Although he despises the Doone family for their part in his father's death, farmer John Ridd (Clive Owen) falls in love with spirited Lorna Doone (Polly Walker) and despairs when a secret from her past separates them in this adaptation of R.D. Blackmore's epic novel. The story revolves around political turmoil in 17th-century England and the tragic romantic triangle between John, Lorna and arrogant aristocrat Carver Doone (Sean Bean).