In 19th century France, an escaped convict seeks redemption while caring for a young woman whose mother he once protected, and aligning himself with a band of student revolutionaries.

A young girl suffers a terrifying nightmare of a vampire with blazing golden eyes. Eighteen years later, it is revealed to be a hellish prophecy when a strange package containing an empty coffin mysteriously turns up at a nearby lake.

1982年7月27日、日本テレビ系列の「火曜サスペンス劇場」枠（21:02-22:54）にて放映。視聴率28.0％（ビデオリサーチ調べ、関東地区）。「火曜サスペンス劇場」歴代最高視聴率作品であり、松本清張原作テレビドラマ最高視聴率作品の一つとなっている。

Follows the fluctuating fortunes of three ronin in feudal Japan who wander from castle to castle, selling their services to whichever lord will fill their rice bowls. Though they use the servants' entrance, they still feel themselves bound by the samurai code of Bushido; and this tension leads to tragedy.

Lopple and Chammy, two runaway aliens, recruit Doraemon and Nobita to help save their planet from destruction.