Wed, Nov 5, 1969
On a dark and stormy evening, Alonzo Baldazon's jalopy of a car breaks down outside the convent where he takes refuge. The sisters provide him such, especially since they think he is down and out, however he is really a wealthy man, a fact which he doesn't tell them. The car is a vintage car which didn't run properly and the tattered clothes he was wearing are his car work clothes. Because he wants to repay the sisters for their generosity, he decides to take them up on their offer to be their handyman. He telephones his assistant Maurice back at his yacht to tell him his plans and to tell anyone who calls looking for him that he is in Canada on business. While at the convent, Alonzo not only does the odd jobs required but slowly finds out what needs replacing at the convent. One by one, large items miraculously end up at the convent - first a stove, then a hot water heater, then a children's wading pool - always after it seems like Sister Bertrille has wished for them. They first suspect Carlos as their benefactor, but when they find out he's not the generous soul, they think that Sister Bertrille is performing miracles. Finally just as he is ready to leave for good, Alonzo confesses he is the one providing the gifts. To prove such, he tells the Reverend Mother to phone his yacht, Maurice who tells her that the real Alonzo Baldazon is currently in Canada, as he was instructed to say. The Reverend Mother does not divulge this conversation to Alonzo before he leaves, but does so to the sisters after his departure. It isn't until Sister Bertrille takes a flight over the harbor and sees Alonzo on his yacht that she realizes that he was indeed telling the truth.
Thu, Sep 7, 1967
Located atop a hill in old San Juan, Puerto Rico, the Convent San Tanco is populated by, among others, the stern and traditional Reverend Mother Superior Placido, straightforward Sister Jacqueline, English-challenged Sister Sixto who is always mixing her English slang around, young innocent novice Sister Ana, Sister Teresa and Sister Marguerita. The convent is an old, beautiful building but is showing its age and is need of major repairs - as is everything the sisters own - money for which the sisters do not have. Into their world enters Sister Bertrille, a new novice from New York, who is to teach kindergarten. Sister Bertrille is an ex-surfer girl hippie with tons of enthusiasm who will go to any means to achieve what she wants and what she thinks the convent needs. This includes striking up a friendship with local entrepreneur and playboy, Carlos Ramirez, the owner of the Carlos A-Go Go Discotheque and Casino in San Juan. Carlos own a piece of property that would be perfect for a new school for the convent, and Sister Bertrille thinks it would be perfect for Carlos to donate it to the convent. This approach goes against the wishes of the Reverend Mother, who considers it undignified and uncouth. Above all of this, Sister Bertrille discovers that the strong winds of San Juan coupled with the wing-like cornette of the nun's habit can make her go airborne. She quickly learns how to fly by raising and turning her head and the associated cornette. Among those that see her fly is Carlos, who thinks he has seen a vision and as such, decides to donate his property to the convent and the sisters. But those that do not see her fly are the men of the restricted military base into which she accidentally flies. It takes some convincing for them to believe she's not a spy. But the person who may need even more convincing is the Reverend Mother, who must decide what to do with her new flying novice.
Wed, Sep 17, 1969
The convent baseball team has its first game on the weekend. Generous Carlos outfits the team so that it will at least look like it knows what it's doing; in other words, the convent team is the underdog in the game. The team is flanked by small but enthusiastic Armando, the team's pinch hitter, who is being adopted in a month. Armando himself realizes that he is not the best player, but loves the game. There ends up being a change in plans with his adoption: his parents-to-be arrive in San Juan early and want to take him off the island just before the big game as they need to be in Miami that evening for his father to accept a prestigious honor. Armando is so devastated by missing the game that he wants to give up baseball for good. However his parents realize that this is not a good way to start their family life, and rush Armando back to the game. Despite being down 43 runs, Armando saves the name of the convent team by hitting a fluke home run. They have a moral victory, if not one on the scoreboard.
Thu, Jan 4, 1968
Widower Luis Armejo and Manuela Garcia are getting married, and everyone in Esperanza, the town in which they live, are happy for them. Among the happy are Luis' son, Tonio. However the attention of his affection changes quickly to Sister Bertrille, who Tonio believes is his mother. He believes so because she came out of the sky - he infers from heaven - and Sister Bertrille really is the spitting image of Luis' first wife. Sister Bertrille, the understanding Manuela and Father Dominic - the town's sage - feel that they can't tell Tonio the truth because it would both destroy Tonio's psyche as well as cause a ruckus due to the incredulity of Sister Bertrille's flight. Luis on the other hand just wants to marry Manuela and get on with leading their lives. When Manuela decides to leave Esperanza to allow Tonio to figure out what he needs in his life, Sister Bertrille decides what's best is for her to leave as quickly as she came, and to explain to Tonio that she came to make sure that someone on Earth was there to love him, that someone being Manuela. As Sister Bertrille takes off on her flight back to San Tanco, Manuela is there as Tonio's support.
Thu, Sep 26, 1968
The rock group, Sonny and the Sundowners, is appearing at Carlos' casino. Sonny is an old friend and musical partner of Sister Bertrille's when she was plain old Elsie Ethrington, and she goes to see him. He is thrilled to see her but surprised at her choice of career. When in the natural course of conversation she tells him that the convent is short of money, he suggests to her that she write a song for the group, whose last record sold more than a million copies. He will even give her an advance. Sister Bertrille is excited, and in discussion with the other sisters, they decide not to tell the Reverend Mother of the arrangement, because rock music is in her mind unbecoming and she will probably not approve of the convent making money through such. So the sisters all take on Sister Bertrille's chores while her main task is to compose. After some struggle, she comes up with a simple, pretty, acoustic song. Although the song's not quite in the tone of the Sundowners' music, Sonny likes it, but tells her he needs to tweak it to fit the Sundowners' groove. The song is to be debuted at the concert at the casino to which the sisters are invited. The day of reckoning comes for telling the Reverend Mother; but it's too late as she already knows. She approves of the arrangement and is only disappointed that they felt the need to keep this from her. She even wants to attend the concert with the other sisters. Sister Bertrille's song is the first one sung at the concert. Or is it really Sister Bertrille's song. Sonny has turned it into a psychedelic head-trip rock song. The Reverend Mother is not amused. Sister Bertrille is also not amused, but is more disappointed. She feels she can't accept the advance for the song since what Sonny and the Sundowners performed was not her song. It isn't until Sister Bertrille performs the song the way that she wrote it that the Reverend Mother understands. So does Manny Julian, Sonny's manager, who still wants to use the song and pay the sister for it. Instead of for Sonny and the Sundowners, Manny will give the song to his one other client: The Salt Lake City Boys Choir.
Thu, Feb 13, 1969
While on a retreat with Sister Jacqueline, Sister Bertrille runs into one of her old boyfriends, Randy Putnam. Randy is currently a toy maker at a business convention. Randy and Sister Bertrille remember their relationship in slightly different ways, each seeing him/herself as the dominant personality in the relationship. Randy is shocked to see Elsie as Sister Bertrille and feels that he had something to do with her becoming a nun. Randy, who is also in psychotherapy, sees Sister Bertrille fly, which further confuses him. To ease the guilt he feels for her becoming a nun, he showers her with lavish gifts, despite the fact that he is engaged. His fiancée, Liz Martin, is not so understanding of Randy's behavior. It isn't until Sister Bertrille assures Liz that he had nothing to do with her entering the convent that they can begin to help Randy get over this guilt and get back to a committed relationship with Liz.
Fri, Feb 6, 1970
Mr. Sanders is an ex-student of the convent, now a success in his adult life. He has come back to the convent to adopt a child, namely what he calls the dumbest kid in school. By this, he infers that he is not only wanting such, but also the most mischievous, underachieving child. Although the Reverend Mother is somewhat off-put and offended by Sanders request, she cannot fault his motives: Sanders himself was also self-professed the dumbest kid in school and if not given the chance by his adoptive parents, he knows he would not have become a successful adult. The Reverend Mother can think of only one child that fits the bill: Joey. Joey is surprised to hear that someone is even considering adopting him as he realizes he doesn't have the best "on paper" record. He asks Carlos for advice on how to impress Sanders, Carlos telling him to go against all his own natural instincts of what to do. In his outing with Sanders, Joey, based on Carlos' advice, is the model child. From this, Sanders knows that Joey is not the child for him. The Reverend Mother finds out about Joey's talk with Carlos, and urges Sanders to take Joey out again, and tells Joey to just be himself on this second outing. Joey ends up being everything Sanders is looking for in a child. However, Sanders also tells Joey that he wants to adopt a child like himself, the dumbest kid in school. Joey is hurt by this admission and runs off. Back at the convent, he confronts Sanders and the Reverend Mother. He shows them both that he indeed is not dumb, but wise beyond his years. He tells Sanders that he will let Sanders adopt him when he becomes the smartest kid in school. Sanders knows he's found the right child.
Wed, Nov 26, 1969
When the Mother General Adelaide of Culebra wants the sisters to hold a fund-raiser, the sisters think the perfect event would be to run the silent film Lure of the West, the thought initiated after they discover that the Mother General is former silent film actress Gloria Davenport, the movie's star. One of Carlos' assistants, Leonardo, is in love with Gloria Davenport, and he and Sister Bertrille convince the Mother General to go along with the idea. However the public may not think it's a good idea as silent films may be seen as outdated entertainment. When the sisters, without the Mother General, view the movie in a private screening, they too may think the same way - the formerly dramatic film is campy by 1960s sensibilities. But it's too late to back out since they have already sold out the event, raising $1,200. However they can't embarrass the Mother General. Carlos comes up with a plan to call the Mother General back to Culebra on convent business on the night of the screening. During the screening, the audience is laughing uproariously. Unfortunately, the Mother General has found a way to make it back to the screening. Upon hearing the laughter, she is at first hurt, but then examines the movie herself, and joins in with the laughter.