Episode 24: Sweet Temptation
One day, in the cottage, Mugman walks into the bedroom, and has a frown on his face.
Cuphead walks in and apologizes, "Mugsy, I'm sorry I dropped that lit firecracker down your pants. In my defense, I thought you'd think it was funny."
"Yeah, hilarious," Mugman says, unamused.
Mugman then turns around revealing his bottom is burned. When he sits on the bed, the pain kicks in.
He groans, whimpers, winces in pain.
"Ouch," Cuphead replies.
"You still shouldn't have done that, Cuphead," Red Rose says with her arms crossed.
"Alright, alright, I'm sorry," Cuphead says.
Then Mugman says, "After all this trauma, I think I deserve a little treat."
"Ooh! A treat?" Cuphead asks, interested.
Yeah. A treat for me," Mugman says and points to himself.
Then says to Cuphead and Red Rose, "Now guys, turn around and don't look."
Cuphead and Red Rose look confused.
Mugman then says, "Well, go ahead and turn around."
"Why?" Cuphead and Red Rose say, confused.
"Just do it!" Mugman shouts.
Cuphead and Red Rose turn around and wait for Mugman to give the signal. While their backs are turned, Mugman reaches under the Cuphead's bed and there are a lot of strange noises. Soon, Mugman places a jack-o'-lantern basket on the bed.
Cuphead looks around and gets confused, "Wait a minute, you still have Halloween candy?"
"I said don't look!" Mugman says.
"It's September! How could you possibly not eat your candy for that long?" Cuphead asks, shocked.
"It's called self-control," Mugman says, taking a piece of candy and shoving the bucket back under the bed.
"Never heard of it," Cuphead says, crossing his arms and turning away.
"It's for people who don't give in to every temptation," Mugman says, and walks to the door, "You ought to try it sometime." And slams the door shut.
Soon, Red Rose and Cuphead are the only ones left in the room.
Red Rose turns to Cuphead, "Come on Cuphead, let's go to my room and do something."
"You go on ahead," Cuphead says.
"Alright," Red Rose says.
Red Rose then leaves the room and closes the door behind her.
Down in the kitchen, Mugman places a plate on the table, along with a fork and knife. He then places his candy on the plate. He then ties a napkin around his neck and prepares to eat his snack.
Meanwhile, in the bedroom, Cuphead looks down to see the Halloween Candy bucket.
In the kitchen, Mugman unwraps the wrapper and places the chocolate candy on it. Then pierces the fork in the candy and cuts it with a knife. Mugman gives the candy a sniff and sighs happily and begins to eat it.
As Mugman enjoys his piece of candy, Cuphead is practically scarfing it down and devouring all of Mugman's leftover candy. Cuphead continues to eat multiple pieces of candy into his mouth, until the bucket is empty.
When Mugman returns to the bedroom, he gasps in shock to see Cuphead has devoured his candy.
Mugman screams in anger, "Cuphead!"
"Huh?" Cuphead says, confused.
Red Rose walks in and asks, "What's going on? I heard screaming?"
Mugman ignores Red Rose and says to Cuphead, "You ate my candy?!"
Cuphead gasps and soon realizes his mistake.
Cuphead practically begs Mugman, " I'll make it up to you! I'll do anything!"
"Anything?" Mugman questions.
"Anything!" Cuphead answers.
And the next moment, Mugman opens the front door, holding Cuphead, "Get out!" And tosses Cuphead out.
"And don't come back until you learn some self-control!" Mugman says, and slams the door.
Cuphead slumps and begins to walk into the woods.
In the house, Red Rose hears the commotion and asks, "Don't you think it's a little harsh?"
"Maybe so, but Cuphead has to learn some self control," Mugman says, still bitter.
"I guess," Red Rose says.
Then walks to the door, "I'll see if I can find Cuphead, maybe I can help him."
"Good luck trying," Mugman says, and walks away.
Red Rose sighs and says, "Well, looks like I'll be finding Cuphead on my own."
And so, Red Rose leaves the cottage to find Cuphead and hope she can help him.
Meanwhile, Cuphead is walking deep into the woods, and still feels bad for eating Mugman's candy.
Cuphead sulks and mutters to himself, "Stupid self-control and not having any…"
Unknown to Cuphead, something rolls into the woods. Cuphead hears something and turns around to see nothing there. Soon, rolling in front of him, is a giant peppermint candy.
Cuphead gasps in amazement, "So beautiful."
Dazed by the sweetness, Cuphead begins to follow the peppermint through a slot in the tree.
Soon, Cuphead arrives in an astonishing sight, another world hidden within the slot of the tree.
Song:
La-la la-la la
Welcome to this land of sugar
Everything is simply grand
Everything is super yummy
In this place called Sugarland
La-la la-la, la-la la-la...
What Cuphead sees is a world that is made of sweets, goodies, treats, and different kinds of candy and pastries.
"What is this place?" Cuphead asks, amazed.
Suddenly, a voice giggles and answers, "Didn't you hear the song? It's Sugarland."
Just then, the cake-like castle fires and a woman comes out. She has a very feminine appearance and color palette, mainly composed of pinks. She is a tall and skinny woman, donning a good deal of resemblance to a soda bottle. She has pastel pink skin of a color similar to bubble-gum, very short, maroon-red colored hair with a large curl at the bangs, similar to a lollipop, and big green eyes, topped off with long eye-lashes. Whenever her mouth is entirely closed, it seems to fade behind her hot-pink, heart-shaped lipstick. She wears a sleeveless, reddish-pink dress with a red and white, diagonally-striped bodice (reminiscent of a candy cane), white puff sleeves (much like donuts and seemingly detached from the main bodice), darker red flounces (which resemble piped icing), and light pink and white speckles on the puffy, floor-length taffeta. She also wears white elbow length, opera gloves with cuffs, a hennin hat resembling an ice-cream cone with a white feather on top, and wields a candy cane as a staff, which she uses as a shotgun. In a few frames, she also appears to be wearing pink shoes with red and white striped socks.
She is also holding a candy cane in her hand.
She spins in the air and tip toes to the ground as she introduces herself, "My name is Baroness Von Bon Bon." And leans to Cuphead, "And today's your lucky day." Lifts herself up and spreads her arms in the air, "You get to eat aaaaaaaaaaall the sweet treats you desire." and leans to Cuphead with a big grin on her face.
"Aaaaaaaaand goodbye," Cuphead says as he turns around and walks away.
Baroness Von Bon Bon follows after him, "Wait, where are you going? I offered you aaaaaaaaall the sweet treats you desire. Ain't you gonna eat my sweets."
She then places her hands together and gives him the puppy dog eyes.
But Cuphead is still against it, "I don't think so lady. I've read the fairy tales. I eat your candy, I end up in an oven. You just wanna eat me."
"This is funny. You're funny. Funny guy," Bon Bon says, and begins laughing. "I'm a Baroness."
Then leans towards Cuphead with a cupcake in her hands, "I only want to eat treats."
She then kisses the cupcake and then eats it.
"Oh. Well in that case, I'm sorry I misjudged you, Ms. Baroness," Cuphead says.
"Oh please, we're friends now. Call me The," Bon Bon says, much to Cuphead's confused look.
She places her hand on Cuphead's chest and giggles.
Then dashes to appear behind a giant truffle, "Now I gotta say, I admire how you resisted my veeeeeery tempted offer."
Then appears as she lies on a jawbreaker, "Most disgusting children can't resist."
Then appears in front of Cuphead on the ice cream and chuckles with a big grin. That startles Cuphead into falling down on his bottom.
"You got a reeeeeeeal creepy way about you, lady," Cuphead says.
Bon Bon remains silent.
Then say, "I don't get out much. In fact I can't leave Sugarland on the count of an ancient curse." and give him a creepy large grin.
Then swept it off," But that's another story for another time."
"Why would anyone want to leave this place?" Cuphead questions.
"Exactly," Bon Bon says, as she falls into the giant ice cream.
Then comes and says, "Of course, a few had to leave for various reasons."
"Reasons? What kind of reasons?" Cuphead asks.
"Well, it's a long story, on the count of two very important people who had to leave for protection and all that," Bon Bon says.
"Important people? Like, do you have friends?" Cuphead asks.
"Oh I have a lot of friends in Sugarland, they're just roaming around and all that," Bon Bon says.
"Well, don't you have a family?" Cuphead asks.
"I actually do. I have a husband and a daughter, but they had to leave a long time ago. I haven't seen them in a long time, for important reasons," Bon Bon says.
"You had a daughter?" Cuphead asks.
"Yes. She should be around your age. My husband was a captain of a ship and had to take our daughter with him for protection reasons," Bon Bon says.
"You don't say. My friend's dad was a ship, and she said that she had a mother, but never knew who she looked like or where she lived," Cuphead says.
"You don't say," Bon Bon replies.
"Yeah, but she ended up getting shipwrecked and ended up on the isles. She has no idea where her father and his crew are, so she's been staying with me and my brother at our place with Elder Kettle. We had all kinds of fun and adventure, but she still misses her dad," Cuphead says.
"Well, I do hope you can bring your friends over. I'm sure she'll be happy to come here. And before I forget, I have two rules that you must never break," Bon Bon says.
Then explains, "Rule #1!" and narrows her eyes, "Tell no one about Sugarland!"
Then happily says, "But I'll make an exception to bring your young girlfriend here."
Cuphead blushes, "She… she's not my girlfriend!"
"I'm just teasing," Bon Bon replies with a giggle.
Then her two of her fingers, "Rule #2!"
And happily says, "Eat aaaaaaaaaaall the candy you desire… just not my candy castle." and points her cane toward her castle, "Not even a tinsey winsey bite."
"Works for me," Cuphead says, and begins to rub his hands eagerly, "There's so much tasty stuff here, why would I want to eat your castle?"
"You wouldn't," Bon Bon says, and twirls her candy cane," Unless you find it…"
Her mouth stretches to Cuphead and whispers, "Irresistible."
Hearing that, makes Cuphead look at Bon Bon's castle. It does look like a giant cake, it is decorated with pink and white color frosting and icing, and has different kinds of candy and sweet treats. Very tempting for Cuphead to eat.
"It is a tasty looking castle," Cuphead says, biting his tongue a bit.
Bon Bon turns her back and says, "I'll just turn my back in case you want to sneak a bite."
"Maybe just a little tinsey winsey," Cuphead says, lifting his head, and enters to take a bite of the cake.
Bon Bon looks to see Cuphead is very tempted to eat the cake.
Suddenly, they both hear a familiar voice, "Cuphead! Cuphead! Cuphead, where are you?!"
Cuphead snaps out of the trance and turns his head and says, "Red Rose?!"
"Red Rose?" Bon Bon says, a little surprised and yet, very pleased.
"Um yeah. She's my friend I was telling you about. I gotta go," Cuphead says.
Then hurries off to go find Red Rose.
Just then, Baroness says, "He'll be back, and I hope he'll bring my precious little rose cake with him."
Then waves goodbye, "Toodaloo." and lets out a chuckle.
In the woods, Red Rose is still looking for Cuphead.
Red Rose calls out, "Cuphead! Cuphead, where are you?!"
"I'm over here!" Cuphead calls out.
Red Rose turns to see Cuphead running down the path.
"There you are, I was looking all over. Are you okay?" Red Rose says.
"I'm good. Anyway, you're not going to believe this I just found…" Cuphead says. But stops to realize, "Hey, wait, I didn't eat any candy."
Then Cuphead gets excited, "I did that self-control thing Mugman was talking about. He's gonna be so proud of me!"
"What are you talking about?" Red Rose asks.
"I'll explain when we get back to the cottage. Mugman is going to be so proud!" Cuphead says, excited.
Then grabs Red Rose's hand and runs with her into the woods, "Let's go!"
Moments later, Cuphead rushes into the room with Red Rose, "Hey, Mugsy, I didn't eat any candy. The temptation was strong, but I- " But stopped to see the frown on Mugman's face, holding the bucket, "Ooh! You're still upset, huh? "
"Of course I'm still upset, and will be until you replace what you stole!" Mugman says, still upset.
Cuphead says, in excitement, "I can replace it and then some. See, I found this land where everything's made of-"
Suddenly, Cuphead remembers Barroness' rule in his thoughts, "Rule number one! Tell no one about Sugarland.
"What? Made of what?" Muman questions.
"Uh…" Cuphead nervously says.
"What's up, Cuphead?" Red Rose asks.
He then whispers to Red Rose and Mugman, "The Baroness did say not to tell you. But we tell each other everything, and you owe me for the candy."
"Okay, fine," Mugman says.
Cuphead whispers, "If I told you there was a place where everything's made of candy, would you wanna go there?"
"Of course I'd want to." Mugman answers.
Then Red Rose asks, "Who's the Baroness?"
"Hopefully, we'll avoid her. She's a little creepy," Cuphead says.
"She can't be that creepy?" Red Rose questions.
"She kind of is," Cuphead says.
He then nudges Mugman, "But we won't be avoiding her candy!"
However, Mugman doesn't believe him, "Wait, you expect me to believe that there's a whole world made of…"
Moments later, Mugman shouts in excitement, "Candy!"
Cuphead has taken Mugman and Red Rose to Sugarland, and they are amazed, surprised, and astonished. Mugman is practically more eager than ever to see the world of sugary sweets.
Then Cuphead asks, "Now do you forgive me?"
"Uh-huh. Uh-huh," Mugman answers with a nod.
Then Cuphead says, "Come on. Let's go have some candy."
Song:
Welcome to this land of sugar
Welcome to this land of sweets
Where the streets are lined with goodies
Cuphead and Mugman run up the hill made of ice cream and slide down, face first to devour them.
Song:
In this land of tasty treats
Have a stick of sugar candy
Then Cuphead, Mugman, and Red Rose are licking some candy cane trees.
Song:
Fill your mouth with sugar balls
Have a little or a lot Better yet, try them all
Cuphead then dives into the pool of fudge, and Mugman is practically swimming in it. Red Rose finds some sugar plums and eats some of it.
Song:
Welcome to this land of sugar
Everything is simply grand
Then Cuphead grabs a giant Jawbreaker, devours it in one gulp, and his body looks like a ball.
Song:
Everything is super yummy
Mugmsn ends up doing the same and rolls down on his back.
Song:
In this place called Sugarland!
Red Rose giggles as she eats some truffles close by.
After having their helping of candy, Cuphead, Mugman, and Red Rose are full and walk down the path.
"Oh, mama," Cuphead says.
"You took the words right out of my-" Mugman says, and hiccups, "...mouth."
Then the three friends laugh.
"This was the best place I've ever been. I never even knew this place was here," Red Rose says.
"You can say that again," Cuphead says, "We should probably go before the Baroness shows up. After all, I broke rule number one." Then turns around, "And you're breaking rule number two as we speak."
Cuphead gasps in shock to see Mugman has already taken a piece of the Baroness castle.
Cuphead cries out, "Mugman, no!" and runs over, "Don't eat the castle!"
"It was only teensy-weensy," Mugman says with his mouth full of cake.
"The Baroness is not going to like this," Red Rose says.
Suddenly, they hear laughter and look up to see the Baroness looking down at them.
The Baroness says, "Now you both broke a rule. Naughty, naughty!"
Cuphead shakes in fear, "The Baroness!"
"Hmm. She doesn't seem so creepy," Mugman replies.
However, the Baroness laughs rather crazily and a little creepy.
"Oh. Yeah, I see it now," Mugman says.
"Let me guess, you're gonna eat us after all?" Cuphead questions.
But the Baroness sticks her tongue out in disgust, "Blech! For the last time, I don't eat children. Only sweet treats."
Then the three sigh in relief.
Suddenly, there's a strange popping sound. Mugman and Red Rose turn their heads and gasp in shock.
Mugman panics, "Cuphead, what happened to your straw?"
Cuphead looks up and gasps in shock to see his straw has turned red and gummy.
Cuphead panics, "My straw!"
Suddenly, his arms turn red and gummy too.
Cuphead panics, "My arms!"
"What's happening?" Red Rose asks, shocked.
Cuphead cries out, "Mugman, help me!"
Cuphead and Red Rose turn to Mugman.
"Mugman?" Cuphead asks in shock.
Suddenly, Mugman begins to change and turn brown.
"Don't look at me," Mugman says in pain.
"Mugman, what's wrong?" Red Rose asks and approaches Mugman.
But Mugman turns around and screams, "I said, don't look at me!"
And to Red Rose and Cuphead's shock, they see that Mugman has turned into a Gingerbread boy. Then Cuphead has turned into a gummy candy. The boys scream in shock.
"Cuphead?! Mugman?! What's happening?!" Red Rose panics.
"That's what happens when they break the rules. Anyone who breaks the rules ends up turning into candy. That's kind of what the curse is about," Baroness Von Bon Bon says.
"Curse?" Red Rose asks.
"That's right," Bon Bon says and jumps off the castle and floats down to the ground, "And I can't leave because of an ancient curse."
Then look at Red Rose, "And you're Red Rose, right?"
"Um right," Red Rose slowly nods.
"In that case…" Baroness says with a smile.
And suddenly, Baroness Von Bon Bon gives Red Rose a big hug as she happily says, "My baby rosy cake is back home with her Mommy Bonnie!"
"Mommy?!" The Cup brothers exclaim in shock.
Baroness continues to hug Red Rose, "My daughter, my sea salt taffy pride, my sweet joy, my chocolate heart, my sugary soul, my pastry life, my candy star, my confectionate world, my dessert love, you're home!" And looks at Red Rose with love in her eyes.
Red Rose regains herself and looks at Bon Bon with curiosity and speck of hope.
"Are… are you really…?" Red Rose asks.
She quic;y reaches into her bag and brings out the music box. She then uses the key on her necklace to turn it, and opens it to play music.
Bon Bon gasps with a smile, "Oh, I'm so glad you have it. I'm glad that it made it to you out at sea."
Red Rose eyes open wide and tears begin to form from her eyes. Cuphead and Mugman stare in shock at what they're witnessing.
Bon Bom reaches her arms out, "You're finally home, my little rose…"
"Mom… mo… mom…" Red Rose says, practically speechless and unable to contain her tears any longer.
Unable to contain herself, Red Rose rushes to the Baroness and hugs her. Von Bon Bon does the same with tears in her eyes.
"Oh, my little baby rose…" Bon Bon says, happily.
Cuphead and Mugman watch in shock to see the two females hugging each other. Cuphead is dumbfounded while Mugman begins to shed tears from joy.
"Red Rose's mother…" Muggman happily says.
"I have to be honest, I did not see that coming. Like… at all…" Cuphead says.
However, seeing Red Rose and Baroness happy to be reunited, Cuphead can't help but smile.
Then says, "But… I'm happy to see Red Rose is finally able to see her mother. She's finally able to meet her."
Red Rose and Bon Bon continue to hug them with joy on their faces, and are happy that they are reunited.