Two compulsive gamblers who meet on the Portuguese island of Madeira fall in love with each other as they plan a big con in roulette. Jacques Dutronc plays the professional gambler and planner of said scheme, longtime Schroeder standard Bulle Ogier is his accomplice and lucky charm.
The title character of this Masterpiece Theater presentation is the illegitimate son of a wealthy British aristocrat. With a secretive past and an unlimited supply of cash, he turns to gambling where he meets Gwendolyn, a beautiful woman in desperate need of money. From their meeting at a roulette table, a romance blossoms. Daniel, however, is already involved in a passionate relationship with a Jewish singer. Based on George Eliot's novel, this adaptation depicts a heartbreaking love triangle while examining class and wealth in British society.