Pride & Prejudice

By Jane Austen | Adapted by Ethan Taylor

 

Track 1 - Elizabeth Bennet

 

Track 2 - Mr Darcy, Footman

 

Track 3 - Mrs Bennet, Miss Bingley, Housekeeper 

 

Track 4 - Mrs Gardiner, Jane, Charlotte

 

Track 5 - Mr Bingley, Mr Wickham, Mr Collins, Lady Catherine de Bourgh

 

Scene 1 – The Netherfield Ball

Music as the Netherfield Ball is underway.

Mrs Bennet stands with her daughters, Elizabeth and Jane. Mr Darcy is sat watching proceedings disinterestedly. Mr Bingley enters and approaches the Bennets.

Mrs Bennet: (To Elizabeth and Jane.) This is him. This is him.  (To Mr Bingley.) Ah, Mr Bingley.
Mr Bingley: Mrs Bennet, we really have heard so much about you. 

Mrs Bennet: Oh, do not believe a word of it.

Mr Bingley: We hope you are enjoying yourselves this evening. Would you do me the honour of allowing me a dance with one of your fine daughters? Is it… Jane?

Mrs Bennet: It is, yes. My eldest. I am sure she would be only too happy to oblige you.

Mr Bingley: (To Jane.) May I?

Jane: Of course.

Mr Bingley leads Jane away to dance. They dance under the following.

Elizabeth: That is the fabled Mr Bingley?

Mrs Bennet: A single man of large fortune, four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for one of you girls.

Elizabeth: He seems pleasant enough.

Mrs Bennet: My dear, it is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. And him to be hosting these sorts of engagements so soon after moving into Netherfield Park can only make plain the matter. 

Elizabeth: Is that his design in settling here?

Mrs Bennet: Design! Nonsense, Elizabeth, how can you talk so? But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of you and therefore we must not be strangers here. 

Elizabeth: I cannot see that being the case. 

Mrs Bennet: If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield and all the others equally well married then I shall have nothing to wish for.

Mr Bingley interrupts his dance.

Mr Bingley: (To Jane.) I am so sorry, my dear. (To Darcy.) Come, Darcy, I must have you dance. I hate to see you sitting about by yourself in this stupid manner. Come.

Mr Darcy: Bingley, you know how I detest it unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner.

Mr Bingley: You do not help yourself.

Mr Darcy: My friend, I am afraid there is not a woman here whom I feel it would not be a punishment to stand up with.

Mr Bingley: You cannot mean that.

Mr Darcy: You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room.

Mr Bingley: She is truly the most beautiful creature I ever beheld. But there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you. Do let me ask my partner to introduce you.

Mr Darcy: Which do you mean? (He turns to look at Elizabeth.) She is tolerable. 

Mr Bingley: Tolerable?

Mr Darcy: Not handsome enough to tempt me and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles for you are wasting your time with me.

Mr Darcy exits. Mr Bingley goes to follow. He turns to the Bennets.

Mr Bingley: I am so sorry. (To Jane.) I hope we can dance again. Do excuse me.
Mr Bingley exits after Mr Darcy. 

Mrs Bennet: A second dance!

Jane: I hope so for he really seemed very pleasant. Kind and good-humoured.

Mrs Bennet: And handsome, which a young man ought likewise to be if he possibly can. 

Elizabeth: His character is thereby complete.

Mrs Bennet: And the offer of a second dance, really. Even if the first were interrupted, the offer of a second…

Jane: I did not expect such a compliment.

Mrs Bennet: Well, compliments always take you by surprise, my child, and me never. What could be more natural than his asking you again? Now go, see that you get what was promised you.
Jane looks at Elizabeth. Elizabeth smiles and nods. Jane exits. Mrs Bennet looks to Elizabeth.

Mrs Bennet: Universally acknowledged.

 

Scene 2 – A Plan Come Good

The scene shifts to Longbourn where Charlotte Lucas is visiting Mrs Bennet and Elizabeth.

Charlotte: And what of Mr Darcy? I found him rather curious.

Mrs Bennet: I beg you not to mention him, Charlotte. Pay no heed, Elizabeth, as I said before he is such a disagreeable man that it would be quite a misfortune to be liked by him.

Elizabeth: Mama, I don’t think-

Charlotte: Indeed, that was not-

Mrs Bennet: But you began the evening well, my dear. You were Mr Bingley’s first choice.

Charlotte: Yes, but he seemed to like his second rather better.

Mrs Bennet: Oh, you mean Jane, I suppose? Because he danced with her twice, you mean.

Charlotte: (Sarcastic.) Did he? You hadn’t mentioned.

Mrs Bennet: To be sure that did seem as if he admired her. And what with his inviting her to dine at Netherfield last week and again yesterday evening…

Charlotte: He did?

Mrs Bennet: Well, his sister did. Jane was there as the Bingley’s hosted the officers last night.
Charlotte: Officers?

Elizabeth: The South Devon Militia are quartered in Meryton this Winter. 

Charlotte: Oh, I did not know. I dare say that young Lydia is excited by this development?

Mrs Bennet: Yes, my youngest’s trips into town have certainly become more frequent as of late. 

Elizabeth: And the militia seems to be the sole topic of conversation with her.

Mrs Bennet: Lydia is of an excitable age.

Charlotte: She must be jealous of Jane having the opportunity of dining with them.  

Mrs Bennet: Indeed. And, what’s more, I forbade Jane to take the carriage yesterday. 

Charlotte: I don’t understand. Why would you?

Mrs Bennet: It seemed likely to rain.

Charlotte: It did rain.

Elizabeth: She had to stay the night. 

Charlotte: Oh, I see. She is not at home?

Mrs Bennet: She is due back presently. No doubt bearing news of a wonderful evening.

Charlotte: No doubt. 

Footman enters with a letter. 

Footman: A messenger has arrived from Netherfield, m’lady. 

Mrs Bennet: Aha! Another night away perhaps. That Jane can be so cunning. 

Mrs Bennet takes the letter from the Footman. She reads it.

Elizabeth: She takes after her mother.

Mrs Bennet: Read. And whilst you do I defy you not to think on the brilliance of your mother. Elizabeth: It’s from Jane. “I find myself unwell this morning which I suppose is to be imputed to my getting wet through yesterday.”

Mrs Bennet: You see!

Elizabeth: “My kind friends will not hear of my returning home till I am better. They insist also on my seeing a doctor although I really believe there is not much the matter with me.” 

Mrs Bennet: “My kind friends…”

Elizabeth: Well, if your daughter should die it would be comfort to know that it was all in pursuit of a man and under your orders. 

Mrs Bennet: Oh, I am not at all afraid of her dying. People do not die of little trifling colds.

Elizabeth: Poor Mrs Lansbury, just last week- 

Mrs Bennet: Jane will be taken good care of. As long as she stays there it is all very well.

Elizabeth gets up to leave. 

Mrs Bennet: Where are you going?

Elizabeth: To Netherfield. 

Mrs Bennet: But your father has taken the carriage into Meryton today.

Elizabeth: Then I shall walk.

Mrs Bennet: How can you be so silly? To think of such a thing. In all this dirt. There was rain yesterday.

Elizabeth: I think we all know that there was rain yesterday.

Mrs Bennet: You will not be fit to be seen when you get there.

Elizabeth: I shall be very fit to see Jane, which is all I want.

Charlotte: It is three miles, Lizzy!

Elizabeth exits. Pause.

Mrs Bennet: She will catch cold.

 

Scene 3 – The Journey to Netherfield

Movement sequence and music as Elizabeth travels through the wind, rain and mud across fields, stiles and puddles to finally reach Netherfield.

Elizabeth: (To audience.) I crossed field after field, jumping stiles and springing over puddles until at length I found myself at the door of Netherfield with weary ankles, muddy stockings and a face, I am sure, glowing with the warmth of exercise. 

 

Scene 4 – The Meaning of Accomplished

Elizabeth is shown into the parlour where Mr Bingley, Mr Darcy and Miss Bingley (Charles Bingley’s sister) are sat. 

Mr Bingley: I will see that some water and a towel are brought up to you. But will you stay and join us for now, seeing as Jane is asleep?

Miss Bingley: Yes, Charles, you promised us a game of cards!

Mr Bingley: I did, I did. (To Elizabeth.) Will you?

Elizabeth: Thank you, but no. I think I may trouble you for a book and then keep my sister company for the evening.

Mr Bingley: Of course. (Producing a pile of books.) Choose one, choose several. 

Elizabeth goes through the pile of books, looking to find one of interest to her.

Miss Bingley: Speaking of reading, what a delightful library you have at Pemberley, Mr Darcy. 

Mr Darcy: It ought to be good, it has been the work of many generations.

Miss Bingley: And then you have added so much to it yourself.

Mr Darcy: I cannot comprehend the neglect of a family library in such days as these.

Miss Bingley: And your sister, how is she? Is she much grown since spring? Oh, how I long to see her again. I never met with anybody who delighted me so much. 

Mr Darcy: Which reminds me. I have some correspondence to return. 

Mr Darcy sits and begins to write a letter.

Miss Bingley: Of course, cards can wait. Such a countenance she has and so extremely accomplished for her age.

Mr Bingley: It really is amazing to me how young ladies can have the patience to be so very accomplished as they all are these days.

Mr Darcy: What do you mean, Charles?

Mr Bingley: Well, they all paint tables, cover screens and net purses. I scarcely know anyone who cannot do all this and I am sure I never heard of a young lady spoken of for the first time without being first informed that she really was very accomplished.

Mr Darcy: It appears the word ‘accomplished’ is applied to many a woman who deserves it for no reason other than by being able to net a purse or cover a screen. Indeed, I would say that I cannot boast of knowing more than half a dozen that are truly accomplished.

Miss Bingley: Nor I, I am sure.

Elizabeth: Then you must comprehend a great deal in your idea of an accomplished woman, sir.

Mr Darcy: Indeed, I do.

Miss Bingley: Oh, certainly. An accomplished woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing and the modern languages. And besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice or the word ‘accomplished’ will be but half deserved.

Mr Darcy: All this she must possess and to all this she must yet add something more substantial in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading. 

Elizabeth: Well, I am no longer surprised at your knowing only half a dozen accomplished women. I rather wonder at your knowing any.

Mr Darcy: Are you so severe upon your own sex as to doubt the possibility of all this?

Elizabeth: I never saw such capacity, taste, application and elegance as you describe united. In either woman or man. 

Pause. Awkward. Mr Darcy returns to his letter writing. Elizabeth returns to her book. 

Miss Bingley: Miss Eliza Bennet, let me persuade you to take a turn about the room. You will, won’t you? 

Elizabeth puts down her book and joins Miss Bingley. 

Miss Bingley: Mr Darcy, will you join us?

Mr Darcy: Thank you, no. 

Miss Bingley: You might leave writing the letter for five minutes.

Mr Darcy: I can imagine but two motives for your choosing to walk up and down the room together and my joining you would interfere with either or both of them.

Mr Bingley: Do not mind him.

Elizabeth: I don’t.

Miss Bingley: He means to be severe on us. Our surest way of disappointing him will be to ask nothing about it. (Pause.) Oh but Mr Darcy, what could you possibly mean by that?

Mr Darcy: That you either choose this method of passing the evening because you have secret affairs to discuss or because you are conscious that your figures appear to the greatest advantage in walking. If the first, I should be completely in your way and if the second, I can admire you much better as I sit here.

Miss Bingley: Oh, shocking! I never heard anything so abominable. How shall we punish him for such a speech?

Mr Bingley: He can’t stand to be teased. Can you, Darcy? 

Miss Bingley: Tease calmness of temper and presence of mind? We will not expose ourselves, if you please, by attempting to laugh without a subject.

Elizabeth: Mr Darcy is not to be laughed at? 

Mr Bingley: Not as long as I’ve known him.

Elizabeth: That is a shame. I dearly love a laugh.

Mr Darcy: Bingley has given me credit for more than can be. But I do believe that the wisest and best of men may be rendered ridiculous by a person whose first object in life is a joke.

Elizabeth: Certainly there are such people but I hope I am not one of them. I hope I never ridicule what is wise or good. I own that I do laugh at follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistences. But these, I suppose, are precisely what you are without.

Mr Darcy: I fear that is not possible for anyone. But it has been the study of my life to avoid those weaknesses which often expose a strong countenance to ridicule.

Elizabeth: Such as vanity and pride?

Mr Darcy: Vanity, certainly. But pride… Well, where there is a real superiority of mind, pride will be always under good regulation.

Elizabeth: Well, I am perfectly convinced now that Mr Darcy has no defect. He owns it himself without disguise.

Mr Darcy: I have made no such pretension, Miss Bennet. I have faults enough. My temper, for one, I dare not vouch for. It is, I believe, too little yielding. I rarely forgive those who cross it and my resentment, I am afraid, once created is often unappeasable. 

Elizabeth: You have chosen your faults very well. I certainly cannot laugh at them. 

Mr Darcy: I am safe then?

Elizabeth: From me, it seems.

Mr Darcy: Naturally, there is in every disposition a tendency towards some particular evil.

Elizabeth: Yours, perhaps, a propensity to hate everybody?

Mr Darcy: And yours to wilfully misunderstand them.

Mr Bingley: Some music? Yes, some music. 

Elizabeth: I must return to my sister. Thank you for your hospitality, Mr Bingley. With any luck, we will be gone in the morning. 

Elizabeth exits.

Mr Bingley: You know I loathe an argument. The pair of you, really.

Music.

 

Scene 5 – A Gentleman and a Stranger

Elizabeth: (To audience.) We took leave of Netherfield the following morning, Miss Bingley having rather delayed us by bestowing a multitude of kisses and embraces on poor Jane, assuring her that she would always be welcome at Netherfield and assuring me of nothing of the sort. At long last we arrived home, where we had expected to be welcomed by mother, only to find her-

Mrs Bennet enters.

Mrs Bennet:  Shhhhhh! Please.

Mrs Bennet is intently trying to listen at the door of Mr Bennet’s study. Jane enters.

Elizabeth: Are you…?

Jane: Eavesdropping on father’s conversations? 

Mrs Bennet: I will not be judged for it. Information is a currency of its own in these times.

Jane: Who is in there with him? 

Mrs Bennet: A gentleman and a stranger. Your father’s cousin, one Mr Collins.

Jane: We do not know this man.

Mrs Bennet: His father and yours were always at odds. But when your poor father, rest his soul, lies dead then this Mr Collins may take it in mind to turn you all out of this house as soon as he pleases.

Elizabeth: He is due to inherit?

Mrs Bennet: All of it, yes.

Elizabeth: Why were we not told of this? 

Mrs Bennet: We had always hoped for a son. And after five daughters I guess we thought to ignore it until it went away. 

Elizabeth: But it has not gone away. Instead, it is currently in our home having a conversation with our father. 

Mrs Bennet: Which I have not managed to make head nor tail of because of you two.

The study door opens and Mr Collins enters. 

Mrs Bennet: Mr Collins!

Mr Collins: Mrs Bennet. I cannot tell you what a joy it is for me to be here. The disagreement between your husband and my late honoured father always gave me much uneasiness and since I have had the misfortune of losing him, I have frequently wished to heal the breach. And here I am and I truly believe it is now healed! Ah, these must be two of your charming daughters of whom I have heard so much.

Mrs Bennet: My two eldest. Jane and Elizabeth.

Mr Collins: Of course! I had heard much of their beauty but it seems now that fame has fallen short of the truth.

Mrs Bennet: You are very kind, sir.

Mr Collins: I do not doubt you seeing them well disposed of in marriage in due time.

Mrs Bennet: I wish with all my heart it may prove so for else they will be destitute enough. 

Mr Collins: Ah, you allude to the entail of this estate and my inheriting of it.

Mrs Bennet: I do, I do. It is a grievous affair to my poor girls, you must confess. Not that I mean to find fault with you, for such things I know are all chance in this world.

Mr Collins: I am very sensible, madam, of the hardship to my fair cousins. But I can assure the young ladies that I come prepared to admire them. At present I will not say more, but perhaps when we are better acquainted…

Mrs Bennet: This afternoon!

Mr Collins: Excuse me?

Mrs Bennet: There is tea at the Gardiners’, my sister and her husband. Oh, you simply must join us. 

Mr Collins: Very good, very good. Yes, I think that would be delightful.

The scene shifts to the Gardiners’.

 

Scene 6 – A Godson and a Friend

Mr Collins stands addressing a room of onlookers. Mrs Bennet and Mrs Gardiner listen avidly whilst Elizabeth is utterly disinterested. 

Mrs Gardiner: And you received your ordination this Easter?

Mr Collins: Indeed, and since then I have been so fortunate as to be distinguished by the patronage of the Right Honourable Lady Catherine de Bourgh whose bounty and beneficence has preferred me to the valuable rectory of that parish. And there it shall be my earnest endeavour to demean myself with grateful respect towards her ladyship and be ever ready to perform those rites and ceremonies which are instituted by the Church of England-

Mrs Bennet: Here, here.

Mr Collins: I hadn’t finished.

Mrs Bennet: Oh, I am sorry.

Mr Collins goes to speak again.

Mrs Gardiner: Lady Catherine de Bourgh? I do not know her. I dare say she is a very agreeable woman. From what you have said, it is a pity that ladies in general are not more like her.

Mr Collins: Oh truly, truly.

Mrs Bennet: Has she any family?

Mr Collins: Only the one daughter. Miss de Bourgh, the heiress of the estate. A most charming young lady indeed. Far superior to many of her sex because there is that in her features which marks the young woman of distinguished birth.

Mrs Gardiner: Has she been presented? I do not remember her name among the ladies at court.

Mr Collins: Her indifferent state of health unhappily prevents her being in town and, by that means, as I told Lady Catherine myself one day, has deprived the British court of its brightest ornament. 

Mrs Gardiner: A great shame.

Mrs Bennet: Indeed. I think Lydia has had enough time to study the sheet music. Shall we to the other room?

Mr Collins: A splendid idea. Although I dare say I have been spoilt by the musicality of Miss de Bourgh.

Mrs Gardiner: You dare say.

Mr Collins and Mrs Bennet exit. Mrs Gardiner lingers.  

Mrs Gardiner: Lord have mercy on us. 

Elizabeth smiles as Mrs Gardiner leaves. Elizabeth remains.

Elizabeth: Lydia played… Enthusiastically. But she need not have bothered playing at all. No sooner would she start up than Mr Collins would once more interject with some anecdote regarding the grandeur of Lady Catherine de Burgh, or her daughter or perhaps even her abode, in which a justifiably costly chimney-piece had been recently installed. 

Wickham enters.

Mr Wickham: I understand he does go on a bit.

Elizabeth: Mr Collins? Yes, I suppose he does. It was Mr Wickham, wasn’t it?

Mr Wickham: Of the South Devon militia, at your command.

Elizabeth: What shall I do with the power?

Mr Wickham laughs.

Mr Wickham: You will pardon my behaviour. I am not so well versed in these sorts of gatherings. The Gardiners are acquainted with my senior officer, Colonel Forster. Business keeps him away this afternoon and so I have been sent in his place. But I fear I am not a worthy replacement.

Elizabeth: I think you are doing just fine. 

Mr Wickham: You are very kind. It is, however, a pleasure to meet you. 

Elizabeth: Likewise. How long are you in Meryton?

Mr Wickham: Until someone tells me otherwise.

Elizabeth: You are familiar with the area?

Mr Wickham: I am afraid not. Perhaps a guided tour sometime.

Elizabeth: Perhaps.

Mrs Bennet enters.

Mrs Bennet: Elizabeth, your sister is giving the performance of her life. Will you not attend?

Mr Wickham: Apologies, the fault is mine.

Mrs Bennet: Afterwards there shall be whist. 

Mrs Bennet exits.

Mr Wickham: Netherfield Park is not too far, I understand?

Elizabeth: About five miles. Do you know the place?

Mr Wickham: I know of someone who stays there.

Elizabeth: Mr Bingley?

Mr Wickham: No, we have not had the pleasure.

Elizabeth: Ah. You refer to Mr Darcy then?

Mr Wickham: I do. Are you much acquainted with the man?

Elizabeth: As much as I ever wish to be.

Mr Wickham: I was half afraid of his being here.

Elizabeth: Why would that be?

Mr Wickham: You are not aware? Miss de Bourgh, Lady Catherine’s daughter of whom Mr Collins so eloquently and frequently speaks… Well, it is believed that she and Mr Darcy will be looked to in order to unite both estates.

Elizabeth: A marriage between them? I was not aware. I never heard of Lady Catherine’s existence until this afternoon and I wish to know no more of Mr Darcy than can be helped.

Mr Wickham: I see. Well, I have no right to give my opinion of him. I have known him too long and too well to be a fair judge. It would be impossible for me to be impartial.

Elizabeth: Really?

Mr Wickham: You won’t want to know.

Elizabeth: I do. Tell me.

Mr Wickham: His father, Miss Bennet, was one of the best men that ever breathed and the truest friend I ever had. He was my godfather and excessively attached to me. I cannot do justice to his kindness. He meant to provide for me amply for the rest of my days and thought he had done so by means of his will but… It was given elsewhere.

Elizabeth: His will was disregarded?

Mr Wickham: There was just such an informality in the terms of the bequest as to give me no hope from law. A man of honour could not have doubted the intention but Mr Darcy chose to doubt it. To treat it as a merely conditional recommendation and to assert that I had forfeited all claim to it by extravagant, imprudent behaviour. In short, anything or nothing.

Elizabeth: What can have been his motive? To have induced him to behave so cruelly?

Mr Wickham: A thorough, determined dislike of me. A dislike which I cannot but attribute in some measure to jealousy. 

Elizabeth: He deserves to be publicly disgraced.

Mr Wickham: Some time or other he will be. But it shall not be by me. Till I can forget his father, I can never defy or expose him. But it is not for me to be driven away by Mr Darcy now. 

Elizabeth places her hand on Mr Wickham’s arm. Mrs Bennet enters. 

They exit.

 

Scene 7 – Different Accounts

Music. Another ball at Netherfield. Jane and Mr Bingley dance. The music and dance comes to an end. The dancers reverence to each other before Mr Bingley leaves. Elizabeth enters and steals a moment with Jane.

Elizabeth: Well?

Jane: I am afraid I have nothing satisfactory to tell you. Charles does not know Wickham’s history and is quite ignorant of the circumstances which have principally offended Mr Darcy.

Elizabeth: He does not know?

Jane: As far as I can tell. I did, however, manage to bring up the topic with his sister. Miss Bingley says that, as a matter of fact, it is Mr Wickham who has treated Mr Darcy in a most infamous manner. Again, she did not know the particulars, only that Mr Darcy could not be to blame.

Elizabeth: That does not surprise me.

Jane: And she finds Mr Wickham’s coming into the county a most insolent thing indeed.

Elizabeth: And yet she knows of nothing she can, in fact, accuse him of.

Jane: But I am sorry to say that Charles agrees with his sister in that Mr Wickham is by no means a respectable young man.

Elizabeth: But Mr Bingley does not know Mr Wickham and since he is unacquainted with the man’s history and has learned the rest from Mr Darcy I shall venture to think of both gentlemen as I did before.

Mr Darcy enters.

Mr Darcy: What gentlemen? 

Elizabeth: You were eavesdropping, sir?

Mr Darcy: If I was then I would not have asked the question. 

Elizabeth: Can we help you, Mr Darcy?

Mr Darcy: Well, Miss Bennet, what I was really wondering was- 

Elizabeth: Yes?

Mr Darcy: (Extending his hand.) Well… May I?

Elizabeth: A dance?

Mr Darcy: That is why we are here.

Jane looks to Elizabeth and then exits. Elizabeth turns back to Mr Darcy.

Elizabeth: Very well.

Elizabeth and Mr Darcy begin to dance. 

Elizabeth: A lovely dance. They put on a good show here at Netherfield.

Mr Darcy: Mm.

They dance in silence.

Elizabeth: It is your turn to say something now, Mr Darcy. You ought to make some kind of remark on the size of the room or the number of couples.

Mr Darcy: Whatever you wish me to say, imagine it said.

Elizabeth: That will do for the present.

Mr Darcy: Do you talk by rule then while you are dancing?

Elizabeth: One must speak a little. It would look odd to be entirely silent for half an hour together. And yet there are some who may take comfort in the silences.

Mr Darcy: Do you speak of yourself?

Elizabeth: Both of us. I have seen a great similarity in the turn of our minds.

Mr Darcy: Really?

Elizabeth: Unsocial, taciturn disposition, unwilling to speak unless it is to say something we expect will amaze the whole room.

Mr Darcy: This is no very striking resemblance of your own character, I am sure. How near it may be to mine, I cannot pretend to say.

Elizabeth: Then don’t.

They dance in silence.

Elizabeth: I made a friend earlier this week. 

Mr Darcy: That’s nice.

Elizabeth: A Mr Wickham.

Mr Darcy: Well, he is blessed with such happy manners as may ensure his making friends.

Elizabeth: You know him?

Mr Darcy: I suspect that you know that I do.

Elizabeth: Well, he has been unlucky enough as to lose your friendship.

Mr Darcy: Shall we talk of something else?

Elizabeth: But I remember hearing you once say, Mr Darcy, that you hardly ever forgave. That your resentment once created was unappeasable. You are very cautious, I suppose, as to its being created in the first place?

Mr Darcy: I am.

Elizabeth: And never allow yourself to be blinded by prejudice?

Mr Darcy: May I ask to what these questions tend?

Elizabeth: Merely to the illustration of your character. I am trying to make it out.

Mr Darcy: And what is your success?

Elizabeth: I do not get on at all. I hear such different accounts of you as puzzle me exceedingly.

Mr Darcy: I can readily believe that report may vary greatly with respect to me and I could wish, Miss Bennet, that you were not to sketch my character at the present moment, as there is reason to fear that the performance would reflect no credit on either of us.

Elizabeth: But if I do not take your likeness now, I may never have another opportunity.

Mr Darcy: Well, I am afraid you will have to suspend your pleasure in the task. Good evening, Miss Bennet.

Mr Darcy exits. Mr Collins enters, excitedly. 

Mr Collins: (Extending his hand.) Do I spy an opportunity?

 

Scene 8 – An Unwanted Proposal

Longbourn. Mrs Bennet is sat reading.

Elizabeth: (To audience.) The weeks Mr Collins spent in town seemed to trundle by desperately slowly. Despite our best efforts to avoid the man he seemed to be everywhere – dining at Longbourn, tea at Netherfield, a stroll about Meryton – inescapable, like a fly in Summer. He drove me to complete-

Mrs Bennet: My dear, what do you think of Mr Collins?

Elizabeth: I have no opinion of him. 

Mrs Bennet: Come now. He seems to me to be a most conscientious and polite young man. Do you not think? Of course, he cannot help being in line to inherit Longbourn.

Elizabeth: I never said he could.

Mrs Bennet: But, if anything, that could be said to be in his favour.

Elizabeth: Favour for what?

Footman enters. 

Footman: Mr Collins is here to see you, madam.

Mrs Bennet: Quelle surprise! To see who?

Footman: Miss Elizabeth, madam.

Mr Collins enters as the Footman exits. 

Mrs Bennet: Oh, quelle surprise indeed! Mr Collins.

Mr Collins: Mrs Bennet. Might I solicit for the honour of a private audience with your fair daughter?

Mrs Bennet: Oh dear! Yes, certainly! Certainly. I am sure Lizzy will be most happy to.

Elizabeth: Mother-

Mrs Bennet: And can have no objection.

Elizabeth: Mother! I beg you- 

Mrs Bennet: Elizabeth?

Elizabeth: Mr Collins will excuse me. He can have nothing to say to me that anyone else need not hear.

Mrs Bennet: Nonsense, Lizzy. You will stay here. I insist upon your staying and hearing dear Mr Collins.

Mrs Bennet exits. 

Mr Collins: Believe me, my dear Miss Elizabeth, your modesty rather adds to your other perfections. And you can hardly doubt the purpose of my discourse, I fear my attentions have been too marked to be mistaken. 

Elizabeth: Your attentions, sir?

Mr Collins: Almost as soon as I entered this house I singled you out as the companion of my future life. But before I am run away with by my feelings, perhaps it would be advisable for me to state my reasons for marrying.

Elizabeth: Marrying!? Sir, I-

Mr Collins: First, that I think it a right thing for every clergyman to set the example of matrimony in his parish. Do you not agree?

Elizabeth: Mr Collins-

Mr Collins: Very good. Secondly, that I am convinced it will add very greatly to my happiness. And thirdly, that it is the particular advice and recommendation of the very noble lady whom I have the honour of calling patroness. 

Elizabeth: Lady Catherine?

Mr Collins: “Mr Collins, you must marry” said she. “A clergyman like you must marry. Choose properly, for my sake and for your own. Let her be an active, useful sort of person. Not brought up high but able to make a small income go a good way.” And, Elizabeth, I believe this to be you.

Elizabeth: Sir-

Mr Collins: And now nothing remains for me but to assure you in the most animated language of the violence of my affection-

Elizabeth: You are too hasty, sir.

Pause.

Mr Collins: Miss Bennet?

Elizabeth: You forget that I have made no answer. Let me do it now without further loss of time. Accept my thanks for the immense compliment you are paying me. I am very sensible of the honour of your proposal but it is impossible for me to do otherwise than decline.

Mr Collins: Ah, of course. Very good, Elizabeth, very good. No, I have been made aware of the custom for young ladies to reject the first proposal of the man whom they secretly mean to accept. I am therefore by no means discouraged by what you have just said and shall hope to lead you to the altar ere long.

Elizabeth: Your hope is rather an extraordinary one. I do assure you that I am not one of those young ladies, if such young ladies there are. I am perfectly serious in my refusal. You could not make me happy and I am convinced that I am the last woman in the world who would make you so. If Lady Catherine but knew me then I am certain that she would find me in every respect ill qualified for the situation.

Mr Collins: I cannot imagine that. When I next see her I shall speak in the highest terms of your modesty, economy and other amiable qualifications.

Elizabeth: All praise of me will be unnecessary, sir. You must pay me the compliment of believing what I say.

Pause.

Mr Collins: When I do myself the honour of speaking to you next on this subject I shall hope to receive a more favourable answer. 

Elizabeth: Really, Mr Collins-

Mr Collins: You must give me leave to flatter myself that your refusal is merely words, of course. My situation, my connections with Lady Catherine, my relationship to your own family and estate are circumstances highly in my favour. And in spite of your manifold attractions it is by no means certain that another offer of marriage may ever be made to you. Without which, upon my inheriting of this estate, you would simply become destitute. I may also warn you that you are not the solitary beholder of my affections, but you remain the current favourite for now. And I must conclude that you are not serious in your rejection of me and I shall choose to attribute it to your wish of increasing my love by suspense, according to the usual practice of elegant females. Good day, Miss Bennet.

Mr Collins exits. 

 

Scene 9 – Unwelcome News

Elizabeth and Charlotte Lucas are taking a stroll about the town of Meryton.

Charlotte: It seems nonsensical to me.

Elizabeth: And to me, Charlotte.

Charlotte: But I have heard of some young ladies… What did he call them?

Elizabeth: Elegant females.

Charlotte: Yes, elegant females. I have heard of some doing it. Perhaps it will prove the fashion.

Elizabeth: I hope not. To sacrifice sincerity for custom is… Becoming the custom.

Charlotte: Oh, I like that. I might use that in future, if you don’t mind?

Elizabeth: But, Charlotte, what was is it you wanted to tell me?

Charlotte: Well, I… 

Mr Wickham enters. 

Charlotte: Oh, look! Is that Mr Wickham?

Elizabeth: I believe so. (Calling.) Mr Wickham!

Mr Wickham turns and approaches.

Charlotte: I shall leave you two in peace.

Charlotte exits. 

Mr Wickham: Miss Bennet, a lovely surprise.

Elizabeth: We missed you the other night. At the Netherfield Ball.

Mr Wickham: I very much doubt that. And who is this ‘we’?

Elizabeth: Well, myself and… others.

Mr Wickham: I can only apologise. I found that as the time drew near I had better not meet Mr Darcy. To be in the same room with the man for so many hours might have been more than I could bear. 

Elizabeth: I do not blame you.

Mr Wickham: Well, it seems that they host so many events at Netherfield now that it will prove a challenge to remain absent from all of them.

Elizabeth: Will you accompany me for awhile? I am taking some air, to clear my head.

Mr Wickham: Do excuse me but I am afraid that I must decline. I have some business to attend to.

Elizabeth: That’s a shame. Of what nature?

Mr Wickham: A complicated one. But you are looking to clear your head, I see no need to fill it with it’s comings and goings. Good day, Miss Bennet.

Mr Wickham exits. Elizabeth looks after him, confused. Mrs Bennet enters suddenly. She holds a letter. 

Mrs Bennet: Lizzy, Lizzy! Jane has had a letter through.

Elizabeth: From Charles?

Mrs Bennet: From his sister. The whole party have left Netherfield and are by this time on their way to London, without any intention of returning. (Handing Elizabeth the letter.) The end. Read the end.

Elizabeth: (Reading.) ‘Mr Darcy was impatient to see his sister and, to confess the truth, we are scarcely less eager to meet her again. I really do not think Georgiana Darcy has her equal for beauty, elegance and accomplishments. I know that my brother, Charles, admires her greatly and I believe that both sets of relations all wish the connection. With all these circumstances to favour an attachment am I wrong, dearest Jane, in indulging the hope of an event which will secure the happiness of so many?’

Mrs Bennet: It is clear enough. She neither wants nor ever wanted Jane as a sister. What’s more, she is perfectly convinced of her brother’s indifference and that if she suspects the nature of Jane’s feelings for him she means now to gently dissuade her of pursuing them any longer.

Elizabeth: I do not see it that way.

Mrs Bennet: How can you not?

Elizabeth: No one who has ever seen Jane and Charles together can doubt his affection for her. Miss Bingley sees this and yet she wants Charles to marry Miss Darcy. She follows him to town in the hope of keeping him there and tries now to persuade Jane that he does not care about her.

Mrs Bennet: Do you really think so?

Elizabeth: Could Miss Bingley have seen half as much love in Mr Darcy for herself then she would have ordered her wedding clothes. But we are not rich enough or grand enough for them. 

Mrs Bennet: That may be so. Oh, Lizzie, we were so close. But now it is quite hopeless. If Mr Bingley returns no more this winter… Well, a thousand things may arise in six months.  At least, there is still hope for you. For you and Mr Collins. Yes?

Elizabeth hesitates.

Mrs Bennet: Yes?

Elizabeth: Yes, mother. There is still hope. 

Mrs Bennet: That cheers my heart.

Mrs Bennet: I must away, I feel some comfort is required.

Elizabeth: You will look to Jane?

Mrs Bennet: I meant for me!

Mrs Bennet exits.Charlotte enters and looks towards the retreating Mrs Bennet. 

Elizabeth: Some sad news.

Charlotte: Oh dear. And what of Mr Wickham?

Elizabeth: No, no first you must tell what it is you have been meaning to. Please. I am all ears now.

Charlotte: Well, erm… Elizabeth… It concerns Mr Collins.

Elizabeth: Oh, I take it all back. No more, please. I have had quite enough of that man.

Charlotte: Well, that is good. In a way. For we are engaged to be married.

Pause.

Elizabeth: You are joking.

Charlotte: I am not.

Elizabeth: Engaged? To Mr Collins! Charlotte, that’s impossible.

Charlotte: Is it indeed?

Elizabeth: You misunderstand me, I only mean that it has been but-

Charlotte: Do you think it incredible that Mr Collins should be able to procure any woman’s good opinion merely because he was not so happy as to succeed with you?

Elizabeth: No, Charlotte, it is just that-…

Charlotte: What?

Elizabeth: Well, it has not been three days since. He said he was going to try again. I had presumed with me.

Charlotte: I see what you are feeling. But when you have had time to think it all over I hope you will be satisfied with what I have done. I am not romantic, as you know. 

Elizabeth: Yes, but-

Charlotte: And never was. I ask only a comfortable home and considering Mr Collins’ character, his connections and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast upon entering the marriage state.

Elizabeth: … If you believe so. 

Charlotte: Well, I have told you now. Good evening, Eliza.

Charlotte goes to leave. Turns once more.

Charlotte: You will be invited.

Charlotte exits. 

Elizabeth: Mother is going to murder me.

 

Scene 10 – Sisters Depart

Longbourn. Mrs Gardiner is sat waiting for Jane.

Elizabeth: (To audience.) Over the following weeks and months Jane sunk into a depression and could not be roused from her melancholy attitude despite always insisting that she was fine and that she was merely distracted by other things. At length our aunt took it upon herself to take her into London for a change of scenery in the hope that this might brighten her spirits.

Mrs Gardiner: I am sorry to say it but these things so often happen. A young man so easily falls in love with a pretty girl for a few weeks and then, when accident separates them, so easily forgets her.

Elizabeth: Yes, but Jane does not suffer by accident. And it is not so often that the interference of friends will persuade a young man to think no more of a girl whom he was clearly quite violently in love with only a few days before.

Mrs Gardiner: Well, I am sorry for her. I am glad she has been prevailed upon to travel into London with us. A change of setting might be of service. A little relief from home may be as useful as anything. But now, while we still have some time, to you. 

Elizabeth: I am shortly to make a trip over to the newly wed Mr and Mrs Collins. Tomorrow in fact.

Mrs Gardiner: Dear Charlotte Lucas?

Elizabeth: Charlotte Collins now. They wasted no time. I have been invited to stay at the rectory.

Mrs Gardiner: But that was not to what I was referring, Elizabeth. I wanted to talk of Mr Wickham.

Elizabeth: Oh my dear aunt, his attentions are over, I am afraid. 

Mrs Gardiner: Oh.

Elizabeth: It is quite alright. My heart had been but slightly touched and I can perhaps satisfy myself with the thought that I might have been his only choice had fortune permitted it. 

Mrs Gardiner: Another young lady?

Elizabeth: So I have heard. It seems there are so many of us. I pity her, whoever she is.

Mrs Gardiner: Oh, my dear.

Elizabeth: There is no need. I may remind myself of the somewhat mortifying conviction that handsome young men must have something to live on as well as the plain. 

Mrs Gardiner: If you need anything…

Elizabeth: I leave for the Collinses tomorrow. A little relief from home may be as useful as anything.

Mrs Gardiner smiles. She exits. 

 

Scene 11 – An Unwanted Proposal, Part II

Elizabeth: (To audience.) Despite the bizarre turn of events that had so pulled at mine and Charlotte’s friendship, my excitement to see her and her new situation was palpable and, as we left the high road for the lane to Hunsford, I anxiously expected each turning to reveal the rectory, her new abode. At length I spotted the grounds of Rosings Park, smiling at all I had heard of the inhabitant, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and shortly thereafter its neighbour, the rectory, came into view.

Elizabeth picks up her suitcase. Charlotte enters as Elizabeth approaches the house. 

Charlotte: And what hour do you call this?

Elizabeth: I was not aware we had agreed upon a time.

Charlotte: We are expected by Lady Catherine. She awaits us presently. 

Elizabeth: Charlotte-

Charlotte: Come, come. (To Charlotte.) We must not keep Lady Catherine waiting.

They arrive at the residence of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Lady Catherine enters, sat in her parlour. 

Lady Catherine: It really makes no matter for I have been quite entertained by an unexpected visitor. 

Charlotte: Oh, really? Well, all is very well in that case. How splendid.

Lady Catherine: Indeed. Mr Darcy is to stay for the coming weeks.

Elizabeth: Mr Darcy is here?

Lady Catherine: In the library presently. Putting together a list of titles anyone of import simply must have upon their shelves.

Elizabeth: What a wonderful piece of news. We are truly blessed.

Lady Catherine: Truly. He makes such wonderful conversation. In fact, he has only now been telling me of having lately saved a friend from the inconveniences of a most imprudent marriage.

Elizabeth: Did he mention who?

Lady Catherine: He gave no names or particulars.

Elizabeth: Did he mention why?

Lady Catherine: Why, my dear?

Elizabeth: His reasons for this interference? 

Lady Catherine: Some very strong objections against the lady, I believe.

Elizabeth: And why was he to be the judge?

Charlotte: Elizabeth.

Lady Catherine: You are rather disposed to call his interference officious?

Elizabeth: I merely do not see what right Mr Darcy had to decide on the propriety of his friend’s inclination. Or why, upon his judgement alone, he was to determine and direct in what manner that friend was to be happy. 

Beat.

Lady Catherine: Do you play and sing, Miss Bennet?

Elizabeth: A little. 

Lady Catherine: We shall be happy to hear you. Our instrument is a capital one. Do your sisters play?

Elizabeth: One of them does.

Lady Catherine: You ought all to have learned. Has your governess left you?

Elizabeth: We never had any governess.

Lady Catherine: No governess? Five daughters brought up at home without a governess! I never heard of such a thing. You must have been neglected. If I had known your mother, I should have advised her most strenuously to-

Mr Darcy enters. 

Lady Catherine: Ah, Mr Darcy, we were just discussing music. Tell me, how does your sister get on?

Mr Darcy: Very well, thank you.

Lady Catherine: Pray tell her from me that she cannot expect to excel if she does not practise a great deal. 

Mr Darcy: She practises very constantly, madam. 

Lady Catherine: So much the better. Mrs Collins now comes to Rosings every other day to play on the piano-forte. In fact, my dear, let us hear how you are getting on. And then you, Miss Bennet. 

Charlotte: A wonderful idea. 

Mr Collins leads Charlotte into the other room. 

Elizabeth: I shall join you presently. 

Lady Catherine: Miss Bennet?

Elizabeth: A moment to think, to practise in my mind. 

Lady Catherine: Very good. But do be careful. Thinking too long is most unbecoming.

Lady Catherine exits. Pause. 

Elizabeth: How very suddenly you all quitted Netherfield.

Mr Darcy: Yes. I suppose it was.

Elizabeth: If Mr Bingley means to be but little at Netherfield then it would be better for the neighbourhood that he should give up the place entirely, for then we might get a settled family there.

Mr Darcy: Yes, I can imagine that to be desirable. (Pause.) A letter from Mr Collins told me of your visit here.

Elizabeth: In which case I am very surprised to find you here also. 

Mr Darcy: You are? 

Elizabeth: Why would I not be?

Mr Darcy: Yes, now I think of it, I trust you could not have suspected. Given everything.

Elizabeth: Everything?

Mr Darcy: Who we are, I suppose. Well then, Miss Bennet, this may well come as a surprise to you also. But I trust, not an unpleasant one. 

Elizabeth: We shall see.

Mr Darcy: I dare say.

Elizabeth: I am listening.

Mr Darcy: Then I had better just say it. 

Elizabeth: You are stalling.

Mr Darcy: You have caught me. In that case…

Elizabeth: Yes…?

Mr Darcy: You must allow me…

Elizabeth: Go on…

Mr Darcy: To tell you how-… 

Elizabeth: How-?

Mr Darcy: How I think I have fallen in love with you.

Pause. Elizabeth is shocked. She composes herself.

Mr Darcy: Of course, I have fought with myself over and over and tried so that I might not-

Elizabeth: In such cases as this, it is, and I believe I speak from some experience now, the established mode to express a sense of obligation for the sentiments avowed. It is natural that obligation should be felt and if I could feel gratitude I would now thank you. But I cannot.

Mr Darcy: You do not feel the same?

Elizabeth: I have never desired your good opinion and you certainly bestow it most unwillingly.

Mr Darcy: In vain have I struggled, yes, but-

Elizabeth: I am sorry to have caused you pain. It has been most unconsciously done and I hope will be of short duration.

Mr Darcy: You are refusing me?

Elizabeth: I am.

Mr Darcy: I must admit that I did not expect this.

Elizabeth: Else you wouldn’t have asked, I am sure. But why? Because of your situation and connections in comparison to mine, I presume? That this difference in standing between us might compel me to marry someone I truly loathe. I have heard it before. My feelings regarding you… Your incivility, your arrogance, your pride. I wish you well with them.

Mr Darcy: And this is why I am thus rejected?

Elizabeth: I have other provocations as well you know. Do you think that any consideration would tempt me to accept the man who has been the means of ruining, perhaps for ever, the happiness of a most beloved sister?

Mr Darcy: You refer to Charles and Jane?

Elizabeth: You cannot deny that you have been the principal means of dividing them from each other? 

Mr Darcy: I have no wish of denying that I did everything in my power to separate my friend from your sister or even that I rejoice in my success. To him I have been kinder than towards myself. 

Elizabeth: I see now truly that Mr Wickham was right. 

Mr Darcy: You take an eager interest in that gentleman’s concerns.

Elizabeth: Who that knows what his misfortunes have been can help feeling an interest in him? 

Mr Darcy: His misfortunes?!

Elizabeth: And of your infliction. You have reduced him to his present state of poverty and deprived him the best years of his life. 

Mr Darcy: And this is your opinion of me? This is the estimation in which you hold me?

Elizabeth: It is.

Mr Darcy: I thank you for explaining it so fully. My faults, according to you, are heavy indeed. 

Elizabeth: I had not known you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed upon to marry.

Mr Darcy: Well, I thank you for your plain-speaking. Perhaps if I had-

Elizabeth: You could not have made me the offer of your hand in any possible way that would have induced me to accept it-

Mr Darcy: You have said quite enough, madam. I perfectly comprehend your feelings and have now only to be ashamed of what my own have been. Forgive me for having taken up so much of your time and accept my best wishes for your health and happiness.

Mr Darcy exits. After a moment, Mr Collins enters. He clears his throat.

Mr Collins: It is not right to keep Lady Catherine waiting, Miss Bennet. 

Mr Collins exits. 

 

Scene 12 – A Hasty Departure

Elizabeth: (To audience.) Charlotte played wonderfully. Of course she did. But I found her to be changed and no longer the person I had grown to love throughout childhood and adolescence. This place and the people who lived there with its esteemed company and the pretensions that came with it, I longed to be rid of it all. So it was fortuitous that I received an invitation from my aunt only a couple of weeks later to travel with her up to the Yorkshire town of Lambton, where she had spent her youth. I leaped at this opportunity and informed Mr Collins and Lady Catherine that very morning.

Mr Collins enters.

Mr Collins: I believe that Lady Catherine is not accustomed to such a blow.

Elizabeth: I hope I have not offended.

Mr Collins: No, no, I am sure. It is only that Mr Darcy left earlier this week also.

Elizabeth: I was not aware.

Mr Collins: No doubt called away on business of some kind. He did, however, leave me this letter to give to you.

Mr Collins gives Elizabeth a letter.

Mr Collins: Well, Miss Elizabeth, I must say that the favour of your company has been much felt, I assure you. 

Elizabeth: I have felt most welcome, thank you.

Mr Collins: And most fortunately having it in our power to introduce you to some very superior society here at Rosings I think we may flatter ourselves that your visit cannot have been entirely irksome. 

Elizabeth: Indeed.

Mr Collins: Our situation with regard to Lady Catherine is very much-

Elizabeth: Forgive me, I must return to the rectory to arrange my things.

Mr Collins: Ah, yes! We trust you may carry a favourable report of us home and beyond. 

Elizabeth: Of course.

Mr Collins exits. Elizabeth opens the letter. Mr Darcy enters and speaks the letter as Elizabeth reads it.

Mr Darcy: ‘Be not alarmed, madam, on receiving this letter by the apprehension of its containing any repetition of those sentiments or renewal of those offers which were so abhorrent to you. But two offences of a very different nature you did lay to my charge, I feel it now necessary to answer to them. 

Elizabeth: If you must.

Mr Darcy: The first mentioned was that, regardless of the sentiments of either, I had detached Mr Bingley from your sister and the other, that I had, in defiance of honour and humanity, ruined the immediate prosperity and blasted the prospects of Mr Wickham.’

Elizabeth: So you stand accused.

Mr Darcy: ‘From that very first ball at Netherfield I was then aware of Bingley’s attentions to your sister and it was not long until they had given rise to a general expectation of their marriage. From that moment I observed my friend’s behaviour attentively and I could perceive that his partiality for Miss Bennet was beyond what I had ever witnessed in him. Your sister I also watched. Her look and manners were open, cheerful and engaging but without any symptom of particular regard and I remained convinced that though she received his attentions with pleasure she did not invite them by any participation of sentiment.’

Elizabeth: You were then quite mistaken.

Mr Darcy: ‘This may have been distorted by my feelings towards the situation of your family, and the questionable reputations of some therein, as well as past experience but it led to myself and Charles’ sister urging him to forget Jane once we had all met in London shortly thereafter. Whether this was for right or for wrong I cannot yet… But no matter.’

Elizabeth: You then stand guilty as charged.

Mr Darcy: ‘And now, with respect to that other accusation of having injured Mr Wickham. It is true that when my father died he bestowed upon Wickham the sum of one thousand pounds. This was on condition of Wickham taking the church as his profession, a desire he had declared whilst my father was alive. But very soon after my father’s passing, Wickham readily accepted the money and then disappeared. For about three years I heard little of him save the occasional rumour that detailed his misconduct and errant pursuits of pleasure. He then contacted me again and assured me that, although his circumstances were just then exceedingly bad, a deal more of my father’s money would set him right. I hope you will hardly blame me for refusing to comply with this entreaty. Nevertheless, he was violent in his abuse of me until he dropped the acquaintance entirely. Last summer, however, by his connivance he so far recommended himself to my sister that she was persuaded to believe him in love with her and to consent to an elopement. His object was unquestionably my sister’s fortune but I cannot help supposing that the hope of revenging himself on me was also a very strong inducement. Luckily the plan was thwarted in time and his revenge left incomplete. I have written without any intention of paining you or humbling myself by dwelling on events which, for the happiness of both of us, cannot be too soon forgotten. Would that this letter had not needed to be written or read. I am sorry. Yours, Fitzwilliam Darcy.”

 

Scene 13 – Journey to Lambton

Elizabeth and Mrs Gardiner are in a carriage to Lambton. Elizabeth still reads Darcy’s letter.

Mrs Gardiner: I understand that Wickham’s unit is to be encamped near Brighton this Summer. They have relocated already I am told.

Elizabeth is lost in thought and does not reply.

Mrs Gardiner: I understand that Wickham’s unit is to be encamped near Brighton this Summer.

Elizabeth: Yes, yes I heard so myself.

Mrs Gardiner: My dear, what is the matter?

Elizabeth: Nothing. Really. Just distracted, I am sorry. I hear that Lydia has been pestering father to arrange a family holiday in Brighton this Summer. I can’t think why. 

Mrs Gardiner: Oh, you are not aware? Your father has already relented and allowed Lydia to travel down herself.

Elizabeth: Alone?

Mrs Gardiner: No, no. Lydia had received an invitation from Mrs Forster to spend the Summer in town with them. Under the watchful eye of the Colonel and his wife I dare say your father saw no reason to refuse. I imagine she is there already.

Elizabeth: With Mr Wickham?

Mrs Gardiner: Along with the rest of the regiment, yes. Why?

Elizabeth: Nothing. Only… I have recently come to suspect Mr Wickham of not being all that he professes to be.

Mrs Gardiner: When are men ever?

Elizabeth: But this is serious, so serious that I now think I fear for Lydia’s well-being. I know not whether I should write and make his character known. 

Mrs Gardiner: To Lydia?

Elizabeth: To all of them. Lydia would not heed it alone, there would have to be others made aware of the situation.

Mrs Gardiner: Is there occasion for exposing him so dreadfully. What is it that he has done?

Elizabeth: I fear that also thwarts me. The story is perhaps not mine to tell.

Mrs Gardiner: Well then, whatever it was I am sure that Wickham is now sorry for it and anxious to re-establish a character. We must not make him desperate with rumour.

Elizabeth: My dear aunt, if you were aware of the very great disadvantage to us all which must arise from the public notice of Lydia’s unguarded and imprudent manner, which has already risen from it in fact-

Mrs Gardiner: What, has she frightened away some of your lovers, Elizabeth?

Elizabeth: That is not what I meant. But our respectability in the world must be affected by Lydia’s wild volatility. 

Mrs Gardiner: I see you have been spending time with Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

Elizabeth: But I mean-

Mrs Gardiner: And you have a right to your opinion. But I dare say that there would have been no peace at Longbourn if Lydia was not permitted to go to Brighton. Colonel Forster is a sensible man and will keep her out of any real mischief. 

The carriage slows.

Mrs Gardiner: Now, I had thought that whilst we are here you might like to see a place of which you have heard so much about. 

Elizabeth: We are stopping?

Mrs Gardiner: At Pemberley.

Elizabeth: Pemberley?!

Mrs Gardiner: Yes, where Mr Darcy spent his youth. Mr Wickham too for that matter. It is but a few miles from where we are staying in Lambton. If it were merely a fine house richly furnished I should not care about it myself but the grounds are delightful. They have some of the finest parkland in the country. You simply must see them.

 

The carriage stops and Mrs Gardiner exits. A housekeeper enters.

Housekeeper: Welcome to Pemberley. Might I be of any assistance today?

Mrs Gardiner: We are here for a stroll about the grounds, if we may?

Housekeeper: Of course. Might I recommend following the path down to the brook. The views over the water are really quite delightful.

Mrs Gardiner: Thank you.

Elizabeth exits the carriage.

Elizabeth: Is your master at home?

Housekeeper: Mr Darcy? No, I regret to say he is absent currently. But we expect him back tomorrow with a large party of friends. 

Mrs Gardiner: To tear oneself away from such a place. Is he much at Pemberley in the course of the year?

Housekeeper: Not so much as I could wish.

Mrs Gardiner: If he would marry I dare say you might see more of him.

Housekeeper: I do not know who is good enough for him, madam.

Mrs Gardiner: It is much to his credit that you should think so.

Housekeeper: I say no more than the truth. I have never had a cross word from him in all my life and I have known him ever since he was four years old. 

Mrs Gardiner: There are very few people of whom so much can be said.

Elizabeth: You are lucky in having such a master.

Housekeeper: Oh, I know I am. If I was to go through the world I could not meet with a better. Enjoy your afternoon.

Mrs Gardiner: Thank you.

Housekeeper exits. 

Mrs Gardiner: Shall we?
Elizabeth: (To audience.) And so it was that I found myself in the grounds of that spectacular place, of which I might have been mistress. Instead of viewing the grounds and rooms as a stranger I might have rejoiced in them as my own and welcomed to them my family as visitors. My aunt and I walked across the lawn and down to the brook where we spent the early afternoon leisurely strolling by the water’s edge, stopping occasionally to look up at the birds that flitted between the looming willow trees. 

Mr Darcy enters, unseen by Elizabeth.

Elizabeth: I had gotten lost in some thoughts and pursued a meandering path that led me close by the house itself-

The pair turn and are startled by each other. Elizabeth screams.

Mr Darcy: Good heavens!

They are both off-guard, shocked at seeing the other there.

Mr Darcy: Miss Bennet.

Elizabeth: Mr Darcy.

Mr Darcy: It seems I cannot escape you.

Elizabeth: We are visiting Lambton.

Mr Darcy: Not currently, you aren’t. I must say that this is a surprise.

Elizabeth: For us both. We were told you were expected tomorrow. 

Mr Darcy: The party I am hosting is. I like to arrive early to make sure that everything is as it should be.

Elizabeth: And is it?

Mr Darcy: I really can’t say. 

Beat. Awkward.

Elizabeth: Well, good day to you.

Elizabeth goes to exit.

Mr Darcy: You received my letter?

Elizabeth: I did.

Mr Darcy: Yes, well… I was in two minds about whether it should be delivered at all.

Elizabeth: I see.

Mr Darcy: I wrote it the day after-, erm…

Elizabeth: You do not stand by what you wrote?

Mr Darcy: I perhaps would have expressed it differently. The recollection of what I then said, of my conduct, manners and expressions over the entire time I have known you has since been inexpressibly painful to me these past weeks. Your rejection of my proposal has caused me to realise that I could not, and indeed should not, rely on situation alone. Who I have been, how I have behaved. All because of… Well, what we have around us now. I think that you were perhaps what I needed to realise that I had been caught up in everything that I so despised. 

Elizabeth: Mr Darcy?

Mr Darcy: I would that we could start again.

Elizabeth: I would that that were possible. 

Mr Darcy: Yes. (Beat.) You have been wandering the grounds?

Elizabeth: It is delightful down by the brook.

Mr Darcy: Might I… Might I show you the orchard?

Elizabeth: Do you not have things you ought to be doing?

Mr Darcy: (Beat.) No. No, I can think of nothing. Will you? 

Mr Darcy extends his arm. Elizabeth takes it. They exit.

 

Scene 14 – News from Brighton

Miss Bingley is sat with Mrs Gardiner in the gardens.

Miss Bingley: But I find that he is a little whimsical in his civilities. Great men often are, do you not think it so?

Mrs Gardiner: (Bored.) Yes, I do. 

Miss Bingley: And what’s more-

Mr Darcy and Elizabeth enter.

Mrs Gardiner: Aha, here they are! Here you are! I expect you have seen quite enough of Pemberley’s grounds for you have been gone close to four hours. Mr Darcy, you have no excuse for you know them already.

Mr Darcy: I can only apologise for keeping your companion, Mrs Gardiner. But I am afraid that we both lost track of the time. 

Mrs Gardiner: It passes so in pleasant company.

Miss Bingley: Or in idle chit-chat. 

Mrs Gardiner: Elizabeth, you know my companion. Whom I have spent the entire afternoon with.

Elizabeth: Miss Bingley.

Miss Bingley: Miss Bennet.

Elizabeth: How is Charles?

Miss Bingley: Very well, thank you. And Jane?

Elizabeth: That remains to be seen.

Mr Darcy: You are staying in Lambton, you said?

Elizabeth: (Looking to her aunt.) Yes…

Mrs Gardiner: At the inn. The Lambton Arms.

Mr Darcy: Very good. Well, I wish you both a wonderful evening. 

Elizabeth: And to you.

The parties separate but remain onstage. 

Miss Bingley: How very ill Eliza Bennet looks. For my own part I must confess that I never could see any beauty with her. Her face is too thin, her complexion has no brilliance and her features are not handsome at all. But I recollect your saying at Netherfield once that you thought her rather pretty.

Mr Darcy: Yes, but that was only when I first knew her.

Miss Bingley: I am relieved to see that you have come to your senses.

Mr Darcy: On the contrary, I suppose. For I now consider her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance. 

Mr Darcy exits. Miss Bingley is shocked. She smiles at Mrs Gardiner and Elizabeth before following Mr Darcy.

Mrs Gardiner: Well, what unexpected consequences to our visit. There really is something of dignity and warmth in his countenance.

Elizabeth: It would not give one an unfavourable idea of his heart.

Mrs Gardiner: Very true. Shall we?

Mrs Gardiner exits. (EXTSTR)
Elizabeth: (To audience.) We ventured on to the inn in which we were to stay that night. I, being full of bewildered merriment, ate not very much before retiring to bed. And I awoke the following morning to a letter from my sister, Jane.

Jane enters and speaks the letter as Elizabeth reads it. 

Jane: ‘My dear Lizzy, I would ask that you brace yourself for the following. An express came at twelve last night from Colonel Forster to inform us that young Lydia has run off with one of his officers. With Wickham. Imprudent as a marriage between Mr Wickham and our poor sister would be, we are now anxious to be assured it has taken place for otherwise the scandal might be too great to bear. I am truly glad, dearest Lizzy, that you have been spared something of the distressing scenes at home…”

Jane exits.

Elizabeth: “... But now as the first shock is over, I own that I long for your return.’ Good heavens. Aunt! Aunt!

Elizabeth goes to leave just as Mr Darcy enters.

Elizabeth: Mr Darcy, what-? I-… I beg your pardon but I must leave you. I must find my aunt on business that cannot be delayed.

Mr Darcy: What is the matter?

Mrs Gardiner enters.

Mrs Gardiner: Elizabeth?

Elizabeth: Lydia has left her friends and eloped, thrown herself into the power of Mr Wickham. They are gone off together from Brighton. You know him too well to doubt the rest. She has no money, no connections, nothing that can tempt him to marry her.

Mr Darcy: You are certain this is the case? Absolutely certain?

Elizabeth: The letter reveals as much.

Elizabeth passes the letter to Mr Darcy. He reads it. 

Mrs Gardiner: But what is to be done? What has been attempted already to recover her?

Mr Darcy: They have been traced as far as London it seems. 

Elizabeth: But how is such a man to be worked on? Wickham will never marry a woman without money. 

Mr Darcy: He cannot afford it. 

Elizabeth: And what claims has Lydia? What attractions has she beyond youth that could make him for her sake forego every chance of benefiting himself by marrying well?

Mrs Gardiner: Can you think that Lydia is so lost in love of him as to consent to live with him on any other terms than marriage?

Elizabeth: She knows nothing of Wickham’s past or of his true character. His charm was yet increased because we all believed him to have been wronged, dreadfully wronged by-…

Mr Darcy: By me. You intend to travel down today?

Elizabeth: I am afraid we must.

Mrs Gardiner: Of course.

Mr Darcy: Then this unfortunate affair will prevent us having the pleasure of receiving you both at Pemberley this afternoon.

Elizabeth: The invitation is very kind. Please apologise to the party. Say that urgent business calls us home immediately. Conceal the unhappy truth as long as is possible. Please.

Mr Darcy: You can be assured of my secrecy. Excuse me.

Mr Darcy leaves.

Mrs Gardiner: Pack your things. We must leave at once. 

 

Scene 15 – Return to Longbourn

Elizabeth: (To audience.) We took the coach down that very morning. My aunt disembarked at London and prevailed upon me to return home so that I might comfort my family whilst the search for Lydia was undergone elsewhere.

Jane enters.

Jane: Lizzy.

Elizabeth: Jane, you are so pale.

Jane: I am fine. Better for having you here.

Elizabeth: Has anything been heard of them?

Jane: Not yet. We received a letter from uncle letting us know that he had arrived in London, commenced the search with father and that he would not write again until he had something of importance to relate.

Elizabeth: Our aunt has joined them there. I am sure they will be successful. How is mother?

Jane: Tolerably well but her spirits are greatly shaken and she does not leave her dressing-room. You will not have seen this, however.

Jane produces a note.

Jane: Lydia left a note to a friend which was discovered. Read it. 

Jane passes the note to Elizabeth.

Elizabeth: (Reading.) ‘You need not send word to my family for it will make the surprise the greater when I write to them and sign my name Lydia Wickham.’ Oh, thoughtless, thoughtless girl.

Jane: At least it shows that she was serious in the object of her journey. Whatever he might have afterwards persuaded her to, it was not on her side a scheme of infamy. 

Elizabeth: And what about Colonel Forster? What has he said? Had they no apprehension of anything before the elopement took place?

Jane: Nothing to give him any alarm.

Elizabeth: Wickham was always a favourite of his.

Jane: I must confess that he did not speak so well of Wickham as he formerly has. He believes him now to be imprudent and extravagant. And since this sad affair has taken place it is said that he left town greatly in debt. 

Elizabeth: It seems others have been right about this man all along. Oh, Jane, to think now how I was taken in by him. How I let him weave his untruths and get away with it all because of my own petty prejudice against… Another. This could have been prevented.

Jane: You could not have known. What’s done is done, you must not blame yourself. 

 

Scene 16 – Ten Thousand Pounds

Elizabeth: (To audience.) Father returned home a few days later. He said as little as he had ever been in the habit of saying and made no mention of the business that had taken him away. It was some time before we had the courage to even mention the affair around him. But three days later we received a letter from Mrs Gardiner.
Mrs Gardiner enters and speaks the letter as Elizabeth reads it.

Mrs Gardiner: ‘They are discovered. I have seen them both. They are not married, nor can I find there was any intention of them being so. But, with your father willing to perform the engagements which we had ventured to make on his behalf, I hope it now will not be long until they are wed. All that is required is to assure that Lydia will receive her equal share of the five thousand pounds to be left to you girls upon the death of your parents as well as an allowance of one hundred pounds per annum. These are conditions which, given the circumstances, we had no hesitation in complying with if it meant their marrying.’ 

Mrs Gardiner exits.

Elizabeth: Can it be possible that he will marry her? That she must be wife to such a man. 

Jane enters. 

Jane: Yet it must be done, I suppose. I dare say they might be happy for a little time.

Elizabeth: But there are two things I want to know. First, how much money has our uncle and aunt laid down to bring this about and second, how are we ever to repay them?

Jane: Money? What do you mean?

Elizabeth: No man in his senses would marry Lydia on so slight a temptation as one hundred pounds a year. And a man with Wickham’s debts too. It is our uncle and aunt’s doing, I am sure of it.

Jane: Do you really think so? 

Elizabeth: It could not have been a small sum either. Wickham’s a fool if he marries her for a farthing less than ten thousand pounds. 

Jane: How is half such a sum to be repaid?

Elizabeth: And for it all we are to be thankful. That they should marry, small as is their chance of happiness and wretched as is his character, we are forced to rejoice. 

Jane: Better this than the alternative.

Elizabeth: But that does not make it right.

Jane exits. Elizabeth addresses the audience.

Elizabeth: (To audience.) Over the coming weeks a marriage was hastily arranged. Wickham had secured a post in a regiment quartered in the north of the country. The family in general thought it best for him to take this position. Against mine and Jane’s wishes we were not permitted to attend the marriage. Though it cast about it feelings more akin to that of a funeral than a wedding, I do wish I could have been there to support Lydia at the very least.

Mrs Gardiner enters.

Mrs Gardiner: We breakfasted at ten and the ceremony commenced at midday. Your uncle was suddenly called away upon business, would you believe, not half an hour before the ceremony and a few of us began to fret he would not be back in time to give Lydia away.

Elizabeth: He did make it back?

Mrs Gardiner: With a few minutes to spare luckily. But I remember thinking afterwards that we need not have worried so for Mr Darcy would have performed the service just as well.

Elizabeth: Mr Darcy?

Mrs Gardiner: Excuse me?

Elizabeth: Mr Darcy was there?

Mrs Gardiner: Was he?

Elizabeth: You just said he was.

Mrs Gardiner: Did I? 

Elizabeth: Aunt!

Mrs Gardiner: Yes, but I was not supposed to mention it. It was to be a secret. He requested it not to be known.

Elizabeth: But why? That he, a person unconnected with any of us and, comparatively speaking, a stranger to our family, should be at the wedding of Mr Wickham, a man he loathes.

Mrs Gardiner: Yes, very curious.

Elizabeth: You know more than you are letting on. I must own, however, that I am now most heartily sorry that I was led, from the distress of the moment, to make him acquainted with this whole mess. Now that they are married I suspect the family’s plan will be to conceal its unfavourable beginning.

Mrs Gardiner: I believe your father is already working to that end.

Elizabeth: How can he ever think well of me now? 

Mrs Gardiner: Mr Darcy? Do you wish him to?

Elizabeth: I feel that I might have been mistaken regarding his character. I might now vainly comfort myself that there were some feelings on his part once. But they cannot have survived this. Not after all that has happened. And I can only think of his generosity and his favour now that I can no longer possibly be benefitted by either. I do think now that I could have been happy with him. (Pause.) But we must not dwell on our own unhappiness when we can look to aid in the happiness of another. 

Mrs Gardiner: Exactly. And, at the very least, it is one of the Bennet daughters saved from destitution when Mr Collins comes to inherit.

Elizabeth: Pity us who remain.

Mrs Gardiner: For now.

Elizabeth: Well, thank you for securing this favourable outcome for Lydia. It will take a long time to repay you.

Mrs Gardiner: Oh, consider it repaid already. In good company and fine conversation.

Elizabeth: That is hardly worthy of what you have bestowed.

Mrs Gardiner: What exactly have I bestowed?

Elizabeth: The ten thousand pounds, or thereabouts we presume. You and uncle. To Mr Wickham, so that he might be rid of his debts and venture forth into a financially unflattering marriage.

Mrs Gardiner: Oh, my dear. It was not us who relinquished the money and you must not think it was.

Elizabeth: Then who?

Mrs Gardiner: Well if I told you that then I would quite betray his reason for being at the wedding.

Elizabeth: Mr Darcy?!

Mrs Gardiner: He requested none of this to be known. But yes, it was he who located Lydia and Wickham in the first place. From what I can collect, he left Pemberley only one day after we did, foregoing his duties as host so that he might come to London with the resolution of searching for them. 

Elizabeth: But what could have possessed him to?

Mrs Gardiner: From what he said to your uncle and I, it came from his conviction that it was his fault that Wickham’s worthlessness had not been so well known as to make it impossible for any young woman to love or confide in him. He generously imputed the whole affair to his mistaken pride and confessed that he had thought it beneath him to lay his past and private actions open to the world which, had he done so, may have prevented all of this from occurring. His recent acquaintance with another individual, who he refused to name, had caused him to think long and hard about the nature of his actions. He therefore called it his duty to remedy an evil which he believed to have been brought about by himself alone. 

Elizabeth: He should not have thought so. And even then, to have gone to all this.

Mrs Gardiner: Of course, there might have been other motivations at play.

Elizabeth: What do you mean?

Mrs Gardiner: I wouldn’t possibly care to speculate, my dear. But I very much doubt your uncle would have yielded to Mr Darcy putting up the money if he had not given him credit for another interest in the affair. 

Mrs Gardiner exits. Elizabeth is lost in thought as Mrs Bennet enters.

Mrs Bennet: Mr Bingley is here.

Elizabeth: Bingley? 

Mrs Bennet: And he is not alone.

Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy enter.

Mr Bingley: Good morning. I… I was hoping Jane might be in.

Jane enters.

Jane: She is. It has been a long while, Mr Bingley.

Mr Bingley: I agree, it has.

Jane: We began to be afraid that you would never come back again.

Mr Bingley: I hope you never doubted me.

Jane: We had heard rumours…

Mr Bingley: Oh, rumours, rumours.

Jane: You will find that all is not how you may have left it. A great many changes have happened in the neighbourhood. Miss Lucas, for one, is now married and settled.

Mr Bingley: I had heard.

Jane: And our own sister, Lydia, also married. And up to Yorkshire with her new husband. Perhaps you saw it in the papers? So you see, Mr Bingley, a great deal has changed around here.

Mr Bingley: Well, if you would be so kind, perhaps you might tell me all about them.

Mrs Bennet: Over some refreshment. I have had tea prepared in the other room. 

Jane: If you have nowhere else to be?

Mr Bingley: How could I possibly?

Jane, Mrs Bennet and Mr Bingley exit. Mr Darcy and Elizabeth remain.

Elizabeth: Did you bring him or he you? 

Mr Darcy laughs.

Mr Darcy: I was informed when we first arrived that you were not to be disturbed. Engaged in deep conversation with your aunt.

Elizabeth: Oh, nothing of any importance.

Mr Darcy: Good, good.

Elizabeth: Do your guests remain at Pemberley?

Mr Darcy: No, they have now gone off to Scarborough.

Elizabeth: I trust they enjoyed their time.

Mr Darcy: I would hope so.

Elizabeth: You strike me as a most obliging, if absent, host.

Mr Darcy: Absent? (Pause. Realises.) I did not think Mrs Gardiner was so little to be trusted.

Elizabeth: Will you stay for tea?

Mr Darcy: I would like that. 

They go to leave. Jane enters as Mr Darcy exits.

Jane: What keeps you, Lizzy?

Elizabeth: I was on my way. Only Jane, now I have you here- Jane: I know what you are to say but I feel perfectly easy. I know my own strength and you should know yours. Charles has already professed a desire to dine here in future. It will then be publicly seen that on both sides we meet only as common and indifferent acquaintances.

Elizabeth: Oh, Jane, take care.

Jane: Lizzy! You cannot think me so weak as to be in danger now.

Jane exits.

Elizabeth: (To audience.) They were engaged before the month was out.

 

Scene 17 – Honour, Decorum, Prudence

Elizabeth: (To audience.) Mr Darcy, as I had suspected he would be, remained a stranger to Longbourn over the following weeks. But one afternoon, shortly after the engagement of Charles and Jane had been announced, I was met by an unexpected visitor as I sat in the garden.

Lady Catherine de Bourgh enters. 

Elizabeth: Lady Catherine!

Lady Catherine: Miss Bennet.

Elizabeth: We were not expecting you.

Lady Catherine: No, I don’t believe you were. You have a very small park here.

Elizabeth: It is nothing in comparison to that of Rosings, my lady.

Lady Catherine: And it must be a most inconvenient sitting-room in Summer, the windows are full West. (Beat.) You can be at no loss, Miss Bennet, to understand the reason of my journey hither.

Elizabeth: Indeed, you are mistaken, Madam. I am not quite able to account for the honour.

Lady Catherine: Miss Bennet, I am not to be trifled with, as well you know. A report of a most alarming nature reached me but two days ago.

Elizabeth: What report was that?

Lady Catherine: I was told that not only your sister was on the point of being most advantageously married but that you, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, would in all likelihood be soon afterwards united to none other than Mr Darcy. Though I know it must be a scandalous falsehood and I would never injure him so much as to suppose it to be true, I instantly resolved on coming here that I might make my sentiments known to you. 

Elizabeth: If you believe it impossible to be true then I wonder you took the trouble of coming so far.

Lady Catherine: I require that you insist upon having such a report universally contradicted.

Elizabeth: Lady Catherine, I know of no such report.

Lady Catherine: And can you likewise declare that there is no foundation for it? Miss Bennet, I insist on being satisfied. Has Mr Darcy made you an offer of marriage?

Elizabeth: Your ladyship has declared that to be impossible. 

Lady Catherine: It ought to be so while he retains the use of his reason.

Elizabeth: Very well then.

Lady Catherine: But your arts and allurements may, in a moment of infatuation, have made him forget what he owes to himself and to all his family. You may have drawn him in.

Elizabeth: If I have, I shall be the last person to confess it.

Lady Catherine: Miss Bennet, do you know who I am? 

Elizabeth: You are-

Lady Catherine: Someone who is entitled to know all his dearest concerns.

Elizabeth: But you are not entitled to know mine. 

Lady Catherine: This match, to which you clearly have the presumption to aspire, can never take place. Mr Darcy is to be engaged to my daughter.

Elizabeth: If he is then you can have no reason to suppose he will make an offer to me.

Lady Catherine: From their infancy they have been intended for each other. While in their cradles his mother and I planned their union. And now we are to be prevented by a young woman of inferior birth, of no importance in the world and wholly unallied to the family? Are you lost to every feeling of propriety and delicacy?

Mr Darcy enters but remains unseen. He observes the following. 

Elizabeth: But if Mr Darcy is neither by honour nor inclination confined to this decision then why is he not to make another choice? And if I happen to be that choice, why may not I accept him?

Lady Catherine: Because honour, decorum and prudence forbid it! Your alliance would be a disgrace. You would be censured, slighted and despised by everyone connected with him.

Elizabeth: A heavy misfortune. But the wife of Mr Darcy must have such extraordinary sources of happiness necessarily attached to her situation that she could, upon the whole, have no cause to repine.

Lady Catherine: Obstinate, headstrong girl! I am ashamed of you! Is this your gratitude for my attentions to you last spring?

Elizabeth: Lady Cather-

Lady Catherine: I will not be interrupted. My daughter and Mr Darcy are formed for each other. Destined by the voice of every member of their respective houses. And what is to divide them? Tell me, who is your mother? Who are your uncles and aunts? Do not imagine me, and the world, ignorant of their situations.

Elizabeth: Whatever my connections may be, if your nephew does not object to them then they can be nothing to you.

Lady Catherine: Tell me once and for all, are you engaged to him?

Elizabeth: I am not.

Lady Catherine: And will you promise me, never to enter into such an engagement?

Elizabeth: I will not, no.

Lady Catherine: I am shocked and astonished. I expected to find a more reasonable young woman. 

Elizabeth: Allow me to say, Lady Catherine, that you have widely mistaken my character if you think I can be worked on by such persuasions as these. How far Mr Darcy might approve of your interference in his affairs I cannot tell, but you have certainly no right to concern yourself in mine. 

Lady Catherine: You refuse to obey the claims of duty, honour and gratitude.

Elizabeth: I feel that none should be violated by my marriage with Mr Darcy.

Lady Catherine: I take no leave of you, Miss Bennet. You deserve no such attention. I am most seriously displeased. And I send no compliments to your mother. 

Lady Catherine storms off. Elizabeth breathes. Mr Darcy clears his throat.

Elizabeth: Mr Darcy. It is very good to see you. What are you doing here?

Mr Darcy: Only taking the opportunity to visit Longbourn and express my congratulations to Mrs Bennet on the marriage of a second daughter. I spotted yourself and Lady Catherine as I was coming along.

Elizabeth: I am afraid you have just missed her. 

Mr Darcy: That is no great shame. We are acquainted, her and I, but perhaps not for much longer. But yourself, now I don’t believe we have met?

Elizabeth: Mr Darcy?

Mr Darcy: Fitzwilliam, yes.

Elizabeth: I do not understand. What are you doing?

Mr Darcy: Starting again. If we may?

Pause. Music. 

Elizabeth: Elizabeth Bennet.

They shake hands. End.