Veronica Mars s03e05 Episode Script

Claire, hi.
Can I talk to you for a minute? You're that girl.
The girl who made a scene in the quad.
- You cleared the Pi Sigs.
- Yeah.
That's me.
So, what's this to you anyway? Crimes against women? It's a hobby.
Plus, a friend of mine was one of the other victims.
Listen, I have the ATM photo from that night.
- The guy who did this to me? - Too soon? Probably, but what the hell, right? I mean, if it saves someone else.
I have no idea who this is.
I'm sorry.
- You don't have to apologize.
- This guy I guess he made me pull my daily max off my ATM card.
I got raped and I paid for the privilege.
There's a logo or something on the guy's T-shirt.
Can you read that? - I'm just completely useless today.
- It's okay.
Good morning, all.
Dr.
Landry has been called as an expert witness in the State v.
Wolpert case that I'm sure you're all tracking.
He's asked me to take the class today.
We'll continue with our oral presentations.
Now, let's see.
Who do I wanna hear from? Veronica Mars.
Why don't you come down here and blow us all away? - Actually, I'm not - Very well.
- Moving on.
- Never mind.
I'm ready.
Eli Navarro has been in and out of juvenile detention since he was 13 years old.
By the time he turned 16 he was the leader of the Pacific Coast Highway Bike Club.
By his count, he's spent more than 700 days in juvenile-detention facilities.
He's currently on parole after assaulting the PCH gang leader who replaced him.
Veronica, this was an oral presentation, not show-and-tell.
Dr.
Landry said we were allowed audio-visual aids.
He's both.
Audio Yo! and visual.
Fine.
I'll let it slide.
Today, I'll talk about the socioeconomic conditions that lead preteens into a life of crime.
Then I'll open it up to questions to both myself and Mr.
Navarro.
Eli Navarro stole his first bicycle when he was 6 years old.
We were at it pretty late.
You know, a little too much juice, a little too much smoke.
So it's like 3 or 4 in the morning.
One of my boys, Hector, comes in and wakes me up.
He's like, "Somebody keyed my bike.
" So we find this guy's truck parked on the street hotwire it, take it to my cousin's shop because Well, that's where the car crusher is.
We end up leaving the cube, the one that used to be his F-250 in his driveway with the license plates on top.
Found out later, we had the wrong guy's truck.
Questions? Do you think you can ever really leave gang life behind? I mean, once you've been in it that long Promise you won't tell my parole officer? - Promise.
- I'm trying.
I really am.
But the truth? Yeah, I miss it.
I miss having cash in my pocket.
I miss the thrill.
That's a nice necklace.
It's Lilly's, right? Been thinking about her a lot lately.
- So any big Halloween plans? - Oh, you know, the usual.
Slapping on my sexy nurse duds and rolling tweeners for their chocolate.
Meeting the boyfriend at the Benetian after he gets out of his night class.
The Benetian? Room 332.
Benes Hall.
Some guy runs a casino out of his room.
- That's right.
You're a card shark.
- It's not for me.
I agreed to do something he likes, gambling in exchange for something I like dressing up and passing out candy to trick-or-treaters.
And I'm not buying that as a costume, so don't come knocking.
You might want to consider switching shampoos.
It's drywall dust, okay? We're renovating the student union upstairs and l I got the stuff in crevices and cracks I didn't even know Hey, word to the wise.
You got a boyfriend? Use the short leash.
As hard as this may be to believe, the women of Hearst aren't close to the top of my worries about Logan.
Wait, wait, wait.
What? You're dating Logan again? - After the way he treated Lilly? - This is news? Man, the prison grapevine blows.
How best to describe the results of your retest? "Disheartening" would be a start.
"An indictment of the U.
S.
public school system" might get closer to the point.
- Very good.
That's my daughter.
- Hey, Dad.
Back from Shangri-la.
Hey, look out your window and check out the Porsche.
It's four inches into the fire zone.
Let's call the city and get it clamped.
You know, just for funsies.
You get the lawn chairs, I'll put some popcorn in the microwave - Veronica.
- Seriously.
You blow a hundred grand on a car I guess you think you can park wherever you want.
I wonder if the sense of entitlement came standard.
It did.
And while we're on the subject of entitlement, maybe someday you can parlay your complimentary $ 100,000 college education into a lucrative career of your very own.
It's my wife's car, by the way.
Veronica, have you met my wife? No.
Has your wife met the hot chick? I believe there's a compliment in there somewhere.
Hello, Veronica.
- Veronica, why don't you go and - Matriculate myself? Okay.
You were about to tell me about your ex-husband.
Excuse me.
Listen, I think I might've dug myself too big a hole in this class.
Mind telling me what I need to do to drop it? Build a time machine.
Sorry, man.
Add-drops ended last week.
"Camp Waterloo.
" Good afternoon, ma'am.
And how are you today? I'll tell you what, I'll be sugar and sunshine if you could help me.
I am trying to organize a camp reunion.
And I was hoping you could send me a roster of the campers for the last five years.
Yes, ma'am, I sure do miss it.
My backside still smarts from all that horseback riding.
Well, aren't you sweet? Just the names, addresses and phone numbers if that's not too much trouble.
How long do you think it'll take? That long? Can you e-mail that to me? - It's Veronica.
Mars, M-A-R-S - I will track him down.
We appreciate it, Mr.
Mars.
We don't have to tell you that it needs to happen soon.
Do you see why he's the college dean most frequently burned in effigy? You might wanna take it easy on him.
His stepson is dying.
They want me to track down the kid's deadbeat dad.
The boy's dying wish is to meet his real father.
As long as I'm in supportive-girlfriend mode someone point out the sucker table.
- Baby needs a new pair of - How'd you like that? There's a bad guy coming through.
Better get out of his way.
Okay, everybody just take it easy, okay? Now, what you gonna do is you gonna give me everything you got.
I want the watches.
The jewelry.
The wallets.
Everything.
And I want you to put it all in Tricky Dick's bag right over here.
Move.
You.
Give me the cash box.
It's in the drawer behind you.
Now.
The combination.
You seem highly intelligent and motivated.
- Figure it out.
- The combination.
Or you're gonna have to find someone new to deal the blackjack, man.
Sorry, Tricky.
That's stays with me.
What? You think we're playing with you? You're gonna regret that.
Say good night to the bad guy.
Hey, where are you going? I've wasted too much time.
We have to get statements from everyone.
Sit down.
Why? So a make-believe cop can make believe he'll get my stuff back? Thank you.
There was probably 10 grand in the lockbox, give or take.
And you expect us to help? We told you to shut this place down.
Twice.
Trust me.
I don't expect you to help.
You asked a question.
I answered it.
- What happened? - Where were you? I was in class like we talked about.
Less gambling, more learning.
Right after you said jump and I asked "how high?" Two guys pulled guns, held up the casino.
They took the necklace Lilly gave me.
Come here.
Well, well.
What do we have here? An illegal gambling establishment? Underage drinking? Public displays of affection? It's like Sodom and Gomorrah in here.
Barker, start collecting IDs from everyone.
We had our wallets stolen.
The casino is run by this student here.
We've asked him to shut it down.
But he says Good work, JV.
Varsity's taking the field now.
We've got it from here.
Well, with Scotland Yard on the case, you're sure to have that necklace back in no time.
Yeah, well, I don't think I'm gonna need their help.
I'm pretty sure I know who did it.
You posing for the brochure? The dedicated students are the very picture of diligence as they strive to meet Hearst's rigorous academic standards.
You're enjoying yourself.
That's great.
- I'm happy for you.
- What's your problem? Nothing.
Just that I'm officially failing Mechanical Engineering which wouldn't be a problem except I wanna be a mechanical engineer.
I've always wanted to be a mechanical engineer and I've never failed anything.
You need to chill.
I do? Thanks.
- Good to know.
- Wasn't it En Vogue who taught us to free our minds, as the rest would follow? And that means what? It means we're going out tonight.
Mr.
O'Dell.
It's Keith Mars.
I've got good news.
I've located your wife's ex-husband and he's here in sunny Southern California.
- How'd you find him? - Left a trail of ex-wives.
It led you to the corner where he's passing out flyers dressed as a cell phone? The manager of his rat-hole apartment let me in his place.
One bedroom.
Lots of Backstage Wests with auditions circled.
He's scratching out a living working as a voice-over actor.
I think I've got a plan to arrange a meeting between you your wife and Mr.
Bitondo.
Hope you don't mind.
One of the cockroaches let me in.
So where'd you stash my necklace? You can let him go.
Backup and me, we're old friends.
Where's Lilly's necklace? Someone left a bracelet in my bed last week, or, wait - Was it a hoop earring? - I'm not playing with you.
Don't you get it? I have no idea what you're talking about.
Oh, you don't? Let me spell it out.
I tell you about a working on-campus casino.
Six hours later, it's held-up by a guy your size wearing a mask who happens to be covered in a thin film of drywall dust and the stench of Drakkar cologne.
My cologne stinks? So all this play I've been getting is from pure sex appeal? You just told all my classmates that your old life of crime was calling.
You just asked me about Lilly's necklace.
I can't believe you'd think I'd do that.
To you.
After all we've been through.
After all we've been through, can you really blame me? Yeah.
Hey, Backup, you can stay.
Your girl's gotta go.
It's a wonder you don't have more friends.
I'm here.
- Sorry I'm late.
Hey, Cliff.
- You remember the job? Pretend to be a receptionist.
I just wish I had some life experience to draw from.
Clifford? You ready? Race fans.
Hotrodders.
The monster trucks are coming to Neptune, Neptune, Neptune! - Great, Cliff, but just remember - Sunday, Sunday, Sunday! "Certain restrictions may apply.
No video, flash photography or recording devices allowed without the permission of the Monster Truck Association of America.
Please drink responsibly.
" Hi, I'm here for the audition.
Steve Bitondo.
Great.
I'll take your résumé.
Sign in and they'll be right with you.
So, Mickey, your book that Olive Garden gig? Waiting to hear.
Yeah.
Mickey.
They're ready for you.
Someone wanna take my turn? I'm still dialing it in.
- Go ahead if you want.
- Sure.
Great.
"Association of America" Steve.
Welcome.
What the? No, no, no.
We're not doing this.
You can leave in a minute, but first you're gonna listen.
Mindy, what the hell is this about? Alimony? I mean, is this what you've stooped to? This isn't about money, Steve.
I just needed to talk to you and I didn't know any other way.
No other way? Jason is dying.
He has bone cancer.
And he needs a bone marrow transplant.
He needs you, Steve.
- How do you know I'm a match? - From the paternity test.
You are a match, thank God.
He needs you.
Can you do this? This is your chance, Steve.
You can be his dad again.
Do this.
Please.
You know something? There was a time when I could have been around.
I could have been there for Jason.
But you kept me away from him.
- You turned him against me.
- I did no such thing.
You left me because I wasn't making enough money.
I left you because you were lazy.
Because you wanted everything to come easy.
Be careful.
Don't forget you're asking me a favor.
A favor? Yes, please, Steve, do us a favor and see if you can act like an actual human being for three seconds out of your completely worthless life.
You're going to do this.
I don't care if I have to break you and suck the marrow out of your bones.
You're going to do this for your son.
He's not my son.
He's your son.
She made that perfectly clear.
No Hey, Joe College.
Jose Lunchpail.
The living, breathing embodiment of the American dream.
- Punch any clocks lately? - You lining up your next girlfriend? I'm guessing this low-rider's yours? Any reason why everyone suspects me for a crime I don't even know about? Got them.
They match the robbery description.
Yikes.
Hey.
What do you say we do your Miranda rights in harmony this time? I'll take lead, you take tenor? Is it still called déjà vu when something happens more than twice, or is that different? I'll have to look that up.
Ask for cell B.
It has the best light.
Hey, good-Iooking, we'll be back to pick you up later.
Sacks tells me you're here to see Weevil.
Plan on helping him beat another rap? Actually, I'm here to get my necklace back.
I don't understand.
You actually believe that the bad guy did it? Does not compute.
Does not compute.
You must have been fun in the '80s.
So you get a tip about the watches in Weevil's car? Better.
He used a stolen credit card from a wallet lifted in the holdup.
Charged a pizza from Mama Mia Pizza.
Criminal mastermind had it delivered to his own apartment.
Be it ever so humble.
Yeah.
I'm thinking of some curtains over here.
And maybe a koi pond in the corner.
- Where's my necklace? - I don't have it.
It was a frame job, V.
Look, a prepaid pizza was delivered to my apartment.
I didn't order it.
Come on, what's a working man gonna do in that situation? So when I look into this And I will look into this.
- I'm gonna find out you didn't order that pizza? Or you could save yourself the trouble and take my word.
- Okay.
- That was good.
Well done.
Surprise.
Redenbacher and The Hills Have Eyes.
You remember Chloe and Jessica from last night.
- Instant party.
- You guys, I'm studying.
- Study later.
Let's have fun.
- Yeah, Wallace.
- I can't.
- I thought you might say that.
That's why I brought you this.
Call this number.
It's a tutor.
- Is he good? - Miracle worker.
Got me through a course.
And a hard one.
- You're a P.
E.
Major.
- Please.
Kinesiology.
Feeling better already, aren't you? Hi, I'm looking for the manager.
He or she around? You're Veronica Mars.
And you're Danny.
Rossow, yeah, I am.
Cool.
You went to my school last year.
I go to Neptune High.
Lucky you.
Remember when the bikers taped the guy to the pole and you walked up and cut him down? - Yeah, listen - When you stopped those guys from blowing up the school? No one was gonna blow up the school.
- What I was going - The last day of school I wanted you to sign my yearbook.
- Danny.
I'm working on a case now.
- That is so awesome.
Yeah, it is.
It's so awesome.
And I need your help.
An order went out last night to 1172 Navasota.
Do you guys have caller ID? Well, we're totally computerized.
Order comes in.
It logs the phone number.
That way we can answer like: "Mr.
Smith, thanks for calling again.
Pepperoni Lovers for you and the missus?" It wasn't a call-in.
It was an Internet order.
Really? Any way of knowing where the order came in from? Only our manager, Mr.
Wolfcastle, can make requests from our Internet service provider.
And he's not here.
Any way we can make like he is? Hello, this is Walter Wolfcastle.
With whom am I speaking? Listen, I need a favor because my hands are full.
I need you to track an Internet order.
Of course I want it now.
What, I should wait till Tuesday? Thanks to my one-man fan club, I now know precisely which computer the pizza order was placed from.
A public Hearst College computer hub just 40 feet away from where Weevil was dry-walling.
So he stays in the mix.
Then again, so do hundreds of people who pass through here everyday.
Hello, square one.
Nice to see you again.
Lovely.
Hi.
Any idea how this gum got from your mouth to that chair? I thought this was supposed to be a good school.
Shouldn't you be, like, smart? So speaking of down and dirty you wouldn't believe the divorce case I've got.
Lady stole from her husband.
Repeatedly.
Stole from his children.
Had his dog put to sleep and let the records show the dog was surprised by this decision.
The woman slept with everyone.
And let me guess.
She's your client.
Gentlemen.
- Is this the one? - Nope.
There's your guy.
Can I help you fellas with something? This is Detective Sanchez with the L.
A.
P.
D.
Sir, is this your card? Yeah.
You presented yourself as Adrian Monk a Los Angeles County Building Inspector? I believe that's your phone number on it.
And? The apartment complex manager says you ordered him to let you into the apartment of a one Steven Bitondo.
Ordered? Asked politely, maybe.
- Congratulations, boys.
You got me.
- That's a good one, Mr.
Mars.
I'm afraid that impersonating a county employee is the least of your problems.
- Bitondo's been missing for 52 hours.
Guess what, Keith? You're the leading suspect in his disappearance.
So you mind telling us what you were looking for in Mr.
Bitondo's apartment? The man's girlfriend was worried sick.
You should've seen her crying.
- It was heartbreaking.
- Excuse me, officers.
But if I don't bring up the law, this won't be considered a billable hour.
Do you plan on charging my client? Great.
If you'd like to talk with him further call my office, I'll set an appointment.
- My card.
- I know your number.
It's all over the bus benches, "Call Cliff and get off.
" Plus it's a radio jingle: Call 555- 12 Well, you know the rest.
We'll be keeping an eye on you, Mr.
Mars.
Nice work, Cliff.
When you're here, you're family.
Okay.
Thank you.
Jason O'Dell was discharged yesterday.
- You think they kidnapped Bitondo? - Looks that way.
They asked him for his bone marrow.
Bitondo said no.
These things tend to end badly, Keith.
Not much motivation to keep the unwilling donor alive.
They tend to expire on the operating table.
It's tough to press charges when you're six feet under.
I'm gonna track down the O'Dells.
Scare the dean, if I can find him.
I'm gonna need some help.
You still got your researcher working for you? Yep.
Whatever you need.
You're still in town? You haven't skipped yet? Where's your wife's ex-husband? Where's your stepson? Mexico.
I just got off the phone with my wife.
She took Jason to Rosarito.
Won't tell me which hospital.
But they're moving forward.
Mindy's brother is helping her.
I'm going to lose them both.
My stepson.
My wife.
All because that selfish son of a bitch.
- I'll track them down.
- I'm going with you.
You're gonna need to trace her call, right? Probably.
Yeah.
How do you plan on keeping her on the line? I can say a half a sentence and get her to yell at me for three hours.
- You rang? - lf there was anybody else One of the maintenance guys found the masks used in the holdup in a dumpster behind Benes Hall.
He found the guns too.
He came to me because he wasn't sure if it'd hurt me or help me.
I'm not really sure either.
I can track the ownership history to see where it leads.
Yeah, I doubt that's gonna work.
The guns aren't real.
They're fakes.
- Excuse me.
- Yeah? Can someone point me to the Props Department? - Jenny's props.
- Where could I find I'm Jenny.
What do you need? Someone held up an on-campus casino using a couple of prop guns.
We're the Theater Department.
We don't do guns.
We do Molière.
You want a poor man's Tarantino? The would be the Film Department.
If you see them, tell them we just loved their little opening-night present.
- Which is? - Our stage is covered in PAM.
- Who's Pam? - PAM is a cooking spray.
We can't walk out there without falling on our asses.
We had the temerity to schedule our opening night on the same weekend as their short-film festival.
Maybe this is their way of saying "break a leg.
" Thank you.
Good night.
Here all week.
Try the veal.
And, scene.
Yeah? One of the guys said I should Instructor and class? Winkler.
Engineering.
Come in.
Close the door.
Winkler's used the same exams for the past three years.
This file does not contain the exams.
It's a study guide.
If you want the study guide, it's $ 100.
If you want the answers to the study guide, it's another 100.
It's a study guide? Yeah.
It's 200 for the set.
I'll take the guide.
You keep the answers.
Find us seats.
I'm gonna get us some popcorn and grill me some film geeks.
- Veronica? - Yeah? You know that whole "life imitates art" thing? - You ready to screw him, Dick? - Yeah, cover me, Jimmy.
All right, hands in the air, buddy.
- Stick them up.
Give me the money.
- All right, man.
- Right now, you see.
Right now.
- Don't hurt me, man.
And don't forget to vote.
Loved your movie.
Eight millimeter, bold choice.
- Yeah.
- So, in other news an armed robbery was committed with the masks and guns used in your film.
I was hoping you'd tell me where I might find those.
You're Logan Echolls, right? I heard you were going here.
- Did you ever think of investing in - No.
Hey, buddy.
Right here.
You can schmooze later.
Yeah.
The guns and the masks were stolen.
Our whole equipment truck disappeared.
- Did you report it? - Campus police actually tracked it down.
Can you believe it? Rent-a-cops.
We got all our equipment back.
Only thing missing were the guns and masks.
- Call her again.
- It's not gonna work.
Mindy's not gonna pick up the phone.
And I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure you can't trace a phone call when the person on the other end won't pick up the phone.
Cliff? Thanks, Cliff.
You've got him at Sisters of Mercy in San Diego.
Mindy's uncle is an oncologist there.
You expect me to apologize, Keith? He's my son.
How'd you get Bitondo admitted? You bring him in unconscious? What choice did he leave us? - Who are you? - Come on.
You remember me.
I'm the girl whose necklace you stole.
It's got sentimental value.
I want it back.
I see.
I'll take two boxes of the thin mints and some lemon coolers.
You can keep all the gambling money.
Everything else.
I don't care.
Just give me my necklace back and we'll be cool.
That's some hardcore salesmanship.
You're good.
Tell you what, throw in a box of the shortbread.
You and your partner robbed the casino.
You did the talking because of Sasaki's accent.
As security officers the criminal records of all new employees cross your desk.
You decide to pin your crime on the new ex-con maintenance guy you see every day just outside your office.
This also explains why you were covered in drywall dust.
You knew about the casino.
You even tried to shut it down a couple times.
But those spoiled college boys didn't listen to you.
I'm guessing you got the idea when you found the masks and prop guns in the Film Department van.
You think I missed anything? - Well, one thing.
Proof.
- Not quite true.
- Look what I have.
- Prints? The witnesses said the holdup men wore gloves.
Yeah, but you wouldn't believe how much hair is inside these masks.
It's kind of gross, actually.
It's like a sack of DNA.
So I'll trade you: this bag for my necklace.
I'll need a day to get your necklace back.
Yeah.
That's not gonna do it.
What did you do? Say hello to my little friend.
Keith, please.
I'm begging you.
Keith, for God sake, just hear me out.
I've been hearing you out since Mexico.
I'm done, Cyrus, this game is over.
It's not a game.
Do I need to get on my knees? I'll get on my knees.
If you stop that operation, that's it.
My son's dead.
He's 9 years old.
You go up there, he dies.
If I stay down here, I'm partly responsible for another dead man.
The only way you and your wife get away with this is if Bitondo dies.
We're not gonna let Bitondo die.
That's not the plan.
I swear.
Then you, your wife, your wife's family members who helped are going to prison for a long time.
And Jason will live.
Small price to pay, don't you think? What would you do if it were Veronica? - Find my necklace? - Nope.
But we found a dozen other items.
Couple of Rolexes.
Dozens of credit cards.
These are the guys.
Maybe the other one has your necklace.
We have a car on the way over there now.
Oh, look.
Someone tipped off the local news.
That's my cue.
You see how well this works when you play by the rules, Veronica? You think you're such a big deal but you're so not.
You did this.
You set up my daddy, you stupid cow.
Go back to Hearst where you belong.
You come into this town and treat everyone like dirt.
Don, meet Steve Bitondo.
I believe you were looking for him.
You're Steven Bitondo? I wanna apologize for causing so much trouble.
I mean, I had no idea people were looking for me.
I just went, you know, camping for a week.
Didn't tell anybody.
Left my cell phone.
I mean, I can't believe I caused all this fuss.
It'd be funny if it wasn't so almost, you know - Ridiculous? - Yeah.
You tell my ex-wife I own her now.
No more talk of alimony.
No more child support.
We're beyond even.
That's been made very clear in the documents you signed.
- Nice ride, huh? - Think of it as a Father's Day gift.
What makes you think this is the guy? The fifth victim, Claire, was caught in an ATM photo the night she was raped.
Clearly already roofied, but still with her hair.
She was with an Asian guy.
So we're knocking on the doors of every Asian guy in San Diego? This guy was wearing a Camp Waterloo shirt.
I got a list of everyone who went to the camp.
There's only one Asian male in Southern California.
This is his house.
- Look tough.
- Always.
- Hi.
Is Wang Yi here? - Sorry, he's got class right now.
- When will he be back? - Why? Because he raped this girl.
Claire? I doubt it.
- You know her? - Yeah.
She's Wang's girlfriend.