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FINAL SCRIPT<br />
(Enter Mary and Mr. Collins conversing.)<br />
MARY<br />
I think it is no sacrifice to join occasionally in evening engagements. Society has claims on us<br />
all; and I profess myself one of those who consider intervals of recreation and amusement as<br />
desirable for everybody.<br />
MR. COLLINS<br />
I am by no means of the opinion, I assure you, that a ball of this kind, given by a young man of<br />
character, to respectable people, can have any evil tendency. In fact I am so far from objecting to<br />
dancing myself, that I shall hope to be honored with the hands of all my fair cousins in the course<br />
of the evening; and I take this opportunity of soliciting yours, Miss Elizabeth, for the two first<br />
dances especially, a preference which I trust my cousin Jane will attribute to the right cause, and<br />
not to any disrespect for her.<br />
JANE<br />
Not at all, Sir.<br />
LYDIA<br />
Well, I am going to dance with Mr. Wickham for half of the evening.<br />
KITTY<br />
And I will dance with him for the other half of the evening.<br />
SCENE 13 - BALLROOM - NETHERFIELD – Evening – same<br />
(The ball is in full swing. (Dance 3) Jane and Bingley are dancing together, Lydia and Kitty are<br />
dancing with two officers, and Mary is dancing with Mr. Collins. Other couples are dancing.)<br />
CAROLINE<br />
(One corner of the room.) I should like balls infinitely better if they were carried on in a different<br />
manner; but there is something insufferably tedious in the usual process of such a meeting. It<br />
would surely be much more rational if conversation instead of dancing were made the order of<br />
the day.<br />
LOUISA<br />
Much more rational, my dear Caroline, I dare say, but it would not be near so much like a ball.<br />
MRS. BENNET<br />
(Another corner.) It is certain that Jane will soon be married to Mr. Bingley. He is such a<br />
charming young man, and so rich, and lives but three miles from Longbourn. It is such a comfort<br />
to think how fond the two Bingley sisters are of Jane; they must desire the connection as much as<br />
MRS. BENNET CONT.<br />
we do. (The Bingley sisters overhear, are taken aback, and move off.) It is, moreover, such a<br />
promising thing for my younger daughters, as Jane's marrying so greatly must throw them in the<br />
way of other rich men. It is so pleasant at this time of life to be able to consign my single<br />
daughters to the care of their sister, that I might not be obliged to go into company more than I<br />
like. I trust, with good wishes, that you might soon be equally fortunate.<br />
LADY LUCAS<br />
Careful, Mrs. Bennet, I believe our conversation is being overheard by Mr. Darcy.<br />
MRS. BENNET<br />
What is Mr. Darcy to me, pray, that I should be afraid of him? I am sure we owe him no such<br />
particular civility as to be obliged to say nothing he may not like to hear.<br />
LADY LUCAS<br />
For heaven's sake, Mrs. Bennet, speak lower. What advantage can it be for you to offend Mr.<br />
Darcy? You will never recommend yourself, or Jane, to his friend by so doing!<br />
CHARLOTTE<br />
(Another corner.) Bingley likes your sister undoubtedly; but he may never do more than like her,<br />
22
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