Arrogant, irascible, and misogynistic professor of phonetics Henry Higgins believes that the accent and tone of one's voice determines a person's prospects in society. He boasts to a new acquaintance, Colonel Hugh Pickering--also an expert in phonetics--that he could teach any woman to speak so "properly" that he could pass her off as a duchess at an embassy ball. He chooses as an example a sassy, young working-class London flower seller from the slums, Eliza Doolittle, who has a strong Cockney accent. Can Higgins turn Eliza into a duchess? And will Eliza care to remain a lady for long? When the humble flower girl blossoms into the toast of London's elite, her teacher may have a lesson or two to learn himself.