Lucy tries to convince Ricky that having a freezer would save costs on their meat, and deliver more bacon for his breakfast. He says no because they can't afford one right now. When she and Ethel find out that the latter's Uncle Oscar, a retired butcher, will give them one for free and charge only fifty dollars for installation, they agree. The problem occurs when Lucy orders too much meat to stock it, and how to hide the cuts — and the bill— from Ricky. Their attempts to cover their tracks go wrong because the freezer door locks instantly, with the key on the outside. Guess who gets trapped while asking Ethel to stall Ricky and Fred from busting them?
Tropes for this include:
- Appeal to Vanity: Ethel is skeptical that asking Ricky to sing will distract him. She's proven wrong as he bursts into song.
- Didn't Think This Through: After getting the freezer installed, Lucy decides to order some meat and charge it to Ricky's bank account. Over the phone, a local butcher says that a side of beef costs less than a single cut, and they agree to take it. Lucy orders two, thrilled at a great deal. It turns out a "side" refers to practically 350 pounds of meat, and the bill is several hundred dollars.
- Does This Remind You of Anything?: The scene where Lucy tries to sell her extra meat at the butcher is played out like a drug deal.
- Dramatic Irony: Ricky and Fred find out about the freezer but not about the 700 pounds of meat and think it's a great idea. They bring at ten-pound bag of meat for Lucy and Ethel to freeze, failing to notice their discomfort.
- The Key Is Behind the Lock: Lucy gets locked in the freezer with the key and no way to unlock the door from the inside.
- We Need a Distraction: Lucy tells Ethel to ask Ricky to sing while she moves the 350 pounds of meat out of the freezer. Ethel is skeptical, but it works!
