Tough-talking, cigar-chomping plantation manager Steve Case rules the port of Puerto Agular in Central America, and therefore is able to order the banishment of American chanteuse and card cheat Lee Donley as well as the execution of revolutionary Rosario La Mata. The one man whom Case cannot order around is Nick Butler, his tough foreman with a roving eye for good looking women who has just quit the banana plantation business to return to the United States. However, Case induces Nick to return to his job for two weeks and a big bonus, and Nick arrives at the plantation on the same fruit train as Lee, who is hiding from Case and the police. Meanwhile, Rosario has escaped from prison and is busy recruiting Nick's banana workers for his revolution. Becoming nettled by the attentions of Gloria, the disgruntled wife of incompetent plantation foreman Bob Anderson, the sarcasm of Lee and the antics of Rosario, Nick takes off after the revolutionary and captures him. He then notifies Case that he is quitting his job again, and Case threatens to charge Lee with assault unless Nick stays. Case's bluff works, and Nick is on the verge of conceding when Rosario escapes once again. In the chaos of the escape, Nick realizes that he has fallen in love with Lee and decides to remain in the torrid zone with her at his side.