English spice baron Henry Moores (Linus Roache) pinpoints Kerala, India, as the site for his new plantation but must build a road to enable the project. As it turns out, it's only the first of many obstacles he'll encounter -- including his infidelity. With his wife (Jennifer Ehle) back in England, Henry turns his attentions to the plantation's housekeeper (Nandita Das), which leads to the endangerment of their marriages... and their lives.