"Too Cool for Rules" is an episode of Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty Adventures.
Synopsis[]
Plum decides to make up her own rules after she gets tired of being scolded by everyone else when she forgets theirs. But in the process she learns a lesson when the others start making worse rules.
Summary[]
One sunny day a group of Berrykin is heading to the pond to go on a picnic. They find the ferry floating away from the dock and try to pull it back in until realizing someone forgot to tie the rope. With their lunch items they try to make a handmade raft to get to the boat, but two get stuck in the muck at the bottom of the pond and in their attempts at helping, the others get stuck too.
Luckily, Strawberry forgot to pack them the dessert she made and arrives just in time to help save them. She gets the boat back to the shore and sends them on their way before spotting a purple cellphone, realizing that Plum was there. She picks it up and runs into Orange and Plum, who are on their way to Blueberry's book meeting. Strawberry hands over the phone and brings up what happened, with Plum fairly certain she tied the rope and blissfully indifferent to what happened. Strawberry reminds her that the rule is to tie it with two knots, but instead of listening Plum makes a joke before stating that the rules Lemon made for it aren't important.
Before heading to Blueberry's she decides to swing by Orange Mart to hand out some invitations. Jadeybug is impressed not only by the number of invitations but that Plum wants to send them through Extra Special Super Urgent Ultra Fast Delivery- which requires a special stamp she loves getting to use.
Everyone is pleased by the invitations, except for Strawberry and Blueberry, since Blueberry had already signed up to use the Cafe that night. Strawberry assures her that it will still be her night and wonders if Plum forgot to sign up or if she didn't check the chart they made, and deciding she needs to be fair she heads off to sadly deliver the news.
She explains how Plum never signed up on their scheduling chart for the Cafe that night, and since Blueberry already did she can't do it now either. Plum tries to bargain with Strawberry to get that night but she refuses, pointing out that Blueberry followed the rules and it's only fair. She apologizes to Plum and offers to modify her invitations for her, but she angrily asks her to leave.
A few days later, Strawberry heads to the Salon to see Orange brings up the brand new joke invitations with Raspberry. To their shock, Strawberry reveals that Plum was being serious though; she's upset and she decided to get revenge, making up some brand new rules: to get inside they must now wear a yellow hat, knock three times, and guess the password. Despite Strawberry's warning, Lemon, Raspberry, and Mr. Longface arrive for their dance lesson and are forced
to knock and guess the password, but are turned down for not having yellow hats after they finally get it. Annoyed, they are forced to leave.
That evening, everybody notices that Plum didn't show up for book club. Strawberry calls Plum to check up on her, but Plum claims she is just too busy with dance practice to show up. Concerned, Strawberry pays her a visit the next day to try to get her to come to her senses; but by now Raspberry, Lemon, and Mr. Longface made up their own silly rules in order to get back at her and she's unhappy for being unable to get what she needed done that day.
With no other choice, Strawberry proceeds to hold an emergency meeting and calls them over, explaining that this is only making matters worse and its not fair having to make Plum due such silly things- even though she did it to them. However, this only aggravates everyone and they try to enforce the rules on everyone else; not just Plum.
A while passes and by now, the frustrated trio have been avoided by everyone else and they realized their plan only backfired at them. So they quickly remove their silly rules and are forgiven, with Strawberry happy; although she realizes that Plum must still understand the error of her ways. It's not enough to fix things yet.
By now, Plum goes to deliver her new invitations but everyone refuses them because of her silly rules.
Desperately she decides to rid of her rules- but only for that night.
That following evening everyone decides to take a break during the recital and enjoy the food and drink that was prepared. It's then Plum notices puncture marks in the floor and begins to panic as it dons on her that it came from Jadeybug's heels. She scolds her for forgetting that she couldn't wear them there, but Jadeybug innocently reminds her that she got rid of all the rules for tonight, so she didn't know they were still forbidden. She admits that while she never understood the rule, she feels badly and removes her heels. It's then Plum sees what she did wrongly as Jadeybug and Strawberry offer to help her refinish the floor. She is surprised by their kindness, but she apologizes and promises to be more respectful of the rules everyone makes.
This lesson has apparently stuck, when days later she has to remind the others to tie the boat's rope in two knots.
Lessons[]
Plum learns that while some rules may not make sense or seem useless, they should be respected because they were made for a reason. After explaining why she doesn't like heeled shoes in her dance studio, she realizes how important the other rules were and how she was being rude.
Lemon, Mr. Longface, and Raspberry learn that seeking revenge after being wronged by someone else only provides more fuel and worsens a problem.
Quotes[]
- Plum: One knot, two knots. Knot that it matters.
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- Plum: I think it's a silly rule. But don't tell Lemon, I do "knot" want to get in trouble.
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- (Mr. Longface, Raspberry and Lemon try to guess the password to Plum's studio)
- Lemon: (whispers to Raspberry) Bet you it's a ballet dance step! (loudly) Plié?
- Plum: (chuckles) Nay, nay! Sorray!
- Mr. Longface: (whispers) It's her favorite pie. (loudly) Ahem... is it... Gooseberry?
- Plum: My favorite pie, but not the password!
- Raspberry: (irritated) Hmm! How about... ridiculous?
- Plum: (opens the door) Ridiculous it is!
- Raspberry: I'll say...
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- Mr Longface: Wonderful shot, Sir Highness Longface.
- Mr Longface: Why thank you.
- (Mr. Longface misses the shot)
- Mr Longface: Oh, too bad.
- Mr. Longface: Guess it's your turn again, Sir Highness Longface
----
- Mr. Longface: That's my ball, Sir Highness Longface.
- Mr. Longface: My mistake, Sir Highness, I....I mean...
- Mr Longface: Oh....this doesn't work playing miniature golf against oneself.
Trivia[]
- According to the schedule in the cafe, these were the following plans: Lemon has two nights, Strawberry has three, followed by one for Blueberry, two for Raspberry, and one for Orange.
- Custard is implied to be able to play board games, easily beating Mr. Long Face.
- This is the second time Lemon's ferry appears, following "Hair Today Gone Tomorrow".
- Raspberry's rule was that customers could only step on the polka-dot print of her carpet, while Lemon asked hers to wear a green hat and whistle while their hair and nails were being done.
- Attendance of Plum's recital include: two plum berrykins, three raspberry berrykins, a butterfly, Bosley Bookworm, Princess Berrykin, Mr. Longface, Kadiebug and Sadiebug, Orange, Raspberry, Lemon, Jadeybug, Blueberry, and Strawberry.
- This episode reveals that Plum's favorite pie is Gooseberry.
Goofs[]
- On a 2D map of Berry Bitty City, Blueberry Books is located closest to the Cafe or Raspberry's Boutique. But in the episode, it shows that Plum's place is right next door, which isn't depicted on the map.
External links[]
- Too Cool for Rules at the Internet Movie Database