Men in Fright

The gang arrives at the hospital to visit Darla after her tonsillectomy. They bring a large picnic basket full of foods Darla cannot eat and declare they will eat it themselves if she refuses it. The visit is framed with a mischievous undertone as they plan to boyishly celebrate her situation.

They reveal the picnic basket to Darla and announce that the foods are off-limits for her. The boys revel in the idea of dining on the basket themselves once she is unable to partake. The moment foreshadows the forthcoming chaos.

Spanky designates Alfalfa to stay outside and guard the picnic basket until Darla seems too sick to eat anything. Alfalfa reluctantly takes the watch while his friends plot mischief. The setup seeds the later complications.

A fellow ward resident offers Alfalfa a dime to switch clothes with him under the guise of a little walk. Believing the deal, Alfalfa becomes separated from the group and is left vulnerable when an orderly comes to fetch him for the tonsil operation. The plan backfires, triggering the ensuing chaos.

In the elevator, Gary, who has stowed away on the transporting gurney, opens a canister of laughing gas. The gas causes the group—Alfalfa, the orderly, the elevator operator, and others—to burst into fits of laughter and odd behavior. The ride becomes a delirious whirlwind of mischief.

Spanky, Porky, Buckwheat, and Leonard scramble to catch up with the delirious Alfalfa, who darts through hospital corridors in his laughing-fueled mayhem. They chase him through the ward as he wreaks havoc. The scene builds toward the final return to Darla's room.

The boys finally drag Alfalfa back to Darla's room. Tipsy from the gas, he hops on Darla's bed and leaps for the chandelier, only to topple off and knock a pitcher of water onto his head. The moment blends slapstick with a minor accident as calm returns briefly.

A nurse arrives with Darla's afternoon ice cream, the one treat she can eat. She offers ice cream to the six boys as well, who gleefully accept and begin their own impromptu picnic. The room fills with a sense of shared indulgence before the inevitable chaos.

The boys mix ice cream with hamburgers, pickles, hot dogs, and watermelon in a comical, over-the-top feast. The combination leads to immediate stomachaches, underscored by an animated gag of a hot dog fighting ice cream. The scene emphasizes the consequences of their plan gone awry.

Due to their overeating, the boys are admitted to the hospital for indigestion. They receive treatment as the day’s mischief finally catches up with them. Darla herself is also seen recovering from her visit.

Darla is released to go home, and her mother promises to visit tomorrow with presents. The boys’ stomachs and pride have taken a beating, but relief and relief settles in as they prepare to leave. The day shifts toward a quieter ending.

As they are wheeled away for treatment, Darla and her mother offer to bring presents; Spanky and Alfalfa groan, joking that flowers would suffice. Each boy receives one dose of castor oil, signaling the end of the chaotic day. The scene closes on a light, comedic note about tomorrow's visit.