We get some previouslies, but the last of them, Logan telling Veronica he wants her to find his mother, continues on into the action. A bunch of people on the boards complained that this continuation is different take from what was shown last week. I don't see it, but without my contacts in, all I see are blurs with varying degrees of lighting, so maybe I'll defer to the eagle eyes of the forum posters. Actually, I seem to remember that, last week, Veronica looked off to the side when Logan asked for her help, and this time she doesn't, so maybe there's something to this reshoot theory. Anyway, Logan clarifies that he doesn't think his mom killed herself. Veronica invites him inside. A significant percentage of the audience cues up the porn music in anticipation, only to be disappointed. Veronica asks Logan why he thinks his mom's still alive, but Logan counters that he doesn't understand why everyone thinks she's dead, since they didn't find a body. Well, the body could have drifted out to sea. It's not like it was suffering from a lack of flotation devices. Veronica exposits that a woman claimed to have seen Lynn jump, and Logan snarks that if she's on TV, she must be telling the truth. He points out, however, that Lynn's credit cards were missing, and that's a clue. He's got a point -- you don't want to be caught without plastic in the afterlife. If you do, you might have to shop at trashy places, and you'll be running into Courtney Love, once she kicks off. Hell, you'd run into her career right now. Where was I? Logan says he knows his mother, and Veronica gently asks about the note she left. Logan tells her that his mom wants people to think she's dead, but that if she were going to kill herself, "it'd be Chardonnay and sleeping pills." Well, maybe she'd built up too much of a tolerance. I think much wine and many pills passed those lips. In abject terror, needless to say. He goes on that she wouldn't risk "being found bug-eyed and bloated in some shrimp net." Veronica says she'll see what she can find out. Logan turns to go, but says he just needs to know his mother's okay. Aw. He leaves. No hug?
Apparently not, as we cut to Adam Scott, of recent The Aviator fame. He's got his history class divided into two teams, who are facing each other and rhythmically clapping and snapping. Adam Scott loudly wonders which of the two teams will win the "World History Review Roundup and Deathmatch": the "Age of Enlightenment Rock Stars," or the "Children of the Industrial Revolution." Well, if it's a deathmatch, you could come up with more appropriate names. "Crusaders" is a lot bloodier, and also a lot shorter, which is even more important. To me. Anyway, the kids are all having a grand old time in the tradition of Dead Poets Society (or so I'd imagine, because I've never seen it because I have always fucking hated Robin Williams) or the My So-Called Life episode "The Substitute," which is undeniably my least favorite episode of that series. I wonder if this show can pull me out of the bad associations I have with this particular plotline. I do have faith, but did I mention I really fucking hate Robin Williams? Adam Scott reveals that the competition is Family Feud-style, and my faith in the show continues unabated. Because cheesy game shows are awesome. Anyway, it's worth noting that when Veronica's captain gets a question right, she slaps his hand enthusiastically. He looks psyched as well, so I guess he hasn't heard about the SLUT GERMS she carries. Anyway, when Wallace answers a question correctly, he identifies the teacher as "Mr. Rooks." Then everyone's snapping away, and Rooks says he can call on anyone, so he chooses a pretty brunette, "Carrie Bishop," who's wearing way too much lipstick. Looks like a certain stunt cast forgot to clean out her trailer. Carrie tells him, "The answer is, I'm not pregnant." Rooks's smile collapses. Carrie continues, "So you can quit dodging my calls, and you can keep your money to 'take care of it.' And while we're at it" -- she tosses him a key -- "here's your key back. I won't be needing it anymore." The class goes silent, well aware that Carrie's snap has put all their efforts in that department to shame. Credits.
Did I just see Taye Diggs beatboxing on Kevin Hill? I mean, really.
When we return, the class has cleared out except for Rooks and Veronica. Veronica asks if he's okay, and he says he's been better. He tells Veronica that he did not have sexual relations with that girl. My choice of words and emphasis there is in no way meant to be taken as a spoiler. He adds that it won't matter, and speculates that everyone in the school probably knows by now. Veronica notes a couple of giggling airheads outside the class, and agrees. She fails to add that her own reputation isn't exactly helping the situation. Rooks says that teaching is all he ever wanted to do, and now it's over for him, but Veronica's all, "Not if I can help it." Rooks nods, unconvinced. You'll see, dude -- the student will become the teacher. Just not like that.
Outside, Carrie sits alone as a group of girls starts up a chant of a verse of "Don't Stand So Close To Me." Some people on the boards wondered if they'd really be that familiar with an '80s song. Having some friends and relatives with kids in this age range, I can tell you that '80s music is enjoying quite the retro revival among teenagers these days. And I don't know whether to welcome the airplay of tunes from my youth, or to sniff at the impertinence of these kids adopting said music as their own. Perhaps I just won't think about it, since both options make me feel older than Nebuchadnezzar. Carrie takes her leave, and Wallace notes the harshness. Veronica's unsympathetic, since Carrie's long been "the gossip queen of Neptune High." Hee. Can you imagine the pageant for that? You could have the "bitchiest rumor started" competition, followed by the "best eavesdropper" category. By lunchtime, half the field would be eliminated due to the resultant eye-scratching. Veronica puts on her ingratiating voice and asks for a favor, and Wallace cynically guesses she wants to "borrow" Carrie's permanent file. Veronica: "I remember when you were new and eager to please. Good times." Yeah, but his hair's better now. That'll give anyone attitude.
Veronica spies Duncan, and pops over to talk to him. Her errand must really be urgent, if she can be within ten feet of that fugly-assed sweater he's wearing. If you think a garment comprised entirely of earth tones can't cause retinal scarring, you obviously haven't seen this episode. Veronica tells Duncan that her family physician retired to Death Valley: "Literally. I know it sounds like a metaphor, but it's not." Duncan laughs. He's kind of pretty when he smiles. I vote for more humor on that basis alone. Veronica asks him for the name of his practitioner. It's "Dr. Al Levine," but Duncan warns her that he's a little expensive. Veronica tells him they've got insurance. Duncan makes a weird face, which I guess is meant to convey embarrassment at bringing up the money issue, although it seemed perfectly reasonable to me. He leaves, and VMVO tells us it's time to find out what Duncan's mystery illness is. Well, if it's "the right to privacy," you're going to cure him of that, no doubt. Although it's not like a lot of people are still suffering from that these days.
Sometime later -- although the cut is so smooth it's a little confusing -- Wallace forks over Carrie's file. You know, I'm glad they don't do this in the bathroom anymore, but the courtyard seems a bit too far the other way. Wallace warns Veronica not to get them in trouble. Veronica: "Don't worry. I've got a cyanide capsule and a false tooth. If I'm caught, I'll do the honorable thing." Wallace: "It's been a privilege knowing you, Mars." Hee. Veronica starts to read the thing in the middle of the courtyard, like, hi, detective, and VMVO starts all "Well, well, well, Carrie," but Logan walks up and interrupts, asking for news. Veronica tells him that she put notices on his mom's credit and debit cards, and if any of them is used, she'll get a text message. Also, the woman who claimed to see Lynn jump is giving a statement at the sheriff's office the day, so Veronica will drop by and see if "she's up for a chat." Over Veronica's objections, Logan insists on going as well, saying that he'll know if she's lying. Veronica sees Carrie and approaches her, saying that she wants to give her a chance to recant her accusation. Carrie asks why she cares, and Veronica tells her that there aren't many great teachers, but that Rooks is one of them. Veronica, you know I love you, but your high and mighty stand is slightly diminished by the fact that you're practically WAVING THE GIRL'S PERMANENT RECORD IN HER FACE. Carrie says that Rooks seduces "his students," which is a nice way of phrasing it given how the episode turns out. Carrie calls Veronica "naïve," but Veronica tells her she knows that Rooks called Carrie's parents in for a meeting about her in September, and points out that that doesn't seem like anything an illicit boyfriend would do. Carrie's eyes go to the folder, but she doesn't react other than that. Also, we find out later that Carrie alleged that she and Rooks had been seeing each other well before that, just to put that statement in context. Carrie says she never cared what Veronica thought of her before, and that she's not going to start now. Veronica considers that...
...and strides purposefully into Mars Investigations. Keith greets her and asks if she knows Mr. Rooks, and she tells him she's in his class. I would have thought Keith might already have met Rooks at a parent-teacher conference, but maybe Enrico Colantoni had that week off -- I mean, "Keith was chasing a bail-jumper." Keith tells her to find out everything she can about Rooks. Veronica asks why, and her level of dread is commensurate with that of a movie reviewer who's just settling in to watch Constantine. Keith tells her that Carrie's parents hired them to investigate Rooks, since Carrie filed a sexual-harassment claim against him, and they want him fired. Noting that Veronica's silently gasping like a beached porpoise, Keith asks her what's wrong, but Veronica just keeps goggling into the commercial. You know you've stunned her when you even shut up the VMVO.
Veronica is pissily unloading the contents of her bag onto her desk as Keith asks her what the big deal is. Having finished with her books, Veronica unloads on Keith, saying that she dreads going to school, and that Rooks's class is one of the only things that she looks forward to. Not shown: Wallace overhearing this conversation from outside the door and, with misty eyes and quivering lip, swearing that she can just get her own permanent records from now on. Honestly, though, I'm not sure I completely buy that reason for Veronica's vehemence here. School hasn't seemed that bad for her in a while, and she rarely seems to care when it is. There's a long step between despising a bunch of the people there and dreading stepping into the building. If there wasn't, a lot more people would work from home. I can buy that Veronica really likes Rooks, though, so ultimately I have no problem with her helping him. Keith says he's sorry, but that this is what he does, and that the girl deserves to be heard. Veronica snarls that she doesn't, actually, because Carrie is "a liar, and a gossip, and a manipulator." Keith says he can't drop the case just because of a feeling Veronica has, so she tells him he can answer his own phone. Just as well, because the rest of us will be busy with a flashback.
Long-haired Veronica is in a bathroom stall. Through the open door, she sees Carrie and some other girl bitching that Duncan could be going out with anyone, but that he picked Veronica, and she must be after his money. I'd say sixteen is a little early to be thinking that way, but in fairness, it is an awful lot of money. I mean, her chances are a lot better than winning the lottery here, and the payoff stands to be bigger too. Carrie tells Gossip Lady-In-Waiting that Duncan is literally crazy, and through her vast royal gossip network, she heard that, the week before, Duncan was brought to the hospital kicking and foaming at the mouth and screaming Veronica's name: "It took like three orderlies just to get him in a straitjacket." Some posters are speculating that Duncan's ravings indicate that he got wind of some danger to Veronica, and I certainly wouldn't be surprised to learn that that's exactly the case. Veronica emerges from the stall and sniffs, "Carrie Bishop and Susan Knight. Go figure." Go figure, indeed, that this episode includes the names "Bishop, Knight, and Rooks." I just thought I'd mention that en passant.
Veronica sits with Logan in the sheriff's office. She comments, "We should do this more often." I see someone's been reading the boards. The ostensible eyewitness emerges from an office and struts by them. She looks a bit like Ann Jillian, had Ann Jillian been living in a trailer park for the last ten years. Now that I think of it, has anyone seen her in a while? The eyewitness blows past the kids, although I'd think she'd recognize Logan, especially with his little news-making stunt from several episode back. Logan looks like he's going to unleash a snarl that would give Backup a run for his money, but Veronica tells him to heel, and that she's got it covered. She hands Logan an earpiece, and they both listen to the show as, down the hall, Cliff The Highly Entertaining Sleazy Lawyer (I really need a better nickname for him) stops "White Trash Walking," as Veronica called her, and says he's with the Weekly World News, and that he's interested in her story. I thought the Weekly World News only ran stories concerning aliens, but I could see them getting confused, what with Lynn's third lip and all. Anyway, Cliff baits her into revealing that she made the whole thing up. Remember in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, when Ferris looks at the odometer in the Ferrari, and is all, "Here's where Cameron goes ballistic"? Substitute "Logan" for "Cameron," and you've got yourself an instant mini-remake. Logan bellows about trailers and Spam, and the woman hurries out as fast as her Paylesses will carry her. Veronica thanks Cliff, and he tells her she owes him one.
Veronica goes over to a still-seething Logan, but her attention is distracted by her sighting of Deputy Leo. Un! Comfortable! Veronica greets him, and gets a frosty reply. She tells Logan to give her a minute, and to stay calm, because finding out that woman is a fraud is good news. Yeah, you'd think Logan might want to latch onto that a little bit here. Logan goes outside, and Veronica approaches Leo to explain. She comes clean about all the evidence that doesn't add up about Koontz -- the fact that Wiedman called the tip in, the planting of Lilly's shoes, and the tell-tale traffic ticket. Leo asks how she knows all this, and Veronica says she's done everything she could to get to the truth, including using him; she adds, "I used you then fell for you, not the other way around." Leo breaks into a smile. Aw. I still like him. Not a popular opinion, but I didn't take this job to be liked. Or that's what I tell myself so I don't cry myself to sleep at night.
Veronica shows up at Rooks's backyard. He introduces her to his daughter, who's kind of adorable, if in a "My mommy says I'm not stupid, I'm special" kind of way. Rooks tells Veronica he gets his daughter on the weekends, and shoos her off to her coloring. I'd point out that according to what we learn later, Rooks has been pretty busy some weekends, and I can only hope that he had the good sense to find alternative arrangements for his daughter on those occasions. On the other hand, if he didn't, we've got a reason for her apparent developmental disability right there. Veronica asks Rooks about the conference he called with Carrie's parents. He's surprised she knows about that, and says that he appreciates her help, but that he thinks this is an adult matter. Veronica tells him that Carrie's parents have hired "a private investigator." Oh, not good, Veronica. That's the kind of thing that could just blow up in your face. She adds that there's going to be a hearing, and that he might never teach again. Rooks says the parents came in because he gave Carrie a C on a midterm (in September?). Veronica asks who's representing him at the hearing, and the answer is the faculty union rep. And that would be? "You're lookin' at him." Oy. I don't think you're going to win them over by playing the sexual-harassment-hearing version of Press Your Luck. "No whammies," indeed.
Mars Investigations. Keith enters and takes off his jacket. That might be a little premature, considering the reception he's about to get. Noting that Veronica's refusing to speak to him, he tells her that he encourages her to stand up for what she believes in, but that Rooks is "a bad egg," and that he doesn't want to see her get hurt. Veronica says she believes Rooks, but Keith informs her that Carrie kept a detailed diary of her affair with Rooks -- dates and places, including a fancy dinner they went to after she won the "District Extemporaneous Speaking Competition." Veronica points out that that doesn't prove anything: "I could write down that I met Kid Rock every weekend at the Hedonism Lodge for a sensual massage and smoothies, but that doesn't make it true!" Well, I'll take a chance saying that I speak for everyone here: THANK GOD. Keith adds that he checked Rooks's credit-card records, and they match with certain entries in Carrie's diary. The lesson being that people who commit statutory rape should always pay in cash. Veronica, grasping at straws, says Carrie could have followed Rooks, but Keith says the diary is very specific: "And I don't want you seeing Kid Rock." Thanks, Keith, but I already covered that. Once again, Veronica looks flabbergasted as we go to commercial.
Hey, that three-second "Upcoming On Veronica Mars" bit gave away almost the whole rest of the A-plot! Nice one! Lucky I watched this on DVR the first time and skipped the commercials. Still, boo, UPN promo department.
Mars Investigations. Veronica calls Dr. Levine's office and makes an appointment. There's a can of soda labeled "Skist" on the desk in front of her. I thought at first it was just a way of getting around the copyright, but then I realized, given the later significance of the initials "S.K.," the props department is seeing if anyone's paying attention. Well, I am, to the tune of about 7,000 words or so. Behind her, Logan enters, and hearing her wrap up the call, mildly comments, "Well, I'm no doctor, but I'm pretty sure penicillin will clear that problem right up." Hee. After some more toothless repartee, Logan tosses a tabloid onto Veronica's desk and says that a woman claimed to see Lynn get out of her car and get into a van with a mysterious stranger. Veronica: "There's also a jungle tribe that worships Donald Trump's hair." The gods must be out of their ever-loving minds. Veronica gently adds that she doesn't want Logan to get his hopes up, but Logan tells her that he's paying her to do a job. Veronica counters that she wasn't aware she was being paid, but Logan insists that she will be compensated, and that they're "not exchanging friendship bracelets." That's the second time Logan's talked about friendship accessories. If they're big at Neptune High, it's no wonder Veronica doesn't wear a lot of accouterments. Veronica calls the woman in the story and arranges for a "follow-up" interview immediately...
...and said interview is happening over coffee. The woman is friendly, if fairly nondescript, as she tells Veronica that she didn't get paid for the first interview, and that she just wants people to know the truth. Veronica asks if there's anything else she remembers, but the woman gushes that she was just so excited to see Lynn, and babbles about having seen Haaron and Lynn once on the red carpet for some premiere. She gets out a scrapbook that's devoted to her fandom, and tells Veronica that the van she saw was the actual one from a movie called The Pursuit Of Happiness, the set of which was where Haaron and Lynn met. So Lynn was an actress, too. I'm not sure we knew that. As the woman babbles on, we see that Logan is eavesdropping on this conversation. He walks out, aware that this woman is starring in her own version of The Pursuit Of Sanity. Just as well he left -- that picture's got a loooong way to go. Veronica excuses herself and tries to console Logan, saying that she would have let herself believe the tabloid story if it were her mother. Logan stalks out, slamming into Weevil on the way out. You know the episode's tightly paced when there's no time for homoeroticism. Weevil is all, "Manners, Opie!," and then asks Veronica if Logan lost a puka shell off his necklace. Hee. Veronica says no, just any hope that his mother is still alive. Weevil looks at her, all, "I get two minutes of screen time a week, and I have to hear that buzzkill?"
Veronica arrives home to find her dad making lasagna. She says she knows "pity cooking" when she sees it, and speculates that there's more bad news. Keith tells her that Rooks was fired from his last job at a private school, and that although his file was sealed, the complaint came from the parents of two girls. Hmm. I don't think Rooks learned quite the right lesson from that experience. Not sleeping with his students seems like the indicated play, but apparently Rooks thought cutting out the three-ways would be enough. Veronica asks to see Carrie's journal, but Keith says he can't let her. Veronica: "There'd better be dessert."
In Keith's office, VMVO tells us she has to get into the safe. She wonders if Keith would have been careless enough to leave the combination written down. She finds a promising set of numbers on his calendar, and tries them out, saying her dad will be impressed with how much of his teaching she's "soaked up." I'll just give that one a "hee" in advance. She opens the safe and finds a strongbox with Carrie's surname on it. She sets it on the desk, opens it, and...something explodes, leaving Veronica covered in blue ink. HA! That was awesome. VMVO suspects there's a lesson to be learned here. It could be to point strongboxes away from you when opening them, but that seems a little esoteric. More likely, it's "Keith Mars is a RIGHT BITCH."
Sometime later, Veronica's cleaning herself up when the bitch in question arrives and sunnily asks what she's been up to. Veronica: "Tell me where to put your Father Of The Year trophy! 'Cause there's someplace I'd like to put it!" Veronica earnestly tells him that she needs to see the diary, because Carrie is lying. Keith tells her not to get so "blue in the face." Um, hee again. Veronica keeps at Keith until he allows that he'll give her the dates and times mentioned in the diary.
School. Veronica passes by the trophy case, and stops when she notices a photo of some female track team members, including Carrie. Weevil's voice cuts in to say that his trophy is by the auto shop. Veronica asks if it's for lube job or stealing hubcaps. I definitely know which one it was for, assuming Logan was judging. Weevil: "Is this, 1970? Rims, baby!" Veronica: "So you got a trophy for a rim job?" Wow. The Standards and Practices people let that one by? I bet they just feel like assholes. Weevil tells her he has some information. Veronica: "Finally, a Deep Throat to call my own." Weevil: "I'm not gonna touch that one." Out of that whole conversation, that's the part you're not touching? He tells her that some freshman has been shooting his mouth off about how he's got proof that Lynn jumped. Veronica instructs him to find the kid. Now I know why we haven't seen much of Backup lately -- Veronica's got a new lapdog.
Veronica goes to see Rooks and asks why he was fired from his job. Rooks is surprised again at her information, and butters Veronica up while telling her it was all political. Veronica thanks him...
...and finds Carrie at her locker, telling her she's got one more chance to drop the complaint. Nothing doing. Veronica points out that Carrie can't be too broken up if she's still in Rooks's class, but Carrie says he'll be the one leaving soon. Wouldn't he be suspended pending this hearing? Veronica can't believe Carrie's willing to destroy Rooks because he gave her a C on a paper, but Carrie counters that Rooks is more popular than ever, and she's the bitch everyone hates. She goes on to relate some intimate details about Rooks, saying that his sheets are black silk, and his mood music is Side 2 of the Rolling Stones Tattoo You. And you'd think he would have picked the side with "Start Me Up" on it. Having heard Carrie's allegations, Veronica snarks, "Yeah, I have that same Sweet Valley High book." Hee. She adds that there's a problem with an entry in Carrie's diary -- on one weekend she claimed to be with Rooks, she was actually in Sacramento for a track meet, at which she was part of a winning relay team: "People say you're fast." For once in this episode, it's not Veronica who's speechless as we go to commercial.
Dr. Levine, who is in fact the same doctor who attended to Duncan when he hit his head jumping off the bleachers, enters an examining room wherein Veronica is waiting in hospital gown. Apparently he examined her earlier, because he tells her that the "sniffles" of which she complained are just common allergies, and then turns to walk back out. Well, I can see why this guy gets paid the big bucks.
Sometime later, VMVO tells us she's going to be attempting something underhanded, as Veronica ducks into the bathroom.
Sometime later than that, the doctor leaves for the day. The nurse at the desk goes to do the same, but notices that the bathroom door is closed. Testing it, she finds it locked, so she opens it with her key. There's no one in sight, so she leaves. At first, I was confused as to why Veronica locked it at all, since that would only attract attention, but then I realized that she needed some clear signal that the coast was about to be clear. And now that it is, Veronica crawls out from the cabinet under the sink as VMVO tells us that yes, she is petite, and sometimes it comes in handy. Moving quickly, she gets hold of Duncan's file and makes a copy, but in the process of replacing it, she sees another file -- that of Abel Koontz. Some people on the boards were wondering at this coincidence, but between the fact that Koontz worked for Jake Kane in the past and that Neptune isn't supposed to be the biggest town, I don't have trouble buying it. She grabs the file, but doesn't have time to copy it before she hears someone coming. Cut to a nurse opening the examining room door, wherein Veronica is back in her gown. She asks, "Is the doctor here? 'Cause I've been sitting for like, an hour." The nurse is all, "Great. Now I have to remember the insurance code for 'senile-doctor-caused pneumonia' yet again."
Hearing. Rooks is telling the panel how the accusation has ruined him. Veronica enters. A lot of posters couldn't believe that the hearing would be an open affair; It strikes me as odd too, but I have to admit I don't know that's not how it's done. I'm in the strange and unfamiliar place of actually trusting the writing team. I'm not sure I like it. Prompted to speculate on why Carrie would make a false allegation, Rooks says that she's a B student, and she made it very clear she wanted an A, but "the work just didn't merit it." Carrie rolls her eyes, knowing that her "work" has always been stellar. Carrie then tells the panel that her dad left her mom the year before, and Rooks started giving her rides. I don't know why the phrase "who's your Daddy" would possibly have entered my mind just now. Nevertheless, there it is. Carrie adds that Rooks told her they had a lot in common, since they'd both been abandoned by people they thought loved them. Then their relationship turned sexual, and when she told him she might be pregnant, he blew her off. She saw him flirting with other girls, and figured that's just what he does: "I couldn't let him get away with it again." The (female) chairman of the panel asks if Carrie has any proof. She says he sent her text messages all the time, and she reads some of them, which are of a prurient nature. Rooks subtly looks like he recognizes the messages, and I have to give props to the direction in this entire episode. Carrie gives the phone to the chairman, who points out that the messages are addressed to "S.K." After the slightest hesitation, Carrie says he called her "Sweet Knees," because he always wanted her to wear knee socks. Um, ew. Although if she made that up on the spot, her extemporaneous speaking isn't too shabby. The chairman points out that there's no proof Rooks sent those messages, but Carrie instructs her to hit the callback button. She complies, and Rooks's phone goes off. It's set to vibrate. That's not much of a surprise. The chairman looks chagrined. Thinking quickly, Veronica asks VP Clemmons if she can borrow his phone. He reluctantly hands it over. Cut to Veronica entering something into it.
Back inside, Clemmons testifies as to how popular Rooks is. He retakes his seat, Veronica handing him back his phone on the way. Veronica whispers something in Rooks's ear. I know you want to help, Veronica, but given the circumstances, there's just the teeniest chance that that action might be misconstrued. Rooks rises and asks the chairman to check the messages on her own cell. She has three new texts, which read, "True Pirates share their booty," "I'll be your little spoon," and finally, "Vice Principals make the best lovers." Hee hee. Veronica smirks to herself as Clemmons strokes his head all, "My father told me to go into investment banking." Rooks asks the chairman to push the callback button, which she does, and Clemmons's cell rings. Rooks notes that it's easy to create false text messages on cell phones. I'll have to keep that in mind time I get really annoyed with my ex-boyfriend.
Sometime later, the panel returns from its deliberations, and the chairman announces that the burden of proof is on the accuser, and lets Rooks off on the lack of evidence. Carrie fights bravely not to break down.
Chez "Start Me Up." Veronica stops by to return Rooks's cell phone, saying it's now password-protected. He tells her he had some pizza delivered and there was a two-for-one deal, so he's "swimming in it." Dude, when you get a pizza like the one in these pictures, then we'll talk. It took five recappers to bring it down, which is more than it took to do the same to Dawson's Creek. Veronica agrees to one slice. He asks her if she'd like something to drink, although I can't imagine his judgment is so impaired as to be offering her alcohol, given everything that's happened. She says she'll have "Diet anything," and asks to use the bathroom. He points her to it, and gives her an appraising look while her back's to him. Again, nice. Passing the bedroom, Veronica stops when she sees that the sheets are black silk, and to make matters worse, the strains of Mick Jagger start right up. As much as Veronica was blinded by loyalty to Rooks and hatred of Carrie, I give her a lot of credit for immediately acting once she realizes her error, as she runs out, claiming it's later than she thought. Yeah, we're at minute fifty here, hon. Get it in gear.
I think we're in the journalism room, although with the lack of Miss Dent, it's hard to tell. It's easier to be interested, though. Veronica's checking up on "Oxcarbazepine," which Duncan is apparently on. It's used to treat Type IV epilepsy. Well, that's one mystery solved. Only forty-seven more to go. Duncan comes over and asks what she's doing. She changes the screen with the practiced keystroke of someone who spends an awful lot of time reading recaps instead of working. No need to blush, everyone. She tells him she's Googling herself: "Like I'm the first." Yeah, now I'm the one that's blushing. Duncan picks up a picture of Carrie, underneath which is the copy of his medical records. Veronica hastily covers the copy up with another glossy, and it does look to me as though Duncan's attention is too focused on the picture to notice what was underneath, but I will certainly concede that there's room for ambiguity. Which is always a good thing. Veronica asks where she could find last year's school newspapers, and Duncan tells her they'd be in the supply cabinet. She tells him she needs to find out who won the extemporaneous speaker competition, since she'd like to know if the winner had sweet knees. Duncan gives the face we all do when we discover an ex is a psycho, and good-naturedly says, "I give up." Probably just as well.
Outside the room, Veronica gets information for "the Knight family." Well well well -- funny how things work out. Especially when you have a limited guest-star budget. Oh, I'm kidding -- it's really quite seamless.
Veronica rings a doorbell. Susan Knight answers and quizzically asks, "Veronica Mars?" Veronica tells her that Carrie's story was true, only it didn't happen to her -- it happened to Susan, and it was Susan's phone Carrie displayed at the hearing. Susan tells her that her parents disowned her because she wouldn't tell them who the father is, and as she steps out from behind the door, Veronica's subtly chagrined to see that she's pregnant. Man. She adds that her parents would have pressed statutory-rape charges, and she didn't want that. Yeah, because Rooks is doing so right by you. Sheesh. Susan adds that she had to leave town, so I guess Veronica visited her parents first and found out where she was. Veronica asks why Carrie told the story, and Susan bites out that it's because Carrie thought what Rooks did was wrong. She says that Rooks gave her five hundred bucks to get an abortion, and that it drove Carrie crazy that there were no consequences for what he did. Susan says she's not brave enough to come forward. Veronica tells her that people have put Carrie through hell. Susan's surprised, since Carrie told her most people were supportive of her. Veronica: "They weren't. We weren't." She encourages Susan to make Carrie's effort worth it by making a phone call and setting things right: "I just happen to have the school-board president's cell-phone number." Heh. Just don't ask her how Clemmons is in the sack.
Veronica finds Carrie, who's sitting alone outside, and apologizes, saying she went to see Susan. Carrie says that doesn't do her much good now. Weevil's voice rings out, and we see he's got a teeny little freshman in tow. Weevil tells "V" that the kid's the one bragging about seeing Logan's mom. Of course, Weevil's seen Logan's mom take the plunge before, but not to such an extreme degree.
Logan arrives in a classroom to find Weevil, Veronica, and the kid waiting. The kid says that he and a bunch of his friends shot a movie near the Coronado Bridge, and when they were editing it together, they noticed something. I would have guessed they noticed that it blew harder than a February wind over Lake Michigan, but that's not what he's talking about. No, upon close examination, they see something fall from the bridge and hit the water. Veronica winces, Weevil exclaims in shock, and Logan starts shuffling his feet, trying to keep his balance. Personally, I don't know what they're all so worried about. I mean, I didn't see a collagen geyser erupt from the water, did you? The kid adds that the time stamp on the video shows a match with the time Lynn was alleged to have jumped. But the only person who could have supplied that time was White Trash Walking, right? Maybe she was telling the truth after all. Veronica warns the kid that this footage must never go public, and Weevil adds that if it does, the kid's movie will be a snuff film, with him as the lead. It's too bad those things are illegal -- it would be a great way to apply Darwinism to the acting world. Not to mention the fact that there would be few things more amusing than watching a guy calculate his SAG points right as he's eaten by a crocodile. Weevil spares a glance at his boy toy, and escorts the kid out. Without facing Logan, Veronica says she's sorry. Voice breaking, Logan says he is too. He walks out unsteadily as Veronica's phone rings. Once she sees who it is, she calls after Logan...
...and catches him outside, where she tells him that his mom's missing credit card was just used. Logan looks relieved in spite of himself.
Classroom. Clemmons enters and tells the class that Rooks resigned, and Clemmons will be taking over the class until a replacement is found. He's interrupted by Rooks, who marches in to grab his stuff. He pauses to stare at Veronica. Some posters wondered how he knew she was responsible for his downfall, but I think the combination of his awareness of her sleuthing ability combined with the fact that she's sitting to Carrie was enough to clue him in. Once he's left, Carrie gives Veronica a small but satisfied smile. Girl power!
Mars Investigations. Keith enters and sees Veronica, and they exchange a long, forgiving glance. Veronica tells Keith that Rooks resigned. Keith: "Honey, if I were in trouble, I'd want you on my side." Veronica: "Well, that's where I'd be." Well, I don't usually take my foreshadowing with insulin, but I'm open to new things every once in a while. Veronica says she'll be home for dinner. I doubt she'll be hungry, considering the meal she's about to make of a certain psychopath.
That's right, we're back at the prison, corn-pone accent dropped. A smiling, nasty Abel Koontz asks Veronica what she wants to know now. She tells him she just wants him to know what she knows, as she flashes him his medical records. In a manner steelier than we've ever seen from her before, which is saying a lot, she tells him he's dying, and that he knew that when he confessed: "You didn't kill Lilly Kane. You're just somebody's patsy." She slams the phone down before he can think of anything to say, and once again, someone besides Veronica goggles us into the credits.
Well, that was pretty awesome. It's nice not just that, in regard to the A-plot, Keith was right and Veronica was wrong, in a reversal from "Drinking The Kool-Aid." But the real point of interest is that the person who was right in both those instances was the one who didn't let prejudice cloud his or her judgment. In "Kool-Aid," Keith was worried about Veronica getting sucked into the evil cult, which colored his view of that situation. And in this episode, Veronica loved her teacher and hated his accuser, causing her to view some of the evidence with a jaundiced eye. They were both wrong, and I like that the show places such a premium on good detective work -- the clues are there, if you really care to examine them. Anyway.