John J. Baggs Jr. (James Caan) a peacetime sailor and a Vietnam veteran, checks into the Seattle Naval base's medical facility for minor treatment requiring tests. The testing results delay keep him from rejoining his ship when it sails. After he gets a clean bill of health, he finds out that he is unable to get paid or receive new orders because the U.S. Navy has lost his records. While they continue to search for his lost records, he is able to come and go from the base until the midnight curfew with a "Cinderella Liberty" pass issued by the medical facility.