As a Chicago apartment building burns on a cold winter night, fireman Jack Moniker tells Dave, another fireman, that he is quitting the department. Dave has heard it all before, and does not believe Jack. This time, Jack produces a newspaper advertisement about life on St. Nicholas, a Caribbean island. Jack goes back into the burning building, and encounters a frightened dog. He throws a stick out the window, and the dog is caught below in a net by other firefighters. Jack then stands on the windowsill about to jump when an explosion throws him to the pavement. Fellow firefighters dig him out from under a pile of bricks. Soon, Jack follows his muse and relocates to St. Nicholas, Jamaica. At the bar in the Palms resort, the bartender introduces him to travellers, Capt. Toby Prooth and Phillipa Lloyd, just arrived by sloop from Antigua. Jack also greets former Governor Anthony Croyden Hayes, who does not think much of Americans that become ex-patriots. Jack invites Toby and Phillipa to sample the music at Club Paradise. At the club, Jack flirts with Phillipa, and explains he lives off of insurance money from an on-the-job injury as a fireman. As they talk, Toby is bored, and wants to leave. However, Phillipa chooses to stay, and talk with Jack. They sit at a table with club owner, Ernest Reed, and a few of his friends. Suddenly, Prime Minister Solomon Gundy appears, and alerts Ernest that he has a delinquent tax bill of $6,000, is behind with his food and beverage taxes, has racked up tourist code violations, and allowed the use of marijuana in his club. Ernest suggests that Gundy’s big business ties want to force him out of business, and he kicks Gundy and his two henchmen off the premises. Gundy warns Ernest that he has two weeks to straighten out his financial affairs. Later, Ernest auditions for Royal St. Nicholas hotel owner, Voit Zerbe, but does not get the job. Zerbe offers to buy Ernest’s property, and relieve his tax problems, but Ernest refuses his proposal. Jack takes Phillipa to visit his tropical cabin, and reveals his plan to become business partners with Ernest. If she stays in Jamaica, Jack would hire her. Phillipa plans to sail with Toby for Martinique, but when Jack offers a job with great perks and benefits, she agrees to stay. Jack creates a seductive advertising campaign with the help of friends. Ernest and Jack wait at a primitive airfield, while an airplane carrying the first group of guests makes a dubious landing. Musicians playing steel drums welcome guests. Meanwhile, Gundy alerts Zerbe that Jack paid Ernest’s tax bill. Zerbe is not overly concerned. He says the chances are great that Jack and Ernest will not be able to keep their business running. Soon, Jack discovers that one guest, Terry Hamlin, is a travel writer for the New York Times. On the beach, friends Barry Nye and Barry Steinberg eye potential girl friends while guest Linda White discovers her cabin has no running water, is stocked with towels stolen from other hotels, and has no air conditioning or complimentary toiletries. Her husband, Randy, realizes the brochure photograph of their room was doctored to look bigger. When Linda and Randy complain they must share a bathroom with the guest next door, Jack promises to fix the problem. Linda turns her attention to parasailing, and asks staff members to give her a lesson. Later, Jack spends his time smoothing over problems. Ernest must be persuaded to perform in a glitzy costume, the cook is appalled that a kitchen helper has dreadlocks down to his backside, and Jack finds a chef’s hat that will keep the hair away from food. Soon, Gundy says that all his legal efforts to sabotage Club Paradise have failed. Zerbe suggests Gundy should use whatever means necessary. Linda takes a shower after her exhilarating lesson, and the water now flows like a monsoon. At night, Governor Hayes stops by to assess Jack’s “nipple ranch.” Jack offers double drinks on the house if the governor will charm Terry and give her travel article a positive spin. As the two Barrys mingle with some women, one asks if the men have anything to smoke. The men arrange for a taxicab driver to take them to an unknown location to buy some farm-fresh marijuana. They are only able to score one marijuana cigarette, which several guests smoke until it is gone before the Barrys have a chance to partake. Meanwhile, the governor informs Jack that Gundy and Zerbe have bribed him to convince Jack and Ernest to sell their ownership. It seems that an anonymous developer is prepared to buy the entire island, only Jack and Ernest stand in the way of the deal. Governor Hayes hints that a certain yacht in the harbor might hold clues, and if Jack were to gather intelligence it would be appreciated. Later, Jack and Ernest sneak aboard the vessel and discover a 3D architectural model, showing redevelopment plans for St. Nicholas, including high rise hotels and upscale condominiums. However, Jack and Ernest are caught trespassing, and thrown in jail. The next day, Gundy releases the partners, but gives them until the evening to sell the club and resort. When too many guests decide to go topless on the beach, Jack arranges a spontaneous excursion to a beach called “Devil’s Hole,” where nude sunbathing is allowed. Local youths decide to have some fun, and hide the guests’ clothing. The group assembles palm frond outfits so they can hike their way back to the hotel. Along the way, Linda is almost choked and eaten by a large snake, but escapes. Jack cannot seem to find anyone, and the bartender alerts him that Barry has gone missing on a parasail. With so many things going wrong, Jack starts to think he should sell and cut his losses, but Phillipa convinces him not to give up hope. Soon, Jack’s nude sunbathers find their way to the St. Nicholas resort hotel. Linda discovers the casino, and will not leave until her husband drags her away. Back at Club Paradise, Barry finds a huge bag of marijuana in his room, and panics in fear he will be arrested before he can smoke it all. Jack tries stalling Gundy once more, but Gundy runs out of patience. The police chase after Jack and Ernest. Barry thinks the police are after him, and runs into the forest to hide a portion of his marijuana. Without capturing Jack and Ernest to force their hand, Gundy and Zerbe assure their client that a deal is close at hand. Meanwhile, Gundy summons the militia to capture Ernest, who organizes a group of rebels to fight Gundy and his interests. Jack keeps a fireman’s hose around, and sprays the militiamen. The conflict moves to the beach, and the governor arrives with his own ragtag force, comprised of local residents. When the governor says he intends to shoot Gundy, Jack points out that the yacht has left the harbor and Gundy’s deal is now cold. Jack and Ernest congratulate the governor for restoring order.