Sense and Sensibility

Your son is arrived from London.

You will find out soon enough from my will

that the estate of norland was left to me in such a way

as prevents me from dividing it between my two families.

Calm yourself, father. This cannot be good for you.

Norland, in its entirety,

is therefore yours by law.

And I am happy for you and Fanny.

But your stepmother, my wife and daughters,

are left only 500 pounds a year.

Barely enough to live on. Nothing for the girls' dowries.

You must help them.

- Of course. - You must promise to do this.

I promise, father.

I promise.

Help them? What do you mean, help them?

Dearest, I mean to give them 3000 pounds.

The interest will provide them with a little extra income.

Such a gift will certainly discharge my promise to my father.

Without a question. More than amply.

One had rather, on such occasions, do too much than too little.

Of course, he did not stipulate a particular sum.

Fifteen hundred pounds, then? What do you say to 1500?

What brother would do half so much

for his real sisters, let alone half-blood?

They can hardly expect more.

There's no knowing what they expect. The question is, what can you afford?

A hundred a year to their mother while she lives.

Would that be more advisable?

It is better than parting with 1500 at once.

If she should live longer than 15 years, we'd be completely taken in.

People live forever when there is an annuity to be paid them.

Twenty pounds now and then will amply discharge my promise.

- You're quite right. - Indeed.

Although to say the truth, I'm convinced

that your father had no idea of your giving them money.

They will have 500 a year as it is.

What on earth could four women want for more than that?

Their housekeeping will be nothing at all.

They'll have no carriage, no horses, hardly any servants,

and will keep no company.

Conceive how comfortable they will be.

They will be much more able to give you something.

Marianne, can you play something else?

Mama has been weeping since breakfast.

I meant something less mournful, dearest.

To be reduced to a visitor in my own home.

It is not to be borne, Elinor.

Consider, mama, we have nowhere to go.

John and Fanny will be descending from London at any moment.

Do you expect me to be here to welcome them?

Vultures!

I will start making inquiries for a new house at once.

Until then, we must try to bear their coming.

Margaret, are you there? Come down.

John and Fanny will be here soon.

Why are they coming to live at norland? They have a house in London.

Because houses go from father to son, dearest, not father to daughter.

It is the law.

If you come inside, we could play with your atlas.

It's not my atlas anymore. It's their atlas.

Do sit down.

As you know, we are looking for a new home,

and when we leave, we shall be able to retain only Thomas and Betsy.

We're sorry to have to leave you all.

But we are certain

you will find the new Mrs. Dashwood a fair and generous mistress.

My only real concern is how long it will take them to move out.

How is Mrs. Ferrars?

My mother is always in excellent health.

My brother Robert is with her this season,

and the most popular bachelor in London.

He has his own barouche.

- Oh. -

You have two brothers, have you not?

Indeed, yes. Edward is the elder. Mama quite depends upon him.

He's traveling up from Plymouth and will break his journey here.

If that is agreeable to you, of course.

My dear John...

This is your home now.

Fanny wishes to know where the key to the silver cabinet is.

Betsy has it. What does Fanny want with the silver?

One can only presume she wants to count it.

What are you doing?

Presents for the servants.

Have you seen Margaret? I'm worried about her.

She's taken to hiding in the oddest places.

Fortunate girl.

She can escape Fanny, which is more than any of us is able.

You do your best. You've not said a word to her for a week.

I have. I've said "yes" and "no."

Good morning, Fanny.

Good morning, miss marianne.

How did you find the silver? Was it all genuine?

Pray, when may we expect the pleasure of your brother's company?

Edward is due tomorrow.

Oh, and my dear Mrs. Dashwood.

In view of the fact that he will not be with us for long,

I wonder if Margaret will give up her room for him.

The view is incomparable from her windows.

I should like Edward to see norland at its best.

Mrs. Dashwood, miss dashwood, miss marianne.

My brother Edward ferrars.

Do sit down.

Where is miss Margaret?

I'm beginning to doubt of her existence. She must run wild.

Forgive us, Mr. Ferrars. My youngest is not to be found.

She's a little shy of strangers at present.

Naturally.

I am shy of strangers myself, and I have nothing like her excuse.

How do you like your view, Mr. Ferrars?

Very much.

Your stables are very handsome and beautifully kept.

Stables? Your windows overlook the lake.

An oversight, Fanny, had led me to one of the family rooms,

but I've rectified the situation.

I am happily installed in the guest quarters.

They're all exceedingly spoilt, I find.

Miss Margaret spends all her time up trees and under furniture.

I've barely had a civil word from marianne.

My dear, they've just lost their father.

Their lives will never be the same.

That is no excuse.

Library.

These are mostly foreign.

Indeed. Magnificent.

I've never liked the smell of books.

No, it is the dust, perhaps.

I hear you have great plans for the walnut grove.

Oh, yes. I shall have it knocked down to make way for a grecian temple.

- Oh! - Oh! That does sound interesting.

Would you show me the site?

Too expensive.

And we do not need four bedrooms. We can share.

This one, then.

Marianne, we have only 500 pounds a year.

I will send out more inquiries today.

Pardon my intrusion, but, um...

I think I may have found, uh, what you were looking for.

Won't you come out, dearest? We haven't seen you all day.

Later we shall have to enlarge it.

And mattocks will help you adjust to our hours. No...

Oh, miss dashwood.

Forgive me, but do you by any chance have such a thing as a reliable atlas?

- I believe so. - Excellent.

I wish to check the position of the nile.

My sister tells me it is in South America.

No, um, she's quite wrong,

um, for I believe it is in Belgium.

Belgium?

Surely not. I think you must be thinking of the volga.

- The volga? - Of course, the volga,

- which, as you know, starts in... - Vladivostok and ends in...

- Wimbledon. - Precisely.

- Where the coffee beans come from. - Ugh!

The source of the nile is in abyssinia.

Is it?

Interesting.

How do you do? Edward ferrars.

- Margaret dashwood. - Delighted to make your acquaintance.

- It adjoins this property. - Quite so.

It cannot be but a most desirable addition.

I'll ride there tomorrow and speak to... Who is it?

- Gibson. - Gibson.

He will be pleased enough to sell.

He will certainly ask for more than it is worth.

Indeed, quite right.

- -

Lunge.

- Have I hurt you? - No, no.

Thank you. Forgive me.

That was my father's favorite.

Thank you for your help with Margaret. She's quite changed since you came.

Not at all, not at all. I enjoy her company.

- Has she shown you the tree house? - Not yet.

Would you do me the honor, miss dashwood?

It is very fine out.

With pleasure.

Margaret has always wanted to travel.

I know. She's heading an expedition to China shortly.

I'm to go as her servant.

But on the understanding that I will be very badly treated.

What will your duties be?

Sword fighting, obviously, administering rum, and swabbing.

Which will take precedence?

Swabbing, I would imagine.

[Edward & Elinor speaking indistinctly and chuckling]

All I want, all I have ever wanted, is the quiet of a private life.

But my mother is determined to see me distinguished.

A great orator, a leading politician...

I think even a barrister would serve, as long as I drove a barouche.

What do you wish for?

I've always preferred the church,

but that is not smart enough for my mother.

She prefers the army, but that is a great deal too smart for me.

- Would you stay in London? - I hate London.

No peace. Country living is my ideal.

A small parish where I might do some good.

Keep chickens. Give very short sermons.

You talk of feeling idle and useless.