Julietta (Virna Lisi), an Italian nurse in the Korean War, is juggling the affections of American Air Force pilots, Tom (Tony Curtis) and Tank (George C. Scott). As they both attempt to woo Julietta, Tom and Tank try to outdo each other through a series of increasingly extreme pranks. Julietta finally agrees to marry Tom when he tells her that Tank's airplane has been shot down. Years later, Tom must continue to lie and deceive when Tank shows up to try and put the record straight.