Death Comes To Pemberley (Part 1)

Episode 1. Directed by: Daniel Percival Written by Juliette Towhidi. Overview: Elizabeth and her husband of six years, Mr Darcy, are in the midst of preparing for a ball at Pemberly. Elizabeth makes a charity visit to Mrs Bidwell, a tenant living in a cottage on the estate with her daughter, Louisa (a maid at Pemberley), and Louisa's new-born baby. Mrs Bidwell's son, Will, is terminally ill and bedridden. Mr Bidwell is away. Pemberley welcomes Elizabeth's parents and Mr. Darcy's cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam. Two family members are not invited: Elizabeth's sister, Lydia and her ne'er-do-well husband, George Wickham, who once attempted to seduce Darcy's sister, Georgiana, into eloping with him (in Jane Austen's novel 'Pride and Prejudice'). Fitzwilliam romantically pursues Georgiana, but Elizabeth knows she is in love with Henry Alveston, a young lawyer. Late that night, an hysterical Lydia arrives at Pemberley. She says Wickham argued with their traveling companion, Captain Denny, who ordered the coach stopped and then ran into the woods with Wickham in pursuit. After hearing two shots, Lydia ordered the coach to drive to Pemberley. A search party soon finds Denny dead and Wickham bloodied and semi-conscious. Darcy contacts the local magistrate, Sir Selwyn Hardcastle, who investigates and arrests Wickham for murder.