The Sin Ship

Smiley Marsden, a bank robber on the run, travels with his accomplice, Frisco Kitty, seeking refuge after a heist. They arrive at the San Francisco docks and look for transportation to Mexico. To escape authorities, they convince Captain Sam McVeigh to take them aboard his cargo ship, with Marsden posing as a minister.

The cargo ship sets sail with Marsden and Kitty aboard, heading towards Mexico. During the voyage, the sailors, especially Captain McVeigh, become infatuated with Kitty. Marsden continues to pose as a minister, attempting to keep his true identity hidden.

One night, drunk and intoxicated, Captain McVeigh corners Kitty in his cabin and begins to force himself on her. She manages to stop him by appealing to his better nature, which causes him to reflect deeply about his actions. The incident reveals the tension aboard the ship.

Throughout the voyage, Kitty successfully fend off unwanted advances from the crew, with Captain McVeigh increasingly admiring her resilience and strength. Her actions help maintain her dignity amidst the hostile environment.

When the ship docks in Mexico, Captain McVeigh has fallen in love with Kitty, believing she is Marsden's wife. His feelings grow as he becomes more enamored with her, unknowingly complicating their situation.

Marsden, fearing suspicion from the authorities, delays their departure using Kitty's flirtation and sabotages the ship's operations. His manipulative actions put everyone on edge and threaten their escape.

Kitty protests against the delays, and Marsden beats her in a drunken rage. Later, she visits Marsden’s hotel room, where McVeigh arrives to help protect her. Marsden's true nature is revealed during this tense confrontation.

Marsden is exposed as a criminal when a detective, disguised as a tourist, reveals his identity and arrests him. McVeigh watches the arrest unfold before following them, feeling conflicted about the chaos and his feelings for Kitty.

In a heartfelt moment, Kitty shares her childhood hardships, her history of abuse, and her feelings about the sea and sky. She acknowledges her need to face her past rather than run from it, showing her inner strength.

Marsden tries to escape but is shot by the detective pursuing him. Kitty runs into the street, distressed but relieved that Marsden's true motivations were revealed, and he was the real threat.

With Marsden dead, Kitty is ready to go with the detective, but he assures her he has no charges against her, as Marsden was the one they wanted. The film concludes with Kitty and McVeigh ending up together, symbolizing a new beginning.