A man locked away in prison for 14 years, strikes unimaginable wealth overnight, rising to become the richest man in all of Paris, all thanks to one pivotal mentor he met behind bars. The unassuming elderly man was a priest of the Roman Curia, endowed with boundless knowledge. He passed down every skill to Edmond, art, science, chemistry, history, even toxicology. He also entrusted Edmond with a long-buried secret, Cardinal Spada's mountain of treasure hidden on Monte Cristo Island. >> When I was [music] clearing out Count Spada's library, I found a piece of papyrus. [music] Nothing on it. Nothing interesting. I threw it in the fire. But as it began to smoke there, I saw letters appearing there. >> The priest spent decades decoding the ciphered treasure map scrolled on parchment, and handed the priceless document to Edmond on his deathbed. Now, this strange untold secret forms the core of the Count of Monte Cristo's revenge scheme. Edmond hosts an extravagant dinner party, inviting all three men who ruined his life to his estate. After casual small talk, he introduces a distinguished guest who traveled all the way from Rome, Count [music] Spada. At the mere mention of the Spada name, the greedy Danglars lights up instantly. Within European aristocratic circles, the fabulously wealthy Cardinal Spada is a legendary figure. He presses the guest without hesitation, asking if he shares blood with the late cardinal. >> Mhm. He was my great-uncle. [music] >> Legend has it he was a very wealthy man. >> Once he gets a confirmation, Danglars' greed is plain to see. He bombards the Count with questions about the fabled Spada family fortune. Seeing the trap take hold, the fake Count Spada shoots Edmond a subtle knowing glance, then recounts the tale of uncovering his great-uncle's hidden map, and unearthing the long-lost family gold. >> [music] >> Of course, what I'm telling you is not public knowledge. And God forbid it ever becomes such. I would have beggars knocking on my door day and night. >> You have this treasure in your possession. Not here, of course, [music] but in the vault of my bankers, Thomson and French. >> Every word sends Danglars' heart racing, his mind already plotting how to align himself with this billionaire. Little does he know, this is all a trap crafted by Edmond. The so-called Count Spada is actually Vampa, a notorious Roman bandit, and the entire treasure origin story comes straight from Edmond's late mentor, Abbe Faria. Danglars can no longer mask his ravenous hunger for wealth. Edmond pulls a classic bait and switch, cutting off the money talk by claiming dinner is no place for business. This leaves Danglars restless and obsessed. He squeezes in one final burning question. >> [music] >> What brings you to Paris? >> Mhm. I'm here to find a wife. >> The answer makes the greedy couple's eyes blaze. Their daughter is of marriageable age, though already betrothed to Fernand's son, Albert. The pair's greed overrides all loyalty. They immediately hatch a self-serving scheme. >> Are you thinking what I'm thinking? >> Yes. >> [music] >> I'll prepare the welcome. >> She'll be on the way. >> [music] >> The next day, a relentless Danglars returns uninvited. He offers to raise the count's deposit interest by one full percent, hoping to curry favor. Edmond pretends to miss his hidden [music] agenda, only pouring a fine vintage wine for his guest. Danglars cannot hold back his obsession. The second he sits [music] down, he circles back to the Spada fortune. >> So, I did some some calculations on the estimated [music] contents of the Spada treasure, and its value exceeds 650 [music] million francs in today's terms. >> Oh, good heavens. That's what I thought. >> Grilling the count about his ideal bride, and repeatedly hints his own daughter holds no affection for Fernand's boy, Edmond plays along, casually mentioning the count adores opera. Danglars' face lights up with joy. His daughter has studied music her whole life. He spots the perfect chance to showcase her talent that very afternoon. He rushes his daughter to the Cafe the Spada frequents, staging a deliberate chance encounter. He probably presents his daughter to the count, then marches over to the cafe's pianist, yanks the musician off the bench, shoves his daughter's tutor in his place, and forces his girl to sing a solo for the guest. >> Those two young ladies, [music] they see a piano and they're drawn to it like a magnet. Kid, join us, please. >> Vampa plays the part flawlessly, leaning back with an enraptured expression as the music fills the room. Seeing the count's apparent fondness for his daughter, Danglars jumps in to pitch his new railway investment project, only to be sharply cut off mid-sentence. Left with no choice, >> Edmond, you are disturbing [music] my listening. >> He swallows his unfinished pitch. Edmond's groundwork for revenge is fully laid. The next morning, he accompanies Vampa to Danglars' mansion to officially discuss the railway investment deal. A former accountant, Danglars excels at financial planning. Every blueprint and profit forecast is meticulously prepared before negotiations even begin. Vampa is drawn to soft singing drifting from another room. He asks to visit the singer, leaving all business talks to the Count of Monte Cristo. This request plays perfectly into Danglars' plan. He leads Vampa to the girl's bedroom door, graciously telling him he may enter unannounced before slipping away. Yet his carefully laid trap backfires horribly. Vampa stumbles upon a shocking secret. The daughter is secretly in love with her music tutor. Far from [music] angry, Vampa feigns delight, promising to keep their affair confidential. He gently shuts the door behind him and acts as if nothing happened. Realizing this hidden romance will become a devastating weapon in Edmond's revenge. Outside, Danglars strikes a lucrative partnership with the count, offering his daughter's hand in marriage to Spada in exchange [music] for 10 million francs of investment. Just then, Fernand's son Albert arrives to pick up his fiance, only to be coldly driven away by his future father-in-law. >> I [music] don't understand. Have I offended anyone in any way? >> Eugenia doesn't want to be disturbed [music] today. >> Edmond watches the ugly exchange unfold and decides to fan the flames of conflict even further. The next day, he arranges a casual run-in with Fernand. As they chat, Edmond casually brings up the children's engagement, dropping subtle hints that Danglars intends to break the betrothal. Fernand flies into a towering rage. He storms straight to Danglars' bank to confront him. >> I think [music] the time has come for us to finalize the marriage contract between Albert and your daughter, Eugenia. [music] >> Why such haste? >> Why wait is more the question. Marriage has long been decided. >> Well, that was then, but this this is now. What are you saying, [music] Danglars? I don't follow you. >> Danglars evades his gaze and stumbles over vague excuses, clearly eager to delay the marriage. Fernand loses all self-control, slamming his fist on the table and tearing into him. He threatens brutal consequences if the wedding date is not locked down immediately, then storms out, slamming the door behind him. Danglars is overcome with panic. Senator Fernand is a powerful, dangerous enemy. He hurries to seek advice from the Count of Monte Cristo, claiming he needs help escaping this messy engagement. The seemingly kind-hearted Edmond feigns deep thought and vaguely brings up an old scandal, Fernand's betrayal of Ali Pasha. >> Years ago, but yes, I I do recall [music] someone talk about it at the time. Ali Pasha was very [music] favorably looked upon by the French nobility. Yeah, he was a staunch ally of ours. Indeed. Perhaps you should look into [music] it. >> I don't want to get involved. >> He stops short of revealing all details, content to sit back and watch the two destroy each other. While he stokes [music] the feud between Fernand and Danglars, Edmond's plot against Prosecutor Villefort hits an unexpected snag. Ever since Edmond exposed the buried infant murder at the dinner party, Villefort has grown deeply suspicious of the mysterious Count. The midwife escaped the asylum the day before Villefort received word, and the very next night the Count recounted the exact story of the buried baby. Too many coincidences pile up. Villefort suspects the Count is hiding malicious motives. He bribes a police captain to spy on Edmond and his villa every single day. Two surveillance officers spot Caderousse entering the Count's residence. Edmond catches sight of the watchmen from his window and instantly recognizes they work for Villefort. If they interrogate Caderousse, his entire revenge operation risks being exposed. [music] Before his identity is unmasked, he orders Caderousse to accelerate the search for Villefort's abandoned illegitimate son, warning him never to return to the villa again, and to relay all messages through Jacopo instead. >> Jacopo [music] will accompany you home and make sure you aren't followed. Jacopo will act as our go-between from now on. You will not come here again. >> Luckily, a major event will soon unfold in Villefort's household, an event that will drastically speed up Edmond's long-awaited vengeance.