It began as a simple convent election. Then came the illegal buggings. the bungled break-in, the hasty cover-up and the exorbitant payoffs. The result is a sinfully hilarious tale of immaculate deception! In a suspiciously profitable convent near Pittsburgh, the abbess has just died. To protect their secrets, sister Alexandra (Glenda Jackson) is determined to become the orders new leader. But when she sees her campaign threatened by a pretty. Sexually liberated young novice (Susan Penhaligon), all hell breaks loose! Soon. Alexandra and her cronies (Geraldine Page, Melina Mercouri and Sandy Dennis) are up to their rosaries in blackmail, dirty tricks and righteously comic complications.