Frustrated at not being able to get a transfer Roberts has been snapping at the men. Doc diagnoses it as an acute attack of self pity. The crew is preoccupied with finding a phonograph and needle to listen to recently received records from wives and girlfriends. The Captain refuses to let the records be played but Roberts distracts him with a jug of Pulver's intoxicating papaya juice.

New CWO Al Briggs is granted permission from Captain Morton to take over Roberts's and Pulver's cabin. Briggs uses secret information he knows about the Captain's past to implement poker, horse racing bets, shuffleboard and other activities on the Reluctant. When the Captain is taken ill Roberts and Pulver turn the tables, handing command of the ship over to Briggs while they enjoy the activities.

The crews of the Reluctant and the AK-627 brawl during liberty and damage the Hula Haven to the amount of $680. Each crew has raised $200 so a boxing match is held to determine who pays the balance. Roberts saw new seaman Rodney Stone knock out three men during the brawl and picks him to be the Reluctant's representative in the match. Stone refuses to participate until Roberts gets the Captain to sign a paper recommending Stone for Officers Candidate School, which Stone dearly wants.

The ship must transfer three USO girls and the Captain orders them to stay out of sight. The Captain ends up in sick bay which leaves Mr. Roberts in charge. Ensign Pulver gets permission for the girls to do their act for the crew. Roberts spots the periscope of a two-man Japanese submarine that is watching the girls do their show and tells Pulver to ""keep those girls dancing"" until the patrol bomber he requested arrives.

Roberts sees a girl pass by Doc's porthole. Then Ensign Pulver sees her in his locker. Doc diagnoses an hallucination as the crew is overdue for liberty but she turns out to be a real, live stowaway who wants to work her way to New Caledonia.

Seaman Herbert Miller's arrival is highly anticipated as he is the first Navy classified cook to serve aboard the Reluctant, except he can't cook. Miller has been reassigned so many times Roberts allows him to stay, thinking he, Pulver and Doc can help him learn to cook. Captain Morton invites Admiral Morrison over for a meal. Roberts, Pulver and Doc cook it, giving Miller the credit who is immediately transferred by the Admiral to his flag ship. D'Angelo tells Roberts that Miller learned to be a signalman on his own so they send a recipe with cooking details to Miller on the flagship. Harry and George, the crew of a Japanese two man submarine, intercept the recipe and think they have stumbled on to a new code. Roberts spots the sub periscope, flashes a new recipe ""Sukiyaki Underwater"" and Miller informs Admiral Morrison who requests a patrol bomber.