Original subtitles

Get it back, Felix.

Not until you help me with my essay like you promised.

Go with my cat, you little toad.

I didn't think you'd be so eager

to attend the lecture.

What, and miss all the fun?

I'll wager that Bill McNeil and Angus McCorkadale will have a few choice words

to say about women wanting to vote.

Alec King, why shouldn't women have the vote? Wait till I get my...

Don't look at me. I'm not stopping him. Give me back that paper, you little

worm. Make me.

Felix, King, if you don't open the door this instant, I'm going to break it

down. Felicity, please.

Felix, open that door. Did you hear what Mother said?

Felix, open the door.

I give up. They never listen to me anymore.

Felicity, stop that.

Father, if you don't do something about it right now... All right, calm down.

Felix, open this door.

Now, whatever you are doing, stop it. He took my homework.

But she promised. Just keep her back at work, now.

And Felicity, keep your promise to your brother. And that's enough of this

dilliness from both of you. Sarah, you are in charge this evening.

Or at least until they regain some sense.

Christian Temperance Ewing is proud to present our guest speaker, writer,

lecturer, and suffragette, Amelia Sandhurst.

I come to you with a vision of a new tomorrow when the voice... of women will

finally be heard.

Seems to me they never shut up.

Order, please.

If women raise their voices in frustration, it's because we're silenced

polls. For centuries, men have governed and women have obeyed. You ain't met my

Rose.

Oh, gosh, Bill McNeil.

When women have to vote,

finally be able to take power in the world power is the means to make a

difference politicians male politicians tell us what's important and decide our

futures with the vote we'll tell them what are the important issues we'll

our own futures and the futures of our children

cook supper while the ladies do all this? If women can learn to be doctors

lawyers, surely men can learn to boil an egg.

Ah, you're talking gibberish.

I won't let my bird near the stove.

No lady doctor's looking at me.

Oh, she wouldn't want us.

Shouldn't women be doctors which are the smartest men?

Good deal, smarter possibly.

Order? I said order.

We are being rude to our guest.

I have here a national petition demanding our government grant us the

vote.

Who'll be the first to sign?

What about you, Mrs. Spencer?

Oh, now, Miss Sanders, we don't want to rush things, do we?

Brave women like you who lead the way.

You'll lead the way to perdition and confusion.

Two conditions you should know about, Angus McCorkadale.

If I'm not brave, I'm just a farm wife.

And that's just where you should stay, on the farm, instead of sticking your

nose where it doesn't belong, into men's affairs.

You're a gallant soldier in the fight for freedom and equality.

I am.

Ah, equality.

over my dead body.

Why, it did not be that outspoken if Margaret McCorkadale were here.

She may be reclusive, but he can't match her for temper.

Isn't that the truth?

Let me leave this copy of our petition with you. Our cause is a very good one.

Oh, a mind like a sieve.

Oh, I don't know. If you can get even 50 signatures, you'll be helping to change

the country.

I wish I were at the meeting tonight.

I'd love to meet a real -life suffragette. What's a suffragette?

A troublemaker.

Felix.

Suffragettes are brave, heroic women who are fighting for the right of women to

vote. I deeply admire Amelia Thames.

Oh, Sarah, just an old maid who's too plain to find a husband.

She happens to be married with three children.

Felix, this water is much too hot.

Let Sarah get in.

wrong, Peter?

My ma lost her job.

I'm worried about her.

I never thought I'd see the day my sister -in -law becomes a tough little

of all things. Now, Eddie.

I didn't promise anything. I just said I'd consider it.

Remember, you're not a ward anymore, but a king, and kings don't make spectacles

of themselves.

What in

heaven's

name?

You children ought to be asleep.

I told them to go to bed, but they wouldn't listen. You're still up. I have

feed the baby.

He's always hungry.

Get down. What is all this?

We made chocolate fudge.

Felix ate most of it. I did not.

Shuffling Daniel had some.

So did Digger, by the looks of things.

Well, get to bed, all of you. It's way past your bedtime.

Mother, could you iron my white blouse for tomorrow? It's just hanging up there

by the stove.

I think I'll turn in, too.

I'm beat.

You believe women should have the vote, don't you?

Yeah, absolutely.

Alec.

Alec.

Gina, what is it?

What do you see when you look at me?

This is a woman I love.

My beautiful wife.

And the mother of my children who means more to me than anything in the world.

I don't know what Janet was thinking.

Go on, now. Finish up your porridge, both of you. There's work to be done.

Aunt Olivia never left lumps in it.

Enough, Sarah.

There's no Olivia, so you children will simply have to fill the breach.

Now, listen up. Sarah, you're in charge of laundry, mending, dusting. There is a

bit of a backlog, so heater, you see to mending the fences around the potato

fields.

Feeding the hens?

Yes, ma 'am. Why can't I feed the hens while Peter does the laundry?

Oh, don't be a child.

Though speaking of laundry, I...

I'll help you mend the fences if you help me do the

laundry.

Laundry, ugh.

Well, I'll feed the chickens, too.

Well, all right.

Peter, I have a surprise for you.

Ma?

Peter, let me look at you.

You're so tall.

A very fine young man.

I hope you don't mind my dropping in, Hattie. Oh, not at all.

Oh, why, will you look at this place.

I'm afraid you'll find us in some disarray, but... Oh, let me offer you

tea, Maude. Here, do sit down.

Sarah, clear the space, will you?

Oh, my, my, this is a surprise.

Oh, thought you were working in Mockdale.

My employers have moved to Fredericton.

I couldn't go so far away from Peter.

I've missed you so much.

Turned into a real good worker, Maude Craig.

Oh, yes.

Best tired hand we've ever had.

Next to old Jake, of course.

Are you staying in Avonlea?

I've taken a job at the cannery.

It's rough work, but at least it's honest.

I'm lucky to get it.

Did you find us a place to live?

I'm sorry, Peter.

My pay barely covers my room and board.

But I'll visit you every day.

Skinflint, Angus McCorkadale.

Hires women just so he can bully them and pays them starvation wages to boot.

Isn't it the truth, Maud?

Well, like I said, I'm just lucky to have the job, I guess.

Maybe it's time we set the world to rights.

That Sandhurst woman has got me thinking.

Did you see her skirt? Three inches above the ankle.

Suffragettes are fools, all of them. Without an ounce of regard for tradition

decency. Petty, you surprise me.

You've got a career. I attain my position by virtue of my ability, Janet.

Certainly never stooped to politics.

Aunt Hattie, if... If women don't have the vote, how can we ever change things?

Sarah's right.

We've got no real power over anything.

One thing's certain.

If women get the vote, we'd solve the liquor problem.

And the cannery would have to pay better wages. That's right.

Poor Maude Craig can't even support her son.

Yakety yak.

Man, can I hear himself think.

Nobody asked your opinion, Angus McCorkadale. I would sooner give the

bunch of old hens.

Shame on you.

All your life, women have cooked your food, cleaned your house for you, and

taken care of you when you were sick.

And instead of thanking us, all you do is insult us.

Don't you open another can of worms, Janet King.

We're not here for you to bully and yell at.

We have opinions and we're going to voice them. I've got news for you, Angus

McCorkadale. You're not giving anyone the vote. We're taking it.

Good for you, Aunt Janet.

I'm going to get those 50 signatures.

Janet.

Oh, Alec, could you take Daniel for me?

Oh, I have to go into town. Can't this wait for another day?

Fine. Felix can mind the baby then.

As long as I don't have to change his diapers.

Mother, I wish you wouldn't do this. It's embarrassing.

What are all my friends going to say at school?

Well, tell them I'm doing it on behalf of children everywhere.

I'm all for women's suffrage, but you do have responsibilities at home.

Alec, this is important.

Now, Felicity, you're in charge of the kitchen.

Let the preserves simmer for an hour, then leave them to cool. The roast goes

at three.

I think everything's under control.

I'll be back in a few hours.

Wish me luck.

We wish you'd stay home.

Alec, could you harness the horse for me?

You know I make him skittish.

your business.

I'd like to speak to Rose.

You can talk to me.

I don't suppose you'd like to support women's suffrage.

No. Well, thank you anyway.

Oh, please give my... Felix,

if you like them so much, then sit down and help me.

Where especially?

I don't know. Probably out with Digger somewhere.

Well, I'm not doing this all by myself.

Ow.

Perfectly fine feeling.

Now I understand Mother's point of view.

We need the vote to better ourselves.

Won't you sign it, Katie?

I'd be happy to.

What? The only thing is, I never learned to write.

I had need.

Why, Bert, she practically threw Angus McCorkadale right out the door. So I

heard.

Bert, stand still.

Oh, but Sarah, you know how important this is. What does it mean for the

of girls like yours, Sally, and my Felicity?

Well, Janet, I'm just not sure. I mean, well, who else is going to sign it?

It's just that it seems to get tempers and just such an uproar. And people like

Bill McNeil and Angus McCorkadale are fixing to hide over this.

I'll bet if you got Mrs.

McCorkadale to sign it, the others would soon come on board.

That's a good idea.

First tell me what you've done. I'm sorry, Janet. There just wasn't time for

this. No, I will get Mrs. McCorkadale to sign it. It would serve Angus right.

Thank you, Clara. Thank you, Bert.

Mrs. McCorkadale, I'm Janet King.

I don't speak to visitors.

Oh, no, please.

Mrs. McCorkadale, I'm taking round this petition.

I don't read papers. I make Gussie take care of all that. Oh, Whit, you go away.

You're upsetting my cat.

Oh, Mrs. McCorkadale, please.

Mark my words.

Give women a vote and assume you want to wear the trousers.

Women have a right to their say in a democracy.

His own wife's come after being a suffragettional. She was around my place

balding myrtle.

Look, Janet is a free woman.

Ah, pick the man who can't control his own home.

Have a good season.

But these are away.

I'm home.

Where are the children?

I sent them to bed. They've wreaked enough havoc for one day.

Oh.

Well, I left Felicity in charge.

You are their mother. They need your supervision.

And a couple of neighbors went by. They say you're stirring up their wives.

Oh, Alec.

You've no idea what some wives put up with.

I know what I put up with. A wife who's too busy interfering in other people's

business to look after her own home.

Alec. Look, I just want you to stop all this nonsense.

Is that an order?

You heard me. I forbid you to carry on with this petition.

Forbid me?

I'm your wife.

I'm your servant. All you want me for is cooking and cleaning.

What do you think you're doing?

I'm leaving. Not with my son, you're not.

Where are you going?

Come back here.

You can't order me around, Ella King.

I'm not your third...

Sarah, get in.

Oh.

Eddie.

I've left Alec.

Shameless. What on earth? He kept ordering and forbidding me, and the dog

the dinner, and Mrs.

McCorkadill's cat nearly attacked me, and I... Don't come now into the

What's all that?

For such nonsense, I'll warrant.

Sit down.

Wonder.

The children.

Oh, Eddie, I miss them already.

How can I ever live without them?

Calm yourself.

Come on now, pull yourself together.

I don't have anywhere else to go.

Suppose you could sleep in Olivia's old room.

Oh, for tonight at least.

By tomorrow, this will all blow over, you'll see.

He thinks I'm a terrible mother.

I'm sure he doesn't think that.

Maybe now you'll drop that silly petition.

Oh, no.

I couldn't do that, Hattie.

After what I've seen today, I think we need to vote more than ever.

You what?

My heart's in the highlands.

My heart is not here.

My heart's in the highlands.

What, is it that bad?

Come on. Hear me, I'm bad.

Father. What, you girls should be asleep.

Is Mother coming back?

Of course she is.

It's just...

That little tiff? Sounded pretty serious to me.

I'll take over.

It will give me practice for when I'm married.

You two will have to obey me.

We'll be your slaves.

That smells so good, Aunt Jeanette.

A real breakfast.

Well, I'm off to the summer side to pick up some new textbooks.

Anything you need while I'm there, Charlotte.

Oh, no, thank you, Harry. I'll be just fine. Good.

Oh, here, I've made up a list of chores for you.

Chores? Yes. Well, we're a bit behind, you know, with Olivia gone.

And Sarah can't keep up with it. Not cut out for it, really. So your being here

may well come as a blessing in disguise.

Turn the bed.

Buy groceries.

Grab the kitchen floor.

Best remedy for a miserable heart is good hard work, you know that. I'll be

in time for dinner, so whatever you choose to cook will be just fine.

I didn't leave home to do all this.

The idle hands are the devil's tools, remember?

I'm not idle, Hetty.

I'm working to emancipate women.

This isn't a hotel, you know.

Really, Janet.

I'm beginning to see what Alex up against.

Don't put that dough behind schedule.

Don't punch it.

Knead it.

Don't punch it. Knead it.

Look, I'm taking the baby.

If you need us, we'll be in the backfield.

Here, you take over the laundry.

Could you harness the horse for me, dear?

Yes, ma 'am.

I thought you'd know all about horses.

Well, is it something I never learned to do for myself?

Could you show me?

Of course. It's easy.

Could we come, too? I'd love to see a suffragette in action.

I wish you were old enough to sign my petition.

I'd sign, too, if it meant better wages for my ma.

I hear she threw a terrible tantrum toward strawberry preserves all over her

baby. No wonder Alec threw her out.

I hear that she left him, abandoned her poor, poor children.

And the petition right here.

There must be someone who'll sign it.

It's public property you're defacing, Janet King.

I'm posting a public notice, Abner Jeffries. People do it every day.

This here is seditious literature.

Might even be treason. Treason? then it's a lawful petition.

Don't give me that, you... man.

That man ought to be impeached.

Good morning, Janet, dear. And how are you today?

You know perfectly well I've quarreled with Alec. No doubt you've been

about it all morning.

Oh, of all the shameless... I don't hold with mothers who leave their children.

You should go home, Janet King.

I intend to, you layly bugle, just as soon as I get my signatures.

Don't look at me for sympathy. I don't want the vote.

Well, I do.

I may have signed that petition, but I still say mothers should be with their

children. I can't be with my ma.

Angus McCorkadale don't pay her enough money.

Well, that's right.

The cannery treats the workers terribly.

Now, if women had the vote, we could change all that.

Sarah, we will.

Lady.

the water red?

My favorite dress.

Ruined.

Everything's red.

You did this on purpose.

Now, now, Felicity, let's take this easy.

Can't we just discuss this?

You've sprung a leak, young fella.

Well, don't worry.

Probably should be able to think of something now.

Yes.

Yeah, here.

I got a bone to pick with you.

Your wife's been giving my Rosie ideas.

Welcome to the club.

You tell her to keep her nose out of things.

Well, you tell her.

Believe me, Bill, I got my own problems to deal with.

Let's see. How did this go?

You ain't doing that right.

It's got to be three -sided.

Excuse me. Excuse me, everybody.

Excuse me.

Excuse me, everybody.

I'm here to talk about women's suffrage.

Here, stand on this.

I know the cannery doesn't treat you as fairly

as it should.

Most of you can barely live on your wages.

When everyone has the vote, we'll see that everyone gets a decent wage.

But that day won't come until we demand it.

This petition asks the government to let us have the vote.

Won't you sign it?

What are you doing here?

Sign it, Ma.

I'll sign it.

Ma Craig.

I'll sign it, too.

I will, too.

What's going on here? Get back to work, the lot is.

Go on.

Don't let him bully you.

You harpy.

Away off my land.

Don't you try and frighten me away.

What's that?

Do a hoot, woman.

Not until I've seen who signed it.

Maud Creek.

That's me.

I knew you were trouble when I first laid eyes on you.

Consider yourself fired.

Miserable fool.

Tired. You, I've told you, get off my property and you get back to work.

You have two minutes before I have you charged for trespass.

Come on, Aunt Janet.

Go.

I'm so sorry.

Well, what will you do?

Well, you can stay here with us.

No, until you get back on your feet.

Oh, no, Janet. I couldn't do that.

Well, Hetty won't mind.

Hello. I'm home.

You're home already.

Is dinner ready?

Dinner?

Oh, Hetty, look.

We have a guest.

She'll be staying with us. Isn't that nice?

Lovely.

Afternoon, Maud.

You're supposed to wring the water out first.

The mango wouldn't work.

This line's too loose.

I'll fix it.

I will not have my home turned into a refuge for wayward women.

Oh, Hetty, Maude Craig is very respectable.

I'm not talking about Maude.

I'm talking about you.

Alex.

And the baby. Oh, darling.

I missed you so much, my little sweetie pie.

I'll never let you again.

I want you to come home, Janet.

Oh, is that another order? Can't somebody else take this petitioner out?

who? The children need you. I need you.

You just need me to cook your dinner.

That's all you think I'm good for. You don't care about me at all. Well, right

now, I don't plan on cooking anyone's dinner ever again.

Alec, answer the door, will you?

Look here, Janet, I don't wish to interfere, but I think you and Alex

discuss this calmly and sensibly.

Excuse us, ma 'am. We'd like a word.

Of course. We all got talking after you left.

What you said was true.

Ain't nothing going to change for us until we make it. The boss had no call

firing Maude.

She's a good worker.

Ain't none of us can live on our wages.

How can I help?

We're going on strike.

We come to see if you and Maude will join us.

Please come home, Janet.

I'm sorry, Alec.

I have to see this through.

I'll take the baby with me. There won't be any trouble.

I warned you when you married her, Alec. She's willful, high -strung, and just

like everyone in that family.

No, Hattie.

She's my wife.

She's doing what she thinks is right.

Well, if that's how you feel, what's all the argument?

Because I needed her help, and she wasn't there.

It maybe... maybe frightened me.

I pity poor Angus McCorkadale.

Here,

give me that.

That's what will happen to you unless you go back to work.

Let's see you try. I know your name.

Sheila Sims.

I'm going to see to it that you never work again for anybody.

And the rest of you, you have one last chance. Go back to work or you're all

fired. Don't listen.

We'll stick together.

You're only strong if you're united.

My fish are rotting. I'm going to sue every one of you for all your work.

We ain't got ten cents between us. We starve on the money we earn. I demand

raise these women's wages and you give Maude Craig back her job. Right. You've

no right to treat us the way you do.

If they go on strike, they close down the cannery.

What's all the ruckus?

Raise our wages.

Raise our wages! You're under arrest.

Oh, my God.

I'm Angus McQuarrie. I'm such a bully.

I wish I were older.

Then I could do something.

I wonder if Mrs. McCorkadale knows how he treats the workers.

Aunt Jan says she never goes outside.

He probably treats her awful.

You want to go meet her?

Go ahead.

Lock me up.

I won't be the first suffragette to wind up in jail.

Angus McCorkadale do this?

Not to Janet King and not to us. What do you mean? All of us take part?

You don't understand.

This is more than a fight for women.

It's a fight for better wages.

For all of us.

For all of us. If you're talking about making more money, I'm with you. Why

didn't you say that in the first place? I'm with you. Sign me up, Mom. Let's go.

Let's go.

What do you want? I don't bother with children. My cats don't seem to like

Well, we came about your husband.

Gussie, he's off taking care of the cannery. That's just the problem. The

cannery. Now, I know you'll understand, Mrs.

McCorkadale. Mr.

McCorkadale treats his workers unfairly.

He doesn't pay them enough to live on.

What's all that racket?

They're on strike. Now, won't you please help them? It's the only way we'll get

Aunt Janet out of jail.

Strike?

You mean I'm losing money?

Janet?

Are you all right?

Alec, did you bring any nappies?

Janet King.

Make a proper spectacle of yourself now.

Eddie, that's enough.

I was just standing up for my beliefs, Hattie.

The quality I've always admired in you.

I suppose you mean well, but... If you knew how those cannery workers were

treated, that petition will never get signed, no.

Give it to me.

Eddie?

You can go first.

Me?

I shall sign it.

We must stand together if we hope to be heard. We must grasp the moment and rise

to the challenge at hand. We must support brave women like Janet King, who

are... Sacrificing their freedom so that we may all see a better future. Don't

turn away.

Stand with us. Sign the petition.

Free Janet King!

Free Janet King! Free Janet King!

Free Janet King!

Such a commotion. Why are these people not at work?

We're on strike, ma 'am.

This here's my ma.

Explain it to me, dearie. We can't live on what your husband pays us.

How long do you intend to stay on strike?

Until we win.

Angus, we have fish rotting in the sun.

Do you know what this means for our last quarter?

Well, good.

Settle with them.

All right, Janet King.

What'll it take?

What? Your terms.

Let's get this thing settled so that people can go back to work.

Oh, yes.

Well, a decent wage for a start?

Ten cents more a week.

A day.

And you'll give Maude Craig back her job.

Drop the charges.

You win, Janet King.

And here are 49 signatures.

And this means 50.

I'm just glad to have you back.

Thank you.

I'm not hungry.

That's the first.

How long do you think they'll keep Mother in jail for?

I don't know.

I just wish I hadn't said all those rude things to her.

Me too.

Children, I'm home!

Mother! They let you go?

I miss you. Oh, and I miss you all so much.

We tried to do everything, just like you, Mother.

But we couldn't.

I couldn't.

I think I understand what you were trying to do.

Thank you, Felicity.

Thank you all.

Well, I really could use a cup of tea.

I'll get it.

Thank you.

Oh.

We sort of had a small accident.

That's putting a mile away.

So, tell us about jail.

Was it exciting?

Did you get to wear handcuffs?

Did they give you bread and water?

When you look at me, what do you see?