The Revolt of Mamie Stover

In 1941, Mamie Stover is pressured to leave San Francisco by the police. She is forced to abandon her life there, setting off a journey toward new opportunities. This departure marks the start of a sequence of events that will push her into the islands and Bertha's world.

On a freighter bound for Honolulu, Mamie meets Jim Blair, a successful writer who is the only other passenger. Initially hostile, Mamie softens as Jim begins using her life story for material for his writing. A shipboard romance begins to bloom as they travel toward Hawaii.

When they dock in Honolulu, Jim is welcomed ashore by his sweetheart Annalee, making Mamie realize why his loyalties lie elsewhere. The moment sows tension as Jim's attention to Mamie wavers. The budding romance becomes complicated by shifting affections.

As they part, Jim lends Mamie $100 to help her get settled in Honolulu. The loan provides her with seed money to navigate Bertha's world. It foreshadows the growing, fraught financial ties between them.

Mamie visits an old friend, Jackie Davis, who introduces her to Bertha Parchman, the hard-edged owner of a dance hall and bar. Bertha's ruthless manager, Harry Adkins, keeps a tight rein on the hostesses. This introduction pulls Mamie into a system built on control and rules.

Mamie is hired and learns Bertha's four rules: live on the premises, have no boyfriend, avoid Waikiki Beach and the fancy hotels, and have no bank account. The hostesses must surrender 30% of their revenue from dancing, private visits, and bottled liquor. She quickly becomes Flaming Mamie, the club's star attraction.

Mamie quickly builds a bankroll of $2,200—enough to repay her debt to Jim. With money flowing in, she invites Jim to visit the club, changing the dynamics of their relationship. Her growing success also puts pressure on Jim's life back home.

Mamie persuades Jim to rekindle their friendship, which strains his relationship with Annalee who resents the attention he gives her. Jim's disapproval of Mamie's club life creates tension between them. Nevertheless, Mamie asks Jim to help manage her money, deepening their connection.

Mamie persuades Jim to manage her money and write a check to her father on her behalf. Jim is uneasy about the arrangement but reluctantly agrees. He later defends Mamie when Harry beats her up for going out with him.

The bombing of Pearl Harbor prompts chaos: Jim abandons Annalee and frantically searches for Mamie. He enlists in the military and asks Mamie to marry him after the war. The couple's fate becomes tied to the raging conflict around them.

During the war, Mamie amasses a personal fortune by buying properties cheaply in Hawaii and renting them to U.S. military personnel. The wartime demand drives her wealth as she expands her holdings. Her strategy turns real estate into a steady, powerful income stream.

On leave, Jim convinces Mamie to leave the dance hall, hoping for a calmer life away from Bertha's regime. Returning to the club to announce her resignation, Mamie learns that Harry has been fired for encounters with the military police. Bertha, fearing the loss of her biggest draw, offers Mamie a 50% commission and a legitimate-sounding mailing address to mislead Jim during his overseas postings.

By the time of the 1942 Battle of Midway, Mamie is earning about $4,000 a month from her property rentals. Bertha increases her commission to 70%, reflecting her value to the club. The war continues to propel her wealth as military needs keep growing on the islands.

A promotional poster of Mamie has become a popular pin-up with the troops, boosting her fame beyond the club. Jim is wounded and returns to Hawaii on convalescent leave, confronting Mamie about their life apart. After a subdued argument, Jim concludes that their lives are too different and leaves her for good.

Mamie disembarks in San Francisco, only to be reminded by a police officer that she is banned from the city. She tells him she made a fortune and gave it away, but he doesn't believe her. He offers her a ride to the airport to catch a flight toward her Mississippi hometown.