The Gullible Gambit

**The Gullible Gambit** is the eleventh episode of the first season of Veggie Animals.

## Plot

A slinky-looking figure is running through a thick part of the forest while chased by a group of red-tailed hawks, before the figure is revealed to be a male black-footed ferret, before he escapes the red-tailed hawks by hiding in some thick bushes. The hawks are unable to get in the bushes, while the ferret is able to slip through the bushes to escape. The hawks are upset that the ferret has escaped, noting that their grand superior is not going to like it when he hears that Ebony Blackfoot has escaped, having no choice but to abandon the chase and resume it tomorrow. After the hawks have flown away, the ferret, named Ebony, looks to see the hawks flying away, becoming relieved once the hawks have left. Ebony comes out from the bushes and runs through the forest again, but ends up tumbling down a steep hill, still tumbling down the hill, until he tumbles into a burlap sack being held by Junior. Junior becomes curious about what just tumbled into the sack he is holding.

Larry, Petunia, Laura, and Annie, who is a lynx kitten, meet up with Junior, asking him if he found any more beech nuts, but Junior tells them that something got into the bag, nothing that it feels heavy, while Annie notices that it looks like it's alive in there. Petunia asks Junior to open the bag so that they can see what's in the bag, which Junior does, before he, Laura, Annie, Larry, and Petunia look in the bag and become surprised when they see Ebony inside the bag. Annie is able to recognize this ferret as a black-footed ferret, while Petunia is curious, wondering what a black-footed ferret would be doing in this part of the forest. Ebony answers that his running for his life, and when Larry asks Ebony what he's running from, Ebony further answers that he was running from a group of red-tailed hawks that were chasing him, because he was wrongly accused for a crime that he didn't do. When Junior asks Ebony what the red-tailed hawks accused him for, Ebony answers they accused him for stealing all of their beech nuts, but he claims that he was framed and that he didn't do it. The group feel sorry for Ebony, though Petunia can't help but feel a little bit wary about what this ferret is saying, before Ebony introduces himself to the group, before they in turn also introduce themselves to him. Larry offers to Ebony that he could come with them to their home in the main forest, which Junior agrees with, which Ebony is happy to hear. However, Larry notices Petunia looking rather suspicious, asking her what's wrong, Petunia answering that there's something about Ebony that she doesn't trust, but Larry disagrees with Petunia, saying that Ebony seems like a nice guy, which Annie also agrees with.

Larry tells Ebony that he can come with them to the forest, which Ebony is happy to hear, before the group begins to return to the forest after collecting a large bushel of beech nuts. However, when Larry, Petunia, Junior, Laura, and Annie aren't looking, Ebony gives off a sneaky grin to the viewers. Once the group has returned to the forest, they meet with Bob, Archibald, and Scooter, Bob asking Larry if they got the beech nuts, which Larry confirms, before he lets Bob, Archibald, and Scooter know that they brought a guest with them. Archibald is excited when he hears this, asking who this guest is, before Larry introduces Ebony to Bob, Archibald, and Scooter, before Junior explains that they found him in the forest. Scooter asks Ebony what he was doing in the middle of the forest, Ebony explaining that he was chased by red-tailed hawks because they accused him of stealing all of their beech nuts, once again reiterating that he didn't do it and that he's innocent. Laura lets Ebony know that they believe him, but Petunia still doesn't know about this, which Archibald questions, before Larry explains that Petunia thinks that there's something about Ebony, but doesn't know why she thinks that. Archibald tells Petunia that she might be overreacting, which Scooter agrees with, saying that "the lad seems like a nice fellow", which Larry reiterates with Petunia, who can only grudgingly agree with Larry about trusting Ebony. However, when no one is looking, Ebony gives another sneaky grin to the viewers.

Bob states that everybody else would be glad to meet Ebony, though Ebony tries to say that he couldn't impose, before accepting Bob's offer to meet the rest of the citizens of the forest. Bob, Larry, Archibald, Scooter, Petunia, Junior, Laura, and Annie have returned to the forest, introducing Ebony to the rest of the others. While Ebony is getting himself acquainted with the rest of the Veggie Animals, Bob asks Larry if it's true that Ebony was chased by red-tailed hawks, Larry tells Bob that that's what Ebony told them, before also saying that Petunia doesn't seem to trust Ebony, though Bob tells Larry to give her time and that she'll trust him as time goes on, which Larry agrees with. After Ebony has acquainted himself with the other animals, he meets with Junior, Laura, and Annie, telling them that he had a fun time because of how the other animals were so sociable. Junior is glad that Ebony got along with the others, while Ebony tells him not to believe what the red-tailed hawks thought about him and that he's actually a nice guy, but was framed somehow. Annie vows to Ebony that they'll help him find who framed him for stealing from the red-tailed hawks, which Ebony is happy to hear.

It is now late at night, while the moon is in the sky, but while each of the Veggie Animals are asleep, a slinky figure slinks within the darkest of the night, but is unable to be seen properly because of how he is hidden in the shadows. The figure sneaks into each of the animals' homes in order to steal from their beech nut stashes. The figure chuckles to himself while he continues stealing beech nuts from the animals all through the night. The next morning, Larry awakens in his home, becoming surprised upon discovering that his beech nut stash is almost completely gone, wondering who took his beech nuts. At Jimmy and Jerry's home, they also awaken to discover that their beech nut stash is almost completely gone, Jimmy asking Jerry if he has been getting into the beech nuts last night, but Jerry tells him that he didn't do it, while Jimmy then wonders who did it. Bob and Larry show up afterwards, admitting that they've been wondering that too, Bob answering that someone has apparently been sneaking into their homes while they were asleep and stealing half of their beech nut stashes. Larry asks Bob who it is, but Bob admits that he doesn't know, before Petunia shows up, with a good bet that it's Ebony.

Ebony shows up saying that he didn't do it, telling them that he's been trying to tell them that someone has been stealing all of their beech nuts and pinning the blame on him, just like what happened with the red-tailed hawks. Larry is surprised when he hears this, Ebony explaining further that the imposter must have followed him and is now striving to steal everyone's beech nut stashes, surprising everyone, except for Petunia, when Ebony makes this statement. All of the animals have gathered around for a meeting to talk about what's happened, Bob explaining to everyone that thanks to their new friend, Ebony, they have reason to believe that someone has been stealing the beech nuts they've been collecting and pinning the blame on Ebony, further explaining that it's up to them to find out who's been framing Ebony and clear his name. Archibald then asks how they'll find out who's framing Ebony if they don't know who it is, which Bob admits that he does not know that, saying that they let anyone who's been framing Ebony get away with stealing their beech nuts. However, Petunia is still not certain that Ebony really means what he says and that it's up to her to find out what he's really up to. Larry asks Petunia how can she be sure that it's Ebony, saying that he seems like a nice guy, before Petunia answers that that's what she's suspicious, saying that Ebony keeps saying something about an 'imposter' framing him, yet she has a feeling that he's actually hiding something and they have to find out what's really going on with him.

Larry follows after Petunia, before they end up meeting up with Ebony, Larry telling him that they were looking for him. When Ebony questions about this, Larry explains to him that they were having a meeting about the imposter who's been framing him for taking their beech nuts, before Petunia quickly tells Ebony that they want to ask him a few questions about where he's been last night. Surprised by the question, Ebony covers up by answering that he was asleep, just like the rest of them, further answering that he was so fast asleep that he never got a chance to catch the imposter who's been stealing the beech nuts. Petunia suspiciously finds this very interesting, which confuses Larry, before Petunia answers that if Ebony was asleep when the imposter was stealing their beech nuts, then he probably would have heard him, while Larry points out that Ebony must have been asleep than he actually thought, which Ebony agrees with, saying that he really was too deep in his sleep to even hear the imposter, begging to the two lemurs to believe him, which only frustrates Petunia even more, before she thanks Ebony for his time. Larry and Petunia leave while Ebony waves goodbye to them, but after they leave, Ebony gives off another sneaky grin while giving a little chuckle to himself.

In another area of the forest, the red-tailed hawks from the previous day are still searching for Ebony, while their names are revealed to be General Talon, Sergeant Feather, Colonel Beakton, and Lieutenant Wingly. Aristotle flies over to the four hawks, asking them what they're doing in the forest, General Talon answering that they're searching for a conniving ferret criminal by the name of Ebony Blackfoot, asking Aristotle if he's seen him. Aristotle recalls seeing Larry, Petunia, Junior, Laura, and Annie finding a ferret in the forest while they were out looking for beech nuts. When General Talon asks Aristotle about Aristotle's friends, Aristotle confirms that they are his friends, though he admits that he's curious about if the ferret they found is the ferrets that the hawks are looking for. General Talon says that if the ferret has black foot, then it has to be him, before Aristotle further remembers that he did get a good look at the ferret's feet and he does have black feet, which the hawks confirm is Ebony Blackfoot. Lieutenant Wingly asks General Talon if they strike now, but General Talon tells him not now because they have to wait for the right moment. Aristotle realizes that since the hawks really are talking about Ebony Blackfoot, then that means that his friends are in trouble, thanks to Ebony's conniving nature and his tendencies to fool gullible animals. Aristotle then flies off towards the main forest while the hawks follow after him.

Back in the forest, Larry and Petunia have met with Bob, Junior, Laura, and Annie, where Petunia tells them about how she doesn't trust Ebony, which Laura asks her about, before Junior adds that if Ebony says that he's innocent, then he's innocent. Of course, this time, Bob is able to back Petunia up on her claim of not trusting Ebony, stating that he's starting to understand why Petunia does not give an ounce of trust to Ebony. Annie then asks Bob how they can be sure that it really is Ebony stealing their beech nuts, while Larry says that he wishes that Aristotle was with them because he could help sort the mess out, before Petunia tells him that she sees Aristotle coming. The group look to see Aristotle flying towards them, while Larry becomes frightened when he sees the red-tailed hawks following after Aristotle, crouching to the ground in fear, before Aristotle tells Larry to calm down because the red-tailed hawks are with him, which Larry is confused to hear. Aristotle then introduces General Talon, Lieutenant Wingly, Colonel Beakton, and Sergeant Feather to the group, explaining that they're from the Military Organization of Hawks, or the MOH for short. Larry is even more confused, saying that Ebony told them that the hawks wanted to catch him, which General Talon confirms. Laura becomes concerned, asking the MOH why they would want to catch "that nice kindly ferret", before General Talon informs her and the others that "that nice kindly ferret" is actually a notorious criminal wanted for theft and dishonesty, which everyone is shocked to hear, while Petunia realizes that she was right about Ebony all this time.

Aristotle then explains that Ebony may look like a nice guy on the outside, warning the others not to let his innocent facade fool them, because he'll trick others out of whatever food they've collected when he gets his chance. Larry is surprised when he hears that Ebony was the one stealing all of their beech nuts instead of the imposter that he was talking about, before Aristotle further confirms that Ebony tricked them into thinking that an imposter was framing him just to get others to show sympathy towards him, and once they've let their guard down, he steals their food from them. Junior says that if Ebony is the one who's been stealing from their beech nut stashes, before Annie also adds that this means that Ebony has also got everyone believing that he's the good guy while the MOH are the bad guys, which General Talon confirms. Bob states that if that's true, then they have to stop Ebony before he steals more of their beech nuts and also before he has everyone else believing in his lies. The group head off back to the main forest, at the same time that Ebony has been hanging out with Mr. Lunt, Jimmy, and Jerry, who compliment Ebony for knowing how to have fun, telling him that they should do it again another time. Ebony thanks the rock hyrax and the two jackals for their offer, but tells them that he's a bit tired from having fun with them, saying he needs to rest up a bit. Ebony leaves after that, but then he hides behind a tree and chuckles to himself about how he's tricked every animal in the forest into believing everything he's told them and that he'll really clean up on their beech nut stashes, just like with the red-tailed hawks, before boasting to see them stop him now.

Bob, Larry, Petunia, Junior, Laura, and Annie return to the main forest, where they meet up with Mr. Lunt, Jimmy, and Jerry, as Bob tells them that Ebony is not what he seems because he's actually plotting to steal their beech nuts when he's not looking. Of course, Mr. Lunt thinks that Bob has been getting too much fresh air, though Petunia tells them that Ebony really is a wanted criminal, saying that the proof is in the pudding, Jerry answering that he loves pudding, much to Petunia's frustration. Junior then asks Bob what they'll do now, Bob answering that if the others won't believe them, then they'll have to make Ebony confess his crimes to everyone else, which Aristotle agrees with. Bob then comes up with a plan to expose Ebony's true colors to all of the other animals. Later, Ebony has stolen more beech nuts from the rest of the animals, without them even realizing that they've been robbed. Ebony states that he really made out like a bandit this time, stating that everyone has no idea that he's playing them for patsies and that by the time he has left the forest, they'll be blaming each other for the beech nut thefts.

Of course, Petunia had been spying on Ebony this whole time before she comes out and greets Ebony, surprising him before he innocently tells Petunia that she scared him and that he was just doing some thinking to calm his nerves. Petunia tells Ebony to drop the innocent act because she knows what he's up to, which Ebony is surprised to hear, admitting that Petunia really caught him then asks her not to tell anyone else if he tells the truth. Petunia tells Ebony that he has her word, but she covertly gestures to Junior, Laura, and Annie, as they turn on a microphone that is hooked up to a speaker that Bob, Larry, Aristotle have set up in one of the trees in the main forest, where the rest of the Veggie Animals are. Because of this, Ebony proceeds to tell the truth, explaining that there is no imposter framing him for stealing the beech nuts from the other animals and that he stole them himself. Petunia asks if Ebony also stole from the red-tailed hawks, which Ebony confirms, before Petunia asks Ebony why, Ebony answering that he cannot resist free beech nuts that are being hoarded by other animals and that once they've collected enough beech nuts for themselves, he steals what he needs from them when they're not looking. Petunia then asks Ebony if he ever thought of collecting his own beech nuts instead of stealing them from other animals, which surprised Ebony at the prospect of having to go all that work, telling Petunia to perish the thought. Petunia then tells Ebony that "Not only are you a thief, but you're a lazy one too".

Back in the main forest, all of the other animals have heard the entire conversation, becoming surprised when they realize that Petunia was telling the truth about Ebony after all, and that he's not nice at all, but rather a thief. Ebony has finished confessing to Petunia about his true intentions, just as Junior, Laura, and Annie turn off the microphone, with Ebony thanking Petunia for understanding and that he feels so much better, knowing that Petunia won't tell anyone in the forest his little secret. Of course, Petunia tells him that she wouldn't be too sure of that, which confuses Ebony, before Petunia tells him to turn around. When Ebony turns around, he becomes shocked to see that the other animals are now angry with him for lying to them, before he gets angry with Petunia, telling her that she promised not to tell anyone, though Petunia tells him that she technically didn't tell anyone, confusing Ebony once again, before Petunia explains to him about the speaker system that she and the others rigged up so that everyone else could listen to his entire confession. This only angers Ebony even more, claiming that they tricked him even when he trusted them too, before telling them that none of this proves anything, before he runs off into the forest, as everyone follows after him.

Ebony approaches a large tree in the middle of the forest, thinking that no one will find him, but is proven wrong when Bob, Larry, Petunia, Junior, Laura, and Annie show up afterwards, which shocks and angers him even more, frustrated that he can't seem to give them the slip. Petunia notes that Ebony seems to be interested in this particular tree that he approached, asking him to tell them about it, before Ebony further confesses that he's been keeping all of the beech nuts he's been stealing from them in this particular tree, and that he figured that once he's collected enough beech nuts that he needed, he could come back for them and get away Scot-free. Annie then asks Ebony how he plans to do that with so many beech nuts, which causes Ebony to become all flustered with all the details being bestowed upon him, saying that if he wanted to take all of the beech nuts that he's stolen with him, then he would have done so, removing a rock that blocks a certain hole in the tree. Ebony becomes shocked when he realizes what he's done, but is unable to react, just as he finds himself buried in an avalanche of beech nuts that have spilled out of the hole in the tree, before Petunia tells him that his innocent facade has come to an end, before Larry quips that Ebony has been "buried in the aftermath", which he chuckles about, while Ebony can only groan in pain.

Later, once Ebony has been tied up and apprehended, General Talon thanks the group for helping them to capture Ebony Blackfoot, especially thanking Petunia for her help. Petunia says that she knew all along that there was something suspicious about Ebony from the moment she saw him, which Aristotle is proud to hear Petunia say. Larry asks Aristotle why that is, before Aristotle explains that from what he heard, the others were gullible enough to believe every lie that Ebony told them, and that God wants us to think carefully about whether someone is truthful or not, which Bob agrees with. Aristotle then quotes, "Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life", before Laura admits that they weren't very careful about what Ebony was telling them, while Junior apologizes to Petunia for not believing her, though Petunia tells him that it's alright. Once the MOH have succeeded in capturing Ebony, they decide that it's time for them to return to headquarters, with General Talon bidding Godspeed to the group, before he and his troupe fly away after that. After the MOH have left, Bob says that he's glad that Ebony has been brought to justice, while Laura can't believe that Ebony would actually do something like that just to try and steal their beech nuts. Aristotle then explains that Ebony has been wanted in six forests for beech nut theft and that it was lucky that they were able to catch him before he could do the same thing to their forest home. Larry then quips that maybe Ebony will get time off for good behavior, which the others admonish him for, before Larry tells that that he was just kidding.

## Fun Facts

* Character introductions: Ebony Blackfoot, the Military Organization of Hawks
* The verse quoted is Proverbs 4:23.