MD80 HAS SMOKE IN CABIN PROMPTING RETURN TO PBI; FL; AND AN OVERWT LNDG.

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FLT 123 DEPARTED PBI AT XA36Z. FO WAS PF. WX WAS GOOD VFR. JUST AFTER PASSING 2000 FT; THE #1 FLT ATTENDANT CHIMED THE COCKPIT RPTING SMOKE AND FUMES IN THE CABIN. AN IMMEDIATE RETURN TO THE FIELD WAS COORDINATED WITH ATC; RESULTING IN AN OVERWT LNDG WITHIN 6 MINS. I VIEWED THE CABIN SIT AS I BRIEFED THE #1 FLT ATTENDANT. THE CABIN WAS HAZY WITH A LIGHT GRAY SMOKE; BUT I COULD SEE TO THE REAR OF THE ACFT. A PA WAS MADE; PBI OPS WAS NOTIFIED; AND THE LNDG CHKLIST WAS COMPLETED. I VIEWED THE CABIN ON FINAL AND DETERMINED THAT THE SMOKE HAD CLRED. AFTER THE LNDG PERFORMED BY THE FO; THE FIRE PERSONNEL RPTED NO EXTERNAL ABNORMALITIES. WITH THE CABIN CLR OF SMOKE; WE TAXIED TO THE GATE. AT NO TIME DID WE HAVE SMOKE OR FUMES IN THE COCKPIT. THE QUICK THINKING OF THE FLT ATTENDANTS; THE IMMEDIATE RETURN TO THE FIELD; AND THE RAPID AND MASSIVE RESPONSE OF THE ARPT SAFETY PERSONNEL WOULD HAVE CERTAINLY SAVED LIVES IF THERE HAD BEEN AN ACTUAL AND SUSTAINED FIRE. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 460503: THE CAPT SAID WE WERE RETURNING TO PBI ASAP. I LEVELED THE ACFT OFF AND ASKED THE CAPT IF WE SHOULD OPEN THE RAM AIR VALVE. HE AGREED AND WITHIN SECONDS THE SMOKE DISSIPATED. IT WAS LATER DISCOVERED BY MAINT THAT A HYD LINE WAS LEAKING ONTO THE AIR CONDITIONING PACK CAUSING THE SMOKE.