 Barbara discovers that her boyfriend, stationed in the Panama Canal Zone, not only has his flight been delayed but the two become trapped in bureaucratic red tape, including the need for a doctor's certificate, and may not have their wedding before he has to return to his military base.The US Embassy Vice Consul (Franchot Tone) goes to great lengths to intervene and help the young lovers, but frequent misunderstandings jeopardise his own upcoming marriage, including when Barbara's diving accident in a pool makes her want to pursue him instead.RKO originally planned to obtain the three stars of "Since You Went Away" from David O. Selznick, however Joseph Cotten refused the role played in the film by Franchot Tone.