The CBB :: View topic - Joey and Dr Bingley

#1: Joey and Dr Bingley Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:17 am

I found this when I was checking which drabbles I'd lost. Wrote it, never posted it - I think we need a bit of a laugh.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a medical degree must be in want of a wife.

However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.

“Oh Jack,” Joey Maynard, formerly Joey Bettany said conversationally to her husband one day, “have you heard that someone’s moved into Villa Heinrich at last?”

“No,” Jack responded absently, reading the paper.

“Well they have,” Joey imparted. “Hilary Graves came round to see me earlier and she told me everything.”

Jack continued to read the paper.

“Well don’t you want to know the details?” Jo cried.

“Seeing as you’re going to tell me whether I like it or not, I don’t see that I have a choice,” Jack replied lazily.

Thus satisfied Joey proceeded. “Well, Hilary said that Villa Heinrich has been taken by a young doctor who trained in London; he arrived on the Platz on Monday and was so pleased with it that he took it immediately. He’s going to take possession of it over the summer holidays and he’s asked Hilda for recommendations for staff. He wants the house prepared for him to move in as soon as possible…..”

“What’s he called?” Jack asked, a brief flicker of interest showing.

“Bingley.”

“Married or single?”

“Oh single! Just the right thing for one of our girls! Are you looking for staff, dear?” Joey finished.

“Maybe,” Jack said. “But what do our girls have to do with it?”

“Darling Jack,” Jo said affectionately. “You can be so dense sometimes! One of them will make him a perfect wife.”

“Oh, is that why he’s come?”

“Don’t talk nonsense! But he might of course meet one of them, and rescue them and thus fall in love. So you must visit him!”

“I don’t see why. You can go with the girls, or send them by themselves. That’s a better scheme I think, for you’re not unattractive and Dr Bingley might like you best!”
Jack said playfully.

Joey responded by throwing a cushion at his head. “You are a lunkhead, Jack,” she said. “I’m nothing extraordinary, I mean no-one could ever have called me pretty! Interesting was about as far as it should go I think…But when one has eleven grown up children that doesn’t really matter!”

“Well in most cases, the woman in question probably didn’t have much beauty to speak of.”

“But Jack you’ve got to go and see Dr Bingley when he moves to the Platz.”

“I don’t think so, Joey,” Jack replied.

“But think of our girls! Phoebe and Frank are certain to go, and you know they NEVER visit newcomers. You have to go – it’ll be impossible for us to visit him unless you do.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Jo. I’m sure Dr Bingley will be more than happy to see you; and I’ll write him a note to say he can marry whichever one of the girls he likes – although I’ll be putting in a special word for Margot.”

“Margot? But….” Joey gave it up as a bad job. “Well if you won’t go and see him I shall take matters into my own hands.”

“You do that,” Jack said. “I promise you when twenty young doctors come to the Platz I’ll visit the lot.”

“We don’t need twenty,” Joey said practically. “Although I’m sure I can find a use for the spares…”

Her quick mind was already plotting the uses for the extra doctors. Her business in life was to get her girls married, its solace visiting, gossip and matchmaking.

#2: Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 1:05 am

Joey as Mrs Bennett!!! Brilliant - and creepily possible too!

Thanks Fran

#3: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 6:48 am

Fran, I love your version of the opening line of Pride and Prejudice!

*Hoping we will get to see Mr Darcy on the Platz Wink

#4: Author: Rosy, Location: Gloucestershire-London-Aberystwyth

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 7:15 am

How very very fine.

#5: Author: Squirrel, Location: St-Andrews or Dunfermline

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 7:21 am

fantastic! Love it. Keep going please. Laughing

#6: Author: Alice, Location: London, England

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:26 am

Why on Earth didn't you post this before Fran? It is brilliant. Juist what we need to cheer us up.

#7: Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 11:32 am

Do people want me to continue this?

It was only a one post drabble but I suppose I could feed the bunnies. An excuse to watch Pride and Prejudice perhaps?

#8: Author: alicat, Location: Wiltshire

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 11:56 am

please pretty please do continue Very Happy

does your bunny like carrots or is he into gingernuts instead???????

and who are you going to pick on for Lydia?????

#9: Author: meerium, Location: belfast, northern ireland

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 4:13 pm

*sniggers and applauds*. Despite the blonde hair, I'm now picturing Joey as Alison Steadman!

#10: Author: Alex, Location: Cambs, UK

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 5:04 pm

Fran, this is genius. If you want a hand, just say the word...

#11: Author: Róisín, Location: Gaillimh, Eire

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 5:33 pm

Very very good. Thank you!

#12: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 5:36 pm

Now I have to admit the shocking truth, which I had hoped to conceal - I have never read or watched Pride and Prejudice Embarassed

I am rather a barbarian when it comes to literature.

But I did enjoy the beginning of this, and am sending bunny food post haste!

Thanks, Frances.

#13: Author: Joyful, Location: Manchester

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 5:38 pm

Heehee! Amusing...and kind of likely...
Laughing

#14: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 7:20 pm

*giggles*

*feeds Fran's bunnies!*

#15: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 7:22 pm

Brilliant! I would love to see this continued! Very Happy

#16: Author: Rosy, Location: Gloucestershire-London-Aberystwyth

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 8:54 pm

Fatima wrote:

Now I have to admit the shocking truth, which I had hoped to conceal - I have never read or watched Pride and Prejudice Embarassed

What? How? Go. Now. Go read. It's fabulous. I live and breathe it practically. Please feed your bunnies Fran!

#17: Author: Eilidh, Location: Macclesfield

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:01 pm

Fatima wrote:

Now I have to admit the shocking truth, which I had hoped to conceal - I have never read or watched Pride and Prejudice Embarassed

Ummm - neither have I. It was part of a lovely set of classics my SLOC got me for christmas though, so I do own it.

#18: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:04 pm

Fatima wrote:

Now I have to admit the shocking truth, which I had hoped to conceal - I have never read or watched Pride and Prejudice Embarassed

I am rather a barbarian when it comes to literature.

I would very highly recommend it - I've got 3 copies of it (don't ask!) and they're all falling apart from having been read so often! & the BBC adaptation of it is brilliant as well. I've got all Jane Austen's books but I have to say that P&P's head and shoulders above any of the others.

Fran, would love to see more of this if you get chance Very Happy

#19: Author: Alice, Location: London, England

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:19 pm

Eilidh wrote:

Fatima wrote:

Now I have to admit the shocking truth, which I had hoped to conceal - I have never read or watched Pride and Prejudice Embarassed

Ummm - neither have I. It was part of a lovely set of classics my SLOC got me for christmas though, so I do own it.

Gasp!

I am shocked at the both of you.

#20: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:55 pm

Thanks, Fran. This drabble is great so far! I can definitely see Joey as Mrs Bennett. I loved the 1995 TV series, but I haven't watched the more recent series. I tried to read the book, but I didn't really enjoy it as much.

I'm sorry if I have mentioned this before I have met the actor who played Mr Bingley - Crispin Bonham-Carter. I met him when I was on a boat heading for Ireland. The series was being shown for the 1st time and it was about halfway through the series. He was very friendly and he very kindly gave me his autograph.

#21: Author: Chalet_school_lover, Location: Gloucester

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:17 pm

Oh this is so good! Why didn't you post it before Fran? I love pride and prejudice, I am very shocked at the people who haven't watched/read it! *Swoons at Mr Darcy and hopes he appears in the drabble* Thanks Fran! Very Happy

#22: Author: keren, Location: Israel

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 8:28 am

P&P is o0ne of my favorite books.
Please continue

#23: Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!!

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 9:49 am

More would be an extremely fine plan

Thanks Fran Very Happy

#24: Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 11:28 am

This is inspired Fran! Thank you for posting it.

#25: Author: Mary, Location: Sussex University

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 3:28 pm

Quote:

I'm sorry if I have mentioned this before I have met the actor who played Mr Bingley - Crispin Bonham-Carter. I met him when I was on a boat heading for Ireland. The series was being shown for the 1st time and it was about halfway through the series. He was very friendly and he very kindly gave me his autograph.

Me too me too!- except he probably has no memory of it as I was better aquainted with his son, having babysat him with the rest of the wedding-party-children at a wedding at home. But still.

Anyway- as for P&P, I am a weirdly big fan. My sister and I can actually quote the ENTIRE film- and I'm including in this stuff like "No, no; the green one." Yep. We're sad sad sad.

As for the book though- it'll never come up to Persuasion in my estimation. Frederick Wentworth is just amazing. And I love Anne.

#26: Author: Rosea, Location: Edinburgh

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:21 pm

Please do continue - the opening post was brilliant! Odd how well it works with the different characters. I love P&P, definitely my favourite Jane Austen.

#27: Author: Michelle, Location: Near London

Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 8:10 pm

I'd love to read more of this. P&P is one of my favourite non-CS books.

I have autographs from Colin Firth, Jennifer Ehle, Julia Sawalha and Emilia Fox (Georgiana). I saw them in different plays in London.

#28: Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire

Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 10:39 pm

Well, I'd never seen Joey as Mrs Bennett, but now it's been pointed out ... what a splendid idea! More, please.

I've been an ardent JA fan since I discovered her, aged 10, recovering from chickenpox (me, not JA). I remember kneeling on the floor, 'cos my back was too itchy to sit on the chair, turning in desperate boredom to the posh boxed set I'd been given for Christmas - and being completely and eternally hooked. I can still feel the texture of the tasselled bookmark I was chewing - very Proustian! Wonderful, wonderful stuff.

#29: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 3:01 pm

Starting a chant for more of this.

#30: Author: BethC, Location: Worcester, UK

Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:25 pm

*joins chant*
Great idea, Fran!

#31: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:35 pm

Fran, this is fab! *joins the chanting for more*

#32: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 1:00 pm

Still chanting. Adds threats to sing louder.

#33: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 2:14 pm

More please!

#34: Author: ibarhis, Location: London

Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 8:45 pm

More please.... Please....

#35: Author: JosieG, Location: Yorkshire Dales

Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 11:44 pm

hehe, I enjoyed this too fran!

Joining the chants for more....please?!

#36: Author: Tiffany, Location: madthesispanicargh

Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 3:38 pm

*applause* More, Fran, more! I'd never have thought of Joey as Mrs. Bennett - it's disturbing but oddly plausible...

#37: Author: Le Petite Em, Location: Cheltenham

Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 4:03 pm

*chants and bounces*
That was a great start Fran!

#38: Author: dackel, Location: Wolfenbuettel, Germany/Cambridge, England

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 5:02 pm

Mary wrote:

[
Anyway- as for P&P, I am a weirdly big fan. My sister and I can actually quote the ENTIRE film- and I'm including in this stuff like "No, no; the green one." Yep. We're sad sad sad.

If you're sad, so'm I, because I can quote huge chunks of the film, too! And what's especially sad is that I know exactly which scene you're refering to!!! Laughing

I really hope there's going to be more of this!

#39: Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 9:36 pm

Well that would appear to be a resounding yes!

I shall try and write some more, but no promises of regular updates yet. It might be a tad sporadic with exams looming and all but I promise I will do it at some point.

#40: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 9:48 pm

Looking forward to it!

Thinking about it, Mrs Bennet "only" had 5 daughters to marry off, and Joey had (*counts on fingers*) TEN, including adoptees/wards - she was bound to be excited when a new single doctor turned up Laughing

!

Hope the exams go well Very Happy

#41: Author: Chalet_school_lover, Location: Gloucester

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 9:29 am

Oooh yay, I'm looking forward to more! Very Happy

I hope your exams go well and that you can write more of this as soon as possible! Very Happy

#42: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 12:07 pm

Best of luck with the exams. We definitely want more of this.

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