Love Laughs at Andy Hardy

Judge Hardy and Emily eagerly await their son's return after two years of service. Andy has been honorably discharged and hopes to reunite with his college sweetheart Kay, while his social life remains unsettled by the presence of Isobel. The family looks forward to normal life resuming, though Andy still keeps his options open.

Emily notices Andy gazing longingly at wedding rings and baby clothing in store windows, and she slowly concludes that he is in love. She tries to read his feelings and keep him focused on his future. Her intuition foreshadows friction between the parents and their son over romance.

Isobel Gonzales, a singer at the Carvel country club, is introduced and immediately makes an impression on Andy. Isobel falls for him, but Andy remains more preoccupied with Kay and his plan to return to college. The budding attention complicates the usual father-son dynamic at home.

Andy resolves to return to Wainwright College to finish his studies and see Kay again. He tries to keep the romance with Kay a secret from his parents, wary of their disapproval. This secrecy sets up the later complications with the telegram and the family’s control.

Andy learns a telegram for him is to be delivered at his parents' house, which unsettles him. In a panic he creates a fake story about a broken water faucet to justify leaving the house and intercepts the telegram. He rushes home to try to reach Kay first.

While preparing for a shower, Andy finds the water has been cut off. He goes outside in his robe to switch it on, but the front door locks behind him and he ends up hiding in the garden. A passing policeman finds him and insists on confirming his story with his parents before releasing him.

Emily scolds Andy for letting love cloud his judgment, and his father joins the confrontation. Andy admits his plan to propose to Kay when he returns to college, and his parents decide to take steps to rein him in. The aim is to keep him away from his sweetheart until he is steadier.

Feeling protective, Andy's parents follow him to Wainwright to monitor his movements and ensure he stays focused on his studies and away from Kay. Their supervision foreshadows the disruptions that romance brings to his college life. Andy must navigate their interference during his return.

Back at Wainwright, the president of the school council, Duke Johnson, invites Andy to be the chairman of the freshman dance. Andy accepts, signaling his reintegration into campus life. The offer also introduces him to the social scene that will later complicate his plans with Kay.

Kay cannot attend the dance because of a family emergency and returns to her legal guardian, Dane Kittridge. This turn of events removes Kay from Andy's planned date and creates an awkward social gap at the event. The situation pushes Duke to arrange an alternative pairing for Andy.

To fill the vacancy, Duke matches Andy with Coffy Smith, a much taller girl who makes him look awkward beside her. Despite the initial embarrassment, Andy slowly warms to Coffy and the two become friends. The odd pairing becomes a small source of humor and gentler romance on campus.

Kay returns to tell Andy she has fallen in love with her guardian, Dane Kittridge, and plans to marry him the very next day. The revelation leaves Andy heartbroken but also accepts her decision with good grace. This moment seals the romantic arc and sets up the next steps for both characters.

Despite the heartbreak, Andy agrees to be Kay's best man at the upcoming wedding. He shows his loyalty and generosity, choosing friendship over his own desires. The moment cements the bittersweet tone of his return to college life.

After the wedding, Andy contemplates South America as a way to forget his sorrows. His father, however, persuades him to stay and return to Wainwright to complete his degree. The parental push ends the romantic crisis on a hopeful note for Andy's future.