Orphan Pip discovers through lawyer Mr. Jaggers that a mysterious benefactor wishes to ensure that he becomes a gentleman. Reunited with his childhood patron, Miss Havisham, and his first love, the beautiful but emotionally cold Estella, he discovers that the elderly spinster has gone mad from having been left at the altar as a young woman, and has made her charge into a warped, unfeeling heartbreaker.

Rowly's is one of London's largest stores. Thousands of customers throng the store's stairs and elevators day after day. The gold stream flows incessantly through all the store's offices and rooms, finally ending up in the Rowlys' bank. But the Rowly family has become poor in members - there is only one left, twelve-year-old John. Despite his wealth, he has no control over his person. He has to obey Aunt Fanny.