The Way We Live Now

London, in the 1870's. Infamous financier, Augustus Melmotte, arrives in town. Rumors of his financial wizardry and his eligible heiress daughter, Marie, spread like wild fire. Concerns that Melmotte may also be an accomplished swindler are soon forgotten as London's impoverished establishment greedily anticipates a change in fortunes.

Marie is dazzled by Felix's lovemaking and encourages him to ask her father for her hand. But Melmotte has now launched himself in to high society and has his sights set on a better match for his daughter than a penniless Baronet. Meanwhile, out of the blue, a formidable and mysterious American beauty, Mrs Hurtle, arrives in London looking for Paul.

Georgiana Longestaffe, snobbish but desperate to find a husband, arrives in London as a reluctant guest of the Melmottes. Meanwhile, Paul is concerned that Melmotte refuses to discuss the practicalities of building the railway, and decides to go to Mexico under his own steam to check that the project is under way.

Before Paul leaves for Mexico, Mrs Hurtle promises that she will release him from their engagement if he returns home with his heart still set on Hetta and Marie arrives in Liverpool for her passage to the United States only to be arrested. Meanwhile, back in London, Felix has drunk himself into a stupor and lost his money for the trip at cards.

As Paul struggles in Mexico without the funding he needs, Fisker arrives. Fisker reveals that Melmotte is less concerned with building a railway than with raising capital from the shares. Paul returns to London, determined to expose Melmotte.

Mrs Hurtle coolly confirms that her relationship with Paul is not over, and Hetta decides she can never see him again. Meanwhile, Melmotte is besieged by creditors.