Scooby-Doo! Shaggy’s Showdown

The Mystery Machine arrives at Tawny’s ranch in Sorghum City, where the invitation to help solve the vandalism mystery is extended. Locals panic at the gang’s arrival and flee, mistaking Shaggy for the legendary outlaw Dapper Jack. Tawny and neighbor Rafe present a photo of Dapper Jack, showing Shaggy’s striking resemblance and setting up the town’s legend as the lens for the investigation.

Tawny and Rafe explain who Dapper Jack was and reveal a portrait showing Shaggy’s likeness to the outlaw. They recount Jack’s rise as a horseman-turned-criminal and the desert sheriff’s supposed killing, linking the ghostly disturbances to a long-running legend. The explanation sows doubt about Shaggy while fueling the mystery.

The gang resolves to stop Jack and moves into Tawny’s ranch to begin their search. They meet guests including Buddy G, a famous preteen musician with severe equinophobia, while Shaggy proves to be a natural with ropes and riding. Velma and Daphne stay ready to gather clues as the plan unfolds.

Dapper Jack materializes at night and shoots a green flame before escaping again. Fred discovers boric acid in the traces around the phantom, explaining the green fire’s source. Tawny adds that the Black Rattler Land Company is buying foreclosed properties and endangering her ranch’s future, giving the mystery a bitter economic motive.

Ranch hands Larry and Kyle begin teaching guests how to rope and ride, while Buddy G fights his fear of horses with encouragement from the group. Fred and Shaggy work on practical clues, and Velma and Daphne slip away to a local museum to search for missing records. There they uncover that a diary, potentially Sheriff Carmichael’s, was taken from the storeroom, hinting at a deeper scheme.

Dapper Jack returns and starts a barn fire, letting Buckstitch the dangerous horse roam free. Scooby calms Buckstitch by speaking to him in animal language, surprising the others with his uncanny connection to the equine world. The danger forces everyone to confront the ghost’s havoc as they search for real clues.

The gang heads to Jack’s grave to confirm their theories, but they’re confronted by an angry ghost guarding the site. The entity grows more tangible as they back away, confirming that the legend is more than a story. They realize they need a new lead to uncover the truth behind the haunting.

With little luck on land, they borrow a canoe and paddle downriver to escape the ghostly threat. They are nearly swept over a waterfall, but Shaggy’s new roping skills help him stabilize the party and keep everyone safe. The river journey pushes the mystery toward the rodeo as the next setting for clues.

Shaggy signs up for the upcoming rodeo, hoping to win the prize money to save Tawny’s mortgage. Scooby helps Buddy G conquer his fear of horses by supporting his pre-rodeo concert. Unfortunately, Scooby forgets to talk to the broncos, weakening Shaggy’s edge in the rodeo.

Shaggy proves himself by breaking a wild horse and winning the rodeo, a victory that could save Tawny’s ranch. The crowd cheers as the prize money shifts toward the locals, lifting spirits around town. The celebration is cut short as the ghost story catches up with them and threatens a new danger.

The ghost triggers a cattle stampede, forcing the gang to act quickly to protect Buddy G’s family. They use UV powder to mark the apparition and follow its trail, hoping to identify the mastermind behind the haunting. The stampede scene tests their teamwork and courage under pressure.

At the post-rodeo party, a blacklight reveals powder on Kyle, exposing him as the “ghost.” Velma notices a Black Rattler business card and recognizes the same font on Tawny’s website, which was designed by Rafe. The trio pieces together that the ghost’s sightings were part of a larger scheme, not a real haunting.

Velma reveals that Rafe is a Black Rattler executive and that he had hidden Carmichael’s diary. The diary allegedly contains Carmichael’s confession that he murdered Dapper Jack out of jealousy, a crime Rafe then mimicked in disguise to continue the ghost legend. The gang understands the plan was orchestrated to drive fear and profits.

Rafe attempts to flee in a stagecoach after stealing Shaggy’s prize money; Scooby and Buddy G intervene by releasing two of Rafe’s horses, causing him to crash. Shaggy confronts Rafe atop Buckstitch, and Rafe, in a moment of panic, mistakes him for Dapper Jack and apologizes. Rafe is finally arrested as the truth comes out.

Tawny promises to spread the real story about Dapper Jack and thanks the Mystery Gang for their help. As they depart, Shaggy and Scooby glimpse the real spirit of Dapper Jack on a ledge, tipping his hat before vanishing, confirming the legend’s supernatural echo while the town begins to heal. The Mystery Machine drives away toward new adventures.