Pride & Prejudice Page #8

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Yes, I did hear of it.

I offer my congratulations.

But it is very hard

to have my Lydia taken away from me.

Mr Wickham has been transferred

to Newcastle, wherever that is.

Will you stay long in the country?

Just a few weeks. For the shooting.

When you've killed all your own birds,

I beg you will come here

and shoot as many as you please.

Mr Bennet will be vastly happy to oblige

and will save the best coveys for you.

Excellent.

- Are you well, Mr Darcy?

- Quite well, thank you.

I hope the weather stays fine

for your sport.

- I return to town tomorrow.

- So soon?

My Jane looks well, does she not?

She does indeed.

Well, we must be going, I think.

Darcy. It's been very pleasant

to see you all again.

Miss Elizabeth. Miss Bennet.

You must come again.

Last winter, you promised to have

a family dinner with us.

I've not forgot, you see.

At least three courses.

Excuse me.

Most extraordinary.

We were going to walk in

and she was going to say, "Sit down."

So, I feel...

Oh, it's a disaster, isn't it?

It's been...

- Miss Bennet.

- Mr Bingley.

I'll just go in and I'll just say it.

Yes, exactly.

I'm glad that's over. Now we can

meet as indifferent acquaintances.

Oh, yes.

You cannot think me so weak

as to be in danger now.

You are in great danger of making

him as much in love with you as ever.

- I'm sorry he came with Mr Darcy.

- Don't say that.

Why ever not?

Jane.

- I've been so blind.

- What do you mean?

Look, it's him.

He's back. He's come again.

I know this is all very untoward,

but I would like to request the

privilege of speaking to Miss Bennet.

Alone.

Everybody to the kitchen immediately.

Except you, Jane, dear, of course.

Oh, Mr Bingley, it's so good

to see you again so soon.

First, I must tell you I've been the

most unmitigated and comprehensive ass.

Kitty, be quiet.

Yes.

A thousand times yes.

Thank the Lord for that.

I thought it would never happen.

I am confident

they will do well together.

Their tempers are much alike.

They will be cheated assiduously

by their servants.

And be so generous with the rest,

they will always exceed their income.

Exceed their income?

He has 5,000 a year.

I knew she did not be

so beautiful for nothing.

"...must be free from all insincerity.

She only can address herself effectually

to the feelings of others

whose mind glows

with the warmth of sensibility

and whose arguments result

from conviction.

She must feel the influence

of those passions and emotions

which she wishes to inspire..."

Can you die of happiness?

He was ignorant

of my being in town in the spring.

- How did he account for it?

- He thought me indifferent.

- Unfathomable.

- No doubt poisoned by his sister.

Bravo. That's the most

unforgiving speech you've ever made.

Oh, Lizzie, if I could

but see you so happy.

If there was such a man for you.

Perhaps Mr Collins has a cousin.

- What is that?

- What?

Maybe he's changed his mind.

Coming!

Yes.

Lady Catherine.

The rest of your offspring, I presume?

All but one. The youngest

has been lately married, your Ladyship.

My eldest was proposed to

only this afternoon.

- You have a very small garden.

- Could I offer you a cup of tea?

Absolutely not. I need to speak

to Miss Elizabeth Bennet alone.

As a matter of urgency.

You can be at no loss

to understand why I am here.

I cannot account for this honour at all.

I warn you, I am not to be trifled with.

A most alarming report

has reached me.

That you intend to be united

with my nephew, Mr Darcy.

I know this to be a falsehood.

Though not wishing to injure him

by supposing it possible, I instantly

set off to make my sentiments known.

If you believed it impossible,

I wonder that you came so far.

To hear it contradicted.

Your coming will be a confirmation

if such a report exists.

lf? You pretend to be ignorant of it?

Has it not been

industriously circulated by yourself?

I have never heard of it.

Can you declare

there is no foundation for it?

I do not pretend to possess

equal frankness with your Ladyship.

You may ask a question

which I may choose not to answer.

Has my nephew

made you an offer of marriage?

Your Ladyship has declared it

to be impossible.

Mr Darcy is engaged to my daughter.

Now what have you to say?

If that is the case, you cannot suppose

he would make an offer to me.

Selfish girl. This union

has been planned since their infancy.

Do you think it can be prevented

by a woman of inferior birth

whose own sister's elopement resulted

in a scandalously patched-up marriage

only achieved

at the expense of your uncle.

Heaven and Earth! Are the shades

of Pemberley to be thus polluted?

Tell me once and for all,

are you engaged to him?

I am not.

Will you promise never

to enter into such an engagement?

I will not and I certainly never shall.

You have insulted me

in every possible way

and can now have

nothing further to say.

I must ask you to leave immediately.

Goodnight.

I have never been thus treated

in my entire life!

- What is going on?

- Just a small misunderstanding.

For once in your life,

leave me alone!

- I couldn't sleep.

- Nor I. My aunt...

Yes, she was here.

How can I ever make amends

for such behaviour?

After what you've done for Lydia

and, I suspect, for Jane,

it is I who should be making amends.

You must know.

Surely you must know it was all for you.

You are too generous to trifle with me.

You spoke with my aunt last night

and it has taught me to hope

as I'd scarcely allowed myself before.

If your feelings are still what they

were last April, tell me so at once.

My affections and wishes

have not changed.

But one word from you

will silence me for ever.

lf, however,

your feelings have changed...

...I would have to tell you,

you have bewitched me,

body and soul, and I love...

I love... I love you.

I never wish to be parted

from you from this day on.

Well, then.

Your hands are cold.

Shut the door, please.

Lizzie, are you out of your senses?

I thought you hated the man.

- No, Papa.

- He is rich, to be sure.

And you will have

more fine carriages than Jane.

But will that make you happy?

Have you no other objection

than your belief in my indifference?

None at all.

We all know him to be

a proud, unpleasant sort of fellow.

But this would be nothing

if you liked him.

I do like him.

I love him.

He's not proud. I was wrong.

I was entirely wrong about him.

You don't know him, Papa.

If I told you what he was really like,

what he's done...

What has he done?

But she doesn't like him.

I thought she didn't like him.

So did I. So did we all.

We must have been wrong.

- It won't be the first time, will it?

- No, nor the last, I dare say.

Good Lord.

- I must pay him back.

- No.

You mustn't tell anyone.

He wouldn't want it.

We misjudged him, Papa.

Me more than anyone. In every way.

Not just in this matter.

I've been nonsensical.

But he's been a fool about Jane,

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