In 1964, atomic war wipes out humanity in the northern hemisphere; one American submarine finds temporary safe haven in Australia, where life-as-usual covers growing despair. In denial about the loss of his wife and children in the holocaust, American Captain Towers meets careworn but gorgeous Moira Davidson, who begins to fall for him. The sub returns after reconnaissance a month (or less) before the end; will Towers and Moira find comfort with each other?
As a submarine approaches San Francisco, we see deserted streets through the periscope and it becomes clear that everyone is dead. We see people queueing up to be given boxes of poison pills (to take rather than die of radiation sickness). The sympthetic characters Mary and Peter Holmes (Donna Anderson, Tony Perkins) express their love for each other, then Mary says "I'd like a cup of tea now." A box of the pills is on the tea tray. It is understood they will poison their baby first. The Fred Astaire character seals his garage, gets in his car and revs it up, breathing in the smoke. Gregory Peck sails off in a submarine to his death, watched by Ava Gardener, waiting for hers. Scenes show Melbourne streets deserted where earlier there were crowds, indicating that everyone on earth is dead.
