All Ashore

Three petty officers disembark from the USS Rochester for long-awaited shore leave in California. Skip and Joe are broke after a craps game, while Moby still has $300 from his poker win. The trio leans on Moby to bankroll their time on land.

The men pressure Moby for money, luring him to an off-limits clip joint bar. Bargirls and a bartender drug and rob them, leaving the trio broke and guilty. They wake up to the consequences of their greed.

Waking up broke, the group still aims for Santa Catalina. Joe arranges passage on the Rochester and negotiates $5 for each man in exchange for Moby’s labor aboard the ship. The plan uses Moby’s work to fund their voyage.

Skip encounters dancer Gay Knight, and an impromptu dance session entertains passengers. The performance racks up money and introduces Gay Knight, who later leads them to her trailer park. The encounter marks a shift in their shore leave dynamics.

With funds secured, two of the trio rent a cabin while Moby must sleep on the floor. They still rely on Moby’s labor to keep the arrangement afloat. The uneasy balance underscores how they exploit him during leave.

Skip arranges more money and meals by having Moby work as a waiter in a nightclub. The job gives Moby a sense of purpose and places him among new people. The arrangement further tightens the dependency on his labor.

Moby meets Nancy Flynn, the trailer park owner’s daughter, when she accidentally hits him in the head with a horseshoe. Skip quickly swoops in to claim Nancy for himself, deepening the rift among the crew. The encounter exposes Moby’s outsider status within the social circle.

Skip sweeps Nancy off her feet and makes her his own, further isolating Moby from the group. The shipmates’ relationships complicate the trio’s dynamic and heighten tensions on shore leave. Nancy’s affections become a point of rivalry among the men.

Feeling out of place with his shipmates and their girlfriends, Moby decides to return to the mainland. He prepares to wait for the next ship while trying to salvage something from the leave. The decision marks a turn toward independence and self-reliance.

Having to wait for the next ship, Moby meets Jane Stanton, whose motorboat is not working. He fixes the engine and is invited to a party aboard Commodore Stanton’s yacht, where he’s asked to sail with them to the mainland. The encounter shifts Moby from con man to a valued ally.

On the way to the party, Jane’s boat fails again and both are hurled into the water as the engine revives and the boat sails away. Moby’s quick thinking helps them survive this perilous moment. The scare tests their bond and resilience.

Moby regains his confidence by saving Jane, who cannot swim, and uses his navigation skills to guide them back to safety in Avalon. The rescue cements Moby’s leadership and self-worth. Jane’s gratitude deepen their growing connection.

The Commodore hosts a party for Moby, who then turns the tables on his scheming shipmates. Sheriff Billings arrests Joe and Skip and hands them over to Moby, who has them serve him and Jane in the manner of servants. The finale restores order and flips the dynamic from exploitation to exertion of control.