When carousing sailor Harry Patterson (Clark Gable), fresh off a Merchant Marine ship, strides into a library and meets straitlaced librarian Emily Sears (Greer Garson) at the front desk, he has no idea that he is looking at his future wife. But these opposites quickly overcome their differences to attract and wed. But once they do, the oddly matched pair faces several romantic mishaps before the roving seaman can settle down enough to sail into the sunset with his new bride.