Original subtitles

The anxiety I felt over my mother's sudden illness,

was quite overwhelming.

Losing one parent had upturned my life.

To lose the other was unthinkable.

Though my mother's presence had always loomed large in my life,

I could not imagine myself without her.

Top of the stairs, Miss Bennet.

You're here!

Well, don't stand in the doorway, you're letting the heat out.

Mother!

You look...

well.

-Doesn't she? -Are you a physician all of a sudden?

No. I...

I'm just, I'm...

I am relieved to see that you're improved.

You look like you haven't slept in days.

And whose dress are you wearing?

My... My own.

Mary! I'm so pleased to see you.

Oh, it has been far too long.

I cannot be expected to stand.

-Hello, Mary. -Mary, come here!

I see the London air has taken a terrible toll on your complexion.

Oh, and your hair...

I am sure being back in the country will help.

It looks beyond repair to me.

I had undertaken such a long journey.

And yet, here I was.

Back where I started.

From Mother's letter, I...

I thought that she was gravely ill. I...

We all did.

Has she actually been ill, at all?

She thought it might be influenza, or smallpox.

But she has made a miraculous recovery.

Perhaps she rallied at the news that I was on my way.

I, for one, am pleased we are all back together.

Yes, I was thinking perhaps we could play Graces

or Charades after dinner, this evening?

Nobody plays Graces, Mary.

Oh, on the contrary, it's quite fashionable in London.

How is London, Mary?

Yes. I want to hear all about it.

Yes, London is...

-Kitty! Kitty! -It's... It's...

Kitty! I cannot reach the preserves!

-How are the Gardiners? -Are you enjoying being their governess?

I... yes.

It's most rewarding.

Have you made many new acquaintances?

My sister-in-law Caroline, is in London for the summer.

Have you crossed paths?

Oh, gosh, there's so many people.

I know she can be a little stiff, at first,

but she would be interesting company for you.

I have company.

There is a plethora of choice, really,

for interesting company, in London.

Do you mean your books?

That's Mama's bell. She wants you, Mary.

-I've only just been up there. -I will send a servant to attend to her.

Mrs. Bennet would like Miss Bennet to attend to her.

She probably wants to hear all about London.

Walk the Duchess to the edge of the fountain and no further.

If you feel the wind picking up, you must bring her inside immediately

and give her warm water and chopped meat.

Do not let cook give her the leftovers, only fresh, chopped, beef.

After 30 minutes, you may return her to me,

for she is the only member of this family

upon whom I can depend these days.

And tell Lizzy I wish to be moved to the drawing room.

Do you think you'll be happier convalescing in here, Mama?

Well, you might remember to visit if I am here.

Now where is my bell?

Do not trouble yourselves waiting for me. I'm fine.

Blanket, Mother?

And these pillows will not do!

I'll send for some others.

Maybe some toasted cheese.

I feel terribly weak this morning.

-Another blanket? -And a book.

Perhaps Mary could choose one?

I was hoping for something readable.

Not joining us, Mr. Darcy?

Mary!

Miss Bennet,

a letter for you.

Mary!

Mary, where on earth have you been all this time?

I was walking the dog, Mama.

Please.

Who's the letter from, Mary?

It's from one of my friends, in London.

What friend is that, Mary?

Lydia.

What friend is that, Mary?

Her name is Miss Baxter. Ann Baxter.

I've never heard of Miss Baxter.

Then she surely does not exist.

She most probably does not.

Lydia's being most unkind.

Something seems to be troubling you, Mary?

You seem full of concerns every time we mention London.

Do I?

I thought you would be eager to return.

Does Mother's dog in any way remind you of Mother?

Oh, Lizzy, I...

I embarrassed myself terribly when I left London. And I...

Caroline Bingley was there. She was determined to humiliate me.

And I left in such a flurry, I... I...

I smashed a bell jar of great sentimental value,

to its owner, a new friend, Mr. Ryder.

-And everyone stared. I just... -Mary.

No one else will have given it a second thought.

It will seem worse to you, I'm sure.

What person has not done something regrettable in their lives?

You.

You. Jane. Kitty. Lydia.

Lydia?

Oh, no, no. Lydia has.

I can assure you we all have.

Ann wrote to tell me not to worry.

You see.

She has become a dear friend.

She has something of an understanding

with another good friend of mine, Mr. Tom Hayward.

Mr. Hayward is...

He's... He's just the kind... Kindest man.

I see.

And have you met any gentlemen who have taken your eye?

Me? No! Oh, no! No. London, it's...

It's actually entirely without any eligible men.

And, anyway, I believe I'm not... I'm not really the marrying sort.

Nonsense, Mary.

A visitor for Miss Mary Bennet.

Mr. Ryder.

What? What are you doing here?

Miss Bennet.

I hope you and your family won't consider this a great imposition,

but you left London with such haste.

I was most worried about your mother

and wanted to offer my support in your hour of need.

How do you do, Mr. Ryder?

Mrs. Bennet.

Why, it is a pleasure to see you looking so well.

I usually look much better than this.

Though my recovery has been quite extraordinary.

Well, I'm glad to hear it.

Miss Bennet, won't you introduce me to your sisters?

Yes. This is Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy.

This is... This is Mrs. Kitty Buncock.

How do you do?

Mrs. Jane Bingley, and Mrs. Lydia Wickham.

Enchanted to meet you all.

How do you know Mary?

Miss Bennet and I met at a soiree in London,

and share a similar taste in despicable crime pamphlets.

Anyway, I was en route to visit my aunt, Lady Catherine De Bourgh

and wanted to pay my respects.

Well, let us not stand upon ceremony.

Elizabeth will arrange for us to take tea in the garden.

-Mr. Ryder, do join us. -No I...

I'm sure Mr. Ryder will have more important matters to attend to.

I have time.

Are you well enough, Mama?

Yes! Thank you, Jane. I am perfectly well enough.

Mary, take Mr. Ryder to the garden.

Lydia will deal with the dog.

What?

-Mr. Ryder, if this is about the bell jar. -Come along, Mr. Ryder.

I have always felt that what a lady puts in her garden is so terribly important.

-Yes. Of course. -Roses, of course.

-Your favourite flower? -Well, I must say I...

My turn!

I see you forgot to mention Mr. Ryder

in your reports from London.

You also forgot to mention how handsome he is.

No, I mean, I have not really noticed his looks.

I'm sure.

He's come an awfully long way to see you.

He's probably just thirsty and, and nearby.

Mary!

What?

Oh, you must stay with us, Mr. Ryder.

Especially with the weather turning as it may well do.

Do you not agree, Lizzy?

You would be most welcome, Mr. Ryder.

That is very kind.

Come, Miss Bennet, show us your skills.

No, that's not...

That's... That's not what I meant to do.

Excellent!

-Well done, Mary! -Yes.

-Bravo! -Well done, Mary.

I agree, well done.

I was sorry to see you leave London in such a hurry.

Mr. Ryder, have...

Have you come here to discuss, you know, the...

Yes.

Yes, Miss Bennet, I believe I have.

I... I've been wondering whether to write to you on the subject?

I wouldn't expect you to lead the conversation, Miss Bennet...

Mr. Ryder, are you here to talk about...

-Our connection. -...the bell jar?

The bell jar?

What did... What did... What did you say?

Miss Bennet!

Please do not trouble yourself over that.

But it was your father's, I thought you'd be upset?

Not at all. Please, think no more of it.

It was a pleasure to meet your family.

Yes, I know, my sisters are exceptional.

I know.

As are you, Miss Bennet.

Oh, no, I... I am much more...

I find it most refreshing that you do not fawn

over potential husbands

or have your mind constantly set on finding a match.

Well, no, no. I don't really... I don't give it much thought.

You lack artifice.

Your qualities shine out.

They're not corrupted by the false polish of the world.

Gosh, these are observations of a very, very personal nature.

Well, I have a very low opinion

of the petty rules to which we submit ourselves

in the name of good manners.

Did you know that?

I think you may have mentioned it once or twice.

I believe, Miss Bennet,

that our inability to say what we mean is one of the great curses of our age.

We hide behind 1,000 disguises that we like to call politeness.

Lydia, give them back. Lydia, Lydia!

Mr. Darcy sends his apologies.

He has a seasonal headache.

Mr. Ryder, tell us about yourself.

Mary mentioned you are an avid reader?

Of poetry, perhaps.

I find longer works are usually not for me.

Really?

I think the brevity of poetry is one of its principal attractions.

I agree, wholeheartedly.

I only wish I had the fine mind of your sister.

Miss Bennet has such an astute understanding

of a wide range of literature.

She does, she does.

I do not know whether she gets it from me or her father.

From you, Mother, I am sure.

There are very few people who have the insight of Miss Bennet.

I could talk to you all day.

I must admit, London has been a little grey without you.

How you joke! No, there... There are...

There are many interesting minds in London,

all eager for thoughtful conversation.

But none as interesting as yours.

Hello?

Mother.

I came to wish you goodnight.

Here.

Mr. Ryder would make an excellent match.

I wonder what kind of endowment he has?

-I do not know, Mama. -A sizeable one, I'm sure.

Goodnight, Mama.

Goodnight, Mary.

Sorry. Don't... Don't let me distract you.

What are you reading, Mr. Ryder?

A rather fascinating book on,

cheeses.

Right. It's upside down.

So, it is.

-What are you reading, Miss Bennet? -Fordyce's Sermons to Young Women.

Insufferable rule-making pedant.

Would you like me to put it in the fire for you?

It's not quite how I remember it, I'll admit.

What are they talking about?

Mary sounds serious.

She's boring him, I know it.

I think you should read Mrs. Macaulay.

She will... She will help you to better understand the world.

I am no good at all

at wasting my energy on anything that does not either move or please me.

I think that is a shame, sir.

You know, my father was a scholar.

He devoted all his time to studying insects.

-Winged beetles mostly. -Of course. Yes, the beetle in the jar.

It's fascinating stuff, really.

Well, I'm not so sure, but it occupied his every waking hour.

He rarely emerged from his study.

We hardly ever saw him.

When I was 15 years old,

he...

died, quite suddenly.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

A few days after his death,

I sat in his dark study and...

I thought about all the hours he'd spent in there,

away from his family, away from life.

And for what?

But your father must have derived

a great deal of pleasure from his work?

Perhaps.

But I think I learnt more about the point of human existence in that moment,

than my father learned in a lifetime of study.

From then on, I devoted myself to the pursuit of joy.

Tell me, Miss Bennet,

what makes you happy?

Sorry, nobody has ever asked me such a question.

Well, then you must consider it now.

Well...

Reading. Reading. Learning.

Teaching.

And...

What of friendship?

Of love?

Well, yes.

No, of course, that...

Life is short, Miss Bennet.

Everything turns to dust in the end.

We might as well experience some joy before that happens.

Let's go riding.

Yes! Let's!

Ladies.

What a waste.

-Well? -Well, what?

Are you going out walking again, Mary?

No. Mr. Ryder and I are going riding.

On a horse?

-Yes. That's generally the idea. -But you hate horses.

Mary, what are his intentions?

To ride a horse, I think.

Oh, no.

Oh, dear. Oh, dear.

-Are you quite all right, Miss Bennet? -I'm... I'll be fine. Thank you. Yes.

Look, why don't you, move along... Move along! There we go, there we go!

Now, I've been thinking about your argument

that we should say more honestly what we think and feel.

Excellent. I knew you'd agree.

I don't know that I do.

I mean, surely even you must admit,

there may be occasions when, well, for all manner of reasons,

some things are best left unsaid.

I cannot concur.

I intend to live my life by bolder principles.

In fact, that is why I came here,

to put that belief into practice.

Oh, really?

Yes. I came here to commit the great impropriety of telling you honestly,

what I think of you.

Mr. Ryder, I can assure you, there's no need.

I attempted to scribble a few lines but...

But then I thought of some verses of Mr Wordsworth

that captured your spirit perfectly.

May I be allowed to recite them to you?

Of course, Mr. Ryder, please.

"She dwelt among..."

Excuse me.

No.

Please, take your time.

"She dwelt among the untrodden ways

"Beside the springs of Dove,

"A Maid whom there were none to praise

"And very few to love:

"A violet by a mossy stone

"Half hidden from the eye!

"Fair as a star, when only one

"Is shining in the sky".

I think you see me as... as a lonely figure.

I was brought up in Hertfordshire, sir.

So, the road to London was barely five miles away.

It is possible to feel oneself alone,

even in such close proximity to town.

Yes, but in my village it was quite untrue to say that,

"There were none to praise and very few to love."

There were scores of people,

very eager to praise my sisters.

Perhaps living with your family in Meryton kept you

"half hidden from the eye".

But now you have broken out on your own,

you can be seen, at last, as you deserve.

"Fair as a star, when only one is shining in the sky".

-You are a natural, Miss Bennet. -Oh, I am not.

I know.

Our conversation has made me very happy, Miss Bennet.

Me too, Mr. Ryder.

Walk on.

Mary, there you are.

-Whatever's the matter? -What happened on the ride?

We rode horses?

And mine was most unruly and it had a taste for brambles.

As if it had a mind of its own. Really and my saddle was not at all comfortable...

-Yeah, Mary... -That's not a slight on the quality.

-It's merely the design. -Mary!

It appears Mr. Ryder does have some sort of affection for you.

And I believe he is about to propose!

Mother, I'm not completely sure that you are right, and I...

I really would hate to cause you any further disappointment...

This is an opportunity that cannot be overlooked.

He is a very eligible gentleman.

You will say yes, won't you?

-There you are. -What happened?

-What did he say? -Did he ask you?

-He's not going to ask her. -Lydia!

-Lydia! -I...

Miss Bennet.

-Are you quite all right? -It's... It's nothing.

Nothing at all.

May I speak with you in private?

I have something very important I want to discuss with you.

Mother had told me to prepare myself.

But nothing could prepare me

for what happened next.

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