[opening theme music plays]
[siren blaring]
[horn honks]
[siren blaring]
[tires screech]
This is Gabby Tocamera at City Theatre
where Poppy Starr has scheduled a charity concert to benefit those
who can't afford tickets to this charity concert.
We just got word thieves have stolen a rare,
defective talking Poppy doll
that was to be sold at the event.
Ugh, what is that smell?
Guys, yeah, the recording booth smells like feet!
The theft highlights the rising crime rates in the city
before the upcoming mayoral elections.
I'm here with Mayor Solomon Fleck, who is running for re-election.
Mayor Fleck, how do we prevent terrifying,
silly doll-related villainy from becoming an epidemic?
Gabby, the key is work, work, work.
Hard work. So I have a simple solution to this crime problem...
You're going to say, work.
Yes, but in my voice. Work.
Oh. Thank you, Mayor Fleck.
Here is our other mayoral candidate,
business tycoon, R.E. Fendrich.
Mr. Fendrich, rumor has it you, yourself,
are responsible for the rise in crime to make Mayor Fleck
-appear inept. -[clears throat]
How do you respond?
Gabby, the good people of this city
deserve a non-evasive, honest answer to that question.
-I respond-- -Boss,
I stole the defective Poppy doll like you told me to
in order to make Fleck look inept
Hi, I'm Poppy
and to all my fans... [burps]
I had an everything bagel just now, it's so gross.
I've never seen this employee of mine in my life!
Officers, I've caught the doll thief!
[grunts]
Come on, Tommy, let's show this doll thief
that crime is nothing to play with!
Or how about this one, with the caption, Re-elect Fleck
because change is scary!
Mr. Mayor, are you still worried
about Fendrich making you look bad
in front of the whole city?
I'm fine, Carol. I'm working. Work is the great healer.
It fills the heart and lifts the spirits.
So, everything will be fine, until I lose the election.
Don't talk that way, sir. How is your speech coming?
It's a dry analysis of community problems
and the amount of work it will take to solve them.
-It may be my finest speech yet. -[door opens]
Hi, Mommy! Hi, Mr. Mayor!
Maddy!
Hello, Small Carol, I mean, Madison, excuse me.
Uh oh. You're worried about the election, aren't you?
I understand.
I'm running for Mayor of Recess against a mean kid,
Tommy Wedgieman.
Everyone's gonna vote for Tommy because they're scared of him.
He'll take all the fun out of recess.
But no one grasps the intricate policies and nuanced diplomacy
of kickball and hopscotch like you do.
You should tell your classmates how much work goes
-into having fun. -Um...
Mayor Fleck is working on his speech.
Why don't you work on yours, as well?
We'll make City Hall campaign headquarters
for my two favorite candidates.
-Really? Yay! -Yeah, well, technically,
City Hall can't provide resources for--
Unofficially, Mr. Mayor.
This is one of those make believe things we've discussed.
Oooh. Yes. Of course.
Just when I think I've seen the limits
of the human imagination...
I can't believe you had me arrested, boss.
Oh, stop complaining, Hacksaw!
Judge Strictpunish let you off with a warning.
True, and it was a pretty good warning.
Don't buy insurance from a man dressed as a goat.
It's all part of my bigger plan.
To defeat Mary Sinclair once and for all.
Hmmm.
We really need a new portrait of Sinclair to deface.
How's that coming, Frankie?
I'm really capturing her impending defeat
even better than the last one, boss.
Fendrich, you louse!
You said you wanted to meet to beg for my forgiveness!
I should have known something was up
when I was asked to sit completely still
by this easel for three hours!
The Fendrichs have never defeated the Sinclairs
and they never will!
[gasp] Boss,
-I didn't finish her sleeve! -Hmm.
Vito, call Sinclair's office and set up another meeting.
Tell them I wanna beg her forgiveness
for tricking her into sitting for a portrait,
and tell 'em she needs to wear the same clothes.
Genius. Will do, boss.
Now, tomorrow is Fleck's big speech at the police station.
I want you to steal his speech.
Fleck will make a fool of himself and I'll be elected mayor!
Then I'll change the law
so everything Sinclair does is illegal, or, better yet,
I will make being Mary Sinclair a crime!
Uh, boss, can a mayor do that?
Of course not!
I'm not an idiot, Big Betty!
First I have to change the law so the mayor can do that!
Fleck's speech is in that briefcase.
We have to get it!
Don't worry. I got a perfect plan.
Excuse me, ma'am.
I can't help notice your awful briefcase.
Luckily, Vito's Briefcase Boutique
has a special promotion
for the person with the worst briefcase.
We'll give you our new Speech-Holder 3000 for free.
Just put your smelly, ugly old case up here.
Wow! That is a cool briefcase.
Made from 98 percent artificial pleather
and 2 percent unknown.
See how easily your personal items I'm handling
without your consent fit inside.
That is impressive. What about my old briefcase?
Don't worry, a hazmat crew is on their way.
Have a good day!
Thank you so much. You, too!
-Boom. We got the briefcase. -Ugh.
Okay, Maddy, you're gonna do great today.
I am so proud of you
whether you're Mayor of Recess or not.
Thanks, Mommy.
-Wait, two speeches? -[slurping]
-[police car approaching] -[gasps]
[yelps, panting]
[screams, groans]
Oh, I've gotta get to the police station
for the Mayor's speech!
-Wait, Mommy, my speech! -Right!
[slurping]
Here! Go show that Tommy Wedgieman
what fun is all about!
[distant chattering]
[gasps]
[laughing]
Security checkpoint.
I'll need to look inside your briefcase, ma'am.
Oh. Okay.
Making sure the mayor's speech goes smoothly?
Um... Yes.
I'm checking for illegal fruits and vegetables
to protect crops and livestock inside the speech-giving area.
-[laughing] -Thanks again
for getting my defective me doll back, Grandpa Grizzled!
Good to see you, Duke.
-Um, something Duke would say. -[laughs]
That is such a Duke thing to say.
You know I would do anything for you, Poppy, dear.
-[Poppy] And to all my fans... -[gasps]
...I am so sick of your messages...
Except run after crooks for a doll.
Officer, I don't have any agricultural contraband!
You have to go after those crooks!
But I'm not really-- I mean, I am really-- I mean--
Drat! [panting]
Phew. That was a close one.
Um, um, anytime now Carol, I need my speech.
What's the matter, Fleck, cat got your speech?
Sorry for the hold up, Mr. Mayor.
Here's your speech. Go show that R.E. Fendrich
what work is all about!
-[gasp] -[clears throat]
Work, work, work. That's what we do all day.
Where's the fun in that? What?
[indistinct chattering]
Oh, no. That's Maddy's speech!
What happened to the Mayor's speech?
If there's one word that sums up all the joy
and wonder of human existence, it's "work." Huh?
Ah, we have to work.
They make us work. That's why we do it. Duh.
But why do we play? We don't have to play.
Nobody makes us play. We wanna play!
Our days are a big blob of work, so the itty-bitty blob
we get to play is the most important blob of the whole day!
[crowd cheering, applauding]
Fun is fun!
Yes, fun is too important to make just anyone the boss of it.
Do you really think Tommy knows how to get the most
-out of play time? -It's true!
I've never been good at playing!
So remember, a vote for me is a vote for fun!
[women 1] There's no fun without you, Mayor.
[cheers, chanting] Mayor Fleck! Mayor Fleck.
-Hacksaw, what is going on? -Hang on, boss.
I have to process and fingerprint these crooks.
I'm gonna make detective for sure!
[grunts]
Luckily, I'm so far ahead in the polls,
one measly speech isn't gonna stop me
from winning this election!
The election results are in
and Solomon Fleck is once again our mayor.
With one masterful speech, Fleck became the fun candidate,
giving him a landslide victory over R.E. Fendrich.
-The tycoon's re-- -How could this happen?
Fleck is the fun candidate?
I once saw him turn down apple juice
because it wasn't party time!
It's an outrage!
I should be mayor and being Sinclair
-should be illegal! -Ha!
Whether you're mayor or not,
The Fendrichs have never defeated the Sinclairs
-and they never will! -[growls]
Shouldn't we make an appearance at your victory party?
But, that wasn't my speech, Carol.
I can't celebrate inaccuracy.
And now Maddy's gonna lose her election
because of my silly mistake.
She'll be crushed.
I won! I'm Mayor of Recess!
Even Tommy Wedgieman voted for me!
But... How?
Mr. Mayor's speech! It said I will work harder
than anyone to make sure everyone has fun!
Thank you for your speech, Mr. Mayor!
And thank you for your horrible carelessness, Mommy!
-You're welcome? -Congratulations, Madison.
Unfortunately, now everyone thinks I'm the fun candidate.
But you are! For you, work is fun!
Huh. You're right.
It's like your speech said, people work all day,
which means I spend my whole day having fun.
Maybe I am the fun candidate, after all.
Now, how about we all go down to the ballroom
for our victory party?
Ooh, can I please have apple juice, Mommy?
-Sure, honey. -Hmm.
Apple juice, huh?
I think I'll join you. It's party time.
[closing theme music plays]