Billy Budd is a sailor on a merchant ship, The Rights of Man, when he is impressed into service with the Royal Navy as tensions run high with revolutionary France. Onboard his new home, the warship Bellipotent, Budd is well liked by his shipmates, but runs afoul of the master-at-arms, James Claggart. Envious of Billy Budd's charisma, popularity, and simple nobility, Claggart brings forward trumped up charges against Budd. The captain of the ship assumes his role to administer justice, but is tormented in his decision making by Budd's good nature, and the threat of mutiny, revolution and the war with France and Spain.