In other news, local businessman, Joe McGrath,
has declared his candidacy in Littlefield's troubled mayoral race
against incumbent, Mayor Putnam.
We go live to Bill Thord
with Mr. McGrath at the ribbon cutting ceremony
of Amos Littlefield dog park.
Thanks, Amy.
-(TRUMPETING) -(EXCLAIMS IN FEAR)
(CROWD APPLAUDS)
-Mr. McGrath... -(EXCLAIMS)
...why are you running for Mayor of Littlefield?
Aren't you worried about being scared off like the other candidates,
by this so called ghost.
Ghost?
No! That... That... That's just silly. I'm not worried.
-Like so many of you, -(EAGLE SHRIEKS)
I want to give back to the town
-that's given me so much. -(DOG BARKS)
-I'm not gonna let anything... -(CAT YOWLS)
-...scare me away from my civic duty. -(CAR HORN HONKS)
I'm really here to bring Littlefield together.
(WHIMPERING)
And so,
in the spirit of Amos Littlefield,
I hereby declare this dog park...
(CROWD GASPS)
Hmm?
Ahhh!
(CROWD SCREAMS)
(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)
SCOOBY-DOO: Scooby-Dooby-Doo!
-There it is. -(TIRES SCREECHING)
FRED: Violet Oberon, "Alone by myself in isolation".
Kinda depressing.
And redundant.
Violet won a grant from the Blake Arts foundation.
Apparently some cities don't do much to help their local artists.
Based on how you described your family,
it seems strange they'd give money to help the arts.
Oh, yeah.
Mother assumed "Help the arts" meant helping people named Art.
She thinks they have it rough for some reason.
Genius use of color...
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
-I don't get it. -Me neither.
But that's how you know it's good art.
Seriously? The only way these paintings could be more obvious and literal
would be if she had a sign that "These paintings represent me being alone,"
which she does, right over there.
(CHUCKLES) Velma, this is Violet Oberon,
Littlefield's artist in residence.
This is all her art.
What Velma meant to say was, uh, Velma?
I suppose I could've use heavy-handed instead of obvious.
No, obvious is correct.
So, like, what do you think of this?
Whimsical, yet slightly derivative.
This pastry is a study in balance.
Flaky but tender.
The filling's sweet but without overwhelming the whole. Hmm!
Well, I guess some people don't really understand my work,
but that's the price I pay for being the only artist in Littlefield.
Why are you the only artist?
Mayor Putnam and his yes man, Mr. Heaton,
have always vetoed funding bills for arts and music.
But here is the man who's going to change all that.
-Joe McGrath! -Huh!
-What's on the campaign agenda for tonight? -(MAN COUGHS)
-(EXCLAIMING) -Ahhh!
I'm... I'm withdrawing from the mayor's race.
But why?
Everyone involved in the arts, i.e. me, needs your support.
Candidates are being attacked by the ghost of the city's founder, Amos Littlefield.
If I'm no longer a candidate, no ghost attacks me. It's win-win.
A ghost?
A ghost sabotaging the democratic electoral process is not a mandate
for someone's political ideology.
Man, I wish I said that.
But you, if you believe that so strongly, you should run.
Someone's got to take Putman down.
That's it.
If the ghost is after candidates,
we can draw him out by running our own candidate.
Huh! Well, sure. I'll give it a shot.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,
whoa.
Isn't Velma a little too... Tactless is the wrong word...
Unlikeable. That's the wrong word.
Doesn't realize she comes off as a condescending know-it-all
who would totally turn off all the voters.
Okay, a lot of wrong words in there.
Velma-ey! That's it. She's Velma-ey.
Uh, guys, it doesn't matter, she's not really running for Mayor.
It's just to bait the ghost.
Uh, but hang on, Fred.
Okay, Velma, the only way this will work is if I'm your campaign manager.
Deal.
Oh, boy.
You guys are free to use my campaign headquarters.
Thanks Mr. McGrath.
What's going on?
Oh, Velma's gonna run for Mayor.
Can you two make some professional-looking campaign posters and banners?
Unlikely, but we'll sort of fake it okay.
I lack opposable thumbs.
And now it's time for a total candidate makeover!
How's this? (READING)
Pithy, heh. How about this one?
(READING)
(LAUGHING) Honest and topical.
(GROWLING)
Gesundheit.
Huh?
Hey, Scoob, you got the scissor somewhere?
Oh, wait. Found them.
(GROWLS)
Thank you.
Just needs glitter.
People always vote for the sparkliest candidate.
Politics is easy.
(COUGHING)
There, barely acceptable.
As promised.
(DOOR SLAMS)
(GRUNTS)
(PLAYING TUBA)
(STOPS)
(CONTINUES PLAYING)
(STOPS)
(CONTINUES PLAYING)
(MIC FEEDBACKING)
That was...
(CONTINUES PLAYING)
(CROWD APPLAUDS)
Uh, that was our official town anthem,
"Oh, Littlefield, we love thee and hope our founder doesn't return from the grave,"
by Littlefield's tuba laureate
and only musician, Violet Oberon.
(CROWD APPLAUDS)
Thank you.
-MAN: Mr. McGrath? -Huh!
Why have you called this press conference?
Is it to announce that you are withdrawing from the mayor's race?
(CLEARS THROAT)
Well...
I'll field this one, Joe.
Had Joe McGrath been allowed to answer this question,
he would have said he's endorsing a new candidate.
A candidate willing to challenge Mayor Putnam on the issues.
One who won't be intimidated by supernatural threats.
Ladies and gentlemen, your next Mayor,
the fearless, unstoppable Velma Dinkley.
VELMA: Oh...
(GRUNTS)
VELMA: Stupid paper.
(GRUNTS)
MAN: Velma, who?
Hello. My name is Velma Dinkley,
and I am here to announce that I am running for Mayor of Littlefield.
(MAN COUGHS)
I know you have been living in fear.
But let me assure you,
no supernatural spirit is going to scare me away.
I may not have much experience with politics,
-but I do have plenty of experience with... -The ghost!
Yes, exactly.
I do have a lot of experience with...
-Huh? -(GROWLING)
ALL: The ghost of Amos Littlefield!
I'll handle this, Velma.
Run!
(ALL SCREAMING)
-(SCREAMING) -(GROWLING)
I think that went well.
Yeah. Congratulations, Velma.
You're a viable candidate.
The ghost of Amos Littlefield hates you.
But you got the coward vote in the bag.
Win the yellow states.
Split up.
(GROWLING)
Like, shouldn't the ghost be chasing after the candidate?
I demand a recount!
(PANTING)
(GROWLING)
Like, there you are. You're late for your watch.
(GRUNTS)
Our spies let us know the Redcoat attack
is supposed to happen this very night.
You'd better get to your look-out post
before Lieutenant Colonel... Uh-oh. Too late.
As you were.
Now remember, Corporal.
If you see the enemy, don't forget our warning system.
-One, if by land. -Two, if by sea.
Three, if by land and sea.
Four, if by hoverboard.
(GRUNTS)
Okay, soldier, this here is your post.
Make sure you keep a look out until you see the whites of their eyes.
(GROWLING)
(PANTING)
Well, the polling numbers are in,
and people really seemed to respond positively
when Velma said the ghost wouldn't scare her away.
Then the numbers start to drop about here,
when the ghost scared her away.
So, now we need a way to show people I'm not dropping out of the race.
Some big event where I finally challenge Mayor Putnam on the real issues.
BOTH: Pancakes!
Pancakes?
Like, yeah. The best way to get a bunch of people on your side
is free pancakes.
A pancake-social.
Shaggy, Scooby, that's brilliant!
And self-serving all at once.
We try.
If there's a problem pancakes can't fix, I haven't found it.
And this time, when old Amos Littlefield shows up,
we'll be ready for him.
Vote for Velma! Vote for Velma!
(VELMA READING)
That sounds like my name is Velma Pancakes.
Exactly!
Everyone loves pancakes.
Soon, everyone will love you, like pancakes.
Hearts and minds, Velma. Hearts and minds.
And stomachs.
Check it out.
Velma cakes.
That's me, in breakfast food.
Yep.
For those of you who've always dreamt
of pouring maple syrup on someone with a 190 I.Q.,
this day is for you!
It's even more fulfilling than I imagined.
Playing the pancake card.
I had no idea she was so politically astute.
That Dinkley girl is going to be trouble.
(CHOMPING)
So, like, Scooby-Doo,
how do you think Velma stacks up
against the other opponents?
Let's find out.
-(LOUD MUSIC PLAYING) -Yikes!
Oh, no!
That dog.
-Gee thanks, mister. -(CAMERA CLICKS)
Uh-oh.
What a nice young man.
(CROWD CHEERING)
That patriotic, down-to-earth citizen perfectly represents my own values.
I vote for whoever he's voting for.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, our very own Scooby-Doo.
So, Scooby, who do you want to be Littlefield's next Mayor?
Um... Velma?
That's right!
Ladies and gentlemen, your favorite pancake-loving dog's choice for Mayor,
Velma Dinkley!
-(CROWD CHEERS) -CROWD: Oh...
Hello. I will not be frightened away,
from helping this town move into the future.
I know I ran away last time, but never again!
I am fully committed
to stand...
FRED: Okay, Amos Littlefield,
where are you?
He usually attacks before a candidate gets this far in their speech.
...who doesn't have your best interest in mind.
(GASPS) Oh, no.
Uh...
Clearly, the fact that you actually believe Violet Oberon's work
is insightful and profound is a direct result of bad legislation
that cuts art funding, leaving the public culturally ignorant.
(CROWD BOOING)
Velma, what are you doing?
I'm just being truthful.
Don't people wanna hear the truth?
No, never, not once in the entire history of mankind, ever.
(LAUGHING) We're having some technical difficulties, but...
But now enjoy a poem by Littlefield's one and only poet laureate,
Violet Oberon.
Littlefield.
Littlefield, a little field.
A small meadow. A tiny lawn.
I don't understand why they turned on me.
People should be happy to hear real facts
so they can make informed choices.
I can fix this. We'll, just say you mis-truthed.
That's not a word.
Guys, you're missing the point.
The real problem here is why the ghost of Amos Littlefield didn't attack.
Maybe the ghost could only attack candidates that could actually win.
Telling the truth. Rookie mistake.
Thanks for handing me the election.
Hmm... Isn't it strange that the only candidate
the ghost hasn't attacked is Mayor Putnam.
I think it's time we paid a visit to City Hall.
This is it, the Mayor's office.
Keep your eyes peeled for clues.
(DOOR CREAKING)
Okay, let's try it again, Velma.
Remember, it's not about not telling the truth.
It's about being diplomatic.
Hey, Velma.
So, what do you think of my new hat?
It looks absolutely ridiculous.
Scooby...
It just screams Daphne.
Oh, thank you.
See? Okay, how about this?
Look, Velma, I just spent a small fortune on this lamp. What do you think?
I think you wasted money on an ugly lamp.
Scooby...
A dazzling conversation piece.
See? Diplomacy and tact.
Argh! I can't do this.
I'm a woman of science.
I know one plus one equals two.
And if that hurts your feelings,
I'm not the one with the problem.
(CLEARS THROAT) It doesn't matter.
Uh, guys, I hate to get off-topic here,
and by off-topic, I mean
on-topic, specifically the mystery we're trying to solve,
but I think I found something here.
This is a bill that the city council's introducing
for more arts funding in Littlefield.
It looks like Mayor Putnam is planning on vetoing it if he's re-elected.
(ALL GASPING)
Uh, can I help you?
Yes, uh, there you are.
We wanted to challenge you to a public debate.
A debate. I assumed that Miss Dinkley dropped out of the race
after managing to alienate the entire population.
Mr. Mayor, this is a waste of time.
What, are you afraid you can't win in a fair fight?
If your idea of a fair fight is a debate between a three-term elected official
and the most hated woman in Littlefield,
then sure, I accept your challenge.
Oh, wow, really?
Did not see that one coming.
A public debate?
Are you out of your mind?
I'm sorry, it was the first thing that popped into my head.
It doesn't matter. We're not having the debate.
The ghost has clearly lost interest in Velma as a candidate.
(WIND BLOWING)
We are back in the game, baby!
(SCREAMING)
Run!
(SCREAMING)
(TIRES SCREECHING)
FRED: Vote for Velma! Vote for Velma!
♪ I wanna come another day
♪ With all the things you've thrown my way
♪ You plead your innocence like it's your last chance
♪ Hoping I might let you stay
♪ But I am sorry, I am sorry!
♪ I don't wanna be your back-up plan
♪ I don't wanna be the lesser man
♪ I don't wanna be your fall back
♪ I don't wanna be your comeback, girl
♪ I don't wanna be your back-up plan
♪ You walk right into another's arms
♪ Hoping you will find where you belong ♪
While I admire your competitive sense of duty
to help Littlefield by making sure the best candidate wins,
I'd like to remind you
we don't live in Littlefield,
and the only reason anybody entered this stupid election
was to solve the mystery,
which we've completely failed to do.
And I guess I got so caught up in trying to do some good here
that I completely lost sight of what good I was supposed to be doing.
(SIGHS) I'm sorry, Fred, you're right.
I guess I'm not immune to the old Blake family tendency to, you know,
go completely mad with power
while altering the very fabric of history from the shadows.
Wait! Daphne, that's it.
That's the solution to this mystery!
And the only way to trap this ghost is to win back the voters with the truth.
Here we go again.
Uh... Like, Velma?
No offense, but I don't think the truth's been working for you.
That's because I was trying to win an election.
This time, I'm trying to solve a mystery.
(CROWD APPLAUDS)
Hello and good evening.
Welcome to Littlefield's mayoral debate
between our two candidates,
Mayor Perry Putnam,
and candidate, Velma Dinkley.
Miss Dinkley,
do you regret saying Littlefield is a dump
filled with cultural ignorance?
Yes, Bill, I...
Mis-truthed.
What I meant to say,
and what I believe the good people of Littlefield really need to hear,
is the real truth.
ALL: Hmm?
A truth so profound, it speaks to the core of every individual citizen
that comprises this great town.
And that truth is...
I like pancakes!
(CROWD CHEERING)
Okay, that's enough of this.
The Mayor will no longer be involved in this circus.
That's my girl.
Bring it on, Amos Littlefield.
(NEIGHING)
(GRUNTING)
(GROWLING)
(NEIGHING)
(GRUNTS)
Littlefield, allow us to paint the picture.
ALL: Violet Oberon!
Violet? But, why would she want Putnam to win?
She hates what he stands for.
-(PUTNAM SNARLING) -That's what she wanted you to think.
Violet acted like her position as the only professional creative person
in Littlefield was a burden.
But the truth is, she relished her unique situation.
She was the only game in town who was making a killing
selling her bad art and having no competition for art grants.
Violet knew Joe McGrath as well as other candidates
running against Mayor Putnam would support measures
to fund the arts in Littlefield,
which would mean more artists and more competition.
As an artist, Violet had the experience needed
to create a realistic ghost costume of Amos Littlefield
to scare off Putnam's challengers.
At first, when Violet thought I could possibly be a threat to Putnam's re-election,
she tried to scare me as well.
Then when I lost the crowd's support at the pancake social,
she didn't need to risk coming out as the ghost again
because she knew I couldn't win.
When we found a new bill that would fund the arts at Littlefield
in Mayor Putnam's office,
we realized Violet wanted to keep him in office for one reason,
because he wanted to Veto the arts funding bill.
As much as I disagree with his politics,
Mayor Putnam had no idea what Violet was up to.
But this was never about politics,
it was about greed.
If Putnam won, Violet could keep creating and selling her art with no competition,
essentially cornering the market.
No, wait. You've got it all wrong.
It's me Violet, Littlefield's artist.
Don't you get it? This was just a big performance art piece.
I call it "Me alone with meddling kids."
So, ta-da.
(CROWD GROANS)
Take her away.
(CHANTING) Mayor Velma! Mayor Velma!
Thank you, everyone,
but I am withdrawing from the campaign, effective immediately.
But I am endorsing someone that the town can believe in.
The local lover of all things Littlefield,
Joe McGrath.
-Hmm? Ha-ha! -(CROWD CHEERING)
(SCOFFS)
So, Velma, you don't have any regrets about giving up
all that political power?
Nah! Though,
I guess it would have been kind of fun to declare martial law.
Scooby-Doo... Wait, what?