 A lonely middle-aged woman seeking a divorce, a young doctor infatuated by a married young woman, a deceived husband, a pompous consul, a retired missionary couple, an acid tongued-spinster, and a group of Malayan workers are some of the passengers travelling by Pacific and Orient liner. Soon after the ship leaves Singapore an Irish planter falls ill. His cockney employee is the only passenger who knows that the planter is under a death curse from a Malay woman. As his condition deteriorates the effect is felt by all on board. While the ship races to the nearest port, the veneer of respectability begins to crack.