Following the death of Mr Dashwood, his wife and three daughters - Elinor, Marianne and Margret - are forced by money constraints to move to a small cottage in Devonshire. While Elinor is attached to Edward Ferrars, who has promised to visit her, Marianne attracts the attention of older Colonel Brandon and rogue Willoughby.
Marianne and Willoughby find themselves falling in love while Colonel Brandon is called away on urgent business. Elinor is relieved when Edward comes to visit, but his strange behaviour leaves her confused. When Willoughby announces that he has to leave, Marianne waits for the day that she can go and visit him, but her world soon comes crashing down around her.
Elinor learns that Edward is engaged to Lucy Steele, while Marianne discovers the full extent of Willoughy's betrayal from Colonel Brandon and it leaves her in a downward spiral and her health takes a turn for the worse.
