- [Jane and Lizzy are in the pantry, tying up sheaves of herbs to hang and dry]
- Jane Bennet: No, I do assure you, this news does not affect me, truly, Lizzy.
- [Lizzy smiles skeptically]
- Jane Bennet: I am glad of one thing: that he doesn't bring any ladies. If it is merely a shooting party, we shall not see him often. Not that I am afraid of myself; but I dread other people's remarks, Lizzy.
- Elizabeth Bennet: Then I shall venture none... however sorely I am tempted. After all, it is hard that the poor man can't come to a house he's legally rented without raising all this speculation.
- Jane Bennet: That is just what I think.
- Elizabeth Bennet: Then we shall leave him to himself.
- Jane Bennet: Yes.
- [Lizzy's smile turns mischievous. Jane looks up and sees the smirk]
- Jane Bennet: Stop it, Lizzy!
- [Then they both start to laugh]
- [Mr. Bingley is coming to visit Longbourn for the first time in a year, and Mrs. Bennet is rushing about the room, ordering the girls how to behave]
- Mrs. Bennet: Oh, sit up straight, Jane! Pull your shoulders back! A man could go a long way without seeing a figure like yours, if you could only make the most of it!
- Elizabeth Bennet: Lady Catherine, in marrying your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting that sphere. He is a gentleman, I am a gentleman's daughter. So far we are equal.
- [Bingley has determined to go ask Jane to marry him]
- Mr. Bingley: [to a manservant] Bring me my horse! At once! Quick, man!
- [the music rises into a suspenseful allegro-crescendo as we watch Bingley ride towards Longbourn, and the women of Longbourn getting the news and preparing for him...]
- Mr. Bingley: [Mrs. Bennet is still in her night-clothes as she runs to Jane's room and cries out in panic:]
- Mrs. Bennet: Jane! Jane! Oh, my dear Jane!
- [She bursts into Jane's room. Jane is on the edge of her bed, in a white dress, slipping on some slippers]
- Jane Bennet: Oh, what is the matter?
- Mrs. Bennet: He is come! He is come!
- Jane Bennet: [Bewildered] Who is come?
- Mrs. Bennet: Mr. Bingley, of course! Make haste, make haste, hurry down! Oh gracious, you're not all dressed!
- [Calling for the housekeeper:]
- Mrs. Bennet: Hill! Hill! Oh, where is Hill?
- [Mrs. Bennet runs through the halls of the house. She bursts into Lizzy's room, where the maid Sarah is doing Lizzy's hair]
- Mrs. Bennet: Never mind, Sarah. You must come to Miss Bennet this moment. Come along, girl, and help her up with her gown, never mind Miss Lizzy's hair!
- Kitty Bennet: Mama, mama! Where is my new locket that Lydia brought me from London? Mary, have you seen my new locket?
- Mary Bennet: I shouldn't know it if I did see it. I care nothing for such baubles.
- Mrs. Bennet: Oh, never mind your locket, girl! Jane, steady yourself. He is here, he is here!
- Jane Bennet: Mama, Lizzy and I will be down as soon as we can. Send Kitty down, she is forwarder than any of us.
- Mrs. Bennet: Oh, hang Kitty! What is she to do with it?
- [Kitty stamps her foot and turns away, crying]
- Mrs. Bennet: Jane, where is your muslin dress, dear? Oh, Hill, Hill! Where is Hill?
- [Cut to sudden silence from the frantic music, as we see Bingley and the young ladies seated in the parlor; they are all extremely awkward and shy]
- Mr. Bingley: [Furious] You tell me now she was in London all those months and you concealed it from me?
- Mr. Darcy: Yes. I can offer no justification. It was an arrogant presumption based on a failure to recognise your true feelings and Miss Bennet's. I should never have interfered. It was very wrong of me, Bingley, and I apologise.
- Mr. Bingley: [Stunned] You admit that you were in the wrong?
- Mr. Darcy: Utterly and completely.
- Mr. Bingley: Then... I have your blessing?
- Mr. Darcy: [Amused] Do you need my blessing?
- Mr. Bingley: No. But I should like to know I have it all the same.
- Jane Bennet: No, seriously, Lizzy. When did you first know you were in love with Mr. Darcy?
- Elizabeth Bennet: It came on so slowly I hardly know... but I believe I must date it from the time I first saw his wonderful grounds at Pemberley.
- Elizabeth Bennet: I am only resolved to act in a manner which will constitute my own happiness without reference to you or any person so wholly unconnected with me.
- Elizabeth Bennet: Lady Catherine, in marrying you nephew I should not consider myself as quitting that sphere. He is a gentleman, I am a gentleman's daughter. So far we are equal.
- Mr. Darcy: I may say the disclosure had quite the opposite effect to the one she intended. It taught me to hope as I had scarcely ever allowed myself to hope before.