Sense and Sensibility s01e01 Episode Script

Do you truly love me? Trust me.
Mrs Edwards Mrs Edwards thinks you're a child still.
But we know better than that, don't we? But when will you come back? Soon.
Very soon.
But when? Sync: moochie Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen You should prepare yourself.
I have done all I can.
John.
I'm so glad you've come.
Is it John? Here I am, Father.
The law prevents me from dividing up my estate.
You are to have everything.
Without your help, your stepmother and the girls will have almost nothing.
You must do something.
You must promise me.
You must give me your solemn promise.
Yes, ofcourse.
I promise.
Norland Park, ours at last.
Come to bed.
I promised Father I would - do something for them.
- You are the most generous of men.
I hope you don't intend to spoil them.
Not to spoil them.
I have written to Mary, saying they may expect us on Monday.
Blow out the candle, dear.
Monday? But that's today I had not thought it would be so soon.
- Have they no heart at all? - It is their house now, Marianne.
But why, Elinor? - It isn't fair, is it? - It is the way things are.
Meg.
Mr John Dashwood is Father's only son, and sons are always heirs.
There's nothing anyone can do about it.
How can you be so calm about it? Oh, Mother.
Don't cry, dear.
But what will we do? Will we have to live with gypsies? I'd rather live with gypsies than with Aunt Fanny.
She's an insufferable woman.
If she comes to live here, I might even poison her.
I thought of giving the girls £1,000 apiece.
- Would that be fair, do you think? - £1,000 apiece? Are you mad? Do you rob your only child of his rightful inheritance? Henry, your father proposes to steal £3,000 from you to give to his half-sisters.
You think it too generous? £500 apiece? That would be beyond anything generous, when you think that they will have £3,000 on their mother's death.
A very comfortable fortune for any young woman, I should have thought.
But your papa is set on robbing you, Henry.
Perhaps the matter does require further thought.
But I'm determined to help them, Fanny.
Mama, they won't expect you to give up your own bedroom.
It is their house now.
Of course they will expect the best it has to offer.
Mama, our brother has a kind heart.
He wouldn't want you to be uncomfortable.
He promised Papa he would look after us all.
Yes, yes, he did.
And he will.
I'm sure of it.
To say the truth, I'm convinced your father had no idea of your giving them any money at all.
What would they spend it on? They will have no carriage, no horses, hardly any servants.
Yes.
I suppose And consider, my dear, you owe no particular gratitude to your father, nor attention to his wishes.
For we very well know if he could, he would have left almost everything in the world to them.
Upon my word, I do believe you're right.
My father must have meant nothing more than what you said.
Just a general concern for their welfare, occasional presents of fish and game and so forth.
Exactly.
There, there, darling.
We shan't let the poor starve you.
No, we shan't.
I shan't speak to them when they come in.
Yes, you will.
We shall all be on our best behaviour.
Because we are the visitors now.
Really, Mary.
There's no need for that.
Well, here we are at last! After you, my dear, of course.
So, Elinor, still at your music? Marianne still sketching away? You see, I remember everything.
Other way around, Aunt.
- Marianne is the musician.
- Oh, yes.
- And what about you, Margaret? - I'm going to be a writer.
A writer? Well, pens and paper cost very little.
You have made a sensible choice.
This is an elegant dinner service.
Of course you'll have no use for it when you move to a smaller place.
- My dear.
- And of course it belongs here.
- Belongs to the house.
- And the house belongs to you.
Though you neither care for it, nor need it, - nor deserve it.
- Marianne! You know you really can't say things like that at the dinner table, - to their faces.
- Well, it's true.
She cares nothing for Norland, only for the pounds, shillings, and pence it's worth.
And it's quite clear our brother has no intention of honouring his promise to Papa.
I know, but My dears, Mr Gridley has found us two very suitable houses.
Beecham Court, and Thrush Place.
I favour Beecham Court.
Look, Marianne, it has a gazebo.
And the grounds are very manageable, I should think.
Mama, they are far beyond our income.
We have only £400 a year.
Well, they're both smaller than Norland, Elinor.
Mama, we need to think very differently now.
We could hardly afford the gate house at Beecham Court.
I suppose you would have us live in a rabbit hutch.
Not quite, Mama, a cottage would answer very well.
Sometimes, Elinor, I think you don't understand how I feel.
I do, Mama, truly I do.
But we have to be practical.
Oh, here you are all are.
I wondered where you were all hiding.
I have just heard from my brother Edward, he's coming to stay, and we expect his visit to be a long one.
So we are very favoured.
- I believe you have never met him.
- No.
As the eldest son, he will, of course, inherit a considerable fortune and we expect great things of him.
Parliament, perhaps.
He will make his mark upon the world, no doubt of that.
So much to do before he arrives.
He has a very discerning eye and I should not want him to find fault with anything.
Well, things to do.
Things to do.
I bet he'sjust like her.
Martha! Martha, what are you doing? Didn't you do them a week ago? Mrs John Dashwood's orders, miss.
They're all to be done again with the gentlemen coming.
Those carpets are clean.
Go and see to your work.
Thank you, Miss Elinor.
Good morning.
- Oh, I was just - Beating carpets.
- Yes.
- Edward Ferrars.
How do you do? My horse has thrown a shoe, so I came by way of the stables.
Elinor Dashwood.
Would you like some help? With the carpet beating? No.
I had better take you to in to see your sister.
Edward! The state of you! Where are your things? They're sending them on.
I felt like a ride so I borrowed a horse.
- How long are you going to stay? - Margaret! I am entirely dependent on Mrs Dashwood, of course.
I would not want to overstay my welcome.
I shall have you shown to your room immediately.
What on earth possessed you to arrive here looking like a country bumpkin? My dear Fanny, we are in the country, after all.
I think the first thing to do is rip out this dingy old panelling, so dark and dusty, I'm sure you'll agree.
And all these old books, how could a gentlemen bear to sit in a gloomy old den like this? Oh, Elinor.
Do not let us disturb you.
- Here, will you take this? - Fanny.
- Yes, Edward? - Let me explain.
This is a library, a place of refuge.
Libraries should be full of dusty old books, and nooks, and corners, and places to hide away in.
Do you know, Fanny, I do believe this library is quite perfectjust as it is.
Edward, you know you only say these things to annoy me.
I'm afraid it must pain you to see my sister refurbishing Norland after her own taste.
It is her house now.
She must do as she sees fit, I suppose.
She's doing her level best to refurbish me, too.
I'm a grave disappointment to my family, Miss Dashwood.
Fanny would like me to be a great man of some sort.
Important, talked about, riding around in a barouche.
And you don't see see yourself in a barouche? A pony and trap would do we me very well.
I want to go into the church, you see, a quiet country parish.
But that's not smart enough for my family.
I think we all have to find our own ways to be happy.
So do I.
And I think I prefer your notion of happiness.
Do you? Good.
Quiet country parish it is, then.
This must be a very hard time for you, your father's death.
My own father died when I was 17.
I was like a boat that had lost its anchor.
We must all have someone to listen to us.
To understand what we feel.
Elinor! - It's not fair! - What's not fair! Henry's got my pony, nobody asked me if he could ride him.
- And he's pulling his mouth.
- Meg, he doesn't mean any harm.
And you're much too big now for such a little horse.
It is a matter of principle.
You are quite right.
I will speak to my sister about it.
Meanwhile, how about setting your sights a bit higher than a pony? Mama, I don't think l can bear it in this house for much longer.
I don't care where we go, but we must leave as soon as possible.
I don't think we should leave Norland until we see how things stand between Elinor and Edward.
Can you see? They have formed an attachment.
Oh, Mama.
How shall we do without her? Oh, my love.
It will scarcely be a separation.
We shall take a house within a few miles of them and meet every day.
You will gain a brother.
A real, affectionate brother.
Edward is very amiable.
But for me, there is something wanting.
Mama, I am not sure he really loves poetry, and I'm sure he only praises Elinor's drawings because they are hers.
But I require so much.
I think I shall never see a man that I can really and truly love.
My dear, you're not yet 17.
It's a little early to despair of finding happiness.
Do you love him? I I think very highly of him.
I like him, Marianne.
But is he worthy of you? He has no taste for drawing or music or anything of that kind.
There are worse faults than failing to appreciate your music.
But his reading last evening, so calm and spiritless.
He has a different style from yours.
He allows the words to speak for themselves.
Well, when you tell me to love him as my brother-in-law, I promise I'll think him as perfect as you do.
no question of that.
Not yet! He has family duties, he has obligations.
What obligations? - I don't know.
- If he loves you, he will act upon his feelings whatever his family might say.
Marianne, stop.
Nothing has been said between us.
I do have feelings for him.
And I believe he returns them.
But, please, don't hope for something that may never happen.
Then you're not engaged? - I was sure that you were in secret.
- No! Well, I'm sure it will happen very soon.
And so am I.
Margaret! Get down from there this minute! Stay a moment if you would, Mary.
I just wanted to give you a little hint about my brother, Edward.
I think he is enjoying his visit, Fanny.
You must know that my mother, Mrs Ferrars, has very high hopes of him.
- I'm sure he will fulfil them.
- Both in terms of his career and his marriage.
He will be expected to marry a young lady either of high rank or great fortune, preferably both.
I see.
His happiness will depend upon our mother's wishes.
If he goes against her, he will get nothing.
So, you see, any young woman who tries to draw him in will find herself gravely disappointed.
Just a little hint, Mary.
Thank you, Fanny.
I'm much obliged to you.
Mama, Mama, it's a letter for you from Devonshire.
It's from Sir John Middleton, a cousin of mine.
He has offered us a cottage on his estate.
Sir John is so genteel and accommodating and he writes in such a warm and friendly style.
- What do you think, Elinor? - The cottage is small and the rent is very moderate.
We shall probably need only two servants.
I think we should consider it, Mama.
I shall write and accept Sir John's offer immediately.
Without seeing it? I'm determined to leave this house before the week is out.
A cottage in Devonshire, you will be very cosy.
Devonshire is a long way away.
Not too far for our true friends to visit us, Mr Ferrars.
I hope we will be able to welcome you at Barton Cottage.
Very soon.
Thank you, Mrs Dashwood.
It would be an honour.
On my word, I quite envy you.
Then you should go there, Aunt Fanny, and we will stay at Norland.
Sir John Middleton must be very well set up to be able to offer you hospitality at so low a rent, Mary.
He says he saw the opportunity to do a good turn and was glad to take it.
Such kindness from a man we have never even met.
Oh, I was, um Excuse me, Edward, I must just ask Mama something.
Come along, Meg.
Shall you be very sorry to leave Norland? Of course.
- But in the circumstances - Yes.
Yes, quite.
These last few weeks have been very happy ones for me.
For me, too.
Infact, I don't think I've ever been happier.
Yes.
I'm very glad to have been able to offer you friendship at this difficult time.
And I want you to know that I very much value your friendship too.
Excuse me.
Well Goodbye, Mary.
Thank you, John.
Edward, promise, you'll come and see us soon.
As soon as I can.
Well, my dear? I have no news for you, Mama.
We shall see him again, very soon.
I know we shall.
Mama, look, it's the sea! And do you think that's the cottage? Mama, how romantic.
We should have thought to send Thomas and Alice on ahead of us.
With a fire in every room, it will soon be cheerful.
Who is to light the fires? Well I could light a fire I should think.
Elinor.
Can we really settle here, do you think? Of course we can.
We must.
Mama, there's someone coming! - Oh, good heavens.
- Hello! So, Cousin Mary, pleasure to meet you at last.
There we are, just a little something for your larder.
Welcome to Devonshire.
I cannot thank you enough for your kindness, Sir John.
No, no, none of that.
I'm delighted to have you here.
I like nothing so much as company.
I saw you drive past the house, you should have come in.
- So, these your girls? - Yes.
Well, well, well.
How are you, my dears? This is my eldest, Elinor.
And Marianne, and my youngest, Margaret.
Delightful.
Very pleased to welcome three such pretty girls.
I dare say we'll find you all husbands before the year's out.
How's that? Why, whatever's the matter? What did I say? My youngest sister is perhaps a little young for a husband, sir.
Is she? Yes, I suppose she is.
I know nothing of these matters, I leave it to the women.
My mother-in-law, Mrs Jennings, is a great authority on these matters.
You will meet her by and by because I insist you dine at Barton Park today, and every day until you are properly settled.
- Oh, that is too - I insist, I absolutely insist.
And my dear wife wouldn't hear of anything else.
Company, company, where would we be without company? I will send the carriage for you at four o'clock, sharp.
My dear, have you ever seen such pretty girls? Indeed.
You are all most welcome.
Ah! Here's my mother-in-law.
What kept you so long, Madam? Too much time at your looking glass, I'll be bound.
Wicked man.
Oh, my looking glass days are over these many years.
Well, now! We must see what we can do for them, Mrs Jennings.
Lovers, husbands, that sort of thing.
How do we know they haven't left their hearts behind in Sussex? Elinor has.
Ah, now we come to it.
I thought I saw a little blush.
No, really.
Consider nothing settled, for a certain gentlemen is coming to stay with us who may make you forget all your fancies.
What do you say, Sir John? Colonel Brandon.
Yes, indeed.
A military hero.
Served in the East Indies.
They say he had his heart broken and he has never looked at a woman since.
Not in that sort of way, you know.
But when he sees the Miss Dashwoods, I think we may find he has to change his mind.
I think he may, I think he may.
He stayed faithful to his first love, do you say? I like that.
That is as it should be.
For myself, when I fall in love, it will be forever.
Very proper.
Very romantic.
And just what a young lady ought to think.
Colonel Brandon is arrived.
Bring him in, Jenkins, bring him in.
Come in, dear friend.
We were just speaking of you.
I'm not intruding? Not a bit of it, you couldn't have arrived at a better time.
Lady Middleton.
Mrs Jennings.
- Naughty man to keep away so long.
- I had some necessary business.
Mrs Dashwood.
Miss Dashwood, Miss Marianne Dashwood, Miss Margaret Dashwood.
Honoured to make your acquaintance.
Now, what do you say, Mrs Dashwood? I think he'd do for one of them, don't you? First class.
Well done, indeed.
What do you think, Brandon? You know music? Yes, erm, remarkable.
May I play now, Mama? Of course, my dear.
The more the merrier.
Your sister plays with extraordinary feeling for one so young.
She would be grateful for your good opinion, I'm sure.
I once knew a young woman who played with that intensity of feeling.
But I think your sister has a surer technique.
I will be glad to pass on your compliments.
But why should you not tell her yourself? We were talking about your performance, Marianne Remarkable.
Yes, so you said.
I cannot tell whether that means you approve it or not.
I notice you played the last movement appassionato and I believe that the composer marked it allegro.
And you disapprove of that? No.
Not at all.
I found it, um, original.
If we are to dine at Barton park every night, we'll be paying a heavy price for Sir John's generosity.
Marianne, that's unkind.
Sir John is all affability and Mrs jennings seems delighted to have our company.
Elinor, how would you bear their relentless vulgar teasing? - I was embarrassed.
- But they meant no harm.
And Lady Middleton, so cold and insipid.
They all pretended to like music.
Though none of them listened to it.
- Colonel Brandon listened - Yes, and found fault with my playing.
Colonel Brandon has a little more discernment than your usual audience.
I think he is the sort of man who likes to find fault with everybody and everything.
Elinor! Mama, it's that man! It's Colonel Brandon! Meg! Meg! Meg.
Colonel Brandon, ma'am.
Elinor! I had occasion to ride over to my home at Delaford earlier this morning.
Took the liberty of bringing you these flowers, Mrs Dashwood.
Oh.
Thank you.
They're beautiful.
And I looked out some music which I thought might be of some interest to Miss Marianne.
Thank you.
I think you overestimate my abilities, sir.
I think not.
- You have an instrument here? - Yes, of sorts.
I have a very fine piano forte at Delaford that deserves to be played on more often.
- I hope you will try it one day.
- Thank you.
Won't you sit down, take some refreshment, Colonel.
Thank you, no, I shall intrude on you no longer.
I'm sure I shall have the pleasure of seeing you all soon at Barton Park.
Good day.
Well, Miss Marianne has made a conquest of Brandon.
There's no doubt of that.
Who'd have thought it? I was near to despairing of him.
But it'll be a fine match, Mrs Dashwood.
For he is a rich man with a good heart.
Marianne is very young.
to be thinking of marriage.
Not a bit of it, my dear.
I was married at 16 myself.
The sooner the better, I say.
She'll bear him some fine big sons.
What do you say, Miss Elinor? Your sister's stolen a march on you.
I hope you didn't have designs n the Colonel yourself.
Has the Colonel spoken to you about his feelings for my sister? Not in so many words, but you can't mistake it.
The man's besotted with her.
And why should he not be? He'd be a fine catch for any girl, if she could get him.
And is this what everybody thinks? How mortifying! Elinor! You like him, Marianne? Yes.
But because he's the only person in the neighbourhood with whom one can have an intelligent conversation.
I never thought he meant Elinor, he's too old.
He is 35, Marianne, five years younger than I am and I never thought of myself as being quite decrepit.
That's unfair, Mama.
You know I never meant that.
Most people, I think, would still consider Colonel Brandon a young man.
No-one's forcing him upon you, my dear, but men of 35 have married girls of 17 before, I believe.
You do both realise it will be impossible for me to speak to him again? Except in company.
Marianne, Colonel Brandon's coming.
- Come on, Meg.
Out back.
- What for? A healthy walk.
Marianne! - Really! - I told you, Mama.
Come on, Meg.
Marianne! - But I don't want to go for a walk.
- Yes, you do.
It's about Colonel Brandon, isn't it? Don't you like him any more? I simply felt an urgent need of fresh air and exercise.
I think it's going to rain.
Is there a felicity in the world superior to this? Margaret? We will walk here at least two hours.
I told you it would rain.
What of it? Sweet, refreshing rain.
# Oh, that I was a little tiny girl with a hey ho, # the wind and the rain! # You're mad! My compliments to Miss Marianne and Miss Margaret.
Marianne will be sorry to have missed you.
I'm sure she would want to thank you for the books.
So thoughtful of you.
Not at all.
Good day, Mrs Dashwood.
Miss Dashwood.
Won't you wait until the rain has stopped? No, I fear I have overstayed my welcome already.
Good day.
I don't like this, Marianne, and I'm all wet.
This has all been a silly idea.
Nonsense, a little rain never hurt anybody.
Come on, let's Marianne! Are you hurt? Don't move.
Stay there, I'll come to you.
Where are you injured? Um, my ankle.
You will permit me.
I know a little about these things.
No bones broken, but it's a bad sprain.
You mustn't walk on it.
Be so good as to put your arm around my neck.
Go ahead, Margaret! Mama! Elinor! Mama! Elinor! Mama, we were running down the hill, Marianne fell, hurt herself and a man is carrying her.
Don't be alarmed, I beg you.
Her injuries are minor, a sprained ankle and some bruising only.
Here, let me set you down.
- There.
- Thank you.
Forgive the intrusion, I couldn't think how else to manage it.
I happened to be passing.
I saw her fall.
Clearly, she was unable to stand or walk.
And so here we are.
She will need to rest the ankle for a few days, but - she should recover very soon.
- Excuse me.
And now I'll leave you.
Will you not sit down for a moment, sir? - Warm yourself by the fire.
- No, thank you, madam.
I won't intrude any longer.
Perhaps you'll allow me to return tomorrow to see how your daughter Your daughter My younger daughter, Marianne.
To see how your daughter Marianne is progressing.
This is so kind of you, sir, may we know your name? My name is Willoughby, ma'am.
Willoughby of Allenham.
Until tomorrow, then.
Thank you again, Mr Willoughby.
Well! Willoughby.
Willoughby of Allenham, it's a good name, isn't it, Elinor? It has a poetic ring.
Willoughby of Allenham.
He was very handsome, wasn't he, Marianne? He has a true natural grace, and strength.
He carried me as if I were no more than a feather.
And you put your arm right around his neck, I saw you.
What of it? Truly good manners have nothing to do with convention.
I thought Mr Willoughby's manners were impeccable, and such a sweet smile.
- Did you remark his eyes, Mama? - Mm-hm.
He has very fine eyes.
Willoughby, Willoughby of Allenham.
Willoughby of Allenham has left some very muddy footprints in the passage.
Willoughby, is he in the country? I'll ride over and invite him to dinner on Thursday.
- Do you know him then? - Know him? Very well.
He comes down every year.
What kind of a man is he? Well, he's as good a kind of fellow as ever lived.
He's a very decent shot, and there's no bolder rider in England.
But what is he like? What are his manners on closer acquaintance? Upon my soul, I don't know much about him as to all that.
He's a pleasant, cheerful fellow, and he has the prettiest little pointer bitch I've ever seen.
- Was he out with her today? - Yes! Well, there you are then.
- Is he married, Sir John? - Mama! I see where this is leading.
No, he is not married.
He comes down to visit the old lady at Allenham Court and he will inherit there.
He also has a pretty little estate of his own in Somersetshire.
I see how it will be.
You'll set your cap at him now and never think of poor Brandon.
He's coming.
Willoughby is coming! Quickly! Quickly, quickly! Mr Willoughby, ma'am.
And how is the invalid this morning? - Pretty well, I thank you.
- Thanks to you, Mr Willoughby.
Not at all.
I count myself lucky to have been passing at the time.
I was up early this morning, I picked these wild strawberries for you.
Wild strawberries! - I love wild strawberries.
- I thought you might.
- Shall I? - Thank you.
Mr Willoughby.
We have been hearing all about you, Mr Willoughby.
Sir John says you're very fond of dancing.
Indeed I am, and I hope to have the pleasure of proving it to you all before very long, when Miss Marianne's ankle is recovered.
Meg.
- Do you care for poetry, too? - Very much.
I see you're reading Pope.
- Are you fond of Pope? - No.
My sentiments exactly.
He's too rational for me.
More to be admired than loved.
That is just what I think.
- Do you know Lord Byron? - No, I have heard of him.
So we'll go no more a roving So late into the night Though my heart be still as loving The moon be still as bright.
- He is a true romantic.
- That is just the sort of thing I like.
And I.
Isn't it extraordinary, Mama, that it should have been Mr Willoughby who was passing when I fell down the hill.
Yes.
It might have been some uncouth old farmer who had never read a word of Byron in his life.
- Oh, who could that be? - Colonel Brandon, ma'am.
I heard of your accident.
I trust you are not seriously injured.
No, not at all.
No, I see that you are not.
Thank God for that.
Colonel Brandon, do you know Mr Willoughby? - Yes.
How do you do, sir? - Very well, thank you, Brandon.
Well, having ascertained that Miss Marianne is on the mend, I will intrude no longer.
Good day to you.
How extraordinary.
He's an extraordinary man.