Plot Analysis Summary
Two musicians flee a mob, sustain elaborate disguises, and discover unexpected romantic possibilities as their deceptions unravel.
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
Flight from Chicago
A police raid drives two musicians out of their speakeasy. After witnessing a mob killing and being spotted by the gang, they disguise themselves as women and seek a way out of Chicago.
Key Events
-
Musicians in a Chicago Speakeasy — Two jazz musicians work in a speakeasy during Prohibition.
Location: Chicago speakeasy
-
Police Raid the Speakeasy — Police raid the club after receiving information from an informant.
Location: Chicago speakeasy
-
Escape from the Raid — The two musicians escape the police raid.
Location: Chicago streets
-
Witnesses to a Mob Killing — They witness the mob killing the informant and his gang in retaliation.
Location: Chicago garage
-
The Mob Sees Them Flee — The mob witnesses the musicians fleeing the killing scene.
Location: Chicago garage
-
A Disguise and a New Job — Broke and afraid, the musicians disguise themselves as women to leave town.
Location: Chicago
Disguises on the Train
The musicians join an all-female band bound for Miami. They befriend its vocalist, hear about her romantic hopes, and try to keep their attraction from exposing their disguises.
Key Events
-
Boarding the Miami Train — They join an all-female band traveling to Miami.
Location: Train station
-
Meeting the Vocalist — The disguised musicians befriend the band's vocalist and ukulele player.
Location: Train
-
A Confession on the Train — The vocalist describes her past disappointments with saxophone players and her hopes for a millionaire husband.
Location: Train
-
Late-Night Train Party — The musicians grow close to the vocalist while struggling to maintain their disguises.
Location: Train
Romance and Deception
In Miami, one musician poses as an oil heir to pursue the vocalist, while the other becomes the object of a millionaire's attention. Both romantic schemes depend on sustaining their false identities.
Key Events
-
Arrival in Miami — The band reaches Miami, where the musicians continue their deception.
Location: Miami
-
The Millionaire Impersonation — One musician poses as an oil heir and courts the vocalist.
Location: Miami hotel
-
Dinner on the Yacht — The other musician is invited to dinner by a persistent millionaire.
Location: Yacht
-
A False Story of Heartbreak — The disguised suitor invents a tragic past and claims he cannot marry.
Location: Miami hotel
-
The Nightlong Dance — The musician and the millionaire dance together until dawn.
Location: Yacht
Recognition at the Hotel
A Mafia gathering brings the Chicago gang back into the musicians' path, and the mob recognizes them. One musician breaks off his courtship, and the pair attempt to escape amid deadly violence.
Key Events
-
A Surprise Mafia Gathering — A gathering presented as an opera society meeting is revealed as a national Mafia meeting.
Location: Miami hotel
-
The Mob Recognizes Them — Mobsters recognize the musicians through their disguises, prompting them to flee.
Location: Miami hotel
-
A Painful Telephone Breakup — One musician ends his courtship by claiming he must marry someone chosen by his father and move abroad.
Location: Miami hotel
-
The Mob Meeting Turns Deadly — The Mafia leader executes the rival mob boss and his gang; the musicians return to women's clothing to evade capture.
Location: Miami hotel
Truth on the Water
The musicians flee by launch with the millionaire, and the vocalist follows. One man confesses his deception to her, while the other finally tells the persistent suitor the truth about his identity.
Key Events
-
Confession Aboard the Launch — The musician reveals his identity to the vocalist, while his friend admits to the millionaire that he is a man.
Location: Launch leaving the dock
