Gary has been defrauding the dole office for ten years. Faced with criminal prosecution, he decides to join a religious order to save himself from a long stretch of hardship and abstinence. However, it turns out monastic life is a lot like prison but with more praying.

Rudley Abbey is a monastery under threat with only four monks remaining, so the abbot welcomes their new recruit - much to the annoyance of his deputy, Brother Francis. This could be Gary's chance to learn about himself, take some responsibility and bring some meaning to his life.

Gary causes an expensive accident and is forced to raise money for the monastery, by increasingly unorthodox means. In the meantime, Brother Francis is forced to take measures to control his anger.