At the New York Bulletin newspaper, its owner, Robert Drexel Gow (Charles Coburn), receives a teletype story that the newspaper's thirty-nine-year-old editor, Max Wharton (Alexander Knox), is resigning to enlist in the army.
After completion of basic training, Max sends Paulie a telegram that officer's candidate school is in Tetley Field, Florida.
Paulie arrives at Palmetto Court looking for bungalow 26D and meets the last tenant, Jan Lupton (Jeff Donnell), whose husband Roy has just graduated to second lieutenant.
Regarding school, Jan relays a story she heard where once you're over 21 years of age, your brain doesn't absorb the material taught anymore.
The train's been delayed and, after a few awkward moments, the Whartons offer the Luptons the bedroom for the night; Paulie will sleep on the sofa in the living room.
He is approached by a fellow student named Paulson, a reporter with the base's newspaper, the Tetley Field Sentinel.
The Colonel mentions that both his wife and mother-in-law are admirers of Mrs. Wharton and plan on dropping by the bungalow later that afternoon.