01x02 - Chapter 2

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In the weeks that followed
the disastrous Meryton Assembly,

I buried myself in my books,

hoping to stave off the pangs
of shame and humiliation.

It was all part of my plan
for a new Mary.

I needed a clear mind,
unclouded by strong emotion.

I was working on gravitas.

From now on, I would be a steady,
informed and rational woman.

Books would be my guide.

I would think more and feel less.

What could possibly go wrong?

Well?

I hope you have ordered
a good dinner this evening.

We shall have a guest.
I knew it would be so!

It's not Mr Bingley.

It's my cousin.

Mr Collins? The very same.

The man next in the entail?
Who?!

The man who, once I am dead,

will turn you out of the house
as soon as he pleases.

He proposes himself as a guest
here at Longbourn?

In point of composition, his letter
does not seem entirely defective.

Entirely defective?!

Mary, are you quite all right?

"I regret deeply the breach which
has existed between us for so long.

"As a clergyman, I feel it my duty
to promote the blessings of peace

"in all families
within my influence."

Blessings of peace in this house?

He must be an oddity.

I cannot make him out.
Can he be a sensible man, sir?

He is a very sensible man,
thank you, Elizabeth.

Very sensible indeed.

Oh, can you not all see?
He is looking for a wife.

Do you really think so?

Lizzy, you must prepare yourself.

But, Mama...!

We shall find out just what kind
of man he is this afternoon.

I have great hopes of his being
extremely foolish.

He sounds insufferably boring.

A clergyman... Urgh!

Is it right to condemn him
before we've even met him?

Oh, please, Mary!

I was agreeing with you.
It's the way you say things!

I am looking forward to meeting
Mr Collins this afternoon.

What do you keep under your hat?

We've got new ribbons.

We do not sparkle as they do,
you and I.

Oh, I hope my honesty
did not offend.

My goodness, no... No.

Your sisters seem most agitated
this morning.

My father's cousin, Mr Collins,
is to visit Longbourn

and they've all decided
he's a terrible bore.

Mother believes he comes looking
for a wife. A wife? Apparently.

What is your cousin's profession?
A clergyman. Oh.

A modest income, then, I imagine.

Do you know what my advice
would be to you?

If my father's cousin
was coming to stay

and I knew he was looking for
a wife, I would do everything,

within the bounds of propriety,
to attract him.

Well, I have decided
none of this is for me.

I will live alone, with knowledge...

Look, Mary,
you cannot seriously believe

the life of an old maid
is to be preferred.

I do not think Mama has me in mind.

Jane and Lizzy won't settle so low.
Anyway, Jane is nearly taken.

So that leaves you.

You speak nothing of...

..love.

What has love to do with anything?

Of course. Of course, you are right.

For an educated woman, raised
to be genteel, as we have been,

the future holds no other
prospect than marriage.

Marriage or misery, Mary.

Marriage or misery.

I should know.

Mr Collins! I'm here.
We meet at last.

Erm, this...

This is Jane, our eldest.

Well, I had no idea.

She is soon to be engaged
but, erm, the others are not.

Oh...

This is Elizabeth.

Whoa...

Hmm...

A pleasure.

And, erm, Mary... How do you do?

Oh... This is Kitty.
And our youngest, Lydia.

Ah! Ha-ha!

Well, now, I don't know that I
will be able to tell the difference

between you two! Yes.

Mm.

Hmm...

The good looks of my fair cousins
far exceed

even the most enthusiastic
of reports.

Oh, erm...

No, I'm... I'm terribly sorry.

I... I certainly did not mean
to cause any offence.

Oh, you caused no offence,
Mr Collins.

Of course you didn't.

Allow me to show you the house.
Hmm...

Oh, splendid. Splendid.

Erm, much smaller than one imagined
but, with a few minor modifications,

will suffice my meagre needs!

I'm pleased you think so.

I am not worthy...

..of the crumbs...

..which fall from thy table...
Amen.

..and yet Thou gives unto me
the bread of life.

Evermore give me that bread
that I may eat thereof...

..and...and not die...

..eternally.

Yes, exactly. Amen.

Mr Bennet!

What a magnificent dining table.
Even with the heavy curtains

and the lack of natural light in
here, one can still see its quality.

How generous of you. Mm.

Shall we?

Hmm!

Mr Collins?

Mr Bennet, I expect your
daughters will be quickly

and advantageously disposed of
in marriage.

Disposed?!

It is very good of you to say so.

I am happy on every occasion
to offer

those delicate little compliments
that are agreeable to ladies.

Thank you, Mr Collins. Mm.

And may I commend your reading
of grace. Oh!

It has very much stayed with me.

It is most unfortunate that
our girls have no proper portion

to bring to their husbands...

Please excuse me.

You allude perhaps to the entail
of this estate?

It is a most vexing situation.

If only there was some
satisfactory way to amend it.

Hmm... Mm...

I... I could say much
on the subject.

But I am cautious of appearing
forward and, erm...

..precipitate.

I can assure the young ladies
that I come prepared to admire them.

Have you read Dr Fordyce, sir?

Mm, I certainly have.

Cousin Elizabeth,
what make you of the sermons?

I'm sure I haven't had time
to read them, sir.

So busy have I been
merely being a woman,

I haven't had a moment to read up
on how I should go about it.

I think I'm the only one who is

truly interested
in Fordyce's sermons.

Yes... More wine, Mr Collins?

I will...

..that women adorn themselves
with sobriety.

Let your speech be always...

Be always with grace, seasoned...

..with salt.

This has been wonderful... Ooh...

..but now you must let us
entertain you, Mr Collins.

Lizzy, won't you play for us?

Ah.

Ah!

Oh.

Bravo, Lizzy.

Yes. Very good, Lizzy.

If you were to practise properly,
you really might master it.

It seems a great shame to wring
all the pleasure out of music.

A few false notes seems
a small price to pay in exchange.

A great shame to waste a gift,
that is all.

Hmm, quite right.

Why don't you show us
how it is done, Mary?

Oh, lord.

My congratulations, cousin.
You play with such exactness.

I, hmm...

I imagine you practise
a great deal.

I practise often, it is true.

Yes, it is...

It is only through hard work
that anything of any value

is to be achieved. Yes. Erm...

Yes! I... I...

Mr Collins, perhaps Elizabeth

could take you on a walk
around the gardens.

Ooh!

Mary.

Mother!

I do not want any confusion
regarding Mr Collins and, erm...

..future prospects.

I'm not sure I understand.

It is Lizzy in whom Mr Collins
has expressed an interest.

Are we clear?

Don't you worry, Mama,
that Lizzy won't accept Mr Collins?

I have no particular feelings
for him,

but he and I have similar interests

and I am at least prepared
to seek out the good in him.

Mary, I cannot pass the man around
the family like a sherry trifle!

Your name has not come up.

Cousins!

Come on. Ready? Come on, hit it.

I bring news!
There... There is to be...

Ahem.

There is to be a ball next week
at Netherfield. Oh!

I knew Mr Bingley would find the
perfect excuse to see Jane again.

And my brother and his wife
shall be visiting.

They might even be here
when the engagement is announced.

We are some way off that!

And Mr and Mrs Gardiner
shall be joining us.

They're coming down from London.
Up!

They're coming up from London.
That is what I said.

Splendid. Splendid! Ha!

A real family affair.

I will need new ribbons.
Ah! Perhaps, Miss Bennet, erm...

..you would...would take
the first dance with me?

Oh, how wonderful!

Maybe I should play a little
something on the piano.

Yes... Yes, yes, you should indeed!

What about you, Miss Elizabeth?

Do you sing?

There is nothing I admire more
than a woman with a...

..wide vocal range.

Very good, Miss Mary.

Your playing is coming along nicely.

Thank you, Hill.

Mr Collins thinks
I'm a very good player.

Oh. I'm planning to play
at the assembly.

At Netherfield? Yes.

I was even thinking I might sing.

Sing, Miss Mary?

It will be a surprise to them all.

Short and sweet.
That would be my advice.

And, erm, maybe don't sing.

Hill! I've lost my shoes!

Hill!

Found them!

The earlier we arrive,
the earlier we can leave.

Oh!

Oh!

Ah!

I don't play as well as she does.
I'm sure you're just being modest.

Lady Lucas, Charlotte,
please meet my brother

and his dear wife,
Mr and Mrs Gardiner.

They're down from London. Up.

What? Up from London.

And this is my very distant cousin,
Mr Collins.

Shall we, dear?

Something of a challenge to find
husbands for five daughters...

This is a beautiful dining room.

..but if Jane were to get
a proposal...

Mama, please!

As I say, if Jane...

Lizzy seems very keen to
distance herself from your cousin.

She's not at all happy
about his interest.

What is he like?

Tolerable forearms, I noticed.

Have you made your interest in him
clear?

I am trying, but...

Your mother seems terribly keen
for Lizzy to be matched

with a man of a modest income.
I cannot think why.

He is THE cousin.

The one from the entail.

It's Mr Collins who stands
to inherit Longbourn -

the house, the estate,
the income, all of it.

So my father cannot stand the man,

while my mother wants Lizzy
to marry him.

Oh.

Perhaps I will not play tonight.

Oh, Mary, you must.

I had prepared a little something,

but now the time is here, I'm not
sure I have the stomach for it.

Nonsense, Mary.

Mr Collins is sure to be impressed.

I think it is time
you get yourself noticed.

I beg you, do not make it long.

# Begone, dull care

# I prithee begone from me

# Begone, dull care

# You and I shall... #
Mr Collins.

# Never agree.

# Begone, dull care... #

Lydia! Be kind.

# I prithee begone from me

# Begone, dull care

# You and I shall never... #

# Long time hast though

# Been tarrying here... #

Papa, this is gone too far,
and if you don't step in, I will.

# k*ll. #

Please. I will. Thank you.

# Faith, dull care

# Thou never shall have thy will. #

I, erm...
I have another piece, Father.

One that's more lively.

Mary, you have delighted us
long enough.

Oh, Miss Bennet, that was...

..truly unforgettable.

That was a beautiful rendition
of a difficult song.

Everybody saw.

Mr Collins saw.

Take a breath, take a breath.

Nobody noticed but you.

Sh.

It's OK.

Mary.

It was you that told Father
to stop me playing, wasn't it?

I didn't want you to
over-exert yourself.

You insult me.

We both know that isn't true.

Mary...

..I have had a terrible evening.

And yet you always appear to
handle everything with such ease.

What do you mean?
You always get what you want.

Without needing to try.

Whereas I try...

..so hard...

..and it's always for nothing.

Don't say that.
There is much you have achieved.

I'm sorry.

I am truly sorry.

Mary!

Mary, you must get dressed
and come downstairs.

There has been such an upset
you won't believe it.

You can't imagine what's happened.

Well?
Mr Collins has made Lizzy an offer.

And she has refused him.
Can you imagine?

Mama is furious
and says Lizzy will have him.

But Papa told Lizzy that her
choice was a sad one because

mother will never see her again
if she doesn't marry Collins...

..and Papa will never see her again
if she does!

And now everyone is so utterly
cross. Mr Collins has stormed off,

Lizzy won't say anything at all,
Mama is beside herself

and Papa has shut himself
in the library. You must come!

So... So what happens now?
What of Mr Collins?

Papa thinks he will choose
someone else.

Oh, no!

Well, it's more likely to be me
than you.

Mr Collins, please...

No, I am resigned.
Mr Bennet, I shall take my leave.

As you wish.

Oh, Mr Collins!
I am resigned, Madam.

Oh, Mr Collins, this is just
a misunderstanding.

No, it is not.

Mr Collins has withdrawn his
pretensions to Lizzy's favour.

I'm very glad to hear it.

I don't think I could have borne
much more of his good opinion.

He says he's resigned
and will not renew his pursuit.

Argh!

Thank you, Hill.

I have been thinking, Mary.

Since Lizzy was so selfish
as to refuse Mr Collins,

I have turned my mind towards you.

I think you understand me.

Mama, less than a week ago
you were adamant that I...

Mary, please.

He will not ask me now.

I need to be sure that you
will accept him when he offers.

He will not choose me, Mama.

Oh, Mary, he will.

Who else will marry him?

What are you reading?

Erm, Theory of the Earth.
It's about rocks.

Just types of...

..rocks.

Ah!

Yes, splendid news, sir. Splendid.

One had obviously hoped for
a slightly more

capacious dining room, however.

I think it's quite sweet
they found each other.

Mr Bennet.

Mr Collins has made Miss Charlotte
Lucas an offer of marriage...

..and she has accepted.

We wish you joy!

Yes, so much joy. I wish you joy.

Thank you all.

You do know he's a clergyman? Yes.

If I had any doubts as to whether
I had done the right thing,

they vanished when I told
my family of his offer.

I am too old to be generous,
I'm afraid.

Charlotte!

Charlotte, come marvel
at this oak.

Good night, Jane.
Good night, Lizzy.

Good night, Mama.

I told you no-one would marry you
if you wore spectacles.

It wouldn't be for much longer...

Wave!

..that we Bennet sisters
lived together.

As each of my sisters left home...

..my future felt increasingly
uncertain.

I often thought back to the events
in that period of my life

and wondered if I could have
done anything...

..differently.

But I was trapped.

Unable to escape the loveless world
of my parents...

Hill!

Thank you! I am now deaf in one ear!

..my options were limited.

And I found my books offered me
no instruction...

..and little comfort.

I searched desperately for answers.

I clung on to hope.

But, in a moment,
my life was upturned.

Urgh!

Mr Bennet?

Fetch the doctor!

They're bringing the carriage
'round. Go! Yes, Ma'am. Right away.

Father had found a way out,

leaving mother and I with nothing

except each other.