Wake Me When It’s Over

Following his WWII service, Gus Brubaker is briefly reactivated for GI insurance but a bureaucratic glitch lands him back in uniform. He is posted to a ramshackle radar station on a backwater island near Shima, Japan. The base is lethargic, poorly equipped, and demotivated, setting the stage for the unlikely plan that follows.

Capt. Charlie Stark, a free-spirited pilot, takes charge and injects a new energy into the stale unit. His unorthodox style jolts the men from apathy and reminds them of their past function as soldiers. For a moment the base feels alive again.

Gus meets Ume Tanaka, daughter of the village's wary mayor. She introduces him to a pool of natural hot springs, hinting at possibilities beyond radio towers. The seeds of a hotel project begin to sprout.

Gus and Charlie hatch a plan to convert the junk-strewn base into a resort hotel, using the men as labor and the wrecked equipment as building material. Doc Farrington engineers a publicity push, spinning the springs' healing powers to attract attention and investors. The project moves from fantasy to the first concrete steps.

Doc brings in Lt. Nora McKay to lend order and a feminine touch to the operation. Charlie develops a romantic interest in her, raising personal stakes for the venture. The hotel project gains legitimacy as the military unit rallies around the plan.

The airmen transform the facility into a first-class operation, reviving their sense of purpose. Nora staffs the hotel with 40 young women from the village, following local custom that binds them to the project. The makeshift resort begins to take shape as construction continues.

Nora and Charlie fall in love, but Nora questions whether he is marriage material. Their relationship adds emotional tension to the enterprise as expectations clash. As the project nears completion, personal and professional lines blur.

Martinson drinks too much and embarrasses himself in front of the guests, then writes a vindictive story painting Hotel Shima as a den of sin. The scandal threatens to derail the venture and undermines the hotel's reputation. The base scrambles to respond to the PR crisis.

Gus is court-martialed as a scapegoat, despite ownership of the hotel by about 100 airmen. The proceedings seem designed to deflect blame from higher-ups. Charlie is outraged and wants to testify, but is transferred away by a reputation-conscious commander to prevent it.

A congressional panel from Washington launches an investigation, widening the spotlight on the affair. Charlie ends up buzzing the trial in a jet, adding a dramatic twist. Doc Farrington uses inside knowledge of luxury goods from the hotel to pressure Colonel Hollingsworth in exchange for favorable treatment.

Stark testifies on Gus's behalf as the trial erupts with chaotic and comical proceedings. The airmen rally behind their comrade, navigating the courtroom antics and PR storms. The outcome becomes increasingly uncertain as the case unfolds.

Gus is found not guilty on one count but guilty of taking government property. During sentencing, the court discovers it has tried the wrong man due to the earlier error. The panel ultimately frees Gus and assigns Hotel Shima to the people of the island.

Charlie and Nora reconcile their earlier differences and decide to marry, signaling a personal triumph amid the upheaval. The project and relationships stabilize as the island community aligns with the hotel’s future.

Gus says goodbye to Ume and prepares to depart. He observes Colonel Hollingsworth has been demoted to sergeant and reassigned to the base, marking a shift in command. Ume waves farewell as Gus heads home, closing this chapter on the island.