Adventure

A Japanese submarine torpedoes their World War II merchant ship, and the surviving crew are cast into a small launch to drift at sea. Harry Patterson stays calm under pressure while Mudgin prays desperately, promising to reform if they are saved. The men struggle with exposure and fear as they cling to hope for rescue.

Mudgin prays for deliverance, vowing to avoid women, liquor, and fighting and to donate money to the church if they are saved. He speaks with a mix of fear and faith, hoping the vow will shield them from doom. The pledge foreshadows his internal conflict and the cost of salvation.

A rescue plane spots the struggling launch on the horizon and ferries the men to safety. They are whisked away from the sea and eventually deposited in San Francisco to begin their post-disaster recovery. The moment marks a fragile first step toward a new life for the survivors.

Back on land, the sailors indulge in care, grooming, dinners, and celebratory revelry to mark their rescue. Mudgin's mounting guilt remains beneath the surface as he confronts the consequences of his pact with God. The atmosphere is buoyant yet uneasy for the men as they readjust to civilian life.

Mudgin finds it hard to shake the sense that his soul is at risk, and he begins to break his promises and sink into despair. His friends dismiss the concern as melodrama, but Harry senses a deeper trouble beneath the surface. The mood grows tense as Mudgin's inner conflict becomes more visible.

Feeling stuck, Harry and Mudgin walk to the city library to seek answers about the human soul. There they meet Emily Sears, a poised librarian, and Harry's attention shifts as he navigates his attraction and missteps. Emily's presence complicates Harry's feelings and sets the stage for a new connection.

Harry's blunt humor unsettles Emily, but her spark becomes evident, especially when she unexpectedly joins a bar fight at a restaurant. After the encounter, Harry arranges to meet the two women the following day to visit Emily's farm, setting the stage for a growing connection. The dynamic between the trio deepens the romantic possibility.

Harry and Emily fall hard for each other and travel to Reno, where they celebrate a spontaneous, joyous marriage. The ceremony marks a turning point as Harry commits to Emily and a future together. Helen and friends witness the union as life shifts toward a shared path.

Back at Emily's farm, Harry tells Emily that he will be shipping out in a few days, and the news unsettles her. She asks for a divorce as the best expression of love, signaling an impending separation. The couple faces a painful crossroads as their marriage is put to the test.

While in Reno with friends, Emily faints and the doctor confirms she is pregnant with Harry's child. The revelation intensifies the emotional stakes for both characters and foreshadows the challenges ahead. The pregnancy anchors their future in a new direction.

Mudgin falls off the ship in a South American port city and dies in Harry's arms. An elderly friend offers a consoling talk about souls and fate, guiding Harry toward a renewed perspective. The loss deepens Harry's resolve to pursue love with greater honesty.

Nine months after his departure, Harry returns to San Francisco and learns from Helen that Emily has already given birth and has gone to her farm to raise their child. He prepares to reconnect with the family he left behind. The reunion looms as a test of whether forgiveness and love can endure.

Harry travels to Emily's farm and arrives just as she begins to go into labor. The moment is intimate and charged, offering a glimmer of hope that their love can endure. They share a quiet, hopeful exchange as they brace for a life together.

The baby is born after a tense moment where the infant seems stillborn, but Harry pleads for the child to breathe and the miracle occurs as the baby's first cries fill the room. They name the baby Mudgin in honor of their late friend. Harry and Emily share a tender kiss as the baby cries in the background.