“Jane Austen famously never wrote a scene with men alone in it. I originally had it written that way. A lot was added, but it sort of worked with everything cut down, I think. One of those invented all-male scenes is when Bingley practices making a marriage proposal  to Darcy, so he can work up the courage to do it for real. Well, we wanted to show Darcy and Bingley being close for that moment, because they were great friends. We wanted to show that Darcy was a human being instead of being stuck up.

There was also the element of Mr. Bingley needing some coaching and guidance (though if we’re being honest, Darcy probably isn’t the best guy to ask, unless you want to insult your bride-to-be with defamations about her family). I found it appropriate.”

 (Deborah Moggach, Screenwriter)