Brashear is hampered by a number of impediments in addition to Sunday's personal abuses, including his seventh grade education (so that he has trouble with written exams and must
seek the
help of a young librarian, Jo [Aunjanue Ellis], who eventually becomes his wife), and the training school's commanding officer, Mr. Pappy (Hal Holbrooke), who makes it his personal
divine mission to keep Brashear from passing his Master Diver exams.