Duncan, meanwhile, is being pushed to move on with his life after his sister’s murder, but appears uninterested, despite offers of a summer internship in Washington. It is revealed that Duncan has been on anti-depressants for the last six months at his mother’s urging. Despite a lecture from his mother, Duncan drops his pill down the sink. Later, at dinner, Duncan interrupts the usual argument between his parents about his future with erratic, passive-aggressive behavior.

Justin, at his video store job, makes enthusiastic recommendations to his customers, including a friendly middle-aged lady and the Marses. Justin inquires about a personal matter regarding their PI jobs, and Veronica tells him to find her at school the next day. Meeting in the girl’s bathroom (to Duncan and Logan’s amusement), Justin asks Veronica to help him find his father, who left the family eight years ago. Unfortunately, Justin is not able to provide a photo, or a last known address, or any identifying information, except for his name: John Smith.

Keith apprehensively meets with Veronica’s guidance counselor to discuss the changes in Veronica over the last year: she’s late more often, her attitude towards teachers has worsened, she falls asleep in class, and she’s become socially isolated. The counselor is willing to talk to Veronica about her problems, but Keith tells her he’ll take care of it herself and walks out on the appointment.

Back with his friends, Justin boasts about his meeting with Veronica Mars. His friend points out that Justin’s father died seven years ago, which Justin thinks is going to add up to a whole lot of meetings. Veronica and Wallace, meanwhile, are sending out letters in an attempt to reach the (dead) father in question. Veronica convinces Wallace to “borrow” her permanent file to try and figure out what Keith and her counselor are talking about. Veronica gets a mix CD from Justin for her troubles; all Wallace gets is sent to dig up Justin’s permanent file.

Veronica and Troy date, which goes well for the most part but ends chastely. Veronica continues to worry about what holds her back from the relationship, and continues to fantasize about Duncan, who coincidentally is also fantasizing about her while still off his medication.

Veronica finds out about the death of John Smith and angrily confronts Justin, and tries to charge him for postage, but Justin receives contact from his father; Veronica’s letter trick worked. Veronica is still angry about having been lied to, but Justin apologizes later, and says his mother told him his father was dead so he wouldn’t try to find out the truth. Veronica agrees to take a look at the letter. Keith, overhearing their conversation, realizes the connection between Veronica’s interest in the case and her own missing parent. He tells Veronica not to think of her mother as the bad guy in the split, but she already does, plus she’s tracked down her mother on her own to boot.

Logan and Duncan’s groups are sitting in the bleachers, watching lacrosse practice and drinking. Some ordinary roughhousing leads to one of the kids jumping off the end of the bleachers onto some padded mats, which leads to an increasingly-erratic Duncan seeing Troy and Veronica kiss near where his friend landed, which leads to Duncan somersaulting off the end of the bleachers and nearly killing himself. Veronica hauls him off to the hospital, leaving Troy behind. In the car, Duncan wants to reminisce, but Veronica is cold to him and leaves the hospital as soon as Jake shows up to see his son. Duncan asks the doctor about going off his medication, and the doctor warns him of nausea and hallucinations.

Keith goes back to the counselor’s office to apologize for their earlier meeting, and admits that he is probably not properly equipped to help Veronica. Later, they meet coincidentally at a coffee shop and strike up a conversation.

Veronica goes to San Diego to do some recon on possible John Smiths. She comes back with three possibilities, but only one triggers any kind of familiarity: a bald, sunglasses-wearing man Veronica followed “from the junkyard to the pawn shop to the racetrack.” Justin asks to come along for more surveillance so he can confirm it’s his father. Veronica reluctantly agrees. They track their suspect to a nude bar, where Justin makes contact with the man, but seeing him up close, Justin doesn’t recognize him. However, Veronica finds some handwriting in his car that matches the letter Justin received earlier.

At home, Duncan begins hallucinating a bloody Lilly Kane talking to her. The hallucinatory Lilly wonders about her murder and tells Duncan the circumstances don’t add up and that deep down, he knows it. Shaken, Duncan resumes taking his medication (and ignoring Veronica) the next day.

Veronica and Justin track the potential John Smith to his home in the suburbs of San Diego. Veronica checks out the house and breaks into the garage, but is caught by the home’s occupant, a parole officer who denies having a son when Veronica asks him. Meanwhile, a car pulls into the garage–it’s the woman from the video store. John Smith is now Julia Smith, checking in on Justin through the video store. Justin is upset (to say the least) about the deception and leaves. On the way home, Veronica points out that Justin’s father had to drive ninety miles each way just to see his son for a few seconds each week. Eventually, Justin decides to make contact with his father again.

Later, she decides that if Lianne doesn’t care enough about her daughter to come see her, her daughter is going to go see her. Heading out to an Arizona trailer park, Veronica thinks she’s found her mother, but only finds an old college friend who claims Lianne left weeks ago to avoid her father. Veronica leaves, upset, and visits Troy when she gets home.

Watch Veronica Mars

• Watch Veronica Mars Episode 20: The Bitch is Back
• Watch Veronica Mars Episode 19: Weevils Wobble But They Dont Go Down
• Watch Veronica Mars Episode 18: I Know What Youll Do Next Summer
• Watch Veronica Mars Episode 16: Un-American Graffiti
• Watch Veronica Mars Episode 15: Papas Cabin