Gwyneth Paltrow credited as playing...
Emma Woodhouse
- Mr. Knightley: Emma, how could you be so unfeeling to Miss Bates? How can you be so insolent to a woman of her age and situation? I had not thought it possible.
- Emma Woodhouse: How could I help saying it? I daresay she did not understand me.
- Mr. Knightley: I assure you, she felt your full meaning. She cannot stop mentioning it. I wish you could have heard her honour your forbearance in putting up with her when her society is so irksome.
- Emma Woodhouse: I know there is no better creature in all the world, but you must allow that blended alongside the good, there is an equal amount of the ridiculous in her.
- Mr. Knightley: Were she prosperous or a woman equal to you in situation, I would not quarrel with you about any liberties of manner. But she is poor, even more so than when she was born. And should she live to be an old lady, she will sink further still. Her situation being in every way below you should secure your compassion! Badly done, Emma. Badly done. She has watched you grow from a time when her notice of you was an honour to this, humbling her, laughing at her in front of people who would be guided by your treatment of her. It is not pleasant for me to say these things, but I must tell you the truth while I can, proving myself your friend by the most faithful counsel, trusting that sometime you will do my faith in you greater justice that you do it now.
- [Talking about Mrs. Elton]
- Emma Woodhouse: She'd never seen him before, and she called him Knightley!
- Harriet Smith: I saw her at church. She seemed...
- Emma Woodhouse: Vulgar? Base? Conceited? Crass? She actually seemed pleased to discover that Mr. Knightley was a gentleman. I doubt he'll return the compliment and find *her* a lady. She proposed that we form a *musical club*. Is it possible that Mr. Elton met her while doing charitable work in a mental infirmary?
- [sighs]
- Emma Woodhouse: There is only one thing to do with a person as impossible as she.
- Harriet Smith: What?
- Emma Woodhouse: I must throw a party for her. Otherwise everyone will feel at once how much I dislike her.
- Emma Woodhouse: Mr. Knightley, if I have not spoken, it is because I am afraid I will awaken myself from this dream.
- Emma Woodhouse: The most incomprehensible thing in the world to a man is a woman who rejects his offer of marriage.
- Mr. Knightley: I do not comprehend it because it is madness.
- [about Harriet's refusal of Robert Martin's offer of marriage]
- Mr. Knightley: I hope you are wrong.
- Emma Woodhouse: I could not be. I saw her answer.
- Mr. Knightley: Emma
- [looking at her suspiciously]
- Mr. Knightley: ... you wrote her answer, didn't you?
- Emma Woodhouse: If I did, I would have done no wrong. He is not Harriet's equal.
- Mr. Knightley: I agree he is not her equal.
- Emma Woodhouse: Good.
- Mr. Knightley: He is her superior in sense and situation!
- Mr. Knightley: I can think of nothing less appealing than an evening of watching other people dance. Go on!
- [throwing stick for dog to fetch]
- Emma Woodhouse: Then you shall have to dance yourself.
- Mr. Knightley: I have no taste for it. I'd rather fetch that stick.
- Emma Woodhouse: I'll try to remember to bring it to the ball.
- Mr. Knightley: [pause] I just want to stay here where it's cozy.
- Emma Woodhouse: Has an invitation arrived for a party at the Coles?
- Mr. Woodhouse: No, thank Heaven. The Coles are nice people, but we should have to go outside to get there.
- Emma Woodhouse: Was he handsome?
- Jane Fairfax: Many say he is.
- Emma Woodhouse: Was he agreeable?
- Jane Fairfax: He was in no way disagreeable.
- Emma Woodhouse: Was he a man of information?
- Jane Fairfax: All his statements seem correct.
- Emma Woodhouse: Not one in a hundred men have "gentleman" so plainly written across them as Mr. Knightley!
- Emma Woodhouse: Thank you for being so thoughtful.
- Rev. Elton: No - thank you for thinking I am thoughtful.
- Emma Woodhouse: How fascinating that any discordancy between us must always arise from *my* being wrong.
- Mr. Knightley: Not fascinating, but true.
- [Harriet and Mr. Elton are talking as Emma tries to listen from behind a bush]
- Rev. Elton: I love... I simply love...
- Emma Woodhouse: [to herself] Could this be? The declaration?
- Rev. Elton: celery root.
- Emma Woodhouse: I will not know how to behave when I see him.
- Mrs. Weston: Let his behavior be your guide
- Emma Woodhouse: Oh, but if he seems happy, I will know that he's decided to marry Harriet, and I will not, I know I will not be able to let him tell me. But if he seems sad, I'll know that John has advised him against it. I love John! Or he may seem sad because he fears telling me he will marry my friend. How can John let him do that? I hate John!
- Emma Woodhouse: [about Mr. Knightley marrying Harriet] I hope John advises him against it. After all we know nothing about her parents. They could be pirates!
- Mrs. Weston: My dear, I like Harriet very much as, I might remind you, do you.
- Mr. Knightley: Emma, you didn't ask me to contribute a riddle.
- Emma Woodhouse: Your entire personality is a riddle, Mr. Knightley. I thought you overqualified.
- Mr. Knightley: You must be happy that she settled so well.
- Emma Woodhouse: Indeed! One matter of joy in this is that I made the match myself. People said Mr. Weston would never marry again, and what a triumph!
- Mr. Knightley: Triumph? You made a lucky guess!
- Emma Woodhouse: Have you never known the triumph of a lucky guess? Had I not promoted Mr. Weston's visits and given encouragement where encouragement was needed, we might not have had a wedding today.
- Mr. Woodhouse: Then please, my dear, encourage no one else. Marriage is so disrupting to one's social circle.
- Frank Churchill: Is your horse just washing his feet or are the darker forces at work here?
- Emma Woodhouse: The latter, I'm afraid. Something's happened to the wheel and I cannot move.
- Frank Churchill: You'll just have to live here then. Buhbye.
- Emma Woodhouse: [Seating herself in a carriage] My, this weather...
- Rev. Elton: Miss Woodhouse, please! Fate has left us alone for a reason.
- Emma Woodhouse: Mr. Elton! Why do you seize my hand!
- Rev. Elton: I do not seize your hand so much as the opportunity to tell you that I am hoping, no, fearing; ready to die if you refuse me!
- Emma Woodhouse: Good heavens! Go back!
- Rev. Elton: Surely my ardent attachment to you, my love and devotion cannot help but have made an impression!
- Emma Woodhouse: Mr. Elton! It is I, Miss Woodhouse!
- Rev. Elton: Mm hmm.
- Emma Woodhouse: The party spirits have confused you! Allow me to deliver your message to Miss Smith, but you must direct no more of it to me.
- Rev. Elton: Miss Smith? What sort of message would I want to send to her? Miss Smith?
- [In the middle of a heated discussion, Emma tries to change the subject]
- Emma Woodhouse: Did I mention we are having a new drain installed?