In the kitchen at Wuthering Heights, Cathy and her brother Hindley are playing together, waiting for their father to return. He arrives home with a ragged child known as Heathcliff. As they grow older Cathy and Heathcliff spend their time together on the desolate moors where the bond between them grows closer, with Hindley remaining on the outside of their intense relationship. Years later Cathy and Hindley’s father dies and Hindley becomes master of Wuthering Heights. He takes his revenge upon Heathcliff, delighting in his degradation and humiliation.
One day Cathy and Heathcliff discover Thrushcross Grange, the home of the Lintons. A party is taking place and Heathcliff and Cathy cannot resist making fun of the children, Edgar and Isabella Linton. They are discovered, but as they run away Cathy trips and is unable to stand. Cathy spends time recovering from her injury at Thrushcross Grange where Edgar falls in love with her and she, in turn, is captivated by his refinement. Heathcliff remains alone at Wuthering Heights feeling betrayed by her long absence. When they are finally reunited Heathcliff cannot conceal his jealousy and after a struggle with Hindley he runs from the house. Cathy attempts to follow him, but he has gone.
Cathy and Edgar are married and in the midst of the festivities an unexpected guest arrives. Heathcliff has returned – richly dressed and genteel. As Cathy and Heathcliff are left alone, all the feelings they had for each other during childhood return. However it is too late, Cathy is a married woman and she returns to Edgar, leaving Heathcliff alone again.
Meanwhile at Wuthering Heights, Hindley has been drinking heavily and gambling excessively. Heathcliff gives Hindley money so he falls deeper into debt, eventually losing Wuthering Heights to Heathcliff. When Isabella visits Wuthering Heights she finds herself attracted to Heathcliff, but his aggressive charm makes her hesitate. However she gives in to him rather than return to the loneliness and tedium of her life at Thrushcross Grange. Later when Heathcliff and Isabella arrive together at Thrushcross Grange and Cathy sees them kiss, she jealously confronts Heathcliff who is determined to take his revenge.
After their argument, Cathy and Heathcliff are both drawn back to the moors where, as they are reunited, the anger is gone, replaced by love. But when they are discovered by Isabella, Cathy races from the scene and Heathcliff turns the full violence of his rage on Isabella. The night spent on the moors in a rainstorm has left Cathy gravely ill. Edgar leaves to get the doctor and Heathcliff enters the bedchamber through a window and gathers her up in his arms. As Edgar returns Cathy collapses and Heathcliff hands her back to her husband.
Many years later, Heathcliff is back on the moor where as an old man, he is desperate to embrace death and be reunited with Cathy. Finally his tired heart gives way and he falls to his knees with his head to the heavens. As snow begins to fall the past is buried as, liberated from anger and betrayal, they are reunited in their innocence and love.
Header image Emma Kauldhar