00:18It is a sad fact of life that if a young woman is unlucky enough to come into the world
00:23without expectations,
00:24she had better do all she can to ensure that she is beautiful.
00:31To be poor and handsome is misfortune enough, but to be penniless and plain is a hard fate indeed, or
00:42so my mother taught us.
00:45Mr. Bennet, have you heard Netherfield Park is lit at last?
00:50I have not.
00:55Do you want to know who has taken it?
00:58You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.
01:01I would like to know.
01:04It has been lent to a Mr. Bingley, a single man of large fortune.
01:10Four or five thousand a year.
01:15I heard someone came down on Monday in a chaise and four.
01:19From whom did you hear this?
01:20Girls, you must prepare yourselves.
01:24Mrs. Long told me he is from the north of England.
01:27He saw Netherfield Park, fell in love with it, and snapped it up straight away.
01:31In order to understand my mother's enthusiasm for this stranger's arrival, we must start at the beginning.
01:39With cake.
01:42In Meriton, England.
01:47Where a wealthy boy met beautiful girl.
01:52Father, meet mother.
01:54Sadly, the happiness of this union was to be undone by an archaic entail that meant only a male heir
02:00could inherit my father's estate.
02:02And what followed was girl, after girl, after girl, after girl, after girl.
02:13That's his fortune.
02:15And her beauty were worthless.
02:18Mother spent her days trying to involve father in how to overcome their dire situation.
02:23But father hid in his newspaper, indifferent to the cause.
02:27Why should he engage?
02:28When the time comes...
02:29I'll be dead anyway.
02:32Our mother, not known for giving up easily, found a chink of light.
02:38A saving grace.
02:39Each of her children possessed a certain je ne sais quoi.
02:42Be it Jane's beauty, Lizzie's wit, Kitty's good humour, or Lydia's spirit.
02:55If she could secure advantageous marriages for each of us girls, it would be enough to save us all from
03:01destitution.
03:04Although I had not found my own best quality, I was quite sure that I would.
03:11My fault, Mary.
03:13Until the day my mother's true opinion of me was confirmed.
03:17Mary has an awfully ruddy complexion.
03:20She does not have the complexion of her sisters, that is true.
03:24And she is clumsy, ungainly, maladroit, as they say.
03:29Four good marriages will have to do.
03:32I only hope she does not ruin her sister's chances.
03:43I just knew what she didn't do.
03:46I never would.
03:51It was rude to me when it was on her side.
03:56How are you going?
03:57I'm not sure.
03:58But how are you going?
03:59Who are you going?
03:59I'm not sure.
04:00Holy cow.
04:00Shut up.
04:01I'm not sure.
04:02You're not sure.
04:05I remember you going.
04:07I didn't want to hide.
04:09I'm sabbatant.
04:09I am sure.
04:10I have to hide the fact.
04:12If you're not the beautiful one, the quick-witted one, or the ones that are good at games and full
04:19of youthful energy, then who are you?
04:23And what can you do if you're the odd one out?
04:28Is it possible you'll ever find a way to fit in?
04:34Worse, I think.
04:48Worse still.
04:50Do not fret, Miss Bennet.
05:02Have we found it?
05:05I think we have, Mr Sparrow.
05:07Thank goodness for that.
05:16You see, the lenses here correct your vision by bending light rays.
05:20Well, I never.
05:36You really do look very well in your spectacles.
05:41Especially when you smile.
05:45Ah, I do not think my mother will agree, but I have a great passion for reading, and I would
05:50have been sad to stop.
05:54I hope they will help you better enjoy the upcoming Meryton assembly.
05:57An assembly?
05:58Yes.
05:59In a month.
06:00I heard this morning.
06:02My sisters will be pleased.
06:06Perhaps I shall see you there.
06:08Hmm.
06:13Miss Mary, you ought to get on.
06:16Of course, he'll...
06:16I'll settle affairs here.
06:18Of course.
06:18Um, thank you.
06:20And thank you, Mrs Sparrow.
06:29I have news!
06:32There's going to be an assembly in Meryton in a month.
06:35We know.
06:36Oh.
06:36I'm going to be the one to tell Mama.
06:38This will mark my first assembly.
06:41My first venture into society.
06:45So it will.
06:49How am I to secure a partner for dancing?
06:51I've always wondered.
06:52Oh, Mary, I'm sure your clever mind can work out something as simple as dance partners.
06:56Do not fret.
06:58Not?
06:58Not fretting.
07:23I'm going to fill my card for dances.
07:26Jane, do you think I shall be allowed to dance?
07:28Mary, move!
07:29Do you hope you're not going to stand this close to the assembly?
07:32Oh, we should have taken the long route.
07:35Oh!
07:35These are my good boots.
07:38Oh!
07:38All for you for wearing them.
07:41Down.
07:46Do you think russet would be too harsh for my complexion?
07:49I don't see why it should.
07:51It would match my eyes, I suppose.
07:53Your eyes are green.
07:55You are so inattentive.
08:01Mr. Thompson told me himself I was the first to know that the ball is confirmed.
08:05We were the first.
08:06I was the first.
08:07He was stood a little behind me.
08:08It is wonderful.
08:09What will I wear?
08:11Are Kitty and Lydia allowed to attend the ball, Father?
08:13Why would we not be?
08:14I was the one that found out about it.
08:15Am I allowed?
08:18Jane, Lizzie, you will of course go.
08:20And Mary.
08:21Father!
08:21I shall die if I do not go.
08:23I'll probably die too.
08:24I very much doubt that.
08:25Mr. Bennet, Kitty and Lydia will also need to find husbands.
08:30After Jane and Lizzie, of course.
08:34I don't see what the fuss is all about.
08:36Those horrible, sweaty affairs.
08:38Mary, you will attend.
08:42Oh.
08:43Oh, well, of course, Mother, if you wish.
08:47Lady Lucas and I will need someone to fetch us our drinks.
08:50As long as I am not expected to attend.
08:52Mr. Bennet.
08:52I told you, I will not attend another of those insufferable muddy little dancers.
08:57Oh.
08:58I wonder if Mr. Bingley will be going to the Meriton Assembly.
09:01Oh, he must be.
09:03Who would miss it?
09:04Me, apparently.
09:06You shall all go to the ball, as long as I am obliged to hear no more about you.
09:11I shall never be rid of you otherwise.
09:14Perhaps I shall dance with Bingley, too.
09:16And me.
09:17This excitement over a man you've never set eyes on is quite ridiculous.
09:19Oh, Mary, we're only indulging ourselves.
09:28Mary is wearing spectacles.
09:30What on earth?
09:33Very good.
09:34I hope you find them most useful, Mary.
09:36I do, Father.
09:37Mr. Bennet, did you know about this?
09:40We discussed this at length.
09:42Mary was to visit the optician.
09:43Yes.
09:44But I did not know that you would actually need to wear glasses.
09:47You seem to forget, my dear, that I wear spectacles myself.
09:51But she is a woman.
09:54Nevertheless, she ought to be able to see.
09:56I think they look very well.
10:01Potatoes, Mary.
10:05In case you couldn't see them.
10:08I think you're very brave to be prepared to look so ugly.
10:10Did you?
10:11But Papa, who is going to dance with Mary with those things on her face?
10:14Pleased to be able to read.
10:17Oh, I do hope you are to meet him.
10:19Surely we must.
10:21Spectacles indeed.
10:23I wonder who he is.
10:25Is it a shame you're not being a shame?
10:26No, yes, that is a shame.
10:27Oh, yes, he is a shame.
10:29Oh, yes, he is a shame.
11:02Oh, yes, he is a shame.
11:18Maybe I could help you pick out a dress at the Meryton Assembly, Miss Mary.
11:22Oh, hell.
11:25What am I to do at a dance?
11:28Dance?
11:30What if no one wants to dance with me?
11:34Then you'll eat lots of ices.
11:37Such fripperies are not for me.
11:39I wonder, Miss Mary, if you don't see yourself clearly.
11:42If you're saying I don't bear comparison to my sisters, I've known that for years.
11:45A daffodil might look plain next to a lily, but on its own there is much to be admired.
11:51Now I am tall and yellow.
11:54Miss Mary, I wonder if you wouldn't be a little happier if you went out in the world and saw
12:02yourself how other people see you, outside of your family.
12:09Well, that's decided.
12:11I am picking you out a new dress for the Assembly.
12:15And I will not hear another word on the subject.
12:29Help!
12:30I've lost my ribbons!
12:34Found us!
12:41Madam, please remain still, if you can.
12:50Does the gold make me look like...
12:55a little?
12:58Kitty!
12:59What is it?
13:00Those are my books, Lydia.
13:01I cannot treat my jewellery box.
13:03I need something to stand on.
13:04This is important, Mary.
13:06You need to start getting ready, Miss Mary.
13:16Jane is first.
13:18That's not fair, I've always asked.
13:21Mary, no last.
13:25Do you think I'll be able to dance on it?
13:27Does it still have hurt?
13:28Yes.
13:29Two weeks ago.
13:30I know.
13:32Should we eat beforehand?
13:34Perhaps a very small meal.
13:36And don't drink too much.
13:37But what if I'm thirsty?
13:38Lydia, I don't suppose you want to relieve yourself behind a screen in front of everyone?
13:42Miss me!
13:44Miss me!
13:45Miss me!
13:47Miss me!
13:49Miss me!
13:50Miss me!
13:53Miss me!
13:55Miss me!
13:56Miss me!
13:56Miss me!
13:58Miss me!
14:02Miss me!
14:05Miss me!
14:07Miss me!
14:17Is it too fine for me, do you think?
14:20You look very handsome in it.
14:33Katie, I've taken my part of you.
14:36Miss Lydia, you can't have Katie in part of you.
14:38What's in that scent?
15:08Who's in that scent?
15:13What's in that scent?
15:35Let's take it.
15:49I like your dress, Mary.
15:52Oh, Charlotte.
15:54What's that about?
15:55I swear, the crowd gets bigger every season.
15:58We should limit entry to those young ladies fortunate enough to have secured partners.
16:02I thought the very same thing.
16:33Please.
21:37I'm regretting visiting the supple table so early, I should have had less oyster patties.
21:44It's fewer. It's fewer oyster patties.
21:51Here we go!
22:34If you'd like a cold drink, miss Bellis.
22:38Yes, that's an excellent idea. Thank you.
22:50It looks as though you are enjoying yourself Mary. Your partner is the young John Sparrow, isn't he?
22:58Yes, the optician's son.
23:01And you have danced with him twice.
23:05Mary, you are very young and perhaps do not fully appreciate how things are understood.
23:12If you are to dance with him again it will be remarked upon.
23:14Two dances in succession suggest a liking, three might imply something more.
23:23I'm very happy dancing with him.
23:37I see that you have stood up twice with the sparrow boy.
23:41Yes, Mama.
23:44You will not dance with him again.
23:49But, Mother, he's been most attentive. He's quite the gentleman.
23:54Mary, his father owns a shop.
23:58Yes?
24:00With a bell.
24:04Mother, I have danced with him twice. I have no wish to marry him.
24:08You may not object to lowering yourself, but I will not have you ruin your sister's chances of a match.
24:14I have no wish.
24:35Would you care to dance again, Miss Bennet, once we have finished our ices?
24:41Mr. Sparrow, I am afraid that I shall...
24:46I shall not be able to stand up with you again this evening.
24:49Oh.
24:50But I thought...
24:52I thought...
24:55I hope I have not offended you.
24:56No, no, no, not at all, sir.
24:58I've...
25:00I've very much enjoyed dancing with you.
25:04It's, um...
25:06That is to say that, um...
25:09My mother is...
25:11Concerned.
25:12Concerned?
25:13Um...
25:14For my sisters...
25:15And I, um...
25:17It's important that we make an...
25:19Appropriate social, um...
25:21One might say, uh...
25:23Financially, um...
25:25Well...
25:26A suitable match.
25:27Yes, Bennet, there is no need for an explanation.
25:30I shall not pursue the matter.
25:32I've...
25:32Enjoyed...
25:33I've enjoyed my time with, um...
25:35Good evening to you.
25:36Go in.
25:38I'm sorry.
25:39I, um...
25:40Sorry.
25:40What are you doing?
26:10Jane stood up with him twice.
26:13I have little time for his friend.
26:16Please do not hold that against Mr. Bingley.
26:18She's going to go again soon.
26:19Yes.
26:20I danced with two soldiers.
26:22They're not very good with faces, so I'm not sure how many times I stood up with anyone.
26:26Ew!
26:27As my mother and sisters happily dissected every moment of the ball, I felt a terrible sense of shame.
26:34I caused hurt to a man whose only crime was being kind to me.
26:41Who was I?
26:43A coward who lacked the courage to follow her own inclinations.
26:47It was time to find my own way.
26:51To look for a new version of myself as a serious-minded woman.
26:57From now on, knowledge and reason would be my guide.
27:02No more ribbons, ball gowns, or dance cards.
27:06The old Mary would be no more.
27:08I would transform into the intellectual one.
27:12That was how I would stand out as the other Bennett sister.
27:17No more ribbons, ball gowns, or dance cards.
27:18No more ribbons, ball gowns, or dance cards.
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