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"The Barnaby Boys" is the first segment of the thirty-third episode of Recess.

Synopsis[]

T.J. and Vince try to uncover the mystery of the temporary janitor.

Plot[]

The Gang is surprised to see that T.J. and Vince are obsessed with a book series called The Barnaby Boys. Gretchen reminds that the Barnabys are fictional characters and that their so-called methods solving cases on a weekly basis are impractical to real crime solving techniques. Spinelli backs up that despite the best efforts of the authorities, they have yet to figure out the theft of the head of the bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson in the town square thirty years ago. She then insists they stop wasting their recess only for the school bell to ring for them to return inside.

The next day, the two dress as the characters and pick up on the mannerisms associated with those characters. On a whim, they become interested in a suspiciously new janitor and wonder why he instead of Hank is cleaning. They decide to investigate by asking Randall what he knows and by simply glaring at him, he reveals that the janitor is named Earl Raymond, that he worked at Third Street a long time ago, and that Hank won a two-week trip to Bermuda.

They go to Menlo to request a look in the school files but are denied access. As T.J. and Vince discuss what Barnaby Boys tactics to use on him, Spinelli resorts to threatening Menlo to get their way. The Gang soon finds Raymond's file and discover that he worked at Third Street thirty years prior, only to disappear after a year on the job and recently reappear to reapply for his old job even though he works at another school closer to his home. Also in the file, they find a wrapper with numbers, 19, 16, and 25, on them, but do not know what they mean. Gretchen suggests the numbers refer to the letters on the alphabet, spelling "SPY". They then resort to following Raymond all around the school and the only suspicious actions they've noticed is Raymond tapping a wall in the hall. Suspecting that he's looking for something that used be there, the Gang head to the library to look through year books to find that lockers used to be there and that there is an old storage room hidden away. They conclude that the numbers are in fact a locker combination and that Raymond must have stored something in them. Spinelli, who was continuously complaining about the whole mystery, leaves out of frustration.

The rest of the Gang find the storage room and discover the lockers that were hidden away. Upon using the numbers to open the lock, they discover the bronze head of Thomas Jefferson. Raymond reveals himself and ties the kids up, explaining that he stole the head as ransom for $10 and a head start and was waiting to come back and retrieve it as the statute of limitations on his crimes runs out at midnight; Gretchen explains to a confused Gus that by midnight, it'd be impossible to prosecute Raymond for his crime. Now Raymond intends to ransom the head for thirty times more his original price. T.J. insists that Raymond let his friends go, but the villain says he can't risk it and intends to leave them where they are. Mikey calls him a bad man and Vince adds that he's a terrible janitor. Before an angry Raymond could lay a hand on him, Spinelli arrives with the school police; they also tell Raymond to save his excuses for the judge, who happens to be a descendant of Jefferson.

As Spinelli unties them, T.J. asks why she would help them when she just called them stupid. She replies that they were foolish to continue their investigation without involving the authorities, something The Barnaby Boys would never do, admitting that she read all 64 volumes of the series. The episode then ends with the Gang featured in the newspaper for saving Jefferson's head.

Cast[]

Trivia[]

  • The Barnaby Boys are clearly a parody of the Hardy Boys.
  • When Earl is being hauled away by the police, he references the Scooby-Doo series with the line of "I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for you meddling kids!"

External links[]

v - e - d
Recess-logo
Media
Recess (Videography) • Recess: School's Out (Soundtrack) • Recess: All Growed DownRecess: Taking the Fifth GradeRecess: Miracle on Third Street"Lax" (Lilo & Stitch: The Series crossover episode)"Codename: Electric Haircut" (Fillmore! crossover episode)
Characters
T.J. DetweilerVince LaSalleAshley SpinelliMikey BlumbergGretchen GrundlerGus GriswaldCaptain BradleyCornchip GirlThe KindergartnersThe DiggersHustler KidErwin LawsonMiss GrotkeMuriel FinsterBecky DetweilerDr. Phillium BenedictMenloBrockPeter PricklyKojakMiss SalamoneButchAshley ArmbrusterAshley BouletAshley QuinlanAshley TomassianFenwickBrandon the SingerGelmanKing BobChuckoJockoRandall WeemsKing Freddie IICheaySpencerThe MegansThe BrittanysThe TylersBob and Flo Spinelli
Episodes
Season One: "The Break In" / "The New Kid" • "The Experiment" / "The Great Jungle Gym Standoff" • "Jinxed" / "Officer Mikey" • "First Name Ashley" / "To Finster with Love" • "King Gus" / "Big Brother Chad" • "My Fair Gretchen" / "Speedy, We Hardly Knew Ye" • "I Will Kick No More Forever" / "The Kid Came Back" • "The Pest" / "The Legend of Big Kid" • "The Box" / "The Trial" • "Teacher's Lounge" / "Randall's Reform" • "Rainy Days" / "The Great Can Drive" • "The Voice" / "Kids in the Mist" • "Parents' Night" / "Swing on Thru to the Other Side"

Season Two: "The Break-up" / "The Hypnotist" • "Mama's Girl" / "Outcast Ashley" • "The Game" / "The Lost Ball" • "Gus' Last Stand" / "Operation Field Trip" • "The Challenge" / "Wild Child" • "The Substitute" / "Gretchen and the Secret of Yo" • "The Girl Was Trouble" / "Copycat Kid" • "Operation Stuart" / "Pharaoh Bob" • "The Story of Whomps" / "Weekend at Muriel's" • "Economics of Recess" / "Omega Kids" • "Yes, Mikey, Santa Does Shave" • "Bad Hair Day" / "Dance Lessons" • "Principal for a Day" / "The Beauty Contest"
Season Three: "One Stayed Clean" / "A Genius Among Us" • "Dodgeball City" / "A Career to Remember" • "Kindergarten Derby" / "The Bet" • "Space Cadet" / "Stand Up Randall" • "The Shiner" / "Lord of the Nerds" • "That Stinking Feeling" / "My Funny Valentines" • "The Barnaby Boys" / "Buried Treasure" • "The Library Kid" / "The Ratings Game"
Season Four: "The First Picture Show" / "The Big Prank" • "Hustler's Apprentice" / "The Spy Who Came in from the Playground" • "Gus' Fortune" / "Rumor Mill" • "Recess is Cancelled" / "Tattletale Heart" • "The Madness of King Bob" / "Call Me Guy" • "Prickly is Leaving" / "Randall's Friends" • "The Biggest Trouble Ever" / "The Rules" • "Gus and Misdemeanors" / "A Science Fair to Remember" • "Mikey's Pants" / "Here Comes Mr. Perfect" • "Good Luck Charm" / "Diggers Split Up" • "Schoolworld" / "Bachelor Gus" • "The Dude" / "Partners in Crime" • "The Candidates" / "This Brain for Hire" • "Spinelli's Masterpiece" / "Nobody Doesn't Like T.J." • "A Great State Fair" / "The A.V. Kid" • "Yope from Norway" / "Bonky Fever" • "Don't Ask Me" / "The Secret Life of Grotke" • "The Fuss Over Finster" / "Soccer Boy" • "Fort Tender" / "Germ Warfare" • "More Like Gretchen" / "Prince Randall" • "Me No Know" / "Good Ole T.J." • "Chez Vince" / "Tucked in Mikey" • "Old Folks Home" / "Some Friend"
Season Five: "The Coolest Heatwave Ever" / "No Strings Attached" • "Beyond a Reasonable Scout" / "The C Note" • "The Army Navy Game" / "Big Ol' Mikey" • "The Principals of Golf" / "All the Principal's Men" • "Lawson and his Crew"
Season Six: "Terrifying Tales of Recess" • "Kurst the Not So Bad" / "League of Randalls" • "Mundy, Mundy" / "Lost Leader"

Locations
Third Street SchoolOld RustyFifth and Sixth Grader ClubAshley's ClubhouseKing's Jungle Gym
Songs
We Shall Not Be MovedBorn to Be WildGreen TambourineDancing in the Street
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