I used to live in the Burbank area in the early 2000s with my mom, and as a result, I had the opportunity to be in a lot of test screenings for upcoming episodes and shows, since she used to be a writer on SpongeBob specifically. I got to see a couple episodes of shows that were new at the time such as Fairly OddParents and Jimmy Neutron. In 2005 (the last year I was eligible for the screenings), I was assigned to a new group of kids my age and older (I believe 10 through 12). On a May weeknight, we were led to the smallest screening room at Nickelodeon's animation studio, and our parents had to sign a waiver making sure that they were okay with us watching a "more touchy episode." When we were inside the screening room, 2 employees sat down with us and told us that we were watching a special episode for the 4th season, and that it would be a more "serious" episode. As we got comfortable in our brighly-colored bean bags, the lights were dimmed, the employees left the room, and the screen would start playing.
The episode began with a shot of a gravestone entitled "Snail Cemetery." After a couple flashes of lightning it would move over to Patchy's house, then slowly faded in to show Patchy in the mirror, struggling to get a tuxedo on due to his hook hand and seeming to be sobbing. He would look away from the mirror and at the screen, still visibly upset. He'd use a handkerchief from his pocket then blew his nose, then looked up at the camera. "Potty has gone to the big tree in the sky..." said Patchy, as the camera panned over to a picture of him and Potty taped to the mirror. "It's hard to lose such a close friend, but I still remember all of the good times my first matey and I had." Similarly to in the "Lost Episode" special, it would show a black and white montage of Patchy and Potty from the previous show's specials. Once the montage was over, it would fade back to patchy, now sitting in his signature chair. He would look up at the camera, still tearful. "Loss can happen to anyone, even my good friend SpongeBob..." The segment would fade to black as the episode itself finally started.
It showed the title card "Snail in the Sky," and shortly after the credits it had a scene of SpongeBob and Patrick doing their usual shenanigans, playing in their front yard with toy boats they had. Gary was also outside and tied to a street light nearby. There wasn't really any dialog from any of the characters, which felt somewhat unusual to me. Gary would manage to get himself onto the road, and a boat with seemingly no driver would ram right into Gary. It would show a slow-motion scene of Gary's shell breaking in pieces and a slow, loud "Meooowwww!" would be heard. As soon as it was over, it would pan over to SpongeBob quickly running over to Gary and picking him up. Soon after, it would cut to the Bikini Bottom Pet Hospital. SpongeBob looked anxious, with a pool of sweat underneath the chair he was sitting in. A doctor would walk out of a double-door, which had a sign hanging over that said "Emergency Operations." There was absolutely no music, just the sound of a busy hospital floor. The doctor would put his fin on SpongeBob's shoulder, looking down and seeming upset. Gary didn't make it.
Soon after, it would cut to a scene of a funeral procession at a pet semetary. At the procession, a framed picture of Gary and SpongeBob sat there, decorated with many coral flowers and snail treats. A pastor fish would step up from behind a podium and began to read; "Today, we honor the life and legacy of Gary. He was a great snail who lovingly bonded with his passionate and kind owner for many years, and their friendship was unfortunately cut short by an unforeseen driver. His life and legacy will live on, and may his owner seek peace." During the speech, the camera would cut to SpongeBob and his friends, all wearing funeral-appropriate attire and feeling remorse for their friend. They would all get around and attempt to console SpongeBob, despite his pleas of wanting to be alone at this time. The scene would fade into black.
The episode would shortly resume with SpongeBob and Patrick sitting outside, as they were in the beginning of the episode. Patrick was doing his best to cheer up SpongeBob, although to no avail. "Buddy, I know it's hard right now, but I'm sure you'll be alright in a few days..." said Patrick. "It isn't the same without having my Gare-bear around, it's like a hole is missing in my spongy heart..." said Spongebob, looking down. He would walk into his pineapple house, and Patrick would soon follow. He would give SpongeBob a tight hug, and would look up at him. "I know that it'll be rough, SpongeBob, but your friends and I will help you through this." SpongeBob would hug Patrick back before saying, "I'll make it through this, as long as I have you guys around..."
The episode would then fade to black, and the credits would start rolling.
As the lights were dimmed back on, the two employees would walk back into the screening room. A lot of the kids (including myself) were either confused or upset from the episode. The employee on the left asked us a couple questions, but most intriguing of all was, "Have you ever lost someone?" Everyone in the room raised their hands. "This episode was made to help you understand that the loved ones around you are there to help in bad situations," said one of the employees. "Can you understand what SpongeBob needed to help recover?"
