Reportedly, leading actress Mary Pickford fought constantly with Sidney Olcott about the character.

Lieutenant Pinkerton (Marshall Neilan) marries Cho-Cho-San 'Butterfly' (Mary Pickford), a 15-year-old Japanese geisha.

The American Consul (William T. Carleton) begs him to break off the wedding as soon as possible, to avoid hurting her feelings.

After Pinkerton forces Cho-Cho-San to end their wedding reception early, her disapproving family disowns her.

Meanwhile, The Prince of Japan (David Burton) takes interest in Cho-Cho-San, but she refuses his company and claims she is still waiting for her husband.