The Splinter

"The Splinter"
General
Season number:	6
Production code:	105a
First airing:	June 2, 2008
Sister episode(s):	"Slide Whistle Stooges"
Credits
Writer(s):	Luke Brookshier Sean Charmatz Steven Banks
Creative director:	Vincent Waller
Storyboard director:	Luke Brookshier Sean Charmatz
Animation director:	Tom Yasumi
Supervising producer:	Paul Tibbitt

“Whoa! Hey, a splinter. Okay, well, it's been nice knowing you but you have got to go.”

—SpongeBob

"Gone" is the first segment of the fifth episode of season 6, and it is paired with "Slide Whistle Stooges." In this episode, SpongeBob tries to get rid of a splinter he gets at work.

Characters

• SpongeBob SquarePants
• Eugene H. Krabs
• Squidward Tentacles
• Patrick Star

Plot

SpongeBob opens the Krusty Krab and starts working. When he gets an order, he accidentally throws his spatula up in the ceiling and uses many items to stack himself high enough to reach it. When he gets it out, he accidentally falls, but fortunately his spatula clings onto one of the swords before he falls into a pit of swords.

On the ground, he slips and gets a splinter. He tries to get it out, but fails and ties his spatula to his nose in order to still flip patties. Squidward notices this as SpongeBob finishes an order and questions why the spatula is tied to his nose. SpongeBob tells the story and shows him the splinter.

At first, SpongeBob is annoyed, but when Squidward tells him that Mr. Krabs will send him home if he finds out, SpongeBob starts to deny that his splinter is a problem. Both SpongeBob and Squidward go into the bathroom, where Squidward flushes SpongeBob's hat and spatula down the toilet. SpongeBob tap dances while saying he is fine, and wraps some toilet paper around his injured finger. Squidward does not buy into it, so SpongeBob heavily breathes and begs Squidward not to tell Mr. Krabs about his injury. Squidward hints at telling Mr. Krabs and is entertained by SpongeBob's anxiety. Later, SpongeBob calls Patrick to get his splinter treated, and gets his treatment right outside the restaurant.

However, his treatment ends up causing his splinter to swell and after putting garbage on it to stop the swelling, infects it. After Doctor Patrick's shift is over, SpongeBob comes back inside, only to realize Squidward told Mr. Krabs about his splinter.

He tries to hide it, but eventually reveals his severely infected splinter, grossing the two out. Mr. Krabs carefully takes out the splinter, and afterwards is relieved because he won't have to pay him workman's compensation. Squidward realizes he can get paid for being sick at home, so he hurts himself, only to realize his shift was already over.

Trivia/Errors

• The kitchen was taller when SpongeBob tries to jump and retrieve his spatula.
• Moral: Dont be a bad doctor for your own benefits.
• SpongeBob's hat was flushed down the toilet, but when Squidward gets blown into the kitchen by SpongeBob's screaming, SpongeBob's hat is back on his head.
• SpongeBob's splinter turns purple, but when he enters the kitchen, it is the same size and shape from when it was not infected at first.
• SpongeBob's splinter turns dark purple after the trash treatment but then it turns dark red with veins.
• Irony: SpongeBob could have pulled off the arm with the splinter in it and regrown it, like what happened in "Graveyard Shift."
• This episode is Tom Kenny's least favorite episode.