Plot
When Henry Dashwood dies, his entire fortune and home, Norland Park, are left to his son, John, as required by law. John promised his father to provide for his stepmother Mary Dashwood and half-sisters Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret. However, John's wife Fanny persuades him to make a much smaller provision than he had originally intended. In addition, women must eventually leave Norland Park. Fanny's brother Edward Ferrars comes to visit, and he quickly befriends Elinor. While Mrs. Dashwood hopes they become engaged, Fanny informs her that his mother intends for Edward to marry a richer and more socially prominent woman. Mrs. Dashwood's cousin Sir John Middleton, writes her, offering a small cottage on his estate, Barton Park in Devonshire. She and her daughters leave Norland immediately.
During a welcome dinner at Barton Park. Sir John introduces the Dashwoods to his wife, Lady Middleton, her mother, Mrs. Jennings, and their family friend, Colonel Brandon. Brandon is instantly attracted to Marianne, though she considers him too old for her. While out walking with Margaret, Marianne falls and twists her ankle. A handsome young man appears and carries her back to the cottage. He introduces himself as John Willoughby and promises to check on Marianne the following day. Brandon also visits but upon seeing Willoughby there, quickly departs. Willoughby and Marianne grow close through their mutual love of poetry, and he later takes a lock of her hair. Mrs. Dashwood and Elinor wonder whether if they are secretly engaged.
Brandon invites the Dashwoods and the Middletons to a picnic on his estate, Delaford. Just as they party is about to embark, Brandon is called away on urgent business. Willoughby later requests a private meeting first with Marianne and then Mrs Dashwood, leading them to expect that he will propose marriage. However, Willoughby reveals that his aunt is sending him to London on business and he may not be able to return for at least a year. Shortly after Willoughby's departure, Edward visits. The Dashwoods notice that he appears to be unhappy and distant. Lucy and Anne Steele, Mrs. Jennings' nieces, come to visit at Barton Park. When Lucy learns that the Dashwoods are acquainted with the Ferrars, Lucy confides in Elinor that she and Edward have been secretly engaged for four years, leaving Elinor devastated. Mrs. Jennings invites Elinor and Marianne to spend some time with her in London, and Marianne hopes she will see Willoughby there. However, after she arrives, he does not visit or reply to her letters.
During a party, Marianne finds Willoughby, but he barely acknowledges their acquaintance. Marianne later learns that he is engaged to the wealthy Miss Grey, and becomes inconsolable. Brandon calls on the Dashwoods and tells Elinor that Willoughby seduced and then abandoned when pregnant Brandon's young ward, Eliza Williams, who has subsequently given birth to a child. Mrs. Ferrars learns of Edward's engagement to Lucy and threatens to disinherit him unless he calls it off, but Edward refuses. Brandon later offers him a clerical living on his estate at Delaford, which Edward gladly accepts. While staying with Mrs. Jennings' daughter Mrs. Palmer on the return to Devonshire, Marianne goes walking in a storm and collapses. Brandon finds her and brings her back, where she falls seriously ill with a fever. During Marianne's recovery, Willoughby visits Elinor. He insists that he loved Marianne and intended to propose but needed to marry a rich woman after his aunt disowned him upon learning about Eliza. When Marianne recovers, the sisters return home and Marianne spends time at Delaford, eventually falling in love with Brandon. Elinor learns that Lucy Steele has become Mrs. Ferrars and assumes that Lucy and Edward have married. However, Edward arrives at the cottage and explains to the Dashwoods that Lucy has married his younger brother Robert instead because Mrs Ferrars has transferred Edward's inheritance to Robert. Edward then declares his love to Elinor and proposes. They marry, as do Marianne and Brandon.
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