01x06 - Chapter 6

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The anxiety I felt
over my mother's sudden illness

was quite overwhelming.

Losing one parent
had upturned my life,

to lose the other was unthinkable.

Though my mother's presence
had always loomed large in my life,

I could not imagine myself
without her.

Top of the stairs, Miss Bennett.

You're here!

Well, don't stand in the doorway,
you're letting the heat out.

Mother!

You look...

..well. Doesn't she!

Are you a physician all of a sudden?

No, I...

I'm just... I'm...

I'm relieved to see
that you're, um, improved.

You look like you haven't slept
in days.

And whose dress are you wearing?

Uh, my own.

Mary, I am
so pleased to see you.

Oh, it has been far too long.

Oh!
I cannot be expected to stand.

Mary, come here.

I see the London air has taken
a terrible toll on your complexion.

And your hair!

I am sure being back
in the country will help.

Looks beyond repair to me.

I had undertaken
such a long journey.

And yet, here I was...

..back where I started.

From mother's letter, I thought
that she was gravely ill.

We all did.
Has she actually been ill at all?

She thought it might be
influenza or smallpox.

But she has made
a miraculous recovery.

Perhaps she rallied at the news
that I was on my way.

I for one am pleased
we are all back together.

Yes, I was thinking
perhaps we could play graces

or charades
after dinner this evening.

Nobody plays graces, Mary.

Oh, on the contrary,
it's quite fashionable in London.

How is London, Mary?

Yes, I want to hear all about it.

Yes. Um, London is, um...

It's um... Kitty!
I cannot reach the preserves.

How are the Gardeners?

Are you enjoying being
their governess?

I... Ah, yes.
It's, uh, most rewarding.

Have you made many
new acquaintances?

My sister-in-law, Caroline,
is in London for the summer.

Have you crossed paths?

Oh, gosh, there's so many people.

I know she can be
a little stiff at first,

but she would be
interesting company for you.

I have company.

There's a plethora
of choice, really,

for interesting company in London.

Do you mean your books?

BELL RINGS

That's Mama's bell.
She wants you, Mary.

I've only just been up there.

I will send a servant
to attend to her.

Mrs Bennett would like Miss Bennett
to attend to her.

She probably wants to hear
all about London.

Walk the Duchess to the edge
of the fountain, and no further.

If you feel the wind picking up,

you must bring her inside
immediately and give her warm water

and chopped meat.

Do not let cook
give her the leftovers -

only fresh chopped beef.

After 30 minutes,
you may return her to me,

for she is the only
member of this family

upon whom I can depend these days.

Oh, and tell Lizzie I wish
to be moved to the drawing room.

Do you think you'll be happier
convalescing in here, Mama?

Well, you might remember
to visit me if I'm here.

Now, where is my bell?

Do not trouble yourselves
waiting for me, I'm fine.

Blanket, Mother.

And these pillows will not do.

I'll send for some others.

Maybe some toasted cheese.

I feel terribly weak this morning.

Oh, and a book.

I was hoping for something readable.

Not joining us, Mr Darcy?

Mary!

DOG BARKS

Miss Bennett?

A letter for you.

Mary!

Mary, where on earth
have you been all this time?

I was walking the dog, Mama.

Please.

Who's the letter from, Mary?

It's from one of my friends
in London.

What friend is that, Mary?

Lydia!

What friend is that, Mary?

Her name is Miss Baxter -
Anne Baxter.

I've never heard of Miss Baxter.

Then she surely does not exist.

She most probably does not.

Lydia is being most unkind.

Something seems to be
troubling you, Mary.

You seem full of concerns every time
we mention London.

Do I?

I thought you would be eager
to return.

DOG BARKS

Does Mother's dog
in any way remind you of mother?

Oh, Lizzy. Oh.

I embarrassed myself terribly
when I left London.

Caroline Bingley was there.

She was determined to humiliate me.

And I left in such a flurry.

I smashed a bell jar of great
sentimental value to its owner -

a new friend, Mr Ryder -

and everyone stared at me.
Mary!

No-one else will have given it
a second thought.

It will seem worse to you, I'm sure.

What person has not done something
regrettable in their lives?

You?

You, Jane, Kitty, Lydia.

Lydia?

Oh, no. No, Lydia has.

I can assure you, we all have.

Anne wrote to tell me not to worry.

You see?
She's become a dear friend.

She has something
of an understanding

with another good friend
of mine, um, Mr Tom Hayward.

Mr Hayward is...

He's just the kindest man.

I see.

And have you met any gentlemen
that have taken your eye?

No! Oh, no. No. London -

it's actually entirely
without any eligible men.

And anyway, I believe
I'm not really the marrying sort.

Nonsense, Mary.

A visitor for Miss Mary Bennett.

Mr Ryder!

What are you doing here?

Miss Bennett!

I hope you and your family won't
consider this a great imposition.

But you left London with such haste.

I was most worried about your mother

and wanted to offer my support
in your hour of need.

How do you do, Mr Ryder?

Mrs Bennett!

Why, it is a pleasure
to see you looking so well.

Oh, I usually look
much better than this,

though my recovery
has been quite extraordinary.

I'm glad to hear it.

Miss Bennett, won't you introduce me
to your sisters?

Uh, uh, um, yes.

This is Mrs Elizabeth Darcy.

This is Mrs Kitty Buncock.
How do you do?

Mrs Jane Bingley
and Mrs Lydia Wickham.

Enchanted to meet you all.

How do you know Mary?

Miss Bennet and I met
at a soiree in London

and share a similar taste
in despicable crime pamphlets.

Oh!

Anyway,
I was en route to visit my aunt,

Lady Catherine de Bourgh,
and wanted to pay my respects.

Well, let us
not stand upon ceremony.

Elizabeth will arrange
for us to take tea in the garden.

Mr Ryder, do join us.

Oh, I'm sure Mr Ryder will have
more important matters to attend to.

I have time.

Are you well enough, Mama?
Yes, thank you, Jane.

I am perfectly well enough.

Mary, take Mr Ryder to the garden.

Lydia will deal with the dog.

What?

Mr Ryder, if this is about...

Come along, Mr Ryder.

I have always felt
that what a lady puts in her garden

is so terribly important.

Roses, of course. Of course.
Your favourite flower?

Well, I must say...

My turn!

I see you forgot
to mention Mr Ryder

in your reports from London.

You also forgot to mention

how handsome he is.

I mean,
I've not really noticed his looks.

I'm sure. He's come
an awfully long way to see you.

He's probably just thirsty
and nearby.

Mary! What?

Oh, you must stay with us,
Mr Ryder.

Especially with the weather turning,
as it may well do.

Do you not agree, Lizzie? You would
be most welcome, Mr Ryder.

That is very kind.

Come, Miss Bennet,
show us your skills.

Oh!

That's not what I meant to happen.

Excellent! Well done, Mary.

Yes, bravo.

I agree. Well done.

I was sorry to see you leave London
in such a hurry.

Sir Ryder, have...

Have you come here to discuss,
you know, the...

Yes. Yes, Miss Bennet,
I believe I have.

I've been wondering whether
to write to you on the subject.

Oh, I wouldn't expect you to lead
the conversation, Miss Bennet.

Mr Ryder,
are you here to talk about...

..the bell jar.
Our connection.

The bell jar? What did you say?

Miss Bennet, please!

Do not trouble yourself over that.

But it was your father's.
I thought you'd be upset.

Not at all.
Please. Think no more of it.

It was a pleasure
to meet your family.

Yes, my sisters are exceptional.

I know.

As are you, Miss Bennet.

Oh, no, I am much more,

um...

I find it most refreshing

that you do not fawn
over potential husbands

or have your mind constantly set
on finding a match.

Well, no, no, I don't really...

I don't give it much thought.

You lack artifice.
Your qualities shine out,

they're not corrupted
by the false polish of the world.

Gosh! These are observations
of a very, very personal nature.

Well, I have a very low opinion
of the petty rules

to which we submit ourselves
in the name of good manners.

Did you know that?

I think you may have mentioned it
once or twice.

I believe, Miss Bennet,

that our inability
to say what we mean

is one of the great curses
of our age.

We hide behind a thousand disguises

that we like to call politeness.

Mm.

Mr Darcy sends his apologies.

He has a seasonal headache.

Oh.

Hmm.

Mr Ryder, tell us about yourself.

Mary mentioned
you are an avid reader.

Oh, uh, of poetry perhaps.

I find longer works
are usually not for me.

Really?

I think the brevity of poetry is
one of its principal attractions.

I agree wholeheartedly.

I only wish I had
the fine mind of your sister.

Miss Bennet has such
an astute understanding

of a wide range of literature.

She does, she does.

I do not know whether she gets it
from me or her father.

From you, Mother, I am sure.
Oh!

There are very few people
who have the insight of Miss Bennet.

I could talk to you all day.

I must admit, London has been
a little grey without you.

Are you jok...?

No, there are... There are many
interesting minds in London,

all eager
for thoughtful conversation.

None as interesting as yours.

KNOCK AT THE DOOR

Hello?

Mother?

I came to wish you goodnight.

Here.

Mr Ryder...

..would make an excellent match.

I wonder what kind
of endowment he has.

I do not know, Mama.
A sizeable one, I'm sure.

Goodnight, Mama.

Goodnight, Mary.

Sorry, don't let me distract you.

What are you reading, Mr Ryder?

A rather fascinating book on...

Jesus. Right, it's upside down!

Hah! So it is.

What are you reading, Miss Bennet?
Fordyce's sermons to young women.

Oh, insufferable rule-making pedant.

Would you like me
to put it in the fire for you?

It's not quite how I remember it,
I'll admit.

What are they talking about?

Mary sounds serious.

She's boring him, I know it.

I think you should read
Mrs McCauley.

She will help you
to better understand the world.

I am no good at all
at wasting my energy on anything

that does not either move
or please me.

I think that is a shame, sir.

You know, my father was a scholar.

He devoted all his time
to studying insects.

Winged beetles mostly. Of course.

Yes, the beetle in the jar.

It's fascinating stuff, really.

Well, I'm not so sure,

but it occupied
his every waking hour.

He rarely emerged from his study.

We hardly ever saw him.

When I was 15 years old...

..he...

..died quite suddenly.

Oh!

I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

A few days after his death,

I sat in his dark study and...

..I thought about all the hours
he'd spent in there,

away from his family,
away from life.

And for what?

Your father must have derived

a great deal of pleasure
from his work?

Perhaps.

But I think I learnt more
about the point of human existence

in that moment than my father learnt
in a lifetime of study.

From then on, I devoted myself

to the pursuit of joy.

Tell me, Miss Bennet...

..what makes you happy?

Nobody ever asked me
such a question.

Then you must consider it now.

Uh, well, um...

Reading. Reading, learning.

Teaching.

And what of friendship...

..of love?

Ah, yes, of course.
No, of course, that.

Life is short, Miss Bennet.

Everything turns to dust
in the end.

We might as well experience
some joy before that happens.

Let's go riding.

Yes, let's.

Ladies.

What a waste!

Well? Well what? Are you
going out walking again, Mary?

No, Mr Ryder and I are going riding.
On a horse?

Yes, that's generally the idea.
But you hate horses.

Mary, what are his intentions?

To ride a horse, I think.

Oh, no!

Oh!

Oh, dear, oh, dear.

Are you quite all right,
Miss Bennet?

I'm perfectly fine. Thank you. Yes.

No. Oh, there we go.

There we go.

Now, I've been thinking
about your argument

that we should say more honestly
what we think and feel.

Ah, excellent.

I knew you'd agree.

Oh, don't know that I do.

I mean, surely even you must admit
there may be occasions when,

well, for all manner of reasons,
some things are best left unsaid.

I cannot concur.

I intend to live my life
by bolder principles.

In fact, that is why I came here -

to put that belief into practice.

Oh, really? Yes. I came here
to commit the great impropriety

of telling you honestly
what I think of you.

Mr Ryder, I can assure you
there's no need.

I attempted to scribble a few lines,

but...but then I thought of
some verses of Mr Wordsworth

that captured your spirit perfectly.

May I be allowed to recite them
to you?

Of course, Mr Ryder. Please.

She dwelt among...

Excuse me.

No.

Please, take your time.

She dwelt among the untrodden ways.

Beside the springs of Dove.

A maid whom there were none
to praise.

And very few to love.

A violet by a mossy stone,

half hidden from the eye.

Fair as a star when only one

is shining in the sky.

I think you see me
as a lonely figure.

I was brought up
in Hertfordshire, sir.

So the road to London
was barely five miles away.

It is possible to feel
oneself alone,

even in such close proximity
to town.

Yes, but in my village
it was quite untrue

to say that there were none
to praise and very few to love.

There were scores of people

very eager to praise my sisters.

Perhaps living with your family
in Meryton

kept you half hidden from the eye.

But now you've broken out
on your own...

..you can be seen at last,
as you deserve.

Fair as a star when only one
is shining in the sky.

Oh!

You're a natural, Miss Bennet.

Oh, I'm not.
I know.

Our conversation has made me
very happy, Miss Bennet.

Me too, Mr Ryder.

HE GEES UP THE HORSE

Walk on.

Whoa. Oh, oh.

Ah!

Oh!

Mary! There you are.
Whatever is the matter?

What happened on the ride?

We rode horses. Hmm?

And, mine was most unruly,

and it had a taste for brambles.

As if it had a mind of its own,
really.

And my saddle
was not at all comfortable.

That's not a slight
on the quality... Mary!

..merely the design. Mary!

It appears Mr Ryder does have
some sort of affection for you.

And I believe
he is about to propose.

Mother, I'm not completely sure
that you are right.

And I really would hate to cause you
any further disappointment.

This is an opportunity
that cannot be overlooked.

He's a very eligible gentleman.

You will say yes, won't you?

Ah...

There you are. What happened?
What did he say?

Did he ask you?
He's not going to ask her. Lydia!

Miss Bennet!

Are you quite all right?

Oh, it's nothing - nothing at all.

May I speak with you in private?

I have something very important
I want to discuss with you.

Mother had told me
to prepare myself.

But nothing could prepare me

for what happened next.