In the hold of a passenger liner, Chris Anderson leads the stokers in "Blow the Man Down" as they shovel coal into the fires. Chris, a Dane, becomes enraged when Donovan, another sailor, calls him "Dimples." The two soot-covered men fight with their shovels as they are watched by the Countess Boranoff, who is most impressed with the strong Chris. Chris finds himself in jail, and is told by Jones that Donovan is recovering but that he has missed his ship. Chris's cellmate, Briny O'Brien, takes him to his "Ship Cafe," a nightclub in a vessel at anchor. After bickering with his girl friend, Molly, Briny hires Chris as bouncer. Eddie Davis, a singer at the Ship Cafe, offers his audience sweet or "hot" songs. After living in the Ship Cafe for several weeks, Miss Ruby, a dancer Chris likes, invites him to her apartment for breakfast. When Eddie is sick, Briny, Molly and Ruby plan to perform at the cafe, but at the last minute the nervous Chris is called upon to entertain the crowd.