Sense and Sensibility

Old Mr. Dashwood leaves Norland to his grandson, and Henry Dashwood dies a year later, leaving his widow and daughters almost nothing.

Fanny Dashwood talks her husband John out of his promised three thousand pounds for his stepmother and half sisters, whittling the help down to nothing.

Edward Ferrars, Fanny's brother, grows attached to Elinor at Norland, and Marianne complains to their mother that he lacks fire and taste.

Sir John Middleton's letter offers the Dashwoods Barton Cottage in Devonshire, and they resolve to leave Norland.

Mrs. Dashwood announces she is quitting Norland for a Devonshire cottage, dismaying Edward, and the family sheds tears leaving their beloved home.

The Dashwoods settle into Barton Cottage in Devon, where their landlord Sir John Middleton and his cold, reserved wife welcome them.

The Dashwoods dine at Barton Park and meet jovial Mrs Jennings and grave Colonel Brandon, who alone listens as Marianne plays.

Mrs. Jennings decides Colonel Brandon is in love with Marianne, who dismisses him at thirty-five as too old and infirm for marriage.

Marianne sprains her ankle running down a rain soaked hill and Willoughby, a handsome stranger with a gun, carries her home to Barton Cottage.

Willoughby calls daily as he and Marianne bond over books and music, while Elinor sees Colonel Brandon fall silently in love with her sister.

Marianne and Willoughby flaunt their attachment at Sir John's parties while Colonel Brandon confides to Elinor about a lost love who resembled her sister.

Willoughby gives Marianne a horse called Queen Mab, and Margaret reveals he cut off a lock of her hair, convincing Elinor they are secretly engaged.

Colonel Brandon's mysterious letter cancels the Whitwell outing, and Willoughby drives Marianne alone to tour Mrs. Smith's house at Allenham.

Mrs Jennings speculates wildly about Colonel Brandon's sudden departure while Willoughby begs Mrs Dashwood never to alter Barton cottage.

Willoughby abruptly leaves Barton for London and refuses to say when he will return, leaving Marianne in tears while Elinor grows suspicious.

Marianne grieves Willoughby's departure while Edward Ferrars arrives at Barton, cold and reserved toward Elinor after weeks in Devonshire.

Edward Ferrars stays low spirited at Barton Cottage as Marianne argues wealth against competence and Elinor puzzles over his reserve.

Marianne spots a ring of hair on Edward's finger, and Elinor privately concludes the plait is her own, taken by some contrivance, not Fanny's.

Edward leaves Barton after a restless week, and Mrs Jennings arrives with her cheerful daughter Charlotte Palmer and the silent Mr Palmer.

Charlotte Palmer invites the Dashwoods to Cleveland and reports the town gossip that Marianne is to marry Willoughby, while Mr Palmer insults everyone.

The vulgar Steele sisters arrive at Barton Park and flatter Lady Middleton, and Anne Steele reveals she knows Edward Ferrars, unsettling Elinor.

Lucy Steele confides to Elinor her secret four year engagement to Edward Ferrars, proving it with his miniature as Elinor hides her devastation.

Elinor accepts Edward's secret engagement to Lucy and hides her grief, then contrives to sit beside her rival over a filigree basket to reopen it.

Elinor draws Lucy Steele out about her secret engagement to Edward, and Lucy hints at dissolving it while probing Elinor's own feelings.

Mrs Jennings invites the Dashwood sisters to her London house, and Marianne, desperate to reach Willoughby, presses Elinor into accepting.

Elinor and Marianne travel to London with Mrs Jennings, where Marianne secretly writes to Willoughby and waits in vain as Colonel Brandon calls instead.

Colonel Brandon reveals to Elinor his belief that Marianne and Willoughby are engaged, betraying his own hopeless love for her sister.

Willoughby coldly snubs Marianne at a London party, barely shaking her hand before returning to another woman, and Elinor takes her fainting sister home.

Willoughby's cold letter denies he ever loved Marianne, announces his engagement to another woman, and returns her letters and lock of hair.

Mrs. Jennings consoles a heartbroken Marianne with Constantia wine and sweetmeats after Willoughby's engagement to the rich Miss Grey.

Colonel Brandon tells Elinor that Willoughby seduced and abandoned his young ward Eliza, leaving her pregnant, and that the two men fought a duel.

Willoughby marries Miss Grey, and Elinor breaks the news to a grieving Marianne before the Steele sisters arrive in town.

At Gray's jewellers Elinor meets her brother John Dashwood, who insists Colonel Brandon will marry her and pleads poverty to avoid helping his sisters.

At the Harley Street dinner Elinor meets Mrs. Ferrars, who slights her and praises Miss Morton, until Marianne defends her sister and bursts into tears.

Lucy calls on Elinor to gloat over Mrs. Ferrars's civility, and Edward walks in on them for an agonising meeting of both women at once.

Elinor meets Edward's brother Robert Ferrars at a musical party, and Fanny invites the Steele sisters to stay at Harley Street.

Nancy Steele reveals Edward's secret engagement to Lucy, and Marianne learns Elinor has kept the painful knowledge to herself for four months.

Anne Steele tells Elinor in Kensington Gardens that the disinherited Edward offered to free Lucy, but Lucy held him to their engagement.

Colonel Brandon offers Elinor the Delaford living for the disinherited Edward Ferrars, while Mrs Jennings mistakes it for a marriage proposal.

Elinor conveys Colonel Brandon's offer of the Delaford living to Edward, while Mrs Jennings mistakes it for news of Elinor's own engagement to the Colonel.

John Dashwood tells Elinor that Robert will now marry Miss Morton, while Robert laughs at Edward becoming a poor clergyman at Delaford.

Marianne's twilight walks in the long wet grass at Cleveland bring on the violent cold that begins her serious illness.

Marianne's fever breaks and she is declared out of danger as Colonel Brandon races to fetch her mother, then Willoughby arrives unexpectedly.

Willoughby arrives unbidden at Cleveland and confesses to Elinor, admitting he loved Marianne but married for money and begging her forgiveness.

Mrs. Dashwood reaches Cleveland to find Marianne recovering, and tells Elinor that Colonel Brandon has confessed his love for Marianne.

Marianne recovers and returns to Barton, confessing her faults to Elinor, who finally relays Willoughby's apology and self-defence.

The servant Thomas reports that Edward Ferrars has married Lucy Steele, and Marianne collapses in hysterics while a pale Elinor hides her own grief.

Edward arrives at Barton and reveals that Lucy Steele has married his brother Robert, not him, sending Elinor from the room in tears of joy.

Freed by Lucy's marriage to his brother Robert, Edward proposes to Elinor at Barton and is accepted, then shares Lucy's jilting letter.

Mrs. Ferrars consents, so Edward and Elinor marry and settle at Delaford parsonage, and Marianne at last gives her hand to Colonel Brandon.