Margaret (Emma Thompson) and Helen (Helena Bonham Carter) Schlegel are two sisters who come to meet a rich family in Victorian England named the Wilcoxes. Both sisters try their best to court the Wilcox men, Helen fails but Margaret slowly falls in love with Henry Wilcox (Anthony Hopkins) and becomes great friend with the Wilcox matriarch (Vanessa Redgrave). Mrs. Wilcox and Henry decide that they will allow Margaret to move in to their beloved property, Howard’s End. As time goes by Margaret begins to side with the house workers over the Wilcoxes and the family tries desperately to keep Margaret from attaining their prized Howard’s End.