Pride and Prejudice

Mr Bennet secretly calls on Bingley before revealing the visit to his delighted family.

At the Meryton assembly, Bingley distinguishes Jane by dancing with her twice. Darcy declines to dance with Elizabeth and dismisses her as merely tolerable within her hearing.

Jane tells Elizabeth how much she admires Bingley's agreeable manners. Bingley admires the assembly while Darcy privately criticises its company and manners.

Charlotte Lucas argues that Darcy's wealth and position give him some right to be proud. Mary Bennet solemnly explains that pride concerns self-opinion while vanity concerns others' opinions.

Charlotte warns Elizabeth that Jane's reserve may prevent Bingley from recognising her love. Darcy becomes captivated by Elizabeth's expression and intelligence after initially dismissing her. Elizabeth teasingly declines when Darcy asks her to dance at Lucas Lodge.

Mrs Bennet sends Jane to dine at Netherfield on horseback in threatening weather. Jane catches a severe cold and must remain at Netherfield. Elizabeth crosses muddy fields on foot to nurse her sick sister.

Elizabeth stays at Netherfield after finding Jane too ill to return home. Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst ridicule Elizabeth's muddy appearance and unfashionable journey. Elizabeth challenges Darcy and Miss Bingley's demanding definition of an accomplished woman.

Mrs Bennet declares Jane too unwell to leave Netherfield and refuses to provide a carriage. Mrs Bennet loudly praises country society and betrays her hopes of Jane marrying Bingley. Lydia reminds Bingley of his promise to hold a ball, and he agrees to do so after Jane recovers.

Miss Bingley hovers around Darcy and praises him while he writes a letter to his sister. Elizabeth refuses Darcy's invitation to dance a reel, suspecting that he means to despise her taste.

Miss Bingley invites Elizabeth to walk around the room in an effort to attract Darcy's attention. Elizabeth and Darcy debate vanity, pride and the faults that can make a person ridiculous.

Jane becomes well enough to return home despite Bingley's reluctance to let her leave. Elizabeth and Jane return to Longbourn in the Bennet carriage.

Mr Bennet reads a letter from his cousin and heir, Mr Collins, proposing a visit and reconciliation. Mr Collins joins the family and immediately admires the house he will one day inherit.

Mr Collins repeatedly extols his patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and her condescension. After choosing Fordyce's sermons, Mr Collins stops reading when Lydia interrupts him with gossip.

Learning that Jane may soon be engaged, Mr Collins redirects his matrimonial plans towards Elizabeth. In Meryton, Elizabeth is struck by the handsome and engaging officer George Wickham. Darcy and Wickham exchange visibly disturbed looks when they unexpectedly encounter one another.

Wickham tells Elizabeth that Darcy denied him the church living promised by Darcy's father. Wickham speaks warmly of Darcy's parents and sister while portraying Darcy as proud and resentful. Elizabeth accepts Wickham's account and finds it consistent with her dislike of Darcy.

Elizabeth tells Jane of Wickham's accusations, though Jane hopes both men have been misunderstood. Bingley personally invites the Bennets to the forthcoming Netherfield ball. Mr Collins secures Elizabeth's first two dances, frustrating her hope of dancing with Wickham.

Elizabeth learns that Wickham has stayed away from Netherfield because of Darcy. Elizabeth reluctantly dances with Darcy and questions him about Wickham during their strained conversation. Collins, Mrs Bennet, Mary and the younger girls behave conspicuously, leaving Elizabeth mortified.

Mr Collins offers Elizabeth marriage, citing duty, personal happiness and Lady Catherine's advice. Elizabeth firmly rejects him despite his conviction that her refusal is merely fashionable modesty.

Mrs Bennet asks her husband to force Elizabeth to accept Mr Collins. Mr Bennet tells Elizabeth she must lose one parent whether she accepts Collins or refuses him. Mr Collins finally accepts that Elizabeth will not marry him and withdraws his proposal.

Wickham openly explains that Darcy drove him from the Netherfield ball, strengthening Elizabeth's belief in him. Jane receives Caroline Bingley's letter announcing that the Netherfield party has gone to London for the winter. Caroline's praise of Georgiana Darcy leads Jane to suspect that Bingley's sisters want him to marry her.

Mr Collins transfers his attentions to Charlotte Lucas and asks her to marry him. Charlotte accepts for the security of an establishment rather than from affection.

Charlotte personally tells Elizabeth that she is to marry Mr Collins. Elizabeth is shocked that her sensible friend would marry a man she cannot esteem. Mrs Bennet bitterly resents the engagement and the prospect of Charlotte becoming mistress of Longbourn.

Jane tries to accept that she was mistaken about Bingley's affection and resolves not to repine. Elizabeth blames Bingley for yielding to his friends and Darcy for helping to separate him from Jane.

Mrs Bennet's intelligent brother and sister-in-law arrive to spend Christmas with the family. Mrs Gardiner offers Jane a change of scene by inviting her to London. Mrs Gardiner discovers that Wickham knows the Derbyshire district where she once lived.

Mrs Gardiner warns Elizabeth against forming a serious attachment to the penniless Wickham. In London, Caroline delays seeing Jane and then treats her with cold civility. Wickham turns his attention to Miss King after she inherits ten thousand pounds.

Elizabeth tells Mrs Gardiner that Wickham's pursuit of wealthy Miss King is prudent rather than mercenary. Elizabeth sets out with Sir William and Maria Lucas to visit Charlotte and Mr Collins. The travellers stop in London, where Elizabeth finds Jane recovering from her disappointment.

Elizabeth arrives at Hunsford and observes how Charlotte manages her husband and household. Mr Collins proudly exhibits the parsonage and repeatedly points out Rosings Park. Lady Catherine and her daughter make a brief visit to the parsonage, astonishing Maria Lucas.

The Hunsford party receives an invitation to dine at Rosings. Lady Catherine questions Elizabeth about her family, education and sisters with imperious curiosity. Elizabeth refuses to disclose her age immediately and answers without being intimidated.

Darcy comes to visit Lady Catherine accompanied by his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam. Colonel Fitzwilliam converses with Elizabeth in an easy and agreeable manner. During a visit to the parsonage, Darcy sits mostly silent while repeatedly looking at Elizabeth.

At Rosings, Colonel Fitzwilliam draws his chair near Elizabeth and talks with her as she plays. Darcy approaches the instrument while Elizabeth teasingly accuses him of intimidating strangers. Lady Catherine criticises Elizabeth's practice and directs her to use the housekeeper's pianoforte.

Darcy unexpectedly calls at the parsonage while Elizabeth is its only occupant. Elizabeth pointedly discusses Bingley's sudden removal from Netherfield, but Darcy gives little away. Darcy continues visiting the parsonage despite speaking little and giving no clear reason for coming.

Darcy repeatedly meets Elizabeth on her favourite solitary path and accompanies her. Colonel Fitzwilliam says Darcy recently saved a friend from an imprudent marriage. Elizabeth concludes that Darcy separated Bingley from Jane and becomes angrily distressed.

Darcy declares his love while dwelling on her family's inferiority and his struggle against marrying her. Elizabeth refuses him and condemns his arrogance, his treatment of Wickham and his separation of Jane and Bingley. Wounded by Elizabeth's accusations, Darcy departs after a bitter exchange.

Darcy meets Elizabeth during her walk and gives her a letter answering her charges. Darcy explains that Jane appeared indifferent and that her family's conduct strengthened his objections. Darcy reveals that Wickham exchanged the living for money and later tried to elope with Georgiana for her fortune.

Elizabeth repeatedly examines Darcy's account and tests it against what she knows. She recognises that Wickham supplied no proof and that Darcy's history explains his behaviour. Elizabeth admits that vanity and partiality blinded her judgement of both men.

Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam depart after making their farewells at the parsonage. Elizabeth withholds the proposal and Wickham's history from Charlotte while reflecting on Jane's misfortune. Lady Catherine presses Elizabeth to prolong her stay and issues detailed instructions for her journey.

Elizabeth and Maria depart Hunsford after taking leave of Charlotte, Mr Collins and Lady Catherine. Elizabeth looks forward to reuniting with Jane while dreading the secrets she must disclose.

The younger Bennet sisters intercept Elizabeth, Jane and Maria on their journey home. Lydia excitedly discusses the regiment's removal to Brighton and her wish to follow it. Lydia reports that Miss King has gone away and Wickham is again free.

Elizabeth tells Jane that Darcy proposed and that she rejected him. She relates Darcy's account of Wickham, and Jane reluctantly accepts its credibility. Elizabeth and Jane decide not to publicise Wickham's misconduct because doing so would expose Georgiana.

Mrs Forster invites Lydia to accompany her to Brighton with the militia. Elizabeth urges her father to refuse permission because Lydia's uncontrolled behaviour threatens the family. Mr Bennet dismisses Elizabeth's fears and permits Lydia to visit Brighton.

Elizabeth reflects that her father's contempt for his foolish wife has damaged their family. Mr Gardiner's business forces the travellers to abandon the proposed Lake District journey. Mrs Gardiner proposes Derbyshire instead, bringing Elizabeth near Darcy's estate.

Assured that Darcy is absent, Elizabeth visits his estate and admires its natural beauty and tasteful house. Mrs Reynolds describes Darcy as a generous landlord, kind brother and excellent master. Elizabeth encounters Darcy outside Pemberley, where his striking civility confounds her expectations.

Darcy brings his shy sister to meet Elizabeth at the inn in Lambton. Bingley joins the visit, warmly enquires after the Bennets and remembers when he last saw Jane. Darcy's attentiveness convinces Elizabeth that he still cares for her despite her rejection.

Elizabeth and Mrs Gardiner visit Pemberley, where Georgiana receives them with shy courtesy. Jealous of Darcy's attention, Miss Bingley maliciously mentions the militia's departure from Meryton. After Elizabeth leaves, Darcy silences Miss Bingley's criticism by declaring Elizabeth one of the handsomest women he knows.

Elizabeth receives letters revealing that Lydia has run away from Brighton with Wickham. Darcy finds Elizabeth distressed, hears the news and leaves after offering sympathy. Believing Lydia's disgrace has destroyed Darcy's regard, Elizabeth prepares to return home with the Gardiners.

During the journey, Elizabeth tells the Gardiners enough of Wickham's past to explain her certainty that he will not marry Lydia. Elizabeth and the Gardiners reach Longbourn, where Mrs Bennet is hysterical and the family fears ruin. Mr Gardiner travels to London to help Mr Bennet locate Lydia and Wickham.

Mr Collins writes that Lydia's death would have been preferable and congratulates himself on escaping the family. Mr Bennet comes home after failing to find the fugitives in London. Mr Gardiner reports that every enquiry has failed and Wickham's debts are extensive.

A letter announces that Lydia and Wickham have been found and will marry if financial terms are settled. Mr Bennet agrees to give Lydia her equal share and one hundred pounds a year. Mrs Bennet instantly forgets the scandal and delights in Lydia's impending marriage.

Mr Bennet concludes that Mr Gardiner must have paid a large sum to induce Wickham to marry Lydia. He recognises that he should have saved money for his daughters instead of relying on a hoped-for son. Elizabeth believes her changed feelings for Darcy are useless because Lydia's marriage to Wickham makes connection impossible.

Lydia returns to Longbourn and boasts of being married while showing no shame for her conduct. Wickham falsely presents his failure to take orders as his own choice, and Elizabeth signals that she knows otherwise. Lydia carelessly reveals that Darcy attended her wedding, then admits she was meant to keep it secret.

Elizabeth writes to her aunt asking why Darcy was present at Lydia's wedding. Mrs Gardiner explains that Darcy found the couple, paid Wickham's debts and secured the marriage. Elizabeth wonders whether Darcy acted from love for her, guilt over Wickham or both.

News arrives that Bingley has taken possession of Netherfield again. The two men call on the Bennets, renewing Jane's hopes and Elizabeth's uncertainty. Darcy speaks little to Elizabeth, leaving her unable to judge his feelings.

Bingley and Darcy dine at Longbourn with a large gathering. Bingley sits beside Jane and shows her marked attention throughout the evening. Separated from Elizabeth by the table and Mrs Bennet's arrangements, Darcy offers her little encouragement.

Mrs Bennet contrives to leave Bingley and Jane together during his call at Longbourn. Bingley asks Jane to marry him, and she joyfully accepts. Mr Bennet consents to the match and praises Bingley's amiable character.

Lady Catherine arrives at Longbourn to challenge a report that Elizabeth will marry Darcy. Elizabeth refuses to promise that she will never accept Darcy and rejects Lady Catherine's claims of rank and duty. Unable to secure Elizabeth's submission, Lady Catherine leaves in anger.

Mr Bennet receives a letter from Mr Collins reporting that Darcy is expected to marry Elizabeth. Believing the idea absurd, Mr Bennet jokes about Darcy's supposed indifference and Elizabeth's supposed hatred. Elizabeth forces herself to share her father's amusement while fearing Darcy may not renew his proposal.

During a walk, Elizabeth expresses her gratitude for Darcy's intervention in Lydia's affair. Darcy declares that his feelings remain unchanged but asks Elizabeth to silence him if hers have not altered. Elizabeth confesses that her feelings have changed and accepts his renewed proposal.

Elizabeth convinces an astonished Jane that she truly loves Darcy and is engaged to him. Darcy privately asks Mr Bennet for permission to marry Elizabeth. After ensuring that Elizabeth loves Darcy, Mr Bennet approves the marriage.

On learning of the engagement, Mrs Bennet ecstatically praises Darcy's wealth, looks and importance. The couple discuss when their feelings changed and how Lady Catherine's interference encouraged Darcy. Darcy writes to his aunt and later secures her eventual acceptance of the marriage.

After a year, the Bingleys buy an estate near Pemberley and escape Mrs Bennet's constant proximity. Kitty spends much of her time with Jane and Elizabeth and becomes less irritable and ignorant. Elizabeth and Darcy remain warmly attached to the Gardiners, whose Derbyshire tour first brought them together at Pemberley.