"Dear Mother...
"..I write to let you know
"that I will not be joining you at Pemberley just yet,
"as I am still very much needed in London.
"The Gardiners' governess has indeed returned,
"but we find ourselves quite overrun with social engagements.
"You will be excited to hear
"that I have been invited to
"one of Lady Winspear's weekly balls.
"I am very much looking forward to it.
"I miss you all..."
CLEARS THROAT
"..Yours, Mary."
The Gardiners' governess has returned from Norfolk, has she not?
Yes, yes, a week ago.
Well, then, the ball is perfectly timed for you to find a husband!
SHE LAUGHS
A husband?
Whatever else do you plan to do?
Someone who was once a friend
told me that a woman has two choices in life -
marriage or misery.
What do you think?
Oh, Mary!
It is not too late for marriage if that's what you're asking me.
And I do believe it's the better choice, but not the only one.
Some marriages are miserable.
I agree.
I mean, I did once try to find a husband, but it was unsuccessful.
My mother has always said no-one will marry a girl in spectacles.
Mary, that is nonsense.
What a terrible thing for your mother to say.
Well, you may not have had luck in the past,
but this time is different.
This time, you have me.
Under my tutelage, you will become the star of London society.
It's all about confidence.
A certain coolness.
I think you care too much.
Really? Hmm.
Have you ever polished your skin?
We put this in the pipkin
and the pipkin in the fire until the wax melts.
Then we spread it on your face.
You're going to look radiant, Mary.
Oh, I, um, I'm going to smell like soup.
What on earth?!
There. Thanks.
Mary, you have stew on your face.
I know.
Oh, now we need to work on your walk.
Step into the room like you are Lady Winspear herself.
Hmm.
Walk normally.
I am excited for you, Mary.
New love is the most romantic thing.
New love? Yes! The first throes.
Oh, you must not take it for granted
because the feelings soon pass and then everything becomes...
..quite ordinary and it's almost impossible to remember
how one felt at the beginning.
Now walk.
Shoulders back.
Chin up.
Chin down.
Chin up a little.
Don't look scared. It's quite hard not to.
Remember, you are only allowed two dances with the same partner.
Make eye contact fleetingly with the men you want to dance with
and avoid the eyes of those you do not.
If a man asks you to dance, do not look too happy,
nor too disappointed - depending on who he is.
You must look nonchalant, carefree.
Mary, think back to those times in your childhood
when you had not a care in the world.
Remember, Mary,
the most important thing...
..is to be yourself.
ORCHESTRA PLAYS
Oh, look!
Isn't it beautiful?
It really is!
Do not fret! The night has only just begun.
Good evening, Miss Baxter.
Miss Bennet. Doesn't Miss Bennet look beautiful?
Oh, um, well, as do you, Ann.
Mr Hayward, how would you like to dance with Miss Bennet?
No. Oh, no, I couldn't.
It will show how eligible you are.
Well, I don't suppose you have much room for me...on your card.
But if there is, I would be very glad to dance with you.
Oh, oh, um, there might, there might be.
Let me just check.
Yes, yes.
We could dance.
Thank you, Mr Hayward.
Mr Hayward, how are you?
Miss Bennet.
I am very well.
How are y...?
WHISPERS: One, two, three, one, two, three...
APPLAUSE
Thank you, Mr Hayward.
Miss Bennet.
What a fine minuet. Mm.
Oh, now you two, you must dance together.
Um, I'm going to go and...
Oh, oh, Mary, do you mind?
SHE EXHALES
Excuse me one moment
Ah. It's you.
It is indeed.
William Ryder. Of course. Mr Ryder.
Well, it is a pleasure to see you again so soon.
Would you like to dance?
Well, um, perhaps later. My feet are quite... Ah.
Then let us sit and gather your strength.
Mm. Ah!
THEY LAUGH AWKWARDLY
I find these occasions really quite intolerable.
All these poor young ladies parading about,
bearing the weight of their parents' expectations.
It's not in the least romantic.
I think these occasions mean a great to deal to many young women,
and for good reason.
None of them wants to fail.
But...
..doesn't it seem to you, Miss Bennet,
that most people give far too much weight
to the idea of marriage?
Because for some people, that is their only means of survival.
In matters of men and women,
the only thing that should guide us is the heart.
Do you really believe that to be true?
Well...
..I believe we should sweep away these tired old rules
and follow our inclinations as we wish.
I think you will find, Mr Ryder,
that the liberty in such situations
tends to be enjoyed by the man.
While the consequences are borne - quite literally in many cases -
by the woman.
Perhaps you're right. I know I am!
HE LAUGHS
APPLAUSE
Dance with me, Miss Bennet!
Come on.
It is supposed to be fun, I think.
You are allowed to breathe while you dance, Miss Bennet.
I am breathing!
I heard that you are a great reader of very serious books.
I am reading Wordsworth currently.
Ah! But what do you really enjoy reading, Miss Bennet?
Histories.
No. I mean, what's your secret indulgence?
What I really enjoyed reading, as a child...
..were the servants' pamphlets. HE LAUGHS
They detailed the most grisly crimes!
I knew there was a bold and curious side to you, Miss Bennet.
I had to hide them from my mother!
Ha-ha! I bet you did!
Oh, my gosh, look at her.
A bit of a showman, I think.
SHE LAUGHS
Da! Da! Oh! Oh! Oh!
APPLAUSE
It's the onions.
You tripped.
I did not trip, it was a deliberate embellishment of the gavotte.
Mary. Miss Baxter.
I was just about to ask Miss Bennet to dance again.
Oh, um, thank you, Mr Ryder,
but I will sit this one out.
Ah, then allow me to fetch you both some ices, ladies.
Hmm, he might be handsome, Mary,
but beware, he also fancies himself above all the rules
that govern the rest of us. He enjoys the privileges of his class,
as well as good looks.
I cannot say I took much notice of his looks.
Mary.
I did not. Well, he certainly noticed you!
That is kind of you to say,
but he doesn't think of me in that way,
and, actually, that makes this much more enjoyable.
We were just talking about Mr Ryder.
Yes.
William Ryder.
Ices!
Oh, thank you.
And, the biggest one for Miss Mary Bennet.
Thank you.
Oh, Hayward, don't look so downhearted.
Here, you can have mine. I-I wouldn't dream of taking yours.
Mr Hayward, I seem to have found myself
without a partner for the next dance.
I'm quite tired.
But I would love to dance.
What flavour's yours?
Um, crunchy. Crunchy?
Mr Ryder! What on earth happened to you?
Oh, Miss Bingley.
Well, well, Miss Bennet.
How good to see you again.
Ah, are you two ladies already acquainted?
Oh, I have known Miss Bennet for some years.
Ah.
Pianist. Singer. Raconteur.
My brother married her sister.
I heard you were a governess in London,
though I didn't think it had quite come to that.
I am no longer in that position.
So you are in London for a husband?
No.
Miss Bennet is a radical thinker!
Is she now? Well, it makes me all the more glad
to be spending the foreseeable future here,
where I can be thoroughly enlightened by your thoughts.
Miss Bennet, I'm holding a small supper this Thursday.
You should join us.
Why, thank you, Mr Ryder.
You must sing.
That is, I mean to say, I may not be able to.
I very much look forward to you joining us on Thursday.
Come, Mr Ryder.
SHE SIGHS
SHE BLOWS THE CANDLE
THUD!
Ow.
SHE SIGHS
How did you find the ball last night?
Most pleasant. Thank you.
Young William Ryder called while you were asleep this morning, Mary.
He left this bundle of crime pamphlets, it's peculiar.
Is this really to your taste?
Thank you.
Oh, and he confirmed our invitation to supper on Thursday.
Oh, what fun! Jethro.
You could wear your red dress.
Um, regarding supper, I fear I may not be able to attend.
You have not been yourself
since I saw you talking to Caroline Bingley last night.
She seems to delight in being horrible to me.
I have no idea what I've done to provoke her.
Did she not once fancy herself as marrying your sister's husband?
Mr Darcy?
She did, yes.
Perhaps she feels threatened by you.
Caroline Bingley is not threatened by me.
She's better than me.
I know that - very well.
She's always beautifully dressed
and she has extraordinary confidence.
She does not appear to lack confidence, that is certain.
Perhaps underneath that brittle exterior
lies doubts and insecurities, the same as everyone else.
And she treats you as though you're beneath her
to make herself feel good.
It riles her to see you blossoming in London.
Blossoming?
You've changed!
You smile more.
And you laugh.
Well, I...
Oh...
The thought that you're worth less than Caroline
really only exists in her mind.
We do not run and hide from the Caroline Bingleys of this world.
We stand our ground.
For there will always be one.
Miss Bennet. How wonderful to see you.
Oh, um...
Um, I-I very much like your, um...
..insects.
Why, thank you!
They were my late father's.
He was a very great collector of all things strange or,
or unusual in that line.
You have an extensive book collection, Mr Ryder.
Ah, yes. They are for show.
Although Grimms' Fairy Tales proved a fine read.
Not as fine as those brilliant pamphlets you sent me.
I want to hear about the strangest cases over dinner.
Ah, yes, Miss Bennet, inspired by you,
I have been reading some of those particular works myself.
And I found something that made me think of you.
Of me?
Hm-mm.
Allow me to find it? Well, of course.
Miss Bingley.
I am so glad you took my advice.
Lady Catherine De Bourgh looks magnificent there.
I was just about to read something to Miss Bennet
that made me think of her this morning.
Made you think of...
..Miss Bennet?
Yes. Exactly.
Now, where is it?
Mr Ryder, I wondered if it might be helpful for me
to cast my eye across the dinner table before the guests sit.
Um, very well.
Please excuse us.
I have to say, Miss Bennet,
how refreshing it is to see a young woman
with the courage to defy the dictates of fashion,
when most of us are foolish enough
to want to look as well as we possibly can.
You are an example to us all.
Mr Hayward, we are here.
Where are you, Mary?
Um...
COUGHING
CONTINUES COUGHING LOUDLY
Are you all right?
CONTINUES COUGHING
LAUGHTER
CHIT—CHAT
Mr Hurst, have you ever read Catharine Macaulay's work?
No. She's most insightful on democracy, if you are interested.
No.
CLEARS THROAT LOUDLY
What think you of James Hutton's theory
that the Earth is perpetually being formed?
I have no interest in geology.
What DO you like, Mr Hurst?
Horses.
Horse racing.
Oh!
I know so little about horse racing, I would be honoured
if you would teach me all you know.
We won't have time for that.
Well, let's just see how we get on.
Right, um...
..four legs.
Cannot vomit!
Ah.
Beautiful creatures, beautiful - almost too beautiful.
More intelligent than anyone at this table.
Perhaps if I was to construct a horse, then we'd know...
I'd appreciate that.
Right, I've done this before, I'm sure I can do it again.
Fascinating. These are the front legs here.
We call these the cloppers. Mm.
Back legs - the clippers.
Ah.
Clip-clop! Right? You see what I'm saying?
I see.
You do not want to stand behind a horse!
You do not want... I do not want to try!
What can a horse do?
You tell me.
Well, um, it can run, but it can also break your heart.
I can see it.
That is our horse.
What shall we name him?
Gerald...
Gerald! Let's enter him at York.
Probably faster than the horse I bet on last week.
SHE LAUGHS
Thank you. Thank you, sir.
I shall never wager any significant amount of money
without consulting you first.
Ah!
Miss Bennet, I was hoping to speak to you.
Really?
I couldn't let this evening pass without having
the privilege of talking to you properly.
It's a shame, then, that you chose
to seat me so far from you at dinner.
You met Lady Catherine once, did you not?
I did.
Only recently we were talking about your family.
And she confessed herself astonished at the great difference between you
and your sisters. She felt that you were not as handsome as Elizabeth,
nor as provoking.
Not as beautiful as Jane or as willing as Kitty,
and, well, who could measure up to Lydia's...joie de vivre?
That was very candid of her.
She is known for her frankness.
I sometimes wonder if "frankness"
isn't just a poor excuse for unkindness.
Hm.
Tell me, Miss Bennet,
do you intend to marry?
Let's assume we all must marry, in the end.
Perhaps you might allow me to offer you a little advice?
If you wish.
It seems to me that a great deal of time is thrown away
in pursuit of attachments that can never come to anything.
Such as Mr Ryder.
Do you mean to suggest that I am pursuing Mr Ryder?
Or that he is pursuing me?
For both are quite without foundation.
And yet it seems you do all you can to please him.
I cannot imagine why else he would...
..speak of you as he does.
What do you mean?
Confine yourself to your proper sphere, Miss Bennet.
Presumptions of this kind only lead to disappointment
and humiliation where matters of the heart are concerned.
You seem to know a great deal about rejection.
Is this a lesson you've learned from extensive study?
Or do you perhaps owe it to experience
of a more personal nature?
Ah, Miss Bingley.
Miss Bingley, welcome to the game.
EXHALES
I fear I've been a bad host...
That was a very thorough lesson in horse racing
you had at dinner, Miss Bennet.
Uh, it was.
Yes, um, most interesting.
Well, I wanted to say that...
I wanted to ask...
..or that is, to say, I noticed at the ball that Mr Ryder
had occupied a great deal of your time.
And he often acts without thinking,
so I'd be very glad to ask him to be more restrained,
if that is what you would like.
I very much enjoy his company.
I don't...
Ah.
I see.
Um, no, I... Of course, I... No, no, no... Forgive my intrusion.
No, that is to say I, um, I'm not drawn to him...
Who is she again?
That Bennet girl. The one you said was plain.
Oh, the governess!
She was the only one of the five not to marry. Can you imagine?
She didn't look very plain to me. She was tolerable.
And you can see Ryder's interested in her.
If I were him, I'd snap her up before some other fellow does.
Excuse me.
I believe Miss Bennet would like to sing for us.
How lovely, Mary!
Oh, I have no wish to do anything of the sort.
Oh, come, Miss Bennet, you must sing!
Sing! Sing!
THEY CHANT: Sing! Sing! Sing! Sing!
Sing! Sing!
SING!
Mary, Mary, we must get you to Pemberley immediately.
We have received an urgent letter.
Your mother's been taken gravely ill.
Oh! Oh! Take the carriage and go now...
GLASS SMASHES
What happened?
Come on, Mary, you must hurry.
Come, dear.