A pilot is called back to his homeland, the Latin American republic of Arepa, by the rich islanders to participate in a complot to kill the dictator known as El León (The Lion).

Henchmen of the dictator from a South American country blackmail Nick Thomas into being a government spy. The former smuggler is to pose as a priest and enter a monastery thought to be sympathetic with rebel guerrillas. The release of the film coincided with real-life events, as Catholic priests continued to be the victims of government persecution throughout Latin America.