Pride and Prejudice – Marriage Proposal

ELIZABETH: Mr Darcy…

[Darcy stops and turns to face Elizabeth.]

ELIZABETH: I can go no longer without thanking you for your kindness to my poor sister. Ever since I have known of it, I have been most anxious…(breathing hard) to tell you how grateful I am for my family and for myself.

[Darcy turns and continues walking.]

ELIZABETH: You must not blame my aunt for telling me. Lydia betrayed it first, and then I couldn’t rest till I knew everything. I know what trouble and what…mortification it must have cost you.

[Elizabeth looks at Darcy anxiously.]

ELIZABETH: Please let me say this. Please allow me…to thank you on behalf of all my family, since…they don’t know to whom they are indebted.

MR DARCY: If you will thank me, let it be for yourself alone. Your family owes me nothing. As much as I respect them, I believe I thought only of you.

[Elizabeth breathes a sigh. Darcy stops and turns to her.]

MR DARCY: You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged. But one word from you will silence me on this subject forever.

[Darcy looks down a bit sadly.]

ELIZABETH: Oh, my feelings. My feelings are…I’m ashamed to remember what I said then. My feelings are so different. In fact…

[Elizabeth looks Darcy in the eye.]

ELIZABETH: …they are quite the opposite.

[Darcy soaks in her words, and Elziabeth beams as they turn and continue walking. Darcy begins to smile.]

MR DARCY: Lady Catherine told me of her meeting with you. I may say that her disclosure had quite the opposite effect to the one she intended. It taught me to hope as I’d scarcely ever allowed myself to hope before. I knew that, had you absolutely decided against me, you would have acknowledged it openly.

[Elizabeth smiles and laughs.]

ELIZABETH: Yes, you know enough of my frankness to believe me capable of that! After abusing you so abominably to your face, I could have no scruple of abusing you to all your relations.

MR DARCY: But what did you say of me that I did not deserve? My behaviour to you at the time was unpardonable. I can hardly think of it without abhorrence. Your reproof I shall never forget. “…had you behaved in a more gentleman-like manner.” You know not how those words have tortured me.

ELIZABETH: I had not the smallest idea of their ever being taken in such a way.

MR DARCY: I can easily believe it. You thought me devoid of every proper feeling, I am sure you did. The turn of your countenance I shall never forget, and you said that I could not have addressed you in any possible way that would induce you to accept me.

ELIZABETH: Oh, do not repeat what I said then.

MR DARCY: No. I’ve been a selfish being all my life. As a child I was given good principles, but was left to follow them in pride and conceit; and such I might still have been but for you…

[Darcy looks down at her tenderly.]

MR DARCY: …dearest loveliest Elizabeth.

[Elizabeth looks shyly up at him, surprised and filled by his words. They continue walking.]

***

VI. This Man and This Woman

[Darcy and Elizabeth continue down the road while Jane and Bingley walk some distance in front of them.]

JANE : Engaged to Mr Darcy?!

[ LONGBOURN, ELIZABETH’S BEDROOM – NIGHT]

[Elizabeth’s is wearing the pretty nightgown with the sheer robe, Jane is dressed in a nightgown as well, and Elizabeth is beaming as she sits in a chair facing both the large and small mirror.]

JANE: No, you are joking. It is impossible.

[Elizabeth chuckles as she turns to Jane.]

ELIZABETH: This is a wretched beginning. If you don’t believe me, I’m sure no one else will. Indeed, I am in earnest. He still loves me, and we are engaged.

JANE: No, Lizzy. It can’t be true. I know how much you dislike him.

ELIZABETH (chuckle): Oh, no. It is all forgotten.

[Elizabeth stands up and sits on the bed next to Jane.]

ELIZABETH: Perhaps I didn’t always love him as well as I do now; but in such cases as these, a good memory is unpardonable.

[Jane leans forward.]

JANE: Dearest Lizzy, do be serious. How long have you loved him?

ELIZABETH: Well, it’s been coming on so gradually, I hardly know. But…I believe I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberley.

[Jane and Elizabeth burst out laughing.]

JANE: Lizzy!