The story follows Smiley Marsden, a notorious bank robber desperately fleeing from the police, accompanied by his companion, Frisco Kitty. Forced to seek refuge, they arrive at the San Francisco docks, where they manage to persuade the captain of a small cargo ship, Sam McVeigh, to take them aboard for a voyage to Mexico. The captain, played by Louis Wolheim, is immediately captivated by Kitty, which influences his decision to trust Marsden, who is pretending to be a minister on the run.
As the ship sets sail, an air of tension and desire hangs over everyone onboard. Every sailor is drawn to Kitty, but none more than the captain himself. In a moment of drunkenness, the captain tries to force himself on her in his cabin. However, Kitty, demonstrating her strength and dignity, tells him that he is better than that, which causes him to reflect deeply on his actions. Throughout the voyage, Kitty skillfully manages to fend off the unwanted advances of the crew, with the captain’s unwavering admiration serving as her protector.
When they arrive in Mexico, the captain has fallen in love with Kitty, believing she is Marsden’s wife. Recognizing the danger of their situation, Marsden deliberately delays their departure to avoid suspicion from the authorities. He employs both flirtation and sabotage to keep them grounded, but Kitty’s protests lead him to physically assault her in a moment of rage. As tensions escalate, the crew begins to suspect Marsden of sabotage and is enraged upon learning about his true nature. They even threaten to assault Kitty, prompting her to seek out safety and protection.
In a tense confrontation, Ian Keith, portraying a detective, appears and reveals that he has been pursuing Marsden all along. He arrests Marsden, who is then taken away. As McVeigh follows and attempts to intervene, he climbs back into the window to see Kitty, who shares her harrowing childhood story—poverty, abuse by men, and a longing for freedom, symbolized by her love of the sea and the sky. Despite her desire to escape her troubled past, she feels compelled to face her future.
Suddenly, gunshots ring out—Marsden had tried to escape, and he is shot dead by the detective. Kitty, overwhelmed and distraught, runs into the street where she finds the detective with his gun drawn. She is ready to go with him, but he assures her that he has nothing on her. The detective’s primary target was Marsden, not her, leaving her truly free. Ultimately, she and Hugh Herbert, as Charlie, find solace in each other and begin a new chapter together, free from their troubled pasts.
> "She meant what she said about the sea and the sky." This line encapsulates her yearning for liberation and hope, themes that resonate deeply throughout her journey. The story vividly explores themes of redemption, resilience, and the complex struggles faced by those haunted by their past, set against the backdrop of the open sea and the turbulent lives of its characters.
