Friday

Mr. Darcy and the Space-time Continuum, R.I. Three

If you have not read the first installment, you're going to want to begin there before continuing this journey, for this is installment three....

Mr. Darcy and the Space-time Continuum

* * * * *     
Space, the new frontier. This is the journey of the starship Venture ... 
its mission: to confuse Mr. Darcy, to introduce him to strange people and even stranger places, to brazenly go where no 19th century English gentleman has gone before...

* * * * *


The group of men directed Darcy toward one side of the room, when suddenly, doors opened and Darcy stopped with a start. Peering inside, he cried, “You cannot be serious! We are to have tea in such a small room? ...there is hardly sufficient space for us to stand in there! This is beyond comprehension -- to begin with I, your guest, am required to ask for tea, and now you show me a room that is only fit to hang one’s coat in. Do you expect me to have refreshments in there?”

Mr. Spot looked curiously at the stranger as the captain looked up at the ceiling, exasperated. Stones, the only one understanding the man’s reaction, turned to him and said, “We will not be having tea in there; we have to get in that room for it to take us to a more comfortable place for tea.”

“What are you saying? Show me the door to the other room, good sir, or I certainly will not step foot into such a confined space with foreigners such as yourselves.” Darcy was beginning to wish this dream would conclude, as it was becoming quite vexing, and he had better things to do, such as make that proposal to Elizabeth Bennet! There was a vague sense of concern coming over him, however, for his conversation with Elizabeth seemed so real, her refusal so forceful... could it be .... certainly he did not really...??

Darcy’s thoughts were interrupted by Captain Kurt, who, feeling like he had already given a mile just to agree to tea, burst out, “We only want to find out your name and where you are from! But it seems we can’t do that till we serve tea, and we can’t serve tea till you get in the lift!”

“Lift?” Darcy said quizzically. A man of Darcy’s education and stature in society could not help but be interested in investigating what a lift could be!

Mr. Spot proceeded to inform him, “The lift takes the occupants in that cubicle up several levels of a building much faster than if you were to walk up stairs. In this case, it will take us down five levels to the mess hall.”

Darcy, always one to hear any discrepancies, propounded, “If that room takes its occupants up as well as down, why is it referred to merely as a lift?”

Captain Kurt broke in, “Spot, we don’t have time to teach him how everything on the Venture works. Listen, sir, would you agree to get in the lift with Lieutenant Aurora? She can take you to the mess, and we will follow after.”

Darcy responded, “Now that is the first civilized thing you have said, sir.”

* * * * *

Mr Darcy falls in love . . . our new book about Darcy's side of Pride and Prejudice, 
released this 200th anniversary of that romantic story . . . and this also being the year of the release of the new Star Trek sequel . . . put them both together and you have . . .
 
Mr. Darcy and the Space-time Continuum
Look on the right sidebar for links to more installments 

Noe
copyright ©2013

Tuesday

100 word scary story

I saw something about writing stories or poems in only 100 words and thought I'd take a stab at it. There are various categories to choose from, or I suppose you can make up anything you want. Some rules say you can include the title, some don't say, others say don't... haha

Count the words to mine and see which rule I'm following --

My Turn to Scream
Eyes darting, heart pounding, hugging the wall, which seemed the only safe place... Moving steadily toward the exit, even more fearful since the screams from the others had stopped... The quiet is so profound, my head fills with the last sounds of the cries of terror... "Someone always escapes!" I say, to drown the echoes... Must step past an open doorway, then to safety... Should I run? or put my trust in silence? Quietly I step forward, next the feel of hot breath, the sensation of being pulled -- oh no! Now it is my turn to . . .

Thanks, hope you enjoyed it!
Noe
copyright ©2013

Monday

Pride and Prejudice movie characters, part 6

Miss Caroline Bingley

When we think of Pride and Prejudice, we automatically consider Darcy's pride and Elizabeth's prejudice and, of course, they each had their share of both. But the one person that exhibits these two qualities potentized is Caroline Bingley. She scoffs at people who make their money in trade, even though that is how her father made the family fortune. She asserts herself into a higher rung of English society by assuming a superior air, and nothing pairs so well with snobbishness as hypocrisy -- Caroline Bingley is the epitome of both. I suppose a book about her could be called Snobs and Hypocrites ... maybe I should think about that as my next P&P variation!

The 1940 movie must have set the example for most of the others that followed with reference to the way Caroline is portrayed. I'm referring to leaving out the dynamic of her wanting Darcy for herself; the 1980 BBC, the 2005 P&P, and Bride & Prejudice all have Miss Bingley not showing that much interest in Darcy. Only one version does that, the 1995 BBC series with Colin Firth, Jennifer Ehle and Anna Chancellor. This dimension of the story being left out, though, is a big mistake. There are some spicy exchanges in most versions between Caroline and Elizabeth which are fun to watch, but without the aspect that Caroline is fighting for Darcy's attention, all that is being portrayed is Miss Bingley being full of -- dare I say it? -- pride and prejudice! 

The real laugh of all this in the book is that Lizzy, who has no interest in Darcy, is simply enjoying the comedy playing out before her as she sees Caroline doing all she can to get Darcy to take notice of her, only to be ignored by him. Sure, you will enjoy the story without her interest in him shining through in these other movies, but why leave Austen's brilliance on the sideline? You might as well hang a copy of the Mona Lisa on your wall that is only partly done.

Now as to who plays the best Caroline Bingley in the movies we've been discussing, I was tempted to say it is a tie between Frieda Inescort in the 1940 movie and Anna Chancellor from the 1995 BBC version. However, the scales tilt in Anna's favor, because she really can be so Caroline -- gracious, elegant, with jealousy and pride all mixed together.

Honorable mention goes to Indira Varma as Kiran from Bride and Prejudice -- just looking at her IMDb photo, you might think she didn't even have to act the part!

Our choice for best Miss Bingley, Anna Chancellor
1940 version
1995 Anna Chancellor
1980 BBC
2005 version
 Bride and Prejudice