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"Michael, I wrote dot, dot, dot and you're giving me dot, dot."
Harold Pinter, to actor Michael Hordern during rehearsals

In Script Speak, a beat is an instruction in the script to leave a short pause, approximately the length of a breath, or possibly a slow single blink, before or after a line or gag. Used either to indicate 'thinking time' or to let it sink in to increase the impact of the subsequent reaction. For the actor, it indicates a change in thought process. Occasionally it will come just before the punch line, as a "here it comes" signal to the audience.

Extremely common in comedy movie trailers, often combined with a Record Needle Scratch.

Sometimes divided into "half-beats" or "extended beats", implying shorter or longer pauses.

The Beat Panel is the equivalent in Sequential Art. Contrast with Rapid-Fire Comedy.

Modern actors and directors consider scenes to be divided up into "Narrative Beats". The stage direction "beat" often marks the end of a narrative beat. Since a lot of good acting lies in finding a good rhythm, the musical choice of words fits very well to the desired result. Legend says that famous acting guru Stanislavski introduced the term when touring the United States. He would tell those who came to his lectures on acting to divide the scenes into "beats". The American actors hearing his lectures didn't realize he was trying to say "bits" with his Russian accent, and have been looking for "beats" in scripts ever since.


Examples:

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    Alternate... Reality... Games 
  • Omega Mart: Used to chilling effect in the first training video. Our host, Karen, asks the viewer what makes Omega Mart the most exceptional store in America, then pauses to get a sign. While she's down, an employee with a hazmat suit walks around with its Geiger Counter shooting through the roof—and then she reappears with the sign to show the answer is you, and not whatever it was behind her.

    Anime… &… Manga 
  • The Azumanga Daioh manga prominently uses beat panels and, as opposed to toning them down, the anime went the other direction instead, outright turning many beats into Overly Long Gags.
    Tomo: Miss Sakaki! I've got some photos for ya!
    Sakaki: (Photos from my very first trip with friends...) Thanks, Tomo...
    [beat as Tomo looks at the photos over Sakaki's shoulder]
    Tomo: Hey, check that out! If you look real close you can see a ghost face behind you!
    Sakaki: Ah! [jerks back and Tomo runs off]
    Yomi: [looks at the photos over Sakaki's shoulder] Oh, you're right...
    [beat as Sakaki slowly turns her head to look at Yomi]
    Chiyo: Huh? [looks at the photos] Oh wow! You're so lucky to have a photo like that.
    [beat as Sakaki slowly turns her head back to look at the photos as a siren can be heard passing by]
    Osaka: Ah? Hey, that's my neighbor, Mr. Horikochi, from back when I was in Osaka.
    [long beat as Sakaki, Yomi and Chiyo slowly turn their heads to look at Osaka, the siren can be heard passing by again, the three slowly turn their heads back to look at the photos again]
    Osaka: ...Well, probably.
  • In Lucky Star, Konata brings up the issue of her dad's attraction to small girls.
    Konata: Okay, you know how you're so clingy? Would you still be like that if I were a boy?
    [beat]
    Soujirou: ...Of course!
  • In Sky Girls, there is a beat when Otoha accidentally knocks in the flimsy dividing wall between the male and female outdoor springs.
    Otoha: All right! Let's do our best!
    [stands up and pumps arms dramatically, striking down the dividing wall]
    [beat]
    [male cast and female cast stare at each other]
  • In Akame ga Kill! after the ex-general Najenda comes to prevent the execution of one of her comrades on a flying beast.
    Esdeath: Hmph, the empire's traitor. It's been a while so why not chat a bit?
    [beat]
    ...In the torture chamber.
  • Kyon from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, in his usual snarky way, will usually break a potential beat with a thought of his own. This doesn't happen when he encounters something he can't explain, like accidentally walking in on a Mikuru clothes-changing session.
    • Also, Taniguchi walking in on Kyon and Yuki in a suggestive position after the fight against Ryoko.
      Taniguchi: [idly] Wa-wa-wa-wasuremo-
      [beat (during which he holds an overly theatrical surprised pose)]
      Taniguchi: En... Enjoy yourselves! (flees)
  • In a similar fashion to the Sky Girls example above, in Blue Exorcist there's a beat panel after the wall cracks and breaks after Shima and Rin's demon influenced perverted antics seriously caused damage to it, making all the girls and guys suddenly able to see each other. The last thing we get is Shura calling out her sword from her seal and then a scream from the boys.
  • In GO-GO Tamagotchi! episode 15a, Miraitchi loses the Knock Tap, a doorknob-shaped Time Machine used by her and her sister Clulutchi. Mametchi and his friends react to the news that it's missing with a disheartened "Awww...", wait a beat, and then react again with a much more surprised-sounding "EEEHHHHH?!"
  • In the Hetalia: Axis Powers movie, England and France stumble upon a digital map of ongoing/successful invasions. England absent mindedly reaches out to touch the UK and a pop up appears, a voice (the narrator) reading it aloud.
    Narrator: Britain, a former pirate, but now a rather effeminate yet gentlemanly empire with a plethora of rain. France is a long time acquaintance he's often found bickering with for bickering's sake. However, in their heart of hearts they love each other.
    [beat]
    Sexually.
    England and France: Uh… Where the hell did they get that?
    [Proceed to fight until aliens burst in and break them up] [Cue dramatic music!]

    Asian… Animation 
  • In the Lamput episode "Fracture", the docs help Lamput get back into shape when he fractures the one bone in his body. At the end of the episode, Lamput runs off free and the docs wait a beat before chasing him.

    Audio… Plays 

    Fan… Works 
  • The Bugger Anthology: After Dalek Sec says the Cybermen are better at dying than the Daleks are, there's a solid ten seconds of silence before the Cyber-Leader asks how much time Sec spent thinking up that comeback.
  • Calvin & Hobbes: The Series refers to a beat by name at one point.
  • Half Past Adventure invokes this frequently with the sentence "A beat." inserted into the narration, often between bits of dialog.
  • Kyon: Big Damn Hero used it as a part of an Expospeak Gag:
    Yuki: At this juncture, I will attempt to communicate something to you, though I am uncertain as to the accuracy of the transmission. Words remain a weak vector for communicating vital information. Despite the lack of adherence to social norms and the correct protocols for this procedure, I am attempting to convey to you the positive emotive content of my current condition and regards for you. The outcome is uncertain; no accurate prediction can be made. Regardless of the fact that determination is unclear, I have resolved to continue due to the content of the emotive concept I wish to relay. Despite the fact that I have no comparable metric, I am currently unable to conceive a greater intensity than the one I experience at this moment in relation to you.
    [beat]
    Yuki: I attempted to use more words. It appears that the data was not conveyed accurately.
    Kyon: C…can you try it again with less, maybe?
    Yuki: Yes. I like you. A lot.
  • MAGIC.MOV:
    Twilight: I'm going to try a black magic resurrection spell.
    Spike: How about you resurrect my penis. *beat* With sex.
  • Used several times in Turnabout Storm, usually setting up the road for some sort of Double Take.
    Phoenix Wright: Huh? Where am I?
    Twilight Sparkle: Hey! You're a human aren't you?
    Phoenix Wright: Yeah, I'm a human… *beat* WAIT, WHAT!?

    Films... Animated 
  • Toy Story:
    Buzz Lightyear: …and you, my friend, are responsible for delaying my rendezvous with Star Command.
    [beat]
    Woody: YOU! ARE! A! TOYYYY!!! You're not the real Buzz Lightyear, you're—you're an action figure. You are a child's plaything!
    [beat]
    Buzz Lightyear: You are a sad, strange little man, and you have my pity.
    • And earlier…
      Buzz Lightyear: I just want you to know that even though you tried to terminate me, revenge is not an idea we promote on my planet.
      Woody: Oh [beat] Well that's good.
      Buzz Lightyear: …But we're not on my planet — are we?
      [beat]
      Woody: Uhhh… No.
  • Surprisingly used in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs… with a character who can't speak. After swallowing a bar of soap, Dopey starts to hiccup out bubbles. Despite this, he doesn't notice he swallowed it, and continues searching, until a few seconds of silence let him figure out where it ended up. The silence passes, and then he hiccups nonstop for the rest of the scene.
  • Lampshaded in Gru's speech in Despicable Me.
    Gru: WE ARE GOING TO STEAL… pause for effect… THE MOON!!!
  • During the "Fixer Upper" song in Frozen (2013)...
    Kristoff: Enough! She is engaged to someone else, okay!
    [beat]
    Troll: So she's a bit of a fixer-upper…
  • Turning Red:
    Jin: It's happened already?
    Mei: What did you say?
    [beat]
    Jin: Ming? It's time.

    Films… Live… Action 
  • In The Ides of March there is a pause in Stephen's speech to Governor Morris about how he broke the only rule in politics. "You can't fuck the interns. …They get you for that." Director George Clooney said in the audio commentary how Ryan Gosling was uncertain about that beat to let the audience laugh.
    George Clooney (imitating Ryan Gosling): This isn't a sitcom, dude.
  • In James Bond, there's nearly always a beat within the frequent Double Entendre jokes.
  • Bubba Ho Tep has a very noticeable beat when Elvis attempts to banish Bubba using the chant from the book of souls.
    Elvis: You nasty thing from beyond the dead, no matter what you think or do, good things will never come to you. And if evil is your black design, you can bet the goodness of the Light Ones… [Beat as Elvis begins to realize what he's reading] …Will kick your bad behind?
    [Beat]
    Elvis: For chrissake!
    [Beat]
    Elvis: [To the heavens] That's it? That's the chant against evil from the "Book of Souls"? Oh yeah, right, boss. And what kind of decoder ring comes with that, man? Shit, it don't even rhyme well!
  • Serenity:
    Mal: Do you want to run this ship?!
    Jayne: Yes!
    Mal: [caught off guard] Well…[beat] you can't!
  • In Dredd two young gang members find the fully armored judges and approach them from behind and tell them to freeze, it goes as follows:
    Amos: Freeze.
    [The judges turn around and look at them.]
    [beat]
    Judge Dredd: Why?
  • The whole scene with the Black Knight from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
    Black Knight: 'Tis but a scratch.
    Arthur: A scratch?! Your arm's off!
    Black Knight: No it isn't.
    Arthur: Well, what's that then?
    [Arthur points at the Black Knight's severed arm; Black Knight looks at it.]
    Black Knight: I've had worse.
    • Same movie :
    Sir Bedevere: What makes you think she's a witch?
    Peasant: Well, she turned me into a newt!
    Sir Bedevere: A newt?
    Peasant:…I got better.
    • Eric Idle can be seen biting down on his scythe to keep from laughing in that scene because John Cleese let a beat hang for longer than expected.
  • Star Trek V: The Final Frontier In the turbolift on the way to the bridge, after shore leave has been cancelled:
    Kirk: I need a shower…
    [beat]
    Spock: Yes.
    Spock Prime: I have been, and always shall be, your friend.
    Kirk: Uh… look… I-I don't know you.
    Spock Prime: I am Spock.
    [beat]
    Kirk: Bullshit.
  • Tin Cup:
    Roy: I need a shrink.
    Romeo: But we don't know no shrinks!
    Roy: I know one…
    Romeo: Oh no, not the doctor lady.
    Roy: Why not?
    Romeo: You can't get advice about the woman to want to hose, from the woman you want to hose!
    [beat]
    Roy: Why not?
  • Avengers: Infinity War: The MCU sometimes gets accused of overusing Rapid-Fire Comedy, but this movie made good use of the comedic pause.
    Star Lord: See, "not winging it" isn't really what they do.
    Spider-Man: Uh, what exactly is it that they do?
    Mantis: Kick names, take ass.
    Drax: Yeah, that's right.
    Iron Man: [stares for a few moments as he regrets all his life choices]
  • Airplane! plays with this tropes a few times, but the most famous is probably the little boy and little girl dressed and acting like adults. In an attempt at making a connection, he brings her a tray of coffee, which she cordially accepts. Then this interaction happens.
    Boy: Cream?
    Girl: No thanks, I take it black. [beat] Like my men.
  • In I'm Not Rappaport, Nat and Midge declare that they're both in love with a beautiful girl that is at the park, painting. Midge says that it's the first time he's ever been in love with a white woman. Nat asks why this is and Midge tells him that while he may have run around with a wild Commie crowd, he was stuck with with his own where he came from, being a black man. "Wait, stop, excuse me..." says Nat and there is what the script of the original stage play specifically describes as being a beat before Nat takes out his bifocals and studies Midge, declaring "My God, you're right. You are a black man." Another beat, then he bursts into laughter, then following this Midge does too as realizes that Nat has got him again.

    Literature 
  • In the novel Mogworld by Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw we have this line in an exchange between Slippery John and the protagonist, an undead mage.
    He scowled from behind the invisible wall. "Why do you feel you have to antagonize me, servant of evil?" A beat. "Actually, Slippery John sort of answered his own question, there."
  • In The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, there's the Island of Darkness. They rescue the Lord Rhoop, who tells the crew of the Dawn Treader that the island was a place where dreams came true. The crew thinks this is a grand thing, despite the ominous darkness. Rhoop repeats himself, telling everyone to think about it. In 30 seconds, the crew comes to an unspoken agreement and turns the boat around faster than they'd ever done it before.
  • Discworld:
    • Thud!: The teetotaling vampire Sally lampshades this by stating, "And I don't drink significant pause wine."
    • Going Postal: "There was a pregnant pause. It gave birth to a lot of little pauses, each one more deeply embarrassing than its parent."
  • Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: After Ron eats a love-potion infused chocolate (intended for Harry), he declares his love for Romilda Vane. The resulting silence lasts almost a minute.

    Live… Action… TV 
  • Played often in Doctor Who.
    Bishop: Dr. Song, I've lost good men today. Do you trust this man?
    River: I absolutely trust him.
    Bishop: He's not some sort of madman, then?
    [beat]
    River: I absolutely trust him.
  • The Red Dwarf episode "Camille", when Kryten is telling her about his crewmates:
    Camille: Please, I can't meet your shipmates. Trust me.
    Kryten: But you don't know them! You'll like them! [beat] Well, some of them. [beat] Well, one of them. [beat] Maybe.
  • Thoroughly used and abused by Harry Hill's TV Burp, especially when it comes to the lead-up to the catchphrase, as these often tend to sneak up on the audience.
  • Used often in House.
    Walk-in patient: [feeling his own pulse] Got it!
    House: Start counting…
    [counting pause]
    House: How many?
    Walk-in patient: Twenty-six.
    House: Okay, either you suck at math or you're going to die in two seconds.
    [beat]
    House: You suck at math.
  • The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power makes use of it here and there to great effects.
  • Hilariously discussed in Farscape:
    Aeryn: So you're… [she trails off]
    John: What?
    Aeryn: Afraid. [there's a long pause] Of commitment.
    [Scene change to later]
    D'Argo: Hey wait a minute - did she hesitate like that, or was that just you doing that now?
    John: What does it matter?
    D'Argo: Well it matters because, if she hesitated like that, she knows you were talking about her.
    [Scene change to Aeryn and Chiana]
    Chiana: You said what?
    Aeryn: What I said.
    Chiana: Like you said?
    Aeryn: What does it matter?
    Chiana: [with an exasperated sigh] Well if you said it to him like you said it when you said it to me, then it means that he knows that you know.
  • Every so often on Cash Cab. Most hilariously and unbelievably:
    Ben Bailey: An alternative to permanent tattoos, what plant dye, popular in India, is used for temporary body art?
    Contestant: I know this!
    Ben Bailey: You do?
    Contestant: Hentai!
    Ben Bailey: …[aside glance]
    Ben Bailey: …The correct answer was henna.
  • Battlestar Galactica uses this trope to no end, but one example stands out: in the pilot miniseries, Adama calls Col. Tigh out on flipping over a table while completely hammered, inciting a fight between him and Starbuck. Tigh unsuccessfully defends his position.
    Adama: Well, you did flip over the table first.
    Tigh: I did not! [beat] Unless I did.
  • Seinfeld uses them regularly, often because the studio audience won't stop laughing.
    Jerry: She's talking about her panties so uh, I said "You mean the panties your mother laid out for you?"
    [beat]
    George: "You mean the panties your mother laid out for you?" What does that mean?!
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation used one for maximum effect when Worf was giving Wesley romance advice.
    Worf: Men do not roar. Women roar. And hurl heavy objects. And claw at you.
    Wesley What does the man do?
    Worf: He reads love poetry. [Beat] He ducks a lot.
  • The audience of Whose Line Is It Anyway? has one while they process a joke told by Drew Carey.
    Drew: Welcome back to Whose Line Is It Anyway?, where applauding loudly means that you're great in bed.
    Audience: [beat] [starts to clap loudly]
  • Very memorable unscripted instance in dash-cam video shown on Worlds Dumbest Drivers (episode 9, segment 5, "The Thin Blue One-Liner"). The professional comedians among the commentators unanimously loved this guy.
    Female driver: I thought you didn't give pretty girls tickets.
    Cop: You thought we didn't give pretty girls tickets.
    [beat]
    Cop: You're absolutely right, we don't. Sign here.
  • Stargate SG-1 has a truly epic Beat that lasts a full twelve seconds in its 100th Episode, Wormhole X-Treme. The actress who portrays Stacy Monroe corners the director and creative consultant of the show, and asks them that age-old "phasing" problem. It's one of the funniest moments in the whole episode:
    Monroe: So if I can walk through walls, how come I don't fall through the floor?
    [12-second beat]
    Martin: We'll have to get back to you on that.
  • The conclusion to the Den-O arc of Kamen Rider Decade. Long story short: Kuuga sees two Imagin fighting, proclaims that he knows who the enemy is, and proceeds to Rider Kick that Imagin… but he attacks Momotaros, the heroic Imagin, not the actual enemy, the Alligator Imagin. Decade, who was supposed to punch out Alligator, abruptly stops mid-punch to berate Kuuga on his mistake. Does that convince you of a lull in the battle? No? Then how about, during the whole fiasco, Kuuga was dangling in mid-air, his feet lodged against Momo's neck!
  • Arrested Development: Michael Bluth is a master of the sarcastic blank stare.
    Michael: Maybe you could take a date to the cabin?
    Lucille: How am I supposed to find someone willing to go into that musty old claptrap?
    [beat}]
    [beat]
    Michael: The cabin. Yes, that will be difficult.
  • By far the most common gag on Kaamelott, given that everybody considers themselves Surrounded by Idiots. Arthur remains the Only Sane Man.
  • Lampshaded after Rhoda tells someone that she may be having a baby, and they're too surprised to respond.
    [beat]
    Rhoda: This is what they call a "pregnant pause".
  • On the second season of The Joe Schmo Show, Derek Newcastle (actually a disguised version of Ralph Garman) does this just after the cast has watched Cammy's Porked 'n Beans food fetish video. "I'm sorry we had see that [beat] on such a small monitor."
  • Jeopardy!: After the famous Ken Jennings "What's a hoe?" response (the clue: "This term for a long-handled gardening tool can also mean an immoral pleasure seeker"), there's a beat between Alex ruling it wrong and realizing exactly what Ken said.
  • From poetic sections of Beyoncé's Lemonade:
    (in section full of F-bombs) You and your — women.
    (later on) Look at me when I come — home.
  • Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Used spectacularly in "The Overmining" cold open:
    Jake: Hey there Boyle, how was your weekend?
    Boyle: Well, actually I got a little sick.
    Jake: Oh, really? I'm sorry to hear that, man.
    Boyle: Yeah. Bullets over Broadway was on TV. I came down with a big ol' Dianne Wiest infection.
    Jake: [Beat]
    Boyle: [Beat]
    Jake: [Beat]
    Boyle: [Beat]
    Boyle: Like "yeast!"

    Music 
  • This could get a VERY long list, so just one song with a very characteristic beat: "Supervixen" by Garbage.
  • The Hamilton Mixtape's cover of "Helpless" omits Angelica's part from the musical where she elaborates on how she "wants to form a harem" in favor of stopping the music to emphasize Ashanti's response to the proposed polygamy.
    "Laughin’ at this girl, cuz she wants to form a harem."
    *beat*
    "No, I ain't sharin'."
  • On "The Story of O.J.", the second track on the Jay-Z album 4:44, the rapper uses a prominent one for emphasis with a hefty side of snark:
    O.J. like "I'm not black, I'm O.J.."
    *beat*
  • Dr. Dre's Ode to Intoxication The Next Episode from the album 2001:
    Hey-hey-hey-hey
    *beat*
    ...Smoke weed everyday

    Podcasts 
  • Episode six of Mystery Show has two pretty good ones:
    • When Starlee asks Beverly, a witness, about the knotted jacket on the lunchbox that she's investigating, all Beverly can offer is "It might be a joke."
    Starlee: Do you think that's a good joke?
    Beverly: [beat] I think it's a joke.
    • Then, Starlee gets to share some interesting information with Elmer Lenhardt's former neighbor:
    Starlee: If I say "professional wrestler"…
    Joe: Yeah.
    Starlee: Do you think of Elmer?
    Joe: [beat] When you say professional wrestler?
    Starlee: Yes.
    Joe: [beat] I do not.
  • Episode 41 of Well There's Your Problem has one when Justin learns of the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg earlier on the day of recording.
    Liam and Alice: (simultaneously) Ruth Bader Ginsburg just died.
    *beat*
    Justin: (terrifying hysterical laughter)

    Theatre 

    Video… Games 
  • This is actually written into combos for Fighting Games. Here, the Beat (generally written as a "!" or "-") is used to either allow the opponent to fall into a more advantageous position, or to let the combo meter reset. In both cases, it counts as a delay in the combo due to the player's lack of action, but the same combo as the opponent is generally incapable of acting.
  • Used hilariously in the World of Warcraft Hot On The Trail questline in Westfall. All done in CSI/Film Noir style.
    "This was an execution. Whoever did this was sending a message. A message for anyone that would dare snitch on these criminals. It would appear that poor Two-Shoes Lou really did put his foot… (Beat) In his mouth."
  • Kingdom Hearts II has a rather long pause when it's revealed that the Ansem they defeated last time wasn't the real Ansem, and was just an impostor.
  • The first Shadow Hearts has this long (and hilarious) example:
    Alice: I feel like it wants to tell us something…
    Yuri: …
    Yuri: …
    Yuri: …
    Yuri: …Oh yeah?
  • Mass Effect 2 has this with a romance between Garrus and Female Shepard
    Garrus: I'd wait, if you're okay with it. Disrupt the crew as little as possible...and take that last chance to find some calm just before the storm. You know me, I always like to savor the last shot before popping the heatsink.
    Shepard: …(with a small grin on her face)
    Garrus: …
    Garrus: Wait, that metaphor just went somewhere horrible.
  • The Ace Attorney series does this a LOT.
  • The iDOLM@STER 2 - Whenever Miki mentions Ritsuko's name, there's a beat before she adds the honorific -san at the end of her name.
    Miki: Ritsuko… san and the others coached me to at least say my greatings correctly.
    • That happens even when she's having a heated discussion with Touma after her unit beats the RGKM the first time.
  • Jak 3: Wastelander has a great one when the precursors are finally revealed for the first time
    Precursor: We are unhappy with your performance. If you had been a true hero, you would have stopped Errol by now!
    (The Precursors are revealed to be fuzzy little rats, AKA, Ottsels, or what Daxter has been for the entire series)
    * Everyone stares at each other*
    * Veger's staff falls to the ground*
    Jak: Oh my God.
  • In Chapter 15 of Ghost Trick, one puzzle requires you to swap a bullet in with a wool hat after it's fired. After you perform the required action and unstop time, the game lets the scene hang there for a moment, so you can realize the implications of what you just did. If you did the puzzle wrong and swapped in a metal hard hat instead, the feeling of "that was clearly not the correct action" is very effective.
  • Life Is Strange Episode 3 has this exchange when Max tries on Rachel's clothes…
    Chloe: Lookin' sick, Max! A couple tats some piercings and we'll make a thrasher out of you yet.
    Max: Ready for the most pit, shaka brah.
    (beat)
    Chloe: Maybe not.

    Web… Original 
  • Occurs in the second season of Let's Play series Mianite, at 1:15:23 of Episode 31 from Syndicate's perspective, when CaptainSparklez talks about making his RV float with balloons (makes sense in context), then uses an air pump in real life to clear out his computer mouse's sensor. Syndicate has this reaction:
    Sparklez: Do you wanna, like, put balloons on my thing?
    Syndicate: What?
    Sparklez: Wanna help me Breaking Balloons?
    Syndicate: Yeah okay, let's go do some drug dealing balloon making…
    The sound of an air pump comes from Sparklez' microphone.
    Syndicate: What, you making them in real life!?
    (Beat)
    Sparklez bursts out laughing.
  • Also common in Code Ment. It's usually followed or caused by Lelouch saying something insanely Non Sequitur. Which is often. It's also subverted when Lelouch reacts INSTANTLY to well-nigh ridiculous situations that would normally require a beat to comprehend with something even more ridiculous.
    Lelouch/One is in a cave with a recuperating (and naked) C.C. when Kallen walks in.
    Kallen: WHAT THE HELL!?
    Lelouch/One: PLEASEGODNO. Now, wait, Kallen, calm down!
    C.C. Listen, don't get the wrong idea
    Kallen: (hisses)
    C.C.: Did that bitch just hiss at me?
    Kallen: WHATCHU GONNA DO ABOUT IT?
    Lelouch/One: Kallen, KALLEN. Let's get one thing straight, here…
    (Beat)
    Lelouch/One: I WAS GIVIN' HER THE SEX!!!
  • Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog loves this trope, using it on multiple occasions, and frequently paired with Metaphorgotten.
    "Wow, sarcasm, that's original!" (Beat)
    "Billy? You're driving the spork into your leg." (Beat) "...So I am! Hilarious!"
    "See you in the aftermath. Peace!" (Beat) "...But not literally..."
  • Used extensively in Dragon Ball Z Abridged.
  • Dream High School represents beats with two periods, like this: "I need to run through.. some things with you…" (the ellipsis is more like trailing off).
  • The Nostalgia Critic also does this in his review of The Room (2003).
    NC: Wow. So, what year is this?
    NC of the future: The future!
    NC: Okay, but... why am I downstairs in the basement?
    NC of the future: Oh, it's the only place we can hide to stay away from the seahorses.
    NC: Oh, oh, okay.
    (beat)
    NC: What.
  • A long one after Dana does the Hair Flip in Echo Chamber's Trope of the Week episode Unresolved Sexual Tension.
  • OnCinema: Used quite frequently, especially if someone says something over another person which leads to slight awkward moments of silence.
  • A very short one in Red vs. Blue during the Curb-Stomp Battle of Tex vs. Everyone, when Tucker jumps away at the very last moment when Caboose drops a shipping container on him and Tex while the two are fighting.
    Tucker: I can't believe that worked!
    Tucker: Oh fuck, that didn't work!
  • A Running Gag on Atop the Fourth Wall where Linkara will note the character's absurd plan or statement and respond with "…wait, what?" after a beat.
  • Friendship is Witchcraft has one so long that the characters start blinking in time with the beat of the background music.
  • Don't Hug Me I'm Scared
    • This happens right after Sketchbook smears paint all over Yellow Guy's painting of a clown.
    • Also used after Red Guy calls Sketchbook's form of self-expression "boring".
    • Used again in the third video after the chicken picnic has been eaten by Duck Guy and Red Guy. Duck Guy insists that they have finished the chicken picnic and stares at the screen for a few moments in complete silence.
    • Happens after Colin reveals his "digital mind" in the fourth video.
    • When Red Guy asks about the relevance of the Internet, Colin hesitates.
    Red Guy: But in this digital world, what can we do?
    (Beat)
    Red Guy: (insistently) What can we—
    Colin: Hey, good question!
  • Used ocasionally by British Youtuber Hbomberguy:
    Hbomb: (on pick-up artistry) It's like writing horoscopes, only for desperate and lonely people. [beat] It's like writing horoscopes.
  • Vita Carnis: Played for Horror; in the tape discussing the biology and habits of Mimics, there is a long, uncomfortable pause (in both the narration and the music) after the line explaining that the mimic's diet is comprised entirely of human flesh.

    Western… Animation 
  • In the Justice League Unlimited episode "Epilogue":
    Amanda Waller: Finding Batman's genetic material wasn't hard. (Cut to a shot of Batman being bandaged by a paramedic while she collects a sample of his blood off the ground) He left it all over town.
    (beat while Terry gives her a look)
    Not even remotely what I meant.
  • Dora the Explorer LOVES doing this. This is also a standard of other programs that use a similar form of Fake Interactivity by having the main or host character talk to the audience and wait for a response, such as Blue's Clues and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood.
  • A short beat occurs in Adventure Time's "Incendium".
    Flame Princess: YOU DON'T LIKE ME?!?!
    Finn: I like you!
    [insert 5-second beat and a Luminescent Blush here]
  • Space Ghost Coast to Coast: Uncomfortable pauses are used liberally in every episode, to the point of Lampshade Hanging:
    Space Ghost: It lets me blend… just about anything! (beat)
    Zorak: Beat!
    Space Ghost: Classy people are always blending stuff. (beat)
    Zorak: Beat!
  • Harvey Birdman often blends longer beats with faster speed for comedic rhythm.
  • In The Simpsons episode "Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk," the new owners of the nuclear power plant assess Homer's usefulness. It goes about as well as you'd expect.
    German Boss 1: You have been safety inspector for two years. What initiatives have you spearheaded in that time?
    Homer: Uh… All of them?
    German Boss 1: I see… Then you must have some good ideas for the future as well?
    Homer: I sure do!
    * Long beat* (bosses glance at each other)
    German Boss 2: Such… as?
    • Hosting his show on Halloween in a vampire costume:
      Krusty: Tonight I'm going to suck… (beat) your blood.
    • After Chief Wiggum, Eddie and Lou see Maggie driving by in a car:
      Wiggum: Aww, would you look at that, a baby driving a car. (beat) And look, there's a dog driving a bus.
    • Unsurprisingly, terrible news anchor Kent Brockman is prone to these:
      Kent: Hello, I'm Kent Brockman! Our top stories tonight: A TREMENDOUS EXPLOSION!
      (beat)
      …in the price of lumber. AND PRESIDENT REAGAN DIES!
      (beat)
      …his hair.
    • After seeing Homer and Marge kiss:
      Lenny: Carl, remember when we used to kiss like that(beat) with our respective girlfriends?
    • When Bart costs the football team a victory due to Homer appointing him quarterback.
      Terri: You ruined our undefeated season! You ruined everything, ruiner! (beat) My sister likes you!
    • When Bart is considering leaving the Jr Campers:
      Homer: Marge, don't discourage the boy. Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It's what separates us from the animals! (beat) …except the weasels.
  • Bojack Horseman used this for dramatic effect at the end of 3x11 when Bojack seemed to be in denial of Sarah Lynn's death in the planetarium with her head on his shoulder and, boy! Did it work!
    Bojack:See, Sarah Lynn, we're not doomed […] The only thing that matters is right now, this moment, this one spectacular moment we are sharing together. Right, Sarah Lynn? Sarah Lynn? (beat) Sarah Lynn?'''
  • Phineas and Ferb. Used fairly often, for instance in "Chronicles of Meap", when Isabella is irritated at Phineas for failing to realize that she might be causing the interference in his cute tracker:
    Isabella: I still have to earn my You-Wouldn't-Know-Cute-If-It-Bit-Your-Legs-Off accomplishment patch.
    * beat*
    Phineas: Cool, let's go!
    • In "That Sinking Feeling":
      Doofenshmirtz: The lighthouse is gone and there's nothing you can do about it! So you might as well run back to Major Monogram and tell him you lost this one!
      * beat*
      * Perry walks out the door*
      Background Singers: PEEEEERRRRRRRRY!
  • Futurama: Used quite a few times through out the series, but most notably after the show returned to Comedy Central:
    Farnsworth: Yes, it's almost like a… Comedy Central channel! And we're on it now!
    * beat*
    Amy: I get it!
  • Metalocalypse:
    General Crozier: You're being paid to gather all the information you can with this camera, so no fguitar riffking around, got that, candynose?
    (beat)
    Dr. Rockso: I DO COCAI
    General Crozier: Yes, yes, I know.
  • From My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic episode "A Bird in the Hoof," Rainbow Dash tries to get a reaction from Celestia's guards, then says
    "Oh you're good. (beat) Too good. I'm bored."
    Spike: But the store is called Quills and Sofas! You only sell two things!
    Proprietor: Sorry, junior. All outta quills 'til Monday. (Beat) Need a sofa?
  • From the King of the Hill episode "Of Mice and Little Green Men", when Peggy fills in for Bobby in the "Of Mice and Men" play he was going to do with Hank:
    Peggy: Lenny, don't drink so much!
    Hank: Okay George, you have some. You have some too.
    Peggy: I don't know. it looks kind of scummy to me. (pauses to look at the script) Who writes this crap?
  • Happens in the Magic Adventures of Mumfie episode "If The Hat Fits" when Mumfie and Scarecrow wonder what to do with a mischievous group of leaves that wouldn't stop bothering them.
    Mumfie: (in a loud voice) I wonder where we can put the leaves!
    Scarecrow: Who are you talking to?
    Mumfie: You. (in the same loud voice) We’ll have to put them somewhere the wind can’t get them.
    Scarecrow: (shushes Mumfie) If you talk that loud, the wind will hear you.
    Mumfie: I want it to hear me.
    Scarecrow. Oh.
    (Beat)
    I don’t think I’m getting the hang of this!
  • Steven Universe absolutely lives on this trope. For example:
    Steven, After receiving a package: "Ha! This thing is going to help me save the world!"
    Mail Man: "Really? This thing says it's from 'Wacky Sack Supply Company'."
    Steven: "Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl think I shouldn't go on magic adventures because I don't know how to use my gem power."
    (Beat)
    Mail Man: "Seems reasonable."

    Real… Life 
  • In an interview, actress Tea Leoni mentioned that she first thought "Beat" must be some sort of slang, because it showed up often in her scripts, and thus said it out loud. This was soon corrected.
  • During his final decade working for CBS; legendary NFL broadcaster Pat Summerall often read promotions for the CBS Sunday night lineup (from 1984-93; it was 60 Minutes; Murder, She Wrote and a movie) in which he would read the Murder, She Wrote listing as "Murder...She Wrote"; complete with pause.
  • A clip of Liz Truss, then the British Secretary for Environment, from 2014 shows her gleefully announcing that she would be going to Beijing later that year "opening up new pork markets" and then grinning immediately afterwards. It took the audience a moment to realize that that was it, and then came the Slow Clap.

Top

...Jerk!

Having been hit with a level five aura swapping spell that alters their personalities, the usually bright Yin has a delayed reaction to realizing it was Yuck's doing.

How well does it match the trope?

5 (4 votes)

Example of:

Main / Beat

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