Act I
Jenufa waits anxiously to hear if her beloved Števa is to be drafted, for she is carrying his child and her secret will soon become common knowledge. She is relieved to learn that he has not been called to serve and they can proceed with their marriage plans. Števa's stepbrother Laca secretly loves Jenufa. An inebriated Števa staggers in with some boisterous recruits, musicians and villagers who break into a rowdy dance. Their raucous behavior incurs the disapproval of Jenufa's stepmother, the Kostelnicka [the title denotes her position as sacristan of the village church]. Remembering her own drunken husband, the Kostelnicka tells Števa he can marry Jenufa only after a year of abstaining from drink, and Grandmother Buryja sends the revelers away. Alone with Števa, Jenufa reproaches him for his disrespectful behavior and implores him not to provoke her stepmother, lest she forbid their marriage. Still in a cavalier mood, Števa brags about his popularity with the village girls, but tells Jenufa she is the most beautiful of all and praises her lovely apple-red cheeks. Števa leaves. Laca tries to incite Jenufa's anger against Števa; failing that, he impulsively slashes her cheek with a knife. At Jenufa's cries, Grandmother Buryja and the mill foreman come running. The worker Barena, who has been looking on, tells the others it was an accident, but the foreman, who knows of Laca's feelings for Jenufa, accuses Laca of hurting her deliberately.

Act II
While everyone thinks Jenufa has been sent away to Vienna, the Kostelnicka has hidden her away at home, where she has given birth to a boy. Though Jenufa loves the child, the Kostelnicka cannot bear the shameful situation. Having secretly sent for Števa, the Kostelnicka gives Jenufa some sleeping medicine. When Števa arrives, the Kostelnicka tells him about the baby and kneels before him, begging him to wed Jenufa and claim his son. Števa refuses; he is now engaged to Karolka, the Mayor's daughter. Now Jenufa's distraught stepmother turns to Laca, who is eager to marry the girl. He is so taken aback to hear about the baby that the Kostelnicka impulsively lies that the child is dead. There is only one way for her now. Taking the child, she heads for the frozen river to drown him. Jenufa wakes disoriented just as the Kostelnicka returns; the Kostelnicka takes advantage of her state by telling her she has been in a coma for two days and the baby has died. She also tells her of Števa's coming marriage. Laca returns, humbly offering himself to the girl, but she reminds him that she has neither wealth nor honor. Laca insists that he loves Jenufa despite everything. Jenufa agrees to become his wife.

Act III
Two months later, the marriage between Jenufa and Laca is about to take place. Among the guests are the Mayor and his wife-who loudly notices Jenufa's sober wedding dress-and Števa with his coquettish fiancée, Karolka. Barena and some other girls arrive with flowers, and Grandmother Buryja blesses the couple. It is the Kostelnicka's turn to give her blessing. As the couple kneels before her, a commotion outside interrupts the ceremony. A boy, Jano, runs in looking for the Mayor, saying the body of an infant has been found in the thawing millstream. Jenufa recognizes him as her own child. Everyone now turns on Jenufa, but the Kostelnicka gives a tormented confession, asking the crowd to hold Jenufa guiltless. As the Kostelnicka is led away to face her punishment, Jenufa forgives her stepmother. She then turns to Laca and offers him his freedom, but he again declares his love for her. Realizing that she loves him too, Jenufa resolves to start a new life with Laca.

~ Synopsis courtesy of Houston Grand Opera