In 1675, John Wilmot, Second Earl of Rochester, delivers a prologue of themes of his fondness for drink, his sexual proclivities, and his disdain for his audience. King Charles II retracts his banishment of the earl as he has need of him in the House of Lords. Back in London, Rochester finds his "
Merry Gang" friends,
George Etherege and
Charles Sackville, in a bawdy house. Rochester encounters on the street the thief Alcock. Impressed by his dishonesty, Rochester hires him as his
gentleman. The Merry Gang introduce Rochester to its newest member, 18-year-old Billy Downs. Rochester warns Downs, "Young man, you will die of this company." The Merry Gang attend a play where the actress
Elizabeth Barry is booed off the stage, then refuses to participate in a
curtain call and is fired. Rochester is taken with Barry, secures her re-employment with the theatre company, and undertakes to coach her in acting. Barry's acting improves dramatically and she delivers a brilliant performance in her next production. The King approaches Barry to spy on Rochester as to the progress of the intended tribute to the French Ambassador. Charles, in need of money from France, asks Rochester to write a play in honour of the French Ambassador's visit. The king requests it be a "monument" to his reign. Rochester writes
Sodom, or the Quintessence of Debauchery, a scathing satire of the king's reign, which he claims is "a monument to Charles" — just what the king had asked for. The play involves vulgar language, simulated sex acts, and Rochester portraying the king being serviced. At the premiere, the king, clearly offended, interrupts the play and confronts Rochester on the stage, whereupon Rochester flees London. Later, Downs is mortally wounded in a sword fight outside the home of a Constable; Rochester backs away from his dying friend, whispering, "I told you." Hiding from the king in the English countryside and sick with symptoms of
syphilis, Rochester peddles phoney
gynaecological "treatments" for women, including the selling of "potions" made from Alcock's
urine. Rochester's face has become disfigured by syphilitic
gummata, which he hides beneath a mask. Charles eventually tracks down Rochester, but decides that the worst punishment possible is to simply "let you be you." Rochester returns to his estate and wife, Elizabeth, admitting to having been constantly for five years under the influence of "the drink." Elizabeth declares her love for him. Charles' choice of heir, his
Roman Catholic brother
James, Duke of York, leads to a confrontation in
Parliament over the
Exclusion Bill that would deny James the throne. Rochester uses
make-up and a silver nose tip to hide the symptoms of syphilis as he enters the House of Lords, hobbling on two canes. His denunciation in the Lords of the bill is appreciated by the king when it is defeated. When Rochester reveals his desire to have wanted Barry as his wife she reveals she never had the desire to be the wife of anyone, she had a daughter by him that he was unaware of and this daughter is called Elizabeth. Rochester returns to his estate where he is bedridden in the care of Elizabeth and his mother. A priest is summoned to "bring God to him" as his mother did not want Rochester to die as an atheist and Alcock. Before he dies, Rochester asks the priest to recite from
Book of Isaiah, chapter 53; he also asks his wife to retell the story of how he had abducted her when she was 18 years old and they fell in love. Rochester's death is followed by a scene of Elizabeth Barry playing the role of his wife in
The Man of Mode, the play about him written by his friend Etherege. The
epilogue depicts Rochester slipping into the darkness of a fading candlelight, asking "Do you like me now?" == Cast ==