Original subtitles

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? Girl, you must prepare yourself.

Mrs Long told me he is from the north of England.

He saw Natterfield 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,

must start at the beginning.

Where's Kate?

in Meryton, England, where a wealthy boy

met beautiful girls.

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 after girl after

girl.

After... girl.

That 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, Lizzie's wit,

Kitty's good humour, or Lydia's spirit.

If she could secure advantageous marriages for each of us girls, it would

enough to save us all from destitution.

Although I had not found my own best quality,

Oh, I was quite sure that I would.

My fault, 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 a

sister, that is true.

And she is clumsy, ungainly, maladroit, as they say.

Four good marriages will have to do. I only hope she does not ruin her sister's

chances.

If you're not the beautiful one, the quick -witted one, or the one that's

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?

Worth, I think.

Worse still.

Do not fret, Miss Bennet.

Have we found it?

I think we have, Mr Sparrow. Oh, 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 would have been sad to stop.

I hope they will help you better enjoy the upcoming Meritan assembly.

An assembly?

Yes, in a month.

I heard this morning.

My sisters will be pleased.

Perhaps I shall see you there.

Mary, you ought to get on. Of course he'll. I'll settle affairs here.

Thank you.

Thank you. And thank you, Mrs. Barrett.

I have news.

There's going to be an assembly in Mariton in a month.

We know.

I'm going to be the one to tell Mama.

Mr. Mark, my first assembly.

My first venture into society.

So it will.

How is it that you're a partner for dancing? I've always wondered.

Oh, Mary, I'm sure your clever mind can work out something as simple as dance

partners. Do not fret.

I'm not fretting.

I'm going to fill my car with dancers.

Jane, do you think I shall be allowed to dance? Mary, move!

I hope you're not going to stand this close to the assembly.

Oh, we should have taken the long route.

Oh, these are my good boots.

I'm all for you for wearing them.

Stand.

What are you going to wear?

The green dress.

The green... Do you think russet would 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

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, Lily, you will of course go and marry.

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 Lizzie, of course.

I don't see what the fuss is all about.

Those horrible, sweaty affairs.

Mary, you will attend.

Oh.

Oh, well, of course, Mother, 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,

little dancers.

I wonder if Mr.

Bingley will be going to Samaritan Assembly.

Oh, 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 is quite ridiculous.

Oh, Mary, we're only indulging ourselves.

Mary is wearing spectacles.

Very good. I hope you find them most useful, Mary.

Thank you, 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

I think they look very well.

Any pose, Mary.

I think you're very brave to be prepared to look so ugly.

Lydia. But, Papa, who was going to dance with Mary with those things on her

face? Pleased to be able to read.

Oh, I do hope you are to meet him. Surely we must.

Yes, of course, indeed.

I want you to see him.

Mama, Kitty and I will need new dresses for the ball.

Maybe I could help you pick out a dress at the Merriton Assembly, Miss Mary.

Oh, hell.

What am I to do at a dance?

Dance?

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.

that's decided.

I am picking you out a new dress for the assembly.

And I will not hear another word on the subject.

Madam, please remain still, if you can.

What does the gold make me look like?

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.

think I'll be able to dance on it.

It still hurts.

Yes, 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

everyone?

Is it too fine for me, do you think?

You look very handsome in it.

Yes, Mary.

Oh, Charlotte!

What's going on?

I swear, the crowd gets bigger every season.

Limit entry to those young ladies. Fortunate enough, we're secured

thought the very same thing.

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.

This is Jane Bennet.

This is Elizabeth Bennet.

Kitty and Lydia.

Oh, and this is Miss Mary Bennet.

Most accomplished girl in the whole neighborhood.

That is a great achievement, to be sure.

Study clearly trumps all other considerations in your mind.

What an example to us all.

I do not believe the insufferable company that Mr. Bingley keeps.

What has happened? I overheard, quite accidentally, Mr.

Bingley talking to that conceited gentleman running against the wall

Mr. Darcy.

Instead of me.

She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me.

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.

Perhaps I may be permitted to help you find what you're looking for.

I was looking for... I'm

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

dump.

I'm now feeling much rested.

And I would be delighted.

Well then, I thank you.

Shall we remain here until the next estimate? Of course.

That's exactly what I thought.

How are your spectacles? Very well.

Yes, I'm able to study for hours without this gift.

I am delighted to hear that.

Perhaps you could recommend a book to me.

What do you read with such enjoyment?

Mrs. Catherine Macaulay has written a wonderful account of British history.

fascinating. I will seek it out.

Are you...

I like to read, but science rather than history.

I have a plan to study medicine in London, baths or maybe mortgages.

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'm regretting visiting the supper table so early.

I should have had less oyster patties.

It's fewer.

It's fewer oyster patties.

Would 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 dancers in succession suggest a liking.

Three might imply something more.

I'm 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 sister's chances of a match.

Would you care to dance again, Miss Bennet, once we have finished our ices?

Mrs. Barrow, I am afraid that I shall... I shall not be able to stand up with

you again this evening.

Oh.

But I thought... I thought... I hope I have not offended you. No,

no, not at all, sir. I've... Oh, I've... I've very much enjoyed...

Dancing with you.

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

well, a suitable match. Miss Bennet, there is no need for an explanation.

I shall not pursue the matter.

I've enjoyed my time.

Good evening to you.

I'm sorry.

Sorry.

Why? I had little time for his friend.

Please do not hold that against Mr Bingley. Okay, go again.

I danced with two soldiers.

They're not very good with faces, so I'm not sure how many times I stood up with

anyone. Ew!

As my mother and sisters happily dissected every moment of the ball, I

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 inclination?

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, ball gowns 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 Benedict.