The Pillars of the Earth

A white ship sinks under suspicious circumstances, drowning King Henry's sole heir. His nephew Stephen takes the throne, triggering a power struggle and plunging England into anarchy. Meanwhile in Kingsbridge, the monastery's idealistic new prior Philip learns a dangerous secret and becomes obligated to ambitious, sinister cleric Waleran Bigod.

Tom Builder's fortunes change when he is engaged by Prior Philip to rebuild Kingsbridge's ruined church as a cathedral. Ellen, accused of witchcraft, shares her knowledge about Jack's father and the White Ship's sinking.

To prove her family's loyalty to King Stephen, Aliena vows to fund her brother Richard's knighthood so that he can fight for the King. William and his mother Regan plot with Waleran to have the cathedral project transferred to Shiring.

Waleran joins forces with William in an attempt to strip Kingsbridge of its lucrative market and bring work on the cathedral to a standstill. Prior Philip, Richard, and Jack journey to Lincoln to seek justice from the King.

Waleran and Regan Hamleigh struggle to convince Maud that they were on her side all along. Returning to Kingsbridge, Jack is reunited with Aliena, inflaming Alfred's jealousy. Their rivalry breaks out into violence, forcing Tom Builder into a harsh decision: one of his sons must leave.

Exiled after giving birth to Jack's illigitimate son, Aliena takes the child to France. Miraculously she finds her lover and tells him of the collapse of Kingsbridge Cathedral. Having learned more about his real father, Jack returns home to complete Tom's work.