It was a sunny late afternoon at the Kettle Cottage; Cuphead and Mugman ran around with sticks and rolling around a tire in the yard. They stopped in their tracks as the window open to reveal their caretaker.
"Boys, hurry up! Our favorite show's about to start!" Elder Kettle raised an eyebrow, "Hey, you're not playing with my lucky tire again, are you?"
"Of course not, Elder Kettle," the boys insisted sheepishly.
"Coming up next is Roll the Dice!" the announcer boomed on the radio; Elder Kettle went inside to turn the volume up. Cuphead and Mugman were about to enter until they saw the tire role through the gate and chased it down the hill and all across town.
The Inkwell Auditorium is where a lot of the island's most famous and acclaimed figures are often found hosting their shows and events. The most popular radio show 'Roll the Dice' is often broadcasted every week for the whole city to listen. But only a few are lucky enough to see the show live.
Bendy stood in front of the building's ticket booth arguing with the ticket collector, "I'm telling you, I've got a ticket, I swear. I need to see this show!"
"I told ya, kid! No ticket, no show! Now beat it, you're holding up the line!" the guy kicked Bendy out rudely and out onto the sidewalk, landing on his bottom. He got up to brush himself off, muttering under his breath as he watched everyone enter inside. Bendy's growled as he stomped away from the theater.
Bendy then spot a large fat cat with a mustache wearing a tuxedo. He seemed to have money flowing through his pockets, literally. "Such a pity" he said in slight Southern accent. "It's such a shame to have very little money. Thank goodness, I never was like that nor any of the Lotsabucks family members for that matter," the cat smiled sleazily and flipped a quarter to Bendy. "Here. Why don't you buy something nice for yourself?"
The snooty cat trotted in line as Bendy sneered back at him. But, he spotted something hanging out of his pocket; it looked like a ticket! He stretched his arm out to reach the ticket without him even looking.
"One ticket, please."
"Why certainly," the cat responded while reaching into his pocket but he can't seem to find it; so he tried his other pocket and patted everywhere on his body. "Where's my ticket? I know I had it somewhere—", he stuttered as the ticket collector rolled his eyes. Bendy then held out a ticket in front of the booth.
"Here it is! Told ya I had it."
The ticket collector had no choice but to let him in; Bendy gave smug look at Mr. Lotsabucks and stuck his tongue out. He entered in the building and got a good look at the room, the place was packed. He looked down at "his" ticket to find his seat which was 2B.
"Sweet! The best seats in the house! Now I'll get my chance to be on the show for sure!"
Bendy got to sit between an elephant couple and an old fashioned telephone. It turned out he made it just in time before the lights dimmed down and the orchestra was building up.
"Live from beautiful Inkwell City…it's everyone's favorite game show, Roll the Dice! Featuring your master of ceremonies, King Dice!"
Jazzy music played as the spotlight shined on the host, scatting and dancing onto the stage. Everyone got on their feet and cheered loudly.
King Dice, was just as his name suggested, a dice headed man with a slim mustache, wearing a purple tuxedo and matching leather shoes. Bendy saw him as the guy he wishes to be, rich, famous and talented. If only he had his autograph, he thought.
"Alright, let's jump right in! Who will be the first lucky contestant to roll the dice?"
The spotlight went around the audience to choose a random player. Bendy stood up from his chair with his right arm raised up in the air, waving. "Me! Me! Pick me! Pick me! Pick me!"
"Will it be…YOU?"
The spotlight literally passed Bendy and stopped onto Telephone.
"What?!" Bendy shouted.
"Yay!" he cheered and hopped on his way to the stage as everyone cheered for him too. That is except from Bendy who crossed his arms in frustration.
"You've gotta be kidding me!"
"It's your lucky day, sir, get on up here and Roll the Dice," Telephone went to hug Dice but was pushed away. "Nuh-uh. Don't touch. Now, all you've got to do is make it through three rounds to get a chance to enter into the Prize Room! First up, Name that Tune!"
King Dice got the band to play a jazzy verse.
"Little Brown Jug," Bendy muttered.
"Oh, Little Brown Jug," Telephone answered.
"Correct! Now onto the Trivia Round! Which is the only mammal that cannot jump?"
"Elephants obviously," Bendy whispered the answer to himself.
"Hmm…The Elephant," Telephone answered again.
"Correct!"
Everyone, except Bendy and the elephant couple crossed their arms watching them all jump out of their seats. "Show offs."
"Now for the final game, all you gotta do is roll the dice. Roll any number and you'll go to the mystery prize room!"
Telephone went up to the stand that had two giant dices; he spun it and got two sixes. A small bit of confetti blasted out. "We have a winner! You are one lucky phone! Now off you go into the prize room! We'll be right back," he gave out one last wink to the audience before leaving the stage.
"Every time!" Bendy complained. "Why doesn't he choose me?! I've been coming into these shows and NEVER once got picked! Whatever's in that prize room must be really neat!"
"Hello?" Telephone answered but got no response. He found himself in an empty murky room with a dim light and a giant furnace in the middle of the floor. It was not very ideal place to keep the prize in.
But then the little door on the furnace showed a fire inside and a large tube emerged that sucked air with such force.
"Uh-oh," Telephone tried to open the now locked door then tried knocking profusely, "Help!"
No response came and before he knew it, his soul was sucked out of his body and into the furnace. Telephone's grey lifeless body went down a trap door and drop him in the middle of the alley way. This game was a rigged death trap!
Backstage, Dice was in his dressing room having his card minions by his side as he does after sending off a 'lucky' contestant. From polishing his head to ironing his clothes where not a wrinkle was seen and even flattening his mustache. When his minions eventually left, he grinned at his reflection with pride.
"Who's the host with the most? Hmm?"
"You are you handsome devil. Mwah!" his reflection replied with a winked.
"Oh, you're terrible," Dice could've had a conservation with himself all day, but it had to wait; he had a show to run. He walked pass the blank brick wall where there was a poster that had a goofy photo of a cup kid with bold words saying "WANTED BY THE DEVIL."
"Who will be our next lucky contestant?" King Dice asked the audience. Bendy once again rose his hand to get his attention, but the door opened suddenly to unveil a large tire being chased by two people. Bendy didn't get a good look, but they looked familiar.
"You! You're the next contestant on "Roll the Dice!"
Cuphead screamed with excitement, ran up to the stage and clinged onto King Dice's leg, who smiled awkwardly.
"Hey, it's that cup from the fair!" Bendy remarked.
"Welcome to the show! Now, let go of my leg and tell us a little bit about yourself."
Cuphead grabbed the microphone and rapidly spoke, "My name is Cuphead and I like roller coasters, and hot dogs, and tilt-a-whirls, and hot dogs, and flying swings and hot dogs, and throwing up on roller coasters in that order!"
He trembled while sweating as Dice grabbed the microphone from his hands. "What a lovely introduction—"
Cuphead retrieved it back, "Wow! I can't believe I'm standing next to THE King Dice! You're WAY shorter in person."
The audience laughed at his compliment.
"Wait," Cuphead said. "Everyone in town can hear this, right?"
"That's correct." King Dice answered. "First..."
Cuphead grabbed the mic from King Dice again and blew a long raspberry. "That's for you, Jimmy! And you know what for! So, Dice, you're an entertainer, right? I'm kind of an entertainer too. I got a joke for you. These two cannibals are eating a clown, and, uh... Wait. How did it go? Uh... Wait."
Dice gasped as he got a good look at his contestant and compared it to the wanted poster; he grinned sleazily.
"Now, a quick word from our sponsor. We'll be right back." The dice said as he ran off the stage.
Cuphead, still on stage, waved to the audience.
"Hmm…I played Soul Ball with him, that's basically makes us friends at this point. Maybe he can give me an idea of what's in the Prize Room and maybe he might even share of portion of it with me," Bendy contemplated as the show went into intermission. He whooped out into the crowd, "Whoo! Go, Cupboy or whatever your name is!"
The cup couldn't really see who said that in the audience due to the spotlight hitting his eyes, but replied back, "Thanks, whoever you are out there!"
Dice went to the backroom and picked up the phone, "Get me the boss."
Dice's boss was nowhere around the studio but instead the Underworld. That's right, The Devil is his boss! What was he up to? Enjoying a relaxing bubble bath.
Henchman interrupted, "Uh, hey, boss. Phone call."
The Devil frowned but grabbed the phone. "Ugh. This better be important. Hello?"
"It's your number one calling."
"Who?"
"King Dice? Your number one?"
"Dice, you know I'm very busy. What do you want?"
"I just captured someone you might be interested in. A certain... cup?"
The Devil rose up from the last word and eyes widened with disbelief as the cucumber slices fell off. "You actually have him?"
"Just sit back, relax, and I'll deliver his soul directly to you."
"And it's moments like this why you're my number one," the Devil grinned happily. "Oh, and number one?"
"Yes?"
The Devil tone changed, "I hate disappointment."
He hung up the phone and relaxed back in the tub, knowing that soul would be delivered. Dice had to be sure to NOT screw this up!
King Dice walked on stage. "And we're back!" He said. "First up, you need to—"
"Name That Tune!" Cuphead finished the sentence.
Dice smiled and conducted the band to play a song.
Cuphead thought for a moment. "Oh, that's too easy. It's... Wait. I know this. Hmm... "Sprinkle, Sprinkle, Mr. Car"?" he guessed.
At the Kettle Cottage, Elder Kettle was shaking his radio around by such a stupid answer "Sprinkle, Sprinkle, Mr. Car"?! Come on!" He was going to give Cuphead an earful on naming songs.
"No." King Dice said calmly.
"Hmm, then I better use my helpline," Cuphead said. "My brother, Mugman, is the smartest person I know."
Mugman froze in his seat with a frightened reaction.
"Well, it appears your helpline is frozen in terror." King Dice said as the audience groaned.
"Oh, right. Mugman's got really bad stage fright. Aw, nuts! I guess I lose." Cuphead started walking away with his head down.
The band started playing "For He's A Jolly Good Fellow" But Dice wasn't giving up; he signaled the band to stop playing and pulled Cuphead back on the stage.
"Since your helpline was frozen in terror, you should get another chance. Shouldn't he, folks?"
The audience cheered in response.
Dice leaned close to Cuphead and asked, "What's the name of your favorite song?"
Cuphead whispered in his ear.
"Beautiful." King Dice replied then went to whisper to the band before sliding back to Cuphead. "Okay, Cuphead. Name this tune."
The band started playing a tune, which made Cuphead raise an eyebrow. "But you just asked me my favorite song?
"Which song?" King Dice asked.
"The... Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze?"
"Correct!" King Dice announced. "And now, on to the–" King Dice said before he was cut off by Cuphead once more.
"Trivia round!" Cuphead said.
"Isn't he great, folks?" he said through his teeth. "The dreaded Poo-Doo Cave Monster lives in which cave?"
The audience held their breath as Cuphead was rubbing his temples in thought. Dice was already fed up with this kid.
"The Poo-Doo Cave Monster. Let's think out loud for a moment. What's the name of the cave monster."
"Poo-Doo?"
"Correct!" The audience cheered loudly.
"Now, it's time to Roll the Dice!" King Dice announced as the giant pair of dice rolled onto the stage. "Roll any number and go straight to the mystery prize room. Literally, any number, it's basically impossible to lose."
"And then I'll get what's coming to me!"
"Couldn't have said it better myself." King Dice grinned evilly as he was waiting for the ultimate spin…
"Wait!" Cuphead suddenly shouted. "I remember how the joke goes!" Dice groaned in agony.
"Two cannibals are hanging out eating their lunch, which is a clown, you see? 'Cause, they're cannibals. And one cannibal says to the other cannibal "Does this taste funny to you?"
The crowd laughed, even Bendy could help but chuckle by how bad that joke was.
Cuphead snapped his finger and winked at the audience, mimicking Dice's charisma. "We'll be right back."
"No! We are not going to break!" King Dice shouted.
"I've always wanted to say that," Cuphead uttered as he was picked up placed back to the platform "Roll the Dice!" he ordered while stomping his feet.
The audience chanted, "Roll the Dice! Roll the Dice!"
"Watch this," Cuphead then gave out a large spin that was so hard that the dice came loose of the stand and shattered into pieces. Dice was on his knees with the shattered mosaic in front of him. "H-how?"
"Aw, dang it. I guess I lost." Cuphead said.
"Oh, that's actually a good thing," Dice pushed Cuphead towards the prize room. "When the dice shatter, you go directly to the mystery prize room, yay! In you go."
"Hey! He lost!" He's not supposed to get a prize," a male elephant complained.
"This show is rigged!" Elephant's grandmother replied as the audience jeered at Dice.
"You shut up!" Dice exclaimed back while shoving the cup. "Get in there!"
"Rigged?" Cuphead huffed and walked off the stage before he grabbed Mugman, still frozen in terror, from his seats. "Come on, Mugsy. Let's leave with our dignity intact." He was reaching for the exit out.
"So much for sharing the prize," Bendy grumbled while folding his arms.
"No! You have to win!" Dice broke the mustache off of the standee, "You're going in that room one way or another!" He charged for Cuphead, but Kettle's lucky tire bounced onto the stage, knocked Dice down, and rolled the brothers out of the building.
Dice saw his first victim disappear along with his fame; he turned to the backstage to find an elevator ascend upwards. Henchman popped out, "Duh, Boss wants to see ya."
Dice sighed in defeat; he knew his boss was not gonna get his soul anytime soon.
Meanwhile, the tire took Cuphead and Mugman back to the Kettle Cottage. Elder Kettle stepped outside, looking annoyed.
"It's "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"!" Kettle yelled.
After the show finished hours ago, Bendy couldn't take it anymore; he had to know about that prize! He went towards the alley and used Telephone's lifeless body to lift him up into the chute. Bendy climbed up towards a hole and saw a light; he looked around to find the hidden prize but all he saw was just an empty room with a furnace in the middle of the room.
"Hey, there's nothing in here! What a ripoff!" Bendy was unaware of the furnace igniting itself on for he was already feeling his body growing hot with anger. He jumped out into the trap door and landed on Telephone. "I guess it's true. Never meet your heroes."
Henchman was giddy with excitement with his idol standing next to him; Dice, however, was worn out and distraught. How could his show be so complicated for that cup? Any simpleton could've been smart enough to answer those questions and have their soul snatched in an instant! Dice was dreading to endure the wrath of his boss.
"Uh, gee, Mr. King Dice, sir, I know this is a little bit awkward, but, um, could I get your autograph?" Henchman requested as his idol scowled.
"Not the time."
The elevator stopped and the door opened to unveil Dice displaying a fake gusto. The room greeted him with fiery heat from the flames behind the tall columns and a long red rug on the brimstone floor that lead up to a turned away throne.
"Hey-hey! Oh, um...You're way over there." He said as he walked down the hall towards the throne.
Dice's fear was building as he passed by three tapestries depicting huge monsters, each of them have identical eyes, fangs and horns. It displayed them snatching and devouring souls within their grasps, which was a perfect analogy for such a dilemma.
"Done some redecorating, I see. Uh…say, um, how—"
"So, Dice," The Devil interjected. "You know Henchman, don't you?"
His biggest fan waved back "Hi!"
"Yeah. I know Henchman." Dice replied.
"You also know my son too?"
"Uh…of course! How could I forget him?"
"Both of them are big fans of your show; never missed an episode."
"Is... is that a fact?" he gulped.
"Yes. In fact, my son was telling me that tonight, you had your first loss. Ever."
"Look, I can explain!"
"SILENCE!" The Devil exclaimed as the flames rose up and his throne spun around, but Dice was taken aback by no one was occupying the chair. He turned to find the Devil with his pitchfork in hand, dissatisfied.
"You had him RIGHT in the palm of your HAND!" Dice was then lifted by the power of his weapon, spinning him around the room. "I AM VERY, VERY DISSAPPOINTED!"
King Dice flailed his arms and begged "Give a second chance to your number one!"
The Devil dropped Dice on his face on the floor. He picked his head up weakly to find his boss towering over him.
"You are no longer my number one and you will NOT be hosting your precious little show."
"But if I can't host, then who?" Dice asked.
A week later…
The theater was packed once more as the announcer boomed, "Ladies and gentlemen! Tonight's master of ceremonies, the Henchman!"
Henchman stepped on the stage wearing a tight-fitted purple jacket; he was living his dream: Hosting his favorite show!
"Uh, hi! Time to Roll the D... Whoa!" Henchman unfortunately didn't have the same flare as Dice; he slipped and found himself stuck in a tuba, all he could hear was the audience laughing at him.