Veronica Mars Transcripts
VERONICA MARS
1x03: Meet John Smith
Original Airdate: 10/12/2004
Written by: Jed Seidel
Directed by: Harry Winer
Transcribed by: Mark
(Fade in. Neptune High School, Cafeteria/Courtyard. Three freshmen boys are sitting at a table checking out the female students)
JUSTIN: Sarah Kramer? You are gay. The girl's a mannequin.
BOY ONE: She's in my chem class. She smells good.
BOY TWO: Yeah, she's cute, in a Hilary Duff Meet-you-in-the-galleria teen people kinda way... but she's not hot
(Justin see's Veronica walking through the courtyard, and stares at her)
JUSTIN: Her.
BOY TWO: Who? Veronica Mars?
JUSTIN: Yeah. She comes into the video-store.
BOY TWO: You do know her dad's a private detective.
JUSTIN: Seriously?
BOY TWO: No, in a movie. Yes, seriously. She works with him. (looks at her) Eight and a half, and that's my final offer.
JUSTIN: Dude, she's that smoking and a private eye? That's gotta make her at least a nine.
(Veronica is still walking across the courtyard when Troy runs up beside her)
TROY: Guess what I'm doing this weekend.
VERONICA: I'm guess it involves auto-eroticism.
TROY: Close. I will be cruising the marina in my dad's Sabre 386. That's a luxury sailboat. You know, wind through my hair, strokes blasting through the speakers. And with any luck, a wide-eyed impressionable vixen by my side.
VERONICA: Impressionable? Me.
TROY: I said impressionable, not you. You know, you might wanna check your ego at the door, missy. (They smile at each other as Troy walks off)
(A student bumps into Veronica knocking her books onto the ground)
VERONICA: Thanks, man.
(Duncan walks up and helps Veronica pick up her books. They look at each other uncomfortably. Duncan hands Veronica her books and walks off with Logan, who throws Veronica a dirty-look)
VVO: The weird thing about going to high-school with your ex, is that they're inescapable. Everywhere you turn, there they are.
(Kane residence. Duncan is sitting on a raft-chair in his pool listening to an Ipod)
JAKE: (walks up) It's a beautiful day, huh? A beautiful, lazy day. You gonna get off that raft any time soon?
DUNCAN: (takes his earphones out) What?
JAKE: Listen, uh, I was thinking about next summer. And my friend Ron Curtis, he's an advisor for Senator Rake in Washington. Now, he's got an internship that's opening in his office. I think that you should write him a letter expressing your interest in politics. You could tell him about your campaign for the student government. You could tell him about all these different things that you do surrounding government. You know, you could tell him what you did for Schwarzenegger's campaign... (Duncan puts his earphones back in, drowning out his father)
(Mars home. Keith and Veronica are sitting at the dinner table eating)
KEITH: So I got a call from your guidance counselor today, and she wants to see me. Any idea what for?
VERONICA: No.
KEITH: Have you been playing nice with the other children?
VERONICA: You know me dad, I'm old school. An eye for an eye.
KEITH: That's actually 'Old Testament'.... come on? No help, you're not gonna give me an idea on what to expect?
VERONICA: I honestly haven't a clue, but can I ask you a question? (Keith nods) What do you think Mom was doing at the Camelot with Jake Kane two weeks ago?
KEITH: (hiding his anger) I told you to stay away from that case.
VERONICA: I just don't understand. She's only in Arizona. Why haven't you been looking.. (interupted)
KEITH: Veronica, please.
VERONICA: (off Keith's look) .... How 'bout those Padre's? (Keith gets up and walks away)
(Kane residence. Duncan, Jake and Celeste sit at a fancy dinner table)
JAKE: (to Duncan) You know, I just want to see you passionate about something.
CELESTE: (to Jake) As long as it's something you're passionate about.
JAKE: No. Anything. And he's not going to get into a good college without some defining interests.
(As they're talking the camera focuses on Duncan who's getting angrier and angrier)
CELESTE: I think we could be a little more patient, Jake.
JAKE: We all lost Lilly, and we all miss her. But that doesn't mean we stop living our lives.
(Mars home. Veronica and Keith are washing dishes. Keith is still angry, but he's supressing it)
KEITH: Is there are any more liquid soap?
VERONICA: (timidly) Check under the sink. I'm gonna go to the Library, don't wait up okay? (kisses his cheek)
(Kane residence. Duncan gets up from the table)
CELESTE: Where you going, sweetie?
DUNCAN: Just over to Shelly's.
CELESTE: Please be back before 11, it's school tomorrow. (Duncan nods)
(cut to the backseat of a spacious car. Duncan and a blonde are making-out heavily. They shift position to reveal it's Veronica. Duncan goes to unbutton her shirt when Veronica pops out of bed looking flustered. It was her dream)
[CREDITS]
(Movie store. Justin is working behind the counter when a woman walks up)
WOMAN: Excellent recommendation, as always. Thank you.
JUSTIN: Kevin Spacey is so amazing in this. And you should check out Body Heat.
(Justin's manager walks up and hands him a few tapes)
MANAGER: These are late.
WOMAN: (leaves) Bye.
(Veronica and Keith are walking through the store)
VERONICA: (to Keith) Rent it if you want to rent it, I'm just saying; I'm not gonna watch it. (to Justin) There's only so many times a girl can watch Slap Shot.
JUSTIN: So... is it true your Dad's a PI?
VERONICA: That's what it says on the sign.
JUSTIN: And you work with him?
VERONICA: Sometimes.
JUSTIN: Can I talk to you about something?
VERONICA: (confused) Sure.
JUSTIN: It's kinda private.
(Veronica looks around and see's a bunch of people)
VERONICA: Find me at school tomorrow.
JUSTIN: Okay.
(Keith walks up with two movies)
KEITH: I got The Cowboys too, just in case we need a backup.
(Veronica steps back and mocks Keith to Justin. Signaling that he's made her watch it five times)
(Kane residence. Duncan opens the refrigerator and takes a drink of milk from the carton. Celeste walks in)
CELESTE: This is me reminding you to take your pill. (Duncan looks annoyed) Darling, there's absolutely no shame in taking anti-depressants. I don't know anyone who hasn't needed them at some point. I know it's been rough since your sister died. Plus, you've only been on them for, what, six months? Just give them some time. (Duncan grabs his pill, bounces it in his hand, and then drops it down the sink as Celeste picks up a gym-bag) Oh, so you'll be home for dinner?
DUNCAN: (snaps out a daze) Yeah. Sure thing, Mom.
(Neptune High School. Veronica walks through the crowded-halls but stops when she see's something. Pan to reveal Duncan at his locker talking to Logan. Veronica goes into a similar daze to Duncan's, but ultimately snaps out of it and starts walking again. Troy walks up to her again)
TROY: Hey. What's going on?
VERONICA: Let's go out.
TROY: (relieved) Finally! The girl comes to her senses.
(they walk off, Logan and Duncan appear behind them)
LOGAN: You hook up with Shelly last night?
DUNCAN: She's a talker. She's a talker, you know. She has conflicted feelings to her new step-mom and the color-scheme she's..(interupted)
LOGAN: I hate it when they talk!
DUNCAN: Yeah, I know it.
(Logan spots Troy and Veronica flirting off in the distance.)
LOGAN: Have you noticed that the new kid in town has been all over your trailer-park ex?
DUNCAN: Let it be, Logan.
LOGAN: Okay, nowhere man. You be the fool on the hill. See if I care. (notices the look on Duncan's face) Dude, you don't look so hot.
(Duncan looks sick and runs off. Cut to the Neptune High School bathroom, Duncan washes his face off after throwing up in the sink. He looks up at himself in the mirror and grins. He comes out of the bathroom where Logan is waiting for him).
LOGAN: You okay?
DUNCAN: Never better.
LOGAN: Okay.
(Logan and Duncan look on as Veronica walks by with Justin, dragging him by his arm into the girls bathroom. Logan laughs incredulously)
LOGAN: That girl is seriously wacked.
(Neptune High School bathroom, Veronica drags Justin through the door)
JUSTIN: I'm not supposed to be in here.
VERONICA: You wanna talk?
JUSTIN: Uh yeah. Do you think you could help find someone for me?
VERONICA: Who?
JUSTIN: My father. He ran out on us about ten years ago. I haven't heard from him since.
VERONICA: Sounds like a winner. Are you sure you want to find him?
JUSTIN: Well, yeah... (interupted)
(The door to the girls bathroom opens a little, but Veronica runs over and pushes it shut before the two girls can get in)
GIRLS: Hey!
(Veronica blocks the door)
JUSTIN: Mainly I just gotta know what happened to him, you know.
VERONICA: Why now? Why haven't you looked for him before?
JUSTIN: Well, my Mom got laid off a couple months ago and she's working these two really crappy jobs. And I'm working too. And we barely get by.
VERONICA: What can you tell me about him?
JUSTIN: Well, I haven't seen him since I was about 6 or so.
VERONICA: Can you get me a picture?
JUSTIN: Mom destroyed them all.
VERONICA: Last known address?
JUSTIN: I was born in L.A., so we lived there till I was about 2.
VERONICA: Can you get your hands on his social-security number?
JUSTIN: Uh... no
VERONICA: Date of birth?
JUSTIN: Uh uh.
VERONICA: All right, the name. Can we manage that?
JUSTIN: It's John Smith. (Veronica doesn't look pleased)
(Neptune High School counsellers office. Keith Mars has just walked in when a nice looking female counseller, Miss James, walked up)
MISS JAMES: Mr. Mars? Hi. Thank you for coming in.
KEITH: Miss James. Yeah. I was a little surprised by your call.
MISS JAMES: Oh, don't worry. Veronica's an excellent student, I think she's amazing. She's got a great mind.
KEITH: So why exactly am I here?
MISS JAMES: Well, we've noticed a dramatic change in her over the last year. She's late a lot. She has attitude with certain teachers. She sleeps a lot in class, and socially she seems to be a bit isolated.
KEITH: (understanding) Yeah. Yeah, she's gone through a rough year.
MISS JAMES: I know how close she was with Lilly Kane.
KEITH: I'd say Veronica's doing pretty well, given the circumstances.... where are you going with this?
MISS JAMES: If you find this difficult, and many single fathers of daughters do, I would be more then happy to talk to her.
KEITH: (bemused) No. I can handle it, thank you.
MISS JAMES: Thank you for your time.
(Kane residence. Jake, Duncan and Celeste are sitting at the dinner table. Jake is laughing incredulously)
JAKE: A life coach?
CELESTE: Didn't we just have a discussion about about our son's lack of focus?
(Throughout this exchange Duncan looks back and forth at them, almost amused by it)
JAKE: Oh, no, maybe you're right. Let's get him an astrologist too. Maybe a past-life consultant. (laughes) Throw in a pilates coach if yours can free up some time.
(Duncan stands up with his glass held up. He's half-angry, half amused)
DUNCAN: Raise your glasses. I'd like to make a toast.
(Jake's smile fades, Celeste looks shocked)
DUNCAN: To Molly!
JAKE: Molly? Who's Molly?
CELESTE: Our old dog. The lab.
DUNCAN: Yes. Sweet old Molly, God rest her soul. But, boy, could that dog catch a frisbee. (fake laughes) If only she had the good sense not to whiz in our flower bed, she'd still be with us.
CELESTE: Duncan, honey, it's been six-years. When are you gonna let this go? I'm sure she was placed in a very happy home.
DUNCAN: (with a fake smug smile) To Molly, the best friend a boy could have. (takes a drink, and storms off)
(Neptune High School Cafeteria/Courtyard. Justin and Boy Two are walking)
BOY TWO: You gonna go to study-group later.
JUSTIN: I can't. I'm gonna hook-up with Veronica Mars.
BOY TWO: Yeah, and I'm going parasailing with Halle Berry.
JUSTIN: I'm serious. She's working this case for me. She's going to help my find my missing dad.
BOY TWO: Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't your dad die, like, seven years ago?
JUSTIN: (smiles) Well, then, I guess it's gonna take her a long time to find him. Oh yeah.
(Boy Two laughes as Justin walks off)
(Mars Investigations. Wallace and Veronica are sitting at her desk. Wallace is sealing envelopes, and Veronica is changing her answering machine message)
VERONICA: (changing her message) Hello, you've reached the administration office of the Stanford summer program. No one's here to take your call right now, but leave a message and we'll call you back.
(Keith walks in, hears this, and smiles as he approaches her desk)
VERONICA: (to Keith) Sorry
(Wallace stands up and shakes Keith's hand)
KEITH: Keith Mars.
WALLACE: Hi sir, Wallace Fennel.
VERONICA: Wallce is a friend of mine. Take that, high school guidance counselor.
KEITH: Well, hello Wallace. (to Veronica) Now, what's going on here?
VERONICA: Helping a kid at school locate his deadbeat dad. The somewhat inconviently named; "John Smith". But I've narrowed the field down to 440 John Smith's, so I'm sending them all a letter congratulating him on a scholarship. And I figure if our John Smith has any conscience at all, he'll see his son's name, open the letter, and call to say he's got the wrong address.
KEITH: Part of me is proud.... and let's just leave it at that.
(Keith walks away)
VERONICA: Oh. I used one of the dedicated phone lines. I hope that's all right. We're gonna trace all the calls that come in.
KEITH: (to Wallace) So how did she rope you into this?
WALLACE: She promised me all the answer keys to....uh.... she promised to be my friend.
KEITH: I'd have held out for a better offer. (Veronica chuckles) I'll be in my office. (Keith goes into his office and shuts the door)
VERONICA: Hey, can you do me a favour?
WALLACE: Why did all the hair on the back of my neck just stick up?
VERONICA: It's not that big of a deal, it's just.... the next time you're in the administrations office, could you borrow my permanent file? I wanna see what that counselor is telling dad?
WALLACE: Oh yeah, no big deal.... I can get expelled for that.
(Wallace looks a little annoyed, but ultimately concedes. Veronica smiles)
(Kane residence. Duncan is standing over the sink in his bathrobe, Celeste walks up fully dressed)
CELESTE: Morning darling. Your pills on the counter. Don't forget.
DUNCAN: Great. Thanks.
CELESTE: (to the maid) Sophia? I'll be out for a few hours. While I'm gone, I'd like.. (she gets tuned out as Duncan drops his anti-depressant down the drain)
(Neptune High School Cafeteria/Courtyard. Wallace and Veronica are walking to their seats discussing Veronica's permanent file)
WALLACE: You called your geometry teacher a jackass?
VERONICA: That's totally taken out of context. Let me see it.
WALLACE: Hold up grabby, I'm discovering a whole new side to you. (reads more) Damn, Mrs. Applebaum loved her some Veronica Mars. (reading from file) "Veronica Mars is a complete angel, and a joy to have in class every day."
VERONICA: Mrs. Applebaum? That files goes to second-grade?
WALLACE: Kindergarten. (reads more) Oh, sweet. You wrote your teacher a poem.
VERONICA: Okay. Yes, I was a kiss-ass. You've outed me. Now, can I see it?
(Justin walks up)
JUSTIN: So, any leads yet?
VERONICA: We should know something by next week.
JUSTIN: Well, hey, I got something for you. I just burned a few songs for you. It has the new 311 on there.
VERONICA: (ackwardly) Thanks....
JUSTIN: Well, you know. I just thought if you're on a stakeout or something, you might need something to get you through the night.
(Veronica smiles ackwardly, Wallace laughes)
JUSTIN: Well, goodbye.
(Justin leaves. Wallace smiles)
WALLACE: Awww, he brought you a mix-tape.
VERONICA: Shut up.
(Wallace laughes)
VERONICA: Hey, do me a favour?
WALLACE: Please be kidding.
VERONICA: Get me his file.
(Wallace looks really annoyed)
(cut it a restaurant, where Troy and Veronica are on a date)
TROY: We get the idea to make it on "America's Funniest Home Videos" with this fake-shark plan.
VERONICA: Oh my god, I remember that, that was you?
TROY: The plan was to cut off the dorsal fin, nail it a board, strap the board to my back, and have me swim around the public beach. And Duncan was gonna stand on the shore, and video-tape the mob-scene. But it never happens. I'm swimming out there for fifteen minutes, no one even notices me.
VERONICA: (laughes) You guys were idiots.
TROY: Yes. Yes we were. Finally the lifeguard, he spots me. The clod pulls out a rifle. Okay, lucky for me, Duncan spots him. He goes sprinting towards the lifeguard tower. He was bawling his eyes out. So he's running, he's shouting "No don't shoot" that's my friend, that's my friend. Saved my life.
VERONICA: That's one way of looking at it.
TROY: I'm kinda tired of this song. (hits the jukebox likes the fonz, but the song doesn't change) I would've expected sex, had that worked.
VERONICA: Had that worked, you would have gotten it. Try it again. (they laugh)
TROY: (to the waiter) Check. (Veronica laughes)
(outside. Troy's walking Veronica to her car)
TROY: Let me see your phone (he enters his name and number)
VERONICA: What are you doing?
TROY: It is now booty-call enabled. (Veronica laughes)
VERONICA: In case I need a little late-night action?
TROY: Action, investment advice, whatever. (hands her back her phone)
TROY: (moves in for the kiss) So...
VERONICA: I should really be getting home. I'd invite you over, but it's a school night, and my Dad own's a handgun. He say's he can look into a guys eyes and see his true intentions, which I know sounds like a myth, but I.. (interupted)
(Troy moves in for the kiss, but Veronica recoils in the worst way)
TROY: Okay, then.
(gives her a handshake, and tries to stay a good sport but is clearly off-put)
TROY: (bows to her like a gentlemen) And a good night to you, madam.
(Troy opens her car door and lets her in. She gets in and looks up sadly at him as he walks to his car and drives away)
(Mars home. Veronica tries to sneak in but Keith is sitting on the couch waiting for her)
KEITH: How was your date?
VERONICA: Oh, you know. Lousy conversation, but the sex was fantastic.
KEITH: That's not funny!
VERONICA: I don't know, I'm pretty sure it was.
(Veronica walks into her room where she doesn't look too happy with herself, she walks over and plops down her bed)
VVO: Brain? Check. Dead sexy? Check. Devilish charm? Check. Formidable Scrabble opponent?
Who cares? What's wrong with you, Veronica? What are you waiting for?
(cut to Duncan and Veronica making out in the back of the car again)
DUNCAN: Veronica...
(Duncan and Veronica come back up, but it's not Veronica. It's Shelly. Duncan is hallucinating)
SHELLY: What did you just call me?
(Duncan breaks into uncontrollable laughter)
(Neptune High School. Veronica is at her locker when Wallace walks up with a yellow envelope, Justin's permanent record)
WALLACE: Justin's permanent file. (hands it to her) You might want to take a look at that.
VERONICA: Why, is it gonna self-destruct in five-seconds?
(Wallace just looks at it somberly. Veronica opens it up and looks up shocked)
(Cafeteria/Courtyard. Veronica walks up to Boy's one, two and three. She looks angry)
VERONICA: I need to talk to Justin. Alone!
JUSTIN: See you guys.
VERONICA: Explain this.
JUSTIN: My evaluation for the first grade?
VERONICA: Yeah. Read it to me.
JUSTIN: "Justin shows talent in his finger-painting and arts-and-crafts projects."
VERONICA: Further down.
JUSTIN: "For the past several months, Justin has been moody and withdrawn. This behavior is not surprising in light of his father's recent.... death."
VERONICA: Everything you told me was a lie, Justin. That drives me crazy. And you owe me $150 in postage.
(A teacher walks up)
TEACHER: Excuse me, are you Justin Smith?
JUSTIN: Yeah.
TEACHER: This came for you.
JUSTIN: Thanks.
(He opens it and looks shocked)
JUSTIN: It's the scholarship letter that you sent out.... and there's a note. It's from my father.
(Mars residence. Veronica is on her bed with a text-book when Keith knocks and comes in)
KEITH: There's someone here to see you.
VERONICA: Describe this someone.
KEITH: White male, pint-sized, desperate, not having a good day.
(Veronica rolls her eyes)
(Outside the Mars residence. Justin and Veronica are there)
JUSTIN: Hey. I bicycled all the way over here. I just wanted to say I'm sorry.
VERONICA: You could've saved it for tomorrow.
JUSTIN: So I showed my Mom the letter. She got all mad, and made me promise not to find my Dad.
VERONICA: So he really is alive?
JUSTIN: My Mom said I was actually better of this way. Thinking he was dead.
VERONICA: Maybe you were. (Keith hears this from inside. He's taken aback)
JUSTIN: I mean, I have a Dad somewhere out there in the world. How can I not try and find out what happened to him? it would kill me.
VERONICA: Let me see the letter.
(Mars residence. Veronica is using a search-engine for private-investigators)
VVO: The letter Justin recieved from his long lost dad bore a San Diego postmark. Of the 440 John Smith's out there, only 3 were in San Diego.
(there's a knock at her door)
VERONICA: Come in.
KEITH: I couldn't help but overhear.
VERONICA: Yeah, sorry.
KEITH: No, that's not it. It's just that I never wanted you to think that your mom is the villian in all this.
VERONICA: Isn't she?
KEITH: No, it's not that simple.
VERONICA: Yeah it is. The hero is the one that stays and the villian is the one that splits.
KEITH: I don't think that's a health perspective.
VERONICA: It's healthier then me pining away all day hoping that she'll come home.
(Keith leaves. Veronica enters a different file, this one is on her mother)
VVO: The truth was, I'd figured out exactly where my mother was staying. But I wasn't about to tell him that.
(Veronica walks up to her big wall of photo's, and uses a tac to put a sticky-note up on it. It reads: "304 Paraket Lane, Pheonix Arizona, 85207")
(cut to Neptune High School's cafeteria/courtyard. Veronica runs up to Troy)
VERONICA: Wait up!
TROY: Don't run. People might think you're desperate.
VERONICA: That would be a step-up reputation-wise.
TROY: I guess that all depends on who you're asking.
(Logan, Duncan and several friends are watching a Lacrosse game. They're the only ones in the stands. Logan's got a flask)
DUNCAN: Go pirates.
LOGAN: I thought your boy-toy Troy was going to join us for happy hour this afternoon. You don't suppose that he got waylaid by Veronica, do you?
(Duncan gets up angry and grabs the flask from his hands. Logan jumps up looking ready for a fight but Duncan justs smiles)
DUNCAN: (in a bad chinese accent) Oh... grasshoper too slow for kung-fu master. If you can take the flask out of my hand, then you will be new master.
(Logan looks away and then snaps towards Duncan trying to get the flask back. Logan chases Duncan across the bleachers, but Duncan stops and turns to everybody. Logan sits back down)
DUNCAN: Guys, guys, check it out. Six guys, bleachers, jump when you're feeling this okay. (starts singing) "Summer loving, had me a blast!"
LOGAN: What has gotten into you, man?
MALE FRIEND: Hey, check it out.
(Duncan and Logan look over, and see two of their friends. One of them is standing on the rail. He does a backflip off the side -- falling pretty far down out of sight. Duncan and Logan run over scared when they hear the thump. They all look down and see him laying on some pads along the side of the bleachers. They all laugh)
LOGAN: Crazy is as crazy does!
ALL OF THEM: Bravo! Bravo!
(Duncan see's Troy and Veronica talking in-between the bleachers and a fence. He watches them, looking jealous)
VERONICA: I think I might've given you the wrong impression. I had a really great time, I just...
TROY: It's just that you need more--and you know, you get to fill in the blank here. A, time. Be, space.. (imterupted)
(Veronica kisses him. Duncan looks annoyed, turns around, walks to Logan and gives him back the flask. Duncan turns and runs to the side of the bleachers where flips over the rail, lands hard on the pads, and rolls across the ground. He's clearly hurt. Veronica breaks the kiss and runs over to Duncan. Logan and friends come look over the side of the bleachers and laugh)
LOGAN: You okay man? (to his friends) What was that, a triple klutz?
DUNCAN: (to Veronica) Hey!
VERONICA: (to Troy) He needs to go to the Hospital.
LOGAN: Hey Duncan, open your mouth.
(Logan opens his flask and splashes Veronica and Duncan with it's contents. Veronica and Troy angrily pull Duncan up and carry him off)
(Neptune High School parking-lot. Troy and Veronica are walking Duncan to Veronica's car, Duncan has a towel up against his bleeding head)
TROY: Death-defying stunt? Gushing head wound? You are the man, brother.
DUNCAN: And, I almost stuck the landing.
(Veronica and Duncan get into her car)
TROY: (to Veronica) You sure you don't want some help?
VERONICA: Thanks, I got it. (to Duncan) Put your seat-belt on. And hold the towel tighter!
(Duncan and Veronica pulll off, as Troy looks after them concerned)
(Veronica's car. Duncan is staring at Veronica, who's not very happy)
DUNCAN: Remember how things used to be?
VERONICA: You mean between us? Or before Lilly died? Or two weeks ago before your friend took an interest in me?
DUNCAN: Veronica?
VERONICA: Not really. No.
(Duncan looks disappointed)
(Doctors office.)
DOCTOR: You want your girlfriend to stay here with you?
(at the same time)
VERONICA: Oh, I'm not his girlfriend.
DUNCAN: Yeah. Yeah, that's cool.
(Jake walks in)
JAKE: Well, here you are. (see's Veronica) Veronica, we meet again.
VERONICA: What are the odds.
DUNCAN: Veronica brought me in.
JAKE: Well, thank you Veronica. (coldly) I think I can handle it from here.
VERONICA: (to Duncan) I have stuff to do anyway.
(Veronica walks off; Duncan, Jake and a different Doctor are going over Duncan's X-ray results)
JAKE: Off a bleacher?
DOCTOR: Well.... everything is fine. There's no fractures, nothing that a few stitches won't fix.
JAKE: I still don't know how this happened, Duncan. What possessed you to jump off a set of bleachers?
DUNCAN: Dad. Can I talk with Doctor. Levine for a minute. By myself.
JAKE: Yeah, all right.
(Veronica's car.)
VVO: Of the 440 John Smith's out there, only three were in San Diego. My mission, find and photograph them. Of course, Justin hadn't seen in his father since he was six. There was no guarantee he could ID him.
(Veronica pulls out her cell-phone and calls Justin, who's working at the video-store)
VERONICA: Are you sure there aren't any pictures of your Dad?
JUSTIN: I don't think so, my Mom cut him out of all the them. But I could take a look
(The woman who liked Justin's film-selections from earlier walks up to the counter)
WOMAN: Excuse me.
JUSTIN: (to Veronica) Uh, can I call you back?
VERONICA: Yeah. Just bring me whatever you have.
(Justin hangs-up the phone and walks over the woman)
WOMAN: Last time I was in, you mentioned Body Heat. Do you have that on DVD.
JUSTIN: It looks like I have to special-order it.
WOMAN: All right, sounds good.
(cut to the Doctors office, where Duncan and Doctor Levine are talking)
DOCTOR: Ultimately, it is your decision, and you should do what's right for you, but I have to warn you - going cold-turkey off anti-despressants can have some serious side-effects. Now, you're likely to feel nauseous.
DUNCAN: Yeah, plenty of that.
DOCTOR: It's also possible that you'll suffer from hallucinations and particularly vivid dreams, and this could go on for weeks. Some people find that unnerving.
DUNCAN: (resolved) It's worth it.
(Neptune High School. Keith walks into the guidance counselors office.)
KEITH: Hey, thanks for making the time to see me. I owe you an apology. I was abrupt and defensive the other day.
COUNSELOR: Well, on the defensive-parent scale of one to ten, I'd say three... so don't worry about it.
KEITH: I think you're right, Veronica does need someone to talk to and I'm afraid that, in this case, I'm... I'm not equipped to be that person.
COUNSELOR: I would be happy to talk to her.
KEITH: Thank you.
(They share a look when the phone rings)
COUNSELOR: I'm so sorry. Wouldn't you mind?
KEITH: Sure. Yeah.
COUNSELOT: Can you hang on? I'm gonna take this. (she knocks her coffee off her desk as she picks up the phone) Oh! Hi. Yeah. Okay. Can I call you right back.
(Keith quickly runs over and cleans up the mess)
KEITH: I got. I got it.
COUNSELOR: Thank you so much. I'm a coffee addict.
(They share another look)
KEITH: Thanks again.
COUNSELOR: Yeah.
(Keith gets up and walks to door)
COUNSELOR: Sheriff Mars.
(Keith turns around surprised)
COUNSELOR: You always had my vote.
(Keith smiles shyly and walks off)
(Courtyard/Cafeteria. Wallace, Veronica and Justin are sitting on a bench)
VERONICA: I picked up all three John Smith's at their home, and followed them till I got decent shots. Here's the first one, he's a veterinarian, and married. There's a swing-set in the back, so I'm guessing he's got kids. (Justin shakes his head)
JUSTIN: No. That's definately not him.
VERONICA: John Smith number two. Single, and coaches high school basketball.
JUSTIN: No. Mom turns off the radio when they play "Brown-Eyed Handsome Man" because it reminds her of Dad - and these guys eyes are green. It's not him.
VERONICA: Finally. John Smith number three.
JUSTIN: Yeah, that could be him. You got any pictures without sunglasses?
VERONICA: He had them on the whole time.
JUSTIN: So, what does this guy do?
VERONICA: I followed him from the junkyard, to the pawn-shop, to the race-track.
WALLACE: (sarcasticly) Sweet.
VERONICA: My best guess would be petty criminal.
JUSTIN: Well, can we go back there? I mean I know if I could see him up close I could ID him.
VERONICA: I don't think so.
JUSTIN: Come on. One way or the other, I'd know.
WALLACE: Give the kid a break.
VERONICA: All right, fine. Meet me at my car after school, but remember; I'm the one in charge, and you'll so as I say.
WALLACE: Should've seen her before charm school.
JUSTIN: (to Veronica) I promise. Wait, hey, I brought you the best pictures I had of Dad.
(He shows her several photo's featuring a guy with his head cut-out)
VERONICA: Wow, she really hated him didn't she? (notices the car in the pictures) Cool cars.
JUSTIN: Yeah, Mom says he was obsessed with them since he was three. Hey, what did John Smith 3 drive.
VERONICA: Sebring convertable.
JUSTIN: All right, I'll see you after school.
(cut to Veronica's car, where Veronica and Justin are sitting in traffic behind John Smith 3)
VERONICA: That's him, right in front of the Honda.
JUSTIN: There he goes. You're gonna lose him!
VERONICA: I'm not going to lose him.
(John Smith 3 parks in front of strip-club, Veronica stops across the street and takes out her Camera to get a good shot of his face. Justin gets impatient, jumps out of the car, and runs over to him)
JUSTIN: Excuse me. Excuse me, hey.
JOHN SMITH 3: You need something, bro?
JUSTIN: (see's that it's not his Dad) No. I'm sorry. I just thought you were somebody else. It's not him. Dang! (Veronica see's a sticky-note in John Smith 3's car and takes it)
JUSTIN: What are you doing?
VERONICA: Let me see the letter again.
(Veronica compares the sticky-note handwritting to the handwritting on the note written by Justin's dad)
VERONICA: It's the exact same handwritting.
(Kane residence. A sickly looking Duncan is sitting on the couch watching television when he starts hallucinating his sister, who looks exactly as she did when they found her body)
LILLY: Yo, bro. How can you watch this crap. It could not be more boring.
DUNCAN: What the hell? Lilly?
LILLY: Yeah. What, you forgot about me already.
DUNCAN: What are you... (interupted)
LILLY: Hey, you know what makes absolutely no sense. My disapperance.... murder, whatever. How it supposedly went down. It's so bogus, right? But here's the thing, the truth is gonna come out.
DUNCAN: What are you talking about?
LILLY: Clue in, Donut. It doesn't add up, you know that deep inside. I wish you'd just admit it to yourself, break out of your stupor. Wake up. (this snaps Duncan out of his hallucination)
(Veronica's car. Justin and Veronica pull-up beside John Smith 3's home, Justin is going through her glove-compartment)
JUSTIN: What's this?
VERONICA: It's a taser, be cafeful - it's dangerous
JUSTIN: (looks at the house) I'm coming with you.
VERONICA: No, I need you to stay in the car.
(Veronica walks up to the home, peeks in the garage window, and see's a car under a tarp)
VERONICA: Our classic-car perhaps?
(she goes through the window, and pulls back the tarp to reveal a pretty standard looking car)
VERONICA: A Hyundai Sontata? I don't that qualifies as a classic.
(John Smith 3 busts through the door brandishing a baseball bat and see's Veronica.)
JOHN SMITH: What are you doing? Stay right there, I'm calling the police.
VERONICA: You're not gonna do that. I followed you, I know what you do.
JOHN SMITH: What are you, my parole officer? Why are you following me?
VERONICA: I'm a friend of your sons, He just wants to see you.
JOHN SMITH: I don't have a son. Don't move!
VERONICA: Are you trying to tell me that you're not John Smith?
(cut to Justin in Veronica's car. He see's the woman from the video-store pull up to the home. He grabs the taser and runs up to her as she opens to garage door)
WOMAN: Justin...
JUSTIN: ..... Dad?
(Time lapse. Justin is talking to his father)
JUSTIN: Oh my god.... you're a Woman.
(she nods)
JUSTIN: I don't believe this.
WOMAN: This is hard, I know. I wish I could've found a way to tell you.
JUSTIN: Did you also know I thought you were dead since I was eleven?
WOMAN: No. I'm not surprised, your Mother threatened she would say that.
JUSTIN: And your little visits to the video-store? What's that all-about, huh?
WOMAN: I wanted to see you. Can you understand that? I wanted to see for myself that you were all right.
JUSTIN: (crying) Well I'm not all-right, okay? I'm not. It turns out my mom's a liar, and my father is a circus freak.
VERONICA: Justin! Maybe we should just go.
WOMAN: This is something I had to do! This is who I am!
JUSTIN (laughes incredulously) Come on, Veronica. Let's get out of here.
VERONICA: It was nice meeting everyone...
(Veronica and Justin are driving back to Neptune)
VERONICA: Ninety miles.
JUSTIN: What's 90 miles?
VERONICA: It's the distance that your dad travels every week to see you at the video-store. Look, my mom's been missing too, and honestly, I would give anything to feel that she cared enough about me to do that.
(Justin sighs)
(Veronica's room)
VVO: She wasn't going to find me, I was gonna have to find her. I've decided to drive to Arizona after school. If the roads are clear, I can make it there in four hours.
(Veronica packs some stuff, grabs her coat, and takes the sticky-note with her Mom's new address off the wall)
VVO: Tragedy blows through life like a Tornado, uprooting everything, creating chaos. You wait for the dust to settle and then you choose.
(Duncan stands over his sink, contemplating an anti-depressant. He thinks about it for a while, but ultimately takes it)
VVO: You can live in the wreckage and pretend it's still the mansion you remember....
(Veronica and Duncan run into each other in the hallway, Veronica smiles)
VERONICA: Hey. How's your head.
DUNCAN: (coldly) It's better.
(Keith sits a restaurant table, where Ms. Jacobs the counselor walks up to him)
VVO: (continued) Or you can crawl from the rubble, and slowly rebuild.
MISS JACOBS: Hey! I didn't know you came here.
KEITH: Yeah, I just discovered this place.
MISS JACOBS: Yeah, me too.
KEITH: Well, how have we missed each other?
(they share a look)
(Vide0-Store. Justin stands there looking sad when his manager walks up)
MANAGER: Hey, Justin. Did you special-order Body Heat for someone.
VVO: Because after disaster strikes, the important thing is that you move on.
(Justin's on the phone, talking to his father)
JUSTIN: Hello? Julia? It's Justin. Hey, listen, that copy of Body Heat you wanted came in. No, it's fine. Yeah I work here on sundays. That's great. Okay. See you later.
(Veronica's car. Veronica pulls up to address she has on her sticky-note)
VVO: But if you're like me, you just keep chasing the storm.
VERONICA: (see's a blonde woman) Mom? Mom. Mom?
BLONDE WOMAN: (turns) Can I help you.
VERONICA: I'm looking for Lianne Mars?
BLONDE WOMAN: Veronica? (runs over and hugs Veronica) I'm Adrianna, a college friend of your mom's. I feel like I know you, your mother talks about you all the time.
VERONICA: Where is she?
ADRIANNA: She left a couple weeks ago.
VERONICA: Well, did she say where she was going?
(Adrianna shakes her head)
VERONICA: Don't lie to me! I need to know! (crying) Where is she?
ADRIANNA: She thought your father might look for her. She knows I'm not good at keeping at secrets.
VERONICA: Doesn't she care about me?
ADRIANNA: You're all she cares about.
VERONICA: Mark me down as skeptical.
(Veronica turns back to her car and leaves)
VVO: The problem with chasing the storm is that it wears you down, breaks your spirit. Even the experts agree, a girl needs closure.
(Veronica is sitting on her car in front of a mansion. She pulls out her phone, and calls a number.)
VERONICA: Hi. I'm in front of your house.
(A light turns on in the mansion. Troy walks out the home, and up to Veronica)
TROY: It's about time.
(She hugs him and starts to cry. Fade out.)