Story Structure — 6 Plot Phases

Jack Carroll argues with his wife about their friends. His insult toward his mother-in-law ends the quarrel with his wife leaving him.

Marital Argument Begins — Jack Carroll argues with his wife about their friends. Characters: Jack Carroll Location: Jack Carroll's home
Insult Sparks Fight — Jack calls his mother-in-law a fat porpoise, escalating the argument. Characters: Jack Carroll Location: Jack Carroll's home
Wife Leaves Jack — The fight ends with Jack's wife leaving him. Characters: Jack Carroll Location: Jack Carroll's home
Strange Men Encountered — Jack runs into two strange men before they burglarize a bank. Characters: Jack Carroll Location: A street

Jack encounters two strange men immediately before their bank burglary. Since he is the only person who can identify them, he leaves for Reno.

Strange Men Encountered — Jack runs into two strange men before they burglarize a bank. Characters: Jack Carroll Location: A street
Bank Burglary Occurs — The two men commit a bank burglary after Jack encounters them. Characters: Jack Carroll Location: A bank
Jack Becomes Witness — Jack becomes the only person able to identify the robbers. Characters: Jack Carroll Location: A bank
Vacation Plan Forms — Because he can identify the robbers, Jack takes a vacation to Reno. Characters: Jack Carroll Location: Reno

Jack checks into the Bar Nothing Ranch, but the robbers also arrive in Reno. They bury a suitcase of money near the place where Jack searches.

Ranch Check-In — Jack checks into the Bar Nothing Ranch in Reno. Characters: Jack Carroll Location: Bar Nothing Ranch
Robbers Reach Reno — The robbers later come to Reno and check in. Characters: Jack Carroll Location: Reno
Money Suitcase Buried — The robbers bury a suitcase of money near the ranch. Characters: Jack Carroll Location: Near Bar Nothing Ranch
Metal Detector Search — Jack searches the area with a metal detector. Characters: Jack Carroll Location: Near Bar Nothing Ranch

Using a metal detector, Jack finds the robbers' buried suitcase. His discovery immediately leads to him being taken by another woman.

Metal Detector Search — Jack searches the area with a metal detector. Characters: Jack Carroll Location: Near Bar Nothing Ranch
Buried Money Found — Jack's metal detector leads him to the buried suitcase of money. Characters: Jack Carroll Location: Near Bar Nothing Ranch
Jack Is Taken — After finding the money, Jack is taken by another woman. Characters: Jack Carroll Location: Near Bar Nothing Ranch
Troubles Multiply — Jack's discovery begins a series of confusing troubles in Reno. Characters: Jack Carroll Location: Reno

Jack encounters a sheriff, a sailor, and a gun moll amid increasing confusion. The gun moll convinces the police that she is Mrs. Carroll.

Troubles Multiply — Jack's discovery begins a series of confusing troubles in Reno. Characters: Jack Carroll Location: Reno
Sheriff Encounter — Jack encounters a sheriff during his escalating troubles. Characters: Jack Carroll Location: Reno
Sailor Encounter — Jack also encounters a sailor in Reno. Characters: Jack Carroll Location: Reno
Gun Moll Appears — A gun moll enters the confusion surrounding Jack. Characters: Jack Carroll Location: Reno
False Wife Claim — The gun moll convinces the police that she is Mrs. Carroll. Characters: Jack Carroll Location: Reno

Jack's wife arrives, but he cannot adequately explain the tangled events. She ultimately divorces him.

Wife Arrives — Jack's actual wife arrives while the false identity causes confusion. Characters: Jack Carroll Location: Reno
Explanation Fails — Jack cannot adequately explain the situation to his wife. Characters: Jack Carroll Location: Reno
Divorce Ends Marriage — Jack's wife divorces him after he fails to explain the events. Characters: Jack Carroll Location: Reno

Story Breakdown

Marital Breakdown — Jack's domestic conflict creates the film's personal opening.
- Argument Over Friends — Jack and his wife argue about their friends.
- Insult And Separation — Jack insults his mother-in-law, and his wife leaves him.
Bank Robbery Witness — Jack becomes connected to a bank burglary after an accidental encounter.
- Strange Men — Jack runs into two strange men before the burglary.
- Only Identifier — Jack is the only person able to identify the robbers.
Escape To Reno — Jack responds to the danger by taking a vacation and checking into a ranch.
- Vacation Decision — Jack goes to Reno because of his connection to the robbery.
- Ranch Check-In — Jack checks into the Bar Nothing Ranch.
Buried Money — The robbers' hidden money creates Jack's central accidental entanglement.
- Robbers In Reno — The robbers arrive in Reno and check in.
- Suitcase Found — Jack uses a metal detector and finds their buried money.
Reno Confusion — Jack's discovery produces a sequence of encounters and mistaken identities.
- Taken By Woman — Another woman takes Jack after he finds the money.
- False Mrs Carroll — A gun moll convinces police that she is Mrs. Carroll.
Marriage Collapse — Jack's inability to explain the confusion results in the final personal loss.
- Wife Arrives — Jack's wife arrives in Reno amid the tangled situation.
- Divorce — Jack cannot explain things adequately, and his wife divorces him.