DAWSON'S CREEK: . . . THAT IS THE QUESTION (TV)
Summary
One in this series about the romantic exploits of Dawson Leery and his friends in coastal Massachusetts.
In this episode, Pacey, having been suspended from school for his defense of Jack, is hiding out in Dawson’s house. Dawson urges him to call Andie, but he maintains that he was right in what he did and does not need to apologize. At school, a happy Jen invites Dawson to join her and Ty that night. Jack is mocked by another student about the rumors of his being gay, but he and Joey brush it off as untrue. When Pacey returns to class, the teacher with whom he argued, Mr. Peterson, gives him back his poem with an “F,” saying he grades subjectively and some students are simply doomed to failure. Later, when Pacey tries to talk to Andie, they end up arguing about his actions again. At Dawson’s encouragement, Joey plans a romantic dinner for herself and Jack, but Jack soon calls to cancel when his estranged father, Joseph, shows up from out of town. Jack is suspicious, although Andie is pleased. Joey ends up joining Dawson, Jen, and Ty at a jazz club, and Dawson notes the absurdity of socializing with two girls who dumped him. At dinner with their father, Andie talks happily about her life while Jack says nothing; Joseph bluntly asks Jack if he is gay, having heard the rumors. Instead of answering, Jack asks if it would matter. Joseph makes it clear that he would consider it unacceptable, especially as Jack is the only son of the family since his brother Tim’s death.
At the jazz club, Dawson and Joey share a cozy dance, although Joey is disquieted when Dawson admits he thinks Jack is probably gay. The other two discuss the matter as well, and Jen is thrown when the religious Ty says that he thinks being gay is a choice. Later, at Jen's home, he argues that homosexuality is forbidden according to the Bible, which angers Jen. But she is pleased when her equally-devout grandmother puts Ty in his place by telling him to be more loving and less judgmental. After the dinner, Andie talks to Jack about their father, and he says that it is not worth trying to win his affection, since he bailed on their family after their brother died and their mother became ill. Joey awkwardly asks Dawson if Jack picked her because she is “safe” and not sexual; he assures her that she is very appealing. Pacey investigates the school handbook and then talks to the principal, saying that Mr. Peterson is in violation of the school’s code of ethics. He requests that Mr. Peterson be publicly reprimanded, as he has corroboration from other students of his behavior. When Joseph plans to leave again, Jack angrily confronts him and demands that he ask his question again. When he does, Jack confirms that he is gay. Andie comforts him as he tearfully says that he is sick of lying and hiding it. When Joseph reacts coldly, they tell him to leave and not return.
At school, Jack thanks Pacey for standing up for him. Pacey then finds Mr. Peterson leaving for good, choosing not to wait for the review board meeting. Pacey asks what has made him “so damn mean” and says compassion works better than fear. Mr. Peterson asks where Pacey’s compassion was in essentially ending his career. Ty and Jen talk and she says she cannot be with him; he asks her to continue trying despite their disagreements, and she considers. Pacey and Andie talk again and both apologize. She concludes that he is “the one.” Joey goes through with her romantic dinner plans, but when Jack arrives, he tells her the truth about himself, saying he still cares for her. Clearly hurt, she thanks him for his honesty and seeks refuge with a sympathetic Dawson. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: WB
- DATE: February 17, 1999 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:46:01
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:69789
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Teenagers; LGBTQ+ Collection - Drama
- SERIES RUN: WB - TV series, 1998-2003
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Kevin Williamson … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Paul Stupin … Executive Producer
- Greg Prange … Supervising Producer, Director
- Mike White … Supervising Producer
- Dana Baratta … Producer
- David Semel … Producer
- Shelley Meals … Co-Producer
- Darin Goldberg … Co-Producer
- David Blake Hartley … Co-Producer
- Janice Cooke-Leonard … Co-Producer
- Greg Berlanti … Writer
- Dennis McCarthy … Music by
- Paula Cole … Theme Music by
- James Van Der Beek … Cast, Dawson Leery
- Katie Holmes … Cast, Joey Potter
- Michelle Williams … Cast, Jen Lindley
- Joshua Jackson … Cast, Pacey Witter
- Mary-Margaret Humes … Cast, Gail Leery
- John Wesley Shipp … Cast, Mitch Leery
- Mary Beth Peil … Cast, Evelyn 'Grams' Ryan
- Nina Repeta … Cast, Bessie Potter
- Kerr Smith … Cast, Jack McPhee
- Meredith Monroe … Cast, Andie McPhee
- David Dukes … Cast, Joseph McPhee
- Eddie Mills … Cast, Ty Hicks
- Edmund J. Kearney … Cast, Mr. Peterson
- Irene Ziegler … Cast, Jane Markey
- Jenifer Kruskamp … Cast, Sherry
- Matt Lutz … Cast, Student
- Dean James … Cast, Waiter
- Suellen Yates … Cast, Librarian