Travelling handyman Homer Smith (Sidney Poitier) encounters a group of nuns led by Mother Maria (Lilia Skala) while driving through the Arizona desert. Newly arrived from Germany and unable to speak much English, the nuns prevail upon Homer to fix the leaky roof of their farmhouse and, despite being unable to pay him any money, persuade him to stay on and build them a chapel. As he works for the nuns, teaching them English in his spare time, Homer discovers a new purpose to his life, but encounters resistance from the local community when he tries to persuade them to help with the building work. Poitier won an Oscar for his performance in the film - the first black actor ever to do so.