Veronica Mars s01e02 Episode Script

- Previously on Veronica Mars: - I used to sit there.
The only reason I was allowed past the velvet ropes was Duncan Kane.
- He used to be my boyfriend.
- I've got a secret.
A good one.
Duncan, what happened? Where's Lilly? But you already know how this part of the story ends.
The murder of Lilly Kane.
And that bumbling local sheriff you heard about was my dad.
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.
Another big Friday night.
- You got plans? - I don't know.
I might take Backup for a run or rent a movie, maybe.
Hey, congratulations.
You're officially Neptune High's most boring person.
Did I mention the movie might be PG-13? Oh, jump back, wild child.
What about you? Your life still a nonstop Nelly video? Hey, at least I want my life to be a nonstop Nelly video.
- What do you propose? - This.
I found this on the floor in gym.
- You wanna crash an 09er party? - Maybe.
I don't know what an 09er is.
It's someone who lives in the prestigious 90909 zip code.
You can't tell who's throwing it.
You don't know when it starts or where it is.
Because it's all in code.
The moons tell you it starts when it gets dark.
The hourglass indicates sand, which means it's the beach.
The Ks and the nines tell you it's, more specifically, Dog Beach.
- And the little eggs? - Friday.
It's in code so undesirables Which, by the way, is you and me.
- Don't show up.
How do you know all this? I used to be one of them.
What do you say, dog? You ready to get this party started? You ready to burn this mother down? Up jump the boogie? My plan, and I haven't worked this out entirely yet, so bear with me was to raise the roof.
See, that is so you, man, Mister Old School.
Me, old school? You're the one who wanted to come down here and get jiggy with it.
- Yeah.
- So you wanna meet the locals? - As long as they're humble God-fearing, salt-of-the-earth types.
Every last one.
You look great.
Yo, D.
- Hey, who's your date, man? - It's Troy Vandergraff.
His father's the architect who built the county museum.
- Aren't you the little social columnist.
- Troy, this is Logan.
- I guess you already know Caitlin.
- Hey, what's going on? - From the marina, right? - Aren't you going back east for school? Change of plans.
The parents decided they were gonna stay in SoCal so I am enrolling here on Monday.
- Yay.
- Wow, lucky us, huh? - So how's the party going, man? You like this, huh? What, time for s'mores? This is the good stuff.
- Is this imported? - This is a private party, man.
Oh, is it? I'm sorry.
I must have been confused.
Hey, let me ask you something.
Have I ever asked you if I could come play through at Torrey Pines? Have you ever run into me surfing down at Cape Crescent, bro? Have you ever even once come home to find us throwing a kegger in your backyard? No? Then what the hell do you think you're doing on our beach? Am I supposed to apologize? - Am I supposed to shake in my boots? - Maybe.
Look around you, man.
It ain't 15 on four tonight.
Hey, Caitlin.
You've been to my house a bunch, right? - It's nice, right? It's clean, well-kept.
- Very.
Do you wanna know why? It's because Weevil's grandma keeps it that way.
She is a good little worker, your grandma.
Spic-and-span.
It's a tough job, you know? Grandma says you go through a box of tissue a day.
Your room alone.
What can I say to that, you know? She's a very sexy lady.
Thank you.
This is the Sheriff's Department.
I want your IDs out.
- Go, go, go.
- And everyone remain where you are.
Are we gonna go after them? No, let's get out, get the kegs.
Tell the guys, cookout at my place tomorrow night.
- Hey, hey! - Stay right there.
Move your ass, little man.
Come on, I'm losing.
- Sheriff's Department.
Open up.
- What did you boys do? Don't worry about it, Grandma.
We'll handle it, all right? Guess you busted all those rich kids already, huh? Boys.
Leticia Navarro, I got a warrant for your arrest.
- Come with us.
- What's your problem? - If you want me, be a man about it! - What are the charges? Credit-card fraud.
Credit She doesn't even have any credit cards, man! Not in her own name, no.
But somebody took credit card offers out of the Echolls' family trash.
They opened up accounts, they rang up charges.
You heard anything about that? No, I didn't think so.
Because it would take a major-league loser to let a sweet old lady like that do his time for him.
Get them inside, man.
Listen to this list of charges to the card.
Half-dozen video games, limo rides, Magic Mountain tickets, motorcycle gear.
It goes on like that.
I sincerely doubt my client, Mrs.
Navarro suddenly decides to steal from the Echolls after 10 years of loyal service just so she can get herself a new piercing from Puddy Tats.
It's gotta be the kid, Eli Navarro.
- What do they call him? - Weevil.
Oh, clearly, it's Weevil.
Lamb doesn't even believe it's Mrs.
Navarro but the P.
O.
Box where the merchandise was sent is in her name.
Plus, she was wearing a diamond pendant purchased with one of the phony cards.
Lamb could've set Weevil up.
He hates him, you know.
- I started picking up Eli when he was 12.
- He just helped me out of a jam recently.
Look, I'm sure he's a real mensch, but I've got a grandma in jail and I'd really like to get her out.
- We'll dive in.
Thanks, Cliff.
Honey he goes to your school.
You mind taking point on this for a few days? - I'm working on something.
- I'll see what I can find.
The trouble with befriending the leader of a motorcycle gang is that at the end of the day, he's still the leader of a gang.
I'd like to believe differently, but I doubt it's his grandmother who's buying video games and paying for new motorcycle paint jobs.
I've hospitalized people for less than what you're doing right now.
What, admiring your paint job? I know what you're doing, and admiring my paint job isn't it.
I'm following up on things for the lawyer who's representing your grandma.
Yeah, I met the guy.
He says I should confess.
You think you will? - I got nothing to say to you, man.
- Weevil, your grandma's in jail.
Oh, are you reminding me? Because I almost forgot.
I'm just saying, with your reputation, you can't blame McCormack for thinking My reputation? Well, then I guess what everybody says about you is true too, huh? That you like it a little freaky, don't you? That you spy on Duncan Kane.
That you send him pictures of yourself.
Be honest, Veronica.
You think you're this big outsider but push comes to shove, you're still one of them.
You still think like one of them.
Take off.
I don't want you around here.
Are you gonna wear that cap inside? At the table? Do you think I'm offending someone? In here? Simple etiquette, that's all.
Well, look who's here.
Ah, if it isn't my predecessor and mentor.
How's the dirty-picture biz, boss? It looks like it's better than being sheriff, actually.
You got a killer on the loose, Lamb.
"In a daring daylight escape, Ray Lee Hempstead denied bail earlier this week after his arrest for manslaughter broke out the back windshield of a Balboa County Sheriff's Department cruiser and fled on foot.
" - Meeks and Johnson lost him.
- I think those are two guys you hired.
- You hear that? That's leadership.
Way to stand up on your own two feet, Lamb, and say, "Hey, the buck stops there.
" You know what's coming up? October 3rd.
Are you doing anything special to mark the one-year anniversary of Lilly Kane's murder? I got it.
Dress like a sheriff and crucify some poor, grieving father, for old time's sake.
Tell me again how you solved the crime of the century.
Wait a minute, I remember.
An anonymous tip leads you to the supposed killer's houseboat.
Did anybody show up to collect the $ 100,000 reward for that information? - Do you find that strange? - No.
What about your theory? Jake Kane murders his own daughter.
We've got a witness and phone records that have him nowhere near the house.
All the Kanes, in fact, were accounted for at the time of the murder.
What's that? Nothing to say to that, right? - Sacks, we got our order ready? - Good luck with that fugitive, Don.
Smell you later.
"Smell you later"? I gotta run.
The counselor wants to see me before class.
About what? My schedule and my attitude, not necessarily in that order.
Her words.
- Give us a smile, love.
- Troy Vandergraff.
- What are you doing in here? - Oh, hey.
I signed up for diving, but there were only four people in the class.
So they cancelled it, stuck me in here.
So don't you mess with me.
I'm an office aide.
- That's great.
- Yeah, for who? For me.
Copy all of Weevil's attendance records from this past month and get them to me.
Do I look like James Bond to you? Am I asking you to retrieve a nuclear warhead? No.
Just copy the attendance records.
It's cake.
Why don't you try moving the caption down.
See how it looks.
- Can I help you with something? - The counselor stuck me in here.
She says I'm disconnected and passionless.
Ms.
Dent? - Caitlin.
- I'm going to the gym to talk to people for the student poll.
- Be back by the end of the period.
Remember that we're a multi-cultural school with a diverse population of students from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds.
- Meaning? - Meaning don't just interview your friends.
So, Veronica, welcome to newspaper class.
I was thinking maybe I could just take pictures.
I'm not sure if you could just do that, but we can start there.
- Do you have any experience with a camera? - Yeah.
Some.
This is a 35 mm camera.
Now, my suggestion, as you're starting out, is to set it on auto I'd really be more comfortable if I could just use my own camera.
The swivel LCD comes in handy when you're doing overhead shooting or ground-level macro shooting.
The optical zoom actually goes up to 71.
2 mm.
It's good to have the raw-file option to mess with the images post-exposure without nearly the loss of image quality you'd get with a JPEG file.
And when it's dark outside, you should use a flash.
I have your first assignment.
Are you free tomorrow? - I guess.
- We're doing a feature on Bodie Chang.
- You know him? - Surfer.
I was in study hall with him.
That's him.
He's winning all these competitions.
He's got another one at Gold Coast.
Meet the guy who's doing the story.
Duncan Kane, this is Veronica.
Veronica is taking pictures tomorrow.
You'll ride with Bodie's parents.
- I'll drive.
- Great.
Maybe Veronica can I can drive too.
Okay.
Oil crisis be damned.
Look at this.
Half of these credit card purchases are online orders and the ones made on school days were made between 11 a.
m.
And 12 p.
m.
That's fourth period.
Yeah, you realize, don't you, that this guy you're trying to help out duct-taped me buck-naked to a flagpole just last week? Man, you really hold a grudge.
Yeah, I'm funny that way.
And you're welcome for those records.
Wallace, King Kong ain't got nothing on you.
- Hell, no.
- But think about this.
How can a guy who, according to records was in auto shop seven of the eight days these purchases were made manage to make online orders? Aren't you supposed to prove he did it so you can get his grandma out of jail? But it's impossible.
There's no Internet connection in auto shop.
- It can't be hard for him to slip out of there.
- Seven times? Yeah, but his arraignment isn't until Monday.
I don't think he did it.
- Who didn't do what? - Weevil.
I was looking through the attendance records and I just don't think it's possible.
- Veronica.
- Cliff just got back from the courthouse.
- They released Letty Navarro hours ago.
- That's great.
- They released her because Eli "Weevil" Navarro came in and confessed to the crime.
How difficult is it to find good help these days? - What will you do about your housekeeper? - We had to let her go.
If you can't trust your domestics, you don't feel safe in your own home.
I won't miss her.
She was totally rude to me every time I was there.
Did you know that 90 percent of all identity theft is committed by relatives of the victim? That's an interesting fact.
- At least I think so.
- But you know what? No one cares what you think, Veronica Mars.
Not anymore.
Not since you stabbed your friends in the back.
- You seem to care a bit what I think.
- Tell the truth.
Did you just sign up for newspaper so you could be around Duncan? No, I'm here so I can be closer to you.
They're thinking of putting me in your fourth period government class.
- We've got computer lab fourth period.
- Oh, shoot.
My loss.
What you got there, V? I printed out the entire browser history from Logan's computer in his fourth period computer-lab class.
- So is he guilty? Well, of wanting desperately to see pictures of Alyssa Milano naked, yes.
But of making bogus credit card charges? I don't think so.
Wait, the Neptune Grand.
Logan visited the Neptune Grand Hotel website.
He didn't make reservations online, but But there's a charge on the credit card for the honeymoon suite.
Bummer.
- Flat? - Just as God made me.
- Are you always this persnickety? - Sometimes I'm even persnicketier.
I'm supposed to be taking surf competition photos in Gold Coast in 30 minutes, and this is my second mysterious flat since school started.
Well, here.
Let me help you.
- I'm Troy, by the way.
- I'm Veronica.
Really? Veronica.
Okay, yeah, that does make a lot more sense.
- Makes more sense how? - It's nothing.
I just I should never listen to those guys.
Really, who names their daughter Trampy McBitch? - Hey.
- Hey, nice ride.
- What's up? - Not much.
How are you doing? - Good.
- With two miles on it.
- It's new.
- Tooling around school a little? What's Troy doing talking to Veronica? - What do you care? - I don't, it just Has anyone told him? Hey, Veronica, you need a ride? If we don't go now, we'll miss it.
Go.
I'll finish this, throw the tools in the trunk.
Chivalry not dead.
Good to know.
I'm right over here.
I should've walked to Gold Coast.
It's only 30 miles, but with the awkward silence, it feels like 300.
In five seconds, I'm gonna do the Charlie's Angels roll right out of the moving car.
Five, four, three Lilly loved this song.
Yeah.
- Why'd you join Pep Squad, Veronica? - The P.
E.
Credit.
- You? - Veronica, I suffer from too much pep.
I needed a pep outlet.
Plus, Sassy says girls who join the clubs really get the fellas.
Because you really need a lot of help on that front.
Well, you know what my mom says: You have to kiss a few toads.
That's it.
That's her entire philosophy.
All your mother says to me is, "Veronica, shouldn't you be getting home soon?" That sounds like her.
- Why does she hate me? - Well, it's not your fault.
She'd hate anyone she thought that Duncan might love as much as her.
Friendly advice: Watch her.
She'll break the two of you up if she can.
Slow down.
Wonderful.
License and registration.
Can I have the two of you step out of the car? - Is there a problem? - I've got an impound notice on this vehicle.
Bunch of parking tickets and a moving violation dated October 3rd.
They wanna impound the car.
I guess there are a bunch of tickets.
No, not mine.
Lilly's.
Just outside of town on the PCH.
About a mile from the Real Inn.
It's a long story.
I'll tell you when you get here.
Pull around the front.
- You ready to go? - Yeah, I've already got it in neutral.
Officer? Officer, have you called this in to the sheriff? No, sir.
We generally don't call in routine traffic violations.
All right.
Well, why don't you give him a shout.
Duncan, did you get everything out of? - Hello, Veronica.
- Mr.
Kane.
The last time my dad and Jake Kane were in the same place at the same time was in a Sheriff's Department interrogation room.
I told you that I was at work When Jake finished his story, Dad told the most powerful man in town that he was sure he was somehow involved in his own daughter's death.
Jake went to the press, the adoring press, tears in his eyes and told the world how much he missed his baby and how he was wrongfully accused.
The fine people of Neptune gathered their pitchforks and torches stormed the county commissioner's office, and ran Dad out of office.
My friends got on the bandwagon as well.
They gave me a choice.
I could stand by my dad or stand by Duncan and my dead best friend's family.
I chose Dad.
It's a decision I live with every day.
And you wanna know the kicker? I don't even know what's true anymore.
Maybe everyone else is right.
Maybe Dad screwed up the investigation.
Maybe I gave up my circle of friends, my life, over an error in Dad's judgment.
Hold on.
We're not gonna move the car.
I'm so sorry, Mr.
Kane.
I had no idea.
Thank you.
So? What's up? You and Duncan starting to hang out again? I'll tell you the details of my personal life if you tell me why you went after Jake when to everyone, he was a heartbroken father.
- Honey, are you and Duncan star? - No.
It's a school assignment, that's all.
Can we stop by the Neptune Grand? - What for? - The Navarro case.
- I need a little help.
- Isn't that already solved? I thought they had the confessed criminal in jail.
Oh, all right.
Fine.
What do you need me to do? Excuse me.
We need to talk to somebody in security right now.
- Right now! - Dad, will you back off and let me handle it.
You handle it, or I handle it, but we're gonna get to the bottom of this! Well, would you just stand over there? You're scaring people.
Hi.
I'm really hoping you can help me with this.
What seems to be the problem? I came in here about a month ago with a guy.
Long story short, I'm pregnant.
Okay.
Here's the thing.
The next part's a little embarrassing.
I don't remember the guy's name.
Or what he looks like.
Tequila? Never again.
My dad's wondering if there's any sort of surveillance video we could take a look at.
Here's the credit card bill.
He had me pay for the room.
Let me go talk to a manager.
It was good.
- Little over the top.
- Think it worked? A bit? I can bring it down.
- You try being bad cop.
- Don't make me laugh.
It's easier being good cop than it is bad cop.
I'm sorry, but we only keep video surveillance for two weeks.
But I did get your detailed bill summary.
Thanks.
Guess who signed for room service in a room charged to the Echolls' family credit card.
Logan's girlfriend, Caitlin Ford.
- I know it was you.
- What was me? You stole your mom's credit cards, but made a mistake going to the hotel because you let Caitlin sign for room service.
Well, that's great.
Prove it.
I wanna show you something.
What do you think? - Pretty cool, huh? - Yeah.
- Wanted man, coming through.
- Yeah.
I believe you misplaced this.
- Darby, go on and get him to holding.
- Right.
Let's go.
You don't think we should alert the media? Take some pictures? I thought that was standard operating procedure here now.
Hi, Inga.
- How are Trixie and Bud? - Trixie just had puppies.
- There's still one left.
- If that's all Now, do you plan on cutting the reward check personally or should I talk to Cathy down in Accounts Payable? Should I follow you? - That's so typical.
- Yep, yep.
- How's that spare tire holding up? - Ah, there it is.
The quid pro quo.
Our great nation was built on quid pro quo.
I am having a party on Saturday, and you should come.
Well, both of you.
- Cool.
- But especially you.
Haven't you heard? I'm not allowed in the first-class cabin.
Look I don't believe in much, but I do believe in this: When sexy, sassy girls can't come to a shindig of mine it's time for all parties involved to stand up and admit that, "Hey maybe I was a little bit wrong or sorry.
" I mean, let bygones be bygones.
Screw pride.
Let's dance, baby, let's dance.
That was beautiful, man.
- We'll see.
- An open mind.
That's all I ask.
Is it that easy? Say, "Maybe I was wrong," and get my old life back? - Where you off to, superfly? - I'm gonna nail that sucker.
Hey, this kid Troy.
How long have you known him? Oh, a few years.
His family has a slip next to ours at the marina.
They usually come in August, stay the month.
They move around a lot.
You know, wherever his dad has a project.
I'm gonna get a burrito.
Want something? Then you are in charge of your girlfriend's purse.
Thanks.
Hello, and thank you for calling Movieline.
- Hello? - Yeah, hi.
This number appeared on my bill, and I don't recognize it.
- Can you tell me who this is? - It's Jessie Ford.
And who's this? Who's she calling at 1 in the morning? Oh, hey, baby.
Calling me during a school day.
That's daring.
Dad, hey.
Can you run a cell phone number for me? Baby? Hello? Baby? Oh, you wanna play the silent game? Maybe later we'll play the tickle game if you want.
That's cool.
I'll just talk.
I know you like it.
I miss you, mama.
I can't wait to see you.
- Watch it there, girl.
- Confess.
It's good for the soul.
- What? - The moron says what? - What? - You're busted, Chardo.
- Do I have to spell it out for you? - Yeah, why don't you? All right.
So one day, you go to pick up your grandma at the Echolls' house and she asks you to take out a bag of trash.
There they are in front of you: Virgin, high- limit, pre-approved credit card applications.
Phone in the confirmation code and start spending.
Then you use Logan Echolls' family credit cards to take out Caitlin Ford in the manner to which she's accustomed.
Gourmet meals, five-star hotels, limo rides.
But the best part about it is that your cousin Weevil takes the fall for you.
- So you're promoted.
- I didn't want that to happen.
Weevil's like my brother.
Your brother is out picking up trash on the highway.
You know what? It's killing me, okay? But you see, I got a plan.
- I'm all ears.
- Caitlin and me, we're gonna run away.
We are.
And once we're gone I'll write a confession, I'll send it back they gotta let Weevil go then.
- Chardo Caitlin is never gonna run away with you.
- You don't know her.
- Oh, I know her.
She's a thrill-seeker.
Doing you was like doing the Dew, and that's all it was.
You can't go out there, because Logan knows and he wants your head on a stick.
I ain't hiding, am I? What are you gonna do when Weevil finds out? How's Weevil gonna find out? - You should turn yourself in.
- I ain't going nowhere without her.
Caitlin and me we love each other.
So tell me why every time I see her, Logan Echolls has his hands all over her.
I don't understand why you're doing it.
You know Chardo gave you that pendant but you're letting Weevil do the time for him? Eli is still 17.
Chardo is 18, and he's got a record.
They'd send him to prison.
Weevil can do four months of juvie.
Weevil thinks he's taking the fall for you.
I have dinner to fix, okay? Do you know what he was doing with those credit cards? He spent all that money, thousands of dollars taking out a spoiled, rich white girl.
Logan Echolls' girlfriend.
You must have met her.
Caitlin Ford.
No, not her.
She doesn't like her ice cubes made with tap water.
You lost your job and now Weevil's doing time so that Chardo can take this girl out in style? Let me see those receipts.
Oh, it's so good to have you home.
Veronica Mars.
I hear you're to thank for this Kodak moment.
Didn't you get the memo? The bad guy was already in jail.
- Give me some love.
- Mijo, I wanna make you something to eat.
- Okay.
- You should know the judge issued a warrant for Chardo after authorizing your release.
- They're out looking for him.
- Yeah, well, they won't be the only ones.
Logan and the 09ers are after Chardo too.
You should find him before they do.
We'll find him.
Baby, it's me.
I'm outside.
This is it.
It's time to go.
It's what we talked about.
Caitlin, look outside your window.
I'm here.
What's wrong, baby? Is everything okay? Well, if it isn't the bad apple, thinking he can steal my girl.
I already stole your girlfriend.
You're just too dumb to know it.
Check it out, man.
Sweet music, huh? Hold him.
Don't move.
Well, I guess this is what they call inevitable, huh? Hey, look.
We even got home-court advantage.
Let's talk.
What's up with that, man? - Let him go.
- Logan.
I said, let him go.
Come on.
- Let's go, man.
- Let's go.
You're the man, you know what I'm saying? You were there for me, boys.
I like that.
I appreciate it, you know what I'm saying? Most of all you, man.
I'm sorry you had to take the fall.
I was gonna get you out.
You and me, we're brothers.
You're out.
Out of the club.
Out of my life.
And you know what that means.
Weevil, come on, coz.
Hey, let me make it up to you.
Eli.
Eli! - Pull them off before they go too far.
- You got it, boss.
Dad? Yeah, honey.
What made you go after Jake Kane? What makes you ask? Other than that question defines our very existence? I think if I knew more about the case and the evidence Honey, it's ugly.
I want thoughts of Lilly's death out of your head.
- I don't wanna pour more into it.
- I can handle it.
Just look at it this way.
If I knew what would happen to us Your mom would leave, that school would get tough for you.
- I never would've pursued Jake Kane the way I did.
- I still wanna know.
- I know you do.
Let's go home.
A couple weeks before Lilly was murdered and Dad was still sheriff she and I snuck into the back room and made fake IDs so we could get into clubs.
I had them sent to my house.
They arrived days after her body was discovered.
I stuck them in a drawer and forgot until the deputy mentioned Lilly's October 3rd ticket.
The good thing about visiting Sheriff's Department on a Sunday is that the people who work on weekends don't remember me.
They're new.
Is there something I can help you with? The insurance company called my dad and said we have an outstanding ticket.
- There's the license number.
- Okay, and can I see your ID? What are you doing here? Just paying off a ticket.
Hey, any luck finding Chardo Navarro? No.
You should talk to my dad.
He's really good at that sort of thing.
You got a smart mouth, kid.
I don't think there's wiggle room on this one.
- Thanks, I'll mail in the payment.
- All right, Miss Kane.
Sorry about the bad news.
I haven't gone more than 30 minutes without glancing at the ticket.
One of those automated intersection cameras caught Lilly running a red light at 6:02 p.
m.
, almost two hours after her supposed time of death.
I don't know if it's the photo of Lilly singing and smiling on the final day of her life that's been haunting me or the fact that, suddenly, none of the Kanes have alibis that hold up.
Jake, Celeste, even Duncan.
Dad was right.
The case doesn't add up.
I made a choice a long time ago.
Stand by Dad or stand by the people tearing him down.
You didn't make it Saturday night.
I guess I didn't feel I was even a little bit wrong or sorry.
Well, a wise man once said that a "no" is like a "yes" except with different letters arranged in a different order.
But, you know, it disappears on the wind.
There goes the neighborhood.
They just put Golden Tee in the Sac-n-Pac.
We need to go.
I can get you free games.
Hey, guys, look.
- Hate to be her.
- Yeah, that would suck.
I've never played Golden Tee, but I'm pretty sure I can kick both your asses.
- Lead the way.
- I'm just saying.
- Ready to lose? - I think we got a competition going on.