Pretty Woman tells the story of Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts), a spirited, street-smart Hollywood prostitute who dreams of a better life. One night, she meets Edward Lewis (Richard Gere), a wealthy, aloof corporate raider who is lost while trying to navigate Los Angeles. Edward hires Vivian to be his guide for the night and later offers her a surprising deal: spend a full week with him as his companion for $3,000.
Vivian agrees and, with the help of Edward’s hotel manager Bernard Thompson (Héctor Elizondo), transforms herself into a glamorous woman who can fit into Edward’s high-society world. As Vivian adapts to this new environment, she and Edward begin to break down each other’s emotional barriers. Edward, who is used to cold business transactions, slowly starts to rediscover human connection through Vivian’s warmth, humor, and sincerity.
During the week, Edward takes Vivian to lavish events, including a polo match and an opera, where she makes a strong impression on the high society crowd. Meanwhile, Vivian struggles with feelings of inadequacy, sensing she is still viewed as an outsider. Tension escalates when Edward’s ruthless lawyer Philip Stuckey (Jason Alexander) learns of Vivian’s true background and behaves cruelly toward her, leading to a violent confrontation.
By the end of the week, Edward offers to set Vivian up in an apartment and support her financially, but without any deeper emotional commitment. Hurt by the offer — which feels like another business transaction — Vivian refuses. She wants more: real love and the chance to build her own independent future.
In the final scenes, Edward, inspired by Vivian’s dreams and independent spirit, decides to abandon his cutthroat business style. In a romantic gesture, he shows up at Vivian’s apartment in a white limousine, climbing the fire escape to “rescue” her, mirroring the fairy tale she once described. Vivian, in turn, “rescues” Edward by helping him open up to life and love.
Key Themes:
✨ Class differences
✨ Personal transformation
✨ Emotional growth
✨ The search for real love over money
Fun Fact:
The original script was much darker (Vivian was a drug addict), but Disney reworked it into the romantic comedy we know today.
