MARY BENNET
Oh, Mr. Darcy. Can I get you some tea?
DARCY
No thank you.
MARY
Some coffee perhaps?
DARCY
Well, I haven't quite finished my brandy yet.
MARY
Another cigar?
DARCY
No, this one will last quite some time I'm sure.
MARY
Oh, another match, then? Your cigar appears to be lit unevenly.
DARCY
No, it's really just fine, Miss Mary.
MARY
Make sure to call me when your ash grows too long.
MR. BENNET
Mr. Darcy. I understand you've been keeping my little Lizzy
occupied at Oakham Mount.
DARCY
Yes, sir.
MR. BENNET
Well, I have to thank you most sincerely.
It's been good for her to get out and about.
DARCY
Oh, it's my pleasure, I assure you, sir.
MR. BENNET
She seems to have a lot on her mind lately.
DARCY
Yes, yes.
MR. BENNET
She's always been rather a precocious girl.
If she gets too argumentative, just be firm with her.
DARCY
Oh, certainly, sir.
MR. BENNET
Don't let her get under your skin.
DARCY
Oh, certainly not.
MR. BENNET
Perhaps you'd be good enough to take Kitty out with you tomorrow..
She also needs to be out of the house a bit more often.
DARCY
Well...
MR. BENNET
Oh, excuse me one moment, Mr. Darcy.
...Lizzy! You only filled my coffee cup half way.
Where is your mind these days, child?
DARCY
Mr. Long, I couldn't help overhear you talking about Bonaparte.
I've been following his exploits as well, and --
MR. LONG
Oh, Mr. Darcy. Have you met my daughter? Allow me to introduce you.
DARCY
Well, sir, perhaps I should finish my cigar first.
MR. LONG
No, no. She'll be delighted to meet you. No doubt about it.
DARCY
Well, let me refill my coffee cup then.
MR. LONG
No, no. She's right over here.
MISS LONG
Mr. Darcy, I've been trying to convince Miss Elizabeth Bennet, that
lady over there, sitting by my sister, have you met her?
DARCY
Um...
MISS LONG
Well, anyway, I've been trying to convince her that a gentleman,
having been refused once in his offer of marriage, would
never bring himself to renew that offer. Do you not agree?
DARCY
Heavens. How did that topic of conversation arise?
MISS LONG
Oh, well a certain gentleman made an offer to Miss King several
months ago, but she hasn't heard from him since.
DARCY
Well... I agree with your proposition in general, Miss Long, but
to be perfectly honest, I can easily imagine an exception, specifically
in the case where the initial rejection was predicated upon a false
presumption on both sides. If the lady subsequently becomes aware of
the true nature of certain events, and if the gentleman comes to realize
how dreadfully wrong he had been about certain things, then --
MISS LONG
Oh, Mr. Darcy, I don't believe a word of it.
DARCY
Would you be so kind as to relay that message to Miss Bennet?
MISS LONG
I must say I've certainly never been asked a second time.
Why I remember one time when --
DARCY
Excuse me, madam, but my ash is about to fall.
MISS LONG
I'm going to tell Miss Elizabeth that you agree with me
completely.
MRS. BENNET
Mr. Darcy, do you play whist? Of course you do. Sit down here.
DARCY
Well --
MRS. BENNET
Oh, dear. It appears that you'll be my partner, Mr. Darcy.
Unless you'd like to play with the Johnston twins.
DARCY
No, no, this table will do quite well, madam.
MRS. BENNET
I do hope you won't ruff any of my aces. sir.
DARCY
Oh, certainly not.
Are you familiar with Matthew's latest whist maxims, madam?
Or are you a proponent of the Payne school of card-playing?
MRS. BENNET
What is your favourite trump suit, Mr. Darcy?
I quite prefer hearts. I do hope I turn up a heart.
MRS. BENNET
Mr. Darcy! That was my ace that you just ruffed.
And you missed my trump peter.
I wish you'd pay more attention to events at our
table, sir.
DARCY
Oh, my goodness. I'm so sorry, Mrs. Bennet.
I was just trying to see --
MRS. BENNET
If you'd really like to be Miss Long's partner then I can ask Lizzy
to swap places with you..
DARCY
No, no. Um, whose lead?
BINGLEY
Darcy, why did you have to order our carriage so soon?
I was looking forward to supper.
DARCY
Did you make any progress this evening with Miss Bennet?
BINGLEY
Well, this wasn't exactly the best environment in which to propose
marriage. I noticed you speaking briefly with Number Two.
DARCY
Yes, I got a chance to say about ten words.
BINGLEY
I hope the weather's nice tomorrow. Oakham Mount is starting to get
quite muddy.