Terrifying Tri-State Trilogy of Terror

Welcome to the Macabre Book Mobile. What is your pleasure tonight? How about a fright? Well, you are in luck, because I have three stories that are guaranteed to make you scream with delight. Mwa...Mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!

In this trilogy of strange tales, Candace accidentally conjures up a spell that turns her Ducky Momo plushie into a living, breathing doll that is set on stalking her, Doofenshmirtz encounters the inexplicable Giant Floating Baby Head that grants cursed wishes, and Phineas, Ferb and their friends confront a horde of mischievous, evil platypuses set on destroying the town.

Episode Summary
''' Mr. Macabre, owner of the Macabre Book Mobile, tells the audience that he's going to read three stories in the book "The Terrifying Tri-State Trilogy of Terror" that will give them a scare. He is first interrupted by his assistant Renfield, then a boy who mistakes the bookmobile for a food truck and is unhappy when he isn't served. He immediately posts a one-star review of the bookmobile online. Macabre says that "burns". A title card written in blood appears, which Macabre pauses to squeegee off the screen, before continuing.'''

The first tale is about a teenage girl and how dangerous careless words can be.

Ducky Momo Turns Evil
In her bedroom, Candace is talking to Stacy about the book she's reading, which just happens to be the "Terrifiying Tri-State Trilogy of Terror" book, and tells Stacy of an incantation in the book that supposedly turns any stuffed animal to life. However, the incantation claims that if it is said while in view of the full moon, the stuffed animal will turn evil. Candace jokes about this to Stacy, and reads the incantation aloud. Unbeknownst to her, her Ducky Momo plush toy comes to life, and starts sneaking around. Candace starts to have a wary feeling that someone is watching her, but merely brushes it off. Eventually, she sees the Ducky Momo plush following her, and starts running away hysterically from it. Ducky Momo chases her, and eventually catches up to her. Candace thinks that Ducky Momo is after her and is evil, but then she realizes all Ducky Momo wants is a hug. However, one of Candace's other stuffed toys, Mr. Miggins, comes to life and becomes evil as the full moon shines through the window.

Night of the Giant Floating Baby Head
'''Mr. Macabre is aimlessly playing with his fingers in his Macabre Book Mobile. Surprised to see that someone is there, he quickly recomposes himself and begins the second story.'''

Perry goes over to Doofenshmirtz Evil Incorporated to find that Doof has invented a Giant Floating Baby Head-Lure-inator to bring the inexplicable Giant Floating Baby Head to his building. Doofenshmirtz reads a section from the "Terrifiying Tri-State Trilogy of Terror" book that the Giant Floating Baby Head will grant three wishes to whomever touches it. The Giant Floating Baby Head floats to the building, and absorbs itself into Doofenshmirtz's finger after he touches it. Excited, Doofenshmirtz tests this out by using his first wish for an iced tea. For his second wish, he begins to wish to rule the Tri-State Area, but Perry drops a bookcase on his foot. Doofenshmirtz   yells out the minced oath "Cheese and crackers", inadvertently allowing him to rule over all cheese and crackers. Doofenshmirtz sends an army of cheese and crackers from his pantry to fight Perry, but then he soon realizes that Perry can simply eat them. Doofenshmirtz takes some time to think of his third wish, since he wants to be careful about how he says it, as to not leave any loopholes. Finally, Doofenshmirtz wishes to be the head of the Tri-State Area. Quickly realizing his mistake, he shouts, but it's too late -- his wish turns him into a giant floating Doof head.

Invasion of the Evil Platypus Clones
'''After the commercial break, the camera catches Mr. Macabre texting on his mobile phone. He quickly starts the final story.'''

Phineas is reading the "Terrifiying Tri-State Trilogy of Terror" book to the gang in a tent in the backyard. He comes upon a story that warns that spilling grape juice on a platypus will cause it to duplicate and form a evil platypus clone. Buford does so on Perry, disregarding the "evil" part of the warning, and creates an evil platypus. The clone pours some grape juice onto itself, creating more clones. Phineas then wonders how to get rid of the clones, and Baljeet tells him that he knows someone who can help them. Baljeet reveals that he has a "life coach", whose name is Rusty Bridges, a cowboy who owns a cleaning supply store. Together, they realize that all they need to do to defeat the clones is to use soap and water against them. They attack the platypus clones, but then realize that there's too many of them for them to defeat on their own. They get cornered in a grape juice factory, and Phineas, back in the tent, finishes the story, saying that everyone then died a painful death. The group doesn't like the ending, so Phineas then tells them the "Hollywood ending". In this ending, just before the platypuses finish the group off, Rusty suddenly comes to the rescue on a unicorn. Activating a pipeline, he turns on sprinklers that spray soap and water on the clones, and Officer Concord, the Juice-Time Juice Box Flavor Cop, thanks the kids for saving his factory. At the tent again, Buford expresses his disbelief in the story, explaining that he does not believe in cowboys. He asks the other kids if they've ever seen a real-life cowboy, and dramatic music plays as they all stare at the camera in shock.

'''The story suddenly cuts to Mr. Macabre trying to pitch his idea for a Macabre Book Mobile to a banker so he can get a loan, but he is repeatedly turned down. After saying "pretty please with a cherry on top", the banker gives in to the idea, and then states that this will be the final loan that he'll give Mr. Macabre.'''

Songs

 * No Momo
 * Rusty's Song
 * Platypus Walk (Instrumental)

End Credits
Rusty Bridges sings a song on the Flynn-Fletcher house front stoop and trips over them. He blows a dandelion while on the ground under the window and mentions the logo.

The "Too Young" Line
None.

Hey, where's Perry?
None.

Oh, There you are, Perry
None.

Perry's entrance to his lair
None.

Evil Jingle
None.

Background Information

 * All the stories happen in the same episode, however, not at the same time. Each story is seperate from the others, which is a change from the regular format.
 * Ducky Momo shows up for a very brief cameo in the end of the 3rd tale.
 * All the mini-stories are referred to by each main character as the episode transitions from story to story.
 * In the end of the episode, it is revealed that none of the stories actually occured.
 * Ducky Momo makes his sixteenth appearance.
 * The inexplicable Giant Floating Baby Head makes its' 26th appearance, and plays a bigger role than usual in the second tale.
 * The sixth Halloween-themed episode ("One Good Scare Ought to Do It!", "The Monster of Phineas-n-Ferbenstein", "That's the Spirit", "The Curse of Candace", "Druselsteinoween") and the second half-hour themed episode. ("One Good Scare Ought to Do It!")
 * Candace's love of grilled cheese is mentioned. ("Journey to the Center of Candace")
 * Third time the phrase "Cheese and crackers!" is used. It is said by Candace, Doofenshmirtz, Buford and Rusty Bridges. ("The Monster of Phineas-n-Ferbenstein", "Phineas and Ferb Summer Belongs to You!")
 * Mr. Miggins reappears.
 * Second time Phineas and Ferb play ping pong, albeit offscreen. ("This Is Your Backstory")
 * The Halloween themed version of the theme song from "Druselsteinoween"/"Face Your Fear" is used for this episode.
 * Unlike usual episodes, this episode contains three seven-minute segments, as opposed to the usual two 11-minute segments.
 * Major Monogram and Linda do not appear in this episode, but Linda was mentioned.
 * Mr. Macabre breaks the fourth wall by explaining the stories, and later in the credits, Rusty Bridges does so by encouraging the viewer to read the credits and telling us that the production logo will be coming up.
 * The first two segments are essentially seven-minute monologues since Candace and Doofenshmirtz are the only ones who speak in their respective stories.
 * Eighth episode to remain at night the entire time ("Candace Gets Busted", "That's the Spirit", "When Worlds Collide", "Blackout!", "Happy New Year!", "Druselsteinoween").
 * Third time Perry summons mice to help him foil Doofenshmirtz. ("The Fast and the Phineas", "I, Brobot")
 * There is no such thing as the five-second rule. Food becomes contaminated no matter how long it is on the ground.
 * Third episode where everything is a story or flashback. ("The Monster of Phineas-n-Ferbenstein", "What'd I Miss?")
 * Second episode with platypus clones. ("Cheer Up Candace")

Production Information

 * On July 31, 2012, Aliki Theofilopoulos Grafft confirmed on her Twitter account that she had started work on a Halloween episode.
 * A book based on the last two tales was published and released on July 23, 2013.
 * http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2013/09/11/raini-rodriguez-and-calum-worthy-host-monstober-disney-channels-annual-month-long-halloween-celebration-845112/20130911disney02/#Hp4CS4vlrYz8JQTv.99
 * Normally in the US, Phineas and Ferb episodes premiere on Friday nights. This episode premiered on a Saturday night.

International Premieres

 * October 18, 2013 (Family Channel, Canada)
 * October 21, 2013 (Disney Channel Portugal)
 * October 25, 2013 (Disney XD UK)
 * October 26, 2013 (Disney Channel Spain)
 * October 28, 2013 (Disney Channel Brazil and Latin America)

Errors

 * In the first tale, when Candace is talking on the phone in the window, the "Me, Myself and I" poster is blank.
 * Soon after, when Candace is putting on her clothes, the figure of a heart is missing in the poster.
 * Isabella can be seen with eyebrows for the entire episode, but in the book "Learn to Draw Phineas and Ferb", it's stated she doesn't have them and is sensitive about it.
 * In the third segment, whenever Isabella is outside, the tint on her eyes is normal, when it should be darker.

Continuity

 * The Ducky Momo plate that says "I hate people" is seen during the song. ("Nerds of a Feather")

Allusions

 * Trilogy of Terror - The concept of an anthology of three spooky tales may be adapted from this 1975 horror film.
 * Treehouse of Horror - This special could be a spoof on the famous Simpsons episodes. Also, the three segment are spoofs of the "Clown Without Pity", "The Monkey Paw" and the "Send in the Clones"  segments, respectively. (The last one is the most spoofed, including the part with the perrys throwing juice to themselves in a direct parody to The Simpsons episode).
 * Night of the Living Dead - The title of the second tale seems to be themed on the title of the famous George A. Romero movie, the second episode to spoof this title after "Day of the Living Gelatin".
 * "Invasion of the..." - The final tale's title is the second time these words are used, the first being "Invasion of the Ferb Snatchers".
 * Poltergeist - Isabella says, "They're here" like the late Heather O'Rourke when the gang approaches the evil platypus clones in the grape juice factory.
 * Gremlins - The spilling grape juice on a platypus is akin to getting a normal Mogwai (Gizmo) wet in the movie. Both result in evil clones.
 * Wayne's World - The ending of "Invasion of the Evil Platypus Clones" is a reference to the ending of Wayne's World where they try different endings.
 * Tocatta and Fugue in D Minor - In the background of the opening segement, the Philadelphia Orchestra's version of this famous organ music by J. S. Bach from the 1940 film Fantasia is heard.
 * Renfeld - Mr. Macabre's assistant is named for the first victim in Bram Stoker's Dracula.
 * The Crazy Honey Badger - Buford says, "Zombie bunny don't care", a play on this famous viral video's catchphrase, "Honey badger don't care."
 * Kool-Aid Man - Officer Concord the Juice Time Juice Box Flavor Cop' s entry and design resembles the famous Kool-Aid Man ads.
 * Aliens - Isabella's solution for getting rid of the Evil Platypus Clones is a direct quote from the movie, originally spoken by Ellen Ripley as her solution for ensuring the aliens are all killed.
 * Frankenstein (1931 film) - The Ducky Momo doll arises from under Candace's towel like the monster in this classic monster movie.
 * Twerking - Isabella's dance move, when the kids are dancing with Officer Concord the Juice Time Juice Box Flavor Cop, is similar to the popular dance move.
 * The Exorcist - Both Ducky Momo and Mr. Miggins' heads eerily spin like Linda Blair's does in this horror film.
 * Child's Play - Candace's doll coming alive and turning evil is a very similar plot to this horror movie.

Cast

 * Vincent Martella as Phineas
 * Ashley Tisdale as Candace
 * Thomas Sangster as Ferb
 * Dan Povenmire as Dr. Doofenshmirtz
 * Dee Bradley Baker as Perry, Ducky Momo, Evil Platypus Clones
 * Maulik Pancholy as Baljeet
 * Bobby Gaylor as Buford, Hipster Guy
 * Alyson Stoner as Isabella
 * Oliver Chris as Mr. Macabre
 * David Koechner as Rusty Bridges
 * Alex Hirsch as Officer Concord the Juice Time Juice Box Flavor Cop
 * Jay Harris as Bank Officer