Banjo on My Knee

During the wedding in the shantyboat community, Pearl allows a kiss from Mr. Slade to keep his business ties intact. Ernie Hollie punches Slade, sending him into the river. With Slade presumed dead after the searches fail to locate him, the couple's future becomes precarious.

Slade is later found alive, arriving with a police patrol and shocking the community. Newt Holley urges Ernie to flee to avoid the fallout from the attempted killing. Ernie leaves the community and begins sailing the world.

While Ernie is away, Pearl meets Warfield Scott, a portraitist based in New Orleans, who makes romantic advances toward her. Warfield offers Pearl a job at his studio as a possible path to companionship. Pearl entertains the offer because of loneliness but ultimately rejects it.

Ernie returns and decides to move his family to Aruba. He and Pearl argue about their future, and Pearl leaves with Warfield for New Orleans.

In New Orleans, Pearl parts ways with Warfield and takes a job in a café to repay her travel expenses. The café becomes a new center of life for Pearl as she rebuilds her path.

Ernie confronts Warfield in his studio, demanding to see Pearl, but Warfield refuses to reveal her location. He punches Warfield and leaves in a rage.

During a despondent night at the café, Ernie runs into friends from a past voyage and departs with them for Cuba, narrowly missing Pearl on the way out.

Pearl and Newt reunite and perform at the café, alongside Chick Bean, the café's singer whom Pearl has admired. Chick confesses his love for Pearl and invites her to leave New Orleans with him.

Before Pearl can decide, Ernie's cousin Buddy arrives with a letter from Ernie, saying he will be in New Orleans the next day. Pearl waits as tension builds about the future.

While Pearl is approached by Warfield, Ernie sees Pearl with Warfield and attacks him in a fit of rage. The police arrest Ernie, ending his immediate attempt to reach Pearl.

Leota, a Pecan Point woman romantically interested in him and jealous of Pearl, pays Ernie's fine. Ernie is then made to wed Leota, drawing him back toward home and tying the Holley family to Leota.

During the wedding, Pearl returns for her possessions and fights Leota. Leota cuts the Holley houseboat loose in a storm, leaving a perilous scene as the craft battles the elements. They land safely, and Newt serenades Ernie and Pearl.

After the storm, Newt serenades Ernie and Pearl as they reconcile, suggesting a fragile but renewed bond between them and a return to some sense of family harmony.