Lord of the Beans

Lord of the Beans
File:Lord of the beans.jpg DVD cover
Directed by	Mike Nawrocki
Written by	Phil Vischer
Produced by	David Pitts
Starring	Phil Vischer Mike Nawrocki Lisa Vischer Joe Spadaford Tim Hodge Charlotte Jackson Ally Nawrocki
Edited by	J. Chris Wall
Music by	Kurt Heinecke
Production company	Big Idea Productions
Distributed by	Word Entertainment
Release date	November 15, 2005 (2005-11-15)
Running time	52 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$250,000

Lord of the Beans is the twentieth episode in the VeggieTales animated series, and the first since An Easter Carol to feature only one story. Subtitled "A Lesson in Using Your Gifts", its goal is to teach viewers how they can use their talents to bring joy to others rather than merely bringing glory or satisfaction to themselves. It's also the first video to have the Silly Song after the 30-minute mark of the video. This video has also been the subject of a clue on "Jeopardy!" ("What is "Lord Of The Beans"?") Also, there was no directors commentary recorded for this video.

The story used to illustrate the lesson is an overt parody of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. The parody takes character names and places directly from the source and changes them to fit the VeggieTales context (noted below). In spite of this, the plot takes many unexpected turns, and recognizable scenes are freely reinterpreted to create humor or underscore the video's message.

Plot

"Lord of the Beans" begins with the arrival of Randalf in the Shire for Billboy Baggypants' 122nd birthday party (which he calls his "Twelfety-twoth" birthday, referencing Bilbo's "eleventy-first" birthday in The Fellowship of the Ring). Billboy talks about retiring and leaving the Shire and uses a strange bean to produce a birthday cake. Returning to his home, he finds Randalf waiting in his living room. Randalf remarks on Billboy's impressive height, his fine clothing, and his luxuriously appointed home, knowing they have come from the bean, and warns his friend of using such things lightly. Billboy concedes that the bean has given him almost everything he could want. He then announces that he is leaving the Shire and bequeathing everything he owns, including the bean, to his nephew Toto.

Waiting for Toto, Randalf relates that Billboy has departed and draws his attention to the bean. Toto is curious as to why he would want a bean and Randalf describes the origin of a magical bean that could produce clothing, consumables, and small kitchen appliances, and also change your appearance. After verifying the bean's authenticity from an inscription left after warming it in the fire, Toto is unsure about accepting such a gift and tries to pass it off to Randalf. However, Randalf explains that one cannot choose his gifts and must determine for himself how they should best be used.

He then suggests that Toto travel to the Elders of the Razzberry Forest for insight with some friends that he has already gathered to assist with the journey: the Ranger Ear-a-Corn; the Elf Leg-O-Lamb; the Dwarf Grumpy; and "The Other Elf", Leg-O-Lamb's brother who had nothing better to do. They trek through the Mountains of Much Snowia and eventually reach the Razzberry Forest. There, Randalf warns the others not to laugh because the Elders have lost their sense of humor. The Elders welcome them and inform Randalf that they must travel to the Land of Woe. The others burst into laughter upon hearing the greetings and native tongue of the Elders, which involves blowing raspberries. This gets them sentenced to detention on a platform forever until an Eagle "saves" them and they escape.

Leaving the forest, they emerge near the Blue Gate, the entrance to the Land of Woe. After opening the door, they realize that Toto is the only one small enough to fit through and he proceeds alone. However, the remainder of the group soon learns that a group of Sporks, minions of the evil Scaryman, are after Toto in order to seize the bean for their master. The fellowship then goes in pursuit.

In the Land of Woe, Toto encounters a strange creature named Ahem, who reveals that he was once a normal Flobbit like Toto and the former owner of the bean. Ahem then agrees to accompany Toto into Woe as a guide. Meanwhile, the others charge through the Red Gate, only to be trapped by the Sporks. The "Other Elf" then bakes cookies, implying that he is in fact a Keebler Elf, and gives them to the Sporks who haven't eaten anything "but maggoty bread for three stinkin' days" and the fellowship journeys on. Toto and Ahem arrive in Woe to find a desperate people lacking the most basic necessities, such as food and water. Ahem wants Toto to leave them, to use the bean for his own creature comforts, but Toto recognizes that he can use it to help the people of Woe. The fellowship arrives just ahead of Scaryman, who steals the bean. However, Billboy suddenly reappears, recovering the bean and returning it to Toto. Toto throws the bean into the well, bringing water back to the Land of Woe and restoring it to its fertile and beautiful state.

Lord of the Beans

• Junior Asparagus as Toto Baggypants
• Archibald Asparagus as Billboy Baggypants
• Mr. Nezzer as Randalf
• Larry the Cucumber as Ear-a-Corn
• Jimmy Gourd as Leg-O-Lamb
• Pa Grape as Grumpy
• Jerry Gourd as The Other Elf
• Scallion #1 as Scaryman
• Mr. Lunt as Ahem
• Charlie Pincher as Umbrella Boy
• Sporks
• Eagle
• Other Flobbits
• Land of Woe

My Baby Elf

• Larry the Cucumber as Ear-a-Corn as an Elvish Impersonator
• Miss Achmetha as the Elf Girl
• Jimmy Gourd as Leg-O-Lamb

Songs

This episode includes many songs - some of which are listed below:

• "VeggieTales Theme Song" - Bob the Tomato, Mom Asparagus, Dad Asparagus, Junior Asparagus, Larry the Cucumber
• "A Little More of This" - Archibald Asparagus
• "The Legend of the Bean" - Mr. Nezzer and Junior Asparagus
• "Will I Know What It's For?" - Junior Asparagus
• "I've Got a New Umbrella" - Umbrella Guy
• "My Baby Elf" - Larry the Cucumber and Miss Achmetha
• "I Finally Know What It's For" - Junior Asparagus, Archibald Asparagus, Mr. Nezzer, Larry the Cucumber, Mr. Lunt, Pa Grape, Jimmy & Jerry Gourd, Townspeople and the Sporks
• "What We Have Learned" - The singers (however the sporks stole the song)
• "It's About Love" - Wynonna Judd

External links

• Lord of the Beans at IMDb
• Lord of the Beans review from families.com

Trivia

• This is the last episode with the original Big Idea logo.