Screen Two (1985–2002): Season 3, Episode 7 - Northanger Abbey - full transcript

(WOMAN) Why do you tremble so?

Are we not welcome in this desolate place?

(SECOND WOMAN)
Only too welcome, mademoiselle.

We must escape this frightful castle
and the power of its master.

- What wild fancy is this?
- No fancy, dear lady.

Ah, mademoiselle, you are so young.

Pray God you may escape the horrors
of that evil chamber.

(BOY) Where are you? Cathy?

Cathy?

Mother wants you. Mrs Allen's here.

You do realise, Edward,
you've interrupted a vital part of my education?



Literature and solitude are as necessary
to a young woman's development

as sunshine is to ripe fruit.

- Do I look tidy?
- Not very!

Can you imagine my joy this morning
when Mr Allen informed me

that he is so afflicted with the gout

that he's been ordered to Bath immediately?

I see I am rebuked.

But at my age, a little adventure
makes such a pleasant change.

And at your age, my dear Catherine,
I think everyone agrees

that if adventure does not find a young lady
at home, then she must look for it abroad.

I am invited to Bath?

- Quite so!
- Emma! Charlotte!

Cathy's going to Bath!

- Shall we go to the balls?
- Nothing shall keep us from them!



Then I shall dance!
And shall I have a room of my own?

Naturally.

But in Bath there is no time
for sleep, nor solitude.

Tom? Tom, what's that place over there?

That, miss? That's Northanger Abbey.

Whoa! Whoa there!

Are these our lodgings?
Oh, Mrs Allen, are we really here?

(MAN SINGING ARIA)

I hope you'll be comfortable, my dear.

Dear Mrs Allen, can we not go out now?
The evening is so beautiful!

Out? Like this? My dear child, I thank God
we have arrived under cover of darkness,

for we are shockingly ill-clothed

and we will go nowhere until we have been
provided with the very latest of fashions.

Come Friday, Miss Morland will be ready
to make her entrée into the world.

Now I believe all our exertions are rewarded!

And dear Catherine looks quite as she should.

- Mr Allen?
- Oh, quite as she should!

You too, my dear, most charming!

I've never been able to get Mr Allen
to know one of my gowns from another.

I should know this one.
This I could not mistake.

No, I fear my evening at billiards
could no way rival your brilliance at the ball.

(JAUNTY MUSIC)

There are no tea things here. How very
provoking. And no one to fetch them for us.

I think we'd better go upstairs.
One gets so tumbled in such a crowd.

I wish you could dance, my dear.

But I fear I haven't a single acquaintance
in the room.

Well, ma'am, welcome to the charity ball.

Oh! I do declare, my muslin is torn!

I think not, madam. You have merely
lost a ribbon from your sleeve.

I should have been so sorry to have torn
this gown, for it is a favourite of mine,

though it cost only nine shillings a yard.

- Exactly what I would have guessed, madam.
- Do you understand muslins?

My sister often entrusts me in the choice
of a gown. I bought one for her the other day.

It was pronounced a bargain
by every lady who saw it.

- You must be a great comfort to your sister.
- I hope I am, madam.

And pray, what do you think
of Miss Morland's gown?

It is very pretty, madam,

but I do not think it will wash well.

- Excuse me, Mr Tilney.
- Excuse me.

It would have been very shocking
if I had torn my muslin.

For my part I haven't seen anything that I like
as well in the whole room, I assure you.

Oh, I do wish for your sake
we had a large acquaintance in Bath.

I wish we had any.

- The government has lost all reason.
- How is that, my dear?

That shoemaker has been charged
with high treason

for leading a harmless reform movement.

It will be enough
merely to call oneself a Whig

to be charged with plotting to behead the king.

So it will, my dear.
The government has lost all reason.

- Can we still not go out?
- In this rain?

Perhaps it may hold up soon.

Perhaps it may, my dear,
but then it'll be so dirty.

Oh, that won't matter. I never mind dirt.

No, I know you never mind dirt.

(CLOCK CHIMES)

Now there are four umbrellas up.

How I hate the sight of an umbrella.

They are very disagreeable things to carry.

Good heavens, it's James!

James is here!

It's Catherine's brother, dear. James.

James! I know you should still be in Oxford,
but how good of you to come and see me.

Indeed, Catherine, I love you dearly. And...

(TRUMPET BLARES)

- Mrs Allen, good day.
- James.

Forgive my intrusion.
A happy chance brings us together in Bath.

Most happy, James!

Allow me to introduce
my good friend John Thorpe.

How do you do, Mrs Allen?
A capital place you have here, if I may say so.

Miss Morland...

You'll find him a frightful rattle,
but that recommends him to your sex, I believe.

I am here not only to introduce new friends,
Mrs Allen, but to reunite old ones.

I believe that you and John's mother
were once school friends.

- Do you not remember Mrs Thorpe?
- Mrs Thorpe?

Mrs Thorpe...

- Née Williams! Why, yes!
- I am her guest in Bath.

To think that only last night I told Catherine
we had not a single acquaintance in Bath!

With dear old Mater,
the case is quite the opposite.

And, my dear Catherine,

John's sister Isabella is just the kind
of young woman I wish to see you attached to.

She has so much good sense,
is so thoroughly unaffected and amiable.

Even you, Catherine,
could be proud of her friendship.

What are we waiting for?
Make haste. Catherine, put on your hat.

Let James take us to this paragon.

Miss Morland, I should have
known you anywhere for James's sister.

- You're excessively like him.
- (LADIES) Oh, excessively like!

I consider us friends already, Miss Morland,
through the friendship of our dear brothers.

And I'd have you notice, Miss Morland,
that my sister and I always agree.

Good day, Mother.

Where did you get that quiz of a hat?
It makes you look like an old witch.

And how does this morning
find you two dear little things?

Hmm? As ugly as ever, it seems!

What a pretty coincidence, Mrs Thorpe.

It is true I should never have known you
after all these years,

but how glad I am to see you.

We must make sure to attend
our next ball together, Miss Morland.

And I am determined at all events
we should be dressed exactly alike.

Men take notice of that sometimes.

- My chief pleasure in life is shopping.
- Oh?

For I have no children
to introduce into the world.

Then you have no children
to worry about, neither.

Damn it, I did not come to Bath
to drive my sisters about and look like a fool.

I make it a rule
never to mind what they think.

I have no intention of treating them
with such respect. That's the way to spoil them.

- You are fond of an open carriage?
- I have hardly ever been in one.

What say you to a drive in my new gig?

You will do no such thing. A drive indeed!

Come, Miss Morland,
it is true Bath is unworthy of you.

If there were any natural justice
you should find yourself in Brighton,

but scorn pleasure till you have sufficient
reason for it and you may wait a long time.

Now that your dear sister and I have met,

we would not be separated for all the world.

Tomorrow, then. At noon.

I hope you forgive my little skis.

What say you to my gig, Miss Morland?
Neat, is it not? Curricle-hung, you see.

Fanned splashboard, swung body,
dished wheels, bucket steps.

Swan-necked shaft.
I've not had it a month.

I chanced on a friend
on Magdalen Bridge last term.

"Ah, Thorpe," says he, "do you happen
to want such a little thing as this?

"It's capital, but I'm cursed tired of it."

"Oh damn it," says I,
"I'm your man. What do you ask?"

Walk on, Samson!

And how much do you think he did,
Miss Morland?

(CATHERINE) I know so little of such things.

He asked 50 guineas, Miss Morland,
and I closed with him directly.

I could have got it for less,
but I hate haggling

- and poor Freeman wanted cash.
- That was very good-natured of you.

When one has the means of doing a kind thing
by a friend, I hate to be pitiful.

He's a rich old devil, isn't he?

The old man you're with -
rich as a duke, isn't he?

Mr Allen, you mean?
Yes, I believe he is very rich.

- And no children?
- No.

Hmm. A famous thing for his next heirs.
And you're his godchild, I believe.

I, Mr Allen's godchild? No.

- Then you're very much with them?
- Yes, I am.

I think sometimes
I take the place of the child they never had.

How prettily you put it, Miss Morland.

So, money still comes to Bath.

(JAMES) Right, then, Miss Thorpe,
we'll give them a race. Come on, now.

Come on! Where are you, John?

- Mr Morland, my hair!
- Never fear, Miss Thorpe. You're safe.

(THORPE) Look to your wheels, man!

Gee-up!

Go on, Sampson! Hup, hup!

- But where is my brother going?
- Don't fret, Miss Morland.

We shall join up later.
I'm glad you are fond of an open carriage,

for I have determined
to drive you out in mine every day.

I met Thorpe at billiards. I respect
his ball skills as little as I respect his word.

There you are, my dear.
We thought you had come by an accident.

- No, not at all.
- I am certainly glad to see you safely back.

I wish this scheme had never been undertaken.

Mrs Allen, are you not of my way of thinking,
that these projects are objectionable?

Yes, very much so indeed.
Open carriages are nasty things.

A clean gown
has not five minutes' wear in them.

- I hate an open carriage myself.
- I know you do, but that's not the question.

Do you not think it has a very odd appearance?

For young ladies to be driven
in open gigs alone

by young men
who are not even their relatives?

A very odd appearance indeed.
I cannot bear to see it.

Madam, then why didn't you say so? If
I'd known it was improper, I wouldn't have gone.

(MRS ALLEN) One must not be over-particular.

Young people don't want to be always thwarted.

But, Mrs Allen, this was something important.
You wouldn't have found me hard to persuade,

for I really cannot think
Mr Thorpe is entirely agreeable.

Did you have a pleasant walk home, Mrs Allen?

- Very pleasant.
- Did you meet anyone of interest?

Why, yes. When you passed us
on the crescent, we met a Mrs Hughes.

A curious woman, all nose,
and in a remarkable hurry.

She introduced us
to Mr Tilney and his sister,

the young lady we saw with Mr Tilney
at the Upper Rooms. You noticed her?

- Why, yes. And she is Mr Tilney's sister?
- She is.

Heyday, Miss Morland.
I thought you and I were going for a ride.

(PANTING AND SOBBING)

My only acquaintance...

has torn my gown.

(CATHERINE'S CRIES
MINGLE WITH GIRL GIGGLING)

My dearest Catherine.
I may call you Catherine, mayn't I?

I couldn't wait a moment longer!

Only you who saw into my heart
the moment we met,

only you could guess my present happiness.

But what's the matter?
You're not ill, my sweet?

You've been losing your sleep
over Mrs Radcliffe?

Isn't it amazing horrid?
Have you got to the black veil yet?

Oh...

Oh, that dreadful dungeon!
Can the poor girl ever escape?

I wouldn't tell you her fate
for all the world.

But I can see by your expression
you've guessed my secret, you sly creature!

Do sit down, Isabella, and catch your breath.

Your brother is the most charming of men.

Oh, if only I were worthy of him.

Good heavens! You mean...
I can't believe it. You're in love with James?

Yes!

In love, and he with me. All that remains
is to have your parents' permission to marry.

- James has gone to Fullerton to ask for it.
- Oh, Isabella!

Oh, but I'm so afraid they'll refuse.

How could they refuse James
his heart's desire?

Why should they refuse a girl like you?

Why not? What am I?
My fortune will be almost nothing,

- whereas James could marry anyone.
- Indeed, Isabella, you are too humble.

A difference in fortune isn't important.
It's important that you love one another.

James and I think to marry for money
the wickedest thing in the world.

Oh, Isabella, I had no idea!

And you, my sweet girl,
you will be dearer to me than my own family.

You are so like your darling brother.

And from the moment I saw him,
my heart was gone.

He's vanished?
Still, mystery is awful becoming in a hero.

But, Isabella, how shall I find him?

- Isabella is so sensitive to the heat.
- Is she, my dear?

I notice she wears as little as possible.

Good day.

- (WOMAN) Miss Morland.
- Pleased to meet you, Miss Tilney.

- But have we not met before?
- Not quite.

I had the pleasure of meeting your brother
in the Upper Rooms last week,

though we never danced.
How very amusing Mr Tilney is.

Henry? Yes, he is amusing.

I find that a very important consideration,
don't you? That a m... person should be amusing.

Very important.

And what do you make of all this,
Miss Morland?

The only argument against fresh air
is that it's free.

- Have you explored the walks in Bath yet?
- No.

- Perhaps we could do so together.
- Oh, yes. Thank you.

What's this, pussy?

Are we to be supplanted?

I am not slighting you, Isabella.

I made the arrangement to walk with
Miss Tilney before you told me about the drive.

You say I must retract,
but I cannot do what I think is wrong.

I suspect there is no great struggle.

(THORPE) Heyday, Miss Morland!

Miss Morland,
we may make our outing after all.

I have run after Miss Tilney
and told her you cannot go.

- You have not!
- I have, upon my soul.

She said, "Tomorrow is just as convenient."
So there's an end to our difficulties.

- We shall still make Clifton before dark.
- This will not do!

Let me go, Mr Thorpe!

I am glad to see you not entirely agreeable,
Miss Morland,

for when a person is entirely agreeable,
one feels obliged to be the same.

Do let her go, John, if go she must.

If I could not be persuaded to do wrong,
I will not be tricked into it!

I must go to Miss Tilney and set her right.

Isabella, do please come to me tomorrow
to wait for James's letter.

I like a girl with spirit, Belle.

I must speak to Miss Tilney, this moment.

(MISS TILNEY)... answer directly.
(MR TILNEY) If the question is direct.

I'm so sorry.
Forgive me, I am come in a great hurry.

It was all a mistake. I never promised to go.

I told them from the first I could not go.
Indeed, I did not want to go.

I never asked Mr Thorpe to bring a message.
I've run away to explain.

I didn't care what you might think of me.
And I wouldn't stay for your servant and...

Oh, dear!

Miss Morland, allow me to present you
to my father, General Tilney.

Delighted, Miss Morland.

I'm so sorry...

I cannot believe
that you have anything to be sorry for.

Mr Thorpe did not come to you with a message,
Miss Tilney?

Yes, he did, and I admit
I was much surprised, but now all is well.

You were very much surprised, Eleanor,
and Henry and I are very much perplexed.

It's quite simple. Miss Morland and I
were going to go for a walk,

then we were not going to go for a walk,
and now we are going to go for a walk.

Ah.

How foolish of me not to have guessed.
The afternoon was made for walking,

and I own that were I invited,
I should accept immediately.

- You are invited.
- I accept immediately.

- Do you find Bath agreeable, Miss Morland?
- Very agreeable.

Take care, or you may forget
to be tired of it at the proper time.

How can anyone ever get tired of Bath?

Not those who bring
such freshness to it as you do.

But you ought to be tired of it
at the end of six weeks.

I am told so by people who have extended
their six weeks to ten or twelve

and then go away
because they can afford to stay here no longer.

Well, others must judge for themselves,
but I live in a very small country village,

and there I can only go and call on Mrs Allen.

Only go and call on Mrs Allen?
What a picture of intellectual riches.

Now, Henry, don't go exhausting
this young lady walking her up hill and down dale.

Though I can see by the charming elasticity
of your walk...

...that there's no great danger of that,
Miss Morland.

How this makes me think of Italy,
or the south of France.

- You've been abroad, then?
- Oh, no, I only mean what I've read about.

This puts me in mind of the country
Emily travelled through

in "The Mysteries Of Udolpho."

But you never read novels, I dare say.

- Gentleman read better books.
- Do they?

In my opinion, anyone, lady or gentleman,

who has no pleasure in a good novel
must be intolerably stupid.

I've read all Mrs Radcliffe's works.
"The Mysteries Of Udolpho" I couldn't put down.

I completed it in two days
with my hair on end from start to finish.

Yes, you ran off with my copy
when I'd left the room

and I had to wait until you'd finished it.

What else do you read, Miss Morland?

- To tell the truth, nothing very much.
- Really?

Well, I read poetry and plays
and that sort of thing.

But history, for instance, solemn history,
I just can't be interested in. Can you?

- Yes, I am fond of history.
- Oh. dear. I wish I were too.

It's not so much a question of what we read,
Miss Morland, but of how we read.

We must exercise our own judgment
and not mistake fantasy for reality.

You may argue that the art of art
lies in its power to deceive,

but that is a dangerous course.

Look there. The work of man and nature
brought together to make a perfect picture,

the elements of air and water
moving harmoniously.

But art is as different from reality
as water is from air.

And if you mistake water for air, you drown.

Of course,

if you are a fish,
then the danger lies in the air.

(ELEANOR) Oh... how should I like
to return one day to draw this scene.

Would you take in the temple
and the sweep of the lawn, Eleanor?

No, just the lake.

There, where it curves away
between the trees and rushes.

Nature, not artifice. How very modern of you.

But it will not lack perspective?
What do you say, Miss Morland?

Oh, I know nothing of drawing, Mr Tilney.

My only talent lies in writing, and...

Well, even there
I am heartily ashamed of my ignorance.

Ashamed?

The advantages of natural folly
in a pretty girl are well known, are they not?

And you, Miss Morland,
strike me as nothing if not natural.

Do you want Miss Morland to think you a brute
in your opinion of women?

A brute? My dear sister,
to the larger part of my sex,

imbecility in females is a great enhancement
of their charms. Come, you know it's true.

Whereas I am far too reasonable
to demand anything more than ignorance.

Henry, I think you should add something
in case Miss Morland misunderstands you.

She is not used to your odd ways.

I shall be most happy
to make her better acquainted with them.

I meant only to say that Miss Morland
is not one of those romantic heroines

she so enjoys reading about.

She tells us she is not accomplished
in music, nor in drawing.

She does not go in for exaggerated displays
of feeling and she says what she means.

- I'm afraid she really will not do.
- Henry, you're very impertinent.

Miss Morland,
he treats you exactly like his sister.

To conclude, Miss Morland is so natural
as to be a disgrace to her sex.

But it's a quality I shall be sad to see her lose,
as lose it she must.

Shall you go to the cotillion ball tomorrow?

I don't think so.

Good day, sir. Miss Morland.

We are too late to join you, it seems.
Magnificent spot.

Allow me to present you to my brother.
Captain Tilney, Miss Morland.

Delighted, Miss Morland.

My daughter is mistaken, Miss Morland.
We are going to the cotillion ball.

Why otherwise would a young lady
come to Bath?

And may I say we look forward
to seeing you dance, Miss Morland.

"The previous evening,
Emily had entered the forbidden chamber.

"Looking round, she perceived a black veil
which, descending from ceiling to floor,

"was drawn along the whole side
of the chamber. Suddenly conjecturing..."

(CLOCK CHIMES)

Isabella?

- What is it?
- It's four o'clock.

- I know it's four o'clock.
- The last post comes by four o'clock.

"Suddenly conjecturing
that it concealed the body of her murdered aunt,

"she seized the curtain and drew it aside."

Oh, I can't bear it!

"Beyond appeared a corpse,
stretched on a kind of low couch

"which was crimsoned with human blood,
as was the floor beneath it.

"The features, deformed by death,
were ghastly and horrible.

"Emily bent over the body."

Here it is!

- Here it is, my darling. James's letter!
- Oh!

Success! We have their consent!

- What did I say?
- I cannot pretend that I am surprised.

What does surprise me is that James
should go to Fullerton without letting me know,

for I would certainly have troubled him
with my best regards

- and my compliments to the Skinners.
- And, Isabella? And?

He says we must wait two years.

"In two years' time,
a living of about 400 a year will be mine...

"No small sum for one of ten children.

"And in due course,
an estate of at least the same value."

£400?

I'm sure if he finds he can do more
by and by, he will.

£400 is a low income to begin on,

but you, my dearest girl,
are so very moderate in your wishes.

For myself, it's nothing.
I never think of myself.

I know you never do, my dear.

Mr Morland has every right
to do as he chooses with his own money.

I'm sure my father has promised
as much as he can afford.

Oh, Catherine...

It's not the want of money,

but the wait that it entails.

Come, now, put on a happy face!

Tonight is the cotillion ball,
and do we not all have new gowns?

I couldn't possibly go without James.

Not go? How can I enjoy myself
without you, Isabella?

And this time you would meet Mr Tilney.

Nay, since you make
such a point of it...

Until tonight, then.

What's the meaning of this?
I thought you and I were going to dance together.

- I wonder why, for you never asked me.
- It's a cursed shabby trick.

What chap have you there?

- Why, it's Mr Tilney.
- So it is.

A good figure of a man.

Does he want a horse, do you know?

Your servant, sir. I have interesting information
concerning Miss Morland.

I consider a dance to be like a marriage.

Fidelity and politeness
are the principal duties in both.

Those men who do not marry or dance
have no business with their neighbours' wives.

- They are such different things.
- In both matrimony and dancing,

man has the advantage of choice,
woman only the power of refusal.

I think you should not underestimate
the power of refusal.

Forgive me, Miss Thorpe,
if I disturb your peace.

We have not been formally introduced,

yet there exists a strong connection between us
which emboldens me to ask you to dance.

I suppose your brother saw Isabella sitting
down and fancied she must wish for a partner.

How little trouble it costs you
to understand other people's motives.

What do you mean?

With you it isn't, "What would make
so-and-so behave in such a way?"

It's, "What would make me behave
in such a way?"

- I don't understand you.
- Then we are on very unequal terms,

- for I understand you perfectly.
- Me?

Yes. I can't speak well enough
to be unintelligible.

Bravo! An excellent satire
on modern language.

I certainly did not look for attention,
Captain Tilney.

My spirit is pretty independent.

Were your heart independent,
that would be enough for me.

My heart, indeed! What can you have to do
with hearts? None of you men have any hearts.

If we have not hearts, we have eyes,
and they give us torment enough.

I hope this may please you, then.
I hope your eyes are not tormented now.

Never more so. For the edge
of a blooming cheek is still in view.

At once too much and too little.

I can't think how this could happen.
Isabella was so determined not to dance.

Did Isabella never change her mind before?

I assure you, she is very firm in general.

- Miss Tilney does not care to dance?
- No.

That is, I believe there's no one here
she chooses to dance with.

It vexes our father.

Who is that lady?

The Marchioness de Thierry.

She is a friend of my father's, his confidante.

She keeps him in touch
with all the latest gossip and such.

When she was sixteen,
she ran off with a French nobleman.

Twenty years later, with the revolution,
he was kind enough to marry her.

Last year he was guillotined.

- How terrible!
- Terrible. Yes, it is terrible.

But at least it clears her from any suspicion
of Jacobin sympathies.

We live in curious times, Miss Morland.

On the one hand, barbarity,

and on the other, greater civilisation.

I see you look doubtful.

In my father's youth, every man
in the room would be drunk by now,

and half the women would be losing fortunes
at gambling. But I forget.

You are not fond of history.

I do entreat you, Mr Tilney, to make
Isabella's engagement known to your brother.

- Frederick does know of it.
- Then why does he persist in pursuing her?

Why do you not stop him?

Frederick knows what he's about.
He must be his own master.

No, he does not know what he's about.

Is it my brother's attentions to Miss Thorpe
or her admission of them that gives the pain?

- Isn't it the same thing?
- Your brother would see a difference.

And what of the woman's power of refusal?

I could have predicted your every move
this evening, Frederick.

I should hope so, little brother,

since I have misspent... so much of my youth
in teaching you... the same tricks.

I don't wonder at your surprise, my dear,
and really, I'm tired to death.

He's such a rattle. Amusing enough,
but I would have given the world to sit down.

- Then why didn't you?
- It would have looked so awful particular.

Besides, you know how it is with men.
They take no denial.

Amazingly conceited, I'm sure.

I took him down several times in my own way.

Goodness, is that his father?
How like his son he is.

And how he stares at you, my sweet.

- Father?
- Yes?

Since we shall be leaving Bath so soon,

and since I shall find myself
so often alone at home, I...

I wondered if I might ask Miss Morland
to be my guest.

You may.

In fact, I was going to suggest it myself.

This evening, all my hopes concerning
Miss Morland have been confirmed.

I shall call on... Mrs Allen...

...in the morning.

Poor gentleman.
I do hope he does not regret it.

You must try to be tidy, Catherine,
and at all times decent.

- But you are not listening to me!
- Yes, I am, truly, Mrs Allen.

General Tilney had just called

and he has most kindly, most gratifyingly

asked you to be his daughter's guest
at Northanger Abbey.

Northanger Abbey?!

- Have I mistook the place?
- Northanger Abbey!

Father's temper is beyond all reason.
He knows I join the regiment in a few days.

The mess room will drink Isabella
for a fortnight and that's an end to it!

Damned stupid boys!

Damned late start!

- Frederick chasing after every damned...
- Father!

Good riddance to Bath,
Miss Morland, what do you say?

Oh, yes, good riddance to Bath.

- Good luck, little brother.
- When did I ever need luck, Frederick?

The devil take you, then!

How right my father was, to insist
on your riding the rest of the way with me.

Your first view of Northanger
will be so much the better.

I must thank you for your kindness
in becoming my sister's visitor.

It is an act of real friendship,
for Eleanor has no female companion

and with Father and I often away,
she is sometimes without any companion.

- How sorry you must be for that.
- I am always sorry to leave Eleanor.

- You must be sad to leave the abbey too?
- Not so very much.

I have my own estate, just a few miles away,
where my present passion is a pinery.

You have a very favourable idea of the abbey.

Oh, to be sure I have. You can't imagine
what a passion I have for ancient buildings.

Then I hope you're not disappointed.

"Of course, one cannot be surprised
at anyone's taking a fancy to Catherine.

"Still, to be blunt, we are surprised."

Dear Mrs Allen!

"Such a fine family, and the general known
to be most particular for his children."

Oh, here it is.
This is what I wanted to read you, Richard.

"I believe Mrs Tilney is dead.
Indeed, I am certain,

"for I remember now
that Miss Tilney has got a beautiful set of pearls

"that were put by for her
when her mother died."

Richard, I know Mrs Allen rattles on like this
partly to impress us, but...

Mrs Allen rattles because she can't help it.

If there is no Mrs Tilney,

was it wise, I wonder,
to give our permission so readily?

(DRIVER ENCOURAGES HORSES)

Father always likes to arrive first.

(PEACOCK SHRIEKS)

Do you see how simply we live, Miss Morland?

Nothing in this room pretends to more
than comfort and convenience.

But it is within twenty minutes of six.

Allow me to show you to your room,
Miss Morland.

Oh, how pretty!

We eat at six, Miss Morland. Please make
as little alteration to your dress as possible.

(SNAPS FINGERS IMPATIENTLY)

(SCREAMS)

(CHIRPS)

What is it?

It's a canary. Did you never see one before?

Poor thing, shut up like this.

He knows no other way of life.

Do you have a heart stout enough
to bear the horrors of this place, Miss Morland?

- Horrors?
- How does your novel put it?

A young girl, alone in a strange dwelling

full of gloomy passages,
mysterious stairways...

- Go on.
- Are you not afraid?

Why should I be?

But come, Miss Morland,
I am here to rescue you and bring you to dinner.

- I'm so very sorry.
- Miss Morland was lost.

Eleanor, your fair friend
is quite out of breath.

You should not plague your guests
with such an excess of punctuality.

There was not the least occasion for hurry,
after all.

I suppose, Miss Morland,

you are used to much better-sized apartments
at Mr Allen's?

No, indeed! Mr Allen's dining parlour
isn't half this size.

I never saw such a large room in my life.

As you see, our way of life is unassuming.

But we shall spare no pains
to make Northanger Abbey agreeable to you.

We are fortunate to have Henry here with us.

His commitments so often take him away from us.

But then all young men should be employed.

(SLURPS)

Even Frederick, my eldest son,

who will perhaps inherit
as considerable a landed property

as any private man in the kingdom,
even he has his profession.

(SLURPS)

How very elegant your dinner service is,
General Tilney.

You flatter me, Miss Morland,
for it was my choice.

But I confess,

for my part, soup or even tea

tastes as well from Staffordshire clay
as from Dresden.

And I think it only right to encourage
the manufacture of my own country.

And I trust the opportunity may soon arise

for me to choose another service.

Though not for myself.

Some more soup for my father.

I don't want any more soup!
Thank you, take it away.

(THUNDER)

(HENRY) Eleanor! Eleanor!

(SOBBING)

(ELEANOR) Oh, Henry.

(HENRY) Shh.
You mustn't let him upset you.

(ELEANOR) I can't bear it any longer!

- Don't let him upset you.
- How long must I go on living in this house?

It won't last for ever. You'll see.

(THUNDER)

Aghh!

(FOOTSTEPS)

(FOOTSTEPS GOING AWAY)

(CLOCK CHIMES)

Mademoiselle. My lady!

Do please come inside, mademoiselle.
The banditi are closing in on us.

You are not safe out here.

If you come with me now,
I will show you the picture.

- The picture?
- Yes, ma'am.

The picture of the late lady of this place.

(LIQUID FLOWING)

Well, here's a right old mess.
What have you been up to, miss?

What are you doing?
No, no, don't take those, Alice!

They're only old laundry bills, miss.

"The same day at three,

"you and I beside the unknown woman."

Good morning, Miss Morland.

Thank you.

- Must you really be gone all day, Mr Tilney?
- I'm afraid so.

After four weeks' neglect,
my estate claims some attention.

But Eleanor will keep you happily occupied.

- Oh, Eleanor, I...
- Ah!

Henry's duties must lie heavy on him
this morning, Miss Morland,

depriving him, as they do, of your company.

- The storm last night did not disturb you?
- Only a very little, thank you.

I thought to show Miss Morland over the house
this morning. She is keen to see it.

Most gratifying, but I insist you delay
that pleasure until I am free to accompany you.

Besides, I believe I see in Miss Morland's eye
an altogether judicious desire

to make use of the present fine weather.

You see, I'm right.
What say you, Miss Morland,

to allowing my daughter
to show you the gardens?

(PEACOCK CALLS)

Oh, what a deliciously secret spot this is!

Yes, it is.

Part of my fondness for it
is that it was my mother's favourite walk.

You were with her, I suppose, to the last?

No, I was unfortunately away from home.

Away from home?

Her illness was sudden
and before I arrived it was all over.

Her death was so sudden?
But I suppose you saw the corpse?

How did it appear?

It looked as if my mother had fallen asleep.

Forgotten us in a fit of absent-mindedness,
that's all.

- Would you like to see her chamber?
- Oh, very much.

Eleanor, where are you going?

There's nothing worthy
of Miss Morland's attention there.

Come, I need your help, Eleanor.

Miss Morland,
we are expecting guests at four.

And may I hope you will join us?

My dearest Isabella,

you cannot imagine
how I long to talk to you.

Northanger Abbey is everything and more
than I had imagined,

and Mr Tilney...

Mr Tilney must be
the most agreeable man alive,

but he is much preoccupied
with concerns of his own.

(HE SINGS IN ITALIAN)

Yet something is happening at Northanger
to make the blood run cold.

The general has done everything possible
to prevent me from looking over the abbey.

And one room in particular is forbidden me.

I am convinced that Eleanor
is very much afraid of her father,

possibly with good reason, for he shows
every symptom of an uneasy conscience.

I must wait for an opportunity
to unravel this mystery alone.

Very amusing, sir.

But your sister's fair guest may not have
the taste for such satirical entertainment.

And her pleasure is our responsibility.

We stole Miss Morland away from Bath,
the place of her public triumph.

I greatly fear that the monotony
of our days here may disgust her.

There is nowhere in the world
I would rather be.

Miss Morland's youth
allows her to be transparent.

A pretty licence my dogs also indulge in.

We might go riding tomorrow
to keep her from boredom.

- But I have no habit...
- That is no obstacle. We will find you one.

Then it is settled.
Have you no duets there, Henry?

I'm sure we do.

And now, my dear Emily,
you must give me all the gossip from Bath.

Tell me, how did you find
Lord Sumpter's new mistress?

Just as silly, just as cross

and just as extravagant
as any of us could have hoped.

(THEY SING IN ITALIAN)

(CONVERSATION DROWNED BY SINGING)

Oh, help me, Alice, do.
Now I can't even do these buttons!

You're in a fine old dither this morning.

Why, this was a habit of the late mistress.
Poor Mrs Tilney.

Why do you say "poor" Mrs Tilney?

Oh, well, I was only in the kitchens then,

but my mother was the mistress's favourite

and she used to say that the general
made his wife's life a perfect misery.

Though she never would say why. Not exactly.

Then her dying so sudden like she did.

Why, whatever is it, miss? Are you ill?

I feel a little sick. I...

Alice, be kind enough to tell the general
I will not go riding today.

Oh, dear. Not go riding?

I was talking of long ago,
and a man quiets down with the years.

I ought to know.
I married an old one, didn't I?

Alice, please go and tell the general
I am not well. I cannot go riding today.

Mr Tilney! How came you up that staircase?

How? Because it's the quickest way
from the stable yard.

I decided not to go with the others.
I was concerned about you.

And may I not ask how you come to be here?

- I came to see your mother's room.
- So it seems.

And is there anything extraordinary
to be seen here?

- No, nothing.
- My father does not like this room entered.

- I...
- Eleanor sent you to look?

No.

It has been your own doing entirely?

But then Eleanor has spoken a great deal
about her mother, I suppose?

Yes, a very great deal. That is, not so very much,
but what she did say was interesting.

Her dying so suddenly, and none of you
being at home. And your father...

I thought perhaps
he had not been so very fond of her.

And from these circumstances
you infer perhaps some negligence?

Or could it be something
still less pardonable?

The seizure that killed my mother
was sudden, it is true,

but her illness was constitutional
and she often suffered from it.

Besides, during her last illness, both
Frederick and I were here, as was my father.

Poor Eleanor was far away
but we were both here.

And your father, did he suffer?

For a while, very much so.

He loved her, I'm sure,
insofar as he was able.

We are not all equally tender, you know.

And I cannot pretend that while she lived

she did not have much
to put up with from him,

but he was greatly distressed by her death.

- Why did he never marry again?
- Why?

A widower is not obliged to marry again.

Besides, I'm quite sure there was no one
my father wished to marry.

I'm so glad. It would have been
very shocking otherwise.

Shocking?

If I am to understand you,
you've been imagining things of such horror,

I've hardly the words to...

My dear Miss Morland,
what have you been judging from?

Remember the age
and the country in which we live.

Consult your own sense of the probable,

your own understanding.

Could such atrocities be perpetrated
in a land such as this,

where roads and newspapers
lay everything open?

My father has his faults, God only knows,

and Mother used to joke that he only married her
for her money, but murder?

My dear Miss Morland, has reading one silly
novel unbalanced your judgment so completely?

Catherine?

Catherine...

Forgive me for waking you, but you've
been asleep for hours. There's a letter for you.

- Perhaps it's from Isabella at last.
- Thank you. Where is everyone?

- Our guests have left for London.
- And Henry?

Henry has been called away on business
and must stay overnight.

So you see how glad I am of your company,
Catherine.

No, this isn't Isabella's hand.
This is from James.

(JAMES) Dear Catherine,

I think it is my duty to tell you everything
is at an end between Isabella and me.

I suffered her flirtation
because she swore her heart was mine,

but all the while she deceived me and
I am ashamed to think how long I bore with it.

(CATHERINE) "I hope that before
Captain Tilney makes their engagement known

"you may be removed from Northanger.

"Her cruelty has all but killed me.

"Dearest Catherine,
beware how you give your heart.

"Your loving brother James."

How can this be?

James writes to tell me
that Isabella has deserted him

and that he expects her engagement
to Captain Tilney

to be made known at any hour.

Can any heart be so fickle?

Not everyone is ruled by their heart,
Catherine.

As for Frederick marrying Isabella, that's
impossible. He'd never think of such a thing.

- Why do you say that?
- Why?

Because Isabella
is as poor as a church mouse.

But that will not signify with your family.

Only the other day, the general was saying...
You were there...

He said he valued money

only as it allows him to promote
the happiness of his children.

Oh, have I misunderstood the general
in so many ways?

(ELEANOR) I know that we appear rich
and fortunate, but things are not as they seem.

Father is an inveterate gambler
and loses vastly.

The marchioness only encourages him

with schemes of setting all to rights
by making matches for us children.

But if the general is so very concerned
with money, what does he want with me?

Oh, Catherine.
Don't let him ruin your happiness.

And your happiness?

On my fourteenth birthday, at my first ball,

I fell in love with Thomas,
a young officer in Frederick's regiment.

Until three years ago,
our happiness was perfect.

Then Thomas's family was ruined

and my father forbade me
ever to see or communicate with him again.

Although we do, of course,
still meet in secret.

And do you meet here,
beside the statue of the unknown woman?

Yes, we do.

Alice told me that you'd found
some of our old notes.

Now, you must both keep my secret.

And you know I shall do nothing foolish,
for I value good sense above all things.

Even in love?

Most of all in love.

The general asked to see you, miss,
in the library. I never seen him half so mad.

(DRIVER SHOUTS TO HORSES)

(BOY) Cathy!

Cathy's home! Cathy's home!

- Your behaviour surprises me, sir.
- My behaviour, damn you?

It's Miss Morland's behaviour surprises me.

The marchioness arrived from Bath

with rumours that persuaded me
to make more careful enquiries.

I discovered Miss Morland to be
what you probably have always known her -

a common little fortune-seeker.

As you may well imagine, Thorpe's deceit

has given Bath
some pretty amusement at my expense.

Thorpe? John Thorpe misled you?

Yes, Thorpe, damn it!

Thorpe, his vulgar sister and Miss Morland
colluded to ruin the Tilney family

and they attempted it at our weakest point -
Frederick and yourself.

On Miss Morland's part,
there was none of that.

Did she not pretend herself an heiress
from the start?

No, indeed she did not.
You all too readily believed her to be one.

The truth is, Miss Morland is not an heiress,
nor is she by any means a pauper.

So you have been making enquiries on your own,
have you? You amaze me.

(WHISTLES)

Pray be good enough to tell me
how much the young lady may expect.

400 a year.

400?!

Have you any notion
how much it costs to keep this place?

This morning I have formed a notion, yes,
and I believe it costs too dear.

You should look to your own weakness, Father.

- Have you forgot yourself, sir?
- On the contrary.

Good God, and I believed
Catherine's picture of you to be too black.

Too black, you say?

Damn nonsense!

I always had a bark
that was worse than my bite.

Perhaps the young lady
should occupy her imagination writing novels.

(MRS ALLEN) One cannot imagine
a better-bred man than General Tilney.

And very particular for his children, of course.

But then dear Catherine is agreeable
in both dress and manners.

(MR ALLEN) My dear, whatever the general's
reasons may be, he's not acted honourably,

neither as a gentleman nor as a parent.

It's a strange business.

Indeed it is. And I cannot think
that the general has acted honourably.

Depend upon it, Mrs Allen, the general's
behaviour is not worth understanding.

We are only happy to have Catherine
safely back with us again.

- I'm sure you are.
- Besides,

it is a great comfort to know she is not
the shatter-brained creature we all thought her,

but can shift very well for herself.

- It is the Tilneys' loss.
- Catherine!

Catherine!

Bath was a nice place, was it not?

My dear, do you not think
these gloves wear well?

I put them on new
the first time we visited the Upper Rooms.

- Do you remember that night?
- Do I? Oh, perfectly!

We met Mr Tilney there.
I always thought him a great addition.

I have a notion you danced with him, Catherine,

but I am not quite sure.

No, really, I have no patience with him.

Though I shall never forget
his last words to me.

"Mrs Allen..."
Such a commanding voice he had.

"Mrs Allen, it has been
a pleasure to meet you."

Well...

...one lives and learns.

Miss Morland?

Don't be afraid.

I promise not to oppress you
with too much remorse, or too much passion.

Though since you left us,
the white rose bush has died of grief.

Catherine...

Are you still a disgrace to your sex?

Does your face express all that your heart feels
or may I hope that it holds a secret?

You know I do not need
my father's permission to marry you.

But he knows you are here?

Yes.

(BOY) Cathy!

Catherine!

Cathy!

Synced by Peterlin