An aspiring young doctor, Robert Merivel, joins the King's court after saving the life of the King's beloved spaniel. He lives a life of luxury, but is ordered to marry one of the King's mistresses to quell suspicions. Despite the King's command to not fall in love, Merivel finds himself smitten with his new wife. When the King discovers their relationship, Merivel is stripped of his position and wealth, leaving him to rediscover his passion for true medicine and what it means to be a doctor.
Restoration
A royal physician, banished from court, dedicates himself to alleviating the suffering of London's plague-stricken citizens, and finds solace in a romance with a woman from a similar background.
