Act I
It’s 1892, in a territory somewhere out West, and Johnny Blood, a handsome young cowboy, is set to hang for killing a man in a bar fight (“The Ballad of Johnny Blood”). Convinced the killing was self-defense, Sheriff Green rides out to a nearby Franciscan mission to persuade Johnny’s sister, Susanna, a novice nun, to plead with the governor to spare Johnny’s life. When she hesitates, he explains why she’s his only chance (“That’s Just How It Is”). Susanna finally agrees and meets with the governor to ask for mercy (“Look in Your Heart”). Alas, her plea succeeds all too well. The governor, normally a harsh and unforgiving man, is smitten with Susanna’s beauty and modesty. So he tells her he will free Johnny if she sleeps with him for one night. Since, as a novice nun, her chastity is important to her, Susanna refuses. Then she stops by the jail to tell Johnny what happened, thinking he will be as horrified as she. Johnny, while sympathetic, can’t help pointing out that chastity is an abstract notion whereas death is very real (“It’s Good To Be Alive”). Susanna doesn’t know what to do. The sheriff, overhearing her dilemma, suggests an alternate plan. Susanna will agree to the governor’s proposal and then, under cover of darkness, she will switch places with one of the saloon girls at the last minute. Susanna is skeptical, but the sheriff, Johnny, and a priest who happens to be in jail at the same time convince her (“It Doesn’t Hurt To Try”). So Susanna accompanies the sheriff to the saloon, where they meet with Bella (“It’s Getting Hot In Here”), the very girl Johnny killed a man over. Bella, who loves Johnny and wants to settle down with him, is more than happy to help by sleeping with the governor. Susanna instructs her on how to behave like a nun (“The Way That You Feel”). When she and Bella leave the room to check out Bella’s nun costume (which, apparently, she sometimes uses in her line of work), the sheriff reflects about the way Susanna is starting to make him feel (“Stop There”). In the last scene of Act I, we shift to the governor’s bedroom, where, after a series of close calls, the sheriff ’s plan seems like it just might work (“In The Dark”).

Act II
The next morning, Susanna shows up at the governor’s office to collect Johnny’s pardon, only to find that the plan of the previous night has backfired (“What A Night!”). It went so well, the governor has fallen hopelessly in love with her, and refuses to spare Johnny’s life unless she now marries him. After failing to persuade him he’s making a mistake (“About Last Night”), Susanna meets up with the sheriff and lambasts him for how miserably his plan has failed (“Stop There – Reprise”). Meanwhile, Bella shows up at Johnny’s cell to tell him what happened. She thinks he’ll be pleased. But Johnny, who had no idea she’d be the girl the sheriff would get to sleep with the governor, is furious. They trade barbs, arguing over whose love is greater (“Just for You”). The sheriff and Susanna arrive at the jail, having hatched a new plan. They will get the love-sick governor to sign a contract saying that if Sister Mary Jo, Susanna’s name as a nun, agrees to marry him, Johnny Blood will go free. Meanwhile Bella will accompany Susanna to the mission and take a vow as a novice nun with the same name. Then hidden by a wedding veil, she will again take Susanna’s place at the last minute. Johnny is totally against the plan, but he’s overruled, and the priest, still in the jail, is persuaded to perform the ceremony. After everyone else leaves, Susanna reflects about her budding feelings for the sheriff (“What Is This Feeling”). In the next scene, the sheriff gets the governor to sign the contract guaranteeing Johnny’s freedom (“What A Day!”). Next, we discover Susanna and Bella at the mission, while everyone else prepares for the wedding on different parts of the stage. They all reflect on the strange events of the last two days (“Life Takes You By Surprise”). Before heading off to the wedding, the sheriff decides to leave the key to the jail within easy reach of Johnny, so, in case his next plan backfires, Johnny won’t be hanged as scheduled. The sheriff suggests Johnny head to Mexico. Johnny is thrilled to be free again (“It’s Good to Be Alive – Reprise”). The scene changes to a room in the church where Susanna and Bella are getting ready in identical wedding gowns (“It’s a Beautiful Day”). During the song, the sheriff comes in to check on them, so they have some fun by pulling down their veils and having Susanna pretend to be Bella. This backfires too, when the sheriff confesses to Bella (thinking she’s Susanna) that he really likes her. The last scene is the church where, after a series of reversals— the priest is drunk, Johnny shows up and refuses to let Bella marry the governor, the governor realizes he’s been tricked and pulls out a gun, the sheriff shoots it out of his hand, and… well, let’s just say the governor is thwarted, Johnny gets to marry Bella, and the sheriff and Susanna look like they might end up together too (“Finale”).