The Jane Austen Book Club Page #3

to its elegiac tone.

- Don't think I'm doing the book club.

- You're doing it.

You lead one discussion. Pick a book.

Well, I just saw Sense and Sensibility,

and I think,

since I'm back living with my mom,

I really get that whole two-women,

tight-relationship, living-together-

but-really-opposites thing.

Is it weird living back at home again?

I think what Austen is actually writing about

is two sisters,

moving separately toward what

they each believe to be a perfect love.

Okay, but the point is

Marianne and Elinor's relationship...

Maybe if you'd read the book

instead of watching the movie...

- I thought I might do Emma.

- Which leaves what for Sylvia?

Northanger Abbey and Mansfield Park.

Which one's gonna make her feel better?

Because we're only doing the book club

to get her mind off Daniel.

I thought the reason for the book club

was for my not going to Paris.

- Exactly.

- Northanger Abbey.

No, don't make her do Northanger.

I mean, first you're going off

to all these dances,

and then suddenly it's sort of like

Nightmare on Northanger Abbey Street.

I'm afraid this isn't the book club

that I had in mind.

I mean, I find when someone in the group

feels superior to the author,

it just... It sets the wrong tone.

Okay, I'm happy to leave.

- No, Allegra. No. Allegra. No.

- Allegra, you can't. You can't.

After this day, I am so happy

to be talking about Jane Austen.

- Hi.

- Hi. Did we choose the books yet?

Sylvia, Prudie.

Oh, I'm sorry. Sylvia Avila.

- So, how do you feel about Mansfield Park?

- My favorite.

- I love Fanny Price.

- Stop, Mom, why?

She's such a goodie-goodie.

Six books, five people.

We skip Northanger Abbey.

- Definitely.

- And miss out on Mr. Tilney?

- No, you're right.

- He's such a flirt.

We don't have to do all six books, do we?

Doing all six novels

is the raison d'etre of the book club

and it is the only reason I'm here.

- Okay.

- Do you wanna invite your husband?

My husband has never read Austen

and he never will.

Okay, how should we do this?

Just meet once a month

at each of our houses, potluck...

Or, you know, pick some central location.

No, I don't think a coffee shop's conducive.

I'll host the first one, we'll start with Emma,

at my place.

But let's not get into this

competitive cooking thing.

Bakeoffs!

- No, we'll do finger foods.

- We're gonna do takeout.

And we have to create

the Jane Austen mood.

- Oh, my God.

- Hey.

- He came.

- Yeah.

Sorry, I sat in the wrong Starbucks

for half an hour.

Golly, there are a lot of these places, huh?

But they've got interesting coffee

from all over the world, so...

- This is Grigg, everyone.

- I'm Bernadette.

- Prudie.

- Prudie, and Allegra.

- Sylvia.

- Grigg Harris.

Hi.

Well, I'm excited.

Never read anything by Jane Austen before.

What is it?

Well, I went to the bookstore

to buy a copy of each one of the novels,

and I saw this.

And I thought,

"Well, maybe they're all sequels."

So, I figured it might be a good idea

to keep them all together in one book,

in case I needed to refer back.

Is this the order that we read them in?

Do you wanna grab a coffee, Grigg?

No, no. No, I'm fine.

I had plenty at the other place.

And... I bought this and they filled it up

for me, so I'm a little...

Yeah.

Oh, you said in your email

there was someone you wanted me to meet?

Yeah. Yeah, all of us, actually.

I thought we might benefit

from the perspective of a male in the group.

- A little testosterone.

- Right.

- Okay. So, none of you ladies are married?

- Prudie.

Right, so we just... What?

We just read them chronologically, and...

- We're doing Emma first.

- Emma?

Oh. Starting in the middle, huh?

- They're not sequels.

- They're not?

Well, great. We just start anywhere.

- What were you smoking?

- He's cute.

I thought he'd be a distraction for Sylvia.

She needs an adventure.

If he becomes a problem I'll get rid of him.

- What happened, you pull a DUI?

- No, no, I pretty much bike everywhere.

Where do you live?

About 20 miles north. Vista Mar.

- You live in what, that development?

- Yeah. Yeah.

I had this software company

and my accountant says to me,

"You gotta buy a house."

So, we were right by that exit.

And I said, "Pull over."

Got out, went in, pointed, bought a house.

- Like that.

- I should sell it, I guess.

Or at least buy some furniture.

Well, I guess I'll have to,

if you guys are coming over, right?

Allegra.

- Bye.

- Yeah. Sayonara.

You know, I never picked a book.

Could I do that abbey one?

- Perfect. Yeah, it's yours.

- Oh, Northanger Abbey.

Great. All right.

- Emma. Starting in the middle.

- Yeah.

Well, you gotta hand it to him

for taking the dud book.

It's the shortest, that's why.

- He's eager to please.

- Prudie, see you next time.

He is eager to please. He likes women.

- A welcome quality in a man.

- Yes. Yes.

- Do you think Sylvia responded to him?

- We let him in. It's done.

- Bye.

- Bye. Bye.

You're up.

Go big!

You okay?

Hey. Hey, you. Listen.

Can you make sure

they don't call my mother? Please.

Just make sure they don't call my mother.

Mrs. Avila? This is Corinne.

- I'm a friend of Allegra's.

- Allegra's.

And she's asked me to call you.

We're up here in Vacaville at a...

- Jewelry show.

...jewelry show.

I was showing her how to use my scooter

and she took a little spill.

It's minor. She banged up her wrist.

She doesn't need you to come. It's nothing.

We're at the doctor's.

He says she could be a bit sore.

Allegra didn't want you to worry

if she's not home tonight.

I'll remind her. Book club Monday night.

I'm sorry.

We don't shop on this side of town, ever.

Sorry.

You can have this Whole Foods.

We won't ever use it again. Okay?

So I was getting the wine for book club

and I bumped into Daniel.

He was with her.

- Oh, sweetie.

- Yeah.

They were going home to make dinner.

He was wearing a jacket with a zipper.

- No.

- That's so not Daniel.

I just... I walk around this house,

and it's not my home anymore.

I feel like Fanny Price

banished from Mansfield Park.

- That woman is living my life.

- Honey, she can't live your life.

Are you all right?

I know you like being alone,

but don't you ever get Ionely?

So what'd you think about Grigg?

The book club guy.

If you like him, I like him.

- How about those dreamy eyes?

- I didn't really notice.

Well, notice.

Can you come early tomorrow

since you're bringing the wine?

That's my girls. That's my girls.

That's my girls.

It's a smallish world, pedigreed Ridgebacks.

- "Pedigreed" is...

- Well, it's breeding.

Certain bloodlines

are naturally more valuable.

Mine are out of Queenie of the Serengeti.

Gorgeous hound. Gone now.

I bred her to my first

really important sire, Pridey.

Sire's the boy dog. Great disposition.

Passed away last month.

- I'm sorry.

- Thank you.

Miss him. But Queenie was the real star.

Ridgebacks are matriarchal.

That's one of their attractive features.

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