Synopsis: In 1944, Lt. Cmdr. Charles Madison prides himself on being a cynical coward unwilling to step foot on shore during D-Day. His relaxed lifestyle attracts Englishwoman Emily Barham, whose husband and brother died in the war. But when Rear Adm. William Jessup resolves to earn the Navy prestige by ensuring that a sailor will be the first to die in the invasion, he assigns the ill-fated duty to Madison, who will now be among the vanguard.