Northanger Abbey Page #2

What are they?.

Oh, I ask you how long

you have been in Bath,

have you been to the theatre,

and the concert, and so on.

Wouldn't that be rather dull?.

Of course.

But we must do our duty.

Are you ready?.

Yes.

How long have you been

in Bath, madam?.

Not long at all, sir.

- And were you never here before?.

- Never, sir.

Indeed! And have

you been to the play?.

Not yet, sir.

Astonishing. The concert?.

No.

Amazing. Now tell me...

Are you altogether

pleased with Bath, madam?.

Yes.

I like it very well.

Excellent.

Now I must give you one smirk,

and then we can be rational again.

Do you know that gentleman?.

Not at all.

I wonder why he

keeps looking at us.

I imagine he likes what he sees.

What?.

Do you mean me?.

Why not?.

So, tell me,what will you write

in your journal tonight?.

"Friday, went to the Lower Rooms,

wore my sprigged muslin dress

with blue trimmings,

and looked very pretty,

though I say so myself."

-The next dance! Lord Byron's...

-"Danced with one man,

was stared at by another

much more handsome."

Indeed I shall say no such thing.

Then what shall you say?.

Perhaps I don't keep

a journal at all.

Come on!

A most agreeable young man.

Was he not, Catherine?.

Yes.

He was very kind,

and very amusing.

I liked him very much.

Well, Mr Allen?.

No, l...

I didn't mean anything like that.

He can't have thought of me like that,

he is much too...

He is quite grown-up.

Catherine, I feel

I should warn you

that Bath attracts all manner

of scoundrels and adventurers,

and one cannot be too careful

when making new acquaintances.

Mr T:
ilney, a scoundrel?.

Mr Tilney, an adventurer?.

He understands muslin, Mr Allen.

He has a sister.

Well, upon inquiries,

I did discover that Mr Tilney is a young man

of very good family, and a clergyman to boot.

A clergyman?.

No doubt you'd prefer

him to be a brigand?.

His father's a man of

consequence, though.

General Tilney,

of Northanger Abbey.

Northanger Abbey?.

Is it haunted?.

No doubt, no doubt.

These abbeys usually are.

Whoa!

..wearing the same old things

that one wouldn't have thought of.

Mrs Allen?.

And this must be Miss Morland.

Mrs Thorpe. Your brother James

told me to look out for you.

-You know James?.

-lndeed. He is up at Oxford with my son, John.

Mrs Thorpe!

My old schoolfellow!

Yes, he went to you at Christmas.

And I may say he endeared

himself to us all.

Ah, here come my girls now.

Isabella, my eldest,

and Maria and Anne.

Isabella, this is Mrs Allen,

and Miss Catherine Morland.

James's sister.

James's sister!

How do you do, Miss Morland?.

I have so long

wished to meet you.

Your brother has spoken of you

so affectionately.

I am sure that we will be

the very best of friends.

I am so pleased you love

Mrs Radcliffe's novels, too.

I wish I were you, just beginning

to read Udolpho for the first time.

Is it really very horrid?.

You can't even imagine.

But I wouldn't tell

you for the world.

Well, perhaps one incident

to whet your appetite.

Can such things really happen?.

Well, just think of Lord Byron.

I have heard that he is very wicked.

But I don't know exactly

what he is supposed to have done.

Oh!

And I have heard that

he is here, in Bath.

Shall we go to the Pump Room

and see if we can see him?.

Perhaps your Mr Tilney

will be there, too.

He's not my Mr Tilney, lsabella.

Indeed, you mustn't say he is!

Isn't he?.

Well, there's a certain person

who will be very glad to hear that.

Who do you mean?.

Never you mind.

Oh.

I do so hate it when strangers listen

to one's private conversations.

No, his name's not there.

I think he must be gone from Bath.

And yet he never mentioned

his stay would be so short.

Perhaps it's just as well.

My brother John says

the whole family is very bad.

The eldest son as bad

as Lord Byron,John says.

Surely he's mistaken. Mr Tilney couldn't

have been kinder or more gentleman-like.

Appearances often

deceive, you know.

But he is a clergyman.

That signifies nothing these days.

Insufferable!

Come, let's walk outside.

Nice. Both girls.

Nosegays! Buttonholes!

Posies! Buttonholes!

Are they following?.

No, they are going

towards the churchyard.

Good. We are rid of them.

Now, if we turn down there,

it will bring us to Milsom Street.

But shouldn't we come upon

them again if we did that?.

Oh, never mind that.

Come, make haste.

Posies!

Oh, these odious carriages!

How I detest them!

Make way! Make way!

- lsabella!

- Oh, how delightful!

Mr Morland and my brother John!

James!

I didn't know you were coming to Bath.

Thorpe's idea.

When I remembered you were here, and you,

Miss Thorpe, nothing would have kept me away.

I am very happy to see you again.

And l, you.

- Miss Morland.

- My good friend John Thorpe.

Enchant.

I had the pleasure

of seeing you dance the other evening.

Yes, I remember.

I hope I may have the pleasure

of dancing with you myself before too long.

- We were walking towards Edgar's Buildings.

- Were you?.

Damn it, we'll walk with you! Miss Morland?.

- Are you fond of an open carriage?.

- Oh, yes, very.

Well, would you permit me to drive you

up Lansdown Hill one day this week?.

Thank you. You are very kind.

But...would it be proper?.

Oh, damn it, this is Bath.

You know?. Everything's more

free and easy in Bath.

Penny for your thoughts,

Miss Morland?.

I was just...Have you ever

read Udolpho, Mr Thorpe?.

Udolpho?. Lord!

No, I never read novels.

I leave all that to lsabella.

-I read The Monk the other day, though.

-The Monk!

Is it as shocking

as everybody says?.

You can borrow it,

if you care to.

Hot stuff, you know.

-lsn't this altogether delightful,Catherine?.

-Yes!

What say?. Jig it again?.

Take your partners

for the next dance!

A Prodigal Fellow!

Miss Morland.

Allow me to introduce...

Eleanor.

My sister.

Your sister!

Oh...

Yes, I am very happy to

meet you, Miss Tilney.

And l, you.

Henry has told me so much about you.

You can't imagine how surprised I

was to see your brother again.

I felt so sure of his being

quite gone from Bath.

Yes, when he saw you, he was here to engage

lodgings for us. He only stayed the one night.

Oh, I see.

He, your brother, dances very well.

- Yes.

- And he is very amusing.

Yes, he is, when he cares to be.

Do you know that gentleman

talking to Mr Tilney?.

That's our father,

General Tilney.

He looks as if he were

displeased with us.

It is only his way.

And is your mother here with you

in Bath as well?.

Our mother is dead.

So this is your first time in Bath?.

Do you like it?.

Very much indeed.

There are some very pretty

walks round about.

Henry and I walk most mornings.

Should you care to join us one day?.

Yes.

More than anything in the world.

I love long walks.

Though I can't persuade

my friend to join me.

She thinks it a waste of time when there are

so many other things to do in town.

I can see that she might.

She says the most appalling things.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote