Angelica's Birthday

"Angelica's Birthday" is a Season 3 episode of Rugrats. It was directed by Jim Duffy and Norton Virgien.

Charcters Present

 * Tommy
 * Chuckie
 * Phil
 * Lil
 * Angelica
 * Drew
 * Charlotte
 * Lou
 * Prudence
 * Susie
 * Belinda
 * Jean-Claude
 * Dean
 * Howard
 * Chas

Synopsis
''It's Angelica's birthday! When her parents tell her that now that she's older, she will have more responsability, Angelica decides to regress and become a baby again. - Description from Klasky Csupo''

Plot
The episode begins at Angelica's house as Drew delivers a letter to Angelica. It's Angelica's birthday, and in her room, Angelica is looking at a picture of the Taj Mahal, thinking about using it as a summer home. She then sees Drew, and tells her that she's been making last-minute suggestions for her birthday. Drew then tells her that a birthday card came for her in the mail. Angelica excitedly runs up to the letter and opens it, but as she looks through the card, she is disappointed not to find any money inside, and tosses it on the floor. Drew picks up the card and reads it to her, revealing it to have a poem from her grandmother inside. He tears up as he reads the poem. Angelica, missing the point, tells Drew that her grandmother must have forgotten to put the money in the card, and they can always call her so she can deliver it to them. Drew then tells her that he's been thinking about how grown up she's become lately. Angelica tells him that she is, and soon, she'll be an adult that can do whatever she wants. Drew tells Angelica that now that's she's a year older, he and Charlotte will be able to treat her like an adult and trust her with more responsibilities. Angelica asks Drew if responsibility means she will be able to stay up late and eat ice cream whenever she wants, but Drew tells her that responsibility means taking care of yourself, and doing such things as clearing your own plate from the dinner table, picking up your own toys, and paying a mortgage, among other things. Angelica tells Drew that that stuff doesn't sound like fun, but Drew tells her that part of growing up is doing things that you have to do, not just doing whatever you want. It isn't all fun and games, and it also involves a lot of hard work. Angelica is shocked when she hears about all the hard work she'll have to do in the future.

Speaking of hard work, downstairs, Charlotte is on the phone with Jonathan as a Reptar piñata is being hoisted up. Charlotte wants only the best for her daughter's birthday, and has spared no expense. As she talks to him, a caterer brings in a cake the size of a wedding cake, with a figure of Angelica at the top. Lou comes in after him, carrying a present, and Charlotte tells him Angelica's upstairs. She then tells Jonathan he'll be in a lot of trouble if the karaoke machine she ordered doesn't work.

Angelica sadly brushes Cynthia's hair as Lou brings her her present and wishes her a happy birthday. Angelica sadly thanks him, and opens the present, which is revealed to be a boxed tea set. She sighs unhappily, and Lou, noticing how unhappy she looks, asks her what's wrong. Angelica asks him what it's like to be old. Lou thinks for a minute, then tells her that when you get older, first your back aches, and it's tough to get out of bed in the morning, then your hearing isn't as good, you get false teeth and your vision blurs. Eventually, you end up eating tapioca and getting sponge baths. Even with those things, old age does have its good points. Angelica asks him if that will happen to her, and he tells her that sooner or later, it happens to everyone. He then tells her to take his advice and enjoy the best years of her life while she can. He then recalls the best year of his life was at Woodstock, save for pesky kids making a racket. As Lou leaves, Angelica asks him where he's going. To avoid going into too much detail, he tells her it's just another part of getting old.

Back downstairs, Charlotte is still on the phone with Jonathan, who tells her the Russian Circus she reserved has been cancelled. Some caterers pass by her, pushing and pulling live goats, and she tells them to take all animals out back to the tent. She then talks to Jonathan again, telling him to tell the Russian Circus performers that if they ever want to work in this town again, they'll make sure not to cancel a Charlotte C. Pickles deal. Jonathan then tells her that the performers were deported. Charlotte is outraged, as the performers shouldn't have been deported until after their performance at her daughter's birthday.

Back in her room, Angelica sadly tells Cynthia that soon, her life as an innocent kid will be over. Tommy, Chuckie, Phil, and Lil then walk into her room, wish her a happy birthday, and reveal they have brought her a mud pie (made with literal mud) in Spike's food bowl. Angelica sighs unhappily, and Chuckie asks her if she likes it. Angelica tells him, Tommy, and the twins that she's too old for mud pies now, as she now has responsibilities. Phil asks her what those are, and Angelica tells him that she's not allowed to have fun anymore for the rest of her life. Tommy tells her that today is her birthday, and Phil says that on your birthday, everyone has to be nice to her and give her presents. Lil then adds that she also gets to blow out the candles and make a special birthday wish, and Chuckie concludes by saying she gets to eat cake and ice cream until she throws up. Angelica tells Chuckie that all she wants for her birthday is never to get another year older as long as she lives. Lil asks her what she means, and Phil tells her that getting old is fun. Angelica then tells him that getting old is nothing but misery and woe. Tommy is surprised that Angelica feels very strongly about this, and tells her it's too bad she can't stay little like him and his friends. Upon hearing this, Angelica suddenly has an idea, and Chuckie has a bad feeling about it.

Resolving to avoid responsibilities, Angelica decides to be a baby again. She gathers a purple T-shirt and a green bonnet from the dolls in her bedroom, then she gathers supplies from the babies' diaper bag, including a pacifier and a diaper. When the babies return, they are shocked to find Angelica dressed as a baby, specifically wearing the green bonnet, purple T-shirt and the diaper from the diaper bag. Angelica tells them that now that she's a baby again, nobody can give her any responsibilities. As she pretends to be a baby, Chuckie and Tommy begin to doubt if she can really pull it off. Tommy tells Chuckie that things will be different now that Angelica's a baby again. Lil then tells them that if Angelica's a baby, she'll be just like them, and Phil says that if Angelica's one of them, she won't boss them around anymore. Lil adds on by saying she won't steal their toys anymore, and Chuckie adds on by saying she won't make them wear frilly panties. Tommy, Phil and Lil are shocked when they hear this, and Chuckie tells them he doesn't want to talk about that particular experience.

Back downstairs, Charlotte tells another caterer to take the sheep to the tent out back, and another one to add more streamers so there'll be lots of color. Howard and Chas arrive, both of them dressed like clowns. They explain to Charlotte that they have come to perform for Angelica's party, and that when they were in school, they made all their money off of birthday clown appearances. Charlotte tells them that she's already booked enough entertainment, but Chas insists that she gives him and Howard a brief demo before she says no. Chas then plays some clown music and introduces himself as the Amazing Flubbo, and Howard as his sidekick, Looney Boy. Chas inflates a balloon animal, but Charlotte is unimpressed. Their next trick involves Chas balancing a plate of pies on his head while riding a unicycle, while Howard juggles bowling pins. Chas bumps into Howard, causing the pies and bowling pins to fall on top of them. Howard then berates Chas for messing up, but Charlotte laughs hysterically at their performance, and tells them they got the job, and the kids will love their act.

Back in Angelica's bedroom, as Angelica sucks on her pacifier, Tommy asks her if she's really going through with acting like a baby, and Angelica responds by asking him if he has a problem with it. He tells her he doesn't, but being a baby means you can't do a lot of things on your own. Phil, Lil and Chuckie add playing big kid games, crossing the street and eating solid food as their respective examples. Angelica tells them that being a baby will be easy for her, but Chuckie tells her he doesn't think she can do it. Angelica then tells him to give her any baby thing to do, and she'll do it just as good as any of them. Tommy hands her a bottle and asks her if she can get some milk. Angelica tells him it will be easy, then opens her door and calls for Drew. Tommy then tells her that babies are not supposed to talk to adults, and following his advice, Angelica screams. Drew rushes in and asks Angelica if she's okay, but is then shocked to find her dressed like a baby. He asks her what she's doing dressed in baby clothes, and Angelica responds that she's fine. She tries to tell him she wants some milk, but then looks at Tommy, Chuckie, Phil and Lil, who all shake their heads, "No" in unison. Angelica then gets down on her hands and knees and gurgles and coos like a baby to tell Drew she wants some milk. Drew tells her that if she wants something, she should talk like a big girl, not a baby, but Angelica continues cooing like a baby. Drew then tells Angelica that he'll make a deal with her; he'll get her some milk if she changes out of her baby clothes, but Angelica continues cooing like a baby. Drew, realizing it's no use arguing with his daughter, leaves. The babies walk up to Angelica, who tells them, "Now, that's service!".

Drew walks down the stairs, and tells Charlotte that Angelica is crawling around her room, dressed like a baby, and won't even speak to him. Charlotte tells him that she's very busy, as she needs to check on the chocolate swan sculpture, and the Chinese Acrobats have arrived. The Chinese Acrobats perform for her, then she says, "I'll be right there" to them in Chinese. Drew then asks her what he should do about Angelica, as whenever she wants something, she just cries. Charlotte tells him that Angelica is just going through a phase, and since it's her birthday, she can do whatever she wants, including cry. Drew then tells Charlotte that he's going to see if he can at least get Angelica to put on her new party dress, as he knows she likes dressing up.

Back in her bedroom, Angelica cries like a baby as Drew tries to get her to put her new party dress on, telling her that it's a pretty dress, and he's sure it costs a lot of money. He hands her the dress, and she stops crying, but only briefly, as she now throws the dress on the floor and stomps on it, screaming. Drew sighs in disdain.

Later that day, Angelica's friends, including Dean and Susie, come over, and Charlotte greets them. She then tells Jonathan that they haven't received his present to Angelica yet. Angelica is now in the playpen with Tommy, Chuckie, Phil and Lil, who are all very impressed with how well she was able to pull off acting like a baby. Drew then invites Angelica's friends inside to Angelica. Dean asks her what she's doing in the playpen, and Susie tells her that she looks like a baby. Angelica responds by gurgling and cooing like a baby. Charlotte then calls Angelica's friends over for the piñata. As Susie and the rest of Angelica's friends run over to the piñata, Drew asks Angelica if she's sure she doesn't want to join them. Dean asks her if she wants to get all the chocolates for herself like she did at his birthday party. Angelica, knowing she loves chocolate, but hates responsibility, reluctantly declines by groaning. Drew then tells her that if she doesn't want to, that's okay. Angelica watches as Drew lowers the piñata and her friends cheer. She then growls at not being able to join them. She watches Susie hit the piñata, but not get any candy out of it, and tells the babies she's going out. Lil stops her by telling her to wait, and Phil tells her that she can't do it. Angelica tells them that she loves playing piñata, and she always gets all the chocolates. Tommy tells her that if she wants to be a baby, she has to do baby things. Chuckie adds on by saying that babies aren't allowed to play piñata. Phil then asks her if she doesn't want to have responsibilities, and Angelica reluctantly decides to stay with them.

As another of Angelica's friends hits the piñata, getting some candy out, Angelica tells the babies she's going to miss all the chocolates. Chuckie then tells her that she can't have any little candies, either, as they're too dangerous for babies. Angelica asks him why, and Tommy tells him they might put them in their nose. Angelica has now had enough and tells the babies they've ruined everything for her, as now she can't do anything fun. Right now, she could be out there with her friends, hitting the piñata, but instead, she's been reduced to sitting in a playpen, wearing a diaper and drinking from a bottle. Chuckie tells her that it may not look like much to her, but it's the world of him, Tommy, Phil and Lil, and it's all they know. Angelica tells the babies that she's not going to act like a baby anymore, and she jumps out of the playpen to join her friends in hitting the piñata. She snatches the stick and with one hit, she knocks all the candy out the piñata. Charlotte sees this and congratulates her on a job well done.

As Angelica and her friends collect their candy, Tommy, Chuckie, Phil and Lil watch from inside the playpen. Chuckie then tells Tommy and the twins that getting older doesn't sound as bad as Angelica let on earlier. Phil likes the idea of getting bigger and stronger, Tommy likes the idea of eating chocolates, and Lil likes the idea of hitting things with sticks. Chuckie then says that he can't wait to get old.

Charlotte then calls Angelica and her friends over to watch a performance from Flubbo and Looney Boy. Angelica, Susie, and Belinda all sit down as Chas and Howard perform for them. Chas juggles three cakes as Howard hits his foot with a hammer, causing him to scream and throw his cakes in the air, causing two of them to land on their heads. Angelica and her friends laugh until the third cake lands on Angelica's head. Angelica's friends continue laughing, and Angelica throws some of her cake at Belinda and Susie. Angelica and her friends all laugh, and the episode ends with a view of the figure of Angelica on top of her birthday cake.

Trivia

 * Dean, a friend of Tommy's whom Angelica had a deep crush on, shows up as a guest at Angelica's birthday party. Despite the fact Angelica seemed to have gotten over him due to the fact he thought Angelica didn't deserve him due to his rebellious attitude in his previous appearance, they both must have decided to still remain friends as he shows up at her birthday.
 * Jean-Claude, a French boy who lives next door to the Pickles household that Angelica was infatuated with after her breakup with Dean, shows up as a guest at her Birthday. It is assumed that they both have mutual feelings towards each other, or he wouldn't have been invited/showed up at her birthday.
 * Belinda and Prudence who were two girls that Tommy befriended during a quarrel at the park, have never met Angelica at all, and Angelica has never met them. So it's extremely puzzling as to why they are there. Possible, but not for certain reasons for this, is that being that they were friends of Tommy, Angelica being his cousin, they were invited to the party as well. It's possible that Angelica may have met them at the park just like Tommy did, or she knew them from when she was at day care. It's also possible that Charlotte or Drew asked Stu and Didi if they knew any other children that would like to come to Angelica's party, and Belinda and Prudence somehow could have been mentioned or invited.
 * The credits music, like in a few other episodes, is different. Chas and Howard's clown music that they used during their performance is played, instead of the Rugrats theme.
 * Right before Angelica jumps out of the playpen, there is a scene where Lil is missing her bow.
 * E.G. Daily (who also voices Tommy Pickles) does the voice of Susie in this episode instead of Cree Summer.
 * While it is never actually said how old Angelica is in the episode itself, in a previous episode, "The Seven Voyages of Cynthia", Angelica mentions having gotten her doll Cynthia as a present for her third birthday, so logically the birthday we see her celebrate should be her fourth, but in a later episode, "Pickles vs. Pickles," her parents say that she's still three years old.
 * Even though Angelica just turned 4 in this episode, she remains 3, although most of the episodes took place after this one, even after Dil was born and when Kira and Kimi joined the Finsters.
 * In the AGU episode called "Lucky 13" it takes place 10 years before this one. This means that Angelica was 2 1/2 in season 1. She became officially became 3 for the rest of the series in this episode .Although it was suppose to be her 4th birthday.
 * The Splat used part of this episode in a commercial, inferring Lou wears adult diapers
 * This is the only episode in which Angelica is seen wearing a diaper as a three-year-old.
 * In 2019, this episode was adapted into a Little Golden Book entitled, "All Grown Up?".
 * Moral: Don't be afraid of getting older.
 * It is confirmed that Lou had attended the Woodstock festival in this episode. His counterpart in the 2021 series, a flat-out hippie, also attended Woodstock.