There is nothing better than a good ol’ English literature classic on film. In 2005, the newest adapted screen version of one of the most beloved English classics of all time was brought to our screens once again. Check out the link below to see the one of the most famous scenes from Pride and Prejudice, “Mr. Darcy’s Proposal.”
Watch the scene and try to fill-in the gaps in the film script with the missing present tenses (i.e. the present tense, present continuous, or present perfect simple). Do not use subtitles.
Fill-in the conversation from the film below! Good luck!
Darcy: Miss Elizabeth. I _______ in vain and I can bear it no longer. These past months_______ a torment. I ____ to Rosings with the single object of seeing you. I had to see you. I ______ against my better judgment, my family’s expectation, the inferiority of your birth by rank, so I _____ start all these things, and I’______ to put them aside and ask you to end my agony.
Elizabeth: I _____ _______.
Darcy: I love you, most ardently. Please _____ me the honour of accepting my hand.
Elizabeth: Sir, I appreciate the struggle you _________ through, and I _____ very sorry to ________ you pain. Believe me, it was unconsciously done.
Darcy: ____ this your reply?
Elizabeth: Yes, sir.
Darcy: Are you… _____________ at me?
Elizabeth: No.
Darcy: _____ you _______me?
Elizabeth: I____ sure the feelings which, as you’_________ me ________ your regard will help you in overcoming it.
Darcy: _____ I ___ why, with so little endeavour at civility, I am thus repulsed?
Elizabeth: And I might as well enquire why, with so evident a design of insulting me, you _____ to tell me that you liked me against your better judgment?
Darcy: No, believe me…
Elizabeth: If I was uncivil, then that is some excuse! But I _____other reasons. You ____ I have.
Darcy: What reasons?
Elizabeth: _____ you ____ anything might tempt me to accept the man who _______ perhaps forever the happiness of a most beloved sister? ____ you _____ it Mr. Darcy, that you separated a young couple who loved each other, exposing your friend to the centre of the world for caprice and my sister to its derision for disappointed hopes and involving them both in misery of the acutest kind?
Darcy: I _____ deny it.
Elizabeth: How could you do it?
Darcy: Because I believed your sister’s indifferent to him.
Elizabeth: Indifferent?
Darcy: I watched them most carefully and realized his attachment was deeper than hers.
Elizabeth: That’s because she’s shy!
Darcy: Bingley, too, is modest and was persuaded she didn’t feel strongly for him.
Elizabeth: Because you suggested it.
Darcy: I did it for his own good.
Elizabeth: My sister hardly ______ her true feelings to me. I _____ you suspect that his fortune had some bearing?
Darcy: No! I wouldn’t do your sister the dishonour, though it was suggested…
Elizabeth: What was?
Darcy: It was made perfectly clear that an advantageous marriage…
Elizabeth: Did my sister give that impression?
Darcy: No! No. No. There was, however, I have to admit, the matter of your family…
Elizabeth: Our want of connection? Mr. Bingley didn’t seem to vex himself about that.
Darcy: No, it was more than that.
Elizabeth: How, sir?
Darcy: It was the lack of propriety shown by your mother, your three younger sisters and even, on occasion, your father. Forgive me. You and your sister I must exclude from this.
Elizabeth: And what about Mr. Wickham?
Darcy: Mr. Wickham?
Elizabeth: What excuse _____ you give for your behaviour towards him?
Darcy: You ______ an eager interest in that gentleman’s concerns.
Elizabeth: He told me of his misfortunes.
Darcy: Oh, yes, his misfortunes ________ very great indeed.
Elizabeth: You _____ his chances and yet you _____ him with sarcasm.
Darcy: So this____ your opinion of me? Thank you for explaining so fully. Perhaps these offences might ___________had not your pride been hurt by my honesty…
Elizabeth: My pride?
Darcy: …in admitting scruples about our relationship. Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your circumstances?
Elizabeth: And those are the words of a gentleman. From the first moment I ____ you, your arrogance and conceit, your selfish disdain for the feelings of others made me realize that you were the last man in the world I could ever be prevailed upon to marry.
Darcy: Forgive me, madam, for taking up so much of your time.