To Be or Not to Be...

To Be or Not to Be...
Season	2
Episode	14
INFO
Aired	10 February 1998
Written by	Greg Berlanti
Directed by	Sandy Smolan
EPISODES
Previous	His Leading Lady
Next	...That Is the Question

❝

Nobody's suited for public ridicule, Andie, you just deal with it

—Jack

To Be or Not to Be... is the 14th episode on Season 2 of Dawson's Creek.

Synopsis

REVELATIONS – In a compelling two-part episode, the Capeside High School gossip mill kicks into overdrive after Jack (Kerr Smith) bears his soul in a English assignment and is forced to expose his innermost secrets while reading the poem aloud in class, leaving Dawson (James Van Der Beek), Joey (Katie Holmes) and Andie (Meredith Monroe) shaken by the implications of what it all means. Meanwhile, Pacey (Joshua Jackson) tries to defend Jack in the face of an adversarial teacher, and Jen (Michelle Williams) finds her latest suitor Ty (guest star Eddie Mills) is full of surprises.

Summary

Neither Dawson nor Pacey can believe their eyes when Jack unveils his latest contribution to Creek Times: a miniature replica of the fictional town of Creekside. Before Pacey leaves to take care of homework, he reminds Jack of their poetry assignment for Mr. Peterson's class. Turning to the resident scribe for help, Jack asks Dawson for a few pointers on writing a poem. Dawson advises him to listen to himself and write from the heart.

The next morning, Ty tries to talk Jen into giving him a second chance. She believes their religious differences will eventually present a major obstacle. Ty, however, insists that there's more to him than bible parties. Inside the hallways of Capeside High, Pacey shares with Andie the good news of the latest progress report he just received from his guidance counselor, Mr. Milo. Later, Mr. Peterson criticizes Pacey's penmanship and gives him two choices of action, both of which will result in a low grade. When Jack offers a few words to cheer up Pacey, Mr. Peterson hears this exchange and instructs Jack to read his poetry assignment out loud for the entire class to hear. Jack resists until Mr. Peterson makes it clear that there is no alternative. Reluctantly, Jack begins to read his poem, titled "Today". As the class listens, Jack speaks of an inner fear and a male figure. Before he can finish the poem, Jack breaks into tears and leaves the room. Not long afterwards, Dawson and Joey overhear a group of guys talking about what happened in the classroom and how Jack must be gay.

After school at the Ice House, Dawson and Joey discuss the spreading rumor of Jack's apparent homosexuality. Joey dismisses the idea without a second thought. Dawson, on the other hand, advises her to ask Jack about it directly. Offended by Dawson's insinuations regarding Jack, Joey abruptly ends their conversation. Over at the McPhee residence, Jack leaves for work without hearing a word from his sister. Andie tells Pacey that she would be disappointed if the rumors concerning Jack turn out to be true, because she believes their family has enough problems already. Pacey is disappointed himself with Andie's honesty. Back at the Ice House, Joey confronts Jack and asks him to explain the poem. Jack insists that there are no homosexual undertones in the poem and that he himself is not gay. Meanwhile, Ty persuades Jen into accepting his offer for another date. She sets the pick-up time for ten o'clock that night. Ty takes Jen to a blues club and shows her a whole new side to himself. They drink martinis and dance -- no bibles included.

Jack's poem has been posted all over the walls of Capeside High by the next morning, and Pacey and Andie immediately begin to tear down as many as they can find. In class, Mr. Peterson orders Jack to finish his poem, picking up from where he left off the previous day. Trying to save Jack from any further humiliation, Pacey stands up and begins to read the poem himself. Mr. Peterson stops Pacey and writes him a pass to report to the Principal's office. After Pacey angers him further, Mr. Peterson informs Pacey that will receive an "F" for the quarter. Their argument ends, for the moment, with Pacey spitting in Mr. Peterson's face. At Principal Markey's office, Pacey refuses to apologize to Mr. Peterson. Principal Markey warns Pacey that he'll get a one-week suspension if he can't apologize to Mr. Peterson by the next day. Pacey finds Jack sitting outside of the office. Jack has been called to meet with Mr. Milo. Expecting gratitude, Pacey instead learns that Jack wanted him to stay out of the matter. Outside, Ty discusses the previous night with Jen. When asked about his apparent hypocrisy, Ty explains that his religion expects him to be imperfect, so his form of lifestyle motivates Ty to go to church each week. Back inside, Andie and Dawson argue Pacey's choice to accept the suspension instead of apologizing to Mr. Peterson. Pacey insists that he knows Mr. Peterson's conduct was wrong. Before Andie can respond, they pass by Jack's locker and stopped in their tracks by what they see. Shortly, Jack and Joey arrive to see a crowd gathered around the locker. Spray-painted on Jack's locker is the word "fag". Instead of leaving the scene, Jack walks up to his locker and opens it as if nothing were out of the ordinary. Joey walks up to the locker and deeply kisses Jack while the confused students of Capeside High look on. Later, Andie finally breaks her silence with Jack and does her best to comfort him. She tells Jack how impressed she was when she read his poem, and that she can understand the fear that he must be experiencing. In Dawson's bedroom, Joey admits that the rumors may not entirely be out of the question. Dawson advises her to ask Jack if he's gay, because their relationship won't last if they're not honest with each other.

The next day, Pacey reports to the Principal's office and admits his shame over the spitting incident. However, Pacey refuses to apologize to Mr. Peterson, declaring that he will never respect the man after what he did. Later that night, Andie finds Pacey sitting alone at the docks. He tells her that he's been suspended for one week. Pacey then expresses his disappointment in Andie for not supporting him throughout his ordeal. Andie is equally upset with Pacey's reaction to her difference in opinion. Pacey explains to Andie that he feels responsible for instigating the whole mess. He leaves Andie on the dock, refusing her offer to walk him home. Meanwhile, Joey finds Jack cleaning up at the Ice House and asks him if he's gay. Jack assures her that he's not gay. As they hug, Jack tries to say something else to Joey... but the words never escape his mouth.

Starring

James Van Der Beek as Dawson Leery Katie Holmes as Joey Potter Michelle Williams as Jen Lindley Joshua Jackson as Pacey Witter Nina Repeta as Bessie Potter Special Guest Stars Meredith Monroe as Andie McPhee Kerr Smith as Jack McPhee Guest starring Eddie Mills as Ty Hicks Edmund J. Kearney as Mr. Peterson

Co-Starring Jesse Jankowsky as Student #3 Mike Johnson as Student #2 Jenifer Kruskamp as Sherry Matt Lutz as Student #1 Richard K. Olsen as Mr. Milo Irene Ziegler as Jane Markey

Jack's poem

Today

Today was a day the world got smaller, darker

I grew more afraid

Not of what I am, but of what I could be

I loosen my collar to take a breath. My eyes fade

And I see... Him. The image of perfection

His frame strong, his lips smooth. I keep thinking, "What am I so scared of?"

I wish I could escape the pain, but these thoughts, they invade my head

Bound to my memory, they're like shackles of guilt

God, please set me free

Free from the pain and this guilt

So that I may face Tomorrow, Today

Quotes

❝

Pacey Witter is leaving early, to do homework

—Dawson to Jack and Pacey

❝

Peterson makes him read his poem in class and he starts crying. Here's the best part: the poem... is about a guy. McPhee is a total homo

—Three horrible high school guys

❝

You've heard about it? I've heard everything from 'Jack is seen regularly wearing dresses down main street to he's checked into a monastary to deal with his sexual ambivalence

—Joey to Dawson

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The hell I can't, I've been waiting to fail you all quarter!

—Peterson to Pacey

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I didn't need a hero! I recognise it's an addiction of yours, but this is an instance where you should've just keep your nose out of it

—Jack to Pacey

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In my lifetime, Pacey, I will never be ashamed of you

—Dawson

❝

While I respect this system, I don't respect men like you, Mr. Peterson. I don't, I can't and I never will

—Pacey to Principal Markham, Mr. Milo and Peterson

Locations

• Dawson's House
• Capeside High School
• The Icehouse
• McPhee House
• Jen's House
• The Jazz Club
• Capeside Harbor

Trivia

• This is the first episode where all three male leads hang out alone together.
• Mr. Milo informs Pacey that he has received two As and three Bs on his midterms.
• Pacey's poem is entitled Ode to the Sports Car.
• Dawson guesses at whether Joey's online handle is JuicyJoey or PerkyPotter while Joey retorts whether his is SpielbergStud.
• People at Capeside High print Jack's poem and post it everywhere.
• Pacey is suspended for a week.
• Jenifer Kruskamp performs a cover of "Come Rain or Come Shine"

BROADCAST

• The episode was watched by 6.84 million people upon its original airing on the WB.

Music

slide | GOO GOO DOLLS

pacey twirls andie

know what you mean | SISTER 7

dawson and joey, then andie and pacey, talk about jack

i do | LISA LOEB

jen and ty on the phone

walk slow | CHRIS ISAAK

jen and ty flirt at school

in my life | TRINA HAMLIN

andie apologises and connects with jack

smoke | NATALIE IMBRUGLIA

andie finds pacey at the docks and learns why he defended jack

only lonely | HOOTIE AND THE BLOWFISH

jack and joey hug

Pacey's Desktop

From the series interactive feature, Pacey's two assignments

Pacey Witter

Creative Writing

Mr. Peterson

Poetry Assignments

HAIKU

I'd buy the Viper

if I had twenty-five grand

I don't, so I can't

SONNET (ODE TO THE SPORTS CAR)

Shall I compare thee to my favorite Porsche?

Thou art almost as lovely as its shine

Thou surely art more lovely than some Borscht.

and lovelier still since my dear you're mine

How do I find the words to say "you drive?"

I'm grounded cause I stole my father's car

I'm grateful that your car is still alive

without it you and I would not get far

So even though you drive like you're on crack

I like to watch your face behind the wheel

and though we may be dead before we're back

I still think you're the only thing that's real

I'd choose you o'er a sports car any day

but both would be ideal I have to say!

Photos

screenshots

Videos

Jack Reads A Poem - Dawson's Creek

Pacey Takes On Mr Peterson - Dawson's Creek

Dawson's Creek - To Be Or Not To Be - Full Episode