Boston journalist Xavier Bentley travels to Spain to write a story about Holy Week in Southern Spain. However he quickly becomes entangled in an unstable and volatile political scene, due to the recent death of Spain's dictator, Francisco Franco.
Politicians from the North to South of Spain are on edge as a struggle ensues between the national and regional autonomous parties for control. The Northern Spanish Basque separatist group, ETA, has disrupted this process, seeking revenge for the decades of repression for their culture.
All of this occurs with the backdrop of the newly installed King, Franco's successor, who must force the Conservatives and Socialists to set a timetable to write the first Constitution since the 1930's without allowing the country to tear apart. Political backstabbing, alliances and threats ensue.
Xavier, having befriended the Interior Minister and his daughter, Emilia Blanco, becomes a critical component of protecting the security and stability of this new and fragile constitutional democracy.