In a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, abbey, Sister Alexandra is summoned from vespers to the bedside of the abbess, who expresses her desire that Alexandra succeed her. However, the abbess dies before signing a document making the succession official, thus necessitating an election to be held in twenty-one days. During the abbess’s funeral procession, a helicopter arrives carrying Sister Gertrude, who has been in Siberia performing missionary duties. When Gertrude expresses a desire to stay for the election, Alexandra and Sister Walburga, the prioress and acting abbess, convince her that her work abroad is more important and she leaves that night. Later, Sister Felicity sneaks out to meet her lover, Thomas, a young Jesuit, on the grounds of the abbey and they make love. In the morning, Alexandra, Walpurga, and Sister Mildred express amazement and concern over Felicity’s willingness to risk love. Alexandra acknowledges a fear of Felicity’s progressive views and growing popularity and views her as a threat. Meanwhile, Felicity begins to campaign, promising to bring love to the abbey. Alexandra installs a sophisticated surveillance system to monitor Felicity, but in the interest of discretion, informs Walpurga and Mildred that it is their responsibility. Alexandra promises that when she is abbess, each novice will have her own private chaplain. Later, Alexandra, Walpurga, and Mildred meet with Fathers Maximilian and Baudouin of nearby St. Ignatius seminary and present the problem of Felicity and Thomas’s trysts. Alexandra excuses herself, citing a conflict of interest due to the upcoming election. When the priests are ready to leave, the sisters convince them to stay with an offer of filet mignon for dinner. Later, two Jesuit students, Ambrose and Gregory, under order of the priests, arrive at the abbey to steal Felicity’s love letters from Thomas. However, they cannot find what they are looking for and steal a thimble as proof of their efforts. Felicity notices the missing thimble and suspects someone is plotting against her. The following night, Ambrose and Gregory return to the abbey and Felicity locks them in and calls the police. Alexandra and Walpurga do not wish to press charges and ask the officers for discretion. However, the incident appears in the next day’s newspaper and a small scandal brews. Sister Winifred proves her loyalty to Alexandra by acknowledging her understanding that Alexandra must be protected at all costs, and Walpurga and Mildred begin assigning her clandestine duties. In Rome, Italy, the Monsignor and the P. R. Priest discuss the abbey’s quasi-Benedictine, quasi-Jesuit lineage and decide to mount an investigation of the scandal. Before the election, Alexandra addresses the nuns, distinguishing bourgeois behavior from that of a lady, clearly implicating Felicity as the former. Alexandra is elected Abbess in a landslide and installed in her new position. Felicity packs her bag and leaves the order, taking to the streets to wage a campaign against Alexandra. At the Vatican, the P.R. Priest suggests that the Monsignor issue a statement of disassociation from the order. Meanwhile, the news media take up Felicity’s story and the scandal grows. Alexandra, Walpurga, and Mildred mount a counter-campaign of disinformation. Walpurga informs Alexandra that Ambrose and Gregory are blackmailing the convent. Later, Winifred goes into the city in civilian clothes and leaves the blackmail money in the ladies’ room at Wanamaker’s department store. Alexandra contacts Gertrude, now in the Congo, and asks for help solving the problem. Gertrude informs her that it is not a problem, it is a paradox; the difference being that you live with a paradox. Later, a Washington Post reporter contacts the abbey asking for a statement about Felicity. Meanwhile, Felicity’s campaign gains popularity and she appears on The Mike Douglas Show, claiming that the abbey is bugged and demands that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigate. Alexandra, Walpurga, and Mildred determine that Winifred has leaked the information. They coerce her to sign a lengthy confession to protect the order and Alexandra sends the Monsignor a letter defending the convent’s use of electronic surveillance. Next, Alexandra consults Gertrude, now in the Arctic. When Gertrude chastises her, Alexandra blames Walpurga, Mildred, and Winifred, and asks what she should do about them. Gertrude tells her she must send them away. Reporters and police dogs surround the convent and Walpurga shows Alexandra a long list of alleged crimes compiled by Felicity. Walpurga and Mildred want to destroy all the evidence, but Alexandra tells them to save the tapes. Alexandra informs Walpurga and Mildred that she has received another letter from Rome, this time from the Cardinals. They worry about being excommunicated. While making another payment to the Jesuits, Winifred is arrested, deepening the scandal. Winifred asks Alexandra to return her confession, claiming she feels exploited. Alexandra asks Walpurga and Mildred to prepare Winifred’s excommunication papers. Alexandra then appoints Geraldine as prioress, before going on national television, announcing Winifred’s confession and excommunication, and the resignations of Walpurga and Mildred. Later, Alexandra explains to Gertrude, now in China, that she is going to Rome to plead the abbey’s case. There have been movie offers and an opportunity to write a book. At the airport, Alexandra tells the press that regardless of what happens in Rome, she will not return to America. They will not have her to kick around anymore. Later, a heavily edited tape plays, seemingly proving Alexandra’s innocence.