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In Victorian London Amelia Havisham inherits her late father's brewery, to the disgust of covetous brother Arthur, who attacks her in the street. She is rescued by Meriwether Compeyson, unaware that he may not be all he seems. Money lender Jacob Marley bullies his clerk Bob Cratchit whilst his partner Ebenezer Scrooge demands debts from the ailing Nell Trent's grandfather and Edward Barbary, father of Amelia's friend Honoria, who is engaged to captain James Hawdon. Marley also has dealings with criminal fence Fagin, who pimps prostitute Nancy to him, to the annoyance of her lover, burglar Bill Sikes. Then Marley is found murdered.
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Inspector Bucket, of the newly formed Detective department, arrives to question Scrooge, from whom he learns that Marley had a visit from Nancy and somebody known as C, on the night he was killed. Edward Barbary, discovering that he is ruined, chooses not to tell Honoria whilst Amelia is visited by Compeyson, who is in league with her brother to defraud her. The Cratchit family spend a happy Christmas day with young Peter Cratchit visiting would-be girlfriend Little Nell.
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Bucket questions Fagin regarding Nancy's visit to Marley but he is not helpful. Later Bucket arrests Bill Skies after publican Silas Wegg is unable to confirm his alibi but releases him for lack of evidence. Arthur Havisham has doubts about deceiving his sister but is over-ruled by Compeyson, who intends to marry her for her money. Arthur rejects Amelia's attempt at reconciliation, instead taking a loan from Scrooge whilst Honoria's sister Frances takes a message from Sergeant George, recalling Captain Hawdon, but conveniently forgets to pass it on, instead informing her sister of the family's bankruptcy.
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On the day of Marley's funeral Bucket interviews Nancy. She gives him information leading to lawyer Jaggers, who tells Bucket that Marley had approached him to dissolve the partnership with Scrooge. Jaggers also informs Havisham that he will receive nothing from his father's will unless he is cordial to his sister, so he attends her New Year's Eve party but Compeyson also turns up, which upsets her. Frances Barbary meets an old friend, the elderly and wealthy Sir Lester Dedlock but he only has eyes for Honoria.
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Fagin and Sikes argue over Nancy as do Arthur and Compeyson over Amelia, the latter going to drastic lengths to win her favour. Frances is dismayed when Sir Lester Dedlock reveals his affections for Honoria, rather than herself whilst her father puts himself into more debt with Scrooge. Having confiscated Scrooge's ledgers inspector Bucket makes an arrest - on Bob Cratchit's daughter's wedding day.
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Bucket arrests Bob, believing he killed Marley who caught him falsifying ledgers though he does let him go to give away his daughter in marriage. Amelia starts to warm to Compeyson but seeks the advice of her cousin Matthew Pocket whilst Frances suggests to Honoria that marriage to Sir Leicester Dedlock would solve all the family's financial woes. Meanwhile nurse Mrs Gamp operates on Wegg and ineffectual beadle Bumble is once more humiliated by his bossy wife.
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Whilst Scrooge punishes Bob for stealing from him Bucket believes in his innocence of murder and goes after Silas Wegg, who robbed Marley, but who tells Bucket that on the night he died Marley argued with Edward Barbary. Hawdon proposes to Honoria but Frances continues to encourage Sir Leicester, to his bewilderment and Honoria's disgust, whilst Compeyson, learning that Matthew Pocket is helping running the brewery, purports to befriend him, claiming that he has money to invest.
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Compeyson tells Matthew he knows that he is in love with his cousin and suggests he make his fortune in the Americas to impress her. He also intervenes when Arthur is about to expose him to Matthew but is too spineless to tell Honoria of the plot. Unaware of her sister's scheming Honoria anticipates marriage to Hawdon whilst Bucket interrogates their father over his row with Marley and a deal with Fagin but lawyer Jaggers reveals that Barbary is bankrupt whilst the Bumbles anticipate good news from Northern school board superintendent Thomas Gradgrind.
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Bucket switches the focus of his enquiry to Fagin whilst the Bumbles await their guest and Compeyson charms Amelia with a false sob story. Barbary's financial situation worsens as Scrooge demands his money back and when Barbary fails to deliver the goods sends him to the debtors' prison. Elsewhere Mrs Gamp and Silas Wegg find themselves in an embarrassing misunderstanding.
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Honoria and Hawdon attempt to free Barbary by appealing to Scrooge's better nature - only to discover that he has none - and after a visit to the debtors' prison Honoria finds Frances once more urging her to wed Sir Leicester to save the family from ruin. As Amelia succumbs to Compeyson's wiles a drunken Arthur attempts to expose him but gets a beating for his trouble. Meanwhile the Bumbles aim to improve their situation by having Gradgrind to dinner.
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After Sir Leicester pays off all her father's debts Honoria reluctantly accepts that marriage to him is the only means of securing the family's fortunes and she tells Hawdon that their engagement is off. She is also dismayed that Amelia is now warming to Compeyson, who apologizes to Arthur in order to persuade him to carry on their connivance. Whilst the Cratchits 'youngest son Tim is stricken with illness the Bumbles receive good news and Bucket learns that Marley had secretly rented a warehouse.
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Amelia chairs her shareholders' meeting, unhappy that Jaggers warns her against encouraging Compeyson and unaware that she is not the only woman in Compeyson's life as she accepts his marriage proposal. Bucket discovers that Fagin met with Marley in the warehouse on the night of the murder though Fagin claims that, as Marley's business partner, he would lose, rather than gain from his death. Peter Cratchit meanwhile continues his friendship with Little Nell and gives his mother financial support for treating Tim's illness.
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Despite Jaggers' and Arthur's disapproval Amelia delights in her engagement, buying a bridal gown, whilst Mr Bumble also gets a new - less comfortable - suit to impress Gradgrind and his committee. Bob finds Scrooge less than sympathetic to his family's plight whilst Bucket believes he has the evidence to link Fagin to Marley's murder and Mrs Gamp gives Honoria shocking news.
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Bucket switches his investigation to the Artful Dodger on the evidence that he gave Fagin Marley's wallet but Nancy and Sikes spring the lad from prison. Honoria tells Hawdon that she is carrying his baby but Frances advises her to leave town to have the child and swears Mrs Gamp to secrecy. Bumble's job interview goes badly whilst Compeyson tries to pay Arthur off and the Cratchits rally around the invalided Tiny Tim.
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Amelia pays Arthur his share of the brewery but he is ungracious, coming close to exposing Compeyson - whom Jaggers wants to investigate. Hawdon visits Honoria in secret - before accusing Frances of sabotaging his promotion chances. After he has gone Honoria finds out another of Frances's deceptions, inducing early labour. On discovery of another corpse Inspector Bucket is relieved of the Marley case by overweight, overbearing Inspector Thompson, whose findings release Fagin as he arrests a man Bucket believes to be innocent, spurring him on to doing some private sleuthing.
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Honoria goes into labour, sending Frances to fetch Hawdon but he is drowning his sorrows and refuses to acknowledge France's note. Frances explains to her sister why she is jealous of her and why she steered her towards Sir Leicester. She delivers Honoria's baby for her but then tells her a lie. Meanwhile Amelia, aware of Compeyson's deception, ends their engagement.
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Frances continues to lead her sister to believe that her baby is dead, with the result that when Hawdon sobers up and proposes to her Honoria turns him down. Amelia is also ready to finish with Compeyson - to Arthur's delight - but when Compeyson's wife tells her that they are brother and sister the suit is on again. Inspector Bucket, meanwhile, at last gets a confession from Marley's killer.
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Mrs Cratchit recounts to inspector Bucket the events leading up to Marley's death, presenting him with a moral dilemma though he is fortunately able to find a way to help her and prevent her arrest. Jaggers on the other hand can find nothing incriminating in Compeyson's past, though Arthur feels strengthened by Matthew Pocket's return from America. Honoria however is resigned to do her duty by her family.
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As Amelia enthusiastically makes her wedding plans Matthew determines to stop the ceremony and brings in brewery board members to make her see sense. Inevitably though Compeyson sees through his plan and ruins it, making Amelia the more determined to marry. Mrs Cratchit is in a joyful mood, unlike Honoria, facing the prospect of a loveless marriage of convenience to a kindly and rich but unattractive man whilst the Bumbles' efforts to finally impress Gradgrind are scuppered by Oliver Twist.
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As Amelia prepares for her wedding Arthur and Jaggers force Compeyson to confess to her that he was only interested in her money and, although he admits that he has come to love her, she rejects him along with Arthur, vowing never to take off her bridal gown. Honoria however weighs up the advantages of becoming Lady Dedlock and the good it can bring her family, though duplicitous Frances still keeps the existence of her child from her. Scrooge rejects a business proposal from Fagin before receiving a spectral visit and Oliver is rescued from the streets by the Artful Dodger to become part of Fagin's gang.
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