The main drain (object)
The main drain is a large drain located in an unknown part of Bikini Bottom. It appears in the short "SpongeBob Cheese Nips," the episode "The Main Drain," and the book Legends of Bikini Bottom.
Description
It looks much like a normal drain, but larger. It also has a brown chain attached to it to pull the drain plug if necessary. If pulled out, it will drain the entire ocean.
Role in short
SpongeBob pulls the drain and it drains out the entire ocean. He, Patrick, Squidward and Sandy are then hit by the sun's rays and turned into Cheese Nips snacks.
Role in episode and book
This drain serves as the main plot point of the episode. Mr. Krabs yells at SpongeBob when the latter tries to pull a sink plug at The Krusty Krab. He then explains to SpongeBob and Patrick how dangerous it is to pull drains plugs with a story about how two children were wandering around and pulled the drain plug for fun.
SpongeBob and Patrick decide to set out and find the drain, but just as Patrick tries to find out if it was real by pulling it, Mr. Krabs and Plankton explain that they were the two kids that pulled the drain and were trying to stop them from finding the drain to prevent further disaster. In relief, Patrick wipes his forward while holding the chain, accidentally pulling the drain plug, causing it to suck all of Bikini Bottom into it. However, it is revealed that it was just a story SpongeBob was reading to Patrick the whole time.