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It is a sad fact of life that if a young woman
is unlucky enough to come into the world without expectations,
she had better do all she can
to ensure that she is beautiful.
To be poor and handsome is misfortune enough.
But to be penniless and plain
is a hard fate indeed.
Or so my mother taught us.
Mr Bennet.
Have you heard, Netherfield Park is let at last?
I have not.
Do you want to know who has taken it?
You want to tell me and I have no objection to hearing it.
I would like to know.
It has been let to a Mr Bingley.
A single man.
Of large fortune.
Four or five thousand a year!
I heard someone came down on Monday in a chaise and four.
- From whom did you hear this? - Girls,
you must prepare yourselves.
Mrs Long told me he is from the North of England.
He saw Netherfield Park, fell in love with it
and snapped it up straight away...
In order to understand my mother's enthusiasm
for this stranger's arrival,
we must start at the beginning.
With cake...
in Meryton, England.
Where wealthy boy met beautiful girl.
Father... meet Mother.
Sadly, the happiness of this union
was to be undone by an archaic entail
that meant only a male heir could inherit my father's estate.
And what followed was girl...
- after girl... - Forceps!
After girl,
after girl.
After... girl.
Thus his fortune and her beauty were worthless.
Mother spent her days trying to involve Father
in how to overcome their dire situation.
But Father hid in his newspaper,
indifferent to the cause.
Why should he engage? When the time comes...
I'll be dead anyway.
Our mother, not known for giving up easily,
found a chink of light,
a saving grace.
Each of her children possessed a certain je ne sais quoi.
Be it Jane's beauty.
Lizzy's wit.
Kitty's good humour.
Or Lydia's... spirit.
Mary!
If she could secure advantageous marriages
for each of us girls
it would be enough to save us all from destitution.
Although I had not yet found my own best quality...
I was quite sure that I would...
Blindfold, Mary.
Until the day my mother's true opinion of me
- was confirmed. - Mary has
an awfully ruddy complexion.
She does not have the complexion of her sisters, that is true.
And she is clumsy.
Ungainly.
Maladroite, as they say.
Four good marriages will have to do.
I only hope she does not ruin her sisters' chances.
If you're not the beautiful one,
the quick-witted one,
or the ones that are good at games and full of youthful energy,
then who are you?
And what can you do if you're the odd one out?
Is it possible you'll ever find a way to fit in?
Worse, I think.
Worse still!
Do not fret Miss Bennet.
Have we found it?
I think we have, Mr Sparrow!
Thank goodness for that!
You see, the lenses here correct your vision by bending light rays.
Well, I never!
You really do look very well in your spectacles.
Especially when you smile.
I do not think my mother will agree.
But I have a great passion for reading
and I... I would have been sad to stop.
I hope they will help you better enjoy the upcoming Meryton assembly?
- An assembly? - Yes! In a month.
I heard this morning.
My sisters will be pleased.
Perhaps I shall see you there.
- Miss Mary, you ought to get on. - Of course, Hill.
I'll settle affairs here.
Thank you.
Thank you. And thank you, Mr Sparrow.
I have news!
There's going to be an assembly in Meryton in a month.
We know!
I'm going to be the one to tell Mama.
This will mark my first assembly.
My first venture into society.
So it will.
How might I secure a partner for dancing, I've always wondered?
Mary, I'm sure your clever mind
can work out something as simple as dance partners.
- Do not fret. - I'm not! I'm not fretting.
- We'll have fun, Lizzy. - Will we?
I'm going to fill my card with dances.
Jane, do you think I shall be allowed to dance?
Mary, move!
I do hope you're not going to stand this close at the assembly.
We should have taken the long route.
These are my good boots!
Well, more fool you for wearing them.
Damn!
- What are we going to wear? - I want to wear the green dress.
The green.
Do you think russet will be too harsh for my complexion?
I don't see why it should.
It would match my eyes, I suppose.
Your eyes are green.
You are so inattentive.
- _ - Mr Thompson told me himself.
I was the first to know that the ball is confirmed.
- We were the first. - I was the first.
You were stood a little behind me.
It is wonderful.
What will I wear?
Are Kitty and Lydia allowed to attend the ball, Father?
Why would we not be? I was the one that found out about it.
Am I allowed?
Jane, Lizzy, you will of course go.
- And Mary. - Father!
I shall die if I do not go!
- I'll probably die too. - I very much doubt that.
Mr Bennet, Kitty and Lydia will also need to find husbands.
After Jane and Lizzy, of course.
I don't see what the fuss is all about.
Those horrible, sweaty affairs.
Mary!
You will attend.
Well of course, Mother, if you...
if you wish.
Lady Lucas and I will need someone to fetch us our drinks.
As long as I am not expected to attend.
- Mr Bennet.. - I told you,
I will not attend another of those insufferable muddy little dances.
I wonder if Mr Bingley will be going to the Meryton assembly?
He must be.
Who would miss it?
Me, apparently.
You shall all go to the ball.
As long as I am obliged to hear no more about it.
I shall never be rid of you otherwise.
- Perhaps, I shall dance with Bingley, too. - And me!
This excitement over a man you've never set eyes on, quite ridiculous.
Mary, we're only indulging ourselves.
Mary is wearing spectacles.
What on earth...?
Very good. I hope you find them most useful, Mary.
I do, Father, thank you.
Mr Bennet, did you know about this?
We discussed this, at length.
- Mary was to visit the optician. - Yes!
But I did not know that she would actually need to wear glasses.
You seem to forget, my dear,
that I wear spectacles myself.
But she is a woman!
Nevertheless, she ought to be able to see.
I think they look very well.
Potatoes, Mary!
In case she couldn't see them.
I think you're very brave
- to be prepared to look so ugly. - Lydia!
But, Papa, who is going to dance with Mary with those things on her face?
I'm pleased to be able to read.
- I do hope we are to meet him? - Surely we must.
Spectacles indeed.
Mama, Kitty and I will need new dresses for the ball.
_
That's...
Maybe I could help you pick out a dress
for the Meryton assembly, Miss Mary?
Oh, Hill...
What am I to do at a dance?
Dance?
But what if no-one wants to dance with me?
Then you'll eat lots of ices.
Such fripperies are not for me.
I wonder, Miss Mary, if you don't see yourself clearly.
If you're saying I don't bear comparison to my sisters,
I've known that for years.
A daffodil might look plain next to a lily,
but on its own, there is much to be admired.
Now I am tall and yellow?
Miss Mary,
I wonder if you wouldn't be a little happier
if you went out in the world
and saw yourself how other people see you,
outside of your family.
Well, that's decided.
I am picking you out a new dress for the assembly.
And I will not hear another word on the subject.
_
Hill! I've lost my ribbons!
Found them!
Madam, please remain still, if you can.
Does the gold make me look like... Mother?
A little.
- Kitty! - What is it?
Those are my books, Lydia.
I cannot reach my jewellery box.
I need something to stand on.
This is important, Mary.
You need to start getting ready, Miss Mary.
Jane is first.
That's not fair! I'm always last.
Mary can go last.
Do you think I'll be able to dance on it?
- Does it still hurt? - Yes.
- It was two weeks ago. - I know!
Should we eat beforehand?
Perhaps a very small meal, and don't drink too much.
But what if I'm thirsty?
Lydia, I don't suppose you want to relieve yourself
behind a screen in front of everyone.
Lizzy!
Is it too fine for me, do you think?
You look very handsome in it.
Kitty! You have taken my perfume!
I have my own.
Miss Lydia, you have plenty of perfume!
But not in that scent.
I like your dress, Mary.
Charlotte!
What a rout.
I swear the crowd gets bigger every season.
They should limit entry to those young ladies fortunate enough
to have secured partners.
Yes, I thought the very same thing.
Elizabeth!
Mr Bingley. Welcome.
These are my sisters, Louisa, and this is Caroline.
This is Mr Hurst and Mr Darcy.
And if I may present Mrs Bennet.
Miss Jane Bennet.
Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
Kitty and Lydia.
And this is Miss Mary Bennet.
The most accomplished girl in the whole neighbourhood.
That is a great achievement, to be sure.
Study clearly trumps all other considerations in your mind.
What an example to us all.
If I could be so bold as to ask you for this dance.
I'd be delighted.
There she is.
You will not believe the insufferable company that Mr Bingley keeps.
- What has happened? - I overheard, quite accidentally,
Mr Bingley talking to that conceited gentleman
leant against the wall there,
a Mr Darcy.
Who said of me,
"She is tolerable
but not handsome enough to tempt me."
Around we go!
Excuse me.
Miss Bennet.
I do not mean to intrude,
but it is very bad for your eyes
to screw them up in such a fashion.
Mr Sparrow.
Perhaps I may be permitted to help you find what you're looking for?
I was looking for, er,
my sisters!
I am quite exhausted from all the dancing.
I just chose to sit this one out.
That is a shame.
I was going to ask if you'd do me the honour
of standing up with me for the next dance?
Actually, I am now feeling much rested.
And I would be delighted.
Well, then, I thank you.
Yes.
Shall we remain here until the next set
- is called? - Of course. Exact...
That's exactly what I thought.
- How are your spectacles? - Very well.
Yes, I'm able to study for hours without issue.
I am delighted to hear that.
It's my turn.
Perhaps you could recommend a book to me?
What do you read with such enjoyment?
Mrs Catharine Macaulay has written a wonderful account
of British history, it's a fascinating read.
- I will seek it out. - Are you a scholar, sir?
I like to read, but science rather than history.
I have a plan to study medicine in London.
Barts or maybe Moorfields.
What a noble ambition.
But it is not a thing widely known.
I have not mentioned it to anyone before you.
I shall speak of it to no-one.
I am regretting visiting the supper table so early.
I should have had less oyster patties.
It's fewer.
It's fewer oyster patties.
Here we go!
Should you like a cold drink, Miss Bennet?
Yes, that's an excellent idea. Thank you.
It looks as though you are enjoying yourself, Mary.
Your partner is the young John Sparrow, isn't he?
Yes. The optician's son.
And you have danced with him twice?
Mary, you are very young
and perhaps do not fully appreciate how things are...
understood.
If you are to dance with him again it will be remarked upon.
Two dances in succession suggests a liking.
Three might imply something more.
But I am very happy dancing with him.
I see that you have stood up twice with the Sparrow boy.
Yes, Mama.
You will not dance with him again.
But Mother, he's been most attentive.
He's quite the gentleman.
Mary, his father owns a shop.
Yes.
With a bell.
Mother, I have danced with him twice.
I have no wish to marry him.
You may not object to lowering yourself,
but I will not have you ruin
your sisters' chances of a match.
Would you care to dance again, Miss Bennet?
Once we have finished our ices.
Mr Sparrow, I am afraid that I shall...
I shall not be able to stand up with you again, this evening.
But I thought...
I thought...
I hope I have not offended you.
No, no, no. Not at all, sir.
I have... I've, I've
very much enjoyed dancing with you. It's...
That is to say that...
my mother is concerned.
Concerned?
For my sisters and I.
It's important that we make an appropriate, social,
one might say, financially,
well, a suitable match...
Miss Bennet, there is no need for an explanation.
I shall not pursue the matter.
I've enjoyed, I've enjoyed my time with...
Good evening to you.
I'm sorry, I'm...
sorry.
Jane stood up with him twice.
I had little time for his friend.
Please do not hold that against Mr Bingley.
I danced with two soldiers!
I'm not very good with faces,
so I'm not sure how many times I stood up with anyone.
Hill!
As my mother and sisters happily dissected every moment of the ball,
I felt a terrible sense of shame.
I had caused hurt to a man
whose only crime was being kind to me.
Who was I?
A coward, who lacked the courage to follow her own inclinations?
It was time to find my own way.
To look for a new version of myself
as a serious-minded woman.
From now on, knowledge and reason would be my guide.
No more ribbons,
ballgowns or dance cards!
The old Mary would be no more.
I would transform into the intellectual one.
That was how I would stand out
as the other Bennet sister.
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