00:00I
00:38It is a sad fact of life that if a young woman is unlucky enough to come into the world
00:43without expectations,
00:44she had better do all she can to ensure that she is beautiful.
00:52To be poor and handsome is misfortune enough.
00:56But to be penniless and plain is a hard fate indeed.
01:03Or so my mother taught us.
01:07Mr. Bennet, have you heard?
01:09Netherfield Park is lit at last.
01:12I have not.
01:17Do you want to know who has taken it?
01:20You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.
01:23I would like to know.
01:26It has been led to a Mr. Bingley, a single man of large fortune, four or five thousand a year.
01:37I heard someone came down on Monday in a chaise and four.
01:41From whom did you hear this?
01:43Girls, you must prepare yourselves.
01:47Mrs. Long told me he is from the north of England.
01:50He saw Netherfield Park, fell in love with it and snapped it up straight away.
01:54In order to understand my mother's enthusiasm for this stranger's arrival,
01:59we must start at the beginning.
02:04With cake.
02:06In Meriton, England.
02:12Where a wealthy boy met beautiful girl.
02:16Father, meet mother.
02:19Sadly, the happiness of this union was to be undone by an archaic entail that meant only a male heir
02:25could inherit my father's estate.
02:27And what followed was girls, after girls, after girls, after girls, after girls, after girls.
02:39That's his fortune, and her beauty were worthless.
02:44Mother spent her days trying to involve father in how to overcome their dire situation.
02:49But father hid in his newspaper, indifferent to the cause.
02:53Why should he engage?
02:54When the time comes...
02:55I'll be dead anyway.
02:59Our mother, not known for giving up easily,
03:02found a chink of light.
03:04A saving grace.
03:06Each of her children possessed a certain je ne sais quoi.
03:10Be it Jane's beauty,
03:14Lizzie's wit,
03:17Kitty's good humour,
03:18or Lydia's
03:20spirit.
03:23If she could secure advantageous marriages for each of us girls,
03:27it would be enough to save us all from destitution.
03:32Although I had not found my own best quality,
03:37I was quite sure that I would.
03:40My fault, Mary.
03:42Until the day my mother's true opinion of me was confirmed.
03:45Mary has an awfully...
03:47ruddy complexion.
03:49She does not have the complexion of her sisters, that is true.
03:53And she is clumsy.
03:55Ungamely.
03:56Maladroite,
03:57as they say.
03:59Four good marriages will have to do.
04:02I only hope she does not ruin her sister's chances.
04:26I hope she does not ruin her sister's chances.
04:34She is a true child of her sister's chance in the world.
04:35She is a good one.
04:36She's a great man.
04:37She is a great man.
04:38She is a great man.
04:40I'm too late.
04:41Excuse me.
04:43If you're not the beautiful one,
04:46the quick-witted one,
04:49or the ones that are good at games,
04:50and full of youthful energy then who are you and 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 do not fret miss bennett
05:36have we found it i think we have mr sparrow oh thank goodness for that
05:51you see the lenses here correct your vision by bending light rays well i never
06:26i i would have been sad to stop
06:30i hope they will help you better enjoy the upcoming merriton assembly an assembly yes in a month
06:37i heard this morning my sisters will be pleased
06:43perhaps i shall see you there
06:51miss mary you ought to get on of course he'll i'll settle affairs here thank you thank you and thank
06:58you
07:02mr sparrow
07:03i have news
07:11there's going to be an assembly in merriton in a month we know oh i'm going to be the one
07:16to tell mama
07:17this will mark my first assembly my first venture into society so it will
07:28how would i secure a partner for dancing i've i've always wondered oh mary i'm sure your clever mind
07:34can work out something as simple as dance partners do not fret do not fret
07:41how would i secure a partner for dancing
08:08yes jane do you think i shall be allowed to dance mary move do you hope you're not going to
08:12stand this
08:12close at the assembly oh we should have taken the long route oh these are my good boots oh
08:19i'm awful you for wearing them
08:23damn
08:28do you think russet would be too harsh for my complexion
08:31i don't see why it should would match my eyes i suppose your 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 i was the first he was stood a little behind me it is wonderful
08:53what will i wear are kitty and lydia allowed to attend the ball father why would we not be i
08:57was the one that found out about it am i allowed jane lizzie you will of course go and
09:04mary father i shall die if i do not go i'll probably die too very much does that mr bennett
09:10kitty and lydia will also need to find husbands after jane and lizzie of course
09:19i don't see what the fuss is all about those horrible sweaty affairs mary you will attend
09:28oh oh well of course mother if you wish lady lucas and i will need someone to fetch us our
09:35drinks
09:35as long as i am not expected to attend mr bennett i told you i will not attend another of
09:40those
09:41insufferable muddy little dancers oh i wonder if mr bingley will be going to the meritan assembly oh he
09:47must be who would admit it me apparently you shall all go to the ball as long as i am
09:55obliged to hear
09:55no more about it i shall never be rid of you otherwise perhaps i shall dance with bingley too
10:03and me what's excitement over a man you've never set eyes on quite ridiculous oh mary we're only
10:07indulging ourselves
10:15mary is wearing spectacles what on earth very good i hope you find the most useful mary
10:23thank you father thank you mr bennett did you know about this we discussed this at length mary was
10:31to visit the optician yes but i did not know that she would actually need to wear glasses you seem
10:36to
10:36forget my dear that i wear spectacles myself but she is a woman nevertheless she ought to be able to
10:44see
10:45i think they look very well potatoes mary
10:53in case she couldn't see them i think you're very brave to be prepared to look so ugly
11:00lydia but papa who is going to dance with mary with those things on her face pleased to be able
11:04to read
11:07oh i do hope you are to meet him surely we must spectacles indeed
11:13i wonder who do you think it's a hand-off to breast
11:15it's a shame i'm not going to be in a shame
11:16yes they're just a shame
11:17hello lizzie
11:20mama kitty and i will meet the addresses before
11:23oh
12:10maybe i could help you
12:12pick out a dress for the meritan assembly miss mary
12:15oh hell
12:18what am i to do at a dance
12:21dance
12:23oh what if no one wants to dance with me
12:28then you'll eat lots of ices
12:30such 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 now
12:46i am tall and yellow
12:48miss 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
13:07well that's decided
13:07i am picking you out a new dress for the assembly
13:11and i will not hear another word on the subject
13:25hang out
13:26hang out i've lost my ribbon
13:28and i will not hear another word on the subject
13:37madam please remain still if you can
13:47does the gold make me look like
13:52a little
13:56kitty what is it those are my books lydia i cannot reach my jewelry box
14:01i need something to stand on this is important mary
14:05you need to start getting ready miss mary
14:24do you think i'll be able to dance on it
14:26does it still hurt yes two weeks ago i know
14:32should we eat beforehand perhaps a very small meal and 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
14:42i don't know
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.
16:31Lillian, you have plenty of party.they
16:33have plenty of party.
16:55I like your dress, Mary.
16:58Oh, Charlotte!
17:00What's on about?
17:02I swear, the crowd gets bigger every season.
17:04You should limit entry to those young ladies.
17:06Fortunate enough, we'll secure the parties.
17:09I thought the very same thing.
17:24Thanks.
17:45Mr. Bingley, welcome.
17:47These are my sisters, Louisa, and this is Caroline.
17:51This is Mr. Hurst and Mr. Darcy.
17:54And if I may present, Mrs. Bennet.
18:00Miss Jane Bennet.
18:02Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
18:07Kitty and Lydia.
18:11Oh, and this is Miss Mary Bennet.
18:18Mr. Campbell's 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 party first, I'd love it.
18:41I'd love it.
18:45I'd love it.
19:21you will not believe the insufferable company that mr bingley keeps what has happened i overheard
19:29quite accidentally mr bingley talking to that conceited gentleman lent against the wall there
19:35a mr darcy who said of me she is tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt me
20:00excuse me miss bennett i do not mean to intrude but it is very bad for your eyes to screw
20:06them up in
20:07such a fashion perhaps i may be permitted to help you find what you're looking for i was looking for
20:15uh my tickets
20:22i'm quite exhausted from all the dancing i just chose to sit this one out that is a shame
20:30i was going to ask if you do me the honor of standing up with me for the next dance
20:35actually i'm now feeling much rested and i would be delighted well then i thank you
20:46shall we remain here until the next second
20:49that's exactly what i thought
21:00how are your spectators very well yes i'm unable to study for hours without dissing
21:05i am delighted to hear that
21:15perhaps you could recommend a book to me
21:17what do you read with such enjoyment
21:22well mrs catherine mcauley has written a wonderful account of british history it's a fascinating read
21:27i will seek it out
21:28are you a scholar sir
21:31i like to read but science rather than history
21:34i have a plan to study medicine in london
21:36barts or maybe morpheus
21:40what a noble ambition
21:42but it is not a thing widely known
21:43i have not mentioned it to anyone before you
21:48i should speak of it to no one
22:03i have not mentioned it to anyone before you
22:08i have not mentioned it to anyone before you
22:09i have not mentioned it to anyone before you
22:09i have not mentioned it to anyone before you
22:09i have not mentioned it to anyone before you
22:10i have not mentioned it to anyone before you
22:10i have not mentioned it to anyone before you
22:10i have not mentioned it to anyone before you
22:13i have not mentioned it to anyone before you
22:16i have not mentioned it to anyone before you
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!
23:38Here we go!
23:40Here we go!
23:44Here we go!
23:55Here we go!
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
24:36And perhaps do not fully appreciate how things are understood
24:41If you are to dance with him again, it will be remarked upon
24:43Two dances in succession suggest a liking
24:45Three might imply something more
24:52I'm very happy dancing with him
25:07I see that you have stood up twice
25:09With the Sparrow Boy
25:11Yes, Mama
25:14You will not dance with him again
25:20But Mother, he's been most attentive
25:23He's quite a gentleman
25:25Mary, his father owns a shop
25:29Yes?
25:30With a bell
25:33Mother, I have danced with him twice
25:37I have no wish to marry him
25:39You may not object to lowering yourself
25:42But I will not have you ruin your sister's chances of a match
26:08Would you care to dance again, Miss Bennet?
26:11Once 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, no
26:31Not at all, sir
26:32I've
26:32Oh, I've
26:34I've
26:34Very much enjoyed
26:37Dancing with you
26:37It's, um
26:40That is to say
26:41That, um
26:44My mother is
26:46Concerned
26:46Concerned?
26:48For my sisters
26:49And I
26:51It's important that we make an appropriate social, one might say financially, well, a suitable match
27:03Miss Bennet, there is no need for an explanation, I shall not pursue the matter
27:07I've
27:07I've
27:08Enjoyed
27:08I've enjoyed my time
27:09It, um
27:10Good evening
27:11To you
27:14I'm sorry
27:15I'm
27:15Sorry
27:45I'm sorry
27:48James
27:48James stood up with him twice
27:50I had little time for his friend
27:54Please do not hold that against Mr. Bingley
27:56She's not going to go against you
27:57Yes
27:58I danced with tea 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 of shame
28:12I had caused hurt to a man whose only crime was being kind to me
28:20Who was I?
28:22A 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
28:33As a serious-minded woman
28:37From now on, knowledge and reason would be my guide
28:41No more ribbons, ball gowns or dance cards
28:45The old Mary would be no more
28:48I would transform into the intellectual one
28:52That was how I would stand out
28:54As the other Bennet sister
29:02Not long to wait
29:04More of Mary's story on BBC One in just a moment
29:07While on iPlayer, sisterhood through Irish eyes
29:11Fearless, fraught and affectionate family life
29:14Would be Walsh sisters
29:15For, people peacefully
29:17In history
29:17For, people in history
29:21We're, people in history
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