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Transcript: The Case of the Debate Debacle
A child says, WEE!
T.V.O. Kids and Sinking Ship Entertainment Original.
[Child giggles, upbeat music plays, pop]
Sly stands in front of his desk. He has short, curly black hair and wears an olive green jacket. Bright orange letters spell his name down the left side of his jacket.
[Upbeat music plays]
Sly says, DID A WORD THAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU GO MISSING?
Gabby stands beside her desk. Her long black hair is braided. She wears a black bowler hat, a blue-green cardigan, and a white blouse. On the left side of her cardigan, Gabby wears a name tag with her name in green.
Gabby says, AND NOW ALL YOU CAN FEEL, DO, OR THINK IS THE OPPOSITE OF THAT WORD?
Sly says, THEN CALL US! I'M SLY.
Gabby says, AND I'M GABBY. WE'RE WORD DETECTIVES, AND WE SOLVE...
Both say, WORD MYSTERIES!
Sly sits at his desk, a lime green laptop computer in front of him. On the top of the computer, a drawing of Sly holding a magnifying glass is displayed.
Sly says, TOGETHER, WE RUN THE WORDSVILLE ONLINE DETECTIVE AGENCY.
Gabby says, WE'LL FIND YOUR MISSING WORD, FAST.
Gabby sits at her desk behind a laptop computer. The top of Gabby’s computer has a drawing of a cat looking through a magnifying glass.
Sly says, NOT TO MENTION, BRISKLY.
Gabby says, AND SWIFTLY.
Sly says, YEAH, WE'RE REALLY GOOD WITH WORDS.
Children shout, WORDSVILLE!
Colourful letters spell Wordsville. A black magnifying glass lies over the letter 'W'. Text reads, Created by Christin Simms.
Gabby and Sly eat ice cream on a video call.
[Upbeat music plays quietly]
Sly says, MMM, CHOCOLATE. THE BEST ICE CREAM FLAVOUR EVER CREATED.
Gabby says, NO WAY. STRAWBERRY IS WAY BETTER.
Sly says, OKAY. STRAWBERRY IS BETTER.
Sly puts down his bowl of ice cream.
[Bowl clattering]
Gabby says, REALLY? THAT'S WEIRD, BECAUSE I WAS JUST ABOUT TO AGREE WITH YOU THAT CHOCOLATE IS BETTER. WHICH I WOULD USUALLY NEVER SAY. COULD THIS BE A WORD MYSTERY?
Reporter Read’s photograph appears. Text above a green telephone receiver icon reads, “Reporter Read calling.”
[Ringing]
Sly says, REPORTER READ CALLING! SO, YES.
[Beeping]
In the newsroom, Reporter Read says, WORD DETECTIVES! IT'S AWFUL! SOMEONE HAS TAKEN MY BANNER.
Sly says, I AGREE, THAT IS AWFUL.
Reporter Read says, HERE IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
A photograph shows Reporter Read holding a banner with “Debate” on it.
Sly says, YOUR BANNER SAYS "DEBATE" ON IT.
A dictionary definition appears beside Gabby. Above the definition are the lowercase and uppercase letter “D,” a speaker icon, and text that reads, “Debate. Noun.” Gabby reads the definition aloud.
Gabby says, DEBATE IS CONVERSATION PEOPLE HAVE TO EXPRESS DIFFERENT OPINIONS. AND WITHOUT THE WORD "DEBATE" IN WORDSVILLE, NOBODY CAN DISAGREE ANYMORE.
Sly says, says, I AGREE.
[Gasping]
Sly says, WAIT! AM I DOING IT?
Gabby says, YEP, WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT, AND NOTHING IS UP FOR DEBATE.
Sly says, SO, IS THAT WHY I AGREED STRAWBERRY IS BETTER THAN CHOCOLATE NOW?
[Sly gasping, tense music plays]
Gabby says, I THINK SO!
Sly says, GABBY, WE HAVE TO TAKE THIS CASE.
Gabby says, TELL US EVERYTHING. SLY WILL ANIMATE.
Sly says, RECAP TIME!
Sly makes a computer animation of Reporter Read sitting in the newsroom with Firefighter Ember and Vet Wilder. The computer-animated people have cut-out photographs of their heads on top of their animated bodies.
[Clicking]
Reporter Read narrates, WELL, WORDSVILLE IS CONSIDERING A NEW TOWN RULE ABOUT ALWAYS HAVING PETS ON LEASHES WHEN THEY'RE OUTSIDE.
PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS ABOUT IT, SO I DECIDED TO HOST A DEBATE IN MY NEWSROOM TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT. VET WILDER THOUGHT THE LEASH RULE WAS A BAD IDEA. FIREFIGHTER EMBER THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA.
SOME JUICE WAS SPILLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DEBATE, AND I WENT TO GO GET A TOWEL. WHEN I CAME BACK, VET WILDER, FIREFIGHTER EMBER, AND MY DEBATE BANNER WERE GONE!
[Dramatic music plays, beeping]
Sly’s animation ends.
Gabby says, VERY STRANGE. COULD YOU SHOW US THE SCENE OF THE MYSTERY, PLEASE?
Reporter Read says, YEP.
Three chairs are lined up in a row, and there is a puddle of juice in front of the middle chair. On the third chair is a picture of a dog wearing a blue bandage on their leg.
[Beeping, camera shutter snapping]
Sly says, I'M SAVING THIS SCREENSHOT FOR OUR CASE NOTES. WE DONE HERE, GABBY?
Gabby says, YOU BET. WE'LL SOLVE THIS, REPORTER READ. THERE'S NO DEBATE ABOUT THAT.
Reporter Read disconnects from the call. Gabby and Sly stay on their video call.
[Beeping]
Gabby says, CASE NOTES TIME!
A heading reads, “Case Notes.” A subheading reads, “The Case of the Debate Debacle.” Under the headings are a paintbrush, a camera, and a text icon. Text on the case note paper reads, “What: Someone stole the debate banner.” The word “debate” appear in red.
[Clicking, typing, upbeat music plays quietly]
Gabby says, SO, WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. SOMEONE STOLE REPORTER READ'S "DEBATE" BANNER. NOW NOBODY HAS ANY DIFFERENT OPINIONS, AND INSTEAD, EVERYONE AGREES ON EVERYTHING!
Sly says, WE KNOW WHERE IT HAPPENED. THE NEWSROOM, WHEN REPORTER READ LEFT TO GET A TOWEL TO CLEAN UP A SPILL.
Text reads, “Where: The Newsroom. When: Reporter Read left to get a towel.”
Gabby says, OUR SUSPECTS ARE VET WILDER AND FIREFIGHTER EMBER.
[Clicking]
Photographs of Vet Wilder and Firefighter Ember appear. Text reads, “Who, how, why.”
The photograph of the spilled juice and the bandaged dog appears.
Gabby says, AND WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHO DID IT, HOW, AND WHY. THE CLUES FOUND AT THE SCENE OF THE MYSTERY ARE SPILLED JUICE AND A PHOTO OF A DOG WITH A BANDAGE ON IT.
[Clicking]
Sly says, I HOPE THAT DOG IS LESS SAD NOW. HE LOOKS LIKE A VERY GOOD BOY.
Gabby says, NO ARGUMENT HERE. LET'S CALL VET WILDER. THAT PHOTO IS PROBABLY HIS.
Vet Wilder’s photograph appears. Text above a green telephone receiver icon reads, “Calling Vet Wilder.”
[Ringing]
[Beeping]
In the clinic, Vet Wilder brushes a large rabbit.
He says, DETECTIVES! IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO HEAR FROM YOU TWO. HOW CAN I HELP?
Sly asks, DID YOU FORGET ANYTHING AT REPORTER READ'S NEWSROOM TODAY?
Vet Wilder says, I DIDN'T BRING ANYTHING THERE. I WAS JUST THERE FOR THE DEBATE.
Gabby asks, DO YOU LIKE DEBATES?
Vet Wilder says, NOT REALLY, BUT THE ANIMALS NEED ME TO SPEAK UP FOR THEM. THE NEW LEASH RULE WOULD KEEP THEM FROM BEING ABLE TO FREELY EXERCISE AND PLAY. THERE WOULD BE NO FETCHING A BALL, SIT, OR FRISBEE! FIREFIGHTER EMBER HAD THE OPPOSITE PERSPECTIVE. SOMEONE HAD TO DEBATE HER.
Sly sketches a picture of Vet Wilder with three dogs on his photograph in the case notes. Text reads, “Didn’t leave anything behind. Doesn’t like debates. The animals needed him to speak up about the leash rule.”
[Pencil scratching]
Gabby asks, HOW DID HER DIFFERENT OPINION MAKE YOU FEEL?
A new case note reads, “He didn’t like Firefighter Ember’s opinion.”
[Typing]
Vet Wilder says, I DIDN'T LIKE IT AT THE TIME, BUT NOW WE AGREE, SO IT DOESN'T MATTER. IT'S MORE PEACEFUL NOW, TOO.
Sly says, PEACEFUL?
Vet Wilder says, WELL, YEAH. DEBATING, ARGUING, AND DISAGREEING MAKE ME NERVOUS. IT'S NICE THAT WE'RE NOT ARGUING, RIGHT?
Gabby says, MAKES SENSE.
Sly says, IT IS PRETTY NICE.
Vet Wilder says, I KNEW YOU'D UNDERSTAND. ANYWAYS, I SHOULD FOCUS ON BRUSHING MY BUNNY.
Vet Wilder ends the call. Gabby and Sly stay in their video call. A new case note reads, “Debating, arguing, and disagreeing make him nervous.”
Gabby says, HMM. VET WILDER DIDN'T SEEM VERY UPSET ABOUT THE WORD "DEBATE" BEING GONE.
Sly says, YOU'RE RIGHT. AND HE SAID DEBATING MAKES HIM NERVOUS.
Gabby says, YOU'RE RIGHT! UGH. WE HAVE GOT TO STOP DOING THAT.
Sly says, YEAH, LET'S TALK TO FIREFIGHTER EMBER TO HEAR HER SIDE.
Firefighter Ember’s photograph appears. Text above a green telephone receiver icon reads, “Calling Firefighter Ember.”
[Beeping, upbeat music plays quietly]
In the fire station, Firefighter Ember says, HEY, WORD DETECTIVES. HOW CAN I HELP YOU?
Sly asks, DO YOU LIKE DEBATING?
Firefighter Ember says, I LOVE IT. EXPRESSING MY OPINIONS AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT DIFFERENT IDEAS REALLY EXCITES ME. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S ABOUT SAFETY.
[Typing]
Gabby asks, HOW WAS TODAY'S NEWSROOM DEBATE?
Firefighter Ember says, IT WASN'T MUCH OF A CONVERSATION.
Sly asks, WHY NOT?
Firefighter Ember says, VET WILDER WAS SO NERVOUS THAT HE COULDN'T GET HIS IDEAS ACROSS SO I SPOKE A LOT MORE THAN HE DID.
Gabby asks, WHAT WAS YOUR OPINION ABOUT THE NEW LEASH RULE?
Firefighter Ember says, THAT IT'S UNSAFE FOR PETS TO BE WITHOUT LEASHES. THEY COULD GET HURT. I EVEN BROUGHT A PHOTO OF AN INJURED DOG AS EVIDENCE.
Sly says, THE PHOTO OF THE DOG WAS YOURS?
Firefighter Ember says, YEP. WHAT A GOOD BOY, HUH?
Sly says, YOU'RE RIGHT. SO GOOD.
Firefighter Ember says, I SHOWED VET WILDER, AND HE GOT FLUSTERED AND ACCIDENTALLY SPILLED HIS JUICE. WHEN REPORTER READ WENT TO GET A TOWEL, I FIGURED THE DEBATE WAS OVER AND CAME BACK TO THE STATION. BESIDES, I'D SHARED MY OPINIONS. AND I WAS SURE EVEN VET WILDER HAD AGREED WITH ME BY THE END.
Sly draws Firefighter Ember showing Vet Wilder the picture of the dog. New case notes read, “She loves debating and expressing opinions. Vet Wilder was nervous. She thinks it’s unsafe for pets to be without leashes. The injured dog photo made Vet Wilder spill his juice.”
[Pencil scratching]
Gabby asks, WHAT DO YOU THINK NOW?
Firefighter Ember says, OH, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH VET WILDER. OBVIOUSLY. TALK LATER.
She disconnects from the call.
[Beeping]
Gabby asks, DID FIREFIGHTER EMBER TAKE THE BANNER TO END THE DEBATE?
Sly asks, AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE SHARED HER OPINION?
Gabby says, IF SHE DID, IT BACKFIRED BECAUSE NOW SHE AGREES WITH VET WILDER.
Sly says, TRUE. LET'S TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT OUR CASE NOTES.
The photograph of the spilled juice and dog appears.
[Clicking]
Gabby says, WE KNOW THE PHOTO OF THE SAD--
Sly says, BUT VERY GOOD.
Gabby says, DOG BELONGS TO FIREFIGHTER EMBER, AND VET WILDER SPILLED THE JUICE BECAUSE HE GOT NERVOUS.
The case notes appear. A new note beneath Firefighter Ember’s photograph reads, “Was sure everyone agreed.”
[Clicking]
Sly says, VET WILDER DOESN'T LIKE DEBATE OR ARGUMENTS OR DISAGREEMENTS.
Gabby says, BUT HE ALSO SAID THAT ANIMALS NEED HIM TO SPEAK UP FOR THEM.
Sly asks, WHEN HE COULDN'T DO THAT, DID HE FIND ANOTHER WAY TO HELP?
Gabby says, SLY! I THINK WE CRACKED THIS!
Sly says, LET'S SHOW THEM HOW IT HAPPENED.
Photographs of Gabby, Reporter Read, Sly, Vet Wilder, and Firefighter Ember appear. Text above a green telephone receiver icon reads, “Multiple people connecting to call.”
[Ringing]
In his office, Sly says, NOW PRESENTING THE WORD MYSTERY ANIMATED REENACTMENT OF...THE CASE OF THE DEBATE DEBACLE.
[Typing]
Sly makes a computer animation of Reporter Read sitting in the newsroom with Firefighter Ember and Vet Wilder. The computer-animated people have cut-out photographs of their heads on top of their animated bodies.
Gabby, as Reporter Read, says, IT'S TIME TO DEBATE! VET WILDER, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE POSSIBLE WORDSVILLE RULE THAT PETS MUST BE ALWAYS WEAR LEASHES OUTSIDE?
Sly, as Vet Wilder, says, WELL, UM, YOU SEE, THE PETS NEED, YOU KNOW...
Gabby, as Reporter Read, says, INTERESTING STUFF. FIREFIGHTER EMBER?
Gabby, as Firefighter Ember, says, I'M OF THE OPINION THAT RUNNING AROUND OFF LEASH IS UNSAFE. THIS IS WHAT COULD HAPPEN.
Firefighter Ember shows the picture of the injured dog.
Gabby, as Reporter Read, says, AWW.
Sly, as Vet Wilder, says, I MEAN--
Vet Wilder spills his juice.
[Juice splashing]
Gabby, as Reporter Read, says, OH, LET ME GET A TOWEL FOR THAT.
She leaves. Firefighter Ember gives Vet Wilder the picture of the dog and pats his shoulder.
Gabby, as Firefighter Ember, says, DEBATE IS OVER. DON'T WORRY. THE PETS WILL BE OKAY ON LEASHES.
Firefighter Ember leaves the newsroom.
Sly, as Vet Wilder, says, I CAN'T LET THIS BE THE LAST WORD FOR MY PETS!
Vet Wilder takes the banner and runs out of the newsroom.
[Door clicking]
The animation ends.
Sly says, IT WAS VET WILDER WHO DID IT!
[Reporter Read gasping]
In the fire station, Firefighter Ember says, NO WAY!
In the clinic, Vet Wilder says, YOU GOT ME.
In her office, Gabby says, HOW? HE TOOK THE BANNER WHILE REPORTER READ WAS GETTING A TOWEL, AND AFTER FIREFIGHTER EMBER LEFT.
Sly says, WHY? BECAUSE HE WANTED TO SPEAK FOR THE ANIMALS, BUT DEBATES MAKE HIM NERVOUS.
[Sad music plays softly]
Vet Wilder says, YES, I DID IT. YOU'RE RIGHT. FIREFIGHTER EMBER, YOU'RE SO AMAZING AT EXPRESSING YOUR IDEAS, AND I GET SO NERVOUS. I WANTED TO MAKE YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE AGREE WITH ME ABOUT THE LEASH RULE, WITHOUT HAVING THE DEBATE. I'M SORRY. I WAS JUST TRYING TO LOOK OUT FOR MY ANIMALS.
Firefighter Ember says, I DIDN'T MEAN TO MAKE YOU NERVOUS.
In the newsroom, Reporter Read says, I LIKE HOSTING DEBATES, BUT MAYBE YOU TWO SHOULD DISCUSS THE LEASH RULE ON YOUR OWN. I'M SORRY FOR PRESSURING YOU TO DEBATE IN PUBLIC IF IT MADE YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.
Vet Wilder says, I'D LIKE THAT, AND I'M SORRY FOR TAKING YOUR BANNER. I'LL BRING IT RIGHT BACK.
Reporter Read nods.
Photographs of Gabby, Reporter Read, Sly, Vet Wilder, and Firefighter Ember appear. Text above a green telephone receiver icon reads, “Multiple people connecting to call.”
[Ringing]
Reporter Read holds the debate banner.
Reporter Read says, DEBATE IS BACK IN WORDSVILLE!
Gabby asks, IS THAT WHY YOU ALL LOOK SO HAPPY?
Vet Wilder says, WE ALSO HAD A PRIVATE CONVERSATION AND FOUND A COMPROMISE FOR THE LEASH RULE.
Firefighter Ember says, PETS WILL BE ALLOWED OFF-LEASH, BUT ONLY IN FENCED AREAS SO THEY ARE SAFE.
Sly says, SO A DEBATE LED TO AN AGREEMENT.
Reporter Read, Vet Wilder, and Firefighter Ember wave and say, THANKS, WORD DETECTIVES!
They disconnect from the video call.
[Beeping]
Sly asks, ARE YOU READY TO ADMIT CHOCOLATE IS THE BEST ICE CREAM FLAVOUR?
Gabby says, NEVER! LOOK AT HOW DELICIOUS STRAWBERRY--
Gabby picks up her bowl of ice cream and discovers it melted.
Gabby says, UH-OH.
Sly says, STILL GOOD.
[Slurping]
Gabby says, THERE'S NO DEBATE ABOUT THAT.
Sly says, I LOVE CHOCOLATE!
Gabby says, MMM.
[Upbeat music plays]
Voices sing, IT'S WORDSVILLE. YEAH. WOO. WITH GABBY. SLY. IT'S WORDSVILLE.
End Credits. Directed by: Tiffany Hsiung, Faran Moradi, Christin Simms. Written by: Madeleine Patton. Featuring: Word Detective Sly: Baeyen Hoffman. Word Detective Gabby: Mia Swaminathan. Vet Wilder: William Derosiers. Firefighter Ember: Ana Victoria Dinapo. Reporter Read: Zahara Kerner. Executive Producers: J.J. Johnson, Blair Powers, Christin Simms. Produced in association with The W NET Group. Wordsville is made possible in part by Let’s Learn, funding by the J.P.B. Foundation. Produced in association with Knowledge:kids. Produced in association with T.V.O. Kids. Logo: Sinking Ship Entertainment.
T.V.O. Kids and Sinking Ship Entertainment Original.
[Child giggles, upbeat music plays, pop]
Sly stands in front of his desk. He has short, curly black hair and wears an olive green jacket. Bright orange letters spell his name down the left side of his jacket.
[Upbeat music plays]
Sly says, DID A WORD THAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU GO MISSING?
Gabby stands beside her desk. Her long black hair is braided. She wears a black bowler hat, a blue-green cardigan, and a white blouse. On the left side of her cardigan, Gabby wears a name tag with her name in green.
Gabby says, AND NOW ALL YOU CAN FEEL, DO, OR THINK IS THE OPPOSITE OF THAT WORD?
Sly says, THEN CALL US! I'M SLY.
Gabby says, AND I'M GABBY. WE'RE WORD DETECTIVES, AND WE SOLVE...
Both say, WORD MYSTERIES!
Sly sits at his desk, a lime green laptop computer in front of him. On the top of the computer, a drawing of Sly holding a magnifying glass is displayed.
Sly says, TOGETHER, WE RUN THE WORDSVILLE ONLINE DETECTIVE AGENCY.
Gabby says, WE'LL FIND YOUR MISSING WORD, FAST.
Gabby sits at her desk behind a laptop computer. The top of Gabby’s computer has a drawing of a cat looking through a magnifying glass.
Sly says, NOT TO MENTION, BRISKLY.
Gabby says, AND SWIFTLY.
Sly says, YEAH, WE'RE REALLY GOOD WITH WORDS.
Children shout, WORDSVILLE!
Colourful letters spell Wordsville. A black magnifying glass lies over the letter 'W'. Text reads, Created by Christin Simms.
Gabby and Sly eat ice cream on a video call.
[Upbeat music plays quietly]
Sly says, MMM, CHOCOLATE. THE BEST ICE CREAM FLAVOUR EVER CREATED.
Gabby says, NO WAY. STRAWBERRY IS WAY BETTER.
Sly says, OKAY. STRAWBERRY IS BETTER.
Sly puts down his bowl of ice cream.
[Bowl clattering]
Gabby says, REALLY? THAT'S WEIRD, BECAUSE I WAS JUST ABOUT TO AGREE WITH YOU THAT CHOCOLATE IS BETTER. WHICH I WOULD USUALLY NEVER SAY. COULD THIS BE A WORD MYSTERY?
Reporter Read’s photograph appears. Text above a green telephone receiver icon reads, “Reporter Read calling.”
[Ringing]
Sly says, REPORTER READ CALLING! SO, YES.
[Beeping]
In the newsroom, Reporter Read says, WORD DETECTIVES! IT'S AWFUL! SOMEONE HAS TAKEN MY BANNER.
Sly says, I AGREE, THAT IS AWFUL.
Reporter Read says, HERE IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
A photograph shows Reporter Read holding a banner with “Debate” on it.
Sly says, YOUR BANNER SAYS "DEBATE" ON IT.
A dictionary definition appears beside Gabby. Above the definition are the lowercase and uppercase letter “D,” a speaker icon, and text that reads, “Debate. Noun.” Gabby reads the definition aloud.
Gabby says, DEBATE IS CONVERSATION PEOPLE HAVE TO EXPRESS DIFFERENT OPINIONS. AND WITHOUT THE WORD "DEBATE" IN WORDSVILLE, NOBODY CAN DISAGREE ANYMORE.
Sly says, says, I AGREE.
[Gasping]
Sly says, WAIT! AM I DOING IT?
Gabby says, YEP, WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT, AND NOTHING IS UP FOR DEBATE.
Sly says, SO, IS THAT WHY I AGREED STRAWBERRY IS BETTER THAN CHOCOLATE NOW?
[Sly gasping, tense music plays]
Gabby says, I THINK SO!
Sly says, GABBY, WE HAVE TO TAKE THIS CASE.
Gabby says, TELL US EVERYTHING. SLY WILL ANIMATE.
Sly says, RECAP TIME!
Sly makes a computer animation of Reporter Read sitting in the newsroom with Firefighter Ember and Vet Wilder. The computer-animated people have cut-out photographs of their heads on top of their animated bodies.
[Clicking]
Reporter Read narrates, WELL, WORDSVILLE IS CONSIDERING A NEW TOWN RULE ABOUT ALWAYS HAVING PETS ON LEASHES WHEN THEY'RE OUTSIDE.
PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS ABOUT IT, SO I DECIDED TO HOST A DEBATE IN MY NEWSROOM TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT. VET WILDER THOUGHT THE LEASH RULE WAS A BAD IDEA. FIREFIGHTER EMBER THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA.
SOME JUICE WAS SPILLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DEBATE, AND I WENT TO GO GET A TOWEL. WHEN I CAME BACK, VET WILDER, FIREFIGHTER EMBER, AND MY DEBATE BANNER WERE GONE!
[Dramatic music plays, beeping]
Sly’s animation ends.
Gabby says, VERY STRANGE. COULD YOU SHOW US THE SCENE OF THE MYSTERY, PLEASE?
Reporter Read says, YEP.
Three chairs are lined up in a row, and there is a puddle of juice in front of the middle chair. On the third chair is a picture of a dog wearing a blue bandage on their leg.
[Beeping, camera shutter snapping]
Sly says, I'M SAVING THIS SCREENSHOT FOR OUR CASE NOTES. WE DONE HERE, GABBY?
Gabby says, YOU BET. WE'LL SOLVE THIS, REPORTER READ. THERE'S NO DEBATE ABOUT THAT.
Reporter Read disconnects from the call. Gabby and Sly stay on their video call.
[Beeping]
Gabby says, CASE NOTES TIME!
A heading reads, “Case Notes.” A subheading reads, “The Case of the Debate Debacle.” Under the headings are a paintbrush, a camera, and a text icon. Text on the case note paper reads, “What: Someone stole the debate banner.” The word “debate” appear in red.
[Clicking, typing, upbeat music plays quietly]
Gabby says, SO, WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. SOMEONE STOLE REPORTER READ'S "DEBATE" BANNER. NOW NOBODY HAS ANY DIFFERENT OPINIONS, AND INSTEAD, EVERYONE AGREES ON EVERYTHING!
Sly says, WE KNOW WHERE IT HAPPENED. THE NEWSROOM, WHEN REPORTER READ LEFT TO GET A TOWEL TO CLEAN UP A SPILL.
Text reads, “Where: The Newsroom. When: Reporter Read left to get a towel.”
Gabby says, OUR SUSPECTS ARE VET WILDER AND FIREFIGHTER EMBER.
[Clicking]
Photographs of Vet Wilder and Firefighter Ember appear. Text reads, “Who, how, why.”
The photograph of the spilled juice and the bandaged dog appears.
Gabby says, AND WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHO DID IT, HOW, AND WHY. THE CLUES FOUND AT THE SCENE OF THE MYSTERY ARE SPILLED JUICE AND A PHOTO OF A DOG WITH A BANDAGE ON IT.
[Clicking]
Sly says, I HOPE THAT DOG IS LESS SAD NOW. HE LOOKS LIKE A VERY GOOD BOY.
Gabby says, NO ARGUMENT HERE. LET'S CALL VET WILDER. THAT PHOTO IS PROBABLY HIS.
Vet Wilder’s photograph appears. Text above a green telephone receiver icon reads, “Calling Vet Wilder.”
[Ringing]
[Beeping]
In the clinic, Vet Wilder brushes a large rabbit.
He says, DETECTIVES! IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO HEAR FROM YOU TWO. HOW CAN I HELP?
Sly asks, DID YOU FORGET ANYTHING AT REPORTER READ'S NEWSROOM TODAY?
Vet Wilder says, I DIDN'T BRING ANYTHING THERE. I WAS JUST THERE FOR THE DEBATE.
Gabby asks, DO YOU LIKE DEBATES?
Vet Wilder says, NOT REALLY, BUT THE ANIMALS NEED ME TO SPEAK UP FOR THEM. THE NEW LEASH RULE WOULD KEEP THEM FROM BEING ABLE TO FREELY EXERCISE AND PLAY. THERE WOULD BE NO FETCHING A BALL, SIT, OR FRISBEE! FIREFIGHTER EMBER HAD THE OPPOSITE PERSPECTIVE. SOMEONE HAD TO DEBATE HER.
Sly sketches a picture of Vet Wilder with three dogs on his photograph in the case notes. Text reads, “Didn’t leave anything behind. Doesn’t like debates. The animals needed him to speak up about the leash rule.”
[Pencil scratching]
Gabby asks, HOW DID HER DIFFERENT OPINION MAKE YOU FEEL?
A new case note reads, “He didn’t like Firefighter Ember’s opinion.”
[Typing]
Vet Wilder says, I DIDN'T LIKE IT AT THE TIME, BUT NOW WE AGREE, SO IT DOESN'T MATTER. IT'S MORE PEACEFUL NOW, TOO.
Sly says, PEACEFUL?
Vet Wilder says, WELL, YEAH. DEBATING, ARGUING, AND DISAGREEING MAKE ME NERVOUS. IT'S NICE THAT WE'RE NOT ARGUING, RIGHT?
Gabby says, MAKES SENSE.
Sly says, IT IS PRETTY NICE.
Vet Wilder says, I KNEW YOU'D UNDERSTAND. ANYWAYS, I SHOULD FOCUS ON BRUSHING MY BUNNY.
Vet Wilder ends the call. Gabby and Sly stay in their video call. A new case note reads, “Debating, arguing, and disagreeing make him nervous.”
Gabby says, HMM. VET WILDER DIDN'T SEEM VERY UPSET ABOUT THE WORD "DEBATE" BEING GONE.
Sly says, YOU'RE RIGHT. AND HE SAID DEBATING MAKES HIM NERVOUS.
Gabby says, YOU'RE RIGHT! UGH. WE HAVE GOT TO STOP DOING THAT.
Sly says, YEAH, LET'S TALK TO FIREFIGHTER EMBER TO HEAR HER SIDE.
Firefighter Ember’s photograph appears. Text above a green telephone receiver icon reads, “Calling Firefighter Ember.”
[Beeping, upbeat music plays quietly]
In the fire station, Firefighter Ember says, HEY, WORD DETECTIVES. HOW CAN I HELP YOU?
Sly asks, DO YOU LIKE DEBATING?
Firefighter Ember says, I LOVE IT. EXPRESSING MY OPINIONS AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT DIFFERENT IDEAS REALLY EXCITES ME. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S ABOUT SAFETY.
[Typing]
Gabby asks, HOW WAS TODAY'S NEWSROOM DEBATE?
Firefighter Ember says, IT WASN'T MUCH OF A CONVERSATION.
Sly asks, WHY NOT?
Firefighter Ember says, VET WILDER WAS SO NERVOUS THAT HE COULDN'T GET HIS IDEAS ACROSS SO I SPOKE A LOT MORE THAN HE DID.
Gabby asks, WHAT WAS YOUR OPINION ABOUT THE NEW LEASH RULE?
Firefighter Ember says, THAT IT'S UNSAFE FOR PETS TO BE WITHOUT LEASHES. THEY COULD GET HURT. I EVEN BROUGHT A PHOTO OF AN INJURED DOG AS EVIDENCE.
Sly says, THE PHOTO OF THE DOG WAS YOURS?
Firefighter Ember says, YEP. WHAT A GOOD BOY, HUH?
Sly says, YOU'RE RIGHT. SO GOOD.
Firefighter Ember says, I SHOWED VET WILDER, AND HE GOT FLUSTERED AND ACCIDENTALLY SPILLED HIS JUICE. WHEN REPORTER READ WENT TO GET A TOWEL, I FIGURED THE DEBATE WAS OVER AND CAME BACK TO THE STATION. BESIDES, I'D SHARED MY OPINIONS. AND I WAS SURE EVEN VET WILDER HAD AGREED WITH ME BY THE END.
Sly draws Firefighter Ember showing Vet Wilder the picture of the dog. New case notes read, “She loves debating and expressing opinions. Vet Wilder was nervous. She thinks it’s unsafe for pets to be without leashes. The injured dog photo made Vet Wilder spill his juice.”
[Pencil scratching]
Gabby asks, WHAT DO YOU THINK NOW?
Firefighter Ember says, OH, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH VET WILDER. OBVIOUSLY. TALK LATER.
She disconnects from the call.
[Beeping]
Gabby asks, DID FIREFIGHTER EMBER TAKE THE BANNER TO END THE DEBATE?
Sly asks, AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE SHARED HER OPINION?
Gabby says, IF SHE DID, IT BACKFIRED BECAUSE NOW SHE AGREES WITH VET WILDER.
Sly says, TRUE. LET'S TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT OUR CASE NOTES.
The photograph of the spilled juice and dog appears.
[Clicking]
Gabby says, WE KNOW THE PHOTO OF THE SAD--
Sly says, BUT VERY GOOD.
Gabby says, DOG BELONGS TO FIREFIGHTER EMBER, AND VET WILDER SPILLED THE JUICE BECAUSE HE GOT NERVOUS.
The case notes appear. A new note beneath Firefighter Ember’s photograph reads, “Was sure everyone agreed.”
[Clicking]
Sly says, VET WILDER DOESN'T LIKE DEBATE OR ARGUMENTS OR DISAGREEMENTS.
Gabby says, BUT HE ALSO SAID THAT ANIMALS NEED HIM TO SPEAK UP FOR THEM.
Sly asks, WHEN HE COULDN'T DO THAT, DID HE FIND ANOTHER WAY TO HELP?
Gabby says, SLY! I THINK WE CRACKED THIS!
Sly says, LET'S SHOW THEM HOW IT HAPPENED.
Photographs of Gabby, Reporter Read, Sly, Vet Wilder, and Firefighter Ember appear. Text above a green telephone receiver icon reads, “Multiple people connecting to call.”
[Ringing]
In his office, Sly says, NOW PRESENTING THE WORD MYSTERY ANIMATED REENACTMENT OF...THE CASE OF THE DEBATE DEBACLE.
[Typing]
Sly makes a computer animation of Reporter Read sitting in the newsroom with Firefighter Ember and Vet Wilder. The computer-animated people have cut-out photographs of their heads on top of their animated bodies.
Gabby, as Reporter Read, says, IT'S TIME TO DEBATE! VET WILDER, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE POSSIBLE WORDSVILLE RULE THAT PETS MUST BE ALWAYS WEAR LEASHES OUTSIDE?
Sly, as Vet Wilder, says, WELL, UM, YOU SEE, THE PETS NEED, YOU KNOW...
Gabby, as Reporter Read, says, INTERESTING STUFF. FIREFIGHTER EMBER?
Gabby, as Firefighter Ember, says, I'M OF THE OPINION THAT RUNNING AROUND OFF LEASH IS UNSAFE. THIS IS WHAT COULD HAPPEN.
Firefighter Ember shows the picture of the injured dog.
Gabby, as Reporter Read, says, AWW.
Sly, as Vet Wilder, says, I MEAN--
Vet Wilder spills his juice.
[Juice splashing]
Gabby, as Reporter Read, says, OH, LET ME GET A TOWEL FOR THAT.
She leaves. Firefighter Ember gives Vet Wilder the picture of the dog and pats his shoulder.
Gabby, as Firefighter Ember, says, DEBATE IS OVER. DON'T WORRY. THE PETS WILL BE OKAY ON LEASHES.
Firefighter Ember leaves the newsroom.
Sly, as Vet Wilder, says, I CAN'T LET THIS BE THE LAST WORD FOR MY PETS!
Vet Wilder takes the banner and runs out of the newsroom.
[Door clicking]
The animation ends.
Sly says, IT WAS VET WILDER WHO DID IT!
[Reporter Read gasping]
In the fire station, Firefighter Ember says, NO WAY!
In the clinic, Vet Wilder says, YOU GOT ME.
In her office, Gabby says, HOW? HE TOOK THE BANNER WHILE REPORTER READ WAS GETTING A TOWEL, AND AFTER FIREFIGHTER EMBER LEFT.
Sly says, WHY? BECAUSE HE WANTED TO SPEAK FOR THE ANIMALS, BUT DEBATES MAKE HIM NERVOUS.
[Sad music plays softly]
Vet Wilder says, YES, I DID IT. YOU'RE RIGHT. FIREFIGHTER EMBER, YOU'RE SO AMAZING AT EXPRESSING YOUR IDEAS, AND I GET SO NERVOUS. I WANTED TO MAKE YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE AGREE WITH ME ABOUT THE LEASH RULE, WITHOUT HAVING THE DEBATE. I'M SORRY. I WAS JUST TRYING TO LOOK OUT FOR MY ANIMALS.
Firefighter Ember says, I DIDN'T MEAN TO MAKE YOU NERVOUS.
In the newsroom, Reporter Read says, I LIKE HOSTING DEBATES, BUT MAYBE YOU TWO SHOULD DISCUSS THE LEASH RULE ON YOUR OWN. I'M SORRY FOR PRESSURING YOU TO DEBATE IN PUBLIC IF IT MADE YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.
Vet Wilder says, I'D LIKE THAT, AND I'M SORRY FOR TAKING YOUR BANNER. I'LL BRING IT RIGHT BACK.
Reporter Read nods.
Photographs of Gabby, Reporter Read, Sly, Vet Wilder, and Firefighter Ember appear. Text above a green telephone receiver icon reads, “Multiple people connecting to call.”
[Ringing]
Reporter Read holds the debate banner.
Reporter Read says, DEBATE IS BACK IN WORDSVILLE!
Gabby asks, IS THAT WHY YOU ALL LOOK SO HAPPY?
Vet Wilder says, WE ALSO HAD A PRIVATE CONVERSATION AND FOUND A COMPROMISE FOR THE LEASH RULE.
Firefighter Ember says, PETS WILL BE ALLOWED OFF-LEASH, BUT ONLY IN FENCED AREAS SO THEY ARE SAFE.
Sly says, SO A DEBATE LED TO AN AGREEMENT.
Reporter Read, Vet Wilder, and Firefighter Ember wave and say, THANKS, WORD DETECTIVES!
They disconnect from the video call.
[Beeping]
Sly asks, ARE YOU READY TO ADMIT CHOCOLATE IS THE BEST ICE CREAM FLAVOUR?
Gabby says, NEVER! LOOK AT HOW DELICIOUS STRAWBERRY--
Gabby picks up her bowl of ice cream and discovers it melted.
Gabby says, UH-OH.
Sly says, STILL GOOD.
[Slurping]
Gabby says, THERE'S NO DEBATE ABOUT THAT.
Sly says, I LOVE CHOCOLATE!
Gabby says, MMM.
[Upbeat music plays]
Voices sing, IT'S WORDSVILLE. YEAH. WOO. WITH GABBY. SLY. IT'S WORDSVILLE.
End Credits. Directed by: Tiffany Hsiung, Faran Moradi, Christin Simms. Written by: Madeleine Patton. Featuring: Word Detective Sly: Baeyen Hoffman. Word Detective Gabby: Mia Swaminathan. Vet Wilder: William Derosiers. Firefighter Ember: Ana Victoria Dinapo. Reporter Read: Zahara Kerner. Executive Producers: J.J. Johnson, Blair Powers, Christin Simms. Produced in association with The W NET Group. Wordsville is made possible in part by Let’s Learn, funding by the J.P.B. Foundation. Produced in association with Knowledge:kids. Produced in association with T.V.O. Kids. Logo: Sinking Ship Entertainment.
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