Based on Stay Out of the Basement, book #2 of the original Goosebumps series.
Margaret and Casey Brewer are worried about their botanist father's strange behavior, and soon discover the truth about the strange plants he's been growing in his basement.
The episode provides examples of:
- Adaptational Alternate Ending: In the television version, instead of just one flower speaking to Margaret, a whole bunch of plants that can talk each claim that they are Dr. Brewer. They implore Margaret for help when the story ends.
- Adapted Out: Diane and Mr. Henry make no appearances in this episode.
- Affectionate Nickname: Mr. Brewer calls Margaret "Princess". When it comes to the Spot the Impostor scene, the real one shouts "Princess!" to clue Margaret in on who's the fake.
- Big Eater: Casey is shown eating through a large tub of peanut butter in the second half. Played for Drama due to how Dr. Brewer's attempts at cooking looks more like fertilizer.
- Bowdlerize: Naturally the clone being chopped up with an axe wouldn't fly on kid's TV, so he's blasted with herbicide instead.
- Dies Differently In The Adaptation: The plant clone is blasted by Margaret with herbicide rather than chopped up with an axe by Doctor Brewer. This causes the plant clone to melt into a puddle of green froth, leaving behind only the clothes he stole from the original.
- The End... Or Is It?: At the very end, Margaret hears a whole bunch of flowers each claiming to be her real father. But are any of them really her father or just flowers that developed sapience from being near her father's basement?
- Race Lift: Dr. Martinez is presumably Hispanic in the book, but in the episode, the character’s name is changed to Dr. Marek and he is Armenian.
- Something Only They Would Say: During the climax, Margaret starts to realize which Mr. Brewer is her real father when the real one calls her by her Affectionate Nickname of "Princess", which the clone never did.
- Title Drop: Dr. Brewer screams this to the kids when they venture into his basement lab.
