Officer Sharpe (Sean Bean) unwittingly becomes a pawn in a plot of Major Pierre Ducos, a French spy. He is falsely accused of dishonouring the wife of a Spanish Marques. When the Marques him to a duel, which is forbidden by Wellington, Sharpe accepts. When the Marques is later murdered in his sleep, Sharpe is arrested and faces a Court Martial.

Will Ducos succeed in discrediting the British army and damaging their alliance with Spain? Will Major Sharpe escape a death sentence, find the Marquesa and foil the French conspiracy?