In the 1990 film *Pretty Woman*, the plot is driven by a series of layers regarding identity, social status, and personal history. The characters navigate a world of high-stakes business and luxury while keeping various secrets—some professional, some personal, and some that are eventually used as weapons.
### 1. Vivian Ward: The "Social Chameleon"
Vivian’s entire character arc for the first half of the film is built on keeping her true identity a secret from the high-society world she has been dropped into.
* **Her Profession:** Vivian’s primary secret is that she is a sex worker on Hollywood Boulevard. When Edward hires her for the week, she must hide this from his business associates, the hotel staff, and the elite social circles of Los Angeles.
* **The "Niece" Cover Story:** During a business dinner with James Morse, Edward introduces Vivian as his "niece" to explain her presence. This is a fragile secret that she struggles to maintain, as evidenced by her lack of knowledge about formal dining etiquette (the "slippery little suckers" escargot scene).
* **The "No Kissing" Rule:** This is a personal psychological secret Vivian keeps. She tells Edward early on that she doesn't kiss on the mouth because it is "too personal." It is her way of keeping her heart separate from her work, a secret internal boundary that Edward eventually breaks, signaling a shift from a business deal to a real relationship.
### 2. Edward Lewis: The "Raider’s" Vulnerability
Edward presents himself as a powerful, cold, and untouchable billionaire, but he harbors secrets regarding his emotional state and family history.
* **Emotional Isolation:** Edward keeps his profound loneliness a secret. He has no real friends and a history of failed relationships. His decision to hire Vivian is actually a secret attempt to fill the void of his emotionally unfulfilling life.
* **Resentment of His Father:** Edward’s "secret" motivation for his ruthless business style—buying companies and breaking them up—is revealed to be a form of revenge against his father. He explains that his father left his mother and took all the money; Edward eventually bought his father's company just to dismantle it, showing that his professional life is driven by a deep, hidden family trauma.
* **The "Betrayal" Secret:** In a moment of jealousy and weakness at a polo match, Edward reveals Vivian’s secret (her profession) to his lawyer, Philip Stuckey. He initially keeps this confession a secret from Vivian, but the fallout occurs when Stuckey uses that information to harass her.
### 3. Philip Stuckey: The Predatory Lawyer
Edward’s lawyer and business partner, Philip Stuckey, keeps his own moral corruption a secret until the film's climax.
* **Corporate Espionage Suspicions:** Stuckey initially suspects Vivian is a "corporate spy" sent by his business rival, James Morse. He keeps this suspicion secret while he observes her, trying to figure out why Edward is so distracted.
* **Predatory Intentions:** Once Stuckey learns Vivian’s secret from Edward, he hides his crude intentions until he can get her alone. He treats her with outward professional politeness until the final confrontation, where he attempts to assault her, revealing that his "loyalty" to Edward was secondary to his own entitlement.
### 4. Barney Thompson: The Discerning Manager
The hotel manager, Barney, is perhaps the most observant character in the film.
* **Silent Knowledge:** Barney knows Vivian’s secret from the moment she walks into the Regent Beverly Wilshire. While a hotel manager in his position would typically have a streetwalker removed, he keeps his knowledge a secret from the other guests and even Edward. Instead of exposing her, he acts as a "silent partner," teaching her social graces and helping her secure a wardrobe. He chooses to maintain the "secret" of her background out of a sense of compassion and professional discretion.
### 5. Kit De Luca: The Silent Partner
Vivian's roommate and best friend, Kit, keeps the secret of their "lifestyle" while also harboring a secret hope for a better life.
* **The "Safety Girl" Identity:** While the public sees Kit as a hardened streetwalker, she keeps her vulnerability secret. It is only at the end of the film that her "secret" desire for a legitimate life is revealed when she decides to go to beauty school, showing that she, too, was hiding a dream behind her tough exterior.