Veronica Mars s01e09 Episode Script
Drinking the Kool-Aid
Previously on Veronica Mars: All this time I've been thinking Mom bolted because she couldn't handle losing everything.
Maybe she just couldn't handle losing me.
Did you know that your dad and my mom were king and queen of the prom? - Mr.
Kane.
- Veronica, we meet again.
What are the odds? It's been a year since my best friend, Lilly Kane, was murdered.
- You're still investigating Lilly's murder.
- Solve the case and your mom comes home.
Let's solve the case.
It's the footage of Abel Koontz's arrest.
I know who you are, Veronica Mars.
My dad tried to save your life.
Look in a mirror.
Are you the product of a schlubby sheriff or the king and queen of the prom? So Jake Kane is your father.
Deal with it, Veronica.
Does Dad know? Did he go after Jake Kane so obsessively because of the affair? Oh, God.
Does this mean? Is Duncan my? Those photos that were sent to Mom, the ones with me framed in a gunsight was that how Jake finally stuck it to Dad, his old rival? If so, I'm taking this bastard down hard.
I don't care whose father he is.
This one was taken last year, downtown.
My sole reason for being in that part of town was that Mom insisted I see a counselor after Lilly died.
Every Thursday for six weeks, Dr.
Dave and I stared across an ottoman at each other.
But which Thursday? Book Week? Mrs.
Murphy, when was Book Week? Wow, now, there's an attitude I like to see in our post-literate age.
Don't worry, Veronica.
It's still months away.
- Last year's Book Week.
- It's always the first week in February.
Okay, now I know which Thursday.
In the picture, I'm standing in this exact spot.
Whoever took those photos had to be sitting at this exact table.
It's the only one where the angle matches.
Dated and time-stamped.
Gotcha.
Do you keep all your receipts? Is it possible for you to pull just the ones from February 4th, between 4:45 and 5:30? - Someone's been stalking me.
- My God.
I'm positive whoever took these shots was sitting at that table over there.
Clarence Wiedman.
Big mistake, paying with a credit card.
And there he is.
The man who took surveillance photos of me.
Well, wouldn't you know.
Kane Software.
Main number, please.
The number you requested is 555-0125.
Kane Software.
How may I direct your call? Give me Clarence Wiedman, please.
You've reached Clarence Wiedman, head of security, Kane Software.
Please leave a message.
And there it is.
I know who's responsible for scaring Mom away.
So if Jake Kane is my biological father that information is gonna be worth millions.
And after what that family has done to mine, I intend to collect.
- What happened to you? - It's nothing.
A little collision at home.
Now cover your eyes and give me your hand.
A collision at home? Did you fall in the garbage disposal? No, no.
Home plate.
- Safe! - Did you see a doctor? Honey, it's fine.
Chicks dig scars.
Now come on.
You gotta see this.
What is your deal? You're jacked up like some hillbilly kid who just stumbled into Daddy's meth lab.
Hey, come on.
Sit.
- It's a waterbed.
- All right.
Come on, you've wanted one of these since you were 5 years old.
I also wanted to marry Vanilla Ice and build the world's largest collection of Z-Bots.
You asked me No, you begged me for a waterbed, like, four years in a row.
It was your obsession.
It's all coming back to me now.
The way you explained it, Santa was cool with the basic concept but had doubts about second-floor deployment.
That well-known bedrock pragmatism of elvish culture.
But I gotta tell you if it had been my call, I would've - You're so full of it.
But it is incredibly sweet of you.
- Yard sale, right? Ten bucks, maybe? - No.
It's okay.
You forgot to remove the masking-tape price-tag sticker.
Besides, our money situation being what it is I'm glad you didn't blow your wad on a whim gift.
You'll be gladder to know that I got it as a throw-in with some old Gordon Lightfoot LPs.
I love you.
Yeah, you too.
Well, anyway sorry it took so long to get Santa's old dead ass in gear.
- Night, sweetie.
- Night.
He was as well-adjusted a kid as you could ever wanna meet.
Secure, extroverted, lots of friends and school activities.
Super popular, super focused.
Girlfriends, top grades.
Not into the drug scene, as far as we could tell.
Definitely not a druggie.
You know, Casey is just not the kind of kid who just up and joins a cult.
Well, it's actually the ones who seem to have everything that so often We know what you're thinking.
Spoiled rich boy, raised in the soulless lap of luxury.
No material whim denied, no spiritual need met.
Six weeks ago, Casey kisses me goodbye and drives to school, same as always but he never comes home.
- He's gone off to live at some place called the Mooncalf Collective and, basically: "Thanks for all you've done, guys, but I can take it from here.
" - The Porsche.
- That's right, the Porsche.
He sold his Boxster and gave all the money over to the cult.
Look, Mr.
Mars, here's what we need and what we're prepared to pay handsomely for you to do.
- Thank you, Mr.
Mars.
- You're welcome.
- Thank you very much.
- Thank you.
Now what? I'm trying to draw a blood sample.
Our health teacher said she'll give extra credit for anyone taking a self-administered HIV test.
I ordered this thing online but I am seriously punking on this finger stick.
This is so endearing.
My badass, action-figure daughter is afraid to draw a teensy little drop of blood.
You know, if you really were a good father you'd let me draw some of your blood for the test.
Nobody will know the difference.
Besides, you've been sexually active.
- I haven't.
- Oh, for crying out loud.
You're serious about this, aren't you? Let me have that.
You wuss.
So those are the parents of Casey Gant.
Do you know him? Unfortunately, yeah.
He's just another slice off the loaf of shallow, vapid pain in the ass 09erdom.
- Well, despite your assessment his parents are still a little irked about his decision to run off and join a cult.
He joined a cult? What do they worship? Wedgies? Keggers? - Their parents' platinum cards? - Doesn't matter.
He's 18, so there's little the law can do.
If we get him back, the Gants are offering a 5-grand bonus so it's time to focus, like the proverbial laser.
Target acquired and locked on.
What they'd be paying us for is proof of any unlawful activity out there like firearms, drugs, kidnapping.
Anything will work.
All we need is a sound legal basis for the sheriff's department to shut them down.
- I'm still with you.
- He's a classmate of yours.
Maybe you can find something that'll shed some light.
His parents say he's still showing up at school.
For a $5000 bonus I'll get you his genetic code.
Veronica, do not, under pain of slow, agonizing death even think about going to the compound yourself.
I'll run the title search, do the background check, take the recon shots, all of that Got you, Frenchy.
Okay, so there's no health-class extra credit.
There is, however, an online company that does paternity testing.
I need to know, without a doubt, who my father is.
- Hey.
- I am not ready to face Duncan.
Too many sweet memories have become chilling what-ifs.
Hacky sack? The final arena of unquestioned white domination.
- New crush? - Hardly.
That's Casey Gant.
He sold his Porsche, joined a cult and took up hacky sack.
He looks normal enough.
Not if you knew him before.
"The prisoners pray when they're on death row.
Hear the angels sing.
The junkie cries for love, but it's all run out.
" Go on, Eli.
"When the angels sing the sins of the world and it's cold on the streets when you're alone and the tears, they start to fall when it all comes down, hear the angels sing.
" Casey Gant, you can learn good manners or go see Mr.
Clemmons.
Eli, it's amazing work.
- You're doing great.
- Miss, that's not original poetry.
That's a Social Distortion song.
Is that true, Eli? I know who will give me all the dirt I want.
- Who? - His ex-girlfriend.
I'm as clueless as anyone about this trip he's on.
I mean, one day he's totally cool and the next he's, like, alien lobotomy boy.
- Any explanation? - Nothing that made a bit of sense.
Just a lot babbling about "renouncing the toxic death style of a late-stage capitalist society" and "un-remembering the consumer siren song.
" I think composting came up too, once.
It was just so bizarre.
I mean, I had to cut him loose.
Did he talk about any new friends he'd made before he starting weirding out, I mean.
No, but you know what? I think he's got something going on with Miss Mills.
- You mean, like sexually? - Yeah.
It got to where they were doing everything together.
He even started working for the literary magazine.
This is the same guy who's been downloading every writing assignment since the seventh grade.
He used to think Cliff Notes were for the intellectual poseurs.
There's no way they're not getting it on.
How to get in tight with the lit mag crowd.
I've got it.
Become one of them.
The attributes and style of crap teen poetry: Must be written in a funky color of ink.
Must include dominant themes of alienation sexual ambivalence, self-loathing, death, et cetera.
Dad, you're en ex-cop.
You know gangland enforcer types.
Can't someone intimidate the maintenance supe to fix the hot water problem? - He swears he's putting new copper pipes new 5000-gallon tank, the works.
That nimrod has been feeding us the same line for five months.
Just try to tough it out.
Hey, if we get that 5-grand bonus, maybe we can go look for a new place.
Time to get cracking.
Hope y'all have those editorial content analyses I assigned last week.
Everybody? Okay, then.
Let's break into groups of four and start comparing notes.
Can you feel the love? Hey, Veronica.
Miss Mills, what's up? I read the poem you submitted for the literary journal.
- "I Cut Because I Can.
" - Oh, yeah.
There are a bunch I thought about submitting, but that one seemed more I don't know, relevant to where I am now.
So are you gonna publish it? You have a very unique outlook, Veronica.
If you ever feel like sharing, there's a place where you're always welcome to do so.
We're kind of like family.
Yeah, I have some friends who work on your literary magazine and they say it's really cool.
- I'm talking about the folks out at the Mooncalf Collective.
That's where I live.
Something tells me you'd really enjoy visiting.
You know, if you'd like, I could even take you out there today.
- How's that sound? - So Miss Mills lures kids out to cult headquarters? That sounds great.
I'm ready to go whenever you are.
Wait.
What did Dad say about going out there? Come on over.
This is all so amazing.
I feel like I'm on a movie set or something.
Thank you so much for inviting me, Miss Mills.
Oh, around here, I'm just Holly.
And as far as you can see is all ours.
You should wander around later, get a feel for the place.
Just stay out of the barn.
You do not wanna go in there, trust me.
Hey, way to throw me off your trail, Holly.
"Wander freely? Don't go in the barn, whatever you do "? Maybe I should play this needy, despondent waif card more often.
Come meet my man.
Well, really, he kind of belongs to all of us.
Hey.
Forbidden barn? Check.
Implied polygamy? Check.
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a cult.
Veronica, this is Josh.
Hey there.
Hi.
Help.
I knew I should have included a few discreet lesbian overtones in that poem.
Hey, Veronica.
I heard you were coming, but I had to see to believe.
Yeah, I don't blame you.
This is off my beaten path a bit.
It makes sense that you'd wind up here sooner or later.
- Yeah.
- Cool.
I'm sure I'll be seeing a lot more of you, and I'll catch up with you later, okay? Veronica, it's only a few hours till dinnertime.
Why don't you stay and join us? As you can see, the gardens have really blessed us this year.
Sure, that would be great.
I'm starving.
All I had today was a beef MexiMelt and some cinnamon crispas.
Those crispas are awesome, aren't they? Frankly, I'd give my body to anybody for one of those Choco Taco ice cream desserts.
Believe it or not, I think we can raise the culinary bar a bit higher.
As you can see, we get a lot done through teamwork.
In fact, if you wanna jump in you're more than welcome, if you're interested.
Sure.
Fair warning, though: My idea of gourmet cooking is sprinkling on some three-year-old Bac-Os to my microwave soup.
Yeah, same here, actually, but most of us are just grunt workers anyways.
We find our satisfaction in realizing the visions of Chef Django here.
Secret ingredient's love.
I'm Rain.
Glad to meet you.
Veronica.
Likewise.
So this thing you're doing seems easy enough even I can do it.
Where do I start? - Actually, I'm just about done here but I'll hook you up with a job that's a little more fun.
That's a good girl, Isis.
See, Veronica? It's pretty easy once you get the rhythm down.
Easy for you, but I'm not getting a freaking drop.
She may be a little nervous.
Are you nervous, sweetie? Okay.
Got the youngest Moonie away from the herd.
Time to dig up dirt.
You can tell I learned all I know about country life from Dr.
Quinn, Medicine Woman reruns.
- What do you mean? - Well, for example I was under the assumption that milking takes place in, you know, a barn.
Yeah, sometimes, I guess.
But I don't think there's any hard, fast rule, though.
So Josh is cool, huh? He's kind of sexy.
Really? I hadn't really noticed.
But you're right, he's a great guy.
You're really gonna enjoy getting to know him.
I'll bet.
Holly says it's looking like a kick-ass harvest this year.
I don't think I asked what you guys were growing.
I guess you could say it's the ultimate cash crop.
Yahtzee.
- And what's that? - I can't even begin to describe it.
But it'll blow your mind.
Enough already with this mellow "Incense and Peppermints" vibe.
Let's break out the mushrooms and dance naked.
Strap on the goat-skull headgear.
Sacrifice a few infants.
Come on, people, you're cultists.
Start acting like it.
Veronica, over here.
Hey, Mars.
Why don't you come on over here? I feel like I gave you the hit-and-run treatment earlier.
Wow, it's Bizarro World.
Out here, I'm Miss Popular.
I'm serious.
Look, we've been going to classes together for, what, three years and I don't think we actually ever really talked.
Lately, I feel like I've been missing out on a lot.
- Okay.
- That was great.
So how was everybody's day? What's up? I woke up scared.
I felt like I was in a dream of peace and happiness.
Do not roll your eyes, Veronica.
You're undercover.
It's strange, isn't it? How we believe more in the reality of pain.
Suddenly I realized I was conscious only of my own voice and delivery.
I was like I feel you there, brother.
I have to watch out for that all the time myself.
This is scary.
I'm 32 years old and I feel like I'll never have a better moment than this.
Veronica Mars.
Hey, how about a big Mooncalf welcome for the honored guest? - Yeah.
- All right.
Veronica's a writer, a poet.
She has a unique voice I think you'd all appreciate.
Would you honor us with the one you showed me earlier? I was reading in last month's Koreshian Bride that four out of five cult leaders like their handmaidens nubile, flighty and teetering on the edge of a breakdown.
Go for it, Veronica.
I'm sorry.
I have to go.
There.
That performance should have them asking me back.
Veronica.
You all right? Oh, God.
I'm so sorry, everybody.
I was freaked out and just wanted someplace to sit and pull myself together before driving.
- It's my fault, Veronica.
I shouldn't have teased you earlier about the forbidden barn.
It's a project we're undertaking.
One of our neighbors was gonna put down Hildegard.
We're nursing her back.
Slowly but surely.
It's okay.
- You're covered in mud.
- See? That's why you make the big bucks.
So, what did you find out about my boy Casey? His ex-girlfriend confirms what his parents said.
He's a full-blooded cultist.
I can't get it out of my mind.
Somewhere in Pennsylvania, a lab tech is determining if I'm heir to a billion-dollar fortune.
It's not about the money.
It's about making Jake Kane pay.
But if I am an heiress as God is my witness, I'll never take cold showers again.
Casey? Hey, wait up.
I'm so ashamed of myself for my meltdown last night.
I was a rampaging jackass.
Have you forgotten who you're talking to? I'm Casey Gant, okay? I wrote the jackass bible.
The jackass Koran.
The jackass Talmud.
Why don't you come back? It would mean a lot to me.
If I'm not an heiress, Dad and I could really use this 5 grand.
And if it means me having to save this homely boy from cultists, so be it.
Veronica, I can't tell you how happy I am to see you again.
I guess you can see everyone else feels the same way.
- Hello.
- Hey, Veronica.
Get your game face on, Mars.
- I'm floored.
- Hey, listen, would you like to join me for a walk? I knew it.
This is when the cult leader claims me as his new bride.
I'm not judging you.
I'm saying what you already know.
That fake fur was a poor choice to infiltrate utopia? You've built a fortress around yourself.
It offers a limited amount of protection.
It also keeps other people and all they have to offer at bay.
It's starving your soul.
Now, you might wanna consider opening yourself up.
- Letting other people inside.
- Let other people inside? Got anyone particular in mind? Maybe if I discreetly flash Mr.
Taser So has anyone told you what we grow here? I heard it was the ultimate cash crop.
That it is.
- Impressive, isn't it? - Aren't these poinsettias? And Christmas is right around the corner.
We never could've finished the greenhouse if Casey hadn't given us that money.
I wish I wasn't so broke right now.
Otherwise, I'd try to chip in too.
Oh, well, our goal isn't to be a charity case.
I mean, it's not that we have anything against money.
It's just it's kind of like water.
Lots of symbolic power, but really just a lifeless substance.
But the paradox is that life as we know it would be impossible without it.
- You see what I'm saying.
- You don't want my money you don't want my body, you don't want me working in your ganja fields.
You just want me to be happy.
Strange.
Listen up, this is important.
We've got Sal from the County Water Department.
He's here to check for lead, so try not to use the water for the next 15 minutes.
That's it.
I'm dead.
There you are.
What the hell were you thinking, Veronica? That's gotta be the worst decision I've seen by someone who wasn't brain-damaged.
Since when do you reserve the right to totally blow off my instructions? Does my judgment, my concern for your safety, carry that little weight with you? I'm sorry.
Dad, I screwed up bigtime.
I know.
Trust me.
I'll be following your game plan the rest of the way.
They just seemed so harmless.
What is your basis for that call? The absence of swastikas engraved on their foreheads? Please, reassure me that you aren't that dense.
I'm sorry.
Really.
So did you plant any bugs when you were out there? - Yes.
- You've been listening in? - Heard anything incriminating yet? - Nope.
It's like listening to The Brady Bunch with a reggae soundtrack.
What about your background check on Josh.
Anything shady, out of line? Until four years ago, he was the manager of a ring development team at E-Tones.
Without warning, he quit his job, cashed out his stock and used it to buy the land for the collective.
- Holly's totally clean as well.
- So, what's our next step? There's no "our" about it.
You are officially off this case.
I'll take it home from here.
What? That makes no sense whatsoever.
- Aren't you interested in what I've learned? - What's the point? I'm prepared to admit that these Mooncalves probably don't merit the full ATF fire-bombing treatment.
I mean, my guess is they're just a bunch of tie-dyed Oliver Twists who scam naive kids to pay the bills.
- Mr.
Gant.
- I'm sure you have a lot to report but there's something you need to know.
Mr.
Mars, my mother, Casey's grandmother, is dying.
She had a severe stroke on Tuesday night.
She's effectively brain-dead and not expected to make it more than a couple of days.
- My condolences.
- Thanks.
This has been a tough, disorienting time for us.
Even more so because of something else we've just learned from her attorney.
What's that? If she dies, the bulk of her fortune about $80 million, goes to Casey.
We're afraid he's simply gonna hand it all over to that cult.
I appreciate that information.
I wish I could say that I've found something that we could nail them on but that's not the case.
I mean, not yet, anyway.
You should know that I've seen no evidence that Casey's in danger.
I'm sorry to contradict you, Mr.
Mars but I have substantial experience with these groups.
The sooner we get him off of that farm, the better.
If your current strategies aren't working perhaps you should try something new.
Any relevant experience you can share, I'll be happy to consider it.
What's your background anyway, if you don't mind my asking? Technically, my field is SMSPI.
Systematic Manipulation of Social and Psychological Influence.
One vulgar term is "deprogramming.
" No kidding.
I've heard of that.
How does that work anyway? In simple terms I control the elements of a subject's social and psychological environment to eradicate undesirable modes of behavior.
I'm then able to instill, or re-instill, desirable ones.
- I'm quite good at my work.
- Yeah.
I bet.
We just want Casey back home again.
Soon.
This is a sensitive situation, and we ask that you proceed accordingly.
Of course.
Not to sweat you, V, but when will we see the "FBI Swarms Cult Compound" headlines? The case is dead in the water.
We found diddlysquat on the Mooncalves, and I doubt there's anything to find.
Plus, my dad caught me out at the farm, so now it's seriously off-limits.
- Dang.
- As if that weren't enough I'm doubting the whole rationale for what we're doing.
Casey Obnoxious, overbearing, - Has become a really sweet guy.
I think this so-called cult deserves most of the credit.
Sounds to me like you've been drinking the Kool-Aid.
- I have not.
- You better recognize.
Thank you for being my own personal Springer audience.
Should I check myself before I wreck myself? All I'm saying is, is you may be getting a little soft.
- Right.
And I'm - Hey, Veronica.
Listen, I've gotta go visit my grandma in the hospital after school.
- Do you wanna come with me? - Yeah, sure, Casey.
I'd love to.
Good.
Soft.
Soft.
It's so hard to see her this way.
Wanna hear something sad? Sure.
My parents' fortune, every last nickel of it comes from Grandma's publishing company.
Mom and Dad had nothing to do with it.
Grandma provided for everything.
Then a couple of years ago when she started having strokes and started forgetting stuff my parents, who call her "Grandmonster" behind her back just stopped paying any attention to her.
It's amazing how much better they treated me once they found out she left all her money to me.
So how long have they known she was willing her money to you? They've known for a year.
- I wish I could come with you.
- I know.
Thanks for spending all this time with me.
- You know, if you wanted to you could.
- Crazy thing? I do want to.
Rain? That must be good milk.
Recognize her? That's Rain, one of the girls from the collective.
Real name, Debbie Meyer.
She's a runaway, a minor.
- We gotta call the Gant family right away.
- Hold it, hold it.
Please, Dad.
Let's think about this for a minute.
This is what we're working for.
We were praying for a break, and now you gave it to us.
Don't tell me having new digs and steady hot water doesn't sound good to you.
And we can't just blow this off, Veronica.
They're contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
It's a serious crime.
Oh, please, Dad.
You've been around these people.
Do you honestly think they're corrupting anyone? I think they're exactly what they seem to be.
A bunch of sweet, naive '60s throwbacks.
That's possibly true, but definitely beside the point.
Even if they are the utopian sweethearts you think they are we don't answer, morally or otherwise, to the Mooncalf Collective.
We answer to our clients, who pay us to do a job.
And that job is to find the information they want.
Hey, Veronica.
Casey told me you were out at the farm last night.
I wish you could've stayed a while.
It was so beautiful.
The moon was so bright you could almost read by it.
Holly, there's something you need to know about, right now.
The thing is, I work for my dad, who's a private detective, okay, and Mr.
Clemmons just called me to his office.
- My grandma died this morning.
- Oh, Casey.
Josh.
Holly.
I've done something I regret.
I found out that Rain was a runaway.
I told my dad about it.
- You have to get her the hell out of there.
- It's okay, Veronica.
We get the picture.
Everything will be just fine.
We appreciate you being up-front with us.
If you'll excuse us.
Come join us later, if you like.
Thanks, Josh.
I won't keep him long.
I appreciated you being here.
For no reason that I can see, you've been a real friend to me lately.
Can you really say that after what I just told you? I guess I don't think you were faking the kindness.
Am I wrong? Well, I guess I'd better go have this conversation with my parents.
They wanna hear that I'm not gonna let them starve.
Hey, come on, what are you? Hey.
Hey.
What are you doing to him? Stop.
Stop.
Dad? We have to call the police.
Casey's just been kidnapped.
What are you talking about? Kidnapped by who? By his parents and that creepy guy that was with them at the last meeting.
They grabbed at the funeral and shoved him in the limo and drove away.
They grabbed him? So it was against his will, then? He tried to get away? No, it's not like he was running from them.
I was kind of far away, but I could tell he was surprised by what was happening.
Okay.
Okay.
I wasn't there.
You saw what you saw.
I'm not doubting your interpretation but if I was still sheriff, and somebody told me an 18-year-old kid got into a car with his parents after his grandmother's funeral well, there's nothing I could do about it.
Not for a couple of days anyway.
So let's just hold off, see what happens, okay? I wish we hadn't turned over that information about the collective.
We didn't.
What? You didn't? I thought about what you said, what I heard on the wiretap, and you were right.
Once you get past all the '60s theme-park trappings that community's a lot more wholesome and functional than just for example, Neptune is.
I also did a little checking on Debbie Meyer.
What a life.
Poor kid's been in four foster homes since she was 8 years old.
Reports of serious abuse in at least two.
I had to admit it.
She's a lot better off where she is.
With each day that passes, I come more to terms with the question of my paternity.
What's this? "Free crab Rangoon with purchase of happy family dinner at Wok 'n' Roll.
" Phat.
Don't think I didn't notice the sacrifice.
My pleasure.
I sent off for those test results because I wanted the truth but can a lab tech really see the shape of my soul in a drunken conga line of genes? Jake Kane could be my father, but whether he is or isn't would I really claim him as such and deny the man who raised me? Veronica, wait up.
What's up? Now, that's a sweet ride.
What's up, Veronica? The DNA test results.
It's my call now.
I can open this letter and find out if my dad is really my dad.
If he's not, then I'm almost certainly the daughter of Jake Kane and consequently an heiress.
Hey, Dad.
Honey, I don't mean to ask a silly question, but is? Is it really necessary that you do that right now? Yeah.
As a matter of fact, it is.
Maybe she just couldn't handle losing me.
Did you know that your dad and my mom were king and queen of the prom? - Mr.
Kane.
- Veronica, we meet again.
What are the odds? It's been a year since my best friend, Lilly Kane, was murdered.
- You're still investigating Lilly's murder.
- Solve the case and your mom comes home.
Let's solve the case.
It's the footage of Abel Koontz's arrest.
I know who you are, Veronica Mars.
My dad tried to save your life.
Look in a mirror.
Are you the product of a schlubby sheriff or the king and queen of the prom? So Jake Kane is your father.
Deal with it, Veronica.
Does Dad know? Did he go after Jake Kane so obsessively because of the affair? Oh, God.
Does this mean? Is Duncan my? Those photos that were sent to Mom, the ones with me framed in a gunsight was that how Jake finally stuck it to Dad, his old rival? If so, I'm taking this bastard down hard.
I don't care whose father he is.
This one was taken last year, downtown.
My sole reason for being in that part of town was that Mom insisted I see a counselor after Lilly died.
Every Thursday for six weeks, Dr.
Dave and I stared across an ottoman at each other.
But which Thursday? Book Week? Mrs.
Murphy, when was Book Week? Wow, now, there's an attitude I like to see in our post-literate age.
Don't worry, Veronica.
It's still months away.
- Last year's Book Week.
- It's always the first week in February.
Okay, now I know which Thursday.
In the picture, I'm standing in this exact spot.
Whoever took those photos had to be sitting at this exact table.
It's the only one where the angle matches.
Dated and time-stamped.
Gotcha.
Do you keep all your receipts? Is it possible for you to pull just the ones from February 4th, between 4:45 and 5:30? - Someone's been stalking me.
- My God.
I'm positive whoever took these shots was sitting at that table over there.
Clarence Wiedman.
Big mistake, paying with a credit card.
And there he is.
The man who took surveillance photos of me.
Well, wouldn't you know.
Kane Software.
Main number, please.
The number you requested is 555-0125.
Kane Software.
How may I direct your call? Give me Clarence Wiedman, please.
You've reached Clarence Wiedman, head of security, Kane Software.
Please leave a message.
And there it is.
I know who's responsible for scaring Mom away.
So if Jake Kane is my biological father that information is gonna be worth millions.
And after what that family has done to mine, I intend to collect.
- What happened to you? - It's nothing.
A little collision at home.
Now cover your eyes and give me your hand.
A collision at home? Did you fall in the garbage disposal? No, no.
Home plate.
- Safe! - Did you see a doctor? Honey, it's fine.
Chicks dig scars.
Now come on.
You gotta see this.
What is your deal? You're jacked up like some hillbilly kid who just stumbled into Daddy's meth lab.
Hey, come on.
Sit.
- It's a waterbed.
- All right.
Come on, you've wanted one of these since you were 5 years old.
I also wanted to marry Vanilla Ice and build the world's largest collection of Z-Bots.
You asked me No, you begged me for a waterbed, like, four years in a row.
It was your obsession.
It's all coming back to me now.
The way you explained it, Santa was cool with the basic concept but had doubts about second-floor deployment.
That well-known bedrock pragmatism of elvish culture.
But I gotta tell you if it had been my call, I would've - You're so full of it.
But it is incredibly sweet of you.
- Yard sale, right? Ten bucks, maybe? - No.
It's okay.
You forgot to remove the masking-tape price-tag sticker.
Besides, our money situation being what it is I'm glad you didn't blow your wad on a whim gift.
You'll be gladder to know that I got it as a throw-in with some old Gordon Lightfoot LPs.
I love you.
Yeah, you too.
Well, anyway sorry it took so long to get Santa's old dead ass in gear.
- Night, sweetie.
- Night.
He was as well-adjusted a kid as you could ever wanna meet.
Secure, extroverted, lots of friends and school activities.
Super popular, super focused.
Girlfriends, top grades.
Not into the drug scene, as far as we could tell.
Definitely not a druggie.
You know, Casey is just not the kind of kid who just up and joins a cult.
Well, it's actually the ones who seem to have everything that so often We know what you're thinking.
Spoiled rich boy, raised in the soulless lap of luxury.
No material whim denied, no spiritual need met.
Six weeks ago, Casey kisses me goodbye and drives to school, same as always but he never comes home.
- He's gone off to live at some place called the Mooncalf Collective and, basically: "Thanks for all you've done, guys, but I can take it from here.
" - The Porsche.
- That's right, the Porsche.
He sold his Boxster and gave all the money over to the cult.
Look, Mr.
Mars, here's what we need and what we're prepared to pay handsomely for you to do.
- Thank you, Mr.
Mars.
- You're welcome.
- Thank you very much.
- Thank you.
Now what? I'm trying to draw a blood sample.
Our health teacher said she'll give extra credit for anyone taking a self-administered HIV test.
I ordered this thing online but I am seriously punking on this finger stick.
This is so endearing.
My badass, action-figure daughter is afraid to draw a teensy little drop of blood.
You know, if you really were a good father you'd let me draw some of your blood for the test.
Nobody will know the difference.
Besides, you've been sexually active.
- I haven't.
- Oh, for crying out loud.
You're serious about this, aren't you? Let me have that.
You wuss.
So those are the parents of Casey Gant.
Do you know him? Unfortunately, yeah.
He's just another slice off the loaf of shallow, vapid pain in the ass 09erdom.
- Well, despite your assessment his parents are still a little irked about his decision to run off and join a cult.
He joined a cult? What do they worship? Wedgies? Keggers? - Their parents' platinum cards? - Doesn't matter.
He's 18, so there's little the law can do.
If we get him back, the Gants are offering a 5-grand bonus so it's time to focus, like the proverbial laser.
Target acquired and locked on.
What they'd be paying us for is proof of any unlawful activity out there like firearms, drugs, kidnapping.
Anything will work.
All we need is a sound legal basis for the sheriff's department to shut them down.
- I'm still with you.
- He's a classmate of yours.
Maybe you can find something that'll shed some light.
His parents say he's still showing up at school.
For a $5000 bonus I'll get you his genetic code.
Veronica, do not, under pain of slow, agonizing death even think about going to the compound yourself.
I'll run the title search, do the background check, take the recon shots, all of that Got you, Frenchy.
Okay, so there's no health-class extra credit.
There is, however, an online company that does paternity testing.
I need to know, without a doubt, who my father is.
- Hey.
- I am not ready to face Duncan.
Too many sweet memories have become chilling what-ifs.
Hacky sack? The final arena of unquestioned white domination.
- New crush? - Hardly.
That's Casey Gant.
He sold his Porsche, joined a cult and took up hacky sack.
He looks normal enough.
Not if you knew him before.
"The prisoners pray when they're on death row.
Hear the angels sing.
The junkie cries for love, but it's all run out.
" Go on, Eli.
"When the angels sing the sins of the world and it's cold on the streets when you're alone and the tears, they start to fall when it all comes down, hear the angels sing.
" Casey Gant, you can learn good manners or go see Mr.
Clemmons.
Eli, it's amazing work.
- You're doing great.
- Miss, that's not original poetry.
That's a Social Distortion song.
Is that true, Eli? I know who will give me all the dirt I want.
- Who? - His ex-girlfriend.
I'm as clueless as anyone about this trip he's on.
I mean, one day he's totally cool and the next he's, like, alien lobotomy boy.
- Any explanation? - Nothing that made a bit of sense.
Just a lot babbling about "renouncing the toxic death style of a late-stage capitalist society" and "un-remembering the consumer siren song.
" I think composting came up too, once.
It was just so bizarre.
I mean, I had to cut him loose.
Did he talk about any new friends he'd made before he starting weirding out, I mean.
No, but you know what? I think he's got something going on with Miss Mills.
- You mean, like sexually? - Yeah.
It got to where they were doing everything together.
He even started working for the literary magazine.
This is the same guy who's been downloading every writing assignment since the seventh grade.
He used to think Cliff Notes were for the intellectual poseurs.
There's no way they're not getting it on.
How to get in tight with the lit mag crowd.
I've got it.
Become one of them.
The attributes and style of crap teen poetry: Must be written in a funky color of ink.
Must include dominant themes of alienation sexual ambivalence, self-loathing, death, et cetera.
Dad, you're en ex-cop.
You know gangland enforcer types.
Can't someone intimidate the maintenance supe to fix the hot water problem? - He swears he's putting new copper pipes new 5000-gallon tank, the works.
That nimrod has been feeding us the same line for five months.
Just try to tough it out.
Hey, if we get that 5-grand bonus, maybe we can go look for a new place.
Time to get cracking.
Hope y'all have those editorial content analyses I assigned last week.
Everybody? Okay, then.
Let's break into groups of four and start comparing notes.
Can you feel the love? Hey, Veronica.
Miss Mills, what's up? I read the poem you submitted for the literary journal.
- "I Cut Because I Can.
" - Oh, yeah.
There are a bunch I thought about submitting, but that one seemed more I don't know, relevant to where I am now.
So are you gonna publish it? You have a very unique outlook, Veronica.
If you ever feel like sharing, there's a place where you're always welcome to do so.
We're kind of like family.
Yeah, I have some friends who work on your literary magazine and they say it's really cool.
- I'm talking about the folks out at the Mooncalf Collective.
That's where I live.
Something tells me you'd really enjoy visiting.
You know, if you'd like, I could even take you out there today.
- How's that sound? - So Miss Mills lures kids out to cult headquarters? That sounds great.
I'm ready to go whenever you are.
Wait.
What did Dad say about going out there? Come on over.
This is all so amazing.
I feel like I'm on a movie set or something.
Thank you so much for inviting me, Miss Mills.
Oh, around here, I'm just Holly.
And as far as you can see is all ours.
You should wander around later, get a feel for the place.
Just stay out of the barn.
You do not wanna go in there, trust me.
Hey, way to throw me off your trail, Holly.
"Wander freely? Don't go in the barn, whatever you do "? Maybe I should play this needy, despondent waif card more often.
Come meet my man.
Well, really, he kind of belongs to all of us.
Hey.
Forbidden barn? Check.
Implied polygamy? Check.
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a cult.
Veronica, this is Josh.
Hey there.
Hi.
Help.
I knew I should have included a few discreet lesbian overtones in that poem.
Hey, Veronica.
I heard you were coming, but I had to see to believe.
Yeah, I don't blame you.
This is off my beaten path a bit.
It makes sense that you'd wind up here sooner or later.
- Yeah.
- Cool.
I'm sure I'll be seeing a lot more of you, and I'll catch up with you later, okay? Veronica, it's only a few hours till dinnertime.
Why don't you stay and join us? As you can see, the gardens have really blessed us this year.
Sure, that would be great.
I'm starving.
All I had today was a beef MexiMelt and some cinnamon crispas.
Those crispas are awesome, aren't they? Frankly, I'd give my body to anybody for one of those Choco Taco ice cream desserts.
Believe it or not, I think we can raise the culinary bar a bit higher.
As you can see, we get a lot done through teamwork.
In fact, if you wanna jump in you're more than welcome, if you're interested.
Sure.
Fair warning, though: My idea of gourmet cooking is sprinkling on some three-year-old Bac-Os to my microwave soup.
Yeah, same here, actually, but most of us are just grunt workers anyways.
We find our satisfaction in realizing the visions of Chef Django here.
Secret ingredient's love.
I'm Rain.
Glad to meet you.
Veronica.
Likewise.
So this thing you're doing seems easy enough even I can do it.
Where do I start? - Actually, I'm just about done here but I'll hook you up with a job that's a little more fun.
That's a good girl, Isis.
See, Veronica? It's pretty easy once you get the rhythm down.
Easy for you, but I'm not getting a freaking drop.
She may be a little nervous.
Are you nervous, sweetie? Okay.
Got the youngest Moonie away from the herd.
Time to dig up dirt.
You can tell I learned all I know about country life from Dr.
Quinn, Medicine Woman reruns.
- What do you mean? - Well, for example I was under the assumption that milking takes place in, you know, a barn.
Yeah, sometimes, I guess.
But I don't think there's any hard, fast rule, though.
So Josh is cool, huh? He's kind of sexy.
Really? I hadn't really noticed.
But you're right, he's a great guy.
You're really gonna enjoy getting to know him.
I'll bet.
Holly says it's looking like a kick-ass harvest this year.
I don't think I asked what you guys were growing.
I guess you could say it's the ultimate cash crop.
Yahtzee.
- And what's that? - I can't even begin to describe it.
But it'll blow your mind.
Enough already with this mellow "Incense and Peppermints" vibe.
Let's break out the mushrooms and dance naked.
Strap on the goat-skull headgear.
Sacrifice a few infants.
Come on, people, you're cultists.
Start acting like it.
Veronica, over here.
Hey, Mars.
Why don't you come on over here? I feel like I gave you the hit-and-run treatment earlier.
Wow, it's Bizarro World.
Out here, I'm Miss Popular.
I'm serious.
Look, we've been going to classes together for, what, three years and I don't think we actually ever really talked.
Lately, I feel like I've been missing out on a lot.
- Okay.
- That was great.
So how was everybody's day? What's up? I woke up scared.
I felt like I was in a dream of peace and happiness.
Do not roll your eyes, Veronica.
You're undercover.
It's strange, isn't it? How we believe more in the reality of pain.
Suddenly I realized I was conscious only of my own voice and delivery.
I was like I feel you there, brother.
I have to watch out for that all the time myself.
This is scary.
I'm 32 years old and I feel like I'll never have a better moment than this.
Veronica Mars.
Hey, how about a big Mooncalf welcome for the honored guest? - Yeah.
- All right.
Veronica's a writer, a poet.
She has a unique voice I think you'd all appreciate.
Would you honor us with the one you showed me earlier? I was reading in last month's Koreshian Bride that four out of five cult leaders like their handmaidens nubile, flighty and teetering on the edge of a breakdown.
Go for it, Veronica.
I'm sorry.
I have to go.
There.
That performance should have them asking me back.
Veronica.
You all right? Oh, God.
I'm so sorry, everybody.
I was freaked out and just wanted someplace to sit and pull myself together before driving.
- It's my fault, Veronica.
I shouldn't have teased you earlier about the forbidden barn.
It's a project we're undertaking.
One of our neighbors was gonna put down Hildegard.
We're nursing her back.
Slowly but surely.
It's okay.
- You're covered in mud.
- See? That's why you make the big bucks.
So, what did you find out about my boy Casey? His ex-girlfriend confirms what his parents said.
He's a full-blooded cultist.
I can't get it out of my mind.
Somewhere in Pennsylvania, a lab tech is determining if I'm heir to a billion-dollar fortune.
It's not about the money.
It's about making Jake Kane pay.
But if I am an heiress as God is my witness, I'll never take cold showers again.
Casey? Hey, wait up.
I'm so ashamed of myself for my meltdown last night.
I was a rampaging jackass.
Have you forgotten who you're talking to? I'm Casey Gant, okay? I wrote the jackass bible.
The jackass Koran.
The jackass Talmud.
Why don't you come back? It would mean a lot to me.
If I'm not an heiress, Dad and I could really use this 5 grand.
And if it means me having to save this homely boy from cultists, so be it.
Veronica, I can't tell you how happy I am to see you again.
I guess you can see everyone else feels the same way.
- Hello.
- Hey, Veronica.
Get your game face on, Mars.
- I'm floored.
- Hey, listen, would you like to join me for a walk? I knew it.
This is when the cult leader claims me as his new bride.
I'm not judging you.
I'm saying what you already know.
That fake fur was a poor choice to infiltrate utopia? You've built a fortress around yourself.
It offers a limited amount of protection.
It also keeps other people and all they have to offer at bay.
It's starving your soul.
Now, you might wanna consider opening yourself up.
- Letting other people inside.
- Let other people inside? Got anyone particular in mind? Maybe if I discreetly flash Mr.
Taser So has anyone told you what we grow here? I heard it was the ultimate cash crop.
That it is.
- Impressive, isn't it? - Aren't these poinsettias? And Christmas is right around the corner.
We never could've finished the greenhouse if Casey hadn't given us that money.
I wish I wasn't so broke right now.
Otherwise, I'd try to chip in too.
Oh, well, our goal isn't to be a charity case.
I mean, it's not that we have anything against money.
It's just it's kind of like water.
Lots of symbolic power, but really just a lifeless substance.
But the paradox is that life as we know it would be impossible without it.
- You see what I'm saying.
- You don't want my money you don't want my body, you don't want me working in your ganja fields.
You just want me to be happy.
Strange.
Listen up, this is important.
We've got Sal from the County Water Department.
He's here to check for lead, so try not to use the water for the next 15 minutes.
That's it.
I'm dead.
There you are.
What the hell were you thinking, Veronica? That's gotta be the worst decision I've seen by someone who wasn't brain-damaged.
Since when do you reserve the right to totally blow off my instructions? Does my judgment, my concern for your safety, carry that little weight with you? I'm sorry.
Dad, I screwed up bigtime.
I know.
Trust me.
I'll be following your game plan the rest of the way.
They just seemed so harmless.
What is your basis for that call? The absence of swastikas engraved on their foreheads? Please, reassure me that you aren't that dense.
I'm sorry.
Really.
So did you plant any bugs when you were out there? - Yes.
- You've been listening in? - Heard anything incriminating yet? - Nope.
It's like listening to The Brady Bunch with a reggae soundtrack.
What about your background check on Josh.
Anything shady, out of line? Until four years ago, he was the manager of a ring development team at E-Tones.
Without warning, he quit his job, cashed out his stock and used it to buy the land for the collective.
- Holly's totally clean as well.
- So, what's our next step? There's no "our" about it.
You are officially off this case.
I'll take it home from here.
What? That makes no sense whatsoever.
- Aren't you interested in what I've learned? - What's the point? I'm prepared to admit that these Mooncalves probably don't merit the full ATF fire-bombing treatment.
I mean, my guess is they're just a bunch of tie-dyed Oliver Twists who scam naive kids to pay the bills.
- Mr.
Gant.
- I'm sure you have a lot to report but there's something you need to know.
Mr.
Mars, my mother, Casey's grandmother, is dying.
She had a severe stroke on Tuesday night.
She's effectively brain-dead and not expected to make it more than a couple of days.
- My condolences.
- Thanks.
This has been a tough, disorienting time for us.
Even more so because of something else we've just learned from her attorney.
What's that? If she dies, the bulk of her fortune about $80 million, goes to Casey.
We're afraid he's simply gonna hand it all over to that cult.
I appreciate that information.
I wish I could say that I've found something that we could nail them on but that's not the case.
I mean, not yet, anyway.
You should know that I've seen no evidence that Casey's in danger.
I'm sorry to contradict you, Mr.
Mars but I have substantial experience with these groups.
The sooner we get him off of that farm, the better.
If your current strategies aren't working perhaps you should try something new.
Any relevant experience you can share, I'll be happy to consider it.
What's your background anyway, if you don't mind my asking? Technically, my field is SMSPI.
Systematic Manipulation of Social and Psychological Influence.
One vulgar term is "deprogramming.
" No kidding.
I've heard of that.
How does that work anyway? In simple terms I control the elements of a subject's social and psychological environment to eradicate undesirable modes of behavior.
I'm then able to instill, or re-instill, desirable ones.
- I'm quite good at my work.
- Yeah.
I bet.
We just want Casey back home again.
Soon.
This is a sensitive situation, and we ask that you proceed accordingly.
Of course.
Not to sweat you, V, but when will we see the "FBI Swarms Cult Compound" headlines? The case is dead in the water.
We found diddlysquat on the Mooncalves, and I doubt there's anything to find.
Plus, my dad caught me out at the farm, so now it's seriously off-limits.
- Dang.
- As if that weren't enough I'm doubting the whole rationale for what we're doing.
Casey Obnoxious, overbearing, - Has become a really sweet guy.
I think this so-called cult deserves most of the credit.
Sounds to me like you've been drinking the Kool-Aid.
- I have not.
- You better recognize.
Thank you for being my own personal Springer audience.
Should I check myself before I wreck myself? All I'm saying is, is you may be getting a little soft.
- Right.
And I'm - Hey, Veronica.
Listen, I've gotta go visit my grandma in the hospital after school.
- Do you wanna come with me? - Yeah, sure, Casey.
I'd love to.
Good.
Soft.
Soft.
It's so hard to see her this way.
Wanna hear something sad? Sure.
My parents' fortune, every last nickel of it comes from Grandma's publishing company.
Mom and Dad had nothing to do with it.
Grandma provided for everything.
Then a couple of years ago when she started having strokes and started forgetting stuff my parents, who call her "Grandmonster" behind her back just stopped paying any attention to her.
It's amazing how much better they treated me once they found out she left all her money to me.
So how long have they known she was willing her money to you? They've known for a year.
- I wish I could come with you.
- I know.
Thanks for spending all this time with me.
- You know, if you wanted to you could.
- Crazy thing? I do want to.
Rain? That must be good milk.
Recognize her? That's Rain, one of the girls from the collective.
Real name, Debbie Meyer.
She's a runaway, a minor.
- We gotta call the Gant family right away.
- Hold it, hold it.
Please, Dad.
Let's think about this for a minute.
This is what we're working for.
We were praying for a break, and now you gave it to us.
Don't tell me having new digs and steady hot water doesn't sound good to you.
And we can't just blow this off, Veronica.
They're contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
It's a serious crime.
Oh, please, Dad.
You've been around these people.
Do you honestly think they're corrupting anyone? I think they're exactly what they seem to be.
A bunch of sweet, naive '60s throwbacks.
That's possibly true, but definitely beside the point.
Even if they are the utopian sweethearts you think they are we don't answer, morally or otherwise, to the Mooncalf Collective.
We answer to our clients, who pay us to do a job.
And that job is to find the information they want.
Hey, Veronica.
Casey told me you were out at the farm last night.
I wish you could've stayed a while.
It was so beautiful.
The moon was so bright you could almost read by it.
Holly, there's something you need to know about, right now.
The thing is, I work for my dad, who's a private detective, okay, and Mr.
Clemmons just called me to his office.
- My grandma died this morning.
- Oh, Casey.
Josh.
Holly.
I've done something I regret.
I found out that Rain was a runaway.
I told my dad about it.
- You have to get her the hell out of there.
- It's okay, Veronica.
We get the picture.
Everything will be just fine.
We appreciate you being up-front with us.
If you'll excuse us.
Come join us later, if you like.
Thanks, Josh.
I won't keep him long.
I appreciated you being here.
For no reason that I can see, you've been a real friend to me lately.
Can you really say that after what I just told you? I guess I don't think you were faking the kindness.
Am I wrong? Well, I guess I'd better go have this conversation with my parents.
They wanna hear that I'm not gonna let them starve.
Hey, come on, what are you? Hey.
Hey.
What are you doing to him? Stop.
Stop.
Dad? We have to call the police.
Casey's just been kidnapped.
What are you talking about? Kidnapped by who? By his parents and that creepy guy that was with them at the last meeting.
They grabbed at the funeral and shoved him in the limo and drove away.
They grabbed him? So it was against his will, then? He tried to get away? No, it's not like he was running from them.
I was kind of far away, but I could tell he was surprised by what was happening.
Okay.
Okay.
I wasn't there.
You saw what you saw.
I'm not doubting your interpretation but if I was still sheriff, and somebody told me an 18-year-old kid got into a car with his parents after his grandmother's funeral well, there's nothing I could do about it.
Not for a couple of days anyway.
So let's just hold off, see what happens, okay? I wish we hadn't turned over that information about the collective.
We didn't.
What? You didn't? I thought about what you said, what I heard on the wiretap, and you were right.
Once you get past all the '60s theme-park trappings that community's a lot more wholesome and functional than just for example, Neptune is.
I also did a little checking on Debbie Meyer.
What a life.
Poor kid's been in four foster homes since she was 8 years old.
Reports of serious abuse in at least two.
I had to admit it.
She's a lot better off where she is.
With each day that passes, I come more to terms with the question of my paternity.
What's this? "Free crab Rangoon with purchase of happy family dinner at Wok 'n' Roll.
" Phat.
Don't think I didn't notice the sacrifice.
My pleasure.
I sent off for those test results because I wanted the truth but can a lab tech really see the shape of my soul in a drunken conga line of genes? Jake Kane could be my father, but whether he is or isn't would I really claim him as such and deny the man who raised me? Veronica, wait up.
What's up? Now, that's a sweet ride.
What's up, Veronica? The DNA test results.
It's my call now.
I can open this letter and find out if my dad is really my dad.
If he's not, then I'm almost certainly the daughter of Jake Kane and consequently an heiress.
Hey, Dad.
Honey, I don't mean to ask a silly question, but is? Is it really necessary that you do that right now? Yeah.
As a matter of fact, it is.