Character Relationship Map: Scheming Schemers

Characters

• Shemp (archive footage) (played by Shemp Howard) — protagonist

  Shemp is one of the plumbers hired to retrieve a valuable ring from the mansion. While the others investigate the basement plumbing, he goes upstairs to work in the bathtub and becomes ensnared in a t...

• Larry (played by Larry Fine) — supporting

  Larry is one of the plumbers hired to recover a ring from the mansion. He inadvertently sends the jewel back down the drain after it is found, then investigates the plumbing with Moe. He also helps di...

• Mr. Allen (played by Kenneth MacDonald) — supporting

  Mr. Allen is a party guest who steals the prized Van Brocklin painting from the mansion with Mrs. Allen. Moe and Larry discover him with the painting and detain him using a cream pie, leading to a pie...

• Mrs. Allen (archive footage) (played by Christine McIntyre) — supporting

  Mrs. Allen is one of the party guests involved in stealing the prized Van Brocklin painting from the mansion. Her theft adds to the host's anxiety and complicates the plumbers' already chaotic effort...

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Shemp (archive footage) → Larry (Alliance Plumbing Partners) — They are part of the same plumbing job, and Larry joins Moe in wondering where Shemp has gone.

  Shemp is one of the plumbers hired for the ring recovery, and Larry later wonders where Shemp is while Shemp remains trapped in the upstairs bathtub p...

• Larry → Mr. Allen (Conflict Captors And Thief) — Larry helps confront and capture Mr. Allen after finding him with the painting.

  Larry and Moe discover Mr. Allen with the stolen painting and detain him using a cream pie.

• Mr. Allen → Mrs. Allen (archive footage) (Alliance Co-Thief) — They act together in stealing the painting, which adds to the host's anxiety.

  The plot says Mr. and Mrs. Allen steal the prized Van Brocklin painting from the mansion.

Story Analysis

Plumbers hired to recover a ring create comic chaos at a mansion party while a painting theft adds a second crisis.

Plot Progression

1. The Ring and the Drain — The plumbers arrive at the mansion during an elegant party to retrieve a valuable ring. They find it, but Larry accidentally sends it back down the drain.
2. Basement Plumbing Chaos — Moe and Larry investigate the basement system and confuse water pipes with electrical equipment. Their mistake sends water cascading from unexpected places, while Shemp goes upstairs to work in the ba...
3. The Painting Disappears — Mr. and Mrs. Allen steal the Van Brocklin painting, adding another crisis to the troubled job. Moe and Larry discover Mr. Allen with the painting and move to detain him.
4. Pie Fight and Capture — Moe and Larry use a cream pie to restrain Mr. Allen, triggering a pie fight in the mansion. Allen is eventually subdued and captured, and the painting is recovered.
5. Reward and Bathtub Surprise — The host celebrates the recovery of the ring and painting and offers the plumbers a generous reward. Moe and Larry then realize Shemp is still trapped among the pipes in the upstairs bathtub.