A humourless priest in a Catholic boys' school falls victim to a practical joke played by his favourite student - with tragic consequences for all concerned. Drama, starring Richard Burton, Dominic Guard, Billy Connolly, Sharon Duce and Andrew Keir.

At a Catholic boys' school, domineering disciplinarian Father Goddard rules over his pupils with an iron hand. When one of his teenage charges confesses to murder, the dogmatic but deeply repressed Goddard finds his faith challenged and his life spiralling dangerously out of control.