DARCY
Why, Miss Bingley. How pleasant to see you. But I thought
you would never set foot in Netherfield again.
MISS BINGLEY
Oh, hello, Mr. Darcy. I had to come as soon as I heard
the terrible news. Tell me it's not too late to make Charles
change his mind.
DARCY
I'm afraid it is.
MISS BINGLEY
Oh, this is awful. What are we to do? Do you have a plan?
DARCY
Miss Bingley, you don't look well. Have a seat. Well, my
plan, actually, is to get married myself alongside your brother.
MISS BINGLEY
...
DARCY
A double wedding.
MISS BINGLEY
Oh, ...Mr. Darcy, this is so sudden. My
word. Perhaps Miss Jane Bennet is not really so
unsuitable after all. A double wedding? Oh, my.
DARCY
Um, not so hastily, Miss Bingley. Your smile betrays a possible
misunderstanding --
MISS BINGLEY
Mr. Darcy. Is there even time for me to prepare?
Louisa won't be back from Essex until January. So much to
plan --
DARCY
Miss Bingley, you'd better sit back down. I have some rather alarming news for
you.
MISS BINGLEY
What, Mr. Darcy? Or Fitzwilliam, I mean.
DARCY
I will be marrying Miss Bennet's sister, Elizabeth.
MISS BINGLEY
...
DARCY
Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
MISS BINGLEY
Miss Eliza Bennet.
DARCY
The same.
MISS BINGLEY
I see.
DARCY
Do you think that you would be able to set aside your differences with
her? Your dislike?
MISS BINGLEY
...
DARCY
Miss Bingley?
MISS BINGLEY
My dislike? But I adore both Misses Bennet. Did you
not know, Mr. Darcy? And their family. So
delightful. Especially their mother.
DARCY
Now look, Miss Bingley. I won't stand for any more of this from
you. Ever since you and I met the Bennets --
MISS BINGLEY
You won't stand for what?! How can I sit idly by while my
brother throws away every advantage he has by marrying some country
upstart with a ridiculous mother and an infamous rake for a
brother-in-law? And then you, you, who I had hoped these
past three years might open your fine eyes and make the
proper choice, you are doing the exact
same thing as my brother!
DARCY
What sort of proper choice?
MISS BINGLEY
Can't you guess? Someone with connections, someone with a
knowledge of society and fashion, someone --
DARCY
Someone such as yourself? Let me set your mind at ease once and for all
and say that there was never any chance that I would marry you.
MISS BINGLEY
...
DARCY
And your abuse of Miss Elizabeth, since the moment we met her, --
MISS BINGLEY
Sir, my abuse was only for your own protection. I could see
how she was beginning to affect you, with her smiles and witty
repartee and her silly eyes --
DARCY
And her muddy dress and 'blowsy' hair?
MISS BINGLEY
Well, those were merely her provincial methods of attracting your
attention. They were successful, were they not?
DARCY
Yes, perhaps you're correct. Perhaps I don't really love
her. It was all a trick. Maybe I should indeed marry you
after all.
MISS BINGLEY
It might actually be to your advant--
DARCY
Good-bye, Miss Bingley!