The Count of Monte Cristo

In 1815, a French merchant ship stops at Elba and is tasked with delivering Napoleon's letter to a contact in Marseille. Edmond Dantès is chosen to carry the letter, setting him on a path that will entangle him with powerful rivals. The plan triggers suspicions that later lead to his arrest.

After the exchange, Dantès is arrested in Marseille based on false testimony and the scheming of Danglars and Villefort. The case is manipulated to protect their ambitions. Dantès is imprisoned without trial, beginning eight years of confinement.

Dantès endures eight years of solitary confinement in the Château d'If. The years cement his resolve as he waits for a chance at justice. His sense of hope fades, then rekindles as new possibilities arise.

Abbè Faria arrives in the same cell and befriends Dantès, sharing knowledge and plans. The two form an alliance as Faria teaches him languages, philosophy, and strategy. They plot an escape that will redefine Dantès' fate.

A cave-in fatally wounds Faria, but before dying he bequeaths a vast treasure to Dantès and explains its location. Dantès substitutes himself for Faria's corpse and is cast into the sea, yet he survives and is rescued by a smuggling ship. He then sets off to claim the treasure on Monte Cristo.

Dantès discovers the fortune on Monte Cristo and returns as the Count of Monte Cristo. With wealth and a forged identity, he begins to plot his revenge against those who betrayed him. He now moves to insert himself into Paris society.

To penetrate Parisian society, Dantès orders the kidnapping and ransom of Albert Mondego, Mercedes and Mondego's son. The ruse is meant to win Dantès a foothold among the city’s elites. The maneuver helps him step closer to rebuilding his life and enacting revenge.

Dantès engineers the public exposure of Mondego as the betrayer of Ali Pasha. At a ball, his guilt is revealed, fueling a duel between Monte Cristo and Mondego. Mondego is defeated and, unable to live with his shame, commits suicide.

Danglars becomes a target of Monte Cristo's revenge. He uses Dantès' tips to trade, but a false tip collapses his fortunes. He is bankrupted and driven to insanity as Monte Cristo reveals his true identity.

Albert Mondego learns of Monte Cristo's role in his father's downfall and challenges him to a duel. Mercedes begs him not to kill Albert, and Monte Cristo spares him when Mercedes identifies who he really is. The duel ends without injury but confirms the Count's grip on his enemies.

De Villefort, now State Attorney, is exposed by Monte Cristo's information and is arrested. Dantès initially refuses to testify to shield Valentine, but when she learns the truth she urges him to defend himself. He provides evidence of Villefort's longstanding corruption, sealing his downfall.

With all his enemies destroyed, Dantès is reunited with Mercedes. The Count's plans have succeeded, and their relationship finds a chance at reconciliation.