Uomo d'acqua dolce

Where are the boys, then, Joany?

I don't know.

This were definitely the place.

Well, maybe they were having us on.

They'll be around here somewhere.

Oh, come on, Joan. Let's go back.

What if we're caught?

Come on. Don't be such a baby!

I'll wait here for you!

BIRDS CAW

LOUD CAWING, FEATHERS FLAPPING

LOUD SCREAMING

SHE SCREAMS

BOTH CONTINUE SCREAMING

Master Fitzwilliam!

Come back, Master Fitzwilliam!

Master Fitzwilliam! Will you...

Master Fitzwilliam.

Oh, I'm going to be in so much trouble for this.

HE CHUCKLES

Mama!

I'm sorry, madam. Master Fitzwilliam just...slipped away,

and you so busy with the ball...

It's no trouble at all.

Main dining room, quickly.

Yes, sir.

Bidwell, you'll have time for the silver?

It will be polished to perfection, madam, down to the last fork.

And the fires in the bedrooms, Mrs Reynolds?

They're being prepared as we speak.

How many guests do we have staying?

Well, we shall have need of all of our rooms.

The six-hour candles, madam.

All of them the best wax.

Ah, the chaperones' chairs. Yes, we ran short last year, Mrs Reynolds.

I've ordered extra, madam.

Serve the brandy slowly, Stoughton,

we don't want the good ladies unable to walk to their carriages

at the end of the evening -

our bedrooms are all spoken for.

SHE CHUCKLES

CHATTER

CLAP OF HANDS

Madam, the food for tomorrow night.

We have white soup.

Ah, delicious.

Wild goose.

There will be some orange sauce prepared to go with that.

Game pies.

Almond faggots. Millefeuille. Spiced biscuits,

Prince of Wales biscuits,

Duke of Clarence biscuits and Duchess of York biscuits.

Mrs Reilly's ghost! In the woods!

What on earth..?! I saw her, ma'am. Mrs Reilly's ghost!

Vicious-looking, she was.

Real as you standing there!

What utter nonsense!

What will Mrs Darcy think of you pair?

Edith, can you take these two into the pantry?

Give them a thimble-full of brandy each.

I'll deal with you in a minute.

SHE SOBS

I must apologise, madam. They're very silly girls.

Who's Mrs Reilly?

It's an old wives' tale, madam.

Well, I'm sure a dose of your good sense will do the trick, Mrs Reynolds.

Well done.

Thank you all.

Of course, madam. Thank you.

Georgiana.

Expecting someone? No. Excuse me, madam.

Not really.

LOUD CRASH

Oh, dear God! How can a man think with such a racket going on?

Could you please ask them to stop?

That wouldn't be helpful, Fitzwilliam, dearest...

It is a fine Pemberley tradition for the master of the house to be irritable on the eve of the ball.

And for the lady to do everything in her power to assuage him.

Quite. Perhaps some traditions need updating.

They've worked perfectly well so far.

How dreary that all good things must come to an end.

Really?

SHE CHUCKLES

Shall I disappear from your sight? A few hours would be perfect.

Sister?

Mr Darcy?

Yes?

Not a moment longer.

I shouldn't bear it.

You ARE only human. SHE GIGGLES

Master Fitzwilliam!

Ah...

I shall take the little imp with me.

Ya-harr!

WOMEN LAUGH

At least let me saddle the horses for you, sir.

I'm sure Wilkinson can manage.

Sir.

Although you did have a fall last week, sir.

Yes. That wasn't his fault.

Look, you've trained him incredibly well, Bidwell,

but it is time to, um...hand over the reins, as it were.

I'd have preferred my own son for the job.

Yes, yes, I know.

A Bidwell's always been head coachman at Pemberley.

Good Lord hadn't seen fit.

How is Will?

Ah...

Mrs Darcy's planning on visiting the cottage later, to see him.

However, in the meantime, she does have a great need of you today.

Sir.

You're a good man, Bidwell.

Now, then.

Foxes the length and breadth of Derbyshire will be

quaking in their dens at the mere sight of you on this little fellow.

No-one's ever spoken to my brother as freely as you do.

You've brought such laughter to Pemberley, Elizabeth.

I want that kind of ease for myself.

Do you have someone in mind?

Well, I'd never marry without my brother's approval,

especially after...

Darcy wants only for your happiness, Georgiana. We both do.

Even if my choice were a surprising one?

Ah, Colonel Fitzwilliam.

He's early.

Were you expecting someone else?

No, no-one.

I should go and greet my cousin. Mm.

I believe so...

You must be looking forward to the ball.

Yes. Yes, we all are.

I'm not much of a man for dancing.

CONVERSATION CONTINUES IN DISTANCE

These are beautiful. Very beautiful this year.

And...the white bell, perhaps?

Two dozen of those.

Madam.

Sorry - you scared me.

I'm sorry. I wanted to catch you alone.

Could you spare me a moment?

Of course. You came through the woods, Colonel?

Er...no. I came the usual way.

It's about...Georgiana.

With your keen powers of observation you will have noticed my...

new-found appreciation of her.

With the death of my older brother, and the duties

and responsibilities that being the first son brings...

And the freedom.

Of course.

..my mind has most naturally turned to marriage, and...

as I am to return to the Army soon...

Well, has she...spoken to you about me?

She always speaks of you in terms of affection.

Of course, but I... I imagine you to be her main confidante.

Only when she has something to confide.

I admit she has given me no specific grounds for hope,

but I have known her since she was born, and...

well, perhaps for a woman it is proper that love should come

after marriage, rather than before it. I'm not sure about that.

I take it that George Wickham is...

never received at Pemberley.

Of course not.

Goodness, I'm surprised you should even ask.

Well, so his attempted seduction of Georgiana has remained secret?

We can hardly bear to think of it, let alone mention his name.

Of course. Forgive me. I shouldn't have mentioned it, Elizabeth.

SHE CLEARS THROAT

Have you spoken of your feelings to Georgiana yet? No. I wanted to

speak to you first, and ask Darcy's permission, of course.

SHE LAUGHS Georgiana's old enough to make her own decision, Colonel.

If Georgiana were to agree to marry you, then...

naturally, I would fully share my husband's pleasure at the news.

But perhaps it is best to wait until after the ball.

Of course.

Thank you.

Don't wait for me. I'll walk back.

Good morning, Mrs Bidwell. Madam.

Louisa's just back from helping my eldest in Birmingham, madam.

Madam.

Sit down. She's brought the new baby home with her for a while,

to give Sarah some respite.

What's his name? Georgie.

I'm sure she appreciates the help, but she must miss him terribly.

We can't keep him much longer.

Will frets ever so when he cries.

How is Will? He has good days and bad days.

Will?

Hello. Don't get up.

I just wanted to see how you're getting along with those books. Ah.

Robinson Crusoe was my favourite. Yes, I thought it might be.

You shouldn't have troubled yourself, ma'am, not on the eve of the ball.

Oh, Mrs Reynolds has it all under control.

Well, tell her to not bring the ice in too early.

She did that one year and there was water everywhere.

You can tell her yourself next year.

You don't believe that, though.

William.

Will...

For all my fine clothes, there's...

There's nothing I can do about what's happening to you now.