Vanity Fair

The film opens in the early 1920s with a limousine traveling outside London, carrying Amelia Sedley and Becky Sharp. The two young women are introduced as a contrast of wealth and ambition, establishing Becky's desire to climb the social ladder. Their journey hints at the class-driven tensions that will drive the story.

Amelia invites Becky to spend Christmas at the Sedley estate, signaling Becky's temporary inclusion in their world. Becky uses the opportunity to position herself within the family circle. The invitation foreshadows the social maneuvering Becky intends to pursue.

Amelia's mother grows wary of Becky and her intentions, sensing manipulation behind the charming veneer. The family’s trust begins to crack as Becky’s hunger for social advancement becomes evident. She leaves the estate after a blunt warning from Mrs. Sedley.

Becky arrives at Lord Crawley’s estate as a new governess and quickly captivates Sir Pitt Crawley and his son Rawdon. Her scheming uncovers a concealed attraction to Rawdon, and the two begin a secret romance. Becky and Rawdon soon reveal that they have married.

Sir Pitt catches Becky and Rawdon together, enraged by their union. He expels them from his house and cuts them off from his wealth and status. Becky and Rawdon relocate, facing imminent financial hardship.

Becky and Rawdon move to a townhouse in Mayfair and struggle to make ends meet. They try to sustain themselves through gambling, cheating friends at bridge, and other petty schemes. The couple’s desperation deepens Becky's willingness to manipulate others.

Becky expands her schemes by blackmailing lovers and collecting gifts from a string of affairs, including George Osborne. Rawdon is briefly jailed for writing bad checks, and upon his release learns of his father’s death, making him the new Lord Crawley. He warns Becky never to call herself 'Lady Crawley' or risk his wrath.

Several years pass and Becky, now in a poorer area of London, encounters Amelia's brother Joseph in a casino. Joseph informs her that Amelia remains devoted to George and refuses remarriage; he also notes that George is dead. Becky absorbs this news as she schemes on the fringes of society.

Becky visits Amelia and confesses her long-ago affair with George. She taunts Amelia for clinging to a dead cad and urges her to marry Dobbin, who waits outside in a car. Amelia, moved, begins to consider stepping into a more secure future.

Amelia rests her head on Dobbin's shoulder, suggesting she will accept his proposal. The moment marks a turning point toward a settled life away from Becky's scheming. The film hints at Dobbin's long-awaited devotion being finally rewarded.

Years pass and Becky's life deteriorates, slipping into petty crimes, prostitution, and constant financial struggle. She roams a less affluent, largely French-speaking area of London, surviving by exploiting men she encounters. The glamour of the social ascent has faded to daily survival.

Becky returns to a shabby one-room apartment where Joseph confronts her about Amelia’s money. He tears up the check and writes Finis in the dust, signaling the end of her ascent. In the mirror, Becky sees the fading beauty of her former self and weeps, losing any illusion of triumph.