 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 Plaseato, 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 sister s 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 coronet 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 coronet. 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.