Charlie,ayoungaristocratinturnofthecenturyEngland,meetsaboynamedFrankontheroadtoPortsmouthWhatCharliedoesn'trealizeisthatFrankisactuallyFrances,who'sdonnedadisguisetoescapeworkingatabrothelCharlietakesFrank/Francesintohishome,andwhenhediscovershertrueidentity,thetwobecomeloversHesendshertoLondontobetrainedbyhismistressintheartofsex,butshelearnsmuchmoreaboutheridentityasawomanBeforetheopeningcredits,explicitlyonscreenitreads:"BasedonthefamousVictorianeroticnovelbyananonymouswriter"