On a terrace in the South Pacific during World War II, two Polynesian children, Ngana and Jerome, sing a simple song in French (“Dites-Moi”). As they’re playfully chased inside by a house attendant, French plantation owner Emile de Becque escorts Nellie Forbush, a nurse from Arkansas, on a tour through his estate. Nellie admires the view of the sun over the ocean. Even in times of darkness, she can’t help but express her naturally bright disposition (“A Cockeyed Optimist”). Nellie confides in Emile that she joined the Navy to see the world and to meet new people. As they get lost in each other’s eyes, Emile breaks away to pour them a brandy, leaving them to consider one another, separately (“Twin Soliloquies”). After polite small talk about French literature, Emile confesses his love for Nellie, recalling the dinner just two weeks prior when he first noticed her (“Some Enchanted Evening”). Just before Nellie leaves to return to work, Emile reveals tthat he left France because he killed a man there, and she trusts him when he tells her that it was justified. Ngana and Jerome return, and Emile joins their playful singing (“Dites-Moi” Reprise).
Across the island, the restless American Seabees, led by crafty Luther Billis, lament the absence of female company. The one civilian woman on the island, nicknamed “Bloody Mary”, is a sassy middle-aged Tonkinese vendor of grass skirts who engages the sailors in sarcastic, flirtatious banter as she tries to sell them her wares (“Bloody Mary”). Billis yearns to visit the nearby island of Bali Ha’i – which is off-limits to all but officers – supposedly to witness a Boar’s Tooth Ceremony (at which he can get an unusual native artifact). The other sailors josh him, saying that his real motivation is to see the young French women there (“There is Nothin’ Like A Dame”).
Lieutenant Joseph Cable arrives, looking for Emile de Becque. Bloody Mary ominously describes what he might find on a mysterious island just visible through the clouds (“Bali Ha’i”). Though Cable initially brushes off Billis’ eager suggestion that they take a boat out, the Lieutenant does show an interest in witnessing a described “Ceremonial of the Boar’s Tooth” on the forbidden island.
Captain George Brackett emphatically accuses Bloody Mary of causing “an economic revolution” on the island because her business practices are more favorable to native workers than those of French settlers. Unwavering in the face of his aggression, she calls the French farm owners “stingy,” and the Captain orders the men to throw her souvenir cart off Navy property.
Cable tells Brackett and Commander Harbison about a mission to spy on the Japanese from their islands. Before Cable sneaks his way there, he must recruit an ally for help, someone who knows the country well. With Emile in mind, Cable, Harbison and Brackett call Nellie into their office to ask her to find out the Frenchman’s political leanings, and to learn why he killed a man before fleeing his home country. Nellie realizes she doesn’t know that much about him. Alone, the officers estimate Cable’s spy mission can last no longer than a week before he is found out by the enemy.
Lt. Cable stumbles upon Nellie reading a disapproving letter from her mother. Recalling his own familial differences back home, Cable explains that he, too, was misunderstood for taking a path less traveled (“My Girl Back Home”).
Out by the showers, the other nurses ask Nellie what Captain Brackett wanted. She tries brushing their questions off by announcing she is intent on ending her relationship with Emile for good (“I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair”). Just then, Emile arrives, inviting her to a dinner party he’s throwing to introduce her to his friends and cohorts. She uses the opportunity to ensure that Emile believes in American ideals – that every man is created equally. He also tells her about the man he killed in France when he was much younger – a tyrant who overtook his town leaving its citizens powerless. He asks her to marry him (“Some Enchanted Evening” Reprise) and, disregarding her earlier promise to wash him right out, she agrees to come to his dinner. Hearing her friends giggling about how quickly she defied her own mantra, she surrenders to the love she can no longer deny (“A Wonderful Guy”).
Capt. Brackett warns Emile that, should he agree to aid Lt. Cable in his spy mission, he may not survive, but it could potentially do great good for America in this region. To Cable’s disappointment, Emile thoughtfully declines. Harbison suggests that Cable take a few days to unwind, so Cable decides to take Billis up on his suggestion of a boat trip to the exotic paradise (“Bali Ha’i” Reprise). On Bali Ha’i, Bloody Mary introduces Cable to her young and beautiful daughter, Liat. In a native hut, the two spend a night together and Cable confesses his love for her (“Younger Than Springtime”). Bloody Mary proudly tells Billis that Cable is going to be her son-in-law.
Meanwhile, after Emile’s party, an enthusiastic Nellie decides to stay with Emile that night, despite needing to sneak back to the camp and return the Jeep that Billis had borrowed for her. After a night of champagne, the two are ecstatically in love (“This Is How It Feels”). Emile introduces Nellie to Jerome and Ngana. Though she finds them charming, Nellie is shocked when Emile reveals that they are his children by his late first wife, a dark-skinned Polynesian woman. Nellie is unable to overcome her deep-seated racial prejudices and tearfully leaves Emile, after which he reflects sadly on what might have been (“Finale Act I”).
