Veronica Mars s01e13 Episode Script

Previously on Veronica Mars: You'll never come to terms with Lilly's death if you keep all that pain bottled up inside you.
I'll find closure when Lilly's killer is rotting away in prison.
You know, Veronica was my friend too.
If she hadn't ratted me out then Lilly and I would have stayed together.
These stories.
I mean, they're tearing my family apart.
If you try to divorce me, I will leave you with nothing.
No house, no maid and no friends.
You say another word to her, and I will kill you.
I cannot take this anymore.
Requesting assistance for possible jumper on the Coronado Bridge.
No! Look, if they can't commit at least 10 million, man we go someplace else.
Handle it! Nice day.
It's always nice here.
- What's this? - A waiver, so Bryce can drop PE.
- Drop PE? - His physics teacher agreed to sponsor him for independent study, so he needs to drop a class.
Dropping PE.
You know, that boy could stand to get hit in the head with a dodge ball or two.
Toughen his ass up.
And why is this club bill so high this month? Yolanda took riding lessons.
Like on a horse? First time I saw a horse, I was 13.
Damn thing was on TV.
And the streets was tough, and you lost a lot of homeys but this is Neptune, and her friends took them.
Talk to her when she comes home from Gabrielle's.
- She's supposed to call if she stays over.
- I'll do more than talk to her.
Tell me this, baby.
How did a man like me end up with National Black Velvet and Urkel? Speak of the devil.
What's up, son? What's the matter? It's Yolanda.
Something's happened.
Did she really leave the note on a BlackBerry? Yeah.
Talk about postmodern.
- How's Logan holding up? - He hasn't been at school since.
And we're not exactly phone buddies.
Hey, Dad.
How's the back holding up? You remember to take your pills? Shouldn't you be doing your homework instead of nagging me? Thanks.
Next time, remember: Lift drunk, combative bail jumpers with your legs, not your back.
And use your heating pad.
And eat fiber.
It must suck to have tabloid creeps in your face at a time like this.
Stop staring.
- It's just hair.
- Resisting the urge to touch.
You keep resisting that urge.
Hey, I'm looking for Keith Mars.
- Yeah.
Sure.
In here.
- Dad? - Yeah? You know who that is? - Should I know who that is? - If you're serious about your cred with the urban demographic.
- I am absolutely serious about my cred with the urban demo.
- Drive-by Records.
Reported to have held a man out of a window to get him to sign a contract.
Twice jailed, emerged stronger each time.
The gangsta-rap impresario beside whom all gangsta-rap impresarios measure themselves.
That's Bone Hamilton.
How can I help you, Mr.
Hamilton? My daughter's missing.
I need you to get her back for me.
Hamilton? God, that's Yolanda Hamilton's dad? I didn't know you knew her.
We used to be friends.
A long time ago.
You sure it's not just some teenage misbehavior? - It's not uncommon for - Maybe your teenager.
But Yolanda, she knew the rules.
And her friend Gabrielle tells me that she was studying at her place till midnight.
Now my son, he finds her car up the block the doors open, the lights still on, a sign of struggle.
We're not talking about teenage misbehavior, man.
Somebody's got her.
Mr.
Hamilton, much as I appreciate the business sounds like something for the police.
- Hey, hey.
I don't like the police.
And the feeling is mutual.
From what I hear sounds like something you'd understand.
Any idea who might wanna do this? Look, man, let's just say I got a couple of big deals going down real soon.
And there's some cats out there who wouldn't mind seeing it screwed up.
- That's a lot of ideas.
- That's just Southern California.
Now if you hear anything about New York Detroit, Atlanta I got more lists.
I suggest you start at the top.
Sam Bloom.
Hey, honey.
- What's cooking? - Not quite sure myself.
Something that ends in "a-roni.
" Any luck? Nothing in the car.
No one in the neighborhood saw or heard anything.
So you figured you'd check what's up with Nelly.
I'm reading up on my client.
And if you buy it, he's the scariest man alive who's also launching a line of casual wear.
She's a senior at my school.
I can ask around.
- Background info.
- Sure.
But be discreet.
Client's a little sensitive.
Okay? Our client isn't the only one who's sensitive.
This isn't the first time I've had the chance to help Yolanda Hamilton.
New student alert.
Glad to see you guys are equal-opportunity oglers.
Hey, I judge not by the color of the skin but by the content of their sweater.
Good thing I'm not the jealous type.
Dying to figure out what goes on in the teachers' lounge? - This isn't English? Mrs.
Murphy? - Not even close.
- I'm Veronica.
You're? - New.
Yolanda Hamilton.
Let me show you.
Masters champ three years in a row.
I was good.
You didn't tell me what this was in regards to, Mr.
Mars.
I'm trying to find someone, Mr.
Bloom.
Daughter of a former client of yours, a Mr.
Hamilton.
Yolanda come to her senses and run away from him? So you know Yolanda.
I did.
Our kids grew up together.
Why would I know anything about her disappearance? He implied that there was some pretty bad blood between you two.
A grudge.
Bad blood, huh? That's one way to put it.
Hatred would be another way.
Oh, so he didn't fill you in.
When Bone was as he's fond of telling the magazines fighting his way up from the mean streets he didn't advertise the fact that much of his success was due to his comfortably upper-middle-class Jewish lawyer.
- Everyone was making money.
- Sounds like you were on good terms.
Sounds like it.
When he later didn't tell me that he was involved in some ingenious tax evasion I had to make a choice: Lose my practice to the IRS or talk.
I chose to save my practice.
Bone went back to prison.
I'm not sure I understand.
Sounds like he's the one with the grudge.
Well, that's not the whole story.
About two months into his sentence, I was leaving work a car pulled up, fired 10 shots into my car.
- He tried to have you killed? - He denies it, of course but that's when I realized who the real Percy Hamilton is.
It's Bone.
We might have lost track of time, studying and all, but One thing about an ex-cop for a dad is that some boring Sunday when you've seen all the reruns, he might kill time describing for instance, how to tell if someone's lying in an interrogation.
Take Yolanda's friend Gabrielle here.
The indirect eye contact, the smile that doesn't crinkle the eyes.
- So she still isn't back, huh? - She's missing.
She's in danger.
Quit lying, and tell me what really happened.
We had been sneaking out to this club in L.
A.
, Blender.
The bouncer, Marcel, used to work for her dad.
I've been seeing this guy.
He's older.
- My parents would disown me if they knew.
- How long were you at the club? When Jamie and I left, it was probably around midnight.
Yolanda was still there.
But she had her car.
- Thanks.
I hope she's okay.
- You think I don't? She's my friend.
Who are you? Hey, Dad.
Something to check.
Who am I? I was Yolanda's first friend at Neptune.
So, new girl, what's your dad do? He's one of the Dixie Chicks.
And, yeah, he makes more money than your dad.
- Was that your real question? - You guys prepared for the big blowout? - Where are your parents going this time? - Nepal.
Sherpas lug their crap up mountains so they can take pictures of a yak.
While I take pictures of you yakking in your living room.
Happens twice a year.
His parents leave town he throws this big party, and he gets busted.
You must be there.
- You must.
- I guess I must.
If you really want flowers, dying seems to be the way to go.
Here's your costume.
If it's not sad enough, I can order you a veil.
You remember that day we all went to the zoo on your 10th birthday? And we told your mom that we were all gonna get dressed up in costume as our favorite animal.
- You remember her animal? - It was a mermaid.
When she realized we'd tricked her and no one else had gotten dressed up she wore that costume around for the rest of the day anyway.
Yeah, I remember that day.
On the way home I spilled a milk shake, and you gave me a nosebleed.
You poured that milk shake out because we didn't buy you a monkey.
When I went to grab you, you smacked your head.
I guess we remember it differently, Dad.
- It's fine.
- Have you heard from your sister? Yeah, she sent a telegram: "Heartbroken, stop.
Can't make it back from Sydney, stop.
Underwater scenes shoot tomorrow, stop.
Entire crew said prayer for Mom, stop.
Love you, stop.
" - Logan.
- Stop? Boy, there's no people like show people.
She did send a wreath though.
God, it's gorgeous.
Tulips and hyacinth.
Probably set you back hundreds.
Your mom loved tulips.
Yeah, it was an overwhelming gesture.
Don't get up.
- Where are you going? - Marcel, that man you called me about number four on the enemies list was Bone's bodyguard until he paid too much attention to Yolanda.
Bone had him fired after a symbolic meeting between his boot and Marcel's groin.
This is a Mars Investigation matter.
- I'm Mars.
- And who am I? - Veronica.
And you're staying.
- Veronica Mars.
You're on painkillers.
The bottle says don't operate heavy machinery, and a car is heavy.
Remember, you stay in the car.
And remember, you watch your back.
I mean that medically.
Oh, come on.
- Nobody's watching.
- Are you kidding? - Did you get in last week? - No.
I just let her in, man.
That's it.
Bone fired you for being too friendly with his daughter.
- That didn't make you a little mad? - No, it made me smart.
I got into enough trouble looking at that girl.
If Bone's got you after me he must not know who was here that night.
Who was here? - Where to, boss? - Heard of a rapper named Dime Bag? Dad, I thought you read Vibe.
"Shot My Boo"? "Thuggin"'? Lovely tunes, I'm sure.
You might remember the guy that Bone supposedly dangled out a window until he signed a contract.
- That was Dime Bag? - Number two on the list.
He was here Saturday night with his bunch of dudes.
His posse, Dad.
The Eagles had a bunch of dudes.
Well, the posse is at the Duke Hotel.
- What's this? - Clues.
Valet stubs.
I figure even kidnappers have to park.
I know.
"Stay in the car.
" Any luck? Manager said Mr.
Bag is out on the town and that Dime wouldn't talk to me even if he were here.
That is, unless Bone might be willing to beg.
- So, what next? - Plan B.
What do you think, the T6 or the T9? T9.
How do I look? Like a humble drudge no one would notice breaking into a room.
That'll do.
When I met Yolanda, I never imagined a year later I'd be waiting in a hotel lobby while my dad bugged a rapper's room trying to find her.
I thought she and Lilly and I would be hanging out like we did the first month, just being normal.
This being, of course, before that word lost all meaning.
Are these platinum? No wonder you don't talk about your dad.
- He's Tupac, and he's secretly still alive.
- He's just a producer.
Nothing interesting.
- So how come he's never around? - He's away on business for a while.
- Excuse my little brother.
He's an eavesdropping little freak.
Mine's worse.
I'm do I'm doing a project.
Do it somewhere else, Bryce.
Okay, for my next boyfriend Jude Law type or Colin Farrell type? Next? What happened to Logan? He's insanely jealous all the time, and it's getting on my nerves.
I know it's not cool to admit this but I like a jealous streak on a man.
Keeps him in line.
All yours.
I'm ditching his party this weekend.
I don't want him getting crazy every time a boy undresses me with his eyes, which happens all the time.
It's not my fault.
I can't help it.
God made me fabulous.
If you're ditching, that means Yolanda and I will have to party for three.
Which means Yolanda will have to party for two and a half.
But we're still going to that Fleet Week thing in San Diego, right? It's the best.
All these weird angry bands play and hundreds of cute sailors get totally wasted and fight on the sidewalk.
You know, I'm really glad I met you guys.
You should be glad.
We're the best.
Now I can't wait for San Diego.
It'll be rocking like Dokken.
We got some problems here.
- What can I do for you? - Y'all call that a penthouse? - A pent-doghouse maybe.
- He's saying it's small.
It looks like Darius Bagley, a.
k.
a.
Dime Bag and crew are arriving home early.
Not good.
If they catch Dad in their room What we asked for was a big-ass room.
I'll get you switched right now.
Good news? They won't walk in on Dad bugging their room.
The bad news? He's bugging the wrong room.
Okay, room 1411.
Our biggest.
You know, y'all could learn a little something about VIP service.
Thank you so much, Sarah.
I'm Melinda, your hospitality hostess.
I'm so sorry about the mix-up.
The new help doesn't always quite "get it.
" But if you gentlemen will follow me, I can show you to your room.
Yeah.
Now this what I'm talking about, baby.
- Yeah.
- So you have your bathroom right back there, and your television if you wanna watch that.
Chairs for sitting.
And your The phone, in case you need to make a call would be just, right, like that.
- All right.
It's cool.
- I'll have them send up some more - Is that Cristal? - You're damn straight, Melinda.
Enjoy your stay.
- Where have you been? Didn't I say? - Bathroom break.
How'd we do? - Think we're in business.
- They give us this upgrade and you watch golf like an old poo! - Ten more minutes.
- Here.
Try this.
Yo, man, that damn hospitality hostess was lying about that Cristal, man.
Hey, she is hot, if you like them scrawny.
- Just, please don't ask.
- Yo, man, she leave the minibar key? - Now what? - We need some drinks.
Man, we gonna have some girls up I get Mr.
Hamilton to beg.
I'm not scrawny.
I'm not.
Logan I have a pretty good idea what's going through your head.
And I know you blame me for your mother's death.
That's okay.
Our marriage had some very high highs and some very low lows.
And I know that this This hard act you're putting on is just your way of coping.
But let's make a deal, all right? From now on, we're gonna be a team.
Our war's over now, Logan.
It's what she would have wanted.
Logan! You want a good picture, man? Something real? - Here's real for you.
- Hey! - That was a $ 1000 camera! - Logan, enough! Know what Mom would have wanted? She would have wanted you to not sleep with all her friends.
She would've wanted you to care as much about her as your career.
So okay, Dad, let's be honest.
Maybe we both wish we'd been better.
But she's only gone because of you.
That's a $50,000 photo.
Logan! Who's gonna pay for my camera? I tell you what.
I'll get on it just as soon as I bury my wife.
Hey, everybody.
Enjoying the show, huh? They said you had PE this period.
I dropped it for independent study.
Independent study of sand? Civil engineering.
Soil erosion model in a urban context.
Cool.
- I'm - Veronica.
I remember.
Just helping my dad out with some background info.
- See if we can track Yolanda down.
- Track her down? Like she's just gone lost or something.
Someone's got her.
One of the other lowlives Bone stepped on to get to the top.
Whatever happened to Yolanda it's his fault.
- He is desperate to get her back.
Then where's the police? He's ashamed of me, you know.
He's been in jail a third of my life, but I'm an embarrassment.
State science-fair winner two years straight, but I'm soft.
Is that why you guys stopped being friends? You figure out our dad was in jail? I didn't even know about that.
She never talked about your dad.
So you just drifted apart.
That's too bad.
She really liked you guys.
And I liked her.
The girl is deadly at this! - You're letting her win.
- Yep.
Maybe if I let her get me drunk, then she'll take advantage of me.
- Dream on.
- Careful, Logan.
Lilly's just sick.
- She's not dead.
- Sick, my ass.
She's jerking me around.
She look sick to you earlier, D? Hey, leave me out of this.
We need to get you home.
Remember the last time? Homecoming? Gotta go, Yo.
Make like a tree, V.
- So Yolanda seems cool.
- Doesn't she? I've got a good eye.
Oh, shoot.
My purse.
I'll be right back.
Hey, if you guys are still conscious, have you seen my? They what? It was a one-second look.
Let me ask Yolanda about it.
I don't know a Yolanda.
Do you? We know he has motive, he was at the club, and he won't talk to me.
He's the best lead we have right now, and we need to know what he knows.
Percy, this isn't business.
This is your daughter.
Look, I I know this is my daughter.
Villa Marquis.
May I help you? - Room 1411.
- One moment.
Yo, what up? This is Dime Bag.
It's me, Hamilton.
Bone! Heard you got a little personal problem.
Man, look, I'm just calling to see if you know anything about Yolanda.
Yolanda, huh? I may know a little something about that.
Why? What's up? What's the deal? Look, whatever you got against me, is between me and you.
I just wanted to hear you beg.
And then I'll tell you where she's at.
This is like me holding you out of a window.
- Damn, man.
- Wait, wait.
Now hold on, Bone.
Saying "damn, man" ain't begging.
Dime Bag this is my daughter.
And if you can help me get her back I'm begging.
- Beautiful.
You almost sound like a little woman there, Bone.
But you know what? To tell you the truth I don't know nothing about Yolanda.
I may have seen her at the club for a minute.
Now that was it.
All right? So why don't you go back to crying and leave me alone, you little bitch.
Wait.
Wait.
Just quiet.
Man, you should've heard this fool crying.
"Yo, Dime Bag, man, that's my daughter.
" - Sounded like a little bitch.
- Hey, she is fine though, man! I wouldn't mind having that locked away somewhere, you know? - Man, who don't you think is fine? - That would be nice though, huh? Bone's little Miss Princess locked up in a closet somewhere available whenever, huh? I mean, if that was possible, right? What you looking at, boy? Look at all these valet stubs.
I thought being a private eye was about shooting dudes and making out with sexy widows.
Sexy widows show up later.
- Hey.
- What? Bloom.
My dad talked to a Sam Bloom but he's in a wheelchair.
Benjamin Bloom.
- Close, but - Hold the cigar.
I'm not done yet.
Sam Bloom Esq.
Has a son named Benjamin who was at the club the night she disappeared.
I'll take that cigar now.
Thanks for coming out.
It means a lot to the family.
Thank you.
- Nice to see you.
- Logan.
- It's good to have friends around.
- I'm so sorry.
Hi.
My father thanks you.
- Oh, you're welcome.
- My mother thanks you.
I thank you.
God, I am glad you're here.
Thank you.
Look, Aaron, this is a little awkward but the studio's been calling me nonstop.
They just can't wait any longer.
Now, I know this is a hard time but we don't want them looking for somebody else.
I think I should just give them a call, make the deal, just to make sure.
Good God, Harvey, this is my wife's funeral.
So, Harv.
Hey.
You think next time when we have a funeral that ICM'll let us use the boardroom? You know, so there's no travel, no trailer-size negotiations.
I don't know.
It's just a thought.
Can I get you anything? Mimosa? Finger sandwich? A tissue? Look, I'm sorry.
I This is an awful time, but But we don't want the studio to move on somebody else.
I don't know how many more ways there are for me to say this but I don't want you negotiating this deal for me.
In fact I don't want you negotiating any deals for me.
Are you firing me? No, I'm not firing you.
I'm out of the business.
I'm done.
Your health is critical.
What are you doing? Trying to get this magic amulet, but it takes concentration so if you could keep it down.
- Logan it's your mom's funeral reception.
- Maybe we should - It is not my mom's reception.
It's his.
So if you wanna eat crab puffs and discuss today's Variety knock yourself out.
Thanks for coming.
It really means a lot to the family.
Logan I'm your friend, man.
And I'm starting to get a little worried.
And now I'm dead.
None of this matters, man.
Don't worry.
What are you talking about? You know Mom's dad fought in the Korean war? Well, he got this lighter in Seoul.
He held onto it, even when he was captured.
And he and his buddies escaped, and he had it engraved.
It was always in her purse.
But she left it on her dresser the night she disappeared.
It's a sign.
You know? Man, come on.
I mean, she hated all of this.
She hated him.
They didn't find a body because she's not dead.
She just escaped.
No.
As far as I know, Ben doesn't hang out at hip-hop clubs.
Then why was he there? He was at the club the night Yolanda disappeared.
Well, I am sure that there is some explanation.
You know that he received a traffic warning last month? A neighbor called.
Someone was watching the Hamilton house.
How did he feel about the shooting? Outraged.
What else could he be? Where is he now, Mr.
Bloom? He's at USC.
But you won't find him there.
He and some friends are in Mexico hiking.
Can't be reached.
You hear from him, you let me know.
Hey.
Did you find Benjamin Bloom? No, but his dad seemed squirrelly when I asked where he was.
- How's your sorority speak? - Like, awesome.
Why? Hi, is Ben there? Oh, is this his roommate? Cool.
Hi, this is Lisa.
I met Ben last fall at this Beach Blanket Bingo mixer.
Yeah, it's a boring story, but I need to talk to Ben about something involving crabs.
And I heard that he was going to Mexico with some of the guys.
Really? Thanks.
- Crabs? - No Mexico.
Roommate said he's been acting weird, but he left alone last week.
But he said he saw something on his desk.
A hotel confirmation number for Vegas.
Tom Dicintio, please.
Tom.
Keith Mars.
How's Vegas? Yeah.
Yeah, I got someone here I need to find and he might have blown your way.
Benjamin Bloom.
License 4PC1075.
Might be in one of the hotels.
Thanks.
You've been working overtime on this, kid.
You say she's a friend or something? Something.
What was that word again for "almost friend"? Veronica.
Veronica.
Can you talk to Lilly? I heard what Logan said about that night, and it's totally untrue.
- I didn't do anything.
- I saw it, Yolanda.
We were just talking, you know? And then he just kissed me.
This story I threw myself at him? I'd never do that.
Please.
Make her understand.
I don't know.
Sometimes she's really Veronica, come on.
San Diego's waiting.
In or out, Veronica.
In or out? I swear, he kissed me.
It didn't go anywhere.
I don't wanna blow it here.
You should have known better.
Do I tell my dad that his fiercely nonconformist daughter caved to peer pressure and left a totally cool person on her own in a new school? Hey.
We need to talk.
It came an hour ago.
They want a half million if I'm ever to see Yolanda alive again.
Okay, I know this is hard to believe, but a note at this point is very good news.
- This is strange.
- Strange how? Well, usually you get the ransom demand and they give you the details of the drop at the last minute so you can't stake it out.
But this guy gave it all.
- The time, the place.
- That's because he's stupid, man.
- Look at the top.
- "If you want little Miss Princess back whole " - That's what we heard on the bug.
"Little Miss Princess.
" That's Dime Bag.
If I don't get my daughter back somebody's gonna die.
That the money? Five hundred.
Plus a GPS tracker and the dye pack you put in here.
- Bastards won't even make it a block.
- Look, I know we talked about this but we should involve the police.
- I've told you I have no use for the police.
I have my justice right here.
Look, this is not the way to deal with this.
If you care about your daughter, you'll go to the cops.
If cops are so great, why aren't you still one? Mr.
Hamilton, I can't be party to this.
Then you've done your bit.
Check's in the mail.
Load it up.
Let's roll.
I thought you were fired.
Why are we even here? Trying to save the girl.
This is either the dumbest kidnapper ever, or the smartest.
He gives the drop location in advance, and it's the worst spot possible.
There's no escape routes.
It's totally open to surveillance.
I mean, getting away with the money will be impossible.
Maybe not totally impossible.
Oh, Veronica.
This is really grasping at straws.
Make yourself useful.
Get those things in a row.
- Any signal yet? - Yeah.
Take this right.
Yeah.
Do you see the taxi up the street? Yeah, I see it.
- I got the money.
- Go to the trash can on the corner.
You'll find a plastic football.
- I got it.
- You can keep your cash.
Instead, put that quarter-million-dollar ring inside the football and throw it down the storm drain.
I'm watching you.
The cab won't stop unless you've done this.
Do it now.
All right, it's done.
Now what? Hello? Hello? It's the car! Get that car! Where is she? Hey, Bryce.
How'd you guys find me? Whoever did this was either really dumb or really smart.
You're really smart.
Yeah.
So are you.
- So she was never kidnapped? - No.
She just ran off.
How do you know? She always thinks I'm not around, but I hear things.
Eavesdropping again, huh? She was on the phone, talking about meeting someone at the club and running off forever.
I rode in the trunk when she left Gabrielle's for L.
A.
Drove the car back, made it seem like she had been abducted and that was that.
- God, Bryce.
- Why? - Trust me.
You would not understand.
- But Yolanda, is she okay? - As far as I know.
I think she tried to get my dad's attention.
I may have stolen some of her thunder.
So she's okay.
No kidding.
Thanks, Tom.
Here's what we'll do.
Bryce, where have you been? Mrs.
Hamilton, Mr.
Hamilton, I think there's something Bryce wants to tell you.
You lost your ring.
Your daughter wasn't kidnapped.
She's just run off.
Bryce here is the one who wrote the note.
Look, you can be mad, Dad.
But you can't call me soft.
No.
I guess I can't.
Bryce, my God, where's Yolanda? See for yourself.
She can see you.
The pinhole at the top of the screen is a camera.
Mom, Dad here's the good news.
I'm fine.
And I'm married now.
What? I'm Mrs.
Benjamin Bloom.
Which is why I'm telling you from here.
Because until you guys and the Blooms just get over yourselves and make up, we're not coming back.
Okay, look here, baby girl how many times do I have to tell that I didn't order that drive-by? You let everyone believe you did because it gave you cred.
Never mind it just turned me and Bryce into gangster's kids.
Give us your blessing and we'll come home.
After the honeymoon.
All right then.
Be like that.
Veronica, is that you? - How did you? - I just wanted to say congratulations on the marriage.
And I'm sorry.
- I should have been a better friend.
- If I had been in your position I would have done the same thing.
Logan, what are you doing here? I want you to find my mother.