The last months of the Second World War. A US Navy cargo ship stands off the coast of an island lost in the Pacific Ocean. Nothing threatens the ship, the fighting takes place thousands of miles away. The sailors suffer from the heat, boredom and chicanery of Captain Morton, who boasts of his impeccable service record; team morale is as low as ever. The only active person on board is Lieutenant Roberts, who is in charge of loading. The sailors treat him with respect, because he is the only person who can protect them from the tyranny of the boss. However, Roberts dreams of a completely different fate: knowing that the war will end soon, he wants to bring at least some benefit on the battlefield, and therefore, over and over again, he submits a request to the captain to be transferred to a warship. And Morton each time answers the subordinate with a refusal ...