Ash and co. have arrived on Hamlin Island. Luckily for them, there's a ferry that leads them straight to Pallet Town. Ash is excited to eat his mom's food and Tracey is excited to meet Professor Oak. In the middle of the bridge, they see a sign saying, "Due to extreme conditions, persons are forbidden to cross this bridge." Ash and co. has to get to the island or they won't be able to get to Pallet Town. Suddenly, a part of the bridge explodes. They take a boat to the island instead. Tracey finds it weird that there are no people on the island. Ash and co. walks around a bit looking for people. They find the ferry, but the entrance door is locked. Meanwhile, Togepi wonders off. It comes across a Voltorb and follows it. Misty realizes that Togepi is missing. They start to search the island for it. They find Togepi playing with a Voltorb. Ash looks up Voltorb in his Pokédex. Misty is shocked that Voltorb might explode. Misty tries to help Togepi. Ash and Tracey has a strange feeling that they are not alone. They are right. Out from the distance comes the Electrode. Ash and co. tries to escape knowing that the Electrode might explode. A gust of wind picks up causing the Electrode to explode. Ash and co. escapes them just in time only to find out that there are more Electrode.

Suddenly, a man appears from a building. He sends out his many Diglett. The Diglett brings the Electrode underground where they explode. Ash and co. are relieved that they are safe. The man tells them to follow him. He brings them back to the ferry entrance, and they sit to talk. Ash and Tracey wonders why there aren't any people on the island, and why there are so many Electrode. The man tells them that at first there were many people on the island. Many years ago, a scientist used Voltorb to generate electricity. One day, the Voltorb escaped from the lab, and they have been multiplying ever since. Some of the Voltorb evolved into Electrode. Because of the less space, the Electrode started to blow up. That is when everybody started to clear off the island.

Ash asks why the man is on the island. He thinks that the man is a thief. The man introduces himself as Poncho. He is a Diglett Rancher hired by the mayor. His job is to get rid of the Electrode. Poncho explains that there is an open space next to the ferry. He tries to get his Diglett to bring the Electrode to the open space by digging them underground. Then the Electrode can roam free in open spaces. The phone rings and Misty answers it. She gives the phone to Poncho. Poncho listens to the phone call carefully, and then he hangs up. He tells Ash and co. that he has to get rid of the Electrode today, or he is fired. Ash and co. wants to help Poncho, but Poncho tells them that they already hired someone else. The ground starts to shake, and they run to the source.

A big vehicle comes their way. Team Rocket comes out of the vehicle, and they say their motto. Meowth shows them the contract. Ash thinks that it is a trick, but Poncho tells him that it is not a trick. Team Rocket wants to the job because they want to keep the Electrode and get paid at the same time.

Team Rocket approaches the Electrode. They make the Electrode explode, and then they put them in the back of their vehicle. Ash and co. wishes that they can do something, but they can't. Many more Electrode comes and surrounds Team Rocket. They look mad. Poncho says that the Electrode look like they are going to really blow up this time. Voltorb comes to the scene. Team Rocket sees the little "shrimp," and they decide to capture it anyways. Togepi begins to wave its arms and jump around. James tries to get the Voltorb to explode, but he misses both times. Jessie and Meowth are mad at James for missing. James tries again, but he can't capture the Voltorb. Togepi and Pikachu stands by Voltorb's side. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt on the vehicle, but it doesn't do anything. If Ash and co. doesn't do something, Team Rocket will destroy everything. Poncho says that they are a disgrace, and he sends out Dugtrio. Dugtrio moves underground, trapping Team Rocket's vehicle in a crater. Then the whole vehicle falls down underground. Poncho sends out his Diglett to finish the job. The Diglett moves the Electrode underground. The Electrode rolls in Team Rocket's direction, trampling them. The Electrode are moved to the open space where they will be happy.

Ash and co. are in Poncho's balloon looking at the happy Electrode. The balloon floats to the ground where Voltorb is let out. Togepi begins to cry at the loss of its new friend. Misty tells Togepi that they can still be friends in their heart. Togepi waves goodbye to Voltorb as it sets off for a new home. Meanwhile, everyone has returned back to the island. Ash and co. thanks Poncho for his help. Misty quotes one of Poncho's lines, and she tells him that he can be a movie hero. Poncho tells her that he is not a movie hero. Ash invites him to Pallet Town, but Poncho tells Ash that he cannot come. Ash and co. boards the ferry where they wave goodbye to Poncho. They are headed straight for Pallet Town.

English Official Summary

A failed experiment has left a town a virtual wasteland, overrun with Electrodes. Ash and friends lend a hand in ongoing efforts to extricate these explosive Pokémon, until Team Rocket arrives with designs to detonate all the Electrodes.

Italian Official Summary

Diretti a Biancavilla, i nostri eroi cercano un traghetto, ma presto scoprono che l'sola è quasi completamente deserta se non per un manipolo di esplosivi Electrode! Riusciranno a fermare il Team Rocket prima che il traghetto salti in aria?

Portuguese Official Summary

Seguindo para a Cidade de Pallet, nossos heróis procuram uma balsa, mas encontram o porto abandonado, exceto por alguns Electrode explosivos! Será que Ash vai impedir a Equipe Rocket antes que a balsa seja destruída?

Spanish Latin America Official Summary

Con Pueblo Paleta en sus mentes, los chicos buscan un ferry, pero el puerto está abandonado... ¡excepto por unos Electrode explosivos! ¿Podrá Ash detener al Equipo Rocket antes de que el transbordador se llene de humo?

Spanish Official Summary

Un experimento fallido ha convertido a una ciudad en un basurero virtual, repleto de Electrodes.

English Great Britian Official Summary

A failed experiment has left a town a virtual wasteland, overrun with Electrodes. Ash and friends lend a hand in ongoing efforts to extricate these explosive Pokémon, until Team Rocket arrives with designs to detonate all the Electrodes.

Dutch Official Summary

Met Pallet Town in gedachten, zoeken onze helden naar een veerboot, maar vinden een verlaten haven, op een paar explosieve Electrode na! Lukt het Ash om Team Rocket tegen te houden voordat de veerboot in rook opgaat?

French Official Summary

Une expérience ratée a transformé une ville en une cité fantôme envahie d'Électrode.

German Official Summary

Nach einem fehlgeschlagenen Experiment ist eine ganze Stadt komplett verlassen und wimmelt nur so von Lektrobals.