EMMA Libretto Vocal Book by Musik und Bühne

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE www.musikundbuehne.de

NURZUR ANSICHT

Book, Music & Lyrics by

Paul Gordon

Based on the novel by Jane Austen

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(Last Revised — March 2020)

CHARACTERS

EMMA at its most economical is performed with a cast of 12 (6 women and 6 men) with the actress playing Mrs. Elton also doubling as Mrs. Bates and Miss Elizabeth Martin (both doubles are non-speaking roles). The actors playing Robert Martin and Mr. Weston can also double as servants if necessary. When preferred, a larger ensemble can be used and more servants can be added.

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EMMA WOODHOUSE, a 21-year-old aristocrat; naive, conceited and self serving - but in the most delightful way. It is in sharing the inner workings of her mind directly to the audience (and in doing so completely breaking the fourth wall) that we become utterly charmed by her and that the depth of humor in the role is revealed. Vocally, Emma is written to be a youthful, contemporary, “pop” sound — and in cases where the singing range extends beyond the actor’s chest voice, she should be adept at singing in a clear, straight-toned manner in her “mixed” range. Emma must not sound like Harriet or Jane Fairfax (who are sopranos.)

MR. WOODHOUSE, Emma’s father; old beyond his years, fearful of anything new (or “change” in any sense) and crotchety to a hilt - while also utterly harmless and completely lovable.

HARRIET SMITH, Emma’s “recently acquired” best friend; socially awkward and quirky - but also wide-eyed, innately optimistic, and inherently free of malice. A soprano with a purity of tone.

MR. KNIGHTLEY, Emma’s wealthy neighbor; at the surface sarcastic, wry and always ready for the sport of a good argument. Beneath this veneer is a man of impeccable moral standards and a sincere affection and nearly paternal instinct to see Emma be her best self. (Oftentimes most interestingly cast when not the tall, dark and handsome leading man) A thrilling bari-tenor.

MISS BATES, Emma's old friend; a chatty, mile-a-minute motor mouth — lovable despite her unending observations about the world around her. The Bates’s inhabit a social class beneath Emma’s; and so, it is with bubbling enthusiasm and rampant (harmless) gossip - instead of money - that Miss Bates buys her way into Emma’s social circle.

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MRS. BATES, Miss Bate’s mother, not quite as hard of hearing as Miss Bates believes.

JANE FAIRFAX, Miss Bate’s niece; beautiful, talented, elegant, and soft-spoken — also keenly observant of the world and the people around her. A true soprano with a crystalline tone quality

MR. ELTON, the vicar of Highbury; with no higher opinion than that for himself. Constitutionally incapable of tempering his opinions with any sense of modesty or thinking about anyone’s feelings but his own.

MRS. ELTON, Mr. Elton's wife; her exaggerated mannerisms, choice of words and lack of any sense of decorum bely her humble class-roots. A true match for Mr. Elton.

ROBERT MARTIN, a local farmer: boyish, and innately well-meaning. Like Harriet, innately optimistic, pure in his intentions, and utterly un-self-aware.

MISS ELIZABETH MARTIN, his sister

MR. WESTON, Emma's calm and well-mannered neighbor; married to Emma’s oldest friend.

MRS. WESTON, his wife; Emma’s former governess, best friend and favorite commiserator.

FRANK CHURCHILL, Mr. Weston’s son; as handsome and polished as Emma always imagined him to be. Beneath the manners lies a mischievousness that is not immediately perceptible. A tenor with a thrilling upper range.

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SETTING AND STYLE

The action is set in the English village of Highbury, in the second decade of the 19th century (known as the "Regency Period.") However, it’s conceivable that the piece could work equally as well in a Mid-Century-Modern style. If this period is preferred, the only change in the script is the world “carriage” to “car”.

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Utmost care should be taken to ensure that the story-telling, set movement, musical staging and transitions are executed in a thoroughly fluid style. The action must never stop. Locations are suggested only - and it is less important that each is adhered to than it is making sure the pacing of the show never be allowed to slow down to accommodate the scenery.

Aside from the underscoring that occurs within a song, each production should feel free to pick and choose which musical transition cues are (or aren't) helpful in achieving these quick, fluid transitions. In fact, much of the transition music is inter-changeable, can be done without, or at the very least is easily edited (or cut) to match the exact needs of your production.

At its heart, Emma is intended to be first and fore-most a comedy. A production will be diminished if care isn't taken to hire players who are - of course - fine actors and excellent singers; but also just as importantly, people who love to laugh, love to make others laugh, and understand that it is ultimately through the humor and joy in the portrayal of these (sometimes larger-than-life) characters that the audience will relate to the story and care about the people in it. Paint each character boldly.

When it comes to Emma and Knightley, its critical to understand that they both relish the chance to argue with one another. Knightley delights in any opportunity to wittily scold Emma (often times in an uncanny economy of words), while Emma will always be the first to offer an opinion (or the last word) on any matter, regardless of the propriety. But it’s also especially important to have established the fun and sport in their repartee so as to set up a great contrast to Knightley's rebuke of Emma after she publicly mocks Miss Bates at Box Hill which shakes Emma profoundly enough as to instigate the series of events that leads to her final "Epiphany" that, in fact, she is in love with Mr. Knightley.

There are several “fantasy” sequences in the musical where we are inside Emma’s head. The show begins with the song “Queen Anne’s Lace”, where Emma imagines (rightly) that she is the most popular person in all of Highbury. This idea is repeated throughout the piece. It’s important for the audience to realizethrough the use of lighting or clever staging - that we are in a place of suspended reality. Most important, however, is that the ensemble’s focus is always on Emma. Everything is sung in praise of her, and to her, because (after all) this is how Emma sees herself.

In the hope of achieving all of these things (and especially in understanding the author/composer's intent when it comes to the highly comedic tone of the piece) it would be useful for any creative team to listen to the original "Emma" CD on Broadway Records and/or stream the 2018 filmed stage version (available on Amazon.)

And finally...

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Jane Austen often remarked that Emma Woodhouse was a character only she could love, but it would seem generations of readers and fans of Emma have proven Ms. Austen wrong. Perhaps this is due to the inherent balance between hubris and humor we see in Emma. She begins the story with only the best of intentions, but completely wrong about everything. What makes readers and audiences alike root for her is that she ultimately becomes self-aware and takes responsibility for her mistakes. The true arc of the story is not that she realizes that she wants to marry Mr. Knightley, but rather, that she holds herself accountable for her actions. This is what makes her a heroine for our times.

#A—A Prelude

(Music segues)

Scene One

Fantasy Sequence: Hartfield. Living room.

#1—Queen Anne’s Lace

EMMA WOODHOUSE speaks to the audience.

EMMA

(Out)

Hello. I’m Emma Woodhouse. I enjoy the best blessings of existence and I find there is very little to vex or distress me.

HARRIET SMITH crosses in and admires EMMA from a distance.

HARRIET

ISn’T SHE CLEvER, RICH AnD PRETTy?

EMMA

My father and I live in the town of Highbury where our family is afforded no equals.

MISS BATES crosses in from the other side and also admires EMMA.

MISS BATES

ALWAyS A WOnDER TO BEHOLD

ROBERT MARTIN, ELIZABETH MARTIN, JANE FAIRFAX, MR. ELTON cross in and admire Emma as they join HARRIET and MISS BATES.

GROUP 1

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SHE IS PURE PERFECTIOn SHE nEEDS nO CORRECTIOn

MR. and MRS. WESTON cross in. EMMA stands.

EMMA

GROUP 2

THE MISTRESS OF THE HOUSE

(Out)

Happy day. Miss Taylor, my former governess and best friend in the world, has just become Mrs. Weston.

This is all your doing, Emma.

MRS. WESTON

EMMA

you are very kind, but love is an even stronger force than myself MRS. WESTON

you are being too modest.

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EMMA

yes. That is my greatest fault. The entire ENSEMBLE sings to EMMA.

ENSEMBLE

MISS WOODHOUSE OF HARTFIELD

SHE IS OUR SAvInG GRACE

FRANK CHURCHILL

OUR QUEEn AnnE’S LACE

GROUP 1

SHE’S DESIGnED IT ALL THE PERFECT SKy

SHE’S THE BELLE OF THE BALL

GROUP 2

SHE’S ARRAnGED IT ALL

ALL (ExceptEMMA)

AnD THE GLEAM In OUR EyE (Music segues)

#1A—Transition #1

End of fantasy sequence. The music fades and the ENSEMBLEdisappear into the darkness as MR. WOODHOUSE crosses in.

MR. WOODHOUSE

This is most distressing. Most distressing indeed.

EMMA

Oh, papa. Can I not persuade you to be happy?

MR. WOODHOUSE

Why do young people have to get married?

EMMA

you would not have our new Mrs. Weston live with us forever and bear all my odd humors when she could have a house of her own?

I like things as they are.

MR. WOODHOUSE

She deserves her own happiness now.

EMMA

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She was happy here

MR. WOODHOUSE

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EMMA

Do you not think I am too old for a governess?

MR. WOODHOUSE

(His MANTRA)

I don’t like change.

MR. KNIGHTLEY, late thirties, enters. He is a local landowner and an old intimate family friend.

MR. KNIGHTLEY

So, how did you all behave at the wedding?

MR. WOODHOUSE

Mr. Knightley. So nice of you to call at this latehour.

EMMA

Hello, Mr. Knightley.

Emma. (To both)

MR. KNIGHTLEY

Come, I want answers. Who shed the most tears?

MR. WOODHOUSE

The bride. Poor Mrs. Weston.

KNIGHTLEY

Poor Emma is more like it. She is sorry to lose such a companion.

EMMA

you’re simply jealous because I’ve made a success of matchmaking.

#2—I Made the Match Myself

KNIGHTLEY

Matchmaking? you simply said to yourself one idle day, “I think it would be a very good thing for Miss Taylor if Mr. Weston were to marry her”. That’s all you did.

EMMA

According to you (Out)

Mr. Knightley loves to find fault with me. His brother is married to my sister and we always say what we like to one another.

KNIGHTLEY

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(To Mr. Woodhouse)

Emma knows I never flatter her.

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EMMA

(Looking at Mr. Knightley) Or I him.

KNIGHTLY regards her.

I MADE THE MATCH MySELF

KNIGHTLEY

I THInK nOT

In POInT OF FACT

I’M UnCOnvInCED

EMMA

KNIGHTLEY

EMMA

WHO COULD LEAvE SUCH THInGS TO CHAnCE

WHEn I CAn BE ExACT?

My JUDGMEnT HAS PROvEn CORRECT

KNIGHTLEY

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT I WOULD BEG TO OBJECT!

EMMA

I MADE THE MATCH MySELF

KNIGHTLEY

In yOUR MInD

I JOInED THEIR HAnDS

EMMA

KNIGHTLEY

nO, STILL nOT TRUE

EMMA

THEy’RE HAPPILy UnITED

KNIGHTLEY

yES, BUT nOT BECAUSE OF YOU !

EMMA

COULDn’T yOU OFFER SOME PRAISE?

KNIGHTLEY

I OFFER THE TRUTH. yOU CAn’T HAvE IT BOTH WAyS

EMMA

PLEASE DOn’T SPEAK

I DOn’T CARE TO BE BORED TO DEATH By yOUR CRITIQUE DO I nOT GET CREDIT FOR InvITInG THEM TO DInnER? AnD MAnAGInG THE SEATInG? EnCOURGInG THEIR FRIEnDSHIP –AnD ALL WHILE I WAS EATING

KNIGHTLEY

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KNIGHTLEY

I WOULDn’T GET A WORD In EDGEWISE I WOULD TRy TO SCOLD yOU BUT yOU’RE nOT EvEn LISTEnInG MUCH ADO ABOUT yOU!

Emma…

EMMA

CLEARLy, I MADE THE MATCH MySELF

KNIGHTLY

yES, SO yOU KEEP REPEATInG… (Music stops)

EMMA

What about our new vicar, Mr. Elton?

A musical “ping” is heard as the lights come up on MR. ELTON, an overly eager man with exaggerated sincerity. It would be a shame to have him single any longer. I must make a match for him…

KNIGHTLEY

Emma…

EMMA

(Idea)

Harriet Smith is someone I have long held an interest in.

A ping is heard as the lights come up on HARRIET SMITH. HARRIET stands and looks admiringly of EMMA.

She may be a parlor border and not remarkable clever, but with the benefit of my guidance I believe I can make her deserving of a man of Mr. Elton’s esteem.

KNIGHTLEY

yes, I have every faith in your ability to meddle where you do not belong

EMMA

I’LL MAKE THE MATCH MySELF!

KNIGHTLEY

GOD FORBID!

nO TASK SO GREAT…

THAT POOR MAn!

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EMMA

KNIGHTLEY

EMMA

I’LL ASK HER AnD I’LL HAnD HER TO HIM On A SILvER PLATE

EMMA

IT’S GLORIOUS

IT’S CRySTAL CLEAR nOW HAS ME TO—

PITy THAT yOU DO nOT SEE WHAT I DO yES, I COULD MAKE A MATCH FOR EvEn yOU!

(Song buttons. Applause segue)

#2A—Transition #2

KNIGHTLY

I CAn ASSURE yOU HE’LL FInD A WIFE HIMSELF…

MAy I JUST SAy… —yES, yOU TO InTERFERE

ALL yOU DID WAS MAKE A LUCKy GUESS, EMMA

Scene Two

Hartfield. Living room.

A party is gathered. MISS BATES, happy and eccentric, speaks faster than her mind can filter the uneventful information she chatters. Sometimes MISS BATES shouts things she has just heard to her mother, MRS. BATES, who is not quite as hard of hearing as MISS BATES thinks she is.

(Music under)

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MISS BATES

Oh, Miss Woodhouse, isn’t it a lovely party?

EMMA

yes, Miss Bates.

(Rapid-fire)

MISS BATES

I was just telling mother that I do hope that it does not rain, as mother is just getting over a mild cold and the damp air could irritate her nose and throat. Irritate your nose and throat, Mother. Oh, and we have just received a letter from Jane! It was over three pages in length. Three pages in length, Mother!

Lights up on JANE FAIRFAX, a beautiful young woman who is reading a letter written by MISS BATES.

EMMA

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(Looking over at JANE, annoyed)

Jane Fairfax… (Music segues)

#3—Relations

… Miss Bates’ orphan niece. (Out)

Every letter from her is read forty times over. ALL

RELATIOnS

JANE

(Looking at MISS BATES)

WE LOvE THEM SO EMPHATICALLy

ALL

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RELATIOnS

MISS BATES

WE SEE THEM SO SPORADICALLy

JANE & MISS BATES

AnD THOUGH THEy BEHAvE ERRATICALLy

JANE

WE LOvE THEM AS THEy ARE

ALL

RELATIOnS

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JANE

BUT BEST TO LOvE THEM FROM AFAR

The WESTONS are showing off a letter to MR. WOODHOUSE as EMMA reads over their shoulder.

EMMA

(Out)

It is always news whenever Mr. Weston receives a letter from his son— The Esteemed Frank Churchill.

FRANK CHURCHILL, a handsome young man, appears.

(Looking at the letter)

Such lovely handwriting.

(Out)

I have been hearing of him my entire life, but he has yet to actually pay his father a visit.

MR. WESTON. What does he write?

MRS. WESTON

He expresses his excitement at coming to visit.

MR. WESTON

Good news, indeed.

MRS. WESTON

Although I do admit to being skeptical regarding the certainty of the visit.

MR. WESTON

Patience, my dear. My sister is not a well woman.

MRS. WESTON

yes. But her illnesses seem to only occur at her own convenience.

ALL

RELATIOnS

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MRS. WESTON

WE LOvE THEM WITH SInCERITy

ALL

RELATIOnS

FRANK

WE WRITE WITH REGULARITy

MRS. WESTON

(Holding his letters)

WE KEEP THEM FOR POSTERITy

THE WESTONS & FRANK

BUT OnE CAnnOT DEny

ALL

RELATIOnS

FRANK

THEy ARE WITH US TILL THEy DIE…

ALL

RELATIOnS

COMPLICATIOnS

vERy ILL-TIMED SITUATIOnS

RELATIOnS

FRANK

THE WEAK OF HEART nEED nOT APPLy

EMMA

(Out)

yet there are those that do not have relations nor know not who their relations are.

EMMA turns to MR. ELTON. HARRIET is talking to the WESTONS and has her back turned to him.

Mr. Elton, I wonder if I might oblige you to do me a favor? (Music out)

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MR. ELTON

Anything, Miss Woodhouse. For you, no favor is too great.

EMMA

I’ve just had the pleasure of meeting a most engaging young woman. Her name is Harriet Smith.

HARRIET immediately turns around upon hearing her name.

(Music resumes)

I wonder if I might encourage you to look after her this evening? I’m afraid she doesn’t know a soul here.

MR. ELTON

It would be my pleasure to perform so humble a service for you, Miss Woodhouse.

HARRIET

(Out)

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RELATIOnS

MInE ARE THEORETICAL

RELATIOnS

My STATIOn HyPOTHETICAL

THE CIRCUMSTAnCE REGRETTABLE

My PERSOn UnDEFInED

ALL

RELATIOnS

HARRIET

THEy’RE ALWAyS LEAvInG yOU BEHInD

ALL

RELATIOnS

COMPLICATIOnS

(ALL)

vARIATIOnS OF GRADATIOnS RELATIOnS

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HARRIET

I WOnDER WHAT BECAME OF MInE? KNIGHTLEY

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Emma.

EMMA (Out)

And then there are some relations that are just impossible to make sense of.

KNIGHTLEY

(Holding a letter)

I’ve just received news that my brother and his family are going to Plymouth for the summer.

EMMA

yes, I have just heard the same news. (Out)

Since Mr. Knightley’s brother is married to my sister, I’m not quite sure what that makes him to me.

EMMA & KNIGHTLEY

RELATIOnS RELATED ACCIDEnTALLy RELATIOnS BUT FAMILy FUnDAMEnTALLy

ALL

AnD yET COInCIDEnTALLy WE’RE SHAKEn TO OUR CORES

MEN

RELATIOnS RELATIOnS RELATIOnS

WOMEN RELATIOnS

ALL ARE BEST WHEn THEy’RE nOT…. YOURS

(Song buttons. Applause segue)

#3A—Transition #3

The party continues as HARRIETspeaks to MR. and MRS. WESTON.

MR. WESTON

now that you’ve completed your education, Miss Smith, what are your plans?

HARRIET

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I’m hoping to spend the summer again with the Martins of Abby Mill Farm.

MRS. WESTON

They rent the farm from Mr. Knightley, do they not?

HARRIET

yes. Mr. Robert Martin speaks very highly of Mr. Knightley.

(Music out)

EMMA crosses and speaks to THE WESTONS.

EMMA

I see you are getting acquainted with my new friend, Miss Smith.

MRS. WESTON

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She is a dear.

HARRIET

Everyone in Highbury knows Miss Woodhouse. I have long admired her.

(To EMMA)

It’s an honor to finally have made your acquaintance.

EMMA

And it is my honor, Miss Smith, to introduce you to our new vicar, Mr. Elton.

#4—A Gentleman’s Daughter

A pleasure, Miss Smith.

(Smiling broadly and awkwardly)

MR. ELTON

HARRIET

yes, thank you… I mean, very much pleased to meet you very much as well.

EMMA

(Out)

Her grammar can be improved but her hair is perfect.

MR. KNIGHTLEY crosses and speaks to EMMA on the side.

KNIGHTLEY

I see someone’s been busy.

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE www.musikundbuehne.de

I see someone’s been watching.

EMMA

KNIGHTLEY

I always enjoy seeing an artist at work. Even an amateur one at that.

MR. ELTON

Oh, do you paint, Miss Woodhouse?

I’m afraid not very well

To say the least.

EMMA

KNIGHTLEY

MR. ELTON

Well I’ve been known to dabble a little myself. Perhaps I could persuade you to sit for me sometime, Miss Woodhouse?

EMMA

I’m sure I would make a poor subject. But I dare say Miss Smith would be a most excellent model for your endeavors. Would you not agree, Mr. Elton?

MR. ELTON

yes… But might I suggest, that Miss Woodhouse be the artist? With beauty such as that of Miss Smith, a more gifted hand is needed.

HARRIET blushes.

A musical “ping” is heard.

The GUESTS freeze. Fantasy sequence. EMMA becomes “the puppeteer” in the next segment.

EMMA (Out)

HE LIKES HER

EMMA waves a hand and ELTON turns to HARRIET.

SHE LIKES HIM

Another hand gesture, and HARRIET looks lovingly at ELTON.

I COULD BE

Another gesture and they turn towards each other.

(EMMA)

A GEnIUS

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A wave brings them closer together.

HE’S PROPER

HEposes humbly.

SHE’S SIMPLE

SHEturns away shyly.

AnD CHARMInG

Another wave, and HEbows and HARRIET curtsies, while EMMA curtsies behind them.

HE’S LOnELy

SHE’S HUMBLE

I’M AWED By My TALEnT

HE LOvES HER OR IS LIKELY TO , In TIME

MR. ELTON proposes to HARRIET in EMMA’s mind.

THEy’RE ABSOLUTELy PERFECT

I SEE THEM In THE CHAPEL

I SEE SUnLIGHT DAPPLE UPOn HER FAIR SKIn

MR. ELTON takes a closer look at HARRIET and fades into the darkness, leaving HARRIET all on her own.

I’LL MERELy GIvE HER GUIDAnCE JUST MAKE A SMALL SUGGESTIOn SO—IF HE SHOULD ASK THE QUESTIOn SHE’LL KnOW TO SAy “yES” FOR SHE WILL IMPRESS IF I CAn FInESSE…

The music continues as EMMA and HARRIET stroll. Lights indicate a passage of time.

So, you don’t know who your parents are?

HARRIET

I’ve no idea.

EMMA

So, for all you know you could be of Royal blood.

I have never thought of it like that.

HARRIET

EMMA

your father perhaps a Lord. Or a viceroy.

HARRIET

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Or a musician!

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EMMA

never a musician. Unless that is his hobby. Can you imagine a musician earning the respect of good society?

HARRIET

no, I suppose not. The only other people I have ever known are the Martins. (Music out)

EMMA

The Martins of Abby Mill Farm? The farmers?

HARRIET

They have eight cows. One a little Welsh cow, a very pretty Welsh cow indeed.

EMMA

Charming.

HARRIET

And then there is Mr. Martin. Once he had gone three miles to bring me some walnuts just because he had heard that I was fond of them. Isn’t that so very sweet?

EMMA

Heartbreaking

HARRIET

Miss Woodhouse! Look! It’s… Mr. Martin!

Another musical “ping” is heard.

ROBERT MARTIN, a simple boyish farmer, enters carrying a seed bag. HE wipes his nose with his sleeve as HE and HARRIET run to greet each other.

EMMA looks disapprovingly at the audience.

EMMA (Out)

SHE’S EAGER

HE’S COMMOn

(EMMA)

SHE MUST BE INSTRUCTED I’LL MAKE HER A GEnTLEMAn’S DAUGHTER

ROBERT MARTIN

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(To HARRIET)

Brought a bag of seed.

EMMA

yES, I WILL IMPROvE HER I’LL FORM HER OPInIOnS FOR SHE nEEDS ME MORE THAn SHE KnOWS

(Music continues)

HARRIET runs back to EMMA after her encounter with ROBERT MARTIN.

HARRIET

Isn’t that the most wonderful coincidence?

EMMA

I should say so.

What did you think of him?

HARRIET

EMMA

I had imagined him, I confess, a degree or two nearer gentility.

HARRIET

(Trying not to show her disappointment)

I suppose he is not as genteel as a real gentleman.

EMMA

Precisely. He could never be as fine a gentleman as Mr. Knightley. Or have the openness or the good humor as, say, Mr. Elton

HARRIET

yes, I think I see that now.

EMMA

In fact, Mr. Elton asked after you the other day.

HARRIET

Really? He did?

Another musical “ping” is heard.

EMMA continues to be the puppeteer and at each line sung, the wave of her hand improves HARRIET’s posture and demeanor.

EMMA

SHE’S EASy TO ALTER SO OPEn

NURZUR ANSICHT

EMMA waves her hand and HARRIET’s shoulders go back. AnD WILLInG

Another wave and HARRIET’s head goes up. SO LUCKy TO HAvE ME TO GUIDE HER HER TASTE IS DEFICIEnT. My WORK IS EnORMOUS. BUT I AM OBLIGED TO SUCCEED.

The lights shift. The wedding of MR. ELTON and HARRIET appears in Emma’s mind.

EMMA

THE FUTURE MRS. ELTOn SO BEAUTIFUL AnD PROPER nOW nOTHInG CAn STOP HER FROM MARITAL BLISS

AnD THEn I’LL MATCH AnOTHER A COUSIn OR A BROTHER I’LL MATCH THEM WITH EACH OTHER

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

nO TASK IS TOO GREAT! FOR AnyTHInG GOES WHy CHOOSE yOUR OWn MATE WHEn I CAn IMPOSE?

(EMMA feigns her modesty)

IT’S My SIMPLE CALL TO DUTy TO MIx ELITE WITH BEAUTy SERvICE IS My OnLy CREED

AnD SOMEOnE ELSE’S HAPPInESS IS ALL THE REWARD I nEED

THE ENSEMBLE “ahs and oohs” and dances while EMMA sings.

(Music buttons and the lights shift. Applause segue)

ENSEMBLE

#4A Transition #4

Scene Three

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

EMMA speaks to the audience.

(Music under)

(Out)

EMMA

Harriet Smith’s intimacy at Hartfield is soon a settled thing. I am endeared by her sweet, docile and grateful disposition to be guided by myself. And she appears to be totally free of conceit. However does she manage it?

An easel is set up and EMMA is in the midst of painting a water-color portrait of HARRIET who poses rather awkwardly on a bench.

MR. ELTON paces anxiously while MR. KNIGHTLEY, MRS. WESTON, MISS BATES and MR. WOODHOUSE look on.

MISS BATES

Isn’t it lovely? If only Jane were here. She is such an expert artist. I was just telling mother the other day that no one has the artistic facility of Jane. She is quite the prodigy of painting.

EMMA

(Out)

She paints. She writes poetry. She plays the piano-forte. There’s hardly room for the rest of us to exhibit any skill at all.

(Music out)

May I peek?

MR. ELTON

EMMA

Patience, Mr. Elton. Although I warn you, I am not a great artist.

MR. ELTON

We shall see about that.

KNIGHTLEY

Emma never submits to anything requiring industry and patience. Most of her portraits are incomplete as I recall.

EMMA

yes, but that is because they were always of husbands and wives who I could not persuade to sit sill with so many children about.

MR. ELTON

Well there are no husbands and wives here.

(With emphasis)

At least not yet.

#5—The Portrait

EMMA looks directly at HARRIET with a conspiratorial eye. HARRIET blushes and looks down.

MRS. WESTON crosses with MR. WOODHOUSE and both peer at the work.

MRS. WESTON

very good, Emma. The expression of the eye is most correct but Miss Smith has not those eyebrows or eyelashes.

MR. WOODHOUSE

She’s going to catch her death of cold with only that little shawl around her.

EMMA

Papa, it’s summer. She will not catch cold.

MR. WOODHOUSE

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

But there is a draft.

We are out of doors.

We shall all catch colds and die.

I can’t wait any longer.

EMMA

MR. WOODHOUSE

MR. ELTON

MR. ELTON rushes to see what EMMA has painted. He is overcome. KNIGHTLEY reluctantly gets up as well and demonstrates considerably less enthusiasm.

A MIRACLE HAS HAPPEnED! WHAT A THInG OF WOnDER! THIS DEFIES DESCRIPTIOn BUT In My OPInIOn A MIRACLE HAS HAPPEnED

(MR. ELTON)

SOMETHInG SO SURPRISInG

HER BEAUTy AnD yOUR TALEnT

LEAvE ME CIRCUMSPECT AnD HUMBLE

IT IS nO LESS THAn GEnIUS A WORK OF ART!

AnD ART HAS A HABIT OF In HABITING THE HEART EMMA gives HARRIET a knowing look but KNIGHTLEY is not buying it.

KNIGHTLEY

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE www.musikundbuehne.de

(Mockingly)

Oh, I agree…

A MIRACLE HAS HAPPEnED

SOMEOnE SEES yOUR… TALENT

ITSELF A REvELATIOn

UnIMAGInED In My LIFETIME

IT’S CERTAInLy A WOnDER

AnD MAyBE I’M MISTAKEn BUT I DOn’T THInK I’vE HAD EnOUGH TO DRINK TO SEE THE GENIUS

IT’S nOT A DA vInCI OR RAPHAEL OR EvEn IN PROPORTION AS FAR AS I CAn TELL

ELTON

Absurd! SHE GLOWS

KNIGHTLEY

SHE DOES nOT GLOW

ELTON

MORE BEAUTIFUL THAn A SUMMER ROSE

KNIGHTLEY

WHAT IS THIS SPOT UPOn HER nOSE?

ELTON

HER RADIAnT EyES, HER PERFECT LIPS

KNIGHTLEY

THAT IS HER nOSE… FOR WHAT I’M LOOKInG AT IS

STRAnGE AnD ODD

(Back to the painting)

AnD OH My GOD

DID yOU CUT OFF HER EAR?

ELTON and EMMA take another look at the painting

MR. ELTON

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

Well, perhaps just part of the ear.

MIRACLES CAn HAPPEn!

BOTH

KNIGHTLEY

MEn CAn HAvE DEMEnTIA

MR. ELTON

I’M OvERCOME WITH HAPPInESS!

KNIGHTLEY

I’M BURSTInG WITH RELUCTAnCE

BOTH

MIRACLES CAn HAPPEn!

MR. ELTON

WHATEvER yOUR OPInIOn

KNIGHTLEY

IT IS My OPInIOn THAT yOUR EyESIGHT nEEDS ADJUSTMEnT ALL

ART CAn BE REWARDInG IF DOnE WITH GRACE

KNIGHTLEY

THIS SEEMS TO LOOK MORE LIKE MR. ELTOn’S FACE

ELTON

THAT’S REALLy vERy RUDE

KNIGHTLEY

THE LIKEnESS IS RATHER SUBDUED

BOTH

A MIRACLE HAS HAPPEnED!

ENSEMBLE

yES, A MIRACLE HAS HAPPEnED!

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

KNIGHTLEY

LET’S JUST HOPE THAT IT’S nOT REVIEWED …

MR. ELTON holds out his hand to seemingly both ladies. On the last beat, EMMA pushes HARRIET to MR. ELTON who reluctantly takes her hand as the song buttons. (Applause segue)

#5A—Transition #5

NURZUR ANSICHT

Scene Four

Hartfield. The Library

EMMA is writing a letter to her sister. She looks up.

(Music under)

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

EMMA

(Out)

The longer I consider it, the more it appeals to me.

(Music out)

Mr. Elton is the person I am most fixed on for Harriet. His situation is suitable and I imagine he has an acceptable income. And he is much admired—though not by me but I have heard others say he is very well meaning.

HARRIET

Miss Woodhouse! you’ll never guess what has happened!

EMMA turns.

He has proposed!

EMMA stands.

(Excited) Already?

EMMA

HARRIET yes!

The TWO WOMENembrace excitedly.

EMMA

This is excellent news!

SHEhands EMMA the letter.

EMMA

The dear man. A letter is a most respectable means of proposal. SHE excitedly reads the letter, but her expression sours. But this is from Mr. Robert Martin.

HARRIET

(Oblivious to EMMA’s disappointment) yes.

EMMA

I was rather under the assumption that the letter might be from Mr. Elton.

HARRIET

Mr. Elton? no, I had not thought of that. Is it a good letter?

EMMA yes, a very good letter.

(Handing the letter back to HARRIET) His sister must have helped him.

EMMA goes back to her letter.

What shall I do?

you must answer it of course.

NURZUR ANSICHT

HARRIET

EMMA

HARRIET

But what shall I say? Oh, Miss Woodhouse, do advise me.

EMMA

I cannot give you my opinion except to say that I would be disappointed if you were to say yes. I say this to you as a friend but do not imagine that I want to influence you.

HARRIET

So, you think I should say “no”? I had no notion that he liked me so very much.

EMMA

not for the world would I advise you either way. you must be the best judge of your own happiness. If you are absolutely sure that you prefer Mr. Martin to every other person in the world; if you think him the most agreeable man you have ever met, or are likely ever to meet, then why should you hesitate?

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

HARRIET pauses as she contemplates EMMA’s words and her own feelings.

HARRIET

Miss Woodhouse, as you will not give me your opinion, I must do as well as I can by myself; and I have now quite determined, and really almost made up my mind… to refuse Mr. Martin.

She looks up at EMMA for her approval.

Do you think that I am right?

EMMA

(A sigh of relief)

Oh Harriet, now that you have come to this decision by yourself, I can tell you what I could not tell you before, which is to say that you are perfectly right in refusing Mr. Martin.

HARRIET

I am?

EMMA

And I would add, with no reservation of my own, that I would not be surprised if you were soon to get the same sort of letter from Mr. Elton HARRIET smiles, looks to the ground and blushes.

The lighting shifts and KNIGHTLEY crosses into the scene as HARRIET exits.

#5B—Knightley’s Entrance

(Music under)

(Incredulous)

She refused him?

That is my understanding.

KNIGHTLEY

EMMA

KNIGHTLEY

The young man came to me for council and while I had some apprehension about the girl being worthy of him, I dare say I approved the union. But now I see that she is a greater simpleton than I originally believed!

EMMA

yes, it is always incomprehensible to a man that a woman should ever refuse an offer of marriage. A man always imagines a woman to be ready for anybody who asks her.

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

KNIGHTLEY

nonsense! A man imagines no such thing. But what is the meaning of this? Harriet Smith refusing Robert Martin? Madness. I hope you are mistaken.

(Music out)

EMMA

I saw her answer. nothing could be clearer.

KNIGHTLEY

you saw her answer? …you mean you wrote her answer.

EMMA is silent.

This is your doing, isn’t it, Emma?

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

EMMA

What if it is? I do not feel I have done wrong. Mr. Martin is a very respectable young man but he is not Harriet’s equal.

KNIGHTLEY

not her equal?

#6—The Argument

SHE’S THE nATURAL DAUGHTER OF nOBODy

SHE’S LUCKy FOR HIM, PITy’S SAKE

SHE’S THE nATURAL DAUGHTER OF nOBODy

ALL SHE CAn HOPE FOR IS SOMEOnE TO LOvE HER IS THAT SUCH A TRAGIC MISTAKE?

THOUGH SHE IS PRETTy

AnD SOMEWHAT EnDEARInG

I BEG yOU TO LISTEn

AnD STOP InTERFERInG

AnD DO nOT InFER

THAT BECAUSE SHE’S yOUR FRIEnD

HE’S nOT WORTHy OF HER

EMMA

What!

you think a farmer a good match for my intimate friend? Mr. Martin may be the richer of the two, but he is undoubtedly her inferior in rank and society.

KNIGHTLEY

yOU ARE SO nAIvE

IMPOSSIBLy MISGUIDED

AnD EvEn WORSE—IMMUnE TO COMMOn SEnSE I know you, Emma.

AnD IF yOU DARE PERCEIvE

SHE’LL MARRy MR. ELTOn

MR. KnIGHTLEy…

yOU THInK yOU KnOW IT ALL BUT SADLy, yOU’RE MISTAKEn

yOU SIMPLy HAvE nO InSIGHT TO THE HEART ALL InTELLECT AnD POISE WITH nO ROMAnTIC FEELInGS

JUST TEMPER, FAULTy PLATITUDES AnD nOISE

yOU HAvE nOT BEEn In LOvE THEREFORE, yOU CAn’T SCOLD ME, OR LECTURE ME OR BADGER ME IT IS nOT yOUR PLACE

yOU HAvE nOT BEEn In LOvE AnD SO, I MUST DECLARE THAT yOU ARE nOT TO SAy A WORD, KNIGHTLEY

A WORD’S ExACTLy WHAT yOU nEED

EMMA

A SyLLABLE, KNIGHTLEY

A REPRIMAnD

An UTTERAnCE

EMMA

KNIGHTLEY

ADMOnISHMEnT

EMMA & KNIGHTLEY

On A SUBJECT OF WHICH yOU WILL nEvER, FULLy BE AWARE!

(Music buttons. Applause segue)

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

#6A—Transition #6

Scene Five

Hartfield. Drawing Room.

HARRIET and EMMA are gossiping.

(Music under)

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

EMMA

Did you not see the way he was looking at you?

HARRIET

I did not particularly notice that Mr. Elton was looking at me.

EMMA

That is why it is so fortunate that I am here to notice these things for you.

HARRIET

Oh, Miss Woodhouse. I do so wonder that you should not be married, or going to be married! So charming as you are!

EMMA

you are too kind, Harriet. But yes. It is a paradox.

(Music segues)

#7—Hartfield

NURZUR ANSICHT

EMMA smiles at her and takes her hand.

KNIGHTLEY, MR. ELTON, MR. WOODHOUSE and MRS. WESTON enter and peer at the portrait as they face the audience.

ALL

HARTFIELD!

nICE TOUCH

LARGE FRAME

WELL DOnE

LOOK CLOSE

TILT, LEAn

KNIGHTLEY

SOME THInGS ARE BEST LEFT UnSEEn

EMMA takes a step downstage towards the portrait.

EMMA

Harriet. In spite of my lack of talent, your beauty fills the room. Would you not agree, Mr. Elton?

MR. ELTON

On the contrary, Miss Woodhouse, it is your supreme skill that allows the charm and grace of Miss Smith to emerge from the canvas in such a wondrous fashion.

EMMA smiles coyly at HARRIET who again blushes. She then turns her gaze to KNIGHTLEY who rolls his eyes.

KNIGHTLEY

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE www.musikundbuehne.de

I think I’ll have some brandy.

Perhaps I’ll join you Mr. Knightley.

(In a conspiratorial tone)

EMMA

Harriet, why don’t you keep Mr. Elton occupied?

EMMA nudges HARRIET towards MR. ELTON.

MR. WOODHOUSE

(Gazing at the portrait in confusion)

I don’t understand. Is this a portrait of someone we know?

KNIGHTLEY

(Leaning in to her) you’re not fooling anyone, you know.

EMMA

Please. Will you never give me a chance of being right? Must I always be in the wrong?

(Music out. A beat.)

KNIGHTLEY

Dear Emma, let’s stop our quarrelling and be friends again, shall we?

EMMA

yes, that is what I’d hope you’d say.

KNIGHTLEY

We mustn’t stay enemies.

I agree completely. (Pause)

EMMA

However, I must say a word or two more on the subject of which we last spoke.

Must you?

KNIGHTLEY

EMMA

As far as good intentions go, we were both right and I must say that I have yet to be proved wrong. I only want to know that Mr. Martin is not very bitterly disappointed.

KNIGHTLEY

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

no man was ever more so.

EMMA is saddened to hear it.

Well then for that I am sorry.

EMMA

KNIGHTEY looks at her with some compassion. Come. Shake hands with me.

EMMA holds out her hand and they are about to shake but EMMA is distracted and crosses towards HARRIET and MR. ELTON.

Ah. It looks as though Mr. Elton and Miss Smith are discussing something quite intimate.

KNIGHTLEY and EMMA listen in on the conversation with ELTON and HARRIET.

MR. ELTON

To be perfectly honest and candid, Miss Smith, I myself prefer beetroot to celery. I always have. Beetroot is excellent for one’s digestion if it is not too fibrous.

HARRIET smiles at him warmly. EMMA is deflated, KNIGHTLEY smirks.

KNIGHTLEY

Ah, the eloquence of lovers.

#8—Should

We Ever Meet

MR. WESTON enters.

MR. WESTON

Emma, we have news. A letter came from Frank this morning. He will be with us in a fortnight!

EMMA

Is this true?

MRS. WESTON

I am not yet convinced that his aunt can spare him.

MR. WESTON

He will come. This time I’m sure of it.

MRS. WESTON

you are both hopeful, but I fear Mrs. Churchill’s poor health will delay the journey yet again.

MR. WESTON

Fret not, Mrs. Weston, this time will be different. you’ll see.

EMMA

NURZUR ANSICHT

(Out)

The idea of Frank Churchill has always interested me. If I were to ever marry, he is the very person to suit me in age, character and condition.

THE ESTEEMED FRAnK CHURCHILL

A vERy GOOD LOOKInG, AnD DASHInG, AnD nOBLE yOUnG MAn

He was raised by Mr. Weston’s sister and for reasons no one can understand he took her name. She seems to have brought him up with the intention of never letting him go.

Fantasy: FRANK CHURCHILL crosses in. (Optional)

THE ESTEEMED FRAnK CHURCHILL

I HAvE DREAMED FRAnK CHURCHILL

AnD yES, I HAvE SWORn AGAInST MARRIAGE BUT FRAnKLy FOR HIM

I COULD ALTER My PLAn

AnD THOUGH WE’vE nEvER MET

My WORLD IS AT HIS FEET

I’M LIKELy TO LIKE HIM

HE’S LIKELy TO LIKE ME

WE’RE LIKELy TO BE HAPPy SHOULD WE EvER MEET

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

THE ESTEEMED FRAnK CHURCHILL

OH, WHy HAS HE nEvER DECIDED TO COME FOR A STAy?

I INVENT FRAnK CHURCHILL

I LAMEnT FRAnK CHURCHILL

(EMMA)

DOESn’T HE KnOW THERE’S A PERSOn WHO’S HERE HE WILL COME TO ADORE AnD OBEy?

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

AnD BECAUSE WE’vE nEvER MET

HIS LIFE IS nOT COMPLETE

HE’S LIKELy TO LIKE ME

I’M LIKELy TO LIKE HIM

WE’RE LIKELy TO BE HAPPy

SHOULD WE EvER MEET

NURZUR ANSICHT

HE THInKS HIS LIFE IS PERFECT

HE THInKS HE’S WILD AnD FREE

BUT THAT’S BECAUSE In ALL THE WORLD

HE’S nOT EnCOUnTERED ME

BUT SOMETHInG’S SOOn TO CHAnGE A MOST PRACTICAL COnCEIT

I’M LIKELy TO LIKE HIM

HE’S LIKELy TO LIKE ME

WE’RE LIKELy TO BE HAPPy

POSITIvELy HAPPy

WE’RE LIKELy TO BE HAPPy

SHOULD WE EvER MEET…

The image of FRANK CHURCHILL is abruptly replaced by the coarse reality of MR. ELTON.

ELTON

Ah, Miss Woodhouse.

(Music out)

I thought I might find you here. Alone.

EMMA

yes… Mr. Elton. you startled me. I was just…

MR. ELTONinterrupts her.

ELTON

Oh, Miss Woodhouse. I cannot contain myself any longer.

EMMA

Mr. Elton?

HEtakes her hand.

ELTON

I have waited in agony to have this intimate moment with you.

EMMA

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

(Taking her hand back)

I beg your pardon; we are not having an intimate moment.

ELTON

NURZUR ANSICHT

I don’t know where to begin, my pulse is racing and my heart is beating so fast, I’m like a schoolboy…

EMMA

And behaving like one, I might add…

ELTON

Miss Woodhouse. Emma. Surely you have guessed how deeply I am in love with you and have been in love with you from the first moment I beheld you here at Hartfield. Please say that you will be my wife and make me the happiest man on earth. Say I will be blessed… with your eternal obedience.

EMMA

(Horrified but trying to remain calm)

Mr. Elton, I fear you have had a little too much to drink…

ELTON

yes, I am drunk. Drunk with love. Passionate, unequalled love for you.

EMMA

I am very much astonished, Mr. Elton. you are confusing your affection for me with Miss Smith. I would be happy to deliver any message you might have for her

ELTON

Miss Smith? What have I to do with Miss Smith when Miss Woodhouse, the very core of my affection, is standing so close to my soul.

EMMA

Mr. Elton, your soul is mistaken. I have repeatedly witnessed your affection for my dear friend, Miss Smith.

ELTON

Good heaven! I have never once thought of Miss Smith, but as your friend. never cared whether she were dead or alive.

EMMA you never thought of Miss Smith?

ELTON

Well, she’s a very good sort of girl and no doubt, there are men who might not object to—well, we all have our level.

EMMA

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE www.musikundbuehne.de

Oh dear…

ELTON

no, Madam, my visits to Hartfield have been for you and you only.

EMMA

Well I’m exceedingly sorry, Mr. Elton, but it is well that the mistake ends where it does.

ELTON

Are you saying you have no feelings for me? I cannot believe that.

EMMA

Mr. Elton, the sort of feelings I have for you now would be best not expressed.

ELTON

I see.

Lighting shifts. MR. ELTON exits.

#9—Should We Ever Meet (Reprise)

EMMA

(Out)

Such an overthrow of everything I have been wishing for! And such a blow to Harriet! Well, at least I convinced her not to accept Mr. Robert Martin. There I was quite right.

But there I should have stopped and left the rest to time and chance.

THE ABSURD, MR. ELTOn!

By My WORD, MR. ETOn!

A SILLy, DETESTABLE, ODIOUS, HORRIBLE MAn

WHAT MADE HIM THInK THAT HE COULD HOPE TO MARRy ME?

MISS WOODHOUSE OF HARTFIELD

PROFOUnDLy REJECTS yOU FOR SOMEOnE ELSE ExPECTS yOU TO BE HERS…

(Music segues)

#9A—Harriet Crying

HARRIET enters and EMMA puts her arm around her.

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

EMMA

I was grossly mistaken, Harriet, and for that I cannot be forgiven.

HARRIET

Please, Miss Woodhouse, in truth of fact I did not think I deserved a man as distinguished as Mr. Elton.

EMMA

Dear Harriet. I am convinced of the two of us that you are the superior creature. (Out)

My one consolation is there is no necessity for anybody’s knowing what has passed except the three principles.

(Mood change)

That is a cheering thought. And the weather is quite favorable for a visit with our dear friend, Miss Bates. I’m certain it will lift Harriet’s spirits. Unfortunately, that means an encounter with the woman I most dislike in the world—Jane Fairfax

(Music segues)

#9B—Transition #7

Scene Six

The Bates Apartment, very modest.

EMMA and HARRIET cross in as MISS BATES serves cake while JANE FAIRFAX and MRS. BATES sit silently nearby.

(Music under)

(Rapid-fire)

MISS BATES

Miss Woodhouse, Miss Smith, do have some cake. Mother hardly ate any breakfast at all this morning, just one small slice of bread without hardly any butter. And for dinner, I dare say, she had but a small piece of mutton. A piece of mutton, Mother.

EMMA

When did you arrive, Miss Fairfax?

JANE FAIRFAX

Just yesterday afternoon, Miss Woodhouse. My Aunt was so kind to take me in.

MISS BATES

And she plans to stay indefinitely!

(Out)

EMMA

I cannot put my finger on exactly why I dislike Miss Fairfax. Mr. Knightley thinks it is because I see in her the accomplished young woman I might be myself.

Fantasy: KNIGHTLEY appears in EMMA’s mind. This is a conversation they have had before.

KNIGHTLEY

Jane did not grow up with your advantages, Emma. She has no fortune. She depends on our kindness.

EMMA

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

She rarely comes to Highbury, but when she does, there’s always such a fuss made about her. She might learn from others the value of being humble.

KNIGHTLEY

Think of her situation. Parents lost. Raised out of kindness by a family friend whose fortune will go to his only son.

EMMA

Well. When you put it thatway

KNIGHTLEY

you would do well to learn from her example.

KNIGHTLEY steps back and fades out.

(Music out)

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

EMMA

(To JANE, reluctantly)

I hear you have not been well, Miss Fairfax.

JANE

yes, a slight cold.

(To JANE)

MISS BATES

There will be no more trips to the post office in the rain!

JANE

But I am almost recovered now.

MISS BATES

Sweet Jane. Her superiority both in beauty and accomplishments cannot be unfelt by those around her. Mother, don’t eat that fig! Do you not agree, Miss Woodhouse?

#10—Have a Piece of Cake

NURZUR ANSICHT

EMMA

Far be it for those with lesser charm and beauty to speculate, Miss Bates.

MISS BATES

She is a wonder.

CHARMInG AnD POISED SHE SEEMS TO FLUTTER

SInGInG AnD PAInTInG BEAUTIFULLy

SHE PREFERS FREnCH TO GERMAn BUT HER LATIn IS UnRIvALED TO BE SURE

EMMA

HOW MAny OF HER GIFTS MUST WE EnDURE?

www.musikundbuehne.de

MISS BATES

HAvE A PIECE OF CAKE, MOTHER ALL

ISn’T IT A TREAT?

MISS BATES

JAnE IS HERE TO STAy!

LET’S EvERyBODy EAT

ALL

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

MISS BATES

HAvE A LITTLE PORT, MOTHER

ALL

MUSTn’T GO TO WASTE!

JAnE IS OUR GUEST, DRInK UP, MAKE HASTE!

EMMA

(Under her breath)

IF OnLy I COULD BEAR THE AFTERTASTE

MISS BATES

Miss Woodhouse, your father was so kind to send over the hind-quarter yesterday. Hartfield pork is unlike any other pork, but it is still pork. Mrs. Cole likes it nicely fried. Oh! And speaking of Mrs. Cole, she has just received a letter from guess who? Mr. Elton!

EMMA grimaces. HARRIET starts to softly cry. He is in Bath!

OH, WHAT A LIFE HE MUST BE LIvInG!

OH, WHAT A MAn HE’S COME TO BE!

OnE LUCKy LADy WILL BE HIS A WOMAn WITH A RATHER LARGE ESTATE!

EMMA

OnE CAn OnLy HOPE SHE TAKES THE BAIT

MISS BATES

HAvE A PIECE OF CAKE, MOTHER EVERYONE

I CAn SEE HIM THERE

MISS BATES & JANE

COnvERSInG WITH A PRInCESS

SLIM, AnD DEBOnAIR

MISS BATES

MUSTn’T EAT THE FIG, MOTHER

EVERYONE

I CAn SEE HIM nOW

MISS BATES

A BAROn AnD HIS DAUGHTER SLOWLy BOW I CAn ALMOST HEAR THE WEDDInG vOW

HARRIET continues to cry.

(To HARRIET)

Don’t be distressed. Mother does not digest figs well.

EMMA

Miss Fairfax, you have been in Weymouth at the same time as Mr. Frank Churchill. Are you acquainted with him?

EVERYONEleans in with anticipation to hear JANE’s answers and then lean out with disappointment after her short replies. The music stops on each of her answers and then continues as EMMA asks another question.

JANE

A little acquainted with him.

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

EMMA

Having never met him myself, I am curious. Is he handsome?

JANE

I believe he is considered a very fine young man.

EMMA

(Starting to get frustrated with her short replies) yes, but is he agreeable?

JANE

He is generally thought so.

EMMA

Is he sensible? Is he a man of information?

JANE

It is difficult to decide on such points. I believe everyone finds his manners— pleasing

EMMA

(Out)

WHAT A PRISTInE, AnnOyInG CREATURE! WHAT A STUPEnDOUS ICy STARE!

(EMMA)

BEAUTIFUL, yES, BUT SOMETHInG’S LURKInG

I DOn’T REALLy WAnT TO KnOW WHAT’S THERE WHAT A LITTLE MInx! vISITORS BEWARE

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

SHE’S DISTAnT AnD BORInG

I DOn’T LIKE HER DAy DRESS

AnD SHE’S nOT A GEnTLEMAn’S DAUGHTER

EMMA gestures with her hand and HARRIET sits up straight.

I CAnnOT IMPROvE HER

EMMA gestures with her hand to JANE FAIRFAX but with no affect.

OR FORM HER OPInIOnS

THOUGH SHE SEEMS TO HAvE nOnE OF HER OWn

AnD I DOn’T KnOW HER InTEnTIOn

SHE STIRS My APPREHEnSIOn

SHE’S STUBBORn In HER REPARTEE

AnD SnOBBERy, AnD ARROGAnCE

OnLy LOOK GOOD On ME

Music buttons. Lights shift.

(Applause segue)

Scene Seven

Hartfield. Living room.

EMMAis reading as MR. WOODHOUSEenters.

(Music under)

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

Mr. Elton is to be married?

yes, papa.

MR. WOODHOUSE

EMMA

MR. WOODHOUSE

Indeed, there is no end to the sad consequences of happy couples.

EMMA

you were once happy and married yourself. Can you not be happy now for others?

MR. WOODHOUSE

no. I cannot. …I don’t like change.

(Appeasing) yes, papa.

EMMA

MR. WOODHOUSE

Are you sure you will never marry, my dear?

EMMA

Of course not. I would never leave you.

MR. WOODHOUSE

That’s what your sister said just before she married Mr. Knightley’s brother.

HARRIET enters in a flurry as MR. WOODHOUSE crosses out.

(Music out)

HARRIET

Oh, Miss Woodhouse! What do you think has happened? I thought I should have fainted! I may faint still…

EMMA

Harriet, what is it?

HARRIET

Well… I set out for Hartfield not an hour ago—when it really started to pour down so I stepped inside Fords and took shelter in the shop. I sat there for a few minutes waiting for the rain to subside when all of a sudden, who do you suppose should come in?

#11—Mr. Robert Martin

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

ELIZABETH MARTIN and ROBERT MARTIN enter. They proceed to act out HARRIET’s story.

MISS ELIzABETH MARTIn

AnD HER BROTHER

THEn THEy nOTICE ME AnD

MISS ELIzABETH MARTIn TURnS AWAy

WHILE I KEEP SITTInG By THE DOOR

WAITInG FOR THE RAIn TO STOP

I nEvER FELT SO MISERABLE

AnD POSITIvELy MORTIFIED WHEn

MISS ELIzABETH MARTIn

STAnDS BEFORE ME, PUTS HER HAnD OUT CORDIALLy

I WAS ALL In A TREMBLE

CAn’T REMEMBER WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT, BUT THEn HE SLOWLy AMBLED OvER TO ME

I COULD FEEL My PULSES RACInG

I DOn’T KnOW WHAT HAPPEnED nExT, BUT

MISTER ROBERT MARTIn

SPOKE TO ME BUT I DOn’T HEAR OnE WORD HE SAyS

(Music stops)

Ah… well…

(Music resumes)

ROBERT MARTIN

HARRIET

BUT HE SEEMED SO nICE

MISTER ROBERT MARTIn

STOOD WITH ME WHILE WE COnvERSED MOST PLEASAnTLy

(Music stops)

ROBERT MARTIN

I can brew me own ale.

(Music resumes)

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

HARRIET

WHAT IS yOUR ADvICE?

ISn’T HE LOvELy?

NURZUR ANSICHT

ISn’T HE CHARMInG, AnD KInD, AnD GOOD-nATURED AnD POLITE?

ISn’T HE HUMBLE?

EvEn WITH DIRT On HIS FACE

HE HAS SUCH An AIR OF GRACE

ROBERT MARTIN

Walnut?

HE holds out a walnut and SHE happily takes it.

HE wipes his nose with his hand.

DOn’T yOU AGREE?

HARRIET

EMMA comes over to HARRIET and gently guides her back to the chaise.

EMMA

yES, MISS ELIzABETH MARTIn AnD HER BROTHER ARE QUITE HUMBLE, I AGREE

nOW THERE’S nO nEED TO DWELL On WHAT IS PAST LET’S LOOK FOR WHAT THE FUTURE BRInGS AnD IT COULD BRInG A THOUSAnD THInGS

HARRIET

yES, IT COULD BRInG A THOUSAnD THInGS BUT OH, THE WAy HE LOOKED SO nERvOUS

SHE gets up from the chaise and runs back to meet ROBERT MARTIN.

MISTER ROBERT MARTIn

BOWED HIS HEAD AnD THEn HE SAID GOODByE TO ME

ROBERT MARTIN

(Awkwardly)

Goodbye.

HE bows awkwardly and backs up.

Harriet…

HARRIET

THERE, In ALL THE RAIn

MISTER ROBERT MARTIn

AnD HIS SISTER WALKED AWAy SO SILEnTLy SLOWLy DOWn THE LAnE

EMMA

NURZUR ANSICHT

HARRIET

ARE THEy nOT LOvELy?

ARE THEy nOT CHARMInG, AnD KInD

AnD GOOD-nATURED, AnD POLITE? ISn’T HE HUMBLE?

EvEn WITH DIRT On HIS FACE HE HAS SUCH An AIR OF GRACE DOn’T yOU AGREE?

(The music stops)

Sorry.

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

EMMA

I HAvE SOME nEWS

WOULD yOU KnOW LIKE TO HEAR My nEWS?

HARRIET! WILL yOU LISTEn, PLEASE? IF I COULD FInISH THIS SEnTEnCE, yOU’D SEE!

HARRIET

EMMA takes HARRIET’s hand. She’ll say anything now to take her mind off ROBERT MARTIN.

EMMA

Mr. Elton is to be married. now, this might be distressing for the moment, but in time your heart and your pride will fully recover.

HARRIET is indeed surprised and taken aback.

HARRIET

I see. Well, that is news. …Pity I did not hear of it sooner, (her mood brightens) for then I could have mentioned it in my conversation with… (Music returns, slower)

SHE stands. ROBERT MARTIN returns.

MISTER ROBERT MARTIn

AS WE STOOD THERE TALKInG LIKE nO TIME HAD PASSED

EMMA is exasperated and sits while she lets HARRIET carry on.

Oh, dear…

EMMA

HARRIET

nEARLy LIKE A DREAM

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

(The music picks up again)

MISTER ROBERT MARTIn

NURZUR ANSICHT

HOLDS HIS HEAD UP EvEn WHEn HIS HEART’S DISTRESSED

SUCH A DECEnT MAn

SUCH An AWFUL SHAME

I CAn’T MARRy HIM

HE bows his head sadly and exits.

BUT I’M SURE MISS WOODHOUSE KnOWS WHAT’S BEST yes…

HARRIET sits back down next to EMMA as the song ends.

(Applause segue)

#11A—Transition #9

Scene Eight

Hartfield. Living Room.

(Music under)

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE www.musikundbuehne.de

EMMA

(Out)

Mr. Frank Churchill’s arrival in Highbury continued to be a figment of everyone’s imagination. Mrs. Weston was exceedingly disappointed, even more so than Mr. Weston, as she saw nothing but a repetition of excuses and delays. But then, everything wore a different air—and the morning of an interestingday arrived.

MR. and MRS. WESTON enter

MR. WESTON

Emma! I told you he would come!

May I present to you my son, Mr. Frank Churchill…

FRANK CHURCHILL enters

Miss Woodhouse. At last we meet.

FRANK

EMMA

Mr. Churchill. What a pleasure. I was beginning to think you did not exist.

FRANK

I was beginning to think the same ill.

(Out, cheery)

EMMA

I felt immediately that I should like him.

(Music out. To FRANK)

I have heard your name spoken so often I feel as though we are already old friends.

FRANK

Well I hope that we can now make such promise possible. Perhaps you would be kind enough to show me around Highbury?

EMMA

I would indeed.

#11B—A Walk with Frank Churchill

MRS. WESTON

How I have longed for this day. My dearest friend… and my husband’s son.

MR. WESTON

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

very well stated, Mrs. Weston.

(With some allure)

Thank you, Mr. Weston.

Shall we?

With pleasure.

MRS. WESTON

FRANK

EMMA

EMMA takes his arm and THEYdo a turn around the stage.

Lights will tell us we are outside.

MRS. WESTON

Am I wrong in indulging in the hope of the two of them together?

MR. WESTON

Perhaps. But what harm could come of it?

The WESTONS exit.

Miss Woodhouse. What is this place?

FRANK

EMMA

That’s Fords. First in size and fashion. To be a citizen of Highbury you must buy something at Fords.

FRANK

Well then, I must make myself its most frequent patron while I’m here.

EMMA

you’ll have to compete with Mrs. Weston for that honor. But tell me, what do you think of Jane Fairfax? Did you see her often in Weymouth?

I saw her a little.

(Music out)

www.musikundbuehne.de

FRANK

EMMA

I dare say you answer as discreetly as she herself.

FRANK

She always seemed a bit too pale for my liking. She rather looks like she’s ill. A most deplorable complexion.

EMMA

Oh, tish, tish. now there I would not agree. Let us just say she is not to your taste. Do you admire her, aside from her complexion?

FRANK

I cannot separate Miss Fairfax from her complexion.

EMMA

She was always so reserved. I could somehow never attach myself to her.

FRANK

It is a most repulsive quality. There is safety in reserve, but never attraction.

#12—It Feels Like Home

EMMA regards HIM and smiles. SHE is satisfied with his answer. Miss Woodhouse, what is that?

EMMA

The Crown Inn. It used to be a ballroom. now it’s merely a Gentleman’s club. I’m afraid there are not enough young people in Highbury to inspire dancing.

FRANK

Then we’ll just have to inspire dancing ourselves.

FRANK twirls EMMA.

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

EMMA

you speak as if you intend to stay, Mr. Churchill.

FRANK

(Pointedly at her)

I am finding reasons to extend my visit here at every moment. IT FEELS LIKE HOME THE AIR IS WARM IT TAKES My BREATH In THIS, My COUnTRy IT FEELS LIKE HOME

(FRANK)

HE strolls around the stage.

THE SKy IS WIDE THE PEOPLE QUAInT My HEART IS LIFTED FOR HERE I WALK In STREETS OF MORnInG DEW FOR HERE I WALK WITH yOU

EMMA

AnD nOW THAT HE IS HERE I HAvE nOT OnE REGRET

I’M LIKELy TO LIKE HIM

FRANK

IT FEELS LIKE HOME

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

EMMA

HE’S LIKELy TO LIKE ME

FRANK

IT TAKES My BREATH

EMMA

WE’RE LIKELy TO BE HAPPy

FRANK IT FEELS LIKE HOME

EMMA

POSITIvELy HAPPy

EMMA & FRANK

WE’RE LIKELy TO BE HAPPy nOW THAT WE HAvE MET…

The lights and music fade as the scene changes.

(Applause segue) #12A—Transition #10

Scene Nine

Hartfield. Living Room. A party is assembled.

EMMA, KNIGHTLEY, JANE, MISS BATES, MR. WOODHOUSE, MR. & MRS. WESTON, and FRANK CHURCHILL

KNIGHTLEY crosses and catches EMMA’s attention.

(Music under)

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

KNIGHTLEY

I heard you had the pleasure of meeting the Esteemed Frank Churchill

EMMA

yes. now there’s a gentleman. Perfect manners. Perfect looks. I’ve tried, but I can’t find fault with him.

KNIGHTLEY

Really? I heard he rode all the way to London yesterday merely to have his hair cut. Just the trifling, silly fellow I took him for. But I suppose you approve of such foppery and nonsense.

EMMA

I see no point in discussing it. We shall never agree.

KNIGHTLEY

That is nothing extraordinary.

(Music out)

KNIGHTLEY crosses and joins JANE FAIRFAX as MRS. WESTON crosses in.

MRS. WESTON

Did you hear? Mr. Knightley sent a carriage for Jane Fairfax and Miss Bates.

EMMA

Knightley is a gentleman and he is simply acting appropriately.

MRS. WESTON

The more I think of it, the more probable it appears.

EMMA

The more probable what appears?

MRS. WESTON

It is my belief that Mr. Knightley is infatuated with Jane Fairfax. And she with him.

EMMA nonsense. He’s a committed bachelor.

MRS. WESTON

Perhaps. But I stand by my claim. See the consequence of your company?

EMMA

My dear Mrs. Weston, do not take to matchmaking. you do it very ill.

MR. WESTON crosses over

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MR. WESTON

Emma, might you favor us with some music?

EMMA

Surely you would prefer to ask another guest without the limitations of my musical prowess.

MR. WESTON

Well, we could always ask Miss Fairfax to play…

EMMA

Oh, I suppose I could indulge this one small request!

EMMA crosses to the piano and prepares to sing for the assembled group.

#13—The Recital

SHE plays the opening few bars and hits a bad note. Well, I played it perfectly yesterday.

(Stiffly, at first)

SWEET SISTER MARy

GOLDEn HAIR

SHE WALKS In FIELDS OF PROUD RED ROSES

SWEET SISTER MARy

TAKES My HAnD

EMMA notices KNIGHTLEY speaking to JANE. The music gets faster, and her voice, louder.

WHAT IS HE SAyInG TO JAnE FAIRFAx?

I WISH I HAD SOME TALEnT WHy IS SHE LEAnInG On HIM?

IS THIS A MATCH?

I HATE My vOICE

(EMMA)

I WISH I PLAyED A LITTLE BETTER IT WOULD HIDE My UTTER SHAME

FRANK walks over and begins singing with EMMA, instantly perking her up.

EMMA & FRANK

SWEET SISTER MARy

GOLDEn HAIR

THE SUnLIGHT GLISTEnS

ALL AROUnD HER

FRANK continues to “ah” as EMMA sings her thoughts.

EMMA

HE’S SO ATTEnTIvE

AnD PERHAPS FInDS ME CHARMInG, FAIR, AnD MODEST

AnD IT’S APPEALInG

I ADMIT An ATTACHMEnT TO HIM WHy SHOULD I nOT InDULGE In THE THOUGHT?

NURZUR ANSICHT

CLEARLy, HE FInDS ME IRRESISTIBLE

AnD HOLDS ME In ESTEEM

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

FRANK

FAIR, AnD MODEST

EMMA

WHy IS SHE STAnDInG UP?

GOOD GOD, SHE’S COMInG OvER HERE

SHE’S PLAYING NOW …

EMMA gets up as JANE FAIRFAX has her turn at the piano-forte. EVERYONEpays close attention.

The first four bars are played with a flourish and then JANE begins to sing beautifully, an octave higher than EMMA.

JANE

SWEET SISTER MARy

GOLDEn HAIR

THE SUnLIGHT GLISTEnS

ALL AROUnD HER

KNIGHTLEY and FRANK cross and join in with JANE.

JANE, KNIGHTLEY & FRANK

SWEET SISTER MARy

HUMBLE AnD RESERvED

SHE CHARMS THE PROUD RED ROSES

EMMA

HOW COULD HE THInK OF IT?

IT REALLy ISn’T POSSIBLE

HE CAn’T WAnT A WIFE

HE’S nOT THE TyPE…

EMMA

THEn WHy IS HE LOOKInG AT HER?

WHy AM I LOOKInG AT HIM…

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

JANE AH—

EMMA

(Two beats)

LOOKInG AT HER?

The song continues as KNIGHTLEY strolls over to EMMA.

KNIGHTLEY

She plays well, does she not?

EMMA

Only if you enjoy that polished, extremely gifted sort of talent.

KNIGHTLEY

Come, Emma. Why is it that you so dislike her?

EMMA

I do not dislike her. I have simply chosen not to form an attachment to her. One can never guess what she is thinking.

KNIGHTLEY

(Pointedly) yes. I know the feeling.

SWEET SISTER MARy

TRIES My PATIEnCE

IT’S nOT HER FAULT, yOU PLAy SO POORLy…

Light on HARRIET, who is in mid-conversation with MR. WOODHOUSE.

HARRIET

MISTER ROBERT MARTIn AnD HIS SISTER

CROSS My MInD SO FREQUEnTLy

MR. WOODHOUSE cannot suppress a yawn.

KNIGHTLEY

I HAvE QUITE EnOUGH PRAISE FOR MISS FAIRFAx HARRIET

BUT WE nEvER SPEAK

KNIGHTLEY

HER vOICE IS LOvEy

HARRIET

MR. ROBERT MARTIn AnD HIS SISTER DO nOT PAy MUCH MInD TO ME

FRANK CHURCHILL sings to JANE as she plays.

FRANK

IT FEELS LIKE HOME

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

HARRIET

I WOnDER WHAT THEy THInK? ARE THEy nOT LOvELy?

FRANK

IT FEELS LIKE HOME THE AIR IS PURE THE PEOPLE QUAInT My HEART IS LIFTED

FRANK shakes hands with his father, MR. WESTON.

FOR HERE I STAnD WITH FRIEnDS AnD FAMILy

AnD HERE I STAnD WITH yOU…

FRANK holds out his hand. EMMA crosses and takes it. They look in each other’s eyes.

A musical “ping” and then EMMA faces front.

EMMA

HE LIKES ME

I’M CERTAIn HE PAyS SUCH ATTEnTIOn

FOR I AM A GEnTLEMAn’S DAUGHTER

WE ALL nEED A PARTnER

AnD I’M nO ExCEPTIOn

I JUST DIDn’T KnOW UnTIL nOW

EMMA

LOvE IS EnIGMATIC

IT AMAzES AnD SURPRISES

AnD FATE IMPROvISES IF WE DOn’T STEP In BUT AM I REALLy READy? TO ACCEPT THE InvITATIOn?

I HAvE THE PROvOCATIOn BUT WILL I RESIST? I DARE nOT REBEL IF HE IS My FATE THEn I MIGHT AS WELL AnD yES, OTHER PEOPLE’S PLEASURE WILL ALWAyS BE My LEISURE BUT WHy BEAR SUCH PLEASURE ALOnE?

EMMA THE MATCH THAT I’D MOST LIKE TO MAKE SHOULD RIGHTLy BE My OWn!

(Music ends, lights fade)

END OF ACT I

ALL OTHERS

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

Scene One

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

#14—Pride and Sense

THE ENSEMBLE is revealed.

NURZUR ANSICHT

Fantasy: A VICAR marries EMMA and FRANK CHURCHILL in EMMA’s mind as the ENSEMBLE sings.

ENSEMBLE

WHAT A PAIR, HOW THEy GLOW! WHO COULD MAKE SUCH A MATCH? WHO WOULD KnOW?

EMMA looks back at the audience on this last line with a wink.

FOR SHE HAS nO PRETEnSE JUST PRIDE AnD COMMOn SEnSIBILITy

WE’vE BEEn BLESS’D By WHAT’S BEST In MISS WOODHOUSE

FRANK

MISS WOODHOUSE

MEN (ExceptFRANK)

WHAT A PAIR TO BEHOLD

WOMEN (ExceptEMMA)

AH, AH

ENSEMBLE

WHO’D HAvE THOUGHT SUCH A TALE WOULD UnFOLD? BUT SHE KnEW ALL ALOnG THAT THEy BELOnGED TOGETHER, FAITHFULLy

WE ARE BLESSED By WHAT’S BEST

WE’RE MORE THAn IMPRESSED WITH MISS WOODHOUSE

FRANK

Miss Woodhouse?

MEN (ExceptFRANK)

MISS WOODHOUSE

WOMEN (ExceptEMMA) AH—

FRANK

(Clearing his throat)

Miss Woodhouse.

(Music cuts off abruptly)

With his second interjection, EMMA is snapped back to reality and we realize we are in the living room at Hartfield. EMMA recovers quickly.

EMMA

…Mr. Churchill! What a lovely surprise. I’ve been longing to tell you all about the preparations for our ball.

FRANK

Ah yes, I wanted to speak to you about the ball. My Aunt is unwell and urges my return to London without delay.

EMMA

How horrid! I mean for your Aunt. I suppose our poor ball must be quite given up.

FRANK

Only for a short time. Perhaps I’ll return in the fall.

EMMA

(She turns slightly away from him)

May I ask, Mr. Churchill, might you have arrived sooner, had you known how much you would have enjoyed the company of the people of Highbury?

FRANK

A great deal sooner if I had realized how much I would have enjoyed the company of one very particular person in Highbury.

EMMA looks back at FRANK.

Miss Woodhouse. Surely you can read my intentions.

EMMA

I’m not sure I can, Mr. Churchill.

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

FRANK

Miss Woodhouse—I must make a confession to you.

EMMA

Must you?

FRANK

These last few weeks… you must know the joy I feel, being in the presence of someone you hold dear. Someone you long to tell—

But they are interrupted by MR. WESTON. EMMA stands immediately, relieved at the intrusion.

EMMA

Look who it is! Mr. Weston. We were just speaking of you.

MR. WESTON

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

I’m afraid it’s time to go, son.

#15—This is How Love Feels

FRANK sighs. Looks at his father and then back at EMMA.

FRANK

Dear, Miss Woodhouse. It seems that fate has conspired against us. At least for now.

FRANK takes his leave. EMMA turns to the audience.

EMMA (Out)

He is more in love with me than I thought! He was about to tell me so when his father burst in. And I suppose I must in turn be in love with him… This sensation of listlessness, stupidity, this dull disinclination to sit down and employ myself…

SO, THIS IS HOW LOvE FEELS

QUIET, PEnSIvE, MOST POLITE

AnD I DOn’T HAvE A FEvER

I’M PERFECTLy CALM

I DIDn’T THInK IT WOULD FEEL LIKE THAT

BUT THIS IS HOW LOvE FEELS

nO SURPRISES BUT TO SAy

I AM SOMEWHAT SURPRISED TO BE FULLy COMPOSED

I ExPECTED, PERHAPS, TO BE MORE InDISPOSED

BUT THIS IS HOW LOvE FEELS

AnD THOUGH THERE ARE nO LIGHTnInG BOLTS

TO PAInT My SKy

nO WAvES TO CRASH My SHORE

I AM QUITE EnOUGH In LOvE

AnD MOST COnTEnT

AnD I SHOULD nOT WAnT FOR MORE

nO, I SHOULD nOT WAnT FOR MORE

(EMMA)

SO, THIS IS HOW LOvE FEELS

EvEn TEMPERED QUIETUDE

THERE IS nOTHInG UnUSUAL STIRRInG In ME I DIDn’T THInK IT WOULD FEEL LIKE THAT

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

BUT THIS IS HOW LOvE FEELS nOT LIKE Any POET’S vERSE

NURZUR ANSICHT

THOUGH ByROn InSISTED THAT LOvE WAS A CURSE AnD SHAKESPEARE’S yOUnG LOvERS HAD FATES EvEn WORSE THIS IS HOW LOvE FEELS

AnD IT WOULD BE COMPLETELy STRAnGE

AnD MORE THAn ODD FOR My HEART nOT TO SOAR THEREFORE, I MUST BE In LOvE THERE IS nO DOUBT

AnD I SHOULD nOT WAnT FOR MORE nO, I SHOULD nOT WAnT FOR MORE

FRANK CHURCHILL appears on the other side of the stage. He glances over occasionally at EMMA as he sings.

FRANK

THIS IS HOW LOvE FEELS! I’M SO UPLIFTED, SO InSPIRED!

HER CAREFUL COMPOSURE

HER ELEGAnT SHAPE

THE DEPTH OF HER BEAUTy LEAvES My MOUTH… AGAPE THIS MUST BE HOW LOvE FEELS

HER nUAnCES AWAKEn ME DELIGHT My EyES! WHEn WILL SHE BE My BRIDE? IF OnLy WE COULD TELL THE WORLD HOW MUCH WE FEEL

Suddenly JANE FAIRFAX appears and we realize that it is JANE, not EMMA, whom FRANK has been singing about.

FRANK & JANE

THEn WE WOULD nOT HAvE TO HIDE A LOvE WE’vE BEEn DEnIED…

THEYlook at each other longingly as the scene changes.

(Song buttons. Applause segue)

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

#15A—Transition #11

Scene Two

Highbury. The street.

HARRIET is stopped in her tracks as ROBERT MARTIN turns a corner and they nearly bump into each other.

(Music under)

NURZUR ANSICHT

Oh.

Oh. ‘Allo, Miss Smith.

(Music out)

Mr. Martin.

Pardon, I was just—

I didn’t think—

I don’t mean—

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HARRIET

ROBERT MARTIN

HARRIET

ROBERT MARTIN

HARRIET

ROBERT MARTIN

HARRIET yes?

ROBERT MARTIN

I was only… well…

Oh… An awkward beat

HARRIET

ROBERT MARTIN no rain.

HARRIET

no. Quite pleasant, actually.

ROBERT MARTIN

Last time we spoke—there was rain.

yes. I recall.

HARRIET

ROBERT MARTIN

Oh… and I read that “Pride and Prejudice” (Beat)

…I wouldn’t recommend it.

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

HARRIET

Thank you.

Another awkward pause

ROBERT MARTIN Walnut?

HE retrieves a walnut from his pocket.

HARRIET

How very kind indeed.

ROBERT MARTIN

I remember you was fond of ‘em.

Oh, I have only grown more so.

HARRIET

SHE takes the walnut and holds it as a precious object. A musical “ping” is heard.

#16—Mr. Robert Martin (Reprise)

MISTER ROBERT MARTIn ALWAyS SAyS THE SWEETEST THInGS

WHEn CHAnCE WE MEET

ROBERT MARTIN (Trying to come up with something to say)

Ehhhhhh…

HARRIET

ISn’T HE A DEAR?

MISTER ROBERT MARTIn CAnnOT HAvE My HAnD BUT AS TO WHy THAT IS

Well

ROBERT MARTIN

HARRIET

STILL REMAInS UnCLEAR

HARRIET

BUT I TRUST MISS WOODHOUSE

SHE IS My MEnTIOR AnD FRIEnD

SHE WOULD nOT LEAD ME ASTRAy

I TRUST MISS WOODHOUSE

BUT, EvEn WITH DIRT On HIS FACE

HE HAS SUCH An AIR OF GRACE

I mean, Miss Smith.

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

ROBERT MARTIN

HAvE A FInE DAy

IT’S ALWAyS SO nICE TO SEE yOUR FACE (With affection) HARRIET!

ROBERT

HARRIET

BUT SHE DOES nOT AGREE…

The music fades and we transition into the next scene.

(Music segues)

#16A—Transition #12

Scene Three

Hartfield. Drawing Room.

A gathering in honor of MRS. ELTON. In attendance are EMMA, MR. ELTON, MR. KNIGHTLEY, MRS. WESTON, JANE FAIRFAX, MR. WOODHOUSE, and MISS BATES.

(Music under)

NURZUR ANSICHT

EMMA

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

(Out)

Mrs. Elton was first seen in church. A thousand vexatious thoughts entered my mind as I prepared myself to meet the woman who believed it a good idea to marry Mr. Elton. One hears she is very well satisfied with herself and thinks much of her own importance.

MRS. ELTON

Miss Woodhouse, I am so happy to finally make your acquaintance. Mr. E has spoken of you often.

EMMA

Mrs. Elton. I cannot express my anticipation of meeting you at last. We are so delighted to welcome you to Highbury.

MRS. ELTON

yes. I have heard it said on more than one occasion that my particular charms are of benefit to any community of high standing.

EMMA

(Out)

vanity must always be forgiven, you know, because there is no hope of a cure.

(Music out)

MISS BATES

Mother sends her regrets and she’ll be so sorry to have missed the opportunity to make a fuss over Mr. E’s new bride!

MRS. ELTON

Oh dear, me. Please do not make a fuss on my behalf. I am simply enjoying the modest attentions that come from being an elegant and beautiful wife.

MR. ELTON

She is a rare jewel, is she not?

MRS. ELTON

(Feigning embarrassment)

Please, do not flatter me in front of others, Mr. E. They must come to recognize my amenities on their own.

EMMA

I believe we are beginning to see them now, Mrs. Elton.

MR. WOODHOUSE

Ghastly woman. Who invited her?

MRS. ELTON

Miss Fairfax. I hear you have been seeking employment? I shall endeavor to find you a situation.

JANE

you needn’t bother on my account, Mrs. Elton.

MRS. ELTON

nonsense. I shall take you under my wing and make you my pet.

JANE

Thank you, Mrs. Elton but that is hardly necessary.

MR. KNIGHTLEY

I think Miss Fairfax is quite right. Shall we have some brandy?

MRS. ELTON

Knightley. I hear that Box Hill is famous for its strawberry-beds. And such weather for exploring!

EMMA is slack jawed that MRS. ELTON would use the informal “Knightly” while addressing her close friend.

MR. KNIGHTLEY

not until spring I should think.

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

MRS. ELTON

name your day. you may depend upon me to arrange everything. Married women, you know, may be safely authorized to invite the guests.

MR. KNIGHTLEY

Mrs. Elton, there is but one married woman in the world I would ever allow to invite guests to my estate.

MRS. ELTON

(Cooley)

Mrs. Weston, I suppose.

MR. KNIGHTLEY

no. Mrs. Knightley. And until she is in being, I shall manage such matters myself.

Silence. Then, THEYall laugh.

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#17—Should We Ever Meet (Reprise #2)

MRS. ELTON

Such a humorist.

MR. WESTON enters. ALL EYESturn to HIM

MR. WESTON

Good news! Frank is returning to Highbury.

KNIGHTLEY

(Deadpan)

Ah. Rejoice.

MR. WESTON

My sister thinks London too cold for her so they are to move south for the season without any loss of time.

MRS. WESTON

Emma, perhaps now we can have our ball.

EMMA

Er, yes…

MRS. ELTON

yes! Splendid idea. May I dare say in honor of the new addition to Highbury?

MRS. WESTON

In any case, we shall all be glad to see Frank again.

EMMA (Out)

Strange. His absence seems to have produced in me a kind of indifferent effect.

THE ESTEEMED FRAnK CHURCHILL

I HAvE DREAMED FRAnK CHURCHILL

AnD yET In THE EnD I DOn’T CARE IF I SEE HIM OR nOT

I DOn’T WAnT FRAnK CHURCHILL

I DOn’T LOvE FRAnK CHURCHILL

I THOUGHT THAT I DID, BUT I DOn’T EvEn LIKE HIM A LOT …

Scene transitions (Music segues)

Scene Four

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE www.musikundbuehne.de

The Crown Inn. A ballroom.

#18—Waltz at the Ball

Scene changes to a lavish ball, already in progress. COUPLES dance as the music plays.

N.B.—This cue serves as a prelude to Scene Four, and is considered optional. Depending on your production’s needs, you can use all of the cue, part* of the cue, or omit the cue entirely, and jump to #18A—THE BALL (UNDERSCORE)

*[See the Piano-Conductor’s Score for the recommended optional cut.]

#18A—The Ball (Underscore)

MISS BATES approaches MR. WOODHOUSE

(Music continues under)

MISS BATES

Oh Mr. Woodhouse, this is brilliant indeed! Excellently contrived, upon my word. This is like meeting quite in fairyland.

MR. WOODHOUSE

yes, if fairyland had a draft.

KNIGHTLEY and EMMA stand watching as EMMA admires her ball.

EMMA

Did we not succeed in enlivening this stuffy old hall? I myself am quite impressed with our efforts.

KNIGHTLEY

you do know how to throw a party, Emma, I’ll give you that.

EMMA

It’s not a party. It’s a ball.

KNIGHTLEY

Call it what you like, it’s still going to be a dull evening.

EMMA

you’re not planning on being difficult tonight, are you?

KNIGHTLEY

It’s my right to be difficult. I dislike small talk and I detest dancing. It is a testament to our friendship that I am even here.

EMMA

Dancing is an art, Knightley. And I’m sure you would look very gentlemanly and graceful, if you ever took the trouble.

KNIGHTLEY

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

A complete waste of time.

(Coming up from behind them)

What’s a waste of time, pray tell?

(Regards him)

Haircuts.

FRANK

KNIGHTLEY

And with that, KNIGHTLEY crosses out

FRANK

Miss Woodhouse, I declare you have outdone yourself.

EMMA

Mr. Churchill. Highbury is honored to have you with us tonight.

FRANK

It is indeed another opportunity to become acquainted with its inhabitants.

EMMA

Well, there is a new inhabitant that you have no doubt heard spoken of.

FRANK

yes, I do admit to having a great curiosity to meet Mrs. Elton.

EMMA

She is like no other, I assure you.

www.musikundbuehne.de

FRANK

Which one is she?

EMMA

She is there. Standing with Jane Fairfax. Who would have thought I would feel sorry for her?

FRANK

Perhaps I should stroll over and introduce myself. I’m sure Miss Fairfax wouldn’t mind an interruption in the conversation. And then, Miss Woodhouse, I shall return and make good on my promise of a dance.

EMMA

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(Trying to put on a good face) I shall be waiting… (after HEleaves) (Out)

Poor, lad. He’s obviously still quite in love with me. And yet my own attachment has subsided into a mere nothing.

MRS. WESTON crosses to EMMA as she finishes her dance with MR. WESTON.

MRS. WESTON

A great success, don’t you think?

EMMA

not entirely. Harriet is still the only girl without a partner.

MRS. WESTON

yes, poor thing. I’m sure she will be asked.

EMMA

Disaster if she is not.

MRS. WESTON

Then allow me to ease your worries. I know a person who would be quite suitable to be Harriet’s partner, at least for one dance.

MRS. WESTON crosses to MR. ELTON who is sauntering about.

MRS. WESTON

Another dance Mr. Elton?

MR. ELTON

It would give me very great pleasure to dance with an old friend such as yourself, Mrs. Weston.

MRS. WESTON

I am not referring to myself, Mr. Elton. But there is a young lady disengaged whom I should very much like to see dancing—Miss Smith.

MRS. WESTON motions over to HARRIET who stands shyly by herself. MR. ELTON immediately becomes uneasy.

MR. ELTON

Miss Smith—oh, I had not observed. you are extremely obliging Mrs. Weston, and if I were not an old married man, I could accommodate her, I’m sure, but I’m afraid that I’ve already committed to another partner. If you’ll excuse me.

EMMA

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(Out)

Insufferable man! Harriet is too good for him. Too good for us all. She is my superior in warmth and kindness. At least I know Harriet will carry her disappointment with dignity and grace.

(Music segues)

#19—Humiliation

HARRIET sadly walks center stage.

HARRIET

HUMILIATIOn

WHAT A PATHETIC, EMBARRASSInG, PITIFUL SIGHT

The DANCERS look at her pitifully.

HUMILIATIOn

BUT OTHER THAn THAT, IT’S A BEAUTIFUL nIGHT FOR THROWInG yOURSELF InTO COLD FREEzInG WATER TO DIE LA—LA LA—LA LA LA LA LA

HUMILIATIOn

I’M SOMEWHAT UnBEARABLy HORRIFIED, STAnDInG ALOnE

HUMILIATIOn

STILL, A DELIGHTFUL CROWD— IS THAT MOET AnD CHAnDOn?

I’LL DRInK THE WHOLE BOTTLE AnD vOMIT On SOMEBODy’S GOWn

LA—LA LA—LA LA LA LA LA

SHAME, DISGRACE, AnD REJECTIOn

CAn TAInT A WOMAn’S COMPLExIOn

REDUCInG HER ROMAnTIC CHAnCES

(HARRIET)

AnD THERE SHE STAnDS AnD WAITS BUT nEvER DAnCES

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

HUMILIATIOn

IS IT JUST ME, OR IS EvERyOnE LOOKInG My WAy?

NURZUR ANSICHT

All the DANCERS slowly turn and stare at her. When SHElooks at back at them, THEYturn away

MORTIFICATIOn

BUT OTHER THAn WAnTInG TO DIE IT’S A LOvELy SOIREE

AnD ASIDE FROM THE AnGUISH AnD TORMEnT

I’vE HAD A GOOD TIME

LA—LA LA—LA LA LA LA—LA LA LA

LA LA LA—LA LA LA—

LA LA LA—LA LA LA

Just then, KNIGHTLEY crosses to HARRIET and asks her to dance. She nods and he sweeps her on to the floor and they dance together magnificently as EMMA looks on with extreme delight and approval.

HARRIET ends the song with an unexpected operatic high note. LA LA LA!

Song buttons.

(Applause segue)

The Crown Inn.

#19A—After Humiliation

A little while later. EMMA approaches KNIGHTLEY.

(Music under)

EMMA

I thought you said dancing was a waste of time.

I was provoked

KNIGHTLEY

EMMA

your dancing proved to be just what I believed, both graceful and elegant.

KNIGHTLEY

Well it was unpardonable rudeness on Mr. Elton’s part.

EMMA

I do own myself to have been completely mistaken in Mr. Elton. There is littleness about him which you discovered and which I did not.

KNIGHTLEY

And in turn for your acknowledging so much, I will do you the justice to say, that you would have chosen for him better than he has chosen for himself. Harriet Smith has some first-rate qualities that Mrs. Elton is totally without.

EMMA is heartened to hear this.

Come. Let us go back.

(Music out)

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EMMA

KNIGHTLEY

And with whom will you be dancing next?

EMMA

With you, if you will ask me. We are not really so much brother and sister as to make it all improper.

SHE smiles at him and crosses back into the hall. HE lingers for a moment.

KNIGHTLEY

Indeed, we are not…

I KnOW IT’S nOT IMPROPER FOR US TO DAnCE IT HARDLy IS A SCAnDAL

AnD MISS BATES HAS nO OPInIOn

AnD THOUGH WE ARE RELATED

By CIRCUMSTAnCE

yOU ARE nOT My SISTER

(KNIGHTLEY)

AnD I’M SURELy nOT yOUR BROTHER THOUGH My BROTHER AnD yOUR SISTER HAvE THREE CHILDREn IT’S COnFUSInG…

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

EMMA

I’M HELPLESS In yOUR GRACE

I SEE yOUR KInDRED FACE WHEn I CLOSE My EyES EMMA

THE DAWn BREAKS WITH yOUR SMILE

AnD FOR JUST A WHILE, I AM COMFORTED

AnD IF I nEvER HOLD yOU IF I nEvER TOUCH yOU IF I nEvER HAvE THE CHAnCE TO QUITE ExPRESS WHAT I’M MOST HOPEFUL OF THEn I WILL nEvER I WILL nEvER KnOW LOvE

yOU DOn’T WAnT ME TO MARRy yET SHOW nO SIGn OF AnyTHInG BUT FOnDnESS FOR THE FRIEnD yOU’vE KnOWn THE LOnGEST

AnD yES, I’M SLIGHTLy WARy TO CROSS THAT LInE FOR WHAT IF IT UPSETS yOU? IT WOULD STAIn My PRIDE FOREvER BUT I DOn’T KnOW WHAT yOU’D SAy OR HOW yOU’D ACT WOULD IT BE FOOLISH?

EMMA

THE HEART WAnTS WHAT IT WAnTS AnD IT HAUnTS ME COnSTAnTLy WHEn I’M WITH yOU EMMA

My SOUL LIES AT yOUR FEET

I HAvE BEEn DISCREET BUT nOW IT’S OvERDUE

(KNIGHTLEY)

AnD IF I nEvER HOLD yOU

IF I nEvER TOUCH yOU

IF I nEvER HAvE THE CHAnCE TO QUITE ExPRESS WHAT I’M MOST HOPEFUL OF THEn I WILL nEvER

I WILL nEvER KnOW LOvE

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WILL nEvER KnOW JOy

WILL nEvER KnOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO STROKE yOUR HAIR

AnD FEEL yOUR SKIn AGAInST My SKIn WHAT IS THIS EnDLESS DAnCE WE’RE In?

EMMA

I’vE HELD THIS BACK TOO LOnG

TELL ME IS IT WROnG TO BE In LOvE WITH yOU?

EMMA

THE DAWn BREAKS WITH yOUR SMILE

AnD MAyBE FOR A WHILE I AM COMFORTED

AnD IF I nEvER HOLD yOU

IF I nEvER TOUCH yOU

IF I nEvER HAvE THE CHAnCE TO QUITE ExPRESS WHAT I’M MOST HOPEFUL OF THEn I WILL nEvER—

I WILL nEvER KnOW—

I WILL nEvER KnOW LOvE

(Applause segue)

The scene transitions #20A—Transition #13

Scene Five

Hartfield. Living Room.

EMMA is in the drawing room when FRANK CHURCHILL suddenly enters carrying a distraught HARRIET.

(Music under)

NURZUR ANSICHT

Miss Woodhouse…

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

FRANK CHURCHILL

EMMA

Mr. Churchill. Harriet! What has happened?

FRANK CHURCHILL

She fainted, but I think she is nearly recovered now.

HE places HARRIET on the chaise.

Oh, dear!

EMMA

HARRIET

Oh, Miss Woodhouse. It was terrible. Awful

EMMA

What happened?

(Music out)

HARRIET

I was taking the road to Richmond when I was suddenly and most inconveniently, attacked by thieves and robbers!

EMMA

These and robbers! How ghastly!

HARRIET

If not for the miraculous and completely coincidental passing by of Mr. Churchill, I fear that something dreadful could have become of… my person

FRANK

(To EMMA)

They were mostly children looking for ribbons.

HARRIET

villainous little creatures.

Oh dear.

EMMA

HARRIET

Thank you, Mr. Churchill. Thank you. Whatever can I do to repay such an act of chivalry and kindness?

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

#21—A Gentleman’s Daughter (Reprise)

FRANK takes HARRIET’s hand. A musical “ping” is heard.

Lights shift.

EMMA (Out)

HE LIKES HER

EMMA waves her hand and FRANKkneels

SHE LIKES HIM

Waves again, and HARRIET shifts her position and looks longingly at FRANK. I COULD BE A GENIUS

FRANK kisses Harriet’s hand.

THEy’RE PERFECT

AnD SIMPLy…I—

They are on the verge of kissing when EMMA waves her arms again and breaks the spell.

(Out) nO!

(Music out)

I have had enough of interference. I shall not stir a step, nor drop a hint.

FRANK

If you’ll excuse me. Ladies.

HARRIET

Oh, Miss Woodhouse, for all we been through, I feel it is my duty to have no reserves with you on a particular subject. Mr. Elton. I assure you I shall shed no more tears for him. I can see nothing at all extraordinary in him now. Oh yes, Miss Woodhouse, I am quite an altered creature, and this is the last I shall speak of Mr… The vicar of Highbury.

EMMA

Oh, Harriet. I am sure that when you do marry you will be fully appreciated for the delightful creature you are.

HARRIET

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I shall never marry.

never marry? This is a new resolution.

EMMA

HARRIET

It is one that I shall never change.

EMMA

I hope it is not in compliment to… the vicar of—

HARRIET

—Mr. Elton? no indeed! He is so superior to Mr. Elton.

EMMA

He?

I’ve already said too much.

HARRIET

#22—Stranger Things Have Happened

EMMA considers her words carefully.

EMMA

I think I can guess your meaning. The person whom you would prefer to marry might be too greatly your superior to think of you. Is this not so?

HARRIET

Oh, Miss Woodhouse, believe me, I have not the presumption to suppose he would be at all attached to me. But it is a pleasure to admire him at a distance.

EMMA

I am not at all surprised. The service he rendered you was enough to warm your heart.

HARRIET

The very recollection of it, when I saw him coming—his noble look and my wretchedness before. In one moment, such a change. From perfect misery to perfect happiness! But I am not so mad as to believe he has a thought of me.

EMMA

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NURZUR ANSICHT

Oh, Harriet. More wonderful things have taken place. There have been matches of greater disparity…

MIRACLES HAvE HAPPEnED

STRAnGER THInGS HAvE HAPPEnED

LOvE CAn BE SURPRISInG

ABRUPT AnD UnExPECTED

MIRACLES HAvE HAPPEnED

STRAnGER THInGS HAvE HAPPEnED

CRESSIDA AnD TROILUS

FOUnD LOvE WITHOUT ALLOWAnCE

TRUTH IS STRAnGER THAn FICTIOn

THERE IS nO BLAME

LET’S MAKE A PROMISE nOT TO SPEAK HIS nAME

FRANK CHURCHILL appears in EMMA’s mind.

EMMA & HARRIET

AnD yES, THERE ARE OBJECTIOnS

OBSTACLES ABOUnDInG

EMMA

HE IS QUITE yOUR BETTER

HARRIET

WOULD HE MAKE COnCESSIOnS?

EMMA

BUT IF HE SHOULD GROW TO LOvE yOU IT WOULD nOT BE SURPRISInG

MEn CAn BE PERSUADED

HARRIET

MIRACLES CAn HAPPEn

EMMA & HARRIET

WE CAn ALL CHOOSE OUR PARTnERS THERE IS nO BLAME

EMMA

LET’S MAKE A PROMISE

nOT TO SPEAK HIS nAME

FRANK disappears from the stage.

I GIvE yOU CAUTIOn nOW

MAKE SURE THAT HIS LOvE IS RETURnED TO yOU BUT I PLEDGE I SHALL nEvER DISCUSS THIS AGAIn FOR I SWEAR

I AM DETERMInED AGAInST ALL InTERFEREnCE

An OATH FOR WHICH THERE MUST BE ADHEREnCE

EMMA & HARRIET

FOR WE HAvE BEEn MISTAKEn

In THE PAST WE WERE MISTAKEn BUT nOW WE BOTH KnOW BETTER WE JUST MInD OUR BUSInESS

EMMA

BUT IF HE SHOULD GROW TO LOvE yOU IT WILL nOT BE SURPRISInG

EMMA

nEWTOn LEARnED THE EARTH

HARRIET

GALILEO SAW THE HEAvEnS

HARRIET IF HE SHOULD GROW TO LOvE ME

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EMMA & HARRIET

STILL, WHAT ARE THE CHAnCES? WE CAn’T ExPLAIn LET’S MAKE A PROMISE

EMMA

nOT TO RUMInATE

OR OvER SPECULATE

HARRIET

EMMA & HARRIET

THInGS THAT JUST HAPPEn By FATE

HARRIET

FOR MIRACLES CAn HAPPEn

EMMA & HARRIET

WE DOn’T TAKE THEM LIGHTLy

The lights change slightly as HARRIET prays out of earshot of EMMA.

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

HARRIET

PERHAPS My MIRACLE WILL BE… MR. KnIGHTLEy!

(Song buttons)

(Applause segue. The scene transitions)

#23—Box Hill

Scene Six

Box Hill.

A large party is assembled for exploring the weather and picking strawberries.

EMMA, KNIGHTELY, MR. ELTON, MRS. ELTON, MRS WESTON, HARRIET, JANE, FRANK, and MISS BATES

ALL

NURZUR ANSICHT

BOx HILL InSECTS!

BUzz OFF! TOO HOT!

BOx HILL FLICK, SWAT!

HEAvEn On EARTH THIS IS nOT!

(Music continues under)

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

FRANK

(Trying to make JANE jealous)

Miss Woodhouse. I was quite determined to return to London until you invited me to come today.

EMMA

Well, I’m glad you choose to be with us, Mr. Churchill.

FRANK

I am here because you commanded me to be here and for no other reason.

EMMA

It is best to believe your temper under your own commandment and not mine.

FRANK

It comes to the same thing, does it not?

EMMA

(Feeling uncomfortable)

Harriet… why don’t you keep Mr. Churchill occupied?

HARRIET

Oh, I am quite content sitting beside Mr. Knightley, thank you.

FRANK

And I beside Miss Woodhouse. Are you comfortable in your current seated location, Miss Fairfax?

JANE

Oh, yes quite, Mr. Churchill. Thank you so much for inquiring.

FRANK not at all.

JANE

But perhaps you, yourself, are not as comfortable as you appear.

KNIGHTLEY nor is any man, Miss Fairfax.

EMMA

Mr. Knightley, you are always being humble. (Out)

That can be so tedious

(Trying to gain attention)

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MRS. ELTON

Well, I have news. My good friend, Mrs. Suckling offers our dear Jane a desirable situation as governess that I think shall suit her quite well. I am wild for the offer.

JANE

Thank you, Mrs. Elton but I am at present still not inclined to pursue any offers of employment. I am quite happy in my present state.

MRS. ELTON

nonsense, Jane. Offers such as the one from Mrs. Suckling do not appear every day.

KNIGHTLEY

It appears that your kind offer is unaccepted, Mrs. Elton. And I say that in utter indifference to Mrs. Suckling

MRS. ELTON

(Insulted)

Mr. E—What have you to say on my behalf?

MR. ELTON

(Not having paid attention)

A most appealing frock, my dear.

(Music out)

JANE

I assure you, Mrs. Elton, I am quite content.

MISS BATES

How content she must be to form such a close alliance with Mr. Knightly. Miss Woodhouse, isn’t Jane fortunate to receive the kindness and affection of Mr. Knightley?

EMMA

Perhaps Mr. Knightley would like to express these affections himself?

KNIGHTLEY

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Emma.

(In response to JANE)

FRANK

Well if we are truly speaking of our affections, then I would like to express mine for Miss Woodhouse

EMMA

Mr. Churchill FRANK leans in, as if EMMA is whispering to him.

FRANK

What is that, Miss Woodhouse? A game? very well, if you insist. Miss Woodhouse demands from each of you, either one thing very clever, or two things moderately clever or three things very dull indeed. And she engages to laugh heartily at them all.

EMMA

I have demanded nothing of the sort.

MRS. ELTON

These sorts of things are very well at Christmas, but quite out of place in summer. Do you not agree, Mr. E?

MR. ELTON

I do indeed. Although I’ve always rather enjoyed games in summer.

(Off her look)

But of course, not this summer…

MISS BATES

Oh, very well. Three things very dull indeed. That will just do for me, you know. I shall be sure to say three dull things as soon as ever I open my mouth, shan’t I? Do you not all think I shall?

EMMA

Ah, but there may be a difficulty, Miss Bates, as you will be limited to only three in number.

FRANK laughs. Everyone else is silent.

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#23A—Emma’s Insult (Underscore)

EMMA’s insult takes just a moment to register with MISS BATES.

MISS BATES

yes. I see what she means. I must try to hold my tongue. The hurt starts to become more apparent. SHE turns to MR. KNIGHTLEY. I must make myself very disagreeable or she would not have said such a thing to an old friend.

MR KNIGHTLEY comforts MISS BATES for a moment, but the party quickly dissolves, and soon only EMMA and KNIGHTLEY remain.

(Music out)

KNIGHTLEY turns to EMMA who feigns her innocence.

EMMA

I was not so very bad. I dare say she did not understand me.

KNIGHTLEY

I assure you she did. She felt your full meaning.

EMMA

I know there is not a better creature in the world as Miss Bates, but you must allow that what is good and what is ridiculous are most unfortunately blended in her.

#24—Badly Done

KNIGHTLEY

Were she a woman of fortune, I would leave her every harmless absurdity to take its chance but, her situation should have secured your compassion, Emma…

IT WAS BADLy DOnE

WHy AM I SURPRISED?

I’vE BEEn FOOLED BEFORE yOU ARE STILL A CHILD

(KNIGHTLEY)

IT WAS BADLy DOnE

AnD WHAT MAKES IT WORSE

yOU SHOULD HAvE KnOWn BETTER

yOU SHOULD HAvE KnOWn…

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(spoken) …Better.

KNIGHTLEY crosses out and EMMA is left in tears as the scene transitions.

(Music segues)

#24A—Transition #14

Scene Seven

The BATES apartment.

EMMA has come to apologize but is surprised to see JANE FAIRFAX at the door instead of MISS BATES

(Music under)

Miss Woodhouse.

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JANE

EMMA

Oh—good afternoon, Miss Fairfax. I was hoping your aunt might spare me a moment. I have something I wish to say to her.

JANE

I’m afraid she and Mrs. Bates have gone to the Coles. Do come in.

EMMA

(Awkward)

Well….

Please, Miss Woodhouse.

JANE

EMMA fakes a smile and enters reluctantly.

(Music out)

I’m quite glad you’re here, Miss Woodhouse. In truth, there is something I wish to tell you.

EMMA

Miss Fairfax, before you say anything—

JANE no, please I must—

EMMA

I believe I can guess what it is you wish to say.

JANE

Miss Woodhouse?

EMMA

I admit to being ashamed of my conduct towards you.

JANE

Oh– Miss Woodhouse. I merely meant to give you news.

EMMA news?

JANE

(Hesitant)

Mrs. Churchill has died. Frank has just returned to London.

EMMA

NURZUR ANSICHT

Oh dear, I am sorry.

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

JANE

yes, well. I’m afraid that is not the news to which I am referring.

EMMA no?

JANE

Miss Woodhouse… Mr. Churchill and I are engaged to be married.

EMMA

So sorry. I thought I just heard you say that you and Mr. Churchill were engaged to be married?

JANE

We have been secretly long engaged. Only the passing of his aunt has made it possible for us to reveal our engagement.

EMMA

Good God.

JANE

So, it is I who must apologize to you, Miss Woodhouse.

(With a little irritation at Frank)

Especially on behalf of Mr. Churchill

EMMA

Indeed, I am stunned… that is… many little matters are laid open.

JANE

I’ve been in agony, Miss Woodhouse. I longed to tell you—to tell anyone. But Mrs. Churchill was such a proud woman, she could never approve our union.

EMMA

Dear, Miss Fairfax. I can now imagine how I must have appeared in your eyes when all this time I believed you to be my rival.

JANE

I had always hoped that we might choose to become better acquainted, Miss Woodhouse.

#24B—It Feels Like Home (Reprise)

We have known each other from children to women.

EMMA

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And now as friends.

THEYclasp hands for a moment. JANE curtsies and then turns towards FRANK who appears on the other side of the stage (Out)

Oh, she’s not so terribly bad. Perhaps a little happiness is due her after all. JANE walks towards him as THEY sing.

FRANK CHURCHILL

IT FEELS LIKE HOME

JANE IT FEELS LIKE HOME

FRANK CHURCHILL

THE AIR IS WARM

My HEART IS FULL

THE SKy IS WIDE

My HEART IS LIFTED

AnD WE ARE FREE TO BE WITH FAMILy

JANE

BOTH

AnD THOSE WE MOST HOLD DEAR…

EMMA (Out)

Oh no! (Music out)

…Harriet. Lights shift

Hartfield. Living Room.

EMMA has just told HARRIET the news.

(Music under)

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HARRIET

Frank Churchill? Engaged to Jane Fairfax? It is not possible.

EMMA

My very words exactly.

I cannot believe it.

Those were my words as well.

HARRIET

EMMA

HARRIET

Well, I hope that they shall be quite happy together.

(Music out)

Had you any idea? you who can see into everybody’s heart.

EMMA

How can you ask me that question when it was I who was encouraging you to give way to your own feelings? you may be very sure that if I had known I should have cautioned you accordingly.

HARRIET

Me? Why should you caution me? you do not think that I care about Frank Churchill?

EMMA

Do you mean to deny it?

HARRIET

…Miss Woodhouse. How could you mistake me? I know we agreed never to name him but considering how infinitely superior he is to everyone else I should not have thought it possible that I could be supposed to mean Frank Churchill.

EMMA

Well, whom do you mean?

HARRIET

It is you who have encouraged me. At first, I could not believe such an attachment possible. But stranger things have happened, that is what you told me.

EMMA

Harriet, let us understand each other now without the possibility of further mistake. Are you speaking of… Mr. Knightley?

To be sure I am.

HARRIET

EMMA

My dearest Harriet. I perfectly remember speaking of your wonderment at the service Mr. Churchill rendered you. The sensation that you felt when he rescued you.

HARRIET

My dear Miss Woodhouse, it was not the thieves and robbers to which I was referring. … No, no, no NO… I was thinking of a much more precious circumstance…

#25—The Epiphany (Part 1)

… of Mr. Knightley’s coming and asking me to dance when Mr. Elton would not stand up with me. That was the service, which made me begin to feel how superior he was to every other person in the world

EMMA

Good God! This has been a most unfortunate—most deplorable mistake! What is to be done?

For the first time we see an anger bloom in Harriet’s demeanor.

HARRIET

A mistake? Why should something be done?

EMMA

Harriet…

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HARRIET

… you must think he is five hundred million miles above me, Miss Woodhouse. And why should you not?

I’M THE nATURAL DAUGHTER OF nOBODy WHy SHOULD HE GIvE ME A THOUGHT?

I’M THE nATURAL DAUGHTER OF nOBODy AnD I SHOULD SETTLE FOR CRUMBS On THE TABLE BE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT I HAvE GOT THAT’S WHAT yOU’RE THInKInG THAT’S yOUR IMPLICATIOn WELL I DOn’T ACCEPT THAT I’M BOUnD TO My STATIOn AnD I DOn’T AGREE THAT JUST BECAUSE HE IS MR. KnIGHTLEy OF DOnWELL ABBEy HE’S TOO GOOD FOR ME

(Music out)

EMMA

Harriet… have you any idea of Mr. Knightley’s returning your affection?

#25A—The Epiphany (Part 2)

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yes. I must say that I have.

HARRIET

EMMA turns away. now I seem to feel that I might deserve him.

EMMA is devastated. HARRIET exits.

EMMA (Out)

Why is it so much worse that Harriet should be in love with Mr. Knightley than Frank Churchill?

MISTER KnIGHTLEy!

MISTER KnIGHTLEy?…

HE IS JUST My FRIEnD A MEMBER OF THE FAMILy

ALWAyS THERE WHEnEvER I’M In nEED

DEPEnDABLE AnD FAIR

yET DIFFICULT AnD BROODInG IF THERE’S SOMETHInG MORE, I’M UnAWARE

I CAnnOT BE In LOvE IT IS nOT COnvEnIEnT OR PREFERABLE OR PRACTICAL

AnD IT DOES nOT MAKE SEnSE

I CAnnOT BE In LOvE THAT WOULD BE TOO GRIM

I CAnnOT IMAGInE I COULD FEEL THAT WAy FOR HIM

nO, IT’S TOO ABSURD nO OnE WOULD BELIEvE IT

(EMMA)

HE HAS BEEn AROUnD ME ALL My LIFE

BUT WHy DO I FEEL WEAK?

AnD SUDDEnLy DISTRACTED

LOnGInG TO BE BORED By HIS CRITIQUE?

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I CAnnOT BE In LOvE

IT’S nOT WHAT I InTEnDED OR COUnTED On OR BARGAInED FOR THAT WAS nOT THE PLAn

I CAnnOT BE In LOvE

THAT WOULD BE SO WROnG

I CAnnOT BELIEvE THAT I HAvE LOvED HIM ALL ALOnG

Oh, but Harriet?

WHy HAS My BLOOD GOnE COLD?

I’vE SEEn HIM LOOK AT HER

WHy MUST THIS BE SO HARD?

IT’S OnLy MISTER KnIGHTLEy!

MISTER KnIGHTLEy, MISTER KnIGHTLEy

MISTER KnIGHTLEy?…

A big romantic sigh

MISTER KnIGHTLEy

IMPOSSIBLE AnD STRAnGE

yET OBvIOUS AS DAyBREAK

COnCLUSIvE, InDISPUTABLE AnD CLEAR

My HEART IS nOW SET FREE

AnD HE MUST nOT PURSUE HER WHEn IT’S PLAIn THAT HE SHOULD MARRy ME!

yES, I’M MADLy In LOvE

AnD THOUGH IT’S nOT COnvEnIEnT IT’S WOnDERFUL

IT’S TORTUROUS

AnD I THInK I MAy HAvE HIvES

yES, I’M SADLy In LOvE

FOR THERE’S nO GUARAnTEE

THAT THERE MIGHT BE BUT HALF A CHAnCE THAT HE’S In LOvE WITH—

AnyTHInG CAn HAPPEn

(EMMA)

HE’S In LOvE WITH— STRAnGER THInGS HAvE HAPPEnED… ME!

(Applause segue)

The scene transitions.

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

#25B—Transition #16

Scene Eight

The Parlor at Randall.

MR. WESTON sits reading a newspaper. MRS. WESTON looks up from her book.

MR. WESTON’s modest demeanor almost never changes.

(Music under)

It was so thoughtful, really.

What was?

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MRS. WESTON

MR. WESTON

MRS. WESTON

The letter I received from your son, Frank.

MR. WESTON

What letter?

MRS. WESTON

I mentioned it this morning, were you not listening, Mr. Weston?

MR. WESTON

Indeed, I was not, Mrs. Weston. What does he write?

MRS. WESTON

He declares his regret for his shameful behavior towards our dear Emma.

MR. WESTON

Hear, hear.

MRS. WESTON

Had he not been convinced of her indifference he would never have indulged in such selfishness.

MR. WESTON

Good lad.

MRS. WESTON

In fact, he was within a moment of confessing the truth to her at Hartfield, when you yourself interrupted them, my love.

MR. WESTON

(With little emotion)

Ah. So, the blame lies with me.

Of course.

very well, then.

He is impatient for my reply.

And what will you write?

MRS. WESTON

MR. WESTON

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MRS. WESTON

MR. WESTON

MRS. WESTON

That he is forgiven, of course. And of my news, Mr. Weston.

MR. WESTON

And what news is that, Mrs. Weston?

MRS. WESTON

I am with child.

MR. WESTON is speechless. Now we see his emotion. He rises and embraces his wife as EMMA enters and looks at the audience.

(Music segues to…)

#26—Badly Done (Reprise) EMMA (Out)

With insufferable vanity I believed I had the secret of everyone’s feelings. With unpardonable arrogance I proposed to arrange everyone’s destiny. I have been proven to be universally mistaken. And even worse…. I have done mischief. IT WAS BADLy DOnE I WAS SUCH A FOOL IT WAS SO nAïvE nOW I’M MORTIFIED IT WAS BADLy DOnE AnD WHAT MAKES IT WORSE I SHOULD HAvE KnOWn BETTER

Lights shift.

(Music under)

MISS BATES crosses in. She barely remembers the incident and is simply her usual bubbly self.

MISS BATES

Oh, Miss Woodhouse. We were so long without your company. And you really are a dear to have apologized for that particular day, but I assure you it is not necessary.

EMMA

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

(Out)

On the contrary, Miss Bates. My remark was rude and thoughtless. you are too dear a friend to let that go unattended.

MISS BATES

(Near tears)

Oh my. you need not make a kerfuffle on my account.

EMMA

Well, at last I have made my peace with Miss Bates. That was well done of me.

MISS BATES crosses out

Oh, but if only Mr. Knightley could be here to witness my humility and thoughtfulness. Surely, he would no longer think ill of me.

(Music segues)

#27—Humiliation (Reprise)

NURZUR ANSICHT

EMMA stops. SHE has a terrible thought.

Is it possible he could be thinking of Harriet Smith? How ghastly! If Harriet believes Mr. Knightley could be attached to her—and if indeed he is… then it is all my own doing.

Fantasy: HARRIET appears in EMMA’s mind. EMMA paces the stage without seeing HARRIET

HARRIET

HUMILIATIOn

nOW yOU CAn KnOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO SUFFER In SHAME HUMILIATIOn

nOW THERE IS nO OnE In EnGLAnD BUT yOURSELF TO BLAME

(HARRIET)

HARRIET now becomes “the puppeteer” and spins EMMA on stage.

AnD, ASIDE FROM THE AnGUISH

AnD TORMEnT, HOW DOES IT FEEL?

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

LA—LA LA—LA LA LA LA LA

NURZUR ANSICHT

HARRIET exits while smiling at EMMA and mischievously waves goodbye

(Music under)

(Out)

EMMA

Oh dear… and I was the one who convinced her she should have feelings for him. now Mr. Knightley is gone to his brother’s house in London with no word of when he might return!

Immediately after saying the word “return”, EMMA turns, and is suddenly face to face with MR. KNIGHTLEY, who has just entered. They are both a bit startled. Mr. Knightley…

(Music out)

Emma.

(Stating the very obvious) you’ve returned then?

Apparently.

KNIGHTLEY

EMMA

KNIGHTLEY

A beat. They become awkwardly formal and speak quickly from nervousness.

EMMA

I trust your trip was a pleasant one?

KNIGHTLEY yes, indeed. Most pleasant.

EMMA

And how are your brother and my sister?

KNIGHTLEY

Both well. very well. They send their best to you and your father.

The children?

very well, indeed.

How nice.

EMMA

KNIGHTLEY

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

EMMA

KNIGHTLEY yes.

EMMA

Well—

very good—

Well then.

KNIGHTLEY

EMMA

An awkward pause that allows the conversation to actually begin.

KNIGHTLEY

Emma…

Mr. Knightley…

I have heard the news.

The news?

EMMA

KNIGHTLEY

EMMA

KNIGHTLEY

Of Frank Churchill’s engagement to Jane Fairfax. That is why I’ve returned early from my stay.

EMMA

yes. you were probably less surprised than any of us.

KNIGHTLEY

Time will heal your wound, Emma. He is a scoundrel; there can be no doubt of that now.

A flutter of pleasure runs through EMMA at his tender consideration

EMMA

you are very kind, but you are mistaken. My only regret was that I was not in on the secret earlier.

KNIGHTLEY

Well, I confess I could never assure myself as to the degree of what you felt.

EMMA

I have never been attached to Frank Churchill. My vanity was flattered but he has not injured me.

KNIGHTLEY

NURZUR ANSICHT

He is a most fortunate man! Everything turns out for his good! He behaves abominably yet with no cost to himself. He meets a young woman, gains her affection, his aunt is in the way, his aunt dies. He uses everybody ill and they are all persuaded to forgive him. He is a most fortunate man, indeed!

EMMA

you speak as if you envied him.

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

KNIGHTLEY

I do. In one respect he is very much the object of my envy.

EMMA turns away you will not ask me what the point is of my envy? you are determined to have no curiosity? Emma, I must now tell you what you will not ask.

EMMA believes he is about to confess his love for HARRIET.

EMMA

no, don’t speak it! Take a little time. Consider your thoughts. Do not commit yourself.

KNIGHTLEY

If you do not wish to hear the words I mean to speak, you need only to tell me and I will go.

EMMA is distressed. SHE turns away from HIM

EMMA

Just say what you must and let us be done with it.

KNIGHTLEY

I will say what I must, because it comes from my heart, not because I wish to cause you distress. In fact, the very opposite is true.

#28—Emma (Reprise)

HE takes a few steps closer to HER. Emma, I cannot make speeches. you know who I am. you hear nothing but truth from me. I have blamed you and lectured you and you have borne it as no other

(KNIGHTLEY)

woman in England would have borne it. But please bear with the truths I tell you now…

EMMA

I’M HELPLESS In yOUR GRACE

Why will you not?

Because I cannot call you George.

But that is my name.

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

EMMA

KNIGHTLEY

EMMA

It’s an unfortunate name. I will continue to call you Mr. Knightley and, on the occasion, when you are being disagreeable, I will call you Knightley, but I cannot under any foreseeable circumstances ever call you “George.”

KNIGHTLEY

EMMA

yOU MOCK ME EvEn nOW

EMMA

Of course. What better time?

KNIGHTLEY

EMMA

KNIGHTLEY

MR. WOODHOUSE

Oh dear. I don’t know. …I don’t like change.

EMMA

But Mr. Knightley is here every day already.

HARRIET SMITH enters the room, surprising everyone.

HARRIET

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Miss Woodhouse…

EMMA is delighted to see her friend.

MR. WOODHOUSE

Miss Smith? We haven’t seen you for quite some time.

EMMA

Please, papa. Consider it.

EMMA takes her father’s hand and then crosses to Harriet and they both exit the room.

MR. WOODHOUSE takes a moment to examine MR. KNIGHTLEY.

MR. WOODHOUSE

you are always here, aren’t you, Mr. Knightley?

KNIGHTLEY

I am indeed.

A beat

I don’t suppose you would ever consider calling me George?

MR. WOODHOUSE

George. Good Lord.

MR. WOODHOUSE exits the room. KNIGHTLEY follows.

EMMA goes into the garden where HARRIET is waiting.

HARRIET

Miss Woodhouse.

Harriet. It’s good to see you.

I hope you do not mind that I came.

(Music out)

EMMA

HARRIET

I received your letters, but I wanted to tell you in person how glad I am for your happiness.

EMMA

Do you really mean that?

HARRIET

yes. With all my heart I do, Miss Woodhouse.

EMMA

I am so relieved to hear you say it and yet I am so ashamed of my own conduct that I do not know if I could ever be wholly forgiven.

HARRIET

I’m afraid Miss Woodhouse it is I who must ask to be forgiven, though I will understand it if you wish never to see me again.

EMMA

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Harriet, what do you mean?

HARRIET

Well… it was all a happy coincidence. We happened to be seated together, quite by chance, at a small gathering at Mrs. Coles.

EMMA

I am not exactly sure what it is you are telling me.

HARRIET

Miss Woodhouse, I am to be married!

EMMA

Married? This is wonderful news! …But you still have not told me to whom?

#29—Finale

A musical “Ping” is heard. (Slow, out of tempo)

HARRIET

MISTER ROBERT MARTIn

ASKED ME FOR THE SECOnD TIME TO BE HIS WIFE

GLADLy, I AGREED

Harriet!

Music goes to tempo

EMMA

HARRIET

MISTER ROBERT MARTIn

nEvER GAvE UP HOPE THAT I’D RETURn HIS LOvE

AnD I HAvE InDEED

ISn’T IT LOvELy?

(HARRIET)

I know you must be disappointed in me, Miss Woodhouse, and for that I cannot blame you. And although you may wish never to see me again, I do hope that you—

She is cut off by EMMA

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

EMMA

Harriet, you are wrong! I am deliriously happy for you both. I am your friend now and will be your friend always. But this time my intention is to be the sort of friend who does not interfere in the lives of those she truly loves.

HARRIET

Oh, Miss Woodhouse, I did not think it possible to be happier still than I already am.

EMMA

I only ask one thing.

What is that?

HARRIET

EMMA

That you bring Mr. Martin here to Hartfield—so that I may shake his hand.

HARRIET

yes. Gladly.

And Harriet.

EMMA

HARRIET yes, Miss Woodhouse?

EMMA

Make sure he is wearing a clean shirt.

The entire ENSEMBLE emerges on stage with their rightful partners.

We are at the wedding of HARRIET and ROBERT MARTIN.

ALL

(Except EMMA, HARRIET & ROBERT MARTIN)

MR. ROBERT MARTIn

BOWED HIS HEAD, AnD THEn HE TOOK HER WELCOME HAnD

EMMA shakes ROBERT MARTIN’s hand.

WHAT A GRAnD AFFAIR!

MISTER ROBERT MARTIn

(ALL)

nEvER GAvE UP HOPE THAT SHE’D RETURn HIS LOvE ARE THEy nOT A PAIR? ARE THEy nOT LOvELy?

The music changes and EMMA cuts between HARRIET and ROBERT MARTIN and looks at the audience.

EMMA

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

(Out)

I MADE THE MATCH MySELF FOR ALL TO SEE!

THEy’RE HAPPy nOW By HAPPEnSTAnCE

AnD A LITTLE HELP FROM ME THOUGH I WAS WARy AT FIRST OPInIOnS AnD ATTITUDES CAn BE REvERSED

KNIGHTLEY stands off to the side and tries to quickly shush her.

KNIGHTLEY

Emma…

EMMA

I MADE THE MATCH MySELF

KNIGHTLEY

I THInK nOT

EMMA

In POInT OF FACT— KNIGHTLEY

SORRy, nO—

“THEy FELL In LOvE In SPITE OF yOU” IS REALLy MORE ExACT

EMMA

yOU’RE WROnG AGAIn

KNIGHTLEY

yOU’RE InSUFFERABLE

www.musikundbuehne.de

EMMA

AnD CAvALIER

AnD TOO nAIvE

KNIGHTLEY

EMMA

LUCKy yOU HAvE ME TO— KNIGHTLEY

—yES, TO InTERFERE!

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

EMMA

LET’S JUST SAy

yOU’RE LUCKy TO HAvE FOUnD ME KNIGHTLEY

LUCKy THAT yOU MEDDLED OR WE MIGHT nOT BE TOGETHER

EMMA

AnD yES, yOUR BROTHER AnD My SISTER

EMMA & KNIGHTLEY

HAvE THREE CHILDREn

IT’S COnFUSInG…

EMMA

MR. KnIGHTLEy

ALL

KNIGHTLEY

EMMA

BOTH

IT WOULD nOT BE WROnG TO BE In LOvE WITH yOU

The COUPLES hold a kiss.

THE END

#30—Bows

#31—Exit Music

MUSICAL NUMBERS (Vocal Book)

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

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14.

15.

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18.

18A.

22.

TACET

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

[Cue]: [Segue from #A]

Queen Anne’s Lace

EMMA: “Hello. I’m Emma Woodhouse. I enjoy the best blessings of existence, and I ﬁnd there is very little to vex or distress me.” Brightly (but steady) [q = 140]

Weston, Miss Bates, Frank Churchill, Harriet Smith, Elizabeth Martin]

EMMA: “My father and I live in the town of Highbury where our family is afforded no equals.”

#1—Queen Anne’s Lace

EMMA: “Happy day. Miss Taylor, my former governess and best friend in the world, has just become Mrs. Weston. ”

ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH

MRS. WESTON: “This is all your doing, Emma.”

EMMA: “You are very kind, but love is an even stronger force than myself.”

MRS. WESTON: “You are being too modest.”

“Yes. That is my greatest fault.”

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I Made the Match Myself #2

[Cue]: EMMA: “You’re simply jealous because I’ve made a success of matchmaking.” [GO]

KNIGHTLEY: “Matchmaking? You simply said to yourself one idle day, ‘I think it would be a very good thing for Miss Taylor if Mr. Weston were to marry her.’ That’s all you did.”

EMMA (cont’d): “Mr. Knightley loves to ﬁnd fault with me. His brother is married to my sister and we always say what we like to one another.”

! KNIGHTLEY: “Emma knows I never ﬂatter her.”

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

#2—I Made the Match Myself

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

“... is someone I have long held an interest in.” rall.

a tempo rall.

EMMA (cont’d): “She may be a parlor border and not remarkable clever, but with the beneﬁt of my guidance I believe I can make her deserving of a man of Mr. Elton’s esteem.” rall. a tempo 39 ! a temporall. 40 ! a temporall. 41

KNIGHTLEY: “Yes, I have every faith in your ability to meddle where you do not belong.” [GO ON]

EMMA: a tempo

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

Transition #2

NURZUR ANSICHT

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

EMMA: “It is always news whenever Mr. Weston receives a letter from his son–”

EMMA (cont’d): “The Esteemed Frank Churchill. Such lovely handwriting. I have been hearing of him my entire life,”

EMMA (cont’d): “... but he has yet to actually pay his father a visit.”

MR. WESTON: “What does he write?”

MRS. WESTON: “He expresses his excitement at coming to visit.”

MR. WESTON: “Good news, indeed.”

MRS. WESTON: “Although I do admit to being skeptical regarding the certainty of the visit.”

MR. WESTON (cont’d): “My sister is not a well woman.”

MR. WESTON: “Patience, my dear.”

MRS. WESTON: “Yes. But her illnesses seem to only occur at her own convenience.” [GO ON]

ANSICHT

EMMA: “Yet there are those that do not have relations nor know not who their relations are.”

EMMA (cont’d): “Mr. Elton, I wonder if I might oblige you to do me a favor?” [OUT]

VERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

MR. ELTON: “Anything, Miss Woodhouse. For you, no favor is too great.”

EMMA: “I’ve just had the pleasure of meeting a most engaging young woman. Her name is Harriet Smith.” [GO]

EMMA: “I wonder if I might encourage you to look after her this evening?” [GO ON]

EMMA (cont’d): “I’m afraid she doesn’t know a soul here.”

I° [q = 148]

MR. ELTON: “It would be my pleasure to perform so humble a service for you, Miss Woodhouse.” [GO ON]

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

KNIGHTLEY: “Emma.”

EMMA: “And then there are some relations that are just impossible to make sense of.”

KNIGHTLEY: “I’ve just received news that my brother and his family are going to Plymouth for the summer.”

EMMA: “Yes, I have just heard the same news.”

EMMA (cont’d): “Since Mr. Knightley’s brother is married to my sister, I’m not quite sure what that makes him to me.”

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

EMMA: “So you don’t know who your parents are?”

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

HARRIET: “I have never thought of it like that.”

HARRIET: “I’ve no idea.”

EMMA: “So for all you know you could be of Royal blood.”

NURZUR ANSICHT

EMMA: “Your father perhaps a Lord. Or a Viceroy.”

HARRIET: “Or a musician!”

EMMA: “Never a musician. Unless that is his hobby.” “Can you imagine...”

“...

[Dialogue continues.] [Cue]: HARRIET: “Miss Woodhouse! Look! It’s… Mr. Martin!” [GO]

HARRIET: “No, I suppose not. The only other people I have ever known are the Martins.” [OUT] poco rit.

[HARRIET runs back to EMMA.] [GO ON]

HARRIET: “Isn’t that the most wonderful coincidence?”

[q = 124]

HARRIET: “What did you think of him?”

EMMA: “I should say so.”

EMMA: “I had imagined him, I confess...”

EMMA (cont’d): “... a degree or two nearer gentility.”

HARRIET: “I suppose he is not as genteel as a real gentleman.”

EMMA: “Precisely. He could never be as ﬁne a gentleman as Mr. Knightley.

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

EMMA: “Or have the openness or the good humor as, say, Mr. Elton.”

HARRIET: “Yes, I think I see that now.”

EMMA: “In fact, Mr. Elton asked after you the other day.” 113 ! poco rit. 114 ! U

HARRIET: “Really? He did?” [GO ON]

Gentleman’s Daughter

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH

[Cue]: MR. ELTON: “Well there are no husbands and wives here. At least not yet.” [GO]

NURZUR ANSICHT

MRS. WESTON: “Very good, Emma. The expression of the eye is most correct but Miss Smith has not those eyebrows or eyelashes.”

= 82]

MR. WOODHOUSE: “But there is a draft.”

EMMA: “We are out of doors.”

MR. WOODHOUSE: “We shall all catch colds and die.” [GO ON] a temporall.

VERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

MR. WOODHOUSE: “She’s going to catch her death of cold with only that little shawl around her.”

EMMA: “Papa, it’s summer. She will not catch cold.” [GO ON]

MR. ELTON: “I can’t wait any longer.” [GO ON]

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

NURZUR ANSICHT

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

[Cue]: EMMA: “Mr. Martin is a very respectable young man but he is not Harriet’s equal.” KNIGHTLEY: “Not her equal?” [GO] #6—The Argument

VERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

poco rall., colla voce

EMMA: KNIGHTLEY:

word’sexactlywhatyouneed.

syllable,

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

Areprimand,

Admonishment,ona

subjectofwhichyouwillnever, molto allargando

subjectofwhichyouwillnever,

marcato [q = 120]

[Miss Bates, Mr. Elton, Harriet, Knightley, Mrs. Weston, Mr. Woodhouse]

Somethingsarebestleftun

Should We Ever Meet #8

[Cue]: KNIGHTLEY: “Ah, the eloquence of lovers.” [GO]

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

MR. WESTON: “Emma, we have news. A letter came from Frank this morning. He will be with us in a fortnight!”

[q = 78]

MR. WESTON: “He will come. This time I’m sure of it.”

EMMA: “Is this true?”

MRS. WESTON: “You are both hopeful, but I fear Mrs. Churchill’s poor health will delay the journey yet again.”

MRS. WESTON: “I am not yet convinced that his aunt can spare him.”

! MR. WESTON: “Fret not, Mrs. Weston, this time will be different. You’ll see.” poco rall.

EMMA: “The idea of Frank Churchill has always interested me. If I were to ever marry, he is the very person to suit me in age, character and condition.” meno mosso, poco rubato

“He was raised by Mr. Weston’s sister and for reasons no one can understand, he took her name. She seems to have brought him up with the intention of never letting him go.”

ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

Should We Ever Meet (Reprise)

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH

[Cue]: EMMA: “Mr. Elton, the sort of feelings I have for you now would be best not expressed.”

MR. ELTON: “I see.” [Lights shift. MR. ELTON exits.] [GO]

EMMA: “Such an overthrow of everything I have been wishing for! And such a blow to Harriet! Well, at least I convinced her not to accept Mr. Robert Martin. There I was quite right. But there I should have stopped and left the rest to time and chance.”

122]

Harriet Crying #9A

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

Have a Piece of Cake

[Cue]: MISS BATES: “Mother, don’t eat that ﬁg! Do you not agree, Miss Woodhouse?” [GO]

EMMA: “Far be it for those with lesser charm and beauty to speculate, Miss Bates.”

colla voce [q = 93]

MISS BATES: “She is a wonder.” [GO ON] poco rit.

BATES (cont’d): “... your father was so kind to send over the hindquarter yesterday.”

“Mrs. Cole likes it nicely fried! Oh! And speaking of Mrs. Cole...” [GO ON] a tempo

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

“Hartﬁeld pork is unlike any other pork, but it is still pork.” [GO ON] poco rit.

“... she has just received a letter from, guess who? Mr. Elton! He is in Bath!” [GO ON] a tempo poco rit.

Mustn’teatthefig,Mother.Icanseehimnow.A

Icanseehimnow.

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

poco rall.

baronandhisdaughterslowlybow.

[HARRIET continues to cry.] MISS BATES: “Don’t be distressed. Mother does not digest ﬁgs well.” [GO ON]

EMMA: “Miss Fairfax, you have been in Weymouth at the same time as Mr. Frank Churchill. Are you acquainted with him?” [GO ON] Meno mosso, poco

[q = 88]

a Piece of Cake

JANE: “A little acquainted with him.” [GO ON]

EMMA: “Having never met him myself, I am curious.”

EMMA: “Yes, but is he agreeable?” più mosso, poco agitato

“Is he handsome?” [GO ON]

! U JANE: “He is generally thought so.” [GO ON]

“Is he sensible? Is he a man of information?” poco meno mossorall.

JANE: “I believe he is considered a very ﬁne young man.” [GO ON]

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

! U JANE: “It is difﬁcult to decide on such points. I believe everyone ﬁnds his manners… pleasing.” [GO ON]

a Piece of Cake

NURZUR ANSICHT

Transition #8

TACET

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

segue]

Mr. Robert Martin #11

[Cue]: HARRIET: “I sat there for a few minutes waiting for the rain to subside when all of a sudden, who do you suppose should come in?” [GO]

#11—Mr. Robert Martin

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

#11—Mr. Robert Martin

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

[Cue]: EMMA: “Mr. Elton is to be married. Now, this might be distressing for the moment, but in time your heart and your pride will fully recover.”

HARRIET: “I see. Well, that is news. Pity I did not hear of it sooner, for then I could have mentioned it in my conversation with…” [GO ON]

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

It Feels Like Home #12

[Cue]: FRANK: “It is a most repulsive quality. There is safety in reserve, but never attraction.” [GO]

FRANK: “Miss Woodhouse… what is that?” [GO ON]

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH

EMMA: “The Crown Inn. It used to be a ballroom. Now it’s merely a Gentleman’s club. I’m afraid there are not enough young people in Highbury to inspire dancing.”

Moderato [q = 96]

FRANK: “Then we’ll just have to inspire dancing ourselves.”

FRANK: “I am ﬁnding reasons to extend my visit here at every

EMMA: “You speak as if you intend to stay, Mr. Churchill.” [GO ON] a temporall.

DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

The Recital #13

[Cue]: EMMA: “Oh, I suppose I could indulge this one small request!” [EMMA crosses to the piano and prepares to sing for the assembled group.]

[GO on visual cue: EMMA begins to play]

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

EMMA: “Well, I played it perfectly yesterday.” [GO ON]

VERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

NURZUR ANSICHT

KNIGHTLEY: “She plays well, does she not?”

EMMA: “Only if you enjoy that polished, extremely gifted sort of talent.”

! poco rit.

KNIGHTLEY: “Come, Emma. Why is it that you so dislike her?”EMMA: “I do not dislike her.” a tempo

EMMA: “I have simply chosen not to form an attachment to her. One can never guess what she is thinking.”

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH

KNIGHTLEY: “Yes. I know the feeling.” poco accel.

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH

[Cue]: [Beginning of Act II]

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

NURZUR ANSICHT

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

“Miss Woodhouse.”

(sudden cut-off)

This is How Love Feels #15

[Cue]: MR. WESTON: “I’m afraid it’s timeto go, son.” [GO]

FRANK: “Dear, Miss Woodhouse. It seems that fate has conspired against us.” Moderately [q = 108]

! FRANK (cont’d): “At least for now.” rall. 6 ÓŒŒ U [FRANK and MR. WESTON exit.] [GO ON] molto rit. 7 U !

EMMA: “He is more in love with me than I thought!” [GO ON]

#15—This is How Love Feels

EMMA (cont’d): “He was about to tell me so when his father burst in.”

molto rubato [q = 100] poco

“This sensation of listlessness, stupidity…”

“And I suppose, I must, in turn, be in love with him…” poco rall. a tempo

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

NURZUR ANSICHT

“… this dull, disinclination to sit down and employ myself…”

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

carefulcomposure,herelegantshape,the

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

depthofherbeautyleavesmymouthagape!This

Transition #11

TACET

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

Mr. Robert Martin (Reprise) #16

[Cue]: HARRIET: “Oh, I have only grown more so.” [She takes the walnut.] [GO]

ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

Should We Ever Meet (Reprise #2) #17

[Cue]: MR. KNIGHTLEY: “And until she is in being I shall manage such matters myself.” [Silence. Then, they all laugh.] [GO]

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH

[q = 86]

MRS. ELTON: “Such a humorist.”

MR. WESTON: “Good news! Frank is returning to Highbury.”

MR. WESTON: “My sister thinks London too cold for her so they are to move south for the season without any loss of time.”

“Er, yes…”

KNIGHTLEY: “Ah. Rejoice.”

MRS. WESTON: “Emma, perhaps now we can have our ball.”

MRS. ELTON: “Yes! Splendid idea. May I dare say in honor of the new addition to Highbury?”

MRS. WESTON (cont’d): “In any case, we shall all be glad to see Frank again.”

“Strange. His

indifferent effect.”

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH

NURZUR ANSICHT

VERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

[Cue]: KNIGHTLEY: “Indeed we are not…” [GO]

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

anythingbutfondnessforthefriendyou’veknownthelongest.And pocoaccel.pocorall.

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH

crossthatline,for

don’tknowwhatyou’dsay,orhowyou’dact.Woulditbefoolish?

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

TACET

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

NURZUR ANSICHT

A Gentleman’s Daughter (Reprise) #21

[Cue]: HARRIET: “Thank you, Mr. Churchill. Whatever can I do to repay such an act of chivalry and kindness?” [GO]

Stranger Things Have Happened #22

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

EMMA: “He?”

“I’ve already said too much.” [GO]

[q = 78]

EMMA: “I think I can guess your meaning. The person whom you would prefer to marry might be too greatly your superior to think of you. Is this not so?”

HARRIET: “Oh, Miss Woodhouse, believe me…”

HARRIET (cont’d): “... I have not the presumption to suppose he would be at all attached to me. But it is a pleasure to admire him at a distance.” poco rall.

EMMA: “I am not at all surprised. The service he rendered you was enough to warm your heart.” meno mosso, poco rubato

HARRIET: “The very recollection of it, when I saw him coming –his noble look and my wretchedness before.” poco rall.

HARRIET: “In one moment, such a change. From perfect misery to...”

I am not so mad as to believe he has a thought of me.”

EMMA: “Oh, Harriet.” [GO ON]

EMMA (cont’d): “More wonderful things have taken place. There have been matches of greater disparity…”

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

NewtonlearnedtheEarth.

DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

[Cue]: EMMA: “I know there is not a better creature in the world as Miss Bates, but you

in her.” [GO]

KNIGHTLEY: “Were she a woman of fortune, I would leave her every harmless absurdity to take its chance but, her situation should have secured your compassion, Emma…”

[q = 84]

It Feels Like Home (Reprise)

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH

JANE: “We have known each other from children to women.”

EMMA: “And now as friends. Oh, she’s not so terribly bad. Perhaps a little happiness is due her after all.” [GO ON]”

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH

The Epiphany (Part 1) #25

[Cue]: HARRIET: “No, I was thinking of a much more precious circumstance…” [GO]

HARRIET (cont’d): “… of Mr. Knightley’s coming and asking me to dance when Mr. Elton would not stand up with me. That was the service, which made me begin to feel how superior he was to every other person in the world.”

EMMA: “Good God! This has been a most unfortunate – most deplorable mistake! What is to be done?”

HARRIET: “A mistake? Why should something be done?”

mosso, poco rubato

EMMA: “Harriet…”

HARRIET: “…You must think he is ﬁve hundred million miles above me, Miss Woodhouse. And why should you not?”

EMMA:

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

#25A

I seem to feel that I might deserve him.”

HARRIET: “Yes. I must say that I have.”

Epiphany (Part 2)

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

NURZUR ANSICHT

thoughit’snotconvenient,it’s

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH

Badly Done (Reprise) #26

EMMA: “With insufferable vanity, I believed I had the secret of everyone’s feelings. With unpardonable arrogance, I proposed to arrange everyone’s destiny. “I have been proven to be universally mistaken. And even worse… I have done mischief.”

116]

MISS BATES (cont’d): “We were so long without your company. And you really are a dear to have apologized for that particular day, but I assure you it is not necessary.”

“Oh,

(cont’d): “My remark was rude and thoughtless. You are too dear a friend to let that go unattended.”

VERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

“On the contrary, Miss Bates.” poco rall.

MISS BATES: “Oh my. You need not make a kerfufﬂe on my account.” rall.

EMMA: “Well at last I have made my peace with Miss Bates. That was well done of me. “Oh, but if only Mr. Knightley could be here to witness my humility and thoughtfulness. “Surely he would no longer think ill of me.” [GO ON]”

Humiliation (Reprise) #27

[Cue]: [Attacca from #26]

EMMA: “Surely he would no longer think ill of me.”

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

EMMA: “Is it possible he could be thinking of Harriet Smith? How ghastly! If Harriet believes Mr. Knightley could be attached to her – and if indeed he is…”

Lightly, in 1 [q = 132]

“… then it is all my own doing.” [GO ON] Vamp poco accel.

EMMA: “Oh dear… And I was the one who convinced her she should have feelings for him.” Now Mr. Knightley is gone to his brother’s house in London with no word of when he might return!”

(Reprise)

[Cue]: KNIGHTLEY: “I will say what I must, because it comes from my heart, not because I wish to cause you distress. In fact, the very opposite is true.” [GO]

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

KNIGHTLEY: “Emma, I cannot make speeches. You know who I am. You hear nothing but truth from me. I have blamed you and lectured you, and you have borne it as no other woman in England would have borne it. But please bear with the truths I tell you now…” [GO ON]

(Reprise)

KNIGHTLEY: “Tell me if I might have any reason to hope of you ever returning my love.”

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

EMMA: “But, my dearest man, I do not know that I believe I deserve your love.”

EMMA: “I have made a folly of everything. Mistaken on every count. Can you really love someone so terribly ﬂawed as I?”

KNIGHTLEY: “What of me? I could not bear you showing any attention to Frank Churchill…”

KNIGHTLEY (cont’d): “… so I made up my mind to go away to my brother’s house, to save myself. But I went to the wrong place.”

EMMA: “You came back to me.”

KNIGHTLEY: “Yes. Best of all creatures. Faultless. In spite of all your faults.” [GO ON] poco rit.

EMMA: “Yes, Mr. Knightley. Yes! I am yours, happily and completely.” poco a poco accel.

KNIGHTLEY: “Will you not call me by my given name?”

b b b b

EMMA: “No, I will not.”

KNIGHTLEY: “Why will you not?”

EMMA: “Because I cannot call you George.”

DURCH

KNIGHTLEY: “But that is my name.”

EMMA: “It’s an unfortunate name. I will continue to call you ‘Mr. Knightley’, and on the occasion when you are being disagreeable, I will call you ‘Knightley’, but I cannot, under any foreseeable circumstances, ever call you ‘George.’” [GO ON]

EMMA: “Of course. What better time?”

KNIGHTLEY: “Well, I suppose we should tell your father the unhappy news.”

EMMA: “Oh, no! — Harriet!” [GO ON] [Attacca]

[Cue]: EMMA: “Married? This is wonderful news! …But you still have not told me to whom?” [GO]

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

HARRIET: “I know you must be disappointed in me, Miss Woodhouse, and for that I cannot blame you. And although you may wish never to see me again, I do hope that you—”

! EMMA (cont’d): “I am your friend now and will be your friend always. But this time my intention is to be the sort of friend who does not interfere in the lives of those she truly loves.”

HARRIET (cont’d): “I did not think it possible to be happier still than I already am.”

! EMMA: “Harriet, you are wrong! I am deliriously happy for you both.” poco rall.

HARRIET: “Oh, Miss Woodhouse…” poco rall.

EMMA: “I only ask one thing.” HARRIET: “What is that?”

EMMA: “That you bring Mr. Martin here to Hartﬁeld – ” a tempo

EMMA (cont’d): “… so that I may shake his hand.”

HARRIET: “Yes. Gladly.” poco a poco accel.

EMMA: “Make sure he is wearing a clean shirt.”

molto rall.

EMMA: “And Harriet.” HARRIET: “Yes, Miss Woodhouse?”

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH

NURZUR ANSICHT

VERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

youhavemeto—

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

luckytohavefoundme.

ive. –Yes,to

interfere!

Luckythatyoumeddled,orwemightnotbetogether. poco rall, colla voce

molto rit.

segue]

NURZUR ANSICHT NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

Should

NICHTFÜRVERTRIEBAUFFÜHRUNGEN DURCH MUSIKUNDBÜHNE

This