At the kettle cottage, Cuphead, Mugman, and Bendy were playing a new game.
"Prepare to have your faces rearranged," Cuphead said before pulling a blindfold over his eyes.
"I'll make you both beg for mercy," Bendy said slipping a blindfold down over his eyes.
"You're both going down," Mugman said blindfolding himself as well.
Cuphead picks up a pillow and fluffs it. "Three..." he said.
Mugman fluffs his pillow. "Two..." he said.
Bendy slips the blindfold off his left eye to peak as he fluffs his pillow. "One, go!" he said.
The boys yell as run around and swing their pillows around. Bendy hits Mugman in the face and then goes after Cuphead.
"Who did that!? I'll get you," Mugman yelled swinging his pillow around.
Mugman twirls as Bendy smacks Cuphead in the face. Bendy continues to smack Cuphead when-
SMASH!
"Uh-oh." Said the boys.
Bendy slips his blindfold back over his eyes to cover his cheating.
"What was that?" Mugman wondered.
The boys removed their blindfolds and Bendy gasps when he sees the back of Mugman's head. Cuphead sees it too.
Mugman turns to see Cuphead and Bendy looking at him.
"What is it?" Mugman asked.
Cuphead and Bendy's eyes look downward, and he sees Mugman's broken handle lying on the floor.
Cuphead starts sweating. "Uh... Nothing, at all. Nothing. Why? What? Why?" he said.
"Yeah, nothing's wrong," Bendy said with indifference.
Mugman gave Bendy a suspicious glare, but the kitten seemed unperturbed... but when he glared at Cuphead, the cup's sweating got worse.
"Oh, it's something," Mugman said. He walks over to the mirror and checks his face. His teeth and nose seemed fine. No visible cracks. He tilts his head and finally notices the broken remains at the back of his head. He turns around and sees his broken handle on the floor. He touches his head and screams in horror. As he runs around in a panic, Bendy picks up the handle and Cuphead steps next to him and inspects it.
"Can you feel this?" Bendy asked before poking the handle and then tickling it.
Mugman's reaction is immediate, and he starts laughing.
Cuphead tickles the other end of the handle, he, and Bendy snicker and Mugman laughs louder.
Mugman huffs. "Hey-! Hey!" he crawls over to Bendy and Cuphead. "stop... stop it. Stop it!" he yelled. He manages to snatch his handle back and takes in a few breaths to regain his composure but when he looks down at the handle he sputters.
Cuphead wraps an arm around Mugman. "Buddy, relax. We'll handle it." Cuphead said.
Mugman glares at his brother.
"I mean, take care of it," Cuphead said. He licks the handle, twirls Mugman around, and sticks it back onto Mugman's head. "There, nothing to it."
Mugman seems delighted... until the handle falls off. It chips off more fragments. Mugman screams again but stops quickly.
"Boy, that never gets easier," Mugman said wiping his brow.
"Let me try somethin'," Bendy said. He pulls out a long black thread and ties the handle to Mugman's head. Unfortunately, the handle slips off again.
Mugman yelled.
"Don't worry Mugsy," Cuphead said. He brings out the scotch tape and tapes the handle to Mugman's head.
"How do I look?" Mugman asked.
"Good as new," Cuphead said.
The handle falls and Mugman screams again. The tape was still on his face.
Bendy and Cuphead ponder what to do. Cuphead gets an idea, then he runs outside and returns with a beehive full of honey. He waves the bees away, dips the handle ends into the honey, and sticks it back on Mugman.
"Voila!" Cuphead said.
"Nice work," Bendy said.
"Thanks, Cuphead," Mugman said.
As the boys shake hands, a liquid drips into Cuphead's head. The three look up and see a black bear looming over them, growling. The bear chases the brothers around the room but Bendy hisses at the bear and jumps on him. His nails poke out through the gloves, and he scratches the bear. Hissing and roaring, fur flying everywhere, until the bear walks out of the house with the beehive under its arm and a hand over his scratched cheek.
Bendy huffs at the bear and slams the door. He smooths out his fur as the brothers look at him with disbelief.
"You fought off the bear," Cuphead said.
"Eh, he wasn't so tough," Bendy said.
"That was... incredible!" Mugman exclaimed.
"Thanks. But he left with the honey," Bendy said.
Mugman expression fell when he saw his handle on the floor again. He screamed.
"If only there were some kind of substance that could stick one item to another that didn't attract bears." Cuphead ponders.
Mugman sinks onto the floor, rolls onto his front, and sobs.
"Hold on there, Mugsy." Cuphead said reassuringly, "This ain't over till we say it's over."
Mugman's tears pooled under his face before he turned his head to look at Cuphead and Bendy. "It's over," he said defeated.
"C'mon Mug, it's not the end of the world," Bendy said.
"Yeah! You're getting worked up over nothing." Cuphead added.
"Oh really?" Mugman said, anger growing in his voice. "Maybe we should snap off your handle and see how you like it!" He swipes at Cuphead.
Cuphead shields his handle. "NO!" he yelled. "I mean, no?"
Mugman sighed. "What if it never sticks back on? A mug without a handle is just a bowl! I'm a mug! I'm Mugman! Not Bowlboy! I don't wanna be Bowlboy! I never shoulda let you two talk me into this!"
"What?! You were the one begging for a blindfolded pillow fight." Cuphead yelled.
"This is hardly the time to point fingers, Cuphead!" Mugman yelled back.
"Well, don't get mad at me!"
"Well, don't get mad at me!"
"FELLAS!" Bendy yelled
"WHAT?!" The brothers yelled.
"Look, this might be out of the box thinking... but do you guys not have glue in this house?"
Cuphead and Mugman smack their foreheads for not realizing that glue was the solution.
"Where do you keep it?" Bendy asked.
Cuphead and Mugman run into the kitchen. Cuphead finds a tube of glue in the kitchen counter drawer, "Here we go." He picks it up but it's stuck to a mass of objects. He tries but fails to pry it free. "Oh boy,"
Mugman sinks back on the floor, downhearted. "I'm never gonna fix my handle. Maybe I am Bowlboy." He said.
Cuphead puts the stuck tube of glue away.
"Mugman, you've gotta pull yourself together," Bendy said pulling Mugman back on his feet.
"Bendy's right. We can just get some new glue from Porkrind's." Cuphead suggested.
"But I can't go out looking like this," Mugman said.
"No one's even gonna notice," Cuphead replied.
A scream and whistle caught their attention. They see Elder Kettle screaming, looking right at Mugman, and then dashing away.
Mugman scowls at Cuphead, who laughs nervously.
A little later, the boys had come up with a plan to get Mugman to Porkrind's without people noticing the mug's missing handle. Unfortunately, Cuphead still didn't understand it.
"Okay, explain it to me one more time," Cuphead asked as he walks behind Mugman and Bendy. "Mugman had to dress like... this, because?"
"Because the veil hides his head and face." Bendy answered.
Indeed, Mugman had a veil on, along with a bride's dress, bouquet, heeled slippers, and long gloves.
"And you're dressed in the tux because...?" Cuphead asked.
"Because I'm the father of the bride walking her down the street. Nothing weird about that." Bendy said, dressed in a navy-blue suit and top hat. He was also wearing a thick grey mustache under his fake nose.
"Okay fine, but why do I gotta do flower girl stuff?" Cuphead asked.
"Don't ask me, it was the bride's idea," Bendy said.
Lifting the veil, Mugman answered. "Just pipe down and scatter those flower petals." He pulls the veil back down.
As he, Bendy, and Mugman pass a bus stop, Cuphead skips in front of his brother and friend and scatters flower petals. Onlookers gushed over Mugman. A gust of wind tears his dress, veil, and fake eyelashes off. It also takes Bendy's suit, mustache, and hat.
One of the onlookers screamed. "Broken handle!"
"It's hideous!" said an old mouse.
The onlookers flee and Mugman sighs.
"Well, I think he looks swell!" Said Bowlboy. A bowl with arms, and legs, and wearing a green bowtie.
"Nobody asked you, Bowlboy!" Mugman shouted.
Mugman stalks off, with Cuphead and Bendy following behind.
"Gee, what's eatin' him?" Bowlboy wondered.
At Porkrind's store, the owner is sitting at the desk, eyeing his radio.
"It's Frenchy's Dream and Granny's Whiskers!" Said the announcer on the radio. "It's Frenchy's Dream! It's Granny's Whiskers! It's Frenchy's Dream... Oh, no! Granny's Whiskers wins by a hair!"
Porkrind scowls and turns off the radio muttering to himself.
The doorbell rings, distracting Porkrind.
"Knock-knock!" Cuphead said.
Mugman throws the door wide open. "Porkrind! We've got a problem!"
"Do you now?" Porkrind asked with disinterest.
"We need a tube of glue bad," Cuphead said.
"Real bad," Mugman added.
"Really bad," Bendy said.
"Gonna be really expensive then," Porkrind said.
"We'll pay anything, Porkrind!" Mugman pleaded.
Porkrind smiles. "Well, la-di-da. Somebody knows the magic words. So, what are we gluing?" he asked.
Mugman shows the pig his broken handle. Porkrind's face turns green, and he gags.
"Of course!" Mugman said. "He's disgusted by my disembodied handle."
Porkrind swallows down the gag feeling and his skin color turns pink again. "N'ah, I don't care about you or your handle." He said dismissively. "I just ate a rank fish sandwich." He points out an unappetizing sandwich in the trash can. "Anyway, I'll sell you the glue. Be back in a jiff." Porkrind goes to the back of the store.
"You see, Mugman?" Cuphead said. "Nothing to worry about. That handle will be back on in no time." He then spots a pot lid. "That is if you even want it back. Maybe it's time for a little change."
"Change?" Mugman asked curiously.
"Think about it!" Cuphead said tying an apron around his brother. "You could have any handle you want, Mugsy."
Bendy puts Mugman on a stool and spins him to a mirror.
"I see what you mean Cuphead," Bendy said. "How about this one, Mugs?"
Bendy holds a gent pipe to Mugman's head.
"Nah. Too greasy looking," Mugman said.
"How about this?" Cuphead said holding up a golden handle.
"Hm. Too fancy." Mugman said.
Bendy and Cuphead hold up one handle-shaped object after another against Mugman's head. Including chattering teeth, half a gear, a horseshoe, a magnet, a boomerang, a candle, a wrench, a snake, and half a donut. Mugman politely rejects them all though.
"Listen, fellas," Mugman said. "I don't want any of these other handles. I just wanna be me again."
"Ah, yes. Stick to the original," Bendy said. "Right?"
"Right!" Mugman said.
"Wrong." Came Porkrind's voice. "I'm outta glue. I get the next shipment in three months." He sits behind the counter, turns on the radio, and listens to the races.
"Three months?!" Mugman shouted.
The three walked back to the kettle cottage and when they entered, Mugman hides under a blanket and sulks on the couch.
"Aw, come on, Mugsy," Cuphead said. "Three months will go by like that. You can still go outside. People just need to get used to it."
Mugman peeks out from under a blanket. "Really?" he asked.
Cuphead and Bendy scream and duck under the couch. Cuphead comes out of hiding and shrugs.
"Sorry. Still getting used to it." Cuphead said.
Upset, Mugman frowns and pulls the blanket back over himself.
"Uh, Mugman?" Came Kettle's voice. He steps out of the kitchen. "Oh, there you are, boy." He failed to notice the black tail and stepped on it. After which, there came a yelp. "Oops!" He lifts his foot. "What was that?"
Before Cuphead or Mugman could say anything, Bendy springs up from behind the couch.
"Hello, Mr. Kettle!" Bendy greeted. He hops over the couch, grabs Kettle's hand, and shakes it vigorously. "Glad to meet you, Mr. Kettle. The name's Bendall Scratch, folks call me Bendy for short. I'm friends with your boys and I've heard a lot of great things about you."
"Oh, heh, it's nice to meet you too. Can you let go of my hand please?" Kettle said.
Bendy lets him go.
Kettle stretches his fingers. "Bendy, was it?" Bendy nods. "Well, it's nice to see my boys have made a friend." Kettle squints his eyes. "Huh?"
"Is something wrong sir?" Bendy asked.
"No no, but you look oddly familiar. But I don't know how?" Kettle said. He shrugs. "Oh well, maybe I'll remember another time." He turns his attention back to Cuphead. "Cuphead, would you please take Bendy to another room while I talk to Mugman."
"Of course," Cuphead said. "We'll leave you two alone. C'mon Bendy,"
Cuphead and Bendy walk into the kitchen and Elder Kettle sits on the couch with Mugman.
"He's a nice boy," Kettle said. "But that's not what I wanted to talk about. Mugman, I'm sorry I screamed in horror at the mere sight of you, but it just took me by surprise."
Mugman peeks out from under the blanket and looks at Elder Kettle.
"Oh, but gosh, you boys are just growing up so fast." Kettle continued. "Your bodies are going through changes." Kettle chuckles. "I should've known. It's about time your baby handles fell off."
Mugman jumps off the couch. "Baby handle?" He repeated.
Cuphead pops up from behind the couch. "Baby handle?!" he repeated.
"Layby scandal?!" Bendy shouted next to Cuphead.
The cups looked at the kitten with confusion, but Bendy just chuckled.
Kettle chuckles too before clearing his throat. "But yes, really. Your baby handles." Kettle said. "I still remember the day I lost my baby handle. Back when I was but a wee little kettle. I was in the middle of brushing my tiny little toothie when, to my surprise, it happened. Darn it, if my baby handle didn't just pop right off! Like all good boys, I knew that when your baby handle falls off, why, that means you're getting a visit from the Handle Fairy! So, I put my baby handle under my pillow and waited. In the morning, I ran over to my bedroom mirror, and there it was. My shiny, new... man handle. Ah, youth."
Mugman jumps for joy. "Woohoo! Boy! Hear that, Cuphead? I'm getting a man handle!"
"Hey! I want a man handle!" Cuphead said before breaking his handle against a wall.
Kettle shrugs. "Well, I guess that saves the Handle Fairy a trip."
Everyone laughs.
The clock suddenly chimes, showing it to be six o'clock.
"Time for dinner. Bendy, would like to join us?" Kettle offered.
"I wish I could sir, but I should be getting' back home. My dad will be expecting me." Bendy said walking to the door.
"Is it far? I can give you a lift."
"NO!" Bendy shouted. He takes in a breath. "Sorry, I mean no thank you. My place isn't that far. I'll come back tomorrow to see your new handles." He walks out the door. "Bye," then he runs away before anyone could reply.
Cuphead seemed the most disappointed to see Bendy go, but he said nothing and just followed his family into the kitchen.
The next morning, Bendy knocks on the door, opens it, and walks inside as the cups run downstairs in excitement.
"Elder Kettle! Bendy! Elder Kettle! Bendy!" Cuphead and Mugman yelled.
Elder Kettle stands in front of a broom closet, where a fairy costume is seen on a coat hanger. And he's holding a tube of glue behind his back.
"The Handle Fairy came!" Mugman said.
"Get a load of these man handles!" Cuphead said.
"Neat," Bendy said.
Kettle tosses the glue into the closet and shuts the door. "Oh! Looks like he-... uh, I mean, she did a great job." He said.
"To our man handles!" Mugman said.
"To your man handles!" Bendy said.
Cuphead and Mugman hold up their heads with their handles and Bendy lifts his head in his hands.
"Cheers!" the boys cheered.
They toast with their heads, the cups shatter after the clink and Bendy laughs.