Carmelita

When the convent station wagon finally conks out, despite Sister Bertrillet's efforts, she persuades Mother Superior to use an emergency fund to replace it. Honest Hernando unloads a lemon that breaks down on a lonely road. Sister Bertrille finds Carlos picnicking with beautiful Diane nearby. He gets it moving again, but in reverse, Sister Bertrille returns the car to Hernando, who buys it back at a handsome profit. She borrows Carlos' luxurious station wagon and parks it in the driveway of the convent while she gets a lift to town. Sister Jacqueline is impressed by Sister Bertrille's "bargain." When a basement wall begins to crack, Mother Superior, in the emergency, orders Sister Jacqueline to return the car to Hernando and get the money back. Unwittingly she sells Carlos' car. Meanwhile, drenched by a sudden downpour, Carlos and Diane trudge to town. Sister Bertrille tries to retrieve Carlos' car, but Hernando holds out for another $1000. In desperation she appeals to Carlos for the money. Indignant, he refuses but a chance remark suggests a way out. He gets Sister Bertrille to buy back the old station wagon for $50. Then, implying that an antique buff is hunting that particular car, Carlos offers $1500 for it. Hernando hastens to San Tanco and frantically outbidding himself and everyone else, pays $3000 for the old car. Later, realizing he has been taken, Hernando is furious but then feels ashamed of his greed. Relenting, Carlos arranges a fast deal. Hernando gets back most of his money, except the cost of repairing the old car, and a generous contribution to the convent.

As a reward for good work, Sister Bertrille promises the first grade a treat. Soon after Carlos assures Paula, a gorgeous brunette, they will spend the day together, Sister Bertrille arrives and asks him to take the children for a ride on his boat. To keep his date with Paula, Carlos arranges an outing for Sister Bertrille and the children at the plantation of a friend. They set out but lose their way just as a storm approaches, and the station wagon breaks down. Sister Bertrille takes to the air to spot a phone but her cornette gets soaked and she can't fly. Sister Jacqueline phones Carlos, who is entertaining Paula in his office. He is sure Sister Bertrille and the children are safe, but realizes it is no time for romance when he finds they never arrived. From his plane, Carlos spots Sister Bertrille's campfire and radios its location just before his plane conks out. After returning to the convent, Sister Bertrille learns of the search for Carlos and gets permission to help. Taking to the air, Sister Bertrille finds Carlos at a pool, with Gina, another beauty. They are discussing Carlos' luck in finding her when Sister Bertrille lands. Carlos knows his romantic interlude is finished when Gina insists that he escort Sister Bertrille back to San Juan.

Sr. Bertrille learns that her sister, Jennifer, a doctor, plans to visit her. On the plane, Jennifer meets Carlos and makes a date before she can explain her relationship to Sr. Bertrille. Worried, Sr. Bertrille flies out to the yacht where Jennifer is skillfully fending off Carlos. Neither is happy to see her and she goes back to the convent. Mother Superior reports that a villager, bitten by a dog that might be rabid, needs a doctor at once. Sr. Bertrille returns to the yacht to fetch her sister, and interrupts a proposal of marriage. Carlos flies Jennifer and Sr. Bertrille to the village. On the five-mile trek through the jungle from the airstrip, Carlos, loaded with medical supplies and exhausted by the heat, falls into a swamp. While his pants dry, Carlos, wrapped in a sheet, faints as Jennifer gives the patient an injection. Then Sr. Bertrille accidentally hits Carlos with a stretcher, crashing him down on a heap of broken bottles. Jennifer stitches up poor Carlos' rear, while Sr. Bertrille helps and all the village children watch. Bitterly humiliated, Carlos feels that Sr. Bertrille planned the whole thing to keep him from marrying her sister. Later, Sr. Bertrille and Jennifer visit him in the hospital where he is having the stitches removed and he realizes Sr. Bertrille had nothing to do with Jennifer's refusal. He consoles himself with the thought Sr. Bertrille won't be his sister-in-law.

Old Captain Otis Barnaby tells Sister Bertrille and her class exciting tales of his life at sea. Then staid Conrad Barnaby reveals his father never saw the ocean until six weeks before and gained all his sea lore from books. Sister Bertrille can't talk the Captain out of sailing a battered little boat 1000 miles to Miami. The children and the sisters help the Captain load up and he sets sail in the re-christened "Sister Bertrille." Later, they hear a howling storm on the classroom radio. The Captain reports his sails and supplies were washed overboard but he won't give up. Sister Bertrille, weighed down with supplies, flies out to rescue him. The Captain wakes up to find Sister Bertrille in the cabin and is sure she's a figment of his imagination. After a meal and a game of cards, Sister Bertrille flies back to the convent. The Captain repairs the radio and contacts San Tanco. When Conrad hears a nun visited his father at sea, he's sure the Captain has lost his mind and alerts the Coast Guard. To save the old man's pride, Sister Bertrille reveals she flew out and saw his father was all right. Conrad doesn't believe her until he sees Sister Bertrille hovering outside his window. Later, the Captain holds the children spellbound with his true adventure of the storm at sea.

Pedro Mendoza, an elderly grocer, asks Sister Bertrille to read a love letter from a Miami widow. Sister Bertrille urges him to learn to read, but is surprised when he comes to school. Mother Superior decrees that Pedro can't stay, because Bishop Pool won't allocate funds to teach adults. To convince the Bishop, Sister Bertrille promises to have Pedro reading in a month. Backward, but thrilled by his first word, Pedro resolves to read for the Bishop. Sister Bertrille has doubts because Pedro can't tell an F from a P, and is confused by words that sound the same but are spelled differently. Pedro is ready to give up until he hears a sonnet by Elizabeth Barrett Browning and borrows the book from Sister Bertrille. The Bishop is impressed until he finds that Pedro can't read but memorized the poem. To prove he did learn to write, Pedro unrolls a huge banner, "Welcome Bish. Pool." To prepare for the Bishop's next visit, Sister Bertrille takes turns with Sisters Sixto and Jacqueline teaching Pedro day and night. Worn out, Pedro thinks it's worth it, until he reads that the widow is getting married to another man. Although bitter that reading brought unhappiness, Pedro discovers the world of books, including the ones in his store. He finds that his partner, Juan, has been robbing him. Moved by Pedro's impassioned speech, the Bishop recommends funds for an adult school. Middle-aged Matilde, with an eye for Pedro, joins the children in school.