In 1909 New York, alcoholic explorer C. Philip Montgomery and his crew (a foul-mouthed ex-prostitute named Martha Frambois and neurotic first-mate Roland Thaxter) attempt to get funding for an expedition to the Arctic from the wealthy Reginald F. Matters. When Reginald promises the Arctic expedition funding to a rival crew of Canadian explorers (with suspiciously Russian sounding accents), C. Philip, Martha and Roland steal the rival crew's ship and attempt to beat them to the Arctic. The Canadian crew of Sir Albert Lord, Mary-Jo and Lionel