Episode 1:

Lady Danbury has both Kate & Edwina stand up to assess them…

LADY DANBURY
Exceptional posture. Beautiful smiles.

MARY
Yes, they are, quite.
(She beams like a proud mother)

LADY DANBURY
The younger one is but 17, is she not?

MARY
Indeed, and though I would've liked
to wait another year, Kate is now one-and-twenty –

KATE
Two-and-twenty, actually.

LADY DANBURY
Is that right?

She shares a concerned look with Mary, who is trying to keep her composure.

MARY
Technically, that will not
happen for another few months,
but I wanted Kate to have
just as much a chance
to find a match as Edwina.

KATE
You do not have to worry
about that, Mama. I'm only here
to help Edwina find a match.

MARY
Kate, I am helping you
to find a match as much as
Edwina. You will also be looking
for matches this season,
and that is final.

Mary gives Kate a very stern look that says "you WILL listen to me", while Kate looks very annoyed, but resigned to listening to her mother. Lady Danbury witnesses the exchange, then speaks to break up the tension

LADY DANBURY
Well…you said in your letters
that the girls are both quite accomplished?

MARY
Indeed, they are,
if I may say so myself.
They both know multiple
languages and have several skills
to recommend them.

KATE
Mama exaggerates.
We do know several languages,
but Edwina is the one with many accomplishments.
She knows how to play sitar, maruli & pianoforte,
and she dances very well.

MARY
Kate can also dance, she rides well too,
And she's a very accomplished
watercolorist, though she hides it.
She helped me manage our household
for the last five years after
my husband died.

Kate & Mary share a sentimental look. It's been hard on both of them, and they've come together in that time to help each other out. Mary changes her look to determination to make sure Kate doesn't suffer anymore.

MARY
I am sure that, if given the chance,
Kate will be just as capable of
running her own household as Edwina.

EDWINA
Indeed. She is quite discerning
in her own way. I'm sure no one
will be able to get anything
past her, for she refuses
to suffer fools.

LADY DANBURY
An admirable quality, indeed.
Something I am well known for, too.
I feel you and I will have much
to discuss this season, Miss Sharma.

Kate merely smiles, unsure of how to answer.

MARY
(in a loud whisper)
Kate!

KATE
I look forward to it, Lady Danbury.

As Kate is deciding on a dress, Edwina comes in…

EDWINA
Are you excited, Didi? Our first real ball in England!
What an adventure it will be!

KATE
It will be quite an adventure, Bon.
Trying to wade through this crowd
as they judge us as outsiders.

EDWINA
Oh, come on, Didi. Didn't you always say
we have to remember what we're looking for,
no matter what others think?

KATE
Indeed, it is. And make sure
you remember that. You can marry whomever
your heart chooses. That is
what is most important.

EDWINA
A true love match,
like Mama & Appa. Perhaps
with a scholar!

KATE
A scholar?

EDWINA
Yes!

KATE
That's interesting.

EDWINA
Well, you know how much I love books.
And I just…want someone
who can share my interests.
Who I can discuss philosophy and
poetry with. And art and science.

KATE
I'm not sure if you'll find too
many of those here in London, Edwina.
You might be better off looking
for a gentleman who likes to read,
maybe an amateur scholar?

EDWINA
I think even that will
work for me. But like you
said, I have to see
who my heart chooses.

Kate smiles at her, then Edwina looks at her, and realizes something

EDWINA
And you must do the same.

KATE
Bon.

EDWINA
You are also supposed to be looking
for a husband, Kate, like Mama said.
I believe in you, as does she.
And with Lady Danbury on our side,
how can you not find a match?

KATE
Let's just focus on you first,
then we'll worry about me.

At the ball, Lady Danbury & the Sharmas walk past Portia & Lady Cowper

PORTIA
Is that Lady Mary Sheffield Sharma?

LADY COWPER
She has quite the nerve to
show up here again after
all these years.

CRESSIDA
A scandal, Mama?

LADY COWPER
Lady Mary was the Incomparable
of our Season. She married an Earl
the following year, of Colchester,
I believe he was. A prize catch, indeed.

LADY EATON
He died tragically just a
few years after they wed.

LADY COWPER
Then, some years later, she shocked
the ton when she married some
clerk from India, and her family was
thrown into scandal. They remained
in town for a year, but the
scandal must've got to them,
for they left for India.

LADY EATON
They had a newborn child at the time,
but the man also had a child
from a previous marriage.

LADY COWPER
Lord & Lady Sheffield never
lived down the scandal.

PORTIA
Indeed, they died with it
too some years back,
still shrouded in shame.

After introducing Lord Corning to Edwina and telling Kate they have much to learn…

VIOLET
Lady Danbury!

LADY DANBURY
Lady Bridgerton!

VIOLET
What a delightful event you have put together!

LADY DANBURY
I hope for nothing less. May I
introduce Lady Mary Sharma? She and
her daughters will be my guests
for this season. The Dowager
Viscountess Bridgerton,
Viscount Bridgerton's mother.

MARY
Lady Bridgerton, it is an honor to meet you.

VIOLET
And you, as well, Lady Mary.
I remember hearing about you when
I first came to London with my husband.

MARY
Indeed. I was a favorite topic
of gossip among the ton once,
but I have been out of the country
for many years now. I have
returned to help my daughters
find matches of their own.

VIOLET
An admirable pursuit, indeed.
I myself have a daughter
who is now out, and another
who married a duke last year.

MARY
That is quite an achievement.

VIOLET
Well, what truly matters is
that he loves my daughter
with all his heart, and
that is what I wish for
all my children to have.

MARY
I couldn't agree more.

After Kate makes Edwina & Mary leave Lady Danbury's ball early…

The following night…

INT. KATE'S BEDROOM - EVENING

Lady Danbury comes with Lady Mary to Kate's room. Kate looks up, her tea untouched, and knows something is going on.

KATE
Is this some sort of scheme to wrangle me?

LADY DANBURY
In a way. I am quite good
at wrangling, but I
figured your Mama would be
able to handle this better than me.

MARY
Is it true, Kate? What
she told me? That you gave
Lady Bridgerton the cut
indirect when Lady Danbury
tried to introduce you & Edwina?

KATE
That's not what happened.

MARY
You didn't cut off Lady Danbury
in the middle of her introduction?

Kate doesn't reply, admitting Mary's words are true. Mary is astonished by Kate's admission

MARY
She is one of the most
well-respected matrons of
the ton, Kate! Aside from Lady
Danbury, she might be the most
highly regarded matron here.
Giving her the cut indirect
is good as committing social ruin!

KATE
I did not mean to insult Lady
Bridgerton, Mama. I just wanted us
to leave that lion's den because
it is clear we were thrown
straight into the fire.

MARY
And how else are we supposed
to handle this? Walk a
few feet back, then jump in? We
were going to get burned
either way, and we
probably will have to,
given our situation.

Kate looks at Lady Danbury, awkwardly feeling her presence

KATE
Now is not the time to discuss this.

LADY DANBURY
Don't worry about me. I already
know everything. Including what
happens with my horses
in the early morning hours.

MARY
You & Edwina are both looking
to marry this season. There is no
two ways about it. I don't care
how much you don't look, it is
important that you both
make a good impression
on the ton, Kate.

KATE
The ton has already made up an
impression of me, Mama. I'm just the
outsider who never fit in. Edwina
is the one who is descended
from English nobility –

MARY
You are my daughter as much as
Edwina is. I don't care what
anyone else says. I am your mother,
Kathani Sharma. You matter to me
as much as Edwina, and you
always will. That was the wish
of your father, God rest his soul.
As was this. He wanted both of you
to make your debuts in
London, and we are fulfilling his wish.

KATE
And I want to honor his wishes. I do.
I just want Edwina to choose
someone right for her, someone who
will love her the way Appa loved you.

MARY
And she will find that. Both of you will.
But the way to go about it is not
by burning every bridge that we have access
to in the ton. We have so few, as it
is. It is important to preserve them, Kate.
Lady Danbury is a huge help, and
Lady Bridgerton can be, too.
Try and remember that.

KATE
Very well, Mama.

Mary gently caresses Kate's cheek, then leaves with Lady Danbury

KATE
As long as Lord Bridgerton
stays away from Edwina.

Queen Charlotte announces Edwina as the diamond of the season, and many gentlemen approach her for a dance.

Edwina turns around and sees the gentlemen waiting to dance with her. She smiles to lighten the mood

EDWINA
Gentlemen, please, one at a
time. My dance card has space.

Anthony comes up, and Edwina dances with him, as he asks her questions he's asked all young ladies…

ANTHONY
Is your father in attendance?
I should like to speak with him.

EDWINA
Sadly, my father died years ago.

ANTHONY
Ah. I'm so sorry. As did mine.

EDWINA
You will need to speak to my sister.
I will not marry without her approval.

ANTHONY
Indeed?

EDWINA
I value her opinion. We are very close.
Oh, here she is, Kate!

Kate and Lady Danbury come up, Anthony recognizes her, Kate introduces herself

Edwina watches Anthony and Kate and realizes something is going on between them. She's curious to what, and wants to know

EDWINA
It was a pleasure dancing with
you, Lord Bridgerton. If you'll excuse
me. Didi, can you join me?

KATE
Indeed, Bon.

Kate and Edwina walk away, leaving Lady Danbury and Anthony behind. Kate is relieved, but Edwina's curiosity quickly piques up.

EDWINA
What happened there?

KATE
What?

EDWINA
How do you two know each other?
You and the viscount?

KATE
We don't know—

EDWINA
Oh, come on, Kate. You're trying to lie to me?
At Lady Danbury's ball, you said you recognized
him before she even pointed him out. And just
now, he looked at you like he'd seen a ghost.
He recognized you, as well. So how do you
two know each other?

Kate is thrown by her sister's observation, and tries to answer, but is interrupted again.

LORD CHO
Miss Edwina? Lord Cho. May I have your next dance?

EDWINA
You may, my lord.

Edwina takes Lord Cho's hand, and goes to the dance floor, looking back at Kate with a conspiratorial gaze. Kate smiles as they leave, then looks to Anthony, now talking to Violet.


For those wondering, yes, I left the introduction the same as in the show, up until Lady Danbury meets the Sharma sisters, and most of the Danbury ball, including Kate and Anthony's meeting on the terrace. Hope you enjoyed!