Pitt Markham (John Wayne) and Cash Evans (Randolph Scott) encounter Josie Winters (Marlene Dietrich) and using a fake contract, Pitt transforms a coal mine into a big corporation. He marries Shannon Prentiss (Louise Allbritton) but their relationship fails and he learns Josie married Cash. After Pearl Harbor, Pitt's company is flooded with war orders and he rejoins forces with Cash. Along with scientist Doc Powers (Frank Craven), the two break production records, earn a government citation, and make a crucial contribution to the war with a groundbreaking coal-tar formula discovery.