Ep 21. Three Smart Saps

Three Stooges Collection 1940-1942 season 1 episode 21, titled "Three Smart Saps," follows the classic trio as they come to the aid of a damsel in distress. The episode begins with the Stooges working as waiters at a restaurant and trying to earn enough money to pay for their hotel room. Their boss, the restaurant owner, warns them that they will be fired if they do not collect enough tips.

Meanwhile, a beautiful woman named Mary is being held captive by a group of gangsters who are trying to force her to turn over a valuable diamond. The Stooges accidentally stumble upon this situation, and when Mary begs for their help, they agree to rescue her. The Stooges come up with a plan to pretend to be rich and offer to buy the diamond in order to rescue Mary. However, their plan goes awry when one of the gangsters becomes suspicious and starts demanding proof of their wealth.

The Stooges are forced to improvise and come up with increasingly far-fetched schemes to convince the gangsters of their wealth. Hilarity ensues as they attempt to pass themselves off as wealthy heiresses, eccentric inventors, and even a famous explorer. Along the way, they run afoul of various obstacles, including the gangsters themselves, a feisty parrot, and a runaway streetcar.

Despite all of these challenges, the Stooges manage to finally win over the gangsters and rescue Mary, all while causing their usual amount of chaos and destruction. The episode ends with the Stooges back at the restaurant, having earned enough money to pay for their hotel room and receiving the praise of their boss for their hard work.

Overall, "Three Smart Saps" is a classic Three Stooges episode that showcases the trio's comedic talents and their ability to turn even the most dire situations into a laugh-out-loud spectacle. With its fast-paced hijinks, zany humor, and unforgettable characters, this episode is sure to be a crowd-pleaser for fans of all ages.