Original subtitles

What I've set up here is a simple demonstration of combustion.

Not to be undertaken without supervision, mind. Without oxygen, the

suffocated and cannot burn.

The larger the jar, the more oxygen the candle has to consume.

Therefore, the longer the flame will burn.

Who can explain why a flame needs oxygen to burn?

Fire! Raise your hand before you speak, Mr. King.

But, sir!

No buts. If you have anything to say, raise your hand.

Well, Mr. King.

But, sir, there's a fire outside!

I want you all to stay in your seats.

Don't want it to go anywhere near the fire.

Come on.

Let's have

another

relay, man.

Got fire inside.

Fire's out.

Just a lot of smoke left.

How'd it happen?

I don't know. I just stepped out for some supplies, and the next thing I

everybody was yelling fire.

Looks like some kerosene rags got too close to the floor.

It's a good thing you got here as quickly as you did. The whole place

gone up.

Well, it was Felix who spotted the smoke.

Mr. Pettibone.

Don't exaggerate, Felix, especially with your mouth full.

We should be glad no one got hurt.

Well, if it wasn't for Mr. Pettibone, Prince would have been lost in the

He practically put the fire out single -handedly.

You should have seen him. He was very heroic.

Well, it seems to me that there were a lot of other people helping out besides

your teacher.

Mr. Pettibone said if it wasn't for me seeing the smoke, the box in the shop

would have burned to the ground.

Oh, what a terrible thought.

Maybe next time we won't be so lucky. That's a good point.

What are you thinking?

Well, maybe it's time that Avonlea got its own fire department.

A real fire department?

It was just loose.

I tightened it up.

Mr. Pettibor.

Oh, I, uh, told Hedy I'd come by and fix it. There was no need for you to drive

out this way. No bother.

Good day, Mr. King.

Attention, everyone.

Thank you.

Thank you.

As the acting chairman of the town council, I would like to bring this

to order.

The floor is now open.

Well, I was thinking... Alec, please raise your hand if you want the floor.

The chair recognizes Alec King.

Well, after that fire at the blacksmith shop, it seems to me it would be a good

idea for us to have our own fire department.

What a wonderful idea.

Please, everyone, let's keep the meeting in order, one at a time.

The chair recognizes Clara Potts.

A fire department sounds fine and well, but who is going to pay for it?

She's got a point, you know. A fire department won't come cheap. And what

all that equipment?

and hooks and ladders, a hose wagon.

Won't that cost a lot?

And we'd have to build some kind of firehouse, too.

If I may make another suggestion... Alec, you're out of turn. Please raise

hand.

The chair recognizes Alec King.

Well, I had in mind a volunteer fire department.

Oh, well, that's a bit different.

Would volunteering be mandatory for everyone?

If it was mandatory, it would not be a volunteer fire department, Bert.

Well, the chair recognizes Mr. Pettibone.

I'd just like to lend my support to Mr. King's suggestion.

For a community our size, a volunteer fire department would be a cost

and practical solution to our firefighting needs and bring a greater

security to the people of Avonlea.

Well said.

And I agree with Mr. Pettibone.

A volunteer fire department may be just what Avonlea needs.

I move that Avonlea establish its own volunteer fire department.

Is there a seconder?

Seconded by Archie Gillis. All in favor?

It's unanimous.

Avonlea will have its very own volunteer fire department.

Now that we've decided to have a fire department, what do we do next?

Are we going to have uniforms?

You can't be a proper fireman without a uniform.

You're going to fight fires, not parade around town.

I think what we have to discuss here is just what equipment we need.

Mr. King has a point.

Well, where do we begin?

I've got a good axe I can loan.

I've got 100 feet of mountain climbing rope I don't need. We'll need a tall

ladder. You can borrow your layly bugles.

Do you mean that old ladder out the back of her house?

Well, it's all warped, and it's missing at least three rungs.

Well, then, you can fix it, Bert, can't you? What about a firefighting wagon?

Without that, we'll be no better off than we are now.

Well, I have an old field irrigation wagon with a 250 -gallon tank, which I

haven't used for years, and with a good pump and some hose, I think it could be

converted into a horse -drawn fire wagon.

It'd be a little primitive, and you'd have to get enough water pressure in the

hose, but it could work.

Splendid, Mr. Pettibone.

So Avonlea will have its own fire department, and thanks to Alec King, its

homemade firefighting wagon.

Well,

perhaps the, uh...

Good to see such an impressive turnout for our first training session.

When are we going to get our uniforms?

I think maybe before we discuss the uniforms, we should do a few drills.

Maybe we should do some exercises first.

Calisthenics? Yeah, that's it, calisthenics.

Form two opposing ranks.

Everyone ready?

And...

and then come to attention. Put your arms over your heads and touch your

Put your arms over your heads again.

Archie! Archie! Are you all right?

I think I pulled a muscle.

Come on, then.

Maybe we should just move on to a few drills.

It's easy when you get the hang of it.

So who's going to be first?

Archie.

What do you say? Give it a try.

Hey, come on, Archie. There's nothing to be afraid of. I don't see you stepping

to the front of the line.

Oh, no, he's moaning about it. Here.

Let's give it a go.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, this is the easiest falling off horse.

Uncle Alec!

What's wrong?

There's been an accident.

It's Felix.

Felix? What kind of accident?

All right, calm down. Where is he? He's in the kitchen.

Oh, good.

I'll be right down.

Wait.

What problem here?

Felix.

I didn't do anything.

It's true, Uncle Alex.

It was Izzy.

Izzy?

They were going to play Man in the Iron Mask.

Oh, I get the idea.

Somebody do something!

I can't get it on!

I don't find this very amusing, Mr. Pettibone. Sorry.

There's no buts about it. What do you think you were doing, Izzy?

Now, wait a minute, King. You can't talk to my daughter in that tone of voice.

Well, maybe if you did, she wouldn't behave like a wild savage.

She might be a little high -spirited. High -spirited? She's a minute. Now, you

just hold on there, son. I know.

We could stand him on his head and shake him by the ankles.

Don't be daft, Bert.

We'll haul him up by his ankles, over the barn beam, then fill up the bucket

with water until it falls off.

Don't scare the boy, Archie. Be a man, Felix.

Don't you tell my son what he should be. Your daughter could use a little old

-fashioned discipline.

Don't you presume to tell me how to raise my own child, Mr. Kane.

This is no time to be arguing. I'm not arguing, but no one here is coming up

with a reasonable suggestion.

How'd you... A good swift yank.

Oh, that man

really irritates me, Janet. Oh, that hurts.

Sorry, dear.

Well... Tied pettibone can be rather prickly, but... You don't need to tell

Janet, have you noticed that he spends a lot of time at Hedy's?

I suppose he has school matters to discuss.

Oh, well, King.

You're not for a second suggesting that you're a sister.

It's no laughing matter, Janet. He's a worldly man. He was in the military, for

heaven's sake.

Oh, well.

I think you're letting your imagination, your own dislike for the man, color

your judgment.

Hetty's an intelligent and capable woman.

I suppose you're right. Of course I am.

Well, thank you.

I'd rather get to work on that irrigation wagon.

Mr. Kang.

Ah, Gus.

So, you making much progress?

Well, it's got a lot more holes in it than I remember, but she's still in

good shape.

Looks like I spoke too soon.

Mr.

Kang, I'd like to volunteer for the new fire brigade.

Huh? Well, it's not like I know anything about fighting the fires and all, but I

just hate to see a place as beautiful as Avonlea go up in flames.

I know what you mean, Gus.

I appreciate your concern.

You know, I sit in the lighthouse there and see for miles, and it's all so

beautiful.

And it's become my home.

Now, there's an idea.

What's that?

Well, you've got a bird's -eye view of Avonlea from that lighthouse.

You could be our first fire scout.

Fire scout?

Well, Avonlea, so spread around, you've got the perfect spot to see smoke from a

fire from just about anywhere.

But I'm so far from town.

How would I give the word?

Yeah, well, we'd have to get you a bell.

I know, the old church bell.

It's been lying around for years collecting dust. I'm sure we could get

Well, what do you say?

Are you ready to be Avonlea's first volunteer fire scout?

That's okay.

That would be an honor.

Hello, Gus.

Oh, hello, Felicity.

Mother thought you might be chilled, so I brought you some hot chocolate.

Oh, thank you. Did you use something warm?

I saw you heading over, Gus, so I brought some for you, too.

Oh, thank you.

How does this work, Father?

Oh, well, I'm, uh...

I'm going to rig up a pump to it, fix a fire hose onto where the drainage pipe

was, and with any luck at all, I'll have enough pressure to throw the water 50

feet or so.

Really?

Your father said I could be a fire scout.

Isn't that dangerous?

I don't think so.

I'll just be looking for fires from the lighthouse, and when I see one, I'll

just ring my fire bell.

That's a very big responsibility, Gus.

watching out for the safety of everyone in the community.

I never thought about it like that.

Oh, you won't let us down, Gus.

I know you're the right man for the job.

I don't think Eulalie Bugle's ladder is worth using.

You try telling that to Mr. Bugle. Come on, boys, that's not a fireman's

attitude.

Maybe he could use a little work.

Well, that's what we're here for, isn't it?

I'm all for fixing the ladder if that means we don't have to do those darn

drills.

If you've got a scale of burning building to save someone's life, maybe

your own, you'll think differently about the drills.

Easy, Mr. Pettipone. It's just Archie's sense of humor.

I see.

By the way, I appointed Gus Pike to be one of our fire scouts. I thought we

could put a bell at the lighthouse.

Don't you think you should have discussed it with us first?

I didn't think there was any harm in it.

How do you know Gus Pike can take on such a responsibility? Besides, the

lighthouse is so far from town. You've only known Gus Pike for a short while in

a classroom.

He's been managing that lighthouse for two years, and he's done an excellent

job, and he'll be one of our fire scouts.

Sounds to me like Gus can do the job. It's not a matter of whether he can do

job. It's a question of procedure, and I think you've overstepped your authority

by appointing Gus without consulting us.

You mean without discussing with you.

Consequently, I can't decide if Paulina should fall in love with this mysterious

stranger.

What do you think?

Mr. Pettibone, you've not been listening to a word I've said.

I'm sorry.

I take it there's something on your mind.

It's your brother.

He doesn't seem to like me. I don't know why.

Not like you.

Ridiculous. He hardly knows you.

He certainly seems to think he does.

Oh, well, that's different.

Why, with all the time we've spent together in the past two months, I can't

I know you all that well either.

Am I that difficult?

Well, it's only when I see you with your children, really, that I think I can

see the real you, if you'll pardon the expression.

Seems to me you're not as much of a gruff as you'd have us think you are.

Speaking of the children, I've got to get to the schoolhouse before they start

to arrive.

I don't want to set a bad example.

Oh, no.

Morning, Hattie.

Morning, Alec. I'm in the kitchen.

Oh, here, let me help you with that.

No, I can manage.

No, it'll be easier if you let me. I can manage, Alec.

Oh,

I'm sorry.

I just wanted to help.

Oh, I see.

Thank you.

I came by to see if my spanner was here anywhere. I couldn't find it in the

barn.

Spanner?

I haven't seen your spanner.

Well, usually I leave it in the box here, but this morning it was nowhere to

seen, and I... How stupid of me. It was here at the bottom.

Oh, well, good then. You found it.

Well, I'd better get back to work.

Sorry to have bothered you.

Oh, by the way, how are things at school?

School?

Well, with Mr. Pettibone keeping you informed, you must know how things are

going. Oh, well, very well, in fact.

How do you find Mr. Pettibone?

He's a good teacher.

What a question.

To be sure the students respect him and... Not too pushy or overbearing?

Heavens, no.

Why ever do you ask such a thing?

Well, he's no saint. We all have our faults. He must have his.

I wouldn't know, would I? Well, you do seem to spend a lot of time together.

Because school matters mainly.

Curriculum and so on.

I think that's a personal need.

I see.

Why do you ask, Alec?

Oh,

no reason. Just curious.

But the sun had already come up.

So there we were, trying to put out the fire while bullets were flying over our

heads. Oh, my. I have to admit, I thought we were going to lose that one.

Hard to imagine you got out of that alive.

Sorry I'm late, fellas.

You should have been here earlier, hear Clive tell some of his war stories.

Did you know that Clive was in the military fire brigade?

No, no, I didn't.

Well, I guess we'd better get to work.

We've got all this paraphernalia to sort through.

Where did it come from? People have been dropping off since we started.

I don't know what's any good.

Some of it's pretty old.

You must have thought the count.

Alec!

Alec!

There's a fire. You've got to hurry.

Calm down, Elvira. Where is it?

Bert. Bert, your house is on fire.

What? My house?

All right, let's go then. Load the wagon first.

Spring the bucket.

Mrs. Bugler.

Tell it myself.

Then we've got two emergencies.

What do we do now? Well, burst closer. We'll head there, work on that, and send

someone over to Mrs. Bugler's and see how bad it is.

The Bugler's house is in the opposite direction.

By the time we finish at the Potts' house, the Bugler's house could be burnt

the ground.

All right, then. Well, we'll split up and try to manage both fires at once. I

don't have a choice.

Just let the hose air out and everything will be fine.

Fine? What about this mess?

What kind of fire department are you? Took you long enough to get here.

We got here as quickly as we could, you lady.

What I would like to know is just who is in... In charge of the fire department.

In charge?

Well, no one, really.

Just as I thought.

Well, in the end, the emergency at Mrs. Bugle's was a clogged chimney.

Oh, a typical.

That woman.

Oh, well, Hetty, now a clogged chimney can be a fire hazard.

As is a clatterpot pot roast, I suppose.

the real thing.

Sorry, Alec, I didn't mean to laugh at your ordeal.

Oh, no, and I, for one, think you're performing a very important function in

community.

Thank you.

Now, Mrs. Bugle did make one good point, that, well, someone's got to be in

charge of the fire department.

Well, it's obvious to me that you're the man for the job.

I appreciate the endorsement, but you may be a little biased.

Janet's merely pointing out that we kings are all, after all, natural -born

leaders.

So, I rigged a rope from the top of the lighthouse to the bell outside.

And when I see a fire, all I have to do is pull a rope and the bell rings.

Gus, you're a genius.

Didn't I tell you you were the right man for the job?

Could you hold this steady down here?

Of course.

Thank you.

Watch your thumb.

I have all the confidence in the world in you.

Are you almost finished in here, Mr. Pike?

Here, let me help, or you'll be here all day.

Thank you, sir.

Becky, here it is.

Mr. Pike Frank.

Oh, my.

Very striking indeed.

Why on earth would he need a red jacket?

What is the fire chief's jacket?

Oh, I'm sure it's not finished yet. I want to embroider something on the

like a fire chief.

Avonlea volunteer fire department.

Yes, but... It's too many words, isn't it? I know.

I could shorten it to... Now, Janet, listen. You mustn't go counting your

chickens before then.

Well, Alec hasn't been appointed fire chief yet, you know. For heaven's sake,

nothing wrong with planning ahead?

Yes, I'm absolute.

So what are you ladies up to?

Nothing much.

Why does the little girl talk?

So why does it look like you're hiding something?

Oh, Alec.

You know better than to pry.

All right, I'll go back to the barn and work on the wagon.

Well, very nice.

And therefore, before we vote on who's going to run the fire department...

I would like an explanation as to why it took the fire department longer to

reach my house than Mrs. Potts.

Well, your house is further away than Mrs. Potts. It looks like blatant

favoritism to me.

Are you saying that I got special treatment?

Seems that way.

Well, if you've seen the mess they made of my house, you wouldn't call it

favoritism. It's not my fault that you like your pot roast so well done.

Really, Mrs. Bugle? Ladies, I think we're digressing.

Let's get on with the business at hand.

At this time, the floor is now open for nominations for the position of chief of

the Avonlea Volunteer Fire Department.

I nominate Alec King.

Is there a seconder?

Archie Gillis.

Alec, will you accept the nomination?

Oh, yes.

Yes, I do.

Are there any other nominations from the floor?

I nominate Clive Pettibone.

Seconders?

Elvira, you can't be the seconder. You nominated Alec King.

Thank you.

Mr. Pettibone, will you accept the nomination?

With pleasure, Madam Chair.

Yes. Any further nominations?

Well, there we have it. The nominations are closed.

Now, will the two nominees kindly wait in the foyer, and we'll take it to a

vote.

Best of luck.

Same to you.

May the best man win.

All in favor of Alec King, raise your hand.

Thank you.

All in favor of Mr. Pettibone, raise your hand.

Well, the vote is even.

But someone hasn't voted.

Hetty King.

Yours is the deciding vote.

You can come back in now.

Now, both candidates are well -qualified, splendid men, but we could

one fire chief.

Congratulations, Mr. Pettibone. You are Avonlea's first fire chief.

Never would have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.

That man has absolutely turned her head.

You really should have done something about this before. Now, after all, the

man's a soldier.

He's seen the world.

Lord knows what else.

Clive Pettibone is well qualified. I'm sure he'll make an excellent chief.

I don't care about the fire department. Talking about your sister, Hetty King,

was making a public fool of herself over this man.

You know how Clara Potts and you lately bugle like to prattle on.

Not to mention the fact that Clive Pettibone is about as fit to be the

the fire department as I am.

In fact, I'm probably more qualified.

Felix!

Come and get it if you want it, Felicity.

Felix,

what is this all about?

Father, I was just trying... Mother, he took it.

It's all right, Felicity. Take it off, Felix.

What are you wearing this for?

Well, Auntie Pettibone said her father was going to be the new fire chief, so

you wouldn't have use for it.

She's not the only one who thinks so.

But I didn't believe her, Father.

What did I say, Mother?

Nothing, dear.

So here you are.

Well, now.

Oh, my.

So, how is the fire wagon coming along?

Oh, fine.

Oh, good.

Oh, Lord.

I've not set eyes on you for three days.

I've been busy.

You see, you know, Alec, Just because you're not fire chief

doesn't mean you're not appreciated around here.

It's not just the fire department. Ever since Clive Pettibone came to town,

everybody seems to turn to him. I mean, even my own children.

But you're still a father.

Mr. Pettibone's a teacher.

It's to be hoped the children would look up to him.

Oh, I see. And what about you?

Me? Well, the two of you have been spending an awful lot of time together.

I mean, even a fool could see that there is something going on. Now, he is a

very worldly man. What am I supposed to think?

You can think what you like, Alec King.

Whatever Mr.

Pettibone and I may choose to do together is strictly our own business.

I don't go interfering with you and Janet and your decision.

And I'll thank him.

Not to interfere with mine.

What are you two up to?

Science experiments.

Like the one Mr.

Pettibone did in class.

I thought you were very clever in science today.

Well, not really.

Working with Pierre in the catching at the hotel.

We have a lot of fires.

Nothing to get riled over.

Izzy, what are you doing?

Don't worry. I've got everything under control.

You think this... Bucket, I will demonstrate how to suffocate a fire.

You suffocate, Felix. You better do it fast.

I don't think this is going to work.

But it worked for Mr. Pettibone in class.

One of you better do something.

Oh, boy!

Mr. King.

You weren't at drill practice yesterday.

No, I was working on this pump for the fire wagon.

Just about ready to test it.

I just wanted to make sure there was no hard feeling between us.

Why should there be?

I'm glad you feel that way.

Your contribution to the fire department is important.

I'm counting on your continued participation.

In fact...

I need you.

I feel much better.

What I'm trying to do now is get the operation organized.

My first concern is how to raise the money so we can have a real steam

fire engine.

I don't see what's wrong with this pump wagon. Once I've got it finished, it'll

be good enough for what we need.

It was an irrigation wagon, not a fire wagon. It was an irrigation wagon. It's

now a fire wagon. Really, Mr. King, if you ever did get it working, we couldn't

rely on it in an emergency.

If you think that, it shows you how little you know, doesn't it?

At least I've had real firefighting experience.

Let's face it, you were only elected because you were able to persuade my

sister.

That machine of yours operational?

Can't guarantee it. It seems to me that wagon's their only hope.

the pump with alec kane how'd you kill it the hole i want everyone that died in

the fence fight from a bucket brigade keep soaking the walls of the

we'll try to return the spread of the flames for elicity sarah find the

keep out of the way

Does anybody here have any idea how this got started?

It was a science experiment.

Fire is not something to be played with, Felix. You know that.

We didn't think it was going to happen.

Honest. Someone could have been seriously injured, Izzy. We're sorry.

We promise it won't happen again.

We'll discuss this further at home.

as you will, there's no one to hear you.

Pardon me, sir, or I shall reveal your true nature to one and all.

And who would believe you?

No! No, no!

Hattie!

I must have been mistaken.

He's quite... I, uh... Well, I just wanted to say... What

was all that?

I think your brother deserves the truth, Miss King.

Well, yes, I suppose he does.

As a gentleman, allow me.

Mr. King, your sister and I are collaborators.

Collaborators?

H -E -L -O -R.

King.

You?

I've been watching over her.

An excerpt from Serpents of the Golden Tomb by C .L. Small.

C .L. Small.

Petty.

Oh, you both write books.

Ah.

Oh, I... I feel a complete... Oh.

Oh, no, Alec, you mustn't.

I think perhaps it was our fault for trying to conceal the true nature of our

collusion.

You are my brother, after all.

Concerned for my welfare.

For that, I'm grateful. Oh, truly.

Thank you.

By the way, Mr. Pettibone.

You did a very good job today.

So did you, Mr. King.

Let's just hope the children learned a lesson.

The children aren't the only ones who learned something.

Here,

I thought you could use this. I was going to leave it with Hedy.

You'll look good in it, Clive.

Thank you, Alec.

Splendid.

Splendid.

Alec.