Dawson returns to Boston after working as an assistant director in Los Angeles over the summer and reunites with Joey who has spent a relatively angst-free summer in Capeside. Audrey and Pacey return from L.A. with a surprise passenger, Audrey's childhood friend Jack Osborne.

Dawson & Joey's reunion leads to an evening of truth and intimacy, which is ruined when Dawson receives a phone call from another woman. Pacey gets a job interview that could change his life. Sparks fly between Jen and CJ, a handsome new peer counselor she meets at school.

Joey's worst nightmare comes true when she accidentally sends a very personal e-mail she wrote for Dawson to the entire student body. The next morning, Joey's e-mail is the topic of virtually all campus discussions when Professor Hetson decides to debate it with his students. Meanwhile, Jack makes an attempt to get to know his cultural professor, Mark Freeman, who pays no attention to Jack, a little better. Pacey, while struggling to survive the first days on his new job, closes a very important deal for the firm, which his wheeling-dealing mentor Rich Rinaldi takes full credit for. Eddie, a student in Joey's reading class, whom also works as the bartender at Helle's Kitchen, persuades Joey to confront any challenge that Hetson throws and not show any weakness since Hetson thrives on it.

Dawson finds himself in an awkward situation when he is put between Joey and the intoxicated leading lady of his film. Audrey allows herself to be taken in by another man's charm.

Dawson's manages to 'get the girl' when a producer visits the "Wicked Dead" movie set to fire Natasha and close down production. Audrey is excited when asked to be the lead singer of Emma's band but is crushed when Pacey misses the gig. Joey demands the truth from Eddie.

Audrey gets drunk before her band performs and worries her friends, especially CJ who suspects a deeper problem. Meanwhile, Eddie and Joey agree to go on a real date; Pacey hits it off with a beautiful woman while on a business trip to New Orleans, and is shocked to discover that she's a call girl; and when Professor Freeman announces that he's leaving he and Jack have a heart-to-heart talk about their future.