In the year 1797, the British naval vessel HMS ''Avenger'' Impressment into service a crewman "according to the Rights of War" from the merchant ship ''The Rights of Man''. The new crewman, Billy Budd, is considered naive by his shipmates, and they attempt to indoctrinate him in their cynicism. But Budd's steadfast optimism is impenetrable, as when he is asked to critique the horrible stew the crew must eat, he offers "It's hot. And there's a lot of it. I like everything about it except the flavor." The crew discovers Budd stammers in his speech when anxious.