Emma and her dad live in a big house called Hartfield in a place called Highbury. Emma takes care of her dad because her mom died when Emma was little. Miss Taylor, Emma’s governess and friend, has just been married, so now she is Mrs. Weston. Emma’s bummed that she left, but is psyched because she thinks she was the one who fixed the marriage up. George Knightley, a close friend to Emma and her dad, thinks she’s full of it. Emma becomes friends with Harriet Smith, a random orphan girl who goes to school nearby. Since Harriet is pretty and doesn’t have a lot going on in her life, Emma decides to improve her. She tells Harriet not to marry the farmer she liked, Robert Martin, and encourages her to go after Mr. Elton, a very eligible guy in town. Emma thinks Mr. Elton is into Harriet and Harriet is all happy. When Harriet gets a letter from Mr. Martin asking her to marry him, Emma tells her to neg him, because he’s just a farmer, and she thinks Harriet could do better.
Emma doesn’t think she’ll ever get married herself, but thinks she is a good match-maker. John and Isabella Knightley come to visit for Christmas. Everyone goes to the Weston’s house for Christmas eve dinner. They talk about Frank Churchill and how he never been to Highbury. Frank’s supposed to be some hot, rich dude. It turns out that he’s supposed to come is a couple of weeks. Emma thinks that if she were ever going to get married, it would be to a guy like Frank, who is all high up in society and cool. There’s a ton of snow so everyone has to go home. Emma and Mr. Elton are in the same carriage and she’s all weirded out to find that he is all in love with her when she thought he liked Harriet. She tells him she’s not interested but feels bad since she basically convinced Harriet to forget Robert Martin and go for this guy. After the snow stops, Isabella and John go back to London, Mr. Elton goes to Bath (a town near London, and Emma has to tell Harriet that it isn’t going to happen with Mr. Elton. Emma finds out that Frank’s visit is postponed.
Jane Fairfax comes to visit. Emma doesn’t like her, especially since Jane met the infamous Frank Churchill. Mr. Elton gets engaged to Augusta Hawkins. Frank Churchill arrives – the Westons want to fix him up with Emma, but he goes off to see Jane. Emma ends up liking him though, and Frank agrees with Emma’s negative views on Jane. The Coles have a party. Emma is sure that Frank is into her. She might be into him, too, but she’s not sure. Emma wonders if George Knightley is in love with Jane, but he says he wouldn’t ask her to marry him. Emma gives a dinner for Mr. and Mrs. Elton. Frank sends word he’ll be coming back soon.
When Frank comes back, Emma realizes she never really liked him. At some ball, Harriet has no one to dance with, and Mr. Elton blows her off again, so George Knightley steps in. He also dances with Emma. The next day, Frank plays the hero when some gypsies bother Harriet. Emma thinks Harriet likes Frank. George tells Emma that Frank and Jane are getting it on, but she doesn’t believe him.
In June, George has a party at his estate, Donwell Abbey. Emma sees Harriet and George walking together. Frank doesn’t show up. Jane leaves early. Frank finally arrives. The next day, Emma and Frank flirt. Jane is bummed. Emma is rude to Miss Bates. She goes to apologize the next day, and finds out that Jane is leaving soon to go off and be a governess. Frank leaves and his mom dies.
Later, the Westons get a letter from Frank saying how he and Jane have been engaged twice. Mr. Churchill says okay. Harriet turns out not to like Frank, but George Knightley. Emma finds this out and realizes that George is the one man for her. She tells George and he realizes he has feelings for her, too. They get engaged but can’t get married because Emma still has to take care of her dad. Harriet goes to visit the London Knightleys, Jane and Emma become friends, and George decides that he’ll move in with Emma and her dad since Mr. Woodhouse wouldn’t leave his estate. Harriet decides to marry Robert Martin. Emma and George get married and are very happy.