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This article is about the episode. You may be looking for the doll.


Dad, is that the box from my room? I think I put my Mary McGuffin doll in there by mistake!

— Candace Flynn

When Lawrence accidentally sells Candace's doll to Doofenshmirtz, Phineas and Ferb become detectives to try and find it.

Episode Summary[]

At the Flynn-Fletcher house, Lawrence and Linda are putting on a yard sale. It turns out that Linda was going to sell her Lindana records but took them from a man who was looking at them. Phineas and Ferb ask Lawrence if they could watch his black and white detective films. Lawrence allows them when Heinz Doofenshmirtz appears at Lawrence's stall, where he spots Mary McGuffin doll. Doofenshmirtz offers to pay a dollar for the doll, to which Lawrence accepts. Candace appears a minute later and asks Lawrence if he has seen her Mary McGuffin doll. Lawrence says he just sold her for a dollar and asks if Candace wants it. Hearing this, Candace lets out a cry of dismay, but Lawrence offers her two dollars despite his daughter's upsetness of losing her doll.

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Dr. Doofenshmirtz gives the doll to Vanessa.

Doofenshmirtz arrives at Charlene's house and asks for Vanessa. At first, Vanessa was awaiting for a brand new car, but Doofenshmirtz hands her the doll. Though Vanessa is somewhat disappointed, Heinz talks about how much he's been searching for years for the doll through the Internet and garage sales ever since she was 7 years old, admiting that he couldn't care less of his reputation as an evil scientist as long as Vanessa's happiness remains important to him. Vanessa, surprised at her dad's act of love, thanks him and walks to her room to think.

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Candace sees Phineas and Ferb in black and white.

Meanwhile, Phineas and Ferb are influenced by the detective films and turn themselves and everything else black and white. Candace tells them about her doll and Phineas decides they will investigate.

At The Agency, Major Monogram is seen playing a video game. Perry is waiting for his assignment. Monogram tells him that Doofenshmirtz has been to a yard sale, bought an Inator and a box of "on-off" devices. Carl tells him that they're called "switches". Perry's chair turns into a big ball (like a bowling ball) and rolls down a chute.

The boys and Candace interview Lawrence, asking him who he sold the toy to. Lawrence tries to describe Doofenshmirtz, "German accent, lab coat".

Back in Vanessa's room, she starts thinking about the times her dad has embarrassed her and times when he has made her day. She really appreciates her gift and puts it on her shelf with her other toys. When she closes the door, the doll falls near a box of junk. Vanessa walks downstairs, unaware of what happened and logs on to her laptop. Charlene answers the door and it is a man who works for Charitable Charities. Charlene asks Vanessa where her box of junk was and she goes to Vanessa's room. She assumes that the Mary McGuffin doll is part of the junk and puts it in the box. Charlene hands the box to the man and he puts it in the truck.

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"Lean on him, Ferb."

Phineas and Ferb go to a lab coat shop and interrogate people there. One of the men says he doesn't know anything but then Ferb "leans" on him. He tells them there is a guy who puts all of the costs on his ex-wife's tab. He gives them the address and Phineas tells Ferb to pack up the studio.

Doofenshmirtz is in his building and has bought lots of things from yard sales. He is trying to find a switch to fit his -inator when Perry comes in. Doofenshmirtz activates the lobster trap that he got for free and tells Perry that he can't tell him his evil scheme because he doesn't know what his -inator does since he's still trying to find a switch to activate it.

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Phineas, Ferb, and Candace at Charlene's door.

Vanessa realizes that her doll was in the box and runs after the man just as Phineas, Ferb and Candace walk up to her house. Phineas interrogates Charlene and she tells them that the doll was in the box to be sent to a Charitable Charities somewhere. The group start looking around all of the Charitable Charities around but can't find Mary.

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Perry confronts Doofenshmirtz.

The switches Doofenshmirtz tries are too big or too small until he comes across the right one. He places it upside-down and complains that the writing is even printed upside-down. Doofenshmirtz realizes he put it upside-down and turns it around. He then turns on his invention but Perry's trap opens. Perry climbs out whilst Doofenshmirtz is still wondering why the Inator isn't switching on. He then turns around and sees the switch opening and closing the trap. He now knows why the trap was free. After a brief fight, Doofenshmirtz, in a rare moment of common sense, points out that the machine just opens and closes the lobster trap and it would be pointless and stupid to fight over it since it's not technically evil or even illegal, so Doofenshmirtz curses Perry for fighting him over such a silly reason. Realizing that Doofenshmirtz actually makes a good point, Perry concedes defeat by giving a thumbs-up to Doofenshmirtz and leaves.

Phineas, Ferb and Candace are in the last Charitable Charities shop when Candace spots Mary McGuffin. Candace grabs the doll at the same time Vanessa does. They fight over the doll and the doll flies into the air into Sally's hand. She instantly loves it and Candace decides to forfeit the doll, saying she's too old for dolls now. Vanessa wonders if she should give up the one thing that proves how much her dad cares for her, but decides not to. So, in a moment, Vanessa snatches the doll from Sally's hands before going home, leaving Sally to cry.

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"Yeah, we can build on this."

Upon seeing this and feeling good about it, Vanessa phones her dad about the event while he's cutting a carrot. He's proud of Vanessa for committing an evil act and says that they could build on this.

Transcript[]

Read the transcript of Finding Mary McGuffin.

Songs[]

End Credits[]

First and last verse of "Not So Bad A Dad".

Gallery[]

Click here to view more images from "Finding Mary McGuffin".
View the image gallery for "Finding Mary McGuffin".

Running Gags[]

The "Too Young" Line[]

Charlene: Aren't you a little young to be detectives?
Phineas: If it's all the same to you, ma'am, we'll ask the questions.
Charitable Charities Man: Aren't you a little young to know about all these old detective shows?


Phineas: Yes, yes we... Pauses and puts on sunglasses in a Horatio Caine like fashion. ...are.

EEYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!

Ferb's Line[]

Seeing Candace and Vanessa start fighting over the doll.
Ferb: This is exactly why they took that doll off the market.

What'cha doin'?[]

None.

I know what we're gonna do today/Hey, where's Perry?[]

Candace: Detectives. Perfect. I know what you're gonna do today. Track down my little Mary McGuffin!
Phineas: Piece of cake. (Ferb gives him a piece of chocolate cake) Ooh, chocolate! Thanks, Ferb. (to Candace) We'll have your little Mary McGuffin back here faster than you can say-hey, where's Perry?

Oh, there you are, Perry[]

None.

Perry's entrance to his lair[]

He is seen in his lair, Monogram is playing a videogame

Evil Jingle[]

Doofenshmirtz Ex-Wife's House in the Hills Somewhere! and Doofenshmirtz Evil Incorporated! in CSI: Miami style.

Memorable Quotes[]

Lawrence: Oh, I see you like that little Mary McGuffin doll. Well, that will be, oh, 50 cents?
Dr. Doofenshmirtz: I'll give you a dollar!
Candace: Dad! Dad! Wait! Dad, is that the box from my room?
Lawrence: Why, yes. Um-
Candace: I think I put my Mary McGuffin doll in there by mistake. Have you seen her?
Lawrence: I just sold her for a whole dollar. Here, you can have it.
Candace: AAAAAAAH!
Lawrence: How about two dollars?
Candace: (sobs)
Vanessa: Dad, what are you doing here? This isn't your weekend.
Dr. Doofenshmirtz: Yes, yes I know, but I have a surprise for you and I just couldn't wait!
Vanessa: (excited) A surprise? Really?
Dr. Doofenshmirtz: Yes, it's something you've always wanted. Something you've asked for time and time again. In my hand, I hold the key to...
Vanessa: ... My new car!
Dr. Doofenshmirtz: (holds up Mary McGuffin doll) No, your happiness!
Carl: Sir, Agent P is here.
Major Monogram: I can see that, Carl. Now, get back in that corner until I say you can get up. There's still 15 minutes left on the clock.
Carl: (sadly) OK, Sir.
Dr. Doofenshmirtz: Remember how you said if I got you a little Mary McGuffin doll, I'd be the world's greatest dad?
Vanessa: Yeah, when I was like seven.
Dr. Doofenshmirtz: You know, I may be an evil scientist, but it doesn't take a degree purchased from the internet with your ex-wife's money to know how special and important you are to me!
Dr. Doofenshmirtz: Well, I'd better run. I bought a used "inator" today at a garage sale and it's missing one small part.
Vanessa: Really, what does it do?
Dr. Doofenshmirtz: I don't know yet, it's missing a part. But whatever it is, I'm sure it will be pure evil!
Phineas: Piece of cake.
Pause. Ferb hands him a piece of cake.
Phineas: Ooh, chocolate! Thanks, Ferb.
Doofenshmirtz: Time to find out what this bad boy can do! Flicks switch on On!
Lid of Perry's cage opens and Perry climbs out and stands beside Doofenshmirtz
Doofenshmirtz:flicking the switch in time with what he says On! Off! On! Off! On! Urgh! I'm hearing a clanking noise so i know it's doing SOMETHING! Off! On! Turns and sees Perry standing out the cage and the lid flipping up and down
Perry folds his arms and glares
Doofenshmirtz:Continues flipping switch at a slower rate Oh the -inator and the cage...they're...connected...it just opens...and closes the... Sighs and stops flipping switch Well I guess that's why I got the cage for free...
Phineas: The sun beat down on the city like a hammer, a relentless hot beating hammer hammering down like a big metaphor that was... hot, for some reason.
Candace:(Interrupting Phineas) Stop with the narration and start finding my doll!
Phineas: For an average Joe, he gave us an above-average clue. Our next step was clear.
Lawrence: Who is he talking to?
Candace: Ugh. Don't get me started.
Vanessa : Wait! Sam, I want to recant a portion of my mother's charitable donation!
Charlene: Are you with the census?
Phineas: No, ma'am, today we're detectives.
Dr. Doofenshmirtz: Oh, man, how many different kinds of on/off switches can there be? I mean, look at this. An octagon? And one shaped like the Statue of Liberty? That doesn't even make sense. Oh, and here's one. The exact same size and shape that I'm looking for except it's upside-down. I mean, the words are actually printed upside-down. What kind of a dummkopf would invent an upside-down... switch...that... (Pauses, sighs, and flips the switch so that it's right-side-up.) I did it!
Candace: Oh, forget it. I guess I'm too old for dolls anyway.
Vanessa: Yeah, maybe I don't really have to have the one object my dad spent years to find in order to show me his affection.
Pause. Candace stares at Vanessa uncomfortably.
Vanessa: No, actually I do. Give me that, kid!
Dr. Doofenshmirtz: (talking to Vanessa on the phone) So you just took it from the little girl and left her there crying? Wow, that is evil! Honey, I am so proud of you! It felt good didn't it? Yeah, we can build on this.

Background Information[]

  • When Doofenshmirtz screamed "Score!" he looked right in the camera, breaking the fourth wall.
  • Ferb, however, didn't react being in love when he saw Vanessa in this episode, but, when Vanessa goes out of her home, Ferb stares at her.
  • While Charlene was listening to Vanessa complain about her doll being missing, she seemed to be reading the same book Ferb is usually seen reading.
  • Mary McGuffin's last name is McGuffin, which refers to an object used in a work that proves to be useful later on in the plot, or something that is easily pursued by various characters for its usage.

Production Information[]

  • This episode premiered in the UK on October 18, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. (British Summer time) on Disney XD.
  • This is the first episode directed by Jay Lender.

International Premieres[]

  • October 18, 2009 (Disney XD UK)
  • September 11, 2010 (CITV UK)

Errors[]

  • When the lobster trap falls on Perry it opened and closed from the bottom. When Doofenshmirtz was accidentally opening and closing the trap, it opened from the top.
  • When Phineas and Ferb are talking to Vanessa's mother, Ferb's left eye is larger.
  • When Ferb packs up the interrogation scene in the Labcoat Emporium, the table and chair folds with it, yet when he packs up the interrogation scene after questioning Vanessa's mother, they remain unfolded.
  • When Doofenshmirtz said he didn't understand why the lobster trap came free with the inator, surely he would have noticed the cable connecting the two of them when he bought it.
In Vanessas recital

Didn't they ever grow up?

  • When Vanessa sings, "... at my recital you clapped louder than you should", as the flashback shows her as a kid on stage, the Pinhead Pierre actress is also shown, even though she is also shown as a kid in the present.
  • When Candace enters the Phineas and Ferb Detective room, there are eleven blinds visible. A few seconds later, there are only six visible.
  • Vanessa calls the Mary McGuffin doll a "piece of plastic", even though it is a plush doll.
  • In the credits, Dee Bradley Baker is absent.

Continuity[]

Allusions[]

  • Dragnet - When Phineas tells Charlene Doofenshmirtz that, "If it's all the same to you, ma'am, we'll ask the questions", this would be considered a tribute to Jack Webb's Sgt. Joe Friday character in the TV series and movie Dragnet where he portrayed a no-nonsense cop, usually adding that he wanted "just the facts, ma'am." The role was inherited to Dan Ackroyd in a 1988 movie remake, and then to Ed O'Neill in a 2000s TV series revival.
  • During the montage of Charitable Charities interviews, Phineas and Ferb are seen dressed respectively as David Starsky and Kenneth Hutchinson (Starsky and Hutch), James "Sonny" Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs (Miami Vice), and Horatio Caine and Erik Delko (CSI: Miami).
    • Starsky and Hutch - Though the car driven by Detectives Ken Hutchinson and Dave Starsky was a 1974 Ford Gran Torino, the one driven by Phineas and Ferb was an AMC Javelin.
    • CSI: Miami - Phineas did Horatio Caine's sunglasses gag and the screaming where the boys are traveling on the air-boat is the same as the start of its theme tune, Won't Get Fooled Again by The Who.
  • The title and doll refers to a MacGuffin, a term coined by Alfred Hitchcock to describe a common item whose single, sole purpose is to drive the plot of the episode forward, either directly or indirectly. The Macguffin Doll would be a good example of said object.
  • Cherry Merry Muffin - "Mary MacGuffin" doll may be in reference to the popular Cherry Merry Muffin dolls of the 80's.
  • Cabbage Patch Kids, Jingle All The Way, and Tickle Me Elmo - The scarcity of the Mary McGuffin doll is like that of the Cabbage Patch Kids dolls of the early 1980s. The manufacturer was not prepared for the overnight popularity of the doll, so store riots broke out as parents fought over the small supply of that year's must-have Christmas gift. This would be spoofed in the 1996 movie Jingle All the Way starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad. A similar craze in 1996 involving another toy - in this case, Tickle Me Elmo - led to similar results.
  • Family Guy - The lost doll plot is similar to the Family Guy episode "Road to Rupert", which Dan Povenmire also directed.
  • Rugrats: All Grown Up - The plot is also similar to an episode of the Nickelodeon show Rugrats: All Grown Up, in which Angelica Pickles loses her Cynthia doll after her mom sells it, as well as an episode of Disney Channel's Even Stevens called "Where in the World is Pookie Stevens?" in which Ren's Pookie doll is accidentally drops into a box that is taken down to their family's yard sale and prompts her younger brother to search for it.
  • The title is similar to Disney/Pixar's hit film Finding Nemo.
  • Finding Mary March - The title is similar to this minor 1988 movie. Mary March seems to have started the title trend of: Finding + someone.
  • When Vanessa recalls her dad going "out of [his] way to catch that foul ball," they are shown in the first row along the left field side at a baseball game, robbing a player in white with a blue hat and sleeves from making a catch in foul ground. This is a clear reference to the Bartman play in Game 6 of the Cubs/Marlins 2003 NLCS series.
  • The music when Phineas and Ferb visited the first Charitable Charities location, the music sounded familiar to the song "Racetrack 3000" by the Swivelheadz.

Trivia[]

Cast[]

Main article: Credits
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Season 1
"Rollercoaster" | "Lawn Gnome Beach Party of Terror" | "Flop Starz" | "The Fast and the Phineas"
"Lights, Candace, Action!" | "Raging Bully" | "Candace Loses Her Head" | "I, Brobot"
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"Get That Bigfoot Outa My Face!" | "It's a Mud, Mud, Mud, Mud World" | "Mom's Birthday"
"Journey to the Center of Candace" | "It's About Time!"
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"Out of Toon" | "Hail Doofania!" | "Out to Launch" | "Phineas and Ferb Get Busted!"
"Unfair Science Fair" | "Unfair Science Fair Redux (Another Story)"
Season 2
"The Lake Nose Monster" | "Interview With a Platypus" | "Tip of the Day"
"Attack of the 50 Foot Sister" | "Backyard Aquarium" | "Day of the Living Gelatin"
"Elementary My Dear Stacy" | "Don't Even Blink" | "Chez Platypus" | "Perry Lays an Egg"
"Gaming the System" | "The Chronicles of Meap" | "Thaddeus and Thor" | "De Plane! De Plane!"
"Let's Take a Quiz" | "At the Car Wash" | "Oh, There You Are, Perry" | "Swiss Family Phineas"
"Hide and Seek" | "That Sinking Feeling" | "The Baljeatles" | "Vanessassary Roughness"
"No More Bunny Business" | "Spa Day" | "Phineas and Ferb's Quantum Boogaloo"
"Phineas and Ferb Musical Cliptastic Countdown" | "Bubble Boys" | "Isabella and the Temple of Sap"
"Cheer Up Candace" | "Fireside Girl Jamboree" |"The Bully Code" | "Finding Mary McGuffin" | "Picture This"
"Nerdy Dancin'" | "What Do It Do?" | "Atlantis" | "Phineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation!"
"Just Passing Through" | "Candace's Big Day" | "I Was a Middle Aged Robot" | "Suddenly Suzy"
"Undercover Carl" | "Hip Hip Parade" | "Invasion of the Ferb Snatchers" | "Ain't No Kiddie Ride"
"Not Phineas and Ferb" | "Phineas and Ferb-Busters!" | "The Lizard Whisperer" | "Robot Rodeo" | "The Beak"
"She's the Mayor" | "The Lemonade Stand" | "Phineas and Ferb Hawaiian Vacation" | "Nerds of a Feather"
"Wizard of Odd" | "We Call it Maze" | "Ladies and Gentlemen, Meet Max Modem!" | "The Secret of Success"
"The Doof Side of the Moon" | "Split Personality" | "Brain Drain" | "Rollercoaster: The Musical!"
"Make Play" | "Candace Gets Busted"
Season 3
"The Great Indoors" | "Canderemy" | "Run, Candace, Run" | "Last Train to Bustville"
"Phineas' Birthday Clip-O-Rama!" | "The Belly of the Beast" | "Moon Farm"
"Ask a Foolish Question" | "Misperceived Monotreme" | "Candace Disconnected"
"Magic Carpet Ride" | "Bad Hair Day" | "Meatloaf Surprise" | "Phineas and Ferb Interrupted"
"A Real Boy" | "Mommy Can You Hear Me?" | "Road Trip" | "Tour de Ferb" | "Skiddley Whiffers"
"My Fair Goalie" | "Bullseye!" | "That's the Spirit" | "The Curse of Candace"
"Escape from Phineas Tower" | "Lotsa Latkes" | "Ferb Latin"
"A Phineas and Ferb Family Christmas" | "Tri-Stone Area" | "Doof Dynasty" |"Excaliferb"
"Phineas and Ferb and the Temple of Juatchadoon" | "Monster from the Id" | "Gi-Ants"
"The Remains of the Platypus" | "Mom's in the House" | "Perry The Actorpus" | "Let's Bounce"
"Bully Bromance Breakup" | "Quietest Day Ever" | "The Doonkelberry Imperative‎‎"
"Meapless in Seattle" | "Delivery of Destiny" | "Buford Confidential" | "The Mom Attractor"
"Cranius Maximus" | "Agent Doof" | "Minor Monogram" | "What A Croc!" | "Sleepwalk Surprise"
"Sci-Fi Pie Fly" | "Sipping with the Enemy" | "Tri-State Treasure: Boot of Secrets" | "Doofapus"
"Norm Unleashed" | "Where's Perry?" | "Where's Perry? (Part Two)" |"Ferb TV"
"When Worlds Collide" | "What'd I Miss?" | "Road to Danville"
"This Is Your Backstory" | "Blackout!"
Season 4
"For Your Ice Only" | "Happy New Year!" | "Fly On the Wall" | "Bully Bust" | "My Sweet Ride"
"Der Kinderlumper" | "Sidetracked" | "Primal Perry" | "Mind Share" | "Backyard Hodge Podge"
"Bee Day" | "Bee Story" | "Great Balls Of Water" | "Where's Pinky?"
"Phineas and Ferb Musical Cliptastic Countdown Hosted by Kelly Osbourne"
"Knot My Problem" | "Just Desserts" | "La Candace-Cabra" | "Happy Birthday, Isabella"
"Love at First Byte" | "One Good Turn" | "Thanks But No Thanks" | "Troy Story"
"Druselsteinoween" | "Terrifying Tri-State Trilogy of Terror" | "Face Your Fear" | "Cheers for Fears"
"Steampunx" | "Just Our Luck" | "Return Policy" | "Live and Let Drive" | "Father's Day"
"Imperfect Storm" | "The Return of the Rogue Rabbit" | "It's No Picnic" | "The Klimpaloon Ultimatum"
"Operation Crumb Cake" | "Mandace" | "Lost in Danville" | "The Inator Method"
"Tales from the Resistance: Back to the 2nd Dimension" | "Doof 101" | "Act Your Age"
Season 5
"Summer Block Buster" | "Cloudy with a Chance of Mom" | "Appetite for Adventure" | "License to Bust"
"Dry Another Day" | "Deconstructing Doof" | "Tropey McTropeface" | "Biblio-Blast!" | "A Chip to the Vet"
"More Than an Intern" | "The Aurora Perry-Alis" | "Agent T (For Teen)" | "The Haberdasher"
"The Candace Suit" | "Out of Character" | "Meap Me in St. Louis"
Specials
"Phineas and Ferb: Summer Belongs to You!" | "Phineas and Ferb Save Summer"
"Night of the Living Pharmacists" | "Last Day of Summer" | "O.W.C.A. Files"
Films
Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension
Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe
Crossovers
"Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel" | "Phineas and Ferb: Star Wars" | "The Phineas and Ferb Effect"
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