And now, the fantastic conclusion!
A LITTLE WHILE LATER...
During their lunch break, the gang reconvened in the break room to share their discoveries and strategize.
Velma provided clarity, "So far, we're looking at a former employee with a graffiti hobby as one of our potential suspects."
Daphne chimed in, "And there's also the unfriendly female employee who seems to harbor some animosity toward my family."
Shaggy remarked, "We've got some seriously suspicious characters on our hands."
"Reah! Ruspicious!" Scooby added emphatically.
Fred's mind was busy analyzing the situation. "The question is, among these suspects, who's the most likely culprit?"
Velma proposed a solution, "Maybe we should split up and investigate both of them more thoroughly?"
"Great idea, Velma," Shaggy agreed, nodding enthusiastically.
Fred concurred, "Yeah, that sounds like a solid plan."
Daphne took charge, finalizing their approach. "Alright, then it's settled. Freddy, you and I will dig into Jerry's background. And Velma, you'll join Shaggy and Scooby to gather more information about Kathy."
Shaggy and Scooby both gave comical salutes, while Velma, with a faint grin, playfully rolled her eyes at their antics.
"Alright!" Fred nodded with determination. "Let's go for it, gang! Split up and shadow them!" The group members affirmed their understanding as they dispersed, each set on solving the mystery at hand.
Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby formed their investigative trio, focused on tracking down Kathy and gathering any potential leads. However, their task proved more challenging than anticipated. Kathy seemed to be as elusive as a quick-footed cheetah, slipping through their attempts to locate her.
"Any sign of that Kathy lady?" Shaggy inquired, his brows furrowed in concentration.
"Nope! Nothin'!" Scooby responded.
Velma mused. "It's not as if she could have vanished into thin air..."
"Maybe she took her break?" Scooby suggested.
Velma considered this option, replying, "It's plausible that she might be on a different break schedule than most of the employees."
Shaggy pondered aloud, "But where could she be taking her break?"
"I suspect the backroom," Velma deduced, her deduction skills guiding her logic.
"Then let's check out that room," Shaggy suggested with determination.
Scooby's agreement was indicated by a nod, and the trio proceeded to the back room to examine any potential clues that might shed light on the situation. As they quietly entered the room, their footsteps barely audible, they scanned the area for any signs of Kathy's presence.
"See anything?" Shaggy whispered, his voice hushed to avoid alerting anyone nearby.
"Just numerous boxes," Velma reported, her keen observational skills always at work. "Scooby, can you detect any scents other than ours?"
Scooby engaged his sensitive nose, attempting to pick up any unique scent amidst the air.
"Rathy! Ri rell Rathy!" he exclaimed, his tail pointing like...well, a pointer, to lead them.
"Great job, Scooby!" Shaggy praised his canine compatriot. "You found something?"
Scooby nodded in confirmation, his expression serious and purposeful. Eager to follow the lead, they followed Scooby as he guided them towards the break room.
"Good work, Scooby. Let's investigate," Velma praised, her analytical mind already in motion.
With careful steps, the trio moved through the break room, every inch of the area becoming an opportunity for discovery. Yet, their focused search took an unexpected turn when they suddenly encountered the Undead Bagboy himself.
"Scream-up on Aisle Five!" the eerie figure exclaimed with malicious glee.
Scooby and Shaggy reacted instinctively, their surprise resulting in a duet of screams as they sought refuge in Velma's arms. In an instant, Velma took charge, sprinting away with her companions, the ominous laughter of the Undead Bagboy trailing behind them.
"Come on, Velma, step on it!" Shaggy practically pleaded. "Like, crank it up to turbo!"
"Doing my best here, Shaggy," came the bespectacled girl's reply. "It isn't exactly easy carrying you both!"
"Scoob, start hurling stuff at this creepy dude!" instructed Shaggy.
With a salute, Scooby sprang into action, snatching cans and boxes from the shelves and launching them at the Undead Bagboy.
The Undead Bagboy agilely evaded the projectiles, his movements defying their attempts to hit him. He let out a wail of anger and frustration as he continued his relentless pursuit.
"Aw, man; he dodged 'em all!" Shaggy exclaimed, his frustration clear.
"Reep running, Relma!" begged Scooby.
Despite her efforts, Velma's strength was beginning to waver as she lugged her two companions along. She strained to keep moving, uttering, "We need to shake this pursuer off!"
But as she passed by the employee apparel section, inspiration struck.
"Jinkies!" Velma beamed as she scurried in with Shaggy and Scooby. She quickly set them down and whispered, "I've got an idea!"
A FEW MINUTES LATER...
The Undead Bagboy came slinking around, when Shaggy, Velma and Scooby popped out in more official-looking Megamart clothing.
"Like, where the heck have YOU been?" asked Shaggy. "Your break ended five minutes ago! There's a cereal spill in the 3rd aisle and it needs to be cleaned up, pronto! Tout de suite! In other words, YESTERDAY!"
The Undead Bagboy tilted his head slightly. "Huh? Me?" he asked, pointing at himself.
"Affirmative! You! We need that aisle sorted out, ASAP!" Velma chimed in, her voice taking on a very commanding tone. "So spare me the lip and get going! Come on! Move it! Move it! Move it! Every second you laze around is another second where a customer could be in danger of slipping on that cereal! And injuries mean LAWSUITS!"
The Undead Bagboy gave a frightened salute, and he raced off towards Aisle 3. But just as he arrived, THEN he started to get suspicious.
"HEY, WAIT A SECOND!" he exclaimed, remembering that he was the bad guy. He quickly ran back to confront the trio; much to his dismay, all that remained were the discarded clothes from their impromptu disguises.
Enraged and frustrated, the Undead Bagboy unleashed a howl of anger at having lost his targets once again.
And the targets in question were booking it like Olympic sprinters!
Shaggy gasped out, "Run like... um, super fast people!"
"We're basically scared kids on adrenaline!" Velma retorted between breaths as they raced to reunite with Daphne and Fred.
Shaggy wheezed, "That totally backs up my point!"
Finally catching up with Daphne and Fred, they exchanged breathless greetings.
"Any discoveries on your end?" Velma asked.
Fred nodded, "We might've dug up something interesting."
"Spill the beans, then," urged Shaggy, eager to hear what they'd found.
So, Daphne and Fred began to lay out their suspects and findings.
"First up, Jerry – the disgruntled ex-employee," Daphne began. "He's probably holding a grudge after being fired."
Fred chimed in, "Which is a solid motive for causing chaos here."
"But wait, there's more," Velma interjected.
"Yeah, like Kathy, that not-so-friendly employee," Shaggy added. "And don't forget about the big boss!"
Daphne contemplated, "Hmm...the boss could be suspicious, but we need more than just hunches."
"Should we snoop around his office?" suggested Shaggy.
"Seems like the logical move," Fred concluded. "Let's give it a shot, gang!"
They headed to the manager's office, only to find him tied up and struggling behind the desk.
"Mmmph! Mmmph!" he muffled in distress, his eyes wide with fear.
"Well, I guess that rules him out as a suspect..." noted Velma.
"And it rules YOU out of life!" cackled a sinister voice that seemed to echo from all around the gang, and they all frantically looked around for any sign of the voice's owner.
Suddenly, from a pile of boxes emerged the Undead Bagboy!
"I've HAD it with you snooping brats!" he declared menacingly as he approached them. Fear engulfed the gang, and a collective scream echoed.
Scooby clung to Shaggy like a furry limpet, and Velma urged, "Let's get out of here!"
Daphne sprang into action, holding the office door wide open as the gang stampeded toward the exit. But to their shock, they encountered ANOTHER Undead Bagboy, blocking their way!
"YEEEOW!" Shaggy screamed. "Like, this is gettin' outta hand! NOW THERE'S TWO OF THEM!"
"Split up and scatter!" exclaimed Fred.
Quickly reacting, the gang dispersed in a frantic bid to evade the relentless undead duo!
Daphne sprinted alongside Shaggy and Scooby, keeping as close as possible to them for safety. Meanwhile, Fred and Velma raced ahead, just ahead of the pursuing ghoul.
Velma panted, "I refuse to meet my end in a supermarket!"
"We won't!" Fred shouted with determination. "We're not going to let that happen!"
"How can you be so sure?!" Velma retorted, fear and frustration mixing in her voice.
"Because we're going to get out of this, Velma!" Fred asserted, his voice unwavering.
Velma huffed, her breath ragged. "I hope you're right about that!" With each word, they rounded a corner, desperately seeking any advantage.
The Undead Bagboy was relentless, following them around the corner only to find his prey vanished. Fred and Velma had seized the opportunity, quickly clambering onto a nearby shelf, their breaths held tight. They clung to the shelves' edges, barely daring to move. Velma's mind raced, searching for an escape plan.
Fred cast a glance downward, watching as the Undead Bagboy prowled beneath, scanning for them. An idea sparked in Fred's mind, and he began to sway the shelf subtly, side to side.
Velma caught on quickly, adding her strength to Fred's efforts, causing the shelf to sway with greater intensity. The Undead Bagboy looked around, perplexed, before glancing upward just as the shelf tipped over. With a piercing scream, the specter was buried beneath the crashing shelf and an avalanche of products.
Out of the downed shelf emerged Fred and Velma.
"We...got him?" asked Fred. "We got him! Velma, we got him! We got him!"
Velma cheered in joy before she hugged Fred. Both stood there for a moment in silence...before they both blushed and separated.
"...okay...we should probably make sure he can't escape..." Fred spoke up, piercing the veil of silence.
"Agreed," squeaked Velma, her glasses fogged.
"You have any rope?" she asked. Fred pulled out a long coil of rope from his backpack. "It never hurts to be prepared, Velma," he assured.
Velma couldn't help but smirk, impressed by Fred's readiness. Together, they expertly secured the defeated "ghost" with the tightest of knots, leaving him wriggling and helpless.
Velma turned her attention to the situation at hand. "Now, we just need to deal with the other Undead Bagboy."
"Let's go find the others," Fred confirmed, steering the bound specter behind him in a shopping cart. Their adrenaline still pumping, they set off determinedly to regroup with their friends and put an end to the mystery.
MEANWHILE...
Daphne, Shaggy, and Scooby huddled together inside a cramped broom closet, attempting to keep their breathing steady and their fear at bay as the ominous footsteps of the Undead Bagboy echoed down the hallway. Shaggy tightly clasped Scooby's mouth shut, muffling the chattering of his teeth, while they all held their collective breath.
Silence finally settled, and a shared look of uncertainty passed among the trio, questioning whether their pursuer had moved on. Daphne leaned cautiously against the closet door, straining to hear any sound that might give away the ghost's location.
Abruptly, the door was wrenched open by the Undead Bagboy, who laughed maniacally and declared, "Attention shoppers, we're having a NIGHTMARE SPECIAL today!"
A collective scream erupted from Daphne, Shaggy, and Scooby, their temporary sanctuary shattered. Reacting swiftly, Daphne grabbed a nearby mop and swung it with a fierce determination. However, the Undead Bagboy easily wrested the mop from her grip, snarling menacingly.
Shaggy and Scooby sprang into action, bombarding the ghost with cleaning supplies in a desperate attempt to fend him off. Amidst the chaos, Shaggy hurled a bucket, which landed squarely on the Undead Bagboy's head, disorienting him. He stumbled around, shouting and demanding to be freed from the bucket's confines.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Daphne, Shaggy, and Scooby bolted from the closet, their destination set on the safety of the bathroom. Just as they reached the bathroom, the Undead Bagboy shook the bucket off his head and caught sight of them, his laughter taking on a sinister tone as he gave chase.
With a dramatic entrance, he burst into the bathroom, his laughter echoing off the walls as he combed through the stalls in search of his prey. Shaggy and Scooby sought refuge in a stall together, whispering urgently to each other.
"Okay...l-like, be REALLY quiet, Scoob..." Shaggy quivered.
"Reah, don't want him to hear us..." Scooby nodded solemnly.
"FOUND YA!" bellowed the Bagboy as he kicked the stall open, laughing wickedly. The stall door flew open with a resounding crash, revealing his looming figure.
Scooby and Shaggy let out simultaneous shrieks before they practically flew past the ghostly figure, an unexpected trail of toilet paper fluttering in their wake.
As they raced away, the toilet paper inadvertently snagged on the Undead Bagboy, winding tightly around him. This wasn't just any toilet paper; it was a luxurious four-ply variety that the store manager had recently purchased. It proved to be a formidable adversary, swiftly cocooning the ghost in its sturdy layers.
"HEY! WHAT THE—?!" The Undead Bagboy shouted. "LEMME OUTTA HERE! KNOCK THAT OFF!"
The Undead Bagboy's protests echoed throughout the bathroom as he struggled fruitlessly against his unorthodox restraints. Shaggy and Scooby, driven by their fearful momentum, continued to sprint, unknowingly winding the toilet paper ever tighter.
Eventually, their mad dash came to an end, leaving the Undead Bagboy ensnared and immobilized on the floor, wrapped up like a spectral mummy.
Gasping for breath, Shaggy and Scooby slumped down, victorious but worn out. Daphne emerged from another stall, a mix of amazement and disbelief on her face.
"Wait, seriously? You guys actually did it!" Daphne marveled.
Shaggy, beaming with a mix of pride and relief, responded, "Uh, yeah, we did!"
Scooby chimed in, "Reah! We did it! Hehehe!"
Celebratory high-fives were exchanged among the trio as they caught their breath, the Undead Bagboy now a tightly wrapped enigma lying on the bathroom floor.
AND SO...
In the presence of the store manager and the captured culprits, the gang had assembled with both Undead Bagboys, ready to unveil the truth.
"What in the world is happening here?" questioned the perplexed manager. "Did you kids actually manage to catch that dreadful ghost?"
With a wry smile, Velma responded, "Actually, two ghosts."
The manager's eyes widened, "Two ghosts?"
Velma dramatically pulled off the masks of the spectral figures to reveal the faces of Jerry and Kathy, the current and former employees of the MegaMart.
"Jerry, I can sort of understand," the manager mused. "But Kathy, why on earth would you get involved in all this?"
Kathy's response was straightforward, "Milton, ever since I started working here, I had a crush on you. I tried everything to get your attention, but you never noticed me. I got fed up and decided to take revenge."
Daphne, her curiosity piqued, questioned further, "So, you tried to ruin his business just because he didn't reciprocate your feelings?"
Kathy shrugged nonchalantly, "Partly. I also teamed up with Jerry to use the legend of the Dead Employee to scare off the employees."
Shaggy, ever the curious one, chimed in, "Hey, how'd you make it look like your heads were upside down?"
Jerry chuckled, "We used Halloween masks rigged with some old 'Tickle Me Gizmo' doll mechanics."
Impressed, Velma nodded, "Ingenious, but it's unfortunate you didn't put your talents to more constructive use."
Fred remarked, "Scaring your boss away wouldn't exactly lead to more job opportunities, would it?"
Jerry and Kathy exchanged glances and agreed, "True, we were just aiming to get even."
"And we would've gotten away with it too," Kathy added, "if it weren't for you meddling kids and your pesky puppy!"
Scooby chuckled at that as Jerry and Kathy were arrested by the local police.
With gratitude in his eyes, the manager turned to the gang, "Thank you all for solving this mystery."
Shaggy responded, "Like, it was nothing, man."
Fred chimed in, "We were simply doing our duty as detectives."
The manager offered, "If there's anything I can do for you in return, just let me know."
At that moment, Shaggy and Scooby exchanged a knowing look, and excitement flashed across their faces.
... ... ... ...
AND SO, BACK AT THE BLAKE MANSION...
Shaggy and Scooby were in the kitchen, using the supplies they'd been given to whip up something special. A three-layer chocolate cake with velvety vanilla frosting was carefully taking shape.
"Man, this cake looks awesome!" Shaggy exclaimed.
Scooby's eyes gleamed with delight, "Reah! Ready to eat!"
Shaggy playfully reminded his four-legged friend, "But, Scoob, remember, this is for Daphne. Not for us."
Scooby nodded with determination, offering a salute in agreement.
With the cake perfectly crafted, Shaggy and Scooby made their way to the dining room. Daphne, Fred, and Velma were gathered there.
Shaggy cleared his throat, "Uh, Daphne, Scoob and I wanted to say we're sorry about earlier, you know, the food mishap. That was, like, not cool."
Scooby nodded vigorously, offering a sincere whimper.
Shaggy continued, "So, we asked Jenkins what your favorite food was..."
Scooby interjected, "And he said..."
Daphne's eyes lit up, a mix of surprise and anticipation, "CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH VANILLA FROSTING!"
The gang shared a bemused look as Daphne's excitement filled the room.
"Okay, that's...enthusiastic," Velma remarked, barely holding back her laughter.
Daphne blushed slightly, regaining her composure, "Uh, thank you, Shaggy. Thank you, Scooby. I appreciate it, and I forgive you both."
"I'd say this case wrapped up pretty nicely!" smiled Fred.
"I concur," agreed Velma as she picked up her fork. "Now let's tuck in!"
"Ditto!" Fred beamed as he grabbed his fork.
"Like, you said it, Freddy," agreed Shaggy as he cut himself a piece. "Victory's pretty sweet when you share it with a pup named..."
"SCOOBY-DOOBY-DOO!" Scooby howled happily as he gulped down a forkful of cake.
FEATURED VOICES:
DC Douglas as The Undead Bagboy
Roger Craig Smith as Jerry
Candi Milo as Kathy
Matt Frewer as Milton the Manager
James Urbaniak as Jenkins
Kath Soucie, Grey Griffin, and Jennifer Hale as Daphne's Sisters