This story is mainly concerned with whether the decent Curly McLain or the menacing Jud Fry will take Laurey Williams to the box social. In a fit of pique Laurey chooses Jud, but she really loves Curly and they soon make plans to marry. At their wedding there is a joyous celebration of Oklahoma's impending statehood, Jud is accidentally killed in a fight with Curly, and the couple plans to ride off in a surrey with the fringe on top. A comic secondary plot has to do with a romantic triangle involving Ado Annie (who can't say no), cowboy Will Parker, and peddler Ali Hakim.