England, 12th century CE. The realm lies in ruins, torn apart by war and weakened by famine. Tom, a modest master builder, dreams of building the most magnificent cathedral ever seen. After losing his wife and child one harsh winter, he narrowly escapes death thanks to Ellen, a lonely and rebellious young woman living alone in the woods with her son Jack. She becomes his lover. Together, Tom and Ellen take to the roads, braving cold and poverty. Meanwhile, her abandoned infant is taken in by a community of monks undergoing a great crisis of faith. A masterful adaptation of Ken Follett's famous historical novel.