John Durbeyfield, a "haggler" and a drunk, is weaving his way one afternoon towards the pub when he meets the village priest, Parson Tringham. The priest informs him that his family has distinguished ancestry. They are descended from the d'Urbervilles, a wealthy, though now extinct, clan. John Durbeyfield's daughter, the beautiful Tess is dancing along with the other village girls at the May Day parade. There she spies a handsome young stranger joining in the dance, but he doesn't seem to notice her. His name is Angel Clare, a parson's son. John and his wife Joan have learnt that a woman called d'Urberville lives not too far away. They want to send Tess over there to 'claim kin'. Tess is reluctant, but when the family horse is injured in an accident and has to be shot, she realizes that for the family's sake she will have to go. She meets Alec d'Urberville, a good-looking, suave and apparently charming man, who lives in the biggest house Tess has ever seen, with his mother. He does not permit her to meet his mother yet. When Tess has left, Alec forges a letter, pretending it is from Mrs. d'Urberville, offering her a job on their estate. Tess accepts. Alec and his mother are not real d'Urbervilles. Alec's late father bought the title with his great wealth made from manufacturing chocolate. Tess at last meets the blind and daunting Mrs. d'Urberville, and works on the estate under the wary supervision of the bailiff Groby. Alec begins to seduce Tess, showering her with attention and gifts and assuring her that her family will want for nothing. Eventually the inevitable happens. Offering to ride her home after a village fair, he gets deliberately lost, tells her to sleep while he finds help, but returns and rapes her. Tess returns home in shame and confusion. A year has passed since the May Day dance. Now Tess can only watch the dancing girls from afar, holding a tiny baby boy in her arms.