Title: Squid's End EXT. KRUSTY KRAB - DAY A typical day in Bikini Bottom. Customers are entering and leaving the Krusty Krab. INT. KRUSTY KRAB - DAY Squidward is at the cash register, looking very disinterested. SpongeBob is cooking Krabby Patties in the kitchen, singing as usual. SPONGEBOB (singing) Flipping Krabby Patties, making customers happy! MR. KRABS (O.S.) (through the intercom) Attention me employees, report to me office, please. INT. MR. KRABS' OFFICE Squidward and SpongeBob enter Mr. Krabs' office. MR. KRABS Argh! This be tough, me hearties, but I've been goin' over the numbers, and it seems we be needin' to make some cutbacks. Squidward and SpongeBob exchange nervous glances. SPONGEBOB Well, Mr. Krabs, if you need me to save on mustard or work extra hours for free... SQUIDWARD Oh, please, you'd do anything to keep working for this cheapskate. MR. KRABS Now, now, the decision ain't gonna be easy. But after careful consideration, I have made up me mind. I'm afraid, Squidward, I'm gonna have to let you go. Squidward is in shock. SpongeBob gasps. SPONGEBOB Squidward? But why? MR. KRABS Well, lad, Squidward here just ain't as dedicated to the Krusty Krab as you are. Plus, I'd be savin' some doubloons. Squidward's demeanor changes to anger. SQUIDWARD Well, fine, I don't need this job or you, anyway! You'll regret this, Krabs! Squidward storms out of the Krusty Krab. INT. KRUSTY KRAB - DAY SpongeBob is now handling both cooking and the cash register. He's struggling to keep up and looks exhausted. MR. KRABS (sympathetic) Keep up the good work, lad. The Krusty Krab's fate depends on it. EXT. SQUIDWARD'S HOUSE - DAY Squidward is sulking at home, playing his clarinet badly. SQUIDWARD (mocking) Dedicated to the Krusty Krab! Ha! As if that's something to be proud of! Suddenly, he gets an idea. SQUIDWARD (smiling) I know what will show that Krabs! I'll open my own restaurant that's even more successful than the Krusty Krab. Then, he'll beg for me to come back. EXT. SQUID'S BISTRO - DAY A fancy new restaurant has opened - Squid's Bistro. It has an elegant look that's attracting a lot of attention. INT. SQUID'S BISTRO - DAY Squidward is greeting customers and taking orders with a newfound enthusiasm. The restaurant is filled with sophisticated customers. CUSTOMER 1 (in awe) This place is incredible! So much better than that old Krusty Krab. CUSTOMER 2 Agreed! And the food is simply divine. INT. KRUSTY KRAB - DAY SpongeBob continues to struggle with both roles. The customers are getting restless, and Mr. Krabs notices the decrease in business. MR. KRABS This is worse than I feared. We're losin' our customers to that Squidward's fancy restaurant! On the verge of tears, SpongeBob decides to take matters into his own hands. SPONGEBOB Mr. Krabs, I'll go talk to Squidward. Maybe he'll come back! EXT. SQUID'S BISTRO - DAY SpongeBob enters the fancy new restaurant. INT. SQUID'S BISTRO - DAY Squidward is chatting with customers when he notices SpongeBob entering. He walks up to SpongeBob, smiling cockily. SQUIDWARD Well, well, well. If it isn't my old coworker. Come to see how a real restaurant works? SPONGEBOB Squidward, we need you back at the Krusty Krab! Without you, everything is falling apart! SQUIDWARD (smirking) Well, maybe I just found a place that really appreciates my talents. Sorry, SpongeBob, I'm not going back. SpongeBob hangs his head, defeated, and walks out of Squid's Bistro. INT. MR. KRABS' OFFICE SpongeBob delivers the bad news to Mr. Krabs. SPONGEBOB I'm sorry, Mr. Krabs, but Squidward isn't coming back. MR. KRABS (sighs) I never thought I'd be saying this, but I miss him. We need him back. It's time to swallow me pride. INT. SQUID'S BISTRO - DAY Mr. Krabs comes in, clearly uncomfortable in the fancy surroundings. He approaches Squidward. MR. KRABS (sincere) Squidward, I was wrong. The Krusty Krab... we need you. SQUIDWARD You're admitting you made a mistake? MR. KRABS Aye, that I did. SQUIDWARD Well, then, I accept your apology, but I have to say, I'm really enjoying running my restaurant. MR. KRABS Here's a proposition for ya: you come back to the Krusty Krab as the manager, and we'll work together to turn the Krusty Krab into something even better than this place. Squidward thinks for a moment before finally smiling and nodding. SQUIDWARD Deal. EXT. KRUSTY KRAB - DAY The Krusty Krab now looks like a combination of its old self and Squid's Bistro - it has a slightly new, more elegant appearance. INT. KRUSTY KRAB - DAY Squidward, now the restaurant's manager, welcomes customers back, and they seem thrilled with the new changes. SpongeBob is back to cooking happily. MR. KRABS (to Squidward) Welcome back, Mr. Squidward... Now let's give our customers the best Krusty Krab experience ever! Squidward smiles at Mr. Krabs and goes back to work, finally content. The customers are happy, and so is Squidward - in his new role, he discovers he can thrive. THE END