A minister, in the character of a clown, transforms a rather passive Sunday audience into a worshipping community by incorporating pantomimic symbols throughout each liturgical element. The clown helps the congregation understand why they are gathered and restores the lost sense of the sacred.

A by-the-book Captain is ordered to capture a strategic village in Italy. The Italian soldiers are willing to surrender, if they can have a festival first. The lieutenant convinces the Captain this is the only way. Because of aerial reconnaissance, they must look like they are fighting. To sort this out an intelligence officer is sent in. Meanwhile the festival gets complicated with the Mayors daughter.