Ready, Woolen and Able (1960) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Ralph Wolf and Sam Sheepdog get ready for work

The short begins with a humorous depiction of Ralph Wolf and Sam Sheepdog preparing for their workday. Sam drives to the sheep herding job in a caricatured Ford Model T, while Ralph speeds past in a drag racer. They arrive at their respective posts, setting the stage for their ongoing chase.

Ralph's first failed attempt to catch a sheep

At the whistle's blow, Ralph sprints to catch a fleeing sheep. Sam positions himself on his perch and drops a rake in Ralph's path, causing Ralph to be smacked in the face. The sheep escapes, landing on Ralph's back and bending him over, illustrating the constant futility of Ralph's efforts.

Ralph's dynamite launching plan fails

Ralph tries to launch a stick of dynamite toward Sam using a lever. However, the dynamite simply rolls back toward Ralph as he jumps onto the lever, thwarting his plan. This attempt highlights the repetitive and comedic failures Ralph encounters.

Ralph's barrel of gunpowder mishap

Ralph rolls an open barrel of gunpowder down a hill towards Sam, igniting a trail. The barrel hits a rock, flying over Sam and under a boulder, where it explodes. The explosion causes the boulder to fall on Ralph, who hurriedly tries to protect himself with a small umbrella, emphasizing the escalating chaos.

Ralph's attempt with spring-enhanced strides

Ralph purchases steel bed-springs strapped to his feet to increase his jumping ability. After practicing and getting the hang of it, he heads toward the field. Sam uses a large magnet to pull the springs off Ralph's feet mid-jump, leading to a comic chase involving a parachute that Ralph's wind blows next to Sam.

Ralph's parachute and cliff fall

While Ralph's parachute unwinds around him and Sam, Ralph tries to run but is caught. Sam punches Ralph, pushing him toward the edge of a cliff. Ralph, realizing his predicament, falls off the cliff into the water below, marking another failed attempt to catch the sheep.

Ralph's trapeze crossing and mistaken identity

Ralph attempts to cross a large chasm on a trapeze to reach a sheep. He mistakenly grabs Sam instead of the sheep, then tries to deposit Sam on a cliff. After realizing the mistake, Ralph swings back, swinging around as Sam holds the trapeze and eventually sitting on a small cliff, showcasing the confusion and ongoing chase.

Ralph's chaotic chase with a hot air balloon and whale

Ralph attempts to escape by sliding down the trapeze, but Ralph notices Sam in various bizarre locations, including on a branch, in a hot air balloon, and in a whale's mouth. He finally jumps out of the whale's blowhole and lands in an inner tube on its spray of water, highlighting the absurdity of his efforts.

Ralph's frantic run to the beach

Ralph runs through the air to the nearest beach, where he sees multiple images of Sam scattered on the shore, representing his wild imagination or hallucination of multiple Sams. Ralph has finally reached his breaking point as the chaos culminates.

Where

Beach

Sam's departure and Ralph's breakdown

Sam drives home after the day's work, while Ralph is shown in a straitjacket being taken to a psychiatric hospital, indicating his mental breakdown caused by endless failures. They exchange polite good nights, ending the chase with a humorous twist on their routine.