Emma Page #2

(later)

EMMA:

Mr Weston, have you had any news of your son?

MR WESTON:

Oh, indeed! Miss Smith. I was married many years ago to a woman whose life

was lost to illness just three years after the birth of our son, Frank. As

I could not see to my buisness and care for the infant, I allowed him to be

brought up by my wife's brother, and his wife, the Churchills. He lives in

London, now a young man, and has never been here. His aunt is not well, and

she does not care to be without him.

MRS WESTON:

His coming would be the final blessing for our marriage.

HARRIET:

How lucky to have been twice blessed in marriage! It has been my belief

that one loves only once. I am happy to be wrong.

MR WESTON:

Not so happy as I, Miss Smith.

MRS WESTON:

I had the most pleasing letter from him on the occasion of our marriage. I

have it here if anyone would care to see it.

(later, as the letter filters through the party members)

MISS BATES:

A most charming and kindly letter. Don't you think so, mother? (to Mr

Knightley) Have you ever read such a letter, Mr Knightley? Do you know,

this reminds me of Jane's style, somewhat more delicate style. Which is

more usual in a woman, but a good sign in a man, I think.

MR WOODHOUSE:

Nicely expressed. But it sounds as though he eats a worrisome amount of

custard!

MRS GODDARD:

It's not merely the feeling in it. The penmanship is so confident.

(later)

EMMA:

Isn't Miss Smith delightful? I watched her throughout the evening with

continuous pleasure. She is uncertain of her surroundings, yet I though

perhaps I could be of service to her and undertake her introduction into

Highbury society. I could never presume to guide her as you did me, but

perhaps I might share a little of what I know.

MRS WESTON:

She could ask for nothing better. Come, Mr Weston, I must write to your

son. Good night, Mr Woodhouse!

MR WESTON:

Good night, Mr Woodhouse! Good night, Emma! Thank you for a wonderful

dinner!

MR WOODHOUSE:

Good night Miss Taylor!

EMMA:

Good night, Mrs Weston! Mr Weston!

MR WESTON:

Good night!

MR WOODHOUSE:

Poor Miss Taylor. She so obviously wanted to stay.

SCENE 4-HIGHBURY

EMMA:

How interesting, Miss Smith. And what kind of people are your parents.

HARRIET:

I do not know. Mrs Goddard has said that I cannot know them, and so I have

left it at that. Because of her attentions over the years, Mrs Goddard has

been my true guardian.

EMMA:

Hurry along, dear. It's Miss Bates coming. As it is Tuesday, she will have

a letter from her niece Jane Fairfax, and she will want to read us every

word about her.

HARRIET:

Oh, I do not know Miss Fairfax!

EMMA:

There's not much to be said for her. When pressed, I say she is elegant.

SCENE 5-HIGHBURY

HARRIET:

Besides you, and Mrs Goddard, hmm...The only other people I know here are

the Martins, at Abbymill Farm. Mrs Martin had TWO parlors, an oven maid,

and EIGHT cows! Mr Martin used to cut fresh flowers every day.

EMMA:

How lucky for Mrs Martin to have such an agreeable husband!

HARRIET:

Oh, Miss Woodhouse, Mr Martin is not her husband, he is her son!

EMMA:

Ah! I see. Then he is...unmarried.

HARRIET:

Mmm, but I cannot understand why. He seems perfect in every particular. He

brought me walnuts once, and went three miles to get them just because he

heard me say I liked them. Wasn't that kind? OH!

(later)

EMMA:

Tell me more about Mr Martin. Is he a man of information?

HARRIET:

Oh, yes! He reads the agricultural reports, and I recommended he read The

Romance of the Forest, and he said he would.

EMMA:

And what sort of looking man is he?

HARRIET:

I thought him very plain at first, but I do not think so now. Have you

never seen him when he is in town?

EMMA:

Only the Martins are the sort of people with whom I have nothing to do

with. A degree or two lower, and I might be useful to their families. But a

farmer needs none of my help, and is therefore as much above my notice as

he is below it. In fact, whenever-

HARRIET:

Miss Woodhouse! There he is now! How do I look?

EMMA:

Fine, dear. Good enough I'm sure for Mr Martin.

MR MARTIN:

Good day! Well, this is a bit of a chance, isn't it?

HARRIET:

Good day, Mr Martin. Miss Woodhouse, may I present Mr Martin? This is Miss

Woodhouse.

MR MARTIN:

Good day-How do you do?

HARRIET:

Were you able to find The Romance of the Forest?

MR MARTIN:

Oh, blast! I forgot, but I'll go again tomorrow, and I will make every

effort to get that thought into my head.

HARRIET:

How is your mother?

EMMA (thinking)

Really, Harriet, you can do better than this.

SCENE 6-SEWING AT HARTFIELD

EMMA:

If you pull this way, dear, you'll find it makes a neater stitch.

HARRIET:

Oh, of course! May I ask what you thought of my friend, Robert Martin?

EMMA:

Well, dear, I imagined him a degree nearer gentility.

HARRIET:

True, he's not so genteel as Mr Knightley, but-

EMMA:

No, there are not one in a hundred men with 'gentleman' written so plainly

across him as Mr Knightley. But let us judge him next to another man, oh,

say...Mr Elton! Mr Elton is a fine man, thoughtful in ways Mr Martin can

never be.

HARRIET:

Miss Woodhouse, whatever his faults, Mr Martin is thoughtful.

EMMA:

I see. Did he take your advice, and get the book you asked him to read?

HARRIET:

Well, no.

EMMA:

Yes.

HARRIET:

Yes. I wonder that he did not remember it.

EMMA:

Oh, well. Mr Elton said something very kind about you the other day.

HARRIET:

Can you not tell me what it was?

EMMA:

Oh! It's not my place to intrude upon personal matters. But as your friend,

I could make an exception, if you wish. I heard him....

SCENE 7-HIGHBURY CHAPEL

MR ELTON:

Miss Smith was always a beautiful creature, but the attractions you have

added are far superior.

EMMA:

Oh, I have done very little.

MR ELTON:

Were it permissible to contradict a lady.

EMMA:

I cannot take credit for her beauty, nor her sweetness, or-

MR ELTON:

An idea has just dropped into my head, surely from heaven itself. What if

you were to exercise your artistic talents and draw a portrait of Miss

Smith? Oh, I would love to watch you draw her.

EMMA:

Mr Elton, my skills are slender indeed, and we must not forget how shy Miss

Smith is.

MR ELTON:

Do you think it would help if I asked her to pose?

SCENE 8-HIGHBURY

MR ELTON:

Oh, Miss Woodhouse, may I look, please? I cannot wait another second.

Incredible! You have expressed her completely!

EMMA:

Mr Elton, really! You exaggerate!

MR ELTON:

Indeed, I do not! Nor cannot!

EMMA:

The reason that I have not done a portrait in so long is the spouse of the

subject always complains. As there are no husbands or wives here, I trust I

may proceed safely.

MR ELTON:

No husbands or wives at present, Miss Woodhouse.

MR KNIGHTLEY:

You've made her too tall.

MR ELTON:

It may not be Miss Smith's height in terms of measurement, but it's surely

the height of her character.

(later)

MR WOODHOUSE:

My dear, I would paint a shawl on her, as one can't help feeling that she

will catch cold! Otherwise, it is quite splendid. It only wants a suitable

frame. We will have to get it to London.

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