In 1832, Angelo Pardi -- a young Italian officer (Martinez) on the run from the Austrian secret police -- finds himself in the South of France, amidst a cholera epidemic that has resulted in death, hostility, and paranoia among the inhabitants of Provence. Despite such complications, Angelo agrees to escort a woman he meets, Pauline de Theus, to her final destination (which he later finds out involves finding her husband). Amidst the peril and danger, the two travellers find themselves falling in love, though they are remiss to acknowledge it....