Emma Page #6

EMMA:

And might you summarize the letter in your own delightful words?

MISS BATES:

Oh, would you like the pleasure of hearing it, Miss Woodhouse, as only Jane

can put things, upon my honor I would not. Um, where's that letter, yes

here it. Yes, the bad news is she has a cold.

EMMA:

Oh, no!

MISS BATES:

Oh, yes, but the good news far outweighs it, far far far! She is coming to

visit and you must be here to help us with here Miss Woodhouse, because it

wouldn't be a proper visit otherwise. You must sit right where you are, and

you must say--

SCENE 23-BATES' HOUSE

EMMA:

We are so glad to have you with us! How were you able to get away?

JANE:

Well the Cambells have gone to Ireland on a holiday, so I've come here,

which is better than any holiday.

EMMA (thinking)

Hmm. She is more giving than I expected.

MISS BATES:

Tell Miss Woodhouse whom you saw in Wayworth! Frank Churchill, that's who,

Mr Frank Churchill!

EMMA:

Oh, I hear much of him, but have never seen him! Was he handsome?

JANE:

Many say he is.

EMMA:

Was he agreeable?

JANE:

He was in no way disagreeable.

EMMA:

Was he a man of information?

JANE:

All his statements seem correct.

EMMA (thinking)

I take it back. She is--

SCENE 24-HARTFIELD

EMMA:

--absolutely impossible! She wouldn't tell me anything about Frank

Churchill!

MR KNIGHTLEY:

Why should you care so much about Frank Churchill?

EMMA:

I was merely being sociable, that's all, and she was not.

MR KNIGHTLEY:

Perhaps you dislike her because divides our attentions from you!

EMMA:

Ha! Really, Mr Knightley, you are so comical, you ought to perform in the

Town Square.

MR KNIGHTLEY:

Oh, I have some news! And I know how much you like news.

EMMA:

Ah, yes, I always like news.

MR KNIGHTLEY:

Mr Elton is going to marry.

EMMA:

I don't know what to say, except that I'm...--

SCENE 25-HARTFIELD AND FORDS'

HARRIET:

--in a state of complete shock!

EMMA:

You've heard?

HARRIET:

About what?

EMMA:

Oh! Never mind.

HARRIET (narrating)

I was on my way here for our visit. It started raining, so I ducked into

Fords to wait it out.

HARRIET (speaking) Good day, Mr Ford, Mr Ford.

HARRIET (narrating) As I admired some fabric, who should come in but

Elizabeth Martin, and her brother! Oh, I thought I should have fainted!

They saw me, and began whispering, then, oh, Miss Woodhouse, I could not

believe this, she came up to me and spoke! She said:

ELIZABETH MARTIN

I'm sorry we never meet now.

HARRIET (narrating)

And I said:

HARRIET (speaking)

Oh, you're too kind.

HARRIET (narrating)

Then, I saw that Mr Martin, my Mr Martin was coming toward me!

HARRIET AND MR MARTIN TOGETHER

Good day, (Mr Martin/Miss Smith)

MR MARTIN:

I managed to read The Romance of the Forest. It was very good.

HARRIET (narrating)

Finally I said that I had to go, but then he followed me! I was not three

steps outside, and he said:

MR MARTIN:

Miss Smith! You'd better go by Mr Cole's Stable. The near way's flooded.

HARRIET (speaking)

Thank you.

HARRIET:

Oh, Miss Woodhouse, do talk and make me comfortable again!

EMMA (thinking)

I suppose this would not be the right time to mention that Mr Elton was

engaged.

EMMA:

This was awkward because it was the first time you've seen Mr Martin since

rejecting his proposal. You, and I must say he, behaved very well. Now, the

kindest thing you can do for yourself is to put Mr Martin out of your head

for good.

HARRIET:

Yes. I will. I will do so immediately. He's behind me now.

EMMA:

Wonderful! I thought I might sketch the puppies, would you join me?

HARRIET:

Oh, yes please! It was awfully kind of him to warn me about the flooding.

EMMA:

Yes, dear.

HARRIET:

He got his coat wet to tell me. That's the coat Mrs Martin gave him for his

birthday! I do hope he does not catch cold!

SCENE 26-ROAD TO RANDALL

EMMA:

OH! Oh, good heavens!

FRANK:

Is your horse just washing his feet, or are the darker forces at work here?

EMMA:

The latter, I'm afraid. Something has happened to the wheel and I cannot

move.

FRANK:

Well, you'll just have to live here then. Bye. I suppose that won't do.

I'll help you home.

EMMA:

Thank you so much, Mr...?

FRANK:

Churchill. Frank Churchill.

EMMA:

A name I know as well as my own, so long I have heard it spoken. Your

father's wife was my governess.

FRANK:

Then you are Miss Woodhouse! How delightful! I hear of nothing but you!

EMMA:

The last I heard is from Mrs Weston is that you were not due until

tomorrow.

FRANK:

It is always a pleasure to come in on one's friends before the lookout

begins. I would not presume to do so in most cases, but I felt in coming

home I might be forgiven.

EMMA:

Then you have not seen them? We shall have to go there first. They will be

overjoyed.

FRANK:

Overjoyed, I think, that we are both there together. As I am.

SCENE 27-HIGHBURY

MISS BATES:

Oh, Miss Woodhouse! Have you heard? Frank Churchill is here!

EMMA:

Yes! In fact, I met him yesterday!

MISS BATES:

NO!

EMMA:

Yes!

MISS BATES:

Oh!

EMMA:

He did me quite a service when my horse--

MISS BATES:

Is he handsome? Is he everything everyone says he is? I have not seen him

myself, though Jane saw him, and she said that he was not at all

'unpleasant to look at'. I suppose I shan't see him until the Coles' party,

but that seems like such an age from now. But I'm sure, simply sure that

we'll be upon his wall. Well, we are sufficiently prepared!

SCENE 28-HARTFIELD

EMMA:

Has an invitation arrived for a party at the Coles?

MR WOODHOUSE:

No, thank heaven! The Coles are nice people, but we should have to go

outside to get there!

EMMA:

Of course we would have to decline as they ask...but I don't wish them to

outthwart me...

(later)

MR WOODHOUSE:

Has James brought the letters?

EMMA:

I don't know, I don't pay any attention to the mail.

(later)

EMMA:

Why do they not write? Perhaps they must know I must reject them. Still as

close friends of the Westons they should have the courtesy to extend the

invitation. Unless they don't want me! But I cannot--

SCENE 29--COLES' PARTY

EMMA:

--tell you how delighted I am to have been invited, Mrs Cole!

FRANK:

Isn't it handsome?

MRS COLE:

Thank you. But as of today, there's a much prettier one in town. It has

been sent to Jane Fairfax.

FRANK:

Really? And who sent it to her?

MRS COLE:

That's the exciting part! There was no identification of the donor.

MR WESTON:

Must be from Colonel Campbell!

MRS COLE:

Jane's parents died, and the Bates of course are quite without the

resources to...And Colonel Campbell was a great friend of her fathers, so

he and his family have raised her.

FRANK:

Well, then they must have sent it.

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