Beginning, Previous Section, Section III

Part 17

Author's Note: I just realized that there is one similarity between this chapter and a scene in Stefanie B's Concessions: the location and the characters. Ooops, let me start over. I just realized that there are two similarities between this chapter and a scene in Stefanie B's Concessions: the location, characters and time of day. Shoot, did it again. I'll start over. I just realized that there are three similarities between this chapter and a scene in Stefanie B's Concessions: the location, characters, time of day and attire. Why am I explaining this? What is this? The Spanish Inquisition! ;-) Thanks, Stef!

Day 4, In the Midnight Hour

lizabeth had come to view the day's events in much the same way as Jane. She was mortified by her own behavior and how it could have the potential to ruin her sister's happiness with Bingley. Humiliating his friend would not likely endear any Bennet to even the most good natured of men. She had spent most of the afternoon thinking about what she was to do and had, of course, come to the conclusion that she must apologize. But then she had learned from Jane that Mr. Darcy had not returned to the house even for dinner. Jane too had kept to herself most of the day, claiming a headache and the need to rest. These thoughts kept Elizabeth awake. Her mind raced and only some very dull book would help her sleep. It being very late, she thought nothing of stealing down to the library in her dressing gown.

Pulling open the large double doors of the library, Elizabeth was surprised to see the final flickerings of a small candle on the table next to the sofa. Taking her own candle closer, she saw Mr. Darcy asleep, with a book lying open across his chest. Her first thoughts were amazement; men appeared able to sleep anywhere. She had seen Mr. Hurst fall asleep at parties and even during cards. Her own father frequently nodded off while in conversation with her mother. How they were able to do this she would never cease to wonder.

But now, here lay Mr. Darcy, sleeping with the most charming expression on his face. He was very handsome when he did not scowl or stare. Did he not look like one of the cherubs in that Italian artist's painting? She wondered why he was smiling so sweetly. Perhaps, there was something amusing in the book. She would certainly welcome something amusing today.

With that thought, she leaned over to gently remove the book from its place on Darcy's chest. Suddenly, his left arm rose up and he began to turn to his right. This movement caught Elizabeth by surprise and she found herself trapped under his arm in a most uncomfortable position. If she struggled to free herself, he was bound to awaken. What additional embarrassment could she endure today? Not that surely.

Elizabeth's face was but inches from Darcy's and she could feel his soft regular breathing. Perhaps, she could somehow induce him to turn the other way with a gentle touch on his back. As she had nowhere to go or any other particularly good alternatives, she squirmed to free her right arm, which she carefully brought up and over to Darcy's back. Thinking to herself, so far so good, she chose an appropriate place and scratched ever so lightly.

Darcy emitted a contented 'hmmm' and rolled onto his back, managing somehow in the process to pull Elizabeth completely on top on him. Elizabeth was now in a state of panic. What was she to do? What if someone should come into the library and find her like this? On top of today's scurrilous falsehood, here she was on top of Mr. Darcy. What little she might salvage of her own reputation would now be impossible.

Was this real or was this another of her dreams? There was only one way to find out. She would pinch herself. Reaching down, she pinched.

"Ouch!" Darcy cried, his eyes opening to see Elizabeth's fair countenance but inches from his own. He smiled and thought how he had never had such a realistic dream in his life. He began to stroke her hair and to speak, "Pardon the way that I stare. There's nothing else to compare. The sight of you leaves me weak. There are no words left to speak. But if you feel like I feel. Please let me know that it's real. You're just too good to be true. Can't take my eyes off of you."

Elizabeth was all amazement. She hardly understood what was happening. Not only could she barely recall why she had disliked him so, but she was strangely enjoying herself. In fact, she felt comfortable in her present position. This was wrong, wrong, wrong. She felt that it was not in keeping with her character and she had to disentangle herself from him. At that moment, Darcy's lips touched hers.

The jolt that it sent through her caused her to fall onto the floor, pulling him down as well with a loud thud. As the two soon realized, this was not a dream. Darcy began to apologize for his ungentlemanlike behavior, but was silenced at the outset by Elizabeth.

"I have been the one at fault and you must hear my apologies or I shall never be able to live with myself," she began. "How despicably I have acted. I, who have prided myself on my discernment! I, who have valued myself on my abilities! How humiliating is this discovery! Yet, how just a humiliation! On the very beginning of our acquaintance, I have courted prepossession and ignorance, and driven reason away, where either were concerned. Till this moment, I never knew myself."

Darcy could not bear for her to continue this form of self-chastisement. That was the past; he longed for the present and the future. "I feel myself to blame somehow...for something I have done or said had caused you to think ill of me. For I have the highest esteem for your discernment. You have never to mention this to me again. It is now all forgot."

"Your kindness, Mr. Darcy, is too much. For these things do not happen in the real world, only in my dreams."

"Is that right? Tell me about those dreams," he asked quite innocently. Seeing the deep red flush appear on her face, he felt compelled to proceed with this subject. After several rounds of futile protestations, Elizabeth finally whispered something in his ear. "Like this?" he said as he swept her up in his arms and carried her into the music room.

Setting her down gently on the piano-forte, he awaited further instructions. When none were forthcoming, he asked, "Should I play now? I do recall that I owe you a demonstration. I am most willing and able to perform this demonstration now. Though I must warn you that your pipes may be the very thing upon which I would play. Would this be agreeable for you?" She did not need to answer as her movement away from him spoke volumes.

The disappointment Darcy experienced was severely deflating as well as readily observable on his face. Backing away from her, Darcy began to pace the room. Elizabeth could hardly bear it and attempted to ameliorate the situation by reminding him of her influenza and that such close exposure could be injurious to his health.

"But there are precautions...on my nightstand...I have a potion that Bingley left for me to drink....I could go get it now." Taking her hands in his and bringing them up to his lips, he plaintively whispered in her ear, "you must relieve my suffering." He then proceeded to trace the contours of her throat with his fingers. They went softly up and down her throat, causing her dressing gown to fall open. She could feel herself falling backwards over the piano, somehow sensing that the enjoyment would be greater as the strokes lengthened. Elizabeth shuddered as his hands' great skill and delicacy of touch proved her ever so wrong. Darcy bent closer to Elizabeth's arched body, put his hands around her waist and gently pulled her down in front of him so that he could feel her lips again. They did not disappoint as he felt his kiss returned.

Finally, holding two of her fingers to his lips, Elizabeth voiced the other thoughts that had surfaced in her mind. "Tonight you're mine completely. You give your love so sweetly. Tonight the light of love is in your eyes, but will you love me tomorrow. Tonight with words unspoken. You say that I am the only one. But will my heart be broken, when the night meets the morning sun. So tell me now and I won't ask again, will you still love me tomorrow?"

Darcy released her from his arms. There was no doubt in his mind that not only would he still love her tomorrow, he would love her forever. Pushing the soft curls back behind her ears, Darcy pulled her dressing gown closed. "Tell me, Elizabeth, what you would like me to do."

"One part of me can only think of the way that you hold me, whenever you hold me. There's some kind of magic inside you. That keeps me from running, but just keep it coming. How'd you learn to do the things you do? But another is saying to stop, in the name of love, before you break my heart. So I should think it over more."

I could never intentionally break your heart, although I feel mine breaking. With as much gallantry as he could summon, under the circumstances, Darcy finally said, "Then, I must be heartbroken in Hertfordshire, at least for this night. It is late. Our rooms beckon."

They walked in silence up the staircase. At Elizabeth's room, a playful smile appeared on Darcy's face as he stood leaning over her. "Shall I say good night till it be morrow?"

"No, just go!!" Elizabeth rolled her eyes back in disbelief and pushed him away. Darcy bent down and gave her a light kiss on the forehead and left her to go into her room.

Please see Appendix 2 for the song that played over and over in Darcy's head, preventing him from getting much sleep that night.

Part 17 References

Part 18

Day 4, 7:00 a.m.

A persistent rapping at the door awoke Elizabeth from her dream. Pulling the bedclothes over her head, she attempted to ignore it, when she heard Jane's voice speaking softly, yet audibly from the other side of the door. "It is I, Lizzy. I am coming in."

Entering the room, Jane saw a most surprising sight. Despite the ritual yawning and stretching, Elizabeth had a broad smile on her face and looked very well indeed. The urgent news Jane was to deliver could wait as her curiosity, as always, could not be subdued. "How well you look this morning, Lizzy. I believe you look different in some way. Could it be that you have completely recovered from the influenza? Or is it something else?"

"It is true, Jane, he still loves me." Elizabeth said while twirling a strand of her long brown hair around a finger.

"Who still loves you?"

"Mr. Darcy, of course."

Jane looked at her doubtingly and sat on the corner of the bed. "Oh, Lizzy! It cannot be. I know how much you dislike him."

"You know nothing of the matter. That is all to be forgot. Whenever I am with him, something inside starts to burning and I am filled with desire. Could it be the devil in me or is this the way love is supposed to be?"

"What? Like a heatwave?"

"Yes, precisely, like a heatwave burning in my heart. I cannot keep from crying. It is tearing me apart."

"Lizzy, you are speaking like a mad woman. Yesterday, when Mr. Darcy left Netherfield the only desire you had was to be better strangers. What has transpired from then to now?"

"Do you remember that dream I had?"

"The one with the piano?" Jane asked with a slight blush appearing on her face.

Elizabeth's head turned aside in order that Jane could not see the sparkle in her eyes as she said, "Yes, well, it is no longer a dream."

Had she been reading another novel? If so, she was resolved to burn all the novels in their house. "Whatever is that to mean, Lizzy? After that abominable performance of yours, are you telling me that he kissed you?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

"On the mouth."

"No, where in this house?"

"First in the library, but then he was more in earnest in the music room."

"And then what happened?"

"He told me that he loved me."

"I wonder whether that love can withstand the slanderous things that are being said of you, Lizzy. He is descended from an old, highly respected family that can trace its roots to the conquest. While I believe him to be all that is good and kind, connecting with a family such as ours may be slightly more than even he could bear across his broad shoulders."

Thoughts of her midnight adventure had driven the slanderous assertions momentarily out of Elizabeth's head. "You are right, Jane. This will not work. I must end it. He is much too good to be asked to endure the slings and arrows of my outrageous fortune." Would not the events of last night convince him that the slander is true she thought to herself. "I believe this has catastrophe written all over it."

"How so? In what language is that written? Lizzy, the man is rich. He is handsome and has wit. He has a grand estate, sits well in the saddle and is a more-than-competent dancer, one who you would not be embarrassed to stand up with at balls and assemblies. Is it not possible that our standards are a little too high?"

"No, I shall end it today," Elizabeth stated firmly but with sadness evident in her eyes.

"While I believe you should give him a chance to see how he reacts to the news, I must tell you why I have come at this hour. As instructed by mama, I have made arrangements to take our leave of Netherfield. A carriage will await us at half past nine. Can you be ready?"

10:00 a.m.

In the breakfast room at Netherfield, Mr. Stuckey has been relating his account of a strange scene he witnessed late that night in the hallway. "I tell you I saw him leaning over her!"

"What do you mean by leaning over her? That would not appear to be scandalous in and of itself," Bingley countered. "By your calculations, her sins are great, indeed."

Stuckey replied, "I tell you this only for your friend's future welfare. Perhaps, if we could have an exhibition, you might comprehend the seriousness of his position. Miss Bingley, I will require your assistance." Stuckey rose from his seat and motioned for Caroline to stand in the threshold of the door leading to the butler's pantry. Looking about the room for someone significantly taller than Miss Bingley, Stuckey turned to the ever-present sideboard guardians, the footmen. "Everett, come stand here."

"You have it wrong. That is Rupert." Caroline was quick to correct Mr. Stuckey's error, as she was able to discern the difference between the two.

In much the same fashion as a stage theatrical's director or an artist with the elements of a still-life composition, Stuckey attended to his subjects. When he had finished positioning the two, Rupert's right arm rested on the wall over Miss Bingley's head and his body was, in fact, leaning into hers and hers into his. Caroline took this opportunity to whisper into Rupert's ear, "I do adore this scene Mr. Stuckey has arranged, but let me tell you I am a sure thing." However, Rupert looked vastly disinterested.

"I grant you that he would be appear to be rather close to Miss Bennet, but I do not see that she was at all to blame, " Bingley commented, wishing this would end as he had no desire to know the private dealings of others and made it a habit never to interfere.

Mrs. Hurst interrupted at this point, "Brother, would you allow the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted when you have it within your power to end this charade? You must convince him of his folly, and we must depart as soon as practicable."

Bingley set his elbows on top of the table and let his hands cradle his head. While shaking his head from side to side, more a sign of capitulation rather than agreement, he began, "Now, returning to Darcy and Miss Bennet in the doorway...."

"Can you not see that they were leaning into each other? Leaning is very different from, say, hugging. Hugging involves arms and hands. Leaning involves whole bodies moving in....Leaning involves wanting...and accepting...and..."

"A very good morning, is it not?" Darcy cheerfully commented as he walked into the breakfast room. Seeing the unusual tableau in front of him, he chose to ignore its rather obvious but futile implications and looked about the room for signs of either of the two Bennet sisters. He was not particularly expecting to see Elizabeth, but where was Jane, he thought. Also, Bingley appeared to have a rather perturbed look on his face.

"Mr. Darcy, will you not sit down? This is a wonderful morning on several accounts." Caroline Bingley began as she returned, albeit reluctantly, to her seat at the table.

Taking a cup into his hand, he asked, "How so?"

"Ahh, the Bennet girls have finally taken their leave. I for one shall not miss them. But I do hope, Louisa, that their having been in this house shall not sully our good name."

"Bingley, do you know of what your sisters are speaking?"

"Yes, Darcy, I have just now heard of it. I find it difficult to believe myself, but rumors abound concerning Miss Elizabeth Bennet."

"And what is the nature of those rumors? Am I not to hear them myself?" Darcy said with his voice getting slightly louder and more intense.

Caroline was more than happy to oblige, "Miss Eliza's virtue is in question and there are some who are speculating that she may be with child."

"What?" was all that Darcy could manage as he rose and began walking in an angry manner.

"After we were apprised of the rumor, we had Mr. Stuckey look into the particulars. He found that one of the regimental officers may be the responsible party. Then, there is a most indecent story about her escapades late at night in a music room with a piano-forte and a mysterious man, which I myself overheard Miss Eliza discuss with her sister."

Darcy willed himself to stand still as he came to a stop in front of the window. With his back to the table, he asked in a monotone, "And when did your overhearing take place?"

"Why? I believe it was the night before last?" Caroline smugly replied.

Deafening silence ensued before Darcy at long last turned to face the table. Pointing his outstretched arm at Caroline, Louisa and Stuckey, he began: "And I suppose Brutus, Cassius and Casca take an eager interest in Miss Bennet's affairs? Then I shall tell you that it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing!"

"Darcy, please. These are rumors. They have life of their own. Nothing you can do or say will alter that fact. You fight the fights that you can win." Bingley said attempting to pacify and bring his friend to reason.

"No, Charles, you fight the fights that need fighting." With great resolve on his face, he turned back toward the conspirators and continued in a most calm and assured tone of voice, "You called Miss Bennet a harlot or repeated assertions that she was one. What has she done to you? Nothing. She has done nothing to any of you. She's a lady. What she has is hard to find and I do not want to lose her.

"If, Miss Bingley, you were under some impression that, one day, you would be mistress of Pemberley, then your blame should fall on me--not on her--for I should have been more clear that it was not my intent. We have a serious problem here, so if you want to discuss character and moral values, then you will need more than the overhearing of a dream. For that is what it was. Have you never had a dream? More's the pity because last night my dream came true."

With that, Darcy spun around and strode out the room, followed almost immediately by Bingley. Those seated at the table looked stunned, unable to speak, except for Mr. Hurst who said, "Are we to have sport today?"

11:30 a.m.

Mrs. Bennet was seated alone in the small sitting room that had a full west exposure, when Hill announced the arrival of Mr. Darcy. She put down her cross-stitching and greeted, with the utmost civility, this man who showed every indication of being under tremendous strain. What choice had she? He was a friend of Bingley's...and where was Bingley?

"Mrs. Bennet, I hope you and your family are in good health?

"I am well indeed, as I would hope the same for yourself. Does Mr. Jones' potion appear to be effective in preventing against the influenza?"

"I would not know as I have not taken it."

He did not drink the potion and he is here? Concealing her astonishment, Mrs. Bennet asked, "And you are here for what purpose, sir?"

"I am here to see Miss Elizabeth Bennet....if she will receive me," Darcy said while beginning to play with the ring on his little finger.

Noting his nervous preoccupation with the ring, Mrs. Bennet asked, "In the morning? My daughters are engaged at present. Could you not come back later for tea, perhaps with Mr. Bingley, who I see has not accompanied you?"

"No, I must insist on seeing Miss Bennet now." Darcy replied as he stiffly drew himself up to his full height.

Seeing that this was not a man to be refused anything, Mrs. Bennet waved her hand toward the rear of the house, saying that all of her daughters were in the stillroom and that he could reach it most expeditiously through the kitchen.

As soon as Darcy had departed, Mrs. Bennet hurried herself over to the library and entered, again without benefit of knocking. Closing the door tightly behind her, she said, slightly out of breath, "It is happening, Mr. Bennet!!"

Putting aside his accounts, Mr. Bennet looked up and asked, "What, Mrs. Bennet, is happening?"

"Mr. Darcy is here. He is here."

All of the Bennet girls were industriously engaged in tying bundles of the final blossoms and herbs from Longbourn's garden. These were to be hung and dried for later enjoyment. There was quite a singularly efficient enterprise under way in the stillroom as each girl tended to her own task. Mary sorted through the cut flowers, while Lydia measured out a quantity for bundling. Then Kitty cut lengths of twine and handed it to Elizabeth, who tied it around the bundles. Jane moved among her sisters, inspecting their work and carrying tied bundles to Freddie, who had been enlisted to hang the bundles from nails set into the roof timbers.

As their chores progressed, Mary was the first to spy a very tall figure walking with determination through the stillroom. Appearing quite shocked, Mary immediately stopped and pointed out the unusual visitor to her sister Lydia. Both moved to obtain a better vantage point. Glimpses of the visitor's apparel could be seen between the fully stocked shelves that divided portions of the room. They were long strides. Strides with a purpose. As Lydia motioned for Kitty to join them, they then saw Mr. and Mrs. Bennet quietly arrive on the scene, followed by Hill, Cook and a bevy of household help.

The sudden cessation of work activity was noted by Jane who then saw Mr. Darcy's confident approach behind Elizabeth, who was engaged in tying a bundle of flowers. Darcy bent down and placed his hands around Elizabeth's waist. Her surprise was quite evident as she turned around to face him. There was no anger on her face despite his having taken such a liberty. Instead, her complete joy at seeing him here--in her house--drove all thoughts of who else was in the room out of her head. Darcy too appeared oblivious to the spectators gathered discreetly along the work tables as he took Elizabeth's face into his hands and drew it toward his own. Her arms went around his neck as all who were watching were vastly astonished by the passionate kiss they beheld.

Clasping each other, Darcy lifted Elizabeth off the ground and spun around while her feet could be seen dangling from under her gown. The enormous burden of their respective prejudicial attitudes and perceived obstacles was lifted. Relief, as well as mirth, took hold of the couple in the form of unrestrained laughter as Darcy began walking. Looking enviously upon the scene, which she thought could only be improved by the addition of a dashing uniform on the gentleman, Lydia could be heard to say, "Good show, Lizzy, good show." She then began to applaud, which was then taken up by all in the room and swelled in a mounting crescendo of happiness, awe and love.

Walking through the room, Darcy swung Elizabeth up into his arms, tossing her briefly in the air. This caused several pins from her hair to be dislodged and her thick, wavy hair came loose. Eyes sparkling to reflect the love radiating from within, no happier face could be seen as Elizabeth was carried toward the doorway. As she finally became aware of the large group watching this spectacle, a look of slight embarrassment appeared and she sought refuge in Darcy's shoulder. As the happy couple neared Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth reached out and clasped her mother's outstretched arms. The elation that Mrs. Bennet felt was beyond description as she sought the comforting arms of Hill.

Into the blinding sunlight of this beautiful autumn day Darcy walked with Elizabeth. For a brief, yet lasting, moment--a moment, which would forever be etched in all's minds--Darcy's head pitched backward as if he were laughing at a joke or perhaps at himself, when Elizabeth reached out and took the tall hat off his head and placed it rakishly on her own.

Fade Out

Please see Appendix 3 for the music playing during the final scene.

Part 18 References

Epilogue

In Memoriam BH, RV, BB (1959)

Day 4, Just Sometime Later On

Mrs. Bennet's life ambitions were well on their way to being fully realized. Emotionally drained after the day's excitement, she exclaimed "Oh, Mr. Bennet. Three daughters on their way to Gretna Green. God has been very good to us."

"Yes and with so little inconvenience and cost to myself," Mr. Bennet said in agreement.

"Little cost? Have you forgot?" Mrs. Bennet replied in a manner reflecting her renewed interest.

"What, my dear? I will, of course, have to provide some little settlement for Lydia in which we would scarcely be ten pounds a year the loser, but the other two gentlemen would hardly be bothered with such trifles. Of that I am very certain. I shall, of course, insist on their accepting what little I can afford, they shall decline, and there will be an end to the matter."

"Then you have forgot. I am to receive two new frocks each for Mr. Bingley and Mr. Stuckey and a month of sea-bathing at Brighton this summer for Mr. Darcy." Mrs. Bennet could hardly be restrained as she continued, "Oh, I believe, a little sea-bathing should set me up forever and all the fashionable people should be in Brighton for Kitty and Mary to meet. I shall get husbands for my other girls now that our connections have vastly improved."

The cost of the dresses was of no importance as Mrs. Bennet would have procured them in any event, Mr. Bennet thought. "I never believed that Brighton would come to pass, Mrs. Bennet. The entire neighborhood judged Mr. Darcy to be the proudest, most disagreeable man ever. Then he slighted our Lizzy and she has been most adamant in her abhorrence."

"I am almost ashamed to claim my prize for Mr. Darcy as he was never in doubt, in my mind. His pride, his arrogance! Ah, that will be nothing since he loves our Lizzy. And with ten thousand a year, maybe more. Think of the carriages she shall have at her disposal, a house in town, the jewels, the pin money. As I had told my sister Philips, the most difficult was Mr. Stuckey. There was so little time."

"Mrs. Bennet, I am still at a loss to understand why you chose Lydia for Mr. Stuckey. By all appearances, I would have thought you to have selected some one perhaps more dashing for your precious child?"

"No, while I may have indulged Lydia, I have always known that she would require a more industrious and serious husband. I have feared for some time that, unless Lydia were settled quickly, she might cause severe embarrassment to the family and ruin the chances of her sisters. This way, Kitty and Mary--neither the prettiest nor most talented of girls--shall be thrown into the paths of eligible men from all walks of life."

"You know, Mrs. Bennet, if you find husbands for the other two before next summer, then it shall be just you and I at Brighton," Mr. Bennet said, while he put his arm around Mrs. Bennet's waist. "I might then be persuaded to extend our holiday to a full two months."

Oh, no. Mrs. Bennet thought. She so disliked when Mr. Bennet acted in this manner. She must remember to lock the door to her room when she retired as she felt a headache coming on for this was also the day the music died.

Curtain Falls

Epilogue References

Appendix 2

Darcy was unable to sleep that night as an old song with an engaging melody and haunting lyrics played over and over in his head.

I have these moments
All steady and strong
I'm feeling so holy and humble
The next thing I know
I'm all worried and weak
And I feel myself
Starting to crumble.
The meanings get lost
And the teachings get tossed
And you don't know what you're
Going to do next.
You wait for the sun
But it never quite comes
Some kind of message comes

Through to you
Some kind of message comes through
And it says to you. . .

Chorus:
Love when you can
Cry when you have to. . .
Be who you must
That's a part of the plan
Await your arrival
With simple survival
And one day we'll all understand. . .

I had a woman
Who gave me her soul
But I wasn't ready to
Take it.
Her heart was so fragile
And heavy to hold
And I was afraid I might
Break it.

Your conscience awakes
And you see your mistakes
And you wish someone
Would buy your confessions.
The days miss their mark
And the night gets so dark
And some kind of message
Comes through to you
Some kind of message
Shoots through--
And it says to you. . .

(Chorus)

There is no Eden or Heavenly gates
That you're gonna make it to one day
But all of the answers you seek
Can be found
In the dreams that you dream
On the way.

"Part of the Plan" by Dan Fogelberg.

Appendix 3

During the final scene, the following music is playing (but you already knew, didn't you?):

Who knows what tomorrow brings
In a world where few hearts survive.
All I know is the way I feel
When it's real
I keep it alive.

The road is long.
There are mountains in the way
But we climb a step every day.

Love lift us up where we belong
Where the eagles cry
On a mountain high.
Love lift us up where we belong
Far from the world we know
Up where the cold winds blow.

Some hang on to used to be.
Live their lives looking behind.
When all we have is here and now.
All our lives
Out there to find.

The road is long.
There are mountains in the way
But we climb a step every day.

Love lift us up where we belong
Where the eagles cry
On a mountain high.
Love lift us up where we belong
Far from the world we know
Up where the cold winds blow.

Time goes by.
No time to cry.
Life's you and I
Alive....today.

Love lift us up where we belong
Where the eagles cry
On a mountain high.
Love lift us up where we belong
Far from the world we know
Up where the cold winds blow.

"Up Where We Belong" written by Buffy Sainte-Marie, Will Jennings and Jack Nitzsche and performed by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes.

Tapestry References

While knowledge of the following references to movies, songs and Shakespearean plays should not be necessary (hopefully) to full enjoyment of the story, I have attempted to document those as well as other inspirations (sometimes subtle; sometimes not so subtle) for my parody.

Part 17

1. Lucy-esque entanglement with Darcy.
2. "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You." (Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons)
3. "Will You Love Me Tomorrow? (Carole King)
4. "...the way that you hold me, whenever you hold me....how'd you learn to do the things you do?" (Nobody Does It Better, Carly Simon)
5. "Stop in the Name of Love (The Supremes)
6. "Heartbroken in Hertfordshire" (Sleepless in Seattle)
7. "Shall I say good night till it be morrow?" (Romeo and Juliet, II, ii)

Part 18

1. "Heatwave" (Linda Ronstadt or Martha & the Vandellas)
2. "I do desire we may be better strangers." (As You Like It, III, ii)
3. "He kissed you" dialogue through "standards too high." (The American President)
4. "Suffer the slings and arrows of [my outrageous fortune." (Hamlet, III, i)
5. Leaning scene (While You Were Sleeping)
6. Names of footmen. Among those rejected: Elton John (never), James Taylor, Paul Simon (too short), Chad and Jeremy (one was short), Peter and Gorden (one was short), Peaches and Herb (just kidding).
7. "I love the scene....I'm a sure thing." (Pretty Woman)
8. Brutus, Cassius and Casca, the conspirators in Julius Caesar (Try as I might, I could not work Moe, Larry and Curly in there.)
9. "Fight the fights you can win...worth fighting." (The American President)
10. "It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." (Macbeth, V, v)
11. "You called Miss Bennet a harlot, etc." speech. (The American President)
12. "She's a lady. What she has is hard to find and I don't want to lose her" (She's a Lady,Tom Jones)
13. Final scene from An Officer and a Gentleman.

Epilogue

1. "the day the music died," which was February 3, 1959 (American Pie, Don McLean)