David Copperfield (1993 film)

Plot

The female cat Betsey Trotwood travels through Blunderstone's Christmas streets to visit her niece Clara, while the leonine Edward Murdstone and the fat rodent Grimby abduct orphans and urchins for new workers. David is born at the Copperfield estate and named after his late father; Betsey is angered to discover the child is a great-nephew rather than a great-niece. Years later, Clara marries Murdstone, and David disapproves. Once they leave, Murdstone throws David into the factory, where he is beaten by security. David finds shelter with the Micawbers and befriends a dog named Mealy, who was abducted the night David was born. The Micawbers act cruelly only when Murdstone is watching. Murdstone reveals to Grimby that he has hidden Clara's condition from David. David hopes to escape, but Mealy warns of obstacles including the Cheese Monster, a vulture that catches runaways. David uses Robinson Crusoe–inspired methods to improve the workplace; Murdstone punishes him and Mealy by isolating them in the tower. Murdstone blackmails the Micawbers into withholding care from David. Agnes, disguised as a beggar, sees the factory conditions. David glimpses the Moldies in a drainage grate, one of Murdstone's experiments that trapped workers in slime. Agnes and David reunite, but Murdstone sends her away; the Duke cares more about his reputation. Mealy reveals that Murdstone and Grimby have been fattening the Cheese Monster to eat it, and the Cheese Monster overhears and becomes upset.