Original subtitles

In the weeks that followed the disastrous Meritan assembly, I buried

my book, hoping to save 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 emotions.

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?

I hope you've 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

quite 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? 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?

Lizzie, 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.

That clergyman.

It wasn't right to condemn him before we've even met him. 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 do not sparkle as they do, you and I.

Oh, I hope my honesty did not offend. My goodness, no.

No.

You seem most agitated this morning. My father's cousin, Mr Collins, is to visit

Longbourn and they've all decided he's a terrible ball.

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 would come to stay and I knew he was looking for a wife, I

would do everything within the bounds of propriety to attract him. I have

decided none of this is for me.

I will live alone with knowledge. Mary cannot seriously believe the life of an

old maid is to be preferred.

I think Mama had me in mind.

Jane and Lizzie weren't little solo. Anyway, Jane is nearly taken.

So that leaves you.

You speak nothing of love.

What does love have to do with anything? Of course, of course, you're right, of

course. 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.

Meet at last.

This... This is Jane,

our eldest.

Well, I had no idea.

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

This is Elizabeth.

A pleasure.

And Mary.

How do you do? This is Kitty.

And our youngest, Lydia.

Well,

now, I don't know that I will be able to tell the difference between you two.

The good looks of my fair cousins far exceed even the most enthusiastic of

reports.

Oh, um... No, I'm terribly sorry. 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. Much smaller than one imagined, but... with a few minor

will suffice my meagre needs.

In case you think so.

I am not worthy of the crumbs

which fall from my table.

Amen. And yet thou givest unto me the bread of life.

Evermore give me that bread that I may eat.

Thereof, and not die eternally.

Yes, exactly.

Amen.

Mr Bennet, what a magnificent dining table. Even with the heavy curtains and

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

How generous of you.

Shall we?

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.

Oh, I am happy on every occasion to offer those delicate little compliments

are agreeable to ladies.

Thank you, Mr. Collins.

And may I commend your reading of grace?

It is very much.

Laid 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.

I could say much on the subject, but I am cautious of appearing forward and

precipitate.

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

Have you read Dr. Fordyce, sir?

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's truly interested in wood -ice at Salmon's.

More wine, Mr Collins.

I will that women adorn

themselves with sobriety.

Let your speech be always, be always great.

seasoned with salt.

This has been wonderful.

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

Lizzie, won't you play for us?

Bravo, Lizzie.

Yay. Very good.

Lizzie, if you were to practice properly, you really might master it. It

great shame to wring all the pleasure out of music. A few false notes seems a

small price to pay in exchange.

Great shame to waste a gift, that is all.

Quite right.

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

My congratulations, cousin. You play with such exactness.

I imagine you practise a great deal.

I practise often, it's true.

It is.

It's only through hard work that anything of any value is to be achieved.

um... Yes, I... Mr Collins, perhaps Elizabeth could take

you on a walk around the gardens.

Mother. I do not want any confusion regarding Mr.

Collins and future prospects.

I'm not sure I understand.

It is Lizzie in whom Mr. Collins has expressed an interest. Are we clear?

Don't you worry, Mama, that Lizzie 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.

Barry, I cannot pass the man around the family like a sherry trifle.

Your name has not come up.

Cousin! Come on.

Ready? Come on, hit it. I bring news.

There is to be...

May this 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

that.

Mr and Mrs Gardner shall be joining us. They're coming down from London. Up.

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

Splendid. Splendid!

A real family affair.

I will need new ribbons.

Perhaps, Miss Bennet, you would take the first dance with me.

Oh, how wonderful.

Maybe I should play a little something on the piano.

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.

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, er, maybe don't sing.

We can leave.

Oh.

Oh.

Oh. Oh.

Lady Lucas, Charlotte, please meet my brother and his dear wife, Mr and Mrs

Gardner.

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...

This is a beautiful dining room. But if Jane were to get a proposal... Amara,

please.

As I say, if Jane... Lizzie 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 Libby to match with a man of a

income. I cannot think why.

He is the cousin.

The one from the end tale. It's Mr Collins who stands for inherit

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

So, my father cannot stand the man, while my mother wants Libby to marry

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

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.

One that's more lively.

Mary, you have delighted us long enough.

Oh, Miss Bennet, that was truly unforgettable.

It's a beautiful rendition of a difficult song.

Everybody swore.

Take a breath,

take a breath.

Nobody noticed but you.

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

I didn't want you to have rigged that 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.

It is yours for nothing.

Don't say that.

There is much you have achieved.

I'm sorry.

I'm truly sorry.

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 Lizzie an offer.

And he has refused him. Can you imagine?

Mama is furious and says Lizzie will have him. But Papa told Lizzie 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. See her again if she does. And now everyone

is so utterly cross.

Mr. Collins has stormed off. Lizzie won't say anything at all. Mama is

herself. And Papa has shut himself in the library.

He must come.

So what happens now? What of Mr. Collins?

Papa thinks he would choose someone else.

I don't know.

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

No, I am resigned.

I shall take my leave.

As you wish.

Oh, Mr.

Collins. I am resigned, madam.

Mr Collins, this is just a misunderstanding.

No, it is not.

Mr Collins has withdrawn his pretensions to Lizzie'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.

Thank you, Hill.

I have been thinking, Mary, since Lizzie 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?

I'll be reading.

A Theory of the Earth. It's about rocks.

Just types of rocks.

Mr.

Bennett?

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.

Have I had any doubts as to whether I'd 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!

Come marvel at this oak.

Good night, Jane. Good night, Lizzie.

Good night, Mama.

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

It wouldn't be for much longer... Wait.

...that we Bennett sisters lived together.

As each of my sisters left home, my future felt

increasingly uncertain.

I often thought back to the events from 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.

My options

were limited.

And I found my book.

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.

Yes, ma 'am, right away.

Father had found a way out, leaving Mother and I with nothing except

each other.