DAWSON'S CREEK: THE LONG GOODBYE (TV)
Summary
One in this series about the romantic exploits of Dawson Leery and his friends in coastal Massachusetts. In this episode, Dawson and the others reel from Mitch’s sudden death. Dawson organizes the funeral, seemingly numb to his emotions. Joey finds Pacey on his boat, the True Love II, and breaks the news to him. Stunned, Pacey doubts that Dawson would want him at the funeral, but Joey convinces him to attend. Jen admits to Jack that she is nervous about seeing Dawson and saying the wrong thing, but Jack tells her that Dawson is “alone in this” no matter what and she just has to try her best. As Dawson cares for his mother and his baby sister Lily, he remembers back to his twelfth birthday and his conversation with his father, who then gave him his first video camera. The funeral is soon held and all of Mitch’s friends and loved ones attend, and at the reception, Gail sequesters herself upstairs, unable to deal with the crowd. The religious Grams admits to Dawson that even she is angry with God at the moment, and Joey flashes back to a conversation she had with Mitch in which he let her know just how much his son loved her. Jen talks to Dawson and admits the scenario is “out of her league,” but says she is there for him as Joey seeks out Gail and tells her that they had a very special, loving marriage. Pacey finds Dawson on the porch and they talk about their summers, with Dawson admitting that he may drop out of film school. They reminisce about a time Mitch caught them misbehaving and Dawson smiles at the memory. Back in the house, Gail’s friend Susan corners Dawson and asks him how he is handling his grief. He tries to say that he is fine, but Mitch’s voice suddenly issues from the answering machine and Dawson becomes upset. He talks with Joey out on the dock and says that it is even harder than he would have guessed, revealing that he blames himself because of the disagreement he and Mitch had had and because of the circumstances surrounding his going out in the car that night. Joey tries to reassure him, but he says the last thing his father told him was that he was disappointed in him, and he must live with that forever. Grams talks to Gail about the challenges of widowhood, and they acknowledge the pain that can come with falling in love. The guests soon depart and many head for the Potter bed-and-breakfast, where Pacey seeks out Joey. She tells him about Dawson blaming himself, and when Pacey asks why he wants to drop out of schoool, he realizes that it is about her. He seems unperturbed, though, and says they “deserve a shot” to be together. Upstairs, Gail remembers Mitch putting together Dawson’s crib and laments that Lily will never know her father, but Dawson promises to tell her all about him and stay with the family rather than heading back to L.A. She tells him he does not have to be strong for them, but he still cannot express his feelings. The next day, Pacey remembers a driving lesson from Mitch and his fatherly kindness towards him, and then takes Dawson to the accident site, where he firmly explains that the man who fell asleep at the wheel and hit Mitch's car was responsible for his death, not Dawson, and says that he is always there for him despite their friendship problems. Later, at home, Gail breaks down in tears when she realizes they are out of milk, which is what sent Mitch out of the house that night, and Dawson goes to buy more. The store clerk tells him that he saw Mitch that night and that he spoke proudly of his son, despite their disagreement, and Dawson finally lets out his emotions in the car as, elsewhere, his friends gather without him and drink a toast to Mitch’s memory. Dawson remembers the last photo they all took together at Mitch’s request, showing their happiness as a family. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: WB
- DATE: October 31, 2001 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:44:01
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:69790
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Teenagers
- SERIES RUN: WB - TV series, 1998-2003
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Greg Prange … Executive Producer
- Paul Stupin … Executive Producer
- Tom Kapinos … Executive Producer, Writer
- Gina Fattore … Co-Executive Producer
- Jeffrey Stepakoff … Co-Executive Producer
- David Blake Hartley … Producer
- Drew Matich … Co-Producer
- Rina Mimoun … Co-Producer
- Cynthia Stegner … Associate Producer
- Dale Williams … Associate Producer
- Jed Seidel … Consulting Producer
- Greg Berlanti … Consulting Producer
- Robert Duncan McNeill … Director
- Kevin Williamson … Created by
- Adam Fields … Music by
- Paula Cole … Theme Music by
- James Van Der Beek … Cast, Dawson Leery
- Katie Holmes … Cast, Joey Potter
- Joshua Jackson … Cast, Pacey Witter
- Michelle Williams … Cast, Jen Lindley
- Kerr Smith … Cast, Jack McPhee
- Mary Beth Peil … Cast, Evelyn 'Grams' Ryan
- John Wesley Shipp … Cast, Mitch Leery
- Nina Repeta … Cast, Bessie Potter
- Busy Philipps … Cast, Audrey Liddell
- Mary-Margaret Humes … Cast, Gail Leery
- Jodi Thelan … Cast, Susan
- Benjamin Scott Shelfer … Cast, Funeral Director
- Terrence Currier … Cast, Mr. Brennan
- Lia C. Long … Cast, Young Couple
- Michael J. Long … Cast, Young Couple