Episode #02.16: The Rapes of Graff
Original Air Date: March 29, 2006
Written by: John Enbom
Directed by: Michael Fields
Report Card (Capsule Episode Review)
Yearbook (Recurring & Guest Stars/Character Statistics)
Drama Club (Performances: Highlights and Lowlights)
Chemistry (The Analysis of LoVe Scenes)
Journalism (The Mystery of the Week)
Study Hall (Miscellaneous Plot Details)
Extra Credit (Clues to the Season Mystery Arcs)
History (Flashbacks) (None)
Band Class (The Music of Veronica Mars)
Literature (LoVe Lines/In Memory/Quotable Quotes)
Social Science (In Reference To ... Pop Culture & The World)
Homeroom (On Second Viewing, Get a Clue)
Pep Squad Practice (Ambiguously (Or Not) Gay Logan Moments) (None)
Detention (While the Censors Were Out to Lunch ...) (None)
Philosophy (Unanswered Questions)
Principles of Democracy (Hindsight is 20/20)
Role Call (Written/Compiled By ...)
Grade: A
Membership Grade: B (61.0% / 41 votes)
Despite certain, erm, stomach-heaving scenes for members of this forum, this episode is another fine return to form. Even the arc in which those certain scenes play a part is a solid one and a suitably painful end to the plotline (this is Veronica Mars and the storyline did revolve around Logan Echolls). Performances from credited, recurring and guest cast are all sublime, the writing and direction are on par. And even though the mystery of the week isn't completely solved, our girl does get former beau, Troy (in a nicely played return) off the hook. All in all, good show.
Credited Cast Non-Appearance
Francis Capra - Eli "Weevil" Navarro
Kyle Gallner - Cassidy "Beaver" Casablancas
Teddy Dunn - Duncan Kane
Tessa Thompson - Jackie Cook
Recurring Guest Stars (Previous Episode Appearances)
Aaron Ashmore - Troy Vandegraff
- Season One Appearances
Linda Castro Mrs. Murphy
- Season One Appearances
- Blast From The Past
- My Mother, The Fiend
Michael Muhney - Sheriff Lamb
- Season One Appearances
- Driver Ed
- Cheatty Cheatty Bang Bang
- Green-Eyed Monster
- Blast from the Past
- Rat Saw God
- Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner
- Donut Run
- Rashard and Wallace Go to White Castle
- Versatile Toppings
- The Quick and the Wed
Amanda Noret - Madison Sinclair
- Season One Appearances
- Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner
- Ain't No Magic Mountain High Enough
- Versatile Toppings
Daran Norris - Cliff McCormack
- Season One Appearances
- Rat Saw God
- Donut Run
- Rashard and Wallace Go to White Castle
- The Quick and the Wed
Rick Peters - Dr. Griffith
- Rat Saw God
- Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner
- Ain't No Magic Mountain High Enough
- Versatile Toppings
- The Quick and the Wed
Jessy Schram Hannah Griffith
- Ain't No Magic Mountain High Enough
- Versatile Toppings
- The Quick and the Wed
Tayler Sheridan - Danny Boyd
- Ahoy Mateys
Guest Stars
Cristina Balmores Dawn
Angelica Bridges - Sugar Jones
Michael Cera Dean Rudolph
Charlie Koznick Andrew Barndale
Ka'imi Kuoha - Pink Hair
Reem Mahmood Friend
Kip Martin Gordon Peters
Richard Neil - Foreman
Daniele O'Loughlin Tory
Rosina Reynolds - Dean Harlow
Alia Shawkat Stacy Wells
David Tom - Chip Diller
Einat Tubi Jen
Who's Who in Neptune
Dawn Pacific Islander student at Hearst College that was raped and had her head shaven a month prior to Stacy's rape.
Sugar Jones - Escort that left Cliff handcuffed to the bed as she was hired to steal his briefcase.
Dean Rudolph - Nerdy but cute Hearst College student guide that gave the campus tour to Veronica and company.
Andrew Barndale (a.k.a. Bird Dog) - Hearst student and Pi Sigma Sigma fraternity brother that got drenched in beer, tasered and humiliated in front of his frat brothers (all deservingly so) thanks to Veronica.
Pink Hair - Pacific Islander Hearst College student that was insulted when Veronica assumed her pink hair was a wig.
Friend - Stacy's friend that informed Stacy that Veronica was a friend of Troy's.
Gordon Peters - Hearst student and Pi Sigma Sigma fraternity brother that had his long, greasy locks shaven by his "brothers" when he failed to score with Stacy.
Foreman - Man in charge of the crew hired by Woody Goodman to implode the stadium using C-4.
Tory - Owner of Tory's Wig Shop that almost fell for Veronica's soap-operaish sob story.
Dean Harlow - Dean of Student Affairs at Hearst College.
Stacy Wells - Hearst college student and victim that was roofied, raped and had her head shaven by a yet unknown suspect.
Chip Diller (a.k.a. Ice Man) - Hearst student and Pi Sigma Sigma fraternity brother that scored 300 points for banging the Dean's wife.
Jen - Hannah's friend that informed Logan that Hannah was shipped off to boarding school in Vermont.
Hey! It's That Guy/Girl
Michael Cera (Dean Rudolph) - Cera is best known as the serious and seriously adorable George Michael, youngest male of the wacky Bluth clan on Fox's much-acclaimed, much-beloved and eventhoughnotechnicallycancelled much-lamented Arrested Development. He has also appeared in the feature films Frequency and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. But in many a television connoisseur's heart, he'll always be one-half of those kissin' cousins.
Alia Shawkat (Stacy Wells) - And here comes the other half. Shawkat landed her first role in the feature film Three Kings, but like Cera, is best known for her role as the cynical, but really not Maeby Funke.
Highlights
Jason Dohring (Logan Echolls) - Am I allowed to post please see last week's Drama Club Highlights? No? Well then, suffice it to say that Dohring continues to play out the final episode of the Hannah arc with a impassioned anguish that culminates in a final moment of tortured pain (Dohring truly controls every muscle on his face to perfection) as Logan is once again left standing alone.
Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars) - Bell dusts off her A game and revives memories of our beloved Season 1 Veronica as she masters a wide range of emotions in The Rapes of Graff. Confronted by one ex-boyfriend who betrayed her, another ex-boyfriend who is dating another petite blonde and the dismaying prospect of attending Hearst college, Bell lets the snark and witticisms fly. She is magnificently 'bad' in her emotional voice-breaking Emmy nomination speech, quietly and bleakly enduring in her memories of the not-rape, obviously jealous in her moment with Logan, suitably ditzy on the construction site and in every way, sassy, normal-no-longer, Veronica. Welcome back!
Enrico Colantoni & Daran Norris (Keith Mars & Cliff McCormack) - In the best buddy team match-up I've seen in years, Cliff and Keith team up to confront Sheriff Lamb in a hilarious display of "Oh snap! and Gotcha!" Playing off each other with a deft comedic timing the two pros dominate the screen and leave the viewer rolling on the floor with laughter. To paraphrase the orphan Oliver as he begs for food, "Please sir, we want some more!"
Scene One: Do the Right Thing!
Despite the negative conclusion to this sole LoVe scene, I'd actually consider this one of the more positive moments between the two this season. Even that negative conclusion. Why? Well, Veronica was nice, she used a sweet voice, was voluntarily walking next to him and having a gentle conversation, showing concern, saying she was glad he was free. I mean, honestly, take a look at this screencap:
Veronica has not sent a look even remotely this soft Logan's way this season with the exception of Normal is the Watchword flashbacks. Sigh, of course, as they continued walking and talking, it went negative. Double sigh. However, as I wrote above, I think that even that negative was a positive. The softness, the sympathy was there and then she finds out that, well, actually, he was still being an ass and that niceness/sympathy just went bye-bye and disappointment in Logan Echolls reigned supreme once more.
The reason that I think this is a good sign for LoVe is that she was disappointed because it means that she still has the capability to NOT think the worst of him automatically at all times. And what made this work even more for me as a LoVe shipper was what Logan did after Veronica showed her disappointment. He did what she expected him/wanted him to do. And I think this was something that we were deliberately supposed to pick up on.
Why else the placement of Veronica showing disappointment with his actions, if not to show that it was Veronica who pushed him to do the right thing. In other words, I believe that the whole reason that we saw Logan go back and try to make things right with Hannah was because Veronica is Logan's barometer for what is good, what is bad. And so he was trying to be good, do the good thing ... in Veronica's eyes.
In other words, VERONICA was the catalyst to be a better person here, not Hannah. In a way, I could see that Logan chose that path to prove (subconsciously) to Veronica that yes, he was a good person. He did the right thing and this good girl thinks the world of him, so therefore he can't be all bad. And it would make sense that he would be doing this for Veronica even if it means getting with another girl.
Again, if it was about liking Hannah (and he so did not like her like her), we would have just seen him looking mopey at her and feeling guilty with that being the push. We didn't; he ignored her UNTIL Veronica showed disappointment in his actions. Veronica was the catalyst, not Hannah. Hannah was merely convenient and someone who cared about him and considering his state of mind the last nine months or so, it makes perfect sense that he would be attracted to/attached to/wanting THAT. Not the person, but the fact that she cared about him.
In Logan's mind right now, Veronica is not even remotely a romantic option, so wanting to be with someone who does care about him is certainly understandable. Veronica barely wants anything to do with Logan; she's made it clear that they are over, done with, probably he feels that she wishes they had never been. So it's not about impressing Veronica to get her back, but about getting her to think less horribly of him. He did what clearly Veronica had expected/wanted him to do. The thinking is maybe there that he won't get Veronica back romantically, but at least she won't hate him and/or be disappointed with him.
Wallace drags Veronica kicking and screaming on a three day "Get to Know Hearst" college tour. It seems that our favorite BFF has a fighting chance for a b-ball scholarship and is stoked by the possibility. Veronica, however, is not nearly as enthusiastic about a future at Hearst because it isn't on the other side of the country. Or the planet. Or the solar system.
On the first day of the tour, the students are greeted by their weekend guide, a slightly geeky but apparently sweet student named (George Michael!) Dean. In an effort for everyone to get to know one another, Dean has everyone pair up with someone they don't know to play a little game called 'two truths and a lie.' Veronica, in typical loner fashion, ends up without a partner when Wallace goes off to make friends with a cute chick. Dean takes pity and he and Veronica play together for a bit. We learn that Dean, unlike Veronica, did shoot a man in Reno -- and Veronica's going to Hearst despite her hearty protests. Dean bows out of the game when a late-comer arrives for the tour. And who to our wondering eyes should appear, but Veronica's tire changing, sweet talking, oh-by-the-way-did-I-forget-to-mention-I'm-a-drug-dealer ex boyfriend: Troy Vandegraff. Helloooo, Troy.
Troy immediately tries to make nice with Veronica -- he apologizes for his past sins and swears that after a year of therapy, no drugs, private school, and ditching his 'loose cannon' ex-girlfriend, he's a changed man. He's a good boy now V, really! Veronica clearly isn't buying it, but declares that it doesn't really matter anyway because to her, he is nothing more than water under the bridge, [sotto voce]duplicitous, evil water under the bridge [/sotto voce].
That night the prospective students are milling at a typical college party. Veronica has been cornered by a drunken asshole who is tallying her finer "points." Despite the allure of helping this stud increase his score by a whopping 210 points, Veronica finds it far more entertaining to bathe him in several cups of beer. He's rather displeased by this display, and makes like he's gonna get mean. Troy, trying to prove to Veronica that he's a changed-man, attempts to defend our heroine with a gallant display of manliness. However, before he can make a move, the stud stops his heroic diatribe with a right hook straight to the honker. And Troy goes down.
Veronica is fairly unimpressed by the display, but we sense a softening towards the former ex. A cute girl (Maeby!) approaches to see if Troy's okay and offers to reward his chivalry with a beer, and Troy goes off with her. When we next see cute girl and Troy, they are stumbling down the hallway and making with the P.D.A.'s. The kind that involve tongue and bases. Veronica finds Wallace and tells him she's done with college for the day, so they head out. On the way out, Veronica makes a brief pit stop to taser Mr. Points for trying to scam on a chick and assign her points for her smokin' bod and possibly being an orphan. Klass with a capital K, right?
The next morning, Veronica is rudely awoken by a phone call from a desperate Troy. She heads down to the police station where Troy is being held for questioning -- and DNA sampling. Apparently, cute girl from the party (a.k.a. Stacy) was date raped the previous evening. Lamb corrects him: when a girl is Roofied and has her head shaved after the assault, they drop the "date" part of the charge. Apparently Lamb is far more distraught by this girl's predicament than Veronica's the year before. By the sound of things, I don't think Lamb told Stacy to go see the wizard and ask for new hair. Although, it wouldn't really surprise me if he did. Either way, I'm thinking Veronica ought to zap Lamb right in the ole nipple with her handy-dandy taser just on principal.
Troy is clearly desperate -- he swears his innocence and begs for the super-sleuth's help. Veronica gets the facts from Troy in the hallway. The police think Troy's the culprit because he was the last thing Stacy remembered from the previous evening; everyone saw the two of them going upstairs. Stacy had his hair and fibers and stuff all over her; and when they tested his clothes, they found out they were recently washed. Ah, yes. Nothing says "date rape" like clean laundry. It doesn't look particularly good for Troy, but as we all know, very little in Neptune is what it seems. Troy explains that yes, they did go upstairs and fool around -- strictly PG-13 -- but then Stacy puked all over him. And being the nice, newly reformed guy that he is, Troy cleaned them both up, tucked Stacy in to bed, and then went and washed his only change of clothes at the all-night laundry mat. Suds and Duds anyone?
Veronica agrees to help but warns Troy that she'll help nail him to the wall if she decides he's guilty. Once they reach this agreement, Veronica asks Troy some questions about the party. The only thing he really remembers is some long-haired guy in a blue sweatshirt trying to hit on Stacy. The sweatshirt had the Pi symbol on it.
Veronica takes a field trip to the Pi Sigma Sigma frat house to chase down some leads. She enters the living room which does look like a cover spread for Modern Squalor magazine, or perhaps backdrop for the new "Derelict" campaign fashion photo-shoot. If only there were a dead donkey ... Veronica spies the photo map on the wall that names all of the frat brothers. She learns that Mr. Points is a Pi Sig named Andrew Barndale, and that the mystery guy who'd been hitting on Stacy the night before is fellow brother, Gordon Peters. Frat brother Chip finds Veronica milling about and despite the fact that she shouldn't have gotten past the foyer without an invite, answers her questions about Gordon. Apparently Mr. Peters spent the previous evening in the hospital having his stomach pumped after binge drinking eighteen shots of vodka.
Veronica meets up with Troy on day two of the tour to give him the skinny on Gordon. Troy's bemoaning the stares and scrutiny he's been getting based on the speculations on his sexual practices. Cry that river to somebody else, bub. Veronica Mars has totally cornered that market. Veronica tells Troy if he can't come up with something else, he better get used to the stares and infamy because it's pretty much all he'll have to look forward to as a convicted sexual predator. Troy remembers that he left his name and number on Stacy's board -- no rapist would have done that right? Who knows. Veronica's gonna check because without traveling to an alternate dimension, she won't be taking Troy's word for it.
Veronica pays a visit to Stacy's room and finds Troy's name and number on the board, right where he said it would be. It has been partially wiped away though in order to make room for three C's. Don't ask -- Veronica will explain it all to you later. Poor Stacy emerges wearing a terrible hat (and a ridiculously mismatched ensemble) to find Veronica lingering at her door. After some bitter snarking (in true season one Veronica fashion) about how great the party and her rape were, she asks Veronica what she's doing there. And low and behold people -- Veronica appears to remember ... something ... dimly ... from her past ... something about a party, and some roofies ... yes, yes, it's all becoming clearer now ... RIGHT. Yes. Rape.
Veronica too spent over a year dealing with the psychological effects of having been drugged and raped, although without the added bonus of having her hair chopped off. Actually, that came later -- and was self-inflicted. Anyway, Veronica has a sad little moment where she shares with Stacy that no pamphlet on the planet will help. It's just gonna suck a lot for awhile, and then time will pass and it will suck less. (And if you can date your pseudo-rapist -- I'm sorry, nice guy -- a year later and put on a happy face, the event will pretty much fade into obscurity and the psychological damage will dissipate in a cloud of fairy dust!)
As Veronica turns to leave, Stacy spots a box sitting outside her door. When she opens it, she discovers that it is full of hair. Ewwwww. That is both gross and creepy! But the hair isn't Stacy's, so Veronica goes on the hunt for another victim. First stop? The local wig store. Veronica puts on an Emmy worthy performance involving cheesy soap-opera music and the sad story of a runaway sister with cancer who has given up on life. Um, except the girl the clerk remembers is Hawaiian. Oh. A shoot and a miss for our intrepid girl detective.
Veronica pays a visit to Dean and asks him where she can find a Hawaiian girl -- besides Hawaii. Dean says that the Pacific Islander kids have a lunch meeting thing at the student union on weekends. As Veronica heads out in search of the bald Hawaiian girl, she spots another strange note on someone's board. This time, it's the letters CL. Dean explains that it is Roman numerals for 150 -- points, that is, for the Pi Sig annual girl-nailing contest. Dean, although not a Pi Sig member, appears to have some pretty detailed inside knowledge. Supposedly, the Pi Sigs keep a scoreboard in their basement with the points standings and if a pledge doesn't put up a high enough score, they are punished. The traditional punishment is getting their head shaved. And the plot thickens!
Wallace gets a tour of the Pi Sig house under the pretense of wanting to pledge should he get the scholarship to Hearst. Wallace makes a smooth play and unlocks a window for Veronica so that she may enter stealthily, without breaking anything. Veronica heads right for the basement where she finds several frat house staples: Posters of Playboy models, a foosball table, and one not-so-standard item: A hand-crafted, sex-with-coeds scoreboard bearing a grid of names, points and tacky souvenirs. Veronica snaps a few incriminating shots before discovering that someone with the clever code-name of "Bird Dog" has posted her photo as a conquest. Oh no he di-int! She continues to peruse the board looking for the lucky member who's three hundred point score will correspond with Stacy's CCC's. And the winner is? Some dude named "Ice Man."
Before she can snap another pic, Veronica's discovered desecrating the 'sanctum' by a frat brother who immediately calls "Ice Man" in for back-up. Ice Man, a.k.a. Pi Sig brother Chip, charges down the stairs and begins hollering at Veronica that she has no business being there. Clearly these dudes don't know Veronica Mars. Being where she doesn't belong to right the injustices of the world is her stock and trade. And she's not about to roll over for some would-be bad-ass frat boy rapist.
Chip tells her that he had nothing to do with Stacy's rape. Gordo informs Veronica that Chip made his three hundred the old fashioned way -- by schtupping the Dean's wife. (Stop helping Gordon.) Veronica puts two and two together and realizes that Gordo is Gordon Peters, only now he's sans his "rock-star" locks. He swears that he didn't have anything to do with Stacy's rape either, and doesn't give a flying nun what she thinks. (I realize the writers are looking for clever ways around the censors, but "flying nun?" I mean, really, people. That's just abysmally lame.) Bird Dog, a.k.a. Mr. Points, comes downstairs to join in the fray. Veronica takes the opportunity to point out to Bird Dog's brothers that unless tasing counts as a sexual act, Bird Dog's about to get his head shaved because he never scored her 240 points. (Apparently Bird Dog low-balled her sassy quotient.)
Veronica abandons the frat boys and heads to the student union to track down the Pacific Islander lunch group, and stumbles across all six of them. Um, forgive me if I find it a little strange that a group this small actually has its own moniker -- and a scheduled function that other students are that aware of. Veronica approaches the obvious contender for miss wig -- a sassy girl with neon pink hair -- and asks her where she buys her wigs. Apparently Pinky dyes her hair that color, thank you very much. No wigs here! As Veronica tries to bolt and avoid extended humiliation, another one of the PI kids, a cute girl wearing a subtle wig, pipes up that Tori's on Pacific is a good place to go.
Veronica waits around and corners the wig girl when she leaves her lunch meeting to tell her a story about a nice girl who was raped and got her hair shaved off. Flash over to Stacy approaching Dean Harlow about a message that she received saying that there was information on her rapist. (Side note: Is there more than one Dean? 'Cause if not, it seems that the Dean is a lesbian. At least if Chip's 300 point escapades are to be believed.) The Dean is puzzled because she didn't call Stacy.
At that moment, Veronica walks in with the sweet PI girl in tow and tells Stacy that she left the message. She tells Stacy that Troy couldn't have raped her, not because he's a stand up guy like -- oh, I don't know DONUT -- but because it happened to Dawn (PI girl) too. Dawn was also attacked in the same manner a month ago when Troy was on the other side of the country mending his evil ways. The box of hair Stacy received was not part of the crime. Rather it was a petty crime of retribution by Gordon Peters, who lost his hair because he failed to nail Stacy.
Well, although she was unable to solve the crime, Veronica at least saved Troy's ass. Plus, she managed to get the Pi Sigs in massive trouble with the school and make a whole slew of new enemies. See? Hearst isn't half bad! It's already starting to feel like home.
- In English class, the original assignment was to write an essay on the use of mythic archetype in "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man." The new assignment is to enter Mayor Woody's county-wide essay contest on the subject of "Freedom." An essay for which Logan has loads of personal insight.
- The winner of the Mayor's essay contest wins a week-long internship with the Mayor, and the opportunity to stand with the Woodmeister and smile pretty for the cameras and pushing the red ACME plunger to make the old Shark's stadium go "boom."
- The average SAT score for a Hearst College freshman is 1280.
- Wallace scored an 1140 on the SAT's.
- Hearst College is a liberal arts school.
- Dick is single again because Madison has dumped him for someone more "mature." Not that that would be difficult. And now that he and Logan are both free agents again, and Logan's sac is no longer being held hostage in Hannah's easy-bake oven, Dick wants to have a male bonding weekend of partying like Ozzy. Which, I guess means they'll be tossing ham over the fence at the neighbors, or blathering incoherently about tiny bubbles.
- In Dick's world, maturity and chicks are the two most overrated things on the planet.
- The points rating system for the Pi Sigma Sigma fraternity includes: 30 points for being blond, with a bonus 20 if the color is natural; being super-cute is worth 50 (Side note: Is there a bonus for being super-fine?); and sassy is worth 30, although that number is flexible based on a 'degree of difficulty' sliding scale; and a whopping 80 for being a profro. (Side note: I much prefer the term 'prefrosh,' ala PCU. 'Profro' just strikes me as completely lame); a slammin' body is worth a phat 50 points. And disturbingly enough, it appears that being an orphan is worth something too.
- Wallace talked to a cute chick at the Hearst party about Kierkegaard, even though he doesn't know anything about Kierkegaard. Smooth Fennel!
- The South-Coast OBGYN Society hosts an annual convention. Cliff apparently attends every year searching for wealthy clients in need of legal advice, because (according to Cliff) OBGYN's are the most frequently sued specialty.
- When Veronica was dating Duncan while he lived in the Presidential Suite at the Neptune Grand, Keith got pretty tight with the security guys.
- Logan and Dick are celebrating their certified lone wolf status Ozzy style: By drinking beer and playing Xbox. After a particularly sweet move where Dick introduces Logan to his spine (in the game, that is), Logan is bemoaning Dick's inability to really party. Dick accuses Logan of denying his true nature as a life-taker, heart-breaker who doesn't give a proverbial rat's ass about what anyone else thinks. They drink beer, make a mess and answer to no one! And then, in Dick's world at least, they eat cake.
- In the video game they are playing, Logan and Dick are the characters "Scorpion" and "Kenshi."
- Despite the fun she had on her "Get to Know Hearst" tour, Veronica is adamant that she is not going to Hearst because it is in Neptune. Keith argues that it's a good school -- and it's ten exits away on the freeway, which gives her plenty of distance from home.
- And despite her many protests, the powers that be are apparently determined to see Veronica attend Hearst in the fall. In addition to her Dad's pleas, it appears that Veronica's BFF has been awarded that b-ball scholarship after all! And what's Veronica without her Wallace? Those five mid-season Wallace-free episodes proved once and for all that there just ain't no sunshine when he's gone. So I'm thinking Veronica just needs to resign herself to her fate.
- In English class we learn that our dear Logan is again, "free at last," thank God almighty. It appears that Dr. Griffith has kept his word and dropped his testimony. Veronica is uncharacteristically (at least as of late) friendly and gentle when talking to Logan about his newfound freedom and trying to offer a sympathetic ear while Logan tells her how Hannah took the news of their breakup. Instead of a heartfelt confession, Veronica gets only the chirping of crickets. (How on earth did those get into the school?) Apparently Logan hasn't quite figured out how to tell Hannah the truth and break up with her. Needless to say, Ms. Mars is none too pleased by this omission of silence. Bad Logan!
And then Logan's day gets really bad. The chirpy preschooler approaches Logan after class and babbles on ad nauseam about, I don't know, playing with blocks or something, completely missing the fact that her "boyfriend" has been avoiding her on what should be a happy day, and that he's so completely upset, he looks like he's about to pass out or puke or something. Finally, in an effort to get Hannah to stop her incessant yapping (kidding!) Logan stops and tells her that they can't see each other anymore. He clearly feels terrible about hurting her, but he makes it quick and clean and to the point: She's a really sweet girl -- and he's not a sweet guy. (Oh, Logan! We think you're sweet.) He leaves Hannah in the parking lot looking like a tearful, pink Gumby doll without a Pokey to call her own. *tear*
Later, Logan discovers the surprise Hannah made him in his locker -- a sweet little cake decorated as a "get out of jail free" card. And I mean this: Awwww. Later, while showing the world that they don't give a rat's ass, Dick finds the cake and digs in only to discover that Hannah baked a file into the cake. (Okay, okay, I give -- that is actually kind of cute and clever. It doesn't make her less annoying though, so don't be looking for a miracle here.)
Logan corners Gumby in the school parking lot after track practice where he tells her that her dad dropped her testimony so he would stop seeing her. Logan also admits that getting her dad to drop the testimony is precisely why he started dating her in the first place. And yeah, he wants to be forgiven too. Gumby takes about 2.2 nanoseconds to say, "Sure Logan! Bygones." And forgive him. Now you and I both know that he's pretty. And hot. And we can speculate with quite a bit of certainty that the boy knows what he's doing in the bedroom. But COME ON! That level of naivet is just ridiculous.
Anyway, the two make up and go back to Logan's suite where things take place and Tegan and Sara sing, but I experienced temporary hysterical blindness for about five minutes so I don't really know what happened. When I regained my sight, I saw naked Logan being confronted by Dr. Griffin -- looking all tall and scary -- and some goons. Now I know that there was something else happening in the scene, but I was too distracted by Logan's six pack to pay attention.
The next day, Logan finds out that Hannah's been sent away to boarding school in Vermont. (Talk about shutting the barn door after the cows have gotten out! Way to be on top of that one Dr. Dad.) Praise Jesus, Amen.
- Keith is on the phone with someone and strolling along the 12th floor of the Neptune Grand with a key card, looking for a door. When he opens the door on the appropriate suite, he finds our dear Cliffie in a rather compromising position -- handcuffed to a bed in only his socks, with his modesty protected by only the bed sheet. Apparently, some chick named Daphne that he met the previous evening at the hotel bar is responsible. After getting Cliff in the aforementioned compromising position, she stole his briefcase and hit the road.
Keith discovers that Daphne checked into the hotel using a fake name and credit card, so that is a dead end. However, he was able to score surveillance video from the elevator at the hotel. As Cliff and Keith view the tape, Keith asks Cliff about the content of the briefcase. Cliff tells him that it was mainly full of case files: drunken assault, lewd conduct, fraud, a divorce. There were a few other paltry personal items, but nothing real important. Except, oh yeah, Logan's murder case files. ALL OF THEM. Ok, Cliff, yeah, no biggie. I can see why that might be an afterthought. Then, to add insult to injury, Cliff tells Keith that what wasn't in his briefcase is in the Echolls' storage locker. And the key for that locker was also in his briefcase. Not good, Cliffie. Not good at all.
They go back to the tape where we see Cliff doin' the old motor boat on Miss Daphne's cleavage -- he has a zest for life, after all -- and then speed through until Daphne gets back on the elevator several hours later with Cliff's briefcase. And who should she meet on that elevator? Why it appears to be Sheriff Lamb (lookin' fine in jeans and a t-shirt I might add) accompanied by a 'special lady friend.'
It appears the good (or not, as the case may be) Sheriff knows Daphne! They chat for a few moments before Daphne and the briefcase depart. As soon as the elevator doors close behind her, Lamb and his special lady friend attempt to swallow one another whole and get their freak on. Veronica pops in and takes a look at the tape -- and can identify the femme fatal currently attempting to mount Lamb. None other than her arch nemesis, Madison Sinclair!
Keith and Cliff, wearing coordinating suits and matching Cheshire grins, pay Lamb a visit at the Sheriff's Department asking for a little "help." Keith shows Lamb a shot of Daphne in the elevator and asks if he knows her. Lamb denies that he does. Keith shows him a second shot where Lamb and Daphne are conversing in the elevator. Lamb says that he simply told her the time when she asked for it. Before he can head back into the office, Cliff asks to show him one more shot. At this point, Keith and Cliff can barely contain their gleefulness. Cliff pulls out another photo and tells Lamb, in his tawdriest voice, that this shouldn't be construed as coercion -- they are just showing him a picture. Of he and Madison Sinclair going at it like rabbits in the elevator. Lamb fakes bravado -- he's not falling for their 'blackmail' attempt because Ms. Sinclair, although in high school and just completely icky, is 18 and legal. So there! But Lamb underestimates this dynamic duo. Keith snarks that it would make a good campaign slogan and Cliff, in tandem, pull out one last shot: The same picture of Lamb and Madison with the slogan "18 -- It's Legal! Re-elect Don Lamb."
Dinner with the heir to the Sinclair fortune? $150. A night in a suite at the Neptune Grand? $1,000. Re-election campaign flyers showing the town Sheriff nailing a high school cheerleader? Priceless. To borrow a phrase from our fearless leader, this was indeed a "KC Masterpiece." (See April Fool's Day Forum.)
So, one last time Don -- who's Daphne again? Apparently Daphne is an escort that Lamb has busted on more than one occasion. She hires out as a Sugar Jones. See? Was that really SO hard to do Lamb? Clearly he will never learn that Keith, much like Veronica, is smarter than him.
Veronica arrives home from her three day whirlwind adventure at Hearst in enough time to meet Dad's hooker -- I mean escort -- Ms. Daphne. Veronica disappears into her room while Keith makes Daphne comfortable on the couch and Cliff emerges from Keith's room. The dynamic duo dog Daphne for details (hello alliteration!). Apparently she was offered triple rate to pick Cliff up and steal his briefcase, which she did with great success. She then met up with the gent in the garage and passed along the briefcase. She didn't get a name, and didn't care to. And the guys, in slightly less dynamic fashion, let Daphne go without even asking for the guy's description! Bad form, gents.
- Veronica and Keith are chatting at home over dinner when Veronica abruptly asks her dad about the nature of plastic explosives. Who can get them and what could they be used for -- legally, of course? Keith gives her the rundown: Construction, mining, demolition ... and off goes the light bulb in Veronica's head. Demolition? Like, perhaps, the upcoming demolition of Shark's stadium that the Mayor has planned?
Veronica puts on her best ditzy blonde high-school reporter persona and goes to interview the crew foreman in charge of the stadium demolition. She learns that they are planning to use some dynamite, but mainly C-4 to blow up the stadium. The foreman gestures to a box of C-4 conveniently lying around the site -- the very same C-4 Veronica discovered in the airplane hanger. And if that isn't suspicious enough, it appears that Danny Boyd, that Fitzpatrick crony that Dr. Griffith sewed up on a pool table, is working on the demolition crew.
"I Hate It That I Got What I Wanted" (Clearlake)
Scene: When is the do-able quotient of a babe a mathematic equation? Apparently when attending a Hearst college party as Veronica finds out.
"Crank It Out" (Ari Shine)
Scene: Veronica and Wallace make their final goodbyes to Dean (George Michael!) as they vamoose from the Hearst house o' fun.
"I Know, I Know, I Know" (Tegan and Sara)
Scene: We'll skip the details and just say that Dr. Griffin shows up when Logan is all shirtless and pretty, but not with Veronica (*sniff*) and leave it at that.
LoVe Lines
Veronica: So you should be able to write quite an essay on freedom. (Voice dipping to a softer tone.) How does it feel to have your case dismissed?
Logan: Well, freedom feels liberating.
Veronica: So you've got your title.
Quotable Quotes
Dick: Nuke the stadium. Damn, now I totally wish I could write good.
Veronica: Okay, I'm Veronica. I'm from Neptune and I once shot a man in Reno, just to see him die.
Dean: How did that go?
Veronica: It was a bit of a let down.
Dean: Well, I don't believe that you're from Neptune.
Veronica: Wrong. Is that the end?
Dean: Well, ah, my name is Dean. I'm from Wheaton, Illinois. My father owns a Ford Dealership and I also shot a man in Reno, but it was not to watch him die, it was for other issues.
Veronica: Your father doesn't sell Fords.
Dean: That's right. Toyotas. How did you know?
Veronica: It's all in the eyes.
Dean: Alright, well, I guess I'll need to watch out for you next year.
Veronica: Oh, I won't be attending.
Dean: Alright, enough lies.
Veronica Mars Voiceover: So, it seems Hearst College pretty much has it all. Campus combining modern facilities with the best traditions of learning? Check. Student body composed of diverse, interesting smart people? Check. And drunken doofuses that corner you to tally your points? Check.
Veronica: (After Troy unsuccessfully seeks to defend Veronica's honor.) As much as I appreciate that display of chivalry, Ahhh, I had it covered.
Troy: Maybe I wanted to demonstrate that I really have changed.
Veronica: So, you're no longer evil, you're stupid, congratulations!
Veronica: Can I have your beer?
Bird Dog: Sure. (Veronica throws beer all over him which causes Bird Dog to yell.) Damn, grow a sense of humor, you crazy bitch!!!
Veronica: I would ... if something funny would ever happen.
Bird Dog: (Getting ready to throw beer on Veronica) Tell me how you like it! (Instead, Veronica tosses beer out of his hand and it lands all over him again.)
Veronica: It's fun, but it's getting kinda old.
Dean: Ahh, my Pro Fros! It's a fun party, huh?!
Wallace: Not bad. I actually talked to a cute girl about Kierkegaard. Made me wish I knew something about Kierkegaard.
Dean: I saw you talking to that guy. What'd you talk about?
Veronica: Jane Austen. But he dissed Pride and Prejudice, so I had to throw a beer on him.
Keith: (In a note to Veronica.) Gone on puzzling errand. Be back later, Dad.
Veronica: (To Troy.) If I decide you're guilty, I'll help hold the hammer while they nail you to the wall.
Cliff: (To Keith about the contents of his briefcase.) So, other than the files, it's an address book, receipts, some keys, and I believe a copy of Elle magazine ... but I forget why.
Keith: (Viewing Cliff's escapades with Daphne on the elevator security tapes.) So 10:15 you're on your way up. (Watching the action unfold on the screen, much to Cliff's chagrin.) My God, Cliff, you're like a wild animal. Is that what the kids call "motor boatin'?"
Cliff: (In his tawdriest voice.) I have a zest for life -- so sue me.
Veronica Mars Voiceover: (Looking around the Pi Sigma frat house.) Nice. A little more vomit and a dead donkey, and you've got a cover spread in Modern Squalor magazine. And doesn't it make sense this is the home of Mr. Points himself, Andrew Barndale.
Veronica: So what are you doing over here? Looks like Dean's got a great story about the front of that building.
Troy: I kinda bailed on the tour. I got tired of the looks, you know?
Veronica: So you figured creepy skulking was a better use of your time? That won't make you seem guilty.
Dick: (Talking to Logan while playing a video game.) Dude. Do you know what I'm gonna do to you? First, I'm gonna kick your ass. Then, I'm gonna grab your head and yank out your spine. What do you think about that? Sound okay? 'Kay. (Returning his attention to the screen.) Ooh. Oh! Look, look -- I'm doin' it. I'm doin' it! (His character in the game performs the aforementioned spine-yanking move.) Yoink! (With a somewhat ominous tone.) Say hello to your spine! (In a high, somewhat girly voice.) 'It's me, your spine!' (Logan walks away from the game, somewhat disgusted.) What?
Logan: I'm just imagining what Ozzy would think of your concept of 'partying like Ozzy.'
Dick: You wanna snort a line of ants? I'm in. Come on -- we're free men who reject the rule of women. Get into the spirit. I mean, exhibit A. (Gestures to the empty beer bottles.) Exhibit B (Gestures to something else.) My suspicion is you're afraid to embrace your true nature.
Logan: Which is?
Dick: We are lone wolves, dude. High-plains drifters, life-takers and heart-breakers.
Logan: Who play video games all day. (Flicks a bottle cap at Dick's head.)
Dick: Who don't give a damn about what other people say 'cause they don't give a rat's ass. (Opening fridge to scavenge for food.) Dude, you've got cake!
Logan: (To Dick.) ... You're right. Life-takers and heartbreakers. To not giving the ass of a rat (Clinking his beer bottle with Dick's.)
Veronica Mars Voiceover: It's now time for me to clinch that Emmy nomination.
Veronica: (As store clerk searches through register.) Do you have a name?
Store clerk: (Incredulous) You don't know her name? Because we don't just give out cust --
Veronica: (Interrupting) Ma'am. She's run away. She's scared and she's alone. We don't even want to know how she's making her money. (Emotionally) She's ... given up on life, and she thinks she's sparing us the pain, but not knowing where she is, or what name she's using, or whether she's safe. It's torture. (Crying by this point) Please, ma'am, she's my sister.
Store clerk: I'm sorry, this girl was Hawaiian.
Veronica: (Sheepishly) Oh.
Veronica: If I wanted to find a Hawaiian girl, where would I start?
Dean: In Hawaii?
Veronica: Dean?
Dean: Yeah?
Veronica: What does this mean, CL?
Dean: Oh. Uh, that's a score. It's 150 in Roman numerals. It's a Pi Sig thing, they have like a, you know, a contest for scoring girls, or something.
Veronica: Fifty points for a blonde, thirty points for sassy.
Dean: Well yeah, I mean I don't know if you get points for being sassy, but yeah.
Keith: (Along with Cliff waiting for Lamb.) Don, do you have time for a question?
Lamb: (Sighs)For the two of you? Always.
Keith: We're just looking for a little help here.(Shows picture of woman from elevator.) Do you know this woman?
Lamb: No. We got to do this again sometime. (Walks away.)
Keith: You sure? (Holds up second picture that includes Lamb)
Lamb: (Looks at picture, holds up hands.) You got me. I rode an elevator with her, she asks the time, and I tell. (Walks away again.)
Cliff: Uh, Sheriff. Just a ... couple more shots. (Nods Lamb over to the side, Keith looks on gleefully.) I want to emphasize, this should not be construed as coercion, we're just showing you a picture. (Hands Lamb picture with Madison.)
Keith: That's Madison Sinclair, who I believe takes World History with my daughter.
Lamb: So what? This is blackmail? She's 18, it's legal.
Keith: Sounds like a swell campaign slogan for the next election. (Takes mockup of flyer from Cliff, Lamb snatches it.) We just want to know who this first woman is.
Lamb: She's an escort. I've busted her a few times. She hires out as Sugar Jones.
Keith: Great. Thanks, Don.
Cliff: (Before walking away points to flyer.) I'd vote for you.
Frat guy: If you get the scholarship you gotta join. When I got here I was like, totally want to be a Pi.
Wallace: Uh, yeah, yeah. Once when I was little I wanted to be ice cream.
Veronica Mars Voiceover: And someone with the handle Bird Dog says he scored me? That is wrong both factually and ontologically.
Veronica: Oh, and you might want to get your clippers. (Walks to score board and pulls down her picture.) Because unless being electrocuted counts, Bird Dog here never scored these 240 points. (Crumples up picture and walks past Gordon.)
Gordon: (Smirks.) It was 210.
Veronica: You under-counted the "sassy." (Bounces crumpled photo off his chest and leaves.)
Dean: They got a semester of probation.
Veronica: If it's double-secret probation, there's a serious leak.
Dean: No mixers, no parties, no sports. It was your photo that nailed them. (Chuckles.) You don't mess around, do you?
Wallace: (Wraps arm around Veronica's shoulders.) That's Veronica Mars. Making friends and influencing people wherever she goes. See, if you come here next year, you've already got enemies. Just feel right at home.
Sugar: Is Keith here?
Veronica: Dad, your hooker's here.
Sugar: So is that it?
Cliff: Uh, I guess so. But hey, nice work. I really thought it was all real.
Sugar: Only the welts, honey.
The Grapes of Wrath ... (Referenced by the episode title.)
The Grapes of Wrath is a work of fiction written by John Steinbeck and published in 1939. The novel won the Pulitzer Prize in 1940 and is frequently read in American high school and college literature classes. Set in the Great Depression, the popular novel, in which descriptive, narrative, and philosophical passages succeed one another, tells the story of a family of sharecroppers, the Joads -- Oklahoma farmers driven from their land by drought and the Dust Bowl, and forced to endure the hardships of migrant workers moving West. The title is a reference to the Battle Hymn of the Republic, by Julia Ward Howe:
Written by Irish author James Joyce and originally published in serial form in 1914-1915, Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is easily Joyce's easiest to read and most accessible major work (Ulysses, anyone?). The main character is Stephen Dedalus, who is in many ways based on the author himself. This is essentially a coming of age story, following Stephen as he attends school and discovers what he wants to do with his life. Major themes include the development of individual consciousness, the pitfalls of religious extremism, the role of the artist, and the need for Irish autonomy.
Joyce's signature writing style is stream of consciousness, which he uses in this novel primarily during the opening sections and in Chapter five. Another technique Joyce often uses is the epiphany, where the character makes a sudden realization in some way. One such epiphany in Portrait involves Stephen seeing a young girl wading at the beach and realizing that appreciation of beauty is a good ability to have.
S.A.T.s ... (Referenced by Wallace when telling Veronica about average Hearst scores.)
The SAT exam is a standardized test administered to high school students applying to college. The test measures both math and verbal skills. Recently, the exam also evaluates students' writing abilities. On the math and verbal sections students can score up to 800 (1600 total available points). On the writing students can receive anywhere from a 1- 6.
These scores are often criticized as being arbitrary (after all what is the standard to which they are holding students) and culturally biased (in favor of a white middles class upbringing). Despite these criticisms however, the test continues to be an educational institution, helping universities select students for admission and scholarships, terrorizing students, and relieving parents of more than $100 each time their son or daughter must take (or retake) the exam.
Fun facts: SAT used to stand for Scholastic Aptitude Test. Now it stands for nothing. The acronym has simply become the test's name.
Folsom Prison Blues / "I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die." ... (Referenced by Veronica as the lie part of her "Two Truths and a Lie" game with Dean.)
Hit 1956 song recorded by Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two and written by Cash. His inspiration for the song was the 1951 film Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison, which Cash saw while serving in the U.S. Air Force in West Germany. A live version of the song is the opening track on the successful 1968 album At Folsom Prison, which was recorded live in the California State Prison located in Represa.
The lyrics are:
Reno, Nevada is frequently referred to as "The Biggest Little City in the World," as its 85.2 square miles is dense with a diverse arts and entertainment scene, year-round outdoor recreation and exciting nightlife and gaming opportunities. Reno was settled in 1859 and was settled rapidly over the next forty years with the addition of a Central Pacific Railroad station, the relocation of the University of Nevada to the city, as well as the legalization of gambling in 1879.
Reno is home to approximately 200,000 people and a booming tourism industry. Situated less than thirty miles from the California border in the western part of Nevada, Reno is approximately forty-five minutes north of Lake Tahoe and fifteen well-known winter sports resorts. Reno is nestled 4,400 feet above sea level and enjoys a mild climate with roughly three hundred sunny days per year, which facilitates an extremely active recreational atmosphere.
Wheaton, Illinois ... (Referenced by Dean as he tells Veronica it's his hometown, during their "Two Lies and a Truth" game.)
Located in northeastern Illinois, approximately 25 miles west of Chicago. The town was founded by Erastus Gary and Jesse and Warren Wheaton in 1837 and incorporated as a village in 1859. The DuPage County government seat moved to Wheaton in 1867. With a population of over 55,000, some of the town attractions include Wheaton College, the DuPage County Fairgrounds and the prestigious Chicago Golf Club. Notable people who grew up in Wheaton include actors John and Jim Belushi, Bob Woodward of the Washington Post and astronomer Edwin Hubble.
Ford ... (Referenced when Veronica learns what Dean's father doesn't sell during 'two truths and a lie.')
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 300,000 employees and 108 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include Ford Motor Credit Company.
Toyota ... (Referenced when Veronica learns what Dean's father does sell during 'two truths and a lie.')
Toyota Motor Company is a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures automobiles under the brand names Toyota, Scion and Lexus. Toyota also owns majority stakes in Daihatsu and Hino, and 8.7% of Fuji Heavy Industries, which manufactures Subaru vehicles. Toyota produces an estimated eight million vehicles per year, about a million fewer than the number produced by GM. Toyota also provides Financial Services and participates in other lines of business. In the 2005 Forbes Global 2000 it was the tenth-largest company in the world.
Easy Bake Oven ... (Referenced by Dick asking Logan if "that chick still has his sac in her Easy Bake Oven.")
Created in 1963 in Cincinnati, Ohio-based Kenner Products, today is a product of Hasbro. The Easy-Bake oven is oft cited as an inspiration of celebrity chefs and is named favorite childhood toy by both men and women. The 'toy' actually does work as an cooking appliance by using an ordinary light bulb as the heat source that cooks the cake mix provided with the purchase of the toy.
Legoland ... (Referenced by Logan as Dick explains that Madison found someone more mature to date.)
Legoland is the name of several Lego Group-owned theme parks targeted at children, that entertain with rides, shows and Lego Miniland, a section of the parks that exhibits large-scale Lego brick constructions. The Legoland theme parks are located in Carlsbad, California, Windsor, England, Gnzburg, Germany, and Billund, Denmark.
Lego is the brand name of a popular line of children's toys, first created in Denmark in 1947. The company name is a combination of "leg godt", Danish for "play well." The Lego toys are colorful plastic "brick" building blocks that interlock with one another. Also sold with the Lego bricks are other building items, such as wheels and axles, roofing shingles, mini-people, and various other parts that help to create almost anything imaginable, from spaceships to entire towns.
Ozzy ... (Referenced by Dick when telling Logan they're going to spend the weekend partying like Ozzy)
Born John Michael Osborne on December 3, 1948, in Aston, Birmingham, England, Ozzy Osbourne was the lead singer of metal band Black Sabbath, and is now a popular solo artist and reality television star. Black Sabbath was quickly successful, and is still popular today. Ozzy himself, however was fired from Black Sabbath in 1979 for his frequent failure to show up for gigs. It was at this point that he began his solo career, with significant help from future wife, Sharon ( with whom he has three children. He also has three children with his first wife, Thelma.)
The Ozzy Osbourne Band was born, and the second album, "Diary of a Madman," is still regarded as a heavy metal classic. The song Crazy Train, from the band's first album, contributes one of the most famous guitar riffs in music and is commonly used by baseball players for the walk-up music. It has also been sampled and covered multiple times. Ozzy's alcoholism, drug abuse, and antics worsened during the 1980s.
He is particularly infamous for biting off the head of a live dove during a meeting with his new record company, after which he was banned from CBS' buildings. He also once bit the head off a bat during a concert in Iowa, after which he was hospitalized for rabies. During the 1990s Sharon created Ozzfest, which has given up-and-coming groups exposure and has been quite financially successful.
Most recently, Ozzy and his family (Sharon and children Jack and Kelly) were featured on the MTV reality show The Osbournes, which quickly became a part of the pop culture lexicon. Years of drug and alcohol abuse have contributed to Ozzy's stuttering, slurred speech and shuffling gait. Let's hope Logan does not party like Ozzy anytime soon.
Heidegger ... (Referenced by Stacy telling Gordon at the party: "Heidegger's fine if you're a Nazi.")
Martin Heidegger (1889-1976) was a German philosopher and professor in his early years, thought to be the founder of the "existentialist movement." He was influenced by Sren Kierkegaard, but he delineated various aspects of human existence, the individual's relationship to death, related the authenticity of being, and studied the anguish of modern society, to the individual's confrontation with his own temporality. He actively supported Adolf Hitler during the his first years in power.
Kierkegaard ... (Referenced by Wallace telling Dean and Veronica he talked to a cute girl about Kierkegaard.)
Sren Aabye Kierkegaard was a both a religious and philosophical thinker. He believed live was more than believing in a "subjective truth", but living it. Kierkegaard developed an "existential dialectic" in opposition to the Hegelian dialectic, and described the various stages of existence as the aesthetic, the ethical, and the religious. As the individual advances through these stages he becomes increasingly more aware of his relationship to God. He later exerted a tremendous influence upon both contemporary Protestant theology and the philosophic movement known as existentialism.
Jane Austen ... (Referenced by Veronica when telling Dean she dumped beer on Andrew because he dissed Austen/P&P.)
Born in December 16, 1775, Jane Austen is one of the most beloved authors of all time, with her works still held in wide regard today. Reprinted several times, her novels have also been made into film and television several times over including the 2005 Oscar-nominated Pride and Prejudice (which still doesn't hold a candle to the BBC version starring Colin Firth as Darcy). Along with her quick-witted heroines and sprightly plotting, Austen also deftly explored the inner working of a woman's mind. Sadly, Austen only enjoyed moderate success in her lifetime.
Pride and Prejudice ... (Referenced by Veronica when telling Dean she dumped beer on Andrew because he dissed Austen/P&P.)
Jane Austen novel, published in 1813. The book follows the headstrong character, Elizabeth Bennett, the second of five sisters, as she makes her way through romantic entanglements, false assumptions, and bad first impressions to find love with Mr. Darcy, the rude, snobbish, arrogant antagonist (Does this scenario sound familiar to anyone else?).
Roofies ... (Referenced by Lamb when telling Veronica that Troy's accuser was roofied and raped.)
Flunitrazepam -- marketed under the trade name Rohypnol -- is manufactured worldwide, particularly in Europe and Latin America. Its most common street name is roofie and it generally sells for below $5.00 per small white tablet. It is ten times more potent than valium and can be habit forming, one of the reasons that it is illegal to own in the US. Rohypnol is one of the drugs most commonly implicated in drug-facilitated rape and due to its high usage blue dye was added to it in 1999 so that it would no longer be clear in liquid. Common effects from usage are memory impairment, drowsiness, visual disturbances, dizziness, confusion, excitability or aggressive behavior and it can mentally and physically paralyze an individual. Effects of the drug are of particular concern in combination with alcohol and can lead to amnesia, where events that occurred during the time the drug was in effect are forgotten.
In response to Rohypnol abuse and use of the drug to facilitate sexual assaults, the U.S. Congress passed the Drug Induced Rape Prevention and Punishment Act, effective October 13, 1996. The law provides for harsher penalties regarding the distribution of a controlled substance to an individual without the individual's consent and with the intent to commit a crime of violence, including rape. The law imposes a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a fine for the importation and distribution of 1 gram or more of Rohypnol. Simple possession is punishable by 3 years in prison and a fine.
PG-13 (Referenced by Troy as he tells Veronica about the time he spent with Stacy.)
PG-13 is one of five trademarked ratings classifications given to American films by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). This ratings system is observed by the majority of film exhibitors and was first instituted on November 1, 1968, after MPAA President Jack Valenti abolished the outdated Hays Production Code. The Production Code either approved or disapproved of content in a motion picture, preventing films from being released that the Production Code Administration considered "immoral" or that contained even one scene or line of dialogue they didn't deem to be appropriate for audiences.
As more daring films began to be released in the 1960's -- in flagrant disregard of the Code -- it became apparent to the MPAA that a new system was needed. This system would be monitored and guided by the MPAA, NATO (National Association of Theatre Owners) and IFIDA (International Film Importers & Distributors of America) and would theoretically be used as a guidance or parental warning system for films, rather than as a censorship tool. Originally only three ratings categories were planned, but NATO pushed for an adults-only category. The original ratings used from 1968-1970 were: G (General audiences; all ages), M (Mature audiences; parental discretion advised), R (Restricted; under 16/17 not admitted without parent/guardian), and X (under 17 not admitted).
These ratings, except for X, were all trademarked by the MPAA. Anyone who didn't submit their film for a ratings classification could use the X or any other description when promoting their film. In 1990, the X rating was changed to NC-17 (and trademarked), since an X rating eventually became too closely associated with pornographic films, which was not the MPAA's intention for the adults-only category. Since the M (Mature) rating was often mistaken to be a more adult rating than R, it was changed to GP (General audience -- Parental guidance suggested), only to be changed a year later to PG (Parental Guidance suggested).
In the 1980s, three popular Steven Spielberg films -- Poltergeist (1982), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) and Gremlins (1984) -- contained scenes considered by many to be too violent or frightening for a PG audience, yet these films were not necessarily violent or profane enough to merit the R rating. So a middle rating, PG-13, was created in July of 1984 that would still allow pre-teens to attend without a parent or guardian, but would act as a cautionary rating to warn parents in advance that a film might not be appropriate for younger moviegoers. The first film to receive a PG-13 classification was The Flamingo Kid, but due to its delayed premiere, Red Dawn was actually the first PG-13 film released.
Individual film ratings can be found at the MPAA website, including the basic reasons used for classification (e.g. intense action violence; sexuality/nudity; language; drinking).
Elle Magazine ... (Referenced by Cliff when describing the contents of his briefcase to Keith.)
Elle is a fashion magazine that covers fashion, beauty, entertainment, food, travel and personalities. It strives to reach a contemporary and fashion-forward female audience focusing on runway shows and the very latest in fashion styles and trends. Cliff + fashion magazine = The mind boggles. Hee, hee.
Emmy Nomination ... (Referenced by Veronica as she prepares to try and get information at the Wig shop.)
Emmy Nominations recognize excellence within various areas of the television industry. The awards are a symbol of peer recognition from over 12,000 members of the Academy. Each member casts a ballot for the category of competition in their field of expertise. The 58th Emmy Awards will be held on August 27, 2006. Actors usually send in clips featuring some of their more dramatic moments. Veronica's impassioned plea for her sister was not only a typical "Emmy" moment, it was also a subtle dig at the Emmy nomination committee which did not recognize her excellent work last year and nominate her for an Emmy.
Iceman ... (Referenced as Chip's score board alias.)
One of the original members of the popular comic book superhero team, the X-Men, Bobby Drake is a mutant whose special power is the ability to freeze moisture in the air around him, creating ice in various forms, such as shields, projectiles and slides. "Iceman," as he is known, was admitted to Professor Charles Xavier's school for "gifted youngsters" when he was a teenager. It was there that he became the youngest member of the superhero Mutant team, known as the X-Men.
Iceman's first appearance was in September, 1963 in X-Men volume 1 #1. The character has also appeared in the animated series Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, X-Men and X-Men: Evolution, as well as several video game adaptations.
In the highly successful feature films X-Men (2000) and X2: X-Men United (2003) and the upcoming 2006 release X-Men 3: The Last Stand, the role of Iceman is played by Shawn Ashmore, who happens to be the twin brother of actor Aaron Ashmore ("Troy Vandegraff" on VM).
Ryan Seacrest ... (Referenced by Veronica to Chip (IceMan) about his hair.)
Ryan Seacrest is the host of the uber-popular television talent show, American Idol. The quintessential metrosexual, he is known to be very conscientious of his hair styling and grooming to the point of bringing his own stylist in to deal with his special hair needs. These days, Seacrest (born December 24, 1974) is almost an entertainment industry unto himself. Along with his AI hosting gig, he also DJs America's Top 40 Countdown, took over for Rick Dees hosting an afternoon radio program on the Los Angeles radio station KIIS-FM renamed On Air with Ryan Seacrest.
In addition, he briefly had his own television talk show and recently signed a three-year/$21 million deal to produce and host various E! programs, including red carpet events. He is also the substitute host for Larry King Live. Phew. Finally, at age 30, Seacrest is also one of the youngest (and, erm, oddest) recipients of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The Flying Nun ... (Referenced by Gordon telling Veronica he doesn't give a "flying nun" about what Stacy's saying.)
The Flying Nun was a sitcom produced by the ABC from 1967 until 1970. The plot is centered on the adventures of a group of nuns in the Convent San Tanco in Puerto Rico. The comic elements of the storyline were provided by the unexplained flying ability of a novice nun, Sister Bertrille, played by Sally Field. She could be relied upon to solve any problem that came her way by her ability to catch a passing breeze and fly (attributed to her small stature and heavily starched habit), but her flying talents caused as many problems as they solved.
The unusual premise caught the attention of the public and the program was a success, yet the storylines were limited, and by the end of the show's run, the writers were struggling to create new situations that would allow the heroine to take flight. Critics never responded favorably to the show, and credited most of its success to the appeal of Sally Field.
Animal House ... (Referenced by Veronica to Dean about Pi Sig).
National Lampoon's Animal House (often called just Animal House) is a 1978 comedy film in which a misfit group of Delta fraternity boys takes on the system at their college. The movie takes place at fictional Faber College in 1962. A 1950s mentality prevails on campus, typified by the Omegas -- the "nice boy" fraternity. At the other end of Fraternity Row, both literally and figuratively, stands the Delta Tau Chi House, a repository for every campus misfit. The Dean of the University, in cahoots with the Omegas, is constantly plotting to revoke the Deltas' charter and drive them off campus permanently.
Animal House is considered as the movie that started the gross-out genre, that predated Porky's and American Pie. It stars John Belushi, Tim Matheson, Karen Allen, John Vernon, Thomas Hulce, Cesare Danova, Peter Riegert, Mary Louise Weller, Stephen Furst, James Daughton, Bruce McGill, Mark Metcalf, James Widdoes, Martha Smith, Kevin Bacon (in his film debut) and Donald Sutherland.
The movie was adapted by Douglas Kenney, Christopher Miller and Harold Ramis from stories that had originally been written by Miller and published in National Lampoon magazine. It was directed by John Landis. In 2001 the United States Library of Congress deemed the film "culturally significant" and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry. Produced on a scanty $3 million budget, the film has turned out to be one of the most profitable of all time; since its initial release, Animal House has garnered an estimated return of more than $200 million in the form of video and DVDs, not including merchandising.
"Double secret probation" ... (Referenced by Veronica to Dean about Pi Sig).
Double Secret Probation is a condition of arbitrarily imposed scrutiny of a given person's or group's activities in an organizational or academic setting without procedural warning. The phrase sprang to prominence in Animal House when Dean Vernon Wormer (John Vernon) tells Inter-Fraternity Council President Greg Marmalard (James Daughton) that he has already placed the offending Delta Tau Chi house on "double secret probation," because the "Deltas" have pushed the administration to the limit with a series of ever-increasingly outrageous behavior that is described but not always shown.
Nietzsche ... (Referenced by Keith to Veronica while talking up Hearst.)
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844-1900) was a German philosopher. Nietzsche was not a systematic philosopher but rather a moralist who passionately rejected Western civilization. He regarded Christian civilization as decadent and yet, slave minded. He instead looked to the superman, the creator of a new heroic morality that would consciously affirm life and the life values (existentialism). Nietzsche's thought had widespread influence but was of particular importance in Germany. Apologists for Nazism seized on much of his writing as a philosophical justification for their doctrines, but most scholars regard this as a perversion of Nietzsche's thought.
French Revolution ... (Referenced by Keith when talking Hearst up to Veronica.)
Lasting eleven years (1789-1799), the French Revolution spelled the end of the old order rule. During the revolution, republicanism replaced the monarch and the Roman Catholic Church (of France) underwent radical restructuring (and not willingly). For the next seventy-five years, the nation swung between republic, empire and monarch rule following the first Republican fall led by Napoleon Bonaparte.
Vermont (Referenced as the destination to which Hannblah's been banished to for, one hopes, the rest of the series.)
Vermont is a small state (with only 9,620 square miles of land, ranking 43rd in land area) located in the New England region of the United States. Vermont also ranks as the second smallest state by population, with its roughly 623,050 people. It borders New Hampshire to the east, New York to the west, Massachusetts to the south, and the Canadian province Quebec. The Green Mountains, for which Vermont is nicknamed, are a mountain range that extends about 250 miles through the state. Vermont produces more maple syrup than any other state, and is also known for its quality dairy products. Like most states in New England (New Hampshire generally being the exception), Vermont is a liberal state and one of very few that has granted civil unions for same-sex couples.
Vermont was occupied by Native American tribes until the 17th century, when France claimed the area of Lake Champlain as part of New France. Vermont then became a British possession after France was defeated in the French and Indian War. During the American Revolutionary War, the 1777 Battle of Bennington (not taking place in Bennington, Vermont, but just over the New York border) resulted in a British defeat. Vermont was thereafter an independent republic for fourteen years. It was the 14th state to join the Union in 1791.
Bugs Bunny ... (Referenced by Veronica while discussing demolitions with the foreman.)
"What's up, Doc?" So sayeth the most famous rabbit of all times, Mr. Bugs Bunny himself. Voiced by Mel Blanc (1940-1989) (then by Jeff Bergman (1990-1993) Greg Burson (1993-1996) Billy West (1996-) Joe Alaskey (2004-present)
and drawn that way by Robert McKimson, Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng, Bugs appears in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons. He's also appeared in feature films including 1996's Space Jam and 2003's Looney Tunes: Back in Action.
According to his biography (yes, this most legendary of fictional characters has a biography), he was born in 1940's Brooklyn -- thus his accent, a cross between a Brooklynite and Bronx native. Bugs is known for his operatic skills, tendency to dress in drag and long-time feud with Elmer Fudd. However, Fudd is not his only antagonist; he also goes rounds with Yosemite Sam, Marvin Martian, Daffy Duck and even Wily E. Coyote (more well-known as the Road Runner's enemy). Much more often than not, Bugs wins the day handily.
Jones worried this winning streak might cause audiences to lose sympathy and devised a strategy to avoid that by having the antagonist repeatedly bully, cheat or threaten Bugs in some way. Eventually, Bugs would feel the need to respond ("Of course you ree-lize, dis means war") and snarky, smart retaliation would ensue ... much to the audience's delight.
- Incredibly enough, Logan even looks sexy when chewing on a pen cap.
- On the chalkboard adjacent to Logan's desk, Mrs. Murphy has written a brief description of William Blake's poem London:
- In the letter Woody Goodman writes to introduce the essay contest, it reads: "You'll have the opportunity to learn about civic affairs, political manipulation, and corruption aversion tactics." Political manipulation?! If that doesn't scream "I'm the bad guy," I don't know what does.
- The look exchanged between Logan and Veronica after the classroom cheers about Logan's murder charges being dismissed.
- According to the chalkboard in Mrs. Murphy's class, Logan and Veronica have English class during Period 3. Yet, when they exit the classroom, it's 1:45 pm.
- During the break-up scene, we can hear the marching band (particularly the drumline) practicing in the background. This was a nice, realistic touch that should bring a smile to the face of anyone who's a band geek at heart.
- While walking with Wallace down the hall, Veronica either really likes the smell of her own shampoo or is trying to decide whether Sacks' pornstache is the right look for her as well.
- Logan's genuinely concerned tone when he asks Dick: "What happened to Madison?"
- At the Hearst party, Veronica again references Pride and Prejudice. If we assume that Logan is Darcy, then does Veronica's obvious appreciation for Pride and Prejudice indicate a re-emergence in her feelings for Logan? I'll leave that up to you to decide.
- Veronica's tone of voice when she says "smooth," and her accompanying hand motion.
- While exiting the party, Veronica taps some random guy on the arm to say goodbye, who waves in response.
- During Keith's rescue mission, Cliff informs him that he staying on the 12th floor of the Neptune Grand. However, the room across the hall from Cliff's is actually number 931. I guess Cliff failed both Criminal Law and Elementary Math.
- The facial expressions that Logan makes while playing videogames with Dick that seem to be a mixture of irritation and boredom.
- The incredibly cheesy, yet hilarious soap opera like music that plays in the background during Veronica's Emmy speech.
- At the beginning of the episode it appears that Madison and Dick have broken up. But wait, am I missing something?! When exactly did the Gruesome Twosome reunite?
- In Ain't No Magic Mountain High Enough, when Madison informs Dick: "I've moved on to older men," was she referring to Lamb?
- Was Veronica's explanation for the beer-throwing (due to the dissing of Pride and Prejudice) an in-joke due to the uproar from fans over Jackie's dissing of that very same classic in Cheatty Cheatty Bang Bang?
- When Sugar Jones informs Keith and Cliff that she doesn't know who the guy was that paid her to steal Cliff's briefcase, they pretty much drop the subject. We all know that Keith is an awesome detective, so why doesn't he at least ask if she can provide a description of the mystery man?
- Where did "Bird Dog" get the photograph of Veronica? Was it taken at the party?
- Is the "New and Improved" Troy for real or is evil still lurking beneath the surface?
- If Hearst is supposed to be a hard school to get into, why does Troy think he stands a chance of being admitted? While I don't doubt his intelligence, I would think being kicked out of two private schools, for drug-trafficking no less, would be a deal breaker.
- If Dr. Griffith had the option of sending Hannah away to boarding school (for what would amount to a few more months) to keep Logan from her, why didn't he just do it when Logan first started sniffing around?
- Being the good detective that we all know her to be, why has Veronica yet to verbalize the common factor between the explosives being found where Terrence Cook stores his cars and Danny Boyd's presence at Shark Stadium? Yes, Veronica, Danny Boyd is connected to the Fitzpatrick Family. And yes, Terrence Cook does store his cars in the hangar. But, who owns both Shark Stadium and said hangar? Woody Goodman.
- The Felix mystery (via Danny Boyd of the Fitzpatrick clan) and the bus crash (via the C-4 explosives that were presumably used for the bus crash) have now collided.
- Due to the over-the-top, near-montage in the Neptune Grand suite, it's a safe assumption that the Logan/Hannah relationship was not consummated in The Quick and the Dead (nor here as well).
holly96 (Holly): Literature; Social Science; Homeroom
Iloveyoubearymuch (Kathryn): Literature; Homeroom; Philosophy
JenniferH: Report Card; Yearbook; Chemistry; Literature; Social Science; Philosophy; Principles of Democracy
katrina: Literature; Homeroom
Pixigal (Gerrie): Yearbook; Drama Club; Social Science
ramwitz (Margarita): Yearbook
SeluciaV (Alli): Journalism; Study Hall; Extra Credit; Literature; Social Science
Tar Frimmer (Joanne): Literature; Social Science
Original Air Date: March 29, 2006
Written by: John Enbom
Directed by: Michael Fields
Grade: A
Membership Grade: B (61.0% / 41 votes)
Despite certain, erm, stomach-heaving scenes for members of this forum, this episode is another fine return to form. Even the arc in which those certain scenes play a part is a solid one and a suitably painful end to the plotline (this is Veronica Mars and the storyline did revolve around Logan Echolls). Performances from credited, recurring and guest cast are all sublime, the writing and direction are on par. And even though the mystery of the week isn't completely solved, our girl does get former beau, Troy (in a nicely played return) off the hook. All in all, good show.
Credited Cast Non-Appearance
Francis Capra - Eli "Weevil" Navarro
Kyle Gallner - Cassidy "Beaver" Casablancas
Teddy Dunn - Duncan Kane
Tessa Thompson - Jackie Cook
Recurring Guest Stars (Previous Episode Appearances)
Aaron Ashmore - Troy Vandegraff
Linda Castro Mrs. Murphy
Michael Muhney - Sheriff Lamb
Amanda Noret - Madison Sinclair
Daran Norris - Cliff McCormack
Rick Peters - Dr. Griffith
Jessy Schram Hannah Griffith
Tayler Sheridan - Danny Boyd
Guest Stars
Cristina Balmores Dawn
Angelica Bridges - Sugar Jones
Michael Cera Dean Rudolph
Charlie Koznick Andrew Barndale
Ka'imi Kuoha - Pink Hair
Reem Mahmood Friend
Kip Martin Gordon Peters
Richard Neil - Foreman
Daniele O'Loughlin Tory
Rosina Reynolds - Dean Harlow
Alia Shawkat Stacy Wells
David Tom - Chip Diller
Einat Tubi Jen
Who's Who in Neptune
Dawn Pacific Islander student at Hearst College that was raped and had her head shaven a month prior to Stacy's rape.
Sugar Jones - Escort that left Cliff handcuffed to the bed as she was hired to steal his briefcase.
Dean Rudolph - Nerdy but cute Hearst College student guide that gave the campus tour to Veronica and company.
Andrew Barndale (a.k.a. Bird Dog) - Hearst student and Pi Sigma Sigma fraternity brother that got drenched in beer, tasered and humiliated in front of his frat brothers (all deservingly so) thanks to Veronica.
Pink Hair - Pacific Islander Hearst College student that was insulted when Veronica assumed her pink hair was a wig.
Friend - Stacy's friend that informed Stacy that Veronica was a friend of Troy's.
Gordon Peters - Hearst student and Pi Sigma Sigma fraternity brother that had his long, greasy locks shaven by his "brothers" when he failed to score with Stacy.
Foreman - Man in charge of the crew hired by Woody Goodman to implode the stadium using C-4.
Tory - Owner of Tory's Wig Shop that almost fell for Veronica's soap-operaish sob story.
Dean Harlow - Dean of Student Affairs at Hearst College.
Stacy Wells - Hearst college student and victim that was roofied, raped and had her head shaven by a yet unknown suspect.
Chip Diller (a.k.a. Ice Man) - Hearst student and Pi Sigma Sigma fraternity brother that scored 300 points for banging the Dean's wife.
Jen - Hannah's friend that informed Logan that Hannah was shipped off to boarding school in Vermont.
Hey! It's That Guy/Girl
Michael Cera (Dean Rudolph) - Cera is best known as the serious and seriously adorable George Michael, youngest male of the wacky Bluth clan on Fox's much-acclaimed, much-beloved and eventhoughnotechnicallycancelled much-lamented Arrested Development. He has also appeared in the feature films Frequency and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. But in many a television connoisseur's heart, he'll always be one-half of those kissin' cousins.
Alia Shawkat (Stacy Wells) - And here comes the other half. Shawkat landed her first role in the feature film Three Kings, but like Cera, is best known for her role as the cynical, but really not Maeby Funke.
Highlights
Jason Dohring (Logan Echolls) - Am I allowed to post please see last week's Drama Club Highlights? No? Well then, suffice it to say that Dohring continues to play out the final episode of the Hannah arc with a impassioned anguish that culminates in a final moment of tortured pain (Dohring truly controls every muscle on his face to perfection) as Logan is once again left standing alone.
Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars) - Bell dusts off her A game and revives memories of our beloved Season 1 Veronica as she masters a wide range of emotions in The Rapes of Graff. Confronted by one ex-boyfriend who betrayed her, another ex-boyfriend who is dating another petite blonde and the dismaying prospect of attending Hearst college, Bell lets the snark and witticisms fly. She is magnificently 'bad' in her emotional voice-breaking Emmy nomination speech, quietly and bleakly enduring in her memories of the not-rape, obviously jealous in her moment with Logan, suitably ditzy on the construction site and in every way, sassy, normal-no-longer, Veronica. Welcome back!
Enrico Colantoni & Daran Norris (Keith Mars & Cliff McCormack) - In the best buddy team match-up I've seen in years, Cliff and Keith team up to confront Sheriff Lamb in a hilarious display of "Oh snap! and Gotcha!" Playing off each other with a deft comedic timing the two pros dominate the screen and leave the viewer rolling on the floor with laughter. To paraphrase the orphan Oliver as he begs for food, "Please sir, we want some more!"
Scene One: Do the Right Thing!
Despite the negative conclusion to this sole LoVe scene, I'd actually consider this one of the more positive moments between the two this season. Even that negative conclusion. Why? Well, Veronica was nice, she used a sweet voice, was voluntarily walking next to him and having a gentle conversation, showing concern, saying she was glad he was free. I mean, honestly, take a look at this screencap:
Veronica has not sent a look even remotely this soft Logan's way this season with the exception of Normal is the Watchword flashbacks. Sigh, of course, as they continued walking and talking, it went negative. Double sigh. However, as I wrote above, I think that even that negative was a positive. The softness, the sympathy was there and then she finds out that, well, actually, he was still being an ass and that niceness/sympathy just went bye-bye and disappointment in Logan Echolls reigned supreme once more.
The reason that I think this is a good sign for LoVe is that she was disappointed because it means that she still has the capability to NOT think the worst of him automatically at all times. And what made this work even more for me as a LoVe shipper was what Logan did after Veronica showed her disappointment. He did what she expected him/wanted him to do. And I think this was something that we were deliberately supposed to pick up on.
Why else the placement of Veronica showing disappointment with his actions, if not to show that it was Veronica who pushed him to do the right thing. In other words, I believe that the whole reason that we saw Logan go back and try to make things right with Hannah was because Veronica is Logan's barometer for what is good, what is bad. And so he was trying to be good, do the good thing ... in Veronica's eyes.
In other words, VERONICA was the catalyst to be a better person here, not Hannah. In a way, I could see that Logan chose that path to prove (subconsciously) to Veronica that yes, he was a good person. He did the right thing and this good girl thinks the world of him, so therefore he can't be all bad. And it would make sense that he would be doing this for Veronica even if it means getting with another girl.
Again, if it was about liking Hannah (and he so did not like her like her), we would have just seen him looking mopey at her and feeling guilty with that being the push. We didn't; he ignored her UNTIL Veronica showed disappointment in his actions. Veronica was the catalyst, not Hannah. Hannah was merely convenient and someone who cared about him and considering his state of mind the last nine months or so, it makes perfect sense that he would be attracted to/attached to/wanting THAT. Not the person, but the fact that she cared about him.
In Logan's mind right now, Veronica is not even remotely a romantic option, so wanting to be with someone who does care about him is certainly understandable. Veronica barely wants anything to do with Logan; she's made it clear that they are over, done with, probably he feels that she wishes they had never been. So it's not about impressing Veronica to get her back, but about getting her to think less horribly of him. He did what clearly Veronica had expected/wanted him to do. The thinking is maybe there that he won't get Veronica back romantically, but at least she won't hate him and/or be disappointed with him.
Wallace drags Veronica kicking and screaming on a three day "Get to Know Hearst" college tour. It seems that our favorite BFF has a fighting chance for a b-ball scholarship and is stoked by the possibility. Veronica, however, is not nearly as enthusiastic about a future at Hearst because it isn't on the other side of the country. Or the planet. Or the solar system.
On the first day of the tour, the students are greeted by their weekend guide, a slightly geeky but apparently sweet student named (George Michael!) Dean. In an effort for everyone to get to know one another, Dean has everyone pair up with someone they don't know to play a little game called 'two truths and a lie.' Veronica, in typical loner fashion, ends up without a partner when Wallace goes off to make friends with a cute chick. Dean takes pity and he and Veronica play together for a bit. We learn that Dean, unlike Veronica, did shoot a man in Reno -- and Veronica's going to Hearst despite her hearty protests. Dean bows out of the game when a late-comer arrives for the tour. And who to our wondering eyes should appear, but Veronica's tire changing, sweet talking, oh-by-the-way-did-I-forget-to-mention-I'm-a-drug-dealer ex boyfriend: Troy Vandegraff. Helloooo, Troy.
Troy immediately tries to make nice with Veronica -- he apologizes for his past sins and swears that after a year of therapy, no drugs, private school, and ditching his 'loose cannon' ex-girlfriend, he's a changed man. He's a good boy now V, really! Veronica clearly isn't buying it, but declares that it doesn't really matter anyway because to her, he is nothing more than water under the bridge, [sotto voce]duplicitous, evil water under the bridge [/sotto voce].
That night the prospective students are milling at a typical college party. Veronica has been cornered by a drunken asshole who is tallying her finer "points." Despite the allure of helping this stud increase his score by a whopping 210 points, Veronica finds it far more entertaining to bathe him in several cups of beer. He's rather displeased by this display, and makes like he's gonna get mean. Troy, trying to prove to Veronica that he's a changed-man, attempts to defend our heroine with a gallant display of manliness. However, before he can make a move, the stud stops his heroic diatribe with a right hook straight to the honker. And Troy goes down.
Veronica is fairly unimpressed by the display, but we sense a softening towards the former ex. A cute girl (Maeby!) approaches to see if Troy's okay and offers to reward his chivalry with a beer, and Troy goes off with her. When we next see cute girl and Troy, they are stumbling down the hallway and making with the P.D.A.'s. The kind that involve tongue and bases. Veronica finds Wallace and tells him she's done with college for the day, so they head out. On the way out, Veronica makes a brief pit stop to taser Mr. Points for trying to scam on a chick and assign her points for her smokin' bod and possibly being an orphan. Klass with a capital K, right?
The next morning, Veronica is rudely awoken by a phone call from a desperate Troy. She heads down to the police station where Troy is being held for questioning -- and DNA sampling. Apparently, cute girl from the party (a.k.a. Stacy) was date raped the previous evening. Lamb corrects him: when a girl is Roofied and has her head shaved after the assault, they drop the "date" part of the charge. Apparently Lamb is far more distraught by this girl's predicament than Veronica's the year before. By the sound of things, I don't think Lamb told Stacy to go see the wizard and ask for new hair. Although, it wouldn't really surprise me if he did. Either way, I'm thinking Veronica ought to zap Lamb right in the ole nipple with her handy-dandy taser just on principal.
Troy is clearly desperate -- he swears his innocence and begs for the super-sleuth's help. Veronica gets the facts from Troy in the hallway. The police think Troy's the culprit because he was the last thing Stacy remembered from the previous evening; everyone saw the two of them going upstairs. Stacy had his hair and fibers and stuff all over her; and when they tested his clothes, they found out they were recently washed. Ah, yes. Nothing says "date rape" like clean laundry. It doesn't look particularly good for Troy, but as we all know, very little in Neptune is what it seems. Troy explains that yes, they did go upstairs and fool around -- strictly PG-13 -- but then Stacy puked all over him. And being the nice, newly reformed guy that he is, Troy cleaned them both up, tucked Stacy in to bed, and then went and washed his only change of clothes at the all-night laundry mat. Suds and Duds anyone?
Veronica agrees to help but warns Troy that she'll help nail him to the wall if she decides he's guilty. Once they reach this agreement, Veronica asks Troy some questions about the party. The only thing he really remembers is some long-haired guy in a blue sweatshirt trying to hit on Stacy. The sweatshirt had the Pi symbol on it.
Veronica takes a field trip to the Pi Sigma Sigma frat house to chase down some leads. She enters the living room which does look like a cover spread for Modern Squalor magazine, or perhaps backdrop for the new "Derelict" campaign fashion photo-shoot. If only there were a dead donkey ... Veronica spies the photo map on the wall that names all of the frat brothers. She learns that Mr. Points is a Pi Sig named Andrew Barndale, and that the mystery guy who'd been hitting on Stacy the night before is fellow brother, Gordon Peters. Frat brother Chip finds Veronica milling about and despite the fact that she shouldn't have gotten past the foyer without an invite, answers her questions about Gordon. Apparently Mr. Peters spent the previous evening in the hospital having his stomach pumped after binge drinking eighteen shots of vodka.
Veronica meets up with Troy on day two of the tour to give him the skinny on Gordon. Troy's bemoaning the stares and scrutiny he's been getting based on the speculations on his sexual practices. Cry that river to somebody else, bub. Veronica Mars has totally cornered that market. Veronica tells Troy if he can't come up with something else, he better get used to the stares and infamy because it's pretty much all he'll have to look forward to as a convicted sexual predator. Troy remembers that he left his name and number on Stacy's board -- no rapist would have done that right? Who knows. Veronica's gonna check because without traveling to an alternate dimension, she won't be taking Troy's word for it.
Veronica pays a visit to Stacy's room and finds Troy's name and number on the board, right where he said it would be. It has been partially wiped away though in order to make room for three C's. Don't ask -- Veronica will explain it all to you later. Poor Stacy emerges wearing a terrible hat (and a ridiculously mismatched ensemble) to find Veronica lingering at her door. After some bitter snarking (in true season one Veronica fashion) about how great the party and her rape were, she asks Veronica what she's doing there. And low and behold people -- Veronica appears to remember ... something ... dimly ... from her past ... something about a party, and some roofies ... yes, yes, it's all becoming clearer now ... RIGHT. Yes. Rape.
Veronica too spent over a year dealing with the psychological effects of having been drugged and raped, although without the added bonus of having her hair chopped off. Actually, that came later -- and was self-inflicted. Anyway, Veronica has a sad little moment where she shares with Stacy that no pamphlet on the planet will help. It's just gonna suck a lot for awhile, and then time will pass and it will suck less. (And if you can date your pseudo-rapist -- I'm sorry, nice guy -- a year later and put on a happy face, the event will pretty much fade into obscurity and the psychological damage will dissipate in a cloud of fairy dust!)
As Veronica turns to leave, Stacy spots a box sitting outside her door. When she opens it, she discovers that it is full of hair. Ewwwww. That is both gross and creepy! But the hair isn't Stacy's, so Veronica goes on the hunt for another victim. First stop? The local wig store. Veronica puts on an Emmy worthy performance involving cheesy soap-opera music and the sad story of a runaway sister with cancer who has given up on life. Um, except the girl the clerk remembers is Hawaiian. Oh. A shoot and a miss for our intrepid girl detective.
Veronica pays a visit to Dean and asks him where she can find a Hawaiian girl -- besides Hawaii. Dean says that the Pacific Islander kids have a lunch meeting thing at the student union on weekends. As Veronica heads out in search of the bald Hawaiian girl, she spots another strange note on someone's board. This time, it's the letters CL. Dean explains that it is Roman numerals for 150 -- points, that is, for the Pi Sig annual girl-nailing contest. Dean, although not a Pi Sig member, appears to have some pretty detailed inside knowledge. Supposedly, the Pi Sigs keep a scoreboard in their basement with the points standings and if a pledge doesn't put up a high enough score, they are punished. The traditional punishment is getting their head shaved. And the plot thickens!
Wallace gets a tour of the Pi Sig house under the pretense of wanting to pledge should he get the scholarship to Hearst. Wallace makes a smooth play and unlocks a window for Veronica so that she may enter stealthily, without breaking anything. Veronica heads right for the basement where she finds several frat house staples: Posters of Playboy models, a foosball table, and one not-so-standard item: A hand-crafted, sex-with-coeds scoreboard bearing a grid of names, points and tacky souvenirs. Veronica snaps a few incriminating shots before discovering that someone with the clever code-name of "Bird Dog" has posted her photo as a conquest. Oh no he di-int! She continues to peruse the board looking for the lucky member who's three hundred point score will correspond with Stacy's CCC's. And the winner is? Some dude named "Ice Man."
Before she can snap another pic, Veronica's discovered desecrating the 'sanctum' by a frat brother who immediately calls "Ice Man" in for back-up. Ice Man, a.k.a. Pi Sig brother Chip, charges down the stairs and begins hollering at Veronica that she has no business being there. Clearly these dudes don't know Veronica Mars. Being where she doesn't belong to right the injustices of the world is her stock and trade. And she's not about to roll over for some would-be bad-ass frat boy rapist.
Chip tells her that he had nothing to do with Stacy's rape. Gordo informs Veronica that Chip made his three hundred the old fashioned way -- by schtupping the Dean's wife. (Stop helping Gordon.) Veronica puts two and two together and realizes that Gordo is Gordon Peters, only now he's sans his "rock-star" locks. He swears that he didn't have anything to do with Stacy's rape either, and doesn't give a flying nun what she thinks. (I realize the writers are looking for clever ways around the censors, but "flying nun?" I mean, really, people. That's just abysmally lame.) Bird Dog, a.k.a. Mr. Points, comes downstairs to join in the fray. Veronica takes the opportunity to point out to Bird Dog's brothers that unless tasing counts as a sexual act, Bird Dog's about to get his head shaved because he never scored her 240 points. (Apparently Bird Dog low-balled her sassy quotient.)
Veronica abandons the frat boys and heads to the student union to track down the Pacific Islander lunch group, and stumbles across all six of them. Um, forgive me if I find it a little strange that a group this small actually has its own moniker -- and a scheduled function that other students are that aware of. Veronica approaches the obvious contender for miss wig -- a sassy girl with neon pink hair -- and asks her where she buys her wigs. Apparently Pinky dyes her hair that color, thank you very much. No wigs here! As Veronica tries to bolt and avoid extended humiliation, another one of the PI kids, a cute girl wearing a subtle wig, pipes up that Tori's on Pacific is a good place to go.
Veronica waits around and corners the wig girl when she leaves her lunch meeting to tell her a story about a nice girl who was raped and got her hair shaved off. Flash over to Stacy approaching Dean Harlow about a message that she received saying that there was information on her rapist. (Side note: Is there more than one Dean? 'Cause if not, it seems that the Dean is a lesbian. At least if Chip's 300 point escapades are to be believed.) The Dean is puzzled because she didn't call Stacy.
At that moment, Veronica walks in with the sweet PI girl in tow and tells Stacy that she left the message. She tells Stacy that Troy couldn't have raped her, not because he's a stand up guy like -- oh, I don't know DONUT -- but because it happened to Dawn (PI girl) too. Dawn was also attacked in the same manner a month ago when Troy was on the other side of the country mending his evil ways. The box of hair Stacy received was not part of the crime. Rather it was a petty crime of retribution by Gordon Peters, who lost his hair because he failed to nail Stacy.
Well, although she was unable to solve the crime, Veronica at least saved Troy's ass. Plus, she managed to get the Pi Sigs in massive trouble with the school and make a whole slew of new enemies. See? Hearst isn't half bad! It's already starting to feel like home.
- In English class, the original assignment was to write an essay on the use of mythic archetype in "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man." The new assignment is to enter Mayor Woody's county-wide essay contest on the subject of "Freedom." An essay for which Logan has loads of personal insight.
- The winner of the Mayor's essay contest wins a week-long internship with the Mayor, and the opportunity to stand with the Woodmeister and smile pretty for the cameras and pushing the red ACME plunger to make the old Shark's stadium go "boom."
- The average SAT score for a Hearst College freshman is 1280.
- Wallace scored an 1140 on the SAT's.
- Hearst College is a liberal arts school.
- Dick is single again because Madison has dumped him for someone more "mature." Not that that would be difficult. And now that he and Logan are both free agents again, and Logan's sac is no longer being held hostage in Hannah's easy-bake oven, Dick wants to have a male bonding weekend of partying like Ozzy. Which, I guess means they'll be tossing ham over the fence at the neighbors, or blathering incoherently about tiny bubbles.
- In Dick's world, maturity and chicks are the two most overrated things on the planet.
- The points rating system for the Pi Sigma Sigma fraternity includes: 30 points for being blond, with a bonus 20 if the color is natural; being super-cute is worth 50 (Side note: Is there a bonus for being super-fine?); and sassy is worth 30, although that number is flexible based on a 'degree of difficulty' sliding scale; and a whopping 80 for being a profro. (Side note: I much prefer the term 'prefrosh,' ala PCU. 'Profro' just strikes me as completely lame); a slammin' body is worth a phat 50 points. And disturbingly enough, it appears that being an orphan is worth something too.
- Wallace talked to a cute chick at the Hearst party about Kierkegaard, even though he doesn't know anything about Kierkegaard. Smooth Fennel!
- The South-Coast OBGYN Society hosts an annual convention. Cliff apparently attends every year searching for wealthy clients in need of legal advice, because (according to Cliff) OBGYN's are the most frequently sued specialty.
- When Veronica was dating Duncan while he lived in the Presidential Suite at the Neptune Grand, Keith got pretty tight with the security guys.
- Logan and Dick are celebrating their certified lone wolf status Ozzy style: By drinking beer and playing Xbox. After a particularly sweet move where Dick introduces Logan to his spine (in the game, that is), Logan is bemoaning Dick's inability to really party. Dick accuses Logan of denying his true nature as a life-taker, heart-breaker who doesn't give a proverbial rat's ass about what anyone else thinks. They drink beer, make a mess and answer to no one! And then, in Dick's world at least, they eat cake.
- In the video game they are playing, Logan and Dick are the characters "Scorpion" and "Kenshi."
- Despite the fun she had on her "Get to Know Hearst" tour, Veronica is adamant that she is not going to Hearst because it is in Neptune. Keith argues that it's a good school -- and it's ten exits away on the freeway, which gives her plenty of distance from home.
- And despite her many protests, the powers that be are apparently determined to see Veronica attend Hearst in the fall. In addition to her Dad's pleas, it appears that Veronica's BFF has been awarded that b-ball scholarship after all! And what's Veronica without her Wallace? Those five mid-season Wallace-free episodes proved once and for all that there just ain't no sunshine when he's gone. So I'm thinking Veronica just needs to resign herself to her fate.
- In English class we learn that our dear Logan is again, "free at last," thank God almighty. It appears that Dr. Griffith has kept his word and dropped his testimony. Veronica is uncharacteristically (at least as of late) friendly and gentle when talking to Logan about his newfound freedom and trying to offer a sympathetic ear while Logan tells her how Hannah took the news of their breakup. Instead of a heartfelt confession, Veronica gets only the chirping of crickets. (How on earth did those get into the school?) Apparently Logan hasn't quite figured out how to tell Hannah the truth and break up with her. Needless to say, Ms. Mars is none too pleased by this omission of silence. Bad Logan!
And then Logan's day gets really bad. The chirpy preschooler approaches Logan after class and babbles on ad nauseam about, I don't know, playing with blocks or something, completely missing the fact that her "boyfriend" has been avoiding her on what should be a happy day, and that he's so completely upset, he looks like he's about to pass out or puke or something. Finally, in an effort to get Hannah to stop her incessant yapping (kidding!) Logan stops and tells her that they can't see each other anymore. He clearly feels terrible about hurting her, but he makes it quick and clean and to the point: She's a really sweet girl -- and he's not a sweet guy. (Oh, Logan! We think you're sweet.) He leaves Hannah in the parking lot looking like a tearful, pink Gumby doll without a Pokey to call her own. *tear*
Later, Logan discovers the surprise Hannah made him in his locker -- a sweet little cake decorated as a "get out of jail free" card. And I mean this: Awwww. Later, while showing the world that they don't give a rat's ass, Dick finds the cake and digs in only to discover that Hannah baked a file into the cake. (Okay, okay, I give -- that is actually kind of cute and clever. It doesn't make her less annoying though, so don't be looking for a miracle here.)
Logan corners Gumby in the school parking lot after track practice where he tells her that her dad dropped her testimony so he would stop seeing her. Logan also admits that getting her dad to drop the testimony is precisely why he started dating her in the first place. And yeah, he wants to be forgiven too. Gumby takes about 2.2 nanoseconds to say, "Sure Logan! Bygones." And forgive him. Now you and I both know that he's pretty. And hot. And we can speculate with quite a bit of certainty that the boy knows what he's doing in the bedroom. But COME ON! That level of naivet is just ridiculous.
Anyway, the two make up and go back to Logan's suite where things take place and Tegan and Sara sing, but I experienced temporary hysterical blindness for about five minutes so I don't really know what happened. When I regained my sight, I saw naked Logan being confronted by Dr. Griffin -- looking all tall and scary -- and some goons. Now I know that there was something else happening in the scene, but I was too distracted by Logan's six pack to pay attention.
The next day, Logan finds out that Hannah's been sent away to boarding school in Vermont. (Talk about shutting the barn door after the cows have gotten out! Way to be on top of that one Dr. Dad.) Praise Jesus, Amen.
- Keith is on the phone with someone and strolling along the 12th floor of the Neptune Grand with a key card, looking for a door. When he opens the door on the appropriate suite, he finds our dear Cliffie in a rather compromising position -- handcuffed to a bed in only his socks, with his modesty protected by only the bed sheet. Apparently, some chick named Daphne that he met the previous evening at the hotel bar is responsible. After getting Cliff in the aforementioned compromising position, she stole his briefcase and hit the road.
Keith discovers that Daphne checked into the hotel using a fake name and credit card, so that is a dead end. However, he was able to score surveillance video from the elevator at the hotel. As Cliff and Keith view the tape, Keith asks Cliff about the content of the briefcase. Cliff tells him that it was mainly full of case files: drunken assault, lewd conduct, fraud, a divorce. There were a few other paltry personal items, but nothing real important. Except, oh yeah, Logan's murder case files. ALL OF THEM. Ok, Cliff, yeah, no biggie. I can see why that might be an afterthought. Then, to add insult to injury, Cliff tells Keith that what wasn't in his briefcase is in the Echolls' storage locker. And the key for that locker was also in his briefcase. Not good, Cliffie. Not good at all.
They go back to the tape where we see Cliff doin' the old motor boat on Miss Daphne's cleavage -- he has a zest for life, after all -- and then speed through until Daphne gets back on the elevator several hours later with Cliff's briefcase. And who should she meet on that elevator? Why it appears to be Sheriff Lamb (lookin' fine in jeans and a t-shirt I might add) accompanied by a 'special lady friend.'
It appears the good (or not, as the case may be) Sheriff knows Daphne! They chat for a few moments before Daphne and the briefcase depart. As soon as the elevator doors close behind her, Lamb and his special lady friend attempt to swallow one another whole and get their freak on. Veronica pops in and takes a look at the tape -- and can identify the femme fatal currently attempting to mount Lamb. None other than her arch nemesis, Madison Sinclair!
Keith and Cliff, wearing coordinating suits and matching Cheshire grins, pay Lamb a visit at the Sheriff's Department asking for a little "help." Keith shows Lamb a shot of Daphne in the elevator and asks if he knows her. Lamb denies that he does. Keith shows him a second shot where Lamb and Daphne are conversing in the elevator. Lamb says that he simply told her the time when she asked for it. Before he can head back into the office, Cliff asks to show him one more shot. At this point, Keith and Cliff can barely contain their gleefulness. Cliff pulls out another photo and tells Lamb, in his tawdriest voice, that this shouldn't be construed as coercion -- they are just showing him a picture. Of he and Madison Sinclair going at it like rabbits in the elevator. Lamb fakes bravado -- he's not falling for their 'blackmail' attempt because Ms. Sinclair, although in high school and just completely icky, is 18 and legal. So there! But Lamb underestimates this dynamic duo. Keith snarks that it would make a good campaign slogan and Cliff, in tandem, pull out one last shot: The same picture of Lamb and Madison with the slogan "18 -- It's Legal! Re-elect Don Lamb."
Dinner with the heir to the Sinclair fortune? $150. A night in a suite at the Neptune Grand? $1,000. Re-election campaign flyers showing the town Sheriff nailing a high school cheerleader? Priceless. To borrow a phrase from our fearless leader, this was indeed a "KC Masterpiece." (See April Fool's Day Forum.)
So, one last time Don -- who's Daphne again? Apparently Daphne is an escort that Lamb has busted on more than one occasion. She hires out as a Sugar Jones. See? Was that really SO hard to do Lamb? Clearly he will never learn that Keith, much like Veronica, is smarter than him.
Veronica arrives home from her three day whirlwind adventure at Hearst in enough time to meet Dad's hooker -- I mean escort -- Ms. Daphne. Veronica disappears into her room while Keith makes Daphne comfortable on the couch and Cliff emerges from Keith's room. The dynamic duo dog Daphne for details (hello alliteration!). Apparently she was offered triple rate to pick Cliff up and steal his briefcase, which she did with great success. She then met up with the gent in the garage and passed along the briefcase. She didn't get a name, and didn't care to. And the guys, in slightly less dynamic fashion, let Daphne go without even asking for the guy's description! Bad form, gents.
- Veronica and Keith are chatting at home over dinner when Veronica abruptly asks her dad about the nature of plastic explosives. Who can get them and what could they be used for -- legally, of course? Keith gives her the rundown: Construction, mining, demolition ... and off goes the light bulb in Veronica's head. Demolition? Like, perhaps, the upcoming demolition of Shark's stadium that the Mayor has planned?
Veronica puts on her best ditzy blonde high-school reporter persona and goes to interview the crew foreman in charge of the stadium demolition. She learns that they are planning to use some dynamite, but mainly C-4 to blow up the stadium. The foreman gestures to a box of C-4 conveniently lying around the site -- the very same C-4 Veronica discovered in the airplane hanger. And if that isn't suspicious enough, it appears that Danny Boyd, that Fitzpatrick crony that Dr. Griffith sewed up on a pool table, is working on the demolition crew.
"I Hate It That I Got What I Wanted" (Clearlake)
Scene: When is the do-able quotient of a babe a mathematic equation? Apparently when attending a Hearst college party as Veronica finds out.
"Crank It Out" (Ari Shine)
Scene: Veronica and Wallace make their final goodbyes to Dean (George Michael!) as they vamoose from the Hearst house o' fun.
"I Know, I Know, I Know" (Tegan and Sara)
Scene: We'll skip the details and just say that Dr. Griffin shows up when Logan is all shirtless and pretty, but not with Veronica (*sniff*) and leave it at that.
LoVe Lines
Veronica: So you should be able to write quite an essay on freedom. (Voice dipping to a softer tone.) How does it feel to have your case dismissed?
Logan: Well, freedom feels liberating.
Veronica: So you've got your title.
Quotable Quotes
Dick: Nuke the stadium. Damn, now I totally wish I could write good.
Veronica: Okay, I'm Veronica. I'm from Neptune and I once shot a man in Reno, just to see him die.
Dean: How did that go?
Veronica: It was a bit of a let down.
Dean: Well, I don't believe that you're from Neptune.
Veronica: Wrong. Is that the end?
Dean: Well, ah, my name is Dean. I'm from Wheaton, Illinois. My father owns a Ford Dealership and I also shot a man in Reno, but it was not to watch him die, it was for other issues.
Veronica: Your father doesn't sell Fords.
Dean: That's right. Toyotas. How did you know?
Veronica: It's all in the eyes.
Dean: Alright, well, I guess I'll need to watch out for you next year.
Veronica: Oh, I won't be attending.
Dean: Alright, enough lies.
Veronica Mars Voiceover: So, it seems Hearst College pretty much has it all. Campus combining modern facilities with the best traditions of learning? Check. Student body composed of diverse, interesting smart people? Check. And drunken doofuses that corner you to tally your points? Check.
Veronica: (After Troy unsuccessfully seeks to defend Veronica's honor.) As much as I appreciate that display of chivalry, Ahhh, I had it covered.
Troy: Maybe I wanted to demonstrate that I really have changed.
Veronica: So, you're no longer evil, you're stupid, congratulations!
Veronica: Can I have your beer?
Bird Dog: Sure. (Veronica throws beer all over him which causes Bird Dog to yell.) Damn, grow a sense of humor, you crazy bitch!!!
Veronica: I would ... if something funny would ever happen.
Bird Dog: (Getting ready to throw beer on Veronica) Tell me how you like it! (Instead, Veronica tosses beer out of his hand and it lands all over him again.)
Veronica: It's fun, but it's getting kinda old.
Dean: Ahh, my Pro Fros! It's a fun party, huh?!
Wallace: Not bad. I actually talked to a cute girl about Kierkegaard. Made me wish I knew something about Kierkegaard.
Dean: I saw you talking to that guy. What'd you talk about?
Veronica: Jane Austen. But he dissed Pride and Prejudice, so I had to throw a beer on him.
Keith: (In a note to Veronica.) Gone on puzzling errand. Be back later, Dad.
Veronica: (To Troy.) If I decide you're guilty, I'll help hold the hammer while they nail you to the wall.
Cliff: (To Keith about the contents of his briefcase.) So, other than the files, it's an address book, receipts, some keys, and I believe a copy of Elle magazine ... but I forget why.
Keith: (Viewing Cliff's escapades with Daphne on the elevator security tapes.) So 10:15 you're on your way up. (Watching the action unfold on the screen, much to Cliff's chagrin.) My God, Cliff, you're like a wild animal. Is that what the kids call "motor boatin'?"
Cliff: (In his tawdriest voice.) I have a zest for life -- so sue me.
Veronica Mars Voiceover: (Looking around the Pi Sigma frat house.) Nice. A little more vomit and a dead donkey, and you've got a cover spread in Modern Squalor magazine. And doesn't it make sense this is the home of Mr. Points himself, Andrew Barndale.
Veronica: So what are you doing over here? Looks like Dean's got a great story about the front of that building.
Troy: I kinda bailed on the tour. I got tired of the looks, you know?
Veronica: So you figured creepy skulking was a better use of your time? That won't make you seem guilty.
Dick: (Talking to Logan while playing a video game.) Dude. Do you know what I'm gonna do to you? First, I'm gonna kick your ass. Then, I'm gonna grab your head and yank out your spine. What do you think about that? Sound okay? 'Kay. (Returning his attention to the screen.) Ooh. Oh! Look, look -- I'm doin' it. I'm doin' it! (His character in the game performs the aforementioned spine-yanking move.) Yoink! (With a somewhat ominous tone.) Say hello to your spine! (In a high, somewhat girly voice.) 'It's me, your spine!' (Logan walks away from the game, somewhat disgusted.) What?
Logan: I'm just imagining what Ozzy would think of your concept of 'partying like Ozzy.'
Dick: You wanna snort a line of ants? I'm in. Come on -- we're free men who reject the rule of women. Get into the spirit. I mean, exhibit A. (Gestures to the empty beer bottles.) Exhibit B (Gestures to something else.) My suspicion is you're afraid to embrace your true nature.
Logan: Which is?
Dick: We are lone wolves, dude. High-plains drifters, life-takers and heart-breakers.
Logan: Who play video games all day. (Flicks a bottle cap at Dick's head.)
Dick: Who don't give a damn about what other people say 'cause they don't give a rat's ass. (Opening fridge to scavenge for food.) Dude, you've got cake!
Logan: (To Dick.) ... You're right. Life-takers and heartbreakers. To not giving the ass of a rat (Clinking his beer bottle with Dick's.)
Veronica Mars Voiceover: It's now time for me to clinch that Emmy nomination.
Veronica: (As store clerk searches through register.) Do you have a name?
Store clerk: (Incredulous) You don't know her name? Because we don't just give out cust --
Veronica: (Interrupting) Ma'am. She's run away. She's scared and she's alone. We don't even want to know how she's making her money. (Emotionally) She's ... given up on life, and she thinks she's sparing us the pain, but not knowing where she is, or what name she's using, or whether she's safe. It's torture. (Crying by this point) Please, ma'am, she's my sister.
Store clerk: I'm sorry, this girl was Hawaiian.
Veronica: (Sheepishly) Oh.
Veronica: If I wanted to find a Hawaiian girl, where would I start?
Dean: In Hawaii?
Veronica: Dean?
Dean: Yeah?
Veronica: What does this mean, CL?
Dean: Oh. Uh, that's a score. It's 150 in Roman numerals. It's a Pi Sig thing, they have like a, you know, a contest for scoring girls, or something.
Veronica: Fifty points for a blonde, thirty points for sassy.
Dean: Well yeah, I mean I don't know if you get points for being sassy, but yeah.
Keith: (Along with Cliff waiting for Lamb.) Don, do you have time for a question?
Lamb: (Sighs)For the two of you? Always.
Keith: We're just looking for a little help here.(Shows picture of woman from elevator.) Do you know this woman?
Lamb: No. We got to do this again sometime. (Walks away.)
Keith: You sure? (Holds up second picture that includes Lamb)
Lamb: (Looks at picture, holds up hands.) You got me. I rode an elevator with her, she asks the time, and I tell. (Walks away again.)
Cliff: Uh, Sheriff. Just a ... couple more shots. (Nods Lamb over to the side, Keith looks on gleefully.) I want to emphasize, this should not be construed as coercion, we're just showing you a picture. (Hands Lamb picture with Madison.)
Keith: That's Madison Sinclair, who I believe takes World History with my daughter.
Lamb: So what? This is blackmail? She's 18, it's legal.
Keith: Sounds like a swell campaign slogan for the next election. (Takes mockup of flyer from Cliff, Lamb snatches it.) We just want to know who this first woman is.
Lamb: She's an escort. I've busted her a few times. She hires out as Sugar Jones.
Keith: Great. Thanks, Don.
Cliff: (Before walking away points to flyer.) I'd vote for you.
Frat guy: If you get the scholarship you gotta join. When I got here I was like, totally want to be a Pi.
Wallace: Uh, yeah, yeah. Once when I was little I wanted to be ice cream.
Veronica Mars Voiceover: And someone with the handle Bird Dog says he scored me? That is wrong both factually and ontologically.
Veronica: Oh, and you might want to get your clippers. (Walks to score board and pulls down her picture.) Because unless being electrocuted counts, Bird Dog here never scored these 240 points. (Crumples up picture and walks past Gordon.)
Gordon: (Smirks.) It was 210.
Veronica: You under-counted the "sassy." (Bounces crumpled photo off his chest and leaves.)
Dean: They got a semester of probation.
Veronica: If it's double-secret probation, there's a serious leak.
Dean: No mixers, no parties, no sports. It was your photo that nailed them. (Chuckles.) You don't mess around, do you?
Wallace: (Wraps arm around Veronica's shoulders.) That's Veronica Mars. Making friends and influencing people wherever she goes. See, if you come here next year, you've already got enemies. Just feel right at home.
Sugar: Is Keith here?
Veronica: Dad, your hooker's here.
Sugar: So is that it?
Cliff: Uh, I guess so. But hey, nice work. I really thought it was all real.
Sugar: Only the welts, honey.
The Grapes of Wrath ... (Referenced by the episode title.)
The Grapes of Wrath is a work of fiction written by John Steinbeck and published in 1939. The novel won the Pulitzer Prize in 1940 and is frequently read in American high school and college literature classes. Set in the Great Depression, the popular novel, in which descriptive, narrative, and philosophical passages succeed one another, tells the story of a family of sharecroppers, the Joads -- Oklahoma farmers driven from their land by drought and the Dust Bowl, and forced to endure the hardships of migrant workers moving West. The title is a reference to the Battle Hymn of the Republic, by Julia Ward Howe:
- "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on."
Written by Irish author James Joyce and originally published in serial form in 1914-1915, Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is easily Joyce's easiest to read and most accessible major work (Ulysses, anyone?). The main character is Stephen Dedalus, who is in many ways based on the author himself. This is essentially a coming of age story, following Stephen as he attends school and discovers what he wants to do with his life. Major themes include the development of individual consciousness, the pitfalls of religious extremism, the role of the artist, and the need for Irish autonomy.
Joyce's signature writing style is stream of consciousness, which he uses in this novel primarily during the opening sections and in Chapter five. Another technique Joyce often uses is the epiphany, where the character makes a sudden realization in some way. One such epiphany in Portrait involves Stephen seeing a young girl wading at the beach and realizing that appreciation of beauty is a good ability to have.
S.A.T.s ... (Referenced by Wallace when telling Veronica about average Hearst scores.)
The SAT exam is a standardized test administered to high school students applying to college. The test measures both math and verbal skills. Recently, the exam also evaluates students' writing abilities. On the math and verbal sections students can score up to 800 (1600 total available points). On the writing students can receive anywhere from a 1- 6.
These scores are often criticized as being arbitrary (after all what is the standard to which they are holding students) and culturally biased (in favor of a white middles class upbringing). Despite these criticisms however, the test continues to be an educational institution, helping universities select students for admission and scholarships, terrorizing students, and relieving parents of more than $100 each time their son or daughter must take (or retake) the exam.
Fun facts: SAT used to stand for Scholastic Aptitude Test. Now it stands for nothing. The acronym has simply become the test's name.
Folsom Prison Blues / "I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die." ... (Referenced by Veronica as the lie part of her "Two Truths and a Lie" game with Dean.)
Hit 1956 song recorded by Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two and written by Cash. His inspiration for the song was the 1951 film Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison, which Cash saw while serving in the U.S. Air Force in West Germany. A live version of the song is the opening track on the successful 1968 album At Folsom Prison, which was recorded live in the California State Prison located in Represa.
The lyrics are:
- I hear that train a-comin', it's rollin' around the bend
And I ain't seen the sunshine since I don't know when
I'm stuck in Folsom Prison and time keeps draggin' on
But that train keeps a-rollin' on down to San Antone
When I was just a baby, my mama told me, son
Always be a good boy, don't ever play with guns
But I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die
When I hear that whistle blowin', I hang my head and cry
I bet there's rich folks eatin' in a fancy dining car
They're probably drinking coffee and smoking big cigars
But I know I had it coming, I know I can't be free
But those people keep a-movin' and that's what tortures me
Well if that freed me from this prison
and that railroad train was mine
I bet I'd move it on a little farther down the line
Far from Folsom prison, that's where I want to stay
And I'd let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away
Reno, Nevada is frequently referred to as "The Biggest Little City in the World," as its 85.2 square miles is dense with a diverse arts and entertainment scene, year-round outdoor recreation and exciting nightlife and gaming opportunities. Reno was settled in 1859 and was settled rapidly over the next forty years with the addition of a Central Pacific Railroad station, the relocation of the University of Nevada to the city, as well as the legalization of gambling in 1879.
Reno is home to approximately 200,000 people and a booming tourism industry. Situated less than thirty miles from the California border in the western part of Nevada, Reno is approximately forty-five minutes north of Lake Tahoe and fifteen well-known winter sports resorts. Reno is nestled 4,400 feet above sea level and enjoys a mild climate with roughly three hundred sunny days per year, which facilitates an extremely active recreational atmosphere.
Wheaton, Illinois ... (Referenced by Dean as he tells Veronica it's his hometown, during their "Two Lies and a Truth" game.)
Located in northeastern Illinois, approximately 25 miles west of Chicago. The town was founded by Erastus Gary and Jesse and Warren Wheaton in 1837 and incorporated as a village in 1859. The DuPage County government seat moved to Wheaton in 1867. With a population of over 55,000, some of the town attractions include Wheaton College, the DuPage County Fairgrounds and the prestigious Chicago Golf Club. Notable people who grew up in Wheaton include actors John and Jim Belushi, Bob Woodward of the Washington Post and astronomer Edwin Hubble.
Ford ... (Referenced when Veronica learns what Dean's father doesn't sell during 'two truths and a lie.')
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 300,000 employees and 108 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include Ford Motor Credit Company.
Toyota ... (Referenced when Veronica learns what Dean's father does sell during 'two truths and a lie.')
Toyota Motor Company is a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures automobiles under the brand names Toyota, Scion and Lexus. Toyota also owns majority stakes in Daihatsu and Hino, and 8.7% of Fuji Heavy Industries, which manufactures Subaru vehicles. Toyota produces an estimated eight million vehicles per year, about a million fewer than the number produced by GM. Toyota also provides Financial Services and participates in other lines of business. In the 2005 Forbes Global 2000 it was the tenth-largest company in the world.
Easy Bake Oven ... (Referenced by Dick asking Logan if "that chick still has his sac in her Easy Bake Oven.")
Created in 1963 in Cincinnati, Ohio-based Kenner Products, today is a product of Hasbro. The Easy-Bake oven is oft cited as an inspiration of celebrity chefs and is named favorite childhood toy by both men and women. The 'toy' actually does work as an cooking appliance by using an ordinary light bulb as the heat source that cooks the cake mix provided with the purchase of the toy.
Legoland ... (Referenced by Logan as Dick explains that Madison found someone more mature to date.)
Legoland is the name of several Lego Group-owned theme parks targeted at children, that entertain with rides, shows and Lego Miniland, a section of the parks that exhibits large-scale Lego brick constructions. The Legoland theme parks are located in Carlsbad, California, Windsor, England, Gnzburg, Germany, and Billund, Denmark.
Lego is the brand name of a popular line of children's toys, first created in Denmark in 1947. The company name is a combination of "leg godt", Danish for "play well." The Lego toys are colorful plastic "brick" building blocks that interlock with one another. Also sold with the Lego bricks are other building items, such as wheels and axles, roofing shingles, mini-people, and various other parts that help to create almost anything imaginable, from spaceships to entire towns.
Ozzy ... (Referenced by Dick when telling Logan they're going to spend the weekend partying like Ozzy)
Born John Michael Osborne on December 3, 1948, in Aston, Birmingham, England, Ozzy Osbourne was the lead singer of metal band Black Sabbath, and is now a popular solo artist and reality television star. Black Sabbath was quickly successful, and is still popular today. Ozzy himself, however was fired from Black Sabbath in 1979 for his frequent failure to show up for gigs. It was at this point that he began his solo career, with significant help from future wife, Sharon ( with whom he has three children. He also has three children with his first wife, Thelma.)
The Ozzy Osbourne Band was born, and the second album, "Diary of a Madman," is still regarded as a heavy metal classic. The song Crazy Train, from the band's first album, contributes one of the most famous guitar riffs in music and is commonly used by baseball players for the walk-up music. It has also been sampled and covered multiple times. Ozzy's alcoholism, drug abuse, and antics worsened during the 1980s.
He is particularly infamous for biting off the head of a live dove during a meeting with his new record company, after which he was banned from CBS' buildings. He also once bit the head off a bat during a concert in Iowa, after which he was hospitalized for rabies. During the 1990s Sharon created Ozzfest, which has given up-and-coming groups exposure and has been quite financially successful.
Most recently, Ozzy and his family (Sharon and children Jack and Kelly) were featured on the MTV reality show The Osbournes, which quickly became a part of the pop culture lexicon. Years of drug and alcohol abuse have contributed to Ozzy's stuttering, slurred speech and shuffling gait. Let's hope Logan does not party like Ozzy anytime soon.
Heidegger ... (Referenced by Stacy telling Gordon at the party: "Heidegger's fine if you're a Nazi.")
Martin Heidegger (1889-1976) was a German philosopher and professor in his early years, thought to be the founder of the "existentialist movement." He was influenced by Sren Kierkegaard, but he delineated various aspects of human existence, the individual's relationship to death, related the authenticity of being, and studied the anguish of modern society, to the individual's confrontation with his own temporality. He actively supported Adolf Hitler during the his first years in power.
Kierkegaard ... (Referenced by Wallace telling Dean and Veronica he talked to a cute girl about Kierkegaard.)
Sren Aabye Kierkegaard was a both a religious and philosophical thinker. He believed live was more than believing in a "subjective truth", but living it. Kierkegaard developed an "existential dialectic" in opposition to the Hegelian dialectic, and described the various stages of existence as the aesthetic, the ethical, and the religious. As the individual advances through these stages he becomes increasingly more aware of his relationship to God. He later exerted a tremendous influence upon both contemporary Protestant theology and the philosophic movement known as existentialism.
Jane Austen ... (Referenced by Veronica when telling Dean she dumped beer on Andrew because he dissed Austen/P&P.)
Born in December 16, 1775, Jane Austen is one of the most beloved authors of all time, with her works still held in wide regard today. Reprinted several times, her novels have also been made into film and television several times over including the 2005 Oscar-nominated Pride and Prejudice (which still doesn't hold a candle to the BBC version starring Colin Firth as Darcy). Along with her quick-witted heroines and sprightly plotting, Austen also deftly explored the inner working of a woman's mind. Sadly, Austen only enjoyed moderate success in her lifetime.
Pride and Prejudice ... (Referenced by Veronica when telling Dean she dumped beer on Andrew because he dissed Austen/P&P.)
Jane Austen novel, published in 1813. The book follows the headstrong character, Elizabeth Bennett, the second of five sisters, as she makes her way through romantic entanglements, false assumptions, and bad first impressions to find love with Mr. Darcy, the rude, snobbish, arrogant antagonist (Does this scenario sound familiar to anyone else?).
Roofies ... (Referenced by Lamb when telling Veronica that Troy's accuser was roofied and raped.)
Flunitrazepam -- marketed under the trade name Rohypnol -- is manufactured worldwide, particularly in Europe and Latin America. Its most common street name is roofie and it generally sells for below $5.00 per small white tablet. It is ten times more potent than valium and can be habit forming, one of the reasons that it is illegal to own in the US. Rohypnol is one of the drugs most commonly implicated in drug-facilitated rape and due to its high usage blue dye was added to it in 1999 so that it would no longer be clear in liquid. Common effects from usage are memory impairment, drowsiness, visual disturbances, dizziness, confusion, excitability or aggressive behavior and it can mentally and physically paralyze an individual. Effects of the drug are of particular concern in combination with alcohol and can lead to amnesia, where events that occurred during the time the drug was in effect are forgotten.
In response to Rohypnol abuse and use of the drug to facilitate sexual assaults, the U.S. Congress passed the Drug Induced Rape Prevention and Punishment Act, effective October 13, 1996. The law provides for harsher penalties regarding the distribution of a controlled substance to an individual without the individual's consent and with the intent to commit a crime of violence, including rape. The law imposes a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a fine for the importation and distribution of 1 gram or more of Rohypnol. Simple possession is punishable by 3 years in prison and a fine.
PG-13 (Referenced by Troy as he tells Veronica about the time he spent with Stacy.)
PG-13 is one of five trademarked ratings classifications given to American films by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). This ratings system is observed by the majority of film exhibitors and was first instituted on November 1, 1968, after MPAA President Jack Valenti abolished the outdated Hays Production Code. The Production Code either approved or disapproved of content in a motion picture, preventing films from being released that the Production Code Administration considered "immoral" or that contained even one scene or line of dialogue they didn't deem to be appropriate for audiences.
As more daring films began to be released in the 1960's -- in flagrant disregard of the Code -- it became apparent to the MPAA that a new system was needed. This system would be monitored and guided by the MPAA, NATO (National Association of Theatre Owners) and IFIDA (International Film Importers & Distributors of America) and would theoretically be used as a guidance or parental warning system for films, rather than as a censorship tool. Originally only three ratings categories were planned, but NATO pushed for an adults-only category. The original ratings used from 1968-1970 were: G (General audiences; all ages), M (Mature audiences; parental discretion advised), R (Restricted; under 16/17 not admitted without parent/guardian), and X (under 17 not admitted).
These ratings, except for X, were all trademarked by the MPAA. Anyone who didn't submit their film for a ratings classification could use the X or any other description when promoting their film. In 1990, the X rating was changed to NC-17 (and trademarked), since an X rating eventually became too closely associated with pornographic films, which was not the MPAA's intention for the adults-only category. Since the M (Mature) rating was often mistaken to be a more adult rating than R, it was changed to GP (General audience -- Parental guidance suggested), only to be changed a year later to PG (Parental Guidance suggested).
In the 1980s, three popular Steven Spielberg films -- Poltergeist (1982), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) and Gremlins (1984) -- contained scenes considered by many to be too violent or frightening for a PG audience, yet these films were not necessarily violent or profane enough to merit the R rating. So a middle rating, PG-13, was created in July of 1984 that would still allow pre-teens to attend without a parent or guardian, but would act as a cautionary rating to warn parents in advance that a film might not be appropriate for younger moviegoers. The first film to receive a PG-13 classification was The Flamingo Kid, but due to its delayed premiere, Red Dawn was actually the first PG-13 film released.
Individual film ratings can be found at the MPAA website, including the basic reasons used for classification (e.g. intense action violence; sexuality/nudity; language; drinking).
Elle Magazine ... (Referenced by Cliff when describing the contents of his briefcase to Keith.)
Elle is a fashion magazine that covers fashion, beauty, entertainment, food, travel and personalities. It strives to reach a contemporary and fashion-forward female audience focusing on runway shows and the very latest in fashion styles and trends. Cliff + fashion magazine = The mind boggles. Hee, hee.
Emmy Nomination ... (Referenced by Veronica as she prepares to try and get information at the Wig shop.)
Emmy Nominations recognize excellence within various areas of the television industry. The awards are a symbol of peer recognition from over 12,000 members of the Academy. Each member casts a ballot for the category of competition in their field of expertise. The 58th Emmy Awards will be held on August 27, 2006. Actors usually send in clips featuring some of their more dramatic moments. Veronica's impassioned plea for her sister was not only a typical "Emmy" moment, it was also a subtle dig at the Emmy nomination committee which did not recognize her excellent work last year and nominate her for an Emmy.
Iceman ... (Referenced as Chip's score board alias.)
One of the original members of the popular comic book superhero team, the X-Men, Bobby Drake is a mutant whose special power is the ability to freeze moisture in the air around him, creating ice in various forms, such as shields, projectiles and slides. "Iceman," as he is known, was admitted to Professor Charles Xavier's school for "gifted youngsters" when he was a teenager. It was there that he became the youngest member of the superhero Mutant team, known as the X-Men.
Iceman's first appearance was in September, 1963 in X-Men volume 1 #1. The character has also appeared in the animated series Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, X-Men and X-Men: Evolution, as well as several video game adaptations.
In the highly successful feature films X-Men (2000) and X2: X-Men United (2003) and the upcoming 2006 release X-Men 3: The Last Stand, the role of Iceman is played by Shawn Ashmore, who happens to be the twin brother of actor Aaron Ashmore ("Troy Vandegraff" on VM).
Ryan Seacrest ... (Referenced by Veronica to Chip (IceMan) about his hair.)
Ryan Seacrest is the host of the uber-popular television talent show, American Idol. The quintessential metrosexual, he is known to be very conscientious of his hair styling and grooming to the point of bringing his own stylist in to deal with his special hair needs. These days, Seacrest (born December 24, 1974) is almost an entertainment industry unto himself. Along with his AI hosting gig, he also DJs America's Top 40 Countdown, took over for Rick Dees hosting an afternoon radio program on the Los Angeles radio station KIIS-FM renamed On Air with Ryan Seacrest.
In addition, he briefly had his own television talk show and recently signed a three-year/$21 million deal to produce and host various E! programs, including red carpet events. He is also the substitute host for Larry King Live. Phew. Finally, at age 30, Seacrest is also one of the youngest (and, erm, oddest) recipients of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The Flying Nun ... (Referenced by Gordon telling Veronica he doesn't give a "flying nun" about what Stacy's saying.)
The Flying Nun was a sitcom produced by the ABC from 1967 until 1970. The plot is centered on the adventures of a group of nuns in the Convent San Tanco in Puerto Rico. The comic elements of the storyline were provided by the unexplained flying ability of a novice nun, Sister Bertrille, played by Sally Field. She could be relied upon to solve any problem that came her way by her ability to catch a passing breeze and fly (attributed to her small stature and heavily starched habit), but her flying talents caused as many problems as they solved.
The unusual premise caught the attention of the public and the program was a success, yet the storylines were limited, and by the end of the show's run, the writers were struggling to create new situations that would allow the heroine to take flight. Critics never responded favorably to the show, and credited most of its success to the appeal of Sally Field.
Animal House ... (Referenced by Veronica to Dean about Pi Sig).
National Lampoon's Animal House (often called just Animal House) is a 1978 comedy film in which a misfit group of Delta fraternity boys takes on the system at their college. The movie takes place at fictional Faber College in 1962. A 1950s mentality prevails on campus, typified by the Omegas -- the "nice boy" fraternity. At the other end of Fraternity Row, both literally and figuratively, stands the Delta Tau Chi House, a repository for every campus misfit. The Dean of the University, in cahoots with the Omegas, is constantly plotting to revoke the Deltas' charter and drive them off campus permanently.
Animal House is considered as the movie that started the gross-out genre, that predated Porky's and American Pie. It stars John Belushi, Tim Matheson, Karen Allen, John Vernon, Thomas Hulce, Cesare Danova, Peter Riegert, Mary Louise Weller, Stephen Furst, James Daughton, Bruce McGill, Mark Metcalf, James Widdoes, Martha Smith, Kevin Bacon (in his film debut) and Donald Sutherland.
The movie was adapted by Douglas Kenney, Christopher Miller and Harold Ramis from stories that had originally been written by Miller and published in National Lampoon magazine. It was directed by John Landis. In 2001 the United States Library of Congress deemed the film "culturally significant" and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry. Produced on a scanty $3 million budget, the film has turned out to be one of the most profitable of all time; since its initial release, Animal House has garnered an estimated return of more than $200 million in the form of video and DVDs, not including merchandising.
"Double secret probation" ... (Referenced by Veronica to Dean about Pi Sig).
Double Secret Probation is a condition of arbitrarily imposed scrutiny of a given person's or group's activities in an organizational or academic setting without procedural warning. The phrase sprang to prominence in Animal House when Dean Vernon Wormer (John Vernon) tells Inter-Fraternity Council President Greg Marmalard (James Daughton) that he has already placed the offending Delta Tau Chi house on "double secret probation," because the "Deltas" have pushed the administration to the limit with a series of ever-increasingly outrageous behavior that is described but not always shown.
Nietzsche ... (Referenced by Keith to Veronica while talking up Hearst.)
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844-1900) was a German philosopher. Nietzsche was not a systematic philosopher but rather a moralist who passionately rejected Western civilization. He regarded Christian civilization as decadent and yet, slave minded. He instead looked to the superman, the creator of a new heroic morality that would consciously affirm life and the life values (existentialism). Nietzsche's thought had widespread influence but was of particular importance in Germany. Apologists for Nazism seized on much of his writing as a philosophical justification for their doctrines, but most scholars regard this as a perversion of Nietzsche's thought.
French Revolution ... (Referenced by Keith when talking Hearst up to Veronica.)
Lasting eleven years (1789-1799), the French Revolution spelled the end of the old order rule. During the revolution, republicanism replaced the monarch and the Roman Catholic Church (of France) underwent radical restructuring (and not willingly). For the next seventy-five years, the nation swung between republic, empire and monarch rule following the first Republican fall led by Napoleon Bonaparte.
Vermont (Referenced as the destination to which Hannblah's been banished to for, one hopes, the rest of the series.)
Vermont is a small state (with only 9,620 square miles of land, ranking 43rd in land area) located in the New England region of the United States. Vermont also ranks as the second smallest state by population, with its roughly 623,050 people. It borders New Hampshire to the east, New York to the west, Massachusetts to the south, and the Canadian province Quebec. The Green Mountains, for which Vermont is nicknamed, are a mountain range that extends about 250 miles through the state. Vermont produces more maple syrup than any other state, and is also known for its quality dairy products. Like most states in New England (New Hampshire generally being the exception), Vermont is a liberal state and one of very few that has granted civil unions for same-sex couples.
Vermont was occupied by Native American tribes until the 17th century, when France claimed the area of Lake Champlain as part of New France. Vermont then became a British possession after France was defeated in the French and Indian War. During the American Revolutionary War, the 1777 Battle of Bennington (not taking place in Bennington, Vermont, but just over the New York border) resulted in a British defeat. Vermont was thereafter an independent republic for fourteen years. It was the 14th state to join the Union in 1791.
Bugs Bunny ... (Referenced by Veronica while discussing demolitions with the foreman.)
"What's up, Doc?" So sayeth the most famous rabbit of all times, Mr. Bugs Bunny himself. Voiced by Mel Blanc (1940-1989) (then by Jeff Bergman (1990-1993) Greg Burson (1993-1996) Billy West (1996-) Joe Alaskey (2004-present)
and drawn that way by Robert McKimson, Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng, Bugs appears in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons. He's also appeared in feature films including 1996's Space Jam and 2003's Looney Tunes: Back in Action.
According to his biography (yes, this most legendary of fictional characters has a biography), he was born in 1940's Brooklyn -- thus his accent, a cross between a Brooklynite and Bronx native. Bugs is known for his operatic skills, tendency to dress in drag and long-time feud with Elmer Fudd. However, Fudd is not his only antagonist; he also goes rounds with Yosemite Sam, Marvin Martian, Daffy Duck and even Wily E. Coyote (more well-known as the Road Runner's enemy). Much more often than not, Bugs wins the day handily.
Jones worried this winning streak might cause audiences to lose sympathy and devised a strategy to avoid that by having the antagonist repeatedly bully, cheat or threaten Bugs in some way. Eventually, Bugs would feel the need to respond ("Of course you ree-lize, dis means war") and snarky, smart retaliation would ensue ... much to the audience's delight.
- Incredibly enough, Logan even looks sexy when chewing on a pen cap.
- On the chalkboard adjacent to Logan's desk, Mrs. Murphy has written a brief description of William Blake's poem London:
- I wandered through each chartered street,
Near where the chartered Thames does flow,
A mark in every face I meet,
Marks of weakness, marks of woe.
In every cry of every man,
In every infant's cry of fear,
In every voice, in every ban,
The mind-forged manacles I hear:
How the chimney-sweeper's cry
Every blackening church appalls,
And the hapless soldier's sigh
Runs in blood down palace-walls.
But most, through midnight streets I hear
How the youthful harlot's curse
Blasts the new-born infant's tear,
And blights with plagues the marriage-hearse.
- In the letter Woody Goodman writes to introduce the essay contest, it reads: "You'll have the opportunity to learn about civic affairs, political manipulation, and corruption aversion tactics." Political manipulation?! If that doesn't scream "I'm the bad guy," I don't know what does.
- The look exchanged between Logan and Veronica after the classroom cheers about Logan's murder charges being dismissed.
- According to the chalkboard in Mrs. Murphy's class, Logan and Veronica have English class during Period 3. Yet, when they exit the classroom, it's 1:45 pm.
- During the break-up scene, we can hear the marching band (particularly the drumline) practicing in the background. This was a nice, realistic touch that should bring a smile to the face of anyone who's a band geek at heart.
- While walking with Wallace down the hall, Veronica either really likes the smell of her own shampoo or is trying to decide whether Sacks' pornstache is the right look for her as well.
- Logan's genuinely concerned tone when he asks Dick: "What happened to Madison?"
- At the Hearst party, Veronica again references Pride and Prejudice. If we assume that Logan is Darcy, then does Veronica's obvious appreciation for Pride and Prejudice indicate a re-emergence in her feelings for Logan? I'll leave that up to you to decide.
- Veronica's tone of voice when she says "smooth," and her accompanying hand motion.
- While exiting the party, Veronica taps some random guy on the arm to say goodbye, who waves in response.
- During Keith's rescue mission, Cliff informs him that he staying on the 12th floor of the Neptune Grand. However, the room across the hall from Cliff's is actually number 931. I guess Cliff failed both Criminal Law and Elementary Math.
- The facial expressions that Logan makes while playing videogames with Dick that seem to be a mixture of irritation and boredom.
- The incredibly cheesy, yet hilarious soap opera like music that plays in the background during Veronica's Emmy speech.
- At the beginning of the episode it appears that Madison and Dick have broken up. But wait, am I missing something?! When exactly did the Gruesome Twosome reunite?
- In Ain't No Magic Mountain High Enough, when Madison informs Dick: "I've moved on to older men," was she referring to Lamb?
- Was Veronica's explanation for the beer-throwing (due to the dissing of Pride and Prejudice) an in-joke due to the uproar from fans over Jackie's dissing of that very same classic in Cheatty Cheatty Bang Bang?
- When Sugar Jones informs Keith and Cliff that she doesn't know who the guy was that paid her to steal Cliff's briefcase, they pretty much drop the subject. We all know that Keith is an awesome detective, so why doesn't he at least ask if she can provide a description of the mystery man?
- Where did "Bird Dog" get the photograph of Veronica? Was it taken at the party?
- Is the "New and Improved" Troy for real or is evil still lurking beneath the surface?
- If Hearst is supposed to be a hard school to get into, why does Troy think he stands a chance of being admitted? While I don't doubt his intelligence, I would think being kicked out of two private schools, for drug-trafficking no less, would be a deal breaker.
- If Dr. Griffith had the option of sending Hannah away to boarding school (for what would amount to a few more months) to keep Logan from her, why didn't he just do it when Logan first started sniffing around?
- Being the good detective that we all know her to be, why has Veronica yet to verbalize the common factor between the explosives being found where Terrence Cook stores his cars and Danny Boyd's presence at Shark Stadium? Yes, Veronica, Danny Boyd is connected to the Fitzpatrick Family. And yes, Terrence Cook does store his cars in the hangar. But, who owns both Shark Stadium and said hangar? Woody Goodman.
- The Felix mystery (via Danny Boyd of the Fitzpatrick clan) and the bus crash (via the C-4 explosives that were presumably used for the bus crash) have now collided.
- Due to the over-the-top, near-montage in the Neptune Grand suite, it's a safe assumption that the Logan/Hannah relationship was not consummated in The Quick and the Dead (nor here as well).
holly96 (Holly): Literature; Social Science; Homeroom
Iloveyoubearymuch (Kathryn): Literature; Homeroom; Philosophy
JenniferH: Report Card; Yearbook; Chemistry; Literature; Social Science; Philosophy; Principles of Democracy
katrina: Literature; Homeroom
Pixigal (Gerrie): Yearbook; Drama Club; Social Science
ramwitz (Margarita): Yearbook
SeluciaV (Alli): Journalism; Study Hall; Extra Credit; Literature; Social Science
Tar Frimmer (Joanne): Literature; Social Science
