In Singapore in 1941 the British middle classes lead a comfortable life though Marian Jefferson,unlike her friend Vicky,wants to return to England to do war work whilst her army officer husband Clifford is one of the few who believe the Japanese will attack by land. His opinion is shared by Australian radio presenter Bernard Webster who gets sacked for broadcasting his view that the colony is unprepared for invasion - though his girl-friend Rose admires his principles. Romance blossoms between two young couples,Lieutenant Simon Treves and Eurasian tour guide Christina Campbell and Kate Norris and Harry Redburn but these are rudely interrupted when the Japanese bombers strike. Hospital doctor Beatrice Mason,helped by Sister Ulrica and her nuns,tends to the many injured.

The female survivors are marched to the Kampong Getah prison camp where nurses Kate and Nellie meet up again with Dr. Mason,who takes charge of cleaning out their squalid hut. Sharing it with them are Sylvia Ashburton,a snobbish,imperious general's wife known to Marion, brassy Cockney Blanche Simmons who helps the withdrawn Dorothy Bennett with her baby,pregnant Sally Markham and weepy Judith Bowen and her daughter Debbie. The commandant Captain Yamauchi tells the women that disobedience will be punished and Marion,nominated by the others, has to intercede with him when his sadistic lieutenant Sato -Satan to the women - catches Sylvia trying to use a radio. As Sylvis is released from the punishment hut Dutch captives,including Sister Ulrica,arrive.