Ada (Carey Mulligan) confides in Esther (Anna Maxwell Martin) that she and Richard (Patrick Kennedy) are in love. They wish to get engaged, but their guardian Jarndyce (Denis Lawson) disapproves and tells them it's far too soon to take this step. Reluctantly the pair agree to wait.Meanwhile, Richard's struggling with his medical studies, and decides to quit in favour of the law. But with his increasing obsession in matters at Chancery, will he come to regret the decision? In court with Ada, he meets Mr Gridley (Tony Haygarth) – an irascible and frustrated suitor who has wasted his life in pursuit of reward. Gridley flies off the handle at Tulkinghorn, who, enraged, orders a warrant for his arrest.Caddy Jellyby (Natalie Press) tells Esther she's entered into a secret engagement with Prince Turveydrop (Bryan Dick), the son of a dancing master. His father, Old Mr Turveydrop (Matthew Kelly), is a lazy, self-centred old man who preens around, showing off his deportment, whilst his son does all the work.Esther is also falling in love - she and Allan Woodcourt (Richard Harrington) have become close. But she's deeply disappointed to hear the news that he's taken a job as a ship's surgeon on a long voyage. A little hope remains, however, when she receives some flowers from him as a keepsake.Skimpole (Nathaniel Parker) joyfully announces that his old adversary, Mr Neckett the bailiff, has died. But when Jarndyce and Esther hear that he had a young family, they decide to visit his lodgings. There, they find that his daughter, Charley (Katie Angelou), is working as a washerwoman to provide for her siblings. Jarndyce resolves that they should take action.Elsewhere, Lady Dedlock (Gillian Anderson) instructs Tulkinghorn (Charles Dance) to cease his enquiries about Nemo (John Lynch). Nonetheless, she decides to conduct her own secret investigation tracking Jo (Harry Eden), the crossing sweeper, down at night and paying him to guide her around Nemo's old haunts. Finally, she visits his burial ground, where she's overcome with grief.
Elenco: Anna Maxwell Martin , Denis Lawson , Carey Mulligan , Gillian Anderson , Charles Dance , Patrick Kennedy , Richard Harrington , Natalie Press .