When his father dies, young Nicholas Nickleby's family is left penniless, and he, his sister, and his mother venture to London to seek help from their wealthy Uncle Ralph (Plummer). Unfortunately, Ralph's intentions are less than good, and the family is split apart. Nicholas is sent to teach at Dotheboys Hall, a squalid school for orphan boys run by the cruel and abusive Wackford Squeers (Broadbent). Within the dark, grim walls of Dotheboys, Nicholas befriends a kind-hearted and mistreated boy named Smike (Bell) and together they run away, setting off on an adventure to reunite the Nickleby family and build a new home of their own.