The Creeping Creatures (episode)

This article is about the episode. For the characters, look here.

This needs a stretch. (Feel free to remove when satisfied of completion.) Needed: * Synopsis is missing details

The Creeping Creatures
Details
Episode #	102
Air date	July 19, 2010 (Cartoon Network)
Air date	October 25, 2010 (Boomerang)
Written by	Jed Elinoff Scott Thomas
Directed by	Curt Geda
Chronology
Previous episode	Beware the Beast from Below
Next episode	The Secret of the Ghost Rig

The Creeping Creatures is the second episode of the first season of Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated.

Premise

The gang get a tip of a mystery in Gatorsburg, which once thrived on selling gator skin products, until they ran dry and is now a virtual ghost town. While there, the engine to the Mystery Machine is stolen, forcing them to stay at a creepy hotel with three gator creatures on the loose.

Synopsis

The Gang call their parents for help.

An absent-minded father takes his family to Gatorsburg, certain they are in New York. He even refers to the road as Broadway, which his wife rolls her eyes at. While trying to get gas, the family dog jumps out of the car and runs into the bushes. The daughter runs to the bushes to try and find the dog but an anthropomorphic alligator attacks her and the family drive away as quickly as possible, with the dog jumping into the car as they drive away.

Girls and boys don't share rooms.

The gang are sitting in Fred's house, complaining about not having any mysteries for while. Fred manages to test his new trap, leading to a delivery man being 'caught' on his front porch. The gang receives a note from Mr. E and a package. The package contains a bag made of "100% pure gator", from a town called Gatorsburg that's supposed to have been dry of gator skin for years. As it turns out, years ago, prospectors came to the town of Gatorsburg in search of gold but dug up Alligator which became more valuable and before long the town became known for its gatorskin products but one day all the Gator mines dried up and Gatorsburg became a ghost town. The gang then travels to Gatorsburg to check things out.

Upon arriving, the gang split up. Fred & Daphne pair off, leaving Velma with Shaggy, who sees this as an opportunity to spend some romantic time with Shaggy, but he wouldn't dare out of fear of how Scooby-Doo would take it. Shaggy & Scooby then check out Gator Burger (where a gator person has just avoided being seen). Velma is still mad at Shaggy, who tries to do his best, but Velma walks off.

Gator man grabs Velma.

When the gang gets back together having found no clues, they decide to leave only to find that the Mystery Machine's engine is gone. A not-so-friendly Gatorsburg mechanic tells them that with the engine gone, he'll have to order a new one and it won't be there until tomorrow. At first the gang tries to get their parents to give them a ride but they all decline due to different reasons: Velma's mom is watching a horse race, Fred's dad is relaxing at home, Daphne's mom won't set foot out in the dark and Shaggy's parents are painting still life's at home, so they decide to stay there. Fred asks the mechanic for a place to stay overnight, he tells the gang of his sister's hotel. Greta Gator and her son Gunther are not happy when they arrive. Greta gives them two rooms and three rules, which includes the girls and boys not being able to share the same room, not leaving their rooms, and no pets allowed, so Scooby is forced to sleep in the Mystery Machine. Velma almost immediately violates the rules by leaving her room to go see Shaggy. Shaggy feeling worried about Scooby, also leaves, but runs into Velma. Shaggy lies and says he was coming to see her.

Gang flee Gatorsburg.

Meanwhile, Scooby is attacked by three gator people. He runs into Fred's room, where Fred is telling a bored Daphne about all the traps they've used to solve mysteries (which he's meticulously compiled into a scrapbook). The gator people, having followed Scooby-Doo, break into the room, as well. The lights flicker off and with some quick thinking, they escape. In Daphne's and Velma's room, Velma finally gets a little closer to Shaggy resulting in them almost kissing. However, they are interrupted by the rest of the gang bursting in. They all try to make a run for it, during which Velma is pulled through the floorboards by one of the gator people, only to be saved by Shaggy's heroism. This also proves to be a vital clue, as a glove was left behind on Velma's leg, indicating the monsters aren't real. However, they're still frightening enough, and the gang run out of the hotel and leave town by pushing the Mystery Machine, which causes the gator people to stop chasing them. Fred realizes the gator people just wanted them out of town. They sneak back into town where they see the Creeping Creatures loading gator products onto a boat. Daphne (who is allergic to fake animal skin) shows the gang the "real 100% gator" products are actually fake. By using a trap, they catch the gator people, which Fred beams about it being one of his old traps, but Daphne groans at his singular interest.

Gator people captured.

The Crystal Cove police arrive, and it is revealed that the gator people are really the creepy mechanic, his sister, Greta, and her son, Gunther. After the Gator business plumetted, everyone left to find work elsewhere. However, the three refused to leave town as it was home, but needed the income of the fake gator products. To keep people from finding out what they were up to, they created Gator costumes to scare away everyone. Sheriff Stone is furious that he bought an imitation alligator skin product which is unbreathable and has his men arrest the Gator family even though they have no jurisdiction in Gatorsburg. He then drives away, ignoring Fred's plea to help them get back home. But the gang are startled to hear the Mystery Machine rev up. They find a new engine and a note from Mr. E telling them that this mystery is only a piece of the puzzle and it has just begun. As the thunder begins, Scooby jumps into Shaggy's arms. Shaggy then grabs onto Velma's hand, bringing a smile to each other's faces.

Characters

Main characters:

• Mystery Incorporated
  • Scooby-Doo
  • Shaggy Rogers
  • Fred Jones, Jr.
  • Daphne Blake
  • Velma Dinkley

Supporting characters:

• Sheriff Bronson Stone

Villains:

• Creeping Creatures ^{(only appearance)(no lines)(Gator family's disguise)}
• Grady Gator ^{(first appearance)(main story and flashback)}
• Greta Gator ^{(only appearance)(main story and flashback)}
• Gunther Gator ^{(only appearance)(main story and flashback)}

Other characters:

• Tween girl ^{(first appearance)}
• Tween girl's dad ^{(first appearance)}
• Tween girl's mom ^{(first appearance)}
• Petals ^{(first appearance)(no lines)}
• Mail carrier ^{(only appearance)}
• Mr. E ^(mentioned)
• Old miner ^{(only appearance)(flashback only)(deceased)}
• 1800s Gatorsburg citizens ^{(only appearance)(miscellaneous speaking)(flashback only)}
• Horses ^{(only appearance)(no lines)(flashback only)}
• Mayor Fred Jones, Sr.
• Angie Dinkley
• Venus ^{(only appearance)(photograph)}
• Sick Little Monkey ^{(only time mentioned)}
• Nan Blake
• Paula Rogers ^{(no lines)}
• Colton Rogers
• Phantom of Vasquez Castle ^{(only time mentioned)}
• Carlotta the Gypsy ^{(only time mentioned)}
• Deputy ^{(no lines)}
• Deputy Bucky ^{(no lines)(cameo)}
• Counterfeiter buyer ^{(only appearance)(no lines)}

Locations

• California
  • Gatorsburg ^{(main story and flashback)}
    • Gator Avenue
      • Gatorsburg Gas
    • Gator mine ^{(flashback only)}
    • Gator Burger
    • Drowsy Gator Hotel
  • Crystal Cove
    • Jones mansion
    • Dinkley home
    • Blake Mansion
    • Rogers Mansion
    • Crystal Cove High School ^(mentioned)
    • Vasquez Castle
  • Fort Bragg ^(mentioned)
• New York ^(mentioned)
  • Broadway ^(mentioned)

Objects

• Tween girl's dad's credit card
• Traps Illustrated
• Rope
• Mr. E's letter
• Gator Burgers
• Fred's flashlight
• Velma's cellphone
• Fred's smartphone
• Daphne's cell phone
• Shaggy's cell phone
• Candelabra
• Piano
• Fred's Traps
• Alligator glove
• Crowbar
• Trampoline
• Trunks
• Mirror ^{(flashback only)}
• Mystery Machine's new engine

Vehicles

• Vacation family's station wagon
• The Mystery Machine
• Gunther Gator's tow truck
• Airboat
• Forklift
• Sheriff Stone's police car

Suspects

Suspect	Motive/Reason
Grady Gator Greta Gator Gunther Gator	Not only do they have the same characteristics, but they're the only other people in town.

Culprits

Culprit	Motive/Reason
Gunther, Greta, and Grady Gator as the Creeping Creatures	To protect their fake alligator merchandise business.

Cast

Frank Welker	Scooby-Doo Fred Jones, Jr.
Matthew Lillard	Shaggy Rogers
Grey DeLisle	Daphne Blake Greta Gator Tween girl
Mindy Cohn	Velma Dinkley
Gary Cole	Mayor Fred Jones, Sr. Old miner
Patrick Warburton	Sheriff Bronson Stone
Frances Conroy	Angie Dinkley
Casey Kasem	Colton Rogers
Kath Soucie	Nan Blake
Beverly D'Angelo	Mom
David Kaye	Dad
John DiMaggio	Grady Gator Mail carrier
Billy West	Gunther Gator

Notes/Trivia

• When Scooby looks at the Drowsy Gator Hotel sign, the neon letters flash, revealing an ominous message that only Scooby sees. It appears to say "The Dog Dies!" This is a foreshadowing of Theater of Doom, in which Friar Serra reminds them of the aforementioned warning.
• Daphne reveals in The Night the Clown Cried, that Gatorsburg is the furthest she's been outside of Crystal Cove.
• When Velma takes off her glasses she still has black eyes, but in Art of Darkness!, they're now green.
• Phantom of Vasquez Castle and Carlotta the Gypsy are based on cases that happened in the original series episodes Hassle in the Castle and A Gaggle of Galloping Ghosts, respectively. Although the original incarnation of the gypsy did not have a name. That name comes from The Ghosts of Grimstone Castle, a story in Gold Key Comics' Scooby Doo... Where Are You! #10.

Miscellaneous

• Disguises: None.
• Traps: Front door trap and suitcase trap
• Clues: Gator skin products, claw part, glove.
• "Zoinks" count: 2.
• "Jeepers" count: 0.
• "Jinkies" count: 0.
• "Hold the phone" count: 0.
• Mayorisms: Episode 2: Malevolent mushroom caps.

Cultural references

• In the teaser, the family that stops in Gatorsburg for gasoline is based on the Griswolds, specifically Chevy Chase's character, Clark, from the film National Lampoon's Vacation. The mom is voiced by the Beverly D'Angelo, same actress who portrayed Ellen Griswold. David Kaye mimics Chase and the station wagon looks the same as the Griswold's Wagon Queen Family Truckster; both have a logo of a king's crown.
• The old miner in the flashbacks is modeled after Nugget Nose, the star of the latter half of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon Buford and the Galloping Ghost.
• The hotel has alligator-themed versions of classic paintings, including Dogs Playing Poker and American Gothic.

Animation mistakes and/or technical glitches

• None known.

Inconsistencies/continuity errors and/or goofs/oddities

• The gator mines were supposed to have dried out a long time ago, yet the Gator Burger has cooked up tiny little gators. Despite the presumed extreme age of the sandwiches, Shaggy eats one without getting sick.
• When the gang escape Gatorsburg with the engine-less Mystery Machine, it turns in such a way that only an engine could keep the momentum going, unless it was situated on a hill.
• Daphne, according to herself, is allergic to fake animal skin, which cause her rash, and even shows the gang to prove the 100% alligator skin is fake. However, while she holds it, it doesn't irritate her palm, nor does it while she holds a fake alligator skin belt with her bare hands later, while helping Fred with the trap. Maybe it was because she only touched it briefly and not rubbed it.
• Sheriff Stone just drives off without waiting for his deputies to load Gunther, Greta, and Grady Gator, who then just disappear. But as the camera ends the episode above the gang, there is another empty police car.
• Somehow the new engine starts up the Mystery Machine without anyone turning on the ignition. Unless Ed Machine quickly did it without them knowing.

In other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Spanish (Latin America)	Los Cocodrilos	The Alligators
Spanish (Spain)	Las Criaturas de la Noche	The Creatures of the Night
Italian	Creature Raccapriccianti	Creepy Creatures
French	Les Crocomonstres	The Crocomonsters
Portuguese	Monstros Assustadores	Scary Monsters
Hungarian	Nyálkás kísértetek	Mucous Specters
Greek	Πλαστά Πλάσματα (Star TV Dub) Έρποντα Τέρατα (Boomerang TV Dub)	Fake Creatures (Star TV Dub) Creeping Monsters (Boomerang TV Dub)
Russian	Ужасные Чудовища	Scary Monsters
Ukrainian	Страшненькі Створіння	Spooky Creatures
Polish	Straszliwe stwory	Terrible Creatures
Romanian	Creaturile din adâncuri	The creatures from the depths

Home media

• Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated: Season One, Volume 1 DVD released by Warner Home Video on January 25, 2011.
• Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated: Volume One DVD released by Warner Home Video on August 29, 2011.
• Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated: The Complete Season 1 DVD set released by Warner Home Video on October 8, 2013.
• Scooby-Doo! Mystères associés: L'intégrale de la saison 1 (Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated: The entirety of season 1) DVD set released by Warner Home Video on October 3, 2012.
• Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated: Season One, Volume 1 DVD released by Warner Home Video on September 7, 2011.

Quotes

Daphne: Can you tell what the problem is, Fred? Fred: You see that hole there? That should be an engine.

Velma: (talking on phone) Hey, mom. We're stuck in Gatorsburg. Fred: (talking on phone to his dad) The van broke down. Daphne: (talking on the phone) Think you can come and get us?

Greta Gator: I got a few hotel rules. (blocks off Daphne & Velma) Rule number one: Girls and boys in separate rooms. No exceptions! Velma: Then I guess I'm with you, Daphne. Greta Gator: I said, NO EXCEPTIONS! Velma: But I'm a girl.

Greta Gator: I almost forgot! Rule number 3: No pets in the hotel! Scooby: What?! Gunther Gator: (chuckles) Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Fred: It's okay, Scoob, you can sleep in the Mystery Machine. Shaggy: It's just one night, Scooby-Doo. I'll see you in the morning, buddy. Scooby: I hope so.

Scooby: (to himself) I'm not a pet.

Velma: You saved me! Shaggy: I did? Oh! Like, I did.

Gunther Gator: And you know what? We would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling juveniles and your unauthorized investigation of our synthetic gator accessories. Sheriff Bronson Stone: You're telling me this gator stuff is fake?! I paid a fortune for this tracksuit!

Sheriff Bronson Stone: Arrest them. Even though I have absolutely no jurisdiction here.

External links

• Buy from Amazon Video (US)

Previous episode:	Series:	Next episode:
Beware the Beast from Below	Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated (Season 1)	The Secret of the Ghost Rig