After Japan surrenders at the end of World War II, American soldiers anxiously await their transfer back to the United States. Among the men stationed at Camp Zama in Tokyo is former dancer Staff Sgt. Shep Dooley, who attempts to sell his tap shoes on the black market. During his outing, Shep runs into his estranged wife and former partner, Kay Hudson, who is now a member of the Army organization C.A.T.S.: The Civilian Actress Technicians Service. Although she is initially pleased to see Shep after their three-year separation, Kay quickly remembers that she left him because of his womanizing and tells him that they are through. Later, after Kay and her pal, Billie Barton, appear in a show in Tokyo, Kay learns that two C.A.T.S. volunteers are needed to organize a musical revue for the troops in remote Kyoto. Not realizing that Shep is scheduled to return to the United States soon, Kay hopes to escape his attentions by going to Kyoto. The next day, at their new post, Kay and Billie are frustrated in their attempts to secure forty soldiers to help them mount the show until Capt. Johnny Comstock of the engineering company assigns them a platoon. Johnny is enamoured of the lovely Kay, but she is distracted from his attentions by the sudden arrival of Shep. Kay reluctantly admits that she still loves Shep, although their romance encounters difficulties when he is accidentally locked in the women's barracks overnight and therefore is late returning to Tokyo. When he arrives back at Camp Zama, Shep learns that his comrades sailed for home that day, and he is now considered AWOL. Fearful of being arrested and desiring to return to Kay, Shep forges official orders sending him back to Kyoto to help her stage the revue. Johnny continues to pursue Kay, although she warns him that she is in love with someone else. Kay resumes dating Shep and begins rehearsals of the show. Shep, meanwhile, is desperate to retrieve his orders from the orderly sergeant before it is discovered that they are forgeries. With the aid of Pfc. Stanley Popopolis, Shep sneaks into the sergeant's office but winds up trapped in the closet and misses a date with Kay. The next day, Kay furiously rejects Shep's apology but once again relents and offers him one last chance to prove that he has changed. Hoping to remove Shep as a rival, Johnny orders him to pull guard duty that night, and although Johnny has a change of heart about the subterfuge, the damage is done and Shep again stands Kay up. The next day, Johnny proposes to Kay but she gently turns him down. Shep visits her soon after and admits to her that he is AWOL and in Kyoto under phony orders, but Kay, believing that he is lying, sends him away. The next evening, as the show is about to begin, Johnny informs Kay that Shep has been arrested for leaving her quarters after hours, as the women's barracks are off-limits to male personnel. Johnny also reveals that Shep did perform guard duty, and Kay, realizing that Shep has told her the complete truth, begs Johnny to obtain his release so that he may perform in the show. When the MPs bring Shep to the theater, however, Stanley misunderstands their presence and reveals that Shep is AWOL. The problem is solved, however, when it is discovered that Shep's paperwork was processed with the rest of his company when they were transferred to the United States and released from duty. Because Shep is no longer in the Army, he cannot be AWOL, and he is released to appear in the show. Shep and Kay then sing together happily, secure in the knowledge that they have a bright future together.
