In Hawaii, on the eve of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the lives of a group of soldiers intertwine in a poignant tale of love, betrayal, and redemption. Sergeant Milt Warden is a man caught between his desire to advance in his military career and his growing love for the wife of his superior, Karen Holmes, who feels trapped in a loveless marriage. The passion between them develops as tensions escalate, plunging Warden into an internal struggle between duty and desire.
At the same time, another soldier, Robert E. Lee Prewitt, a talented boxer, resists the pressure to join the army's boxing team, as he is determined not to fight. His decision provokes the wrath of his commander, who will stop at nothing to make his life miserable. Meanwhile, the unbreakable friendship between Prewitt and his buddy Angelo Maggio adds a layer of loyalty and sacrifice in an environment where camaraderie becomes essential for survival.
As tensions rise and relationships become complicated, everyone is faced with their fate when the Japanese attack shakes the military base. Caught between forbidden love and unwavering loyalty, the characters must confront the impending tragedy and the inevitability of war, revealing the fragility of life and the quest for human connection in dark times.