Plot

Jealous of a beautiful widowed midwife, her female neighbors in their small Sicilian village plot her ruin by refusing to have anything to do with their husbands.

In a rustic community in Sicily, Jessica, a hay-coloured American midwife, enjoys zooming through the village on her Vespa. Of course, the alluring newcomer has captivated the male population with her radiance. But Jessica has sworn off romance and love. She is unaware, however, that her arrival has set off a chain of events: the more the men fall under her spell, the more Jessica infuriates their wives. So, in a daring move, the women decide to abstain from sex to avoid having Jessica deliver their babies. That would surely drive her away. But Jessica is determined, kind-hearted, and devoted to her work. How will she convince the locals she's not there to cause trouble?—Nick Riganas

When her Italian-born husband is killed on their honeymoon, an American nurse named Jessica decides to remain in Sicily as a midwife in the little village of Forza d'Agro. While the beautiful girl's presence charms all the men, the women greet her with open resentment. The situation continually worsens until the women resort to the example set in ancient times by Lysistrata. If they deny themselves to their husbands, no babies will be born, and Jessica will have to leave because of lack of work. The village priest, Father Antonio, becomes greatly upset by this campaign. Then Jessica meets and falls in love with Edmondo Raumo, a wealthy marquess who has been living the life of a recluse since he was crippled in wartime. He allows Jessica to believe, however, that he is a poor fisherman, and when she learns the truth, she is furious with him. In retaliation, she flirts with all the men in the village and encourages their attentions. Desperate, Father Antonio persuades Raumo, the owner of Jessica's cottage, to give her an eviction notice to vacate the rented cottage. Angered, she confronts him. He quickly destroys the eviction notice but she leaves in a huff after he steals a kiss. Later, while she is packing to leave for Rome, she is summoned to the bedside of Old Crupi, the gardener who has worked to bring Jessica and Raumo together, and who is now dying. The two are deeply affected by Old Crupi's death and the storm that follows. Raumo apologizes and asks Jessica to marry him. She is seen joining him in church in his family pew as they attend the Sunday sermon.