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Veronica Mars Transcripts

VERONICA MARS

1x02: Credit Where Credit's Due

Original Airdate: 09/29/2004

Written by: Rob Thomas

Directed by: Mark Piznarski

Transcribed by: Mark



(Fade in on Neptune High School. Veronica is opening her locker when Wallace walks up)

WALLACE: Another big friday night. You got plans?

VERONICA: I don't know. I might take Backup for a run, or rent a movie maybe.

WALLACE: Congratulations. You're officially Neptune High's most boring person.

VERONICA: Did I mention the movie might be PG-13?

WALLACE: (laughs) Oh, jump back wild child.

VERONICA: What about you Wallace? Your life still a nonstop Nelly video?

WALLACE: Hey! At least I want my life to be a nonstop Nelly video.

VERONICA: What do you propose?

WALLACE: This (shows a pink flyer with lots of symbols on it). I found it on the floor in gym.

VERONICA: You wanna crash an 09'er party?

WALLACE: Maybe. I don't know what an 09er is.

VERONICA: It's someone who lives in the prestigious 90909 zip code.

WALLACE: Look, you can't even tell who's throwing it. You don't know when it starts or where it is.

VERONICA: Because it's all in code. The moons tell you it starts when it gets dark, the hourglass indicates sand, which means it's the beach, and the K's and the 9's tell you it's more specifically, dog beach.

WALLACE: And the little eggs?

VERONICA: Fri-day.... it's in code so undesirables, which by the way, is you and me, don't show up.

WALLACE: How do you know all this?

VERONICA: I used to be one of them.

(cut to the beach party, where a bunch of teens are dancing and drinking. Duncan and his friend, Tory Vandergraff, are sitting in Duncan's car)

TROY: What do you say, dog? You ready to get this party started? You ready to burn this mother down? Up jump the boogie?

DUNCAN: (laughs) My plan, and I haven't worked this out entirely yet so bear with me, was to raise the roof (does the raise the roof hand gesture)

TROY: See, that is so you man, mister old school.

DUNCAN: Me, old school? You're the one who wanted to come down here and get jiggy with it.

TROY: Yeah.

DUNCAN: So..... you wanna go meet the locals, or what?

TROY: As long as they're humble, god fearing, salt of the earth types.

DUNCAN: (sarcastic) Every last one.

(They get out and walk to the party. They walk up to the keg and grab drinks. Logan and his girlfriend, Caitlin Ford, spot Duncan)

LOGAN: Yo, D. (sees Troy) Hey, who's your date, man?

CAITLIN: It's Troy Vandergraff. His fathers the architect who built the county museum.

LOGAN: (impressed) Wow. Aren't you just the little social-columnist.

DUNCAN: Troy, this is Logan. (they shake hands) I guess you already know Caitlin.

TROY: (to Caitlin) From the Marina, right?

CAITLIN: So, aren't you supposed to be going back east for school?

TROY: Change of plans. The parents decided they were gonna stay in SoCal, so I'm enrolling here on Monday.

CAILTIN: Yay.

LOGAN: Lucky us.

DUNCAN: (to Logan) So, how's the party goin' man.

(Logan is just about to answer but he sees notices something in the distance. The camera scrolls over to show Weevil, Felix and a couple other bikers storming the party, Logan gets up and walks to them)

(Felix harrasses a blonde party-goer. Weevil notices and gestures him over)

FELIX: What? Time for smores.

WEEVIL: (takes a cup, and goes to the keg) This... is the good stuff. (to Logan) Is this imported?

LOGAN: This is a private party, man?

WEEVIL: (laughs) Oh, is it? I'm sorry. I must have been confused. Hey, let me ask you something. Have I ever asked you if I could come play through at Torrey Pines? Have you ever ran into me surfing at Cape Crescent, bro? Have you ever even once come home to find us throwing a kegger in your backyard? (Logan just smiles at him) No? Then what the hell are you think you're doing on our beach?

LOGAN: Am I supposed to apologize? Am I supposed to shake in my boots?

WEEVIL: Maybe.

LOGAN: Look around you man, it ain't fifteen on four tonight. (party goers make sounds of support) Hey Caitlin? You've been to my house a bunch, right?

CAITLIN: Yeah.

LOGAN: It's nice, right? It's clean, well-kept.

CAITLIN: Very.

LOGAN: Do you wanna know why? It's because Weevil's grandma keeps it that way. She is a good little worker, your grandma, SPIC-and-span.

(One of Weevil's gang-members, Chardo, steps up)

CHARDO: (laughs) It's a tough job, you know, grandma says you go through a box of tissue a day. Your room alone.

LOGAN: What can I say to that, you know? She's a very sexy lady. Thank you. (throws an evil glare at Chardo)

(It looks like they're about to fight when the sirens of a police-car go off. Sheriff Lamb gets on the squad-cars speaker)

LAMB: This is the Sheriff's Department. I want your ID's out.

WEEVIL: (to the bikers) go, go, go

(Everyone clears the beach quickly, Deputy Sachs sits with Sheriff Lamb and looks confused)

SACHS: Are we gonna go after them?

LAMB: No, let's get out, get the kegs. Tell the guys cook-out at my place tomorrow night.

(Weevil and Chardo in their home, playing a videogame. Two kids run up and jump in front of Weevil)

WEEVIL: Move your ass, little man. Come on, I'm losing!

(There's a bang at the door)

DEPUTY: Sheriff's Department. Open up.

(Weevil's grandmother gets up and goes into the living room where Weevil and Chardo are)

GRANDMA: (to Weevil and Chardo) What did you boys do?

CHARDO: Don't worry about it Grandma, we'll handle it alright.

(Weevil opens the door to reveal Sheriff Lamb and Deputy Sachs)

WEEVIL: I guess you guys busted all those rich-kids already, huh?

LAMB: (to Weevil and Chardo) Boys. (to their Grandma) Letecia Navarro, I've got a warrant for your arrest. Come with us.

(Weevil and Chardo protest at the same time)

WEEVIL: What's your problem! If you want me, be a man about it!

CHARDO: (angry) What are the charges!

LAMB: Credit-card fraud.

WEEVIL: (shocked) Credit... she doesn't even have any credit-cards, man!

LAMB: Not in her own name, no.

(Grandma Navarro is handcuffed and being led to the squad-car)

LAMB: But somebody took credit-card offers out of the Echolls' family trash.They opened up accounts, they rang up charges. You heard anything about that? (Weevil looks away) Hey! (gets his attention back) Nah, I didn't think so. Because it would take a major-league loser to let a sweet old-lady like that does his time, for him.

WEEVIL: (sees the kids watching. To chardo) Get them inside, man.

(Mars office. Cliff the sleazy lawyer and Keith are talking about Cliff's client, Grandma Navarro, with Veronica listening in from her own desk)

CLIFF: Listen to this list of charges to the card. Half-dozen video-games, limo rides, Magic-Mountain tickets, motorcycle gear.... (to Keith) it goes on like that. I sincerly doubt my client, Mrs. Navarro, suddenly decides to steal from the Echolls after 10 years of loyal service, just so she can get herself a new peircing from puddy-tats.

KEITH: It's gotta be the kid, Eli Navarro. (to Veronica) What do they call him?

VERONICA: Weevil.

CLIFF: Oh, clearly it's Weevil. Lamb doesn't even believe it's Mrs. Navarro, but the P.O. box the merchandise was sent was in her name. Plus, she was wearing a diamond-pendant purchased by one of the phony-cards.

VERONICA: Lamb could've set Weevil up. He hates him, you know.

KEITH: Honey, I started picing up Eli Navarro when he was twelve.

VERONICA: (defensively) He just helped me out of jam, recently, that's all.

CLIFF: Look, I'm sure he's a real mench, but I've got a Grandma in jail and I'd really like to get her out.

KEITH: We'll dive in. Thanks, Cliff.

(they shake hands, Cliff leaves)

KEITH: Honey.... he goes to your school. You mind taking point on this for a couple days. I'm working on something.

VERONICA: I'll see what I can find.

(Veronica pulls up to Weevil's home, and walks over to his motorcycle)

Veronica Voice-Over (VVO): The trouble with befriending the leader of a motorcycle gang, is that at the end of the day, he's still the leader of the motorcycle gang. And as much as I'd like to believe differently, I doubt it's his grandmother who's buying videogames and paying for motorcycle paint jobs.

(Veronica's looking at a shiny, freshly-painted motorcycle. Weevil sees her and comes out)

WEEVIL: I've hospitalized people for less than what you're doing right now.

VERONICA: What, admiring your paint-job.

WEEVIL: I know what you're doing here and admiring my paint-job, isn't it.

VERONICA: I'm just following up on a few things for the lawyer who's representing your grandma.

WEEVIL: Yeah, I met the guy. He says I should confess.

VERONICA: (innocently) You think you will?

WEEVIL: (scoffs) I got nothing to say to you, man.

VERONICA: Weevil, your grandma's in jail.

WEEVIL: Are you reminding me? (sarcastic) Because I almost forgot.

VERONICA: I'm just saying, with your reputation, you can't blame McCormack (Cliff) for thinking (interrupted)

WEEVIL: My reputation?! Well, then I guess what everybody says about you is true too, huh? That you like it a little freaky, don't you? That you spy on Duncan Kane, that you send him pictures of yourself. Be honest, Veronica. You think you're this big outsider, but when push comes to shove, you're still one of them. You still think like one of them. (angry) Take off. I don't want you around here.


[CREDITS]


(Veronica and Keith eating a diner. Veronica is wearing a stylish looking baseball cap)

KEITH: Are you gonna wear that cap inside? At the table?

VERONICA: Do you think I'm offending someone? In here?

KEITH: Simple etiquette, that's all.

(Veronica takes off her hat just as Sheriff Lamb comes in, notices them, and walks towards them)

LAMB: Well, look who's here. (sits down beside Veronica) Ah, if it isn't my predeccessor and mentor. How's the dirty picture biz, boss?

KEITH: (motioning to the paper) It looks like it's better than being Sheriff actually. You got a killer on the loose Lamb. (reading from the paper) "A daring daylight escape, Ray Lee Hempstead, denied bail earlier this week after his arrest for manslaughter broke out the back windshield of a Balboa County Department cruiser and fled on foot".

LAMB: Meeks and Johnson lost him. I think those are two guys you hired.

KEITH: (to Veronica) You hear that? That's leadership. Way to stand up on your own two feet Lamb, and say, "Hey, the buck stops... there".

LAMB: You know what's coming up? October third. Are you doing anything special to mark the one year anniversary of Lilly Kane's murder? I got it. Dress like a Sheriff and crucify some poor, grieving father, for old times sake.

KEITH: Tell me again how you solved the crime of the century. Now wait a minute, I remember, I remember. An anonymous tip leads you right to the supposed killers house-boat. (getting louder) Did anybody show-up to collect the $100,000 reward for that information? Do you find that strange?

LAMB: No. What about your theory. Jake Kane murders his own daughter. We've got a witness and phone-records that have him nowhere near that house. All the kanes, in fact, were accounted for at the time of the murders. (no reply) What's that? Nothing to say to that, right? (Sachs appears) Sachs, we got our order ready?

KEITH: Good luck with that fugitive, Don.

VERONICA: (smiling) Smell you later.

(Lamb leaves)

KEITH: (laughing) Smell you later?

VERONICA: I gotta run. The counselor wants to see me before class.

KEITH: About what.

VERONICA: My schedule and my attitude. Not necessarily in that order. Her words. (kisses Keith on the cheek)

(Veronica walks into the office. Troy Vandergraff is also there, and immediately "notices" her.)

TROY: (to Veronica) Give us a smile, love.

SECRETARY: Troy Vandergraff.

(Troy walks off. Veronica smiles as Wallace walks in)

VERONICA: What are you doing in here?

WALLACE: Oh, hey. I signed up for diving, but there were only like, four people in the class. They cancelled it, stuck me in here. So don't you mess with me, all right. I'm an office aide.

VERONICA: (happy) That's great!

WALLACE: For who?

VERONICA: For me! I need you to copy all of Weevil's attendance records from the last month and get them to me.

WALLACE: Do I look like James Bond to you?

VERONICA: Am I asking you to retrieve a nuclear warhead? No. Just copy the attendance records. It's cake. (Wallace nods and smiles)

(Veronica walks into a classroom. A black teacher, Ms. Dent, is giving advice to a male student)

MS. DENT: (to student) Why don't you try moving the caption down. See how it looks. (notices Veronica) Can I help you with something.

VERONICA: Uh, yeah, the counselor sent me. (Veronica hands Ms. Dent a note) She says I'm disconnected and passionless.

(Caitlin and Logan are sitting in the back)

CAITLIN: Ms. Dent?

MS. DENT: (annoyed) Yes?

CAITLIN: I'm going down to the gym to talk to people for the student poll.

MS. DENT: Be back by the end of the period.

(Veronica glares at Caitlin)

MS. DENT: Remember that we're a multi-cultural school with a diverse population of students from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds.

CAITLIN: Meaning?

MS. DENT: (sighs) Meaning, don't just interview your friends.

(Caitlin glares at her, and then walks away)

MS. DENT: (to Veronica) So, Veronica. Welcome to newspaper class.

VERONICA: I was thinking.... maybe I could just take pictures.

MS. DENT: I'm not sure if you could just do that, but we can start there. Do you have any experiance with a camera.

VERONICA: (smiles) Some.

MS. DENT: Now this is a 35mm camera. Now, my suggestion, as you're starting out, is to set it on auto and that will.. (interrupted)

VERONICA: I'd really be more comfortable if I could just use my own camera. (she pulls a professional looking camera out of here bag, Ms. Dent looks stunned) The swivel LCD comes in handy when you're doing overhead shooting, or ground-level macro shooting. The optical zoom actually goes to 71.2mm. It's good to have the raw-file option to mess with the images post-exposure without nearly the loss of image quality. You'd get with a JPEG file.

MS. DENT: (stunned) And when it's dark outside, you should use a flash. (laughs) I have your first assignment. Are you free after school tomorrow?

VERONICA: I guess?

MS. DENT: We're doing a feature on Bodie Chang. You know him?

VERONICA: Surfer. I was in study-hall with him.

MS. DENT: That's him. He's winning all these competitions. He's got another one at Gold Coast. Meet the guy who's doing the story. (Walks over to a cubicle where Duncan Kane is writing something) Duncan Kane, this is Veronica. (Veronica and Duncan look awkward) Veronica is taking pictures tomorrow, and I arranged for you to ride with Bodie's parents.

DUNCAN: I'll drive.

MS. DENT: Great. Maybe Veronica can... (interrupted)

VERONICA: I can drive, too.

(Ms. Dent shrugs)

MS. DENT: All right. Oil crisis be damned.

(Veronica looks over to the door where Wallace is trying to get her attention. He has Weevil's attendance records)

(Courtyard/Cafeteria. Veronica and Wallace are sitting at a table, Veronica is reading some documents)

VERONICA: Look at this. Half of these credit-card purchases are online orders, and the ones that were made on school days were made between 11 am and 12 pm. That's fourth period.

WALLACE: Yeah, you realize, don't you, that this guy you're trying to help out duct-taped me, buck-naked, to a flag-pole just last week?

VERONICA: Man, you really hold a grudge.

WALLACE: Yeah, I'm funny that way. And you're welcome for those records.

VERONICA: Wallace, King Kong ain't got nothing on you.

WALLACE: Hell no.

VERONICA: But think about this? How can a guy who was in auto-shop seven of the eight days these purchases were made, manage to make online orders?

WALLACE: Aren't you supposed to prove he did it, so you can get his grandma outta jail.

VERONICA: But it's impossible, there's no internet connection in auto-shop.

WALLACE: It can't be hard for him to slip out of three.

VERONICA: Seven times? (Wallace concedes)

(Mars Investigations. Veronica storms into his office to find Keith and Cliff talking)

VERONICA: I don't think he did it.

KEITH: Who didn't do what?

VERONICA: Weevil. I was looking through the attendance records, and I just don't think it's possible... (interrupted)

KEITH: Veronica.

VERONICA: Wha... Yeah?

KEITH: Cliff just got back from the courthouse.

CLIFF: They released Letty Navarro a couple hours ago.

VERONICA: That's great.

CLIFF: They released her because Eli "Weevil" Navarro came in and confessed to the crime.

(Veronica's shocked)

(Newspaper Class. Veronica is on a computer searching something. Logan and Caitlin are sitting close by, aware of her presence)

CAITLIN: (to Logan) What are you going to do about your housekeeper?

LOGAN: We had to let her go. If you can't trust your domestics, you don't feel safe in your own home.

CAITLIN: I won't miss her. She was totally rude to me every time I was over there.

VERONICA: (interrupts) Did you know that 90 percent of all identity theft is committed by relatives of the victim? That's an interesting fact. At least I think so.

CAITLIN: But you know what? No one cares what you think, Veronica Mars. Not any more. Not since you stabbed your friends in the back.

VERONICA: You seem to care a bit what I think.

LOGAN: Tell the truth. Did you just sign up for newspaper so you could be closer to Duncan?

VERONICA: No. I signed up so I could be closer to you. (Veronica and Logan smile evil at each other) In fact, they're thinking of putting me in your fourth period government class.

CAITLIN: We've got computer-lab fourth period.

VERONICA: (sarcastic) Oh, shoot. My loss.

(Logan looks annoyed at Caitlin for spilling that information. Veronica smiles)

(Cafeteria/Courtyard. Wallace walks up to Veronica's table and sits down)

WALLACE: What you got there, V?

VERONICA: I printed out the entire browser history from Logan's computer in his fourth-period computer-lab class.

WALLACE: So, is he guilty?

VERONICA: Of wanting desperately to see pictures of Allysa Milano naked, yes. But of making bogus credit-card charges? I don't think so. (keeps reading) Wait. The Neptune Grand? Logan visited the Neptune Grand hotel website. He didn't make reservations online, but...

WALLACE: But?

VERONICA: There's a charge on the credit-card for the honeymoon suite.

(Parking lot. Veronica walks up to her car, and finds that her tire and been cut. Logan walks up and smiles at her)

LOGAN: Bummer.

(Veronica looks angry as Logan walks off and laughs with his buddies. Troy walks up)

TROY: Flat?

VERONICA: Just as god made me.

TROY: Are you always this persnickety?

VERONICA: Sometimes I even persnicketier. (beat) I'm supposed to be taking surf competition photos in Gold Coast in thirty-minutes, and this is my second mysterious flat since school started.

TROY: Here, let me help you. I'm Troy, by the way.

VERONICA: I'm Veronica.

TROY: (shocked) Really? Veronica? okay, yeah, that does make a lot more sense.

VERONICA: What makes more sense.

TROY: Nothing. I just... I should never listen to those guys.

(Veronica looks at Logan. He's looking back. They glare at each other)

TROY: Really. Who names their daughter Trampy McBitch. (Veronica laughs)

(Caitlin pulls up to Logan and friends on a pink-scooter)

CAITLIN: (to Logan) Hey.

LOGAN: Hey, nice ride.

CAITLIN: What's up?

LOGAN: Not much. How are you doing?

CAITLIN: Good.

LOGAN: (at the scooter) With two miles on it?

CAITLIN: It's new

LOGAN: Tooling around school a little?

(she sees Troy helped Veronica with her tire)

CAITLIN: What's Try doing talking to Veronica?

LOGAN: (jealous) What do you care?

CAITLIN: I don't, it's just... hasn't anyone told him.

(Duncan walks up and sees Troy helping Veronica. He also looks jealous and walks up to them)

DUNCAN: Hey, Veronica, you need a ride? If we don't go now, we'll miss it.

(Veronica looks for an out, but Troy talks first)

TROY: Go. I'll finish this, throw the tools in the trunk.

DUNCAN: Chilvalry not dead. Good to know. (to Veronica) I'm right over here.

(Veronica and Duncan are in a car, headed to the surfing competition)

VVO: I should've walked to Gold Coast. It's only thirty-miles, but with the ackward silence it feels like three-hundred. In five seconds, I'm just gonna do the Charlie's Angels roll right out of the car. Five, four, three.. (interrupted)

DUNCAN: (motions to the radio) Lilly loved this song

VERONICA: Yeah.

[FLASHBACK - CAR]

(Veronica and Lilly are driving)

LILLY: Why'd you join Pep Squad, Veronica?

VERONICA: Um, the P.E. credit. You?

LILLY: Veronica, I suffer from too much pep. I need a pep-outlet. Plus, Sassy says girls who join the clubs really get the fellas.

VERONICA: Cause you really need a lotta help on that front.

LILLY: Well, you know what my mom says: "you have to kiss a few toads". That's it, that's her entire philosophy right there.

VERONICA: All your mother says to me is, "Veronica. Shouldn't you be getting home soon"?

LILLY: That sounds like her.

VERONICA: Why does she hate me?

LILLY: It's not your fault. She'd hate anyone she thought Duncan might love as much as her. Friendly advice: watch her. She'll break the two of you up if she can.

[BACK - CAR]

VERONICA: (to Duncan) Slow down.

(Veronica sees Weevil picking up trash in a jail-house jumper with several other prisoners)

(Beach. Veronica's taking pictures of the surf competition, while Duncan is getting quotes from a surfer. Veronica takes a picture of him. Duncan turns and walks over. They talk, it's inaudible).

(Car. Duncan and Veronica are driving back when a police-siren pulls them over)

DUNCAN: Wonderful

DEPUTY: (to Duncan) Licence and registration. Can I have the two of you step out of this car.

DUNCAN: Is there a problem?

DEPUTY: I've got an impound notice on this vehicle. Bunch of parking tickets and a moving violation dated October 3rd.

(Duncan and Veronica are both on the phone, talking to their parents)

DUNCAN: (on phone) they want to impound the car...... I guess there are a bunch of tickets. No... not mine. Lilly's.

VERONICA: (on phone) Just outside of town on the PCH. About a mile from the Real Inn. It's a long story. I'll tell you when you get here.

(Time lapse. Jake Kane pulls up and walks to the Deputy)

JAKE: Officer. Officer, have you called this in to the Sheriff?

DEPUTY: Ah, no sir. We don't generally call in general moving violations.

JAKE: Well, why don't you give him a shout. (walks over) Duncan, did you get everything out of... (stops mid-sentence we he sees Veronica) Hello, Veronica.

VERONICA: Mr. Kane.

(Keith pulls up, gets out of his car and walks over to Veronica)

[FLASHBACK - MULTIPLE]

VVO: The last time my Dad and Jake Kane were at the same place at the same time, was in a Sheriff's department interogation room. (interogation room. Keith Mars in a Sheriff's uniform interogating Jake Kane. Inaudible except the voice-over) When Jake finished his story, Dad told the most powerful man in town that he was sure he was somehow involved in his own daughters death. Jake went to the press. The adoring press. (Jake Kane is addressing the media in front of the Sheriff's department. Duncan is standing beside him looking very sad) Tears in his eyes, and told the world how much he missed his baby, and how he was wrongfully accused. (Sheriff's department. Keith Mars is walking out of his office in plain-clothes with a box in his hands) The fine people of Neptune gathered their pitchforks and torches and stormed the country commissioners office, and ran dad out of office. (Keith Mars hugs Inga). My friends got on the band-wagon as well (cut to scenes of the 09ers being horrible to Veronica) They gave me a choice. I could stand by my dad or stand by Duncan and my dead best friend's family. I chose Dad. It's a decision I live with every day. (Veronica and Duncan walk by each other, ignoring one another) And you wanna know the kicker? I don't even know what's true anymore.

[BACK]

(Veronica and Keith are walking to Keith's car)

VVO: Maybe everyone else is right. Maybe Dad screwed up the investigation. Maybe I gave up my circle of friends, my life, over an error in Dad's judgement.

(The deputy runs up and stops a tow-truck from taking Duncan's car)

DEPUTY: (to towtruck driver) Hold on. (to Jake Kane) I'm sorry, Mr. Kane. I had no idea.

JAKE: Thank you. (Keith looks annoyed)

(Car. Keith is driving Veronica home)

KEITH: So? What's up? You and Duncan started hanging out again?

VVO: Yeah, I'll tell you the details of my personal life if you tell me why went after Jake Kane, when to everyone else, he was a heart-broken father.

KEITH: Honey, have you and Duncan started.. (interrupted)

VERONICA: No. School assignment, that's all. (beat) Can we stop by the Neptune Grand?

KEITH: What for?

VERONICA: The Navarro case. I need a little help.

KEITH: Isn't that already solved. They already have the confessed criminal in jail. (Veronica is annoyed by the irony, she glares at him) Oh, all right, fine. What do you need me to do.

(Neptune Grand lobby. Keith is dragging Veronica in by the hand, angrily, it's obviously an act for the hostess)

KEITH: (to the hostess) We need to talk to somebody in security right now. RIGHT NOW!

VERONICA: (acting) Dad! Will you just back-off and let me handle this!

KEITH: (acting) You handle it, or I handle it, but we're gonna get to the bottom of this!

VERONICA: (acting) Well, would you just stand over there? You're scaring people. (to the hostess) Hi. I'm really hoping you can help me with this.

HOSTESS: What seems to be the problem?

VERONICA: I came in here about a month ago with a guy..... long story short, I'm pregnant.

HOSTESS: (ackward) Okay....

VERONICA: Here's the thing, the next part's a little embarassing. I don't remember the guys name, or what he looks like. Tequila? Never again. My dad's wondering if there's any type of survelliance video to look at? Here's the credit-card bill. He had me pay for it.

HOSTESS: Let me go talk to the manager. (walks off)

KEITH: (quitely, to Veronica) that was good. (they walk off and whisper about their acting job) What?

(at the same time)

VERONICA: (quitely) Little over the top.

KEITH: Think it worked? A bit? I can bring it down?

VERONICA: Yeah.

KEITH: You try being bad cop. (points at her)

VERONICA: Don't make me laugh.

KEITH: It's easier being good cop then it is bad cop.

(the hostess comes back with a slip of paper)

HOSTESS: I'm sorry, but we only keep video survelliance for two weeks. But I did get your detailed bill summary.

VERONICA: (takes the slip) Oh, thanks. (her and Keith walk off) Guess who signed for room-service in a room charged to the Echolls' family credit-card.

KEITH: Who?

VERONICA: Logan's girlfriend. Caitlin Ford.

(class, the next day. Logan walks by Veronica)

VERONCA: I know it was you.

LOGAN: (laughs) What was me?

VERONICA: You stole your mom's credit-cards, but you made a mistake going to the hotel Neptune Grand, because you let Caitlin sign for the room-service tab.

LOGAN: (suspicious but not worried) That's great, prove it. (walks away with a look of concern on his face)

(Ms. Dent walks into the classroom)

MS. DENT: Veronica. I wanna show you something. (walks over with the cover of the school newspaper. It reads; "Story by Duncan Kane, Pictures by Veronica Mars".) What do you think, pretty cool huh?

VERONICA: Yeah. (she smiles)

(Sheriff's Deparment. Lamb is standing there when he hears Keith in the distance)

KEITH: Wanted man, coming through.

(Keith walks up to the desk where Lamb is with the wanted killer they talked about earlier)

KEITH: (to Lamb) I believe you misplaced this.

LAMB: (to a deputy) Darby, go on and get him to holding.

DARBY: (to the killer) All right. Let's go. (leads him off)

KEITH: (to Lamb) You don't think we should alert the media? You know, take some pictures. I thought that was standard operating practice around here now. (turns to Inga, the foreign secretary) Hi Inga. How are Trixie and Bud?

INGA: Trixie just had puppies. There's still one left. (interrupted)

LAMB: If that's all....

KEITH: (to Lamb) Now, do you plan on cutting the reward check personally or should I talk to Cathy in accounts payable? (Lamb walks away) Should I follow you? (laughs)

(cut to Veronica and Wallace talking at their courtyard/cafeteria table. Troy walks up and sits down beside Veronica)

TROY: (to Veronica) How's that spare tire holding up?

VERONICA: Ah, there it is. The quid-pro-quo.

TROY: Hey. This great nation of ours was built on quid-pro-quo. (Veronica and Troy smile at each other) I am having a party on Saturday, and you should come. (to Wallace) Well, both of you. (to Veronica) But, especially you.

VERONICA: Haven't you heard? I'm not allowed in the first class cabin.

TROY: Look.... I don't believe in much, but I do believe in this: When sexy, sassy girls can't come to a shindig of mine, maybe I was a little bit wrong or sorry. I mean, let bygones be bygones. Screw pride. Let's dance, baby, let's dance.

WALLACE: (touched) That was beautiful man, beautiful. (Troy nods)

VERONICA: We'll see.

TROY: An open mind. That's all I ask.

(Veronica watches him walk away)

VVO: Is it that easy? Say, "Maybe I was wrong", and get my old life back?

(Logan walks up. He doesn't look happy. He points at her as if to say; "I'm watching you" - he walks off)

(Veronica gets up quickly)

WALLACE: Where you off to, superfly?

VERONICA: I'm gonna nail that sucker.

(Logan walks up to Duncan and plops down beside him. They look at Troy and Caitlin who look like they're fliring)

LOGAN: (to Duncan) Hey, this kid Troy. How long have you known him?

DUNCAN: Oh, a few years. His family has a slip next to ours in the marina. They usually come in August, stay the month. They move around a lot. You know, wherever his Dad has a project. I'm gonna get a burrito, you want something? (no reply). Then you, (hands him a pink purse) are in charge of your girlfriends purse (Logan takes it, but continues to glare at Troy).

LOGAN: Thanks.

(cut to Veronica sitting in study-hall. She's flipping through Caitlin's phone-records. She dials on of the numbers)

PHONE: "Hello, and thank you for calling movie line!" (Veronica hangs up)

(Veronica crosses the number out on the phone-records and tries another number. Meanwhile, Logan sees Cailtin's phone in her purse, pulls it out, and goes through her outgoing calls. Back to Veronica, where she's just dialed another number)

PHONE: Hello.

VERONICA: (lying) Uh, yeah, this number appeared on my cell-phone bill, and I don't recognize it. Can you tell me who this is?

PHONE: It's Jessie Ford (Caitlin's mother), and who is this? (Veronica hangs up and crosses another number off the list)

(Logan sees a number he finds suspicous)

LOGAN: (to himself) Who's she calling at one in the morning? (Calls the number)

(Veronica is trying the same number at the same time, but Logan beat her. She gets a busy signal. Back to Logan, who just had someone answer his call)

PHONE: Oh, hey baby. Calling me during a school day. That's daring. (Logan stands up and looks around to see if he can see who's on the other end. Back to Veronica who's calling another number, her Dad picks up)

VERONICA: Hey, Dad, can you run a cell-phone number for me?

(back to Logan, who's still looking around for the guy on the other end of the phone)

PHONE: Baby? Hello? Baby? Oh, you wanna play the silent game? Maybe later we'll play the tickle game if you want? That's cool, I'll just talk. (Logan spots Chardo on the phone across the courtyard. He chuckles to himself. Chardo keeps talking) I know you like it. I miss you mama. I can't wait to see you. (Logan hangs up and looks pissed).

[COMMERCIAL]

(Chardo is walking through the hallway. We see Logan and three very large friends of his storming towards Chardo, but before they can get to him Veronica grabs him and pulls him into an empty girls bathroom)

CHARDO: Watch it there, girl.

VERONICA: Confess. It's good for the soul.

CHARDO: What?

VERONICA: The moron says what.

CHARDO: What?

VERONICA: You're busted, Chardo. Do I have to spell it out for you.

CHARDO: Yeah, why don't you?

VERONICA: All right. So one day, you go to pick up your grandma at the Echolls place and she asks you to take out a bag of trash. And there they are in front of you: Virgin, high-limit, pre-approved credit-card applications. Phone in the confirmation code, and start spending. Then you use Logan Echolls' family credit-cards to take out Caitlin Ford, in the manner in which she's accustumed; gourmet meals, five-star hotels, limo-rides. But the best part about it, is that your cousin Weevil takes the fall for you. So you're promoted.

CHARDO: I didn't want that to happen. Weevil's like my brother.

VERONICA: Your brother is out picking up trash on the highway.

(Chardo gets angry and starts pacing)

CHARDO: You know what? It's killing me, okay? But you see, I got a plan.

VERONICA: I'm all ears.

CHARDO: Caitlin and me? We're gonna run away (Veronica laughs) We are! And when I'm gone, I'll write a confession, I'll send it back, they gotta let Weevil go then.

VERONICA: Chardo.... Caitlin Ford is never gonna run away with you.

CHARDO: You don't know her!

VERONICA: Oh, I know her. She's a thrill-seeker. Doing you was like doing the do, and that's all it was.

(Chardo gets angry again and starts to leave)

VERONICA: You can't out there, because Logan knows and he wants your head on a stick.

CHARDO: I ain't hidin' am I?

VERONICA: What are you gonna do when Weevil finds out?

CHARDO: How's Weevil gonna find out?

VERONICA: You should turn yourself in.

CHARDO: I ain't goin' nowhere without her. Caitlin and me? We love each other. (he goes to leave again)

VERONICA: So tell me why every time I see her, Logan Echolls has his hands all over her.

(Chardo just leaves)

(Navarro home. Grandma Navarro and Veronica are at the table discussing this)

VERONICA: I don't understand why you're doing it, but you know Chardo gave you the pendant and you're letting Weevil do the time for him?

GRANDMA: Eli is still seventeen, but Chardo is eighteen - they'd send him to prison. Weevil can do four-months of Juvie.

VERONICA: Weevil thinks he's doing the fall for you.

GRANDMA: (stands up) I have dinner to fix.

VERONICA: Do you know what he was doing with those credit-cards? He spent all that money, thousands of dollars, taking out a spoiled-rich white girl. Logan Echolls girlfriend, you must have met her, Caitlin Ford.

GRANDMA: Ugh, not her. (laughs) She doesn't like her ice-cubes made with tap-water.

VERONICA: And now Weevil's doing time so that Chardo can take his girl out in style?

(Grandma Navarro looks pensive)

GRANDMA: Let me see those receits?

(Time lapse, a deputy is letting Weevil out of the back of a squad-car. Veronica and Grandma Navarro are sitting on the balcony. Grandma Navarro gets up and runs to him)

GRANDMA: Mijo!

(Weevil and Grandma Navarro hug)

GRANDMA: Oh, it's so great to have you home!

WEEVIL: Veronica Mars. I hear your to thank for this kodak moment. Didn't you get the memo? The bad guy was already in jail. Give me some love.

(Veronica and Weevil hug)

GRANDMA: (to Weevil) Mijo, I wanna make you something to eat.

WEEVIL: Okay

VERONICA: You should know, the judge issued a warrant for Chardo after granting your release. They're out looking for him now.

WEEVIL: Yeah, well, they won't be the only ones.

VERONICA: Logan and the 09ers are out looking for him, too. You should find him before they do.

WEEVIL: We'll find him.

(Cut to the Ford residence where Chardo has just pulled up on his motorcycle. He pulls out his cell-phone and walks towards the house)

CHARDO: (on phone) Baby it's me. I'm outside. This is it, it's time to go, it's what we talked about. (Caitlin looks out from the top-floor window looking less then happy) What's wrong babe, everything okay? (several 09ers come out from behind the house, Chardo turns away but is cut off by another few 09ers and a red truck. Logan climbs out)

LOGAN: Well, if it isn't the bad apple, thinking he can steal my girl.

CHARDO: I already stole your girlfriend, you're just too dumb to know it.

(Logan takes him down with a punch to the face, and steps on his chest. Just then, several motorcycles pull up).

CHARDO: (refering to the reving of the motorcycle engines) Sweet music, huh?

LOGAN: (looks at the biker-gang, Caitlin, and then Chardo) Hold him. (Another 09er holds him down on the ground).

(Weevil takes off his helmet)

LOGAN: (to Weevil) Well, I guess this is what they call inevitable, huh? Hey, look, you even got homecourt advantage.

WEEVIL: (to Logan) Let's talk.

(They walk around the truck and talk. It's inaudible, although you hear Logan say "you better" at the end of the discussion. Logan walks back)

LOGAN: (to the 09ers) Let him go.

MALE 09er: Logan?

LOGAN: I said let him go. (the 09er does)

(Chardo gets on his bike, and looks up at Caitlin, who looks unphased. He's jumps on his bike)

GANG MEMBER: Let's go man, let's go.

(cut to dog beach, where Chardo is thanking his compadres)

CHARDO: You're the man, you know what I'm saying. You were there for me, boys. I like that. I appreciate it, you know what I'm saying. (to Weevil) most of all you man, I'm sorry you had to take the fall, but I was going to get you man. You and me? We're brothers.

WEEVIL: (cold) You're out. Out of the club, out of my life! And you know what that means?

(the gang members circle around him, as Weevil walks off)

CHARDO: (calls after Weevil) Come on, cuz. Let me make it up to you. Eli. Eli!

(The gang members start beating the hell out of Chardo, as Weevil turns to Felix)

WEEVIL: Pull them off before they go to far.

FELIX: You got it, boss.

(Weevil puts his helmet on and speeds off on his motorcycle)

(cut to Mars Investigations, where Veronica is sitting at her desk looking conflicted)

VERONICA: Dad?

KEITH: Yeah, honey

VERONICA: What made you go after Jake Kane.

KEITH: What makes you ask?

VERONICA: Other then that question defines our very existence? I think if I knew more about the case and the evidence....

KEITH: Honey, it's ugly. I want thoughts of Lilly's death out of your head. I don't wanna pour more into it.

VERONICA: I can handle it.

KEITH: Let's look at this way. If I knew what would happen to us, that your mom would leave and that school would be tougher for you, I never would have pursued Jake Kane like I did.

VERONICA: I still want to know.

KEITH: (shakes his head) Let's go home.

(cut to Veronica walking to the Sheriff's department)

VVO: A couple of weeks before Lilly was murdered and Dad was still Sheriff, she and I snuck into the back room and made ourselves fake ID's so we could get into clubs. I had them sent to my house. I stuck them in a drawer and forgot about them until the deputies mentioned Lilly's October third ticket. The good thing about visiting the Sheriff's department on a sunday, is that most the people who work weekends don't remember me; they're new.

(Veronica walks up to the counter, where a blonde woman in glasses is working)

SECRETARY: Is there something I can help you with.

VERONICA: (lying) Yeah, the insurance company called my Dad and said I had an outstanding ticket. There's the licence number.

SECRETARY: Okay, and can I see your ID?

(Sheriff Lamb walks up as Veronica hands the secretary her ID)

LAMB: What are you doing here?

VERONICA: Just paying off a ticket. (Lamb walks off) Hey, any luck finding Chardo Navarro? You should talk to my Dad, he's really good at that sort of thing.

LAMB: You got a smart mouth, kid. (Veronica smiles at him)

SECRETARY: (comes back with the ticket) Yeah, I don't think there's any wiggle room on this one.

VERONICA: Thanks, I'll mail in the payment.

SECRETARY: All right, miss Kane. Sorry about the bad news.

(Lamb sticks his head out the door shocked at what he just heard)

(cut to the Cafeteria/Courtyard where Veronica is staring at the ticket)

VVO: I haven't gone more then thirty-minutes without looking at the ticket. One of those automated intersection cameras caugt Lilly running a red-light at 6:02pm, almost two hours after he exposed time of death. I don't know if it's the sight of Lilly singing and smiling in the final hours of her life that's haunting me, or that the fact that suddenly, none of the Kane's have alibi's that hold up. Jake, Celeste, even Duncan. Dad was right, this case doesn't add up. I made a choice a long time ago, stand by Dad or stand by the people tearing him down.

(Troy walks over and sits down beside Veronica)

TROY: You didn't make it Saturday night.

VERONICA: I guess I didn't feel I was even a little bit wrong or sorry.

TROY: Well, a wise man once said a no is just a yes. Except with different letters arranged in a different order. But, you know, it disappears on the wind.

(Wallace sits down beside Troy)

WALLACE: There goes the neighborhood. They just put Golden Tee in the Sac-in-Pac, we need togo, I can get you free games.

(Veronica sees something in the background)

VERONICA: Guys.... look

(Caitlin tries to sit down at the "in-table" but a girl cuts her off, Logan ignores her like she's not even there. Caitlin walks away sadly, shunned. Veronica watches her, knowing what that feel like)

WALLACE: Hate to be her.

VERONICA: (knowingly) Yeah, that would suck. (looks at Troy) I've never played Golden-Tee, but I'm pretty sure I can kick both of your asses.

TROY: Whoa. Lead the way.

VERONICA: I'm just sayin'

WALLACE: Ready to lose?

TROY: I think we got a competition going on.

(They all get up and walk away happy. Fade out.)