One Way Passage

In a Hong Kong bar, Dan Hardesty, an escaped murderer, meets terminally ill Joan Ames. They share a Paradise cocktail, and both break their glasses' stems, signaling a dangerous but irresistible connection. A spark of love forms even as a shadow of doom hangs over them.

San Francisco Police Sergeant Steve Burke captures Dan at gunpoint and hauls him aboard an ocean liner bound for San Francisco. Dan escapes by leaping into the water, dragging Steve with him and freeing himself using the handcuff key. He then spots Joan among the passengers and chooses to rescue Steve rather than flee. Once the ship is underway, he persuades Steve to remove the handcuffs.

Dan and Joan fall in love over the month-long voyage, their feelings blooming despite the looming threat of death. They share intimate moments and confidences, creating a bond that defies their precarious lives. The ongoing danger shadows every gesture, yet neither can deny their growing affection.

Two of Dan's friends are aboard: Skippy the pickpocket and Barrel House Betty, masquerading as Countess Barilhaus. Betty distracts Steve to aid Dan, while Skippy schemes behind the scenes to keep trouble away from their friend. The con artist duo adds tension and complicates the voyage.

Just before Honolulu's stop, Steve has Dan placed in the brig aboard the ship. Dan escapes with help and heads ashore to arrange escape on a steamer leaving that night. The plan to flee intensifies the drama as the voyage nears its end.

Joan intercepts Dan as he tries to slip away; they spend an idyllic day together in a moment of stolen happiness. On the return to the dock, Dan begins to reveal why he cannot return to the ship, but Joan faints from the strain of their secret lives. Dan carries her aboard for medical help and stays by her side.

Joan's doctor explains that her illness could be fatal at any sudden shock or excitement. Dan tells the doctor the truth about himself, choosing honesty over escape. The revelation tests their bond but deepens their connection.

Meanwhile, Steve Burke and Countess Betty's romance develops. Steve proposes, dreaming of quitting the police to live on a chicken ranch he owns. Betty hints at her true identity, but the moment is interrupted by a telegram that shifts the mood of the voyage.

A steward delivers a telegram from Steve's boss ordering him to find Barrelhouse Betty and bring her in. He remains quiet, still wanting to marry her, and the couple share a kiss before Steve nonchalantly throws the telegram overboard. The truth remains unresolved as the ship nears its end.

As they near disembarkation, Dan and Steve prepare to exit with an overcoat concealing their handcuffs. Joan learns the truth from a steward and searches their cabin. She finds Dan with Steve, and the lovers part for the last time without revealing their secrets as Joan collapses.

They promise to meet again a month later on New Year's Eve at a bar in Agua Caliente, Mexico. They hold onto the hope of a future that fate has not denied them. The plan becomes a quiet beacon amid the forces pulling them apart.

On New Year's Eve, the Agua Caliente bar is crowded except for Skippy at one end and two startled bartenders at the other. The bar reveals crossed stems and shattered pieces of two cocktail glasses, a sign of the lovers' fate. The moment lingers before the image fades, leaving their reunion unresolved.