While Harrison goes back to his hometown for a vacation, witless Gracie takes her father's farce to heart and proceeds to destroy his fortune and his home.

While the butler, Botts, George and Phyllis slowly starve, they also lose their sleep because Gracie turns the mansion into a no-cost boardinghouse for hundreds of out-of-work actors and their animals.

Spirits reach an all-time low when Botts finds it preferable to sleep on a park bench, rather than compete with an actor for a bed.

At his wits end, Botts sells a trained seal to raise enough money to send Phyllis to Clarksville and retrieve her father.

They arrive in a taxicab, owing the driver over one hundred dollars, on the opening night of "Gracie Allen's Flop," but are refused admittance.