Fingersmith

2005 - 2005

Episode 1

27th March 2005

Episode 1

Since she was orphaned, Sue Trinder (Sally Hawkins) has been brought up amongst pickpockets and charlatans. She has been protected and cared for by Mrs Sucksby (Imelda Staunton) who believes Sue is too good a girl to get directly involved in such a world. But when Mrs Sucksby's old friend Richard Rivers (Rupert Evans) offers 20-year-old Sue £3,000 to assist him in one of his scams, Mrs Sucksby cannot resist. Passing himself off as a proper gent, Rivers has befriended a young lady, Maud Lilly (Elaine Cassidy), who stands to inherit a fortune when she marries. However, Maud's maid has recently left her service and, without a chaperone, Rivers' access to Maud is limited. He wants Sue to be accepted as the new maid and to help him win Maud over. Once married, Rivers plans to have Maud committed to an asylum and he will then take her fortune for himself. Arriving at Briar, the estate where Maud lives with her wealthy bookish Uncle Lilly (Charles Dance), Sue enters another world.

Episode 2

Episode 2

Having disposed of Sue, Rivers takes Maud to London to Mrs Sucksby's house. There Maud learns that Mrs Sucksby is the mastermind behind her escape and Sue's downfall. Maud is plagued by doubts over her treatment of Sue and the fake life that she presented. In reality Maud was orphaned and brought up by her Uncle, a cruel man, who has abused his niece and hardened her heart. The nightly readings in his library were not as innocent as it appeared to Sue. Maud was forced to read pornography to her uncle and his friends. Tormented by the cruelty of her existence, Maud found in Rivers a way out. By marrying him, she could escape the prison of her uncle's house. But what Maud hadn't expected was to be so affected by her friendship with Sue - or indeed that she would fall in love with her. In order to save herself from her uncle, Maud had to reconcile herself to hurting Sue. But even Maud couldn't have imagined that her world would be further turned upside down.

Episode 3

10th April 2005

Episode 3

Acknowledging the wrong she has done, Maud knows she must escape Mrs Sucksby if she is to rescue Sue. She manages to get out and finds her way to an old business associate of her uncle's, but he refuses to help and sends her away. Alone in the alleyways and streets of London and unaware of the dangers that lurk, Maud falls prey to sexual predators and realises she has no choice but to return to Lant Street. Mrs Sucksby is overjoyed to see her and Maud discovers that she is in fact Mrs Sucksby's own daughter. Meanwhile, employing all the underhanded tricks that her childhood has taught her, Sue escapes from the asylum. She heads for London where she plans to get her revenge on Maud for what she sees as betrayal. At Mrs Sucksby's, Sue confronts Maud, Mrs Sucksby and Rivers; a huge row ensues and in a struggle Rivers is killed. Despite Maud being guilty of Rivers' murder, Mrs Sucksby confesses to protect both girls and soon after is executed for the crime.

Top Cast

Sally Hawkins•Elaine Cassidy•Rupert Evans

Director

Aisling Walsh

Drama Mystery Crime

A young woman is hired as a maid to an heiress who lives a secluded life on a large countryside estate with her domineering uncle. But, the maid has a secret: she is a pickpocket recruited by a swindler posing as a gentleman to help him seduce the heiress to elope with him, rob her of her fortune, and lock her up in a madhouse. The plan seems to proceed according to plan until the women discover some unexpected emotions.

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Full Cast

Sally Hawkins Image

Sally Hawkins

Sue Trinder

Elaine Cassidy Image

Elaine Cassidy

Maud Lilly

Rupert Evans Image

Rupert Evans

Richard 'Gentleman' Rivers

Charles Dance Image

Charles Dance

Mr. Chistopher Lilly

Imelda Staunton Image

Imelda Staunton

Mrs. Sucksby

Polly Hemingway Image

Polly Hemingway

Mrs. Stiles

David Troughton Image

David Troughton

Mr. Ibbs

Sarah Badel Image

Sarah Badel

Mrs. Frobisher

Bronson Webb Image

Bronson Webb

John Vroom

Richard Durden Image

Richard Durden

Mr. Hawtrey

Michelle Dockery Image

Michelle Dockery

Betty

Full Crew

Georgina Lowe

Producer

Richard Blackford

Music

Simon Kossoff

Cinematography

Bryan Oates

Editor

Sally Head Image

Sally Head

Executive Producer

Aisling Walsh Image

Aisling Walsh

Director

Sarah Waters Image

Sarah Waters

Novel

Peter Ransley

Screenplay

Malcolm Thornton

Production Design

Leigh Walker

Art Direction

Gareth Neame Image

Gareth Neame

Executive Producer

Susannah Buxton Image

Susannah Buxton

Costume Design

Trefor Proud

Makeup Artist

Jack Stew

Foley Artist

Kath Rayner

Makeup Artist

Doreen Jones

Casting

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