SET: AT THE BALL, TWO WEEKS LATER.

House lights off; music starts, Voice of Spring. Curtains slowly open. (Mrs. Bennett, Lady Lucas and Charlotte are seated in a row of chairs facing the audience, there are several empty chairs. Music is playing and the women are watching the dancers. Women are tapping toes and fanning in time to the music.)

Mrs. Bennett: They said Mr. Bingley would be bringing twelve ladies and three gentlemen with him tonight.

Mrs. Lucas: Actually, it was just his sister and a friend. A Mr. Darcy. They say he gets ten thousand a year!

Mrs. Bennett: Oh, such a fine looking man!

Music quits.

Mrs. Lucas: Very noble looking.

Mrs. Bennett: Hush, here they come. What a fine young lady, Miss Bingley seems to be.

(Miss Bingley, between Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy, stroll in from D.L., stand at D.L. and pause for conversation.)

Mr. Bingley: I must say, that Miss Jane Bennett is a perfect angel, how beautiful she is.

Miss Bingley: (haughtily) Yes. I spoke to her for a moment, she’s a sweet girl. I shouldn’t object to knowing her better.

(Mr. Darcy looks bored and Mr. Bingley looks pleased.)

Mr. Bingley: Oh, the music is about to start. Excuse me. (He bows and leaves. Sir William Lucas and Elizabeth, have danced, enter and she sits next to Charlotte.)

Sir William: Thank you, Miss Bennett. A most elegant dancer you are, my young lady. Charlotte, dance with your old Father now. (Music starts; Charlotte exits with her father, D.L.; Elizabeth nods to Lady Lucas and her mother and fans herself. In the meantime, Mr. Darcy escorts Miss Bingley offstage, D.L.)

Lady Lucas: There goes Mr. Darcy and Miss Bingley. That’s Mr. Bingley’s sister, have you been introduced?

Elizabeth: Very briefly. Mr. Darcy seems to be a very proud young man.

Lady Lucas: (Leans way over to Elizabeth) Ten thousand a year!

Elizabeth: Oh, I see.

Mrs. Bennett: Mr. Bingley seems quite taken with Jane, even if he did dance with Charlotte first.

Mrs. Lucas: Jane looks radiant tonight.

(Mr. Darcy drifts in and stands next to the women D.L. with back to Elizabeth)

Mrs. Bennett: (clears her throat) The weather has been a bit warm lately. (she fans herself) (Bingley rushes in and goes to Mr. Darcy; stands at his left)

Mr. Bingley: Come, Darcy, you must dance. I hate to see you standing by yourself in this stupid manner. Come on, you had better dance.

Mr. Darcy: I most certainly will not. You know how I hate to dance unless I know my partner. At a little country dance like this, it would be awful. Your sister is dancing already and there isn’t another woman in the room that wouldn’t be a punishment for me to dance with.

(Elizabeth looks up sharply and fans herself angrily)

Mr. Bingley: I wouldn’t be so fussy for a kingdom. Upon my honor, I never met with so many pleasant girls in my life as I have this evening, and there are several of them who are especially pretty.

Mr. Darcy: You are dancing with the only beautiful girl in the room. The oldest Miss Bennett.

Mr. Bingley: Oh, she is the most beautiful creature I’ve ever beheld! But, there is her sister sitting just behind you. She is very pretty and very pleasant, too. Let me introduce you.

Mr. Darcy: Which do you mean? (Elizabeth turns away; Mr. D. looks around and catches Elizabeth’s eye, then turns back to Mr. Bingley) She is fairly pretty, but not enough to tempt me. I’m in no humor to dance with young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles for you are wasting your time with me. (Mr. Bingley exits and Mr. Darcy slowly follows him)

Elizabeth: Humph! Not pretty enough to temp him.

Lady Lucas: The nerve of him! When we are so short of gentlemen!

Elizabeth: What a proud, proud man. Oh my! In Mr. Darcy’s opinion, Mr. Darcy is a fine gentleman, indeed. (mocking him) I’m in no humor to dance with young ladies who are slighted by other young men.

Kitty: (rushing in) What do you know, Mama? I heard Mrs. Long mention me particularly to Miss Bingley. She said I was an accomplished young lady!

Mrs. Bennett: Oh, how nice. Altogether, I’d say this has been a fine ball. Here comes Jane and Mr. Bingley. Don’t you think they look fine together, Lady Lucas?

(Jane and Mr. Bingley enter)

Mr. Bingley: Thank you, Miss Bennett. (To Elizabeth) This is our dance if I may have the honor. (Elizabeth smiles and leaves with him)

Jane: (beaming) Well, isn’t he a gentleman? So thoughtful and polite.

Mrs. Bennett: Yes. Just the ideal sort for a husband.

CURTAIN