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THE STORY

Setting: Nagasaki, Japan, 1904.

Act I
Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton, a sailor with the USS Abraham Lincoln, inspects the house he has leased from Goro, a marriage broker, who has also brought Pinkerton a wife: a beautiful, young former geisha, Cio-Cio-San, known as Butterfly to her friends. Sharpless, the American consul, arrives Pinkerton's house and the lieutenant describes his carefree sailor's philosophy. Though he is enamored with Butterfly, Pinkerton notes that his marriage contract has a monthly renewal option. Sharpless worries that Butterfly will not treat the marriage as lightly, but Pinkerton ignores the other American's fears, saying that one day he will marry a "real" American wife.

Meanwhile, Butterfly is singing happily of her upcoming wedding as she enters Pinkerton's home. She tells her husband-to-be that she was sold as a geisha to help support her family. Amid her noisy and opinionated relatives, Butterfly tells Pinkerton that she plans to convert to Christianity, which will show her trust in her groom but prevent her from returning to live with her family.

The Imperial Commissioner performs the wedding ceremony, and the guests toast the couple. The celebration is interrupted by Cio-Cio-San's uncle, a Buddhist priest, who bursts in, cursing the girl for having renounced her ancestors' religion. Pinkerton angrily sends the guests away. Alone with Cio-Cio-San in the moonlit garden, he dries her tears, and she joins him in singing of their love.

Act II
When Pinkerton's tour of duty ended, he returned to the United States. He promised to come back to Japan, and Butterfly has waited for his arrival for three years. Butterfly's maid, Suzuki, worries that Pinkerton will not return. Sharpless, the American consul, arrives with a letter from Pinkerton. Butterfly is overjoyed and does not know Pinkerton is writing to tell her he has married an American woman. Before Sharpless can break the news to Butterfly, the marriage broker Goro brings the wealthy Prince Yamadori to Butterfly, who maintains that she is still married.

After the others leave, Sharpless begins to read the letter to Butterfly, suggesting that her husband may not be back. Butterfly brings out her fair-haired son, Trouble, and announces that Pinkerton will not abandon her when he discovers he has a son. If Pinkerton will not return, Butterfly decides that she would sooner die than return to her previous life. Sharpless leaves without reading the entire letter. The sound of a cannon announces the arrival of Pinkerton's ship. As night falls, Butterfly, Suzuki and Trouble await the arrival of the lieutenant.

Act III
Dawn breaks over the horizon and Butterfly has been awake all night in anticipation of her husband. She carries her son into another room just before Sharpless, Pinkerton, and Pinkerton's new wife, Kate, arrive. Suzuki realizes that the American woman is Pinkerton's wife and agrees to help break the news to Butterfly. Pinkerton, struck with guilt, leaves the house, unable to tell Butterfly the truth. Butterfly enters the room and finds Kate, who asks forgiveness and promises to raise Trouble if Butterfly will give him to Pinkerton. The devastated Butterfly agrees and sends everyone away. She takes the dagger with which her father committed suicide and bows before a statue of Buddha. She brings her son out and blindfolds him, then commits suicide behind a white screen. She hugs her son for the last time and falls to the floor. Sharpless and Pinkerton discover Butterfly and the lieutenant cries out her name in anguish as the curtain falls.