(As the title is shown, "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" is played on the xylophone in the background.)
"I don't see why I had to come," Cuphead complained, "you're the one who wanted to get some dumb books from the library."
Cuphead and Mugman were walking down a street in inkwell city.
"Maybe Elder Kettle is planning something I don't know. it is our thirteenth birthday soon. Now just wait out here, we don't want you causing another ruckus in the library."
Mugman walked into the library and left Cuphead impatiently waiting outside.
"Long time no see Cuphead," said a voice directly behind Cuphead
"Ahhh!" Cuphead exclaimed as he quickly spun around to see who he had heard, it was Bowlboy.
"Oh, hey bowlboy," Cuphead said, "whatcha doing around here."
"Oh it's nothing," he replied,"good thing you're all better, it means that you're ready for some more fuuuuun, with a boooooowl."
"Yea, that stuff you injected into me and Mugsy really worked wonders. What was it?"
"ACME Heal," Bowlboy replied, "ol' Porkums really knows his way around. Now are you ready for some fuuuuuuuuuuun!"
"Oh boy, am I! Maybe tone down the madness a bit, the devil's pottery skills aren't up to standard."
Suddenly the doors of the library swung open and Mugman walked out
"Cuphead!" Mugman yelled once he saw Cuphead talking to bowlboy," why are you consorting with the enemy!"
"Oi! Bowlboy isn't the enemy." Cuphead objected as he gestured to Bowlboy who was smiling innocently, "he healed us. Remember?"
"But he was the reason we were shattered in the first place! Come on, We're leaving"
Mugman grabbed Cuphead's handle and dragged him away from Bowlboy.
"See ya double-B" Cuphead said as he waved and was dragged away, out of sight.
"I still don't see why you hate bowlboy so much," Cuphead complained," your the one who got us exploded!"
"Well for one he's irresponsible, careless and simply unhinged!" Mugman replied "and second of all... I've had a bad experience with Bowlboy."
"Come on! Tell me. Tell me."
"Ok fine i will." Mugman relented ,"once upon a time...
Then the screen begins to warp and wobble and the image changes to a view of a much younger Cuphead and Mugman, walking to the grocery store with Elder Kettle.
"Remember boys," Elder Kettle said, "stay close, you don't want to get lost in the store."
(Like in the flashback from "Release The Demons" both Cuphead and Mugman as kids pronounce their Rs and Ls as Ws and their THs as Ds. I won't be writing it like this because it means I can't use spell check.)
"I ain't to worried about it" Cuphead said
"Are you sure we won't get lost Elder Kettle?" Mugman asked gingerly.
"Not as long as you stay close and don't follow your brother when he inevitably gets distracted," Elder Kettle reassured as he gestured to Cuphead who was trying to jump up and touch a neon sign.
The trio walked into a corner shop and looked around.
"Now boys," Elder Kettle said," we're just here for some bread, so be patient."
The group wandered around the shop for a long time, Elder Kettle looking intently for the bread.
"Oh consarn it! They've moved the bread aisle again. This may take longer than I thought, boys, so make sure to..."
"Ooh, look at that," Cuphead cut Elder Kettle off and ran down an aisle, round a corner and out of sight.
"Cuphead, come back," Mugman said as he ran after his brother, ignoring Elder Kettle who was yelling at him to stay put.
"Cuphead, slow down!" Mugman said as he skidded around the corner. He caught a glimpse of Cuphead running down a neighbouring aisle.
Mugman ran to that aisle, just to see a glimpse of Cuphead's foot disappearing down another. Mugman ran after his brother turned another corner, only to see a large spoon man with very small, Cuphead-like, legs and shoes.
"Hey kid," the spoon man said," you looking for someone?"
"Have you seen my brother, Cuphead?" Mugman asked
"No, sorry kid," the spoon said and then walked off.
Mugman then realised that he didn't know where Elder Kettle or Cuphead were.
He nervously walked through endless aisles of food, flinching at the slightest sound.
"Hello?" Mugman called out his voice echoing through the store.
Suddenly Mugman heard someone laughing. It seemed to be coming from everywhere, all at once. There was a shadow, always just in Mugman's peripheral vision, always hiding, always moving.
"H-h-h-h-h-h-h-who's there." Mugman
Suddenly someone pushed Mugman from behind onto the floor. Mugman rolled over to see a young Bowlboy standing over him, cackling wildly and holding a pair of craft scissors.
"P-p-please don't h-hurt me," Mugman stammered fearfully.
"Hello friend," said bowlboy," fancy seeing you in this here baking aisle."
"I'm sorry, who are you again?" Mugman asked
"I am Bowlboy, and I want to be your beeeeeeest frieeeeend!"
"Ok," Mugman replied, "maybe you could help me find my Elder Kettle."
Bowlboy started to laugh maniacally, "you'll never see your' Elder Kettle ever again, this here shop is an infinite labyrinth, that twists and turns, trying to keep you in. I've been here for years. There. Is . no .escape ."
"That sounds really scary!" Mugman said.
"Since you can't leave, we can be FRIEEEEEND FOREEEEEEVER."
"If you say so, I just don't want to do anything too scary."
"What is something that you've aaaaaaaalwase wanted to do, but the people around you just won't do it."
"Well i've always wanted to learn the piano," Mugman said
"A man of music I see," Bowlboy said, " well look no further, Bowlboy has the perfect trick up his sleeve."
Blowlboy chuckled and turned his head (or body depending on the way you see it. Like when he had that mouthful of dynamite in "Another Brother") all the way around. When he was facing away from Mugman, his laughs seemed to get more and more distorted, as if playing through a radio with increasingly bad connection. Once Bowlboy had spun all the way round Mugman saw that he had a kazoo in his mouth.
(if you laugh into a kazoo, you can sound like a demon from hell.)
"A kazoo!" Mugman gasped, "I love kazoos!"
Bowlboy flicked a kazoo to Mugman. It landed perfectly in Mugman's mouth, who blew into it happily.
The two priceline friends hooked arms and spun around in a circle, Blowlboy blowing out a jazzy tune and Mugman... he tried his best.
(short montage time!)
Scene 1:
Mugman and Bowlboy are playing snakes and ladders.
"I've never played this game with two 32 sided die before," Mugmas said, "it adds a bit of interest to the game."
Mugman rolled the die and got two ones.
"Snake eyes again," Mugman complained.
"Well, that's just how the dice rolls," Bowlboy said as he rolled a 37 and won the game.
"How about we try a game of skill," Mugman suggested
Scene 2:
Mugman and Bowlboy were playing a game of chess
"And checkmate!" Mugman yelled
"Good game friend," Bowlboy said, "too bad I fumbled my queen, rooks, all my pawns and bishop."
"Yea, you've got to pay attention to the board."
"It's aaaaaalmost as if i let you win."
Mugamn nodded in agreement.
Mugman and Bowlboy were sitting on the floor together, laughing.
"I haven't had fun like this ever," Mugman said, "Cuphead never does stuff like this,"
"Think about it," Bowlboy asked," reckless old Cuphead would never do the things you want, he'd be doing dangerous things that you'd have to save him from. How about something new? Mugman, Bowlboy. Bowlboy ,Mugman. Mugman, Bowlboy. Bowlboy ,Mugman. Mugman, Bowlboy. Bowlboy ,Mugman.
"It does kinda have a ring to it," Mugman replied, "what should we play now?"
"How about a good old fashioned game of hide and seek?"
"I don't know," Mugman said, "couldn't we get lost,"
"Don't worry, I'll make sure you don't get lost. because i'm your beeeeeeeest frieeeeeend."
"Ok," Mugman said ,"I'll count."
Mugman closed his eyes and counted to ten.
"Ready or not, here I come!" Mugman said as he uncovered his eyes. He looked around for a second and then realised it would be very difficult finding Bowlboy in a huge shop.
Mugman wandered through endless aisles of groceries, looking for Bowlboy with no prevail. Suddenly Mugman heard a chuckle behind him.
"Who's there? " Mugman cried as his head spun 180 around to look behind him, but there was nothing there. Mugman continued on his way but caught a glimpse of a fleeting shadow.
"B-B-B-Bowlboy? I-i-is th-that you?
The only reply he got was of the sound of a crinkling piece of foil, which made Mugman jump again.
Mugman wandered the store for hours but to no avail. He continued to see shadows and hear laughter but dismissed it as his mind playing tricks on him.
"OK BOWLBOY! I GIVE UP!" Mugamn yelled but no one answered.
Mugman looked up at the ceiling and saw a large arrow shaped sign that said "Exit This Way".
"Well if I can't find Bowlboy, I might as well try to find Elder Kettle."
Mugman started to follow the direction the sign was pointing.
"Boo!" said a voice behind him
Mugman jumped and spun around in the air and saw Bowlboy standing behind him.
"Goodness gracious you scared me!" Mugman said
"Where were you going friend?" Bowlboy asked
"I saw the exit sign and was going to try and leave.."
"You were going to abandon me."
"No, I just needed to get back to Elder Kettle and my brother Cuphead."
"You love this "Cuphead '' more than me? I thought we were friends. I told you there was no escape. We are friends now . I won't let you leave. We can bebeeeeeest frieeeend foreverrrrrrrrrr!"
Bowlboy tried to grab Mugman but Mugman ducked and then ran.
(i would like you to imagine that the upcoming chase scene has "Rugged Ridge" playing in the background)
As Mugman ran he looked behind him, but Bowlboy was nowhere to be seen
He breathed a sigh of relief and slowed down to a jog. Suddenly Mugman heard a creaking coming from his right, he looked over to see that a huge aisle long shelf was about to fall on him.
Many different groceries started to rain down on Mugman. A frying pan fell onto the floor directly next to Mugman, Who picked it up and held it over his head to shield from the falling debris.
Mugman looked up at the falling shelf and was hit in the face by a loaf of bread.
"So this is where the bread is," he said, "I'd better bring it for Elder Kettle."
He picked up the loaf of bread, tucked it under his arm and continued on.
Mugman ran as fast as he could but he couldn't out run the falling shelf, it crashed down around him. Miraculously Mugman was not crushed . He was standing in one of the gaps between the shelving levels.
Mugman wiped his forehead and breathed a sigh of relief. He then heard Bowlboy laugh above him. He looked up and dived to the side, barely dodging a falling piece of roofing.
Mugman ran again, holding the frying pan above his head. Shelves and roofing pieces continued to crash to the floor behind him. He could now see a large sign that said "Exit" and was running at top speed towards it.
Mugman was less than 100m away from the exit when Bowlboy jumped down out of nowhere in front of Mugman.
"You're not going anywhere BEST FRIEND. We will be FRIENDS FOREVER. Even if i have to imprison you !"
Mugman backed away. He groped at the floor trying to find something that would help. He felt his hand grab something solid and powdery. Mugman threw it and Bowlboy and it landed in Bowlboy's bowl.
Immediately multi coloured bubbles started to rise from bowlboy's head and undulate over the rim.
"What?" Bowlboy cried," A bath-bomb. Nooooooooooooooooooo.."
Bowlboy was slowly enveloped in a pile of froth, which muffled his screams.
Mugman stepped gingerly around the pile of bubbles and jogged over to the exit.
Cuphead and Elder Kettle were waiting by the door
"There you are my boy," Elder Kettle said, "you had me worried. Oh! I see that you found the bread."
Mugman looked over at Cuphead who was fiddling with a piece of string.
"How did you find your way back to Elder Kettle?" Mugman asked
"Oh," Elder KEttle said, "once he realised he was lost, Cuphead just ran in circles and screamed."
Mugman looked over at Cuphead who was still fiddling with the string.
"Hu?" he said, "what's going on ? Oh, hi Mugsy"
Elder Kettle then grabbed both the cups by the hand and walked out the shop.
(end of flashback)
"Jeez," Cuphead said, "that's one heck of a story. How come you haven't told me before?"
"I only just remembered it, seeing Bowlboy just jogged my memory"
"Oh boys!" Elder Kettle yelled from the door of the cottage," dinner's ready!"
"Oh boy, oh boy," the two brothers said as they ran inside
Cuphead and Mugman were both in their pyjamas and were lying in bed
"I'm glad you stopped me from playing with Bowlboy again," Cuphead said, "the kid's pretty creepy."
"Yea," Mugman agreed, "and this time you won't be able to recover from being shattered because of the whole 'The Devil is bad a poetry' thing."
"Mmmhmm," Cuphead said, "goodnight Mugsy."
"Goodnight Cuphead," Mugman replied and the two brothers went to sleep.
The camera then turns to point at the window. Bowlboy then appears, looking through the window.
"Sweet dreams," Bowlboy then says and then starts laughing maniacally
The screen then does an "iris out" focusing in on Bowlboy.