What Ever Happened to SpongeBob?

What Ever Happened to SpongeBob? is a SpongeBob SquarePants episode from Season 5. In this episode, SpongeBob develops amnesia after running away from Bikini Bottom.

Plot
In this episode, SpongeBob wakes up on a usual day. He looks out his window and sees the mailman riding by on his bike. He says "Hi" to the mailman. This greeting causes the mailman to get distracted, and a truck crashes into him. After that, SpongeBob wants to spend time with his friends; however, he ends up upsetting them: he accidentally breaks Gary's shell, ruins Patrick's cake for his mother's birthday, disturbs Squidward's beauty sleep (as usual), destroys Sandy's new invention (a robot), and accidentally deep fries Mr. Krabs' money, and himself. After everyone tells him to go away and calls him "idiot boy," a devastated SpongeBob, who believes that all his friends hate him, decides to leave Bikini Bottom. After saying good-bye to Gary, who just hisses at him due to still being upset, and leaving him a year’s supply of food, he does precisely that. At night, SpongeBob is scared by mysterious figures in the shadows. While he runs from the creatures, SpongeBob falls off a cliff and bumps his head. After noticing a lump on his head, SpongeBob gets knocked unconscious by his bundle. Back in Bikini Bottom, Patrick, who is oblivious to how much he hurt SpongeBob’s feelings earlier, is knocking on SpongeBob's door, wanting to borrow his hot sauce for his milkshake. He is approached by Sandy, who is wondering where SpongeBob is, also oblivious to the fact SpongeBob is gone. Hearing that Patrick has no clue where SpongeBob is and having no time to wait for him to answer the door, Sandy decided to karate their way into the Pineapple home. After entering the house, the two find Gary huge and overweight and moaning for SpongeBob to come help him due to having a stomachache from eating all the food that SpongeBob left him, oblivious to the fact that he left. Being asked what happened to him, Gary sadly shows Sandy and Patrick his food bowl with a note from SpongeBob inside, explaining that he has run away and that he wouldn't bother anyone ever again, which makes both of them feel saddened. Meanwhile, SpongeBob regains consciousness, then notices a fish couple, who thought he was taking a "dirt nap," as they try to steal his possessions but pretend to say that they were organizing them. Hearing one of the fish call him by name, SpongeBob becomes confused and unsure. After being asked if he doesn’t know his own name, SpongeBob explains to the fish couple that all he knows is that he hit his head but now he can't seem to remember anything. Hearing this, the fish couple realize that SpongeBob has amnesia as they decide to take advantage of his memory loss so they can steal his possessions by telling him that the items aren't his and give him a new name, "CheeseHead BrownPants." However, SpongeBob felt something in his pockets then reaches inside them to find a bottle of bubble soap, which causes the couple to run off for some reason. After the couple leaves, SpongeBob wonders what got into them. He then notices a city nearby. At Bikini Bottom, everything is in chaos, especially the Krusty Krab, because SpongeBob is not there to give Krabby Patties. Mr. Krabs asks Squidward where SpongeBob is as he is freaking out that there are no Krabby Patties being made, then they both get into an argument after Squidward insults Mr. Krabs. However, after hearing Sandy and Patrick arriving, Mr. Krabs and Squidward are asked by them if they have seen SpongeBob. Hearing that none of them have seen him, Sandy shows the note SpongeBob left while informing Mr. Krabs and Squidward that he has left town due to causing trouble, and that he is not coming back. Mr. Krabs takes the note SpongeBob left from Sandy and reads it. After reading the note, Mr. Krabs sees that SpongeBob did write it. He then not only panics because the latter is gone, but also because he feels guilty for pushing him away, and he wonders how he'll survive without his best fry cook. Feeling guilt-ridden for pushing SpongeBob away as well, Patrick and Sandy break down crying, with the obvious exception of Squidward, who is delighted and remorselessly laughs in joy. Deciding to do a group meeting with just himself, Patrick, Sandy, and Squidward, Mr. Krabs kicks everyone out of the Krusty Krab, then tells everyone that the restaurant is closed until the group can find SpongeBob and bring him back to Bikini Bottom. Meanwhile, SpongeBob wanders into New Kelp City, name of the city that he saw nearby before, where he bumps into a business man. Believing he tried to steel money from him, the business man tells SpongeBob that if he wants money then get a job and insults him, which makes him think that because of his amnesia and sadly continues walking. However, SpongeBob gets hungry but discovers that he's broke and attempts to get a job. Each time he gets a job, SpongeBob uses his bubble blowing ability to help him, though, like the couple he encountered, this strikes fear into all the residents of the city, therefore resulting in him being fired. Back in Bikini Bottom, Sandy shows her friends her new invention that can track SpongeBob, the Sponge-Tracker. But Squidward, not wanting SpongeBob to come back, purposefully destroys the device with a hammer, claiming he dropped it. Furious and not buying his blatant lie, Mr. Krabs scolds Squidward for his action, then orders him to find SpongeBob, but he still refuses to help, even being unfazed when his boss threatens to fire him. Desperate to not only get his station working again, but also wanting his close friend back just as much as Patrick and Sandy do, Mr. Krabs comes up with the perfect method to get Squidward to cooperate with the search for SpongeBob as he offers him a jeweled Fabergé egg as a retirement gift, which the latter notes will complete his collection. However, Mr. Krabs tells Squidward that if he wants it, he'll have to bring SpongeBob back to Bikini Bottom. This offer finally convinces Squidward, who chooses his love of art over his hatred of SpongeBob, to help with the search party. In New Kelp City, SpongeBob's bubble blowing activities attracts the attention of The Bubble Poppin' Boys, a menacing street gang who have scared the city into never blowing bubbles ever again since the bubbles burn their eyes. They decide to show him what they do to rule breakers by beating up a scared SpongeBob, who quickly runs off as the gang chases him until he is cornered. SpongeBob then uses his bubble blowing ability to trap them in a large bubble, and it sends them out the city, which frees the town of their reign. As a result, SpongeBob is rewarded the position of mayor of New Kelp City by its previous owner, who immediately retires. While searching for SpongeBob, Patrick, Sandy, and Squidward stop at a gas station. The trio is shocked to see a newspaper stand showing news of SpongeBob's position as mayor of New Kelp City. With this information, they go to New Kelp City to retrieve SpongeBob just as he is giving a speech. After SpongeBob gives his speech, Sandy uses a blow horn to get his attention as she tells the surrounding citizens and her friend that she doesn't mean to put a damper on the mood there, but Bikini Bottom needs him back. However, due to his amnesia, SpongeBob doesn't know who Sandy is or the town she is talking about. Sandy goes up on stage, then apologizes for lashing out at him before. Seeing Sandy more closely, SpongeBob became surprised to see her and she thought he was talking about finding him, but becomes shocked that he doesn't recognize her when he mistakes her for a weasel, which he is surprised about. Sandy thinks SpongeBob is pretending that he doesn't remember her, but he does apologize to her for not remembering her and comments that he probably would, although he still thinks she is a weasel. Patrick comes up on stage as he hopes that SpongeBob hasn't forgotten about him, then shows him a half of a friendship tattoo he has while he has the other half. However, seeing the tattoo, SpongeBob gets confused as to how he got that, then explains to the two that all he remembers is hitting his head, blowing some bubbles and now poof, he's mayor. After hearing SpongeBob's explanation and realizing as to why he called himself CheeseHead BrownPants during his speech, Sandy is convinced that her friend really doesn't remember who he is or who they are as she concludes that he got his memory loss when he hit his head. Wanting to bring her friend home and help him, Sandy asks SpongeBob to come back with them to Bikini Bottom as she explains to him that the familiar surroundings of the town will bring his memory right back. However, SpongeBob refuses because everyone in New Kelp City needs his leadership. When SpongeBob gets into a limo to attend a meeting that he's late for, Sandy tries to stop him from leaving, but becomes surprised when the limo comes back around and is shocked to see that Squidward managed to hijack the vehicle. Sandy and Patrick get into the limo, and then Squidward drives everyone with SpongeBob back to Bikini Bottom. They take SpongeBob back to the Krusty Krab, but he still can't recall anything. Although he is surprised to hear that SpongeBob doesn't recognize the eatery, Mr. Krabs thinks he is kidding, then gives him his spatula. However, Mr. Krabs realizes that SpongeBob really did lose his memory when he became surprised that he was a fry cook before. Mr. Krabs tells SpongeBob that he's the best in his business, then asks him to get flipping. However, not entirely convinced of everyone's claims as to who and what he is, SpongeBob nicely tells them that he would like to, but he wants to return to New Kelp City and run as mayor, claiming it is a modest job. Squidward, who doesn't care if SpongeBob stays or not, demands the Fabergé egg from Mr. Krabs since he brought him back, on a technicality. Mr. Krabs sadly agrees and reluctantly hands Squidward the jeweled egg. As Squidward marvels on his new jeweled egg being so beautiful, he slips on the greasy spatula that SpongeBob put on the floor, causing the egg to fly out of his hands. The egg shatters as it hits SpongeBob on the head, much to Squidward's distress, and the impact gave him another lump. After getting a hold of himself and telling a concerned Sandy that he is fine but he just has a bit of a headache, SpongeBob realizes that his memory is returning when he recognizes the eatery. Overjoyed that their friend got his memory back, Mr. Krabs, also on behalf of Patrick, Sandy, and Squidward, tell SpongeBob how really sorry they all are for running him out town because of the harsh stuff they said about him, but they're glad he is back. Even though he wants to stay in Bikini Bottom and accepts his friends apology, SpongeBob knows that New Kelp City needs their mayor. Everyone is distraught that SpongeBob will leave again, except for Squidward, who is delighted at this as he feels that it will make up for the loss of his Faberge egg. At that moment, a news report comes on the TV saying that the bubbles in New Kelp City are causing mayhem and that he can't see with all the bubbles. A thug then threatens SpongeBob if he ever came back to New Kelp City. Upon hearing this, SpongeBob has second thoughts about going back to New Kelp City and decides to remain in Bikini Bottom. Before the episode ends, a dismayed Squidward opens his head and throws his brain in a trash can.