S1, E1: In a world where everyone is striving for what is not worth having, no-one is more determined to climb to the heights of English Society than Becky Sharp. The lowly teaching assistant Becky issues her headmistress, Miss Pinkerton with an ultimatum - pay her properly to teach at the Academy for Young Ladies or find her a situation elsewhere. But Miss Pinkerton calls Becky's bluff, deciding to send her off into exile as a country governess. Kindly stockbroker's daughter Amelia Sedley takes pity on the poor homeless orphan and offers to take her home. Amelia’s dreams are like any other girl’s - she wants to be married and happy. But Becky wants to make sure tomorrow is better than today, and she seizes this opportunity to better herself.