Oh!
'You are the last man I could marry! Do you think any consideration would tempt me?
'Your arrogance, conceit and disdain for the feelings of others!
'My opinion was formed by Mr Wickham's story of your dealings with him!'
At least in THAT I may defend myself.
'Do I rejoice in the inferiority of your connections?
'Hope for relations whose condition in life is so decidedly below my own?'
'You are mistaken. You merely spared me the concern I might have felt in refusing you,
'had you behaved in a more gentleman-like manner.' Who's there?
Darcy! We quite despaired of you!
Is that my nephew? Where have you been?
Let him come in and explain himself! ..No. You will forgive me.
You will forgive me.
- You are unwell? - I am well. I have business.
Forgive me. Make my apologies to Lady Catherine.
DOOR CLOSES
'To Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
'Be not alarmed, Madam, on receiving this letter,
'that it contain any repetition of those offers which were, this evening, so disgusting to you.
'But I must defend myself against the charges laid at my door,
'particularly those relating to Mr Wickham which, if true, would be grievous, but are without foundation.
'I can only refute them by describing his connection with my family.
'Mr Wickham was the son of a very respectable man, who had the management of our family estates,
'and my own father was fond of him, and held him in high esteem.
'We played together as boys.
'After his father's death, my father supported him at school and Cambridge,
'and hoped he would make the church his profession.
'By then, George Wickham's habits were as dissolute as his manners were engaging.
'My own excellent father died five years ago.
'His attachment to Mr Wickham was to the last so steady
that he desired that a valuable family living might be his.
'Mr Wickham declined any interest in the church as a career,
'but requested, and was granted, £3,000 instead.
'He expressed an intention of studying the law.
'I wished, rather than believed, him to be sincere.'
Thank you.
I'm most exceedingly obliged.
'All connection between us seemed now dissolved.'
Georgiana.
'Being now free from all restraint,
'his life was one of idleness and dissipation.
'How he lived, I know not.
'But last summer, our paths crossed under the most painful circumstances,
'which I myself would wish to forget.
'My sister, Georgiana, who is more than ten years my junior,
'was left to the guardianship of Colonel Fitzwilliam and myself.
'A year ago, she was taken from school to Ramsgate, in the care of a Mrs Younge,
'in whose character we were deceived, and thither, also, went Mr Wickham,
'undoubtedly by design.
'She was persuaded to believe herself in love,
'and to consent to an elopement.
'She was then but 15 years old.
'A day or two before the intended elopement,
'I joined them unexpectedly.
'Unable to support the idea of grieving a brother whom she admired,
'she acknowledged the plan at once.
'You may imagine what I felt and how I acted.
'Mr Wickham left the place immediately.'
Come. >
'Mr Wickham relinquished his object, which was of course my sister's fortune of £30,000.
'The secondary motive must have been to revenge himself on me.
'Had he succeeded, his revenge would have been complete indeed.
'This, madam, is a faithful narrative of all my dealings with Mr Wickham.'
FOX BARKS >
Mmm! Mmm.
Mmm. Mmm.
Oh! You do look pale, Lizzy. Have some breakfast.
I'm sure it will do you good. No, no. I am well, Charlotte. Fresh air and exercise are all I need.
The woods are beautiful.
BIRDS SING
Miss Bennet.
Mr Darcy.
I have been walking the grove some time in the hope of meeting you.
Will you do me the honour of reading this letter?
'This is a faithful narrative of my dealings with Mr Wickham.
'For its truth I can appeal to the testimony of Colonel Fitzwilliam.
'I know not under what falsehood Mr Wickham imposed himself on you,
'but I hope you will acquit me of cruelty towards him.'
WICKHAM: I had better not meet Mr Darcy. Unpleasant scenes might arise.
'The other charge is that, regardless of the sentiments of either party,
'I detached Mr Bingley from your sister.
'I have no wish to deny this, nor can I blame myself.'
SHE GASPS Oh!
'I saw that Bingley admired your sister.
'Not until the dance at Netherfield did I suspect a serious attachment.
'His partiality was clear. She was pleased by his attentions,
'but I did not detect any symptoms of peculiar regard.
'Her serenity convinced me that her heart would not be easily touched.' Insufferable presumption!
'I thought her to be indifferent on impartial conviction.' Oh! VERY impartial(!)
The two gentlemen came to take their leave!
Mr Darcy came? He left directly. The Colonel waited half an hour for you.
Now they are gone out of the country!
I dare say we shall be able to bear the deprivation(!)
'As to my objections to the marriage -
'the situation of your family, though objectionable,
'was nothing compared to the want of propriety betrayed by your mother,
'your younger sisters and even, occasionally, your father.'
LOUD, TUNELESS SINGING
That will do well, child. You have delighted us long enough.
Now, THERE will be a great marriage!
And that will throw the girls
into the path of other rich men!
'My friend left Netherfield for London the following day.'
'I pointed out to him the evils of his choice of your sister as a prospective bride.
'It was not difficult to convince him of her indifference.
'I cannot blame myself for this.'
Destroying her hope of happiness? I am sure you do not - hateful man!
'There is one part of my conduct on which I do not reflect with satisfaction.' Astonish me(!)
'I concealed from him your sister's being in town.
'Perhaps this was beneath me.
'It is done, however, and was done for the best. I have nothing more to say and no apology to offer.'
Insufferable!
CHARLOTTE: Lizzy! COLLINS: We will be late!
Lizzy!
COLLINS: I have reckoned up the number of times Lady Catherine has invited us since your arrival.
It may be as many as ten! MARIA: Eleven, counting this one!
Eleven! You have been favoured with peculiar condescension!
Do you not agree, Miss Elizabeth? Oh...yes!
How could anybody think otherwise?
This is your last invitation - on this visit, at least.
It is a cruel deprivation. I hardly know how to bear the loss of Lady Catherine's company.
You feel it keenly! Yes, of course you do, my poor young cousin!
'They were such fine young men,
'and so particularly attached to me!'
They were excessively sorry to go, but so they always are!
The dear Colonel rallied his spirits tolerably,
but Darcy seemed to feel it most acutely.
His attachment to Rosings certainly increases.
You are very dull this evening, Miss Elizabeth Bennet!
You have scarce spoke two words together. Are you so out of spirits?
No, Madam... Of course you are...
to be going away yourself.
Who indeed would not be sad to be deprived of Rosings, and the...
Write to your mother and say you wish to stay longer.
She can spare you for another fortnight. But my father cannot.
He wrote to hurry my return.
Your ladyship is very kind, but we must leave on Friday.
Your father may spare you. Daughters are not of much consequence to fathers.
If you will stay another month complete,
I will be able to take you as far as London myself in the barouche box.
I cannot bear the idea of two young women travelling post by themselves!
It is highly improper! I am excessively attentive to all those things.
My uncle will send a servant for us when we change to the post. Oh, your uncle?
He keeps a manservant, does he?
I am glad somebody thinks of these things. Where do you change horses? Brom...
Bromley, of course. Mention my name at the Bell. They will attend you. Your ladyship is very kind.
We are indebted to your ladyship's kindly bestowed solicitude...
Yes, yes, but this is all extremely vexing.
I am quite put out!
What are you doing? I thought the trunks went out before breakfast.
Lady Catherine was so severe about the only right way to place gowns.
I am determined to start afresh!
This is your trunk, with your gowns. Arrange them how you wish.
(Lady Catherine will never know!)
COLLINS: Well, my dear sister, you will have much to tell...
CHARLOTTE: Bring that one round here.
COLLINS: So much kindness from Lady Catherine.
Well, cousin...now you have seen the happiness of our situation.
Our intimacy at Rosings is a blessing
of which few could boast. Indeed they could not.
Now you have witnessed our felicity, you may think your friend has made a very fortunate alliance -
perhaps more so than...
but on this point, it is as well to be silent.
You are very good.
Only let me assure you that I can, from my heart,
most cordially wish you equal felicity in marriage.
Charlotte and I have but one way of thinking.
We seem to have been designed for each other!
It seems but a day or two since we came, yet how many things have happened!
A great many, indeed.
We have dined NINE times at Rosings.
How much I shall have to tell!
How much I shall have to conceal!
Allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.
HORN BLOWS
HORSES WHINNY
Lizzy!
I'll wager you did not expect we'd come to meet you, did you? No, we did not!
There. Is not this nice? Cold ham, pork, salads and every good thing.
We mean to treat you. But you must lend us the money. We spent ours.
I thought I might as well buy it.
­ It's vile, isn't it?
Very ugly. Why did you buy it?
There were uglier ones in the shop. At home I will make it up better.
It doesn't signify what we wear. The regiment are in Brighton for the summer. Our hearts are broken.
We asked Papa to take us to Brighton but he said no.
I'm glad to hear it. Shouldn't you like to go to Brighton?
No. She would, when she hears the news about a certain person we know!
Shall we tell her? And watch to see if she blushes!
You may go. We'll call you if you're needed.
Very good.
Wickham is not to marry Mary King. Her uncle took her to Liverpool. Wickham is safe!
Perhaps we should say Mary King is safe.
Was there a strong attraction between them?
I don't think he cared three straws about her!
Who could, about a nasty, freckled thing? Don't look at me like that!
I know you think ill of her. Pass the celery.
We shall be such a merry party on the journey home!
Kitty, you're squashing my bandbox! You should have put it on the roof!
If you didn't lollop about, there would be room. YOU lollop! ..Ow!
Mr Darcy proposed?
I can scarce believe it! ..Not that anyone's admiring you should be astonishing.
But he seemed so severe, so cold apparently...
He was in love with you all the time! Poor Mr Darcy!
I cannot feel so much compassion. He has other feelings to drive away any regard he felt for me.
You do not blame me for refusing him? Blame you? Oh, no!
But you do blame me for speaking so warmly of Wickham.
No! How could you have known about his vicious character? ..If he WAS so bad.
But I cannot believe Mr Darcy would fabricate such a dreadful slander.
Involving his own sister, too!
No, it must be true!
Perhaps there has been some terrible mistake.
No, Jane! That would not do. You cannot make them BOTH good.
There is just enough merit between them to make one good sort of man.
For my part, I am inclined to believe it is all Mr Darcy's.
Poor Mr Darcy!
Poor Mr Wickham! Such an expression of goodness in his countenance!
Yes. One has all the goodness and the other all the appearance of it!
But Lizzy, I am sure when you first read that letter,
you could not have made so light of it as you do now. Indeed I could not.
I was very uncomfortable. Till that moment I never knew myself.
And I had no Jane to comfort me. Oh, how I wanted you!
There is one point on which I want advice.
Should our general acquaintance be informed of Wickham's character?
Surely there can be no occasion to expose him so cruelly.
What is your own opinion?
That it ought not to be attempted.
Mr Darcy has not authorised me to make it public, especially as regards his sister.
For the rest, who would believe it?
General prejudice against Mr Darcy is violent, and Wickham will soon go.
We should say nothing at present.
I agree.
Perhaps he is sorry for what he has done and is anxious to re-establish his character.
We must not make him desperate.
Oh, Jane! I wish I could think so well of people as you do!
Will you speak to Papa, Lizzy, about Brighton? He listens to your advice.
You flatter me, Lydia. In any case, I shouldn't attempt to persuade him.
I think it's a very good thing that the regiment should be removed from Meryton.
Lizzy! How can you say such a thing? Very easily, ma'am.
If one company of militia causes havoc, what would a whole campful of soldiers do?
A whole campful of soldiers!
I remember when I was a girl. >
I cried so when the regiment left. I thought I should break my heart!
I'm sure I shall break mine! And I!
There, there, my dears. Your father is determined to be cruel!
I confess I am. I'm sorry to break so many hearts but I have no intention of yielding!
I shall not break my heart.
Brighton would have no charms for me. I would infinitely prefer a book. Oh!
Mrs Forster plans to go sea-bathing. I should love to go sea-bathing!
A little sea-bathing would set ME up for ever!
And yet I am unmoved. Well, well.
I am glad you are come back, Lizzy. I am glad you are come back, Jane.
Ohhhh!
I WANT TO GO TO BRIGHTON!
You are not happy, Jane.
It pains me to see it.
It is just that I did...
I'm afraid I still do prefer Mr Bingley to any other man I've ever met and Lizzy, I did believe he...
Well, I was mistaken, that is all.
I am resolved... to think of him no more.
There. Enough.
I shall be myself again,
as if I had never set eyes on him.
Truly, Lizzy, I promise. I shall be well. I shall be myself again.
I shall be perfectly content.
Well, Lizzy...
what do you think about this sad business of Jane's?
I cannot find out that she saw ANYTHING of Bingley in London.
Well...he's a very... undeserving young man.
There isn't the LEAST chance of her getting him now. If he came back to Netherfield...
I think there's little chance of that, Mama.
Oh, well. Just as he chooses.
No-one WANTS him to come!
I shall always say he used my daughter extremely ill. If I was her, I should not have put up with it.
My comfort is - she will die of a broken heart and then he'll be sorry!
So, the Collinses live quite comfortable, do they?
I only hope it will last!
I suppose they talk about having this house when your father is dead!
They look on it as quite their own? They could hardly discuss it in front of me.
I expect they talk about it constantly when they're alone.
If they are easy with an estate that is not their own, so much the better!
I should be ashamed of having one that was entailed upon me! Mama!
Mama! Lizzy!
Guess what!
You never will, so I'll tell you.
Mrs Forster has invited me, as her particular friend, to go with her to Brighton!
Ooh, Lydia! I am so happy! What an honour, to be singled out!
Is it not unfair? Mrs Forster should have asked me as well!
I may not be her particular friend but I have just as much right! Ha ha!
More, too, for I am two years older!
There's no call for her to be in a miff because Mrs Forster likes me above anyone!
Lydia, Papa has not given you permission to go.
Nor is he like to.
He won't stop me. I have been invited as the Colonel's wife's particular companion!
I need new clothes. There will be balls and parties every night!
Of course! You won't be disgraced in front of all the officers!
Ooh! "All the officers"!
Oooh!
I understand your concern, my dear, but consider -
Lydia will never be easy until she has exposed herself in public.
It is an opportunity for her to do so at very little inconvenience to us!
If you were aware, Father,
of the very great disadvantage to us all which has already arisen from Lydia's imprudent manner,
you would not think so! "Already"? Has she frightened off your lovers?
Lizzy, such squeamish youths are not worth your regret.
Indeed you are mistaken! I have no injuries to resent.
I speak of general, not particular evils.
Our position as a family, our respectability, is called into question by her behaviour.
Excuse me. I must speak plainly.
If you do not check her, she will be beyond the reach of amendment -
the most determined flirt, making herself and her family ridiculous!
Kitty follows wherever Lydia leads.
They will be censured and despised wherever they are known,
and they will involve their sisters in their disgrace.
Lizzy, Lizzy, come here.
Don't make yourself uneasy, my love.
Wherever you and Jane are known, you must be respected and valued.
You will not appear to any less advantage for having a couple - or three - very silly sisters.
We shall have no peace at Longbourn if Lydia does not go to Brighton.
Colonel Forster is a sensible man.
And luckily, she's too poor to be an object of prey to a fortune hunter.
Leave it now.
I believe all will turn out well.
LIVELY CHATTER
LYDIA GIGGLES
We are so desolated, Colonel, that the regiment is to leave Meryton.
Words cannot express what we feel about your kindness to dear Lydia.
It appears that Mrs Forster cannot do without her.
Look at 'em.
Thick as thieves. Lord knows what they talk about.
Anything to keep the ladies happy. What do you say, Wickham?
I say amen to that, sir!
There is one lady I shall be loath to part from.
We must bear it as best we can.
You are for Brighton. I shall tour the Lakes with my aunt and uncle.
We shall find ample sources of consolation - in our different ways.
Perhaps. How did you find Rosings?
Interesting. Colonel Fitzwilliam was there with Mr Darcy. Do you know him?
I, um...
To some respect, yes, in former years. Very gentlemanly man.
How did you like him? Very much indeed.
His manners are very different from his cousin's.
Yes.
But I think Mr Darcy improves
on closer acquaintance.
Indeed? In what respect?
Has he acquired a touch of civility in his address? I dare not hope he is improved in essentials.
No. In essentials I believe he is very much...as he ever was.
Ah.
I don't mean to imply that either his mind or his manners are changed for the better.
Rather, my knowing him better improved my opinion of him.
I see. Wickham! >
Wickham, come here!
At your service, madam!
Yes, go, go! I would not wish you back again.
Goodbye, Papa! Goodbye, Mama! Lydia, my dear, we shall miss you most cruelly!
I shall write every day to make you wild with envy. Oh! I can't help it!
­ I shall not envy her a jot!
Goodbye Jane, Lizzy! If I see any eligible beaux I shall send word! ..Oh! Ooh!
What a laugh if I fell and broke my head!
I wish you would! My dear girl! Take every opportunity of enjoying yourself!
Bye!
Never mind, Kitty. I dare say in a year or two, you'll have got over it tolerably well.
I shall be in my library, not to be disturbed.
CRIES OF "HELLO!"
I can see Alicia! She's grown!
JANE: Oh, you must be so tired!
You've all grown since we last said goodbye! Come inside.
Such a sweet, steady girl!
Well, Lizzy!
We bear you bad tidings. Not TOO grievous, I hope.
My business will not allow me time away to visit all the lake country.
We shall have to content ourselves with Derbyshire. Oh.
Derbyshire has many beauties, has it not?
To me, Derbyshire is the best of all counties.
You may judge Chatsworth the equal of Blenheim.
Surely the southern counties have nothing to compare to the wild, untamed beauty of the Peaks!
UNCLE: Nature and culture in harmony, Lizzy.
Wildness and artifice, all in the one perfect county.
AUNT: I grew up here so I should never disagree!
Where, exactly? Lambton, a little town of no consequence to anyone except those who live in it.
I think it the dearest place in the world. I shall not be happy till I see it!
It has a claim on your interest. >
It is five miles from Pemberley and owes its prosperity to the estate.
So near?
Not that I, or any of my acquaintance, enjoyed intimacy with the family.
We moved in very different circles.
A hit. Acknowledged. Very good, sir!
Enough, sir?
Enough, thank you. Will you come again tomorrow?
I have business in the north. I'll come tomorrow week.
I bid you good day, sir. Thank you, Baines. Good day.
I shall conquer this.
I shall!
BIRDS CRY
Elizabeth! Be careful! >
­ How could I face your father if you fell?
Beautiful!
Thank you, Hannah. You're welcome, sir.
I should be happy to stay my whole life in Derbyshire.
I'm happy to hear it. What do you say to visiting Pemberley tomorrow? It's only a mile out of our way.
Do you specially wish to see it, Aunt?
I should have thought YOU would.
The associations are not all unpleasant. Wickham passed his youth there.
We have no business there. I should feel awkward to visit without an invitation.
No more than Blenheim or Chatsworth!
I shouldn't care for it myself if it were merely a fine house, richly furnished.
But the grounds are delightful, with some fine woods.
How far are we from Pemberley? Not more than five miles.
The grounds are very fine. As fine as anywhere, ma'am!
My oldest brother is an under-gardener there.
Is the family here for the summer? No, ma'am.
Well?
Perhaps we might visit Pemberley after all!
We've seen woods and groves enough to satisfy even your enthusiasm, Lizzy!
I had no idea Pemberley was such a great estate.
Shall we reach the house before dark? Be patient. Wait!
There.
UNCLE: Stop the coach!
One would put up with a good deal to be mistress of Pemberley.
The mistress WILL have to put up with a good deal, from what I hear.
She's not likely to be anyone WE know.
How do you like the house, Lizzy?
Very well.
I don't think I have ever seen a place so happily situated.
I like it very well indeed.
< Drive on!
Pity, then, its owner should be such a proud and disagreeable man.
Yes, a great pity!
Perhaps the beauty of the house renders its owner a little less repulsive, Lizzy? Yes, perhaps!
Perhaps a VERY little!
< Well.
Shall we apply to the housekeeper to see inside?
Mrs Darcy used to write her letters here. It was her favourite room.
This is the music room.
Charming!
- What a lovely room this is. - Delightful.
CLOCK CHIMES
And there's a fine prospect from that window down towards the lake.
< Look at this, my dear.
DUCKS QUACK
Of this, I might have been mistress! This piano has just come down.
It's a present from my master for Miss Georgiana.
Your master is from home? We expect him tomorrow.
He is coming with a large party of friends - and Miss Georgiana.
This portrait was painted earlier this year for her 16th birthday.
She is a very handsome young lady!
Oh, yes! The handsomest young lady that ever was seen!
And so accomplished! She plays and sings all day long!
Lizzy!
Look at this picture.
It reminds me of someone we know.
This one, ma'am?
That was the son of the late Mr Darcy's steward.
Mr Wickham. He's gone into the army.
He's turned out very wild indeed, I'm afraid.
That's my master. Very like him.
It is a handsome face but I've never seen the original.
Is it like him? Oh! Does this young lady know the master?
Yes, a little. And he is a handsome gentleman, is he not, ma'am?
Yes - very handsome. I'm sure I know none so handsome.
Or so kind. UNCLE: Indeed?
Aye, sir. I've never had a cross word from him.
I've known him since he was four.
They that are good-natured as children are good-natured when they grow up.
His father was an excellent man. He was.
His son will be just like him - the best landlord and the best master.
Ask his tenants or his servants.
Some call him proud. I fancy that's because he don't rattle away like other young men.
If you will follow me, there's a larger portrait in the gallery.
This way, sir, if you please.
(This account of Darcy is not consistent with his behaviour to Wickham!)
Perhaps we might have been deceived there. That's not likely, is it?
Ah!
Magnificent.
There!
Would you like to ride him, sir?
Take him to the stables.
Wh... Mr Darcy!
Miss Bennet!
I...
I did not expect to see you. We heard the family were from home.
I returned a day early. ..Excuse me. Your parents are in good health?
..Yes. They're very well, thank you, sir.
I'm glad to hear it.
How long have you been in this part of the country? Two days, sir.
Where are you staying? At the inn at Lambton.
Of course.
Well, I'm just...arrived myself.
And your parents are in good health, and all your...sisters?
Yes!
They're all in excellent health.
Excuse me.
The man himself,
I presume?
As handsome as his portrait, though a little less...formally attired.
We must leave here at once!
Of course, if you wish! I wish we'd never come!
What must he think of me? Was he displeased? What did he say?
Nothing of consequence!
HORSE NEIGHS
Miss Bennet.
Let me apologise for not receiving you properly. You are not leaving.
We were. I think we must. I hope you're not displeased with Pemberley.
No, not at all.
Then you approve of it?
Very much. I think there are few who would not approve.
Your good opinion is rarely bestowed, so more worth the earning. Thank you.
Would you introduce me to your friends?
Certainly.
Mr and Mrs Edward Gardiner, Mr Darcy.
Mrs Gardiner is my aunt. My sister Jane stayed at their house in London.
Delighted, madam. Sir. You're staying in Lambton, I hear?
Yes, sir. I grew up there.
Delightful village. I ran there, as a boy, in the horse chestnut season.
There was one fine tree. On the green. By the smithy. The very one.
Mr Gardiner, do you care for fishing?
Indeed, sir, when I get a chance.
Come to my trout stream.
Or there are carp, tench and pike in the lake.
I shall be happy to provide you with tackle.
Let us walk down now. Follow us to the lake. My man will show you.
There's a place there... >
Is this the proud Darcy you told us of? He is all ease and friendliness!
I am astonished. I can't imagine what has brought the transformation.
Can you not?
Miss Bennet.
BOTH SPEAK AT ONCE Pray, continue.
I was going to say again, sir, how very unexpected your arrival was.
We should not have dreamt of invading your privacy.
The housekeeper assured us you would not be here until tomorrow.
I beg you, do not make yourself uneasy.
I had business with my steward so I rode ahead of the rest of the party.
They will join me tomorrow.
Among them are those who claim an acquaintance with you -
Mr Bingley and his sisters.
Oh.
The other person in the party wishes to know you.
Would you allow me to...
Do I ask too much to introduce my sister to you, during your stay?
I should be very happy to make her acquaintance.
Thank you.
I hope we shall meet again very soon. Good day, Mr Gardiner. Mrs Gardiner.
Good day, Miss Bennet.
Subtitles by Veronica Simpson BBC - 1995