Three men at three different times in history come to Mow Top hill in search of sanctuary from their troubles. A Roman soldier, a medieval rebel and a 1970s young man. Somehow they seem linked through an energy within the hill and an axe. Is history doomed to repeat itself or can loving another person free them?

historical-fantasy-drama television series

Sir Arthur Wellesley takes the army into Spain. In camp, Sharpe and Harper watch the arrival of a new regiment - the South Essex. At its head is Col. Sir Henry Simmerson, accompanied by Simmerson's nephew Lt. Gibbons, Lt. Berry, Maj. Lennox (a veteran of the Indian Campaign), Capt. Leroy (a loyalist American) and Countess Josefina who is under the 'protection' of Lt. Gibbons. The South Essex is a battalion run by incompetents and filled with soldiers that have never been in battle.
Wellesley is unimpressed by Simmerson and his regiment, but, as Simmerson is a political animal, he arranges a 'small victory' for him - blowing the bridge at Valdelacasa. Wellesley orders Sgt Richard Sharpe to see that the mission is a success in exchange for a promotion to captain. Simmerson is infuriated to learn that Sharpe is not a gentleman and was raised from the ranks by Wellesley. In revenge, he orders Sharpe to train his men to fire three rounds a minute by nightfall, or they will be flogged as punishment for failure. Sharpe and Harper succeed infuriating Simmerson even more.
The following day, Simmerson orders Capt. Lennox to lead the South Essex across the bridge in an attempt to chase away a small French patrol. But the French cavalry appears as the new soldiers cross the bridge. They panic and are cut to pieces by the cavalry. Sharpe and the Chosen Men run to help the stricken unit. In his panic, Simmerson orders the bridge to be blown, leaving Sharpe and his men stranded. The French make off with the Colours, watched by Sharpe and the dying Lennox.
Wellesley breaks up what is left of the South Essex and gives command of the Light Company to the newly promoted Captain Sharpe. Simmerson is outraged and threatens to use his influence in London to have Sharpe stripped of his rank. The only thing Sharpe can do to retain his rank is perform an act of outstanding valour. Sharpe vows to save the honour of the regiment by capturing a French Imperial standard: an eagle.

Spain 1812
After the siege of Cuidad Rodrigo, the Dule of Wellington plans to lay siege to Badajoz. Meanwhile, Teresa tells Sharpe he is now the father of their daughter, Antonia, who is in their target city of Badajoz.
A new draft arrives from England with Col. Windham and Capt. Rymer. In charge of the men is Sgt. Hakeswill, a murderous figure from Sharpe's past in India. Hakeswill becomes obsessed with Teresa and plans to use her to revenge himself on Sharpe.
Sharpe is told that the regiment no longer has a place for him as a captain, but he chooses to stay on as lieutenant and is made Quartermaster. In a bid for promotion he requests permission to lead the Forlorn Hope when the breach at Badajoz is stormed, but he is refused.
Sharpe is given the task of guiding Capt. Rymer and the Forlorn Hope to the breach. He watches as they are repulsed leaving many, including Rymer, dead. Against his previous orders, Sharpe takes his Chosen Men to the breach and leads the storming. They are successful.
Sharpe frantically looks for Teresa, but Hakeswill gets there first, intent on raping her. After a fight, Hakeswill is injured and flees. Sharpe has reason to be happy, he holds his daughter for the first time and is given command of the Light Company again, together with his captaincy. Burt will his happiness be short lived?

Portugal 1813
French, Portuguese and British deserters have banded together and taken over the village of Adrados. They are led by 'Marshal Pot au Feu' and Sharpe's old enemy, Obadiah Hakeswill, and they have two English women as hostages. Sarah Dubreton, wife of a French officer and Lady Isabella Farthingdale, the Portuguese wife of Sir Augustus Farthingdale.
In Wellington's camp, Sharpe is putting Lt. Gilliland and his rocketeers through their paces. Sir Augustus Farthingdale arrives with the ransom for his wife but is appalled at the idea of Sharpe, raised from the ranks, taking it. Teresa escorts Sharpe and Harper part of the way to Adrados. When they get to the village, they spot two Frenchmen and assume they are deserters. They soon realise it is Sarah Dubreton's husband and his sergeant on the same rescue mission.
The four men finally get to see the hostages, but Hakeswill has increased the ransom, giving Sharpe five days to come up with the extra money or the women will be raped. Dubreton tells Sharpe that Maj. Ducos, Napoleons spy master, has forbidden any extra payment. Sharpe decides to mount a rescue.
Hakeswill escapes to wreak his revenge on Teresa. He is captured by Dubreton and handed over to the British to face justice. Nairn receives information that the French intend to invade Portugal from Adrados and decides to thwart the plan. Sharpe is promoted to Major and given command of the 60th Rifles in order to secure the safety of the women and prevent the French from taking the town.

Franco-Spanish Border, 1813
A carriage travelling through the countryside is ambushed by the French. Only a young nun escapes with her life, struck dumb with shock. Later, the same French company is attacked by the British. The French colonel shoots his captain and disguises himself in the captain's coat, claiming he is Capt. Dumas. Sharpe is suspicious, the man claims to trade in horses, but carries the best sword ever made - a Kliegenthal. He is also carrying papers covered in figures, which he says are bills, but could just as easily be codes.
Col. Berkeley of the South Essex arrives and accepts Dumas' parole through an interpreter, Capt. Lord Jack Spears. The young nun gives herself up to Sharpe's protection. Unable to speak, she is given to Ramona to care for and given the name 'Lass'. Sharpe is told that a French colonel, Leroux, had been sent to capture a British agent, known only as El Mirador, whose identity is unknown. Sharpe is convinced that the captured captain is Col. Leroux, but he remains on parole instead of under guard. Sharpe is also convinced that the scraps of paper are a code and that the key lies somewhere in Voltaire's Candide, a copy of which was found when Dumas was captured.
At Villafranca, Sharpe is re-united with his old adversary Sir Henry Simmerson. When Simmerson states the nearby French fort is no threat, a cannon is fired and Dumas escapes, proving he is Leroux after all. In the town, Sharpe meets Father Curtis who runs the hospital.
When the fort is stormed, Sharpe is terribly wounded, Lass and Ramona refuse to give up and nurse him towards recovery. Meanwhile, Harris works hard in the library cracking the Voltaire code and Harper forges a new sword for Sharpe. If Sharpe recovers, there will be a spy to be found and a French agent to dispatch.

Winter 1813
A pro-Bourbon Noble, the Compte de Maquerre is in Wellington's camp, arguing that Bordeaux is ripe for rebellion, but Maj. Gen. Ross is dubious. He suggests using the Compte's castle, 60 miles behind enemy lines, as a base. Maquerre is reluctant, saying his mother and sister had turned it over to Napoleon, so it must be captured. Col. Horace Bampfylde is to lead the attack, with Sharpe in support.
There is sickness in the camp and Maj. Gen. Ross and Sharpe's new wife, Jane, succumb to it. The only cure is quinine which is in short supply. When they reach the castle, Col. Bampylde wants the glory, he sends Sharpe, Capt. Frederickson and the Rifles scouting, so he can take the castle alone. He fails in his mission, but gains heavy casualties.
Sharpe sees what is happening from afar. He infiltrates the camp and forces the French to surrender. Bampfylde returns to the castle and sends Sharpe and his men away. Maquerre returns with the mayor. They tell Bampfylde that the region has changed sides, Gen. Calvet is on his way and Sharpe is dead. Bampfylde is persuaded that he has accomplished his mission and returns to tell Wellington.
Sharpe and his men ambush a French convoy and capture a small supply of quinine. He also finds out that the region is far from ready to rise against Napoleon, and concludes that Maquerre is a double agent. When he returns to the castle, he finds it deserted except for the wounded, along with Maquerre's sister and sick mother. Gen. Calvet is heading towards the castle, and Sharpe and his men are desperately short of ammunition.

Toulouse - April 1814
In the French camp, Ducos watches as Napoleon's fortune is loaded on a cart. If Toulouse falls, the treasure will be removed before the British, or the Bourbons, can steal it. Sharpe writes a note giving Jane power of attorney over his money. She makes him promise this will be his last battle and that he will then return to England with her.
On the battlefield, Calvet realises he is losing, as the British gain ground, and Ducos is ordered away with Napoleon's treasure. In the British camp, the officers celebrate their success with a dinner at which one of them, Col. Wigram, insults Sharpe. A duel is arranged with Capt. Frederickson acting as Sharpe's second. Ducos tests the loyalty of the men escorting the treasure by asking if they would consider stealing it. One officer, Maillot, declines and Ducos orders him back to his home in Normandy. In the British camp, Jane's friend, Molly Spindacre, tells Jane that Sharpe has challenged her 'protector', Col. Wigram, to a duel and broken his word to Jane. After finding out that Jane has power over Sharpe's money, she persuades Jane to return to punish Sharpe. Once there, they obtain all the money and start spending it.
When it is discovered that Napoleon's treasure has been stolen, the French suspect Sharpe and he is arrested in his quarters. During his court martial, it is requested that Maillot give evidence. Ducos finds this out and has to prevent Maillot from accusing him, so he arranges his murder and has Sharpe set up. Then he sets sail to safety in Naples. In London, Jane is informed of Sharpe's arrest by Lord John Rossendale. She faints into his arms, and he falls for her 'charms'.
Sharpe escapes from custody and makes for Normandy to find Maillot. Before he can reach Normandy, Maillot is killed and Sharpe is the suspect, getting shot by Maillot's sister, Lucille. When Frederickson, who accompanied Sharpe, explains what has happened, Lucille helps to nurse Sharpe back to health.
In London, Jane has fallen for Rossendale and they are lovers. Harper sees them together and returns to France. Frederickson tries to track down Ducos and discovers Gen. Calvet on the same mission. They believe their man has gone to Naples, and once they have collected Sharpe and Harper, they agree to join forces to recover the treasure.

France 1815
When Napoleon escapes from Elba, Sharpe is settled in Normandy with Lucille, but his sense of duty recalls him to the army, and he is promoted to Lt. Col. in the 5th (Belgian) Light Dragoons, under the command of William, Prince of Orange. Sharpe and Lucille head for Brussels where the Duke of Wellington is based, with Lord John Rossendale and Jane Sharpe nearby in the city.
Out on reconnaisance, Sharpe sees a mass of French soldiers. He and the Prince's chief of staff, Rebecque, try to discover if it is a feint prior to Napoleon attacking Mons. Sharpe believes the French are heading to Quatre Bras, to split the Allied and Prussian forces. With French forces gathering, Sharpe knows he must tell Wellington and interrupts him at the Duchess of Richmond's ball. After delivering his message, Sharpe heads for the front, rejoined by Sgt. Harper (retired) and riflemen Hagman.
After the battle at Quatre Bras, Sharpe and Harper are given their post, the farm at La Haie Sainte. Woefully undefended, the men there repulse attacks from the French in bloody combat. The Prince of Orange has made mistakes, ending in the senseless loss of life of good soldiers. Eventually, Sharpe has had enough of this.
Not only must Sharpe deal with incompetent orders from the Prince of Orange, that lead to slaughter, he confronts his wife's lover, Lord Rossendale, in the midst of battle. The film climaxes as Wellington's small army 'holds the line' against Napoleon's veteran Imperial Guard.