It is 18th Century Paris, at the height of the French Revolution. Noble families are desperately trying to escape from the arch baddy, Citizen Chauvelin, who wants to send them all to the guillotine. The de Tournay family, is rescued by a courageous and mysterious man in disguise, known as The Scarlet Pimpernel. Chauvelin follows them to England where, he befriends Marguerite, a beautiful French actress. Chauvelin blackmails Marguerite, forcing her to spy for him and help him to discover the true identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel. Little does Marguerite know how close the mysterious hero truly is!