Little Dorrit

Amy Dorrit lives in the Marshalsea Prison for Debt with her father, William Dorrit, who has been an inmate there for countless years. After Amy is employed as a seamstress by the stern and formidable Mrs. Clennam, events are set in motion when Mrs. Clennam's son, Arthur, returns unexpectedly from China after an absence of fifteen years, bringing the news that his father has died.

Arthur strikes up a tentative friendship with Amy Dorrit and becomes reacquainted with his childhood sweetheart, Flora Casby, who is not quite as he remembered her. His mind is still on the pretty Pet Meagles, whom he met on his journey back to England. Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away in France, the sinister and coldblooded murderer Rigaud becomes reacquainted with his old cellmate, Cavalletto.

John Chivery, sensing a rival in Arthur, decides to make his move and propose to Amy, but she turns him down. Arthur meanwhile, entirely ignorant of Amy's feelings for him, is also disappointed in love when he meets Pet's rival suitor, Henry Gowan. Cavalletto arrives in London, only to discover that he's been followed by the very man he came to England to get away from: Rigaud.

Pancks busies himself with more investigating, proceeding to recruit John Chivery to help him with his enquiries. Determined to try his luck, Arthur returns to Twickenham to propose to Pet. Rigaud visits Mrs. Clennam's house, pretending that he's come on business.

The Dorrits make their triumphant departure from the Marshalsea. Mr. Dorrit employs Mrs. General to offer instruction in etiquette to his daughters. Mrs. General suggests that the family goes on a Grand Tour and, before they know it, the Dorrits have left the country, where abroad they encounter Rigaud traveling with the newly-wed Gowans.

Fanny worries about the burgeoning affection between Mr. Dorrit and Mrs. General. Back in England, Arthur visits his mother only to find Rigaud standing on her doorstep. Mr. Merdle secures a position for Sparkler at the Circumlocution Office and Arthur receives a shock when Pancks shows him an official handbill detailing the disappearance of Rigaud, last seen at the House of Clennam.

Mr. Dorrit returns to England with the newlyweds, Fanny and Sparkler. Arthur decides to invest the capital of Doyce and Clennam in Merdle's bank and commissions Pancks to find Miss Wade in the hope that she can lead him to Rigaud. Mr. Dorrit meanwhile quickly settles into the London highlife, but faces constant reminders of his shameful past.

Mr. Merdle's death sends shockwaves through London, as thousands of people who invested in him now face financial ruin. One of those unfortunate people is Arthur, who finds himself in the Marshalsea Prison for Debt, where Amy rushes to his side. Rigaud re-emerges and reveals his full set of cards to Mrs. Clennam. But what exactly is it that he knows about the House of Clennam?