(TICKING)
Hmm?
WOMAN: "Good boys neatly hang their clothes in the closet"?
Huh.
(DOOR CLOSES)
(TICKING)
That noise again.
WOMAN: "Good boys don't wear their shoes in bed?"
Jeez, what is it with this place?
WOMAN: "Good boys use coasters."
Well, I'm not a boy and I don't see any coasters.
In other news...
(TICKING)
What is that noise?
(TICKING CONTINUES)
(FAUCET DRIPPING)
(PHONE RINGING)
-RECEPTIONIST: Front desk. -Yes, hi.
This is Mrs. Warwick in room 1227.
I hate to be a bother but there's this repetitive ticking noise
coming from somewhere inside my room and I can't make it go away.
Do you happen to see any signs around the room marked
with rules regarding your stay here?
Well, yes, there are a few signs.
Mmm-hmm. And did you happen to break any of the rules
indicated on those signs?
There might have been something about a coaster.
Oh, that's a real shame.
I'm afraid I won't be of any service to you.
(DIAL TONE)
"Won't be of any..." What? Wait, um, hello? Hello?
Hello? (DIALING NUMBER)
Hello, front desk? Hello?
(GASPS)
(SCREAMS)
(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)
(CHOMPING)
Shaggy, Scooby.
Uh-huh?
Isn't that the third sandwich you've consumed in the last hour?
Indeed.
And as I recall, did you not also have a large breakfast?
-Yep. -A late lunch?
You know it.
And an early dinner?
No.
Wait, yes.
Well, why are you still eating?
You can't possibly still be hungry!
We're always hungry.
Our appetites are like muscles,
the more we work them out, the stronger they get.
(SIGHS) You know, guys,
self-control is actually an admirable quality.
Fred, isn't it ironic that you accuse Shaggy and Scooby
of having no self-control but you, yourself can't even control being controlling.
She has a point.
What are you doing?
It's feng shui.
The ancient Chinese philosophical system
used to harmonize one's environment.
I'm trying to create a flow of energy conducive to health
and well-being in the Mystery Machine.
I can feel it.
The power.
I can't.
Un-shui it! I prefer the van exactly as I had it.
Wow, Fred. When you consider
all the forces in the universe over which you have absolutely no control,
your constant attempt to control everything must be exhausting.
Guys, I am not controlling.
(ALL LAUGHING)
What? Stop that.
And no more laughing! Ever.
Like, all right, Fred.
If you can make it one night...
One night.
...without telling any of us what to do...
Or what not to do.
...we won't call you controlling ever again.
Challenge accepted.
(BEEPING)
Uh-oh, guys. Weather warning. Major snowstorm ahead.
To be safe, we should stop at the nearest hotel and wait it out.
No way, Velma. I've got this situation under control.
Now, what we should do is...
Uh, right. Right...
Hey, hi there.
My friends and I are seeking a suite for the night while the storm passes.
Do you happen to have any rooms available?
As you can probably tell, it's really coming down outside.
So, if... Um... You...
(SNAPS FINGER)
He wants you to read that sign.
FRED: (READING) "Good boys ring the bell for service."
-Huh. -(BELL CHIMING)
-Hello. -(ALL GASP)
Welcome to the Good Son Inn. I'm Jack Stanley.
Oh, are you the owner?
Yes. When Mother passed away, she left the hotel for me to run.
Please sign the registry.
Oh, no. The black pen.
Hmm. Slow night, I see.
Just us and Mrs. Warwick?
-Not anymore. -(ALL GASP)
She left.
Everybody leaves.
This is Reggie, our caretaker.
(SNARLS)
Excuse me, Mr. Stanley,
but what could possibly have caused one of your guests
to wanna leave and go outside in this weather?
-Mother, of course. -Hmm?
Mrs. Warwick broke the rules and Mother is very particular about her rules.
Hah. Sounds like the guy who drives our van.
Ah, thank you for that, Daphne. Didn't you say that...
Your mother is no longer with us?
Oh, Mother is always with us.
JACK: Always watching.
Oh, but don't worry. I'm sure you won't have any trouble.
We've placed friendly reminders of her rules everywhere.
Supper is at 7:00.
FRED: I've never been so confident to say,
this sounds like a mystery.
-(DAPHNE GRUNTING) -There's definitely something unsettling about this place.
All right, let's split up and look for...
I mean...
What do you guys wanna do?
Well, I need to finish rearranging this room post haste.
Get the right energy flowing.
That's really gonna be helpful.
Yes.
That will be really helpful.
And we should go down and check on supper.
Because solving mysteries on an empty stomach...
...is bad.
Bad.
Right, good idea.
Velma, voice of reason. Mi compadre, what say you?
-Actually... -(FRED GRIMACES)
This book I'm reading about the history of this hotel is pretty fascinating.
Could provide us with clues.
No, it won't! (GASPS)
What's the matter, Fred? Is this difficult for you,
not being in control?
Sitting...
Reading...
(SCREAMS NERVOUSLY) "A book."
(LAUGHS NERVOUSLY)
(BANGING)
I'm okay.
(ELEVATOR DINGS)
(SHAGGY HUMMING)
Oh, like, I think we're early. But maybe there's some pre-dinner snacks.
Look.
Dessert!
-Wait. Rule. -Hmm?
(READING) "Good boys eat their vegetables before dessert."
Huh. Well, I don't see Creepy McRulebook around...
-Dig in. -(BOTH CHOMPING)
(TICKING)
Uh, Scoob. Are you about to go off?
Hmm? It's not me.
(TICKING CONTINUES)
(GASPS)
-(PLATE SHATTERS) -Uh...
(LAUGHS NERVOUSLY) Like, we already ate our vegetables.
SCOOBY: (READING) "Good boys don't lie."
But fast ones do.
(BOTH EXCLAIMING)
(BOTH SCREAM)
(ELEVATOR DINGS)
(BOTH SCREAMING)
BOTH: Ghost hand!
(LAUGHING NERVOUSLY)
Huh?
Evening, ma'am.
Floor, please?
(GHOST GROWLS)
She's not buying it.
That's never happened before.
We're trapped!
The stakes could not be higher!
(GROWLS)
-Quick, do something! -I'm pressing buttons.
Press a different button!
-(BEEPING) -(CABLE SNAPS)
We're going down!
You're telling me.
(GRUNTS)
(SCREAMING)
SHAGGY: We have got to work on our material!
(IMITATES DAPHNE) "Is this difficult for you, Fred?"
I'm not in control.
I'm in control of me.
Wave your arms, Fred.
(BABBLING)
Wiggle your hips, Fred. How do you like that?
Huh, you like that?
-(CRASHING) -What?
What is that?
(THUDDING)
Hello, someone there?
(MAN GRUNTING)
-Mr. Jones. -Whoa.
Mr. Jones, your room isn't on this floor.
Why are you?
I heard music and some other noises
and I thought we were the only guests in the hotel.
You are.
Oh. So, this is your room?
Oh, we would never enter those quarters.
"We"?
Mr. Jones, it didn't occur to me to tell you this particular rule before because
there was no reason for you to be on this floor.
But, since you're here now...
I think you should know the most important rule of all.
Okay, shoot.
You must never enter room 455.
Uh-huh.
Because?
Because, Mr. Jones, that's Mother's room.
I'll keep that in mind.
(DAPHNE GRUNTING)
(TEARING)
Phew. When the boys get back, we can get the mystery started.
Good job, Daph. Just one question.
How will they get in the room?
Hey.
Like, how are we supposed to get in?
(SIGHS) Now I have to rethink this whole thing.
Rethink fast.
We were just attacked by Jack's mother.
She made this terrible noise.
It was like... (IMITATES TICKING)
Eh, it was more like... (IMITATES TICKING)
No, I'm doing it right. (IMITATES TICKING)
Hmm. (IMITATES TICKING)
(BOTH IMITATE TICKING)
(TICKING)
Hmm?
(TICKING SOUNDS GETS LOUDER)
Well, that sounds pretty accurate.
Let us in!
She's coming!
Just a second. The way this affects the rearrangement of the room
is very important.
This is really important!
No, I know. It's just that this is a feng shui emergency.
This is an emergency!
Guys, if I put this hutch in the wrong place, things will only get worse.
They can't get any worse!
If you think that, then you know nothing about ancient Chinese philosophy.
We don't!
(BOTH SCREAMING)
Enough already! (GRUNTS)
(BOTH SCREAM)
(SCREAMING NERVOUSLY)
-Guys! -(ALL GASP)
You've got to let me in. I've just had the most frightening encounter.
-Hmm. -Hmm.
DAPHNE: We are clearly in danger here.
What are we gonna do?
Like, maybe the weather's improved.
We could just leave.
Signs point to "No."
What do you think, Fred?
Honestly, I don't have any strong opinions.
But Velma might.
We should check Jack's office for clues.
Hey, great idea. What do you say, gang?
Hey, guys, check this out.
It's a stack of offer letters to buy this hotel.
All these letters come from the same company.
(READING) "The Castaway's Resort Hotel."
Like, maybe they want to expand?
Pretty badly, I'd say.
Their latest offer is substantial.
I wonder what makes this hotel so valuable?
-REGGIE: Beats me. -(ALL GASP)
Reggie. Hey, we didn't see you there.
Well, yeah. You were facing away from me and I walked up quietly
and far as I can tell, this place ain't worth squat.
I can barely keep up with the maintenance.
Then again, there are parts to this hotel even I haven't seen.
You know Jack and his rules.
What part of this hotel have you not seen?
FRED: (READING) "Good boys don't even mention the cellar."
What do you think it is?
Only one way to find out.
-Oh. -Gee.
No, "S."
-I see. -No, "S."
But, why?
No, "S."
See?
No, "S."
No, I know "S."
Like, "see", as in, "You see?"
Neither of them, just "S." See?
No! "S."
Perhaps... Uh, a better use of our time might be trying to understand what it means?
BOTH: Hmm.
(HISSING)
Silently!
Easy, Fred.
No, "S."
(GROANS)
(TICKING SOUNDS)
Shaggy, Scooby?
Scary.
(TREMBLING) Spooky.
Suggestions?
Survival?
Sold.
(ALL SCREAM)
You know, controlling Fred
might suggest we do something right now to evade this situation...
An aerobic activity involving our legs?
We get it. Run!
(DRUMBEAT)
♪ Here I go again waiting around for you
♪ No big deal, I get my fill when you finally show up
♪ All alone again, that's just what you do
♪ Leaving me for another girl, and I can't stop this
♪ I'm so tired of letting you walk on me
♪ But I still want you
♪ It's driving me crazy Yeah, yeah, yeah
♪ I'm such a fool for you, baby
♪ I can't break loose
♪ I'm a fool, yeah
♪ I'm so tired of all these changes
♪ Got me in a noose
♪ I'm a fool, yeah
♪ I'm so tired of all these changes
♪ Got me in a noose
♪ I'm a fool, yeah
♪ I'm a fool, yeah ♪
Well, we came to this hotel to seek refuge during a snowstorm
and now, we're in a snowstorm seeking refuge from the hotel.
You know, Fred, I gotta admit, not having you in control hasn't been very helpful.
I understand, Daphne. The problem isn't that I'm too controlling...
It's that I'm not controlling enough!
That's not the problem, Fred.
Oh.
Being an effective leader during a mystery is one thing,
but when it comes to our daily lives, it's not like you're our...
-Mother? -Mother!
-Where? -Relax, guys.
He was just epiphing.
-Hey! -Maybe you're right, Velma.
Maybe I'm a little bossy and demanding,
downright unpleasant to be around sometimes.
Maybe it's finally time I...
Finally time I...
Daphne, would you stop feng shui-ing?
No, look, this is it.
No, I promise you. This arrangement, this flow of energy...
This will solve our problems.
Daphne, I'm sorry to say this
but I don't think you have a very firm grasp
on the ancient Chinese philosophy of feng shui.
Hey, the sign.
FRED: Velma, that's it.
That's the final piece of the puzzle.
And if Daphne had listened to me,
she never would have feng shui'd us to solving this mystery.
Don't you see? It doesn't matter that I'm controlling.
Because you guys can't be controlled.
That's right.
No good boys here.
Gang, if you're with me,
I say, we go back there and show Mother who's really in charge.
BOTH: Yeah!
Because I've got a plan that none of you are going to follow.
-BOTH: Yeah. -And it involves breaking the scariest rule of all.
Maybe.
(OPERA MUSIC PLAYING)
(WATER PATTERING)
(TICKING)
Oh! How dare you.
Expecting someone else?
-(ROARING) -(ALL SCREAM)
(GROANS)
I never liked her music.
Great work, kids.
Thanks, Officer. This is one bad mama.
I mean, we really hit the mother lode.
The mother of all...
Can we hurry this along?
She's really creeping me out.
Yes, of course.
Turns out this mother is really...
ALL: Reggie?
I knew I did it. Wait. That's not me, it's impossible.
Correct, because the whole time, Reggie was really...
ALL: Uh...
-Who is that? -Who is that dude?
-Josh? -Exactly.
Jack's estranged brother, Josh.
Of course, this was a family affair that broke all the rules.
When we first arrived at the Good Son Inn,
Jack only mentioned his mother leaving the hotel to him.
But when I saw Jack upstairs,
he used the term "We."
The truth is, the hotel was left to Jack and his brother Josh.
But the difference between them was that
Josh hated Mother's rules
and resented Jack for enforcing them after she was gone.
Josh forfeited his half of the business and took off.
Contrary to his departure, Josh was still desperate to own the Good Son Inn
but by his rules.
VELMA: The stack of offer letters we found was from the Castaways Resort Hotel.
That castaway was none other than Josh himself.
He'd used his expertise to start his own successful hotel business,
which earned him enough money to buy the Good Son Inn.
But loyal to his mother, Jack wouldn't sell.
Frustrated, the castaway had to resort...
Well played.
VELMA: ...to extreme measures.
He infiltrated the hotel disguised as Reggie,
so he could move freely about the grounds,
while haunting guests as the ghost of Mother as needed.
He held the real Reggie captive
in room 455, where he knew Jack would never enter.
Because good boys don't enter room 455,
which I discovered while investigating the strange music
and loud noises from behind the door.
So, as guests arrived and broke the rules,
the ghost of Mother would scare them away.
All just to drive down profits and force Jack to sell.
But like, what about the big "S" we found?
Ah, well, that's the biggest clue of all.
This was originally the Good Sons Inn.
Plural.
But when Josh left the hotel, Jack removed the second "S",
to reflect how Mother would've felt.
There was only one "Good Son" left.
And I would've gotten away with it if...
Well, actually that's the problem.
I've never gotten away with anything.
Please, Josh. Good boys don't yell in the house.
(GROANS) These meddling rules!
Thanks, kids.
If it weren't for you, I'd still be locked upstairs in that room.
You guys really make an excellent team.
See? That wasn't so bad, was it, Fred?
(FRED'S WATCH BEEPING)
Yes! It was.
This night is over!
And I'm back in control. Back baby!
I am back, back, back, way back.
-(TICKING) -What...
What is that?
Oh, you don't know?
That's Father.