When a sexy midwife comes to town, the local women abstain from sex rather than risk having her deliver their babies.

When her Italian-born husband is killed on their honeymoon, an American nurse named Jessica decides to remain in Sicily as a midwife in the little village of Forza d'Agro. While the beautiful girl's presence charms all the men, the women greet her with open resentment. The situation continually worsens until the women resort to the example set in ancient times by Lysistrata. If they deny themselves to their husbands, no babies will be born, and Jessica will have to leave because of lack of work. The village priest, Father Antonio, becomes greatly upset by this campaign. Then Jessica meets and falls in love with Edmondo Raumo, a wealthy marchese who has been living the life of a recluse since he was crippled in wartime. He allows Jessica to believe, however, that he is a poor fisherman, and when she learns the truth, she is furious with him. In retaliation, she flirts with all the men in the village and encourages their attentions. Desperate, Father Antonio persuades Raumo, the owner of Jessica's cottage, to give her notice to move. While the irate girl is packing, she is summoned to the bedside of Old Crupi, the gardener who has worked to bring Jessica and Raumo together, and who is now dying. The two are deeply affected by Old Crupi's death and the storm that follows. Raumo apologizes and asks Jessica to marry him.