SpongeBob SliderPants
Episode 1: Sea Sliders
(The episode opens on a shot of Sandy's Treedome as the sun rises.)
(We cut into Sandy's bedroom. Sandy is fast asleep when her alarm clock changes to seven am. The alarm begins to play an upbeat instrumental version of the Texas State Anthem, Texas, Our Texas. The anthem continues to play as Sandy, dressed in her nightgown, sleepily gets out of bed.)
(Sandy yawns, walks over to the leafy wall of her tree, and presses a button partially obscured by said leaves. This causes a trapdoor to open beneath her and she falls through. This begins a sequence of transitions in the style of Wallace and Gromit.)
(Sandy slides into a chair and a robot arm hands her a cup of coffee. She chugs it down, causing her pupils to momentarily dilate as the caffeine hits her system. The chair then tips over sending her sliding further down into an opaque bathroom, in this room we can only see Sandy's silhouette. Water cuts on for a few seconds, soaking the silhouette, before the water turns back off. Some giant blow driers activate and cause the silhouette's fur to puff up. Another trapdoor sound effect is heard as Sandy's silhouette rapidly falls through. As Sandy begins sliding again, we hear random sound effects such as slamming doors, heavy machinery, someone laughing, squirrel chittering, and more as the camera moves through leaves for several seconds. During this sequence we also see some rooms that Sandy has already left. One such room has us zoom in and out of an open Narnia-style wardrobe that contains Sandy's outfits and a pile of snow blocking further forward movement, with a hint of sunlight poking through the top of the snowbank. Another such room that we pan past is a massive rustic oaken library. We also get to see a regular looking hallway with a few closed doors. All of this is to hint at a large series of rooms that make up this unassuming tree house. We finally see Sandy slide down into her kitchen wearing her regular bikini, softly landing in her kitchen chair where a warm breakfast of acorns, toast with nutty butter spread, an apple, and sweet tea is waiting. Texas, Our Texas cuts out just as Sandy lands in the kitchen.)
(As Sandy begins eating, a radio in the background on a kitchen counter cuts on and another robotic arm switches the station to K-BLUB.)
K-BLUB Announcer: (Enthusiastic) Good morning, Bikini Bottom! I'm your host DJ Rodney, and this fine Saturday you're in for a treat! For the next hour, we'll be playing so much Kelpy G that even the most dead-eyed Cephalopod will be forced to crack a smile! So… prepare your eardrums for some smooooth jazz. (Rodney switches to a Kelpy G track.)
Sandy: (As the Kelpy G track starts, Sandy gulps down what's left of her breakfast and stands up.) Welp, time to get that darn anti-grav projector working! (Sandy runs offscreen.)
(A short montage of Sandy constructing, testing, and modifying the handheld device currently known as the anti-gravity projector plays. We cut to outside Sandy's treedome and see the sun rise from the horizon and settle at high-noon. The Kelpy G track fades out as we cut back to Sandy.)
Sandy: If I can get this to work, maybe I'll be able to move my treedome closer to town! (Sandy activates the device. Sandy smiles as a beam of energy briefly lifts up her hamster wheel. The device fizzles and sputters out, dropping the wheel. Sandy frowns and sighs.) Welp, guess it's back to the drawing boards with this one. (As Sandy puts the device down, the device sparks back up and shoots a different colored beam. A whooshing wind sound is heard. Sandy looks in awe as the portal opens and grows to full size.) I've got to get this on camera!
(Static covers the screen before revealing Sandy's face. We zoom out to reveal that this is an acorn-shaped drone with a camcorder embedded in it. Sandy twists the drone to face the portal and begins talking to the camera.)
Sandy: Alright, I was just testing my anti-gravity projector when it shot out some beam that opened this here portal! Now I'm gonna send a drone in and see what's on the other side.
(The drone, along with the viewers, flies through the portal. For a few seconds, we see a twisting wormhole background before exiting the other side. We see an arid live action prairie landscape before the camera turns back to the portal. The drone reenters the portal and returns to Sandy. Sandy turns off the camera and we cut to a view of Sandy and the portal. Just as Sandy plugs the drone into a monitor, the portal closes. Sandy then turns to the monitor to see the drone's footage.)
Sandy: Huh, it looks like Texas… (Sandy pauses in thought for a second.) This… is… incredible! A handheld portal maker… and it draws less power than the vortex wheel that SpongeBob broke! (Cut to a broken version of Sandy's portal from Doodle Dimension. Cut back to Sandy.) I'm going to have to lengthen the amount of time the portal stays open cause someone could lose a leg at the speed it closes. Guess I better get to it!
(We cut outside the treedome and hear more construction from in the dome as the sun starts to set. Once the sun hits the horizon, cut back to Sandy.)
Sandy: (Sandy is still working on the device when the phone rings.) Who could that be? (Sandy goes to pick up the phone.)
SpongeBob: (from other side of phone) Hey Sandy!
Sandy: Howdy little sponge dude! (Sandy chuckles.) Whatcha calling this late for?
SpongeBob: (nervously) Well, we're wondering if you're feeling well. You've been acting… off today.
Sandy: (confused) We?
SpongeBob: Oh yeah, Squidward is here as well! Um… Can you come over to my home, so we can chat.
Sandy: Sure, I'll be right over! (Sandy hangs up.) What could that've been about? I mean, I've been here all day?
(Cut to SpongeBob's Pineapple, at night! Zoom into Sandy approaching the front door.)
Sandy: (knocks) Hello? You still there SpongeBob? (The door opens, revealing SpongeBob and Squidward.)
SpongeBob: Hey Sandy… Glad you could make it, now come on in.
(Cut to SpongeBob's living room we see the three of them sit down. Tension is in the air as SpongeBob and Squidward look nervously at Sandy.)
Sandy: (concerned) So, what did y'all want to talk about.
Squidward: (stands to speak) I'll start, if no one minds. (Squidward coughs and begins speaking theatrically.) Sandra, we've been concerned about your actions today, as they seem quite out of character for you. My concern started when you passed by my abode earlier this afternoon. I was practicing the clarinet at the time and as you passed you told me and I quote "That sure is some nice clarinet playing Mr. Tentacles! Tell me, are you planning on playing your oboe today as well?" I peered out my window in bewilderment and you just kept walking. I was utterly confused as to what you meant by (finger quotes) "my oboe", as I've never touched an oboe in my life. I was about to say something to you, when I saw you were wearing glasses. You almost looked like a completely different person, so I just decided to go back to my musical studies, assuming that perhaps you were just a stranger… Until, half an hour later, I heard SpongeBob scream.
(Squidward sits down and gestures to SpongeBob to tell his story.)
Sandy: (quietly asking herself) glasses?
SpongeBob: Thank you Squidward. Ok, well Sandy, you knocked on my door today a bit after two. I let you in, but you looked a bit off with those glasses. I didn't mind, I thought you were trying something new. (Slightly quieter) I personally thought they looked nice on you though… (back to normal voice) After we talked awhile about life and karate, you asked if you could get a bite to eat. I said you could go ahead and we went into the kitchen. You opened the fridge and found some peanut butter and jellyfish jelly. Then, you grabbed a knife…
(A loud bang is heard and the three turn to the source. We cut to SpongeBob's front door as it bursts open, revealing Plankton.)
Sandy, SpongeBob, & Squidward: (shocked) Plankton!
Plankton: (speaking dismissively) Yeah, yeah, I get it! Knock before breaking and entering… This is too important for that! Earlier today Karen detected a strong quantum fluctuation near the Chum Bucket! I've had this system passively tracking such fluctuations to provide as an early warning against any interdimensional invaders.
Sandy: Why would you of all people worry about invaders?
Plankton: Because I once switched my life with an alternate version of myself, just to see what it would be like to own the Krusty Krab! After that (Plankton shudders) experience… of being Mr. Plankton, I feared that I would one day be the Plankton that gets swapped.
SpongeBob: (slightly upset) But what does that have to do with you breaking into my home?!
Plankton: It has everything to do with this! Ahem… I tracked the strange quantum signature left behind by that fluctuation to this house. (Plankton pulls a strange energy reading device out of nowhere. He then moves the device around to check the readings.) If my hunch is right, then there is a being from another universe right… (fear fills Plankton's face as he points straight ahead) behind that door!
(We pan over to SpongeBob's kitchen door, which is slowly creaking open.)
Squidward: (screams, causing the others to look at him.) What? (Sheepishly, with a voice quivering in fear) These situations always end badly for me…
(The kitchen door opens and the being from another world steps into the living room, holding a PB&JJ, or peanut butter and jellyfish jelly, sandwich.)
SpongeBob, Squidward, Plankton: (shocked) Sandy!
Sandy: (stunned) You're… me.
Spectacled Sandy: Howdy y'all! My name's Sandy, but you already know that. (chuckles) If y'all want you can call me Spectacled Sandy, seeing that I'm wearing glasses whereas my counterpart here is not. (She gestures between herself and Sandy.)
Squidward: What is going on here?!
Spectacled Sandy: I'll tell y'all what's going on! But first, let me explain my (finger quotes) "out of character actions" to both of ya. (Speaking to SpongeBob) My favorite spongey chef, could you finish telling us what caused you to scream earlier today?
Squidward: Were you listening to our whole conversation?
Spectacled Sandy: (A mischievously look fills her eyes.) Maybe, maybe not. Now I'd like to hear what I did to scare SpongeBob so much.
SpongeBob: Well… after grabbing that knife, you used it to make a PB&JJ. However, what really spooked me was you taking off your helmet! Then, when you saw me scream, you grabbed your helmet and vanished like a ghost! Why did you nearly drown yourself and scare me half to death by disappearing without a word!
Spectacled Sandy: Oh… (understanding, with a guilty undertone) I guess you don't eat with yer helmet off Sandy?
Sandy: (concerned) No, that would be a death sentence. How in tarnation…
Spectacled Sandy: …did I do that? Well, let me show y'all one difference between our two worlds. (Spectacled Sandy takes off her helmet to prove her point. The others gasp, before realizing she is ok.) Years ago, after fixing a particularly bad leak at the treedome, I invented something that I call artificial gills. Since then, I've been able to breathe underwater like the rest of you sea critters! I only wear this old suit for hazardous work nowadays, like deep-sea diving, space missions, and multiversal voyages of discovery! After all, you never know if the next universe over even has atmosphere. (chuckles) As for my lil' vanishing act, (smirks) I think I'll keep that magic trick a secret.
Squidward: That explains what happened between you and SpongeBob, but why did you recommend the oboe to me of all things?
Spectacled Sandy: (speaking to Squidward) Now Maestro Tentacles, that is a simple explanation. In my world, your instrument of choice just so happens to be the oboe, so when I heard you playing the clarinet I just had to know if you were just practicing or if that was your favorite instrument. I guess I got my answer now, and a new fact to jot down for my record of your world. (Spectacled Sandy turns to speak to Plankton.) Professor Plankton, congrats on figuring out my interdimensional nature so quickly.
Plankton: Professor?
Spectacled Sandy: It's just a nickname, I like giving them to versions of people I know that I've just met. Anyways… I should have guessed that you of all people would have the means and motive to search for inter-dimensional intruders. I can count on one paw every version of you I've met that isn't so skeptical…
Plankton: (skeptically questions) So you aren't here to take over my dimension, or drag me into another universe?
Spectacled Sandy: (laughs harder) No, you lil jokester… (smirks) Not unless you want me too… (laughs) Naw, I'm here to take a few notes on this world and talk with your Sandy, then I'll be out of y'all's hair. (Spectacled Sandy turns to Sandy) Alright, now with that out of the way, let me introduce myself to myself. Hey Sandy, it's nice to meet you! After all, it's not every day I get to talk to another version of the most brilliant Texan Squirrel under the six seas!
Sandy: (states in a sarcastic tone) Don't you mean seven seas? (Sandy expects what she's about to hear.)
Spectacled Sandy: (laughs while stating the next sentence) Not where I'm from! Good to know we share a similar sense of humor. (Spectacled Sandy gets serious) Now listen, because this is important. I was just like you…
(We enter a flashback sequence taking place in Spectacled Sandy's treedome. There are a few differences in this Sandy's treedome and world, with the two most obvious being the second tree growing in her dome and the color of the sand outside.)
Spectacled Sandy: (This scene parallels the earlier scene of Sandy building the handheld portal maker) I was working on a device that would let me alter gravity's pull on an object, a gravity gun if you will. (Past Spectacled Sandy powers on the device, it sputters and dies.) It failed and I was never able to get it to work as intended… However, (The device sparks.) it did have an unintended consequence. (The device shoots out a beam, which opens a portal.) On that day, I unlocked the secret to freely traveling the multiverse! (We see past Spectacled Sandy with a look of awe on her face.) No more portals tethered to one place, or absurd power requirements, no, it was endless wonder in the palm of my paw! I began to explore the multiverse. (We see Spectacled Sandy traveling to a few different universes.) After dozens of slides between universes, I began to meet others like me. (We see Spectacled Sandy meeting with alternate versions of people we know, such as an alternate Pearl wearing a jumpsuit working in a cavernous underground bunker, a cyborg version of Sandy in a museum filled with collected relics, and a scientist version of Patrick that looks just like he looked in Patrick SmartPants.) Some (Physicist Pearl) were like me and you, just dipping their toes for the first time into the multiversal ocean. Others (Cyborg Sandy) were already seasoned explorers who had left their mark on the multiverse. And a few, they (Patrick SmartPants) wanted to use their abilities and knowledge to not only explore the multiverse, but make it a better place. After hearing what those few were talking about, I couldn't help but join them. (Spectacled Sandy and Patrick SmartPants shake hands.)
Sandy: (Cutting back to reality) Why are you telling me all this?
Spectacled Sandy: (grabs Sandy by the shoulders) Because I'm here to invite you out into that big wide multiverse, Sandy. I know your capable of exploring and making it a better place. That's why I'm here, I love going out and letting new multiverse sliders like you know that they are not alone. That they have friends out in the multiverse who are ready and willing to help them when times get tough and allies that will work with you to improve not just your world, but all worlds!
Sandy: That sounds nice and all, but I've just met you and your work of "improving the multiverse" sounds vague at best.
Spectacled Sandy: (sounding a bit dejected) Yeah, I know… Talk is cheap and I've done a lot of talking. Telling you about everything we've been doing would take hours and none of y'all have time for that. Instead, how about this? We skip to the action and work together to get that sliding machine you build working at its full potential! Then, after you've had plenty of time to explore the multiverse for yourself, you can come visit me and I can show you what we've been working on rather than just talk about it!
Sandy: That sounds like a fair deal! Let's get to it!
French Narrator: (Cuts to a card reading) One overly complicated mad science montage later…
Spectacled Sandy: (excited) And it's finally finished! (She hands Sandy the device, a few modifications are apparent.) Here you go. I won't bore y'all with the finer details, just quickly go over the more basic additions. You can learn about the rest when you come visit Sandy. First, here's your interface where you can enter any universe's ID. (She points out a set of ten-digit keys labeled 0 through 9 and display above that showing what is entered.)
Sandy: Why does it only have nine digits to fill in?
Spectacled Sandy: We catalog universes based on their background quantum signature, starting from the void of Nowhere as universe zero (as seen by Squidward in SB-129). We haven't been able to explore too far out into the multiverse yet, as exploring uncatalogued universes can easily prove hazardous, so most of us are content with being limited to a billion worlds until we know more about what's in them. Still, I'm kinda hoping we can add a tenth digit so we can start with the next nine billion. Now, the next thing I want you to see is the timer on the back here. (She points out a clock counting down on the back of the device.) This timer will let you know when the sliding machine has had time to recharge. I wouldn't try using it if it ain't reached zero as that could cause it short out in the next universe.
Sandy: Why do you keep calling it a sliding machine?
Spectacled Sandy: Y'all will see when you start traveling between worlds, but going through the tunnel between them feels like sliding down a long waterslide on a warm summer's day. It's a wonderful feeling that's hard to fully put into works. So sliding is just what I call that feeling! Ahem… Alright, the final feature I want to show you is the randomizer button. (She points out a little button on the side.) This button allows your slider to fill in any unentered digits with a random value and as an added benefit, random sliding drains the device less than any other form of sliding. This means if you wanted to just go exploring you could use this to travel between universes at a fast pace! With that out of the way, here's a list of universes I felt might interest you. (She hands Sandy a piece of paper containing a list of universe IDs, labeled for convenience. Sandy puts it down on SpongeBob's living room table without even glancing at it.) I know you're probably itching to get out into the multiverse, but before you go just make sure you've memorized a few of these IDs. The one at the top is your universe and the one just below it is mine. (laughs) It's kind of funny that we are only a few thousand worlds apart, practically makes us neighbors!
Sandy: So now what?
Spectacled Sandy: (excited) Do whatever you want! Go out and explore a universe or two once your slider finishes charging. The multiverse is your oyster! You can go visit a random universe or check out one of the destinations I left on that list! I've got nothing more to say for now than it's been a pleasure meeting y'all. (She opens a portal with her own slider.) I hope y'all come and visit after y'all had yer own lil' adventure! (With those words, Spectacled Sandy waves goodbye and walks through the portal.)
Plankton: (As everyone watches the portal close behind Spectacled Sandy.) Well… That was not what I was expecting at all.
SpongeBob: That was awesome! Sandy, can we go out into the multiverse right now! Please… please… please…
Squidward: Nope, I'm not going to be a part of any 'we' here. The rest of you can enjoy some multiversal adventure, just leave me out of it. I'm taking this as my cue to leave, go home, watch some tv, and then get sleep! Good night! (Squidward opens SpongeBob's door and walks out into the night.)
Sandy: (unsure) Ok… So… did you want to go into the multiverse or stay here, Plankton? After all, you know as much as we do.
Plankton: If this is everything it sounds like, I can't not go! Imagine, (We get to see what Plankton is imagining.) I might see a world where all my dreams of world domination have finally come true! Maybe even meet a version of me that wants to help me conquer this world! (Cut back to reality to see Plankton salivating at his own idea.)
Sandy: Welp, I guess the three of us better get ready then. We should treat this like a camping trip because who knows where we'll end up.
(We start a montage of Sandy, Plankton, and SpongeBob packing for their trip. During this time, we hear sippets of conversation between them.)
Plankton: Could someone give me a hand with all this food? (Just afterwards, the large pile of food crushes him.)
(Montage continues…)
SpongeBob: I got some flashlights!
(Montage continues…)
Sandy: Can you get that list of universe IDs SpongeBob? I've got to pack the rest of this up before we go.
SpongeBob: Got it! (Speaking to himself now) Better get Gary some food…
(Montage continues then ends.)
Sandy: Alright, that's it! Are y'all ready to go?
SpongeBob & Plankton: Yep! (Plankton then adds) Let's get on with it.
Sandy: Here goes nothing. (Sandy opens a portal.)
(The three hop into the portal and begin the slide into another universe. Even though they've gone through, the portal does not close. Instead, it begins moving towards SpongeBob's wall and phases through it. Cut to Squidward watching tv. Music is playing in the background.)
Announcer: Bikini Bottom Public Access Presents! (Before the tv fades out of audibility.)
Squidward: Ahh… This is the life. Some classy programs, some warm tea, and no noisy neighbors knocking at my door. Time for some well-earned peace and quiet. (Squidward slumps back and sips some tea.) Yea… Absolutely nothing can ruin this moment.
(Suddenly, the portal phases through the wall, ruining the moment.)
Squidward: (spits out tea) What the…
(The portal begins drawing Squidward and his couch towards its maw.)
Squidward: (begins panicking) No, no, no… I'm not going back in Davy Jones' fly! (Squidward jumps behind his couch as it gets sucked in. He begins clawing the floor as the portal sucks him closer. Squidward begins to scream.) Help! Someone please save me!
(Cut to Patrick sleeping.)
Patrick: (hears Squidward's screaming, waking him up. Patrick gets out of bed and exits his rock. Facing Squidward's house, he yells…) Keep it down over there! Some of us are trying to sleep! (Patrick slams his rock back down and we cut back to Squidward.)
Squidward: (having heard Patrick) Welp, I should have expected that…
(Squidward loses his grip on the floor and begins flying backwards towards the portal. Squidward screams in despair as he is sucked through. Just as he fades from view, the portal finally closes, leaving Squidward's living room a mess. However, the tv survives and is still playing in the background. We then cut to Sandy, SpongeBob, Plankton sliding through the wormhole. We pan by each of these three. First, we see Sandy smiling as she furiously takes notes. Then we see SpongeBob cheering as he does somersaults in the zero-g environment of the wormhole. Finally, we stop at Plankton. He's leaning back with his eye closed, as if peacefully sleeping. He opens his eye and begins speaking towards the camera.)
Plankton: What… it's actually quite relaxing. Almost like gliding on a cloud.
(Plankton then closes his eye again and goes back to relaxing. We then cut to Squidward, far enough away from the rest of the group to not be noticed. He's screaming and falling like when he fell through the Fly of Despair in Shanghaied. After this, we cut to SpongeBob's living room, although it looks a little different and a lot colder. A portal opens and Sandy falls through, swiftly followed by SpongeBob and Plankton.)
Sandy: (picking herself up) Is everyone ok?
SpongeBob: Yeah! That was so cool, it felt like jellyfishing on a sunny day!
Plankton: It felt like floating on a nice warm cloud. (Sandy looks at him.)
Sandy: That's… not quite what I expected to hear from you, but you're right, that was like a sip of sweet tea back home in Texas. I…
(Sandy is interrupted as Squidward's couch, followed by a still screaming Squidward, falls from the portal. Squidward lands softly onto the couch.)
SpongeBob & Sandy: (surprised) Squidward?
SpongeBob: (smiles ecstatically) You came! I'm so glad you changed your mind! (As he's saying this, the portal closes in the background.)
Squidward: (gets up, grumpily) I did not change my mind! (Turns to Sandy) Your awful portal dragged me here…
Sandy: (apologetic) Well, sorry about that Squidward… (Sandy gets her spirits back.) Still, we did it! We're sliders! We've slid between worlds and made it to the other side in one piece!
SpongeBob: (celebrating) Whoo!
Plankton: Might want to hold your horses you two. Sure, we made it to another world, but have you noticed your surroundings?
SpongeBob: What's wrong with them?
Squidward: (shivering) It's… so… cold…
Sandy: Yer right Mr. Tentacles. (Sandy takes out a thermometer, as she holds it the temperature is rapidly dropping.) This is bad, this world is plunging down towards absolute zero. We must have slid onto a snowball earth!
Plankton: Isn't that a world where everything is frozen solid?
Sandy: (moves Plankton to a window so he can look outside) See the sky Plankton! It's frozen solid! That means the surface above has already been blanketed in ice and snow. (Worry begins filling her voice.) At this rate, it won't be long before this Bikini Bottom becomes one giant block of ice!
Squidward: (begins tearing up, only for the tears to freeze) I don't want to freeze again! (Referring to the events of SB-129) I just want to go home!
SpongeBob: Um Sandy… the ice on the floor is creeping up my shoes.
Squidward: (despairingly) What level of Davy Jones locker is this place on!
Plankton: (yells) Would you just be quiet for five seconds!
(Everyone freezes, uncertain of what Plankton is about to say.)
Plankton: We still have that sliding device, let's just leave!
Sandy: (checks the slider, seeing the timer on the back.) We can't leave for home until this countdown reaches zero and right now it says we've got four hours til then. (Regaining confidence) You're right though Plankton, we've packed for situations like this. Let's just find a place to hunker down for the next few hours and then go home.
SpongeBob: (jumps with excitement from an idea) I know! We should go to the Krusty Krab. Mr. Krabs keeps it super insulated to cut down on his heating bills, so it should keep us nice and toasty for the time being.
Squidward: (snarky) I guess going to work beats freezing to death in your pineapple. (Squidward snorts with laughter.)
Sandy: Alright, that sounds like a plan! Everyone, grab a heated blanket and let's get going!
(Cut to the sliders, obscured like hooded cultists with blanket coverings, walking across a frozen moonlit landscape. For some reason, we see only three figures. A Plankton-sized figure is not seen.)
SpongeBob: (shivering, but happy) We're here! (SpongeBob unlocks the Krusty Krab's front door with his employee key, the sliders enter and lock the door behind them. SpongeBob, Sandy, and Squidward lower the blankets so that they are no longer covering their faces.)
Plankton: (emerges from one of SpongeBob's head holes) It does feel a lot warmer in here, why's Krabs want to keep this place so hot?
SpongeBob: Back home, Mr. Krabs may have originally added insulation to save on heating costs, but he installed lots more years ago so that people i.e., Squidward would stop asking him to turn up the thermostat.
Squidward: It became so hot in here that I gave up wearing pants to work. At least Mr. Krabs cheapskate attitude is helping someone for once…
Plankton: Huh, since no one's left to guard the formula… Time to go steal the formula! (Plankton laughs manically and begins running towards Mr. Krabs office.)
SpongeBob: (concerned) Plankton no!
Plankton: (mocking SpongeBob) Plankton yes!
(We pan through the icy Krusty Krab. As the sliders hastily walk from the Krusty Krab's entrance to Mr. Krabs office to catch Plankton, we see frozen customers in various states of distress, from pleading, screaming, to huddling in a fetal position. The one exception is this world's Patrick, frozen in a moment of perfect bliss, midbite into a Krabby Patty. His eyes are closed and he has a grin on his face that is obvious to his own demise. The face of perfect contentment. Plankton slips under Krab's office door. The others open the frosted door. Cut to Krabs' office. Inside, the cash register is dumped haphazardly on Krabs' desk, empty. The safe in the background is open and empty. Besides the desk, a giant pile of money lying on the floor. Plankton dives into the money pile.)
Plankton: Yes! Here it is! All I got to is pry it from this cold dead claw!
SpongeBob: (After removing the pile of money to get a good look at Plankton, screams) Mr. Krabs! (SpongeBob begins crying.)
Squidward: (annoyed) What's wrong now SpongeBob… You cry over… (Seeing what SpongeBob sees, Squidward deflates.) Oh…
(We see that under the money pile was Mr. Krabs, frozen to death with a look of agony filling his face. One of his claws has broken off, still clutching the formula. Everything except the bottom half of the formula is stuck in a block of ice.)
Plankton: (still tugging at the frozen formula) Almost got it… (Plankton struggles, loses his grip, falls, and slips around the icy floor below. Sandy and Squidward laugh at Plankton's misfortune, before once again taking in the somber scene before them.)
SpongeBob: (still with tears in his eyes, SpongeBob helps Plankton get back on his feet.) I hope you're ok, Plankton. (SpongeBob breaks down into tears again.)
Plankton: (regaining a sense of sanity after realizing the formula is out of reach) Ow… My head. (Looks at Mr. Krabs, Plankton grows somber.) Poor Eugene… I guess all the money in the world couldn't save you in the end…
Sandy: (feeling sad for Mr. Krabs) I hate to break this memorial up, but I think we should start a fire to keep warm. I got a lighter…
Squidward: (dejected) I guess we could burn this money for kindling, no one's ever going to use it again anyways.
SpongeBob: (sullen) I'll go ply a few boards from the floor below us…
(A short scene where the sliders built a fire in the office occurs. The sliders then settle around the fire.)
French Narrator: (card reads) One short nap later…
(We cut back to all the sliders sleeping by the fire in the office. A sharp howl of wind outside awakens Squidward.)
Squidward: (tired and grumpy) What was that… (Squidward looks out the window, his eyes open wide with panic. Squidward yells to wake everyone up.) Guys, you really need to see this!
Sandy: (grumpy) What is the problem Squidward! (Sandy looks out the window. We see an ice tornado on the horizon, heading towards the Krusty Krab.) Sweet Texas Tea, an ice tornado!
(The rest of the sliders get up in a panic.)
Plankton: How long do we got on the timer?!
SpongeBob: It says we still have just over two hours til the slide!
Squidward: (panicking) We got to get out of here! Sandy, use that randomizer button!
Sandy: But that'll reset the countdown and send us to another universe. We could be in worse danger there!
Squidward: I don't care! If we stay here, we'll definitely become popsicles!
(Sandy nods in agreement as the wind reaches a fervor pitch outside. She presses the randomizer button and a portal opens.)
Sandy: Come on everyone! Grab what you can and huck it into the portal!
(Everyone throws their supplies into the portal, before Sandy and Squidward jump into the portal. The fire causes the frozen formula to finally thaw out and begin rolling onto the floor. Plankton sees this across the room as he's about jump through the portal.)
Plankton: The formula! (He begins running to the formula. Boards are starting to fly from the ceiling into the tornado outside. SpongeBob grabs Plankton and throws him into the portal.)
SpongeBob: Sorry Plankton, but no paper is worth a life! (SpongeBob jumps after Plankton and from within the portal they see the formula get sucked up by the tornado, along with the rest of the Krusty Krab. In the wormhole, SpongeBob and Plankton talk for a moment.)
Plankton: (thankful) You… saved my life SpongeBob…
SpongeBob: (happy) That's what friends are for little buddy! I couldn't just let you throw away your life! (SpongeBob floats over and hugs Plankton.)
Plankton: (thoughtful) I was so blinded by my own greed and envy; I didn't even think about what I could have lost. My life, my computer children, Spot, (begins to tear up) Karen… (Plankton breaks down into tears.)
SpongeBob: (comforting Plankton) There… there… You'll see them again. Just promise me you'll think about those that care about you before you try something like that next time…
Plankton: (choking on his own words) I… (sniffles) promise…
(A portal opens, dropping the sliders into what looks to be a park. They pick themselves back up. Squidward has the softest landing having fallen into a bed of flowers. It is still night, but dawn is fast approaching.)
Squidward: (still dazed) Are we home?
Sandy: (confused) This isn't where we just were, but it does look like one of Bikini Bottom's public parks. Squidward, you did say the portal moved… so maybe the portal dropped us a few miles away from where we slid?
Plankton: (hopeful but skeptical) Maybe it's some kind of emergency function that took us back home?
SpongeBob: Umm guys, I don't think we're home…
Squidward: (turns to see what SpongeBob sees) Dear Neptune…
Plankton: Holy shrimp!
Sandy: (concerned) What're y'all looking at… (She sees it and gasps.)
(We cut to see the backs of the group and are able to see what they see. We zoom in on a statue in the center of the park. A statue of Patrick with a full beard, dressed like Vladimir Lenin, stretching his arm out towards the horizon behind the sliders. The sun begins to rise behind the statue, bathing it in an eerie light. We zoom in one final time to the base of the statue and can clearly see the description etched on its plaque below before cutting to black.)
Patrick Star
Founder of Patrickism
Liberator of Bikini Bottom
Author's Ramblings: Hey! If you've made it this far, thanks for reading all the way through! As you can tell, the set-up and several of the worlds that the sliders will be visiting are based on the tv show known as the Sliders while the characters and setting are firmly grounded in SpongeBob SquarePants lore. Other than that, my original concept was "what would it be like if SpongeBob and his friends went through the same type of multiversal adventure that the sliders went through". This is kind of a crazy idea at first glance, but I really love implementing this idea of taking these established characters out of their regular world and story then giving them multiple divergent realities that can and will mold their characters in a new direction. I would love to see if anyone else wanted to mess with this concept but until then here's my take on it. I hope there was something here to enjoy for both SpongeBob and Sliders fans. For those that fondly remember the Sliders, I hope you enjoyed seeing the first half of the pilot playfully recreated in SpongeBob's universe; while for the SpongeBob fans here, I hope you got to enjoy all the references and the start of what I hope is an interesting take on the multiverse of SpongeBob.
My biggest challenge was figuring out how to execute the story. After some thought, I felt writing it as a mix of SpongeBob transcript mixed with Sliders concepts would work the best. I wanted it to almost feel like an episode of SpongeBob from another world. This is my first time trying to write a transcript, so it may not have come out perfect at first. I'll try to improve this and the story's flow as it goes along. Also, I'm sorry if the cast seems a bit out of character. I tried to make them as accurate to the show as possible, leaning more on the early season characterizations, but I don't know if I can perfectly pull that off. Additionally, not only are they going to be forced to change going forward to survive an indifferent multiverse, but they also had to be slightly different from canon to mesh with the original sliders' personalities. If you absolutely hate it, you can rest easy with the idea that this all takes place in another universe in the wider multiverse.
My second biggest challenge was trying to figure out when to publish this. I had this idea last summer and I wanted to publish it on a date important to either Sliders or SpongeBob history. When I heard the Tidal Zone special would deal with the SpongeBob multiverse, I knew I had to publish it as close to then as possible. However, after the original airdate of November 25 came and left, I was left wondering when it would air. Fortunately, it finally aired earlier tonight, just as I wrapped up writing this first episode! Also, I got plenty more ideas for the next few episodes, though they likely won't be this long again.
Before anyone asks, I wanted to address the sudden change in Plankton's demeanor towards the end of the episode. I'm not intending him to have suddenly changed his entire worldview and become a good guy. Rather this scene is establishing the fact that Plankton isn't going to be as reckless as he can be in canon going forward. His priorities have changed from stealing an alternate formula and finding a world where he rules to getting home alive. Right now, the easiest way to accomplish that is to play nice with everyone else, should that fact change I'm sure Plankton would betray the rest of the sliders in a heartbeat. So long as he gets home, this version of Plankton doesn't care if the others make it back. Maybe that will change, maybe not. You'll just have to wait and see. Additionally, if there is a sordid side plot that can be hatched without ruining his chances of going home, I'm sure he'll be there. 😊
Now for a segment I'll call "When Worlds Diverged" (Kind of like the song "When Worlds Collide" featured in SpongeBob's "Ugh" episode) based on the travelogue featured on the Sliders fan site called earth prime, where I give a bit of background on the most prominent alternate world that couldn't make it into the final episode. Today, we will be looking at Hungry Ice World. No one left alive knows what happened to this world; it could have been a nuclear winter that ravaged the surface, earth and the moon could be on a one-way course out of the solar system, or some supernatural force could have cursed this world with an eternal ice age (like the unnatural windstorm seen in SpongeHenge). Either way, just like in SpongeHenge's world, this world is doomed to a slow death; though instead of wind ending this world, this world's end is being delivered by ice that almost seems… alive. In the end, the two things that we do know are this world's history was like the main timeline until the deep freeze that started within the last few years and there is still a chance for life here to survive underground and deep underwater (around hydrothermal vents). So, someone might want to go check for survivors in those thermal tunnels seen in SpongeBob SquarePants: SuperSponge.
Next time, we'll get a better look at this world run by our favorite pink starfish, who for some reason decided to follow in the steps of Vladimir Lenin. If anyone's wondering where I got this sort of idea for soviet Patrick, it was from a YouTube video that I saw a few years back. It's called Uphold Marxism-Leninism-Patrickism if you're curious. Also, we'll get a glimpse back home and see how those the sliders left behind are reacting to their disappearance. Until I get around to finishing the next episode (which will likely be sometime next month), I want to leave you with some food for thought. To those that know about the original sliders, which characters do Plankton, Sandy, SpongeBob, and Squidward parallel? Until then, see y'all around!