The beginning of the XVIII century. England, together with Austria, Prussia and other countries, is waging an endless and exhausting war for the Spanish inheritance against the Franco-Spanish coalition. England is ruled by the weak-willed and compliant Queen Anna, who does not make decisions without consulting with those around her. In fact, the reins are in the hands of Lady Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough. This is a woman of firm mind, decisive and courageous, sophisticated in palace intrigues. Her husband, the famous and greedy Marshal Marlborough, commands the English army and is not at all interested in ending the war, which drains the state treasury, but successfully fills his pockets.

The Marlboro party, that is, the Whig party, is opposed by the Tory opposition. It is led by Henry Saint-John, Viscount Bolinbrock, an enthusiastic political player who breathes deeply at stormy parliamentary sessions, like an English sailor at sea. Until twenty-six, he thoughtlessly enjoyed life and spent his fortune until it ran out. To fix things, he marries a charming woman with a million dowry and a million moods and shortcomings.

Matrimonial life soon becomes unbearable, Bolinbrock breaks up with his wife and is passionately interested in politics. His wife belongs to the Whig party. Naturally, he adjoins the Tory party. He speaks in parliament calling for peace with France and publishes angry articles on corruption in the army in his newspaper Examiner. Bolinbroke is trying to get an audience with Queen Anne for the French ambassador Marquis de Torsi. Arthur Meshem, the guard officer in the palace, can help him with this.

Two years ago, this young provincial nobleman who was lost in London is about to rush to the Thames because he does not have twenty-five guineas. Bolinbrock gives him two hundred guineas and saves him from death. Meshim hopes to convey to the queen a petition for a post at court and one day he almost succeeds in breaking through the crowd at the carriage when a secular dandy pushes him and clicks on his nose. However, a petition was submitted, and Mesham receives an invitation to an audience, but when he goes to the palace, the crew of the same dandy pours mud over his only decent camisole. It would seem that everything is lost, but suddenly a mysterious patron appears to him - he gets the place of the Queen’s page, then the rank of ensign of the Guards regiment and hopes for new good deeds with the only condition - he should not marry.

Meanwhile, he is passionately in love with the charming Abigail, who served in a jewelry store until his master went bankrupt. Now she is promised a place at court, and the promise also comes from the mysterious benefactor, whom the queen herself is. However, the appointment depends on the omnipotent Lady Marlborough. Naive Abigail hopes that Lady Marlborough will help her, as she is her cousin, the daughter of an unmarried cousin of Lady Marlborough. Bolinbrock explains to the girl that the duchess's treachery has no limit. Bolinbroke, Mesham, and Abigail conclude a defensive and offensive alliance against Lady Marlborough.

Bolinbrock expects that if Abigail gets a seat at court, he will be able to influence the queen. It is Mesham's responsibility to serve the Queen Fashionable People daily — all other sources of information are excluded from the favorite. Mesh begins to hand over to the Queen letters from the Marquis de Torsi, the envoy of Louis XVI, and the newspaper Examiner with a revealing article by Bolinbrock against the Marlborough party. However, the duchess intercepts "illegal investments" and sarcastically informs Bolinbrock that he is in her hands - she bought all his debt obligations for nothing and intends to put him in jail. Bolinbrock is delighted that he has such a worthy adversary, and is going to strike another blow in parliament.

Meanwhile, Mesham meets his long-time offender in the palace park and kills him in a duel. No one saw him, but he faces the death penalty in accordance with the harsh duel law. He must run. Bolinbroke manages to convey to the Queen a note in which he carefully recommends Abigail. The queen would like to draw closer to her the girl she liked, but the duchess, fearing extraneous influence, convinces her of the undesirability of such an act. However, she reports that she has found a way to give the rank of captain to a diligent young man, whom the Queen turned her supportive attention to, Meshem. The queen is pleased with the favorite and forgets about Abigail. The girl is in despair.

Bolinbroku again smiles on fortune - he becomes the heir to a huge fortune, since the dandy killed by Meshem in a duel is his cousin Richard, the embodiment of greed and insignificance, the most cruel of his creditors. Debt obligations were immediately redeemed, Bolinbrock again owns the situation. He demands severe punishment of the killer, but as soon as he learns from Abigail that he is talking about Meshem, he convinces her not to worry - he will try not to find him. At this moment, Mesh appears. He did not run at all, because he was caught up with a messenger with an order for a new appointment. He is prescribed to be with the queen. The mysterious patron sends him the signs of a new rank - diamond tips for axelbants. Abigail recognizes the diamonds that she herself sold to Lady Marlborough when she was at the jewelry store. The incognito of the patron is revealed (Meshem at that moment does not know about this), and Bolinbrock gets the opportunity to strike another blow to his opponent.

Abigail finds a place under the queen and immediately becomes her favorite. The queen complains about Abigail's lack of freedom in everything and vaguely hints that she is passionate about a certain young officer. Unaware Abigail offers the queen her help. Bolinbroke is finally admitted to the queen and tries to touch her with stories about the disasters of the people, about the hardships and victims caused by the war. She frankly misses and revives only when she reports that the duchess is interested in continuing the war, which keeps her husband in the army and allows her to indulge in sweet pleasures with Meshem. The Queen is furious. So Bolinbrook finds out that she also loves Mesham.

The Duchess announces to Meshem that she intends to give him an important assignment and asks to come to her after the Queen's evening reception. Inadvertently, she becomes aware that it was Meshem who killed Richard Bolinbroke. The queen also decides to make an appointment with Meshem and at the time of reception must give a sign: in the presence of guests she will complain of the heat and ask Mesham for a glass of water. Bolinbroke informs the Duchess that a certain noble lady is about to make an appointment with Meshem. In exchange for this information, he receives an invitation to the court for the Marquis de Torsi. The Duchess is unpleasantly intrigued. During a card game, to which the Marquis de Torsi was unexpectedly admitted to all, the queen asks Meshem to give her water. The Duchess is completely confused and makes mistake after mistake. Instead of Meshem, she serves a glass of water and knocks it over the queen's dress. The queen is angry, they exchange barbs. The result is the resignation of the duchess. But she does not give up. Through her supporters, she manages to convince the queen that she loves not Meshem, but a completely different one. The queen is ready to forgive her. Bolinbroke clarifies another misconception. The Duchess swears to dishonor the queen. Meshem brings to the Queen's signature papers on the dissolution of Parliament and the appointment of Bolinbroke as Minister. A terrible noise makes him hide on the balcony. The Duchess appears, accompanied by a crowd of courtiers and discovers Meshem in the Queen's private quarters. Abigail falls to his knees and apologizes for secretly accepting Meshem from the queen. Bolinbrock adds that the accused of the murder Mesh came to say goodbye to his wife - Abigail Churchill. The Queen, after a brief confusion, forgives Abigail and Meshem and announces the appointment of Bolinbroke as Minister and the beginning of peace talks with France. So the Lord and Lady Marlborough are overthrown, the world is made - and all this thanks to a glass of water, as Bolinbrock says.