Mansfield Park Page #2

"...protect our interests there."

"Maria has found herself a fiance,

a Mr Rushworth, "

"who Sir Thomas

has approved by post. "

"Everyone seems delighted with him,

except Edmund, who says, "

"'If he had not 1 2,000 a year,

we'd think him prodigiously dim. "'

"Consequently, there's an urgency

for Julia to search for a suitor. "

"And Mrs Norris' husband died..."

"...which did not seem

to inconvenience her at all. "

"She's moved into Mansfield proper,

where life is decidedly less expensive."

"What joy is mine! So..."

"Now there is a new parson

moved into the parsonage, and... "

"...Iife seems nothing more than

a quick succession of busy nothings."

They are half-brother and -sister

to the parson's wife.

Entertain them with suitable

attention and animation.

Not to mention alacrity!

I might need the rest of the morning

to recover from the ball last night.

- I'm just a mite sluggish.

- lndeed!

Mr Russel, if you please!

May I introduce Miss Mary Crawford?

And her brother, Mr Henry Crawford.

This is my sister, Lady Bertram.

Mr Edmund Bertram.

This is Miss Julia Bertram,

who's just come out into society,

as Miss Maria Bertram, here, has just

become engaged to Mr Rushworth.

Perhaps you passed Mr Rushworth's

magnificent estate on your way.

The one with the spectacular gardens,

Sotherton?

Actually, we're planning

some improvements.

And Fanny Price.

Well...you certainly seem a dreary lot!

Please, do join us

in our game, Mr Crawford.

- Well...?

- I like them both exceedingly.

But I like Julia best.

Why?

Because her Aunt Norris advised me

that it must be so!

She seems very ready

to be fallen in love with.

Though Maria is most agreeable.

- Though her choice is made.

- Yes...

And I like her the better for it.

An engaged woman is always more

agreeable than a disengaged.

She is satisfied with herself.

Her cares are over, and she may exert

all her powers of pleasing

without suspicion.

All is safe with a lady engaged.

No harm can be done.

You allow yourself great latitude

on such points, Henry.

But you will be the one

taken in at last.

"'l cannot know

if he loves me,' said Eliza."

"l asked, 'Did he never gaze

on you with admiration?"'

"'Tenderly press your hand?

Drop a tear and leave abruptly?"'

"'Never,' replied she."

"'He's always left the room

when his visit has been ended."'

Edmund... What do you think?

She's delightful.

They're both delightful.

There could be no harm

in my liking an agreeable man.

- Everyone knows my situation.

- Must you always win?

Even when you already

have your prize?

There will be disappointments.

If one scheme of happiness fails...

...human nature turns to another.

You may need your pretty philosophy

in the end, Maria.

Pity Tom, the eldest, is not here.

Or his 20,000 and his baronetcy!

Henry! You know those things

mean nothing to me.

Shall we stay on a while?

Hmm, yes, please.

I must say, the pleasures of life rarely

transcend such a moment as this.

Don't you agree, Pugsie?

God damn you!

Tom, are you well?

Is there war? Where's Sir Thomas?

Edmund, come quickly!

Tom, what of Antigua?

Where's Father?

Antigua... All the lovely people there

paying for this party.

Tom, we thought you were in Antigua.

Oh, please!

Tom returned from Antigua

somewhat sooner than expected.

He spent a while in London. I found

him in the Covent Garden Theatre.

- A theatre?

- Yes. They're restaging this...

...delicious slice of naughtiness

called "Lovers' Vows".

I've heard of that.

Tom was a charming parasite until...

Well...he ran out of cash.

Since I sympathise with the tragedy

of unwarranted poverty,

I chose to deliver him to his family,

whom I now find to be so very...

...Ioving and beautiful.

And solvent.

Solvent?

Mr Bertram?

The baron meets the bastard son,

takes back his lover,

and they all live happily, I presume,

for some time ever after.

- Bravo, Tom!

- Well told, Tom!

More dim-witted fiction

to clutter the world.

Come now, Mr Bertram.

Drama is to life

what ships are to the sea.

A means to traverse it. To plumb

its depths, breadth and beauty.

I couldn't agree more.

Good drama, in which the greatest

powers of the mind are displayed,

in which the most thorough knowledge

of human nature, the liveliest wit,

are conveyed to the world

through the best chosen language.

This is essential.

This is trash!

He's so serious!

That is the worst charge, isn't it?

What do you think, Miss Price?

I'm sorry to disappoint,

but I do not have a ready opinion.

I suspect you are entirely composed

of ready opinions not shared.

Fanny.

- Yes, Aunt Norris?

- What are you doing here?

- I beg your pardon.

- The sewing wasn't cleared away.

You're quite right, it wasn't. I'll...

I'll see to it immediately.

Aunt Norris, surely

the sewing can wait?

Pray, is she out or is she not...

into society?

- I can't see that it matters terribly.

- Forget this nonsense.

Let's stage the play.

Here. Now. Together.

Yatesy, you're a genius.

Why, this is the very room

for a theatre.

And Father's study will

provide for an excellent stage!

It has been mentioned that I have

quite a gift for the stage...actually.

Tom, you're not serious?

Not serious? Me?

"Lover's Vows"? I'm convinced

that our father would disapprove.

I think I know our father

as well as you do.

Manage yourself and let me

take care of the rest of the family.

Don't act yourself if you

do not like it, but please...

...don't try to govern everybody else.

All settled, then?

- Good!

- What?

What's the matter?

I was not asleep.

No, of course not, ma'am.

No one suspected you.

Where's Fanny?

Mrs Norris, get me Fanny Price.

I wish to play Amelia.

But which gentleman am I to have

the pleasure of making love to?

Why has the wish to do what is right

become an unattractive quality?

And now Tom wants

Charles Maddox to play Anhalt.

He's about as discreet

as the town crier!

So this is where you hide. I need

some rehearsing. Would you mind...?

Mr Bertram! Hello.

Hello, Miss Crawford.

- I'll be off, then, Fanny.

- Stay, stay!

Stay! We need an audience.

We all need an audience,

don't we, Fanny?

I live in dread of audiences.

Come. I will play Amelia.

- And you will play Anhalt my teacher.

- No, no.

Read from there,

since Mr Bertram refuses. I insist.

Very well.

"For a long time,

you have instructed me."

- "Why should not I now teach you?"

- "Teach me what?"

"Whatever I know and you don't."

"There are some things

I'd rather never know."

"As you made certain mathematical

problems pleasant to me,"

"l might teach

something as pleasant to you."

"Woman herself is a problem."

"And I'll teach you to make her out."

"You teach?"

"Why not?"

"None but a woman can teach

the science of herself."

Upon reconsideration,

I cannot help but think that...

...despite the displeasure

of appearing inconsistent,

it would be better for me to play Anhalt

than invite Charles Maddox

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