Edmond Dantes (Caviezel) and his best friend, Fernand Mondego (Pearce), have their ship (which

represents Morel's (Godfrey) Marseille-based shipping business) diverted to Elba during the chaotic days
when France was transitioning away from Napoleonic power. Following a hazardous meeting with the
island's guards, unexpected help arrives in the shape of Napoleon's personal physician (Norton).
Napoleon requests that Edmond deliver a letter for him in exchange for the use of his doctor, and that
the mission and the letter be kept a secret. Unbeknownst to Edmond, the letter will instruct
Bonapartists in Marseille on how to stage a possible Napoleon rescue. Fernand has also located and
read the letter, which he is unaware of.Morel names Edmond captain of one of his ships upon his return
to France, much to the anger of Danglars (Woodington), the ship's second-in-command, who argued
against returning onshore. Edmond proposes to Mercedes Iguanada (Dominczyk), Edmond's love whom
Fernand has failed to pursue because he is jealous of Edmond's happiness. Fernand leaves in a calm
stupor after disclosing his good fortunes, with Dante and Mercedes consenting to marry with a simple
chain as a wedding band. Depressed by his friend's rise in rank and happiness, Fernand becomes drunk
and confesses the contents of the letter to Danglars, which would implicate him in traitorous activity by
French government standards.

Local authorities summon Edmond before the magistrate at Villefort (Frain). Despite his belief that
Edmond is not guilty of sedition, Villefort is disturbed because once he learns that the letter was
addressed to a "Mr. Clarion," who is Villefort's own father Noirtier Villefort (Jones), an outspoken
Bonpartist and a politically inconvenient father for a young man aspiring to a prominent law and political
career in post-Napoleonic France. Villefort burns the letter and has Edmond caught and taken to the
Chateau D'If, a maximum security prison, where Edmond rots for more than a decade with no hope of
leaving. Edmond suffers a setback.In exchange for helping Faria tunnel out of the prison, Edmond meets
a fellow prisoner named Abbe Faria (Harris), a great scholar who gradually transforms Edmond into a
wise, intelligent, and cultivated man. Faria says that he was a soldier who, to his eternal humiliation,
burned down a chapel with a bunch of rebels within. To atone for his crimes, he chose to pursue a
career as a priest. Napoleon had Faria arrested, assuming he knew where Caesar Spada's treasure was
concealed during his days as a soldier, and held him in prison until Faria disclosed where it was hidden,
despite Faria maintained his ignorance of Spada's wealth. In addition to piecing together howA cave-in
occurs one day as Edmond and Faria are digging, killing Faria. He admits that he lied about not knowing
where the wealth is hidden and offers Dante a map to the spot. Before dying, he asks Edmond to accept
God's teachings and forsake his pursuit for vengeance. Edmond sneaks into Faria's burial sack, which is
destined to be tossed over the cliffs and into the sea alongside the prison. Edmond and Dorleoc are
flung into the water in an attempt to get the keys from Dorleoc while being hurled, where Edmond kills
him and leaves his body in the ocean before swimming away. Edmond washes up on a beach not far
from the Chateau D'If, but he is not alone.