The Other Bennet Sister (2026) s01e02 Episode Script

In the weeks that followed
the disastrous Meryton Assembly,
I buried myself in my books,
hoping to stave off the pangs
of shame and humiliation.
It was all part of my plan
for a new Mary.
I needed a clear mind,
unclouded by strong emotion.
I was working on gravitas.
From now on, I would be a steady,
informed and rational woman.
Books would be my guide.
I would think more
and feel less.
What could possibly go wrong?
I hope you have ordered
a good dinner for this evening.
- We shall have a guest.
- I knew it would be so.
It's not Mr. Bingley.
It's my cousin.
- Mr. Collins?
- The very same.
- The man next in the entail?
- Who?
The man who once I am dead,
will turn you out of the house
as soon as he pleases.
He proposes himself as a guest
here at Longbourn?
In point of composition, his letter
"Entirely defective"?
Mary, are you quite all right?
"I regret deeply the breach which
has existed between us for so long.
"As a clergyman, I feel it
my duty to promote the blessings
"of peace in all families
within my influence."
Blessings of peace
in this house.
He must be an oddity.
I cannot make him out.
Can he be a sensible man, sir?
He is a very sensible man.
Thank you, Elizabeth.
Very sensible indeed.
Oh, can you not all see?
He is looking for a wife.
Do you really think so?
- Lizzy, you must prepare yourself.
- But, Mama.
We shall find out just what kind of man
he is this afternoon.
I have great hopes
of his being extremely foolish.
He sounds insufferably boring.
A clergyman.
Is it right to condemn him
before we've even met him?
Oh, please, Mary.
- I was agreeing with you.
- It's the way you say things.
I am looking forward to meeting
Mr. Collins this afternoon.
What do you keep
under your hat?
My hair.
- We just got new ribbons.
We do not sparkle as they do,
you and I.
I hope my honesty
No, my goodness. No, no.
Your sister seemed
most agitated this morning.
My father's cousin, Mr. Collins,
is to visit Longbourn,
and they've all decided
he's a terrible bore.
Mother believes
he comes looking for a wife.
- A wife?
- Apparently.
What is your cousin's
profession?
A clergyman.
A modest income, then,
I imagine.
Do you know what my advice
would be to you?
If my father's cousin
was coming to stay
and I knew he was
looking for a wife,
I would do everything
within the bounds of propriety
to attract him.
Well, I have decided
none of this is for me.
I will live alone
with knowledge.
Look, Mary.
You cannot seriously believe
the life of an old maid
is to be preferred.
I do not think Mama
has me in mind.
Jane and Lizzy won't settle so low.
Anyway, Jane is nearly taken.
So that leaves you.
What has love to do
with anything?
Of course, of course,
you're right. Of course.
For an educated woman, raised
to be genteel, as we have been,
the future holds
no other prospect than marriage.
Marriage or misery, Mary.
Marriage or misery.
I should know.
Mr. Collins.
- I'm here.
- We meet at last.
This is Jane, our eldest.
Well, yeah.
I had no idea.
She is soon to be engaged,
but the others are not.
This is Elizabeth.
A pleasure.
And Mary.
- How do you do?
- This is Kitty and our youngest, Lydia.
Yeah.
I don't know that I will be able to tell
the difference between you two.
Yeah. The good looks
of my fair cousins
far exceed even the most
enthusiastic of reports.
Yes, no,
I'm terribly sorry.
I certainly did not mean
to cause any offence.
You caused no offence,
Mr. Collins.
Of course you didn't.
Allow me to show you the house.
Oh, splendid. Splendid.
Much smaller than one imagined,
but with a few minor modifications
will suffice my meagre needs.
I'm pleased you think so.
which fall from Thy table.
Amen.
And yet Thou gives
unto me the bread of life.
Evermore give me that bread,
that I may eat thereof,
eternally.
- Yes, exactly.
- Amen.
Mr. Bennet.
What a magnificent dining table.
Even with the heavy curtains
and the lack of natural light in here,
one can still see its quality.
How generous of you.
Shall we?
Mr. Collins?
Mr. Bennet.
I expect your daughters will be quickly
and advantageously disposed of
in marriage.
Disposed?
It is very good of you
to say so.
Well, I'm happy
on every occasion to offer those
delicate little compliments
that are agreeable to ladies.
Thank you, Mr. Collins.
And may I commend
your reading of grace.
It has very much
It is most unfortunate
that our girls have no proper portion
to bring to their husbands.
Please excuse me.
You allude perhaps
to the entail of this estate.
It is a most vexing situation.
satisfactory way to amend it.
I could say much
on the subject.
But I'm cautious of appearing
forward and precipitate.
I can assure the young ladies that
I come prepared to admire them.
Have you read Dr. Fordyce, sir?
I certainly have. Cousin Elizabeth,
what make you of the sermons?
I'm sure I haven't had time
to read them, sir,
so busy have I been
merely being a woman,
I haven't had a moment to read
up on how I should go about it.
I think I'm the only one who's
truly interested
in Fordyce's sermons.
Yeah, more wine, Mr. Collins?
I will, that women
adorn themselves with sobriety.
be always with grace,
with salt.
This has been wonderful.
But now you must let us
entertain you, Mr. Collins.
Lizzy, won't you play for us?
- Bravo, Lizzy.
- Yeah.
Very good, Lizzy. If you were to practise
properly, you really might master it.
It seems a great shame to wring
all the pleasure out of music.
A few false notes seems a small
price to pay in exchange.
Great shame to waste the gift.
That is all.
Quite right.
Why don't you show us
how it is done, Mary?
Oh, Lord.
My congratulations, cousin.
You play with such exactness.
I imagine you practise
a great deal.
I practise often. It is true.
Yes, it is.
It's only through hard work that
anything of any value has to be achieved.
- Mr. Collins.
Perhaps Elizabeth could take you
on a walk around the gardens.
- Mary.
- Mother.
I do not want any confusion
future prospects.
It is Lizzy in whom Mr. Collins
has expressed an interest.
Are we clear?
Don't you worry, Mama, that
Lizzy won't accept Mr. Collins?
I have no particular
feelings for him.
But, he and I have
similar interests
and I am at least prepared
to seek out the good in him.
Mary, I cannot pass the man
around the family like a sherry trifle.
Your name has not come up.
- Cousins.
- Come on.
- Ready?
- Come on, hit it!
I bring news.
There is to be a ball
next week at Netherfield.
I knew Mr. Bingley would find
the perfect excuse to see Jane again.
And my brother and his wife
shall be visiting.
He might even be here when
the engagement is announced.
We are some way off that.
Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner
shall be joining us,
they're coming down from London.
Up.
They're coming up from London.
That is what I said.
Splendid, splendid.
A real family affair.
I will need new ribbons.
Perhaps, Miss Bennet, you would,
would take the first dance with me?
Oh, how wonderful.
Maybe I should play a little something
Yes, yes.
Yes, you should indeed.
what about you Miss Elizabeth?
Do you sing?
There, there is nothing
I admire more
than a woman
with a wide vocal range.
Very good, Miss Mary.
Your playing is coming along nicely.
Thank you, Hill.
Mr. Collins thinks
I'm a very good player.
I'm planning to play
at the assembly.
- At Netherfield?
- Yes.
I was even thinking
I might sing.
Sing, Miss Mary?
It will be a surprise
to them all.
Short and sweet.
That would be my advice.
And maybe don't sing.
Hill!
I've lost my shoes!
Found them!
The earlier we arrive,
the earlier we can leave.
- I'm sure you're being modest.
Lady Lucas, Charlotte,
please meet my brother and
his dear wife, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner.
- They're down from London.
- Up.
- What?
- Up from London.
And this is my very distant
cousin, Mr. Collins.
Shall we, dear?
Something of a challenge
to find husbands for five daughters.
This is a beautiful dining room.
- Mama, please!
Lizzy seems very keen to
distance herself from your cousin.
She's not at all happy
about his interest.
What is he like?
Tolerable forearms, I noticed.
Have you made
your interest in him clear?
Your mother seems terribly keen
for Lizzy to be matched
with a man of a modest income.
I cannot think why.
He is the cousin,
the one from the entail.
It's Mr. Collins who stands
to inherit Longbourn.
The house, the estate,
the income, all of it.
So, my father cannot stand the man,
while my mother wants Lizzy to marry him.
Perhaps I will not play tonight.
Oh, Mary, you must.
I had prepared
now the time is here,
I'm not sure I have the stomach for it.
Nonsense, Mary.
Mr. Collins is sure
to be impressed.
I think it is time
you get yourself noticed.
I beg you,
do not make it long.
Mr. Collins.
- Lydia! Be kind.
- It's terrible.
Papa, this is gone too far
and if you don't step in I will.
- Please. Thank you.
- I will.
I have another piece, Father.
One that's more lively.
Mary,
you've delighted us long enough.
She should have told us.
truly unforgettable.
It was a beautiful rendition
of a difficult song.
Everybody saw.
Mr. Collins saw.
Take a breath, take a breath.
Nobody noticed but you.
It's okay. It's okay.
Mary.
It was you that told Father
to stop me playing, wasn't it?
I didn't want you
to overexert yourself.
You insult me.
We both know that isn't true.
Mary.
I have had a terrible evening.
And yet you always appear
to handle everything with such ease.
What do you mean?
You always get what you want
without needing to try.
so hard.
It is always for nothing.
Don't say that.
There is much you have achieved.
I'm sorry.
I am truly sorry.
Mary!
Mary!
You must get dressed
and come downstairs.
There has been such an upset,
you won't believe it.
You can't imagine
what's happened.
Well?
Mr. Collins has made Lizzy an offer.
- And she has refused him.
- Can you imagine?
Mama is furious
and says Lizzy will have him.
But Papa told Lizzy
that her choice was a sad one,
because Mother will never see her again
if she doesn't marry Collins
and Papa will never see her
again if she does.
And now everyone
is so utterly cross.
Mr. Collins has stormed off,
Lizzy won't say anything at all,
Mama is beside herself,
and Papa has shut himself
in the library.
- You must come.
- So, so what happens now?
What of Mr. Collins?
Papa thinks he will choose
someone else!
Oh, no.
Well, it's more likely to be me than you.
No, I am resigned.
Mr. Bennet, I shall take my leave.
As you wish.
- Oh, Mr. Collins!
- I am resigned, madam.
Oh, Mr. Collins,
this is just a misunderstanding.
No, it is not.
Mr. Collins has withdrawn his pretensions
to Lizzy's favour.
I am very glad to hear it.
I don't think I could have borne
much more of his good opinion.
He says he's resigned
and will not renew his pursuit.
Thank you, Hill.
I have been thinking, Mary,
since Lizzy was so selfish
as to refuse Mr. Collins,
I have turned my mind
towards you.
I think you understand me.
Mama, less than a week ago,
Mary, please.
He will not ask me now.
I need to be sure that you will
accept him when he offers.
He will not choose me, Mama.
Oh, Mary, he will.
Who else will marry him?
What are you reading?
A Theory of the Earth.
It's about rocks.
Splendid news, sir, splendid.
I think it's quite sweet
they found each other.
Mr. Bennet?
Mr. Collins has made Miss Charlotte Lucas
an offer of marriage.
And she has accepted.
We wish you joy.
- Yes. So much joy.
- I wish you joy.
Thank you all.
- You do know he is a clergyman.
- Yes.
Mr. Bennet.
Oh, my goodness.
Yes.
If I had any doubts as to whether
I had done the right thing,
they vanished when I told
my family of his offer.
I am too old to be generous,
I'm afraid.
Charlotte.
Charlotte, come marvel at this oak.
- Good night, Jane.
- Good night, Lizzy.
- Good night, Lydia.
- Good night, Mama.
Good night, Kitty.
I told you no one would marry
you if you wore spectacles.
Wave.
lived together.
As each of my sisters left home,
my future felt
increasingly uncertain.
I often thought back to the events
in that period of my life,
and wondered
differently.
But I was trapped,
unable to escape the loveless
world of my parents.
- Hill!
- Thank you.
I am now deaf in one ear!
My options were limited.
And I found my books
offered me no instruction
and little comfort.
I searched desperately
for answers.
I clung on to hope.
But in a moment,
my life was upturned.
Mr. Bennet?
Fetch the doctor!
They're bringing
the carriage round, go!
Yes, ma'am. Right away.
Father had found a way out,
leaving Mother and I
with nothing except each other.