Episode #1.09: Drinking the Kool-Aid
Original Air Date: November 30, 2004
Written by: Russell Smith & Rob Thomas
Directed by: Marcos Siega
Report Card (Capsule Episode Review)
Yearbook (Recurring & Guest Stars/Character Statistics)
Drama Club (Performances: Highlights and Lowlights) (None)
Chemistry (The Analysis of LoVe Scenes) (None)
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)
Staff Grade: B
Membershp Grade: C (47.5% / 61 votes)
A solid episode, Drinking the Kool-Aid is probably most loved for introducing the dreamy Casey Gant to the audience. While nothing is exceptional here, nothing is subpar either; everything simply works. In addition, viewers are shown a glimpse into Weevil's backstory interwoven seamlessly into the mystery of the week.
Credited Cast Non-Appearance
Jason Dohring - Logan Echolls
Recurring Guest Stars (Previous Episode Appearances)
Linda Castro Mrs. Murphy
- Pilot
- The Girl Next Door
- Like a Virgin
Guest Stars
Jonathan Bennet Casey Gant
Max Bernstein Musician
Courtnee Draper Darcy
Christopher B. Duncan Clarence Wiedman
Megalyn Echikunwoke Rain (a.k.a. Debbie Meyer)
Rebecca Kitt Juanita Gant
Amy Laughlin Holly Mills
Tiffany Loui Nurse
Chris Martin - Josh
Farhang Pernoon Django
Tristan Poje Government Teacher
Ray Proscia SMSPI Man
Albie Selznick Bill Gant
Inger Tudor Restaurant Manager
Who's Who in Neptune
Clarence Wiedman - Head of security at Kane Software, Wiedman also seems to have no issue with performing personal security for the Kanes as well.
Casey Gant Neptune High student and 09er jerk. He changed his mean attitude when he joined the Moon Calf Collective when his grandmother fell ill.
Darcy Casey Gants ex-girlfriend. She believes she was dumped because Casey is having an affair with a teacher (Holly Mills).
Rain Member of the Moon Calf Collective. She joined the collective to find a better life and to escape her former life where she was known as Debbie Meyer.
Juanita Gant Casey Gants mother.
Holly Mills Teacher at Neptune High and editor of the Neptune High School literary magazine. She is also a member of the Moon Calf Collective and entices disturbed students to join.
Josh Leader of the Moon Calf Collective.
Django Moon Calf Collective member and chef whose secret ingredient is love.
SMSPI Man Nameless man that is hired by Caseys parents to deprogram Casey through Systematic Manipulation of Social and Psychological Influence (SMSPI).
Bill Gant Casey Gants father.
Hey! It's That Guy/Girl
Jonathan Bennet (Casey Gant) - Bennet is known for his role as the "cute boy" in the Lindsay Lohan hit, Mean Girls -- which incidentally co-starred our own Lilly Kane, Amanda Seyfried.
Keith is hired by the parents of an 09er, Casey Gant. It seems that young and dreamy Casey has fallen into the clutches of a dangerous and manipulative cult. (Their word, not mine. I am all about respect for other peoples beliefs. Even for complete whack-jobs.) Caseys parents want Keith to find evidence of illegal activity by this group so the county can then shut them down, forcing their son home.
Keith asks Veronica to nose around about Casey at school. Being ever so self-motivated, Veronica gets herself invited to personally see the Moon Calf Collective, which is the groups actual name. Within minutes of arriving, Veronica meets a nice young woman named Rain. Rain likes chocolate, which is our first hint that these "cultists" may not be so bad after all. Veronica has also learned that going into the barn is a no-no; Josh seems a little too friendly, if you know what I mean; (Ok, I will spell it out for you. Veronica thinks Josh is a p-o-l-y-g-a-m-i-s-t and Veronica is intended to be the newest polygamee); and that the collective derives their income from "the ultimate cash crop."
After several hours of hanging around the place playing Amish, Veronica manages to find her way into the barn alone, where she finds a giant, scary horse. Definitely not what she was expecting. It turns out, they had her best interests at heart when she was told to stay out of the barn. She definitely wasnt expecting that either. On her next visit, she learns that "the ultimate cash crop" are really poinsettias to be sold during the holidays. And Josh doesnt want to sleep with her. Darn, he was sexy. So far, she isnt finding much dirt on these people, other than the literal variety.
Where do these people shower and use the bathroom? Yuck, never mind, I dont want to think about it. Also, Veronica realizes that the collective turned Casey from a typical 09er (adding jerky and self-centered to that description would be redundant, right?) to a Hacky Sack playing, genuinely nice guy.
Caseys parents meet with Keith for an update. He informs them that he hasnt found any illegal activities going on. Casey's parents act truly worried now because dear grandma had a stroke on Tuesday (was that before or after they enlisted Keiths help?) and she is dying and left the bulk of her estate to Casey, who could theoretically give it all away to the crazy Calfies.
They also hired a 'deprogrammer' to undo the collective's nice-over, if only they could get their hands on him ... Well, they are in luck! Grandma dies and Casey attends the funeral. A couple of thugs force Casey into a limo with his parents and the deprogrammer and drive off. Veronica sees this and tells Keith, but he knows that there is nothing the law or he can do. He pragmatically takes a 'wait and see' approach.
Later, Veronica sees Casey driving a flashy sports car to school. By his use of the word "S'up" and the male-patented head nod, it is clear that Casey is back to his old jerky ways. This story does not have a happy ending. So sad. Well, except for Rain, who stays peaceful and happy. And Mr. and Mrs. Gant who have their shallow, materialistic, dream son back. And for Josh who still has his poinsettias and gets to keep the greenhouse he built with Caseys donation. In actuality, the only one who didnt get a happy ending was Casey, but he is too busy driving fast, wind whipping through his hair, in his snazzy, new convertible to care.
- After Lilly died Lianne made Veronica see a counselor, Dr. Dave, for six weeks. Her appointments were on Thursdays and his office was downtown.
- Neptune High has book week the first week of February every year.
- Clarence Wiedman is head of security for Kane Software.
- Kane Softwares main number is 555-0125 and their street address is 10996.
- Veronica has a smaller phone with an earpiece that slides up.
- Keith plays baseball.
- Veronica tells Keith that she hasnt been sexually active.
- Veronica has wanted a waterbed since she was five so Keith buys her one at a garage sale for $10.
- Keith and Veronica are still having money problems.
- Last year Duncan, Veronica, Weevil, Casey and Darcy all had Miss Mills' English class together.
- Veronica is still being ostracized by most of her classmates.
- Miss Mills is in charge of the Literary Magazine.
- Casey Gant used to download his writing assignments.
- Veronica and Keiths apartment has a problem with the hot water. They are considering using their Gant bonus money to find a new place.
- Veronica isnt much of a cook.
- Veronica has never milked a cow before. Isis was her first attempt.
- Casey and Veronica have been in the same classes for three years.
- Casey is the main beneficiary of his grandmothers will to the tune of 80 million. She has a publishing empire and really crappy kids but Casey loves her.
- Neptune has a restaurant named Wok'n'Roll.
- Keith has a shredder in his bedroom.
- The restaurant Veronica visits to find out who took the surveillance photos of her last year is called "Aladdin" and serves Mediterranean style cuisine, including pasta, kabobos, Greek salads and taboule. Her receipt is time-stamped Nov 21 '04 15:09 and lists a $1.00 Ice Tea as her order.
- Clarence's credit card receipt from Aladdin is time-stamped 02/04/04 5:11 p.m. His order was $14.08 and he tipped $3.00.
- Clarence Wiedman is a Jr.
- Veronica's submission to Miss Mill's literary magazine was a poem called "I Cut Because I Can."
- Holly Mills is 32.
- The "scary" horse in the barn is named Hildegard.
- The DNA test is being done in Pennsylvania.
- Josh, until 14 years ago, was manager of a ring development team at E Tones. He bought the Moon Calf Collective land with the money he got from cashing out his E Tones stock.
- Rain's milk carton description:
- The Mars family drinks whole milk.
- At the end of the episode, Casey's driving a silver Porsche Carrera convertible, license plate #2OCE26S.
- After quickly believing Abel Koontz regarding her parentage, Veronica starts to reconsider recent events including the possibility that she dated her brother. She wonders if Keith went after Jake because he knew and that Jake sent the photos to get back at him. She decides that if Jake sent the photos she will take him down. She also decides that being a Kane would be worth millions and she is going to get her due.
- Veronica, with very little effort, narrows down exactly where and when the threatening photographs of her was taken and discovers that the photographer was Clarence Wiedman, Jr.
- Veronica is doing an at-home paternity test. To get her father to donate a sample she pretends that it is a HIV test for school and gets him to "show her how its done." After he does his sample and leaves, Veronica adds her sample and mails it off. When the results show up, instead of reading them, Veronica decides to shred them.
- Veronica begins the episode ignoring Duncan due to Abels revelation, but warms up to him again at the end.
- Weevil's "poetry."
"Make a Deal with the City" (East River Pipe)
Scene: Veronica going undercover to sing the cultist version of Kumbaya!
"Oh! Sweet Nuthin'" (Original performed by Underground Velvet)
Scene: Okay, make that Oh! Sweet Nuthin' as the cultist campfire song of choice.
"(You Gotta Walk) Don't Look Back" (Peter Tosh with Mick Jagger)
Scene: And the big cash flow secret! The biggest windfall creator of all is ... uhm, poinsettias. Yeah. I'm scratching my head too.
"Have a Nice Day" (Stereophonics)
Scene: Rain and Mars collide to make what looks like some pretty unappetizing fare.
"Famous Lover" (The Fire Marshals Of Bethlehem)
Scene: Casey's last moment of human decency coincides with Grandma's laying to rest. Sadly fitting.
Quotable Quotes
Veronica: What happened to you?
Keith: It's nothing. A little collision at home. Now, cover your eyes and give me your hand.
Veronica: A collision at home? Did you fall in the garbage disposal?
Keith: No, no, home plate. (Imitating an umpire.) Safe!
Veronica: Did you see a doctor?
Keith: Honey, it's fine. Chicks dig scars. Now, come on. Ya gotta see this! (Jumps up and down, clapping, and races to her room.)
Veronica: (Amused.) What is your deal? You're jacked up like some hillbilly kid who just stumbled into Daddy's meth lab!
Keith: It's a water bed.
Veronica: All right.
Keith: Come on, you've wanted one of these things since you were, like, five years old.
Veronica: I also wanted to marry Vanilla Ice and build the world's largest collection of Z-bots.
Keith: You asked me, no, you begged me for a water bed like four years in a row. It was your obsession.
Veronica: Uh-huh. It's all coming back to me now. The way you explained it, Santa was cool with the basic concept, but had grave doubts about second floor deployment.
Keith: That well-known, bedrock pragmatism of elvish culture. But I gotta tell ya, if it had been my call, I would've --
Veronica: (Laughing.) You're so full of it! But, it is incredibly sweet of you.
Keith: This is so endearing. My badass, action figure daughter is afraid to draw a teensy little drop of blood.
Veronica: He joined a cult? What do they worship? Wedgies? Keggers? (Gasps.) Their parents' platinum cards?
Veronica Mars Voiceover: Ah, how to get in tight with the lit-mag crowd. I've got it. Become one of them. The attributes and style of crap teen poetry: must be written in a funky colour of ink, must include dominant themes of alienation, sexual ambivalence, self-loathing, death, etcetera.
Veronica Mars Voiceover: Hey, way to throw me off your trail, Holly. Wander freely, don't go in the barn, whatever you do? Maybe I should play this needy, despondent waif card more often.
Veronica Mars Voiceover: Forbidden barn? Check. Implied polygamy? Check. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a cult.
Josh: (Hugging Veronica.) Hmm.
Veronica: Help.
Veronica Mars Voiceover: I knew I should have included a few discreet lesbian overtones in that poem.
Veronica: (To Rain.) Ah, sure. Fair warning, though. My idea of gourmet cooking is sprinkling on some three year old Bac-Os to my microwave soup.
Veronica Mars Voiceover: Enough, already with this mellow incense and peppermints vibe. Let's break out the mushrooms and dance naked! Strap on the goat skull headgear, sacrifice a few infants. Come on, people, you're cultists. Start acting like it.
Veronica Mars Voiceover: Wow. It's Bizarro world. Out here I'm Miss Popular.
Josh: So how was everybody's day? What's up?
Rain: I woke up scared. I felt like I was in a dream of peace and happiness
Veronica Mars Voiceover: Do not roll your eyes, Veronica. You're undercover.
Veronica Mars Voiceover: I was just reading in last month's "Koreshian Bride" that four out of five cult leaders like their handmaidens nubile, flighty, and teetering on the edge of a breakdown.
Keith: You're covered in mud.
Veronica: See? That's why you make the big bucks.
Veronica Mars Voiceover: I can't get it out of my mind. Somewhere in Pennsylvania, a lab tech is determining if I'm heir to a billion dollar fortune. It's not about the money. (Steps into the shower and gasps at the cold.) It's about making Jake Kane pay. But if I am an heiress, (Southern accent ala Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind) as God is my witness, I'll never take cold showers again.
Veronica: Casey! Hey. Wait up. I'm so ashamed of myself for my meltdown last night. I was a rampaging jackass.
Casey: Have you forgotten who you're talking to? I'm Casey Gant, okay? I wrote the jackass Bible, the jackass Koran, the jackass Talmud.
Josh: Hey, listen, would you like to join me for a walk?
Veronica Mars Voiceover: I knew it. This is when the cult leader claims me as his new bride.
Josh: I'm not judging you, I'm just, I'm saying what you already know.
Veronica Mars Voiceover: That fake fur was a poor choice to infiltrate utopia?
Veronica Mars Voiceover: You're saying you don't want my money; you don't want my body; you don't want me working in your ganja fields. You just want me to be happy. Strange.
Keith: What the hell were you thinking Veronica? That's got to be the worst decision I've ever seen by someone who wasn't literally brain damaged.
Veronica: Heard anything incriminating yet?
Keith: Nope. It's like listening to The Brady Bunch with a reggae soundtrack.
Wallace: Sounds to me, Veronica, like you've been drinking the Kool-Aid.
Veronica: I have not.
Wallace: You better recognize.
Veronica: Thank you for being my own personal Springer audience. Should I check myself before I wreck myself?
Keith: Once you get past all the '60s theme park trappings, that community's a lot more wholesome and functional than, just for example, Neptune is.
Veronica Mars Voiceover: I sent off for those test results because I wanted the truth. But can a lab tech really see the shape of my soul in a drunken conga line of genes? Jake Kane could be my father. But whether he is or isn't, would I really claim him as such and deny the man who raised me?
Drinking the Kool-Aid ... (Referenced in the Episode title.)
In 1978, 913 people were found dead after ingesting poisonous Kool-Aid. This was a mass suicide that was orchestrated by Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple Cult. The suicide was in response to several members trying to leave the collective with Congressmen Leo Ryan and a group of reporters, who were wanted to investigate reports of abuse. After ambushing the group, Jones ordered his followers to drink a glass of grape Kool-Aid that was laced with potassium cyanide
The phrase "Dont drink the Kool-Aid" has become an oft repeated warning to not blindly follow people.
Meth Lab ... (Referenced by Veronica when Keith is jumping up and down in excitement over her surprise.)
Methamphetamine is a stimulant drug that produces an intense sensation of euphoria when swallowed or snorted. Users become addicted to meth quickly and tend to use more of it with increasing frequency. The negative side effects to the central nervous system are depression, aggressiveness, insomnia and paranoia. Meth use increases heart rate and blood pressure and can result in stroke, cardiovascular collapse, organ damage and death.
In the United States, the illegal manufacturing of methamphetamine is punishable from ten years to life in prison. The sale of ingredients used in meth production is also heavily monitored. In March of 2006, President Bush signed The Combat Meth Act, which limited the sale of ephedrine, the base ingredient of meth, to 3.6 grams per day, and customers must provide identification and sign a sales log. The manufacturing of meth in labs is highly dangerous, and there have been many cases of lab explosions to prove it. Meth labs have been found in garages, barns, apartments, etc.
Vanilla Ice ... (Referenced when Veronica and Keith are discussing her childhood wish for a waterbed.)
Vanilla Ice, born Robert Van Winkle in Miami, Florida in 1968, became an overnight success following the release of his 1990 album, To the Extreme. His hit single "Ice Ice Baby" with its borrowed bass riff from David Bowie and Queens popular song Pressure, reached the top of the charts in late 1990. Vanilla Ice became the second white rapper to top the charts, and the most commercially successful rapper of his time with album sales totalling more than 11 million. Vanilla Ice also tried his hand at acting in 1991s box office flop Cool As Ice.
Vanilla Ices career took a rapid nosedive following the revelation that he had invented tales of a seriously violent gangster past and attendance at an all black high school. His manufactured street credibility, in addition to the belief that white mainstream America was appropriating and tarnishing traditionally African-American music contributed to severe backlash towards Ice from both the music world and the general public. Vanilla Ice attempted to reinvent himself several times throughout the 1990s with little success, and appeared on VH1s 2003 season of The Surreal Life.
Z-Bots ... (Referenced when Veronica and Keith are discussing her childhood wish for a waterbed.)
Z-Bots, made by Galoob, were action figures that were popular in the early 90's. They have since been replaced by other robot toys, but perhaps no toy has as involved a backstory as the Z-Bots did. The backs of Z-Bots packages read as follows:
Gordon Lightfoot has had success as both a songwriter and musician, known for his understated, gentle folk arrangements. Born in Ontario, Canada in 1938, Lightfoot moved to Los Angeles in the 1950s to cultivate his talent at Hollywoods Westlake College of Music. Lightfoot returned to his native Canada, released his debut album, Lightfoot, in 1966, and became recognized predominantly for penning hits for Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley and Peter, Paul and Mary. In 1970, Lightfoot released the album, Sit Down Young Stranger, and the hit single "If You Could Read My Mind," a song with a flowing melody and thoughtful, poetic lyrics. Lightfoots 1974 album Sundown and its title song both reached #1.
Though Lightfoot was respected for his timeless style, the popularity of folk-based music declined in the late 1970s and Gordon recorded with less frequency. He has received fifteen Juno Awards, five Grammy Awards nominations and was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1986. In 2002, Lightfoot suffered a near-fatal abdominal hemorrhage during a hometown performance. Lightfoot woke from a coma weeks later, and immediately began selecting tracks for his 20th album, 2004s Harmony.
Porsche Boxster ... (Referenced by the Gants as the car that Casey sold.)
The Porsche Boxster 986, whose name makes a play on the words 'boxer' (as in boxer engine) and roadster, was released in late 1996. The car received a number of awards in 1997, including Car and Drivers One of the 10 Best Cars of 1997, Autocars Best Roadster in the World and Motorweeks 1997 Drivers Choice for Best Sports Car. The Porsche Boxster 987 debuted in 2004, with different headlights, larger intake vents and an improved flat six cylinder engine. The car costs approximately $53,000 (U.S. dollars), and is one of Porsches least expensive sports cars.
Hacky Sack ... (Referenced as the game Casey and some boys are playing at school.)
The object of Hacky Sack is to keep the aptly named footbag off the ground using only your feet. Good, flat shoes are key. The activity becomes more difficult once more players are added. There are several "kicks" that you can use to keep the footbag in the air. The Inside Kick is best for when the footbag is falling in front of you; just kick it with the inside of your shoe. For when the footbag is falling to your left or right, use the Outside Kick by raising the appropriate foot and kicking it with the outer side of your shoe.
Social Distortion ... (Referenced when Weevil uses a SD song for a poetry assignment.)
One of the most enduring bands of the punk genre, Social Distortion was formed in 1978 by Orange County teenage frontman singer and guitarist Mike Ness. Social Distortion initially specialized in fast, angry, hard-hitting punk as demonstrated on their debut album, Mommys Little Monster in 1983, and subsequently added elements of rock and grunge to their music during the 80s and 90s.
During their long history the band released many popular singles: "Prison Bound", "Story of My Life", "Ball and Chain", "Bad Luck", "When She Begins", "I Was Wrong", and "When The Angels Sing." Social Distortion songs appear as tracks on several video games; "Don't Drag Me Down" was featured on Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX video game and "Mommy's Little Monster" was featured on Tony Hawks Underground.
Despite their revolving door of bandmembers, the disintegration of their peers in the hardcore scene and keystone Mike Ness heroin addiction, Social Distortion has never disbanded. In 2000, guitarist and long-time member Dennis Danell died, but the band overcame the loss and released their latest album Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll in 2004.
CliffsNotes ... (Referenced when Darcy (ex-girlfriend of Casey) was describing Casey once upon a time and how he joined the literary mag.)
Often incorrectly called CliffNotes, these are a series of pamphlets used as study aids to help students understand various literary works including novels, plays, poetry and essays. Cliffs Notes offer a biography of the author, discuss the time during which the work was written, summarize the plot and characters, and explores the themes and symbols contained within the work.
Supporters say that they help increase understanding of the works, while detractors say that they let students avoid reading the actual works. The company has expanded its range to other courses such as math, government, sciences, languages and grammar.
Taco Bell ... (Referenced when Veronica first meets Rain and is invited to stay for dinner at the Moon Calf Collective.)
Taco Bell, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., is a fast-food restaurant chain that is headquartered in Irvine, California. Taco Bell serves Mexican-inspired American food, known as Tex-Mex cuisine. Some of their more popular menu items include tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos and other specialty items.
It originated as a hot dog stand founded by Glen Bell in 1946. Between 1954 and 1955, Bell had opted to change his one hot dog stand into three Taco-Tia stands. The first Taco Bell was opened in 1962 in Downey, California, and the first franchise was sold in 1964. In 1978, Bell sold the chain to PepsiCo. Today there are more than 6,500 Taco Bell restaurants in the United States alone. Over 80 percent of the restaurants are owned and operated by independent franchisees.
Veronicas food of choice from Taco Bell was a Beef MexiMelt which is a soft, flour tortilla wrapped around seasoned beef, salsa and a blend of melted cheddar, pepper jack and mozzarella cheeses. She also claimed to have had some Cinnamon Crispas, which are tortilla chips fried with cinnamon and sugar on them. How she managed to get some without a time machine, I really dont know as Taco Bell no longer makes Cinnamon Crispas. They have long since replaced that menu item with Cinnamon Twists which are crispy, puffed corn twists sprinkled in cinnamon and sugar.
Choco Taco ... (Referenced by Rain as a beloved dessert.)
A Choco Taco is a dessert item sold by Klondike. They can be purchased from either a grocers freezer or a Mexican fast food restaurant, like Taco Bell. What goes into a Choco Taco? Inside the dessert's taco shell cone is vanilla ice cream with fudge stripping, which perhaps is meant to resemble the meat and sour cream of a real taco. The Choco Taco is then coated in a crunchy chocolate and peanut sauce.
Hungry yet? If not, you're not alone. Many are turned away by the idea of a chocolate taco. And at a whopping 290 calories, I can't say I blame you.
Bac-Os ... (Referenced when Veronica discusses her cooking "skills" with Rain.)
Imitation bacon bits sold by General Mills under the Betty Crocker brand. Bac-Os are made of soy flour and vegetable protein, and do not contain any animal products.
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman ... (Referenced when Veronica is milking the cow.)
Television program aired on CBS from 1993-1998. The show starred Jane Seymour as Dr. Michaela "Mike" Quinn, a refined Bostonian doctor who moved to a rough Colorado town in the 1860s to start a medical practice after her father died. Encountering much resistance from townspeople who are suspicious of a female doctor, Mike befriended the local midwife Charlotte, then took in her three children when Charlotte died. Mike won the acceptance and friendship of mountain man Byron Sully, played by Joe Lando, whom she eventually married.
Yahtzee ... (Referenced by Veronica as an internal exclamation when she thinks she's about to learn something.)
Yahtzee is a dice game that was patented by entrepreneur Edwin S. Lowe in 1956, and then purchased by Milton Bradley (now Hasbro) in 1973. It was originally named "The Yacht Game" because the Canadian couple that invented it would play the game on their yacht with friends. Lowe initially struggled with marketing Yahtzee, as the rules of the game were difficult to convey in advertisements. He had the successful idea, though, of throwing Yahtzee parties, where guests could learn how to play.
Yahtzee has thirteen rounds, or categories. In each round, the player or players can roll five dice up to three times and then score the best roll according to the rules of the category. For example, when in the Threes category, if three of the five dice rolled are faced with threes, nine points are gained. No points are gained if the roll does not meet the requirements for the category. As in poker, a player can roll a Three and Four of a Kind, a straight or a Full House. Rolling a Yahtzee, which is worth an impressive fifty points, means that all the dice have the same face. 100 points are awarded for each additional Yahtzee rolled in a game. At the end of the thirteen rounds, the points are totaled and the player with the highest score is the winner.
"Incense and Peppermint" ... (Referenced by Veronica as the vibe being given off by the members of the Collective.)
"Incense and Peppermints" was a one-hit wonder released in 1967 by the psychedelic rock group Strawberry Alarm Clock. The single quickly topped the Billboard pop chart, and the band went on to appear in the films Psych-Out and Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. Greg Munford, only sixteen years of age, was the lead vocalist for "Incense and Peppermints. The other members of Strawberry Alarm Clock were Ed King (lead guitar), Lee Freeman (rhythm guitar), Gary Lovetro (bass), Mark Weitz (organ) and Randy Seol (drums). The group broke up in 1971.
Lyrics:
Bizarro is a villain from the Superman canon. He is the unsuccessful attempt to duplicate Superman, and depending on the writer, his powers are either the same as or opposite to Supermans.
Speaking of opposites, Bizarro World is the cube-shaped planet Htrae (Earth spelled backwards), where the Bizarro Code dictates that it is against the law to do anything right or to try to improve the world. Bizarro kidnapped Lois Lane at one point, but she saved herself by creating a Bizarro-Lois for him. The Bizarro pair relocated to Htrae and discovered technology that would populate the entire planet with ugly Superman and Lois Bizarros.
The NBC sitcom Seinfeld famously did an episode (titled "The Bizarro Jerry") where the Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer met their own duplicates and "Bizarro World" was referenced throughout the show. Jerry Seinfeld is a huge Superman fan, thus the reference.
David Koresh ... (Referenced when Holly is asking to read some of Veronica's poetry and V's snarky voice-over response about what kind of poetry would hook Holly good and fast.)
Born as Vernon Wayne Howell in 1959, Koresh was the leader of a sect called the Branch Davidians, an offshoot of the Seventh-day Adventists, which had a compound near Waco, Texas. Koresh believed that he was the reincarnation of both King David and King Cyrus of Persia, and that he was the Messiah. Claiming that he was entitled to 140 wives, he "married" several of the females in the compound, including some that were as young as 12 and 13.
In 1992, it appeared that grenade casings had been delivered to the compound and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms began an investigation of the Davidians, and uncovered several weapons violations, as well as allegations of child abuse. In February 1993, the BATF led an unsuccessful raid on the compound. The FBI took command of the scene, and a 51-day siege began. U.S. Attorney Janet Reno approved a final assault to forcibly remove the Branch Davidians from their compound. During the assault, the compound was set ablaze by the Davidians. 75 sect members, including Koresh, were unable or unwilling to escape the fire and died. Seventeen of the victims were under the age of 12.
Pennsylvania (Referenced by Veronica as the location of the lab doing the DNA test.)
Pennsylvania is a Middle Atlantic state with a population of over twelve million citizens. Its capital is Harrisburg, though Philadelphia is the state's largest city, and Pittsburgh its second. A quarter of Pennsylvania's population is of German descent. The Pennsylvania Dutch region makes up much of Lancaster County, which is home to large populations of Amish and Mennonites.
Historically, the state of Pennsylvania is quite famous. It was one of the thirteen original colonies that rejected British rule in the American Revolution; the Declaration of Independence was written and signed in Philadelphia in 1776. It was the second state to ratify the United States Constitution in 1787. During the American Civil War, Pennsylvania was a part of the Union, and the wars turning point battle was won by the Union in Gettysburg in 1863.
Heres a little trivia for you: Veronica Mars' Kyle Gallner and Amanda Seyfried were both raised in Pennsylvania.
Gone with the Wind ... (Referenced when Veronica says "As God as my witness, Ill never take cold showers again.)"
Gone With the Wind is a 1937 Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Margaret Mitchell first published in 1936 and is one of the most popular books of all time. Its 1939 big screen adaptation, produced by David Selznick and starring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable, became the highest grossing film in Hollywood history, receiving a record-breaking number of Academy Awards. Its success squelched skeptics who believed that the films 3.9 million dollar price tag was excessive.
GWTW tells the story of strong-willed and feisty Georgian Scarlett OHara and her life, friends, family and passionate romance with rakish Rhett Butler amidst the backdrop of the antebellum South, Civil War and fall of Atlanta in 1964 and Reconstruction period. Critics and historians regard the book as having a strong ideological commitment to the Confederate cause and a romanticized view of the culture of the antebellum South, while also depicting the devastation and trauma of war.
The film version of Gone with the Wind was filled with famous dialogue and quotes such as Rhett Butler's infamous farewell line to Scarlett O'Hara, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn," which was voted in a poll by the American Film Institute in 2005 as the most memorable line in cinema history. Another notable line is Scarletts assertion that As God is my witness, I will never be hungry again. An official sequel to the original novel, titled Scarlett, was penned in 1991 by Alexandra Ripley.
Koran (Referenced by Casey as he tells Veronica what a jackass he used to be.)
The Koran is the religious text of Islam and is believed by Muslims to contain the final revelations of Allah to Muhammad. Muslims maintain that the Arab prophet was illiterate and therefore could only recite Allahs words to his companions to be written down. The Koran is considered to be so pure and divine in origin that one must perform wudu, a ritual cleansing of the body, before handling a copy of the text.
Muslims refer to Christians, Jews and others of Abrahamic religions as People of the Book. They believe, however, that these religions have altered Gods word in their respective religious texts (this alleged distortion is known as tahrif).
Talmud (Referenced by Casey as he tells Veronica what a jackass he used to be.)
The Talmud is the source of ancient rabbinic discussions that determines Orthodox Jewish laws, ethics and customs. It is composed of the Mishnah, the summary of Judaisms Oral Law, and the Germara, the exhaustive analysis of the Mishnah. There are two Talmuds, which share the same Mishnah (written in Hebrew) but have different Gemara. The Jerusalem Talmud, written in Western Aramaic, is the 200 year analysis of the Mishnah that took place in Israel. The Babylonian Talmud, written in Eastern Aramaic, encompasses 300 years of analysis that took place in Babylonian Academies.
Yeshivah refers to the traditionally all-male system of institutions that teach the Talmud to Orthodox Jewish students.
Utopia ... (Referenced by Veronica, and later by Keith, as a description of the Moon Calf Collective environment.)
A utopian society is one that has attained or has made efforts to attain an ideal level of perfection. Utopias are a popular concept in literature because the extremity of utopian ideals makes it easy to prove a satirical point. Aldous Huxley, for example, satirized the promiscuity of sex in society in his 1931 novel Brave New World. Greek philosopher Plato envisioned a utopian polis (city-state) that was ruled by philosopher kings, the wisest and most industrious individuals of society. In 1515 Sir Thomas More wrote Utopia (thereby coining the term), which presented a society in which capitalism had been dissolved and religious tolerance was practiced. The later beliefs of Karl Marx, German philosopher and Communist, bore resemblance to those of More.
Poinsettias ... (Referenced as the ultimate cash crop being harvested by the Moon Calf Collective.)
The poinsettia, also known as the "Mexican Flame Leaf" in Central America or "Flower of the Holy Night," is a plant that is often used as a floral Christmas decoration. The most common color is a deep, vibrant red. However, the plant is available in such other colors as pink, white, yellow, marbled and speckled. The colorful parts of the poinsettia are not actual flowers but are actually large bunches of colored leaves (called modified bracts). The poinsettia flower is very small, green or yellow in color, and situated in the middle of the bracts. Poinsettias are native to southern Mexico and Central America. The plant was introduced to the United States in 1825 by Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Ambassador to Mexico.
There is a Mexican legend that explains how poinsettias came to be associated with the Christmas holiday. The story speaks of a young girl that could not afford an offering to Christ on Christmas Eve. The girl was told by her brother that any gift, no matter how humble, if offered in love would be acceptable to God. The girl proceeded to pick some weeds from the side of the road to take into the church with her as her offering. When brought into the church and offered with love, the weeds bloomed into magnificent red and green flowers in front of the entire congregation.
Ganja ... (Referenced by Veronica as something she'd expect a cult to be involved with.)
The Cannabis plant -- known more commonly as marijuana with many a nickname including ganja, pot, mary jane, reefer, etc. -- is often dried or otherwise processed to create a "product" that offers medicinal and psychoactive effects. Despite past use as an accepted medicine, in the early 20th century, the drug became illegal due to the overwhelming consumption of the recreational variety.
To this day, marijuana usage remains against the law despite the mellow side affects as opposed to the harder drugs of the day. While not widespread, legalizing marijuana has been the efforts of activists for some time, among those fighting for it's legal use is Oscar-nominated actor Woody Harrelson. Apparently, none of these activists (including Woody) have ever heard of the dangers that can befall one who has been taken over by reefer madness. Just ask Mary Lane.
Swastikas on Forehead (Manson family) ... (Referenced by Keith when questioning Veronica's basis for their good people.)
After hearing the Beatles song, Helter Skelter, Charles Manson believed that a great race war was upon our society. He heard the song as a call to arms to begin this battle among the races. Manson ordered his followers, known as "The Family," to kill several well-known white people and frame the Black Panthers, an African-American civil rights group. "The Family" brutally and mercilessly killed seven people including actress Sharon Tate.
Mansons plan to blame the Black Panthers failed, however, and he and the others involved in the killings were quickly implicated and arrested. Despite their leader and several members being on trial for murder, The Family remained strong and dedicated to Manson, following him and his ideals.
During his trial, Manson, carved a cross into his forehead. The next day, members of "The Family" had done the same. Each day Manson would alter the shape and the others would follow his example. The cross eventually became a swastika, a prominent Nazi symbol. Like they had before, "The Family" followed suit, carving the offensive symbol into the center of the forehead.
This carving, can be seen as evidence of how brainwashed Mansons followers were. They supported him in spite of his involvement in the murders and also despite his being on trial. They were unwilling or perhaps unable to see the reality of what was going on around them because of their blind loyalty to Manson and "The Family." So strong was his influence that Manson did not even have to directly tell his collective to do anything. He led only by example.
The Brady Bunch ... (Referenced by Keith as a description of the Collective.)
Who doesn't know the Bradys? The Brady Bunch premiered on September 26, 1969 and became a pop culture sensation subsequent to it's five year run. The show featured a blended family of a mother with three girls marrying a man with three boys. The show was spun off into numerous reunion movies, including The Brady Bunch Variety Hour. Its appeal was the warm humor and love the family exuded while dealing with the issues of everyday life.
ATF ... (Referenced by Keith when arguing over the cult reality or not of the Moon Calf Collective.)
ATF (or BATF) is a shortcut for The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The ATF is a law enforcement agency within the United States Department of Justice that is responsible for enforcing certain federal laws relating to alcohol, tobacco products, firearms, explosives and arson. Other responsibilities of the ATF include administering certain federal crime prevention programs, protecting the public and reducing violent crime. It also is the program source for GREAT which stands for Gang Resistance Education and Training.
Oliver Twist ... (Referenced by Keith when arguing over the cult reality or not of the Moon Calf Collective.)
Novel written by Charles Dickens (1812-1870) in 1839. Oliver Twist is an orphan in 1830s England whose mother died after he was born, and before she could tell anyone who she was. After spending several years in a workhouse, apprenticed to an undertaker, running away to London, Oliver falls in with a gang of pickpockets. One of their wealthy targets turns out to be Oliver's grandfather.
The book was made into a musical which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1968.
SMSPI/Deprogramming ... (Referenced by the man hired by the Gants to "fix" their son.)
SMSPI is an acronym for Systematic Manipulation of Social and Psychological Influence. It was a theory advanced by Margaret Thaler Singer, a mental health professional who made serious claims about the supposed brainwashing and subterfuge techniques of cultist, or New Religious Movement (NRM), leaders. Members of the anti-cult movement used this theory to gain court approval of transferring the rights of adult children in cults to their parents, effectively avoiding charges of kidnapping that might be made against deprogrammers.
Though Singer was deemed an expert in her field, she never published any empirical evidence that supported her theory, and neither have any other "experts" in the movement. According to social scientists, it can only be speculated that the techniques employed by cults are different from the persuasive techniques used by all humans.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) ... (Referenced by Wallace as he asks Veronica when the Moon Calf Collective is going to be busted.)
Created in 1908 by Attorney General Charles Joseph Bonaparte as the official investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Justice, the Bureau of Investigation (BOI) was tasked with investigating antitrust matters, land fraud, copyright violations, peonage, and twenty other crimes. It wasn't until the 1930s that, in response to the violence of organized crime following in the wake of Prohibition, Congress passed the Federal Kidnapping Act and the 1934 May/June Crime Bills. These new laws gave the FBI authority to act in previously off-limit areas, to make arrests and to carry weapons. At this time, the BOI was renamed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
During the 1930s, the FBI played a prominent role in the aggressive pursuit and apprehension of well-known gangsters, earning the FBI's agents the nickname "G-Men." In the following decades, the FBI's efforts were directed at a wide range of issues including subversion, espionage, sabotage, civil rights violations, organized crime, white collar crime and high technology crimes.
The FBI's motto is "Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity," and its currently stated mission is "to protect and defend the United States against terrorist and foreign intelligence threats and to enforce the criminal laws of the United States."
FBI Headquarters is located in the J. Edgar Hoover Building in Washington, D.C. The most well-known Director of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover held the office from 1924 to 1972. Upon his death, the FBI instituted a policy to limit future Directors to a term of no more than ten years. Today, the FBI's workforce includes more than 11,000 Special Agents, Legal Attachs (LEGATS) stationed in foreign countries and 1,000 FBI Police officers whose job it is to protect the J. Edgar Hoover Building, the FBI's training Academy in Quantico and the Washington and New York Field Offices.
Coke (Cocaine) (Referenced by Wallace as he asks Veronica when the Moon Calf Collective is going to be busted.)
Cocaine is the second most popular recreational drug in the United States. It is extracted from the leaves of coca plants, which grow in the Andes of South America. Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant to the nervous system and is an appetite suppressant. Whether snorted, smoked or injected, it produces a euphoria that may last for hours. The adverse health effects to cocaine usage are respiratory failure, cerebral hemorrhaging, higher risk of heart attack and sudden death. Cocaine is a Schedule II drug in the United States, meaning that it is available by prescription due to its medicinal uses, but the illegal possession or sale of cocaine can result in a heavy prison sentence.
Jerry Springer ... (Referenced when Veronica explains the situation to Wallace.)
Jerry Springer, once a well-respected Cincinnati mayor, developed his own talk show in the early 1990s. Although Springer personally, conducted himself in a completely respectable and professional way, his guests and show topics were notoriously outrageous. Fights would regularly break out, wigs would be pulled off, women would reveal themselves as men, and family members would admit their affairswith each other. The guests behavior was so outrageous that it defined the show and garnered an unprecedented number of viewers, even more than Oprah at one point.
The theatrics were literally so over the top, that the show was oft accused of being a dramatization with actors not real people. No proof of this ever surfaced, however, and the show still thrives today. It has also been made into a feature film Ringmaster and several pay-per-view events.
Jerry Springer is now universally recognized as a lovable symbol for exploitative entertainment.
Conga Line ... (Referenced by Veronica when pondering the relevance of knowing who her biological father is.)
The conga originated in Latin America and became popular in the United States in the 1930s, when Desi Arnaz introduced it to the public. The dance developed into a variation known as the bunny hop in the 50s. A conga line is formed when dancers form a long line, connecting it by placing their hands on the shoulders or waists of the dancers in front of them.
- Did Enrico Colantoni (Keith) hurt himself in real life, is that why he had the "home base" incident? And, they did a terrible job with continuity because his face looks much worse when he goes undercover at the Moon Calf than he does in the first scene.
- Weevil was clean-shaven in the flashback to Miss Mills' class last year.
- Why was Veronica so quick to believe Abel regarding her parentage?
- When did Veronica start seeing Dr. Dave? For that matter, when exactly did Lianne leave? If she was only seeing the doctor due to her mother, does that mean Lianne left after February?
- How does someone take photographs of a school and not get anyone's attention?
- If you are stalking your boss's possible daughter with the aim of threatening her life, why do you use your credit card to pay for snacks?
- What floor do Veronica and Keith live on? Veronica says that she was not allowed to have a waterbed before because of being on the second floor. Was that at their previous house?
- Didn't Keith think it was a little strange that Veronica was afraid of a little prick for the blood test?
- Did Keith assume that Veronica was a virgin due to the "sexually active" comment?
- Why didn't Keith want Veronica at the Moon Calf Collective?
- How did Keith get hurt? Is he in a league, or was it a pick up game?
- What high school in America lets you have an English class where you sit on bean bag chairs and snuggle with your significant other?
- If Veronica wants the plumbing problem fixed, why doesn't she get scoop on the super and blackmail him into doing what she wants? Seems less drastic than using gangland enforcers.
- A teacher at Neptune can live in a collective and invite students there without repercussions?
- Does Josh have something going with anyone other than Holly?
- Why have Casey and Veronica only been in classes for three years together? Did he just move to town recently?
- If Keith is mad that Veronica was at the Moon Calf, just wait until he finds out she went to the prison to see Abel Koontz!
- Why did Veronica's desk look so barren when she was apologizing to Keith?
- Why did the programmer bother to close the door a little bit, but didn't close it all the way?
- Casey is many things, homely ain't one of them! That boy is cute! And he's going to inherit 80 million dollars? He gets cuter all the time.
- Where did Keith think Veronica was to get covered in mud?
- What did they do to Casey the cute when they took him away? Is anyone else sad he came back a jerk?
- Was the flyer on the cars at school because they know that the 09ers have lunch delivered? If so, good marketing!
- Who is Veronica's father?
- Caseys grandmother has been dead for 24 hours and he already has the money to buy a new Porsche? Sweet.
- Why don't we ever see the waterbed again?
- In Leave it to Beaver, does Keith remember the blood test and think that Veronica already knows her paternity?
- Since we never hear about the hot water problem again, does that mean the super finally fixed the pipes?
- Why was Veronica so shocked at the idea that Casey and Miss Mills were having an affair? After Mars vs Mars and Like a Virgin, I would be surprised if there was a teacher at Neptune not sleeping with students.
Written/Compiled By:
JenniferH: Report Card; Yearbook; Band Class
Mastermia (Maria): Journalism; Study Hall; Extra Credit; Philosophy; Homeroom; Principles of Democracy; History
Tar Frimmer (Joanne): Study Hall; Literature; Social Science; Homeroom
Additional Help:
Genova (Cara): Social Science
Original Air Date: November 30, 2004
Written by: Russell Smith & Rob Thomas
Directed by: Marcos Siega
Staff Grade: B
Membershp Grade: C (47.5% / 61 votes)
A solid episode, Drinking the Kool-Aid is probably most loved for introducing the dreamy Casey Gant to the audience. While nothing is exceptional here, nothing is subpar either; everything simply works. In addition, viewers are shown a glimpse into Weevil's backstory interwoven seamlessly into the mystery of the week.
Credited Cast Non-Appearance
Jason Dohring - Logan Echolls
Recurring Guest Stars (Previous Episode Appearances)
Linda Castro Mrs. Murphy
Guest Stars
Jonathan Bennet Casey Gant
Max Bernstein Musician
Courtnee Draper Darcy
Christopher B. Duncan Clarence Wiedman
Megalyn Echikunwoke Rain (a.k.a. Debbie Meyer)
Rebecca Kitt Juanita Gant
Amy Laughlin Holly Mills
Tiffany Loui Nurse
Chris Martin - Josh
Farhang Pernoon Django
Tristan Poje Government Teacher
Ray Proscia SMSPI Man
Albie Selznick Bill Gant
Inger Tudor Restaurant Manager
Who's Who in Neptune
Clarence Wiedman - Head of security at Kane Software, Wiedman also seems to have no issue with performing personal security for the Kanes as well.
Casey Gant Neptune High student and 09er jerk. He changed his mean attitude when he joined the Moon Calf Collective when his grandmother fell ill.
Darcy Casey Gants ex-girlfriend. She believes she was dumped because Casey is having an affair with a teacher (Holly Mills).
Rain Member of the Moon Calf Collective. She joined the collective to find a better life and to escape her former life where she was known as Debbie Meyer.
Juanita Gant Casey Gants mother.
Holly Mills Teacher at Neptune High and editor of the Neptune High School literary magazine. She is also a member of the Moon Calf Collective and entices disturbed students to join.
Josh Leader of the Moon Calf Collective.
Django Moon Calf Collective member and chef whose secret ingredient is love.
SMSPI Man Nameless man that is hired by Caseys parents to deprogram Casey through Systematic Manipulation of Social and Psychological Influence (SMSPI).
Bill Gant Casey Gants father.
Hey! It's That Guy/Girl
Jonathan Bennet (Casey Gant) - Bennet is known for his role as the "cute boy" in the Lindsay Lohan hit, Mean Girls -- which incidentally co-starred our own Lilly Kane, Amanda Seyfried.
Keith is hired by the parents of an 09er, Casey Gant. It seems that young and dreamy Casey has fallen into the clutches of a dangerous and manipulative cult. (Their word, not mine. I am all about respect for other peoples beliefs. Even for complete whack-jobs.) Caseys parents want Keith to find evidence of illegal activity by this group so the county can then shut them down, forcing their son home.
Keith asks Veronica to nose around about Casey at school. Being ever so self-motivated, Veronica gets herself invited to personally see the Moon Calf Collective, which is the groups actual name. Within minutes of arriving, Veronica meets a nice young woman named Rain. Rain likes chocolate, which is our first hint that these "cultists" may not be so bad after all. Veronica has also learned that going into the barn is a no-no; Josh seems a little too friendly, if you know what I mean; (Ok, I will spell it out for you. Veronica thinks Josh is a p-o-l-y-g-a-m-i-s-t and Veronica is intended to be the newest polygamee); and that the collective derives their income from "the ultimate cash crop."
After several hours of hanging around the place playing Amish, Veronica manages to find her way into the barn alone, where she finds a giant, scary horse. Definitely not what she was expecting. It turns out, they had her best interests at heart when she was told to stay out of the barn. She definitely wasnt expecting that either. On her next visit, she learns that "the ultimate cash crop" are really poinsettias to be sold during the holidays. And Josh doesnt want to sleep with her. Darn, he was sexy. So far, she isnt finding much dirt on these people, other than the literal variety.
Where do these people shower and use the bathroom? Yuck, never mind, I dont want to think about it. Also, Veronica realizes that the collective turned Casey from a typical 09er (adding jerky and self-centered to that description would be redundant, right?) to a Hacky Sack playing, genuinely nice guy.
Caseys parents meet with Keith for an update. He informs them that he hasnt found any illegal activities going on. Casey's parents act truly worried now because dear grandma had a stroke on Tuesday (was that before or after they enlisted Keiths help?) and she is dying and left the bulk of her estate to Casey, who could theoretically give it all away to the crazy Calfies.
They also hired a 'deprogrammer' to undo the collective's nice-over, if only they could get their hands on him ... Well, they are in luck! Grandma dies and Casey attends the funeral. A couple of thugs force Casey into a limo with his parents and the deprogrammer and drive off. Veronica sees this and tells Keith, but he knows that there is nothing the law or he can do. He pragmatically takes a 'wait and see' approach.
Later, Veronica sees Casey driving a flashy sports car to school. By his use of the word "S'up" and the male-patented head nod, it is clear that Casey is back to his old jerky ways. This story does not have a happy ending. So sad. Well, except for Rain, who stays peaceful and happy. And Mr. and Mrs. Gant who have their shallow, materialistic, dream son back. And for Josh who still has his poinsettias and gets to keep the greenhouse he built with Caseys donation. In actuality, the only one who didnt get a happy ending was Casey, but he is too busy driving fast, wind whipping through his hair, in his snazzy, new convertible to care.
- After Lilly died Lianne made Veronica see a counselor, Dr. Dave, for six weeks. Her appointments were on Thursdays and his office was downtown.
- Neptune High has book week the first week of February every year.
- Clarence Wiedman is head of security for Kane Software.
- Kane Softwares main number is 555-0125 and their street address is 10996.
- Veronica has a smaller phone with an earpiece that slides up.
- Keith plays baseball.
- Veronica tells Keith that she hasnt been sexually active.
- Veronica has wanted a waterbed since she was five so Keith buys her one at a garage sale for $10.
- Keith and Veronica are still having money problems.
- Last year Duncan, Veronica, Weevil, Casey and Darcy all had Miss Mills' English class together.
- Veronica is still being ostracized by most of her classmates.
- Miss Mills is in charge of the Literary Magazine.
- Casey Gant used to download his writing assignments.
- Veronica and Keiths apartment has a problem with the hot water. They are considering using their Gant bonus money to find a new place.
- Veronica isnt much of a cook.
- Veronica has never milked a cow before. Isis was her first attempt.
- Casey and Veronica have been in the same classes for three years.
- Casey is the main beneficiary of his grandmothers will to the tune of 80 million. She has a publishing empire and really crappy kids but Casey loves her.
- Neptune has a restaurant named Wok'n'Roll.
- Keith has a shredder in his bedroom.
- The restaurant Veronica visits to find out who took the surveillance photos of her last year is called "Aladdin" and serves Mediterranean style cuisine, including pasta, kabobos, Greek salads and taboule. Her receipt is time-stamped Nov 21 '04 15:09 and lists a $1.00 Ice Tea as her order.
- Clarence's credit card receipt from Aladdin is time-stamped 02/04/04 5:11 p.m. His order was $14.08 and he tipped $3.00.
- Clarence Wiedman is a Jr.
- Veronica's submission to Miss Mill's literary magazine was a poem called "I Cut Because I Can."
- Holly Mills is 32.
- The "scary" horse in the barn is named Hildegard.
- The DNA test is being done in Pennsylvania.
- Josh, until 14 years ago, was manager of a ring development team at E Tones. He bought the Moon Calf Collective land with the money he got from cashing out his E Tones stock.
- Rain's milk carton description:
- Name: Debbie Meyer
Sex: Female / Height: 5'7"
Hair: Brown / Eyes: Brown
Weight: 125 / Age: 17
Missing: April 29, 2000 / DOB: May 26, 1987
Last place seen: Springtown Shopping Mall, wearing blue jeans, blue and white striped shirt and running shoes.
- The Mars family drinks whole milk.
- At the end of the episode, Casey's driving a silver Porsche Carrera convertible, license plate #2OCE26S.
- After quickly believing Abel Koontz regarding her parentage, Veronica starts to reconsider recent events including the possibility that she dated her brother. She wonders if Keith went after Jake because he knew and that Jake sent the photos to get back at him. She decides that if Jake sent the photos she will take him down. She also decides that being a Kane would be worth millions and she is going to get her due.
- Veronica, with very little effort, narrows down exactly where and when the threatening photographs of her was taken and discovers that the photographer was Clarence Wiedman, Jr.
- Veronica is doing an at-home paternity test. To get her father to donate a sample she pretends that it is a HIV test for school and gets him to "show her how its done." After he does his sample and leaves, Veronica adds her sample and mails it off. When the results show up, instead of reading them, Veronica decides to shred them.
- Veronica begins the episode ignoring Duncan due to Abels revelation, but warms up to him again at the end.
- Weevil's "poetry."
"Make a Deal with the City" (East River Pipe)
Scene: Veronica going undercover to sing the cultist version of Kumbaya!
"Oh! Sweet Nuthin'" (Original performed by Underground Velvet)
Scene: Okay, make that Oh! Sweet Nuthin' as the cultist campfire song of choice.
"(You Gotta Walk) Don't Look Back" (Peter Tosh with Mick Jagger)
Scene: And the big cash flow secret! The biggest windfall creator of all is ... uhm, poinsettias. Yeah. I'm scratching my head too.
"Have a Nice Day" (Stereophonics)
Scene: Rain and Mars collide to make what looks like some pretty unappetizing fare.
"Famous Lover" (The Fire Marshals Of Bethlehem)
Scene: Casey's last moment of human decency coincides with Grandma's laying to rest. Sadly fitting.
Quotable Quotes
Veronica: What happened to you?
Keith: It's nothing. A little collision at home. Now, cover your eyes and give me your hand.
Veronica: A collision at home? Did you fall in the garbage disposal?
Keith: No, no, home plate. (Imitating an umpire.) Safe!
Veronica: Did you see a doctor?
Keith: Honey, it's fine. Chicks dig scars. Now, come on. Ya gotta see this! (Jumps up and down, clapping, and races to her room.)
Veronica: (Amused.) What is your deal? You're jacked up like some hillbilly kid who just stumbled into Daddy's meth lab!
Keith: It's a water bed.
Veronica: All right.
Keith: Come on, you've wanted one of these things since you were, like, five years old.
Veronica: I also wanted to marry Vanilla Ice and build the world's largest collection of Z-bots.
Keith: You asked me, no, you begged me for a water bed like four years in a row. It was your obsession.
Veronica: Uh-huh. It's all coming back to me now. The way you explained it, Santa was cool with the basic concept, but had grave doubts about second floor deployment.
Keith: That well-known, bedrock pragmatism of elvish culture. But I gotta tell ya, if it had been my call, I would've --
Veronica: (Laughing.) You're so full of it! But, it is incredibly sweet of you.
Keith: This is so endearing. My badass, action figure daughter is afraid to draw a teensy little drop of blood.
Veronica: He joined a cult? What do they worship? Wedgies? Keggers? (Gasps.) Their parents' platinum cards?
Veronica Mars Voiceover: Ah, how to get in tight with the lit-mag crowd. I've got it. Become one of them. The attributes and style of crap teen poetry: must be written in a funky colour of ink, must include dominant themes of alienation, sexual ambivalence, self-loathing, death, etcetera.
Veronica Mars Voiceover: Hey, way to throw me off your trail, Holly. Wander freely, don't go in the barn, whatever you do? Maybe I should play this needy, despondent waif card more often.
Veronica Mars Voiceover: Forbidden barn? Check. Implied polygamy? Check. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a cult.
Josh: (Hugging Veronica.) Hmm.
Veronica: Help.
Veronica Mars Voiceover: I knew I should have included a few discreet lesbian overtones in that poem.
Veronica: (To Rain.) Ah, sure. Fair warning, though. My idea of gourmet cooking is sprinkling on some three year old Bac-Os to my microwave soup.
Veronica Mars Voiceover: Enough, already with this mellow incense and peppermints vibe. Let's break out the mushrooms and dance naked! Strap on the goat skull headgear, sacrifice a few infants. Come on, people, you're cultists. Start acting like it.
Veronica Mars Voiceover: Wow. It's Bizarro world. Out here I'm Miss Popular.
Josh: So how was everybody's day? What's up?
Rain: I woke up scared. I felt like I was in a dream of peace and happiness
Veronica Mars Voiceover: Do not roll your eyes, Veronica. You're undercover.
Veronica Mars Voiceover: I was just reading in last month's "Koreshian Bride" that four out of five cult leaders like their handmaidens nubile, flighty, and teetering on the edge of a breakdown.
Keith: You're covered in mud.
Veronica: See? That's why you make the big bucks.
Veronica Mars Voiceover: I can't get it out of my mind. Somewhere in Pennsylvania, a lab tech is determining if I'm heir to a billion dollar fortune. It's not about the money. (Steps into the shower and gasps at the cold.) It's about making Jake Kane pay. But if I am an heiress, (Southern accent ala Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind) as God is my witness, I'll never take cold showers again.
Veronica: Casey! Hey. Wait up. I'm so ashamed of myself for my meltdown last night. I was a rampaging jackass.
Casey: Have you forgotten who you're talking to? I'm Casey Gant, okay? I wrote the jackass Bible, the jackass Koran, the jackass Talmud.
Josh: Hey, listen, would you like to join me for a walk?
Veronica Mars Voiceover: I knew it. This is when the cult leader claims me as his new bride.
Josh: I'm not judging you, I'm just, I'm saying what you already know.
Veronica Mars Voiceover: That fake fur was a poor choice to infiltrate utopia?
Veronica Mars Voiceover: You're saying you don't want my money; you don't want my body; you don't want me working in your ganja fields. You just want me to be happy. Strange.
Keith: What the hell were you thinking Veronica? That's got to be the worst decision I've ever seen by someone who wasn't literally brain damaged.
Veronica: Heard anything incriminating yet?
Keith: Nope. It's like listening to The Brady Bunch with a reggae soundtrack.
Wallace: Sounds to me, Veronica, like you've been drinking the Kool-Aid.
Veronica: I have not.
Wallace: You better recognize.
Veronica: Thank you for being my own personal Springer audience. Should I check myself before I wreck myself?
Keith: Once you get past all the '60s theme park trappings, that community's a lot more wholesome and functional than, just for example, Neptune is.
Veronica Mars Voiceover: I sent off for those test results because I wanted the truth. But can a lab tech really see the shape of my soul in a drunken conga line of genes? Jake Kane could be my father. But whether he is or isn't, would I really claim him as such and deny the man who raised me?
Drinking the Kool-Aid ... (Referenced in the Episode title.)
In 1978, 913 people were found dead after ingesting poisonous Kool-Aid. This was a mass suicide that was orchestrated by Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple Cult. The suicide was in response to several members trying to leave the collective with Congressmen Leo Ryan and a group of reporters, who were wanted to investigate reports of abuse. After ambushing the group, Jones ordered his followers to drink a glass of grape Kool-Aid that was laced with potassium cyanide
The phrase "Dont drink the Kool-Aid" has become an oft repeated warning to not blindly follow people.
Meth Lab ... (Referenced by Veronica when Keith is jumping up and down in excitement over her surprise.)
Methamphetamine is a stimulant drug that produces an intense sensation of euphoria when swallowed or snorted. Users become addicted to meth quickly and tend to use more of it with increasing frequency. The negative side effects to the central nervous system are depression, aggressiveness, insomnia and paranoia. Meth use increases heart rate and blood pressure and can result in stroke, cardiovascular collapse, organ damage and death.
In the United States, the illegal manufacturing of methamphetamine is punishable from ten years to life in prison. The sale of ingredients used in meth production is also heavily monitored. In March of 2006, President Bush signed The Combat Meth Act, which limited the sale of ephedrine, the base ingredient of meth, to 3.6 grams per day, and customers must provide identification and sign a sales log. The manufacturing of meth in labs is highly dangerous, and there have been many cases of lab explosions to prove it. Meth labs have been found in garages, barns, apartments, etc.
Vanilla Ice ... (Referenced when Veronica and Keith are discussing her childhood wish for a waterbed.)
Vanilla Ice, born Robert Van Winkle in Miami, Florida in 1968, became an overnight success following the release of his 1990 album, To the Extreme. His hit single "Ice Ice Baby" with its borrowed bass riff from David Bowie and Queens popular song Pressure, reached the top of the charts in late 1990. Vanilla Ice became the second white rapper to top the charts, and the most commercially successful rapper of his time with album sales totalling more than 11 million. Vanilla Ice also tried his hand at acting in 1991s box office flop Cool As Ice.
Vanilla Ices career took a rapid nosedive following the revelation that he had invented tales of a seriously violent gangster past and attendance at an all black high school. His manufactured street credibility, in addition to the belief that white mainstream America was appropriating and tarnishing traditionally African-American music contributed to severe backlash towards Ice from both the music world and the general public. Vanilla Ice attempted to reinvent himself several times throughout the 1990s with little success, and appeared on VH1s 2003 season of The Surreal Life.
Z-Bots ... (Referenced when Veronica and Keith are discussing her childhood wish for a waterbed.)
Z-Bots, made by Galoob, were action figures that were popular in the early 90's. They have since been replaced by other robot toys, but perhaps no toy has as involved a backstory as the Z-Bots did. The backs of Z-Bots packages read as follows:
- "A group of brilliant scientists invented a corps of perfect robots to protect the world against evil -- the Z-Bots. But rival inventors stole the technology and invented their own brand of robot warriors programmed to do to evil -- the Voids! Now Z-Bots designed to defend are locked in battle with the Voids made to menace! Collect all the Z-Bots and determine Earth's destiny -- will good prevail or will nice guys finish last?"
Gordon Lightfoot has had success as both a songwriter and musician, known for his understated, gentle folk arrangements. Born in Ontario, Canada in 1938, Lightfoot moved to Los Angeles in the 1950s to cultivate his talent at Hollywoods Westlake College of Music. Lightfoot returned to his native Canada, released his debut album, Lightfoot, in 1966, and became recognized predominantly for penning hits for Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley and Peter, Paul and Mary. In 1970, Lightfoot released the album, Sit Down Young Stranger, and the hit single "If You Could Read My Mind," a song with a flowing melody and thoughtful, poetic lyrics. Lightfoots 1974 album Sundown and its title song both reached #1.
Though Lightfoot was respected for his timeless style, the popularity of folk-based music declined in the late 1970s and Gordon recorded with less frequency. He has received fifteen Juno Awards, five Grammy Awards nominations and was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1986. In 2002, Lightfoot suffered a near-fatal abdominal hemorrhage during a hometown performance. Lightfoot woke from a coma weeks later, and immediately began selecting tracks for his 20th album, 2004s Harmony.
Porsche Boxster ... (Referenced by the Gants as the car that Casey sold.)
The Porsche Boxster 986, whose name makes a play on the words 'boxer' (as in boxer engine) and roadster, was released in late 1996. The car received a number of awards in 1997, including Car and Drivers One of the 10 Best Cars of 1997, Autocars Best Roadster in the World and Motorweeks 1997 Drivers Choice for Best Sports Car. The Porsche Boxster 987 debuted in 2004, with different headlights, larger intake vents and an improved flat six cylinder engine. The car costs approximately $53,000 (U.S. dollars), and is one of Porsches least expensive sports cars.
Hacky Sack ... (Referenced as the game Casey and some boys are playing at school.)
The object of Hacky Sack is to keep the aptly named footbag off the ground using only your feet. Good, flat shoes are key. The activity becomes more difficult once more players are added. There are several "kicks" that you can use to keep the footbag in the air. The Inside Kick is best for when the footbag is falling in front of you; just kick it with the inside of your shoe. For when the footbag is falling to your left or right, use the Outside Kick by raising the appropriate foot and kicking it with the outer side of your shoe.
Social Distortion ... (Referenced when Weevil uses a SD song for a poetry assignment.)
One of the most enduring bands of the punk genre, Social Distortion was formed in 1978 by Orange County teenage frontman singer and guitarist Mike Ness. Social Distortion initially specialized in fast, angry, hard-hitting punk as demonstrated on their debut album, Mommys Little Monster in 1983, and subsequently added elements of rock and grunge to their music during the 80s and 90s.
During their long history the band released many popular singles: "Prison Bound", "Story of My Life", "Ball and Chain", "Bad Luck", "When She Begins", "I Was Wrong", and "When The Angels Sing." Social Distortion songs appear as tracks on several video games; "Don't Drag Me Down" was featured on Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX video game and "Mommy's Little Monster" was featured on Tony Hawks Underground.
Despite their revolving door of bandmembers, the disintegration of their peers in the hardcore scene and keystone Mike Ness heroin addiction, Social Distortion has never disbanded. In 2000, guitarist and long-time member Dennis Danell died, but the band overcame the loss and released their latest album Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll in 2004.
CliffsNotes ... (Referenced when Darcy (ex-girlfriend of Casey) was describing Casey once upon a time and how he joined the literary mag.)
Often incorrectly called CliffNotes, these are a series of pamphlets used as study aids to help students understand various literary works including novels, plays, poetry and essays. Cliffs Notes offer a biography of the author, discuss the time during which the work was written, summarize the plot and characters, and explores the themes and symbols contained within the work.
Supporters say that they help increase understanding of the works, while detractors say that they let students avoid reading the actual works. The company has expanded its range to other courses such as math, government, sciences, languages and grammar.
Taco Bell ... (Referenced when Veronica first meets Rain and is invited to stay for dinner at the Moon Calf Collective.)
Taco Bell, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., is a fast-food restaurant chain that is headquartered in Irvine, California. Taco Bell serves Mexican-inspired American food, known as Tex-Mex cuisine. Some of their more popular menu items include tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos and other specialty items.
It originated as a hot dog stand founded by Glen Bell in 1946. Between 1954 and 1955, Bell had opted to change his one hot dog stand into three Taco-Tia stands. The first Taco Bell was opened in 1962 in Downey, California, and the first franchise was sold in 1964. In 1978, Bell sold the chain to PepsiCo. Today there are more than 6,500 Taco Bell restaurants in the United States alone. Over 80 percent of the restaurants are owned and operated by independent franchisees.
Veronicas food of choice from Taco Bell was a Beef MexiMelt which is a soft, flour tortilla wrapped around seasoned beef, salsa and a blend of melted cheddar, pepper jack and mozzarella cheeses. She also claimed to have had some Cinnamon Crispas, which are tortilla chips fried with cinnamon and sugar on them. How she managed to get some without a time machine, I really dont know as Taco Bell no longer makes Cinnamon Crispas. They have long since replaced that menu item with Cinnamon Twists which are crispy, puffed corn twists sprinkled in cinnamon and sugar.
Choco Taco ... (Referenced by Rain as a beloved dessert.)
A Choco Taco is a dessert item sold by Klondike. They can be purchased from either a grocers freezer or a Mexican fast food restaurant, like Taco Bell. What goes into a Choco Taco? Inside the dessert's taco shell cone is vanilla ice cream with fudge stripping, which perhaps is meant to resemble the meat and sour cream of a real taco. The Choco Taco is then coated in a crunchy chocolate and peanut sauce.
Hungry yet? If not, you're not alone. Many are turned away by the idea of a chocolate taco. And at a whopping 290 calories, I can't say I blame you.
Bac-Os ... (Referenced when Veronica discusses her cooking "skills" with Rain.)
Imitation bacon bits sold by General Mills under the Betty Crocker brand. Bac-Os are made of soy flour and vegetable protein, and do not contain any animal products.
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman ... (Referenced when Veronica is milking the cow.)
Television program aired on CBS from 1993-1998. The show starred Jane Seymour as Dr. Michaela "Mike" Quinn, a refined Bostonian doctor who moved to a rough Colorado town in the 1860s to start a medical practice after her father died. Encountering much resistance from townspeople who are suspicious of a female doctor, Mike befriended the local midwife Charlotte, then took in her three children when Charlotte died. Mike won the acceptance and friendship of mountain man Byron Sully, played by Joe Lando, whom she eventually married.
Yahtzee ... (Referenced by Veronica as an internal exclamation when she thinks she's about to learn something.)
Yahtzee is a dice game that was patented by entrepreneur Edwin S. Lowe in 1956, and then purchased by Milton Bradley (now Hasbro) in 1973. It was originally named "The Yacht Game" because the Canadian couple that invented it would play the game on their yacht with friends. Lowe initially struggled with marketing Yahtzee, as the rules of the game were difficult to convey in advertisements. He had the successful idea, though, of throwing Yahtzee parties, where guests could learn how to play.
Yahtzee has thirteen rounds, or categories. In each round, the player or players can roll five dice up to three times and then score the best roll according to the rules of the category. For example, when in the Threes category, if three of the five dice rolled are faced with threes, nine points are gained. No points are gained if the roll does not meet the requirements for the category. As in poker, a player can roll a Three and Four of a Kind, a straight or a Full House. Rolling a Yahtzee, which is worth an impressive fifty points, means that all the dice have the same face. 100 points are awarded for each additional Yahtzee rolled in a game. At the end of the thirteen rounds, the points are totaled and the player with the highest score is the winner.
"Incense and Peppermint" ... (Referenced by Veronica as the vibe being given off by the members of the Collective.)
"Incense and Peppermints" was a one-hit wonder released in 1967 by the psychedelic rock group Strawberry Alarm Clock. The single quickly topped the Billboard pop chart, and the band went on to appear in the films Psych-Out and Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. Greg Munford, only sixteen years of age, was the lead vocalist for "Incense and Peppermints. The other members of Strawberry Alarm Clock were Ed King (lead guitar), Lee Freeman (rhythm guitar), Gary Lovetro (bass), Mark Weitz (organ) and Randy Seol (drums). The group broke up in 1971.
Lyrics:
- Good sense, innocence, cripplin' mankind
Dead kings, many things I can't define
Occasions, persuasions clutter your mind
Incense and peppermints, the color of time.
Who cares what games we choose?
Little to win, but nothing to lose.
Incense and peppermints, meaningless nouns
Turn on, tune in, turn your eyes around.
Look at yourself, look at yourself, yeah, yeah
Look at yourself, look at yourself, yeah, yeah, yeah!
To divide this cockeyed world in two
Throw your pride to one side, it's the least you can do.
Beatniks and politics, nothing in new
A yardstick for lunatics, one point of view
Who care what games we choose?
Little to win, but nothin' to lose.
Good sense, innocence, cripplin' mankind
Dead kings, many things I can't define.
Occasion, persuasions sclutter your mind
Incense and peppermints
Incense and peppermints
Sha la la
Bizarro is a villain from the Superman canon. He is the unsuccessful attempt to duplicate Superman, and depending on the writer, his powers are either the same as or opposite to Supermans.
Speaking of opposites, Bizarro World is the cube-shaped planet Htrae (Earth spelled backwards), where the Bizarro Code dictates that it is against the law to do anything right or to try to improve the world. Bizarro kidnapped Lois Lane at one point, but she saved herself by creating a Bizarro-Lois for him. The Bizarro pair relocated to Htrae and discovered technology that would populate the entire planet with ugly Superman and Lois Bizarros.
The NBC sitcom Seinfeld famously did an episode (titled "The Bizarro Jerry") where the Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer met their own duplicates and "Bizarro World" was referenced throughout the show. Jerry Seinfeld is a huge Superman fan, thus the reference.
David Koresh ... (Referenced when Holly is asking to read some of Veronica's poetry and V's snarky voice-over response about what kind of poetry would hook Holly good and fast.)
Born as Vernon Wayne Howell in 1959, Koresh was the leader of a sect called the Branch Davidians, an offshoot of the Seventh-day Adventists, which had a compound near Waco, Texas. Koresh believed that he was the reincarnation of both King David and King Cyrus of Persia, and that he was the Messiah. Claiming that he was entitled to 140 wives, he "married" several of the females in the compound, including some that were as young as 12 and 13.
In 1992, it appeared that grenade casings had been delivered to the compound and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms began an investigation of the Davidians, and uncovered several weapons violations, as well as allegations of child abuse. In February 1993, the BATF led an unsuccessful raid on the compound. The FBI took command of the scene, and a 51-day siege began. U.S. Attorney Janet Reno approved a final assault to forcibly remove the Branch Davidians from their compound. During the assault, the compound was set ablaze by the Davidians. 75 sect members, including Koresh, were unable or unwilling to escape the fire and died. Seventeen of the victims were under the age of 12.
Pennsylvania (Referenced by Veronica as the location of the lab doing the DNA test.)
Pennsylvania is a Middle Atlantic state with a population of over twelve million citizens. Its capital is Harrisburg, though Philadelphia is the state's largest city, and Pittsburgh its second. A quarter of Pennsylvania's population is of German descent. The Pennsylvania Dutch region makes up much of Lancaster County, which is home to large populations of Amish and Mennonites.
Historically, the state of Pennsylvania is quite famous. It was one of the thirteen original colonies that rejected British rule in the American Revolution; the Declaration of Independence was written and signed in Philadelphia in 1776. It was the second state to ratify the United States Constitution in 1787. During the American Civil War, Pennsylvania was a part of the Union, and the wars turning point battle was won by the Union in Gettysburg in 1863.
Heres a little trivia for you: Veronica Mars' Kyle Gallner and Amanda Seyfried were both raised in Pennsylvania.
Gone with the Wind ... (Referenced when Veronica says "As God as my witness, Ill never take cold showers again.)"
Gone With the Wind is a 1937 Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Margaret Mitchell first published in 1936 and is one of the most popular books of all time. Its 1939 big screen adaptation, produced by David Selznick and starring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable, became the highest grossing film in Hollywood history, receiving a record-breaking number of Academy Awards. Its success squelched skeptics who believed that the films 3.9 million dollar price tag was excessive.
GWTW tells the story of strong-willed and feisty Georgian Scarlett OHara and her life, friends, family and passionate romance with rakish Rhett Butler amidst the backdrop of the antebellum South, Civil War and fall of Atlanta in 1964 and Reconstruction period. Critics and historians regard the book as having a strong ideological commitment to the Confederate cause and a romanticized view of the culture of the antebellum South, while also depicting the devastation and trauma of war.
The film version of Gone with the Wind was filled with famous dialogue and quotes such as Rhett Butler's infamous farewell line to Scarlett O'Hara, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn," which was voted in a poll by the American Film Institute in 2005 as the most memorable line in cinema history. Another notable line is Scarletts assertion that As God is my witness, I will never be hungry again. An official sequel to the original novel, titled Scarlett, was penned in 1991 by Alexandra Ripley.
Koran (Referenced by Casey as he tells Veronica what a jackass he used to be.)
The Koran is the religious text of Islam and is believed by Muslims to contain the final revelations of Allah to Muhammad. Muslims maintain that the Arab prophet was illiterate and therefore could only recite Allahs words to his companions to be written down. The Koran is considered to be so pure and divine in origin that one must perform wudu, a ritual cleansing of the body, before handling a copy of the text.
Muslims refer to Christians, Jews and others of Abrahamic religions as People of the Book. They believe, however, that these religions have altered Gods word in their respective religious texts (this alleged distortion is known as tahrif).
Talmud (Referenced by Casey as he tells Veronica what a jackass he used to be.)
The Talmud is the source of ancient rabbinic discussions that determines Orthodox Jewish laws, ethics and customs. It is composed of the Mishnah, the summary of Judaisms Oral Law, and the Germara, the exhaustive analysis of the Mishnah. There are two Talmuds, which share the same Mishnah (written in Hebrew) but have different Gemara. The Jerusalem Talmud, written in Western Aramaic, is the 200 year analysis of the Mishnah that took place in Israel. The Babylonian Talmud, written in Eastern Aramaic, encompasses 300 years of analysis that took place in Babylonian Academies.
Yeshivah refers to the traditionally all-male system of institutions that teach the Talmud to Orthodox Jewish students.
Utopia ... (Referenced by Veronica, and later by Keith, as a description of the Moon Calf Collective environment.)
A utopian society is one that has attained or has made efforts to attain an ideal level of perfection. Utopias are a popular concept in literature because the extremity of utopian ideals makes it easy to prove a satirical point. Aldous Huxley, for example, satirized the promiscuity of sex in society in his 1931 novel Brave New World. Greek philosopher Plato envisioned a utopian polis (city-state) that was ruled by philosopher kings, the wisest and most industrious individuals of society. In 1515 Sir Thomas More wrote Utopia (thereby coining the term), which presented a society in which capitalism had been dissolved and religious tolerance was practiced. The later beliefs of Karl Marx, German philosopher and Communist, bore resemblance to those of More.
Poinsettias ... (Referenced as the ultimate cash crop being harvested by the Moon Calf Collective.)
The poinsettia, also known as the "Mexican Flame Leaf" in Central America or "Flower of the Holy Night," is a plant that is often used as a floral Christmas decoration. The most common color is a deep, vibrant red. However, the plant is available in such other colors as pink, white, yellow, marbled and speckled. The colorful parts of the poinsettia are not actual flowers but are actually large bunches of colored leaves (called modified bracts). The poinsettia flower is very small, green or yellow in color, and situated in the middle of the bracts. Poinsettias are native to southern Mexico and Central America. The plant was introduced to the United States in 1825 by Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Ambassador to Mexico.
There is a Mexican legend that explains how poinsettias came to be associated with the Christmas holiday. The story speaks of a young girl that could not afford an offering to Christ on Christmas Eve. The girl was told by her brother that any gift, no matter how humble, if offered in love would be acceptable to God. The girl proceeded to pick some weeds from the side of the road to take into the church with her as her offering. When brought into the church and offered with love, the weeds bloomed into magnificent red and green flowers in front of the entire congregation.
Ganja ... (Referenced by Veronica as something she'd expect a cult to be involved with.)
The Cannabis plant -- known more commonly as marijuana with many a nickname including ganja, pot, mary jane, reefer, etc. -- is often dried or otherwise processed to create a "product" that offers medicinal and psychoactive effects. Despite past use as an accepted medicine, in the early 20th century, the drug became illegal due to the overwhelming consumption of the recreational variety.
To this day, marijuana usage remains against the law despite the mellow side affects as opposed to the harder drugs of the day. While not widespread, legalizing marijuana has been the efforts of activists for some time, among those fighting for it's legal use is Oscar-nominated actor Woody Harrelson. Apparently, none of these activists (including Woody) have ever heard of the dangers that can befall one who has been taken over by reefer madness. Just ask Mary Lane.
Swastikas on Forehead (Manson family) ... (Referenced by Keith when questioning Veronica's basis for their good people.)
After hearing the Beatles song, Helter Skelter, Charles Manson believed that a great race war was upon our society. He heard the song as a call to arms to begin this battle among the races. Manson ordered his followers, known as "The Family," to kill several well-known white people and frame the Black Panthers, an African-American civil rights group. "The Family" brutally and mercilessly killed seven people including actress Sharon Tate.
Mansons plan to blame the Black Panthers failed, however, and he and the others involved in the killings were quickly implicated and arrested. Despite their leader and several members being on trial for murder, The Family remained strong and dedicated to Manson, following him and his ideals.
During his trial, Manson, carved a cross into his forehead. The next day, members of "The Family" had done the same. Each day Manson would alter the shape and the others would follow his example. The cross eventually became a swastika, a prominent Nazi symbol. Like they had before, "The Family" followed suit, carving the offensive symbol into the center of the forehead.
This carving, can be seen as evidence of how brainwashed Mansons followers were. They supported him in spite of his involvement in the murders and also despite his being on trial. They were unwilling or perhaps unable to see the reality of what was going on around them because of their blind loyalty to Manson and "The Family." So strong was his influence that Manson did not even have to directly tell his collective to do anything. He led only by example.
The Brady Bunch ... (Referenced by Keith as a description of the Collective.)
Who doesn't know the Bradys? The Brady Bunch premiered on September 26, 1969 and became a pop culture sensation subsequent to it's five year run. The show featured a blended family of a mother with three girls marrying a man with three boys. The show was spun off into numerous reunion movies, including The Brady Bunch Variety Hour. Its appeal was the warm humor and love the family exuded while dealing with the issues of everyday life.
ATF ... (Referenced by Keith when arguing over the cult reality or not of the Moon Calf Collective.)
ATF (or BATF) is a shortcut for The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The ATF is a law enforcement agency within the United States Department of Justice that is responsible for enforcing certain federal laws relating to alcohol, tobacco products, firearms, explosives and arson. Other responsibilities of the ATF include administering certain federal crime prevention programs, protecting the public and reducing violent crime. It also is the program source for GREAT which stands for Gang Resistance Education and Training.
Oliver Twist ... (Referenced by Keith when arguing over the cult reality or not of the Moon Calf Collective.)
Novel written by Charles Dickens (1812-1870) in 1839. Oliver Twist is an orphan in 1830s England whose mother died after he was born, and before she could tell anyone who she was. After spending several years in a workhouse, apprenticed to an undertaker, running away to London, Oliver falls in with a gang of pickpockets. One of their wealthy targets turns out to be Oliver's grandfather.
The book was made into a musical which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1968.
SMSPI/Deprogramming ... (Referenced by the man hired by the Gants to "fix" their son.)
SMSPI is an acronym for Systematic Manipulation of Social and Psychological Influence. It was a theory advanced by Margaret Thaler Singer, a mental health professional who made serious claims about the supposed brainwashing and subterfuge techniques of cultist, or New Religious Movement (NRM), leaders. Members of the anti-cult movement used this theory to gain court approval of transferring the rights of adult children in cults to their parents, effectively avoiding charges of kidnapping that might be made against deprogrammers.
Though Singer was deemed an expert in her field, she never published any empirical evidence that supported her theory, and neither have any other "experts" in the movement. According to social scientists, it can only be speculated that the techniques employed by cults are different from the persuasive techniques used by all humans.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) ... (Referenced by Wallace as he asks Veronica when the Moon Calf Collective is going to be busted.)
Created in 1908 by Attorney General Charles Joseph Bonaparte as the official investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Justice, the Bureau of Investigation (BOI) was tasked with investigating antitrust matters, land fraud, copyright violations, peonage, and twenty other crimes. It wasn't until the 1930s that, in response to the violence of organized crime following in the wake of Prohibition, Congress passed the Federal Kidnapping Act and the 1934 May/June Crime Bills. These new laws gave the FBI authority to act in previously off-limit areas, to make arrests and to carry weapons. At this time, the BOI was renamed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
During the 1930s, the FBI played a prominent role in the aggressive pursuit and apprehension of well-known gangsters, earning the FBI's agents the nickname "G-Men." In the following decades, the FBI's efforts were directed at a wide range of issues including subversion, espionage, sabotage, civil rights violations, organized crime, white collar crime and high technology crimes.
The FBI's motto is "Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity," and its currently stated mission is "to protect and defend the United States against terrorist and foreign intelligence threats and to enforce the criminal laws of the United States."
FBI Headquarters is located in the J. Edgar Hoover Building in Washington, D.C. The most well-known Director of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover held the office from 1924 to 1972. Upon his death, the FBI instituted a policy to limit future Directors to a term of no more than ten years. Today, the FBI's workforce includes more than 11,000 Special Agents, Legal Attachs (LEGATS) stationed in foreign countries and 1,000 FBI Police officers whose job it is to protect the J. Edgar Hoover Building, the FBI's training Academy in Quantico and the Washington and New York Field Offices.
Coke (Cocaine) (Referenced by Wallace as he asks Veronica when the Moon Calf Collective is going to be busted.)
Cocaine is the second most popular recreational drug in the United States. It is extracted from the leaves of coca plants, which grow in the Andes of South America. Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant to the nervous system and is an appetite suppressant. Whether snorted, smoked or injected, it produces a euphoria that may last for hours. The adverse health effects to cocaine usage are respiratory failure, cerebral hemorrhaging, higher risk of heart attack and sudden death. Cocaine is a Schedule II drug in the United States, meaning that it is available by prescription due to its medicinal uses, but the illegal possession or sale of cocaine can result in a heavy prison sentence.
Jerry Springer ... (Referenced when Veronica explains the situation to Wallace.)
Jerry Springer, once a well-respected Cincinnati mayor, developed his own talk show in the early 1990s. Although Springer personally, conducted himself in a completely respectable and professional way, his guests and show topics were notoriously outrageous. Fights would regularly break out, wigs would be pulled off, women would reveal themselves as men, and family members would admit their affairswith each other. The guests behavior was so outrageous that it defined the show and garnered an unprecedented number of viewers, even more than Oprah at one point.
The theatrics were literally so over the top, that the show was oft accused of being a dramatization with actors not real people. No proof of this ever surfaced, however, and the show still thrives today. It has also been made into a feature film Ringmaster and several pay-per-view events.
Jerry Springer is now universally recognized as a lovable symbol for exploitative entertainment.
Conga Line ... (Referenced by Veronica when pondering the relevance of knowing who her biological father is.)
The conga originated in Latin America and became popular in the United States in the 1930s, when Desi Arnaz introduced it to the public. The dance developed into a variation known as the bunny hop in the 50s. A conga line is formed when dancers form a long line, connecting it by placing their hands on the shoulders or waists of the dancers in front of them.
- Did Enrico Colantoni (Keith) hurt himself in real life, is that why he had the "home base" incident? And, they did a terrible job with continuity because his face looks much worse when he goes undercover at the Moon Calf than he does in the first scene.
- Weevil was clean-shaven in the flashback to Miss Mills' class last year.
- Why was Veronica so quick to believe Abel regarding her parentage?
- When did Veronica start seeing Dr. Dave? For that matter, when exactly did Lianne leave? If she was only seeing the doctor due to her mother, does that mean Lianne left after February?
- How does someone take photographs of a school and not get anyone's attention?
- If you are stalking your boss's possible daughter with the aim of threatening her life, why do you use your credit card to pay for snacks?
- What floor do Veronica and Keith live on? Veronica says that she was not allowed to have a waterbed before because of being on the second floor. Was that at their previous house?
- Didn't Keith think it was a little strange that Veronica was afraid of a little prick for the blood test?
- Did Keith assume that Veronica was a virgin due to the "sexually active" comment?
- Why didn't Keith want Veronica at the Moon Calf Collective?
- How did Keith get hurt? Is he in a league, or was it a pick up game?
- What high school in America lets you have an English class where you sit on bean bag chairs and snuggle with your significant other?
- If Veronica wants the plumbing problem fixed, why doesn't she get scoop on the super and blackmail him into doing what she wants? Seems less drastic than using gangland enforcers.
- A teacher at Neptune can live in a collective and invite students there without repercussions?
- Does Josh have something going with anyone other than Holly?
- Why have Casey and Veronica only been in classes for three years together? Did he just move to town recently?
- If Keith is mad that Veronica was at the Moon Calf, just wait until he finds out she went to the prison to see Abel Koontz!
- Why did Veronica's desk look so barren when she was apologizing to Keith?
- Why did the programmer bother to close the door a little bit, but didn't close it all the way?
- Casey is many things, homely ain't one of them! That boy is cute! And he's going to inherit 80 million dollars? He gets cuter all the time.
- Where did Keith think Veronica was to get covered in mud?
- What did they do to Casey the cute when they took him away? Is anyone else sad he came back a jerk?
- Was the flyer on the cars at school because they know that the 09ers have lunch delivered? If so, good marketing!
- Who is Veronica's father?
- Caseys grandmother has been dead for 24 hours and he already has the money to buy a new Porsche? Sweet.
- Why don't we ever see the waterbed again?
- In Leave it to Beaver, does Keith remember the blood test and think that Veronica already knows her paternity?
- Since we never hear about the hot water problem again, does that mean the super finally fixed the pipes?
- Why was Veronica so shocked at the idea that Casey and Miss Mills were having an affair? After Mars vs Mars and Like a Virgin, I would be surprised if there was a teacher at Neptune not sleeping with students.
Written/Compiled By:
JenniferH: Report Card; Yearbook; Band Class
Mastermia (Maria): Journalism; Study Hall; Extra Credit; Philosophy; Homeroom; Principles of Democracy; History
Tar Frimmer (Joanne): Study Hall; Literature; Social Science; Homeroom
Additional Help:
Genova (Cara): Social Science
