Design for Leaving (1954) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A pushy salesman transforms a homeowner's house into an automated nightmare, only to become the target of the homeowner's revenge.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

The Salesman Takes Over

Daffy offers Elmer a free appliance trial and forces him to leave for Duluth. With the homeowner gone, Daffy begins an unauthorized remodeling operation.

Key Events

• Daffy Arrives Selling Appliances — Daffy enters Elmer's home and offers a free trial of modern appliances. Characters: Daffy Duck / Delivery Guy / Mechanical Dog, Elmer Fudd Location: Elmer's home
• Elmer Is Sent Away — Daffy buys Elmer a bus ticket to Duluth against Elmer's will. Characters: Daffy Duck / Delivery Guy / Mechanical Dog, Elmer Fudd Location: Elmer's home
• Elmer Leaves For Duluth — Elmer departs, leaving Daffy with access to the residence. Characters: Elmer Fudd Location: Outside Elmer's home
• The Remodeling Begins — Daffy lets Acme employees into the residence to remodel it. Characters: Daffy Duck / Delivery Guy / Mechanical Dog Location: Elmer's home
• The House Becomes A Maze — The residence is transformed into a chaotic maze of malfunctioning gadgets. Characters: Daffy Duck / Delivery Guy / Mechanical Dog Location: Elmer's home

A House Full Of Trouble

Elmer returns to a residence packed with chaotic and malfunctioning devices. Daffy presents the appliances as improvements while the home becomes increasingly absurd.

Key Events

• Elmer Finds The Transformation — Elmer returns and discovers the chaotic automated remodeling. Characters: Daffy Duck / Delivery Guy / Mechanical Dog, Elmer Fudd Location: Elmer's home
• The Disposal Removes Everything — A garbage disposal is revealed to remove everything, including a pig. Characters: Daffy Duck / Delivery Guy / Mechanical Dog, Elmer Fudd Location: Elmer's kitchen
• Daffy Demonstrates The Buttons — Daffy invites Elmer to operate buttons in the automated house. Characters: Daffy Duck / Delivery Guy / Mechanical Dog, Elmer Fudd Location: Elmer's home
• The Red Button Is Forbidden — Daffy warns Elmer that the distinctive red button is very specific. Characters: Daffy Duck / Delivery Guy / Mechanical Dog, Elmer Fudd Location: Elmer's home

Buttons And Disasters

Daffy demonstrates the automated controls and warns Elmer away from the red button. Wallpaper removal, bricked windows, and the robotic fireman intensify Elmer's anger.

Key Events

• Wallpaper Removal Begins — Daffy's automated demonstration triggers wallpaper removal. Characters: Daffy Duck / Delivery Guy / Mechanical Dog, Elmer Fudd Location: Elmer's home
• Windows Become Bricked — Another automated feature causes the home's windows to be bricked over. Characters: Daffy Duck / Delivery Guy / Mechanical Dog, Elmer Fudd Location: Elmer's home
• The Robotic Fireman Responds — The robotic fireman responds to every high temperature, including a lit cigar. Characters: Daffy Duck / Delivery Guy / Mechanical Dog, Elmer Fudd Location: Elmer's home
• The Fireman Targets Elmer — The fireman also reacts to heat from Elmer's enraged head. Characters: Daffy Duck / Delivery Guy / Mechanical Dog, Elmer Fudd Location: Elmer's home
• Elmer Finally Snaps — The escalating disasters push Elmer to the limit. Characters: Daffy Duck / Delivery Guy / Mechanical Dog, Elmer Fudd Location: Elmer's home

The Homeowner Strikes Back

Elmer buys a machine to remove Daffy and kicks him from the property. He then presses the red button, lifting the house into the air and leaving Daffy to sell another solution.

Key Events

• Elmer Purchases A Removal Machine — Elmer purchases a machine designed to carry Daffy away. Characters: Daffy Duck / Delivery Guy / Mechanical Dog, Elmer Fudd Location: Elmer's home
• Daffy Is Carried Outside — The machine carries Daffy off the property while Elmer kicks him away. Characters: Daffy Duck / Delivery Guy / Mechanical Dog, Elmer Fudd Location: Elmer's property
• Elmer Notices The Red Button — After Daffy's removal, Elmer decides to find out what the red button does. Characters: Elmer Fudd Location: Elmer's home
• The Tidal Wave Button Activates — The red button is labeled for use in case of a tidal wave. Characters: Elmer Fudd Location: Elmer's home
• The House Rises Into The Air — Pressing the red button triggers a mechanism that elevates Elmer's house. Characters: Elmer Fudd Location: Above Elmer's property
• Daffy Offers A Blue Button — Daffy flies by in a helicopter and offers to install a blue button to bring the house down. Characters: Daffy Duck / Delivery Guy / Mechanical Dog, Elmer Fudd Location: Above Elmer's property

Story Breakdown

• Daffy's Sales Pitch — Daffy begins the story by selling Acme's futuristic household technology to Elmer.
  • Free Trial Offer — Daffy offers Elmer a free trial of modern household appliances.
  • Forced Bus Trip — Daffy sends Elmer to Duluth against his will.
• Unauthorized Home Remodel — Daffy uses Elmer's absence to install an extreme collection of automated devices.
  • Employees Enter — Daffy lets Acme employees into Elmer's residence.
  • Gadget Maze — The home becomes a chaotic maze of malfunctioning appliances.
• Elmer Discovers Chaos — Elmer returns and encounters the bizarre results of Daffy's remodeling scheme.
  • Disposal Eats Everything — The garbage disposal is shown removing everything, including a pig.
  • Reluctant Demonstration — Daffy invites Elmer to test the household buttons.
• Escalating Appliance Disasters — The automated home repeatedly creates new hazards while Daffy continues his demonstrations.
  • Red Button Warning — Daffy warns Elmer that the red button has a specific purpose.
  • Robotic Fireman — The fireman reacts to heat from a cigar and Elmer's enraged head.
• Elmer's Retaliation — Elmer abandons passive resistance and uses an appliance to remove Daffy.
  • Removal Machine — Elmer purchases a machine to carry Daffy off the property.
  • Kicking Daffy Away — Elmer kicks Daffy as the machine removes him.
• The Emergency Button — After Daffy's removal, Elmer activates the forbidden control and creates the final reversal.
  • Tidal Wave Setting — The red button is identified as an emergency tidal-wave control.
  • House Takes Flight — The mechanism elevates Elmer's house into the air.
• Daffy's Final Offer — Daffy reappears as the problem's comic victim while attempting another sale.
  • Helicopter Arrival — Daffy flies by in a helicopter after the house rises.
  • Blue Button Solution — Daffy offers a blue button to bring the house down for a small price.

Directed by

Robert McKimson

Key Cast

• Mel Blanc — Daffy Duck / Delivery Guy / Mechanical Dog (voice)
• Arthur Q. Bryan — Elmer Fudd (voice) (uncredited)