Betty and the Beast

"Betty and the Beast" is the second segment of the eleventh episode in the first season of the 2021 series of Rugrats. It premiered on Paramount+ on October 7th, 2021.

Characters Present

 * Tommy
 * Chuckie
 * Susie
 * Angelica
 * Phil
 * Lil
 * Betty
 * Didi
 * Stu
 * Daxton
 * Gabi
 * Copy

Summary
Tommy and his friends fear Tommy's daddy has turned into a fantastical beast and it's up to them to turn him back. - Description from Paramount+

Plot
The babies are playing, pretending to be employees of Betty's Beans. Meanwhile, Angelica is decorating cupcakes, which involves simply dousing them in icing. Didi compliments Betty on the fact that the "Invisible Eater" is coming to her cafe. Betty says that it was all Gabi's idea and that a shout-out from the Invisible Eater would be great. She says she hopes they love her coffee and Betty asks who wouldn't. Betty agrees "what could go wrong?" Just then, Stu barges in the door, saying that he has great news. He's upgraded her espresso machine and her barista problems are over. She wonders what problems she has and he shows off his new machine, which includes robotic serving arms. He promises that it'll be up and running in no time. This reminds Didi that she brought something called "Mister Timer." She and Betty head over to the babies, Didi explaining that it trains toddlers to play on their own and saying that Tommy caught on right away. She pushes a button on the timer and some blue lights come on.

Susie asks just what it is and Tommy says it's his Mommy's favorite new toy. Phil and Lil wonder how you play with it, but Tommy says that Didi just looks at it. Chuckie says he doesn't want to look at it, that it's too bright. Tommy tries to make it stop, but poking doesn't work. He pulls out his screwdriver, but just uses that to poke and ends up breaking it. It powers down, instructing "Time to call a grown-up helper." He notes that this has never happened before and says he'll show it to his Daddy. Stu, though, is busy showing the newly assembled invention to Didi and Betty, the "Espresso Yourself Barista Master." Didi asks if they're married to that name. "Yes," replies Stu. Betty asks just what the machine's supposed to have that her old one doesn't. Stu says that everything about it is perfect, but Didi calls it the "perfect fail" when the machine simply dumps the espresso on the floor. He claims it just needs some fine-tuning. Meanwhile, Gabi observes Tommy walking over with the screwdriver and says that he wants to help. Angelica complains to Didi that Tommy is getting in their way, so Didi picks him up and brings up back over to the other babies. She tells him to remember that when Mister Timer's light is red, he has to play on his own, and can only play with Mommy and Daddy when the light is green.

Susie asks if Stu fixed the screwdriver, but Angelica barges in, saying that Stu won't fix it until Mister Timer's light turns green. She calls it priceless and walks off. Stu continues to try to fix the machine, but it's going berserk. Gabi calls it an "espresso beast." The babies stare at it, wondering where Stu is behind the machine, only able to see his neck-tie. Angelica comes over again, asking if they know any fairy tales. She says it's in every story and that Stu got turned into an espresso beast. They have to try to hurry up and save him before Mister Timer's light turns green or he'll stay a beast forever. The babies begin a fantasy in which they are in the woods and Tommy in an elf. They approach the gates of an eerie castle, seeing the beast through a window. Chuckie wants to take off, but Tommy says they have to turn the beast back into his Daddy. Susie asks how they're even supposed to get in through the huge gates. Tommy says that if the beast is really his Daddy, he probably forgot to shut them all the way. He simply pushes the gates open. Back in the real world, Angelica observes the babies crawling behind the counter. In the fantasy, the babies find the beast. Phil and Lil are astonished by the beast's extra arms, wanting to use a spell to get some themselves. Susie reminds them they're on the clock.

Chuckie asks just how they're supposed to turn the beast back, that he's huge and scary. Just then, they hear Angelica chuckling, the cat Copy beside her as she decorates cupcakes. Tommy asks her to help them, but she just says that they all have their problems. His is his father turning into a beast, and hers is having to decorate a giant cupcake. She tells him to quit whining. Susie says they have to get the beast to act like his Daddy. Tommy figures maybe they could get him to change back if they can get him to play with him. He tries rolling him a ball, represented in the fantasy as a rock, but in the real world, Stu just continues to struggle with the machine. As the light on Mister Timer turns yellow, Tommy declares that they can't give up. He approaches from the back and get caught up in the machine, which starts steaming and sputtering. Stu waves a cloth at it and Betty asks if he's trying to surrender. "Never!" he declares. In the fantasy, Tommy, who is starting to look desperate, notes that it didn't work. Chuckie suggests that Tommy could distract Stu with a tasty treat, saying it always works when Phil tries to eat his shoelaces. Tommy begs Angelica for a cupcake and she tells him she can have one of her "decorating disasters." Tommy takes cupcakes and starts tossing them, but still fails to get Stu's attention. Phil and Lil start eating the cupcakes. Susie points out that the timer is running and Tommy shouts that he'll stop the timer. He pulls out his screwdriver, but is then reminded that it's broken. He holds it out and the beast approaches. It takes the screwdriver and fixes it. Tommy giggles and hugs the beast as the timer dings. In the real world, the beast is Stu, handing him back his screwdriver, good as new.

He takes him in his arms, asking if he wants to help Daddy with the beast. Just then, a man in sunglasses and a disco suit enters the cafe. This is the Invisible Eater. Betty greets him, saying his costume makes him look invisible but also looks hot, asking if he wants an iced tea. He tells her that he does not drink iced tea and demands a cup of Molten Joltin' Java. She explains that the espresso machine is under maintenance, and he asks just what she does have. Gabi comes over and tells him they have cupcakes with extra frosting. "And lots of sprinkles," agrees Angelica. He takes the cupcake and Betty hands him a cup of "house special." He sniffs it and drinks it down, saying he's never had anything like it before. He asks what it's called and she tells him it's just regular coffee. Stu tells Betty that he has to take his machine back to the workshop. The Invisible Eater holds up his phone, declaring "An independent coffee shop where the only thing bigger than the flavor is the heart. A rare sight in these corporate times." Stu asks if he knows him, but he says he didn't even see him, that he's invisible. Angelica points out that he didn't even eat the cupcake and he dropped a badge. The badge reads "Daxton." "The sad delivery guy?" asks Betty in wonder. He says he's just the regular delivery guy, taking off his sunglasses and using his regular voice. He asks if they can keep this between them. He says that he delivers packages, but food review is true calling. Gabi agrees to delete a picture she just took of him, saying she won't ruin it. She tells him she's secretly a blogger. "Me too," Didi tells her, saying that they all have a secret identity. "Not me," Stu says. "I'm just Dad." He smiles at Tommy, who giggles.

Trivia

 * The story title is a reference to the Disney movie and fairy tale Beauty and the Beast.
 * The display board of the drinks on offer at Betty's Beans includes the "Howard's End Blend." This would seem to be intended as a reference to Howard DeVille, who in the original series was Betty's husband.