Emotions run high during the monthly night of the full moon when parental problems cast a pall over Dawson and Joey's new romance as Dawson finds himself stuck in the middle of Gail and Mitch's hostile feud over people they invite over; he with Miss Jacobs over the property and she with a new co-worker. Meanwhile, Pacey is troubled when he tries to meet Andie's elusive parents, and sees first-hand the home life that Andie avoids which involves her delusional mother unable to let go of Andie and Jack's older brother whom died the previous year. The rife between Jen and Abby increases as Jen invites Vincent over to her house for a date. Left alone to run the Ice House, Joey and Jack share a 'tender moment' during a power outage.

After Dawson gets a $2,500 grant from the Boston Filmmaking Association following his win with his horror film, he asks Joey to help him work on his next film. But she refuses for she wants to have a life of her own. That evening, Joey's 'semi-date' with Jack for a moonlight picnic prompts a resentful Dawson to join Jen at a bash house party, thrown by Chris Wolfe, where she gets drunk once again and he ends up saving her from doing some things she'll regret. Meanwhile, Pacey proves his worth when Andie's mother has another psychotic breakdown during a study session at her house. Also, Mitch cannot understand Dawson's views on their divorce.