When a dead newborn is found, wrapped in bloody sheets, in the bedroom wastebasket of a young novitiate, psychiatrist Martha Livingston is called in to determine if the seemingly innocent novice, who knows nothing of sex or birth, is competent enough to stand trial for the murder of the baby. While searching for the answer that her supervisors want, Dr. Livingston finds herself inevitably drawn into searching for the truth about the baby's conception and death. Despite the lack of cooperation that she receives from her own organization and the church, itself, she eventually discovers more than she may have bargained for.

Doctor Martha Livingston:
Suppose the saints would have smoked if tobacco'd been popular back then?


Mother Miriam Ruth:
Undoubtably. Not the ascetics, of course, but, well, St. Thomas More.


Doctor Martha Livingston:
Long, thin, and filtered!


Mother Miriam Ruth:
St. Ignatius would smoke cigars and then stub them out on the soles of his bare feet. And of course all of the apostles?


Doctor Martha Livingston:
Hand rolled.


Mother Miriam Ruth:
Even Christ would partake socially.


Doctor Martha Livingston:
St. Peter?


Mother Miriam Ruth:
Pipe!


Doctor Martha Livingston:
Right!


Mother Miriam Ruth:
Mary Magdalene?


Doctor Martha Livingston:
Ohhh! You've come a long way baby!


Mother Miriam Ruth:
And St. Joan would chew tobacco!


Doctor Martha Livingston:
All right! What do you suppose today's saints are smoking?