Frederick Dopfel 

Prompt:

[INT. LONGBOURN, MRS BENNET’S BEDROOM - DAY]

 [Mrs Bennet giggles with delight. Elizabeth and Jane are with her.]

MRS BENNET: Oh, I knew it would all come out right in the end. Oh, my dear, dear Lydia. She will be married. Oh, my good kind brother. I knew how it would be. I knew he would manage everything. Oh, but the clothes.

[Elizabeth sits down.]

MRS BENNET: And, of course, she must be married from Longbourn. This is all nonsense about her being married from Cheapside. She must be married in Longbourn church where all her friends can see her.

ELIZABETH: No, Mum, that is not possible. You must see that.

MRS BENNET: I do not see that! Why should I see that? Why should that be?

ELIZABETH: Because she has been living with Mr Wickham in London. And if she were to arrive home unmarried still…

MRS BENNET: Oh, well. I suppose it must be, if you put it like that, but it is all very vexing. And your uncle has been most high-handed. I don’t see why he should take so much upon him.

JANE: Mamma, we are greatly indebted to Mr Gardiner.

ELIZABETH: He must have laid out a great deal of money to pay off Mr Wickham’s debts – More than we can ever repay.

MRS BENNET: And why should he not? Who else should lay out money but her own uncle?

ELIZABETH: Mother!

[Jane and Elizabeth look distressed.]

MRS BENNET: Oh, well, I am so happy. A daughter married, and only just sixteen! Mrs Wickham. Ooh, how well that sounds. Oh, but th--the wedding clothes! Lizzy, my dear, go down to your father and ask how much he will give her.

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Response:

And do not forget to ask for a new gown for yourself. You must look your best on Lydia’s wedding day.

[Elizabeth gets up and leaves the room.]

MRS BENNET: Oh, Jane, you will be next. I am so glad we did not send you away with Kitty. It would have been such a shame if you had missed all this excitement. And now there is only Mary left at home! But never mind her, she is not likely to get married, I think.

[Mrs Bennet giggles.]

MRS BENNET: Oh, my dear Jane. You will be so happy. I always said you would make the best match of all my girls.

[Mrs Bennet laughs with delight.]

INT. LONGABOURN, ELIZABETH’S BEDROOM - DAY

[Elizabeth is sitting at her dressing table, writing a letter. Her door opens and Jane comes in.]

JANE: Lizzy? I thought you might be up here. You did not come down to breakfast.

ELIZABETH: No, I was not very hungry this morning. And I had some letters to write. How are you feeling today?

JANE: A little better, thank you. But still quite tired. It has all been such a shock. And now we have to think about the wedding clothes! Mamma is in such a state.

ELIZABETH: Yes, I know. And we have no time to lose. Lydia must be married as soon as possible.

JANE: Do you think it will be a grand wedding? With all her friends from London?

ELIZABETH: No, I do not think so. It would be too expensive, and besides, it would not be proper after what has happened. No, I think it will be a small family wedding here at Longbourn church.

JANE: But that is so sad! She should have a big wedding, with all her friends there to wish her well.

[Elizabeth looks at Jane in surprise.]

INT. LONGABOURN, THE LIBRARY - DAY

[Mr Bennet is sitting at his desk, reading a letter. Elizabeth comes in.]

ELIZABETH: Father? You wanted to see me?

MR BENNET: Yes, Lizzy. I have had a letter from your uncle Gardiner this morning. He has been very kind, and has offered to pay for the wedding. So we will not have to worry about the cost.

ELIZABETH: That is very generous of him.

MR BENNET: Yes. He has also offered to pay off all of Wickham’s debts, which come to more than three thousand pounds. Can you believe it? Three thousand pounds!

ELIZABETH: Yes, I can believe it.

MR BENNET: Well, I must say, I am relieved. I do not know how we would have managed it otherwise. But your uncle has been very kind, and I am very grateful to him.

ELIZABETH: Yes, Father. We are all very grateful to him.

MR BENNET: Yes. Well, that is all I wanted to tell you. You may go now.

[Elizabeth turns to leave the room.]

MR BENNET: Oh, and Lizzy…

[Elizabeth stops and looks at her father.]

MR BENNET: I hope you will not be too hard on Lydia when she comes home. She is young and foolish, but she is not a bad girl. And I am sure she will be happy enough once she is married.

ELIZABETH: Yes, Father. I will try not to be too hard on her.