Free Cake is the fifth episode of Regular Show's first season. It first aired on October 4, 2010, and was written & storyboarded by Kat Morris and Paul Scarlata.
Official Synopsis
Mordecai and Rigby throw Skips a surprise birthday party in order to get free cake.
Plot
Rigby finds a vintage plate in the trash, and Mordecai suggests that they should eat some chocolate cake from it. They go on a short quest to find some cake. Starting at the grocery store, they discover that cake mix is too expensive for them to buy. They attempt to attend a wedding, but are unsuccessful due to them not knowing either the bride or groom. Their last chance to get cake is at the Free Store, but they're told that they don't sell cakes.
Back at the Park, Rigby remembers that there's a chocolate cake in the Snack Bar, but Mordecai explains that you're not allowed to eat it for free unless it's your birthday. In an attempt to bypass this, they lie to Benson and claim that it's their birthdays, but Benson knows that they're lying. Pops then reveals that it's Skips' birthday, but that he secludes himself in the woods on the day as a yearly tradition. Mordecai suggests that they throw Skips a birthday party, and Benson tells them that if they can get Skips on board, then they'll throw him a party.
Mordecai and Rigby try to figure out a way to get Skips on board, leading Rigby to suggest kidnapping him. Mordecai then suggests that they throw Skips a surprise party, since he technically can't say "no" to them. To rope him into the party, they ask Skips if he wants to hang out, but they're quickly shut out. Rigby suggests that they should just lie to Benson to get the cake, then figure out the Skips part later. They do this, telling Benson that he wants the party to be a surprise, and are entrusted with the keys to the cake in the Snack Bar. They get the cake, which Rigby is ready to eat, but Mordecai reminds him that they need to get Skips first.
Remembering what Pops had mentioned earlier, Mordecai and Rigby search for Skips in the woods. The rest of the Park employees are back at Skips' House, waiting for Skips to arrive. Back in the woods, Rigby is desperate to eat the cake and fights Mordecai to get to it. While fighting, they hear a strange noise in the woods, and decide to investigate it. Upon doing so, they find Skips performing a Spirit Dance, which Rigby interrupts, ruining his ritual. This summons Gary, who forces Skips to come with him to the Realm of the Guardians of Eternal Youth. Mordecai and Rigby stowaway on the journey.
Upon entering the Guardians' Realm, Skips is punished by the Guardians of Eternal Youth for breaking his pact with them for eternal life, by having his immortality reversed. This makes him age rapidly until he shrivels up and disappears. Mordecai tries to counter the punishment, explaining that it's his and Rigby's fault. The Guardians refuse to change their punishment, until they discover that the duo has cake, which they have an unhealthy obsession with. Mordecai offers them the cake in exchange for Skips' life. The Guardians accept Mordecai's bargain and restore Skips' youth. Rigby gets annoyed as he discovers that the Guardians did not plan on eating the cake, but mushing it all over their faces.
Mordecai, Rigby and Skips are sent back home, where Benson, Pops, Muscle Man and Hi Five Ghost are waiting for them. Mordecai and Rigby apologize to Skips for almost killing him, and gift him a modified version of the plate which Rigby found in the trash. Benson then asks about the whereabouts of the cake, which Mordecai and Rigby act oblivious too. Benson then reveals that Pops brought a spare cake in case of this exact situation. Mordecai and Rigby excitedly run to the cake, but are disappointed as they take a slice and discover that the cake is vanilla flavored.
Characters
- Mordecai
- Rigby
- Skips
- Gary
- Guardians of Eternal Youth
- Benson
- Pops
- Muscle Man
- Hi Five Ghost (non-speaking role)
- Wedding Guy
- Free Store Clerk
Locations
Video
Trivia
Initial Broadcast & Reception
- The episode premiered on Cartoon Network on October 4, 2010 at 8.15pm as part of the channel's Monday Nights block, following a rerun of Adventure Time's "The Enchiridion!" and preceding the premiere of MAD's "Wall-E-Nator / Extreme Renovation House Edition".
- This episode received 2.095 million views domestically in the United States.
Worldbuilding
- Skips is revealed to be immortal.
Continuity
- Gary and the Guardians of Eternal Youth make their debut in this episode. They would go on to make many more appearances throughout the series, being essential parts of Skips' backstory.[1]
- A loose sequel to this episode came later in Season Three with "Fists of Justice".
Pop Culture References
- The music during the scene where Gary first appears is in homage to "Flash" by Queen.
- Gary is a parody of David Bowie.
Goofs
- When Mordecai and Rigby are saying "Free Cake" at Skips' place, the cart is a shade of blue.
- Hi Five Ghost is listed in the credits, despite having no speaking role in this episode.
Alternate Versions
USA
On Cartoon Network USA reruns, streaming services and the Season 1 and 2 DVD & Blu-Ray, the following line is changed:
- "Benson's gonna get pissed" is changed to "Benson's gonna get ticked".
UK
- "But if you morons are lying to me..." was changed to "But if you idiots are lying to me..."
- "Benson's gonna get pissed" was changed to "Benson's gonna go ballistic".
- "Skips is gonna be so surprised when he comes in and sees us totally naked!" was shortened to "Skips is gonna be so surprised!"
- As a result, Benson's following line "It's not that kind of party, Muscle Man" and the response "Aw, don't turn on the lights" were also cut.
- The sound effect of Muscle Man's zipper opening and him taking his clothes off was additionally cut.
- "Dude, I think we just screwed Skips!", along with the response "And ourselves!" were cut.
Official Releases
- On iTunes and Amazon Prime, the episode was paired with "Meat Your Maker" under "Volume One". It was released digitally on October 11, 2010 for the price of $2.99 in HD, or $1.99 in SD.
- This episode is available as part of the following DVD sets:
- Party Pack
- The Complete First and Second Seasons
- Special Feature: Commentary by JG Quintel and Mike Roth
- Season One (Region 2 DVD)
- The Complete Series