San Francisco

Blackie Norton hires Mary Blake to sing at the Paradise Club on Pacific Street, kickstarting her rise as the club's star attraction. She captivates the Barbary Coast with her performances, especially her signature tune, 'San Francisco'. Mat predicts she won't stay long on the Coast, hinting at looming changes in her life.

Mary's performances draw growing crowds and she becomes the club's marquee act. The audience's adoration centers on her rendition of 'San Francisco', cementing her status. Her rising fame signals impending personal and professional upheavals.

Encouraged by Father Tim Mullen, Blackie decides to run for San Francisco Board of Supervisors to push reform. His political bid intertwines with his past relationship with Mary and his ambitions for the city. The move sets up a clash between personal loyalty and public duty.

Mary is hired by the Tivoli Opera House on Market Street, marking a shift toward legitimate theater. There, she becomes involved with Nob Hill scion Jack Burley. The romance with Burley introduces a new dynamic that threatens her ties to Blackie.

After a performance, Father Tim's intrusion and Mary's decision lead to a confrontation in her dressing room. Blackie presents a stark ultimatum, asking her to choose between marriage to him or staying at Tivoli. Mary realizes she still loves Blackie, but she ends up returning to the Paradise.

Mary visits Nob Hill to meet Burley's mother, Mrs. Burley, who recounts her own history with a 'Blackie' and extols Burley's steadiness. The conversation persuades Mary to accept Burley's proposal. The decision marks a shift away from her romance with Blackie toward social security and status.

On April 17, 1906, the San Francisco Police raid the Paradise Club, threatening Blackie's livelihood and the club's future. Distraught, he seeks a distraction at the city's Chickens Ball. The raid foreshadows the coming chaos as the night unfolds.

With no other contestants, Mary volunteers to perform at the Chickens Ball on behalf of the Paradise. Her stirring rendition of 'San Francisco' unites the audience and brings a temporary victory to the club. Blackie refuses the prize money, insisting Mary had no right to sing for his club.

As the crowd cheers, a massive earthquake strikes, plunging the city into chaos. The police begin dynamiting buildings to create firebreaks, and the fires threaten every character's future. The disaster reshapes their lives and choices in an instant.

Wandering the devastated streets, Blackie discovers Burley's corpse and Mrs. Burley's grief. He also encounters the dying Mat, who admits he was wrong about Mary and urges Blackie to reconsider his judgments. The surrounding chaos deepens the emotional toll on all.

Father Tim leads Blackie to a homeless encampment in Golden Gate Park, where quake victims shelter together. The camp becomes a fragile community amid the disaster's devastation. Blackie's priorities begin to shift from personal revenge to helping others.

In the camp, Mary is heard singing 'Nearer, My God, to Thee' among mourners, drawing Blackie to her. Their reunion happens within the shared grief of the disaster, rekindling their connection. The moment becomes a beacon of hope amid the ruins.

With the fires under control, Mary and Blackie join the camp crowd as they exit the park arm in arm. They sing 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic', embodying resilience and a collective vow to rebuild the city. The march symbolizes a new chapter for San Francisco and its people.