Mansfield Park Page #4

The baron meets the bastard son,

takes back his lover,

and they all live happily, I presume,

for some time ever after.

- Bravo, Tom!

- Well told, Tom!

More dim-witted fiction

to clutter the world.

Come now, Mr Bertram.

Drama is to life

what ships are to the sea.

A means to traverse it. To plumb

its depths, breadth and beauty.

I couldn't agree more.

Good drama, in which the greatest

powers of the mind are displayed,

in which the most thorough knowledge

of human nature, the liveliest wit,

are conveyed to the world

through the best chosen language.

This is essential.

This is trash!

He's so serious!

That is the worst charge, isn't it?

What do you think, Miss Price?

I'm sorry to disappoint,

but I do not have a ready opinion.

I suspect you are entirely composed

of ready opinions not shared.

Fanny.

- Yes, Aunt Norris?

- What are you doing here?

- I beg your pardon.

- The sewing wasn't cleared away.

You're quite right, it wasn't. I'll...

I'll see to it immediately.

Aunt Norris, surely

the sewing can wait?

Pray, is she out or is she not...

into society?

- I can't see that it matters terribly.

- Forget this nonsense.

Let's stage the play.

Here. Now. Together.

Yatesy, you're a genius.

Why, this is the very room

for a theatre.

And Father's study will

provide for an excellent stage!

It has been mentioned that I have

quite a gift for the stage...actually.

Tom, you're not serious?

Not serious? Me?

"Lover's Vows"? I'm convinced

that our father would disapprove.

I think I know our father

as well as you do.

Manage yourself and let me

take care of the rest of the family.

Don't act yourself if you

do not like it, but please...

...don't try to govern everybody else.

All settled, then?

- Good!

- What?

What's the matter?

I was not asleep.

No, of course not, ma'am.

No one suspected you.

Where's Fanny?

Mrs Norris, get me Fanny Price.

I wish to play Amelia.

But which gentleman am I to have

the pleasure of making love to?

Why has the wish to do what is right

become an unattractive quality?

And now Tom wants

Charles Maddox to play Anhalt.

He's about as discreet

as the town crier!

So this is where you hide. I need

some rehearsing. Would you mind...?

Mr Bertram! Hello.

Hello, Miss Crawford.

- I'll be off, then, Fanny.

- Stay, stay!

Stay! We need an audience.

We all need an audience,

don't we, Fanny?

I live in dread of audiences.

Come. I will play Amelia.

- And you will play Anhalt my teacher.

- No, no.

Read from there,

since Mr Bertram refuses. I insist.

Very well.

"For a long time,

you have instructed me."

- "Why should not I now teach you?"

- "Teach me what?"

"Whatever I know and you don't."

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes