

The next moment, the phone rings but remains silent when Squidward answers. After realizing that nobody is touching the light switch, Squidward then blames the faulty electrical wiring, as the restaurant was not built to run 24 hours a day. Suddenly, the lights begin flickering, though Squidward initially thinks SpongeBob is doing it in a failed attempt to scare him. (Ironically, a cutaway gag shows Patrick excitedly waking up at this hour specifically to eat a Krabby Patty.) Whilst contending with SpongeBob's diligent ceiling washing, Squidward expresses bafflement at the idea of the Krusty Krab being open 24 hours a day, wondering who would want a Krabby Patty at that time. Squidward then laughs at SpongeBob's shrieks of fright, but when SpongeBob continues screaming, an annoyed Squidward tells SpongeBob that he was joking and that the story is not true.ģ:00 AM soon arrives and the restaurant is now completely devoid of customers or any other signs of life besides SpongeBob and Squidward. Squidward goes on to explain the three signs of the ghost's return: the lights flickering on and off, the phone ringing with no one at the other end, and the arrival of the bus that had run the fry cook over. Due to fatally being run over by a bus and posthumous termination, the horrific specter returns every Tuesday night (though Squidward only put this detail in the story when SpongeBob told him that it was Tuesday) to exact vengeance on all who reside in the restaurant. Squidward, sensing SpongeBob's fear, weaves him a terrifying tale on the spot of a "hash-slinging slasher," a clumsy Krusty Krab fry cook from years past who accidentally chopped off his hand and had it replaced with a rusty spatula. Incidental 6 does not read the "Closed" sign. After going outside screaming to throw away the trash, he comes back in and calls it an easy task. When the time comes to take out the trash, however, he shows some trepidation towards the darkness outside. Krabs then promptly leaves his employees while SpongeBob is overjoyed at this prospect and, as the night goes on, takes pleasure in the tasks he had no time to do during the day. Krabs tears apart the "Closed" sign and, against Squidward's wishes, proclaims the Krusty Krab to now be open 24 hours a day. Realizing the financial potential of a late-night shift, Mr. Squidward smugly informs him that they are closed, and the customer prepares to take his money elsewhere. However, Incidental 6 walks up to the door and attempts to make an order. One night, the Krusty Krab staff prepares for its 8:00 PM closing, which comes none too soon for Squidward.

Hash-slinging slasher (debut mentioned).
