The first scene takes place in Lord and Lady Windermere's morning-room. Lady Windermere is entertaining Lord Darlington, who seems very fond of her. Lady Windermere reveals her puritanical values. Then, the duchess and her daughter arrive. They talk about how Lady Windermere is throwing a party that evening to celebrate her coming of age. Lady Windermere says that she would never invite anyone to her house who has ever been involved in a scandal. Lord Darlington leaves, and the Duchess tells Lady Windermere that Lord Windermere has been spending time with a woman called Mrs. Erlynne. He has also been giving her money. Lady Windermere does not believe it, but when her guests leave, she checks her husband's bank book and finds that it is true. Lord Windermere enters, and says that he is only friends with Mrs. Erlynne. It seems that, through some improper behavior, Mrs. Erlynne lost her place in society many years before. Lord Windermere pities her, and asks his wife to invite Mrs. Erlynne to the party that evening. Lady Windermere refuses, but Lord Windermere invites her anyway.
             The next act takes place at the party. When Lady Windermere sees Mrs. Erlynne, she is very angry. She talks to Lord Darlington about it. He confesses that he loves Lady Windermere and asks her to come away with him. At first, she refuses, but after Lord Darlington has left she changes her mind. She writes a letter to her husband and sets off.
             Mrs. Erlynne learns of Lady Windermere's departure and intercepts the letter. She reads it and sees what Lady Windermere is doing. It is revealed that Mrs. Erlynne is Lady Windermere's mother, and she left her husband the same way, 20 years earlier. She goes off to prevent Lady Windermere from making this great mistake.
             The next act takes place in Lord Darlington's house. Mrs. Erlynne tries to convince Lady Windermere to return to her husband, but Lady Windermere d
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