22. Roofies and Heartaches, Part I
22. "A Trip to the Dentist," Veronica Mars
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Season One, Episode 21
Original Airdate: May 3, 2005
Written By: Diane Ruggiero
Directed By: Marcos Siega
Starring: Kristen Bell as Veronica Mars
Francis Capra as Eli "Weevil" Navarro
Enrico Colantoni as Keith Mars
Percy Daggs III as Wallace Fennel
Jason Dohring as Logan Echolls
Christopher B. Duncan as Clarence Wiedman
Teddy Dunn as Duncan Kane
Kyle Gallner as Cassidy "Beaver" Casablancas
Harry Hamlin as Aaron Echolls
Ryan Hansen as Dick Casablancas
Leighton Meester as Carrie Bishop
Lisa Thornhill as Celeste Kane
Synopsis: After obtaining new information, Veronica is determined to get to the bottom of what happened the night she was drugged and raped, even if it means piecing together the fuzzy stories of every '09er at Neptune High. Meanwhile, Aaron throws a party for Logan, but inadvertantly throws a wrench into Logan and Veronica's secret relationship.
Trivia: This episode was originally called "Up on the Roofie."
Why It's on the List: Long before there was Battlestar Galactica -- at least in my life -- there was Veronica Mars. The feisty blonde P.I. in training with beauty, brains, and an attitude the size of Texas. This show had some of the tightest plotting I've ever seen, and the season long mysteries, and their resolutions, were so satisfying that it was almost unfair to other television shows. This episode in particular is the culmination of twenty episodes worth of suspense, so I must confess to you that I broke my own rules -- about only standalone episodes -- and made an exception for it to be on the list. But I just couldn't help myself; it needed to be here. It's just that good. The mystery, the drama, the wit, the pain. Oh, the pain! So, as recompense, I've provided a helpful character guide for reference so that some of the episode's finer points aren't lost to you. Read it first, refer to it during, whatever. And please, if this recap is your first exposure to the V-Mars, do yourself a favor and go rent the DVDs, illegally stream the episodes, go watch them on the revamped WB website, whatever, I don't care. Just watch them.
A Quick and Helpful Character Guide
Extra Goodies: Detailed Episode Guide, Episode Transcript, Screencaps, Watch the Episode
Previously on Veronica Mars, Veronica wakes up in a strange bed the morning after Shelly Pomroy's end of the year party, which she attended to prove to all the '09ers that their criticisms couldn't hurt her, having been drugged and missing her underwear. As if the rape isn't bad enough, she goes outside and finds that someone has written SLUT and ABEL IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN HER on the front and back windshields of her car. We hear her reporting the rape to the Sheriff, Don Lamb the asshole, and he doesn't believe her, saying "Is there anyone in particular you'd like me to arrest, or should I just round up the sons of the most important families in town?" Clarence Wiedman tells Alicia that her son planted a bug in his office, courtesy of Veronica Mars. Duncan has run away, worried he might have killed his sister, and Keith wants to collect the $50,000 reward money by tracking him down. Logan tells Veronica that he's not going to feel bad about betraying Lilly's memory with Veronica, by making out with her all the time, that Lilly loved guys. They kiss. Veronica questions Tad, from the previous episode, about who had the GHB at Shelly Pomroy's party. He tells her it was Logan Echolls; Logan is left waiting for her on the boat. Veronica thinks he is responsible for her rape. And, here we go.
It All Comes Falling Down
Havana, Cuba. A random Cuban child is chasing a kite; there are lots of cool retro cars; Cuba is beautiful. Do you think they really shot this there? Oh, wait. Stupid question. Moving on. So, there are more children running, and a swankily dressed waiter, of presumably a pretty swanky hotel, passes by a mysterious man whose face is obscured by a newspaper. It's all very Casablanca. Except in color. The newspaper folds in half and we see that it is one Duncan Kane, $50,000 runaway, sporting a trendy beard of angst, but we also hear a pretty smug, "Buenos Dias," coming from across the table. The jig is up, Duncan, as we see that it's Keith Mars. Duncan's head falls in resignation. And Keith's obviously picked up on my Casablanca vibe as well: "I know, of all the countries under military dictatorship in all the world . . ." Duncan won't look at him; he just asks if they gave Keith the jet to take him back home, or is he supposed to click his heels. Boy, this show, first a Casablanca reference, now Wizard of Oz. Are they trying to tell us something? Keith changes the subject, complimenting Duncan on the "hell of a job" he did with his fake passport. But Duncan is just angsty. A slight pause, then, "Do you think I killed Lilly?" Keith says he doesn't know who killed his sister, he only knows it wasn't Abel Koontz. Angsty close-up on Duncan: "I know it wasn't me."
Neptune High, the parking lot. Dick is showing Logan his new surfboard, which is crassly emblazoned with a devil skull that has dog fangs and is surrounded by blue flames. Logan reaches over to touch it, interrupting Dick's loving praises, and moans in sympathy: "Ooh, and you dinged it your first time out?" Dick panics, looking for the ding, but it quickly becomes obvious that Logan was messing with him. Dick is so not laughing, "This is my child." Logan is grossed out by the thought of Dick breeding. (And, by the way, there are just too many jokes to be had involving this kid's name, so I'm choosing to ignore them.) Logan gives him a "Mazel Tov," as he heads away, and we soon see that he's spotted Veronica, who is walking very quickly away from him. She gives him a glance, but just keeps walking faster, looking pretty upset as she does so. His plea for her to just stop for two seconds falls on deaf ears, and also Weevil's, who inserts himself between the fleeing Veronica and the desperate Logan. Weevil: "Hey, when they run away like that, it's kind of a hint they're not interested." Francis Capra rocks Weevil hard core; hey, do you guys remember Free Willy 2? Logan tells Weevil that he doesn't want to start with him today, only he calls him Paco. See, that was Logan being a racist pig, only he's not really racist. Just a pig. Weevil's all, are you sure? "It was in my day planner under goals." They have a macho pissing contest about how it's not Weevil's business, but Weevil's just looking out for Veronica, and then Weevil has to go and bring up Lilly, which makes Logan angry. Well, angrier. "Don't you even say her name." Weevil: "Actually, she kinda liked it when I said her name." Logan shoves Weevil pretty hard, "You think she had any real interest in you? You're a pork rind; you're what people grab when they're stoned and they just want garbage." Weevil: "What makes it worse, that she had feelings for me, or that she was using me for sex?" Logan can't take that shit anymore. He grabs Weevil's jacket and pulls him close, presumably not to kiss him. Logan threatens him, telling him to stay away from Veronica, but Weevil pretty much wins these closing arguments when he points out that he's not the one she's running away from. Their little tea party is broken up by a teacher, and Logan does this cute thing where he turns his death grip on Weevil's lapels into pretending to straighten them out for him. Weevil: "Thanks."
Casa Mars. Veronica's in the shower, trying to wash away all the bad thoughts. Their pit bull, Backup, is barking intensely at the door, and Veronica comes out to see what's going on. She pats his head as she goes to see who's standing creepily at the door; she's wearing a bathrobe and her hair is wet. She peeks through the curtains, and leans against the door in dread when she sees. Surprise, it's Logan, and he's not leaving. She opens the door. This is the first conversation they've had in days; he still has no idea why she stood him up for their date, or why she won't speak to him. She tells him it's kind of a bad time. Logan: "Okay, so I should come back when, never? Would that work for you? What did I do, Veronica? Can you just tell me so that I can apologize or, or explain." "Explain," Veronica says, "Okay. Explain to me why you were the one with GHB the night of Shelly Pomroy's party when someone drugged and raped me." Logan looks quickly away, not sure what to say, but rape is tough for guys to hear about, I think. Veronica is still waiting for her explanation. "You were raped?!" He's really upset, but I guess Veronica just thinks he's a good actor. It is in the genes, after all. He comes in closer as if to hug her or something, but Veronica stops him, with not a little bit of anger. And here come the tears. But Logan wants to know what happened to her. "You tell me." And he finally catches on that she's accusing him of playing some part in the whole thing; now he looks really hurt. She says she was told that he had the drugs that night. He tries to defend himself, saying that he got some liquid X when he was in Tijuana with Luke and Sean, they were just gonna have some fun. "Fun? Fun like sex with unconscious people fun?" Logan: "Fun like go to a rave fun." Sarcasm tells us that Veronica's not convinced, although she does use the words 'convinced' and 'bygones'. Logan: "What can I do?" She just stares at him, and he repeats, what can he do to make it better. Veronica: "I'm gonna find out who did this to me and I'm gonna make them pay, even if it was you. Sorry, I have to go throw up now." And she closes the door in his face. You can't trust anyone these days. Credits.
Digging Up the Dirt
Neptune High. Veronica is walking through the hallways, as voiceover tells us that "as a rule, people that hate you aren't that helpful." Henceforth, these voiceovers will be designated as VMVO's, or Veronica Mars Voice Overs, which was coined by the diligent Couch Baron over at TWOP. I am blatantly stealing it from him, because typing VMVO is eminently more satisfying than typing "voiceover." VMVO continues: "There were about a hundred people at Shelly's party. Ninety-eight of them would walk over my corpse for free gum." Her '09er resources may be limited, but there's always Meg, whom she is now approaching in the hallway. Before she even gets out a greeting, Meg is begging her to skip English with her because of this new infliction that she just invented: Hemingway related narcolepsy. Veronica tells her not to blame 'Papa', but to blame Mrs. Murphy's monotone instead. Meg's not quite buying, but before she can respond, Veronica's changed the subject, asking her if she was at Shelly's end of the year party. Meg looks pretty shifty, but says "yeah." Did she see Veronica there? Meg's a little too quick with her "why?" Veronica just wants to know, her memory's a little bit fuzzy about that night. Meg: "Maybe that's a good thing." Which means that Meg did see her, but just for a second, she was with her douchebag ex-boyfriend and they were just leaving. Beautiful blue flashback, the night of Shelly's party: Meg's boyfriend Cole is whining about why Meg has to say goodbye to Shelly, when they both spot Veronica, lounging rather sluttily on a chair and surrounded by cheering boys, who appear to be using her as a salt-lick. Meg wants them to stay and help her, but Cole doesn't want to end his night with Veronica Mars puking in his car. Meg protests, but just then they see a guy with his back to us pushing everyone away from Veronica and leading her away, so Cole and Meg leave. Beautiful blue flashback over, back to Neptune High. Veronica wants to know who helped her, but Meg has no clue. She tries to comfort Veronica, saying that everyone has a big high-school alcohol related moment, that she's gotta let it go. If only she knew that it was so much more than some drunken body-shots. Veronica doesn't say anything as Meg walks away; perhaps she's trying not to scream.
Neptune airpark, Duncan and Keith are exiting what does in fact appear to be the Kane's private jet. Celeste, Clarence Wiedman, and a limo are waiting for them. As Celeste hugs an unwilling Duncan, Wiedman approaches Keith. "Mr. Mars, well done. Perhaps your daughter has a future in travel planning." He is, of course, referring to the fact that not only did Veronica provide the means to find Duncan, but also gave him the tools to run away in the first place. Keith makes a snappy comeback about how he'll be sure to send Wiedman a postcard, "You can hang it in your cell." Celeste thanks Keith for bringing Duncan home, and he says he was happy to do it. He tells her to stop by the office anytime to finish up. "Finish up?" He's referring to the reward. But Celeste tells him he might want to speak to "your daughter" about that. "Veronica and I had an arrangement; you just met her end of the bargain." Veronica's got her fingers in so many pies; you should be proud, Keith. But we'll get back to this later. Celeste smiles evilly and gets in the limo, handing Duncan a bottle of pills, and complaining about how horrible the past few weeks have been for her. Oh, and: "Next time you run away, take your medication." But, Celeste, he left it on purpose because it makes him loopy and taciturn. He just holds the pills and looks out the window, "Empty stomach." Celeste rolls her eyes, and off goes the limo.
Neptune High, the outdoor cafeteria. Veronica approaches Luke, whom she helped out with a nasty steroid / Tijuana / bouncer situation back at the beginning of the season. "Remember when I saved you from drug dealers and I said I may call upon you for a favor someday?" No, he doesn't Veronica, but nice Godfather reference. She tells him it was implied. He laughs and asks what he can do for her. She heard he went to TJ with Sean and Logan and scored some GHB. He thinks for a bit, and tells her that must have been a year ago, he doesn't have any left now. Veronica: "I was gonna spike your juice box and have my way with you." He laughs again; Veronica's funny. But back to business now, she wants to know what he did with it. "Nothing." Skeptical, but honest to God, he gave it away. Who'd he give it to? "Um," she's not gonna like this: "Dick Casablancas." Whoosh to another beautiful blue flashback, Shelly's party: Dick, Sean, Luke, and one other blurry male are taking shots at what looks like a built-in bar. Man, these '09ers have it made. Dick is watching his younger brother, Beaver, hit on some girl across the room: "Look at that, Beaver's gettin' all the lovin', and Dick's flapping out in the breeze." First of all, Hee, on so many levels. Second of all, as Luke points out: "You have like the hottest girlfriend ever." But Dick's not satisfied (I'm sorry, I really am). "Much like fake boobs, you know. Great to look at, but they don't do as much as you'd like 'em to." And that's actually more of an analogy than I thought Dick's brain capable of. Sean, also of TJ fame, suggests that Dick get a couple drinks in her, but Dick says she's on "frickin' Atkins." He asks about the GHB, but Sean says he's saving it for a special occasion, which is pretty suspect.
So, real quick, a list of people who had GHB at the party: Logan, Sean, Luke, and now, Dick, as Luke obviously ends up giving him some. In comes Madison Sinclair, Dick's girlfriend, complaining about who invited Veronica Mars. Dick tries to put the moves on her with a shoulder rub, but she brushes him off. "Can you not be all over me for five seconds?" When she walks away, Luke hands over the drugs, laughing. End flashback. Veronica wants to know if Dick actually drugged Madison. Luke says he gave him two doses, assuming he would take one and give Madison the other, but he's pretty sure that's not what happened, she's not gonna like this part. Luke tells Veronica that he saw Madison writing SLUT on Veronica's windshield, and calling her "stringy-haired white trash." As he understands it, GHB is supposed to make you nicer. Veronica wants to know why Madison would do that, but Luke doesn't know, maybe "because she's a horrible human being?" Aww, I like you, Luke.
The girl's bathroom. Veronica approaches Madison from behind, perhaps to shank her. Veronica: "You can keep asking, but you're not the fairest. Trust me." Madison: "I can tell you who the pastiest is. What's the deal, can't buy bronzer with food stamps?" Sometimes girl fights are just so much fun. But Veronica gets down to business and confronts Madison about the car vandalism. She wants to know why she was publicly labeled a SLUT. Madison's response? "Because 'whore' had too many letters." Veronica, bringing the angry voice, says that she's never done anything to Madison, up to now, but Madison's like, whatever, Veronica. "How about making out with my boyfriend in front of an entire party?" Veronica gives her best 'What the hell?' face. But Madison continues, about how she probably shouldn't take it personally because Veronica pretty much made out with everyone. Veronica doesn't believe her, but Madison is perfectly willing to explain.
Beautiful blue flashback. Madison remembers Veronica sauntering saucily up to Dick and singing along to "I Touch Myself." Nice song choice, by the way. She pushes him down onto the couch, straddling him. Kristen Bell does good drunken slut, as Veronica threads her hands on top of Dick's head and tells him he has the best hair. "You like that, huh?" They kiss grossly as Madison watches in shock. When Dick sees, he pretends to have not enjoyed it, "Well that's not cool." This doesn't deter Slut Veronica, though. She crawls over his lap into Casey's, of Mean Girls fame. Why hasn't he been in more stuff? He's hot. Flashback over -- And can I just say real quick that wish my life could be filmed the way they film these flashbacks? It does wonders for the skin -- Veronica is incensed. "I made out with Dick and Casey?" Madison's like, please, you made out with the garage door. "And don't even start with the 'I was so wasted.'" Veronica: "I wasn't drunk, I was drugged. Someone put GHB in my drink." This stops Madison momentarily, but real bitches keep on truckin'. "Yeah," she sarcasms. But I think she's just too proud -- or dumb -- to admit she might be wrong.
Casa Mars. Veronica approaches from outside and hears Alicia yelling, "She could have gotten me fired, Keith! How is that not a big deal to you?" But he didn't say it wasn't. Alicia yells at him some more as Veronica voyeurs it up outside, about how Veronica put a listening device in a plant and had her son deliver it, at her place of business. Keith tries to defend her, saying she has her reasons. Alicia says reasons, what reasons? She's seventeen. At Keith's insistence that she's not an average seventeen year old, Alicia tells him that's because he treats her like she's forty. Veronica chooses now to interrupt the fight. Veronica tries to apologize to Alicia and gets in the middle of explaining about Clarence Wiedman before Keith stops her. He yells at her to go to her room, but she gets in a quick: "Fine, but he bugged me first." Alicia: "He bugged her first?"
Veronica's in her room listening to her iPod when Keith knocks on her door. He tells her that Duncan is safe back at home and that his parents are going to keep him home a couple days to let him recover. Veronica apologizes and says it's her fault, but he tells her not to. She says she was the one who gave Wallace a bugged plant, but Keith hilariously doesn't seem to care. He understands about the P.I. stuff; he taught her well. He just wants to know if she made some kind of deal with Celeste Kane. "I told her I'd look for Duncan if she released Weevil." He tells her about Celeste refusing to pay the reward, but says it's ridiculous, that of course they'll pay. "She's just enjoying the moment." Veronica: "She's a witch." A witch with a 'B.' Keith wonders aloud whether Veronica should start looking for another job, that her life would be better if she weren't working for him. Veronica sits up and says, "Are you kidding me? You're the best father in the world. I mean, come on, look at me. I'm healthy, happy, good grades. All my own teeth." She clicks them together. "Fancy shoes. I never would have gotten through this past year if it wasn't for you." This scene makes me so sad and also happy, because what if he isn't her father? It doesn't even matter. But Keith still feels guilty: "If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have to." Well, yes Keith, that's true, but it's also not. Her best friend would still be dead, her boyfriend would still have broken up with her. The only difference would be that she would still be popular, you would still be sheriff, and Lilly's real killer wouldn't even be close to getting caught. So shut up and don't be a jerk. Veronica wants the truth just as much as you do. End rant. He gives her a kiss on the forehead and leaves the room.
Embarassingly, I wrote too much to be contained in one post or I had too many pictures. Either way, LJ won't let me post the whole thing in one go, so . . .
Continue to Part Two
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Season One, Episode 21
Original Airdate: May 3, 2005
Written By: Diane Ruggiero
Directed By: Marcos Siega
Starring: Kristen Bell as Veronica Mars
Francis Capra as Eli "Weevil" Navarro
Enrico Colantoni as Keith Mars
Percy Daggs III as Wallace Fennel
Jason Dohring as Logan Echolls
Christopher B. Duncan as Clarence Wiedman
Teddy Dunn as Duncan Kane
Kyle Gallner as Cassidy "Beaver" Casablancas
Harry Hamlin as Aaron Echolls
Ryan Hansen as Dick Casablancas
Leighton Meester as Carrie Bishop
Lisa Thornhill as Celeste Kane
Synopsis: After obtaining new information, Veronica is determined to get to the bottom of what happened the night she was drugged and raped, even if it means piecing together the fuzzy stories of every '09er at Neptune High. Meanwhile, Aaron throws a party for Logan, but inadvertantly throws a wrench into Logan and Veronica's secret relationship.
Trivia: This episode was originally called "Up on the Roofie."
Why It's on the List: Long before there was Battlestar Galactica -- at least in my life -- there was Veronica Mars. The feisty blonde P.I. in training with beauty, brains, and an attitude the size of Texas. This show had some of the tightest plotting I've ever seen, and the season long mysteries, and their resolutions, were so satisfying that it was almost unfair to other television shows. This episode in particular is the culmination of twenty episodes worth of suspense, so I must confess to you that I broke my own rules -- about only standalone episodes -- and made an exception for it to be on the list. But I just couldn't help myself; it needed to be here. It's just that good. The mystery, the drama, the wit, the pain. Oh, the pain! So, as recompense, I've provided a helpful character guide for reference so that some of the episode's finer points aren't lost to you. Read it first, refer to it during, whatever. And please, if this recap is your first exposure to the V-Mars, do yourself a favor and go rent the DVDs, illegally stream the episodes, go watch them on the revamped WB website, whatever, I don't care. Just watch them.
A Quick and Helpful Character Guide
- Dick Casablancas: The biggest idiot of the '09, not a brain cell in his body.
- Cassidy "Beaver" Casablancas: Dick's more intelligent and sensitive brother.
- Logan Echolls: Lilly's ex-boyfriend, and a former close friend of Veronica's. After Veronica's father accused Jake Kane of murdering his daughter and the whole town turned against him, Logan turned against Veronica. Eventually they patched things up, even starting a secret and unexpected relationship, which started when she helped him investigate his mother's death, and that Veronica quickly curtailed when she found out that he was the one giving out the GHB at the party she was raped at. He's a bad boy, but it's so good.
- Aaron Echolls: A famous movie star, and Logan's father. Aaron is trying to reclaim his lost reputation, after the suicide of his wife. He is emotionally estranged from Logan and from his daughter Trina, and it has been implied that he is abusive to Logan both emotionally and physically. Handsome, charming, and debonnair, he is Logan's arch-nemesis.
- Lynne Echolls: Logan's mother; committed suicide by jumping off a bridge, publicly ruining her husband's image. Left all of her money to Logan, and not a cent to Aaron or his daughter Trina.
- Wallace Fennel: The closest thing Veronica has to a best friend. She rescued him from humiliation on his first day at Neptune, and he has repaid her many times over with favors.
- Alicia Fennel: Wallace's mother, is dating Veronica's father. She works for Kane software.
- Lilly Kane: Veronica's best friend; was murdered a year previously by an unknown assailant. Her murder investigation has occupied much of Veronica's life for the past year, it forms the basis of the show's plot, and it's fallout has made her life pretty miserable in more ways than one. Was kind of boy crazy. Even though Logan was her on again off again boyfriend, she also had lots of little affairs with other guys, including Weevil.
- Duncan Kane: Lilly's brother and Veronica's ex-boyfriend. He mysteriously dumped her without an explanation, although we later find out he had good reason. He also has a rare form of epilepsy that causes violent outbursts, and which makes him a suspect in his sister's murder.
- Celeste Kane: Lilly and Duncan's mother. Hates Veronica. First class biatch.
- Jake Kane: Lilly and Duncan's father, billionaire, and inventor of streaming video on the web. Had an affair with Lianne Mars, and was her high school sweetheart. He might be Veronica's father, which is why Duncan dumped her. His mother told him about the affair.
- Abel Koontz: The confessed murderer of Lilly Kane. Is dying of cancer and was paid by the Kanes, courtesy of Clarence Wiedman, to confess to the murder.
- Meg Manning: The only '09er who is nice to Veronica; is dating Duncan.
- Veronica Mars: A murdered best friend, a disgraced ex-Sheriff P.I. of a father, a mysterious rape, and the enemy of every '09er in Neptune High. Has a hard time navigating the immense divide between the very rich and the very poor in Neptune. Her detective skills are mighty, her anger fierce, and her trust issues a mile long.
- Keith Mars: The ex-Sheriff, was forced out of office when he accused Jake Kane of murdering his daughter. Fervently believes the accused, and confessed, murderer Abel Koontz is the fall-guy set up by the extremely wealthy Kane family. Is a very good father; also does not know if Veronica is his daughter.
- Lianne Mars: Left Keith and Veronica after the fallout from Lilly's murder got to be too much for her. Is an alcoholic; wasted $12,000 of Veronica's college money when she ditched rehab. Had an affair, probably ongoing, with Jake Kane, who might be Veronica's father.
- Eli "Weevil" Navarro: The leader of the PCH bike gang, and Veronica's strange ally, after she helped him beat a couple false raps. Was in love with Lilly Kane; has her name tattooed on his arm. He and Logan have a grudging respect for each other, but also because of Lilly, resentment. Lives with his grandmother and his cousins.
- Clarence Wiedman: The head of security for Kane software; is involved in the murder cover-up. Veronica caught him surveilling her on multiple occasions.
Extra Goodies: Detailed Episode Guide, Episode Transcript, Screencaps, Watch the Episode
Previously on Veronica Mars, Veronica wakes up in a strange bed the morning after Shelly Pomroy's end of the year party, which she attended to prove to all the '09ers that their criticisms couldn't hurt her, having been drugged and missing her underwear. As if the rape isn't bad enough, she goes outside and finds that someone has written SLUT and ABEL IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN HER on the front and back windshields of her car. We hear her reporting the rape to the Sheriff, Don Lamb the asshole, and he doesn't believe her, saying "Is there anyone in particular you'd like me to arrest, or should I just round up the sons of the most important families in town?" Clarence Wiedman tells Alicia that her son planted a bug in his office, courtesy of Veronica Mars. Duncan has run away, worried he might have killed his sister, and Keith wants to collect the $50,000 reward money by tracking him down. Logan tells Veronica that he's not going to feel bad about betraying Lilly's memory with Veronica, by making out with her all the time, that Lilly loved guys. They kiss. Veronica questions Tad, from the previous episode, about who had the GHB at Shelly Pomroy's party. He tells her it was Logan Echolls; Logan is left waiting for her on the boat. Veronica thinks he is responsible for her rape. And, here we go.
It All Comes Falling Down
Havana, Cuba. A random Cuban child is chasing a kite; there are lots of cool retro cars; Cuba is beautiful. Do you think they really shot this there? Oh, wait. Stupid question. Moving on. So, there are more children running, and a swankily dressed waiter, of presumably a pretty swanky hotel, passes by a mysterious man whose face is obscured by a newspaper. It's all very Casablanca. Except in color. The newspaper folds in half and we see that it is one Duncan Kane, $50,000 runaway, sporting a trendy beard of angst, but we also hear a pretty smug, "Buenos Dias," coming from across the table. The jig is up, Duncan, as we see that it's Keith Mars. Duncan's head falls in resignation. And Keith's obviously picked up on my Casablanca vibe as well: "I know, of all the countries under military dictatorship in all the world . . ." Duncan won't look at him; he just asks if they gave Keith the jet to take him back home, or is he supposed to click his heels. Boy, this show, first a Casablanca reference, now Wizard of Oz. Are they trying to tell us something? Keith changes the subject, complimenting Duncan on the "hell of a job" he did with his fake passport. But Duncan is just angsty. A slight pause, then, "Do you think I killed Lilly?" Keith says he doesn't know who killed his sister, he only knows it wasn't Abel Koontz. Angsty close-up on Duncan: "I know it wasn't me."
Neptune High, the parking lot. Dick is showing Logan his new surfboard, which is crassly emblazoned with a devil skull that has dog fangs and is surrounded by blue flames. Logan reaches over to touch it, interrupting Dick's loving praises, and moans in sympathy: "Ooh, and you dinged it your first time out?" Dick panics, looking for the ding, but it quickly becomes obvious that Logan was messing with him. Dick is so not laughing, "This is my child." Logan is grossed out by the thought of Dick breeding. (And, by the way, there are just too many jokes to be had involving this kid's name, so I'm choosing to ignore them.) Logan gives him a "Mazel Tov," as he heads away, and we soon see that he's spotted Veronica, who is walking very quickly away from him. She gives him a glance, but just keeps walking faster, looking pretty upset as she does so. His plea for her to just stop for two seconds falls on deaf ears, and also Weevil's, who inserts himself between the fleeing Veronica and the desperate Logan. Weevil: "Hey, when they run away like that, it's kind of a hint they're not interested." Francis Capra rocks Weevil hard core; hey, do you guys remember Free Willy 2? Logan tells Weevil that he doesn't want to start with him today, only he calls him Paco. See, that was Logan being a racist pig, only he's not really racist. Just a pig. Weevil's all, are you sure? "It was in my day planner under goals." They have a macho pissing contest about how it's not Weevil's business, but Weevil's just looking out for Veronica, and then Weevil has to go and bring up Lilly, which makes Logan angry. Well, angrier. "Don't you even say her name." Weevil: "Actually, she kinda liked it when I said her name." Logan shoves Weevil pretty hard, "You think she had any real interest in you? You're a pork rind; you're what people grab when they're stoned and they just want garbage." Weevil: "What makes it worse, that she had feelings for me, or that she was using me for sex?" Logan can't take that shit anymore. He grabs Weevil's jacket and pulls him close, presumably not to kiss him. Logan threatens him, telling him to stay away from Veronica, but Weevil pretty much wins these closing arguments when he points out that he's not the one she's running away from. Their little tea party is broken up by a teacher, and Logan does this cute thing where he turns his death grip on Weevil's lapels into pretending to straighten them out for him. Weevil: "Thanks."
Casa Mars. Veronica's in the shower, trying to wash away all the bad thoughts. Their pit bull, Backup, is barking intensely at the door, and Veronica comes out to see what's going on. She pats his head as she goes to see who's standing creepily at the door; she's wearing a bathrobe and her hair is wet. She peeks through the curtains, and leans against the door in dread when she sees. Surprise, it's Logan, and he's not leaving. She opens the door. This is the first conversation they've had in days; he still has no idea why she stood him up for their date, or why she won't speak to him. She tells him it's kind of a bad time. Logan: "Okay, so I should come back when, never? Would that work for you? What did I do, Veronica? Can you just tell me so that I can apologize or, or explain." "Explain," Veronica says, "Okay. Explain to me why you were the one with GHB the night of Shelly Pomroy's party when someone drugged and raped me." Logan looks quickly away, not sure what to say, but rape is tough for guys to hear about, I think. Veronica is still waiting for her explanation. "You were raped?!" He's really upset, but I guess Veronica just thinks he's a good actor. It is in the genes, after all. He comes in closer as if to hug her or something, but Veronica stops him, with not a little bit of anger. And here come the tears. But Logan wants to know what happened to her. "You tell me." And he finally catches on that she's accusing him of playing some part in the whole thing; now he looks really hurt. She says she was told that he had the drugs that night. He tries to defend himself, saying that he got some liquid X when he was in Tijuana with Luke and Sean, they were just gonna have some fun. "Fun? Fun like sex with unconscious people fun?" Logan: "Fun like go to a rave fun." Sarcasm tells us that Veronica's not convinced, although she does use the words 'convinced' and 'bygones'. Logan: "What can I do?" She just stares at him, and he repeats, what can he do to make it better. Veronica: "I'm gonna find out who did this to me and I'm gonna make them pay, even if it was you. Sorry, I have to go throw up now." And she closes the door in his face. You can't trust anyone these days. Credits.
Digging Up the Dirt
Neptune High. Veronica is walking through the hallways, as voiceover tells us that "as a rule, people that hate you aren't that helpful." Henceforth, these voiceovers will be designated as VMVO's, or Veronica Mars Voice Overs, which was coined by the diligent Couch Baron over at TWOP. I am blatantly stealing it from him, because typing VMVO is eminently more satisfying than typing "voiceover." VMVO continues: "There were about a hundred people at Shelly's party. Ninety-eight of them would walk over my corpse for free gum." Her '09er resources may be limited, but there's always Meg, whom she is now approaching in the hallway. Before she even gets out a greeting, Meg is begging her to skip English with her because of this new infliction that she just invented: Hemingway related narcolepsy. Veronica tells her not to blame 'Papa', but to blame Mrs. Murphy's monotone instead. Meg's not quite buying, but before she can respond, Veronica's changed the subject, asking her if she was at Shelly's end of the year party. Meg looks pretty shifty, but says "yeah." Did she see Veronica there? Meg's a little too quick with her "why?" Veronica just wants to know, her memory's a little bit fuzzy about that night. Meg: "Maybe that's a good thing." Which means that Meg did see her, but just for a second, she was with her douchebag ex-boyfriend and they were just leaving. Beautiful blue flashback, the night of Shelly's party: Meg's boyfriend Cole is whining about why Meg has to say goodbye to Shelly, when they both spot Veronica, lounging rather sluttily on a chair and surrounded by cheering boys, who appear to be using her as a salt-lick. Meg wants them to stay and help her, but Cole doesn't want to end his night with Veronica Mars puking in his car. Meg protests, but just then they see a guy with his back to us pushing everyone away from Veronica and leading her away, so Cole and Meg leave. Beautiful blue flashback over, back to Neptune High. Veronica wants to know who helped her, but Meg has no clue. She tries to comfort Veronica, saying that everyone has a big high-school alcohol related moment, that she's gotta let it go. If only she knew that it was so much more than some drunken body-shots. Veronica doesn't say anything as Meg walks away; perhaps she's trying not to scream.
Neptune airpark, Duncan and Keith are exiting what does in fact appear to be the Kane's private jet. Celeste, Clarence Wiedman, and a limo are waiting for them. As Celeste hugs an unwilling Duncan, Wiedman approaches Keith. "Mr. Mars, well done. Perhaps your daughter has a future in travel planning." He is, of course, referring to the fact that not only did Veronica provide the means to find Duncan, but also gave him the tools to run away in the first place. Keith makes a snappy comeback about how he'll be sure to send Wiedman a postcard, "You can hang it in your cell." Celeste thanks Keith for bringing Duncan home, and he says he was happy to do it. He tells her to stop by the office anytime to finish up. "Finish up?" He's referring to the reward. But Celeste tells him he might want to speak to "your daughter" about that. "Veronica and I had an arrangement; you just met her end of the bargain." Veronica's got her fingers in so many pies; you should be proud, Keith. But we'll get back to this later. Celeste smiles evilly and gets in the limo, handing Duncan a bottle of pills, and complaining about how horrible the past few weeks have been for her. Oh, and: "Next time you run away, take your medication." But, Celeste, he left it on purpose because it makes him loopy and taciturn. He just holds the pills and looks out the window, "Empty stomach." Celeste rolls her eyes, and off goes the limo.
Neptune High, the outdoor cafeteria. Veronica approaches Luke, whom she helped out with a nasty steroid / Tijuana / bouncer situation back at the beginning of the season. "Remember when I saved you from drug dealers and I said I may call upon you for a favor someday?" No, he doesn't Veronica, but nice Godfather reference. She tells him it was implied. He laughs and asks what he can do for her. She heard he went to TJ with Sean and Logan and scored some GHB. He thinks for a bit, and tells her that must have been a year ago, he doesn't have any left now. Veronica: "I was gonna spike your juice box and have my way with you." He laughs again; Veronica's funny. But back to business now, she wants to know what he did with it. "Nothing." Skeptical, but honest to God, he gave it away. Who'd he give it to? "Um," she's not gonna like this: "Dick Casablancas." Whoosh to another beautiful blue flashback, Shelly's party: Dick, Sean, Luke, and one other blurry male are taking shots at what looks like a built-in bar. Man, these '09ers have it made. Dick is watching his younger brother, Beaver, hit on some girl across the room: "Look at that, Beaver's gettin' all the lovin', and Dick's flapping out in the breeze." First of all, Hee, on so many levels. Second of all, as Luke points out: "You have like the hottest girlfriend ever." But Dick's not satisfied (I'm sorry, I really am). "Much like fake boobs, you know. Great to look at, but they don't do as much as you'd like 'em to." And that's actually more of an analogy than I thought Dick's brain capable of. Sean, also of TJ fame, suggests that Dick get a couple drinks in her, but Dick says she's on "frickin' Atkins." He asks about the GHB, but Sean says he's saving it for a special occasion, which is pretty suspect.
So, real quick, a list of people who had GHB at the party: Logan, Sean, Luke, and now, Dick, as Luke obviously ends up giving him some. In comes Madison Sinclair, Dick's girlfriend, complaining about who invited Veronica Mars. Dick tries to put the moves on her with a shoulder rub, but she brushes him off. "Can you not be all over me for five seconds?" When she walks away, Luke hands over the drugs, laughing. End flashback. Veronica wants to know if Dick actually drugged Madison. Luke says he gave him two doses, assuming he would take one and give Madison the other, but he's pretty sure that's not what happened, she's not gonna like this part. Luke tells Veronica that he saw Madison writing SLUT on Veronica's windshield, and calling her "stringy-haired white trash." As he understands it, GHB is supposed to make you nicer. Veronica wants to know why Madison would do that, but Luke doesn't know, maybe "because she's a horrible human being?" Aww, I like you, Luke.
The girl's bathroom. Veronica approaches Madison from behind, perhaps to shank her. Veronica: "You can keep asking, but you're not the fairest. Trust me." Madison: "I can tell you who the pastiest is. What's the deal, can't buy bronzer with food stamps?" Sometimes girl fights are just so much fun. But Veronica gets down to business and confronts Madison about the car vandalism. She wants to know why she was publicly labeled a SLUT. Madison's response? "Because 'whore' had too many letters." Veronica, bringing the angry voice, says that she's never done anything to Madison, up to now, but Madison's like, whatever, Veronica. "How about making out with my boyfriend in front of an entire party?" Veronica gives her best 'What the hell?' face. But Madison continues, about how she probably shouldn't take it personally because Veronica pretty much made out with everyone. Veronica doesn't believe her, but Madison is perfectly willing to explain.
Beautiful blue flashback. Madison remembers Veronica sauntering saucily up to Dick and singing along to "I Touch Myself." Nice song choice, by the way. She pushes him down onto the couch, straddling him. Kristen Bell does good drunken slut, as Veronica threads her hands on top of Dick's head and tells him he has the best hair. "You like that, huh?" They kiss grossly as Madison watches in shock. When Dick sees, he pretends to have not enjoyed it, "Well that's not cool." This doesn't deter Slut Veronica, though. She crawls over his lap into Casey's, of Mean Girls fame. Why hasn't he been in more stuff? He's hot. Flashback over -- And can I just say real quick that wish my life could be filmed the way they film these flashbacks? It does wonders for the skin -- Veronica is incensed. "I made out with Dick and Casey?" Madison's like, please, you made out with the garage door. "And don't even start with the 'I was so wasted.'" Veronica: "I wasn't drunk, I was drugged. Someone put GHB in my drink." This stops Madison momentarily, but real bitches keep on truckin'. "Yeah," she sarcasms. But I think she's just too proud -- or dumb -- to admit she might be wrong.
Casa Mars. Veronica approaches from outside and hears Alicia yelling, "She could have gotten me fired, Keith! How is that not a big deal to you?" But he didn't say it wasn't. Alicia yells at him some more as Veronica voyeurs it up outside, about how Veronica put a listening device in a plant and had her son deliver it, at her place of business. Keith tries to defend her, saying she has her reasons. Alicia says reasons, what reasons? She's seventeen. At Keith's insistence that she's not an average seventeen year old, Alicia tells him that's because he treats her like she's forty. Veronica chooses now to interrupt the fight. Veronica tries to apologize to Alicia and gets in the middle of explaining about Clarence Wiedman before Keith stops her. He yells at her to go to her room, but she gets in a quick: "Fine, but he bugged me first." Alicia: "He bugged her first?"
Veronica's in her room listening to her iPod when Keith knocks on her door. He tells her that Duncan is safe back at home and that his parents are going to keep him home a couple days to let him recover. Veronica apologizes and says it's her fault, but he tells her not to. She says she was the one who gave Wallace a bugged plant, but Keith hilariously doesn't seem to care. He understands about the P.I. stuff; he taught her well. He just wants to know if she made some kind of deal with Celeste Kane. "I told her I'd look for Duncan if she released Weevil." He tells her about Celeste refusing to pay the reward, but says it's ridiculous, that of course they'll pay. "She's just enjoying the moment." Veronica: "She's a witch." A witch with a 'B.' Keith wonders aloud whether Veronica should start looking for another job, that her life would be better if she weren't working for him. Veronica sits up and says, "Are you kidding me? You're the best father in the world. I mean, come on, look at me. I'm healthy, happy, good grades. All my own teeth." She clicks them together. "Fancy shoes. I never would have gotten through this past year if it wasn't for you." This scene makes me so sad and also happy, because what if he isn't her father? It doesn't even matter. But Keith still feels guilty: "If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have to." Well, yes Keith, that's true, but it's also not. Her best friend would still be dead, her boyfriend would still have broken up with her. The only difference would be that she would still be popular, you would still be sheriff, and Lilly's real killer wouldn't even be close to getting caught. So shut up and don't be a jerk. Veronica wants the truth just as much as you do. End rant. He gives her a kiss on the forehead and leaves the room.
Embarassingly, I wrote too much to be contained in one post or I had too many pictures. Either way, LJ won't let me post the whole thing in one go, so . . .
Continue to Part Two