Synopsis
A house on a hill overlooking the harbor and city of Nagasaki.
Act I
An American Naval Officer, Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton, is being given a
tour of a house by Goro, a marriage broker. Pinkerton is to rent it
with his new bride, a young geisha known as Madame Butterfly
(Cio-Cio-San) whom he has never met. He has arranged that he lease and
the marriage may be cancelled upon one month's notice. The American
Consul Sharpless arrives and cautions Pinkerton that Cio-Cio-San may not
take their wedding vows so lightly. Pinkerton dismisses the consul's
warnings and toasts the day he takes an American wife. Cio-Cio-San
arrives, surrounded by her friends. She finds a quiet moment alone with
her intended, and tells him that as a sign of her love, she is
converting to his Christian faith. After the brief wedding ceremony,
Cio-Cio-San's uncle, the Bonze (a Budhist priest) makes an appearance
and berates the young girl for betraying her people and her religion.
Pinkerton angrily orders the Bonze away, then turns to his new wife to
console her.
Intermission
Act II
Three years have passed since Pinkerton went back out to sea, and
Cio-Cio-San still pines for his return. The servant Suzuki gently tries
to tell her mistress that Pinkerton will never come back, but
Cio-Cio-San resolutely clings to hope, chiding Suzuki for her lack of
faith. Sharpless appears, holding a letter he has received from
Pinkerton. He intends to read it to Cio-Cio-San, but the young girl's
excitement prevents him. They are interrupted by Goro, who has brought
with him Prince Yamadori, the latest in a long line of suitors for
Cio-Cio-San's hand, but she dismisses them both. When they are gone,
Sharpless asks Cio-Cio-San what she would do if Pinkerton never
returned. She storms out of the room and returns with a child, insisting
the consul tell Pinkerton about his son. Sharpless leaves, defeated. A
cannon report is heard from the harbor, and Cio-Cio-San spies
Pinkerton's ship. Joyfully, she and Suzuki prepare for his arrival.
Cio-Cio-San changes into her wedding gown and obi and waits.
Act III
Dawn is breaking and Suzuki awakes. She realizes that Cio-Cio-San has
been awake all night and insists she get some rest. Suzuki is startled
by a knock at the door - it is Sharpless and Pinkerton. A woman has come
with them. Suzuki demands to know who she is and discovers she is
Pinkerton's wife, Kate. Sharpless asks Suzuki to convince Cio-Cio-San to
give up the child. Overcome by guilt, Pinkerton flees. Cio-Cio-San has
sensed her husband's arrival and rushes in. She looks around the room
for him, and spots Kate outside in the garden. Cio-CioSan quickly grasps
the situation. She agrees to give up custody of her child, but only if
Pinkerton comes to pick him up. Ordering Suzuki away, Cio-Cio-San pulls
out the dagger her father used to commit suicide. As she prepares for
the suicide ritual, Suzuki pushes the child into the room. Cio-Cio-San
presses the boy's face close to her, so he can have one last look at his
mother. Pinkerton rushes in, too late.
