshman, as he and the dean of admissions have an offer for Pacey. The erstwhile couple's hopes that they might be able to have a future together after all are dashed when Pacey learns that Kubelik merely wants to offer him a job as a deckhand on his yacht for the summer. Jen asks Grams to move to Boston with her and Jack, and Grams agrees. Dawson realizes that he is going to miss a great deal of Lilly's youth as he goes off to college, and arrives at Pacey and Gretchen's house to find that she has departed without him, leaving only his yearbook, in which she exhorts him to live the life already before him, and promises that she loves him.

Accepted early to USC, Dawson finds his last night in Capeside has arrived much sooner than everyone had originally anticipated. While Dawson looks forward to spending the evening with Joey, Jack and Jen, Mitch has other ideas: he wants to buy Dawson a Pentium III laptop, despite Dawson's preference for Macs, and help him set it up, hoping to savor the last night of his son's youth. Meanwhile, Dawson is not the only goodbye Jen has to deal with, as she and Grams bid farewell to the house they've lived in for the past four seasons. Pacey, somewhere in the Caribbean, borrows a crewmate's feature phone to make one phone call home: to Dawson, the only person he regrets not saying goodbye to; Dawson tells Pacey how proud he is of his best friend. Finally, Joey attempts to say goodbye to Dawson, but in the process ends up telling him that she wants him to stay. The two of them share a goodbye kiss.

Jen helps Dawson go to the grief counselor (Pauley Perrette) he ran away from the week before. Dawson finds the idea of sharing his thoughts with a complete stranger uncomfortable, but he is surprised with how much he learns from it. Back in Capeside, Dawson and Gail run into problems handling Mitch's will: he never signed an updated version that includes Lily. Meanwhile, Joey helps Professor Wilder's hand-picked team sift through Rose Lazare's letters; they are frank and detailed, leading to the hypothesis that Lazar had a secret lesbian lover. Joey, with the help of Audrey's audition tape for a (fictional) season of The Real World set in Ibiza, realizes that the letters were Lazare's diary entries, writing to herself. Pacey confronts Karen about the risks she is taking by having an affair with Danny; his point is underlined when Danny's wife Elizabeth shows up unannounced at a party hosted by the restaurant and Danny must abandon Karen to keep up appearances.

After watching scary movies, Joey, Pacey and Jack talk about their creepiest experiences and urban legends.

• Joey shares her story of how she was almost attacked by the librarian on Halloween and saved by the creepy man she was running from.
• Jack describes helping to clean the frat house basement and finding a pledge gagged and bound in a closet in what is believed to be a hazing ritual; however, the pledge is implied to be the ghost of a closeted gay man who committed suicide in the 60s.
• Pacey reveals that he was chased by a black car while giving Karen a ride home; after some dodging and driving, they manage to run it off the road, but discover that there was nobody driving the car.
• The fourth story is delivered by Grams, who tells the second-hand tale of a time when Jen, working late at the radio station, managed to accidentally lock herself out.

Absent: James Van Der Beek

Joey, Audrey and Pacey go out to celebrate at a nightclub: Pacey has been promoted to chef, Audrey has been hired as a waitress at Civilization (primarily on her ability to banter with Pacey, which Danny explicitly cites as a selling point), and Joey has achieved a perfect GPA for her first semester at Worthington. Charlie's band is playing, and Charlie hits on Joey, though he gives up when Joey confirms that she knows who he is and what he did to Jen. Audrey tries to convince Joey to have some real fun. This culminates in Joey taking the stage to sing "I Want You To Want Me," and planting a spontaneous kiss on Charlie backstage. Dawson and Jen go back to Capeside to visit Gail and Lilly, where they have their first fight over what Dawson will do with his life. Gail formally releases him from his responsibilities to the Leery household, and all three agree that Dawson should move to Boston, enroll in the Visual Arts College, and live with Jen and Grams.

Directing Oliver's movie is not an easy task. Audrey, playing opposite Oliver, has problems with the star's kissing skills, and Dawson discovers that Oliver is a deficient thespian, leading to a re-casting of Charlie in the role. This puts the film under additional pressure: the final scene must be shot by the end of the day, as the lights are only rented for that long, and Dawson wants to change it as he feels it lacking. Audrey, practicing lines with Pacey, kisses him in a moment of passion; later, she locks herself in the bathroom out of guilt for making a move on her roommate's ex, but Joey, called in by Dawson, gives the two of them her blessing. Joey was called away from Professor Wilder's house, where she has made the decision to quit his writing seminar, thereby allowing them to date. Meanwhile, Jack and Eric bond over the former's coming-out experience, and Eric's body language suggests a regard deeper than friendship; however, Eric then goes to the fraternity's leadership and claims that Jack kissed him without consent. Jack, seeing that he has been pre-judged, quits the fraternity, stopping only to wish Eric clarity and greater self-acceptance. Dawson and Audrey improvise a successful ending in one long take, and Joey heads back to Professor Wilder's house through a snowy, late-night Boston.

Joey, the only member of the starring cast to appear in the episode, stops at an ATM at the eponymous Downtown Crossing shopping district. There, she is held up at gunpoint by a drug dealer and petty criminal (Sam Ball), who demands her mobile phone and drains her bank account; he explains that he needs to get back into the good graces of his estranged wife (who kicked him out for being a drug dealer and petty criminal), asks Joey for advice on how to do so, and demands her coat for use as a gift. As he crosses the street, waving farewell, he is struck by a moving car. Joey retrieves her possessions and, despite the criminal's protests, calls an ambulance; she feels a strange kinship with the man, who -- like her own father Mike -- is a father who turned to blue-collar crime. At the hospital, she takes custody of an abandoned girl, Sammy (Olivia Milo Pence), who was called to the hospital with her mother Grace (Mercedes McNab) because her father is sick. Grace and Joey bond over their turmoils until Grace realizes, to her shame, that her husband is Joey's assailant; wishing her husband good riddance, she packs up and leaves, despite Joey's suggestion that Sammy and her father be given a chance to say goodbye. Finally, she is called in to the mugger's recovery room. He attempts to explain that he is held hostage to his nature, but eventually asks if Joey still loves her father despite all the ways he disappointed her. Joey admits that she does, and the mugger, with peace of mind, succumbs to his injuries. Outside, Joey again runs into Grace and Sammy; she lies to Sammy that her father pushed Joey out of the way of an oncoming vehicle, protecting the memory of their fathers.

Charlie's band lands a deal for a tour. He asks Joey to go with him, but she doesn't want to leave college in the middle of the semester. Charlie then decides to quit the band and stay with her; Joey begins to panic, as she feels like the relationship is moving too fast. She breaks up with him so he can go with his band on tour. Meanwhile, Oliver and Dawson finally get to NY to meet with an agent (Jack Plotnik), but Oliver ruins the meeting with his awkwardness. Dawson smooths it over by remaining behind to beg for another chance. Pacey meets the nasty new manager of Civilization, Alex Pearl (Sherilyn Fenn), who has bought the restaurant from Danny. She promotes Pacey to head chef but fires Audrey. Pacey tries to get Audrey her job back, but all he gets is a kiss from Alex.

Dawson, at the theatre to watch a movie for class, runs into Amy Lloyd, who is fleeing a disastrous date. The two end up having a one-night stand, with Amy declaring she makes judgments about impulsive sexual liaisons partially based on her date's shoes. He admits that he still harbors feelings for Joey. Dawson is stung by Amy's review of his and Oliver's picture, which she called "at times imitative, derivative, and full of unexplored potential," but Amy gives him a copy of a film which she describes the same way: Woody Allen's directorial debut, What's Up, Tiger Lily? Jack attempts to cram an entire semester's worth of advanced calculus into his head in preparation for finals, resorting to a visit back to the frat house to ask for help and/or notes; his ex-brothers turn him down, but Eric smuggles the notes out of the house and lends a hand. Audrey is offered her job back, but suspects romantic tension between Alex and Pacey, and rejects the offer; later, she drops by at Pacey's apartment and discovers him talking with Alex about their kiss. She storms out in anger, leaving the future of their relationship unknown while Pacey struggles with the growing attraction he feels for Alex. All of these people continually intrude on Joey, who is in the Worthington library attempting to study. Dawson arrives the next morning to find her asleep in an armchair. She vents about the constant interruptions preventing her from living her dream... but all Dawson wants to know is whether Joey likes his shoes.

Joey is astonished to learn that Audrey dumped Pacey, and Audrey castigates her for being an absent friend. Performing with Hell's Belles, she gets drunk, despite Eddie's too-little-too-late refusal to serve her more alcohol, and, during an enthusiastic performance of "One Way or Another," trashes the bar. This is an embarrassment to not only Joey but Jen, who had invited C.J. out in an attempt to romance him. C.J., watching Audrey's antics, speculates a deeper depression, and admits that his own experience with alcoholism is why he now refuses to date anymore. Jen, masking her hurt, accepts his rejection... but after she leaves, he crosses the street to sit with Audrey and try to console her. David, who is also at the performance, is left high and dry: Jack invited him on a date, but instead went to a book signing hosted by Professor Freeman, who will be leaving at the end of the semester; Freeman admits that he and his wife have separated, implying that Jack's encouragement of his leaving the closet has had its effect. Finally, Rich Rinaldi invites everyone who passed the Series 7 Exam, including Pacey, to New Orleans to celebrate; there, Pacey hits it off with a beautiful woman, but is shocked to discover she is a call girl whom Rich hired to jolly Pacey out of his post-breakup blues. Pacey is furious and verbally attacks Rich, who proclaims he's just trying to be a friend. Eddie, who earlier criticized Joey for her choices in supporting Audrey, apologizes, and the two agree to go on a real date.

Courtesy of Todd, Dawson gives Jen 10 tickets to a No Doubt concert, reserving the last two, and the backstage passes, for himself and Natasha. Almost everyone brings a date:

• Dawson discovers that his tickets and backstage passes are actually for tomorrow. He, Natasha and Natasha's cleavage attempt to charm their way in, but are ultimately arrested and must be bailed out by Todd. Despite this, Dawson admits to having enjoyed the evening.
• Joey brings Eddie, but discovers she has accidentally left the tickets in her dorm room, an hour's drive away. Eddie also attempts to charm his way backstage -- more successfully, as it turns out that his father works at the arena.
• Jen brings C.J., leading to awkwardness between him and Audrey: she never called him back after their one-night stand. C.J., who is now pursuing Audrey in earnest, inadvertently admits the entire thing to Jen, who criticizes him for attempting to swoop in on her depressed and vulnerable friend.
• When Pacey finds out, he starts a physical scuffle with C.J. His platonic date is Emma, who confronts him over his lingering feelings for Audrey.
• Jack brings David. As the evening breaks up, Jack drives Jen home for moral support and David volunteers to help Audrey; the two bond over how unsuccessful their attempts at dating are: each of them are about to go home with a different girl.

Famed movie star Max Winter (Eddie Cahill) arrives on the set of Wicked Dead to shoot his scenes; Todd is excited for the potential hype around the feature, and Natasha eagerly sequesters herself to rehearse with him. As shooting progresses, she lies to Max that she has no current romantic involvements -- which both Dawson and Todd overhear. Dawson resolves to confront her about it -- especially after catching her in a lie when she claims to have retired after shooting but is actually seen (by Dawson himself) smooching Max outside her hotel room -- but ends up taking Todd's advice and letting it lie. Meanwhile, Joey is trying to cram for Professor Hetson's final at Hell's Kitchen. Eddie offers her the use of his (significantly quieter) studio apartment. She falls asleep, and Eddie gallantly beds down on the floor, and wakes her up at the crack of dawn. Joey admits that she is trying to find a reason not to consummate the relationship, and confesses that she can't find one; the two spend a morning of carnal bliss... only to discover that it's now 11:00am in the morning and Joey is two hours late for her final. She appeals to Hetson for a second chance, but he denies her and outright flunks her; however, things boil over when Heston visits Hell's Kitchen that evening for a meal, and openly taunts both her and Eddie, leading to the latter getting so angry that he punches Heston in full view of witnesses. Eddie is fired for this assault, but Joey thanks him for his behavior saying that Heston deserved it and takes Eddie to a local ice skating rink. Finally, Pacey invites Emma as his date to an office holiday party. He buys her a $300 little black dress, but is astonished when she modifies it to her punk fashion sense (her typical garb involves a lot of safety pins). She and Rich butt heads almost immediately; in the bathroom, Emma learns that the entire party involves a contest, in which Rich will decide whose date is the most attractive and that employee will win $1,000. Emma leaves, frustrated and disappointed, and Pacey apologizes for not telling her the whole story... but not for inviting her, as he legitimately believes her the most attractive woman he knows. The two begin to kiss, interrupted only by Jack (Kerr Smith's only on-screen appearance in the episode), who plops on the sofa between them and turns on the television.

Dawson and Gail invite everyone back to Capeside for Christmas; everyone from Boston attends, with the exception of Jack who is vacationing in Europe with Andie and their father. Pacey arrives with expensive presents, leading Doug to suspect his job is not strictly legal. Natasha attempts to seduce Dawson in his bedroom, but Dawson takes the opportunity to ask about her flirtation with Max Winter, and she admits she slept with him. Joey invites Eddie, but the latter -- who dropped out of college and is currently between jobs -- is flustered by gentle questioning from Mike Potter, who has also come home having been finally released from prison. At the Christmas dinner, a drunk Todd and an even drunker Audrey take a moment to begin airing the group's dirty laundry: Jen's frustration that C.J. is more interested in Audrey than her; Pacey and Dawson's unresolved frustrations over their rivalry over Joey; Dawson and Joey's unresolved frustrations over dating for less than 24 hours; Audrey's own frustration that nobody has noticed her increasing depression and alcoholism. She excuses herself, steals Pacey's new Mercedes, and drives it into the Leerys' living room. Pacey begs Doug to blame the incident on him; Doug, despite his misgivings over letting Audrey's threat to public safety remain unacknowledged, complies. Natasha realizes that Dawson is beginning to take their relationship, which she believed was centered solely around casual sex, seriously, and breaks up with him; Eddie also separates himself from Joey, feeling outclassed. The two are left to mend their fractured relationship.

On a Monday in January, Todd congratulates his cast and crew for completing principal photography on Wicked Dead. The episode takes place over the next four days.

• Tuesday: Todd is confronted by the studio's demands for re-shoots and, despite Dawson's counsel of patience, refuses. Joey, who has not heard from Eddie since Christmas, finds Harley at Hell's Kitchen; she is now living with Hetson due to her divorced mother's work priorities, and has cut classes. Pacey, lunching at a public aquarium near his work, runs into Emma. Jen begins training as a peer counselor under C.J. Jack and David go to get tested for STDs.
• Wednesday: Joey lets Hetson knows about his daughter's delinquency, and he reacts defensively. Dawson arranges a meeting with the studio executives to apologize for Todd's walkout, but inadvertently finds himself hired as director for the reshoots.
• Thursday: Dawson picks up Audrey, who has been partying her life away with her friend Jack Osbourne, from a beach in Malibu. Joey, again escorting Harley, stakes out Eddie's apartment; slipping in, she finds it abandoned: he has left town. Pacey admits his misgivings about his job to Emma, who challenges him to quit his job and watch the daily fish feeding with her.
• Friday: Hetson apologizes to Joey for his earlier hostility and hires her as Harley's babysitter and tutor. Pacey chooses his job, to Emma's disappointment. Jack and David are cleared of STDs and go off to explore the physical side of their relationship. Jen finds success answering her first counseling call. Dawson tracks down Todd and apologizes for stealing his job, but Todd bequeaths it to him officially.

Audrey returns to Boston and begs her friends for a second chance. Likewise, she is able to secure another shot at Hell's Belles, who have a major gig that week; but she relapses almost immediately, getting drunk before the show starts and eventually passing out on stage. Emma then throws Audrey out of the band. Pacey is invited to an exclusive party hosted by Roger Stepavich (Ray Wise) the founder and owner of a top pharmaceutical company called Stepatech Industries where Rich promotes Pasey to be exclusively in charge of the stock brokerage's Stepatech accounts. However, Pacey is tipped off by a mysterious and beautiful woman (Sarah Shahi) that his promotion may presage some sort of fraud. Joey is assigned to clean out Eddie's locker at Hell's Kitchen; it contains a manuscript of short stories, including his parents home address and phone number in Worcester; Harley takes matters into her own hands and engineers a confrontation by lying to Eddie that Joey is pregnant. Eddie refuses a reconciliation, believing his life is going nowhere. To prove him wrong, Joey gives the manuscript to Hetson, who allows that they show promise and attempts to arrange for Eddie to get into a writers' workshop in California. Joey convinces Eddie to take a chance on life instead of hiding at his parents' house. She returns to her dorm room to find Audrey passed out from severe alcohol intoxication; the episode ends as she dials the phone for help.

In Los Angeles, while directing re-shoots on "Wicked Dead", Dawson finds his authority questioned by Heather Tracey and the other producers when Natasha refuses to do a nude scene. As a result, Dawson adopts an aggressive take-no-prisoners attitude, similar to the one that Todd has, to take control of the situation. In Boston, Jen spends her time consoling a dumped Grams, and Jen and C.J. set a lonely Grams up with C.J.'s Uncle Bill (Geoffrey Lewis), who turns out to be quite randy. Joey is unable to say good-bye to Eddie, who was in fact accepted to the writers' workshop and is moving to California; she convinces him to help her take Audrey to a rehab clinic in Los Angeles. The three of them, plus a guy named Bob (Seth Rogen) whom Audrey seduced as a way of avoiding rehab, begin a cross-country drive; they are derailed when Bob and Audrey steal Eddie's car, but they stop at a local bar, where Joey rescues a drunken Audrey from sexual violence. Audrey, having hit rock bottom, allows that she is ready to go into rehab. Finally, Natasha has one last night with Dawson, aroused by his take-charge attitude, and the two bid each other amicable farewells.

After agreeing to go with Pacey to a business party and witnessing him flirt with another girl the whole night, Joey demands to be taken home. When Pacey stops at a local Kmart for condoms, they are accidentally locked inside the store overnight. The two are forced to discuss their past and current relationship: they feel uncomfortable talking about sex with each other, they never discuss their past and they never had closure. In an intimate moment, Joey shaves off his goatee beard; afterwards, Pacey goes in for a kiss, confirming what he confessed when she was drunk the previous episode. As they bed down for the night in camping equipment, Joey admits to a fantasy she had when they summered aboard True Love: being castaways on an idyllic island, living their love away from everyone. They share a bittersweet kiss after her confession and they quietly leave when the store opens in the morning.

Professor Heston asks Joey to baby-sit for Harley to make sure she does her homework; but Joey ends up serving as relationship counselor when she finds Harley's boyfriend, Patrick (Taylor Handley), hiding in the house. Patrick starts to drool over Joey which makes Harley jealous. Meanwhile, Dawson pays a visit to his past when he's asked to speak to Mr. Gold's class at Capeside High about how it is to be working in L.A. One of the students, George (Lukas Behnken), asks Dawson to watch his film, leading Dawson to realize that he's moved on from the teenager he once was. Pacey also returns to Capeside when his father is admitted to the hospital after suffering a heart attack. Pacey has an argument with his brother, Doug, about the way Pacey's been treating the family by shutting them out. He ends up at Dawson's house to check on the repairs after Audrey's incident over Christmas, and Dawson invites him in to renew their friendship.

Joey, on spring break for the next two weeks, accepts Rich's offer to be Pacey's temporary secretary, but shows a complete lack of professionalism. This is exacerbated when a local newspaper reporter, named Sadia Shaw, arrives to interview Pacey, and he recognizes her as the attractive woman from the Stepatech party five episodes ago. Their mutual jealousy ends the only way it can: with a tryst in Pacey's office. Meanwhile, Dawson enlists Heather Tracy's help in pitching his next film to studio head Larry Newman (Paul Gleason), who cares primarily about sex; Dawson's pitch, a chaste coming-of-age story loosely modeled on his romance with Eve, mutates into a sex comedy entitled "Sunset Stripped." Dawson consults with Todd for advice, and Todd suggests he stick to his guns; as a result, though Newman greenlights the movie, Dawson refuses the director's position. Pacey fires Joey on grounds of being too attracted to her, and the two agree to meet at Pacey's apartment... only for Eddie to walk in as the bar closes.

Jen's seemingly happy world comes crashing down when she learns that Grams has breast cancer. Meanwhile, Joey's tumultuous love life continues when Eddie begs her to go back to California with him, and Pacey agrees to join Joey as she chaperones for Harley's school dance, but what should be a magical night doesn't feel right for Joey. Feeling too scared to jump back into a relationship with Pacey, she goes back to Eddie. Although he is at first reluctant, Pacey agrees to invest Dawson's life savings to finance his new film project. Dawson, living at home to save money, is grilled on his backup plans by Gail; Dawson admits he has none, because he has no intention of failing to achieve his dream, and Gail agrees to stand by him.

Eddie confronts Joey over her unwillingness to have sex with him. David is hurt when Jack lets Fred (Matt Funke), who had earlier flirted with him before finding out the two were involved, sit in a seat which Jack had been reserving for David. Jen, feeling overwhelmed by the reality of Grams' cancer, dumps C.J. All of this is played out on stage as Boston Bay College hosts Loveline personalities Drew Pinsky and Adam Carolla (playing themselves), and all three relationships are placed under the radio show's microscope. Jen admits that her self-destructive behavior is causing her to implode her relationship in fear; Adam reminds Eddie that he abandoned Joey twice, and that her unwillingness to trust him is entirely reasonable; David gives Jack an ultimatum: apologize, or dump him. The only person to get her way is Audrey, who shared a plane with Pinsky while returning to Boston and spends the episode stalking him, resulting in her being abandoned at the venue after Eddie and Joey resolve their issues and rush back to her empty dorm room; Pinsky offers Audrey a ride home.

Five years have passed, and everyone, now aged 25, is reunited in Capeside for a special wedding. Dawson has been living in Los Angeles producing his autobiographical television series The Creek. Joey is now a book editor living in New York City with her boyfriend, Christopher (Jeremy Sisto). Pacey has reopened the Icehouse Restaurant. Jen is a single mom living with Grams in New York and managing an art gallery in SoHo. And Jack is an English teacher at Capeside High, and is in a relationship with Doug, now sheriff of Capeside, though the latter is unwilling to publicly come out of the closet. Absent is Audrey who is singing backup for John Mayer, touring Europe, and has a boyfriend she dubs the 'anti-Pacey'. The five friends catch up over dinner; later, Joey ends up at Dawson’s house, like always. They catch up, and Joey spends the night because Dawson insists while also leaving before he wakes up. During Gail's wedding, Jen collapses while dancing with Dawson and is sent to the hospital, where it is revealed that she is dying of heart failure. They all get turns to say goodbye to Jen, as it is her wish they are not sad and instead joke about the matter at hand. Later, Dawson helps Jen make a video for her infant daughter, asking her to never stop loving and dreaming and to believe in God because it is good to have something to believe in. Joey comforts him as he struggles to come to terms with Jen's fading health. As her dying wish, she begs Joey to stop running and put everyone out of their misery by making a choice between Dawson and Pacey, since they both are evidently still in love with her. Jack, whom Jen named godparent to her daughter Amy, insists on adopting Amy. Jen later passes away with Grams by her side.

Jen’s death forces everyone to grow up and stop running. Doug tells Jack he's willing to spend his life with him and wants to help raise Amy. Pacey tells Joey that, despite his endless love for her, he feels like he is holding her back, as she has fulfilled her dreams of leaving Capeside, where he feels like he is destined to be stuck there. She tells him that she loves both him and Dawson in different ways and calls Dawson her soulmate. Before she can clarify, they are interrupted by Gail and then Bessie.

Joey checks in on Dawson, who is lost in memories of Jen's first day on the Creek. They reconfirm the survival and significance of their love and vaguely-defined relationship... then declare each other their soulmates. Joey tearfully tells Dawson she loves him, which he reciprocates. “You and me... always.” “Always.”

EPILOGUE.

Some time later, it is revealed that Pacey and Joey are living together in New York, finally back together. They delightfully call Dawson after watching the season finale of his show. The three converse happily, apparently having reconciled their dynamic.

Dawson tells them that he is going to be meeting his idol, Steven Spielberg, tomorrow, much to Pacey and Joey's delight. The three converse as the camera pans to a photograph of the three with Jen, and the show fades to footage of the "Core Four" on the beach all those years ago.

In 2011, the whole two-part finale was ranked #16 on the TV Guide Network special, TV's Most Unforgettable Finales.^[132]