Secoma, Washington based tugboat, the Narcissus, is owned and captained by Annie Brennan. Among her crew are her drunkard but good natured husband, Terry, and her conscientious son, Alec. Annie continually loses business because of Terry's mistakes. In turn, Alec wants to quit school to work on the tug full time, but Annie will not sacrifice her son's education. A grown Alec has followed in his mother's footsteps and becomes a mariner, but a more upscale one as the captain of a luxury liner. Alec returns to Secoma with his fiancée, Pat - the boss' daughter - and with a grand plan to save Annie from the life that drunkard Terry has provided her. But ultimately, it's Annie and Terry that need to be Alec's savior, and by their move show him the meaning of true commitment.