The beginning of the XVIII century. England (already Great Britain) is waging a long and ruinous war with France for the Spanish inheritance. The English court, formally in the hands of Queen Anne, is in fact completely under the control of her friend from the young days - the Duchess of Marlborough, the first state lady. At the court there is a political struggle between the two parties: the Duchess of Marlborough, defending the interests of the Whigs, seeks to continue the war to a victorious end, which is extremely beneficial to the Duchess and personally also because her husband, the Duke of Marlborough, manages the military operations, and the convinced Tory Lord Bolingbroke believes that The war must be stopped and peaceful negotiations initiated.