Episode #01.02: Credit Where Credit's Due
Original Air Date: September 28, 2004
Written by: Rob Thomas
Directed by: Mark Piznarski
Report Card (Capsule Episode Review)
Yearbook (Recurring & Guest Stars/Character Statistics)
Drama Club (Performances: Highlights and Lowlights)
Chemistry (The Analysis of LoVe Scenes)
Journalism (The Mystery of the Week)
Study Hall (Miscellaneous Plot Details)
Extra Credit (Clues to the Season Mystery Arcs)
History (Flashbacks)
Band Class (The Music of Veronica Mars)
Literature (LoVe Lines/In Memory/Quotable Quotes)
Social Science (In Reference To ... Pop Culture & The World)
Homeroom (On Second Viewing, Get a Clue)
Pep Squad Practice (Ambiguously (Or Not) Gay Logan Moments) (None)
Detention (While the Censors Were out to Lunch ...) (None)
Philosophy (Unanswered Questions)
Principles of Democracy (Hindsight is 20/20)
Role Call (Written/Compiled By ...)
Staff Grade: B
Membership Grade: B (61.1% - 44 votes)
Despite an appearance by non-actress Paris Hilton, the second outing of the series is a strong showing. Combining the history of the characters already established with an interesting mystery of the week, the show proves that it has the ability to walk the line between the heavy-duty emotion of the mysteries set up in the Pilot and a lighter touch with Veronica's weekly cases. More importantly, key relationships are further established between main characters with humor and/or emotion all the while neatly keeping a toehold in realism.
Recurring Guest Stars (Previous Episode Appearances)
Brad Bufanda - Felix Toombs - Pilot
Brandon Hillock - Deputy Sacks - Pilot
Seraina Jaqueline - Inga - Pilot
Michael Muhney - Sheriff Lamb - Pilot
Daran Norris - Cliff McCormack - Pilot
Kyle Secor - Jake Kane - Pilot
Amanda Seyfried - Lilly Kane - Pilot
Guest Stars:
Aaron Ashmore - Troy Vandegraff
Wilmer Calderon - Chardo
Ryan Hansen - Dick Casablancas
Paris Hilton - Caitlin Ford
Irene Olga Lopez - Leticia Navarro
Who's Who in Neptune:
Mallory Dent - Journalism teacher; new to the school.
Troy Vandegraff Friend of Duncan, who transferred to Neptune High, friendly to Veronica.
Caitlin Ford Bitchy current girlfriend of Logan, secretly seeing Chardo, Weevil's cousin.
Chardo - Weevil's cousin.
Leticia Navarro - Weevil's grandmother and housekeeper at the Echolls' estate, accused of credit card fraud.
Dick Casablancas - An 09er -- with a stereotypical surfer look -- who clearly seems willing to follow whatever lead Logan gives.
Hey! It's That Guy/Girl
Aaron Ashmore (Troy Vandegraff) - Aaron himself may not be familiar to most, but rather his identical twin brother, Shawn, who is best known for playing Bobby/Iceman in the X-Men movies.
Paris Hilton (Caitlin Ford) - Where to start? Ms. Hilton is perhaps recognized as the daughter of uber-rich hotel magnate, Ricky Hilton, or there are her numerous appearances in the society and tabloid pages and on the cover of several magazines. She also co-stars in a Fox reality series, The Simple Life with former BFF, Nicole Richie. Oh, and there was this little home video she made that you may have heard of as well.
Highlights
Jason Dohring (Logan Echolls) - Jason Dohring has a scene here that is the first (of many) outstanding displays of his acting prowess. It's the third LoVe scene in which Veronica wrongly accuses him of the credit card theft. As she does so, Dohring calmly stands there and listens to her accusation without betraying a thing, going so far as to tell her: "Great. Prove it" as if he did it; he doesn't care that she knows, but he knows there is no way that she can prove it. Then comes the kicker, as he is walking away, the expression on Logan's face changes and you see -- actually see! -- the wheels turning in his head as he digests the information that it is quite likely that his girlfriend is (again) stepping out on him. It's a brilliant demonstration of the subtle intelligence of Dohring's acting.
Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars) - It's a small moment, but definitely a fine one: Her little, "Oh shoot, my loss," with accompanying faux look of disappointment and finger snap, in the journalism scene with Logan and Caitlin, is too funny. Too, too funny. Comedy is often more difficult than drama and the fact that Bell is just as adept at the former is really no surprise.
Lowlights
Paris Hilton (Caitlin Ford) - To even call Hilton an actress is actually quite an insult to bad actresses; she's THAT bad. Really bad. Wooden, stilted, should never be allowed near a camera to "act" again bad and that she was THIS bad opposite the two best actors in the cast (Kristen Bell and Jason Dohring) really highlights just how much of a lowlight her performance truly was. Just bad.
Aaron Ashmore (Troy Vandegraff) - Making his first appearance as Troy, Ashmore, unfortunately, does not manage to create any type of dramatic first impression. Color him bland. Bland with a side helping of boring.
Scene One: Oh Shoot, My Loss
What I like the best about this scene is how we have (much like in the Pilot) Logan's concentration so heavily focused on Veronica. Veronica isn't really paying attention to him until he asks her a question, but Logan is staring at her pretty much the entire scene. And even better, THIS is the episode where the back and forth verbal warplay between them takes on a tinge of ... foreplay. There is an underlying flirtation to their interaction, especially evidenced by this exchange:
Scene Two: Bummer
Ah, this one has caused some debate. Was Logan responsible for Veronica's flat tire? I fall into the 'no, he was not' category, but fully believe that he either (a) knew who did it or (b) was just being an ass about the fact that she had a flat tire. Considering that he took the time to stop, roll his apple (in a smooooooth move) across the trunk of her car and pause to stare at her, I'm leaning towards (a). On the other hand, this is Logan we're talking about and any opportunity to stare intently at Veronica seems to be a-okay in his book! And he certainly takes advantage of the opportunity here. Not only does he stare at her just a little too long after the lovely "Bummer" comment, but as Troy is talking to Veronica about fixing the tire, we get a few shots of the 09er crew watching them, with Logan staring specifically at Veronica. Of course.
Scene Three: Wrong Again, Miss Mars
Here we have the first instance of Veronica accusing Logan of something that he is innocent of doing. Not really much here for the LoVe train, but they stand staring at one another for more than a few seconds and it gives yet more avid proof that Bell and Dohring do indeed have some fine chemistry.
Scene Four: Phone Tag! You're It!
Maybe it's stretching to say that this scene bodes well for LoVe, but I really just don't think it is. (Of course, I'm an optimist when given reason to be one.) Here we have both Veronica and Logan using the same method (to a degree) to track down Caitlin's Neptune Grand rendezvous-partner. Both are using sneaky means and are using their intellect to get to the bottom of it. I especially loved how we got the cut between Veronica calling the numbers on the credit card bill before her, and Logan running down the numbers on Caitlin's phone. It showed an almost symbiosis between the two and one can imagine that as a team they would work remarkably well together.
But, I've gone ahead of myself -- prior to the game of phone tag, we had another (yes, another!) bout of Logan staring, with Veronica doing a wee bit of staring of her own. Okay, okay, hers was in the determined, 'I'm gonna nail that sucker!' kind of way (and I'm thinking that's the correct description because she tells Wallace about Logan: "I'm gonna nail that sucker!"), but she still stared! And Logan did his patented finger-circling-pointing hand gesture that he uses oh so often on Miss Mars. Oh and while he did it, he stared at her. And while he walked by her, he stared at her. And while he did a turn to change direction, he -- you guessed it! -- stared at her. Lots of staring.
The sun's goes down, the kegs roll out and the 09ers are slumming it down on Dog Beach. Rich kids can't have fun if they aren't rubbing it in the faces of the poor after all. Logan Echolls sits upon his throne, gazing upon his kingdom with a rueful grin. His whor- I mean lady of the night is Caitlin Ford (but we might as well call her Paris Hilton for all the acting she does) and his legs are straddled on either side of her. From amongst the crowd of writhing 09er decadence steps everybody's favorite robot, Duncan Kane, and his old buddy Iceman ... oh wait, that's his brother, never mind. This man is not cool, he just looks that way.
King Logan demands that Duncan Kane's date should at least introduce himself if he's going to trespass on his domain (both the 09er beach party and Duncan Kane's ass). Logan's girlfriend, Paris -- I mean, Caitlin -- makes the issue moot when her roving eyes identify Duncan's new date as Troy Vandegraff, son of a famous architect. Troy isn't the only unexpected one crashing an 09er party, however; we've only just recovered from chuckling at Logan's insightful claim that Paris Hilton is familiar with the social columns when Eli 'Weevil' Navarro and a few members of the PCH bike club walk up and start to molest the wildlife (well, Felix does). Logan descends his throne and enters the pen so Weevil and he can have their weekly cock fight (and I mean that in so many ways ... so do indulge your imaginations). Logan is very upset that his arch nemesis is drinking of the 09er beer; that stuff's imported (and it's not like this large group of rich kids could afford another keg)!
Logan kindly requests that Weevil leave the beach, as the party is private. Weevil is understandably confused, as this supposed private party is in the poor district and not the prestigious 90909 zip code. It's understandable that the 09ers got a little lost, since they have been drinking (kids, listen and learn: Drinking really does kill brain cells). Weevil just as kindly reminds Logan of all the beaches in his own neighborhood, asking if it would be okay if he just turned up and surfed at their beach?
We all chuckle heartily at the mental image of Weevil surfing in leather boardies and then move on because Logan isn't paying much attention to Weevil's complaint anyway. It's four on fifteen tonight and Logan knows Weevil isn't going to get them to move an inch. So, naturally, he takes the opportunity to snark without broken-bone-reprisal for all its worth and in the meantime teaches all of us a few lessons about how to insult your enemy:
1) The truth is a bitch: Logan turns to his fair lady and asks what she thinks of how clean and tidy the Echolls residence is. She agrees that it's very tidy, giving Logan the opportunity to deliver the punchline: His place is so clean because Weevil's grandmother spends all day cleaning it. Wow, how clever he is; nothing kicks your enemies in the shorts quite like the reality of their respective positions in life.
2) Retaliation by the less witty normally results in 'so's-your-mother' or 'dick' jokes: Chardo Navarro, Weevil's cousin, tells Logan that his grandmother is always complaining about all the tissues she has to clean up from Logan's room, clearly implying Logan has a very close relationship with one of his hands.
3) Shots at one's virility when 17 also result in 'so's your mother' (or in this case grandmother) jokes: Logan reminds Chardo that he just can't help himself; their grandmother is one sexy lady.
And so it would have gone on if someone other than Weevil wasn't after Logan's ... kegs. Sheriff Lamb flashes his lights on the ensuing fight and tells everyone to remain where they are, which naturally causes all party goers to run like Forrest Gump. Weevil and crew flee the fastest, knowing they stand out like Clinton in a sentence about fidelity. Sheriff Lamb tells his deputies to collect the kegs and bring them to the barbeque at his place tomorrow.
The next day (must be before the Sheriff department's kegger), Lamb and his flunkie Sacks show up at the Navarro residence. Weevil expected this to happen; it's not like Lamb would ever arrest a white boy for throwing a kegger on Dog Beach. He starts in on his rant about the inequalities of life when Lamb effectively shuts him up by declaring they aren't here for either of those naughty Navarro boys: Granny's been a bad, bad girl.
She's put in handcuffs and led away by Deputy Sacks as Lamb explains to a flabbergasted Weevil that the charge is credit card fraud. Lamb says that somebody stole credit card numbers out of the Echolls family trash. Since Mrs. Navarro is the only one in the household who touches the Echolls trash once it's been produced, she was naturally their first suspect. Lamb gives his well practiced evil grin (and yes, if you listen closely, I'm almost sure mwahahahahaha plays as background music) because he doesn't really believe Mrs. Navarro is guilty. However, he's going to arrest her anyway since Weevil is too much of a loser to admit to his own crimes. Lamb has to arrest someone and it might as well be a blood relative of the actual perpetrator. Someone should tell Lamb to go see the wizard about a conscience.
Later, everyone's favorite (but not the greatest) lawyer, Cliff McCormack is running through a list of credit card charges with everyone's favorite (and the greatest) private detective, Keith Mars. It seems Mrs. Navarro gave up a ten-year job just to get a piercing from 'Putty Tats.' I'd almost want to believe she was guilty just to imagine where a rockin' grandma would get a piercing ... except I would quickly become disturbed, so let's jump to the conclusion that everyone else did: Weevil must be guilty.
Everyone that is except Veronica Mars, who has recently developed a soft spot for the leader of the biker gang after he decided not to bash her new BFF's brains in. Awww. Cliff says that Mrs. Navarro was wearing a diamond pendant purchased on one of the cards. Veronica replies that Lamb is probably setting Weevil up (and we wouldn't put it beyond him) because Weevil's not so bad ... once you peel the duct tape off and get to know him. Veronica automatically agrees to investigate Weevil for her dad.
She heads on over to Weevil's house and inspects his bike, only to discover it has a new paint job. Weevil is very possessive over the love of his life and promptly reminds Veronica to stop checking out his ride. He is acting more defensive than usual and the reason becomes clear when Veronica seems to accuse him of getting his grandmother arrested just like everybody else. Weevil's got a nasty reputation, but so does Veronica, and he proceeds to leer like a Kennedy as he reminds her what her night time activities include according to rumor (even though the spying on Duncan Kane rumor should have tipped off the mendacious nature of the rumors; sane women stalk Logan Echolls, not Duncan Kane).
Weevil doesn't know her very well, but he pins down one of Veronica's major problems: She thinks she's an outsider, but she thinks like an 09er. We all know how he feels about 09ers in his neighborhood and so he promptly tells Veronica to get lost. Oh no, that's just plain insulting. Call her a slut, a bitch, or trailer trash and she'll deal, but no one calls Veronica Mars an 09er! Now she's wounded.
Veronica visits the office to get her new schedule and (after dodging the lecherous stares of Troy Vandegraff) discovers that there is gold in them thar hills! Wallace Fennel, her new little buddy, has been given a place as an office aid. Veronica's mouth opens and we witness a steady trickle of drool down her chin. For their next trick, the school administrators will dangle vodka in front of an alcoholic. Tada! She pounces on Wallace and orders him to copy Weevil's attendance records for her. Wallace, probably thinking Veronica is going to do something nasty to the man who taped him naked to the flag pole last episode, agrees to become her spy bitch quite quickly. He has the files all ready for Veronica in time to save her from an awkward reunion with Duncan Kane in her new journalism class.
Veronica cross references the credit purchase information with Weevil's class schedule. She discovers that most of the online purchases were made during fourth period, a time when it was impossible for Weevil to make said purchases unless he's the ultimate multi-tasker. Working on engines in auto shop with one hand, he would also have the ability to swindle the Echolls' out of their soft-earned cash with the other.
Wallace has finally caught on that Veronica is actually trying to save Weevil's ass and reminds her that Weevil is the nasty man from the flag pole incident just last week. Veronica replies dryly that Wallace really holds a grudge. Wallace seems confused by that statement from Veronica's mouth and so are you, I realize, so just read this mantra and learn it well: Just because Veronica Mars is a hypocrite doesn't make her a bad person.
Revved up with the knowledge that Weevil couldn't have made the seven internet purchases, Veronica returns to Mars investigations to tell Daddy Mars to look for a new suspect to get Mrs. Navarro out of prison. Only, the investigation is no longer necessary. Mrs. Navarro has already been released because Weevil has inexplicably confessed. Peer pressure, what a bitch. Veronica Mars, pissed off that an innocent man is getting punished for a crime he didn't commit, goes into a mode we will all become familiar with: 'If Weevil didn't do it and I don't have a clue who else could have, it must have been Logan Echolls.' Hmm, we know she's a fan of the South Park movie and I betcha when Blame Canada was sung she substituted Logan for the country and made it law.
Her mind is clicked on this mode during her next journalism class, which she just so happens to share with Logan and Caitlin. Since Logan's realized Veronica is now Weevil's friend (getting smashed in the face in defense of Veronica must have clued him in), he decides to taunt her about the Navarro situation because Weevil is absent. While he's talking to his 'girlfriend,' his eyes are focused on Veronica, desperately urging her to bite the bait he's dangling in front of her (and anything else on his person she feels a yen to sink her teeth into ... except for that one part he'd prefer not to be severed). It turns out Mrs. Navarro has lost her position as maid in his house because the Echolls family just doesn't feel safe around her any more. Awww.
The bait is just too damn tempting for Veronica to resist and she replies to their conversation with a quippy, "Did you know 90% of all identity theft is committed by relatives of the victim?" And we're all too busy playing the 'Blame Logan Echolls' drinking game to preen with respect that Veronica Mars is just full of fun facts like that. Logan runs his hands over his face, clearly starting to get a little hot from all this foreplay with his spunky sparring partner. Caitlin also seems to be slipping further and further out of the camera shot, go figure.
Logan gives up all pretense of talking about Mrs. Navarro and the missing credit cards by asking if Veronica joined journalism class just so she could be closer to Duncan (clearly the boy has been spending too much time with Caitlin and has contracted a venereal disease which causes horrible fevers and hallucinations). Veronica clears up his confusion by replying that no, of course she didn't transfer into journalism to be near Donut, "I'm here so I can be closer to you. Actually they're thinking of putting me in your fourth period government class."
Logan looks suitably chuffed by her sexy snark (and he's just desperate enough to believe it's possible), while Caitlin is irritated. Consequently they're both distracted when Veronica manages to get the information she wants out of them: "We have computer lab fourth period." Logan is still staring intensely at her when Veronica grins at her computer screen with victory (and in our humble opinions, lust): She now knows Logan Echolls has computer access when the online purchases were made.
Veronica pulls the web browser history from Logan's fourth period computer lab class. It seems Logan used his class time to study hard, study the naked body of Alyssa Milano to be exact (clearly the boy's trying to cover up an infatuation because we all know he likes blondes; leave me with my straws). Logan did, however, access the Neptune Grand's website which is the only evidence that Logan visited a site where a purchase was later made: The honeymoon suite. Veronica seems to like clutching at straws, too.
Veronica heads toward her trusty LeBaron in the parking lot of Neptune High when she notices something funny. Her car seems to be sagging a little in the back there. Her shoulders slump as she realizes that the most unoriginal prank in the history of pranks has been played on her car, air has been let out of her tires for the second time since school started.
In the background of the shot we see an orange blur rapidly strutting towards her, and it's not just any blur, it's Logan Echolls decked out in his standard evil costume color. (Do they always dress him in orange because it looks bad? That's a mystery to me.) One of his 09er toadies tosses him an apple which he proceeds to roll smoothly across the trunk of Veronica's car, stopping in front of her just as she rises to her feet in disgust. Man, it's almost like their perfectly synchronized snark now comes with corresponding dance moves.
Logan notices what's happened to her tires and says "Bummer," in his most sympathetic voice. We'd almost buy it, too, if he didn't signal the evil 'okay' at his buddies as soon as he turned away from her: The 09er bat symbol for 'right on dude, now let's find our next victim, mwahahaha.' Veronica gives her 'fire of a thousand suns' death glare at his back as he strolls away to schmooze with the other 09ers. While they stand there looking pretty (and generally useless), Veronica puts all us girls to shame by pulling out a tire iron and proceeding to fix her own flat. Ah, Veronica Mars, she's good at everything ... but I bet she's imagining using that tire iron on a certain 09er's head.
From off camera an 09er in sheep's clothing wanders up to offer his assistance. "Flat?" Veronica glances up to see that guy who was leering at her in the administration office, Troy Vandegraff. "Just as God made me." She retorts, clearly hoping to distract his interest. Veronica rants with barely contained violence because she needs to get to a photo shoot for her journalism class and the last thing she wants to do is ask Duncan Kane for a ride (well, she doesn't actually say that but we all know she's thinking it).
Troy offers his help (after all, he's known Duncan a long time and he can sympathize with Veronica's pain). Veronica looks stunned that anyone would offer her help and momentarily tightens her hand on the tire iron ... he must be up to something, there's no such thing as 'nice' at Neptune High! He introduces himself as Troy and when she says her name's Veronica it's clear he's heard all about her. Although we can't be sure whether it's old school Veronica/Duncan cheesiness that sparks a memory or current school 'Veronica's a skank' gossip he's heard. Considering the glance he throws in the 09er direction, I'm going with the latter. That and the surety in his knowledge that no one would actually name their daughter, "Trampy McBitch."
On the other side of the parking lot, Caitlin rides up on a garishly pink scooter made just for her by Mattel. Logan has been watching the Veronica/Troy exchange with mild interest (since everyone knows she's his victim of choice and no one else's) but he gets irritated when his very own Barbie doll is watching their interaction as well. Caitlin is meant to be distracting him from his tendency to stare at Veronica Mars, not encouraging the habit. Oh yeah, and he also doesn't like that Caitlin seems to be equally distracted by this new guy, Troy, either. "What do you care?" He all but snarls at her when she asks what Troy is doing with everyone's favorite pariah.
The Veronica stare-a-thon is kicked up another notch when Duncan Kane is walking to his own car and notices the strangest thing ... somebody is actually helping his ex-girlfriend. *gasp/faints* Duncan always thought that if he wasn't mean to her like everybody else the only other option was to ignore her completely. What a head spin to find out that his old buddy, Troy, has discovered another option: Thinking independently! Duncan is uncomfortable with this strange new thing so he strolls over to Veronica's car to put a stop to it. He offers Veronica a ride and she stutters and stammers for a while trying to get out of it. Troy kindly offers to finish fixing up her car so that she can run along with her ex and spend an excruciating drive with him all the way to the Gold Coast. Gee, Troy, you're so helpful, thanks a lot.
While Veronica is on her way to her first journalism assignment with Duncan Kane, she spots Weevil working community service by the side of the road. That night, still tormented about the case, she persuades her dad to swing past the Neptune Grand on the way home. Daddy Mars tries to get out of it by saying that they already have the confessed criminal in jail. Pause. Beat. Veronica glares. Oh yeah, just because you're in jail doesn't mean you're guilty *cough*Abel Koontz*cough.* Daddy Mars is a pushover for his daughter's innocent grin anyway.
This is the part where we figure out that Veronica has a lot in common with everyone's favorite drama queen, Logan Echolls. She pretends that she's a blonde ditz who did a couple of laps in the bottom of a tequila bottle and managed to get knocked up in the honeymoon suite ... oh and whoopsy, didn't manage to catch daddy's name, or what he looks like. When you can't think of a role to perform on the job, it's pretty easy to fall back on the one Logan accuses you of being at school every day. Keith is very convincing as the distraught father of the knocked up daughter with a shot gun and wedding veil ready and waiting in the trunk of his car. Keith is looking to get surveillance footage of the bastard who knocked up his baby but all they manage to get is the detailed bill. And on the receipt for room service is Caitlin Ford's signature. So naturally, it's Logan's fault. Ha!
Veronica smugly tells Logan she knows it was him the next day. Logan, amazingly enough, engages in conversation with her by biting her bait. She tells him exactly what he did: He stole his mother's credit cards but was not smart enough to escape her all-powerful investigative prowess because his girlfriend had foolishly signed a receipt in their suite at the Neptune Grand. Ha! Logan Echolls, I'm smarter than you! Veronica is clearly gleeful of her own genius, and Logan doesn't say anything to make her doubt her assumption, just slings back a provocative and challenging "Prove it." But when he turns away from Veronica the look on his face suggests he has no idea what she's talking about.
Later at lunch, due to the faux-Iceman's urging, Veronica is contemplating saying 'maybe I was wrong' and getting her old life back ... until Logan Echolls walks up to her table, stares her down, gives her a devilled point and her back arches in kitty anger. No, she can't go back; she can't forgive and forget. Life's much more fun when she's at war with Logan Echolls. "I'm gonna nail that sucker," she declares and rushes away from the table. And we all sit back and think 'we wish we could nail that sucker too, Veronica Mars, but it's wonderful you've set yourself such an enjoyable aim in life.'
Logan is thinking of nailing someone as well but it isn't Veronica Mars (at least not consciously). He's got Troy Vandegraff set in his sights, the boy he suspects of canoodling with his whorefriend, Caitlin Ford, since he's seen them flirting a couple of times. Troy also has his eyes set on Veronica so he's just not Logan's most favorite person in the world. Logan asks Duncan to give him some information on Troy but Duncan's not really helpful. And then he hands Logan his girlfriend's purse to watch so he can leave (because Duncan was inexplicably doing so up until that point). Logan uses those brain cells God gave him and uses the opportunity to do a little investigating himself. Opening up the purse, he runs through the previous calls in her phone. Meanwhile, Veronica is in the journalism room going through a list of numbers from Caitlin's phone bill. Why she couldn't do this outside, I don't know. Maybe she was worried about being distracted by the intense staring competition Logan seems to be waging with her back (or the side of her head or her face - whatever).
And they're off! The war of the private dicks has begun (and I just love how that descriptor works in so many ways). Logan tries to find a suspicious number; Veronica's still calling all the numbers on her list. Finally, Logan finds a number called at one a.m. and apparently that's past Caitlin's bedtime which makes it automatically suspicious. They're both hitting the dial button, it's neck and neck ... ooh, Logan Echolls by a hair! It's nothing but a dial tone for Veronica Mars. And for the winner we have *drum roll* a heavy breather, one-sided conversation with the ugliest PCHer on Weevil's block, his very own cousin, Chardo. Ooh, that one had to hurt the ego, Logan, he wasn't even pretty. Logan laughs in self deprecation, already imagining all the pain he will inflict on Chardo. He's hot when he's feeling particularly evil.
Later, Logan is lurking ominously behind Chardo's back as they walk down a school hallway (oh, we love the way he lurks) but just before he can pounce on his prey, a tiny blonde Tinkerbell buzzes past and shoves Chardo into her office: The ladies bathroom. It's Veronica Mars who lost the mobile race but won the overall championship. *crowd goes wild*
She tells Chardo to confess (but since she's been telling innocent people to do that all episode it doesn't have much impact). She tells him how it happened: One day he went to pick up his grandma and in chivalrous fashion, he took out a bag of trash and lo and behold there were the credit card numbers! What better way to take out Caitlin Ford in the manner to which she's accustomed than to use her boyfriend's credit card! On top of that, Chardo's grandmother and cousin (who also happens to be the leader of the biker gang he's a member of) take the fall consecutively. You don't come across class like this every day. Thank God.
Chardo proceeds to explain that he would have written a confession eventually because he and Princess Caitlin are going to run away together to a land far, far away. Located right next to 'in your dreams' land. Veronica finds relish in trying to give Chardo a reality check and let's face it, if he's having fantasies that it's twu wuv with a character played by Paris Hilton, the boy's got problems. Chardo tries to run away from Veronica's snark but she promptly reminds him that he shouldn't go out there because Logan knows and Logan is not the most understanding of guys when you've screwed him over.
Pause. One second. How does she know Logan knows? The phone was engaged but that didn't mean it was Logan doing the calling. Does she have a radar for his sinister vibes and noticed they were aimed in Chardo's direction as she raced down the hall after him? Are they psychically connected? Is it a stupid line? Who knows. Moving on. Play.
Chardo tells Veronica he isn't going anywhere without Caitlin and he truly believes that Weevil won't find out before he has time to get away and escape the clutches of Logan and his 09er gang of surfer thugs. Hah. An unrealistic optimist. So rare on this show, it's almost adorable.
Veronica decides to try a different tactic by visiting Chardo and Weevil's grandmother, who must have known that Chardo was the one who gave her the diamond pendant and not Weevil. Mrs. Navarro explains it by saying Weevil is still a minor, but Chardo is 18 years old and would thus do prison time if he was charged. Never mind that Weevil thinks he's being all noble and self sacrificing for his grandmother and if he knew it was actually his cousin he was serving time for, Weevil would be helping Logan get Chardo's head on a pike. It isn't until Veronica tells Mrs. Navarro that Chardo was using the stolen money to take out Paris -- I mean, Caitlin that she thinks Chardo has done something wrong. It would have been unnatural for her to approve of that pairing.
Weevil gets an escort home by a county deputy to find a celebratory party gathering made up of Mrs. Navarro and Veronica Mars. Veronica tells him that the Sheriff issued a warrant for Chardo's arrest but Logan is also out looking for him. Weevil's eyes darken and he snarks, "He's not the only one." Oh dear, something tells me Chardo isn't going to be an optimist for much longer, but at least he's an equal opportunity target for angry townsfolk with pitchforks.
Poor gullible Chardo goes to Caitlin's house and calls her up, expecting her to climb down her ivory tower, straddle his bike and ride off into the sunset with him. Well, no one said he was a smart boy. Caitlin looks out the window just to make sure the white pack of thugs have strategically surrounded Chardo for the ass smacking that's about to take place. Logan comes riding in on a red jeep, sliding with limber grace out the passenger side to stand stage-front before the bitch he's about to slap. Ah, what grace he has when he's being vengeful, yet another thing he has in common with a certain pesky private eye.
Chardo still seems to be under the impression that he stole Logan's girlfriend successfully (despite the fact that Caitlin made no move to join him in his Kodak moment) so he completely deserves it when Logan smacks him across the face. Reality check, man, she's just a slut. Chardo hits the deck and it looks like Logan is going to start to have some real sadistic fun with his victim of choice when the PCH bike club roars up and faces off with Logan's own gang of 09ers.
Ah, inevitability. We'll see this moment again.
But Weevil doesn't want to fight Logan today, unless it's over who gets to beat Chardo's ass until it's especially pulpy. They go off and have a little meeting, discussing the merits of who deserves to hit Chardo more and unfortunately for us, Weevil wins, so less Logan screen time. Sigh. Instead we have a few more moments where Logan steps into Commander in Chief mode. The 09ers still want to beat Chardo up but he said NO! damnit, and they all fall in line and follow their leader away from the scene of the crime as he looks up at Caitlin. She wasn't worth bruising his knuckles for anyway.
Chardo is still suffering from that pesky optimism and seems to be laboring under the delusion that Weevil saved him out of the goodness of his heart. Instead Weevil tells him that he's out of the club and out of his life (not to mention about to get his ass kicked). Weevil walks off and mercifully asks his right hand man Felix to call the gang off before they go too far ... but you know, at least make sure they pound that delusional optimism right out of him because it doesn't belong in Neptune or on Veronica Mars.
... but there's still one more person to be punished and the 09ers have a unique way of making wayward women pay their due. Logan is the King of the castle and Caitlin is the dirty rascal; she's also this year's victim of the silent treatment banishment. Veronica Mars watches on and dare we say it *yaks* feels sympathy for the girl tumbling down the social ladder before her eyes. But we don't really care, Logan is once more a free entity and if we wish hard enough I'm sure we can jump into the screen and have him for our very own ... right? Oh fine, he's all Veronica's *grumbles*
- Veronica and Wallace are hanging out at her locker, discussing their wild and crazy Friday night plans. That is, if you consider Veronica taking Backup for a run and renting a PG-13 movie to be wild and crazy fun. Wallace doesn't and awards Veronica the school's Most Boring Person award. (I wonder if that comes with a crown. A boring one. Maybe something in beige.) Her newly acquired friend aspires to something a little more akin to the goings-on in a Nelly video. Since he's not a chart-topping rap artist, Wallace would at least be happy to crash a local party. He found an invitation on the gym floor, written in a mysterious picture code that our super sleuth easily deciphers -- it's a Friday night 09er party happening at Dog Beach. After she explains to him that an 09er is someone who lives in the prestigious 90909 zip code and that the coded party invites are to prevent undesirables (i.e. Wallace and Veronica) from tainting their snobby shindigs, she reveals that she understands the code because she used to be one of them.
- Veronica cuts out on breakfast with Keith for an early meeting with her school counselor. Something to do with her schedule and her attitude -- most likely not in that order. In order to help with the latter, a change is suggested to the former.
After doing so, Miss Mars enters Miss Dent's journalism class, where she explains to the nice teacher that she's been placed there by the counselor, who believes she's "disconnected and passionless." And speaking of "disconnected and passionless," one of Miss Dent's students, Caitlin Ford, interrupts to announce she's going to the gym to talk to some people about a poll. Miss Dent tries to explain to Caitlin the importance of getting opinions from a wide range of backgrounds, but she uses too many words with more than one syllable and completely loses the girl. So she boils it down to a request that she interview more people than just her friends. This is met with an eye roll, so at least she understood the smaller words.
When Miss Dent tries to decide where to begin with her new student, Veronica suggests that maybe she can just take pictures. Miss Dent thinks it's a start and proceeds to pull out a 35mm camera, with some basic beginner instructions. Veronica interrupts by whipping out her own more advanced camera and overwhelms Dent with her knowledge.
Dent assigns Veronica her first project, photographing fellow student Bodie Chang the next afternoon at a surfing competition on the Gold Coast. Miss Dent then shows how behind she is on the town gossip when she "introduces" Veronica to Duncan Kane, the reporter covering the story, and innocently lets them know she's arranged for the two to ride with Bodie's parents. An arrangement that's quickly dismissed when both Duncan and Veronica insist on driving themselves. Sorry, Miss Dent, but road trips with the ex are far more worrisome for a teenager than any oil crisis.
When Veronica's trip to the Gold Coast competition is delayed by her second "mysterious" flat tire since school began, Troy offers to change it for her, while Duncan offers her a ride, so they won't miss their assignment. She's hesitant to accept either offer, but really having no choice, she grabs her bag from the trunk and leaves with Duncan. For a painfully awkward thirty mile drive.
Fortunately, Veronica is saved from doing a Charlie's Angels roll out of the car by Fountains of Wayne. Or rather their song "Troubled Times," which is playing on the radio and which Duncan points out was a favorite of Lilly's. Veronica remembers riding in that very car with Lilly, as the same song played. They discussed their reasons for joining the pep squad -- Veronica was aiming for the P.E. credit and Lilly needed a pep outlet because even she realized she suffered from too much pep. The conversation then turned to Celeste and, after her spot-on impression of the frigid Mommy Dearest, Veronica asked Lilly why Celeste hates her so much. Lilly chalked it up to Celeste hating anyone her son could potentially love more than his dear ol' mum. And then warns Veronica to watch out for Celeste, because she wouldn't hesitate to break them up if she could.
After they've arrived at the beach, Veronica takes photos of the competition while Duncan interviews his subject. Later in the week, Miss Dent proudly shows Veronica her first cover photo on the Neptune Navigator, volume 28, issue 1.
- While at the office changing her class schedule, Veronica is caught in the sights of the new kid in town, Troy Vandegraff. He fakes an English accent (for some unknown reason) to flirt a smile out of her.
Later, Veronica and Wallace are eating lunch at their table, when Troy invades the neighborhood and sits down to ask how Veronica's spare tire is holding up. Veronica, suspicious gal that she is, thinks he's there to fulfill the rest of the ol' quid pro quo expression. And, well, he kind of is. He's having a party on Saturday and wants her to come -- oh, and Wallace, too, of course. Veronica reminds him that she's not permitted in the first class cabin. He doesn't care and thinks it's really just time for people to swallow their pride, admit they may have been wrong and let bygones be bygones. (He really hasn't spent much time in that crowd, has he?) Wallace is impressed by Troy's speech, but honestly I think Mr. Fennel's just desperate to party. She agrees to think about it, which seems to appease Troy, so he leaves.
The following week, Troy sits down at Veronica's table, disappointed that she didn't show up at his party. Veronica explains that she realized she doesn't feel even a little bit wrong or sorry for her role in achieving her current social status. Wallace joins them, to tell them they should all go to the Sac-n-Pac because he can let them play the new Golden Tee game for free. Veronica's never played the game, but puts out the challenge that she can kick both their asses. They all leave, so the competition can begin.
- Duncan has known his friend, Troy Vandegraff, for a few years. Their families have adjacent slips at the marina. The Vandegraffs usually visit Neptune in August and stay a month. This year, Troy's parents decided to stay in Southern California, so Troy has now been enrolled at Neptune High instead of going to school back East, as planned. Troy's father is an architect, who built the county museum. His work causes him to move his family around a lot.
- Keith shows up at the Sheriff's office, with Lamb's missing fugitive in his custody. Lamb sends him to holding and Keith wonders if they should alert the media for some pictures, since it seems to be the routine around there now. Keith then says a gracious hello to Inga, who offers him the last puppy from her dogs, Trixie and Bud. Lamb, getting more irritated by the second, tries to dismiss him. Keith asks if Lamb will be personally cutting his bounty check or if he should go down to payroll. Lamb walks away in disgust.
- Wallace signed up for a diving class, but so few people signed up, the class was canceled and Wallace was assigned office aid duty. Veronica's reaction to the news? Well, imagine a child being given the key to the world's largest candy store.
- Nasty fake rumors being spread about Veronica include: She likes it a little freaky; she's been spying on Duncan; she's been e-mailing pictures of herself to Duncan.
- Veronica carries a camera with a swivel LCD, optical zoom (71.2mm) and a raw file option.
- Logan's license plate is IQA 6535.
- '09er party invitations are done in code.
- Cape Crescent is the local '09er surf spot.
- Weevil considers Dog Beach his turf.
- The Navarros' street address is 2528.
- Weevil seems to live with his Grandma and two smaller kids, a boy and a girl.
- Keith has been picking up Weevil for getting into trouble since he was twelve.
- Weevil's first name is Eli.
- Letty doesn't have any credit cards in her own name.
- Keith was Lamb's mentor.
- Keith hired Deputies Meeks and Johnson.
- The Neptune Register is the local newspaper. According to the paper, their (fictional) website is: www.neptuneregister.com.
- The Neptune Register cover story --
- Area codes near Neptune are 619 and 858.
- Neptune has a piercing parlor called Puddy Tats.
- Caitlin has a brand new pink scooter.
- Caitlin doesn't like her ice cubes made with tap water.
- The following telephone numbers are listed on Caitlin's Neptune Grand bill:
- Veronica and Keith are having breakfast at a little diner while she does homework and he reads the paper. He complains about her wearing a baseball cap inside, eventually shaming her into removing it. Sheriff Lamb and Deputy Sacks arrive to pick up their order and Lamb, unable to resist a harassment opportunity, rudely sits next to Veronica and asks Keith how the dirty picture biz is. Keith, taking up the challenge, reads from the newspaper about a fugitive who escaped from two of Lamb's Deputies. Naturally, Lamb finds a way to blame it on someone else -- Keith, because he'd been the one to hire the Deputies. However, Keith is still scoring in their little insultathon until Lamb brings up that the anniversary of Lilly's death is coming up on October 3. He suggests Keith dress up like a Sheriff and crucify a poor grieving father for old time's sake. Angry, Keith points out the oddities in Lamb's investigation, including the fact that the anonymous caller who led him to the supposed killer's houseboat never showed up to collect the $100,000 reward money. Lamb counters that Keith's theory that Jake did it was impossible because all of the Kanes were accounted for at the time of murder. Lamb checks if Sacks got their order ready, then slithers out.
- On the ride home from the surfing competition, Duncan is pulled over by a Sheriff's deputy who asks him and Veronica to step out of the car. It seems there is an impound notice on the car due to a bunch of parking tickets and a moving violation dated October 3.
Duncan calls home for help, saying the car is about to be impounded because of a bunch of Lilly's tickets. Veronica calls her dad, to ask him for a ride home -- they're on the PCH, just outside of town, about a mile from the Real Inn. She promises to fill him in on the details of this particular story when he gets there.
Later, a tow truck is getting ready to hook up to the car, when Jake pulls up and approaches the Deputy to ask if he's called this in to the Sheriff. The Deputy hasn't, since this is pretty routine and I'm guessing he's new in town. Jake affably tells him to call the Sheriff, then goes to see if his son is ready, which is when he notices Veronica. Obviously not pleased to see her there, he manages a restrained "hello" which Veronica politely returns. Then Keith shows up and the tension rises even more. Keith smiles at his daughter and puts his arm around her, while everyone shares a series of uncomfortable stares.
Which is understandable, since the last time Jake and Keith were in the same room, Keith was interrogating him about Lilly's death. When Jake finished his statement, Keith told him, the most powerful man in Neptune, that he was sure he was somehow involved in his daughter's death. Jake reacted by going to the adoring press, with tears in his eyes and an arm around his grieving son, and told everyone how he much he missed his baby and how he was being wrongly accused. The citizens of Neptune stormed the county commissioner's office and ran Keith out of office. As illustrated by the flashback, Inga was sad to see Keith pack his things and leave, giving him a hug on his way out. Lamb was too busy eating an apple to show his compassion -- wait, no, actually he'd have to have some to begin with. Never mind. Veronica's friends got on the bandwagon and kicked her out office, too. Or out of their hallowed social circle, to be more accurate. See, given the choice between standing by her father or by Duncan and her dead best friend's family, she chose Keith. Considering the less-than-stellar parents living in this lovely little town, I can see why her peers wouldn't understand her choice.
Back in the present, Keith walks Veronica to his car as Veronica thinks about how it's very possible she gave up her friends and they lost their way of life over an error in Keith's judgment. Before they reach their car, they hear the Deputy apologize to Jake and Duncan -- he didn't know he was the son of the King of Neptune and, therefore, exempt from all traffic regulations. Keith and Veronica aren't impressed.
As they drive home in silence, Keith carefully asks her if she's hanging out with Duncan again. Veronica hesitates to answer anything about her personal life because she's upset that he won't tell her why he went after Jake when everyone else believed he was just a heartbroken father. Keith repeats the question and she tells him that it was just for a school assignment.
Sitting at her desk, deep in thought, Veronica finally calls out to Keith, asking what exactly made him go after Jake Kane. Stalling, he wonders why she's asking. Since the answer to the question pretty much defines their very existence, she thinks she'd understand better if she knew more about the case. He doesn't want to pour more unpleasant thoughts about Lilly's death into her head. Veronica knows she can handle it, but Keith insists that if he knew how adversely it would affect their lives, he wouldn't have gone after Jake the way he did. And no matter how much she says she wants to know, he won't tell her.
Veronica walks to the Sheriff's Department, remembering how a couple of weeks before Lilly was murdered -- and while Keith was still Sheriff -- the two girls sneaked into the back room and made fake IDs so they could get into clubs. She had them sent to her house, but they didn't arrive until days after Lilly's body was found. They've been sitting in a drawer, forgotten, until the Sheriff's Deputy mentioned Lilly's ticket. Since it's Sunday, most of the people working at the station are new and don't remember who Veronica is. Evidenced by the nice lady at the front desk who Veronica tricks into giving her a copy of Lilly's ticket after giving her one of the fake IDs, using Lilly's name.
As the lady goes to pull it up, Veronica's subterfuge is nearly ruined by the appearance of Sheriff Lamb, who immediately demands to know what she's doing there. She shrugs that she's paying off a ticket. He considers it, then shrugs it off and starts to walk away. Veronica, perhaps physically incapable of not giving him a hard time, asks if he found Chardo and suggests that maybe he should call her dad since he's good at that kind of thing. He tells her she has a smart mouth. (Well, yeah. And like the rest of her, it's smarter than you.) She smiles and shrugs and he returns to his lair. The receptionist brings Veronica the ticket, which she grabs, with a promise to mail in the payment, before she hightails it out. As she leaves, the receptionist calls out an apology to "Miss Kane" for the bad news. Lamb peeks back out, not quite sure what he just heard.
Veronica sits at her lunch table, staring at the printout of Lilly's ticket. Which she's been doing off and on ever since she got it. An automated intersection camera caught Lilly running a red light at 6:02 p.m. on October 3 -- almost two hours after her reported time of death. While the photo of Lilly singing and smiling only hours before her death is quite haunting, it's even more troubling that it completely invalidates all of the Kanes' alibis. Conclusion? Her dad was right about the case not adding up and her choice to stand by him was a good one.
- Veronica and Lilly driving, discussing pep squad and Celeste's distaste for Veronica. (Read detailed breakdown.)
- Keith interrogates Jake. (Read detailed breakdown.)
"Word Up" (Korn)
Scene: Beach Party Bingo! Or, uhm, you know just a bunch of teenagers hanging out on the beach. Woohoo!
"Hi Lo" (Under The Influence Of Giants)
Scene: Bummer! Veronica has a flat. Not quite as God made it. Hmm ... who coulda done it one wonders as Logan smoothly rolls an apple across the trunk of her car with a smirk as he takes in the busted tire.
"Troubled Times" (Fountains Of Wayne)
Scene: In the car with the ex. Uncomfortable, but hey, there's always that handy Charlie's Angel roll-outta-the-car move if things get too bad.
"Here It Comes" (Longwave)
Scene: Chang surfs, Duncan interviews and Veronica takes pretty pictures. A day at the beach. Ahh!
"Lover" (Maureen Davis)
Scene: Veronica's having a baby and Keith's the not-too-proud papa!! At least that's what they want the concierge at the Neptune Grand to think. Heh, heh, heh! And it works!
"Sister" (Josh Kramon)
Scene: It's Caitlin's turn to realize that nobody cares about what she has to say ... not anymore, while Veronica is ready to whup some Golden Tee ass all over Wallace and Troy.
LoVe Lines
Logan: Tell the truth, Veronica. Did you just sign up for newspaper so you could be around Duncan?
Veronica: No. I'm here so I can be closer to you.
In Memory
Lilly: Veronica, I suffer from too much pep.
Lilly: Well, you know what my mom says. You have to kiss a few toads ... That's it. That's her entire philosophy.
Quotable Quotes
Wallace: Another big Friday night. You got plans?
Veronica: I don't know. I might take Backup for a run or rent a movie maybe.
Wallace: Congratulations. You're officially Neptune High's most boring person.
Veronica: Did I mention the movie might be PG-13?
Wallace: Ow! Jump back, wild child.
Veronica: What about you, Wallace? Your life still a non-stop Nelly video?
Wallace: Hey, at least I want my life to be a non-stop Nelly video.
Veronica: It's in code so undesirables, which by the way is you and me, don't show up.
Wallace: How do you know all this?
Veronica: 'Cause I used to be one of them.
Duncan: So, uh, wanna go meet the locals or what?
Troy: As long as they're humble, god-fearing, salt of the earth types.
Duncan: Every last one.
Logan: It's a private party, man.
Weevil: Oh, oh, is it? I-I-I'm sorry. I must have been confused. Hey, let me ask you something. Have I ever asked you if I could come play through at Torrey Pines? Have you ever run into me surfing down at Cape Crescent? Bro? Huh? Have you ever even once come home to find us throwing the kegger in your backyard? No? Then what the hell do you think you are doing on our beach?
Logan: Am I supposed to apologize? Am I supposed to shake in my boots?
Weevil: Maybe.
Logan: Look around you, man. It ain't fifteen on four tonight.
Chardo: Grandma says you go through a box of tissue a day. Your room alone.
Logan: (Laughing.) I know, what can I say? She's a very sexy lady. Thank you.
Cliff: I sincerely doubt my client, Mrs. Navarro, suddenly decides to steal from the Echolls after ten years of loyal service just so she can get herself a new piercing from Puddy Tats.
Keith: Honey, I started picking up Eli Navarro when he was twelve.
Veronica: He just helped me out of a jam recently, that's all.
Cliff: Look, I'm sure he's a real mensch, but I've got a grandma in jail and I'd really like to get her out.
Veronica Mars Voiceover: The trouble with befriending the leader of a motorcycle gang is that at the end of the day, he's still the leader of a motorcycle gang.
Weevil: Be honest, Veronica. You think you're this big outsider but, push comes to shove, you're still one of them. You still think like one of them.
Keith: Are you gonna wear that cap inside? At the table?
Veronica: Do you think I'm offending someone? In here?
Keith: Simple etiquette, that's all.
Lamb: Ahhhh. If it isn't my predecessor and mentor. How's the dirty picture biz, boss?
Keith: Looks like it's better than being sheriff, actually. Yeah, you got a killer on the loose, Lamb. (Reading from a newspaper.) In a daring daylight escape, Ray Lee Hampstead, denied bail earlier this week after his arrest for manslaughter, broke out the back windshield of a Balboa County's Sheriff's Department cruiser and fled on foot.
Lamb: Meeks and Johnson lost him. I think those are two guys you hired.
Keith: (Speaking to Veronica.) You hear that, honey? That's leadership. (Once more speaking to Lamb.) Way to stand up on your own two feet, Lamb and say, hey, the buck stoooops (Keith points his finger into the distance.) there.
Wallace: I'm an office aide.
Veronica: That's great!
Wallace: Yeah, for who?
Veronica: For me. I need you to copy all of Weevil's attendance records from this past month and get them to me.
Wallace: Do I look like James Bond to you?
Veronica: Am I asking you to retrieve a nuclear warhead?
Caitlin: I'm gonna go down to the gym to talk to people for the student poll.
Miss Dent: Be back by the end of the period. And remember that we are a multicultural school with a diverse population of students from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds.
Caitlin: Meaning?
Miss Dent: Meaning don't just interview your friends.
Miss Dent: This is a 35mm camera. Now my suggestion as you're starting out is just to set it on auto and that way you --
Veronica: (Interrupting.) I'd really be more comfortable if I could just use my own camera. (Pulling a professional-looking camera out of her bag.) Um, the swivel LCD really comes in handy when you're doing overhead shooting or ground level macro-shooting.
Miss Dent: Right.
Veronica: The optical zoom actually goes up to 71.2mm and it's good to have the raw file option because you can mess with the images post-exposure without nearly the loss of image quality you'd get with a JPEG file.
Miss Dent: And when it's dark outside, you should you should use a flash.
Duncan: I'll drive.
Miss Dent: Great, maybe Veronica can --
Veronica: (Quickly interrupting.) I can drive too.
Miss Dent: Okay. Oil crisis be damned.
Wallace: You realize, don't you, that this guy you're trying to help out, duct taped me butt naked to a flagpole just last week.
Veronica: Man, you really hold a grudge.
Troy: (Coming upon Veronica crouched in front of her tire.) Flat?
Veronica: Just as God made me
Troy: (Crouching down next to her.) Are you always this persnickity.
Veronica: Sometimes I'm even persnickity-er. I'm supposed to be taking surf competition photos in Gold Coast in thirty minutes and this is my second mysterious flat since school started.
Troy: Well here, I mean, let me help you. (Reaches out to take the tool. Veronica hesitates, but then gives it to him.) I'm Troy, by the way.
Veronica: I'm Veronica.
Troy: Really? Veronica. Okay, yeah, that -- that does make a lot more sense.
Veronica: Makes more sense how?
Troy: Ah, it's nothing. I just, uh, should never listen to those guys. I mean really, who names a daughter Trampy McBitch?
Veronica Mars Voiceover: I should have walked to Gold Coast. It's only thirty miles but with the awkward silence, it feels like three hundred. In five seconds, I'm just going to do the Charlie's Angel roll right out of the moving car. Five four three --
Veronica Mars Voiceover: The fine people of Neptune gathered their pitchforks and torches, stormed the County Commissioner's office and ran dad out of office. My friends got on the bandwagon as well. They gave me a choice. I could stand by my dad or stand by Duncan and my dead best friend's family. I chose dad. It's a decision I live with every day. And you want to know the kicker? I don't even know what's true anymore. Maybe everyone else is right. Maybe dad screwed up the investigation. Maybe I gave up my circle of friends, my life, over an error in dad's judgment.
Troy: Look. Uh, I don't believe in much but I do believe in this. When sexy, sassy girls can't come to a shindig of mine, it's time for all parties involved to stand up and just admit that, hey, maybe I was a little bit wrong or sorry. I mean let bygones be bygones, screw pride. Let's dance. (Does a little groove thing.) Baby, let's dance.
Wallace: That was beautiful, man.
Chardo: Watch it, little girl.
Veronica: Confess. It's good for the soul.
Chardo: What?
Veronica: Moron says what.
Chardo: What?
Veronica: She's a thrill seeker. Doing you was like doing the Dew and that's all it was.
Veronica: What made you go after Jake Kane?
Keith: What makes you ask?
Veronica: Other than that question defines our very existence?
Veronica Mars Voiceover: I haven't gone more than thirty minutes without glancing at the ticket. One of those automated intersection cameras caught Lilly running a red light at 6:02 pm, almost two hours after her supposed time of death. I don't know if it's the photo of Lilly, singing and smiling on the final day of her life that's been haunting me or the fact that suddenly none of the Kanes have alibis that hold up: Jake, Celeste, even Duncan. Dad was right. The case doesn't add up. I made a choice a long time ago. Stand by dad or stand by the people tearing him down.
Troy: (Coming up to Veronica.) You didn't make it Saturday night.
Veronica: I guess I didn't feel I was even a little bit wrong or sorry.
Troy: Well, a wise man once said that a "No" is like a "Yes" except with different letters and arranged in a different order and spoken out loud but, you know, it disappears on the wind.
PG-13 (Referenced by Veronica to Wallace as they discuss their Friday night plans.)
PG-13 is one of five trademarked ratings classifications given to American films by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). This ratings system is observed by the majority of film exhibitors and was first instituted on November 1, 1968, after MPAA President Jack Valenti abolished the outdated Hays Production Code. The Production Code either approved or disapproved of content in a motion picture, preventing films from being released that the Production Code Administration considered "immoral" or that contained even one scene or line of dialogue they didn't deem to be appropriate for audiences.
As more daring films began to be released in the 1960's -- in flagrant disregard of the Code -- it became apparent to the MPAA that a new system was needed. This system would be monitored and guided by the MPAA, NATO (National Association of Theatre Owners) and IFIDA (International Film Importers & Distributors of America) and would theoretically be used as a guidance or parental warning system for films, rather than as a censorship tool. Originally only three ratings categories were planned, but NATO pushed for an adults-only category. The original ratings used from 1968-1970 were: G (General audiences; all ages), M (Mature audiences; parental discretion advised), R (Restricted; under 16/17 not admitted without parent/guardian), and X (under 17 not admitted).
These ratings, except for X, were all trademarked by the MPAA. Anyone who didn't submit their film for a ratings classification could use the X or any other description when promoting their film. In 1990, the X rating was changed to NC-17 (and trademarked), since an X rating eventually became too closely associated with pornographic films, which was not the MPAA's intention for the adults-only category. Since the M (Mature) rating was often mistaken to be a more adult rating than R, it was changed to GP (General audience -- Parental guidance suggested), only to be changed a year later to PG (Parental Guidance suggested).
In the 1980s, three popular Steven Spielberg films -- Poltergeist (1982), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) and Gremlins (1984) -- contained scenes considered by many to be too violent or frightening for a PG audience, yet these films were not necessarily violent or profane enough to merit the R rating. So a middle rating, PG-13, was created in July of 1984 that would still allow pre-teens to attend without a parent or guardian, but would act as a cautionary rating to warn parents in advance that a film might not be appropriate for younger moviegoers. The first film to receive a PG-13 classification was The Flamingo Kid, but due to its delayed premiere, Red Dawn was actually the first PG-13 film released.
Individual film ratings can be found at the MPAA website, including the basic reasons used for classification (e.g. intense action violence; sexuality/nudity; language; drinking).
Nelly ... (Referenced by Veronica while talking to Wallace by her locker.)
Nelly, who would rise to fame as a rap artist, was born Cornell Haynes, Jr. and grew up in St. Louis. He saw first hand life on the streets that he would write about on his albums. When he was a teenager he moved to the suburbs and formed a band with some high school friends. They released a single, but were unable to get a record deal. Nelly struck out as a solo artist and was signed by Universal.
He released his debut album, Country Grammar, in 2000. It would spend seven weeks on top of the U.S. album charts as he crossed many musical boundaries and appealed to a widely diverse audience. By 2002, with the release of his album Nellyville, he topped ten different billboard charts in the same week with his single "Hot in Herre." He went on to record the song "Shake Ya Tailfeather" for the movie Bad Boys II and then followed it up with a double disc, Sweatsuit, in 2004. The album put him back at the top of the charts and his many fans eagerly await his next album.
Dog Beach (Ocean Beach) (Referenced by Veronica as she translates the 09er party invitation code.)
Dog Beach is the section of Ocean Beach that is a place where Veronica -- and other dog owners -- can allow their canine friends to run around leash-free, at any time of the day. (Go, Backup!) Approximately one mile long, Ocean Beach is a Southern California beach located in San Diego County. Dog Beach can be found at the west end of the San Diego River floodway. In addition to the dog run and the shoreline, the beach community also offers a long fishing pier (Ocean Beach Municipal Pier), antique stores, surf shops and restaurants.
"Rapper's Delight" (Referenced by Troy as he and Duncan prepare to join the beach party and "up jump the boogie.")
Released in 1979, "Rapper's Delight" is widely considered the first major rap record. Built on a sample of Chic's disco hit "Good Times," the single featured the rap vocals of Wonder Mike, Big Bank Hank and Master Gee, collectively known as The Sugarhill Gang. The single reached #4 on the U.S. R&B charts and eventually sold more than eight million copies.
A portion of the lyrics:
Song released by Will Smith in 1997. Will Smith was born in Philadelphia in 1968. He was nicknamed Prince in school and later added Fresh, a title he would later use for a sitcom entitled The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
While in his teens he hooked up with Jeff Townes, known as DJ Jazzy Jeff, and they began to record music together. Will Smith turned down a scholarship to MIT to form the music group D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. They released the album He's The DJ, I'm the Rapper, which would sell over three million copies. They won the first ever Rap MTV Video Music Award and then a Grammy for Best Rap Performance.
Their next album, Homebase, won them a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. Smith continued to act, starring in a string of successful movies and finally reached international acclaim in 1997 with Men In Black. The movie would be the number one box office draw for the summer of 1997 and the album Big Willie Style contained the title track, "Men in Black." The album also contained "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It," which would hit #1 on the Billboard list for two weeks in 1998.
The album would go on to sell four million copies and earn Smith two more MTV Video Music Awards for Best Male Video and Best Rap Video. In 1999 Smith won another Grammy for Best Rap Performance for "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It." Smith has gone on to achieve international superstardom as an actor and in 2005 he won the People's Choice Award for Favorite Male Movie Action Star.
Salt of the Earth Types ... (Referenced by Troy while talking to Duncan at the Dog Beach 09'er party.)
The saying "salt of the earth" actually comes from the Christian bible in Matthews 5:13 (NIV) to describe followers of Jesus. In present day though, the saying is applied to people who are hard-working and honest. So, in other words ... clearly not Caitlin Ford or most of the other 09ers.
S'mores ... (Referenced by Felix when the PCH gang crashes the 09er beach party.)
Considered a customary campfire dessert because of its ease, S'mores consist of marshmallow, chocolate and graham crackers. Apparently named as a contraction of "some more," S'mores are created when marshmallows are held above a campfire until golden brown, removed carefully from the roasting implement and placed with a piece of chocolate between two graham crackers. The first published recipe for S'mores appeared in the 1940 Girl Scout handbook, but it is widely believed that the tasty treat was first created sometime following the development of the commercial marshmallow in the late 1800's.
Torrey Pines ... (Referenced by Weevil when confronting Logan at the Dog Beach 09'er party.)
A public golf course owned by the city of San Diego and located in the town of La Jolla. The course offers two championship 18-hole golf courses, considered to be some of the most picturesque in the world. It is a PGA Tour stop and the Buick Invitational is held at their site every February. The course was designed by William Bell, Sr.* in 1957 on land that had previously been Camp Callan, a naval training area. The resort takes its name from the Torrey Pines Tree which is indigenous to the area.
* This Bell is no relation to our Bell.
Spic and Span ... (Referenced by Logan in a racially-modified slur -- spick, derogative for Mexican -- when talking about Weevil's grandmother at the 09er beach party.)
Along with other products of the cleaning variety, Spic and Span's role as sponsor for the serial drama, Search for Tomorrow for twenty years was the reason such television programs derived their nickname "soap operas." Manufactured by Procter & Gamble, Spic and Span is a powdered all-purpose household cleaner used when mixed with water. The product's name is derived from slang for "clean."
Six Flags Magic Mountain (Referenced by Cliff as he lists the charges on the Echolls' stolen credit cards.)
Opening in 1971 in Valencia, California, the Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park features sixteen world-class roller coasters and over one hundred other rides, games and attractions. As of 2005, the park is tied with Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, for the record of most roller coasters in one amusement park. The rides include Batman: The Ride, Colossus (tallest and fastest wooden coaster in the West), Goliath (255 feet high with one of the world's tallest drops), Superman: The Escape (41 stories high, with speeds from 0 to 100 mph in 7 seconds!), and Viper (tallest vertical loop in the world).
The park has a year-round exotic bird show, a Warner Brothers Kids Club game show and plays hosts to various events, such as the California Cheerleading Championships, Purimfest, and educational events like Physics Day, Math & Science Students' Day and Career Days.
Over the years, the Magic Mountain theme park has been featured in several movies and television shows, including National Lampoon's Vacation, as "Wally World," the ultimate destination of the Griswolds' family trip.
The Buck Stops ... There (The Buck Stops Here) ... (Referenced by Keith to Lamb at the diner, when Lamb shifts blame for a blunder onto others.)
Famous catchphrase of the 34th president, Harry S. Truman, it is indicative of his unassuming, folksy image. The president appropriated the phrase from the poker terminology of "pass the buck" which referred to passing on a hand. His declaration was meant to signify that Truman would take final responsibility for all actions, positive or otherwise, that had to do with the United States. The saying was famously on a plaque on his desk in the Oval Office. I think it's safe to say that a replica of said plaque will never make an appearance on the desk of Lamb, Don; Balboa County Sheriff.
James Bond ... (Referenced by Wallace to Veronica when she casually expects him to do some grunt spy work for her.)
James Bond is a fictional British spy, created by author Ian Fleming. The character, a smooth ladies man and fearless agent, went on to become the focal point of several novels, twenty major motion pictures, video games, comics, and parodies (Austin Powers). In the films, several actors have played the role over the years including Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan. To this day the Bond stories continue to draw the interest, and revenue, of audiences.
Gold Coast (Referenced by Ms. Dent as the location of the surfing competition she wants Veronica to photograph.)
Although there are many "Gold Coasts" found throughout the world (including the popular tourist spot in Queensland, Australia), the Gold Coast referred to here is the eighty mile stretch of Pacific Ocean coast that begins just south of the U.S.- Mexican border and stretches between Tijuana and Ensenada, Mexico.
Oil Crisis ... (Referenced by Ms. Dent when Veronica and Duncan elect to drive separately to Gold Coast.)
As oil is a finite resource, it is limited. In other words, the earth will not produce more oil once it is gone. Thus, as more is used (by cars and SUV's for example), less is available. And as availability declines, prices will rise. This will continue to happen until we have depleted our oil supply. This situation is exacerbated by the fact that we are so dependent on oil, particularly as a fuel source. Consequently, we are depleting our already limited oil supply at an accelerated rate. Something that clearly matters not to Veronica or Duncan in relation to their widdle, injured teenage feelings.
King Kong ... (Referenced by Veronica as to Wallace's awesomeness when he gets her some school records.)
What began as an answer to the success of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World, King Kong has inspired almost a dozen movies and a Saturday morning cartoon. The original movie version of King Kong was released in 1933. The latest version of the movie hit theaters December 2005, as directed by Peter Jackson.
King Kong was written by Merian C. Cooper and Edgar Wallace and tells the story of an island populated by dinosaurs, and of course, a huge silverback gorilla. Filmmaker Carl Denham heads to the remote Skull Island to capture Kong, a huge creature the locals hold at bay with a giant barrier, keeping the beast locked in his primordial jungle. Ann Darrow and John "Jack" Driscoll get caught up in the adventure, as Ann is captured by Kong and taken into the interior of his island home. Jack leads the rescue mission to bring her back. On the way, the explorers are attacked by various types of dinosaurs. Eventually, they capture the gorilla and take him back to civilization, where Kong meets his end on the Empire State Building. The film went down in history as one of the great film adventures to be produced in that time period, and is considered a classic today.
Alyssa Milano ... (Referenced by Veronica while talking to Wallace during lunch.)
Alyssa Milano was born in 1972 in Brooklyn. She attended an open audition for Annie because her babysitter could not find someone to leave her with. She landed the part of July, an orphan, at the age of seven and began to tour the country with her mother as guardian. A few years later she left to expand her career in off Broadway productions and commercials.
At the age of ten she landed the role of Samantha Micelli in the sitcom Who's the Boss? The role required her family to relocate to California and she played the character for all seven seasons. Her picture was the inspiration for Ariel from Disney's The Little Mermaid. She has since gone on to star in a myriad of TV shows and movies and can be seen as one of the main characters on Charmed.
Charlie's Angels ... (Referenced by Veronica when concocting a plan to escape the tension derived while driving with Duncan.)
Jiggle TV at its finest, Charlie's Angels was a popular television show airing 1976 to 1981. The series featured three beautiful female detectives (with knowledge of seemingly every subject known to man) who saved the world one sexy outfit at a time.
The best-known Angels were the original three (it was always a trio, when one of them left, another took her place): Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith and Farrah Fawcett-Majors -- with Fawcett-Majors becoming THE sex symbol of the 70's with this famous poster. Other Angels included Shelley Hack, Tanya Roberts and the most recognizable beyond the first three, Cheryl Ladd. In 2000, a film version of the television show was made starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu. A sequel, Full Throttle, was released in 2003.
Sassy ... (Referenced by Lilly to Veronica in her car drive flashback when discussing Lilly's pep.)
No longer published after 1996, Sassy Magazine was a monthly teen magazine for girls. It was founded by Matilda Publications, based upon an Australian magazine (Dolly). The founding editor was Jane Pratt, an infamous name in the world of publications devoted to teenage girls.
The Frog Prince (Kiss a few toads) ... (Referenced by Lilly to Veronica in regards to Celeste's philosophy.)
One of the famous Grimm's Fairytales, The Frog Prince tells the story of a young princess who loses her golden ball. A frog retrieves it for her dependent upon her becoming his friend. Despite wanting nothing to do with the frog after he gets her ball, circumstances (and her father) make her follow through with her promise. This includes giving the frog a kiss out of duty. She does so and the frog turns into a handsome prince. Read the fairytale here.
Today, the phrase, "you have to kiss a lot of frogs (toads) ..." is a metaphor for dating a lot of guys before you find The One.
PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) (Referenced by Veronica as she calls Keith to come pick her up, after the Sheriff's deputy pulls Duncan over.)
Pacific Coast Highway refers to sections of California's Route 1, beginning at San Juan Capistrano, south of Los Angeles, and ending where Route 1 merges with Highway 1 at Leggett, in Northern California. Route 1 is one of the longest (644 miles) and most scenic routes in California, providing breathtaking views of a large part of the Pacific Coast. It travels past dozens of historical landmarks and through such cities as San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Frankenstein (Townsfolk with pitchforks and torches) ... (Referenced in Veronica voiceover during the flashback about Neptune ousting Keith from office after Jake's press conference.)
The image of a community gathering with pitchforks and torches to rout out a bad seed is derived from the famous scene in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Towards the climax of the novel, the townsfolk track down the monster's location and threaten him with pitchforks and torches.
On the Bandwagon ... (Referenced by Veronica in her voiceover describing the events that happened after Keith implicated Jake Kane in his daughter's murder.)
Being on the bandwagon simply means behaving in accordance with the majority. It is the "everyone else is doing it" mentality. And despite having free will and being independent thinkers, most of us at some point or another find ourselves doing things or wanting things simply because not doing so makes us different, or worse, lesser.
Tequila ... (Referenced by Veronica to the hotel clerk when she and Keith were getting the credit card information at the Neptune Grand.)
One of the most famous of the "hard" drinks, tequila is a strong distilled alcoholic beverage made from the agave plant, a succulent similar to the lily which is native to Mexico. The alcohol's name is derived from the region it comes from, the area surrounding Tequila, a town in the western Mexican state of Jalisco, 50 km from Guadalajara.
A measure of the drink's fame comes from its use in song and film, including Jimmy Buffet's "Margaritaville" (Margarita is a type of tequila), Joe Nichols' "Tequila Makes Her Take Her Clothes Off" and "Tequila Sunrise," the Eagles song (also a film starring Mel Gibson and Michelle Pfeiffer). However, the most famous of all Tequila-influenced pop culture is, no doubt, "The Tequila Song," an infectious, saxophone ditty by The Champs that features a toe-tapping beat with intermittent vocalizations of one word: Tequila.
Quid Pro Quo ... (Referenced by Veronica the first time Troy approaches her after he fixed her tire.)
Literally translated, quid pro quo means this for that. It is doing something for someone in order to get something in return. In other words, Troy fixed Veronica's tire to get her to go out with him or, more specifically, to get her to go to his party.
Super Fly ... (Referenced by Wallace as Veronica is getting up from the lunch table.)
Released in 1972 and starring Ron O'Neal and Carl Lee, Super Fly was directed by Gordon Parks Jr. It tells the story of a cocaine dealer trying to make one last big score so that he can get out of the life while taking some enemies with him. Considered the pinnacle of blaxploitation movies, it boasts a famous soundtrack by Curtis Mayfield.
Doing the Dew ... (Referenced by Veronica in explaining to Chardo why Caitlin is with him.)
In 1983, Bill Bruce created one of the most famous slogans in advertising history for Mountain Dew -- "Do the Dew" -- one that has now become a part of the national lexicon, slang for doing something adventurous. Famous for its deep yellow color, Mountain Dew is a citrus-flavored soda produced by PepsiCo, Inc. The soft drink is often the target of health experts due to its high caffeine content. However, Mountain Dew in Australia, Canada and several U.S. States actually has no caffeine at all.
Kodak Moment ... (Referenced by Weevil as he's thanking Veronica after being released by the police.)
The phrase "Kodak moment" is known the world over as a moment you want to capture in a photograph forever. The Eastman Kodak Company was built upon the work of George Eastman. In 1879 he obtained a patent for a plate coating machine that was the basis for camera technology. By 1888 he was able to make a simple camera accessible to the market, changing the world forever. Eastman built his company on four basic principles; mass production at low cost, international distribution, extensive advertising and a focus on the customer.
As the company started to grow he developed several corporate rules to improve the company including fostering growth and development through continuing research, treating employees in a fair, self-respecting way and reinvesting profits to build and extend the business. Eastman's advances were the stepping stones for several other industries and allowed Thomas Edison to develop the first motion picture camera in 1891.
Kodak film is still used on most of the world's movies and since the inception of the Academy Awards all Oscar-winning "Best Pictures" have been shot on Kodak film. The company even has eight Academy Awards of its own -- for scientific and technical excellence. Today Kodak is known not only for photography, but also for images used in a variety of leisure, medical, business, entertainment and scientific applications. The company ranks as a premier multinational corporation, with a brand recognized in virtually every country around the world.
Home Court Advantage ... (Referenced by Logan as the PCHers confront the 09ers outside Caitlin's house.)
When a team is playing on their home field, it is believed that they have an advantage. This advantage comes from the fact that the team is playing in a familiar, and thus more comfortable, environment and they are surrounded (and supported) by their fans and hometown crowd.
Golden Tee ... (Referenced by Wallace as the new feature of Sac-n-Pac and Veronica threatens to whup his and Troy's ass while playing it.)
A golf arcade game, this series created by Incredible Technologies, is more popular with young adults/adults rather than the younger crowd. A player can play either nine or eighteen holes, against other players. One can choose from a variety of different courses with different themes and levels of difficulty. During each shot, the player has a full selection of clubs and direction of the shot.
- The opening shot says Oceanside Pirates, not Neptune.
- After Veronica tells Lamb, "smell ya later," the angle focuses on Keith and you can see Veronica's arm lift and put her hat on. Then after Keith says his line, the camera returns to Veronica and she is bare-headed, reaches down and puts on her hat -- just as we saw a few seconds earlier in the corner of the screen.
- The gleeful smile on Lamb's face as the kids run away from the beach party.
- As Mrs. Navarro is arrested, you can just barely see that she is wearing the diamond pendant Cliff said was bought with the stolen credit cards.
- Keith has what looks to be an old antique radio in his office, on the shelf under the model ship.
- Inga seemed to be the only person sad to see Keith go.
- The girls' bathroom has a Planned Parenthood sign on the wall. (The website address is for San Diego and Riverside Counties.):
- The flashback scenes accompanying Veronica's voiceover about the aftermath of Lilly's death uses clips from the Pilot.
- There are two 'Out of Order' signs attached to one of the stalls in the girls' bathroom and there is yellow caution tape stretched across the toilet. (I guess the maintenance people don't count on the students actually reading the signs.)
- The sign on the door to Ms. Dent's journalism class says "Student Publications."
- On a wall in the journalism class there is a poster of the film All the President's Men.
- Written on the chalkboard in the Journalism class is the "Norris 5" -- Pippa Norris' five criteria for analyzing media:
- Veronica trying to control her giggles as she warns Keith not to make her laugh (and break character) while they wait for the hotel receptionist to return.
- The gorgeous shot of Weevil riding his bike into the sunset as Chardo gets beaten by their gang.
- The obviously fake beating Chardo is receiving from the PCHers. Some of those kicks and punches are at least a foot from making actual contact.
- If Troy's father is such a big shot in town, how come he has never met any of the 09ers before?
- How did Weevil know about the party at the beach?
- Why does Veronica think that Lamb hates Weevil?
- Has Weevil really hospitalized people? If so, how is he not in juvenile detention?
- What exactly is the gossip about Veronica?
- If all the Kanes had airtight alibis, why was Keith convinced that he was guilty?
- Why does Wallace do everything Veronica asks him to do?
- Neptune High lets student surf for pornography during school time? You'd think XXX sites would be one of the first ones blocked by the administration. I mean, you'd think.
- Did Logan give Veronica the flat?
- Did Wallace let his grudge against Weevil go?
- Since Troy and Duncan are friends, did Duncan tell him about Veronica?
- Why did it take the police a year to impound Lilly's car?
- Was Troy next on Caitlin's list? She seemed awfully interested in him otherwise.
- What did Weevil think when he saw Veronica and Duncan together?
- If Veronica was really stalking Duncan, would he have offered to give her a ride?
- Did Logan take Caitlin to the Neptune Grand? Is that why the link was on his computer?
- What kind of dogs does Inga have?
- Shouldn't have Chardo's phone rolled to voice mail instead of giving Veronica a busy signal?
- How does Veronica know that Logan is aware of the relationship between Chardo and Caitlin?
- Is it coincidence that Duncan is never around for Logan's violent outbursts? There are about fifteen 09ers at Caitlin's, but no Troy or Duncan.
- Dusk at the beach and no one sees the bikers beating up Chardo?
- What did Weevil say to Logan?
- If Jake had an airtight alibi, what did Keith hope to achieve by going after him?
- Why would the Sheriff issue IDs? Shouldn't that have been the DMV?
- Why didn't the coroner catch the time difference from when Lilly was supposed to have died and she actually did?
- What is up with Logan's hair? Just how many different colors will he have in one season?
- Did the Echolls' ever hire Letty back? We never see her again in future episodes, even though An Echolls Family Christmas would have been a great time to mention her.
- Despite being in the same Journalism class as Logan and Veronica, fortunately, we never see Caitlin again, although we do see our favorite LoVe-ers in the class in future episodes.
- Lilly said that Logan was excessively jealous, but in this episode he doesn't seem to overreact when Caitlin comments on Veronica and Troy.
- The coroner misdiagnosed Lilly's time of death because Clarence Wiedman lowered her body's temperature deliberately so that the time of death would appear when all the Kane's had alibis.
- This episode is the first of many that shows Veronica using the girls' bathroom as a place for private discussion. Chardo, in fact, is the first of several boys she physically drags in there, to their surprise. Later, there is Justin in Meet John Smith, Luke in You Think You Know Somebody and Wallace in Leave it to Beaver.
- What is it about Logan that attracts unbearably irritating and vapid blondes who overindulge in the color pink? First Caitlin in this episode and Hannah in Season 2 episodes 13 to 16 (Ain't No Magic Mountain High Enough, Versatile Toppings, The Quick and the Wed and The Rapes of Graff -- the latter which also included Troy Vandegraff.)
ameriott45 (Amy): Social Science
JenniferH: Report Card; Yearbook; Drama Club; Chemistry, Band Class; Social Science; Principles of Democracy
Mastermia (Maria): Social Science; Philosophy; Homeroom; Principles of Democracy; History
Pixigal (Gerrie): Drama Club
PolarTruckin (Belinda): Journalism
Tar Frimmer (Joanne): Study Hall; Extra Credit; Homeroom; Social Science; Principles of Democracy
Original Air Date: September 28, 2004
Written by: Rob Thomas
Directed by: Mark Piznarski
Staff Grade: B
Membership Grade: B (61.1% - 44 votes)
Despite an appearance by non-actress Paris Hilton, the second outing of the series is a strong showing. Combining the history of the characters already established with an interesting mystery of the week, the show proves that it has the ability to walk the line between the heavy-duty emotion of the mysteries set up in the Pilot and a lighter touch with Veronica's weekly cases. More importantly, key relationships are further established between main characters with humor and/or emotion all the while neatly keeping a toehold in realism.
Recurring Guest Stars (Previous Episode Appearances)
Brad Bufanda - Felix Toombs
Brandon Hillock - Deputy Sacks
Seraina Jaqueline - Inga
Michael Muhney - Sheriff Lamb
Daran Norris - Cliff McCormack
Kyle Secor - Jake Kane
Amanda Seyfried - Lilly Kane
Guest Stars:
Aaron Ashmore - Troy Vandegraff
Wilmer Calderon - Chardo
Ryan Hansen - Dick Casablancas
Paris Hilton - Caitlin Ford
Irene Olga Lopez - Leticia Navarro
Who's Who in Neptune:
Mallory Dent - Journalism teacher; new to the school.
Troy Vandegraff Friend of Duncan, who transferred to Neptune High, friendly to Veronica.
Caitlin Ford Bitchy current girlfriend of Logan, secretly seeing Chardo, Weevil's cousin.
Chardo - Weevil's cousin.
Leticia Navarro - Weevil's grandmother and housekeeper at the Echolls' estate, accused of credit card fraud.
Dick Casablancas - An 09er -- with a stereotypical surfer look -- who clearly seems willing to follow whatever lead Logan gives.
Hey! It's That Guy/Girl
Aaron Ashmore (Troy Vandegraff) - Aaron himself may not be familiar to most, but rather his identical twin brother, Shawn, who is best known for playing Bobby/Iceman in the X-Men movies.
Paris Hilton (Caitlin Ford) - Where to start? Ms. Hilton is perhaps recognized as the daughter of uber-rich hotel magnate, Ricky Hilton, or there are her numerous appearances in the society and tabloid pages and on the cover of several magazines. She also co-stars in a Fox reality series, The Simple Life with former BFF, Nicole Richie. Oh, and there was this little home video she made that you may have heard of as well.
Highlights
Jason Dohring (Logan Echolls) - Jason Dohring has a scene here that is the first (of many) outstanding displays of his acting prowess. It's the third LoVe scene in which Veronica wrongly accuses him of the credit card theft. As she does so, Dohring calmly stands there and listens to her accusation without betraying a thing, going so far as to tell her: "Great. Prove it" as if he did it; he doesn't care that she knows, but he knows there is no way that she can prove it. Then comes the kicker, as he is walking away, the expression on Logan's face changes and you see -- actually see! -- the wheels turning in his head as he digests the information that it is quite likely that his girlfriend is (again) stepping out on him. It's a brilliant demonstration of the subtle intelligence of Dohring's acting.
Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars) - It's a small moment, but definitely a fine one: Her little, "Oh shoot, my loss," with accompanying faux look of disappointment and finger snap, in the journalism scene with Logan and Caitlin, is too funny. Too, too funny. Comedy is often more difficult than drama and the fact that Bell is just as adept at the former is really no surprise.
Lowlights
Paris Hilton (Caitlin Ford) - To even call Hilton an actress is actually quite an insult to bad actresses; she's THAT bad. Really bad. Wooden, stilted, should never be allowed near a camera to "act" again bad and that she was THIS bad opposite the two best actors in the cast (Kristen Bell and Jason Dohring) really highlights just how much of a lowlight her performance truly was. Just bad.
Aaron Ashmore (Troy Vandegraff) - Making his first appearance as Troy, Ashmore, unfortunately, does not manage to create any type of dramatic first impression. Color him bland. Bland with a side helping of boring.
Scene One: Oh Shoot, My Loss
What I like the best about this scene is how we have (much like in the Pilot) Logan's concentration so heavily focused on Veronica. Veronica isn't really paying attention to him until he asks her a question, but Logan is staring at her pretty much the entire scene. And even better, THIS is the episode where the back and forth verbal warplay between them takes on a tinge of ... foreplay. There is an underlying flirtation to their interaction, especially evidenced by this exchange:
- Logan: Tell the truth, Veronica. Did you just sign up for newspaper so you could be around Duncan?
Veronica: No. I'm here so I can be closer to you.
Scene Two: Bummer
Ah, this one has caused some debate. Was Logan responsible for Veronica's flat tire? I fall into the 'no, he was not' category, but fully believe that he either (a) knew who did it or (b) was just being an ass about the fact that she had a flat tire. Considering that he took the time to stop, roll his apple (in a smooooooth move) across the trunk of her car and pause to stare at her, I'm leaning towards (a). On the other hand, this is Logan we're talking about and any opportunity to stare intently at Veronica seems to be a-okay in his book! And he certainly takes advantage of the opportunity here. Not only does he stare at her just a little too long after the lovely "Bummer" comment, but as Troy is talking to Veronica about fixing the tire, we get a few shots of the 09er crew watching them, with Logan staring specifically at Veronica. Of course.
Scene Three: Wrong Again, Miss Mars
Here we have the first instance of Veronica accusing Logan of something that he is innocent of doing. Not really much here for the LoVe train, but they stand staring at one another for more than a few seconds and it gives yet more avid proof that Bell and Dohring do indeed have some fine chemistry.
Scene Four: Phone Tag! You're It!
Maybe it's stretching to say that this scene bodes well for LoVe, but I really just don't think it is. (Of course, I'm an optimist when given reason to be one.) Here we have both Veronica and Logan using the same method (to a degree) to track down Caitlin's Neptune Grand rendezvous-partner. Both are using sneaky means and are using their intellect to get to the bottom of it. I especially loved how we got the cut between Veronica calling the numbers on the credit card bill before her, and Logan running down the numbers on Caitlin's phone. It showed an almost symbiosis between the two and one can imagine that as a team they would work remarkably well together.
But, I've gone ahead of myself -- prior to the game of phone tag, we had another (yes, another!) bout of Logan staring, with Veronica doing a wee bit of staring of her own. Okay, okay, hers was in the determined, 'I'm gonna nail that sucker!' kind of way (and I'm thinking that's the correct description because she tells Wallace about Logan: "I'm gonna nail that sucker!"), but she still stared! And Logan did his patented finger-circling-pointing hand gesture that he uses oh so often on Miss Mars. Oh and while he did it, he stared at her. And while he walked by her, he stared at her. And while he did a turn to change direction, he -- you guessed it! -- stared at her. Lots of staring.
The sun's goes down, the kegs roll out and the 09ers are slumming it down on Dog Beach. Rich kids can't have fun if they aren't rubbing it in the faces of the poor after all. Logan Echolls sits upon his throne, gazing upon his kingdom with a rueful grin. His whor- I mean lady of the night is Caitlin Ford (but we might as well call her Paris Hilton for all the acting she does) and his legs are straddled on either side of her. From amongst the crowd of writhing 09er decadence steps everybody's favorite robot, Duncan Kane, and his old buddy Iceman ... oh wait, that's his brother, never mind. This man is not cool, he just looks that way.
King Logan demands that Duncan Kane's date should at least introduce himself if he's going to trespass on his domain (both the 09er beach party and Duncan Kane's ass). Logan's girlfriend, Paris -- I mean, Caitlin -- makes the issue moot when her roving eyes identify Duncan's new date as Troy Vandegraff, son of a famous architect. Troy isn't the only unexpected one crashing an 09er party, however; we've only just recovered from chuckling at Logan's insightful claim that Paris Hilton is familiar with the social columns when Eli 'Weevil' Navarro and a few members of the PCH bike club walk up and start to molest the wildlife (well, Felix does). Logan descends his throne and enters the pen so Weevil and he can have their weekly cock fight (and I mean that in so many ways ... so do indulge your imaginations). Logan is very upset that his arch nemesis is drinking of the 09er beer; that stuff's imported (and it's not like this large group of rich kids could afford another keg)!
Logan kindly requests that Weevil leave the beach, as the party is private. Weevil is understandably confused, as this supposed private party is in the poor district and not the prestigious 90909 zip code. It's understandable that the 09ers got a little lost, since they have been drinking (kids, listen and learn: Drinking really does kill brain cells). Weevil just as kindly reminds Logan of all the beaches in his own neighborhood, asking if it would be okay if he just turned up and surfed at their beach?
We all chuckle heartily at the mental image of Weevil surfing in leather boardies and then move on because Logan isn't paying much attention to Weevil's complaint anyway. It's four on fifteen tonight and Logan knows Weevil isn't going to get them to move an inch. So, naturally, he takes the opportunity to snark without broken-bone-reprisal for all its worth and in the meantime teaches all of us a few lessons about how to insult your enemy:
1) The truth is a bitch: Logan turns to his fair lady and asks what she thinks of how clean and tidy the Echolls residence is. She agrees that it's very tidy, giving Logan the opportunity to deliver the punchline: His place is so clean because Weevil's grandmother spends all day cleaning it. Wow, how clever he is; nothing kicks your enemies in the shorts quite like the reality of their respective positions in life.
2) Retaliation by the less witty normally results in 'so's-your-mother' or 'dick' jokes: Chardo Navarro, Weevil's cousin, tells Logan that his grandmother is always complaining about all the tissues she has to clean up from Logan's room, clearly implying Logan has a very close relationship with one of his hands.
3) Shots at one's virility when 17 also result in 'so's your mother' (or in this case grandmother) jokes: Logan reminds Chardo that he just can't help himself; their grandmother is one sexy lady.
And so it would have gone on if someone other than Weevil wasn't after Logan's ... kegs. Sheriff Lamb flashes his lights on the ensuing fight and tells everyone to remain where they are, which naturally causes all party goers to run like Forrest Gump. Weevil and crew flee the fastest, knowing they stand out like Clinton in a sentence about fidelity. Sheriff Lamb tells his deputies to collect the kegs and bring them to the barbeque at his place tomorrow.
The next day (must be before the Sheriff department's kegger), Lamb and his flunkie Sacks show up at the Navarro residence. Weevil expected this to happen; it's not like Lamb would ever arrest a white boy for throwing a kegger on Dog Beach. He starts in on his rant about the inequalities of life when Lamb effectively shuts him up by declaring they aren't here for either of those naughty Navarro boys: Granny's been a bad, bad girl.
She's put in handcuffs and led away by Deputy Sacks as Lamb explains to a flabbergasted Weevil that the charge is credit card fraud. Lamb says that somebody stole credit card numbers out of the Echolls family trash. Since Mrs. Navarro is the only one in the household who touches the Echolls trash once it's been produced, she was naturally their first suspect. Lamb gives his well practiced evil grin (and yes, if you listen closely, I'm almost sure mwahahahahaha plays as background music) because he doesn't really believe Mrs. Navarro is guilty. However, he's going to arrest her anyway since Weevil is too much of a loser to admit to his own crimes. Lamb has to arrest someone and it might as well be a blood relative of the actual perpetrator. Someone should tell Lamb to go see the wizard about a conscience.
Later, everyone's favorite (but not the greatest) lawyer, Cliff McCormack is running through a list of credit card charges with everyone's favorite (and the greatest) private detective, Keith Mars. It seems Mrs. Navarro gave up a ten-year job just to get a piercing from 'Putty Tats.' I'd almost want to believe she was guilty just to imagine where a rockin' grandma would get a piercing ... except I would quickly become disturbed, so let's jump to the conclusion that everyone else did: Weevil must be guilty.
Everyone that is except Veronica Mars, who has recently developed a soft spot for the leader of the biker gang after he decided not to bash her new BFF's brains in. Awww. Cliff says that Mrs. Navarro was wearing a diamond pendant purchased on one of the cards. Veronica replies that Lamb is probably setting Weevil up (and we wouldn't put it beyond him) because Weevil's not so bad ... once you peel the duct tape off and get to know him. Veronica automatically agrees to investigate Weevil for her dad.
She heads on over to Weevil's house and inspects his bike, only to discover it has a new paint job. Weevil is very possessive over the love of his life and promptly reminds Veronica to stop checking out his ride. He is acting more defensive than usual and the reason becomes clear when Veronica seems to accuse him of getting his grandmother arrested just like everybody else. Weevil's got a nasty reputation, but so does Veronica, and he proceeds to leer like a Kennedy as he reminds her what her night time activities include according to rumor (even though the spying on Duncan Kane rumor should have tipped off the mendacious nature of the rumors; sane women stalk Logan Echolls, not Duncan Kane).
Weevil doesn't know her very well, but he pins down one of Veronica's major problems: She thinks she's an outsider, but she thinks like an 09er. We all know how he feels about 09ers in his neighborhood and so he promptly tells Veronica to get lost. Oh no, that's just plain insulting. Call her a slut, a bitch, or trailer trash and she'll deal, but no one calls Veronica Mars an 09er! Now she's wounded.
Veronica visits the office to get her new schedule and (after dodging the lecherous stares of Troy Vandegraff) discovers that there is gold in them thar hills! Wallace Fennel, her new little buddy, has been given a place as an office aid. Veronica's mouth opens and we witness a steady trickle of drool down her chin. For their next trick, the school administrators will dangle vodka in front of an alcoholic. Tada! She pounces on Wallace and orders him to copy Weevil's attendance records for her. Wallace, probably thinking Veronica is going to do something nasty to the man who taped him naked to the flag pole last episode, agrees to become her spy bitch quite quickly. He has the files all ready for Veronica in time to save her from an awkward reunion with Duncan Kane in her new journalism class.
Veronica cross references the credit purchase information with Weevil's class schedule. She discovers that most of the online purchases were made during fourth period, a time when it was impossible for Weevil to make said purchases unless he's the ultimate multi-tasker. Working on engines in auto shop with one hand, he would also have the ability to swindle the Echolls' out of their soft-earned cash with the other.
Wallace has finally caught on that Veronica is actually trying to save Weevil's ass and reminds her that Weevil is the nasty man from the flag pole incident just last week. Veronica replies dryly that Wallace really holds a grudge. Wallace seems confused by that statement from Veronica's mouth and so are you, I realize, so just read this mantra and learn it well: Just because Veronica Mars is a hypocrite doesn't make her a bad person.
Revved up with the knowledge that Weevil couldn't have made the seven internet purchases, Veronica returns to Mars investigations to tell Daddy Mars to look for a new suspect to get Mrs. Navarro out of prison. Only, the investigation is no longer necessary. Mrs. Navarro has already been released because Weevil has inexplicably confessed. Peer pressure, what a bitch. Veronica Mars, pissed off that an innocent man is getting punished for a crime he didn't commit, goes into a mode we will all become familiar with: 'If Weevil didn't do it and I don't have a clue who else could have, it must have been Logan Echolls.' Hmm, we know she's a fan of the South Park movie and I betcha when Blame Canada was sung she substituted Logan for the country and made it law.
Her mind is clicked on this mode during her next journalism class, which she just so happens to share with Logan and Caitlin. Since Logan's realized Veronica is now Weevil's friend (getting smashed in the face in defense of Veronica must have clued him in), he decides to taunt her about the Navarro situation because Weevil is absent. While he's talking to his 'girlfriend,' his eyes are focused on Veronica, desperately urging her to bite the bait he's dangling in front of her (and anything else on his person she feels a yen to sink her teeth into ... except for that one part he'd prefer not to be severed). It turns out Mrs. Navarro has lost her position as maid in his house because the Echolls family just doesn't feel safe around her any more. Awww.
The bait is just too damn tempting for Veronica to resist and she replies to their conversation with a quippy, "Did you know 90% of all identity theft is committed by relatives of the victim?" And we're all too busy playing the 'Blame Logan Echolls' drinking game to preen with respect that Veronica Mars is just full of fun facts like that. Logan runs his hands over his face, clearly starting to get a little hot from all this foreplay with his spunky sparring partner. Caitlin also seems to be slipping further and further out of the camera shot, go figure.
Logan gives up all pretense of talking about Mrs. Navarro and the missing credit cards by asking if Veronica joined journalism class just so she could be closer to Duncan (clearly the boy has been spending too much time with Caitlin and has contracted a venereal disease which causes horrible fevers and hallucinations). Veronica clears up his confusion by replying that no, of course she didn't transfer into journalism to be near Donut, "I'm here so I can be closer to you. Actually they're thinking of putting me in your fourth period government class."
Logan looks suitably chuffed by her sexy snark (and he's just desperate enough to believe it's possible), while Caitlin is irritated. Consequently they're both distracted when Veronica manages to get the information she wants out of them: "We have computer lab fourth period." Logan is still staring intensely at her when Veronica grins at her computer screen with victory (and in our humble opinions, lust): She now knows Logan Echolls has computer access when the online purchases were made.
Veronica pulls the web browser history from Logan's fourth period computer lab class. It seems Logan used his class time to study hard, study the naked body of Alyssa Milano to be exact (clearly the boy's trying to cover up an infatuation because we all know he likes blondes; leave me with my straws). Logan did, however, access the Neptune Grand's website which is the only evidence that Logan visited a site where a purchase was later made: The honeymoon suite. Veronica seems to like clutching at straws, too.
Veronica heads toward her trusty LeBaron in the parking lot of Neptune High when she notices something funny. Her car seems to be sagging a little in the back there. Her shoulders slump as she realizes that the most unoriginal prank in the history of pranks has been played on her car, air has been let out of her tires for the second time since school started.
In the background of the shot we see an orange blur rapidly strutting towards her, and it's not just any blur, it's Logan Echolls decked out in his standard evil costume color. (Do they always dress him in orange because it looks bad? That's a mystery to me.) One of his 09er toadies tosses him an apple which he proceeds to roll smoothly across the trunk of Veronica's car, stopping in front of her just as she rises to her feet in disgust. Man, it's almost like their perfectly synchronized snark now comes with corresponding dance moves.
Logan notices what's happened to her tires and says "Bummer," in his most sympathetic voice. We'd almost buy it, too, if he didn't signal the evil 'okay' at his buddies as soon as he turned away from her: The 09er bat symbol for 'right on dude, now let's find our next victim, mwahahaha.' Veronica gives her 'fire of a thousand suns' death glare at his back as he strolls away to schmooze with the other 09ers. While they stand there looking pretty (and generally useless), Veronica puts all us girls to shame by pulling out a tire iron and proceeding to fix her own flat. Ah, Veronica Mars, she's good at everything ... but I bet she's imagining using that tire iron on a certain 09er's head.
From off camera an 09er in sheep's clothing wanders up to offer his assistance. "Flat?" Veronica glances up to see that guy who was leering at her in the administration office, Troy Vandegraff. "Just as God made me." She retorts, clearly hoping to distract his interest. Veronica rants with barely contained violence because she needs to get to a photo shoot for her journalism class and the last thing she wants to do is ask Duncan Kane for a ride (well, she doesn't actually say that but we all know she's thinking it).
Troy offers his help (after all, he's known Duncan a long time and he can sympathize with Veronica's pain). Veronica looks stunned that anyone would offer her help and momentarily tightens her hand on the tire iron ... he must be up to something, there's no such thing as 'nice' at Neptune High! He introduces himself as Troy and when she says her name's Veronica it's clear he's heard all about her. Although we can't be sure whether it's old school Veronica/Duncan cheesiness that sparks a memory or current school 'Veronica's a skank' gossip he's heard. Considering the glance he throws in the 09er direction, I'm going with the latter. That and the surety in his knowledge that no one would actually name their daughter, "Trampy McBitch."
On the other side of the parking lot, Caitlin rides up on a garishly pink scooter made just for her by Mattel. Logan has been watching the Veronica/Troy exchange with mild interest (since everyone knows she's his victim of choice and no one else's) but he gets irritated when his very own Barbie doll is watching their interaction as well. Caitlin is meant to be distracting him from his tendency to stare at Veronica Mars, not encouraging the habit. Oh yeah, and he also doesn't like that Caitlin seems to be equally distracted by this new guy, Troy, either. "What do you care?" He all but snarls at her when she asks what Troy is doing with everyone's favorite pariah.
The Veronica stare-a-thon is kicked up another notch when Duncan Kane is walking to his own car and notices the strangest thing ... somebody is actually helping his ex-girlfriend. *gasp/faints* Duncan always thought that if he wasn't mean to her like everybody else the only other option was to ignore her completely. What a head spin to find out that his old buddy, Troy, has discovered another option: Thinking independently! Duncan is uncomfortable with this strange new thing so he strolls over to Veronica's car to put a stop to it. He offers Veronica a ride and she stutters and stammers for a while trying to get out of it. Troy kindly offers to finish fixing up her car so that she can run along with her ex and spend an excruciating drive with him all the way to the Gold Coast. Gee, Troy, you're so helpful, thanks a lot.
While Veronica is on her way to her first journalism assignment with Duncan Kane, she spots Weevil working community service by the side of the road. That night, still tormented about the case, she persuades her dad to swing past the Neptune Grand on the way home. Daddy Mars tries to get out of it by saying that they already have the confessed criminal in jail. Pause. Beat. Veronica glares. Oh yeah, just because you're in jail doesn't mean you're guilty *cough*Abel Koontz*cough.* Daddy Mars is a pushover for his daughter's innocent grin anyway.
This is the part where we figure out that Veronica has a lot in common with everyone's favorite drama queen, Logan Echolls. She pretends that she's a blonde ditz who did a couple of laps in the bottom of a tequila bottle and managed to get knocked up in the honeymoon suite ... oh and whoopsy, didn't manage to catch daddy's name, or what he looks like. When you can't think of a role to perform on the job, it's pretty easy to fall back on the one Logan accuses you of being at school every day. Keith is very convincing as the distraught father of the knocked up daughter with a shot gun and wedding veil ready and waiting in the trunk of his car. Keith is looking to get surveillance footage of the bastard who knocked up his baby but all they manage to get is the detailed bill. And on the receipt for room service is Caitlin Ford's signature. So naturally, it's Logan's fault. Ha!
Veronica smugly tells Logan she knows it was him the next day. Logan, amazingly enough, engages in conversation with her by biting her bait. She tells him exactly what he did: He stole his mother's credit cards but was not smart enough to escape her all-powerful investigative prowess because his girlfriend had foolishly signed a receipt in their suite at the Neptune Grand. Ha! Logan Echolls, I'm smarter than you! Veronica is clearly gleeful of her own genius, and Logan doesn't say anything to make her doubt her assumption, just slings back a provocative and challenging "Prove it." But when he turns away from Veronica the look on his face suggests he has no idea what she's talking about.
Later at lunch, due to the faux-Iceman's urging, Veronica is contemplating saying 'maybe I was wrong' and getting her old life back ... until Logan Echolls walks up to her table, stares her down, gives her a devilled point and her back arches in kitty anger. No, she can't go back; she can't forgive and forget. Life's much more fun when she's at war with Logan Echolls. "I'm gonna nail that sucker," she declares and rushes away from the table. And we all sit back and think 'we wish we could nail that sucker too, Veronica Mars, but it's wonderful you've set yourself such an enjoyable aim in life.'
Logan is thinking of nailing someone as well but it isn't Veronica Mars (at least not consciously). He's got Troy Vandegraff set in his sights, the boy he suspects of canoodling with his whorefriend, Caitlin Ford, since he's seen them flirting a couple of times. Troy also has his eyes set on Veronica so he's just not Logan's most favorite person in the world. Logan asks Duncan to give him some information on Troy but Duncan's not really helpful. And then he hands Logan his girlfriend's purse to watch so he can leave (because Duncan was inexplicably doing so up until that point). Logan uses those brain cells God gave him and uses the opportunity to do a little investigating himself. Opening up the purse, he runs through the previous calls in her phone. Meanwhile, Veronica is in the journalism room going through a list of numbers from Caitlin's phone bill. Why she couldn't do this outside, I don't know. Maybe she was worried about being distracted by the intense staring competition Logan seems to be waging with her back (or the side of her head or her face - whatever).
And they're off! The war of the private dicks has begun (and I just love how that descriptor works in so many ways). Logan tries to find a suspicious number; Veronica's still calling all the numbers on her list. Finally, Logan finds a number called at one a.m. and apparently that's past Caitlin's bedtime which makes it automatically suspicious. They're both hitting the dial button, it's neck and neck ... ooh, Logan Echolls by a hair! It's nothing but a dial tone for Veronica Mars. And for the winner we have *drum roll* a heavy breather, one-sided conversation with the ugliest PCHer on Weevil's block, his very own cousin, Chardo. Ooh, that one had to hurt the ego, Logan, he wasn't even pretty. Logan laughs in self deprecation, already imagining all the pain he will inflict on Chardo. He's hot when he's feeling particularly evil.
Later, Logan is lurking ominously behind Chardo's back as they walk down a school hallway (oh, we love the way he lurks) but just before he can pounce on his prey, a tiny blonde Tinkerbell buzzes past and shoves Chardo into her office: The ladies bathroom. It's Veronica Mars who lost the mobile race but won the overall championship. *crowd goes wild*
She tells Chardo to confess (but since she's been telling innocent people to do that all episode it doesn't have much impact). She tells him how it happened: One day he went to pick up his grandma and in chivalrous fashion, he took out a bag of trash and lo and behold there were the credit card numbers! What better way to take out Caitlin Ford in the manner to which she's accustomed than to use her boyfriend's credit card! On top of that, Chardo's grandmother and cousin (who also happens to be the leader of the biker gang he's a member of) take the fall consecutively. You don't come across class like this every day. Thank God.
Chardo proceeds to explain that he would have written a confession eventually because he and Princess Caitlin are going to run away together to a land far, far away. Located right next to 'in your dreams' land. Veronica finds relish in trying to give Chardo a reality check and let's face it, if he's having fantasies that it's twu wuv with a character played by Paris Hilton, the boy's got problems. Chardo tries to run away from Veronica's snark but she promptly reminds him that he shouldn't go out there because Logan knows and Logan is not the most understanding of guys when you've screwed him over.
Pause. One second. How does she know Logan knows? The phone was engaged but that didn't mean it was Logan doing the calling. Does she have a radar for his sinister vibes and noticed they were aimed in Chardo's direction as she raced down the hall after him? Are they psychically connected? Is it a stupid line? Who knows. Moving on. Play.
Chardo tells Veronica he isn't going anywhere without Caitlin and he truly believes that Weevil won't find out before he has time to get away and escape the clutches of Logan and his 09er gang of surfer thugs. Hah. An unrealistic optimist. So rare on this show, it's almost adorable.
Veronica decides to try a different tactic by visiting Chardo and Weevil's grandmother, who must have known that Chardo was the one who gave her the diamond pendant and not Weevil. Mrs. Navarro explains it by saying Weevil is still a minor, but Chardo is 18 years old and would thus do prison time if he was charged. Never mind that Weevil thinks he's being all noble and self sacrificing for his grandmother and if he knew it was actually his cousin he was serving time for, Weevil would be helping Logan get Chardo's head on a pike. It isn't until Veronica tells Mrs. Navarro that Chardo was using the stolen money to take out Paris -- I mean, Caitlin that she thinks Chardo has done something wrong. It would have been unnatural for her to approve of that pairing.
Weevil gets an escort home by a county deputy to find a celebratory party gathering made up of Mrs. Navarro and Veronica Mars. Veronica tells him that the Sheriff issued a warrant for Chardo's arrest but Logan is also out looking for him. Weevil's eyes darken and he snarks, "He's not the only one." Oh dear, something tells me Chardo isn't going to be an optimist for much longer, but at least he's an equal opportunity target for angry townsfolk with pitchforks.
Poor gullible Chardo goes to Caitlin's house and calls her up, expecting her to climb down her ivory tower, straddle his bike and ride off into the sunset with him. Well, no one said he was a smart boy. Caitlin looks out the window just to make sure the white pack of thugs have strategically surrounded Chardo for the ass smacking that's about to take place. Logan comes riding in on a red jeep, sliding with limber grace out the passenger side to stand stage-front before the bitch he's about to slap. Ah, what grace he has when he's being vengeful, yet another thing he has in common with a certain pesky private eye.
Chardo still seems to be under the impression that he stole Logan's girlfriend successfully (despite the fact that Caitlin made no move to join him in his Kodak moment) so he completely deserves it when Logan smacks him across the face. Reality check, man, she's just a slut. Chardo hits the deck and it looks like Logan is going to start to have some real sadistic fun with his victim of choice when the PCH bike club roars up and faces off with Logan's own gang of 09ers.
Ah, inevitability. We'll see this moment again.
But Weevil doesn't want to fight Logan today, unless it's over who gets to beat Chardo's ass until it's especially pulpy. They go off and have a little meeting, discussing the merits of who deserves to hit Chardo more and unfortunately for us, Weevil wins, so less Logan screen time. Sigh. Instead we have a few more moments where Logan steps into Commander in Chief mode. The 09ers still want to beat Chardo up but he said NO! damnit, and they all fall in line and follow their leader away from the scene of the crime as he looks up at Caitlin. She wasn't worth bruising his knuckles for anyway.
Chardo is still suffering from that pesky optimism and seems to be laboring under the delusion that Weevil saved him out of the goodness of his heart. Instead Weevil tells him that he's out of the club and out of his life (not to mention about to get his ass kicked). Weevil walks off and mercifully asks his right hand man Felix to call the gang off before they go too far ... but you know, at least make sure they pound that delusional optimism right out of him because it doesn't belong in Neptune or on Veronica Mars.
... but there's still one more person to be punished and the 09ers have a unique way of making wayward women pay their due. Logan is the King of the castle and Caitlin is the dirty rascal; she's also this year's victim of the silent treatment banishment. Veronica Mars watches on and dare we say it *yaks* feels sympathy for the girl tumbling down the social ladder before her eyes. But we don't really care, Logan is once more a free entity and if we wish hard enough I'm sure we can jump into the screen and have him for our very own ... right? Oh fine, he's all Veronica's *grumbles*
- Veronica and Wallace are hanging out at her locker, discussing their wild and crazy Friday night plans. That is, if you consider Veronica taking Backup for a run and renting a PG-13 movie to be wild and crazy fun. Wallace doesn't and awards Veronica the school's Most Boring Person award. (I wonder if that comes with a crown. A boring one. Maybe something in beige.) Her newly acquired friend aspires to something a little more akin to the goings-on in a Nelly video. Since he's not a chart-topping rap artist, Wallace would at least be happy to crash a local party. He found an invitation on the gym floor, written in a mysterious picture code that our super sleuth easily deciphers -- it's a Friday night 09er party happening at Dog Beach. After she explains to him that an 09er is someone who lives in the prestigious 90909 zip code and that the coded party invites are to prevent undesirables (i.e. Wallace and Veronica) from tainting their snobby shindigs, she reveals that she understands the code because she used to be one of them.
- Veronica cuts out on breakfast with Keith for an early meeting with her school counselor. Something to do with her schedule and her attitude -- most likely not in that order. In order to help with the latter, a change is suggested to the former.
After doing so, Miss Mars enters Miss Dent's journalism class, where she explains to the nice teacher that she's been placed there by the counselor, who believes she's "disconnected and passionless." And speaking of "disconnected and passionless," one of Miss Dent's students, Caitlin Ford, interrupts to announce she's going to the gym to talk to some people about a poll. Miss Dent tries to explain to Caitlin the importance of getting opinions from a wide range of backgrounds, but she uses too many words with more than one syllable and completely loses the girl. So she boils it down to a request that she interview more people than just her friends. This is met with an eye roll, so at least she understood the smaller words.
When Miss Dent tries to decide where to begin with her new student, Veronica suggests that maybe she can just take pictures. Miss Dent thinks it's a start and proceeds to pull out a 35mm camera, with some basic beginner instructions. Veronica interrupts by whipping out her own more advanced camera and overwhelms Dent with her knowledge.
Dent assigns Veronica her first project, photographing fellow student Bodie Chang the next afternoon at a surfing competition on the Gold Coast. Miss Dent then shows how behind she is on the town gossip when she "introduces" Veronica to Duncan Kane, the reporter covering the story, and innocently lets them know she's arranged for the two to ride with Bodie's parents. An arrangement that's quickly dismissed when both Duncan and Veronica insist on driving themselves. Sorry, Miss Dent, but road trips with the ex are far more worrisome for a teenager than any oil crisis.
When Veronica's trip to the Gold Coast competition is delayed by her second "mysterious" flat tire since school began, Troy offers to change it for her, while Duncan offers her a ride, so they won't miss their assignment. She's hesitant to accept either offer, but really having no choice, she grabs her bag from the trunk and leaves with Duncan. For a painfully awkward thirty mile drive.
Fortunately, Veronica is saved from doing a Charlie's Angels roll out of the car by Fountains of Wayne. Or rather their song "Troubled Times," which is playing on the radio and which Duncan points out was a favorite of Lilly's. Veronica remembers riding in that very car with Lilly, as the same song played. They discussed their reasons for joining the pep squad -- Veronica was aiming for the P.E. credit and Lilly needed a pep outlet because even she realized she suffered from too much pep. The conversation then turned to Celeste and, after her spot-on impression of the frigid Mommy Dearest, Veronica asked Lilly why Celeste hates her so much. Lilly chalked it up to Celeste hating anyone her son could potentially love more than his dear ol' mum. And then warns Veronica to watch out for Celeste, because she wouldn't hesitate to break them up if she could.
After they've arrived at the beach, Veronica takes photos of the competition while Duncan interviews his subject. Later in the week, Miss Dent proudly shows Veronica her first cover photo on the Neptune Navigator, volume 28, issue 1.
- While at the office changing her class schedule, Veronica is caught in the sights of the new kid in town, Troy Vandegraff. He fakes an English accent (for some unknown reason) to flirt a smile out of her.
Later, Veronica and Wallace are eating lunch at their table, when Troy invades the neighborhood and sits down to ask how Veronica's spare tire is holding up. Veronica, suspicious gal that she is, thinks he's there to fulfill the rest of the ol' quid pro quo expression. And, well, he kind of is. He's having a party on Saturday and wants her to come -- oh, and Wallace, too, of course. Veronica reminds him that she's not permitted in the first class cabin. He doesn't care and thinks it's really just time for people to swallow their pride, admit they may have been wrong and let bygones be bygones. (He really hasn't spent much time in that crowd, has he?) Wallace is impressed by Troy's speech, but honestly I think Mr. Fennel's just desperate to party. She agrees to think about it, which seems to appease Troy, so he leaves.
The following week, Troy sits down at Veronica's table, disappointed that she didn't show up at his party. Veronica explains that she realized she doesn't feel even a little bit wrong or sorry for her role in achieving her current social status. Wallace joins them, to tell them they should all go to the Sac-n-Pac because he can let them play the new Golden Tee game for free. Veronica's never played the game, but puts out the challenge that she can kick both their asses. They all leave, so the competition can begin.
- Duncan has known his friend, Troy Vandegraff, for a few years. Their families have adjacent slips at the marina. The Vandegraffs usually visit Neptune in August and stay a month. This year, Troy's parents decided to stay in Southern California, so Troy has now been enrolled at Neptune High instead of going to school back East, as planned. Troy's father is an architect, who built the county museum. His work causes him to move his family around a lot.
- Keith shows up at the Sheriff's office, with Lamb's missing fugitive in his custody. Lamb sends him to holding and Keith wonders if they should alert the media for some pictures, since it seems to be the routine around there now. Keith then says a gracious hello to Inga, who offers him the last puppy from her dogs, Trixie and Bud. Lamb, getting more irritated by the second, tries to dismiss him. Keith asks if Lamb will be personally cutting his bounty check or if he should go down to payroll. Lamb walks away in disgust.
- Wallace signed up for a diving class, but so few people signed up, the class was canceled and Wallace was assigned office aid duty. Veronica's reaction to the news? Well, imagine a child being given the key to the world's largest candy store.
- Nasty fake rumors being spread about Veronica include: She likes it a little freaky; she's been spying on Duncan; she's been e-mailing pictures of herself to Duncan.
- Veronica carries a camera with a swivel LCD, optical zoom (71.2mm) and a raw file option.
- Logan's license plate is IQA 6535.
- '09er party invitations are done in code.
- Moons = dark
Hourglass = sand (beach)
Little eggs = fried (Friday)
K's and 9's = Dog Beach
- Cape Crescent is the local '09er surf spot.
- Weevil considers Dog Beach his turf.
- The Navarros' street address is 2528.
- Weevil seems to live with his Grandma and two smaller kids, a boy and a girl.
- Keith has been picking up Weevil for getting into trouble since he was twelve.
- Weevil's first name is Eli.
- Letty doesn't have any credit cards in her own name.
- Keith was Lamb's mentor.
- Keith hired Deputies Meeks and Johnson.
- The Neptune Register is the local newspaper. According to the paper, their (fictional) website is: www.neptuneregister.com.
- The Neptune Register cover story --
- Neptune High's school paper is the Navigator.
Fugitive Escapes Custody - Man accused of manslaughter last seen near boardwalk.
By Linda Goldman
STAFF WRITER
Photo caption: Fugitive Ray Lee Hempstead escaped yesterday from a Sheriff's cruiser.
In a daring, daylight escape, Ray Lee Hempstead, denied bail earlier this week after his arrest for manslaughter, broke out of the back windshield of a Balboa County Sheriff's Department Cruiser and fled on foot.
Balboa County Sheriff's Deputies arrived on the scene later to question witnesses. Hempstead is considered armed and dangerous. The Sheriff requests that any information regarding the whereabouts of Hempstead should be reported to the Balboa County Sheriff's Department immediately.
Hempstead was last seen at the intersection of Playa Del Mar Blvd. and Pacific Coast Highway. Hempstead was being transported to a maximum security facility when the escape took place. As of yesterday, foul play was not suspected in his escape. The Balboa County Sheriff's Department have not had a prisoner escape since 1978, when convicted felon Daniel Kuhlken fled from a minimum security prison outside of San Diego. He had been transported by a Balboa County Sheriff's deputy and fled on foot as he was about to enter the prison. He was found two days later at a nearby motel and sentenced to an additional 2 years in prison. Balboa County government officials insist that the escape was a chance... (SEE FUGITIVE)
- Area codes near Neptune are 619 and 858.
- Neptune has a piercing parlor called Puddy Tats.
- Caitlin has a brand new pink scooter.
- Caitlin doesn't like her ice cubes made with tap water.
- The following telephone numbers are listed on Caitlin's Neptune Grand bill:
- Calls: $30.00
#619-555-0121 (Movieline)
#858-555-0199
#858-555-0165
#619-555-0173
#858-555-0152
#619-555-0149 (Jessie Ford)
#619-555-0136 (Chardo)
- Veronica and Keith are having breakfast at a little diner while she does homework and he reads the paper. He complains about her wearing a baseball cap inside, eventually shaming her into removing it. Sheriff Lamb and Deputy Sacks arrive to pick up their order and Lamb, unable to resist a harassment opportunity, rudely sits next to Veronica and asks Keith how the dirty picture biz is. Keith, taking up the challenge, reads from the newspaper about a fugitive who escaped from two of Lamb's Deputies. Naturally, Lamb finds a way to blame it on someone else -- Keith, because he'd been the one to hire the Deputies. However, Keith is still scoring in their little insultathon until Lamb brings up that the anniversary of Lilly's death is coming up on October 3. He suggests Keith dress up like a Sheriff and crucify a poor grieving father for old time's sake. Angry, Keith points out the oddities in Lamb's investigation, including the fact that the anonymous caller who led him to the supposed killer's houseboat never showed up to collect the $100,000 reward money. Lamb counters that Keith's theory that Jake did it was impossible because all of the Kanes were accounted for at the time of murder. Lamb checks if Sacks got their order ready, then slithers out.
- On the ride home from the surfing competition, Duncan is pulled over by a Sheriff's deputy who asks him and Veronica to step out of the car. It seems there is an impound notice on the car due to a bunch of parking tickets and a moving violation dated October 3.
Duncan calls home for help, saying the car is about to be impounded because of a bunch of Lilly's tickets. Veronica calls her dad, to ask him for a ride home -- they're on the PCH, just outside of town, about a mile from the Real Inn. She promises to fill him in on the details of this particular story when he gets there.
Later, a tow truck is getting ready to hook up to the car, when Jake pulls up and approaches the Deputy to ask if he's called this in to the Sheriff. The Deputy hasn't, since this is pretty routine and I'm guessing he's new in town. Jake affably tells him to call the Sheriff, then goes to see if his son is ready, which is when he notices Veronica. Obviously not pleased to see her there, he manages a restrained "hello" which Veronica politely returns. Then Keith shows up and the tension rises even more. Keith smiles at his daughter and puts his arm around her, while everyone shares a series of uncomfortable stares.
Which is understandable, since the last time Jake and Keith were in the same room, Keith was interrogating him about Lilly's death. When Jake finished his statement, Keith told him, the most powerful man in Neptune, that he was sure he was somehow involved in his daughter's death. Jake reacted by going to the adoring press, with tears in his eyes and an arm around his grieving son, and told everyone how he much he missed his baby and how he was being wrongly accused. The citizens of Neptune stormed the county commissioner's office and ran Keith out of office. As illustrated by the flashback, Inga was sad to see Keith pack his things and leave, giving him a hug on his way out. Lamb was too busy eating an apple to show his compassion -- wait, no, actually he'd have to have some to begin with. Never mind. Veronica's friends got on the bandwagon and kicked her out office, too. Or out of their hallowed social circle, to be more accurate. See, given the choice between standing by her father or by Duncan and her dead best friend's family, she chose Keith. Considering the less-than-stellar parents living in this lovely little town, I can see why her peers wouldn't understand her choice.
Back in the present, Keith walks Veronica to his car as Veronica thinks about how it's very possible she gave up her friends and they lost their way of life over an error in Keith's judgment. Before they reach their car, they hear the Deputy apologize to Jake and Duncan -- he didn't know he was the son of the King of Neptune and, therefore, exempt from all traffic regulations. Keith and Veronica aren't impressed.
As they drive home in silence, Keith carefully asks her if she's hanging out with Duncan again. Veronica hesitates to answer anything about her personal life because she's upset that he won't tell her why he went after Jake when everyone else believed he was just a heartbroken father. Keith repeats the question and she tells him that it was just for a school assignment.
Sitting at her desk, deep in thought, Veronica finally calls out to Keith, asking what exactly made him go after Jake Kane. Stalling, he wonders why she's asking. Since the answer to the question pretty much defines their very existence, she thinks she'd understand better if she knew more about the case. He doesn't want to pour more unpleasant thoughts about Lilly's death into her head. Veronica knows she can handle it, but Keith insists that if he knew how adversely it would affect their lives, he wouldn't have gone after Jake the way he did. And no matter how much she says she wants to know, he won't tell her.
Veronica walks to the Sheriff's Department, remembering how a couple of weeks before Lilly was murdered -- and while Keith was still Sheriff -- the two girls sneaked into the back room and made fake IDs so they could get into clubs. She had them sent to her house, but they didn't arrive until days after Lilly's body was found. They've been sitting in a drawer, forgotten, until the Sheriff's Deputy mentioned Lilly's ticket. Since it's Sunday, most of the people working at the station are new and don't remember who Veronica is. Evidenced by the nice lady at the front desk who Veronica tricks into giving her a copy of Lilly's ticket after giving her one of the fake IDs, using Lilly's name.
As the lady goes to pull it up, Veronica's subterfuge is nearly ruined by the appearance of Sheriff Lamb, who immediately demands to know what she's doing there. She shrugs that she's paying off a ticket. He considers it, then shrugs it off and starts to walk away. Veronica, perhaps physically incapable of not giving him a hard time, asks if he found Chardo and suggests that maybe he should call her dad since he's good at that kind of thing. He tells her she has a smart mouth. (Well, yeah. And like the rest of her, it's smarter than you.) She smiles and shrugs and he returns to his lair. The receptionist brings Veronica the ticket, which she grabs, with a promise to mail in the payment, before she hightails it out. As she leaves, the receptionist calls out an apology to "Miss Kane" for the bad news. Lamb peeks back out, not quite sure what he just heard.
Veronica sits at her lunch table, staring at the printout of Lilly's ticket. Which she's been doing off and on ever since she got it. An automated intersection camera caught Lilly running a red light at 6:02 p.m. on October 3 -- almost two hours after her reported time of death. While the photo of Lilly singing and smiling only hours before her death is quite haunting, it's even more troubling that it completely invalidates all of the Kanes' alibis. Conclusion? Her dad was right about the case not adding up and her choice to stand by him was a good one.
- Veronica and Lilly driving, discussing pep squad and Celeste's distaste for Veronica. (Read detailed breakdown.)
- Keith interrogates Jake. (Read detailed breakdown.)
"Word Up" (Korn)
Scene: Beach Party Bingo! Or, uhm, you know just a bunch of teenagers hanging out on the beach. Woohoo!
"Hi Lo" (Under The Influence Of Giants)
Scene: Bummer! Veronica has a flat. Not quite as God made it. Hmm ... who coulda done it one wonders as Logan smoothly rolls an apple across the trunk of her car with a smirk as he takes in the busted tire.
"Troubled Times" (Fountains Of Wayne)
Scene: In the car with the ex. Uncomfortable, but hey, there's always that handy Charlie's Angel roll-outta-the-car move if things get too bad.
"Here It Comes" (Longwave)
Scene: Chang surfs, Duncan interviews and Veronica takes pretty pictures. A day at the beach. Ahh!
"Lover" (Maureen Davis)
Scene: Veronica's having a baby and Keith's the not-too-proud papa!! At least that's what they want the concierge at the Neptune Grand to think. Heh, heh, heh! And it works!
"Sister" (Josh Kramon)
Scene: It's Caitlin's turn to realize that nobody cares about what she has to say ... not anymore, while Veronica is ready to whup some Golden Tee ass all over Wallace and Troy.
LoVe Lines
Logan: Tell the truth, Veronica. Did you just sign up for newspaper so you could be around Duncan?
Veronica: No. I'm here so I can be closer to you.
In Memory
Lilly: Veronica, I suffer from too much pep.
Lilly: Well, you know what my mom says. You have to kiss a few toads ... That's it. That's her entire philosophy.
Quotable Quotes
Wallace: Another big Friday night. You got plans?
Veronica: I don't know. I might take Backup for a run or rent a movie maybe.
Wallace: Congratulations. You're officially Neptune High's most boring person.
Veronica: Did I mention the movie might be PG-13?
Wallace: Ow! Jump back, wild child.
Veronica: What about you, Wallace? Your life still a non-stop Nelly video?
Wallace: Hey, at least I want my life to be a non-stop Nelly video.
Veronica: It's in code so undesirables, which by the way is you and me, don't show up.
Wallace: How do you know all this?
Veronica: 'Cause I used to be one of them.
Duncan: So, uh, wanna go meet the locals or what?
Troy: As long as they're humble, god-fearing, salt of the earth types.
Duncan: Every last one.
Logan: It's a private party, man.
Weevil: Oh, oh, is it? I-I-I'm sorry. I must have been confused. Hey, let me ask you something. Have I ever asked you if I could come play through at Torrey Pines? Have you ever run into me surfing down at Cape Crescent? Bro? Huh? Have you ever even once come home to find us throwing the kegger in your backyard? No? Then what the hell do you think you are doing on our beach?
Logan: Am I supposed to apologize? Am I supposed to shake in my boots?
Weevil: Maybe.
Logan: Look around you, man. It ain't fifteen on four tonight.
Chardo: Grandma says you go through a box of tissue a day. Your room alone.
Logan: (Laughing.) I know, what can I say? She's a very sexy lady. Thank you.
Cliff: I sincerely doubt my client, Mrs. Navarro, suddenly decides to steal from the Echolls after ten years of loyal service just so she can get herself a new piercing from Puddy Tats.
Keith: Honey, I started picking up Eli Navarro when he was twelve.
Veronica: He just helped me out of a jam recently, that's all.
Cliff: Look, I'm sure he's a real mensch, but I've got a grandma in jail and I'd really like to get her out.
Veronica Mars Voiceover: The trouble with befriending the leader of a motorcycle gang is that at the end of the day, he's still the leader of a motorcycle gang.
Weevil: Be honest, Veronica. You think you're this big outsider but, push comes to shove, you're still one of them. You still think like one of them.
Keith: Are you gonna wear that cap inside? At the table?
Veronica: Do you think I'm offending someone? In here?
Keith: Simple etiquette, that's all.
Lamb: Ahhhh. If it isn't my predecessor and mentor. How's the dirty picture biz, boss?
Keith: Looks like it's better than being sheriff, actually. Yeah, you got a killer on the loose, Lamb. (Reading from a newspaper.) In a daring daylight escape, Ray Lee Hampstead, denied bail earlier this week after his arrest for manslaughter, broke out the back windshield of a Balboa County's Sheriff's Department cruiser and fled on foot.
Lamb: Meeks and Johnson lost him. I think those are two guys you hired.
Keith: (Speaking to Veronica.) You hear that, honey? That's leadership. (Once more speaking to Lamb.) Way to stand up on your own two feet, Lamb and say, hey, the buck stoooops (Keith points his finger into the distance.) there.
Wallace: I'm an office aide.
Veronica: That's great!
Wallace: Yeah, for who?
Veronica: For me. I need you to copy all of Weevil's attendance records from this past month and get them to me.
Wallace: Do I look like James Bond to you?
Veronica: Am I asking you to retrieve a nuclear warhead?
Caitlin: I'm gonna go down to the gym to talk to people for the student poll.
Miss Dent: Be back by the end of the period. And remember that we are a multicultural school with a diverse population of students from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds.
Caitlin: Meaning?
Miss Dent: Meaning don't just interview your friends.
Miss Dent: This is a 35mm camera. Now my suggestion as you're starting out is just to set it on auto and that way you --
Veronica: (Interrupting.) I'd really be more comfortable if I could just use my own camera. (Pulling a professional-looking camera out of her bag.) Um, the swivel LCD really comes in handy when you're doing overhead shooting or ground level macro-shooting.
Miss Dent: Right.
Veronica: The optical zoom actually goes up to 71.2mm and it's good to have the raw file option because you can mess with the images post-exposure without nearly the loss of image quality you'd get with a JPEG file.
Miss Dent: And when it's dark outside, you should you should use a flash.
Duncan: I'll drive.
Miss Dent: Great, maybe Veronica can --
Veronica: (Quickly interrupting.) I can drive too.
Miss Dent: Okay. Oil crisis be damned.
Wallace: You realize, don't you, that this guy you're trying to help out, duct taped me butt naked to a flagpole just last week.
Veronica: Man, you really hold a grudge.
Troy: (Coming upon Veronica crouched in front of her tire.) Flat?
Veronica: Just as God made me
Troy: (Crouching down next to her.) Are you always this persnickity.
Veronica: Sometimes I'm even persnickity-er. I'm supposed to be taking surf competition photos in Gold Coast in thirty minutes and this is my second mysterious flat since school started.
Troy: Well here, I mean, let me help you. (Reaches out to take the tool. Veronica hesitates, but then gives it to him.) I'm Troy, by the way.
Veronica: I'm Veronica.
Troy: Really? Veronica. Okay, yeah, that -- that does make a lot more sense.
Veronica: Makes more sense how?
Troy: Ah, it's nothing. I just, uh, should never listen to those guys. I mean really, who names a daughter Trampy McBitch?
Veronica Mars Voiceover: I should have walked to Gold Coast. It's only thirty miles but with the awkward silence, it feels like three hundred. In five seconds, I'm just going to do the Charlie's Angel roll right out of the moving car. Five four three --
Veronica Mars Voiceover: The fine people of Neptune gathered their pitchforks and torches, stormed the County Commissioner's office and ran dad out of office. My friends got on the bandwagon as well. They gave me a choice. I could stand by my dad or stand by Duncan and my dead best friend's family. I chose dad. It's a decision I live with every day. And you want to know the kicker? I don't even know what's true anymore. Maybe everyone else is right. Maybe dad screwed up the investigation. Maybe I gave up my circle of friends, my life, over an error in dad's judgment.
Troy: Look. Uh, I don't believe in much but I do believe in this. When sexy, sassy girls can't come to a shindig of mine, it's time for all parties involved to stand up and just admit that, hey, maybe I was a little bit wrong or sorry. I mean let bygones be bygones, screw pride. Let's dance. (Does a little groove thing.) Baby, let's dance.
Wallace: That was beautiful, man.
Chardo: Watch it, little girl.
Veronica: Confess. It's good for the soul.
Chardo: What?
Veronica: Moron says what.
Chardo: What?
Veronica: She's a thrill seeker. Doing you was like doing the Dew and that's all it was.
Veronica: What made you go after Jake Kane?
Keith: What makes you ask?
Veronica: Other than that question defines our very existence?
Veronica Mars Voiceover: I haven't gone more than thirty minutes without glancing at the ticket. One of those automated intersection cameras caught Lilly running a red light at 6:02 pm, almost two hours after her supposed time of death. I don't know if it's the photo of Lilly, singing and smiling on the final day of her life that's been haunting me or the fact that suddenly none of the Kanes have alibis that hold up: Jake, Celeste, even Duncan. Dad was right. The case doesn't add up. I made a choice a long time ago. Stand by dad or stand by the people tearing him down.
Troy: (Coming up to Veronica.) You didn't make it Saturday night.
Veronica: I guess I didn't feel I was even a little bit wrong or sorry.
Troy: Well, a wise man once said that a "No" is like a "Yes" except with different letters and arranged in a different order and spoken out loud but, you know, it disappears on the wind.
PG-13 (Referenced by Veronica to Wallace as they discuss their Friday night plans.)
PG-13 is one of five trademarked ratings classifications given to American films by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). This ratings system is observed by the majority of film exhibitors and was first instituted on November 1, 1968, after MPAA President Jack Valenti abolished the outdated Hays Production Code. The Production Code either approved or disapproved of content in a motion picture, preventing films from being released that the Production Code Administration considered "immoral" or that contained even one scene or line of dialogue they didn't deem to be appropriate for audiences.
As more daring films began to be released in the 1960's -- in flagrant disregard of the Code -- it became apparent to the MPAA that a new system was needed. This system would be monitored and guided by the MPAA, NATO (National Association of Theatre Owners) and IFIDA (International Film Importers & Distributors of America) and would theoretically be used as a guidance or parental warning system for films, rather than as a censorship tool. Originally only three ratings categories were planned, but NATO pushed for an adults-only category. The original ratings used from 1968-1970 were: G (General audiences; all ages), M (Mature audiences; parental discretion advised), R (Restricted; under 16/17 not admitted without parent/guardian), and X (under 17 not admitted).
These ratings, except for X, were all trademarked by the MPAA. Anyone who didn't submit their film for a ratings classification could use the X or any other description when promoting their film. In 1990, the X rating was changed to NC-17 (and trademarked), since an X rating eventually became too closely associated with pornographic films, which was not the MPAA's intention for the adults-only category. Since the M (Mature) rating was often mistaken to be a more adult rating than R, it was changed to GP (General audience -- Parental guidance suggested), only to be changed a year later to PG (Parental Guidance suggested).
In the 1980s, three popular Steven Spielberg films -- Poltergeist (1982), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) and Gremlins (1984) -- contained scenes considered by many to be too violent or frightening for a PG audience, yet these films were not necessarily violent or profane enough to merit the R rating. So a middle rating, PG-13, was created in July of 1984 that would still allow pre-teens to attend without a parent or guardian, but would act as a cautionary rating to warn parents in advance that a film might not be appropriate for younger moviegoers. The first film to receive a PG-13 classification was The Flamingo Kid, but due to its delayed premiere, Red Dawn was actually the first PG-13 film released.
Individual film ratings can be found at the MPAA website, including the basic reasons used for classification (e.g. intense action violence; sexuality/nudity; language; drinking).
Nelly ... (Referenced by Veronica while talking to Wallace by her locker.)
Nelly, who would rise to fame as a rap artist, was born Cornell Haynes, Jr. and grew up in St. Louis. He saw first hand life on the streets that he would write about on his albums. When he was a teenager he moved to the suburbs and formed a band with some high school friends. They released a single, but were unable to get a record deal. Nelly struck out as a solo artist and was signed by Universal.
He released his debut album, Country Grammar, in 2000. It would spend seven weeks on top of the U.S. album charts as he crossed many musical boundaries and appealed to a widely diverse audience. By 2002, with the release of his album Nellyville, he topped ten different billboard charts in the same week with his single "Hot in Herre." He went on to record the song "Shake Ya Tailfeather" for the movie Bad Boys II and then followed it up with a double disc, Sweatsuit, in 2004. The album put him back at the top of the charts and his many fans eagerly await his next album.
Dog Beach (Ocean Beach) (Referenced by Veronica as she translates the 09er party invitation code.)
Dog Beach is the section of Ocean Beach that is a place where Veronica -- and other dog owners -- can allow their canine friends to run around leash-free, at any time of the day. (Go, Backup!) Approximately one mile long, Ocean Beach is a Southern California beach located in San Diego County. Dog Beach can be found at the west end of the San Diego River floodway. In addition to the dog run and the shoreline, the beach community also offers a long fishing pier (Ocean Beach Municipal Pier), antique stores, surf shops and restaurants.
"Rapper's Delight" (Referenced by Troy as he and Duncan prepare to join the beach party and "up jump the boogie.")
Released in 1979, "Rapper's Delight" is widely considered the first major rap record. Built on a sample of Chic's disco hit "Good Times," the single featured the rap vocals of Wonder Mike, Big Bank Hank and Master Gee, collectively known as The Sugarhill Gang. The single reached #4 on the U.S. R&B charts and eventually sold more than eight million copies.
A portion of the lyrics:
- With a hip hop the hippie to the hippie
the hip hip a hop a you don't stop the rockin'
to the bang bang boogie
Say up jump the boogie to the rhythm of the boogie the beat
I said: Hank? Can ya rock?
Can ya rock to the rhythm that just don't stop?
Can ya hip me to the shoobie doo?
I said: Come on make the make the people move.
Song released by Will Smith in 1997. Will Smith was born in Philadelphia in 1968. He was nicknamed Prince in school and later added Fresh, a title he would later use for a sitcom entitled The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
While in his teens he hooked up with Jeff Townes, known as DJ Jazzy Jeff, and they began to record music together. Will Smith turned down a scholarship to MIT to form the music group D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. They released the album He's The DJ, I'm the Rapper, which would sell over three million copies. They won the first ever Rap MTV Video Music Award and then a Grammy for Best Rap Performance.
Their next album, Homebase, won them a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. Smith continued to act, starring in a string of successful movies and finally reached international acclaim in 1997 with Men In Black. The movie would be the number one box office draw for the summer of 1997 and the album Big Willie Style contained the title track, "Men in Black." The album also contained "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It," which would hit #1 on the Billboard list for two weeks in 1998.
The album would go on to sell four million copies and earn Smith two more MTV Video Music Awards for Best Male Video and Best Rap Video. In 1999 Smith won another Grammy for Best Rap Performance for "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It." Smith has gone on to achieve international superstardom as an actor and in 2005 he won the People's Choice Award for Favorite Male Movie Action Star.
Salt of the Earth Types ... (Referenced by Troy while talking to Duncan at the Dog Beach 09'er party.)
The saying "salt of the earth" actually comes from the Christian bible in Matthews 5:13 (NIV) to describe followers of Jesus. In present day though, the saying is applied to people who are hard-working and honest. So, in other words ... clearly not Caitlin Ford or most of the other 09ers.
S'mores ... (Referenced by Felix when the PCH gang crashes the 09er beach party.)
Considered a customary campfire dessert because of its ease, S'mores consist of marshmallow, chocolate and graham crackers. Apparently named as a contraction of "some more," S'mores are created when marshmallows are held above a campfire until golden brown, removed carefully from the roasting implement and placed with a piece of chocolate between two graham crackers. The first published recipe for S'mores appeared in the 1940 Girl Scout handbook, but it is widely believed that the tasty treat was first created sometime following the development of the commercial marshmallow in the late 1800's.
Torrey Pines ... (Referenced by Weevil when confronting Logan at the Dog Beach 09'er party.)
A public golf course owned by the city of San Diego and located in the town of La Jolla. The course offers two championship 18-hole golf courses, considered to be some of the most picturesque in the world. It is a PGA Tour stop and the Buick Invitational is held at their site every February. The course was designed by William Bell, Sr.* in 1957 on land that had previously been Camp Callan, a naval training area. The resort takes its name from the Torrey Pines Tree which is indigenous to the area.
* This Bell is no relation to our Bell.
Spic and Span ... (Referenced by Logan in a racially-modified slur -- spick, derogative for Mexican -- when talking about Weevil's grandmother at the 09er beach party.)
Along with other products of the cleaning variety, Spic and Span's role as sponsor for the serial drama, Search for Tomorrow for twenty years was the reason such television programs derived their nickname "soap operas." Manufactured by Procter & Gamble, Spic and Span is a powdered all-purpose household cleaner used when mixed with water. The product's name is derived from slang for "clean."
Six Flags Magic Mountain (Referenced by Cliff as he lists the charges on the Echolls' stolen credit cards.)
Opening in 1971 in Valencia, California, the Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park features sixteen world-class roller coasters and over one hundred other rides, games and attractions. As of 2005, the park is tied with Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, for the record of most roller coasters in one amusement park. The rides include Batman: The Ride, Colossus (tallest and fastest wooden coaster in the West), Goliath (255 feet high with one of the world's tallest drops), Superman: The Escape (41 stories high, with speeds from 0 to 100 mph in 7 seconds!), and Viper (tallest vertical loop in the world).
The park has a year-round exotic bird show, a Warner Brothers Kids Club game show and plays hosts to various events, such as the California Cheerleading Championships, Purimfest, and educational events like Physics Day, Math & Science Students' Day and Career Days.
Over the years, the Magic Mountain theme park has been featured in several movies and television shows, including National Lampoon's Vacation, as "Wally World," the ultimate destination of the Griswolds' family trip.
The Buck Stops ... There (The Buck Stops Here) ... (Referenced by Keith to Lamb at the diner, when Lamb shifts blame for a blunder onto others.)
Famous catchphrase of the 34th president, Harry S. Truman, it is indicative of his unassuming, folksy image. The president appropriated the phrase from the poker terminology of "pass the buck" which referred to passing on a hand. His declaration was meant to signify that Truman would take final responsibility for all actions, positive or otherwise, that had to do with the United States. The saying was famously on a plaque on his desk in the Oval Office. I think it's safe to say that a replica of said plaque will never make an appearance on the desk of Lamb, Don; Balboa County Sheriff.
James Bond ... (Referenced by Wallace to Veronica when she casually expects him to do some grunt spy work for her.)
James Bond is a fictional British spy, created by author Ian Fleming. The character, a smooth ladies man and fearless agent, went on to become the focal point of several novels, twenty major motion pictures, video games, comics, and parodies (Austin Powers). In the films, several actors have played the role over the years including Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan. To this day the Bond stories continue to draw the interest, and revenue, of audiences.
Gold Coast (Referenced by Ms. Dent as the location of the surfing competition she wants Veronica to photograph.)
Although there are many "Gold Coasts" found throughout the world (including the popular tourist spot in Queensland, Australia), the Gold Coast referred to here is the eighty mile stretch of Pacific Ocean coast that begins just south of the U.S.- Mexican border and stretches between Tijuana and Ensenada, Mexico.
Oil Crisis ... (Referenced by Ms. Dent when Veronica and Duncan elect to drive separately to Gold Coast.)
As oil is a finite resource, it is limited. In other words, the earth will not produce more oil once it is gone. Thus, as more is used (by cars and SUV's for example), less is available. And as availability declines, prices will rise. This will continue to happen until we have depleted our oil supply. This situation is exacerbated by the fact that we are so dependent on oil, particularly as a fuel source. Consequently, we are depleting our already limited oil supply at an accelerated rate. Something that clearly matters not to Veronica or Duncan in relation to their widdle, injured teenage feelings.
King Kong ... (Referenced by Veronica as to Wallace's awesomeness when he gets her some school records.)
What began as an answer to the success of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World, King Kong has inspired almost a dozen movies and a Saturday morning cartoon. The original movie version of King Kong was released in 1933. The latest version of the movie hit theaters December 2005, as directed by Peter Jackson.
King Kong was written by Merian C. Cooper and Edgar Wallace and tells the story of an island populated by dinosaurs, and of course, a huge silverback gorilla. Filmmaker Carl Denham heads to the remote Skull Island to capture Kong, a huge creature the locals hold at bay with a giant barrier, keeping the beast locked in his primordial jungle. Ann Darrow and John "Jack" Driscoll get caught up in the adventure, as Ann is captured by Kong and taken into the interior of his island home. Jack leads the rescue mission to bring her back. On the way, the explorers are attacked by various types of dinosaurs. Eventually, they capture the gorilla and take him back to civilization, where Kong meets his end on the Empire State Building. The film went down in history as one of the great film adventures to be produced in that time period, and is considered a classic today.
Alyssa Milano ... (Referenced by Veronica while talking to Wallace during lunch.)
Alyssa Milano was born in 1972 in Brooklyn. She attended an open audition for Annie because her babysitter could not find someone to leave her with. She landed the part of July, an orphan, at the age of seven and began to tour the country with her mother as guardian. A few years later she left to expand her career in off Broadway productions and commercials.
At the age of ten she landed the role of Samantha Micelli in the sitcom Who's the Boss? The role required her family to relocate to California and she played the character for all seven seasons. Her picture was the inspiration for Ariel from Disney's The Little Mermaid. She has since gone on to star in a myriad of TV shows and movies and can be seen as one of the main characters on Charmed.
Charlie's Angels ... (Referenced by Veronica when concocting a plan to escape the tension derived while driving with Duncan.)
Jiggle TV at its finest, Charlie's Angels was a popular television show airing 1976 to 1981. The series featured three beautiful female detectives (with knowledge of seemingly every subject known to man) who saved the world one sexy outfit at a time.
The best-known Angels were the original three (it was always a trio, when one of them left, another took her place): Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith and Farrah Fawcett-Majors -- with Fawcett-Majors becoming THE sex symbol of the 70's with this famous poster. Other Angels included Shelley Hack, Tanya Roberts and the most recognizable beyond the first three, Cheryl Ladd. In 2000, a film version of the television show was made starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu. A sequel, Full Throttle, was released in 2003.
Sassy ... (Referenced by Lilly to Veronica in her car drive flashback when discussing Lilly's pep.)
No longer published after 1996, Sassy Magazine was a monthly teen magazine for girls. It was founded by Matilda Publications, based upon an Australian magazine (Dolly). The founding editor was Jane Pratt, an infamous name in the world of publications devoted to teenage girls.
The Frog Prince (Kiss a few toads) ... (Referenced by Lilly to Veronica in regards to Celeste's philosophy.)
One of the famous Grimm's Fairytales, The Frog Prince tells the story of a young princess who loses her golden ball. A frog retrieves it for her dependent upon her becoming his friend. Despite wanting nothing to do with the frog after he gets her ball, circumstances (and her father) make her follow through with her promise. This includes giving the frog a kiss out of duty. She does so and the frog turns into a handsome prince. Read the fairytale here.
Today, the phrase, "you have to kiss a lot of frogs (toads) ..." is a metaphor for dating a lot of guys before you find The One.
PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) (Referenced by Veronica as she calls Keith to come pick her up, after the Sheriff's deputy pulls Duncan over.)
Pacific Coast Highway refers to sections of California's Route 1, beginning at San Juan Capistrano, south of Los Angeles, and ending where Route 1 merges with Highway 1 at Leggett, in Northern California. Route 1 is one of the longest (644 miles) and most scenic routes in California, providing breathtaking views of a large part of the Pacific Coast. It travels past dozens of historical landmarks and through such cities as San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Frankenstein (Townsfolk with pitchforks and torches) ... (Referenced in Veronica voiceover during the flashback about Neptune ousting Keith from office after Jake's press conference.)
The image of a community gathering with pitchforks and torches to rout out a bad seed is derived from the famous scene in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Towards the climax of the novel, the townsfolk track down the monster's location and threaten him with pitchforks and torches.
On the Bandwagon ... (Referenced by Veronica in her voiceover describing the events that happened after Keith implicated Jake Kane in his daughter's murder.)
Being on the bandwagon simply means behaving in accordance with the majority. It is the "everyone else is doing it" mentality. And despite having free will and being independent thinkers, most of us at some point or another find ourselves doing things or wanting things simply because not doing so makes us different, or worse, lesser.
Tequila ... (Referenced by Veronica to the hotel clerk when she and Keith were getting the credit card information at the Neptune Grand.)
One of the most famous of the "hard" drinks, tequila is a strong distilled alcoholic beverage made from the agave plant, a succulent similar to the lily which is native to Mexico. The alcohol's name is derived from the region it comes from, the area surrounding Tequila, a town in the western Mexican state of Jalisco, 50 km from Guadalajara.
A measure of the drink's fame comes from its use in song and film, including Jimmy Buffet's "Margaritaville" (Margarita is a type of tequila), Joe Nichols' "Tequila Makes Her Take Her Clothes Off" and "Tequila Sunrise," the Eagles song (also a film starring Mel Gibson and Michelle Pfeiffer). However, the most famous of all Tequila-influenced pop culture is, no doubt, "The Tequila Song," an infectious, saxophone ditty by The Champs that features a toe-tapping beat with intermittent vocalizations of one word: Tequila.
Quid Pro Quo ... (Referenced by Veronica the first time Troy approaches her after he fixed her tire.)
Literally translated, quid pro quo means this for that. It is doing something for someone in order to get something in return. In other words, Troy fixed Veronica's tire to get her to go out with him or, more specifically, to get her to go to his party.
Super Fly ... (Referenced by Wallace as Veronica is getting up from the lunch table.)
Released in 1972 and starring Ron O'Neal and Carl Lee, Super Fly was directed by Gordon Parks Jr. It tells the story of a cocaine dealer trying to make one last big score so that he can get out of the life while taking some enemies with him. Considered the pinnacle of blaxploitation movies, it boasts a famous soundtrack by Curtis Mayfield.
Doing the Dew ... (Referenced by Veronica in explaining to Chardo why Caitlin is with him.)
In 1983, Bill Bruce created one of the most famous slogans in advertising history for Mountain Dew -- "Do the Dew" -- one that has now become a part of the national lexicon, slang for doing something adventurous. Famous for its deep yellow color, Mountain Dew is a citrus-flavored soda produced by PepsiCo, Inc. The soft drink is often the target of health experts due to its high caffeine content. However, Mountain Dew in Australia, Canada and several U.S. States actually has no caffeine at all.
Kodak Moment ... (Referenced by Weevil as he's thanking Veronica after being released by the police.)
The phrase "Kodak moment" is known the world over as a moment you want to capture in a photograph forever. The Eastman Kodak Company was built upon the work of George Eastman. In 1879 he obtained a patent for a plate coating machine that was the basis for camera technology. By 1888 he was able to make a simple camera accessible to the market, changing the world forever. Eastman built his company on four basic principles; mass production at low cost, international distribution, extensive advertising and a focus on the customer.
As the company started to grow he developed several corporate rules to improve the company including fostering growth and development through continuing research, treating employees in a fair, self-respecting way and reinvesting profits to build and extend the business. Eastman's advances were the stepping stones for several other industries and allowed Thomas Edison to develop the first motion picture camera in 1891.
Kodak film is still used on most of the world's movies and since the inception of the Academy Awards all Oscar-winning "Best Pictures" have been shot on Kodak film. The company even has eight Academy Awards of its own -- for scientific and technical excellence. Today Kodak is known not only for photography, but also for images used in a variety of leisure, medical, business, entertainment and scientific applications. The company ranks as a premier multinational corporation, with a brand recognized in virtually every country around the world.
Home Court Advantage ... (Referenced by Logan as the PCHers confront the 09ers outside Caitlin's house.)
When a team is playing on their home field, it is believed that they have an advantage. This advantage comes from the fact that the team is playing in a familiar, and thus more comfortable, environment and they are surrounded (and supported) by their fans and hometown crowd.
Golden Tee ... (Referenced by Wallace as the new feature of Sac-n-Pac and Veronica threatens to whup his and Troy's ass while playing it.)
A golf arcade game, this series created by Incredible Technologies, is more popular with young adults/adults rather than the younger crowd. A player can play either nine or eighteen holes, against other players. One can choose from a variety of different courses with different themes and levels of difficulty. During each shot, the player has a full selection of clubs and direction of the shot.
- The opening shot says Oceanside Pirates, not Neptune.
- After Veronica tells Lamb, "smell ya later," the angle focuses on Keith and you can see Veronica's arm lift and put her hat on. Then after Keith says his line, the camera returns to Veronica and she is bare-headed, reaches down and puts on her hat -- just as we saw a few seconds earlier in the corner of the screen.
- The gleeful smile on Lamb's face as the kids run away from the beach party.
- As Mrs. Navarro is arrested, you can just barely see that she is wearing the diamond pendant Cliff said was bought with the stolen credit cards.
- Keith has what looks to be an old antique radio in his office, on the shelf under the model ship.
- Inga seemed to be the only person sad to see Keith go.
- The girls' bathroom has a Planned Parenthood sign on the wall. (The website address is for San Diego and Riverside Counties.):
- Stand Up ! For Choice
Planned Parenthood
www.planned.org
- The flashback scenes accompanying Veronica's voiceover about the aftermath of Lilly's death uses clips from the Pilot.
- There are two 'Out of Order' signs attached to one of the stalls in the girls' bathroom and there is yellow caution tape stretched across the toilet. (I guess the maintenance people don't count on the students actually reading the signs.)
- The sign on the door to Ms. Dent's journalism class says "Student Publications."
- On a wall in the journalism class there is a poster of the film All the President's Men.
- Written on the chalkboard in the Journalism class is the "Norris 5" -- Pippa Norris' five criteria for analyzing media:
- informative vs. superficial
- accurate & truthful vs. false & deceptive
- objective vs. biased
- pluralistic vs. insular viewpoint
- balanced vs. weighted side
- Veronica trying to control her giggles as she warns Keith not to make her laugh (and break character) while they wait for the hotel receptionist to return.
- The gorgeous shot of Weevil riding his bike into the sunset as Chardo gets beaten by their gang.
- The obviously fake beating Chardo is receiving from the PCHers. Some of those kicks and punches are at least a foot from making actual contact.
- If Troy's father is such a big shot in town, how come he has never met any of the 09ers before?
- How did Weevil know about the party at the beach?
- Why does Veronica think that Lamb hates Weevil?
- Has Weevil really hospitalized people? If so, how is he not in juvenile detention?
- What exactly is the gossip about Veronica?
- If all the Kanes had airtight alibis, why was Keith convinced that he was guilty?
- Why does Wallace do everything Veronica asks him to do?
- Neptune High lets student surf for pornography during school time? You'd think XXX sites would be one of the first ones blocked by the administration. I mean, you'd think.
- Did Logan give Veronica the flat?
- Did Wallace let his grudge against Weevil go?
- Since Troy and Duncan are friends, did Duncan tell him about Veronica?
- Why did it take the police a year to impound Lilly's car?
- Was Troy next on Caitlin's list? She seemed awfully interested in him otherwise.
- What did Weevil think when he saw Veronica and Duncan together?
- If Veronica was really stalking Duncan, would he have offered to give her a ride?
- Did Logan take Caitlin to the Neptune Grand? Is that why the link was on his computer?
- What kind of dogs does Inga have?
- Shouldn't have Chardo's phone rolled to voice mail instead of giving Veronica a busy signal?
- How does Veronica know that Logan is aware of the relationship between Chardo and Caitlin?
- Is it coincidence that Duncan is never around for Logan's violent outbursts? There are about fifteen 09ers at Caitlin's, but no Troy or Duncan.
- Dusk at the beach and no one sees the bikers beating up Chardo?
- What did Weevil say to Logan?
- If Jake had an airtight alibi, what did Keith hope to achieve by going after him?
- Why would the Sheriff issue IDs? Shouldn't that have been the DMV?
- Why didn't the coroner catch the time difference from when Lilly was supposed to have died and she actually did?
- What is up with Logan's hair? Just how many different colors will he have in one season?
- Did the Echolls' ever hire Letty back? We never see her again in future episodes, even though An Echolls Family Christmas would have been a great time to mention her.
- Despite being in the same Journalism class as Logan and Veronica, fortunately, we never see Caitlin again, although we do see our favorite LoVe-ers in the class in future episodes.
- Lilly said that Logan was excessively jealous, but in this episode he doesn't seem to overreact when Caitlin comments on Veronica and Troy.
- The coroner misdiagnosed Lilly's time of death because Clarence Wiedman lowered her body's temperature deliberately so that the time of death would appear when all the Kane's had alibis.
- This episode is the first of many that shows Veronica using the girls' bathroom as a place for private discussion. Chardo, in fact, is the first of several boys she physically drags in there, to their surprise. Later, there is Justin in Meet John Smith, Luke in You Think You Know Somebody and Wallace in Leave it to Beaver.
- What is it about Logan that attracts unbearably irritating and vapid blondes who overindulge in the color pink? First Caitlin in this episode and Hannah in Season 2 episodes 13 to 16 (Ain't No Magic Mountain High Enough, Versatile Toppings, The Quick and the Wed and The Rapes of Graff -- the latter which also included Troy Vandegraff.)
ameriott45 (Amy): Social Science
JenniferH: Report Card; Yearbook; Drama Club; Chemistry, Band Class; Social Science; Principles of Democracy
Mastermia (Maria): Social Science; Philosophy; Homeroom; Principles of Democracy; History
Pixigal (Gerrie): Drama Club
PolarTruckin (Belinda): Journalism
Tar Frimmer (Joanne): Study Hall; Extra Credit; Homeroom; Social Science; Principles of Democracy
