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