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The Count of Monte Cristo
In 1815, Edmond Dantès, second mate of a French merchant vessel, and his friend Fernand Mondego, a representative of the shipping company, seek medical help on Elba for their ailing captain. Napoleon Bonaparte is in exile on the island. Having kept his guardians from killing the pair, Bonaparte privately requests that Edmond deliver a letter to the mainland in exchange for his physician's services. Edmond is sworn to secrecy, but Fernand witnesses the exchange. The captain dies. In Marseille, the company owner, Morrell, commends Edmond for his bravery, promoting him to captain over first mate Danglars, who had given Edmond explicit orders not to land at Elba.
Fernand lusts after Edmond's lover MercÊdès and decides with Danglars to inform on Edmond regarding the letter, which reveals information that could be used to aid Bonaparte's escape from Elba. Villefort, the city's chief magistrate, has Edmond arrested. Villefort then learns that the letter is addressed to his own father Clarion, a Bonapartist. He burns the letter and orders Edmond imprisoned in the Château d'If, an island prison. Before being taken to the island, Edmond escapes and flees to Fernand, who reveals that he and Danglars were complicit in his betrayal, but is apprehended again. In exchange for persuading MercÊdès that Edmond has been executed for treason and that she should take comfort in Fernand, Villefort has Fernand assassinate Clarion.
Six years later, an eruption in the ground of Edmond's cell reveals another prisoner, AbbĂŠ Faria, who has been imprisoned for eleven years after refusing to tell Bonaparte the whereabouts of the Spada family's treasure. Faria has been digging an escape tunnel, but he dug in the wrong direction and ended up in Edmond's cell. In exchange for Edmond's help digging a new tunnel, Faria educates him in several academic and martial disciplines. Faria is fatally injured in a tunnel cave-in. Before dying, he gives Edmond a map to the treasure and implores him to use it only for good. Edmond escapes the prison by taking Faria's place in the disposal of his corpse and is thrown into the sea, pulling warden Armand Dorleac along with him and drowning him.
Wading ashore, Edmond encounters a band of pirates preparing to execute one of their own, Jacopo. Their leader, Luigi Vampa, decides justice and entertainment would be better served by pitting Edmond against Jacopo in a knife fight. Edmond wins but spares Jacopo, who swears himself to Edmond for life. They both work with the pirates until they arrive in Marseille. Edmond learns from Morrell, who does not recognize him, that his father committed suicide out of grief, and that Fernand and MercÊdès have wed. With Faria's map, he and Jacopo locate the treasure on the island of Montecristo. With his newfound wealth and comprehensive education, Edmond establishes himself in Parisian society as "The Count of Monte Cristo" with Jacopo as his manservant and swears vengeance on those who conspired against him.
Edmond ingratiates himself to the Mondegos by staging the kidnap and rescue of their son, Albert. He lures Fernand, Villefort, and Danglars into a trap by letting slip the notion that he has located the Spada family's lost treasure and is shipping it through Marseille. His plans result in Danglars being caught red-handed in the act of theft and Villefort being tricked into revealing his role in Clarion's death; both are arrested. Fernand is brought to financial ruin as Edmond has his gambling debts called in. Even though his appearance has changed dramatically, Edmond is recognized by MercÊdès. Eventually, she softens him, and they rekindle their relationship. As Fernand prepares to flee the country, MercÊdès reveals that the only reason she married him was that she was already pregnant with Albert, who is actually Edmond's son.
Edmond ambushes Fernand in the ruins of his family's country estate, having led him to believe that the treasure would be waiting for him. Albert intervenes when Edmond attempts to kill Fernand, but MercÊdès tells him of his true parentage. Fernand attempts to flee but changes his mind upon realizing that he has nowhere to go and challenges Edmond to a fight to the death; Edmond prevails. Edmond purchases Château d'If, intending to raze it, but instead leaves it standing as he swears to Faria to use his fortune for good and departs with his new family.