Brought up by her pessimistic uncle (Bernard Hepton), homely Fanny (Sylvestra Le Touzel) continuously endures rejection and snubbing from every person she comes in contact with at her uncle's estate. The only person who doesn't treat her terribly is her cousin Edmund (Nicholas Farrell). As Fanny grows into a lovely young lady, she finds herself torn between Edmund and a wealthy neighbor named Henry Crawford (Robert Burbage).