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This episode is essential viewing because: Butch and Cassidy are introduced. James's Victreebel is introduced. Todd leaves the group.

Ash and the others have stopped at a city. Todd is trying to take a picture of Togepi. On a TV near them, there is a Pokémon Weather update, then a weird girl with yellow hair appears, talking about a new 5 Star Breeding Center. Brock says breeding centers are the latest thing. Todd says they're good for people who can't raise their Pokémon themselves. They're likes spas for Pokémon. Ash says they should check it out.

When they get there, lots of people are crowding around with their Pokémon. The woman from the commercial is there and Misty says she seems really nice. Brock goes into his sees-a-pretty-girl trance. The woman says that they believe in Pokémon love power and a guy with short blue hair comes up behind her. Misty seems like she thinks something is wrong.

They go inside. Misty tells the woman she has a Pokémon she wants to leave there: Psyduck! She says that maybe they can rattle some sense into it. The woman says it looks smart to her. Misty also asks if they could change its clueless looking face. Ash says that would need a miracle. The man puts Psyduck on a conveyor belt and they leave.

Misty says Psyduck will prove if the place is real or not. Ash says that he'd like to have Psyduck, but Misty says she's going to keep it. They pass a restaurent and a sign says all you can eat, for free! Todd says theres probably a catch. The guy who runs the store comes out, and says that the buffet it free, but only if you show him his favorite Pokémon. Ash, Brock and Misty bring out all their Pokémon, but it's not any of them. The guy shows them a picture of his favorite, Psyduck. He says that any time someone brings in a Psyduck, he lets them eat for free. Misty says they'll be right back!

She says it figures that the one time she needs Psyduck, it isn't there. When they get to the center, it's closed. They go around to the back and find the back door unlocked. They go inside and it looks deserted. There are lots of doors and they go through one. Brock turns on a flashlight, revealing dozens of Pokémon in cages. They find Psyduck in one and its eyes look different, but only because they've been pulled back with tape. They see a cage go in a conveyor belt through some flaps to another room.

The man and the woman are there. The Pokémon is a Sandshrew. The woman says it could be useful it they can teach it Fury Swipes. She says the Pokémon trainers are all suckers. They'll take the best Pokémon and give them to the boss. They laugh evilly. Misty says they have to stop them. Todd comes up with the idea to take pictures to show everyone whats going on.

The man and the woman are in front of a screen, talking to the Team Rocket boss. The woman says they have lots of Pokémon. He congratulates them, saying they've done something right, unlike Jessie and James. He says they're unreliable. That's why they weren't told about the plan, because they'd mess it up. We find out the man and woman's names are Butch and Cassidy.

Todd is taking pictures,and takes one of the conveyor belt. Butch sees the flash. He goes to investigate. He opens the door, but everyone has hidden. Pikachu is in a cage, with sparks coming from his cheeks, making flashes. Butch figured that was what it was and leaves. Ash and the others decide to get out of there. Suddenly, a vent near the ceiling opens. It's Jessie, James and Meowth! Jessie says they're going to steal the Pokémon from the breeding center. Meowth says then they can get back on the boss's good side. James points out that they've never been on the boss good side. They spot Ash and the others.

Team Rocket thinks that they're trying to steal Pokémon too. Brock tells them that they're all in danger. Jessie says they're going to steal the Pokémon as suddenly the lights turn on. It's Butch and Cassidy! They say a weird version of the Team Rocket motto and their Pokémon is a Raticate. Jessie says Cassidy used to hang around her and was jealous because she wasn't as good looking. Meowth tells them to steal their own slogan. Butch and Cassidy tell them that they were about to steal the boss Pokémon. Cassidy says they'll probably be thrown off the team. Meowth forces Jessie and James to bow down and asks Butch and Cassidy to forget the whole thing happened.

Ash and the others make a break for it. Team Rocket starts to run, too, but James stops. He says he left his Weepinbell there the other day. He finds it, and it has become a Victreebell. He opens the cage and it bites his head. Suddenly a cage falls, trapping them. Another one traps Ash, Todd, and Brock, but not Misty and Pikachu. They hide as Butch and Cassidy come. They take Todd's camera.

Cassidy tells Officer Jenny that the others are burglars and she takes them away. Ash says that she has the wrong people. They aren't the criminals. Meowth says to speak for yourself. Misty, Pikachu and Togepi are in the alley next to the center and are trying to figure out how to get the pictures to show Jenny that Ash and the others are innocent.

Misty goes in the center in a jacket and hat and asks for her Psyduck back. When Cassidy leaves, Pikachu jumps out of Mistys jacket and goes to look for the camera. Cassidy brings out the Psyduck, saying there wasn't time to do a facial. Pikachu has found the camera, so Misty grabs Psyduck and they run out of the center.

At the jail, Ash and the others are still trying to convinve Jenny that they aren't criminals. James is admiring his Victreebel, saying how big and strong and friendly it is. Then it grabs him by the head again. Suddenly, Misty comes in, saying Jenny made a mistake. She shows her the photos, but shows her the wrong ones, then shows her the real ones of Pokémon in cages. Misty says Butch and Cassidy had them arrested because they knew the truth about the place. Jessie and Meowth say that they were going to stop them too. James' voice is muffled because his head is still in the Victreebels mouth. Misty says that they only went there to steal Pokémon.

They all go to the center. Jenny says that Butch and Cassidy are under arrest. Cassidy sends Raticate, but Pikachu shocks it. Ash then has Bulbasaur capture Butch and Cassidy, who are taken to jail. Jenny says that the Pokémon will be returned to their trainers. They all go to the restaurant and get free food. The guy says he just loves the Psyduck!

In jail, Jessie, James and Meowth are digging their way out, mostly because the place has no mirrors and the outfits are awful. Ash and the others walk from the city and Todd says he's going to the mountains to take more pics of Pokémon. They say goodbye and as they walk, Team Rocket is still digging beneath them!

This episode guide has been written by flik.

Characters appearing in this episode

Ash

Misty

Brock

Jessie

James

Meowth

Ash's Pikachu

Pokémon appearing in this episode

• Pikachu belonging to Ash
• Meowth

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