 Struggling writer and ex-newspaperman Joe Barnes/Roy Barnes thinks he s hit the jackpot when he sees Sister Bertrille fly. She will be his exclusive story. All he needs is some photographs of her in flight to accompany his story. He implies as much about his story to old friend Carlos, who in turn gives the head s up to the Reverend Mother. The Reverend Mother places a gag order to everyone in the convent, including the children, and Sister Bertrille is grounded until further notice. Barnes goes under cover as Irish Father Flaherty to infiltrate the convent. With camera in hand, he sets up situations to get Sister Bertrille to fly. Just as Carlos finds out the identity of Father Flaherty and tells the Reverend Mother, Father Flaherty/Barnes gets his photos. When Sister Bertrille discovers Father Flaherty s true identity, Sister Bertrille has a plan in mind. She allows Father Flaherty/Barnes to take close up shots of her doing stunts in mid air, shots which she duplicates with each of the other cornette wearing sisters by placing them in front of a painted blue background. When Barnes tries to sell the photos to his old newspaper editor Reeves, Reeves already has in his possession Sister Bertrille s free photos of the other sisters "in flight" and a letter from her explaining how she accomplished the illusion. Barnes, ruined in the newspaper business, goes back to the convent as himself to confront the sisters. Feeling guilty for perpetrating a lie especially in light of a story Barnes tells of needing money to support his ailing family, Sister Bertrille decides to corroborate Barnes  story to Reeves, even if it means sacrificing her career as a nun. When she tells Barnes, he learns a bit about himself - that he does have some humanity. He confesses that he has no ailing family and doesn t let Sister Bertrille sacrifice her life for his professional vanity. But at least he now has a story idea for his novel.