079a - The Pink Purloiner

During the annual Jellyfish migration, SpongeBob and Patrick come to Jellyfish Fields to see several rare and exotic species of Jellyfish. The two begin jellyfishing, with SpongeBob using Ol' Reliable. At the end of the day, SpongeBob was very successful while Patrick was unable to catch anything. SpongeBob boasts the superiorities of his net to Patrick, who says "I would kill for a net like that! (You know, something small, like a carrot)." The following morning, SpongeBob finds Ol' Reliable missing, and begins panicking, posting missing jellyfish-net posters all over town with a promise of a reward, even interrupting the local news to announce this.

SpongeBob is unsuccessful in his search, and gives up on finding Ol' Reliable. That night, he sees Patrick happily playing with his jellyfishing net before he goes to bed, and when SpongeBob realizes that Patrick's net disintegrated yesterday, believes that he has stolen Ol' Reliable. The following morning, he gives Patrick a Confess-a-Bear (which he made himself) to try to make Patrick confess that he took the missing net. Patrick does not mention this, but does say he knocked SpongeBob's toothbrush into his toilet and put it back on the counter without washing it, stopping the conversation. Later on SpongeBob goes to Patrick's rock to talk and sees Patrick's shadow with a net. But Patrick still shows no sign of the net.

The next day, SpongeBob pretends to go to work, but actually spies on Patrick for eight hours, but he sees nothing but Patrick standing still. He eventually sees Patrick carrying a box, and uses a false moustache to disguise himself as a man who is interested in purchasing what's inside the box for $1 billion. Patrick says he would not sell it for any price because it is his friend SpongeBob's... and SpongeBob stops him right there finally believing it was Patrick. But Patrick finishes the sentence, saying "...gift." To his great surprise, it is revealed that the box contains a net built by Patrick for SpongeBob to replace Ol' Reliable with. SpongeBob is torn between gratitude for Patrick's generosity, and guilt for accusing his friend falsely.

Patrick gets upset at SpongeBob for ever suspecting him, and prepares to leave Bikini Bottom. The bus arrives, and Patrick is about to climb aboard when SpongeBob grabs hold of him, begging his friend not to go while pleading earnestly for Patrick's forgiveness. The bus driver demands to know what the hold-up is, and when he sees that it is SpongeBob and Patrick, he gives SpongeBob Ol' Reliable, saying he left the net on the bus (as he does every week).

To make up for his accusations against Patrick, SpongeBob gives Ol' Reliable to his friend. Patrick is utterly overwhelmed by this gesture, and immediately decides to forgive SpongeBob for his thoughtlessness, and stay in Bikini Bottom after all. Everyone on the bus cheers, much to the chagrin of the bus driver, who claims that the two do this kind of thing all the time. SpongeBob and Patrick then run off to Jellyfish Fields together to enjoy their new nets during the last days of the Jellyfish migration.