Miss Austen

CASSANDRA: I'm resolved to ensure Miss Isabella is settled with her sisters.

MARY: Beth and Mr. Lidderdale.

They did seem very familiar with one another.

MARY: Did you find any letters from Jane?

Not a single one.

MARY: Wasn't there a gentleman you both met in Sidmouth?

Mr. Henry Hobday.

JANE: I'm quite sure I saw sparks flying.

You have caught him in your powers.

(breathes audibly) MARY: Cassandra.

(breathing heavily) (murmuring quietly) (quietly): No.

(crying out): No!

All is well.

No!

You must rest now.

The letters.

You must... (muttering): Isabella, you must, you must...

There are no letters, my dear.

Rest now.

(panting): No.

No.

No, not, not you.

ISABELLA: Cassandra, this is Dinah, cooling your brow.

(coughs): Not you.

Isabella, you must, you must hide the letters.

She's delirious, miss-- she doesn't know what she's saying.

(panting): No.

Where are they?

You must, you must keep them hidden.

There are no letters, my dear.

Rest now.

CASSANDRA: Jane-- I promised Jane.

You must, you must hide the letters.

ISABELLA: Sh, be still.

CASSANDRA: You must... Keep them hidden, keep them hidden!

ISABELLA: There is nothing to worry about.

CASSANDRA: My dear sister.

ISABELLA: You are safe, my dear.

CASSANDRA (whimpering): No, no.

ISABELLA: Yes.

No.

No.

Cassandra.

(muttering): No, I've got to go... She's getting worse, Miss Isabella.

She's gonna peg it on us, God forbid.

I can run and fetch Mr. Lidderdale, ma'am.

ISABELLA: No, her fever will break soon.

Besides, I am sure Mr. Lidderdale and my sister are far too busy to be disturbed.

Go up to the big house and beg for ice.

They'll have plenty this time of year.

(Cassandra moaning) LIDDERDALE: Dinah?

Is something the matter?

No, Cassandra... She's fetching water.

CASSANDRA: No!

No!

ISABELLA: Cassandra... No, you must help... We are helping you.

We are helping you.

It's all right.

It's cold-- it's cold.

It's cold-- help me.

Help me, Isabella.

We are helping you.

DINAH: I know she's ill, and I am sorry to say it, but she's brought it on herself, going to see Miss Beth and stirring the pot.

That's enough, Dinah.

I will hear no more.

The laudanum now.

(groaning) No-- no.

We are here.

Cassandra, we are here.

(exhales) Dinah.

(breathing slowly) (moaning) ANNA (in distance): Look at this one.

Your niece seems to have found even more marvelous shells for her collection, Miss Austen.

ANNA: Or maybe this one.

So it appears, Mr. Hobday.

I'm bewildered as to how we'll transport these multitudes back home.

(both laugh) (inhales) Forgive me if this seems intrusive.

She is a charming child.

But I do detect an air of melancholy unusual in one so young.

She lost her mother when she was very small.

She is, I fear, still scarred by it.

Yes, the loss of a parent is a heavy burden to bear, especially at such a young age.

Your mother told us of your own bereavement, of which I am very sorry.

Oh...

Yes, my father was an excellent man.

My mother found it exceedingly hard to stay in the family home afterwards.

Hence our peripatetic existence.

(chuckles) But I do hope to return there soon.

Where is home?

Derbyshire.

The thought of Derbyshire amuses you?

No, not at all.

(laughs) No.

My sister declares it to be a place of some perfection, alongside Hampshire, of course, though never Shropshire.

(laughs) FRANK: I'm enjoying your "Susan."

I must say, dear sister, your Mr. Thorpe is the devil of a bounder.

If he is an Oxford man, I'm grateful not to have gone there.

I dare him to come onto my ship.

We'd run him up the yardarm at once.

He'd never be on your ship.

Mr. John Thorpe has neither the heart nor the head for it.

You sailors are the best of men.

And yet not once has any of your heroines ever been blessed with a dashing sailor brother.

Oh, Frank, if the heroine was fortunate enough to have a dashing sailor brother, she's spoiled for any hero I could create.

No man could match him.

(laughs): So this is why my sisters are still unmarried.

No man can match me.

(laughing) I fear Cassy is about to betray you, brother, with her new suitor.

Suitor?

Pray tell.

(quietly): Jane.

Sorry, I appear to have spoken in error.

Cassy has no suitor, especially no suitor by the name of Henry or Hobday.

Or Henry Hobday.

(Frank and Jane laughing) Papa, please.

FRANK: Or any suitor with those names who just so happens to be the heir to an estate in Derbyshire.

An estate?

In Derbyshire?

(Jane and Frank laughing) Papa, I beg you.

Come now.

You're making your sister uncomfortable.

Besides, I have seen no evidence of any such romance.

JANE: That's because it's a deep secret known only to the whole of Sidmouth.

(both laughing) Enough.

Jane's love of fiction appears to have spread from the page into our lives.

I'm sad to report she now routinely spouts nonsense.

We can no longer believe a single word that comes out of her mouth.

(door opens) (door closes) (clock pendulum swinging) Cass?

Did you really mind Mr. Hobday accompanying us today?

Very much.

It was all Frank's doing.

(chuckles) Of which you played no part.

None whatsoever.

Very well, I admit it.

But you cannot deny Mr. Hobday is deeply enamored of you.

As he should be.

It proves he is a man of excellent taste.

In fact, he appears to be the model of perfection, which, if I may say, is most infuriating.

For you know, as a woman of many faults, I abhor faultlessness in others.

You are faultless in my eyes.

(laughs) You just bear me better than anyone else.

It is you who is faultless.

Which is why you deserve something better than this wretched future of ours.

Jane, why must you always make such a drama out of nothing?

Our future is not wretched.

We still have our parents.

We have good brothers who will never neglect us.

And most importantly of all, we have each other.

Unless you find someone good enough, and, well, even then I shall not starve.

Is that your ambition?

Not to starve?

"Here lies Cassandra Austen.

She did not starve."

I have no crystal ball, Cass, but one thing I know for certain: we will be poor, and we will become objects of pity.

Or worse still, derision.

This must be my fate.

It does not have to be yours.

I love you above all, but we do not have to live as one.

We are two different women.

I beg you, if you are offered any means of escape, do not refuse it.

(breath trembling) (whispering): Isabella.

Hmm.

I want to die in my own, my own bed.

Shh.

You are not dying, Cassandra.

I will not countenance it.

The letters.

(doorbell ringing) (footsteps approaching) Mr. Lidderdale.

May I help you?

Forgive me for intruding, Miss Fowle, but I just saw your maid, and the urgency of her demeanor gave me cause for some concern.

There is no need.

She was merely on an errand, and I instructed her to be quick.

There is nothing more to it.

Then she was carrying out your instructions to the letter.

I'm delighted to hear it.

I understand...

I do hope...

Please, after you.

It was only to inquire if there is still a deal of sickness in the village.

Some, but thankfully it is on the wane now.

Good.

For I am sure my sister will be eager to return to her pupils.

I believe Beth has been assisting you, has she not?

Indeed she has.

Her presence has been most beneficial.

That does not surprise me.

She is a woman of great competence.

Indeed she is.

If you'll excuse me, I must... Of course, but, um... First, may I inquire after Miss Austen?

I trust she has not suffered any ill effects after her visit to the village?

No, none.

But I will inform her of your kind concern.

Good day.

Good day.

(breathes deeply) ISABELLA: "Captain Wentworth was more obviously struck and confused "by the sight of her than she had ever observed before.

"For the first time since their renewed acquaintance, she felt she was betraying the least sensibility of the two."

(bell tolling) (seagulls calling) (bell ringing) (people talking, dog barking in background) (exhales) (bell ringing, people talking in background) Mr. Hobday.

Miss Austen.

A beautiful day, is it not?

Yes.

Quite beautiful.

Forgive me if I am intruding.

You will not forgive me?

(chuckles): No, you are not intruding.

Then I wonder if you might consider walking out with me.

Mmm.

I'd be delighted.

(house door closes) (squawking) HENRY: Oh!

(Cassy chuckles) Perhaps we should sit for a moment?

(both exhale) (sighs) Mr. Hobday...

Please, I...

I must speak before I am unable to say a single word.

Miss Austen.

Cassy.

May I call you that?

It's true that we've only known each other for a short time, but it has been long enough to know that you are a woman of quite remarkable character.

(exhales) No, exceptional, even.

The truth is, Cassy Austen...

...I have loved you since the moment that our hands first touched.

Of your beauty, there is no doubt.

But it is your intelligence, and your spirit, and your grace that have done for me.

I am yours, if you will have me.

I know I'm not the most eloquent of men.

There are things I must say to you before I leave.

In case I do not return.

No.

You will come back.

Let us not discuss this.

Cassy, we must.

If you cannot marry me, you must feel free to marry another.

I promise you, Tom, faithfully, here before God, that I will never marry any other man but you.

(breathes deeply) (thunder rumbling) (rain falling) (crying) So, did he speak?

Well?

What was your answer?

I refused him.

(loudly): Refused him.

Shh!

(voice trembling): Mama will hear.

She cannot know of this, Jane.

'Tis done.

Cassy, why?

I, I do not understand you.

What fault could you find with Henry Hobday?

What more could you ask for?

A match like this at your time of life is a story beyond fiction!

(gasps tearfully) Please.

My dearest one, help me understand.

(sobbing) I, I cannot marry him.

I cannot marry anyone.

Why?

Because I promised Tom.

Tom dared ask that of you?

No.

No, he begged me not to feel beholden.

Well, then, then you must not feel...

I cannot go back on my word, Jane.

(sniffles) (sniffles) DINAH (calling): Miss Austen?

Miss Austen?

ISABELLA: Oh, Cassandra.

Oh, thank heavens.

What on Earth are you doing in here?

Let's get this on, ma'am, shall we?

You're shivering.

No.

No, I am perfectly fine.

Look at me, back in the land of the living.

I owe you my life.

Nonsense.

You owe it only to yourself.

It would take more than a fever to undo Cassandra Austen.

Oh, Isabella, you were born to tend to the sick.

I hoped once that I might be able to do so.

That time has passed.

Come.

(rain falling) (birds chirping outside) MARY (in distance): And how is she today?

ISABELLA: She is still in her room.

MARY: Are you quite sure it's safe to visit?

ISABELLA: Quite sure, Aunt Mary.

She is much improved now.

(knock at door) (Mary sighs) My dear.

I've been worried sick.

You have, you have no idea the, the torment that you have put me through.

(inhales): Mmm.

You must feel quite awful.

Not so, I am... (inhales deeply) I am certainly on the mend.

No, I mean for causing so much inconvenience, at a time when the house was already at sixes and sevens.

It is a maxim of mine that one should never fall ill while visiting.

I am proud to say that I have never once had the misfortune to break it.

Uh, of course, there was that one time in London when I was brought down by the face-ache.

Well, I shall take my leave of you.

You seem quite worn out from resting.

And Mrs. Bunbury and I appear to have reconciled, so she's expecting me.

(mouths) Oh, and one more thing.

Eliza's letters.

Am I to understand you already have knowledge of their whereabouts?

Me?

No.

Whyever would you think that?

Something you said when you were delirious.

It seemed you already had some in your possession.

No, certainly not.

And if I had, I would have told you.

I mean, as you say, I, I was delirious.

Hmm.

(breathes deeply) (birds chirping) JANE: My dear Eliza, You begged to be informed of the next stage in the saga, so it is with a heavy heart I comply.

Once again, we are left to be disappointed.

Mr. Hobday himself was not the agent of this.

Indeed, the reverse.

He proved himself as good as a man as those who love Cassy could ever hope for.

Their attraction was mutual.

They were in love, Eliza, I'm sure of it.

Yet Cassy refused him.

The sheer madness of it drives me to distraction.

I am no advocate of marriage for the sake of it, but I am all for a good match.

And this could have been a splendid one.

Cassy had the offer of a comfortable future, wealth, stability, love, and respect, but she chose insecurity.

I struggle to comprehend it.

It is beyond me.

(exhales) (crying): How could you think this?

How could you write it?

JANE: Bereaved fiance, dutiful daughter, caring aunt-- these are the roles Cassy embraces.

Esteemed object of a worthy gentleman's heart?

No, that she would rather reject.

If my sister has one fault, it is a wanton appetite to deny herself the pleasures of life.

(gasps, sniffles) (crying): Did you not know?

Could you not tell that I did it, I did it for you, too?

JANE: I implore you, Eliza, help me release Cassy from this unspeakable vow to Tom.

(crying) (sobbing) JANE: Cassy, what are you doing with my letters?

Please.

I've left everything just so.

Forgive me, I was only trying to help.

I'm sorry.

I've been unbearable these past few days.

Even my work does not soothe me.

It is the prospect of Mary Austen's impending visit.

Oh, my dear, I implore you, let us both escape to Kintbury at once.

Eliza will be happy to welcome us.

No, Jane.

I fear I've imposed on the Fowles enough.

Then I will write to Catherine and Alethea Bigg-Wither at Manydown.

Must you?

Yes, I must.

Or I'll not be responsible for my outrageous behavior towards our dear sister-in-law.

(exhales) Oh, the joy of living here in Hampshire, Cassy.

'Tis the very king of counties.

Thank you, my dearest.

For what?

For insisting that we take this trip.

If it had been up to me, we'd still be at home.

Have you ever considered the possibility you do not always know what's best for you, Cassandra Austen?

JANE (voiceover): Do you have any notion of your privilege, my dear friends?

To have all this at your disposal is quite wondrous.

Oh, we do, Jane, we do.

We count our blessings every day because we know it will not always be so.

We cannot forget that one day, our brother may bring a wife here.

And she's unlikely to want his sisters lurking about, getting crosser and crosser.

(Cassy and Alethea laugh) Catherine, you and Alethea are the least cross women I know.

But who could be cross here?

Even I seem to have lost the knack.

(others laugh) If I were the future Mrs. Harris Bigg-Wither, I should make room for as many sisters as possible and then take to the streets and petition for more.

(laughing) Behold the stuff of life, a place for proper contentment.

Oh, is that all that you require?

A mere 150-acre slice of your own rolling country?

(laughs): I am a simple soul, modest in my ambitions.

Mm.

This place will do me very well.

(all laugh) But what about our brother?

Would he suit you very well, too?

(all laugh) (fire crackling, clock pendulum swinging) LOVELACE: So, ladies, how are your parents faring these days?

I have not seen them out and about much.

We have just returned from our adventures in Sidmouth with them, have we not, Cass?

Yes, indeed.

Are you an admirer of the seaside, Mr. Bigg-Wither?

LOVELACE: The seaside?

Good grief, no.

That's the beauty of our neck of Hampshire.

We cannot even see it.

They say the sea is of great benefit to one's health.

Ha!

Kill you as soon as look at you, Catherine.

(laughs) Thankfully, our parents are still quite well, thank you.

In spite of the sea.

Our mother complains constantly of several ailments, though suffers from none.

(Alethea laughs) Thankfully, our, our father... Has the patience of a saint.

LOVELACE: I have often thought the rector of a small country parish to be an enviable existence, without the onerous responsibilities of having too much of one's own land.

But imagine having no land to call your own, sir.

What if you lived in a city, like Bath or London, full of smoke and noise and people?

I wager you'd be dreaming of such onerous responsibilities then.

CASSY (quietly): Jane.

LOVELACE: I heartily agree, madam.

Many a time, my dear late lady wife would drag me to London, but I only ever wanted to be at home.

That is exactly how I feel about Steventon.

I wish to be nowhere else.

(clock pendulum swinging) Yes, Miss Austen.

I am a great admirer of the seaside.

(clock pendulum swinging) (Catherine and Alethea chuckle) (softly): Is this place not heaven?

(whispers): It is.

And you may have had a little too much wine.

You can't blame me when the wine is so good.

Besides, I may require Dutch courage before the night is out.

(drink pouring) What a fine instrument.

It's wasted on Catherine and me.

Play for us, Jane.

I fear I'm no longer the pianist I once was.

You may regret asking me.

Nonsense-- play the prelude.

(Bach's Prelude in C Major playing) (piece continues) (wrong note plays, piece stops) (all laugh) (door opens) JANE: I did warn you.

LOVELACE: Miss Jane.

Do excuse me, but I come bearing a message.

If you'd be so kind, my son is requesting you join him back in the dining room.

I'd be delighted.

(clock chiming hour softly) (door opens, woman giggling) (stammering): Father, sisters, Miss Austen.

(stammers): Miss Austen has consented to be my wife.

(Alethea and Catherine gasp, laugh) ALETHEA: I'm so happy for you, Jane!

Jane!

I have two new sisters!

(Jane and Catherine laughing) Jane Bigg-Wither!

(women exclaiming and laughing) What have you done?

Should you not be congratulating me on the splendor of my match?

I will bless you joyfully once you have told me that you are in love with Mr. Bigg-Wither and that you admire him above and beyond all others.

I cannot do that, nor could he with me.

But when manna falls from heaven, it would be foolish to squander it.

No!

That goes against all that you believe in.

It makes a mockery of everything you've ever said or, or written about love.

Love, Jane, love.

It does not!

I have always maintained that love is impossible without money, so there must be some hope that with it, love can grow.

Do you truly believe that you could one day love this man?

I cannot predict, though I admit it unlikely.

(exhales) But someone has to do something to secure our futures.

He's from a good family, Alethea and Catherine can remain here, and we will be safe and together, and you, my best girl, are free to marry your beloved Hobday.

I can tell you now that whatever you do, you will not make me marry Hobday.

I have refused him-- it is over.

(exhales) Will I be happy here, do you think?

Well, you love Manydown.

But you are to be its mistress now, with all the duty that requires.

I'm sure Catherine and Alethea will help to shoulder that burden, but you will be his wife, Jane.

And there will be children, of course.

(titters) There are a lot of rooms to fill.

I shall be in-pig for the rest of my years.

You love children-- you have a gift with them.

With other people's.

I'll have no time to myself-- for thinking, for writing.

I shall not write more than a letter again.

I shall have a husband... A master, an overbearing master.

Harris Bigg-Wither is hardly overbearing.

More like under-bearing!

I cannot do it.

My darling, you have done it-- it is already done.

No, it was a mistake, the most hideous error.

I did not know what I was thinking.

I shall tell him in the morning.

Jane!

You're quite sure you cannot go through with it?

We'll leave tomorrow.

To quote a philosopher of my acquaintance, I shall not starve.

I hold you in extreme regard, but I would not be... (dialogue fades) (sighs) (groans) Always Sir Walter Scott.

(books drop) I shall be lucky not to relapse here.

(dog barking in distance) (horse neighs) Why are they here again?

CASSY (sighing): I do not know.

MR. AUSTEN: Mary, how nice to see you.

JANE: And where is Anna?

With some sharp-featured governess, no doubt.

It is most unsatisfactory.

I should run straight there and insist they listen to my latest outpourings, for as soon as I begin, Mary Austen will check the weather and announce they must go.

I must confess, I, I do have some sympathy with her.

Cassy.

You do not appreciate how clever you are with words and how easily you can make people laugh.

It is a gift, Jane.

She's been visiting us for years.

I've never noticed her discomfort.

Perhaps she, she feels the need to shine in front of her husband.

Marriage-- always an excuse for failures of character.

It is the root cause of poor behavior.

Though you would have been the exception to that.

My own theory is, the thrill of being Mrs. James Austen has quite gone to Mary Austen's head.

She has become a little bumptious with it.

(chuckles): Happiness in a married woman is irksome to witness, and yet the single lady spreads universal delight.

(laughs) See?

Even Father has need of some respite.

Come, we must greet them.

(groans) (church bells ringing in distance) JAMES (in distance): So, Father, I am-- we are-- keen to advance.

MARY: We most certainly are.

JAMES: The fact is, Father, as I enter my 36th year, I am keen to assume greater responsibility and perform to the full my role as man of the church.

I hope you will agree that my talents are more than equal to the task ahead.

Oh, my dear boy, I have no need to assure you of that.

You will make an exemplary rector to the parish.

Exemplary!

(softly): The house, Austen-- remember, the house?

(clears throat): Ah, yes, the house.

I-- that is, we... Mm-hmm.

...with our growing family... We do have a child now.

You have two children.

Let us not forget Anna.

MARY: Uh... No, no, I meant to say, as we now have a son.

(chuckles) JAMES: It...

It occurs to us... To me, rather, that the house may be growing a little too much for you both.

A less tiring, slightly smaller accommodation might be more appropriate to the diminishing needs of your household.

(stammering): Now that you only have my sisters.

That you will take over the parish has long been the intention.

Though the, the question of timing is another matter.

(chuckles) Perhaps I have caused some confusion by living too long and too well.

Oh, George, my dear, please!

Thank you for raising this, James.

I have no desire to stand in your path.

That cannot be God's will.

But I must discuss this in private with your mother, that I may be led swiftly to a judgment that may benefit us all.

Tea, Mrs. Austen?

MRS. AUSTEN: Yes, of course.

Now, then... (horse neighing) (carriage departing) (birds chirping) It is done.

It is perfect.

You must send it to the publisher at once.

It is ready, Jane.

(hand bell ringing) And now we wait.

(man calling in background) Follow me.

Put this up here.

Okay.

That's it.

Just leave that at the side of the wheel, thank you.

There we go.

(people talking in background) JANE: No, that will travel with me!

It is my writing!

Sir, leave that!

You cannot take that!

Sorry.

We will survive this, Jane.

Promise.

(people talking in background) (horse nickers) (inhales) (sniffles) (crying softly) (crying) There, there, my dear.

Think of this as a new chapter.

As if Jane had written it.

(sniffles) Her stories always end well, don't they?

(crying softly) MAN: Walk on!

MARY: Say goodbye, Anna.

Wave.

(coos) (doorbell ringing) I do not understand why Isabella keeps that girl Dinah.

She is quite simply the worst servant I have ever had the misfortune to encounter.

Ring it again, Anna, this time with more force, if you please.

(doorbell rings) Longer, longer, longer.

(doorbell ringing) (exhales) (footsteps approaching) Ah!

My dear, they've even got you answering the door now.

(gasps) Where is that infernal girl?

Anna!

What a surprise!

A pleasant one, I hope.

Oh, most pleasant!

Shall I just stand here, then, waiting for you to greet me, Cassandra?

(exhales): Forgive me, Mary, I have not seen Anna for some time.

(laughing): I am quite overwhelmed.

Yes, I suppose we can be grateful that her last romantic interlude came to nothing, and we are once again blessed with her presence.

(exhales) Oh, Isabella will be equally as delighted to see you.

And I her.

I trust she's looked after you well, Aunt Cass.

Oh, she has been most attentive.

(chuckles) MARY (in distance): Anna?

I'll get started upstairs.

Can I leave you with the drawing room?

Yes, Mama.

We're here to work, so I'm told.

(exhales) (exhales) Letters, letters.

(exhales) (exhales) Ah, Anna, you have made splendid progress today.

The new vicar and his wife will be most impressed by your labors.

Your labors, you mean.

Isabella says you've been a godsend.

Apart from when she was at death's door.

And how is your leg today, my dear?

It does seem to give you a great deal of inconvenience.

Um, it's strange, I mean, I've always been unusually lucky in the leg department, unlike Mrs. Bunbury.

And to think I woke this morning in a pleasant anticipation of a hard day's labor.

Must we endure another reading, Isabella?

(sighs) What would you rather do, Aunt Mary?

Well, perhaps we could converse.

It is not often we are all together.

May never happen again, once Cassandra returns to Chawton.

ISABELLA: Very well.

On what subject would you like to converse?

(birds chirping outside) Cassandra's patchwork is most impressive, do you not think?

Yes, you're so clever, Aunt Cass.

Yes, all the Austens are clever.

My husband had a formidable intellect.

My son James Edward has inherited it.

Yes, and let us not forget Jane.

For what is cleverness when set beside brilliance?

We are all in the shade of those who shine brightest.

ISABELLA: My father often said genius comes with a difficult temperament.

Was this true of your Jane?

(inhales): Jane was a perfectionist.

She was so very demanding of herself and her work, but to others, she was... Not always kind.

At least not to me.

Well, she was the very best of aunts to me.

I lived for my visits to Aunt Jane.

I would show her my own stories, and she would take them so seriously, as if I were a proper writer.

She was the very opposite of difficult.

Was she not, Aunt Cass?

She was indeed.

If I recall, she was not so cheerful in the years after you left Steventon.

(people talking in background) JANE (voiceover): We have arrived in Bath, Eliza.

Mary Austen's keen delight to get her feet through the door, propel ours out of it, and rob us of all our worldly possessions was quite the sight to behold.

(Mr. Austen breathing heavily) (exhales) (people talking and calling outside) Well, I, I think these rooms will do us quite splendidly.

Yes, husband, I believe they shall.

(outside noise continues) JANE: It is of some comfort that leaving our home has not caused our beloved Cassy any particular distress.

Place no longer matters to Cassy, not as it does to me.

Jane, my darling, please.

You cannot lie here like this all day every day.

You must try to bear it.

JANE: Cassy's determination that I should enjoy the delights of the metropolis is admirable, and the famous Bath stone does its best to glow.

But I fear I cannot be much company.

Cassy tells me I must give it time, and I will, not least because... (sighs) ...I have no choice in the matter.

CASSANDRA: You must remember, my dear Mary, that we all suffered a great deal after we left Steventon, not just Jane.

That is why it is so imperative that Isabella finds one place that she can call home.

(doorbell ringing) MAN: Miss Austen.

CASSY: Thank you.

(gasps) Jane!

(panting, laughing) (breathlessly): Jane!

"Mr. Crosby of London," who is the best of men, even though we have never met him... (laughs) ..."promises publication "of your novel 'Susan' with immediate effect for the princely sum of ten pounds."

Ten pounds!

I am to be in print!

(laughing) To be a published authoress!

And we are the proudest Austens who ever lived!

(Mrs. Austen laughs) I shall make a start on a new novel at once.

I am determined I will.

(Cassy and Mrs. Austen laugh) I am to be published.

Let us thank the good Lord.

MR. AUSTEN (grunts): Oh, my... (Cassy sighs) (Mr. Austen grunts) CASSY: Papa.

Papa!

(groans) Papa?

(groans): My dearest daughter, your sister, she's... (breath hisses in) You must take the greatest care of her.

(groans) MRS. AUSTEN (breath trembling): George!

I will, Papa, I will.

(Mr. Austen groans weakly) George!

(gasps) (breathing weakly) (breathing weakly) (breathing weakly) (people talking and calling in background) (dog barking, horse neighing) BETH: Can I have some numbers written down here as well, please?

Yes, Miss.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm!

This is excellent.

Well done.

Beth, my dear.

Miss Austen!

I'm delighted to see you've recovered from your cold.

Children, we have a visitor.

Now we must remember our manners.

What do we say when people are kind enough to call on us?

CHILDREN: Good day to you!

And to you.

(laughing): Carry on.

So, this is where you spend your time.

(laughs): Yes!

I'm hardly ever at home, my days are so busy here.

My charges arrive from 5: 00 in the morning.

Their mothers work at the mill and do such long days.

By the time they've all left, I've no energy to do more than crawl through there to bed.

CASSANDRA: Ah, so you often just sleep here?

BETH: I do.

(chuckles) (baby fussing) (shushing) Beth, as you well know, the date of Isabella's departure from the vicarage is almost upon her.

So I am here once more to ask for your assistance regarding her future.

Did Isabella ask you to come?

No.

No, she did not, but I cannot stand by and, and watch while she suffers the insecurity of her current position.

I do not wish to appear rude, Cassandra, but... Why should it concern you?

Because...

Since I have been here, I have become exceedingly fond of her, and I am mindful of the toll the same upheaval had on my dear sister when we had to leave our own beloved home.

And I promised your dying father that I would ensure she came to live with either you or Mary Jane.

My father.

(chuckles) Even from the grave.

Poor Isabella, I...

I fear she is never to be able to make her own decisions about her future, as I have done.

(sighs) (inhales) Beth, I am aware your future is settled, and I am delighted it is so.

However, I am also hopeful that if you and Mr. Lidderdale do decide to marry, that he might be generous enough to allow her to live with you.

Married?

Myself and Mr. Lidderdale?

(laughs): Yes.

(laughing) Wherever did you get such a ridiculous notion?

I, I saw you together... And so you concocted a story for yourself?

(chuckles) Oh, Cassandra, you have the wrong sister.

ISABELLA: My father would not give his permission.

I believe it to have been love.

Do not be ridiculous.

JANE: I had opportunities.

I squandered them.

HENRY: When my mother informed me that you were a resident here, I had a pressing need to see you again.

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