Veronica Mars s01e01 Episode Script
Pilot
I'm never getting married.
You want an absolute? Well, there it is.
Veronica Mars, spinster.
I mean, what's the point? Sure, there's the initial primal drive.
Ride it out.
Better yet, ignore it.
Sooner or later, the people you love let you down.
And here's where it ends up: Sleazy men, cocktail waitresses cheap motels on the wrong side of town and a soon-to-be ex-spouse wanting a bigger piece of the settlement pie.
That's where I come in.
Forty dollars an hour is cheap compared to the financial security sordid photography can secure for you your offspring, your next lover.
But do us a favor if it's you in there, dispense with the cuddling.
This motel tryst, it is what it is.
Make it quick.
The person sitting in the car across the street might have a calculus exam in five Make that four hours, and she can't leave until she gets the money shot.
Well, this can't be good.
Car trouble, miss? This is my school.
If you go here your parents are either millionaires or they work for millionaires.
Neptune, California, a town without a middle class.
So how does a girl end up surrounded by a motorcycle gang at 4 in the morning on the wrong side of town? For that answer, we'll have to rewind to yesterday.
- Who put him there? - Bikers did it.
- Why doesn't somebody cut him down? - I'll do it.
I wanna be the guy up there tomorrow.
All right, say "cheese.
" Smile.
- Move.
- Who died and made you the? You are a freak.
You're new here, huh? Welcome to Neptune High.
Go Pirates.
This is advance placement.
We expect more.
It's called "An Essay on Man" but what Pope's really talking about is faith, right? Anybody? Did anybody complete the reading? Veronica.
Veronica Mars.
Congratulations, you're my volunteer.
Pope, "An Essay on Man," epistle one.
Hope springs eternal in the human breast Man never is, but always to be blest The soul, uneasy and confin'd from home Rests and expatiates in a life to come And what do you suppose Pope meant by that? - Life's a bitch until you die.
- Okay, thank you, Ms.
Mars for that succinct and somewhat inappropriate response.
I think what Pope's saying is that the thing that keeps us powering through life's defeats is our faith in a better life yet to come.
Random locker searches.
It's the latest tactic the administration has adopted in their losing war on drugs.
Except the searches aren't really random.
I know when they're gonna happen before Vice Principal Clemmons does.
Veronica Mars.
This should be good.
Veronica, will you please open your locker? Buster.
This is a little embarrassing.
I used to sit there, at that table.
It's not like my family met the minimum net-worth requirement.
My dad didn't own his own airline like John Enbon's or serve as ambassador to Belgium, like Shelly Pomroy's but my dad used to be the sheriff, and that had a certain cachet.
Let's be honest, though.
The only reason I was allowed past the velvet ropes was Duncan Kane, son of software billionaire Jake Kane.
He used to be my boyfriend.
Then one day, with no warning, he ended things.
And let's not forget Logan Echolls.
His dad makes 20 million a picture.
You probably own his action figure.
Every school has an obligatory psychotic jackass.
He's ours.
- You okay? - What? - You look, I don't know, hypnotized.
- Did I say you could sit here? Wait a minute.
Of course you can sit here.
Sit wherever you want.
That was cool, what you did.
Cutting me off of that pole.
- Well - My bitch.
Weren't you supposed to wait for me at the flagpole? Not sure I could have made that any clearer.
- Okay, I get it.
Very funny.
- Yeah.
I guess we're even now, right? You get what? You get that you're a dead man walking? - Is that what you get? - Leave him alone.
Sister.
The only time I care what a woman has to say is when she's riding my big old hog.
Even then, it's not so much words just "oohs" and "ahs," you know? - So it's big, huh? - Legendary.
Well, let's see it.
I mean, if it's as big as you say, I'll be your girlfriend.
We could go to prom together.
What seems to be the problem? - I'm on a schedule here, vato.
- Weevil, don't let blondie talk like that.
Sounds like your buddy here wants to see it too.
- Oh, hell, I'll show you mine! - Felix Toombs.
What on God's green earth is going on? All right, move along.
Veronica, why does trouble follow you around? - So, what did you do? - What? Why are you a dead man walking? Oh, yeah.
I work at Sac-n-Pac.
Last night I was working by myself.
Couple of those guys came in.
- Yo, man, happy birthday.
- Thanks, man.
They walked right to the back, and started stuffing all these 40s into their pockets.
So I hit the silent alarm.
Wallace.
I guess he thought a one-dollar bill would cover it.
Keep the change.
That's when the police came.
We don't have the police here.
We have a sheriff's department.
You, come on.
Check it out.
Here he comes.
What's up, snitch? Come here.
They say they paid.
- Well, did they? - Yeah.
Like I said.
Shut up.
- But you pressed the alarm anyway.
- It was an accident.
Sacks, get them out of here.
Get them out of here.
We got enough.
You need to go see the wizard.
Ask him for some guts.
- "Go see the wizard"? He said that? - Yeah.
Congratulations, sport.
In your short time here you've managed to piss off a motorcycle gang and the local sheriff.
Hey, baby.
It's our song.
Happy birthday, Veronica.
- Are you surprised? - Mom? - Veronica.
- Mom? Veronica, it's me.
Honey, can you give me a hand? Who's a good boy? Who's a good boy? Good boy.
I was shocked to discover Celeste Kane's car outside Dad's office.
Duncan's mom.
She hates me almost as much as she adores her son.
Veronica Mars.
- My dad's with a client.
- Apparently.
That's okay.
I'm happy chatting with you.
- Like I said, my dad's with a client.
- I heard you.
Your dad's tracking bail jumpers half the time and yet, somehow, all the cases that come in here still get handled.
- How is that? - We're efficient.
Very efficient.
Look, I'm just gonna leave this file here open on your desk and if you decide to take a look at it, cool.
One of my clients, Loretta Cancun, dances at The Seventh Veil.
- Classy.
- These are my people, V.
She was busted for vandalism, taking a baseball bat to the washing machine that stole her quarters.
- And Johnnie Cochran was booked? - I make no apologies.
I like this case.
It's tawdry.
Cancun says The Seventh Veil has an interesting way of keeping their liquor license, despite their rather lax ID policy.
She wants to make a deal.
If your dad has time, he should look into it.
Don't get the wrong idea, Mr.
Mars.
I don't like you.
I hate the fact that I'm here.
But I do know if anyone will be dogged and resourceful in this matter, it'll be you.
Don't call me at home.
I'll call you.
And I'll need it right away.
Hi.
Sure, she's a bitch, but can you blame her? After all, Dad did try to send her husband to jail for life.
- How was school? - If you think we're gonna talk about my day and not the fact that Celeste Kane was in your office you're deluded.
- You're making good grades? Kane's got something on the side, doesn't he? Say what you want about real cheese.
I am a fan of the orange-powder packet stuff.
My grades are fine, and I like the orange powder too but can we talk about Mrs.
Kane? Yes, she thinks he's seeing someone.
Late nights, motel matches, the usual.
Sexual appetite? - Gone.
- Did you take the case? - We need the money.
- Good.
- I would've been pissed if you hadn't.
- I wouldn't have cared.
Give me some of that apple.
- Oh, don't - Mars Investigations.
Just a sec.
It's Andy.
Keith Mars.
How long ago? What's he driving? I'll get the 7:30 out of San Diego and I'll meet you by the thing by the fountain.
Good work.
Thanks.
My guy's on the move.
Andy picked him up in El Paso.
Another day, and he'll probably try to cross the border.
I gotta head out.
You go.
I'll have the flight booked by the time you get to the airport.
- Do you want a rental car in Texas? - Nothing fancy this time, serious.
A Blazer is not fancy, and we can bill it anyway.
Fine.
I'll get you a Crown Vic.
- Once a cop - Don't do anything on the Kane case.
- I'll handle it.
- Okay.
Given our relationship with that family - Fine.
I said, okay.
- Okay.
If all goes well, I'll be back tomorrow night and if not, the night after.
- I'll call, and I'll check in.
- You always do.
- And Veronica.
- Yes? When you go after Jake Kane, you take backup.
I always do.
By the time Dad's plane landed in El Paso I'd already picked up Jake Kane at his house and followed him to his office.
Streaming video was invented and perfected here at Kane Software.
The day the company went public, Jake Kane made a billion dollars.
Everyone who worked for him right down to the secretarial pool, became millionaires.
He's beloved here.
Half the people in this town owe their fortunes to him.
And I knew the family well.
Jake's son, Duncan, was my first and only love.
His daughter, Lilly, was my best friend.
God, Lilly, I see the Prozac's working.
High on life, Veronica Mars.
I've got a secret.
A good one.
Girls, less talk, more scrub.
Later.
Those were the last words Lilly and I ever shared.
Later that night, as I was driving home from picking up dinner with Dad a call came in over the radio.
All the dispatcher said was that there was a disturbance at the Kane estate.
Dad gave me specific instructions to stay in the car but the moment I saw Duncan, I knew that this was more than a disturbance.
What happened? Duncan, what happened? Where's Lilly? But everyone knows this story, the murder of Lilly Kane.
It was on the cover of People magazine.
It made Entertainment Tonight.
The town flooded with journalists.
Duncan, talk to me.
Please.
And, of course, everyone remembers reading about the bungling local sheriff the one who went after the wrong man.
Oh, my God.
That bungling sheriff was my dad.
But if my dad wasn't right about Jake Kane then it looks like Mrs.
Kane is right about him now.
Not a lot of high-powered business meetings taking place at the Camelot at 1 in the morning.
They say the divorce rate is twice as high for parents who lose a child.
"Lose a child.
" Now, there's a euphemism for you.
That hardly takes into account the way she was found.
What? You guys find a way to unlock the porn? It's the Lilly Kane video.
How do you think the family feels? Six weeks after Lilly's death, someone from the sheriff's department leaked the crime-scene video.
Within 24 hours, it was all over the Net.
Streaming video made it possible.
Someone made a fortune while Dad took the blame.
So does your? Does your dad still think that Lilly's father did this? That's my girlfriend.
Your friend.
Duncan's sister.
Your dad is destroying the Kane family.
What's the matter with you people, huh? What's the matter with you? He did it, Lianne.
The man is a liar.
My dad's belief that Jake Kane was the murderer became a moot point.
An emergency recall election removed him from office.
Mom wanted to move out of Neptune.
The loss of status, the loss of income was too much for her.
We were gonna move, all right.
We couldn't afford our house.
But Dad wasn't gonna be run out of town, neither was I.
Dad, come here.
The Neptune Sheriff's Department Hey, I'm sorry, honey.
Me and Mom are gonna work this out, okay? - Apprehended Abel Koontz, a disgruntled former Kane Software employee.
Koontz, a software designer, was fired during the development stage of Kane Software's streaming-video project.
Shoes and a backpack belonging to the deceased were discovered on Koontz's houseboat by Sheriff Don Lamb, who said Well, this can't be good.
Car trouble, miss? Yeah, as a matter of fact.
I think it might be a loose belt.
- If you check under the hood - Weevil, who gets the first dance? Get off me! Get him off me! Get him off me! Girl, you best call off your dog! Backup, chill.
I tell you what, we'll call it a draw.
- Baby, come on, it's too late for that.
- Here's the deal: Leave that kid at school alone for a week, and I'll make sure your boys walk.
Why you care so much for that skinny Negro anyway? Things I heard about you, he must really lay the pipe right, huh? Yeah, that's it.
All right.
Felix, we get it.
You're a badass, okay? But for once, don't be stupid.
Not bad advice.
All right, one week.
After that, we come for you your boy, and your little dog too.
Backup, be cool.
You get lonely out here, remember Weevil love you long time.
Quite a reputation I've got, huh? You wanna know how I lost my virginity? So do I.
I went to a party at Shelly Pomroy's just to show everyone their whispers and backstabbing didn't affect me.
It was a mistake.
I don't know who handed me the drink.
I wish I did.
It turns out it was your basic rum, Coke and roofie.
I never told my dad.
I'm not sure what he would've done with that information but no good would have come of it.
And what does it matter? I'm no longer that girl.
All right, lady, let's see you.
There's Veronica.
Hey, Ronnie.
Hey, we've decided that we'd rather surf than study today.
You wanna come with? Duncan will promise to take his shirt off to sweeten the pot.
Does it make you horny? - D.
K.
, flex for your ex.
- Shut up, Logan.
All right, all right.
What do you say to a little hooch, huh? What's the matter? Aren't you your mother's daughter? Now, there was a woman who can drink.
What's she up to nowadays? Maybe she'll join us.
You know where she is? Any clue? - Leave her alone, man.
- Chill pill, man.
All right.
Man, she used to be fun, man.
Bye.
It's been eight months since I've seen my mother.
A month after Dad lost his job, Mom split for good.
All she left me was a unicorn music box and a note saying she would be back for me someday.
Girl, you should hear what people say about you.
- So then what are you doing sitting here? - You sat next to me.
- This is my table.
- And what a fine table it is.
What do you suppose this is made of? Oak? - If people are saying such awful things - I figure I've got a choice.
I can either go hang out with the punks who laughed at me took pictures of me while I was taped to that flagpole or I can hang out with the chick who cut me down.
So you wanna get the P.
C.
H.
Bike Club off your ass? - This is so twisted.
I love it.
- Well, can you do it? We need it fast.
Oh, hell, yeah.
For you? Oh, anything.
I'll even throw in the glazing gratis.
Go to town.
Thanks, Corny.
Oh, my God.
While Corny did his thing, I downloaded the pictures from the Camelot.
Every girl's gotta have a hobby, photography's mine.
And? - Who's your daddy? - I hate it when you say that.
You know what, this is important.
You remember this.
I used to be cool.
- When? - '77.
Trans Am, Blue Oyster Cult in the eight-track a foxy, stacked blonde riding shotgun, racing for pink slips.
Wait a minute, I'm thinking about a Springsteen song.
Scratch it.
I was never cool.
I don't know which bothers me more, "foxy" or "stacked.
" I nailed our bail jumper 100 yards from Mexico.
Twenty-five hundred bucks.
No sack dinners tonight.
Tonight, we eat like the lower middle class to which we aspire.
Fire up the hibachi! For real, steaks.
So Jake Kane went to the Camelot last night and hooked up with some hussy.
Didn't I say something about you not getting involved in that? I remember you saying something about taking Backup.
You get pictures? No money shot.
The woman in question never stepped foot outside.
But I did get pictures of license plates.
I figured you could run them.
Let me see them.
You stay away from Jake Kane.
I don't want you doing anything else on this case.
We're gonna drop it anyway.
I'll let his wife know.
What? We're dropping the case? Why? What's wrong? Who is it? - Why don't you just tell me? - Veronica, no.
It's done, it's over with.
You just stay away from him.
I had another case to occupy my brain.
Loretta Cancun says The Seventh Veil has an interesting way of keeping their liquor license.
This was phase one of my plan to save Wallace.
Phase two would begin the next day.
- Let's go.
- Hey, Flo Jo, slow your ass down.
There you go.
Well, what's this, Logan? This appears to be a device used for marijuana.
- That's exactly what it looks like.
- All right, to the office.
- Oh, man, Logan's busted.
- It was you.
Listen, I know it was you.
This isn't over, okay? You're so cute.
I'll get you.
- I will! - Come on, let's go.
Solid.
- You're right, that was funny.
- Meet me at my car after school.
Let's see if you've done your part.
After school, I drove Wallace to the sheriff's department.
This was phase three.
We could get in trouble for this.
- Give it here.
- Wait.
I'm gonna do it.
I just thought one of us should state the obvious.
I wonder if it worked.
A fire! It worked.
Hey, Adam.
Hey, Eddie, is the chief around? Well, if it isn't Smokey the barely legal.
I saw you in action today, Billy.
You were very brave.
- Did you make the switch? - Fait accompli.
Thank you.
Plenty of people in this town still love Dad.
That comes in handy sometimes.
Other times, you rely on your own devices.
- San Juan Capistrano PD.
- Tony, it's Inga.
Guess what, our computers is down again.
Inga, upgrade already.
This must be the tenth time.
Preach to the choir, Tony.
Listen, we had a hit and run last night.
Victim got the plates, but we need to run them.
No problem.
Hit me.
Arizona, four, victor, golf, zero, zero, zero.
- I'll be damned.
Some families.
- What is it? That car is registered to one Lianne Mars.
Bored.
Call it a day, maybe catch a movie or something? Explain to me again why we're dropping the Kane case? Look I did run those plates and it's what I thought, corporate espionage stuff.
It's dangerous, and we don't get paid enough, so Let's just drop it, okay? Okay.
- Movie? - Can't.
Well, maybe we can rent something.
What are you in the mood for? Veronica.
Oh, little Veronica, how are you? - How's your father? - Fine, Inga.
We're both fine.
I haven't seen you since - Since - Been a while.
Where is the Cortez/Nguyen prelim? - Courtroom three.
- Thanks.
The last time I was here? Come on, Inga, that's easy.
Veronica, what happened to you? I need to report a crime.
Is there anyone in particular you'd like me to arrest or should I just round up the sons of the most important families in town? I've got no evidence to work with here but that doesn't matter to your family, now, does it? Look at this.
She cries.
I'll tell you what, Veronica Mars, why don't you go see the wizard.
Ask for a little backbone.
When we find them, they've still got They said they bought the beers, but we've got it all on tape.
- Your Honor, can we show the tape? - Let's see it.
All right, what you're gonna see here are the defendants.
They enter and - What are we seeing here, sheriff? - Your Honor, I Sheriff Lamb, is this one of your officers? Is this how you run your department? Is this an appropriate time to ask for a dismissal in People v.
Loretta Cancun? Counsel? Got a present for you.
I owe you bigtime.
- I had my own reasons for doing it, trust me.
- Oh, no, you don't.
You think I'll let you get away with that? That might play with the masses but underneath that "angry young woman" shell there's a slightly less angry young woman who's just dying to bake me something.
You're a marshmallow, Veronica Mars.
A Twinkie.
Okay, how do I make it loop-the-loop? - Veronica.
- Yeah? Your car.
Hey, Veronica Mars.
Do you know what your joke cost me? I'm pretty sure you won't be getting your bong back.
Wrong answer.
Would you care to guess again? Clearly, your sense of humor.
Nope.
And you're usually so good at pop quizzes.
No, the correct answer is my car.
That's right.
My daddy took my T-bird away.
And you know what I won't be having? Fun, fun, fun.
Logan.
What do we have here? Vandalism? No, no, no.
The only vandalism that happens in this town goes through me.
Listen, man, I don't have a problem with you.
That's where you're wrong.
Hey, yo, is this O-Town any good? I mean, my little sister likes it but, you know, she likes ponies and juice boxes too.
I suddenly feel like I'm in a scene from The Outsiders.
Be cool, Sodapop.
That's not his car.
That's my mom's car.
She can bill me.
Oh, yeah! That's it.
Head for the hills.
I'm not gonna say it twice.
Except for you.
You, say you're sorry.
Rub a lamp.
I said, say you're sorry.
Kiss my ass.
- Now - Let him go.
Are you sure? I could do this for a while.
I don't want his apology.
I hope you guys are comfortable.
So that surveillance tape just That's fortunate.
My uncle has a body shop on the highway.
If you come in, I can make sure your body gets the full-service treatment.
- Okay, now you apologize.
- I'm sorry.
Was that too dirty? - Not to me, dork to him.
- Right.
No.
- Fine.
He has the only copy of the Sac-n-Pac video.
- Wallace, let's go decide what to do with it.
- Okay, wait, wait.
Look, look.
I'm sorry, man, for, you know, taping you to the flagpole.
I'm sorry.
All right.
Can I have the tape back now? Nope.
This morning when I woke up, I had one person in the world I could count on.
But if there's something I've learned in this business the people you love let you down.
Dad doesn't think I know where he keeps the combination to the safe.
He's wrong.
Of course, I've never needed to use it.
Oh, my God, the Lilly Kane murder file.
What's Dad been up to? Some of these notes are less than a month old.
The confessed killer is already on death row, but Dad still hasn't given up on the case.
My surveillance photo from the Camelot? Why is it in the Lilly Kane file? What was Mom doing there, and what business did she have with Jake Kane? And the million-dollar question: Why did Dad lie to me? What are you doing back here? I saw the light.
- I forgot my books.
- Let's up and at them, Atom Ant.
It's family fun night.
I called out to Mama Leoni's.
- I rented the South Park movie.
- My favorite.
Hey, who's your daddy? You are.
I have to make a stop, so I'll meet you at home? Okay, but hurry up.
I worry about you.
Yeah, you do.
Okay, so he lied to me but I've gotta believe he has his reasons.
He's probably trying to protect me.
That's what dads do.
Still, I've got too many questions swirling around in my head to wait until he's willing to share.
These questions need answers.
That's what I do.
Okay, it's a long shot, but I can't help myself.
I used to think I knew what tore our family apart.
Now I'm sure I don't.
But I promise this: I will find out what really happened and I will bring this family back together again.
I'm sorry.
Is that mushy? Well, you know what they say: "Veronica Mars, she's a marshmallow.
"
You want an absolute? Well, there it is.
Veronica Mars, spinster.
I mean, what's the point? Sure, there's the initial primal drive.
Ride it out.
Better yet, ignore it.
Sooner or later, the people you love let you down.
And here's where it ends up: Sleazy men, cocktail waitresses cheap motels on the wrong side of town and a soon-to-be ex-spouse wanting a bigger piece of the settlement pie.
That's where I come in.
Forty dollars an hour is cheap compared to the financial security sordid photography can secure for you your offspring, your next lover.
But do us a favor if it's you in there, dispense with the cuddling.
This motel tryst, it is what it is.
Make it quick.
The person sitting in the car across the street might have a calculus exam in five Make that four hours, and she can't leave until she gets the money shot.
Well, this can't be good.
Car trouble, miss? This is my school.
If you go here your parents are either millionaires or they work for millionaires.
Neptune, California, a town without a middle class.
So how does a girl end up surrounded by a motorcycle gang at 4 in the morning on the wrong side of town? For that answer, we'll have to rewind to yesterday.
- Who put him there? - Bikers did it.
- Why doesn't somebody cut him down? - I'll do it.
I wanna be the guy up there tomorrow.
All right, say "cheese.
" Smile.
- Move.
- Who died and made you the? You are a freak.
You're new here, huh? Welcome to Neptune High.
Go Pirates.
This is advance placement.
We expect more.
It's called "An Essay on Man" but what Pope's really talking about is faith, right? Anybody? Did anybody complete the reading? Veronica.
Veronica Mars.
Congratulations, you're my volunteer.
Pope, "An Essay on Man," epistle one.
Hope springs eternal in the human breast Man never is, but always to be blest The soul, uneasy and confin'd from home Rests and expatiates in a life to come And what do you suppose Pope meant by that? - Life's a bitch until you die.
- Okay, thank you, Ms.
Mars for that succinct and somewhat inappropriate response.
I think what Pope's saying is that the thing that keeps us powering through life's defeats is our faith in a better life yet to come.
Random locker searches.
It's the latest tactic the administration has adopted in their losing war on drugs.
Except the searches aren't really random.
I know when they're gonna happen before Vice Principal Clemmons does.
Veronica Mars.
This should be good.
Veronica, will you please open your locker? Buster.
This is a little embarrassing.
I used to sit there, at that table.
It's not like my family met the minimum net-worth requirement.
My dad didn't own his own airline like John Enbon's or serve as ambassador to Belgium, like Shelly Pomroy's but my dad used to be the sheriff, and that had a certain cachet.
Let's be honest, though.
The only reason I was allowed past the velvet ropes was Duncan Kane, son of software billionaire Jake Kane.
He used to be my boyfriend.
Then one day, with no warning, he ended things.
And let's not forget Logan Echolls.
His dad makes 20 million a picture.
You probably own his action figure.
Every school has an obligatory psychotic jackass.
He's ours.
- You okay? - What? - You look, I don't know, hypnotized.
- Did I say you could sit here? Wait a minute.
Of course you can sit here.
Sit wherever you want.
That was cool, what you did.
Cutting me off of that pole.
- Well - My bitch.
Weren't you supposed to wait for me at the flagpole? Not sure I could have made that any clearer.
- Okay, I get it.
Very funny.
- Yeah.
I guess we're even now, right? You get what? You get that you're a dead man walking? - Is that what you get? - Leave him alone.
Sister.
The only time I care what a woman has to say is when she's riding my big old hog.
Even then, it's not so much words just "oohs" and "ahs," you know? - So it's big, huh? - Legendary.
Well, let's see it.
I mean, if it's as big as you say, I'll be your girlfriend.
We could go to prom together.
What seems to be the problem? - I'm on a schedule here, vato.
- Weevil, don't let blondie talk like that.
Sounds like your buddy here wants to see it too.
- Oh, hell, I'll show you mine! - Felix Toombs.
What on God's green earth is going on? All right, move along.
Veronica, why does trouble follow you around? - So, what did you do? - What? Why are you a dead man walking? Oh, yeah.
I work at Sac-n-Pac.
Last night I was working by myself.
Couple of those guys came in.
- Yo, man, happy birthday.
- Thanks, man.
They walked right to the back, and started stuffing all these 40s into their pockets.
So I hit the silent alarm.
Wallace.
I guess he thought a one-dollar bill would cover it.
Keep the change.
That's when the police came.
We don't have the police here.
We have a sheriff's department.
You, come on.
Check it out.
Here he comes.
What's up, snitch? Come here.
They say they paid.
- Well, did they? - Yeah.
Like I said.
Shut up.
- But you pressed the alarm anyway.
- It was an accident.
Sacks, get them out of here.
Get them out of here.
We got enough.
You need to go see the wizard.
Ask him for some guts.
- "Go see the wizard"? He said that? - Yeah.
Congratulations, sport.
In your short time here you've managed to piss off a motorcycle gang and the local sheriff.
Hey, baby.
It's our song.
Happy birthday, Veronica.
- Are you surprised? - Mom? - Veronica.
- Mom? Veronica, it's me.
Honey, can you give me a hand? Who's a good boy? Who's a good boy? Good boy.
I was shocked to discover Celeste Kane's car outside Dad's office.
Duncan's mom.
She hates me almost as much as she adores her son.
Veronica Mars.
- My dad's with a client.
- Apparently.
That's okay.
I'm happy chatting with you.
- Like I said, my dad's with a client.
- I heard you.
Your dad's tracking bail jumpers half the time and yet, somehow, all the cases that come in here still get handled.
- How is that? - We're efficient.
Very efficient.
Look, I'm just gonna leave this file here open on your desk and if you decide to take a look at it, cool.
One of my clients, Loretta Cancun, dances at The Seventh Veil.
- Classy.
- These are my people, V.
She was busted for vandalism, taking a baseball bat to the washing machine that stole her quarters.
- And Johnnie Cochran was booked? - I make no apologies.
I like this case.
It's tawdry.
Cancun says The Seventh Veil has an interesting way of keeping their liquor license, despite their rather lax ID policy.
She wants to make a deal.
If your dad has time, he should look into it.
Don't get the wrong idea, Mr.
Mars.
I don't like you.
I hate the fact that I'm here.
But I do know if anyone will be dogged and resourceful in this matter, it'll be you.
Don't call me at home.
I'll call you.
And I'll need it right away.
Hi.
Sure, she's a bitch, but can you blame her? After all, Dad did try to send her husband to jail for life.
- How was school? - If you think we're gonna talk about my day and not the fact that Celeste Kane was in your office you're deluded.
- You're making good grades? Kane's got something on the side, doesn't he? Say what you want about real cheese.
I am a fan of the orange-powder packet stuff.
My grades are fine, and I like the orange powder too but can we talk about Mrs.
Kane? Yes, she thinks he's seeing someone.
Late nights, motel matches, the usual.
Sexual appetite? - Gone.
- Did you take the case? - We need the money.
- Good.
- I would've been pissed if you hadn't.
- I wouldn't have cared.
Give me some of that apple.
- Oh, don't - Mars Investigations.
Just a sec.
It's Andy.
Keith Mars.
How long ago? What's he driving? I'll get the 7:30 out of San Diego and I'll meet you by the thing by the fountain.
Good work.
Thanks.
My guy's on the move.
Andy picked him up in El Paso.
Another day, and he'll probably try to cross the border.
I gotta head out.
You go.
I'll have the flight booked by the time you get to the airport.
- Do you want a rental car in Texas? - Nothing fancy this time, serious.
A Blazer is not fancy, and we can bill it anyway.
Fine.
I'll get you a Crown Vic.
- Once a cop - Don't do anything on the Kane case.
- I'll handle it.
- Okay.
Given our relationship with that family - Fine.
I said, okay.
- Okay.
If all goes well, I'll be back tomorrow night and if not, the night after.
- I'll call, and I'll check in.
- You always do.
- And Veronica.
- Yes? When you go after Jake Kane, you take backup.
I always do.
By the time Dad's plane landed in El Paso I'd already picked up Jake Kane at his house and followed him to his office.
Streaming video was invented and perfected here at Kane Software.
The day the company went public, Jake Kane made a billion dollars.
Everyone who worked for him right down to the secretarial pool, became millionaires.
He's beloved here.
Half the people in this town owe their fortunes to him.
And I knew the family well.
Jake's son, Duncan, was my first and only love.
His daughter, Lilly, was my best friend.
God, Lilly, I see the Prozac's working.
High on life, Veronica Mars.
I've got a secret.
A good one.
Girls, less talk, more scrub.
Later.
Those were the last words Lilly and I ever shared.
Later that night, as I was driving home from picking up dinner with Dad a call came in over the radio.
All the dispatcher said was that there was a disturbance at the Kane estate.
Dad gave me specific instructions to stay in the car but the moment I saw Duncan, I knew that this was more than a disturbance.
What happened? Duncan, what happened? Where's Lilly? But everyone knows this story, the murder of Lilly Kane.
It was on the cover of People magazine.
It made Entertainment Tonight.
The town flooded with journalists.
Duncan, talk to me.
Please.
And, of course, everyone remembers reading about the bungling local sheriff the one who went after the wrong man.
Oh, my God.
That bungling sheriff was my dad.
But if my dad wasn't right about Jake Kane then it looks like Mrs.
Kane is right about him now.
Not a lot of high-powered business meetings taking place at the Camelot at 1 in the morning.
They say the divorce rate is twice as high for parents who lose a child.
"Lose a child.
" Now, there's a euphemism for you.
That hardly takes into account the way she was found.
What? You guys find a way to unlock the porn? It's the Lilly Kane video.
How do you think the family feels? Six weeks after Lilly's death, someone from the sheriff's department leaked the crime-scene video.
Within 24 hours, it was all over the Net.
Streaming video made it possible.
Someone made a fortune while Dad took the blame.
So does your? Does your dad still think that Lilly's father did this? That's my girlfriend.
Your friend.
Duncan's sister.
Your dad is destroying the Kane family.
What's the matter with you people, huh? What's the matter with you? He did it, Lianne.
The man is a liar.
My dad's belief that Jake Kane was the murderer became a moot point.
An emergency recall election removed him from office.
Mom wanted to move out of Neptune.
The loss of status, the loss of income was too much for her.
We were gonna move, all right.
We couldn't afford our house.
But Dad wasn't gonna be run out of town, neither was I.
Dad, come here.
The Neptune Sheriff's Department Hey, I'm sorry, honey.
Me and Mom are gonna work this out, okay? - Apprehended Abel Koontz, a disgruntled former Kane Software employee.
Koontz, a software designer, was fired during the development stage of Kane Software's streaming-video project.
Shoes and a backpack belonging to the deceased were discovered on Koontz's houseboat by Sheriff Don Lamb, who said Well, this can't be good.
Car trouble, miss? Yeah, as a matter of fact.
I think it might be a loose belt.
- If you check under the hood - Weevil, who gets the first dance? Get off me! Get him off me! Get him off me! Girl, you best call off your dog! Backup, chill.
I tell you what, we'll call it a draw.
- Baby, come on, it's too late for that.
- Here's the deal: Leave that kid at school alone for a week, and I'll make sure your boys walk.
Why you care so much for that skinny Negro anyway? Things I heard about you, he must really lay the pipe right, huh? Yeah, that's it.
All right.
Felix, we get it.
You're a badass, okay? But for once, don't be stupid.
Not bad advice.
All right, one week.
After that, we come for you your boy, and your little dog too.
Backup, be cool.
You get lonely out here, remember Weevil love you long time.
Quite a reputation I've got, huh? You wanna know how I lost my virginity? So do I.
I went to a party at Shelly Pomroy's just to show everyone their whispers and backstabbing didn't affect me.
It was a mistake.
I don't know who handed me the drink.
I wish I did.
It turns out it was your basic rum, Coke and roofie.
I never told my dad.
I'm not sure what he would've done with that information but no good would have come of it.
And what does it matter? I'm no longer that girl.
All right, lady, let's see you.
There's Veronica.
Hey, Ronnie.
Hey, we've decided that we'd rather surf than study today.
You wanna come with? Duncan will promise to take his shirt off to sweeten the pot.
Does it make you horny? - D.
K.
, flex for your ex.
- Shut up, Logan.
All right, all right.
What do you say to a little hooch, huh? What's the matter? Aren't you your mother's daughter? Now, there was a woman who can drink.
What's she up to nowadays? Maybe she'll join us.
You know where she is? Any clue? - Leave her alone, man.
- Chill pill, man.
All right.
Man, she used to be fun, man.
Bye.
It's been eight months since I've seen my mother.
A month after Dad lost his job, Mom split for good.
All she left me was a unicorn music box and a note saying she would be back for me someday.
Girl, you should hear what people say about you.
- So then what are you doing sitting here? - You sat next to me.
- This is my table.
- And what a fine table it is.
What do you suppose this is made of? Oak? - If people are saying such awful things - I figure I've got a choice.
I can either go hang out with the punks who laughed at me took pictures of me while I was taped to that flagpole or I can hang out with the chick who cut me down.
So you wanna get the P.
C.
H.
Bike Club off your ass? - This is so twisted.
I love it.
- Well, can you do it? We need it fast.
Oh, hell, yeah.
For you? Oh, anything.
I'll even throw in the glazing gratis.
Go to town.
Thanks, Corny.
Oh, my God.
While Corny did his thing, I downloaded the pictures from the Camelot.
Every girl's gotta have a hobby, photography's mine.
And? - Who's your daddy? - I hate it when you say that.
You know what, this is important.
You remember this.
I used to be cool.
- When? - '77.
Trans Am, Blue Oyster Cult in the eight-track a foxy, stacked blonde riding shotgun, racing for pink slips.
Wait a minute, I'm thinking about a Springsteen song.
Scratch it.
I was never cool.
I don't know which bothers me more, "foxy" or "stacked.
" I nailed our bail jumper 100 yards from Mexico.
Twenty-five hundred bucks.
No sack dinners tonight.
Tonight, we eat like the lower middle class to which we aspire.
Fire up the hibachi! For real, steaks.
So Jake Kane went to the Camelot last night and hooked up with some hussy.
Didn't I say something about you not getting involved in that? I remember you saying something about taking Backup.
You get pictures? No money shot.
The woman in question never stepped foot outside.
But I did get pictures of license plates.
I figured you could run them.
Let me see them.
You stay away from Jake Kane.
I don't want you doing anything else on this case.
We're gonna drop it anyway.
I'll let his wife know.
What? We're dropping the case? Why? What's wrong? Who is it? - Why don't you just tell me? - Veronica, no.
It's done, it's over with.
You just stay away from him.
I had another case to occupy my brain.
Loretta Cancun says The Seventh Veil has an interesting way of keeping their liquor license.
This was phase one of my plan to save Wallace.
Phase two would begin the next day.
- Let's go.
- Hey, Flo Jo, slow your ass down.
There you go.
Well, what's this, Logan? This appears to be a device used for marijuana.
- That's exactly what it looks like.
- All right, to the office.
- Oh, man, Logan's busted.
- It was you.
Listen, I know it was you.
This isn't over, okay? You're so cute.
I'll get you.
- I will! - Come on, let's go.
Solid.
- You're right, that was funny.
- Meet me at my car after school.
Let's see if you've done your part.
After school, I drove Wallace to the sheriff's department.
This was phase three.
We could get in trouble for this.
- Give it here.
- Wait.
I'm gonna do it.
I just thought one of us should state the obvious.
I wonder if it worked.
A fire! It worked.
Hey, Adam.
Hey, Eddie, is the chief around? Well, if it isn't Smokey the barely legal.
I saw you in action today, Billy.
You were very brave.
- Did you make the switch? - Fait accompli.
Thank you.
Plenty of people in this town still love Dad.
That comes in handy sometimes.
Other times, you rely on your own devices.
- San Juan Capistrano PD.
- Tony, it's Inga.
Guess what, our computers is down again.
Inga, upgrade already.
This must be the tenth time.
Preach to the choir, Tony.
Listen, we had a hit and run last night.
Victim got the plates, but we need to run them.
No problem.
Hit me.
Arizona, four, victor, golf, zero, zero, zero.
- I'll be damned.
Some families.
- What is it? That car is registered to one Lianne Mars.
Bored.
Call it a day, maybe catch a movie or something? Explain to me again why we're dropping the Kane case? Look I did run those plates and it's what I thought, corporate espionage stuff.
It's dangerous, and we don't get paid enough, so Let's just drop it, okay? Okay.
- Movie? - Can't.
Well, maybe we can rent something.
What are you in the mood for? Veronica.
Oh, little Veronica, how are you? - How's your father? - Fine, Inga.
We're both fine.
I haven't seen you since - Since - Been a while.
Where is the Cortez/Nguyen prelim? - Courtroom three.
- Thanks.
The last time I was here? Come on, Inga, that's easy.
Veronica, what happened to you? I need to report a crime.
Is there anyone in particular you'd like me to arrest or should I just round up the sons of the most important families in town? I've got no evidence to work with here but that doesn't matter to your family, now, does it? Look at this.
She cries.
I'll tell you what, Veronica Mars, why don't you go see the wizard.
Ask for a little backbone.
When we find them, they've still got They said they bought the beers, but we've got it all on tape.
- Your Honor, can we show the tape? - Let's see it.
All right, what you're gonna see here are the defendants.
They enter and - What are we seeing here, sheriff? - Your Honor, I Sheriff Lamb, is this one of your officers? Is this how you run your department? Is this an appropriate time to ask for a dismissal in People v.
Loretta Cancun? Counsel? Got a present for you.
I owe you bigtime.
- I had my own reasons for doing it, trust me.
- Oh, no, you don't.
You think I'll let you get away with that? That might play with the masses but underneath that "angry young woman" shell there's a slightly less angry young woman who's just dying to bake me something.
You're a marshmallow, Veronica Mars.
A Twinkie.
Okay, how do I make it loop-the-loop? - Veronica.
- Yeah? Your car.
Hey, Veronica Mars.
Do you know what your joke cost me? I'm pretty sure you won't be getting your bong back.
Wrong answer.
Would you care to guess again? Clearly, your sense of humor.
Nope.
And you're usually so good at pop quizzes.
No, the correct answer is my car.
That's right.
My daddy took my T-bird away.
And you know what I won't be having? Fun, fun, fun.
Logan.
What do we have here? Vandalism? No, no, no.
The only vandalism that happens in this town goes through me.
Listen, man, I don't have a problem with you.
That's where you're wrong.
Hey, yo, is this O-Town any good? I mean, my little sister likes it but, you know, she likes ponies and juice boxes too.
I suddenly feel like I'm in a scene from The Outsiders.
Be cool, Sodapop.
That's not his car.
That's my mom's car.
She can bill me.
Oh, yeah! That's it.
Head for the hills.
I'm not gonna say it twice.
Except for you.
You, say you're sorry.
Rub a lamp.
I said, say you're sorry.
Kiss my ass.
- Now - Let him go.
Are you sure? I could do this for a while.
I don't want his apology.
I hope you guys are comfortable.
So that surveillance tape just That's fortunate.
My uncle has a body shop on the highway.
If you come in, I can make sure your body gets the full-service treatment.
- Okay, now you apologize.
- I'm sorry.
Was that too dirty? - Not to me, dork to him.
- Right.
No.
- Fine.
He has the only copy of the Sac-n-Pac video.
- Wallace, let's go decide what to do with it.
- Okay, wait, wait.
Look, look.
I'm sorry, man, for, you know, taping you to the flagpole.
I'm sorry.
All right.
Can I have the tape back now? Nope.
This morning when I woke up, I had one person in the world I could count on.
But if there's something I've learned in this business the people you love let you down.
Dad doesn't think I know where he keeps the combination to the safe.
He's wrong.
Of course, I've never needed to use it.
Oh, my God, the Lilly Kane murder file.
What's Dad been up to? Some of these notes are less than a month old.
The confessed killer is already on death row, but Dad still hasn't given up on the case.
My surveillance photo from the Camelot? Why is it in the Lilly Kane file? What was Mom doing there, and what business did she have with Jake Kane? And the million-dollar question: Why did Dad lie to me? What are you doing back here? I saw the light.
- I forgot my books.
- Let's up and at them, Atom Ant.
It's family fun night.
I called out to Mama Leoni's.
- I rented the South Park movie.
- My favorite.
Hey, who's your daddy? You are.
I have to make a stop, so I'll meet you at home? Okay, but hurry up.
I worry about you.
Yeah, you do.
Okay, so he lied to me but I've gotta believe he has his reasons.
He's probably trying to protect me.
That's what dads do.
Still, I've got too many questions swirling around in my head to wait until he's willing to share.
These questions need answers.
That's what I do.
Okay, it's a long shot, but I can't help myself.
I used to think I knew what tore our family apart.
Now I'm sure I don't.
But I promise this: I will find out what really happened and I will bring this family back together again.
I'm sorry.
Is that mushy? Well, you know what they say: "Veronica Mars, she's a marshmallow.
"