THE SECRET BOX
Episode Title: "The Secret Box"
Episode Airing Number: 34
Episode Production Number: 35
Original Airdate: September 7, 2001
Season: 2
On DVD: "SpongeBob SquarePants: The Complete Second Season," "Halloween"
On VHS: (none)
Aired With Episode: "Band Geeks"
Running Time: 11:35
Storyboard Directors: Walt Dohrn and Paul Tibbitt
Storyboard Artists: Carson Kugler, William Reiss and Erik Weise
Writers: Walt Dohrn, Paul Tibbitt and Merriwether Williams
Animation Director: Tom Yasumi
Creative Director: Derek Drymon
In Brief: SpongeBob learns about Patrick's "secret box" and wants to find out what's inside that's so secret, but Patrick won't let him. He ends up sneaking into Patrick's house in the middle of the night just to get a look.
Story: SpongeBob learns that Patrick has a "secret box," but he won't show SpongeBob what's inside because it'd no longer be a secret. He opens it and begins laughing, and tells SpongeBob if he could let him look inside, it'd change his life. SpongeBob tells Patrick he knows all about secrets and tells him two of his, attempting to get a look. Patrick ends up getting curious and demands SpongeBob to tell more secrets, so he gives out lots of his secrets to him. After telling all of them, Patrick still won't let him look. SpongeBob lies that he also has lots of secret stuff, like his Secret Gary's Bowl and Secret Socks. That attempt doesn't get him a look, so SpongeBob tries running off with the box and is quickly caught. Patrick gets angry and threatens that if SpongeBob comes near the box again, the two will no longer be friends. SpongeBob gets sad and apologizes, and the two stay friends. That night, SpongeBob wonders what's in the box and can't sleep. He comes up with an idea on how to get a peek in the box: he'll sneak into Patrick's house, take a look, put the box back, and come home. He thinks it's a great idea (though Gary disagrees), and tiptoes to Patrick's. SpongeBob makes it under the rock, but thinks he's making too much noise. He does as he walks to Patrick's box, but oddly, Patrick sleeps through it all. Once SpongeBob gets the box, he trips and makes too much noise. Patrick wakes up from a comment SpongeBob made about him being a heavy sleeper and thinks a burglar is trying to steal the box. SpongeBob convinces him it's him by showing him their friendship ring. Patrick threatens that their friendship is over, but then says SpongeBob can look inside the box. He does, and discovers nothing more than a piece of string. SpongeBob walks home. Patrick pulls the string to reveal a secret compartment of the box, which holds an embarrassing photo of SpongeBob from a Christmas party.
Song: "Best Friends Forever Ring" Chime It's The Best Friends Forever Best Friends Forever Ring! Quotes: SpongeBob: Well, it's no secret that the best thing about a secret is secretly telling someone your secret, thereby secretly adding another secret collection of secrets...secretly. SpongeBob: *to Patrick* Did you know you're my best friend? Patrick: *in disbelief* No...way. Patrick: The inner machinations of my mind are an enigma. *a thought bubble appears above his head, where a carton of milk tips over and spills* SpongeBob: *wondering what's in Patrick's secret box* Or maybe Patrick's a deranged maniac who keeps his victims' severed heads in a box. SpongeBob: Good idea, eh, Gary? [SpongeBob's plan to see what's in the box] Gary: Mmm...no. SpongeBob: Oh, what do you know? You're a snail. SpongeBob: Boy. Patrick sure is one heavy sleeper. Patrick: *bursts awake* WHAT?! WHO SAID THAT?! Observations: Another Ring Appearance Some people believe that SpongeBob's Best Friends Forever ring can be seen in Band Geeks. While he sings "Sweet Victory," he points his left index finger forward at the words "Don't ever look back on the wind closing in," which we see a gold ring on that resembles the Best Friends ring. SpongeBob's Secrets: -It's no secret that the best thing about a secret is secretly telling someone your secret, thereby secretly adding another secret collection of secrets -- secretly -Patrick is his best friend -SpongeBob is a little bit naive -He loves his job at the Krusty Krab -He sleeps with his shoes on -He likes jelly on both sides of his toast -He has an overdue library book -He's never been late for work -He has said the word "fancy" in conversation -He likes to dance to loading zone announcements -He still doesn't have his drivers' license -He's a little on the short side -He's wearing three pairs of underwear right now SpongeBob's Secret TV Channel SpongeBob's secret channel he made up to get Patrick to show him the secret box is a bunch of colored bars with a continuous beeping tone in the background. These are used on many TV channels to test their colors and sound. When SpongeBob and Patrick Were/Will Be Friends: -As babies (in a flashback, SpongeBob and Patrick, as big-eyed and diapered babies, laugh in a cradle) -As children (in a flashback, the two as children wear blue sailor hats while riding a bike; SpongeBob pedals and Pat rides in the basket; both are laughing) -Currently (the two are shown as they look now laughing on a bigger red bike; SpongeBob pedals and Patrick rides in the basket) -As old men (the two laugh in rocking chairs; both have canes, little bits of grey hair on their faces, small limbs and wrinkled and slightly darker skin) -When they're dead (we see two gravestones, one saying "SpongeBob" and the other "Patrick;" both laugh with muffled old man voices in their underground graves) Missing House and Character When SpongeBob tiptoes to Patrick's house in the middle of the night to look in the secret box, Squidward's house is not shown between SpongeBob and Patrick's houses. Also, Squidward does not appear in this episode. Empty House The only things Patrick has in his house are a bed, framed photo on the wall of him and SpongeBob, a barrel, and the secret box that is on top of it. Patrick's Way of Sleeping Patrick sleeps on top of his covers, not under them. Potato Chip Bag When SpongeBob steps on the potato chips on the floor, a little red bag is seen next to them. It says "Chip" in blue text with the "s" cut off. Teeth Throughout the episode, Patrick is seen with different amounts of teeth. At different times he has ten, five, three, one, and four teeth.