Jamie Russell, a mid-20th century happy-go-lucky, if circumspect, 12-year-old Irish Catholic boy assumes a 'vocation to the priesthood', and proceeds accordingly. As he goes, however, the 'vocation' is severely tested by his maturing mind, to be finally scuppered at seminary level; along with religion itself. He immerses himself in the lay-world, in London, to, in time, find in it neither satisfaction nor purpose. After some three years of this, a personal tragedy triggers the rekindling of his religion, and, by default, his 'vocation'; prompting, this time, his entry to a monastery (in England). Here, three years later, Brother Damien (Jamie) has transformed into a confirmed, but silent, atheist. A chance visit by a younger sibling opens new doors to his thinking. A few months later, back in London, now in full understanding of himself, he reflects upon, and in stages voices, his freshly conceived ideas on the true nature of man and the meaning of life.