Coda

Season	Episode
4	23

INFO

Aired

23 May 2001

Written by

Gina Fattore & Tom Kapinos

Directed by

Greg Prange

EPISODES
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The Graduate	The Bostonians SEASON 5

❝

Dawson, I want you to stay

—Joey

Coda is the finale and 23rd episode of Season 4 of Dawson's Creek.

Synopsis[]

The fourth-season finale depicts Dawson's (James Van Der Beek) last night in Capeside before leaving for the summer session of film school. His plans include a trip to the movies with Joey (Katie Holmes), Jen (Michelle Williams) and Jack (Kerr Smith). Saying goodbye isn't easy, especially for Joey, who struggles with not wanting to let go of one of her best friends.

Starring[]

James Van Der Beek as Dawson Leery

Katie Holmes as Joey Potter

Michelle Williams as Jen Lindley

Joshua Jackson as Pacey Witter

Kerr Smith as Jack McPhee

Mary-Margaret Humes as Gale Leery

John Wesley Shipp as Mitch Leery

Mary Beth Peil as Evelyn Ryan

Co-Starring: Martin Eckhardt as Salesperson; Wesley W. Morris as Rasta Dude

Quotes[]

❝

Dawson – The worst thing about not saying goodbye was I didn't get a chance to tell you something I wanted so badly to tell you.

Pacey – What's that?

Dawson – I'm proud of you, Pacey.

❝

I think we all have the power to change each other's lives

—Jen to Joey

❝

You know, I was just gonna keep my mouth shut and let you go but it's not me. That's some Merchant Ivory movie, you know, where people suffer in silence, and you're supposed to be so impressed by their restraint. Well you know sorry, but screw that. My best friend in the whole world is leaving tomorrow, and a big part of me wants him to stay so I hope you don't hate me

—Joey to Dawson

❝

Do you believe in magic? I never used to. I mean, how could I? 13, your mom dies. You hope against hope for magic, something to make it all better. It never comes, and, you know, you look to your father who's unable to overcome all of his tragic flaws. Well, no abracadabra there. And then there's Pacey. Well...any magic that was there, that ran out, didn't it? But, uh, then there's you. There's proof that someone out there is thinking of me... my friend who is with me always. It's pure magic. I guess this is pretty much just a long-winded way of saying that, um... I'm gonna miss you, Dawson

—Joey

❝

I realized that you're the only person in Capeside that I actually regret not saying good-bye to, because, you know, for a long time there, Dawson, being your best friend was all I really cared about in my life. I just wanted you to hear from me that despite everything that's happened between us and the miles that may be between us right now, you know, I still think about the way things were

—Pacey

❝

Joey – So what was yours, by the way?

Dawson – What was my what?

Joey – Your all-time most life altering moment?

Dawson – For all I know, it could be this one right now... saying good-bye to you

❝

Joey – Well, you can't keep it a secret forever

Dawson – What's that?

Joey – How incredible you are

❝

There was this one moment, um...a couple years ago...in this room. I was standing over there by the window, and, uh...and you kissed me. It changed everything. It's a pretty powerful thing when you get your biggest wish in one moment

—Joey, talking about her most life-altering moment

Locations[]

Trivia[]

Dawson tells Pacey that he's proud of him for graduating. This makes Andie and Dawson the only two people that Pacey talked to about the end of his senior year.
The movie that Dawson and his friends see is American Graffiti which is about teens celebrating their last night before they go to college.
On Dawson's last night in Capeside, he and Joey watch ET, which is a callback to the first scene of the show.
Dawson's favorite movie is Jaws and his most embarrassing moment is when the whole school saw him make out with Eve.
Joey's favorite song is Daydream Believer which is hers and Dawson's karaoke song; her most embarrassing moment is when she offered to have sex with Dawson and he turned her down. Dawson puts this into the all time regret category.
Joey's all-time regret is lying to Dawson about sleeping with Pacey.
Joey's most life altering moment was when Dawson kissed her at the end of season one.
Dawson's says that his most life altering moment is happening right now as he says goodbye to Joey.
As Daydream Believer plays, the season ends with Dawson and Joey kissing in Dawson's bedroom in front of the window which is exactly how the first season ended.