Cranford

Mary Smith flees Manchester to stay with spinster sisters, Deborah and Matty Jenkyns, in the rural town of Cranford. A young doctor, Frank Harrison, comes to Cranford to help the existing Doctor and is the talk of the town. The sisters are intrigued when the house across the street is rented to a retired soldier, Captain Brown. It seems he is already knows local aristocrat, Sir Charles Maulver.

Cranford's ladies are preparing for Lady Ludlow's Garden Party, the social event of the year. Dr. Harrison has eyes for Sophy Hutton, the daughter of Cranford's rector, Reverend Hutton. Matty is shaken at the party when she meets a mysterious acquaintance from her past. Things start to go badly at the party when local gossips overhear a new railway line will be built to come right into Cranford.

As winter approaches, Cranford is overwhelmed by sorrows and struggles to re-gain its confidence. When Dr. Harrison's housekeeper, Mrs Rose, discovers a leg of mutton was stolen from the kitchen window the same night that Mr. Johnson, the owner of the town's store, is mugged, the ladies decide that a crime wave has hit Cranford. Christmas arrives and Cranford huddles together to celebrate.

Matty suffers a great disappointment and decides to confide in Mary about her lost love. Dr. Harrison visits the Rectory and formally asks the Reverend Hutton for permission to court Sophy. Everyone has high expectations for the upcoming May Day and Dr. Harrison looks forward to the first time he will be able to be with Sophy openly as a couple.

Miss Pole invites the ladies of the town to a secret meeting to discuss Matty's crisis. Dr. Harrison, on the other hand, is shunned by the town - no patients will come to him now that the true about him is exposed. Mr. Carter is horrified to discover that Lady Ludlow has secretly mortgaged her estate to raise money for her son's villa in Italy.