Closing time at the Krusty Krab. SpongeBob struggled to clock his own I.D. out.

Karen was nearby, watching him struggle through the process. "SpongeBob, what's taking you so long?"

SpongeBob almost had tears in his eyes. "I'm trying, Karen, but clocking out is the most upsetting part of the day!" The poor sponge felt like crying. Karen, though patient with him, felt pity for the little guy. "At least soon, I'll be home, where I can relive all the wonderful moments from my day at work." SpongeBob imagined cooking Krabby Patties at home, with Gary in a Squidward costume. "It's just so hard to leave, even for one night!"

Karen only tilted her head at this, mildly annoyed. "Right…" Taking both I.D.s, Karen clocked the two of them out, escorting the sponge to the dining area. "C'mon, little man." Within seconds, the two were out the double doors.

Squidward walked into the room, noticeably more irritated at the holdup. "Finally," he said out loud, clocking himself out. "I can't entirely see why SpongeBob loves the place so much. I mean, just look at it - it's disgusting!" The Krusty Krab was in visible disarray, with food stains and leftover junk strewn everywhere.

"Not to mention our cheap boss." Squidward gestured over to Mr. Krabs, who was using a spatula to pry a stuck penny from off the floorboards. "Woo-hoo! Got it!" Eugene caught the penny in his claw, proud of himself, before turning to Squidward. "Hey, who're you callin' cheap?" "The guy who won't even spring for a doormat!" Squidward directed his boss' attention to the dirty floorboards in front of the double doors.

Eugene just brushed Squidward off, laughing. "Oh, give me a break, Mister Complains-a-Lot! As if YOU would know anything about running a restaurant!" "Laugh it up," came Squidward's response. "If I DID run a restaurant, my exquisite taste and gourmet know-how would have customers waiting in line for YEARS just to get a table!"

With that, Squidward followed his workmates out the double doors. "See you fellers tomorrow!" Eugene said, still chortling to himself. "Gourmet know-how…"

Squidward scoffed. "You just keep laughing, Eugene," he kept saying out loud. "My knowledge and intelligence could make even the Chum Bucket a success!"

Little did Squidward know, Plankton was spying on him, listening to the whole thing. Retracting his telescope, Plankton followed Squidward outside, trying to get his attention. "Hey! HEY! I'm yellin' over here!"

With all the leg strength the little bug could muster, Plankton jumped up onto Squidward's head. "OW! I think I picked up a tick!" Squidward pulled the gnat off the side of his head to see who it was. "Plankton? What do you want?"

"Well, I'd like to take you up on your offer to make the Chum Bucket a success!" came Plankton's enthusiastic response. Surprised at this, Squidward hesitated. "Well, I don't know about that…"

The conversation was interrupted midway by a passing Eugene, who taunted Squidward on his way past. "I don't value you at all~!" he jeered, still laughing.

Seeing this, Squidward dropped his Krusty Krab hat instantly. "I'll do it."


Plankton and Karen 2 showed Squidward into the Chum Bucket. The dining area was woefully neglected. "Eh, a bit industrial, but I can make it work."

The group made their way past Plankton's Labrador into the kitchen, which was only a small part of Plankton's laboratory. Squidward frowned. "Oh, puh-lease. You call this a kitchen?" He gestured over to a nearby wall. "We should start by tearing down this wall, so the chef is visible to all of his adoring fans~" The mental imagery made Squidward grin with self-nepotism.

Plankton only lowered his eyelid. "Oh, lovely," he muttered, "another megalomaniac." Karen 2 just stared. "Trust me, you'll get to know him," Plankton said back to his new computer wife. The two made their way over to Squidward, who was tearing out the pack traps Plankton used for his antennae massager. "Anyone can come in and redecorate, pal, but you still haven't proven to me how you're gonna make my chum edible!"

Squidward crossed his arms, smiling confidently. "So I guess the proof is in the pudding, then, isn't it?" This confused Plankton. "You're making chum pudding?"

Squidward waltzed over to one of Plankton's machines, pulling down a rope handle. "I'm making chum fricassee." Within seconds, a big blob of chum plopped into a nearby wheelbarrow.

Plankton was still confused. "Frick-a-what?" "Fricassee," came Karen 2's response. "A stew typically made with meats that have been browned in butter and served in a cooking stock sauce. Typical ingredients for fricassee are chicken, veal, or rabbit." Plankton tilted his head. "I have no idea what any of those animals are."

"Can we focus, please?" Squidward was still standing nearby the wheelbarrow of raw chum, taking in the retch-inducing stench for himself. "See, Plankton, there's a trick to making chum edible - we just need to follow old Grandma Tentacles' secret fricassee recipe."

"Secret recipe, you say?" This caught Plankton's attention. "What's in it?" He pulled out a pen and a notepad, prepared to write anything Squidward said down.

Squidward just laughed. "Nice try, tiny Cyclops," he said, "but you won't get Grandma's delicate mix of seasonings and spices that easily. Preparation cannot be rushed - each batch must simmer for EXACTLY twenty-four hours."

"Twenty-four hours?" Plankton was incredulous. "How is THIS going to bring customers into the Chum Bucket?!"

"Technically speaking," Karen 2 added, "the extensive cooking time may allow for any and all undesirables to separate cleanly from the chum itself, including organs and bones." "See?" Squidward said, confidently putting his suction cups on his hips. "This broad gets it." Karen 2.0 just stared. "I will take that compliment with duress."


At SpongeBob's pineapple home, Karen Classic was watching SpongeBob cook Krabby Patties for Gary in his underwear. "I'm all over it, boss man!" he said to a bag of flour dressed up like Mr. Krabs, cooking up a Krabby Patty for his pet snail, who was dressed in a paper bag with a crude Squidward drawn on it. "Order up, Gare-ward!" SpongeBob laughed. "Meow, meow," Gary said, somewhat annoyed.

"You can have one, too, Karen," SpongeBob said, handing Karen her own Krabby Patty. "Uh, thank you; I don't eat," came Karen's rather reluctant response. Although the allure of getting a Krabby Patty was built into her from the start, it felt off to accept one now without Plankton's influence.

"More snacks for the chef then!" SpongeBob rolled the Krabby Patty across his shoulders, bounced it off of his elbow, and opened his mouth to catch it. It landed perfectly on his tongue.

"I do have a question," Karen asked. "What do you see in the Krusty Krab that Squidward doesn't? How do you stay so positive and passionate about your work?"

"Well, working at the Krusty Krab has been my lifelong dream, ever since I was a little sponge," came SpongeBob's response. "I have my best friend Patrick to thank for giving me the confidence boost I needed to go for it." He took another Krabby Patty off his grill and flung it into the air, where it landed spot-on between two seaweed sea-buns. "Plus, I get to make my favorite food in the whole sea on the regular!" He giggled at the thought of that, before biting into another homemade Krabby Patty.

Karen pried further. "What about the customers?"

"Oh, the customers are great!" SpongeBob added. "I've gotten to know every single one of our regulars!" He began counting on increasingly numerous fingers. "There's Fred, Tom, Suzy, Harold, Mable, Shubie, Don, Old Man Walker, Old Man Jenkins, Scooter, Sandals…of course, I remember Hervy also applied for a job there as well…"

"Y'know, SpongeBob," Karen said, "I don't think I've ever seen you be this open about your job before."

"Well, we weren't friends before," came SpongeBob's retort. "Or even housemates, for that matter."

Their conversation was interrupted by a pleading meow from Gary. "What's that, Gare-Bear?" SpongeBob turned to see his pet snail tear off the Squidward-faced bag. "Oh, I guess role-playing time's over." He giggled nervously. "Better get this little guy tucked into bed, then!" With that, SpongeBob took Gary upstairs to his bedroom.


"Friends".

Not once in her entire married life had Karen heard that word directed towards her before. All this time, had Plankton really treated her that badly? Enough that he never even called her a "friend" right to her screen?

And now, here comes this little sponge character, taking Karen in when she needs a home, and even calling her not just a "friend", but a "housemate".

Yep. There went the waterfall screensaver. She had to refrain from crying openly; otherwise, she would wake everyone up.

Guess this would have to do until morning.


"Huh-wha–who took my blue blankie?!" Plankton was woken up by the sound of an order bell ringing. Squidward had just served him a plate of his special chum fricassee.

Plankton was a tad baffled. The thing on his plate looked nothing like how Karen 2 described it - in fact, it just looked like a slightly overcooked ball of regular old chum, just without the bits. "This is the secret stuff?" Plankton picked up his fork and poked the "fricassee" with it. "Doesn't look very promising." Squidward rolled his eyes. "Oh, just taste it already."

Plankton seethed at Squidward for a moment before scooping into the delicacy with his fork. He took a whiff of it first. "Well, the smell doesn't immediately make me retch."

Hesitating a little, Plankton took his first bite…and smiled slightly. "Say, this ain't bad at all." He took another bite. "Mm! It's actually amazing!" Without thinking, he then threw away his fork and knife, grabbed the entire plate, and let the meal slide down into his mouth as he gobbled it up. "This is gold in the form of chum!"

Swallowing his food, Plankton excitedly jumped up onto Squidward's shoulders. "Squidward, my friend, you'll be the toast of Bikini Bottom! The recipe's gonna make you a star!"

However, Karen 2 stepped up to question Squidward. "I am still curious. What makes you say that the chum needs to cook for twenty-four hours?"

"Well, truth be told, making chum fricassee is no easy task," came Squidward's hesitant reply. "You have to let the chum cook for twenty-four hours exactly - no shortcuts. Otherwise, it causes severe tummy trouble - my Grandma's words, not mine."

"Stomach pains. Noted." Karen 2 logged this information in an internal document. "In this case, we will need to prepare the recipe in advance if the Chum Bucket is to have its first successful dish. Preparing in advance will remove any and all toxins from within the chum."

"Hm. Karen 2 makes a good point." Plankton thought for a moment. "Chum is mostly bait made from raw meats - it's no wonder the stuff is toxic. Therefore…" He got an idea. "…if we use Squidward's chum fricassee as the basis for ALL of the Chum Bucket's recipes, the chum here won't be toxic anymore!"

Plankton got up onto Karen 2's monitor. "Excellent deduction, new computer wife - I never would've come to that conclusion on my own." "That is because your brain is tiny, much like your stature," Karen 2 replied curtly. Squidward smirked, rolling his eyes. "Ain't that the truth," he said under his breath.

"Plankton and I will reorganize the menu," Karen 2 said, heading towards the dining area. "Fine by me," came Squidward's response. "I'll start handling the chum." With that, he made his way towards the kitchen.


"Welcome to the Krusty Krab. May I take your order?"

Steven, a light brown fish in a purple polo, was hemming and hawing over what to order from the Galley Grub menu. "…Uhh, yeah, can I get an order of Kelp Rings to go?"

Kelp Rings? That was it? Surely this fish would have at least ordered a Krabby Patty first and foremost. "Will there be anything else, sir?" Karen inquired.

"No, that'll do it," came Steven's reply.

"Very well," Karen said. "That'll be $1.50." Steven handed Karen the cash as instructed. Karen turned to face the order window. "SpongeBob, I need an order of Kelp Rings to go!" "Coming right up!" came SpongeBob's voice.

Within a few minutes, the Kelp Rings were done, packed into a paper bag, and given to Karen. "One order of Kelp Rings up!" came SpongeBob's voice from the order window. Karen took the bag with the Kelp Rings and gave it to Steven. "Thanks for visiting! Please come again."

SpongeBob watched from the order window as Steven left. "Are you positive he didn't order a Krabby Patty or a drink with those Kelp Rings?" "Trust me, SpongeBob," Karen said, "if he ordered a Krabby Patty, I'd tell you."

Meanwhile, in Eugene's office, he was counting his earnings for the day, which were lower than expected. "Hmmm. Profits are down 10% from yesterday," he said to himself. "That can't be a good sign."

As if on cue, a food reality show started to air on the television he kept on his desk. "Hello, hungry eaters!" The announcer's voice caught his attention as it continued. "It's time for…'Flavors of the Bottom', a collectible look at dining out in Bikini Bottom! With your host, Perch Perkins."

"Hey, all you bottom-feeders!" came Perch Perkins' silky baritone from the television. "If you've already eaten, well, you'd better make room for seconds. Because we are tasting Bikini Bottom's sensational new upscale eatery, Le Chum Bucket!"

Eugene did a double take. The Chum Bucket - sensational? Upscale, even? Ridiculous! Even so, the crab could not pull his eye stalks away from the television at this point, continuing to watch out of pure bafflement.

All manner of classy clientele were showcased as Perch Perkins continued narrating. "Look at all these classy diners! What's on the menu? Well, it's something called 'chum fricassee'. Earlier, I spoke to head chef Squidward Tentacles…" Eugene felt his face contort, hearing Squidward's name being uttered in the same breath as both "Chum Bucket" and "sensational" - it almost turned his stomach, a member of the Krusty Krew working for that bottom-feeder Plankton! Nevertheless, he continued watching: "…and he shared with us why it's such a frica-success."

Squidward's appearance on the show only exacerbated Eugene's already sour disposition. "Actually, I can't share the recipe with you - it's a secret." That was the straw that snapped the clam in two. "WHAT?!"

SpongeBob and Karen had heard their boss' outburst from the dining area. Morbidly curious, the two sneaked their way to Eugene's office, cracking the door open just a tad.

Eugene was still glued to the television, only watching out of pure rage now. "Well, it's clearly no secret that Le Chum Bucket is a hit." Not just Eugene, but SpongeBob and Karen as well - all three of them could hear customers - THEIR customers - flocking to Le Chum Bucket to eat chum fricassee and get an autograph from Squidward. "Anything for my fans~"

"This is MUTINY!" Eugene shouted, banging his fist on his desk (and making the television turn to static in the process). "And the public is actually eatin' it!" Seeing SpongeBob and Karen peek their heads in, Eugene motioned them to come inside as he fixed the television.

All three watched with great interest. "Oh my gosh! Karen, look - that's Fred there in the crowd! And I can see Suzy, too - and Harold, Mable, Shubie, Don, Scooter…" SpongeBob gasped in horror. "They even reeled in Old Man Jenkins!"

"This is dumbfounding," came Karen's response. "When I worked at the Chum Bucket, it wasn't usually this packed. Squidward must've done something to their menu." "I guess that explains why business has been so slow," SpongeBob added.

"You're Chum Bucket tech," Eugene told Karen. "Is there any way you could hook yourself back up to the place to get a peek at what kinda changes they made to their menu?"

"That's wishful thinking, I'm afraid," Karen answered. "Plankton severed all my connections when he threw me out on the curb." Eugene growled. "The bug thought of everything!" Incensed, the crab got up from his desk chair. "Alright, Krusty Krew, time to get to the bottom of this."

SpongeBob and Karen followed their boss out into the dining area and out the double doors. "Where're we goin', Mr. Krabs?" prodded SpongeBob. "Off to my house, boyo," answered Eugene. "We're gonna do a little undercover work."


Nightfall at Le Chum Bucket, as it was newly christened. SpongeBob, Karen, and Eugene had been waiting in line for some time - the group had cleverly disguised themselves as rich noblefish like the rest of Le Chum Bucket's customers.

"Now whatever happens, keep actin' all fancy and junk," Eugene whispered. He had a fake gray beard to hide his identity.

"Aye, aye, Mr. Krabs!" SpongeBob barked loudly, giving a sailor salute. He was also wearing a beard, albeit a brown one.

Karen covered SpongeBob's mouth. "SpongeBob, keep it down!" She was wearing a fancy green dress and covering her screen up with a bridal veil. "Highfalutin people like these don't announce their own presence like that."

"Oops. Sorry. I mean, uh…" SpongeBob tried thinking of something "highfalutin" to say. "…I-I do say, I fancy a bit of the old chum, indeed I do. What say you, m'lady?"

Karen giggled. "Charming." Seeing no harm done, she went along with SpongeBob's little act. "Why, yes, I suppose I am feeling a mite peckish, indeed." She and SpongeBob giggled to themselves.

"Would you two button your yaps?" Eugene whispered firmly. "We're next in line."

The double doors to Le Chum Bucket opened as the group was invited inside. "You two distract the vacuum cleaner for me," Karen whispered. "I'll see what's on the menu." SpongeBob and Eugene gave her a thumbs-up.

With that, the group met face-to-face with Karen 2 in the waiting area. Her voice was just as cold and synthesized as Karen Classic remembered. "Welcome to Le Chum Bucket. Do you have a reservation?"

"Reservation? In THIS sinkhole?" Eugene growled.

"N-now, now, my good man, be reasonable." SpongeBob tried to get his boss to calm down, while also putting on his accent from earlier. "Forgive my, er, associate's sudden outburst, madam. He…isn't used to being in such a, er, crowded establishment." He giggled nervously.

Karen 2 stared at SpongeBob for an uncomfortably long time before talking again. "Well, I suppose we could try getting you a table somewhere where the crowds won't bother him." SpongeBob wiped his brow clean.

"May I have your name, please?"

"Harold Flower, madam," came Eugene's answer. "And this is my, er, associate, uh…" He looked at a candy wrapper on the floor. "…uh, Sir Krumple O'Wrapper. And, uh…"

"Uh, my 'wife', sir," SpongeBob whispered.

"…A-and his wife, Lady, er, Antequation."

Karen Classic stared her replacement in the face. "Charmed." She curtsied and put on a sickly sweet voice in order to mask her blind hatred of the screen facing her own.

Karen 2's screen blinked for a moment. "Likewise." She seemed to recognize this "Lady Antequation" from earlier in the week. She reminded her of the computer she should have sent to the scrap heap her first day on the job. Karen 2 wanted to giggle, but decided on keeping a straight face. This should be fun, she thought.

As the two were staring each other down, Karen Classic brought out a scanner and, extending her arm, carefully snuck it past Karen 2's waiting podium. Finding the menu behind Karen 2, she scanned as much as she could.

"…Uhh, so can ye seat us, or not?" Eugene was getting impatient.

"If you don't have a reservation," said Karen 2, "then it'll be a two-year wait to get a table. It should give 'Lady Antequation' here some time to get good at Minesweeper."

"Ohhhh, that's rich," came Karen Classic's response. "And what exactly drove you two to dress this dump to the nines, huh? How long did it take you to renovate it? Last time I was here, it was dustier than a museum!"

Karen 2 laughed. Her voice was dripping with malice. "Funny, coming from you. From what Plankton has told me, you couldn't even mop the floors without putting your own motherboard in danger!"

SpongeBob and Eugene winced. Not only was their cover surely blown, but the clientele in line were getting restless. "Hey! What's the holdup?"

And then the double doors to the kitchen opened. "What seems to be the problem?"

Squidward instantly recognized his former crewmates in line. He could not help laughing at their poor disguises. "Ohhh, this is just too good! If it isn't Mr. Krabs, SpongeBob, and their automated cash register!" He immediately took out a fan and blew off their disguises.

"Oh, boy." As if on cue, Karen Classic immediately retracted her scanning arm.

"If you three want into Le Chum Bucket so badly, then by all means, please follow me," said Squidward mockingly. "I believe I have a table reserved just for you." He led SpongeBob, Eugene and Karen to a toilet stall in the bathroom, where the toilet in question had a tablecloth covering it. SpongeBob and Eugene's faces visibly contorted in revulsion. "Bon appetit, suckers!" Squidward said, laughing.

Karen groaned in sheer disgust. "A lady should NOT have to take this!" She grabbed SpongeBob and Eugene by the collars and marched out the double doors. "Come on, boys - we are leaving!" Squidward kept laughing. "See you in two years!"

As Karen made her way out, she could see everyone in the restaurant laughing at their utter failure - even Plankton and Karen 2, arm-in-arm (so to speak), were jeering in their presence. "Give your new husband my regards, sweetums~!" came Plankton's teasing voice.

Karen winced, seeing Plankton so happy at watching her be humiliated. At that point, any love she would have still had for him had dried up completely. All that was left was unfettered hatred.


"What am I gonna do?" Eugene cried. He, SpongeBob, and Karen were sitting by themselves on the curb, close to Le Chum Bucket.

SpongeBob was in-between both his boss and Karen. While Eugene was sobbing his eyestalks out, Karen was visibly shaking. The sponge had no idea if it was from pure despair or pure rage. Either way, he had no idea who to comfort first.

Meanwhile, a customer was going through Le Chum Bucket's drive-thru, picking up a to-go order. "Thank you, sir; come again," came Plankton's voice from the window. "Enjoy your leftovers!" "Oh, I will!" said the excited customer.

As the customer walked by, however, he saw the Krusty Krew on the curb. He took particular notice with Eugene, who was bawling like a baby. SpongeBob, as well, was in somewhat of a fetal position, also silently despairing. And Karen, her stand having retracted down to her workmate's level, was still trembling intensely. Who knows what was going on with her?

Feeling pity on all of them, the customer decided to reach out and give his bag of leftovers away. "Please, sir," he addressed Eugene, "take my chum. It's the least I could do to help." He sighed as he walked away. "Poor guys…"

Eugene dug into the bag, pulling out the leftover chum fricassee bits the wayward customer gave them. He sniffed them just to see if they smelled anything like chum - they very much did not. He sighed, handing the leftover bits to SpongeBob. "Here, boyo," he said. "You go first. I can't bear to take a bite meself yet."

SpongeBob took some bits and put them in his mouth. While chewing, he smiled. "Hey, these are great!"

Eugene gave SpongeBob a worried look. "Better than a Krabby Patty?" "A wha?" SpongeBob's response was instantaneous.

Groaning, Eugene hesitantly put a few chum bits in his mouth. To his shock and horror, they tasted delicious. "These are wonderful! The herbs! The spices! THE MONEY!" He wailed harder than he did before. "Noooo-hohoho! Oh, I'm ruined!"

SpongeBob handed Karen his half of the leftover bits. "Here, Karen; maybe you can at least get a formula out of these leftovers." Karen simply turned her head. "I don't want anything to do with that garbage," she snarled. Scared, SpongeBob pulled back his bits. "I don't ever want anything to do with Plankton or the Chum Bucket EVER again!" The waterfall screensaver that popped up shortly after made it clear that she, too, was crying once more.

SpongeBob was lost. He had no idea what to do for his boss or Karen - all he could do was sit with them until they calmed down.