Kreola, a photographer, arrives in Santa Domingo to join her husband Andy. Andy is initially jealous of Marco, who is in town looking for his missing girlfriend Iris, who did not return from a girls getaway with her coworkers. When Kreola and Andy find Iris with their gruff, dominating sea captain Leon, Andy suggests that Kreola distract Leon so that Marco has a chance of getting Iris back. Kreola scoffs at this but eventually does fall under Leon's spell.
Andy's writer friend Jo Ann blames the island atmosphere for the tendency for puritanical Westerners to reject their inhibitions. When Andy and Marco cannot free their women from Leon's influence, things get drastic.