02x06 - The Case of the Confidence Crisis/The Case of the Instruction Incident/The Case of the Rational Explanation

[bunniefuu]

Did a word that's important to you go missing?

And now all you can feel, do, or think

is the opposite of that word?

-Then call us! I'm Sly. -And I'm Gabby.

We're Word Detectives, and we solve...

[both] Word Mysteries!

Together, we run the Wordsville Online Detective Agency.

We'll find your missing word, fast.

-Not to mention briskly. -And swiftly.

Yeah, we're really good with words.

[both]Wordsville!

Fortune teller, am I good at solving Word Mysteries?

Sly, um, can I ask your fortune teller a question?

Am I good at solving Word Mysteries?

I just asked it the same thing!

We usually think we're great at solving Word Mysteries.

And we usually don't ask folded paper if we're good at things.

Do you think this is a Word Mystery?

Possibly.

Firefighter Ember is calling us now.

[Sly] She hung up. Should we call her?

It's not like anyone would wanna ask us for help with anything.

Sly, stop. Let's just call her.

[ringing]

I'm sorry for hanging up on you, Word Detectives.

I didn't think I would be able to explain what's wrong,

but I guess I'll just tell you.

The fire station bear is missing.

What? A bear's on the loose? Hide!

Wait, Sly. I think this is related to how we feel.

Oh. Right.

Do you have a photo of this bear, Firefighter Ember?

Here it is. It's our mascot.

Mascots are inspiring, and we have one at the fire station

to make firefighters feel sure of ourselves.

Is there a word on its uniform?

Oh, yeah. I'll zoom in.

[Sly] "Confidence." That must be the missing word.

[Gabby] "Confidence" means "knowledge that you can

do something and believe that you will be good at it."

When you have confidence, you are confident.

It's a Word Mystery.

Firefighter Ember, if you tell us what happened,

Sly will try to show us what happened with animation.

Fingers crossed. No promises.

Recap time.

[Ember]Baker Graham and Athlete Glory were here

to take the volunteer firefighter fitness test.

I showed them my bear mascot to inspire them to be confident

if they felt nervous.

They climbed the fire ladder, used the fire hose,

and slid down the fire pole.

Before I could announce the results,

duty called, and I left in my truck.

Before I left, I put the bear on a table.

When I got back, both volunteers and my mascot were gone!

Oh, boy. We're gonna need confidence to crack this case.

Can you please show us the scene of the mystery?

[Ember] Here's where I last saw the mascot.

[Sly] Saving a screenshot for our Case Notes.

Firefighter Ember, we'll do our best.

I hope it's enough.

Case Notes time.

Someone took Firefighter Ember's mascot bear

that made her feel confident.

Now "confidence" is missing,

and everyone is unsure of themselves.

We know where it happened: the fire station.

And it happened when Firefighter Ember left in her truck.

[Gabby] Our suspects are Athlete Glory and Baker Graham.

We have to figure out who did it, how, and why,

-but it's impossible. -I feel the same.

But maybe we should look at the clues

-before giving up. -You're right.

Something's written in the notebook. Zooming in now.

"Prepared pastry, capable cookies, powerful pie."

Those treats are named after synonyms of "confident."

That list probably belongs to Baker Graham.

Maybe we should call him?

Can't talk, Word Detectives.

My confidence is crumbled.

My baking is as stale as this shortbread.

-[crashing] -That's why we're calling.

It-- it's not you! It's a Word Mystery.

So you're saying if I helped you,

-I'll get my confidence back? -Here's hoping.

Tell us, why do you want to be a volunteer firefighter?

Well, I want to be able to keep the bakery safe from fires.

The test was fun, especially going down the fire pole.

That sounds really fun.

I do wish I was as good as Athlete Glory, though.

She did really well at all the fitness stuff,

but was constantly playing with her wristband for some reason.

Huh. And how did you feel

when you were taking the fitness test?

I felt prepared. Powerful! Capable.

I came up with new treat ideas based on those feelings.

Oh, how embarrassing.

I don't know where my recipe notebook is.

You left it at the fire station.

You wrote "prepared pastry,

capable cookies, powerful pie."

It sounds like you felt confident.

I did then, but I definitely don't now.

-[shudders] -[call ends]

So Baker Graham claims he felt confident when he took the test.

He also said Athlete Glory performed better than he did.

Let's find out if she agrees.

Hey, Word Detectives. You look as low as I feel.

Whenever I'm running low on confidence, I start running.

I hope it helps.

What made you want to become a volunteer firefighter?

It's a great way to stay in shape and to help people.

But I'm not sure I was good enough.

No one's feeling confident now,

but how did you feel during the test?

Oh. Back then I was confident, like I always am when

I'm doing something I'm good at or I've trained for.

Huh. What happened to your other wristband?

Oh, I must've lost it somewhere when I was playing with it.

It's something I do when I get nervous, like I am now.

Anyways, gotta run. Bye.

She raced through our interview.

Yeah, I'm not sure what we learned.

Me neither, but maybe reviewing our Case Notes will help?

[Gabby] Baker Graham and Athlete Glory said

they were confident before the bear mascot went missing.

[Sly] And Baker Graham named treats after

how prepared, powerful, and capable he felt.

[Gabby] Athlete Gory said she plays with her wristband

-when she's nervous. -But why would she do that

if she felt confident during the fitness test?

Sly! You maybe just solved this case.

Let's try to show them how it happened.

Now presenting the Word Mystery Animated Reenactment of...

"The Case of the Confidence Crisis."

[Gabby] "Welcome to the Wordsville

volunteer firefighter test.

Give our mascot bear a squeeze,

and you'll have confidence in no time.

Let's go."

[Sly]"Woo!"

[Gabby]"Um, uh-- Uh-oh!"

[Sly]"This is fun. Woo!

I loved that!"

[Gabby]"I'm worried. How did I do?"

"I'll announce the test results later.

-Duty calls." -[siren wailing]

[Sly]"That test was surprisingly fun.

I'm inspired to try some new recipes."

[Gabby]"Yoink."

Athlete Glory is who did it.

-Athlete Glory? -I did it?

She took the bear when she was alone. That's how she did it.

Athlete Glory played with her wristband during the test.

Which she told us she does when she feels nervous,

the opposite of confidence.

But we still don't know why you took the word "confidence."

I didn't mean to. I mean,

I did feel nervous and unsure of myself

during the firefighter fitness test.

I didn't want to admit it, so I borrowed the bear mascot

because Firefighter Ember said

it would help with our confidence.

How did that cause this?

The word "confidence" is pretty small

on the mascot's uniform, huh?

Oh, right. There it is.

I didn't see it. Sorry.

I'll return the mascot so we can get our confidence back.

The word "confidence" is back.

Now, it's finally time to reveal the fitness test results.

You both passed!

You're officially volunteer firefighters.

Yes!

I can't wait to dream up new recipes at the fire station.

And my legs will get a great workout

climbing the fire ladder.

[all] Thanks, Word Detectives!

The case of the confidence crisis solved

by the Word Detectives, who can solve anything,

even if they don't think they can.

Fortune teller, who are the best Word Detectives in Wordsville?

You know what?

I'm confident we already know the answer to that.

[both laughing]

What are you doing, Sly?

Can't reach... itch on back.

I've got the solution.

Whoa, how did you do that, Gabby?

It's easy. You just basically, uh...

-Did you forget how? -No,

but I can't teach you for some reason.

Vet Wilder's calling. Maybe it's a Word Mystery?

Vet Wilder's become a dog?

-How do we solve this one? -[Vet Wilder] Norman!

No! Norman!

Word Detectives, pet training isn't going well.

It's a Word Mystery.

Or you just can't train your dog?

I can train any dog.

But not while my pamphlet is missing.

This is it.

[Gabby] It says instruction on it.

Do you mean instructions like how to put a leash on a dog?

Not quite.

My pet care instruction classes

teach you things you never knew.

Like how some cats can be leashed to go out for a walk.

Instructions are a set of steps you follow when doing a task.

But the missing word is instruction.

The dictionary says it means

to teach a particular skill or subject.

Now no one can instruct or teach anyone

or any pet about anything.

That's why I couldn't teach Sly how to scratch his back earlier.

-Which still itches, by the way. -Your itch will have to wait.

Vet Wilder, tell us what happens

-so Sly can animate it. -[Sly] Recap time!

[Vet Wilder] Singer Melody came in to ask

how to work with pets for her new music video.

Then Scientist Cosmo came to get dog food for his new invention.

A machine that feeds dogs.

I told them both about my pet care instruction classes

and instructed them.

I left to get Singer Melody some pet treats.

And when I got back, Singer Melody, Scientist Cosmo,

and my instruction pamphlet were all gone.

[barks] I mean, rough.

Can you show us the scene of the mystery, please?

Sure.

This is where I left my pamphlet.

I'm taking a screenshot.

-[phone clicks] -We'll be in touch.

-[dog whining] -No, Norman!

Let's hurry so I can get scratching.

I think you mean, so Vet Wilder

can instruct his dog on how to behave.

That too. Case Notes time!

We know what happened.

Someone took the word "instruction."

And now no one can teach or instruct anyone.

Am I close?

You're not even touching your back.

[Sly groans]

We know where it happened, the Vet Clinic,

when Vet wilder went to get pet treats.

[Gabby] Our suspects are Singer Melody

and Scientist Cosmo.

But who did it, and how, and why?

[Sly] There's a can of wet dog food

and a glittery slipper.

Think Singer Melody bought the slipper?

She does love glitter. Let's call.

Word Detectives, how do you like my pet quartet?

♪ The quar-pet ♪

♪ Meow, meow, meow, woof ♪

They're going to be in my new music video.

We heard you were going to have real pets

-in your music video. -I was,

but I changed my mind after talking to Vet Wilder.

Stuffies will be way easier. Right, Meowie?

-[meows] -Why did you change your mind?

I wanted some advice on how to work with pets,

so I brought a slipper because I heard

pets liked to chew on them.

Then Vet Wilder said it was a good start,

but then he gave me a lot of instruction.

[sing-songy] Like, a lot!

Quick, anything useful!

I'm itching to solve this Word Mystery fast.

He taught me about belly rubs, cutie talk,

head scratches, and he said pets love treats.

-That is a lot of instruction. -Told you.

I realized I wasn't ready to work with real pets,

so I decided to use stuffies instead.

Now excuse us, it's practice time.

Did singer Melody take the pamphlet because

she was so overwhelmed by all of Vet Wilder's instruction?

Maybe. Let's see what Scientist Cosmo has to say.

And fast!

Word Detectives, I just perfected

my dog feeding machine.

Watch.

-[machinery beeping] -[Scientist Cosmo groans]

You're having as much luck as I am

trying to scratch my itchy back.

Well, I am itching to fix this.

Why does this canned dog food keep gumming up my machine?

Did Vet Wilder give you any helpful instruction

-on how to feed dogs? -I don't know, maybe?

I stopped listening to him

because I was thinking about my invention.

So you ignored his instruction?

I like to figure things out on my own.

Like right now, I have to figure out

why this isn't working.

Gotta go.

Hmm, neither suspect

seemed to like Vet Wilder's instruction.

Well, I would like your instruction

on how to scratch my itch.

Let's review the Case Notes, fast!

[Gabby] Singer Melody left the slipper.

[Sly] And Scientist Cosmos must have forgotten

a can of dog food?

You know what else he forgot?

To listen to Vet Wilders's instruction.

But singer Melody listened.

That's why she changed her music video.

But scientist Cosmos said

he likes to figure things out on his own.

I think we cracked this case.

Let's show everyone what happened

so I can finally scratch this itch.

Now presenting the Word Mystery

animated reenactment of...

The Case of the Instruction Incident.

[Gabby] Vet Wilder, I want to make pets

the stars of my new music video.

And I need dog food for the dog feeding machine I'm inventing.

[Sly] You should both take my pet care instruction class.

I'll instruct you a bit now.

Singer Melody, pets love belly rubs,

cutesy talk, head scratches, and they really love treats.

I'll just take this dog food.

That's wet dog food.

There are lots of kinds of dog food.

Dry food, wet food, semi-moist food.

-Are you listening? -[Gabby] Vet Wilder,

do you have any pet treats I can have?

[Sly] One sec, I'll give more instruction when I get back.

I think I'll just use stuffies.

I'd rather figure it out myself.

Scientist Cosmo's who did it.

-Scientist Cosmo? -[Singer Melody meows]

He took the instruction pamphlet

when Vet Wilder left to get treats.

That's how.

He did it because he doesn't like to be

instructed on how to do something.

-That's why. -Sly's animation was right.

I do like figuring things out on my own.

-How's that going for you? -Not great.

The dog food from the can keeps sticking to my machine.

If you return the word instruction,

maybe Vet Wilder can teach you what to do.

-I'd love to. -I guess it's worth a try.

I'll return this immediately.

Now that the word instruction is back, Scientist Cosmos,

I can teach you about using different kinds of dog food.

Dried dog food won't gum up your machine like canned wet food.

That makes a lot of sense.

If you want, I can even give you

more instruction on how to use dog food.

Getting instruction from a pet expert is helpful.

Right, Meowie? [meows]

You're right, I'm sorry I took the word instruction

away and didn't listen.

Thanks, Word Detectives.

[meowing]

Solving that Word Mystery

almost made me forget how itchy I am.

Almost. Help me!

Okay, I'll instruct you slowly.

Turn around.

Reach for your back.

Now with your fingers, scratch.

Oh, it's scratching my itch.

-[Sly groans] -[Gabby laughing]

Gabby!

What's wrong, Sly?

I saw a ladybug on the floor.

I think it wants to eat me.

A people-eating ladybug? That doesn't make any sense.

Now, it's gonna rain any second.

So...

[Sly] Reporter Read!

She can help me.

Reporter Read, quick.

How do I stop a ladybug from eating me?

Easy. Dance for it.

Are we acting weird? I feel like maybe we are.

That reminds me why I called.

My favourite paperweight is missing!

-[Sly gasps] -This is it.

It has the word "rational" on it.

"Rational" means "being able to make decisions

that are based on facts and not feelings."

Like how I feel we'll find the missing word if I do this.

[blowing raspberry]

-No, that's being irrational. -Which is how we're acting.

Oh, yeah. 'Cause the fact is, ladybugs don't eat people.

And if it rained inside,

scuba gear wouldn't help.

We need to focus on facts

and fight being irrational to solve this Word Mystery.

Hold on. I don't want you to solve anything.

You two are the suspects.

-What? -We didn't take the paperweight.

That's for Singer Melody and Baker Graham to decide.

I've asked them to be my Word Detectives.

That's irrational.

They have no experience investigating anything.

No, but we do have great detective outfits,

-and that's what counts. -Now, former Word Detective Sly,

animate Reporter Read's story

so we can see what you and Gabby did.

-But we didn't-- -[Read clears throat]

As you all know, I hosted a special news report today

called "What's Next For Wordsville?"

I asked everyone what they think

we should build next in our town.

A new park, spa, maybe a news museum.

Word Detectives Gabby and Sly were my last guests.

After they left, I saw it.

My "rational" paperweight was missing!

Reporter Read, can you show us the, uh-- um...

-Scene of the mystery? -Yeah. That.

Right. Here's the last place my "rational" paperweight was seen.

[Melody] I'll take a screenshot.

-[camera shutter clicks] -Cute!

Gabby and Sly, don't call us, we'll call you.

This is awful. We have to fight our irrational feelings

and do our own Word Mystery investigation using facts.

Time to start our Case Notes.

[Gabby] We know what happened.

Somebody took Reporter Read's "rational" paperweight,

and now everyone's irrational.

Where did it happen?

The Newsroom, during Reporter Read's

"What's Next For Wordsville?" Report. That's when.

We're the suspects, but it could've been

aliens, robots, or elves.

Good point. No, wait. That doesn't make any sense.

The facts are, it could've been anyone from Wordsville.

Everyone was there. Did you get a good look at the clues?

Better. I got a screenshot when Singer Melody took that selfie.

[Gabby] I remember that drawing,

from Baker Graham and Singer Melody's idea to build

a new Wordsville concert stadium that's also a bakery!

[Sly] And there's your notebook and my dictionary.

Did we all take the paperweight together?

We know we didn't. We just have to prove it.

Oh, they're calling me.

Baker Graham and Singer Melody might think we're the suspects,

but actually, they are.

Hello, suspect number one.

We've decided Singer Melody will sing the alphabet

until you confess.

♪ A, B C, D, E, F, G ♪

♪ H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P ♪

♪ Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y... ♪

...isn't this working?

Because I love your voice and the alphabet.

But also, I didn't take the paperweight.

Sly and I got to the news studio

for the "What's Next For Wordsville?" report.

We saw you two present your idea

for a new stadium that's also a bakery.

So concertgoers can enjoy

my freshly baked scrumptious sweets.

♪ While I sing ♪

But Reporter Read said we already had a stadium

and a bakery, so our idea wasn't rational.

How did that make you feel?

Hey! We're asking the questions here.

But... I can't think of any more.

Time to call suspect number two.

I didn't do it. Neither did Gabby.

-That's what they all say. -Who says?

You've never investigated a Word Mystery before.

No, but we have been suspects loads of times.

Now, tell us what you did at the news studio.

Gabby and I had planned to present our idea

for a word library, but instead,

we said the next thing the town should build

is a barn in the sky for a magical flying horse.

-You mean a Pegasus? -Yes.

But the fact is, they don't exist,

and building a barn for something that

-doesn't even exist is-- -Irrational!

That's why you took the "rational" paperweight.

Case closed.

Sly. How'd it go?

Baker Graham and Singer Melody are as irrational as we were

when we said the next thing the town should build

is a magical Pegasus barn.

But why did we say that?

Unless...

The word "rational" was already gone!

Sly, it must've been taken

before we were on the news report!

Let's show 'em.

-Now presenting-- -Wait!

We're the Word Detectives.

Which means we do the reenactment.

"We confess!"

-"We did it." -Nice try. Sly?

[clears throat] Now presenting

the Word Mystery Animated Reenactment of...

"The Case of the Rational Explanation."

[Gabby]"Singer Melody and Baker Graham,

welcome to 'What's Next For Wordsville?'

What do you think we should build next in our town?"

[Sly]"A brand-new concert stadium that's also a bakery!"

[Gabby]"So people can eat yummy sweets while I sing."

"But Wordsville already has a bakery and a stadium,

so that's not a very rational idea.

Gabby and Sly, your turn."

[Sly]"Who says ideas have to be rational?

And with this gone, they won't be."

[Gabby]"Sly and I are ready to present our idea."

We didn't do it. It was Singer Melody

-and Baker Graham who did it. -Ah, you figured it out!

You two grabbed the "rational" paperweight

when we were busy on the news report. That's how.

And it's why we were being irrational.

Why did you do it?

Reporter Read said our idea wasn't rational.

We thought she'd like it more if the word "rational" was gone.

Instead, we should've worked on a more rational idea.

Like, what if I brought my sweets to the stadium?

I love it! Baker Graham and Singer Melody,

I'm sorry I made you feel bad before.

And Word Detectives, I'm really sorry

I accused you of something you didn't do.

I wasn't behaving rationally.

We'll return the "rational" paperweight right away.

I'm so glad the word "rational" has returned to Wordsville

so I can base decisions on facts instead of just feelings.

I'm sorry again I thought you were guilty, Gabby and Sly.

Solving Word Mysteries is harder than it looks.

[all] Thanks, Word Detectives!

Now that was one strange case.

Luckily we solved it and we're back to our rational selves.

-[Sly exclaiming] -Sly, are you okay?

[exhales] Sorry.

I thought I saw the ladybug again.

Maybe I'm still being a little irrational.

[both laughing]

[theme music]

♪ It's Wordsville! ♪

♪ Yeah! ♪

♪ Woo! ♪

♪ With Gabby! ♪

♪ And Sly! ♪

♪ It's Wordsville! ♪