With he and most of his fellow soldiers (both male and female) becoming a brazenly licentious lot, Officer Duke takes a leave of absence, putting Angelo in charge. Duke secretly dons the guise of a blind priest to watch how Angelo would lead in his absence. Whereas Duke may be lax in upholding rules, Angelo is strict and immediately sentences soldier Claudio to death for impregnating his girlfriend. When Angelo's sister Isabel, a nunnery novice, comes to beg Angelo for Claudio's life, Angelo says he'll grant if - in exchange for sex. Maintaining his disguise, Duke sets about to avert the potential tragedy and loss of honor.