Mansfield Park Page #3

into this mixture.

Excellent!

"There are some things

I would rather never know."

"What is this? How is this?"

"And why do I find

my mother thus? Speak."

"l cannot speak, my dear son."

"My dear Frederick,

I was not prepared."

"Dear Mother, compose yourself.

Now then..."

Put it down over there.

Hello, my sweet dear girl.

Welcome home, sir.

My word! You've grown in health.

And, I dare say, beauty.

Where are the rest, Julia and Maria?

What's that?

- Well, it's...

- lmprovements?

Baddeley.

Oh, you must be Sir Thomas!

I am Rushworth.

Your future son-in-law.

We are in the midst

of a home theatrical. I'm Count Cassel.

I come in with a blue dress

and a pink satin cloak...

...afterwards I have another fine suit

by way of a shooting dress.

I have two and forty speeches

which is...

...no trifle.

Father!

- Absolutely not!

- It won't be much.

Father...

Tom... So this is what you were

in such a hurry to leave Antigua for?

Oh, Sir Thomas...

I could not have borne

your absence a moment longer.

Come on!

"Dear Susy, all remnants

of the theatre have been erased, "

"and Tom and Yates have fled

the new solemnity that has returned. "

Do tell us more

about the Negroes, dear.

The mulattos are well-shaped, and

the women especially well-featured.

I have one, so easy and graceful in

her movements and intelligent as well.

Strangely, two mulattos

can never have children.

They're like mules in that respect.

Excuse me, Father, for contradicting

you, but that is nonsense.

- You cannot say such things.

- I did not say they are mules.

I said they are like mules.

Long's 'History of Jamaica'.

Read it before you challenge me.

I've a good mind to bring one back

with me to work here as a domestic.

Correct if I am in error, but if you were

to bring a slave back to England,

there would be some argument

whether or not they should be freed.

If I'm not mistaken...

I must say,

you've changed considerably.

I've done some reading on it... Thomas

Clarkson, under Edmund's guidance.

Fanny has a voracious mind,

as hungry as any man's.

And her writing is remarkable,

in a style entirely new.

Yes, good... Yes...

Your complexion is so improved.

I trust you will see as much

beauty of mind in time, Father.

You've gained so much countenance,

and your figure...

Please...

Don't you agree, Mr...Crawford?

- Purity is a decided attraction, true.

- lndeed.

Especially for the impure.

It must be the moral steadfastness

of her heart that illuminates her eyes.

- Please!

- Gentlemen...

Fanny is as fearful of notice and praise

as other women are of neglect.

- Most discerning, Miss Crawford.

- Thank you, Mr Bertram.

I have it! A ball at Mansfield Park

in honour of Fanny!

We shall introduce

Miss Fanny Price to society.

Some young man of good standing

will take notice.

She'll glide about with quiet elegance

and in admirable time.

You must excuse me.

I think I have something...

It needn't be a large affair,

just a few friends...

Fanny, don't be foolish, it is raining.

I see more distinctly through the rain.

- It's just a silly ball.

- I'll not be sold off like a slave!

Don't be an imbecile!

But imbecility in women is a great

enhancement to personal charms!

Fanny...

You're being irrational!

Another adornment.

I must be ravishing.

Fanny, you really must begin

to harden yourself to the idea of...

...being worth looking at.

- You could do worse, Edmund.

- Sir?

She is witty and bright,

and not without...worth.

- How might you measure that worth?

- Don't impress me with your purity.

Her family is well-established,

it is well known.

The Prices?

The Crawfords, Edmund.

I meant the Crawfords...

Mary Crawford.

What are you reading?

Laurence Sterne's

'A Sentimental Journey'.

May l?

"l was interrupted with a voice

which I took to be that of a child,"

"which complained

it could not get out."

"l looked up and down the passage

and saw a starling in a little cage."

"'l can't get out, I can't get out!'

said the starling."

"'God help thee,' said l.

'But I'll let thee out, cost what it will."'

"But it was double-twisted with wire,

and I had to pull the cage to pieces."

"l took both hands to it."

"The bird flew to where I was

attempting his deliverance,"

"and thrusting his head

through the trellis as if impatient,"

"'l fear, poor creature,' said l,"

"'l cannot set thee at liberty."'

"'No,' said the starling."

"'l can't get out. I can't get out,'

said the starling."

You read well.

Thank you.

Father, I wish to speak

to you about Rushworth.

Maria, yes...

Now, you know how eagerly disposed

I was to like your Mr Rushworth.

But you think him

an inferior young man.

As ignorant in business as in books

with opinions unfixed

and without seeming

much aware of it himself.

I'm not blind, Father.

Perhaps the alliance, advantageous

as it is, was too quickly agreed to.

You need not worry, Maria,

I shall take care of you.

Every inconvenience should be braved

and the connection given up,

if you feel yourself unhappy

in the prospect of it.

I will not pretend

he is of shining character.

But I will also not pretend

that enjoying a larger income,

a house in the city and all the other

amiable pleasures it will afford,

are not an attraction.

As for the rest...

Well, he's still young.

And...

...I would like to marry him

immediately.

Within a fortnight.

- I do not understand the urgency.

- I don't understand the delay.

I would like for Julia to accompany me

on the honeymoon.

You wish for Julia to accompany you

on your honeymoon?

She's never been to Brighton.

- Evening.

- Evening to you, sir.

"Dear Susy,

Maria was married on Saturday."

"ln all important preparations of mind,

she was complete."

"Prepared for matrimony

by a hatred of home,

"disappointed affection and contempt

of the man she was to marry."

"The bride was elegantly dressed and

the bridesmaids were duly inferior. "

"Her mother had her salts, expecting

to be agitated, and her aunt tried to cry. "

"Marriage is indeed

a manoeuvring business."

Goodbye, my precious!

Good luck!

Bye!

It is a comfort to think

you will never leave us, Fanny.

- My dear Fanny!

- Oh, no, no...

- I should take the apples to Mrs Norris.

- I want you to stay and play with me.

She must forgive me.

Selfishness must always be forgiven,

because there's no hope of a cure!

So lovely.

Tomorrow evening, the ballroom

shall be lit solely by your beauty.

You do have a fine form, my dear.

No wonder Edmund

so delights in your company.

I'm so evil he knows not

what to make of me.

Would that I had

your sound judgement.

Tell me...

- Does he speak of me?

- Occasionally.

Is that your harp in the front room?

Indeed. It was transported

from London on Henry's carriage.

I tried to hire a horse and cart,

but found I'd asked the most

unreasonable thing in the world!

I'd offended all the farmers,

the labourers and the hay in the parish.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes