Edmond Dantes is a brilliant seaman, but, in other ways, a rather naive young man. When he becomes a ship's captain, his enemies plot against him.

Accused by an anonymous letter of being an agent for Bonaparte, Edmond is arrested and imprisoned without trial in the notorious Chateau D'If prison.

Despairing in his confinement, Edmond meets another prisoner, from whom he learns a great deal.

After fourteen years in prison, Edmond makes his escape.

The tiny, uninhabited island of Monte Cristo is, as only Edmond knows, a hiding-place for a huge treasure - if only he can find it.

Now immensely rich, Edmond begins preparing his revenge.

Edmond arrives in Paris and meets both Danglars and Fernand, who fail to recognize him. But Mercedes does.

Edmond continues to ingratiate himself with his intended victims and their families, and discovers that the wife of Danglars was once De Villefort's mistress, and bore him an illegitimate child. But what happened to the infant?

Edmond's machinations set Danglars against Fernand, break up the engagement of Albert and Eugenie and deeply alarm De Villefort and Madame Danglars.

Fernand must face disgrace after allegations are made against his honor, and Albert challenges Edmond to a duel. To save her son's life, Mercedes must finally confront Edmond alone.

More than twenty years after his unjust imprisonment, Edmond comes to the end of his quest for vengeance.