00:05¶¶
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.
04:30I only hope she does not ruin her sister's chances.
04:34she is defects.
04:38I do not.
04:40I do not.
04:41Excuse me.
04:42I do not.
04:43If you are not the beautiful one,
04:47the quick-witted ones,
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 he's a hand-off to breast
11:15it's a shame no i don't want to be a shame no i don't want to be a shame no
11:17i don't want to be a shame
11:17oh lizzie
11:20mama kitty and i will meet new addresses before
11:23oh
11:23oh
12:07oh
12:09oh
12:10maybe i could help you pick out a dress for the meritan assembly miss mary oh hell
12:18what am i to do at a dance dance
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
12:40a daffodil might look plain next to a lily
12:43but on its own there is much to be admired
12:46now i am tall and yellow
12:49miss mary
12:50i wonder if you wouldn't be a little happier if you went out in the world and saw yourself how
12:58other
12:58people 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
13:25hang on
13:26hang on
13:27i've lost my ribbon
13:30found us
13:38Madam, please remain still, if you can.
13:47Does the gold make me look like...
13:53a little?
13:56Katie, what is it?
13:58Those are my books, Lydia.
13:59I cannot teach my jewelry box.
14:01I need something to stand on.
14:03This is important, Mary.
14:05We need to start getting ready, Miss Mary.
14:15Jane is first.
14:17That's not fair, I'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, it was two weeks ago.
14:29I know.
14:32Should we eat beforehand?
14:34Perhaps a very small meal, and don't drink too much.
14:37But what if I'm thirsty?
14:38Lydia, I don't suppose you want to relieve yourself behind a screen in front of everyone?
14:42Listen.
14:43Hm.
14:53Mmm.
14:56Mm.
14:56Come.
14:57Mm.
14:59Mmm.
15:19Is it too fine for me, do you think?
15:22You look very handsome in it.
15:35Hey team, we have tea, we're part of you.
15:38We have, we are.
15:39Miss Lillia, you have plenty of coffee.
15:41But we have a tent.
15:42Yes.
15:43Yes.
15:55Yes.
15:56Yes.
15:58Yes.
16:00Yes.
16:01Yes.
16:10Yes.
16:12Yes.
16:14Yes.
16:15Yes.
17:46Mr. 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.
17:59Miss Jane Bennet, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, Kitty 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.
18:40Oh, God.
18:41Oh, God.
18:42Oh, God.
19:22You will not believe the insufferable company that bits are being leaked.
19:27What has happened?
19:28I overheard, quite accidentally, Miss Bingley talking to that conceited gentleman lent against
19:34the wall there.
19:35A Mr. Darcy.
19:38who said of me, she is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me.
19:45Come on.
19:59Excuse me.
20:01Miss Bennet, I do not mean to intrude, but it is very bad for your eyes to screw them up
20:07in such a fashion.
20:08Uh, perhaps I may be permitted to help you find what you're looking for.
20:14I was looking for, uh, my scissors.
20:19Take his hand.
20:22I'm quite exhausted from all the dancing.
20:24I just chose to sit this one out.
20:28That is a shame.
20:30I was going to ask if you would do me the honour of standing up with me for the next
20:34dance.
20:35Actually, I'm now feeling much rested.
20:38And I would be delighted.
20:40Well then, I thank you.
20:43Oh, yes.
20:46Shall we remain here until the next session?
20:49That's exactly what I thought.
21:00How are your spectators?
21:02Very well.
21:02Yes, um, I'm able to study for hours without disdain.
21:06I 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.
21:29Oh, are you a scholar, sir?
21:31I like to read, but science rather than history.
21:34I have a plan to study medicine in London.
21:37Bart's 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 subject table so early.
23:04I should have had less oyster patties.
23:08It's fewer.
23:10It'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!
24:17It 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.
24:44Two dances in succession suggest a liking.
24:46Three 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.
25:23He's quite a gentleman.
25:25Mary, his father owns a shop.
25:29Yes?
25:30With a bell.
25:35Mother, I have danced with him twice.
25:37I have no wish to marry him.
25:40You 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...
26:29I hope I have not offended you.
26:30No, no, no.
26:31Not at all, sir.
26:32I've...
26:32Oh, I've...
26:34I've very much enjoyed dancing with you.
26:37It's, um...
26:40That is to say, that, um...
26:44My mother is concerned.
26:46Concerned?
26:47Uh, um, for my sisters and I.
26:50Um, it's important that we make an, uh, appropriate social, um...
26:56One might say, uh, financially, um...
27:00Well, a suitable match.
27:03Miss Bennet, there is no need for an explanation.
27:05I shall not pursue the matter.
27:07I've enjoyed...
27:08I've enjoyed my time with, um...
27:10Good evening to you.
27:14I'm sorry.
27:15I'm sorry.
27:17I'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.
27:56Do you want me to go against you?
27:57Yes.
27:58I dance 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
28:10sense 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, 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.
29:08On an iPlayer, sisterhood through Irish eyes.
29:11Fearless, fraught and affectionate family life with the Walsh sisters.
29:16Fearless, fraught and affectionate family life with the Walsh,
29:26For Version 2
29:27For Road to Influences
29:28To attentive�도
29:28For Podcasts
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