Veronica Mars deleted scene from S03E20

[vanessagalore]

From the DVD extra.

ROB THOMAS: "I hated losing this scene, and I mean hated losing this scene.  I think it's a really important scene, and, at the end of the day, we came down to cutting one of two scenes from this final episode to get down to time.  We were either going to cut this scene or the scene where Veronica and Piz get heckled by a boy in the food court, and, in a way, this scene with Leo was more essential to plot, and yet, the scene with Veronica and Piz was more essential in terms of character and understanding, the difference between the way Piz handles that sort of situation and the way Logan handles that sort of situation of confrontation.  I really missed this scene, and it's probably strange for viewers who watch the episode and wonder, "Was Deputy Leo just brought in to run and fetch the piece of evidence from the evidence room?"  No, he was brought in for this scene.  The performances are terrific, and the moment is important.  We just couldn't fit it in the episode."

 

DELETED SCENE from 3.20, "The Bitch Is Back": "WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING, BLONDIE"

 

Veronica, looking annoyed as is her wont in Season 3 ('Man, freshman year REALLY sucked balls'), walks into the sheriff's department, and runs straight into Deputy Leo D'Amato, who apparently has nothing better to do.

 

LEO: Watch where you're going, Blondie.

VERONICA: [Ruefully]  Damn women drivers!

 

She makes a face; there is a pause, and she sees something is up with Leo.  [Veronica is perhaps thinking, "What did I ever see in this guy?  Piz=upgrade."  Or perhaps not.  Subtext!!]

 

LEO: [Hesitant]  Glad you're here, uh, I want to talk to you.

 

He motions to Veronica to follow him, and he leads her to a more private area of the department.  He leans against the wall and tries to look hot, yet sensitive; however, the uniform is clearly not a tearaway.

 

LEO: [Sighs loudly]  This is a little, uh....You know I care about you, Veronica.

VERONICA: [Realization dawning on Veronica's face]  Oh god.

LEO: I've got friends at Hearst.

VERONICA: [Anxiously]  You cannot tell my dad.  Under any circumstances.  I'm serious, it'll kill him, and if it doesn't, he'll track down the person responsible and kill them.

LEO: [Shaking his head in understanding]  I won't say anything.  I promise.

 

Veronica nods, perhaps more in shock than anything else.  She turns away, and we see her embarrassment and worry.  She sighs loudly and keeps walking, determination taking hold as always.  Leo watches and tries to conceal his woody by keeping his hands in his pockets.  Oh yeah, it's also kind of a bad hair day for Kristen.  But her face is flawless as always.

 

 

TRANSCRIBER'S COMMENTARY:  How much you want to bet Dawn Ostroff or Joel Silver or someone else higher up than Rob called him up and said, "Lose the scene with Leo.  For chrissakes, let Logan and Veronica have a look at least.  Point out that Piz is a sappy douche, and Logan's fucking awesome.  Are you trying to piss off the fans?  We've got DVDs to sell!"  And, reluctantly, Rob made the change.

 

Sorry, I'm usually a huge fan of RT and his writing.  But his commentary on this disc REALLY PISSED ME OFF.

 

 

TRANSCRIBER'S ANALYSIS:  I'm not sure I really understand how this scene is 'essential to the plot'.  It would help to know exactly where it was supposed to be in the episode.  I'm guessing it was supposed to be right before this scene in Keith's office at the sheriff's department:

 

Veronica walks into Keith's office carrying a uniform.

 

VERONICA: You look okay to me. Was this wardrobe change more of an olfactory issue?

Keith stands up to reveal that [ew!] he has no pants on.

 

KEITH: You tell me. [Keith takes the uniform and begins to dress.]  I dropped my salad. You can't really get vinaigrette out with a wet paper towel. They’re doing an article on me for the Neptune Register.

 

Veronica belatedly closes the door, after the entire sheriff's department has already seen Keith's state of undress.

 

KEITH: The interview's in a couple of days, but they've got a photographer due here any minute.

VERONICA: [sarcastically]  And you thought a photo of you in your boxers would hurt your lead in the polls?

KEITH: With clean pants, it's a smooth cruise into victory.

VERONICA: Hah!  And what a beautiful day that will be for Mars, the family; Neptune, the town; Milky Way, the galaxy. [in a tone of mock rapture]  Sun will be shining. Birds will be singing. There'll be dancing in the streets. So smile pretty.

 

Veronica exits the office with a smile, but she is perhaps crying on the inside [although it might just be gas from that day's lasagna at craft services].

 

TRANSCRIBER'S ANALYSIS (cont'd):  So now we see that Veronica's motivations in sending Wallace on his mission to out the Castle were also to conceal the tape's existence from her dad, and possibly to prevent its being used to damage Keith's campaign.  (I guess.)  Veronica decides to solve this all on her own; she is unerringly led to commit the crime of breaking into the Kane mansion and stealing the hard drive, which ironically ensures her father's defeat in the election.  Whew, more noir.  I can barely stand it!

 

And Keith "dropped the salad".  Is that a sex term VanessaGalore hasn't heard yet?  Please enlighten me.  Although I have to say, I'm a little scared what it might mean.  You know what, I think I want to remain blissfully ignorant on this one.

 

As always, thanks to Inigo for her transcripts at vm-transcripts.com, although I may have punched them up a wee bit.