Sisters Patsy and Jean Deyo grow up watching their parents sing and dance together on the vaudeville circuit, and as soon as they are old enough, start an act of their own. As adults, sober and responsible Patsy constantly warns her younger, more carefree sibling about casual flirtation, admonishing her to save herself for a "good" man. After Jean, who wants to marry a rich man, receives a number of orchids from an admirer who signs himself only as "Somebody," she and Patsy try unsuccessfully to identify him during one of their nightclub performances. Later that night, Jean and Patsy host a "private canteen," inviting dozens of sailors and soldiers to their apartment, and both sisters are attracted to a sailor named Johnny. Johnny is attracted to Jean, who is also the object of Sgt. Frank Miller's affection, but has an enjoyable chat with Patsy. During the evening, Jean points out to Johnny an abandoned warehouse near their apartment and wistfully states that she and Patsy would love to convert the building into a canteen. The next day, the sisters learn from a Mr. Nizby that "Somebody" has purchased the warehouse for them and is paying for its renovation. While Patsy and Jean are inspecting the place, which turns out to be a theatrical warehouse, they discover that Billy Kipp, a popular vaudevillian whom they knew as children, has been secretly living there. The sisters convince Billy, who became a hermit after his wife and son left him years before, to remain at the warehouse. After the building is completely overhauled, the sisters produce an elaborate canteen show paid for by "Somebody," which is attended by hundreds of servicemen, including Johnny and Frank. While Jean and Patsy dance with Johnny, Billy overhears dancer Ben Blue ordering orchids over the telephone and assumes he is "Somebody." Billy rushes to tell Patsy and Jean his suspicions, but they soon realize that Ben is ordering flowers for his wife. When asked by Johnny who she wants "Somebody" to be, Patsy says that she only wants him to be nice and to marry Jean. Patsy then confesses that she wants her own true love to be a poor "straight man." That night, Patsy has a disturbing dream in which she is wooed by Johnny, but ends up losing him to Jean. The next morning, Billy overhears Mr. Nizby place a work order for the canteen and charge the cost to John Dyckman Brown. Sure that he has at last discovered "Somebody's" identity, Billy runs to tell Patsy and Jean the good news. Although Jean is thrilled to learn that the famous millionaire is her admirer, Patsy is disturbed and goes to the Brown mansion to confront him. After accusing first elderly John Dyckman Brown and then his middle-aged son, John Dyckman Brown II, of toying with her sister's affections, Patsy learns that "Somebody" is John Dyckman Brown III, and that he is Johnny. Patsy is devastated, but pretends that she is happy for her sister. After she leaves, Johnny confesses to his father and grandfather that he is actually in love with Patsy, but is afraid to hurt Jean. Later, in New York, a depressed Patsy shows up late at the nightclub and reluctantly tells Jean about Johnny. Jean's excitement about Johnny's money makes Patsy even more glum, and she runs out of club in tears. Unknown to Patsy and Jean, the elder Dyckmans have come to see their show, and are surprised when Billy, having been coaxed onto the stage, performs in the sisters' stead. Jean, meanwhile, realizes that Patsy is in love with Johnny and asks Frank, to whom she has always been attracted, if he is in love with her. When he answers yes, Jean kisses him, and the next day, she announces to Patsy and the Browns that she and Frank, an onion farmer, are marrying. Johnny then proposes to Patsy, and at the canteen that night, Billy is reunited with his long-lost son "Junior," an enlistee who looks exactly like him.