In England in the early 1960s, politician Jeremy Thorpe begins a whirlwind affair with a young stablehand, Norman Scott; when the relationship turns sour, Norman becomes a secret Jeremy is desperate to hide.

When former lover Norman Scott puts his political career at risk, Jeremy Thorpe schemes and deceives until he realizes there's only one way to silence Scott for good.

Having survived a bungled attempt on his life, Norman publicly accuses Jeremy of being behind a plot to kill him; after years of acrimony between them, Norman and Jeremy finally go head-to-head in court with the world watching.