Palin stars as the Rev. Charles Fortescue a missionary returning from Africa after a ten year religious mission. He is to wed his sweetheart who refuses to be touched. Denholm Elliott as The Bishop of London gives him a new job to 'minister' to the women of the night who frequent the East End. Maggie Smith plays Lady Ames who funds the new assignment, but only on the condition that Reverend Fortescue share her bed. Fortescue then has numerous escapades and sex-scapades as he blunders his way through the back street of the capital. Eventually his lifestyle results in him being defrocked by the Church on charges of immorality.