The OVERTURE begins as Emma enters on stage. She has just arrived to New York, the one place on earth she wants to be. She meets her best friend, Viv, who's been in America for a year. Viv doubts Emma's ability to make it in New York, while Emma says how she'll stay in love, have a successful career (hat maker), and outshine any New York girl (TAKE THAT LOOK OFF YOUR FACE). Emma is in America because of her boyfriend Chuck. When he returns home late, in the next scene, Emma is furious (LET ME FINISH). It’s her first night in New York and has already decided to break up with Chuck. She decides to move in with Viv (SO MUCH TO DO IN NEW YORK (I)). Emma’s first letter home to her mother discusses her new relationship with Sheldon Bloom, a Hollywood mogul. (FIRST LETTER HOME).

Sheldon has swept Emma away to Hollywood, and she describes everyone's fascination with her because she's English (ENGLISH GIRLS). She soon learns however, just how boring Hollywood can be (CAPPED TEETH AND CAESAR SALAD). Then it sinks in that Sheldon is only using her for her appearence (YOU MADE ME THINK YOU WERE IN LOVE). Los Angeles becomes a quick disappointment (CAPPED TEETH AND CAESAR SALAD (REPRISE)).

Emma returns home and gets her own apartment. This time she’s really found "him" (SO MUCH TO DO IN NEW YORK (II)). Joe is a Midwesterner who is a traveling software salesman. The two meet at Macy's and Emma tells her mother all about him and his ability to get her a Green Card from one of his friends (SECOND LETTER HOME). Emma is truly in love (UNEXPECTED SONG). Joe must soon leave to "sell software" and Emma reminds him to COME BACK WITH THE SAME LOOK IN YOUR EYES. Viv however comes over to tell Emma Joe is not genuine. Emma at first denies the fact he's cheating, but it soon sinks in (TAKE THAT LOOK OFF YOUR FACE (REPRISE)). Emma painfully says what she wants when she breaks up with a man (TELL ME ON A SUNDAY).

Emma soon meets a married man named Paul. He has a wife and children in West Port, Conn., and Emma feels she needs anyone, even if he's married. She also receives her long awaited Green Card (I LOVE NEW YORK/SO MUCH TO DO IN NEW YORK (III)). Meanwhile she likes the thrill of her new relationship(MARRIED MAN). Emma puts her hair up in a "very New York" hair style as she tells her mother about her newest relationship (THIRD LETTER HOME). Paul then arrives early in the morning. It seems he’s told his wife about Emma, and now wants to be with her. At first Emma tells him to go back to his wife and things will be fine. The song & dance theme is heard again, but this time Emma isn't singing it. She finally realizes she only used Paul because she didn't want to be alone, and confronts herself in an imaginary mirror.
This final startling image has Emma undoing her new hair style and promising to herself she won't use another man again (FINALE).
The curtain falls.

The second act involves the examination of Joe, by dance to the music of Variations. The scene is New York City and includes:
A city street (A man from the streets)
A street outside a disco (Woman in gold, her two escorts)
A bar (Woman in blue, a customer, and two singles)
and Wall Street (Woman in grey flannel).
Then, Joe sees Emma on her way to a fashion show and they make up combining both Song & Dance (UNEXPECTED SONG (REPRISE)). The curtain falls.