On opening night of her new show, Broadway musical star Maggie Garret is rescued from a horde of autograph seekers by wealthy Boston shipowner Dan Brewster, who adores her "angelic" performances but loathes her parasitic family. Unappreciative of Dan's efforts, Maggie has him arrested for mashing but, in court, reluctantly agrees to serve as his probation officer. Although she is strongly attracted to Dan, his accurate but stinging appraisals of her family, whose spending habits force her into a killing work schedule and near bankruptcy, infuriates her. Determined to win her heart, however, Dan convinces her to spend a "cheap" evening with him at various night spots, including a German beer hall and a skating rink. Drunk and happy, Dan and Maggie return to the Garret home, where Dan's presence causes the family to protest in panic. After Dan accuses Maggie's parents, sister Salina and brother-in-law Bert of being leeches, the ever loyal Maggie throws him out. When she learns that he is about to set sail, however, Maggie catches him at the dock and proposes. Once married, the couple realize that they have different ideas on how to spend their lives together, and Dan, who wants Maggie to leave her family and career, demands an annulment. Despondent, Maggie returns to her family but, after being subjected to their excessive whining about her sudden marriage, finally sees the depth of their selfish dependency. Chasing after Dan in the rain, Maggie gleefully announces that she is ready to sail with him to his South Sea island, "Paradise."