Couch Baron
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Ahh, Mars Investigations, how I've missed you. The campaign posters littering the set that read "Keith Mars for Sheriff" only add to the warm feeling. Veronica is on the phone, learning that Meg has been released from ICU. She makes a note of the visiting hours and hangs up as a thirty-ish woman enters and says she needs to hire a detective. I think she might actually need to hire a lawyer to defend herself against doing a poor impression of Elle Woods. I mean, if you're going to wear that much pink, own it with a little dog and a pillbox hat. Veronica tells the woman Mars Investigations is not usually open on Sundays, but the woman (whose name we'll learn is Julie Bloch, which is a shout-out to yofietofie from the boards) says it's an emergency: she found an engagement ring in her boyfriend's gym bag, so she needs to have him investigated. Considering what she finds out later, she could have saved herself a lot of trouble by just having the ring appraised. Veronica offers to take down her information and relay it to Keith, so Julie says that her boyfriend's name is "Colin Nevin." Veronica says that the standard package includes a garden-variety background check, but that the premium package involves getting to know some of the bf's friends and "chat[ting] up an ex or two." So they charge more for the awkward. Julie says that she's afraid Colin is talking to an ex, since he lives off a trust fund and has a lot of free time. Considering Julie doesn't seem to have much to do other that sit around and obsess over her boyfriend's movements, I'd say that's the pot calling the kettle hot pink. Also, Julie's worrying that Colin doesn't have enough money for her when he's living the life of a trust-fund baby with no help from her makes little sense, so I'm guessing we're meant to think, from minute one, that Julie is totally irrational when it comes to her boyfriend. I can work with that. Veronica offers the "Silver Package," which is the premium package plus surveillance. Phone records, email monitoring -- "It's basically an all-access pass to what he's doing when you're not looking." Julie says she'll take it, and if that's the level of trust in her relationship, it's going to end badly one way or the other. I wonder if the "Gold Package" includes post-investigation therapy. Julie's phone rings, and she breezily tells Veronica that it's Colin, who thinks she's at yoga. Well, I can see where he thinks you could use one of the more meditative disciplines. Julie hands Veronica her card, and Veronica happily tells her that Keith will review her case.
Julie makes to go as the man in question enters. They shake hands, and after Julie leaves, Keith asks, "Jumpy fiance?" Veronica corrects him that she's only a potential fiance, and she practically handed Veronica a blank check. Keith rather sternly tells Veronica that she's supposed to be organizing the office, not soliciting clients, and he really needs that help, since with the campaign efforts, he can barely get to the cases he already has. Veronica offers to help, just with the little stuff: "Nothing that requires body armor." After last year, I'm surprised Keith hasn't mandated a body-armor uniform for his daughter, especially now that she's of age. It would just be more clothing for her to have to take off, if you get the implication. Keith stands firm and points out that Veronica already has a job, and Veronica grouses about her low tips not being enough to pay for Stanford. Keith says the Kane scholarship will be all she needs for college, so she should use her nights to study. Well, despite what happened last time, I suppose there are worse plans than relying on the Kanes' money. But given you're so into technology, Veronica, let me suggest a new-fangled way of collecting this time around: Wire. Transfer. Keith instructs Veronica to call Julie and tell her he can't take the case. Veronica sighs and picks up the phone, and Keith goes into the back to get coffee. Veronica turns a little too cheerful as she tells "Julie" that they can't take her case, but that she might want to try "Nick Harris Detectives," a name met with an approving nod from Keith, or, if she's looking locally, Vinnie Vanlowe. And even though Keith can't hear the dial tone coming from Veronica's phone, the mere mention of Vanlowe should be enough for him to smell a rat. And I'd be willing to bet Vanlowe's personal odor would help Keith along with that conclusion. VMVO tells us that the only way she'd make two grand in a week at the Hut "is if they installed a pole." Well, given whom the shop is punnily named after, maybe that's not actually too dim a prospect. VMVO goes on to say that Keith may be too busy for "Miss Brightside," but that Veronica thinks she can fit her in. Killer!
“ Lizzie says that if her parents read what's on Meg's computer, they'll pull the plug on her. I think that was meant as hyperbole, but I'm just guessing, because I would never employ it in a million years. ”
Veronica and Duncan are awoken by a knock on the door. Veronica blurts that it's her dad, so that the promo people have something misleading to work with. Duncan pulls on his pants and asks who it is; the answer is Lizzie. I wonder if she's wearing her schoolgirl uniform, especially given Duncan's thumbs-up on costumes. Veronica whispers the question of why she's there at 2 AM, and Duncan gives a shrug of confusion. Veronica hasn't been getting a whole lot of sleep lately. Duncan starts to close the bedroom door, and Veronica seethes that she has to hide in the bedroom "like a hooker." I guess it would be mean to point out that there's a certain dissimilarity between the events of her evening and those of a typical hooker. Maybe she wouldn't make that much working the pole after all. Duncan, with a frustrated look, closes the door, and I should point out that while Teddy Dunn doesn't have the flattest stomach, he certainly looks like he could bench quite a bit. No wonder his car took such a beating. Duncan pulls on his robe and opens the door, and Lizzie apologizes, but says she had nowhere else to go. I wonder if that's the story she gave the desk clerk, because I don't know how she got up to the expensive wing of the hotel at an odd hour without an announcement. Veronica listens as Lizzie tells Duncan that Meg's parents are going to Neptune High that morning to clean out Meg's locker, and produces a laptop on which Lizzie says Meg kept "everything." It's nice, by the way, to know that even in a town that class warfare is threatening to tear apart, everyone can agree that Apple computers are the way to go. Lizzie reminds Duncan about how nosy her parents are, which we happily know about from last year, and adds that whoever called from the school told her parents about the computer, so she can't simply hide it or hand it off to Duncan or anything. Also, she doesn't have the password (although it seems like she must have had Meg's locker combination to get her hands on the computer), so she wants Duncan to get Meg's personal stuff off her laptop: "You're the son of a computer visionary. Can't you do something?" Duncan: "I can burn a CD." Heh. Lizzie says that if her parents read what's on Meg's computer, they'll pull the plug on her. I think that was meant as hyperbole, but I'm just guessing, because I would never employ it in a million years. Lizzie asks if she can use the bathroom, and before Duncan can stop her, she's opened the bedroom doors and found Veronica. Veronica, off Lizzie's glare: "Okay, so apparently looks really can't kill." Hee. Lizzie heatedly asks if Veronica heard her conversation with Duncan, and Veronica admits she did, but says she knows someone who can help.
And just like that, Mac is in the room, typing away at the computer and saying she hasn't sneaked out of her house at 3 AM in a while: "Nice to know I still have the chops." Is she referring to the chops needed to hack into a computer, or to climb down the trellis without being heard? Because they're both incredibly useful skills. Mac looks a lot more grown-up here, with jet-black hair and a more mature-looking face, although the ends of her hair are still dyed blue. Mac gets into the hard drive and copies Meg's email onto a JumpDrive. Props to Demian for pointing out that, in his words, "The Foul JumpDrive Of Wicked Temptation was green." Nice. Mac asks if it goes to Duncan, and he fakes a measure of indecision as he says he guesses so, and Veronica looks a little concerned by the seeming understanding between them. Nice work from Majorino and Dunn there. We need more Mac, and you know I'm not talking about product placement here.
“ Logan says the party was in the dead students' honor. I'm sure they'd be thrilled to know that the toasts to their memory came in the form of keg stands. ”
Mars Investigations. Keith, buried under a stack of papers, takes a call from a client and informs him his wife is having an affair. Only he's got the wrong client, so he gets the right file while TELLING THIS CLIENT WHO THE OTHER CLIENT WITH THE PHILANDERING WIFE IS. Looks like he's misfiled his professional ethics as well. He passes on the relevant information to his client that his uncle is living in a retirement home in Waikiki. We don't get to hear the client ask how many other people Keith told.
Chez Mars. Keith enters Veronica's room and, after a pregnant pause, tells her he could use her help around the office. Veronica makes an adorable "car skidding to a halt" noise, and asks Keith to repeat that. Keith doesn't, nor does he tell Veronica what prompted his change of heart, but he does mention that he's just talking about research, filing, and phone help a couple days a week, and that she's keeping her job at the Hut. Veronica says she'll need a raise, like that's going to happen with the set budget suddenly spiraling out of control. Also, considering how eager she is to accept this offer, that whole "normal life" kick she was on in the premiere seems even more like bullshit. VMVO says that, since talking to Weevil, she's been dying to track down the anonymous caller. She plugs in the number and comes up with Haaron Echolls. Props to depudor for noticing that Haaron's birthday is the same day of the phone call. We barely have time for a DUN...
...and we're at school, where Veronica waits until Logan appears. Patience is a virtue, as the forum posters will no doubt tell you. Logan makes a joke about how he'll have sex with Veronica just this once, but that there will be no cuddling after and he won't call her in the morning. If you want a girl to accept a pitch like that, you probably shouldn't make your enormous pit stains so incredibly obvious. Veronica accusingly asks him about the phone call. Logan twirls an imaginary moustache as he intones, "My day is complete. Veronica Mars has accused me of evil." Heh. He goes on in a "what the hell are you talking about" vein, but does recognize the connection with The Long Haul, and also realizes that September 24th is the day he threw the party that 09er bitch mentioned to Veronica, which had the theme "Life's Short." Veronica sardonically notes how touching that is, but Logan, tiring of this game, says it was in the dead students' honor. I'm sure they'd be thrilled to know that the toasts to their memory came in the form of keg stands. Logan adds that Weevil and a bunch of his pals crashed the party. I wonder if a certain second earring might be somewhere in the pool house. That is, if they didn't light it on fire. Also, Lamb and some deputies came to break the party up, "or at least collect the kegs." Hee. Lamb must do a lot of cardio to work off all the free beer he confiscates. Veronica says that there are five numbers registered to the Echolls family, but that she doesn't recognize this one. Logan looks at his nonexistent watch, shows his wrist to Veronica, and leaves. I don't need a watch to tell him it's time for a dry shirt.
Mars Investigations. Keith has what looks like Alicia's birth certificate in front of him, which lists her name as "Cherie Parker Saunders." He's on the phone trying to get some information from someone, and from the way his chin suddenly hits the desk, I'd say he gets it.
A bare-armed (nice delts, Percy!) Wallace is working on his car when Woods appears. He shows Wallace a picture of himself and Alicia, and from her hairstyle and headband, I'd say there's more to that "Cher" nickname than mere coincidence. Wallace asks if he's supposed to know him, and Woods says he sure is: "I'm your father." We cut to black before Wallace has the chance to search his feelings and know it to be true.
week: a psychic gives Veronica some information about the bus crash. All signs point to kick-ass.