This is our third feature on the endings of the major Pride and Prejudice adaptations. For the 1995 BBC series, click here. Click here for the 1980 BBC TV series.
As stated in our 1980 ending post, the final scenes of Pride and Prejudice are difficult to adapt for the screen. Tidy endings tend to work best on TV and in movies, but the novel ends with an epilogue covering several years of developments, which would probably translate rather awkwardly to television or film. All dramatizers of the novel therefore have to make a difficult choice as to where to end the story. The 2005 movie has the distinction of actually having two endings – one for the United States and one, it seems, for everywhere else. Apparently the final scene of the American version was deemed a little too schmaltzy for most of the rest of the world, especially the UK. Here then, is a transcript of the script which covers both releases.
We start after Lady Catherine de Bourgh has warned Lizzy at Longbourn about rumors of her engagement to Mr Darcy, and taken her leave. In this version, the outdoor scene in which Mr Darcy and Elizabeth expresses their love for each other does not take place during a pleasant stroll to Meryton, but rather as Lizzy walks through the misty grounds of Longbourn at dawn. Mr Darcy, her partner in love and insomnia, joins her.
EXT. LONGBOURN GROUNDS – DAWN
Mr Darcy appears through the mist and walks towards Elizabeth.
ELIZABETH:
I couldn’t sleep.
DARCY:
Nor I. My aunt…
ELIZABETH:
Yes, she was here.
DARCY:
How can I ever make amends for such behavior?
ELIZABETH:
After what you have done for Lydia, and I suspect for Jane also, it is I who should be making amends.
DARCY:
You must know. Surely you must know it was all for you. You are too generous to trifle with me. I believe you spoke with my aunt last night and this taught me to hope, as I’d scarcely allowed myself before. If your feelings are still what they were last April then tell me so at once. My affections and wishes have not changed. But one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I would have to tell you, you have bewitched me, body and soul. And I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on.
Elizabeth kisses his hand.
ELIZABETH:
Well, then. Your hands are cold.
They embrace, with their faces touching and the sun rising behind them.
Elizabeth is pacing impatiently outside her father’s library. She smiles to herself. Mr Darcy opens the door. Elizabeth rushes into the room.
MR BENNET (OFF-SCREEN):
Shut the door please, Elizabeth.
As the door closes, Elizabeth and Darcy watch each other intently.
MR BENNET:
Lizzy, are you out of your senses? I thought you hated the man!
ELIZABETH:
No, Papa.
MR BENNET:
He is rich, to be sure. You will have more fine carriages than Jane. But will that make you happy?
ELIZABETH:
Have you no other objection than your belief in my indifference?
MR BENNET:
None at all. We all know him to be a proud, unpleasant sort of fellow, but this would be nothing if you really liked him.
ELIZABETH:
I do like him. I love him. He’s not proud. I was wrong. I was entirely wrong about him. You don’t know, Papa, if I told you what he was really like, what he’s done…
MR BENNET:
What has he done?
Mr Darcy is sitting outside Longbourn with the animals, as Mrs Bennet and Jane look on from behind a window. Darcy stands and begins pacing up and down.
MRS BENNET:
But she doesn’t like him. I thought she didn’t like him.
JANE:
So did I. So did we all. We must have been wrong.
MRS BENNET:
It wouldn’t be the first time, would it?
JANE:
No.
Elizabeth and Mr Bennet are still together. Mr Bennet has heard of Darcy’s involvement in the marriage of Lydia and Mr Wickham.
MR BENNET:
Good Lord! I must pay him back.
ELIZABETH:
No, you mustn’t tell anyone. He wouldn’t want it. We misjudged him, Papa, me more than anyone – in every way, not just in this matter. I’ve been nonsensical. He’s been a fool, about Jane, about so many other things, but then so have I. You see, he and I are… he and I are so similar. We’re both so stubborn. Papa…
Mr Bennet, along with Lizzy, is starting to cry.
MR BENNET:
(Laughs) You really do love him, don’t you.
ELIZABETH:
Very much.
MR BENNET:
I cannot believe that anyone can deserve you, but it seems I am overruled. So, I heartily give my consent.
They hug.
MR BENNET:
I could not have parted with you, my Lizzy, to anyone less worthy.
Elizabeth leaves.
MR BENNET:
If any young men come for Mary or Kitty then for Heaven’s sake send them in. I am quite at my leisure.
So ends the non-American version of Pride and Prejudice. This is the final scene of the US edition, also available as an alternate ending in international editions of the DVD.
EXT. PEMBERLEY – NIGHT
We see Pemberley, reflected in the lake at night. Mr Darcy sits down next to Elizabeth.
MR DARCY:
How are you this evening, my dear?
ELIZABETH:
Very well. Only, I wish you would not call me ‘my dear.’
MR DARCY:
Why?
ELIZABETH:
‘Cause it’s what my father always calls my mother when he’s cross about something.
MR DARCY:
What endearments am I allowed?
ELIZABETH:
Well, let me think. ‘Lizzy’ for every day. ‘My pearl’ for Sundays, and ‘Goddess Divine,’ but only on very special occasions.
MR DARCY:
And what shall I call you when I’m cross? Mrs Darcy?
ELIZABETH:
No. No. You may only call me ‘Mrs Darcy’ when you are completely, perfectly and incandescently happy.
MR DARCY:
But how are you this evening, Mrs Darcy? Mrs Darcy. Mrs Darcy. Mrs Darcy.
He kisses her between each ‘Mrs Darcy.’ FADE OUT as their lips meet.
So, what do you feel about these endings? I have to admit to being glad that my DVD stops before the final scene of the US edition. It’s just too overdone for my taste, and very different from the tone of the book. However, I do love the conversation between Elizabeth and Mr Bennet, as Lizzy expresses her love for Darcy and Mr Bennet feels such immense happiness and relief for his daughter.
Please let me know how you feel about both of these endings. Which is your favorite? Do you prefer these final scenes to those of the 1980 or 1995 adaptations? Which captures the ending of the book most faithfully?
I agree with you. The “Mrs. Darcy” thing is overdone, but I do love the conversation with Mr. Bennet. I thought Donald Sutherland was great in that scene.
Oh, I can not explain how much I love this movie. Lizzi & Darcy. They are so wonderful. I watch this movie times and times again, and never feel bored.
i have watched this movie several times myself. it is probably the only movie i could sit and watch it over and over again without getting bored. i liked the american ending, i believe it is needed in the film espicially after darcys proposal scene where darcy and lizzi look as if they are about to kiss. the proposal scene forshadows the kiss at the end. it is a bit hollywood muchy
but, honestly they could have ended the movie with lizzi kissing his hand and thought it is beautiful as well
It’s not the tone of Jane’s, though, it can be a better Mr. Darcy, who had never really felt love before. He may only act like this with Lissy. So the scene seems especially romantic to me, and makes me love Mr. Darcy more.
i had watched this movie over 15 times and cannot get enough of it. I love Mr. Darcy, it’s so romantic
Matthew Macfayden is the best Mr. Darcy ever.
I think the scene reflects how Lizzy in his life has made significant changes in Darcy’s character. Once taciturn and stoic , his love for her and her for him has tranformed him into a man who is more relaxed, confident, and able to be and “silly” with those he loves.
i love the american ending, they need at least one kiss to expressing they love to each other, and i quite like matthew macfadyen as mr. Darcy
I personally love the American version! You have to have at least one kiss between the two!
I prefer the UK ending, the US version was a little too, well, it makes good deleted scene.
I think the american ending is better than the european ,Because in the whole movie we see these two to fighting, then ultimately we need a bit from love. I think too this movie is perfect , so romantic , I don´’t get tired of seeing this movie never.
*I agree too. Matthew Macfayden is the best Mr. Darcy ever. ( so hooooot, wow)
I agree with Evelyn and kezia, the kiss at the end of the US version is so satisfying!
I didn’t ming the u.s. ending. It was just, at the “mrs. darcy x5″ part, I was already looking up at nowhere because it seemed corny.
First, I would ask you to excuse my poor englisch, but I really would like to say that I love the 2005 UK ending. I wached the movie many times and it was always perfetc for me. But only a few days ago I found out that there was this american ending and I was so happy that I could have a little more of Darcy and Lizzy. And I just loved to see this marvelous ” Matthew’s” Mr. Darcy repiting Mrs. Darcy, Mrs. Darcy in such a tender manner. By the way the more I watch the movie the more I like Matthew Macfayden work!
I loved the American ending. I am a sappy romantic and I believe there has to be a memorable kiss at the end. I have watched this movie many times over and always watch the US ending also. The first time I watched this movie I felt disappointed and incomplete at the end. They could have kissed after Lizzie kissed Darcy’s hand and that would have satisfied even the slightest of romantics. I feel the end scene with Donald Sutherland is brillant.
Matthew Macfadyen is amazing!!! This movie is amazing!! It breaks my heart that it is only a movie and few find this type of love. If only we could all be lucky enough to meet our Mr. Darcy!!!
The american ending is most better than the german one. The last sceen is perfect! I love it!
I am not of the opinion that it is overdone! Our ending is not an ending … okay, you can see, that they will marry but they do not show their real feelings. This last sceen is the one I missed in our version.
I must say, the BBC version is my all-time favorite. Although I love this one too and am a HUGE Matthew Macfayden fan.
I do have one question – the line “Your hands are cold.” has always bothered me. It just seems so….unromantic and anti-climactic. What do you all think? How did you interpret it? It bugs me every time.
o my gosh i’ve watched pride and prejudice three times but all three times i’ve seen it it doesnt show mr.darcy(by the way i didnt like him at the beginning but near the end i thought he was hot)and lizzy kissing i want to watch that version but i cant find it i only found and watched the alternate ending on youtube but i want to watch the entire movie that has the part were lizzy and mr.darcy kiss:/ but im reading the book i think the movie is more interesting
I agree with Evelyne and Michelle.Its true that the us ending does not match with the tone of the book.But it helps us to love Mr. Darcy more.I read somewhere people describing it as over-sexualisation of P&P.But I dont think so. Mr. Darcy repeated ‘Mrs. Darcy’ in such a tender manner and kissed her so gently ,that it touched my heart…and, honestly,brought tears to my eyes…This is what is missing in uk version.
i saw this movie over 20 times and still i watch it every week ,i love the novel ,the writer ,the actors ,and i think the uk ending was the best ending.we can feel the great love between two even with this ending without any kiss.but i like to see the us ending too,i did not know any thing about being another ending until today.and i love the two actors .they were the best lizzy and mr.darcy
I truly enjoyed the American ending the best, but that’s the romantic in me. Jennifer was bothered about the line, “your hands are cold”. I feel this relays to viewers how nervous Darcy was to approach Lizzy again for fear of again being refused, but he had to take the chance. Loved this movie!
I love this movie so much that I watched it more than 10 times in two days.I have somewhat developed a crush on Mr.Darcy and can’t stop thinking about Matthew Macfayden. I think he is the best Mr Darcy ever,his good looks and his voice compliments the character better than the other actors.For the main question for American or the UK ending, well I prefer the American ending..it’s so well done and I think after all the fighting and arguments a very nice little touch to the end gives fans like us to dream about Mr Darcy and Lizzy’s future .
it seems i watched the uk verssion, and i felt little disapointed about the ending. But i found the alternative ending on youtube and i love that alternative ending. That’s so romantic. Although that’s totally diferent from the novel. It was really satisfying.
By the way.. Anybody know where we can get the full movie of the us verssion? I only watched it in youtube and i really want to watch the whole complete us verssion. Thank you!
Only recently saw it for the first time on cable and was totally taken in by the beauty of the landscape, the musical score, the perfection of the casting and love story. I immediately bought it and have watched several times since. I went back and re-read the book — some 45 years after the first reading and while I loved the book, I felt the movie struck just the right chord and took the correct dialogue from the page. Knowing that Matthew MacFadyen did NOT read the book or see the previous movie and mini series but played straight from the sscript made me appreciate his acting the more. He was totally believeable as a young man with huge responsibilities and a firm sense of who is was supposed to be learning to be who he was at heart. I am delighted to see I am not the only one who has watched it again and again. I LOVED the alternate ending because their sexual ension was palapable throughout and for the intimacy it showed in the way she touched his leg and arm and his own continuing deference to pleasing her. It is easily my new favorite movie of this genre. BTW the original with Greer Garson had full on kissing and was not nearly as satisfying. I loved Colin Firth in the mini series but Jennifer Ehle left me cold. Knightly was perfect.
Just give my two cents…I love the book and the movie. I love both UK and US ending, but i feel more satisfied for US ending, of course if we want to stand with the purity according the book so the kissing scene wont be needed but even in 1995 version Lizzy and Darcy have kissing scene in their wedding. They’re already married and I think it would be nice to see some sweet scene for them and i think it is great because we can see different side of Darcy, his tenderness, his affection, his love for Elizabeth. The scene made me feel complete and satisfied for their love story. PP has became one of my favorites…
If we are going to be purists, I can’t imagine that Jane Austen would approve of any adaptation of her book. Then we wouldn’t have any of these performances to enjoy. I’m thrilled with the 2005 Pride and Prejudice. I love Emma Thompson (uncredited) who helped with the additional dialogue. She won an Oscar for her screenplay of Sense and Sensibility. Also, as a Yank and a romantic, I love the kisses at the end.
How fun it has been to check around the net and see how this movie has touched people. There is the “kiss” controversy of homemade videos of Lizzy and Darcy to myriad love songs and any blogs. Of the controversy of the endings, I wonder if it had been called “Miss Bennet and Mr Darcy, a love story” if it would have satisfied purists more. I got the BBC 6 hour miniseries to watch again after re-reading the book and it has lots that is not in the book. Plus, like the 1939 Greer Garson/Olivier outing, Lizzy was far too well dressed and Longbourne too nice to convey the class differential she so beautifully shown in the 2005 version. In the long run, people are drawn to the love story and that is what the 2005 adaptation emphasizes — perhaps it will entice more people to read her other works. I am not sure if Miss Austen would not like any adaptation, but I surmise would like this abridged version more than ‘Becoming Jane’ which purports to be HER life and is pure fiction. I do believe that Jane, whose very tombstone does not say she was a writer, would be surprised and, I hope, happy that almost two centuries after her death her works are revered, retold in countless ways (ie: Brigette Jones Diary), and that her main characters are some of the best loved in all literature — we should all be so lucky as to get that kind of immortality.
I love this adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and though the kissing ending does not follow the book, I love it. Every time it shows on TV, I look for that ending which is not there.
Just watched it again this weekend — after The Notebook which left me drowning in tears I needed a feel good movie! I’ve lost count of all the people I’ve introduced to this movie and it has been universally loved. At least a dozen call it their favorite and watch it at least once a month. As to this issue of the kiss at the end — maybe “Mrs. Darcy” is overdone but as one of the MEN I showed it to said, I think he was just saying that “I AM perfectly, totally and incandescently happy time 5″ Besides, both the 1939 Greer Garson/Lawrence Olivier version and the 1992 Jennifer Ehle/Colin Firth versions ending with kisses and there is no hue and cry about that. We should be more miffed at the appalling departure of the 1939 version by making Darcy so cloying and Lady DeBourg in cahoots with Darcy in getting Lizzie. I wish you could have talked to the teenager who said it was her favorite and brought her such joy to see it over and over on the hospital movie channel as she was taking cancer treatments. Even at her weakest, she said “I just love this story.” Just this past weekend I was watching it with another patient and one of our Russian nurses came in and immeidately recognized it and animatedly recounted her favorite characters and scenes. Was very sorry to read that Matthew MacFadyen didn’t have a good time on the set as he was unable to be with his wife as she was expecting their first baby. I hope he knows that that performance ahs brought real joy to many — and sent many to read the book!
While I agree that the American version may be too much for Austen, what you have to consider is that the 2005 version is not the Austen version. While the 2005 version does a great job in staying true to the story, it is quite different from Austen’s version (Elizabeth actually comes across as likable). So, yes, this would seem out of place in the prim and proper world of Austen, but not so much in the whimsical and passionate 2005 version, which I loved.
After watching the 2005 version with the Director comments turned on, I was struck by the attention to detail Joe Wright put into his production. The blackbirds that ALWAYS chirp when Elizabeth is alone with her thoughts; how the opening music is the same as Georgiana was playing to bridge old home to new home for Lizzie and, although completely lost on the viewer, that a moat surrounds Longbourne where this group of virgins live! Even the 4 swans in the lake next to “Pemberly” representing Lizzie’s sisters “The one with its head underwater is Lydia.” Those two tidbits alone create a delicious “secret” between you and Wright the next time you watch it without his commentary turned on. Marianelli’s music score was ALL ORIGINAL! Then there were the intricate real life stories: Rosamund Pike having been engaged to both Joe Wright and the actor playing Mr. Bingley. Keira and Rupert(Mr. Wickham) having “a live in thing” for 6 years after making the film and so on. How the gardner at Chatham House led them to the wonderful tree Lizzie and the Gardiners sit in when the wagon breaks down. The false walls put up at Longbourne to give it that worn appearance. How the assembly dance set was built in size specific to the number of people in the shot and which 2 scenes were CGI (hint: NOT the cliffs of Derbyshire.) Drawing attention to Mary and Charlotte’s interest in Mr. Collins or his fascination with how well an extra played a drunk in the assembly dance scene that had escaped me (and maybe you) until pointed out. The affection the Director held for the actors who played ‘lesser’ characters: the elder Bennets, Lady DeBourg, Charlotte, Mr. Collins, the Gardiners, even the butler at Netherfield. I was taken with his genuine respect for the sets and the players — if you have not watched it along with his comments, a real treat awaits you.
I had no idea that that last scene was left out of other additions. I’m Canadian so I’m not sure why…
It may be the sentimentalist in me, but I adored that conversation about names that Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy have.
Having always known the “extended edition” I feel like I would be a tad upset at it ending just as Mr. Bennet is talking.
Having a bride take a husband’s name is a small pleasure for many women (I look forward to it) So I love her wanting to be called Mrs. Darcy.
It’s just lovely.