A mountain health retreat becomes a chain of intoxication, domestic conflict, slapstick retaliation, and explosive consequences.
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
A Prescription For The Mountains
Medical advice sends the travelers away from civilization toward the mountains. A rented trailer and a deserted cabin establish the isolated setting.
Key Events
Moonshiners Exchange Fire — The moonshiners engage police in a shootout near their cabin. Characters: Moonshiner, Moonshiner, MoonshinerLocation: Mountain road near the cabin
Barrels Hidden in Well — The moonshiners dump their product into the well before police reach it. Characters: Moonshiner, Moonshiner, MoonshinerLocation: Well behind the cabin
Moonshiners Arrested — The moonshiners are arrested before they can remove all the hidden product. Characters: Moonshiner, Moonshiner, MoonshinerLocation: Cabin surroundings
Mountain Retreat Proposed — A mountain stay and abundant water are proposed as a treatment for gout.
Location: Urban home
Trailer Heads Into Mountains — The travelers drive a rented trailer toward the mountains.
Location: Mountain road
Deserted Cabin Found — The travelers find the deserted cabin and park the trailer in front.
Location: Deserted mountain cabin
The Well With A Secret
Water from the cabin well is discolored, but its unusual flavor is accepted as mineral-rich. The travelers drink it while preparing dinner and become intoxicated.
Key Events
Water Drawn From Well — Water from the well appears discolored but is used to make coffee.
Location: Cabin well
Strange Water Enjoyed — The travelers attribute the water’s flavor to iron and drink it.
Location: Trailer beside the cabin
Kitchen Melody Interrupted — One traveler sings while the other inserts a melody between pauses.
Location: Trailer interior
Shoe Damaged By Axe — A woodcutting accident removes the tip of a shoe.
Location: Trailer campsite
Foot Placed In Purse — A purse is used to protect the injured foot until dinner ends.
Location: Trailer interior
A Roadside Couple Arrives
Mr. and Mrs. Hall reach the cabin after their car runs out of gasoline. Mrs. Hall enjoys the well water and remains with the travelers while Mr. Hall retrieves the car.
Key Events
Hall Car Runs Dry — Mr. and Mrs. Hall’s car runs out of gasoline near the cabin. Characters: Mr. Hall, Mrs. HallLocation: Mountain road
Hall Couple Reaches Trailer — The Hall couple arrives at the cabin and meets the trailer’s occupants. Characters: Mr. Hall, Mrs. HallLocation: Cabin and trailer
Gasoline Requested — Mr. Hall asks to buy any spare gasoline for his stalled car. Characters: Mr. HallLocation: Trailer beside the cabin
Mrs. Hall Drinks Well Water — Mrs. Hall tastes the water and finds it delicious. Characters: Mrs. HallLocation: Cabin well and trailer
Mrs. Hall Joins The Feast — Mrs. Hall stays behind to eat and drink while Mr. Hall returns for the car. Characters: Mrs. HallLocation: Trailer interior
The Trailer Brawl
Mrs. Hall returns drunk and cheerful, provoking Mr. Hall’s anger. His violence is answered with escalating comic humiliations using food and household tools.
Key Events
Drunken Singing Escalates — Mrs. Hall becomes drunk and sings and laughs loudly when Mr. Hall returns. Characters: Mr. Hall, Mrs. HallLocation: Trailer interior
Mr. Hall Starts The Brawl — Mr. Hall kicks Mrs. Hall out and strikes one of the trailer occupants. Characters: Mr. Hall, Mrs. HallLocation: Trailer interior
Ridicule Through Improvised Tricks — Food and tools are used to make Mr. Hall increasingly ridiculous after each attack. Characters: Mr. HallLocation: Trailer interior
Trailer Is Unhitched — Mr. Hall leaves and unhooks the trailer from the car. Characters: Mr. HallLocation: Cabin clearing
Trailer Tips Backward — The unhitched trailer tips backward, throwing its occupants through the rear wall.
Location: Cabin clearing
Molasses And Feathers Attack — Molasses and pillow feathers are used to cover Mr. Hall. Characters: Mr. HallLocation: Cabin clearing
Fire At The Well
Mr. Hall’s retaliation ignites his gasoline-coated clothing. The attempt to extinguish the fire in the well triggers an explosive finale.
Key Events
Molasses And Feathers Attack — Molasses and pillow feathers are used to cover Mr. Hall. Characters: Mr. HallLocation: Cabin clearing
Burning Pants Retaliation — Mr. Hall coats his pants with gasoline and sets them on fire. Characters: Mr. HallLocation: Cabin clearing
Jump Into The Well — A burning man jumps into the well to extinguish the flames.
Location: Cabin well
Alcohol Fueled Explosion — Fire reacts with alcohol in the well water, causing an explosion that launches a man into the air.
Location: Cabin well
Story Breakdown
Medical Mountain Plan — A health recommendation motivates the journey away from civilization.
Gout Treatment Advice — The doctor attributes gout to excessive high living and recommends mountain air and water.
Trailer Retreat — The travelers rent a trailer and drive toward the mountains.
Moonshine Hidden Underground — A separate criminal incident creates the contaminated source of the later chaos.
Cabin Shootout — The moonshiners exchange fire with police near their cabin.
Barrels In Well — Their product is dumped into the well before arrests prevent complete removal.
Cabin Water Discovery — The isolated cabin and its well introduce the story’s central comic trigger.
Deserted Cabin — The travelers park beside an apparently empty mountain cabin.
Iron Rich Flavor — Discolored water is mistaken for mineral-rich drinking water.
Accidental Intoxication — Drinking the contaminated water turns an ordinary dinner into drunken comedy.
Kitchen Harmony — The travelers prepare dinner while arguing playfully over improvised singing.
Purse Foot Remedy — A damaged shoe leads to the temporary use of a purse as foot protection.
Hall Couple Collision — A stranded couple arrives and becomes absorbed into the drinking and comic disorder.
Empty Gas Tank — The Hall couple’s car runs out of gasoline on the mountain road.
Mrs Hall Stays — Mrs. Hall enjoys the well water and waits at the trailer while Mr. Hall retrieves the car.
Escalating Trailer Brawl — Mr. Hall’s anger produces a cycle of assault, retaliation, and escalating visual humiliation.
Domestic Outburst — Mr. Hall kicks Mrs. Hall out and strikes a trailer occupant.
Food And Tools — Available objects are repeatedly used to make Mr. Hall look ridiculous.
Explosive Well Finale — The brawl reaches its physical climax when fire meets the alcohol-tainted well water.
Trailer Collapse — Unhitching the trailer makes it tip backward and eject its occupants.
Feathered Retaliation — Molasses and pillow feathers cover Mr. Hall after the crash.
Well Explosion — A jump into the well to extinguish flames causes an alcohol-fueled explosion.
Stan and Ollie travel to the mountains for Ollie's health, and park their caravan near a well into which a gang of moonshiners have earlier dumped their moonshine; and the boys proceed to quench their thirst thinking that it is iron-rich mountain water. The real trouble doesn't begin, though, until a married motoring couple stop by to borrow some gasoline, and the already-cranky husband leaves his thirsty wife with the boys while he goes off to refill his car's empty gas-tank. A sequel was made to this film: TIT FOR TAT, q.v.
