This 1931 L&H comedy short is very funny, for the most part. Mae Busch returns from "Chickens Come Home", as another blackmailer: a suicidal woman whom they rescue from drowning, only to blackmail them into supporting her. Actually, we don't encounter Mae until the 9 min. mark of this 20 min. film. Before that, the action takes place in or near the Hardy's apartment, then a drug store........The Hardys(Ollie and Gertrude Astor) hope to spend a quiet evening at home, As expected, this serenity is interrupted by the unwanted arrival of Stan and wife((Linda Loredo). The Hardy's try to make out they aren't home. But this ruse is foiled when Stan writes a note and slips it partway under the door. Hardy foolishly picks it up, then puts it back........Stan wants some ice cream, but the Hardy's don't have any. Thus, Mrs. Hardy requests that Ollie go get some. Stan goes with him. But first, Ollie requests that Stan bring him a pitcher from the kitchen.(How does this relate to going to get ice cream, or anything else??). Of course, Stan brings back a picture, not a pitcher. So, Ollie goes himself. Unfortunately, on the way back, the swinging door swings into him, knocking him down. He tries again, with a similar result. Finally, they leave the apartment, but get lost from each other when they take separate elevators., finally finding each other. At the drugstore, Ollie asks Stan what flavor does he want. "Chocolate" But, the soda jerk(Charlie Hall) says they're out of that. Stan asks what other flavors they are out of! Finally, Ollie tells him to give them whatever flavor is convenient. He asks what flavor it is. "Chocolate!".........On their way home, in the dark, they see a woman on the bridge, muttering to herself: "Goodbye old world.. I'm leaving you flat." Then, she gets on the railing, and jumps off, before they have time to go prevent her. The boys take off their jacket to jump in. Stan pushes Ollie off. He immediately calls for help. So, Stan gets off the bridge, onto the shore. He conveniently finds a rope and throws it to Ollie. But he also throws in the anchor to which the other end is tied! Mae initially was nearly drowned, but awoke when Ollie appeared. They helped her to her feet, and Stan remarks "We saved your life", to which Mae replies: "You have a lot of nerve , butting into other peoples' business. Now that you have saved me, you can support me." They object that they already have wives to support. But, that doesn't impress her. She says she will scream and tell that they tried to drown her, if they run away. They do run, and she screams, so they return. This happens again. So, the boys decide to take her home, and tell the wives what happened. At the elevators, Mae gets separated, and screams. But, in the presence of their wives, Ollie chickens out, which leads to the hilarious last part of the film. Stan shoves her into Ollie's bedroom. Ollie tries to pull her out into the hall. But, the wives walk into the hall, so he shoves her back in. From their peculiar behavior, the girls sense something is up. They ask where is the ice cream? (The boys left it, distracted by the lifesaving). Ollie says Stan ate it all, which seems to satisfy them. In Ollie's room, Mae turns on the radio loud, a Sousa march being featured. The boys bang their plates with spoons, to try to drown her out. After stealing Mrs. Hardy's coat, Mae leaves the room, apparently leaving the building. But, down stairs , she sees a detective, and quickly goes back into Ollie's room. The boys fight with her on Ollie's bed, then hustle her into the bathroom when they hear the wives coming. Stan goes with her, and locks the door. Soon, the detective comes and says he knows she's in there. Stan gets in the tub, and pretends he's washing himself, fully clothed. The detective finally breaks open the door and finds his fugitive(We are not told what crime she committed). He asks who brought this women in here. Ollie says Stan did. The detective wants Stan to go to the station with him. We have a punch line next, but I'll let your guess or see the film. ......See the film at YouTube.
Review of Come Clean
