The Hopeless and the Hopeful

"The Hopeless and the Hopeful" is a The Sea at War episode from season 1. In this episode, the rebels use mustard gas and SpongeBob prepares for his mayoral campaign.
== Transcript ==
(The episode begins with SpongeBob mopping the floor of the Krusty Krab)
(Him, Squidward, and Mr. Krabs are the only ones there)
Mr. Krabs: Goodbye Krusty Krew. I’m heading home for the night. You guys can leave too. Have a nice Sunday tomorrow.
SpongeBob: Bye Mr. Krabs, bye Squidward. (Mr. Krabs drives away and SpongeBob hangs up his hat and walks out the door) (The scene cuts to SpongeBob opening the door to his pineapple) I should check out the updates on New Kelp City. 
(SpongeBob turns on the TV)
Bob: Earlier today in New Kelp City a rebellion started. Now we have some more information on the topic. All of the rebels spotted have been reported to be eels. It seems that the eel minority in New Kelp City is rebelling for unknown reasons. Unfortunately, after only about 14 hours the eels already control half of the city, even with the help of Bikini Bottom. The rebels are using strategic tactics to gain control of the land. Devastating amounts of civilians have been killed in the war. The future is now something to fear.
SpongeBob: Why would eels want to take over New Kelp City? What if Bikini Bottom is next? What if we all become slaves under their rule?
News Reporter: Coming up on May 1st is the Bikini Bottom mayoral election. It should be a highly contested election since Mayor Davis has already served her maximum two terms. There is no clear favorite right now.
SpongeBob: Contested, eh? I think I have an idea.
(The scene cuts to soldiers walking through the city)
New Kelpian Soldier 4: There they are!
Larry: Plan encirclement, underway.
(New Kelpian and Bottomite soldiers come in from the west and start to shoot)
(More soldiers come in through the south and start to push back the rebels)
(The New Kelpians and Bottomites push the eels back even further as many eels fall wounded and dead as they are clearly outnumbered)
(The shot cuts to Dustin in the cave)
Dustin: (On a walkie talkie) What’s this?! Your frontline is being pushed back?! This is unacceptable!
Rebel 1: (On the other end of the line) Can you send in more men?
Dustin: More men?! Are you crazy?! I’ve already sent out every last man! I’m the only one here!
Rebel 1: I don’t think we’re gonna be able to hold on then.
Dustin: Bring out the mustard gas.
Rebel 1: You sure?
Dustin: Yes. 
(The scene cuts to SpongeBob knocking on the door of Mr. Krabs’ house)
Mr. Krabs: (Still inside) I’m not buying what you’re selling!
SpongeBob: No, it’s SpongeBob.
Mr. Krabs: (Opens door) SpongeBob? What do you need?
SpongeBob: I was wondering if you could help me with my campaign.
Mr. Krabs: Your what?
SpongeBob: My campaign. I’m running for mayor.
Mr. Krabs: But the election is only in eight days! How are you going to have time to prepare? You’re not quitting your job, are you?
SpongeBob: No, I never would quit working at the Krusty Krab. 
Mr. Krabs: Why do you want to run for mayor?
SpongeBob: I need to stop those eels.
Mr. Krabs: SpongeBob, being a mayor is a harder job than you may think. And the war situation makes it an even harder job! Why don’t you just leave it up to someone else to deal with the eels?
SpongeBob: So do you wanna help me or not? I can find someone else if you don’t want to help.
Mr. Krabs: Sure, lad, I’ll help you. Actually I might know how to stop those eels.
SpongeBob: How?
Mr. Krabs: Stop Plankton.
SpongeBob: Huh?
Mr. Krabs: Plankton. He’s the one who’s behind this all!
SpongeBob: How would you know that?
Plankton: He’s always so interested in taking over. It makes so much sense that it would be him who initiated the whole thing.
SpongeBob: But the rebels are all eels, not plankton.
Mr. Krabs: You kidding? Plankton are much too small to fight. Sheldon probably hired the eels to do it for him.
SpongeBob: Hopefully we’ll find out soon enough.
(The scene cuts to the battlefield)
Bottomite Soldier 4: What’s that they're bringing out?
(The rebels start to spray to New Kelpian and Bottomite soldiers with mustard gas)
(The soldiers sprayed with mustard gas get shot dead while weakened)
New Kelpian Soldier 4: It’s mustard gas! They’re committing even more war crimes!
(The rebels charge forward, which forces the New Kelpian and Bottomite soldiers to run away or else get sprayed by the mustard gas)
(The shot cuts to Dustin in the cave on a walkie talkie)
Rebel 1: (On the other end of the line) The mustard gas is working. We have been able to move the frontline forward rapidly.
Dustin: Magnificent. Make sure to not use all of the mustard gas right now. We might need some later in the war, or at this pace, in the future.
(The scene cuts to a montage of SpongeBob and Mr. Krabs putting up posters saying ‘See SpongeBob’s Mayoral Speech On Sunday at Noon’)
Mr. Krabs: So, what’s in that speech of yours that you're presenting tomorrow?
SpongeBob: I’m not sure.
Mr. Krabs: What do you mean you’re not sure?
SpongeBob: I haven’t written it yet.
Mr. Krabs: What?! You haven’t? But what if you can’t come up with anything to write tonight?
SpongeBob: Oh, don’t worry about it Mr. K. If I’m dedicated enough, which I know I am, then I can easily write the speech tonight. Once the creatures of Bikini Bottom hear my speech, they’ll know I’m the one to vote. And besides for the war, I can do other things like set up a city fair.
Mr. Krabs: That sounds fun.
SpongeBob: Free healthcare.
Mr. Krabs: Even better!
SpongeBob: A day of free Krabby Patties!
Mr. Krabs: That sounds gr- wait no not that one.
SpongeBob: Well, I better get to writing that essay.
Mr. Krabs: See you tomorrow.
(The scene cuts to Dustin watching the news on his TV)
New Kelpian News Reporter: Just a bit ago our forces counterattacked the east of the city. Progress was being made until the rebels used mustard gas.
Dustin: Heh. Losers.
New Kelpian News Reporter: Now, after not even a day of fighting, most territory has been lost and things are not looking good.
Dustin: It’s all going perfectly.
(Dustin evilly laughs as the shot cuts to the outside of the cave)
(The episode ends)
== Production ==
* This episode underwent production on July 9, 2022. 
* The episode was announced on August 3, 2022. 
Category:Fan-made Episodes