Claudie Blakley credited as playing...
Charlotte Lucas
- Elizabeth Bennet: [as she writes to Jane, Darcy suddenly enters] Mr.Darcy.
- [Darcy bows, Elizabeth stands and curtseys]
- Elizabeth Bennet: Please, do be seated.
- [no reponse]
- Elizabeth Bennet: [silence] Mr and Mrs Collins have gone to the village.
- Mr. Darcy: [nods and looks around the room] This is a charming house. I believe my aunt did a great deal to it when Mr.Collins first arrived.
- Elizabeth Bennet: I believe so. She could not have bestowed her kindness on a more grateful subject.
- [more silence, neither one of them know what to say]
- Elizabeth Bennet: Shall I call for some tea?
- Mr. Darcy: No, thank you.
- [a few brief more moments of silence]
- Mr. Darcy: Good day, Miss Elizabeth, it's been a pleasure.
- [rushes out, passing by Charlotte]
- Charlotte Lucas: [to Elizabeth] What have you done to poor Mr.Darcy?
- Elizabeth Bennet: ...I have no idea.
- Elizabeth Bennet: He looks miserable, poor soul.
- Charlotte Lucas: Miserable he may be, but poor he most certainly is not.
- Elizabeth Bennet: Tell me.
- Charlotte Lucas: 10,000 a year and he owns half of Derbyshire.
- Elizabeth Bennet: The miserable half?
- Elizabeth Bennet: Did I just agree to dance with Mr. Darcy?
- Charlotte Lucas: I dare say you will find him amiable.
- Elizabeth Bennet: It would be most inconvenient since I have sworn to loathe him for all eternity.
- [both laugh]
- Mr. Bingley: [overheard by Charlotte and Elizabeth] But her sister Elizabeth is very agreeable.
- Mr. Darcy: Thoroughly tolerable, I dare say, but not handsome enough to tempt *me*. You'd better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles. You're wasting your time with me.
- [the two men depart]
- Charlotte Lucas: Count your blessings, Lizzy. If he liked you, you'd have to talk to him.
- Elizabeth Bennet: Precisely. As it is I wouldn't dance with him for all of Darbyshire, let alone the miserable half.
- Elizabeth Bennet: Charlotte!
- Charlotte Lucas: My dear Lizzy. I've come to tell you the news. Mr. Collins and I are... engaged.
- Elizabeth Bennet: To be married?
- Charlotte Lucas: Yes of course. What other kind of engaged is there?
- [Lizzy looks shocked]
- Charlotte Lucas: Oh, for Heaven's sake! Don't look at me like that Lizzy! There is no earthly reason why I shouldn't be as happy with him as any other.
- Elizabeth Bennet: But he's ridiculous!
- Charlotte Lucas: Oh hush! Not all of us can afford to be romantic. I've been offered a comfortable home and protection. There's alot to be thankful for.
- Elizabeth Bennet: But...
- Charlotte Lucas: I'm twenty-seven years old, I've no money and no prospects. I'm already a burden to my parents and I'm frightened. So don't you judge me, Lizzy. Don't you dare judge me!
- Elizabeth Bennet: If he cannot percieve her regard, he is a fool.
- Charlotte Lucas: We are all fools in love.
- Mr. Collins: Charlotte, come here.
- Charlotte Lucas: Has the pig escaped again?
- [looks out window]
- Charlotte Lucas: Oh. It's Lady Catherine.
- Elizabeth Bennet: So which of the painted peacocks is our Mr. Bingley?
- Charlotte Lucas: Well he's on the right and on the left is his sister.
- Elizabeth Bennet: And the person with the quizzical brow?
- Charlotte Lucas: That is his good friend, Mr. Darcy.
- Elizabeth Bennet: The miserable poor soul!
- Charlotte Lucas: Miserable, he may be, but poor he most certainly is not.
- Elizabeth Bennet: Tell me.
- Charlotte Lucas: Ten thousand a year and he owns half of Derbyshire.
- Elizabeth Bennet: The miserable half?
- Charlotte Lucas: Count your blessings, Lizzie. If he liked you you'd have to talk to him.
- Elizabeth Bennet: Precisely. As it is, I wouldn't dance with him for all of Derbyshire, let alone the miserable half!
- Mr. Collins: Do not make yourself uneasy, my dear cousin, about your apparel.
- Charlotte Lucas: Just put on whatever you bought that's best.
- Mr. Collins: Lady Catherine has never been averse to the truly humble.