The Graveyard Shift facts for kids

"Graveyard Shift" is a popular episode from the second season of the animated TV show SpongeBob SquarePants. Many people enjoyed this episode, finding it very funny. Some even called it one of their favorites because of its clever jokes.

About "Graveyard Shift"

This episode is the 36th one in the second season of SpongeBob SquarePants. It first aired on September 6, 2002. The story takes place at the Krusty Krab, where SpongeBob and Squidward work.

What Happens in the Episode?

The episode begins with the Krusty Krab closing for the day. Squidward, who loves peace and quiet, is very happy about this. But then, Mr. Krabs realizes he could make more money if the restaurant stayed open all day and all night. So, he decides to keep the Krusty Krab open 24 hours a day!

SpongeBob is super excited about working all the time. Squidward, however, is extremely annoyed by this new rule. He really wants to go home and relax.

The Legend of the Hash-Slinging Slasher

To try and scare SpongeBob into leaving, Squidward makes up a scary story. He tells SpongeBob about a spooky ghost called the "Hash-Slinging Slasher." According to Squidward, this slasher was once a fry cook at the Krusty Krab many years ago.

The story says that the fry cook accidentally cut off his own hand while making Krabby Patties. He then replaced his missing hand with a rusty spatula. Later, he was hit by a bus. Even worse, he was fired from his job at his own funeral!

Squidward claims that the ghost of the Hash-Slinging Slasher comes back to haunt the Krusty Krab every Tuesday night.

Signs of the Slasher's Arrival

Squidward also tells SpongeBob about three signs that show the Hash-Slinging Slasher is about to appear:

• The lights in the restaurant will flicker on and off.
• The phone will ring, but when you answer, no one will be there.
• The slasher will arrive in the ghost of the bus that ran him over. He crosses the road without looking both ways because, well, he's already a ghost!

The Spooky Night

Later that night, as SpongeBob and Squidward work, everything Squidward described starts to happen! The lights flicker, the phone rings with no one on the other end, and then a ghostly bus appears outside.

Both SpongeBob and Squidward become very scared. They are convinced the Hash-Slinging Slasher is real and coming for them.

The Truth Revealed

Just when they are most terrified, a figure walks into the Krusty Krab. It looks just like the Hash-Slinging Slasher from Squidward's story!

However, they soon find out the truth. The "Hash-Slinging Slasher" is actually just a nervous person named Nosferatu. He was trying to apply for a job at the Krusty Krab. He hung up the phone earlier because he was too nervous to speak. The flickering lights were caused by him flipping the light switch on and off because he was also nervous.

In the end, SpongeBob and Squidward realize there was nothing to be scared of after all.