Summary
Highlights
Candace's persistent attempts to 'bust' her brothers, Phineas and Ferb, usually fail because their inventions disappear before their mom sees them. However, this time, when the boys transform the family car into a 'Flying Car of the Future... Today,' their mom sees it and sends Phineas and Ferb to the Smile Away Reformatory School, much to Candace's initial delight.
Phineas and Ferb arrive at the Smile Away Reformatory, which, contrary to its brochure, is a harsh place designed to suppress imagination, fun, and creativity. Baljeet is also there after being sent for having grades too high. The sergeant running the school aims to instill structure, order, discipline, and conformity, draining the children of their dangerous elements. Even Phineas and Ferb are affected, losing their usual enthusiasm for building.
With Phineas and Ferb gone, Candace initially enjoys her newfound freedom. However, she starts to miss them and realizes how much their antics were a part of her life. After watching a TV exposé on the Smile Away Reformatory, Candace understands the severity of the situation and decides to rescue her brothers. With Jeremy's help, she attempts various methods to infiltrate the reformatory, including a Trojan horse approach.
Candace uses a disguise, pretending to be Morty Williams, a talk show host investigating the reformatory, to gain access to Phineas and Ferb. She finds her brothers almost completely devoid of their original creativity and rebellious spirit. Candace tries to remind them of their true selves, encouraging them to embrace their imagination and build their way out of the predicament, leading to a heartfelt confession of her secret pride in them.
Candace's words reach Phineas and Ferb, who quickly revert to their inventive selves, building a bridge to escape the reformatory. During the escape, Perry the Platypus is revealed to be a secret agent. However, Candace suddenly wakes up, realizing the entire ordeal was just a dream. She's relieved that she didn't actually bust her brothers but is surprised by the vividness of the dream, especially the part about Perry being a secret agent.