<P> Originally intended to be a dark cautionary tale about class and sex work in Los Angeles, the film was reconceived as a romantic comedy with a large budget . It was widely successful at the box office and became one of the highest - grossing films of 1990 . The film saw the highest number of ticket sales in the U.S. ever for a romantic comedy, with Box Office Mojo listing it as the #1 romantic comedy by the highest estimated domestic tickets sold at 42,176,400, slightly ahead of My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) at 41,419,500 tickets . The film received positive reviews, with Roberts's performance being praised, for which she received a Golden Globe Award and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress . In addition, screenwriter J.F. Lawton was nominated for a Writers Guild Award and a BAFTA Award . </P> <P> At the beginning of the film, Edward Lewis accidentally ends up on Hollywood Boulevard in the city's red - light district, after breaking up with his girlfriend during an unpleasant phone call in which he appears highly controlling; he asks her to escort him during his trip, but she is offended that he treats her as his' beck and call girl' . Leaving a party, he takes his lawyer's Lotus Esprit luxury car, and encounters a prostitute, Vivian Ward . He stops for her, having difficulties driving the car, and asks for directions to Beverly Hills . He asks her to get in and guide him to the Beverly Hills Regent Hotel, where he is staying . It becomes clear that Vivian knows more about the Lotus than he does, and he lets her drive . Vivian charges Lewis $20 for the ride, and they separate . She goes to a bus stop, where he finds her and offers to hire her for the night; later, he asks Vivian to play the role his girlfriend has refused, offering her $3000 to stay with him for the next six days as well as paying for a new, more acceptable wardrobe for her . That evening, visibly moved by her transformation, Edward begins seeing Vivian in a different light . He begins to open up to her, revealing his personal and business lives . </P> <P> Edward takes Vivian to a polo match in hopes of networking for his business deal . His attorney, Phillip, suspects Vivian is a corporate spy, and Edward tells him how they truly met . Phillip later approaches Vivian, suggesting they do business once her work with Edward is finished . Insulted, and furious that Edward has revealed their secret, Vivian wants to end the arrangement . Edward apologizes, and admits to feeling jealous of a business associate to whom Vivian paid attention at the match . Vivian's straightforward personality is rubbing off on Edward, and he finds himself acting in unaccustomed ways . Clearly growing involved, Edward takes Vivian in his private jet to see La Traviata in San Francisco . Vivian is moved to tears by the story of the prostitute who falls in love with a rich man . Vivian breaks her "no kissing on the mouth" rule (which her friend Kit taught her) and they have sex; in the aftermath, Vivian tells Edward she loves him, but he does not respond . Edward offers to put her up in an apartment so she can be off the streets . Hurt, she refuses, says this is not the "fairy tale" she dreamed of as a child, in which a knight on a white horse rescues her . </P> <P> Meeting with the tycoon whose shipbuilding company he is in the process of "raiding," Edward changes his mind . His time with Vivian has shown him a different way of looking at life, and he suggests working together to save the company rather than tearing it apart and selling off the pieces . Phillip, furious at losing so much money, goes to the hotel to confront Edward, but finds only Vivian . Blaming her for the change in Edward, he attempts to rape her . Edward arrives and throws Phil out of the room . </P>

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