Original subtitles

This is my school.

If you go here, your parents are either millionaires or your parents work for

millionaires. Neptune, California, a town without a middle class.

If you're in the second group, you get a job. Fast food, movie theaters, mini

-marts. Or you could be me. My after-school job means tailing

philandering spouses or investigating false injury claims.

Who'd that guy rat out? The fighters.

Why doesn't somebody cut him down? Yeah, I'll do it. I want to be the guy up

there tomorrow.

All right, say cheese.

Smile.

Who died and made you the queen?

Wow, freak.

You're new here, huh?

Welcome to Neptune Hall.

Go Pirates!

This is advanced placement. We expect more.

It's called an essay on man, but what Pope's really talking about is faith,

right?

Anybody?

Did anybody complete the reading?

Veronica.

Veronica Mars.

Congratulations.

You're my volunteer.

Pope, an essay on man. Epistle 1.

Hope springs eternal in the human breast.

Man never is but always to be blessed.

The soul, uneasy and confined from home, rests and expatiates in a life to come.

And what do you suppose Pope meant by that?

Life's a bitch until you die. Thank you, Ms. Mars, for that succinct and somewhat

inappropriate response.

I think what Pope's saying is that the thing that keeps us powering through

life's defeats is our faith in a better life yet to come.

Random locker searches.

It's the latest tactic the administration has adopted in their

losing war on drugs.

Except the searches aren't really random.

I know when they're going to happen before Vice Principal Clemens does.

Veronica Mars.

Should be good.

Veronica, will you please open your locker?

Buster.

Wow.

This is a little embarrassing.

I used to sit there at that table.

It's not like my family met the minimum net worth requirement.

My dad didn't own his own airline like John Enbombs or serve as ambassador to

Belgium like Shelley Pomeroy's. But my dad used to be the sheriff, and that had

a certain cachet.

Let's be honest, though. The only reason I was allowed past the velvet ropes was

Duncan Kane, son of software billionaire Jake Kane.

He used to be my boyfriend.

Then one day, with no warning, he ended things.

And

let's not

forget Logan Eccles.

His dad makes 20 million a picture. You probably own his action figure.

Every school has an obligatory psychotic jackass.

He's ours.

You okay?

What?

You look... I don't know, hypnotized. Did I say you could sit here?

Wait a minute.

Of course you can sit here. Sit wherever you want.

That was cool. What you did? You cut me off for that pole?

Well... My bitch!

Weren't you supposed to wait for me at the flagpole? Not sure I could have made

that any clearer.

Okay, I get it.

Very funny.

I guess we're even now. You get what, boy?

You get that you're a dead man walking? Is that what you get? Leave him alone.

Sister, the only time I care what a woman has to say is when she's right in

my big old heart.

But even then, it's not so much words, just a bunch of oohs and ahhs, you know?

So it's big, huh?

Legendary. Well, let's see it.

I mean, if it's as big as you say, I'll be your girlfriend.

We could go to prom together.

What? What seems to be the problem? I'm on a schedule here, Vato. Dude, we've

only bloody talked to you like that. Sounds like your buddy here wants to see

it, too. Oh, hell, I'll show you mine.

Hey, let's go. What on God's green earth is going on here?

All right, gentlemen, move along. Veronica, why does trouble follow you

around?

So what did you do?

What?

Why are you a dead man walking?

Oh, yeah.

i work at second pack last night i was working by myself a couple of those guys

came in happy birthday bro thanks man they just walked right to the back of

the store and start stuffing all these 40s into their pockets so i hit the

silent alarm

wallace

i guess the dude thought a one dollar bill would cover it keep

changing

That's when the police came.

We don't have police here. We have a sheriff's department.

You, come on.

Go check it out. Here it comes.

What's up, snitch?

Come here.

They said they paid.

Well, did they?

Yeah. Like I said.

Shut up.

But you pressed the alarm anyway.

It was an accident.

Zax, get him out of here.

Get him out of here. We got enough.

You need to go see the wizard.

I'm asking for some guts.

Go see the wizard. He said that. Yeah?

Congratulations, sport. In your short time here, you've already managed to

piss off the motorcycle gang and the local sheriff.

Hey, baby.

It's our song.

Are you surprised?

Mom? Veronica?

Mom?

Veronica, it's me. Honey, can you give me a hand?

Hey, who's a big boy?

Who's a big boy?

I was

shocked to discover

Celeste Kane's car outside dad's office.

Duncan's mom.

She hates me almost as much as she adores her son.

Monica Mars.

My dad's with a client.

Apparently. That's okay. I'm happy out here chatting with you. Like I said, my

dad's with a client.

I heard you. But your dad's out tracking down bail jumpers half the time, and yet

somehow all the cases that come in here still get handled.

How is that?

We're efficient.

Very efficient.

Look, I'm just going to leave this file here open on your desk, and if you

decide to take a look at it, cool.

One of my clients, Loretta Cancun, dances at the Seventh Vale.

Classy. These are my people, V.

She was busted for vandalism, taking a baseball bat to the washing machine that

stole her quarters at Suds and Duds. And Johnny Cochran was booked?

I make no apologies.

I like this case. It's tawdry.

Miss Cancun says the Seventh Vale has an interesting way of keeping their liquor

license, despite their rather lax ID policy.

She wants to make a deal.

If your dad has time, he should look into it.

Don't get the wrong idea, Mr. Mars.

I don't like you.

I hate the fact that I'm here, but I do know if anyone will be dogged and

resourceful in this matter, it'll be you.

Don't call me at home. I'll call you.

And I'll need it right away.

Sure, she's a bitch.

But can you blame her?

After all, Dad did try to send her husband to jail for life.

How was school?

If you think we're going to talk about my school day and not the fact that

Celeste Kane was in your office ten minutes ago, you're deluded. You making

good grades?

Kane's got something on the side, doesn't he? You know what? Say what you

want about real cheese. I am a fan of the orange powder pocket stuff.

My grades are fine, and I like the orange powder too, but can we please

talk about Mrs. Kane? Yes.

She thinks he's seeing someone. Late nights, motel matches, the usual.

Sexual appetite?

Gone. Did you take the case? Well, we need the money, Veronica.

Good. I would have been pissed if you hadn't. Well, I wouldn't have cared if

you were.

Give me some of that apple.

Mars Investigations.

Keith Mars?

How long ago?

What's he driving?

I got the 730 out of San Diego, and I'll meet you by the thing by the fountain.

Good work. Thanks.

All right, guys, on the move. Andy picked him up in El Paso. There's

another day, and he'll probably try to cross the border, so I gotta head out.

Hugo, I'll have the flight book by the time you get to the airport.

Do you want a rental car in Texas?

Yeah, nothing fancy this time, Veronica. Seriously. A blazer is not fancy, and we

can bill it anyway.

Fine. I'll get you a Crown Vic. Once a cop. Don't do anything on the Kane case.

I'll handle it.

Okay. Given our relationship with that family, I just... Fine. I said okay.

Okay. If all goes well, I'll be back tomorrow night.

And if not, the night after.

I'll call and I'll check in. You always do.

And Veronica... Yes?

When you go after Jake Kane, you take backup.

I always do.

By the time Dad's plane landed in El Paso, I had already picked up Jake Kane

at his house and followed him to his office.

Streaming video was invented and perfected here at Kane Software.

The day the company went public, Jake Kane made a billion dollars.

Everyone who worked for him, in fact, right down to the secretarial pool,

became millionaires.

He's beloved here.

Half the people in this town owe their fortunes to him.

And I knew the family well.

Jake's son, Duncan, was my first and only love.

His daughter, Lily, was my best friend.

God, Lily, I see the Prozac's working.

High on life, Veronica Mars.

I've got a secret.

A good one.

Girls, less talk, more scrub.

Later.

Those were the last words Lily and I ever shared.

Later that night, as I was driving home from picking up dinner with Dad, a call

came in over the radio.

All the dispatcher said was that there was a disturbance at the Kane estate.

Dad gave me specific instructions to stay in the car, but the moment I saw

Duncan, I knew that this was more than a disturbance.

What happened?

Duncan, what happened?

Where's Lily?

But everyone knows this story. The murder of Lily Kane.

It was on the cover of People magazine.

It made entertainment tonight. The town flooded with journalists.

Duncan, talk to me.

Please.

And, of course, everyone remembers reading about the bungling local

sheriff, the one who went after the wrong man.

That bungling sheriff was my dad.

But if my dad wasn't right about Jake Kane then, it looks like Mrs. Kane is

right about him now.

Not a lot of high-powered business meetings taking place at the Camelot at

one in the morning.

They say the divorce rate is twice as high for parents who lose a child.

Lose a child.

Now there's a euphemism for you.

That hardly takes into account the way she was found. What?

You guys find a way to unlock the porn?

It's the Lily Kane video.

How do you think that family feels?

Six weeks after Lily Kane's death, someone from the sheriff's department

leaked the crime scene video.

Within 24 hours, it was all over the net.

Streaming video made it possible.

Someone made a fortune while dad took the blame.

So does your dad still think that Lily's father did this?

That's my girlfriend.

Your friend?

Duncan's sister?

Your dad is destroying the Kane family.

What's the matter with you people, huh?

What's the matter with you?

My dad's belief that Jay Kane was the murderer became a moot point.

An emergency recall election removed him from office.

Mom wanted to move out of Neptune.

The loss of status, the loss of income was too much for her.

We were going to move, all right. We couldn't afford our house.

But Dad wasn't going to be run out of town.

And neither was I.

Dad, come here!

Hey, I'm sorry, honey.

Me and your mom were going to work this out, okay?

Well, this can't be good

Call

trouble miss Yeah, as a

matter of fact, I think it might be a loose belt, but if you wouldn't mind

checking under the hood

Back up, chill.

I'll tell you what.

We'll call it a draw. Baby, come on. It's too late for that.

Here's the deal.

Leave that kid at school alone for a week, and I'll make sure your boys walk.

Why you care so much for that skinny negro anyway?

Thinks I heard about you.

You must really lay the pipe right, huh? Yeah, that's it.

All right, all right, all right. Felix, we get it. You're a badass, okay? But

for once, don't be stupid.

Not bad advice.

All right. One week.

After that, we come for you, your boy, and your little dog, too.

Back up. Be cool.

You get lonely out here, remember.

We will love you long time.

Quite a reputation I've got, huh?

You want to know how I lost my virginity?

So do I.

I went to a party at Shelly Pomeroy's just to show everyone their whispers and

backstabbing didn't affect me.

It was a mistake.

I

don't

know who handed me the drink. I wish I did.

It turns out it was your basic rum, coke, and roofie.

I never told my dad.

I'm not sure what he would have done with that information, but no good would

have come of it.

And what does it matter?

I'm no longer that girl.

All right, lady, let's see ya.

There's one.

Hey, Ronnie.

Hey, we've decided that we'd rather surf than study tell. You want to come with?

Yeah. Duncan will promise to take a shirt off. Is that sweet in the pot?

Does it make you horny?

ADK, flex for your ex. Shut up, Logan.

All right, all right.

Hey. Hey.

Hey.

What do you say to a little hoop shot?

What's the matter? Aren't you your mother's daughter?

Now there was a woman who could drink.

Hey, what's she up to nowadays? Maybe she'll join us. You know where she is?

Any clue?

Leave her alone, man. Ooh, chill pill, man.

All right.

That used to be fun, man.

It's been eight months since I've seen my mother.

A month after Dad lost his job, Mom split for good.

All she left me was a unicorn music box and a note saying she would be back for

me someday.

Girl, you should hear what people say about you.

So then what are you doing sitting here? You sat next to me. This is my table.

And what a fine table it is. What do you suppose this is made of?

Oak? Look, if people are saying such awful things... Well, I figure I've got

a choice. I can either go hang out with the punks who laughed at me, took

pictures of me while I was taped to that flagpole, or I can hang out with the

chick who cut me down.

So you want to get the PCH Bike Club off your ass?

This is so twisted.

I love it. Well, can you do it? Because we need it fast.

Oh, hell yeah. For you?

Oh, anything.

I'll even throw in the glaze in gratis. Go to town.

Thanks, Corny.

Oh, my God.

While Corny did his thing, I downloaded the pictures from the Camelot.

Every girl's got to have a hobby.

Photography's mine.

We all smile, we all sing We all sing,

we all sing, sing The night slowly fades and goes slow motion All the commotion

becomes floating emotions Same piano loops over Dizzy new heights, blinded by

the lights These people are for life It's all back to his place at the end of

the night Yo

And? Who's your daddy?

I hate it when you say that. You know what? This is important.

You remember this.

I used to be cool.

When? 77.

Fran Zamm, Blue Oyster Cult in the A-track, a foxy stack blonde riding

shotgun racing for pink slips.

Now, wait a minute. I'm thinking of a Springsteen song. Scratch Everything.

I was never cool. I don't know which bothers me more, foxy or stacked.

I nailed our bail jumper 100 yards from Mexico.

2,500 bucks.

No sack dinners tonight.

Tonight, we eat.

Like the lower middle class to which we aspire.

Fire up the bocce!

For real, Stakes.

So Jake Kane went to the Camelot last night and hooked up with some hussy?

Didn't I say something about you not getting involved in that?

I remember you saying something about taking backup.

You got pictures?

No money shot. The woman in question never stepped foot outside, but I did

get pictures of license plates. I figured you could run them.

Let me see them.

You stay away from Jake Kane.

I don't want you doing anything else on this case. We're going to drop it

anyway, and I'm going to let his wife know. What? We're dropping the case?

Why? What's wrong?

Who is it?

Why don't you just tell me? Veronica?

No. It's done. It's over with. Just stay away from him.

I had another case to occupy my brain.

Loretta Cancun says the Seventh Vale has an interesting way of keeping their

liquor license.

This was phase one of my plan to save Wallace.

Phase two would begin the next day.

Let's go.

Hey, lojo.

Slow your ass down.

There you go.

Well, what's this, Logan? This would appear to be a device they use to smoke

marijuana.

That's exactly what I saw.

That's real.

Oh, man, Logan's busted!

It's you!

Listen,

I know it was you, but this isn't over, okay?

You're so cute.

I'll get you for this.

I will!

Sorry.

You're right, I was funny.

Meet me at my car for school. Let's see if you've done your part.

After school, I drove Wallace to the sheriff's department.

This was phase three.

We could get in a lot of trouble for this.

Give it here. Wait.

I'm going to do it. You start one of us, you state the obvious.

I wonder if it worked.

Daddy, is the chief around?

Well, if it isn't Smokey the Barely Legal.

I saw you in action today, Bill. You were very brave.

Did you make the switch?

Fait accompli.

Plenty of people in this town still love Dad.

That comes in handy sometimes.

Other times, you rely on your own devices.

Tony, it's Inga.

Guess what? Our computer is down again.

Inga.

Upgrade already. This must be the tenth time.

Preach to the choir, Tony. Listen, we had a hit and run last night.

Victim got the plates, but we need someone to run them. No problem. Hit me.

Arizona for Victor Golf 000.

I'll be damned. Some families. That isn't.

That car is registered to one.

Leanne Mars.

Bored.

Call it a day, maybe catch a movie or something.

Explain to me again why we're dropping the cane case.

Look.

I, um, I did run those plates, and, uh, it's what I thought.

Corporate espionage stuff.

It's dangerous.

We don't get paid enough, so...

Let's just drop it, okay?

Okay.

Movie? Yeah.

Well, maybe we can rent something. What are you in the mood for?

Veronica!

Oh, little Veronica, how are you? How's your father?

Fine. Inga, we're both fine. I haven't seen you since... Since... Been a while.

Can you tell me where the Cortez Winprelim is?

Courtroom 3.

Thanks. The last time I was here?

Come on, Inga.

That's easy.

Veronica, what happened to you?

I need to report a crime.

Is there anyone in particular you'd like me to arrest, or should I just round up

the sons of the most important families in town?

I've got not a shred of evidence to work with here, but that really doesn't

matter to your family, now does it?

Look at this.

She cries.

I'll tell you what, Veronica Mars, why don't you go see the wizard?

Ask for a little backbone.

When we find them, they've still got 20 bottles stuffed in their pockets.

They say they bought the beers, but we've got it all on tape, so... Your

Honor, can we show the tape? Let's see it.

All right, what you're going to see here are the two defendants over there. They

enter, and... What are we seeing here, Sheriff?

Your Honor, I...

Sheriff Lam, is this one of your officers?

Is this how you run your department?

Your Honor, is this an appropriate time to ask for dismissal in People v.

Loretta Cancun?

Counsel.

Got a present for you.

I owe you big time.

I had my own reasons for doing it, trust me.

Oh, no, you don't.

You really think I'm gonna let you get away with that?

That might play with the masses.

But underneath that angry young woman show, there's a slightly less angry

young woman who's just dying to bake me something.

You're Marshmallow Veronica Mars?

A Twinkie.

Okay, how do I make it loop-a-loop?

Uh, Veronica?

Yeah?

Your car.

Hey,

Veronica

Mars.

Do you know what your little joke cost me? Well, I'm pretty sure you won't be

getting your bong back.

Wrong answer.

Do you care to guess again?

Clearly your sense of humor.

Nope. I'm usually so good at pop quizzes.

The correct answer is my car.

That's right, my daddy took my T-Bird away.

And you know what I won't be having?

Fun, fun, fun.

Uh, Logan.

What do we have here?

Vandalism? No, no, no.

The only vandalism that happens in this town goes through me.

What?

Listen, man, I don't have a problem with you.

That's where you're wrong.

Hey, yo, is this old town any good?

I mean, my little sister likes it, but, you know, she likes ponies and juice

boxes, too.

I suddenly feel like I'm in a scene from The Outsiders.

Be cool, soda pop.

Hey, that's not his car. That's my mom's car.

She can bill me.

That's it.

Head for the hills.

I'm not going to say it twice.

Except for you.

You say you're sorry.

Rub a lamp.

I said say you're sorry.

Kiss my ass.

Now!

Let him go.

Are you sure? I could do this for a while.

I don't want his apology.

So that, uh, surveillance tape just... Poof.

That's fortunate.

My uncle has a body shop on the highway. If you come in, you know, you can make

sure your body gets the full-service treatment.

Okay, now you apologize.

I'm sorry. Was that too dirty? Not to me, dork.

To him.

Right. No.

Fine.

He has the only copy of the sack and pack video Wallace. Let's go decide what

to do with it.

Okay. Wait, wait, wait, wait Look, look, I'm sorry man, uh for you know, taping

you to the flagpole. I'm sorry.

All right Can I have the tape back now?

Nope

This morning when I woke up, I had one person in the world I could count on.

But if there's something I've learned in this business, the people you love let

you down.

Dad doesn't think I know where he keeps the combination to the safe.

He's wrong.

Of course, I've never needed to use it.

Oh, my God. The Lily Kane murder file.

What's Dad been up to?

Some of these notes are less than a month old.

The confessed killer is already on death row, but Dad still hasn't given up on

the case.

My surveillance photo from the Camelot. Why is it in the Lily Kane file?

What was Mom doing there, and what business did she have with Jake Kane?

And the million-dollar question.

Why did Dad lie to me?

What are you doing back here?

I saw the light.

I forgot a few of my books.

What's up with Adam, Adam Ant? Come on, it's family fun night. I called out to

Mama Leone's. I rented the South Park movie.

My favorite.

Hey, who's your daddy?

You are.

I have to make a stop, so I'll meet you at home.

Okay. Hurry up.

I worry about you.

Yeah, you do.

Okay, so he lied to me, but I've got to believe he has his reasons.

He's probably trying to protect me.

That's what dads do.

Still, I've got too many questions swirling around in my head to wait until

he's willing to share.

These questions need answers.

That's what I do.

Okay, it's a long shot, but I can't help myself.

I used to think I knew what tore our family apart.

Now I'm sure I don't.

But I promise this.

I will find out what really happened, and I will bring this family back

together again.

I'm sorry. Is that mushy?

Well, you know what they say.

Veronica Mars.

She's a marshmallow.