Original subtitles

If it isn't our new minister's son.

I certainly hope whatever sickness it was that kept you home from musicale on

Friday has finally cleared your system, Sarah.

I wasn't really sick.

I knew it.

Out with it.

I pretended to be ill so that I could go to a dance party with you.

I want every detail.

My nerves are shot up to pieces. I have not slept a wink, not a proper wink,

since the night that Sarah defied me.

Teddy, she didn't defy you.

What would you call her, then?

She sneaked out of the house behind my back to meet with that Booth Ellis.

Well, naturally, a girl Sarah's age is going to want to begin to see boys.

I like Booth.

And Jasper says he's very talented.

No, no.

He's nothing but a young, young girl.

Rui.

And you say Aunt Hedy is taking this well? Quite well.

She's even letting him call on me.

In her own way. I think Aunt Hedy's starting to accept this.

That doesn't sound like Aunt Hedy.

Maybe she's mellowing with age.

Do this for me.

I have a plan.

I'll allow Sarah to spend time with the Elliot boy.

So she can see for herself his shortcomings.

But I'll not let the pair of them out of my sight.

can't do that.

Oh, yes, I can, and I will.

I'll be watching their every move.

Oh, you didn't worry.

They'll never know it.

I'll be discreet, you see.

Are you not coming, John?

Oh, I'm sorry, my love, but the editor of the Presbyterian Advocate was so

effusive in his enthusiasm for my satiric article.

He completely supports my theory of the power of humor to reinforce faith.

It's inspired me to another installment.

I have an idea to write about a sleepy little island town where there are no

sinners because... It's too dull even for the devil.

Well, Booth is already at the gathering.

I'll just make my way on my own. The muse is at my elbow.

All right, Mother, there you go. No, Alec, I haven't been up on slaves in a

dog's age.

I need to work up my courage. Will you go and skate with Felicity and Daniel?

All right. All right.

Here you go, Daniel.

There you go.

All right.

Here we go.

No!

Wait!

Wait? Wait for what?

I've been waiting for years to try to tell her. Just let me help you, all

Okay. All right.

Good

morning,

Mrs. Bugle. Mrs. Clown. Oh, good morning.

I should find those hats.

There's an ostrich alive that hasn't been plucked full.

What beautiful automobile. Now, does that belong to you, Miss Stacy?

Indeed it does.

Oh, I admire you. The mere idea of an independent woman careening around the

island in a motor car.

I don't know if I should like to think of it as careening.

But I'll tell you what.

Driving is a little difficult this time of the year, but when the roads clear,

I'd gladly give you a driving lesson if you'd like.

Really? Really. Thank you.

Oh, Clive. Good day, ladies.

Where's Izzy? She's on her way. May I help you lace up your skates and we'll

take a spin? Wonderful.

Now, you must be getting good enough by now to let go of me. Oh, I'm never going

to let myself get that good.

Oh, Harry.

Nothing like a good old -fashioned skate, I say.

Restoring the body, clearing the mind.

Thank you.

Come along, you two.

What are we waiting for?

There, now.

Up like a woman.

Up.

skater at all. Oh, I've never been on a skate before in my life. Oh, well, good.

Let's sit together and watch the others. Oh, watch the fun in sitting. Come on.

Oh, dear.

Let's pretend it's a sweltering day in August and we've come across this huge,

expansive ice. So what will we do?

Throw ourselves upon it, I suppose.

Gladly, too.

It's all the way you look at things. There we go.

I see that Mrs. Elliot's behavior is just as showy as her hat.

All right, then.

I'm fine.

We haven't got to go home just yet.

I don't want you overexerting yourself.

We'll go now. Well, no, surely you can stay and have a cup of hot cocoa.

We ought to get home, Mrs. King.

All right, dear, anything you say.

Come on. Oh, my goodness.

Bye, Jeff.

Bye, Viola.

Who?

Are you coming back?

No, I...

I don't think so.

Mrs. Potts? Mrs.

Inglis? Good day, Reverend.

Good day.

Have you invited the Reverend Elliot to tea yet? Not yet.

I can't think of a way of wording it so his wife won't come along with him.

She'll probably show up in one of these gaudy hats as if she's attending a New

York burlesque. If I could tolerate her manner of dress, if her conduct were a

little more sedate, there's something queer about that woman's behavior.

Could be she picked up a parasite over there in Borneo and it affected her

They'd have been better off to stay in New Orleans, if you want my opinion.

Don't think that Viola Elliott was too wild even for New Orleans, my dear.

I can't imagine that woman.

fitting in any place.

Mother. Oh, Felix, leave me in peace. My poor aching bones.

But I can't find a clean nightshirt.

Well, I guess you'll have to sleep in a burlap sack.

Don't bother your mother right now. Ask Felicity what's become of the ironing.

Well, you and Mrs. Elliot certainly made a display of yourselves this afternoon.

Why should the young have all the fun?

There's still a little kick left in this old girl.

Well, there's a kick, all right.

That, uh, Viola Elliot, she's quite a character.

She's lively. There's no crime.

Lively is one thing, but she's... The most interesting, vital woman in

I only wish I had half her character.

The only problem is, Avonlea isn't used to a woman having a mind of her own.

Oh, is that so?

of the South China Sea are breathtaking.

I can scarcely believe.

Have you really been all these places?

Been and left.

Borneo, Malaya, Singapore.

The Orient is so mysterious.

Do you miss it a little?

Those balmy nights, the air scented with spices.

It is very beautiful.

But I turned quite hard.

All in all, I'm really quite glad to be there at home.

Viola?

Is there something troubling you?

It's just it does seem odd.

To come home and feel as much a stranger here as I did in Kuala Lumpur.

You know, my father was a minister.

And we always lived in Avonlea. But I knew other ministers' wives, friends of

mother's.

And they always said that it was hardest on them landing in a new post.

Trying to fit in.

People just need time to get to know you.

Viola, you could give a magic lantern show for the children at the Sunday

school. No, I'd help you.

They may not get to know any better who you are, but at least they'd know where

you've been.

And that's a step in the right direction.

Oh, the children would love it.

Janet, I hardly think the Sunday school teachers would appreciate me

interrupting their lesson time.

Oh, they can do Jonah and the Whale the next Sunday.

Shall we do it?

Let's.

You see, the temple dancers, dancing lifts them to a higher plane. Every

undulation brings them closer to a kind of religious ecstasy.

Natalia, when you said you had pictures of the Christian mission, we were all

hoping you'd have pictures of the leper colony.

Not godless pagan temples.

I assure you, Mrs. Sloan, the Hindu are anything but godless.

Now, this temple alone celebrates over a hundred...

Now, the river is vital to the life of the community.

Here is where they celebrate many of their most important rituals.

That's it.

That's all for today.

Children. Up, up, up, up. No.

Hurry up now. Yes, children. Your parents are waiting for you. Straight

Children, you must realize the importance of the rivets of the dire

Straight out. It ends there.

Straight out.

Well,

this is the last thing I expected from the someone who is supposed to be

upstanding and a leader of proper morality.

In the name of... Don't make such a fuss, you lady. This could have been an

edifying experience if you weren't such an old prune.

Edifying?

Edifying?

Girly pictures and dancing the hoochie -coochie.

That's not Sunday school.

Not in Avonlea.

As an elder of this church, Reverend, I gotta tell you that here in Avonlea, we

take our church seriously.

And if you have hopes of staying on, you and your family had best look to your

way of doing things.

I'm so sorry.

Oh, those women are so blessed infuriating. Now, Janet, don't let them

your serenity.

I'd like to disturb that Eulalie Bugle serenity, I can tell you.

Come on, just sit down.

It's all in the job.

Yes, yes, I suppose you're right.

I've just taken on too many things. I was joining all these committees and

and that.

I'm just tired, that's all. And do you know, my feet have not stopped aching

since we were skating.

All right, you rest right there. I have just the thing.

It's a restorative.

Excellent for a variety of aches.

Oh.

One or more doses daily to vivify the system.

For heaven's sakes. I find it most settling for jangled nerves.

I think I'll have some, too.

Oh, yes.

That tonic is good.

Oh, I can feel it healing all the way down.

Well, now, if one glass of vivifier is good for the system, two must be twice

good.

Exactly. That's what's so wonderful.

Yeah!

Aunt Hattie, what are you doing all the way out here?

Just taking my constitutional.

Invigorating, isn't it?

Which way are you two headed?

Well, nowhere in particular.

That's funny.

Neither am I.

Well, may as well go nowhere together, shall we? Come on.

Oh, oh, land.

Thanks, we have water, please.

Oh,

lovely.

Oh, Janet, do you know how to drive?

Me? No, but how did you... I don't want to learn.

No, no, no, how hard could it be?

No, no, no, I think he's just turning in.

What do you think, Felicity?

Should we have our tea shortly?

Certainly, Miss Stacy.

The sun is well up.

Oh.

Oh. I feel dreadful.

I must be coming down with something.

Head pounding?

Stomach upset?

Yes.

I'm dying of thirst.

What is it, Alec? Is something going around?

Not since temperance turned the island teetotal, my dear.

You are suffering from the after effects of drink.

Drink? Oh,

don't make me laugh.

Oh, it must be poisoning of some kind.

Oh, it was poisoning, all right.

What did you get into?

Alec, you can't... I mean, you couldn't... Unless...

You know what that...

Tonic vial gave me.

Tonic? A vivifier.

I only had two thimbles full.

No, maybe it was three.

Or was it four?

Mrs. Staley's car?

Well, it was no real damage.

But it is a serious matter. The two of you could have been hurt.

Oh.

This can't be true.

How much of this tonic does Viola take? How often?

Oh, I'm certain she's prudent.

Well, I'm not so certain. Frankly, it goes a long way to explaining some of

behavior.

Viola can't have a problem of this nature.

Don't be ridiculous. She's a minister's wife.

Well, you know her better than anyone.

I'm going down into the town. Is there anything I can get for you?

Oh, no, I think I'll go in later myself.

Are you sure you're feeling up to it?

John, please, for heaven's sakes, don't baby me.

After yesterday?

Yesterday was an accident.

There's no need to discuss it.

Viola, you mustn't push yourself.

Everyone has limitations.

I don't want your condition to deteriorate.

I am perfectly aware of my condition.

I'm fine.

Just remember the doctor's warning.

I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself and my family and my duties to

the church.

Now, go on about your day.

Are you waiting for anyone in particular?

No, no one in particular.

Unless, of course, she's got golden blonde hair, plays the flute, and stands

a near five -foot nothing.

You wouldn't happen to know anyone like that, would you?

Well, I guess I do.

Well, Nat, you can add a pity.

Because I was going to be extending an invitation of sorts.

Hello there.

Hello there, you two.

Oh, my, what luck.

I was just on my way back from the village.

I thought to myself, why don't I stop by? School.

Maybe Sarah will be there and we can walk home together and here you are.

Well, I guess I'll be heading home.

See you later, Sarah.

Boop, um... You were going to ask me something?

Well, yeah.

I was wondering if Friday evening, maybe... Friday?

Friday, did you say?

You must be clairvoyant or something.

Just about to mention Friday.

Oh, you see, Sarah and I have been meaning to invite you for dinner,

Sarah? We have?

Friday would be perfect.

Yes, just the ticket.

A nice dinner.

A quiet evening at home, just the three of us.

Get together, as you say nowadays.

That would be nice, wouldn't it?

It certainly would be, Miss Hetty. That would be very nice.

Friday, then.

Have first six.

All right.

What wild goings -on. I'm behind the wheel of an auto car. The minister's

no less.

Hello, Sarah. May I help you? No, thank you.

Felicity, I need your advice.

Aunt Hetty is being intolerable. She won't give Booth and me a moment of

Sarah. How can I possibly be expected to think about your romantic problems?

Haven't you heard?

Heard what?

About our family's shame.

Aren't you being a tad melodramatic?

Melodramatic? My own mother and the minister's wife were behaving like a

of... teeners.

Teeners? Actually, I don't know a single person between the ages of 13 and 19

who would even consider taking a motor car from the side of the road.

Well, thank you for the consolation, Sarah.

This entire town is in an uproar.

I'll give you this advice.

Watch Booth very carefully.

For what?

Any signs of lunacy.

They're saying that madness runs in his family.

Booth, are you ready?

No, go on ahead, Mother. I'll meet you there.

And so Satan says to the old farmer, Oh, never mind. I'm going back to New York

City. There's much more opportunity there for me to advance my career.

So, as we read in Proverbs 1 .10,

If sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

So the repairs to the roof are finally paid for, and there's just one more

installment on the organ before it's free and clear.

And all in all, if the congregation's offerings remain consistent, we're in

pretty good standing.

Thank you, Mr. Treasurer.

Other business?

Oh, right, other business.

Reverend... Yes, Mr. Potts?

Reverend, I guess it's no secret that the changing over from one pastor to the

next has been going less than smoothly.

It always takes a little time to settle into a new post.

Now, that's true, certainly.

But the thing is, Reverend, in the light of recent occurrences, some would say

that it's only fair that we get certain assurances from you about certain

things.

What kind of assurances?

Well, it's a matter of style, Reverend, and yours is a little unreverently,

cracking jokes about sin and so forth.

Even the great Protestant reformer Martin Luther said, the best way to

the devil is to jeer and flout him, for he cannot bear scorn.

Well, we aren't Lutherans, Reverend, we're Presbyterians, and we just as soon

get our license straight from the book.

A good sermon is like cough syrup.

If it goes down too easy, it's not likely to cure what ails you.

I see.

And what else?

Well, there's the, uh... There's the matter... There is the matter of your

making a display of herself as if the hats weren't enough.

You gotta find a way to rein her in.

There's been a lot of talk.

I think what we're all looking for here is a way of dealing with our concerns

openly and fairly.

Gentlemen, ladies, certainly I can change my style.

I don't say that I agree with you, but that doesn't really matter. It is as

your church as mine, perhaps more so.

However, I want you to know that where my family is concerned, you cross the

line.

I will never rein in my wife.

Are you saying that you refuse to speak to her about this at all?

Not a word.

We are being more than fair.

You know, we could send a wire of official complaint to the presbytery.

Then I invite you to send your wire.

You're not leaving as much choice, Reverend.

All right, we'll work out the wording of the complaint, then.

Your excuse from this next part reverend But you might want to

give it some thought as to whether heavenly is the post for you

Mother? Mrs. King, it's Colin.

Janet, hello.

I have a fruitcake from your real Stacy. I thought you might want to come with

me. I suppose... I suppose we owe her an apology.

I suppose we do.

There was really no harm done. But it was very, very wicked of us to help

ourselves to her automobile.

Next time, I promise to do as I am told and ask for Stacy for a proper lesson.

But Janet, weren't we awful?

What a pair of terrors.

What were we thinking of?

Caught up in the moment, I imagine, weren't we?

I don't think it was the moment, Viola, as much as it was perhaps your tonic.

My tonic?

I hope you think of me as a friend, the way I think of you, and I hope as a

friend I could tell you anything and you wouldn't judge me, at least not

harshly.

If there was anything you wanted to tell me, to confide in me, you could.

That's very kind of you.

But I'm sure I don't know what that is an aid of.

I can't think of anything of which I need to unburden myself.

Why, it's just that your tonic... Yes?

Do you know what's in it?

Does it contain alcohol? I fear there's something... Janet, it's a restorative.

A patent medicine.

I use it when I need it.

That is all.

Do you think you use it too often?

Janet, I've changed my mind.

I don't really feel well enough to visit Miss Daisy this afternoon.

I'll just send over a note later.

I'm only thinking of you.

Thank you for thinking of me so kindly.

And thank you for dropping by.

Hetty, I must tell you, I wish I could type as fast as I read. I've so enjoyed

the last few chapters of your book. Have you read any of it, Sarah?

Oh, no, no.

Roll it more, Sarah. Thinner.

You don't want your pie crust like bootleggers, do you?

Oh, and I adore the new title. It's Booth Coming to Dinner, Aunt Hetty, not

King of Sire. My home is the island.

Your Aunt Olivia will tell you that courting is not just flowers and sighs

strolls down the lane. No, no.

A man is no end of work.

So they tell me, day you meet him till the day he's laid out in the grave.

Oh, yes, he'll be wanting four courses, you can count on it, and then a spread

of desserts.

Ah, yes,

well, we have strawberry rhubarb pie and English trifle, and, oh, that's what it

swears. Pie and trifle? Isn't that a bit much? Redmond!

That's what this title has? No, not at all. Not if you want to serve yourself a

proper meal.

It was not my idea to spend the evening here.

You'll thank me for it later. Now, for after

-dinner amusement, I've managed to track down some parlor games.

I don't want the idle moments, do I?

There's croquenot and Chinese checkers and... Now I remember when I saw that

poor cheesy board.

Who needs Parcheesi?

After all this food, we'll just lie around the parlor and burst.

Angelica, I really don't think there's any hope for this evening at all.

It won't be so bad. You'll see.

I just... I just worry that Aunt Hetty will ruin everything.

No matter how it looks from time to time, there's nothing she wants more for

than your happiness.

There's... true feeling and a will.

Love just seems to find its way around everything in its path.

You can add Hetty.

Even Hetty.

over to Rose Cottage for dinner.

Is Father not home yet?

Oh, your father went to visit poor Mrs. McDonald.

She came down with some gout, and he needs some company.

He didn't say when he'd be back, but you know, it's about McDonald. She doesn't

like to talk.

Well, look, don't worry about me. I'll be fine.

Run along.

Have fun.

I'll try.

You're very quiet tonight.

What are you thinking about?

Oh.

Here, let me help you with that.

About Viola.

I'm so sorry about the unpleasantness that sprung up between us. I should have

just minded my own Ps and Qs.

Well, you were just acting as her friend. Was I?

Or was I jumping to conclusions? Was I just becoming one of those...

interfering meddlesome women who made my mother's life miserable.

Well, that's not what you set out to do.

Alec, I'm going to go over there right now and apologize.

Well, now that weather's starting to pick up... No, the weather's fine.

dear.

Well, it certainly was a scrumptious dinner.

Thank you, Boogs.

Were you expecting other people? Just the three of us as usual.

We haven't had a second to ourselves lately.

It's all right, Vera.

We've also made some ice cream if you'd like some with your pie.

Pie and ice cream.

Well, you can't have one without the other.

Some things are just like that, two by two.

I can't even seem to think of them separately. They're so meant to be

Like you and me.

The pie and the ice cream.

Oh, well, now, after dessert, we'll take tea in the parlor, and then it's time

for Parcheesi.

Eat up, eat up.

I hope you didn't slip on that threadbare old rug we put in the parlor.

the church women the manse was in need of new carpeting. No, don't worry

yourself about this.

This is not a new injury, unfortunately.

This is a relapse.

A relapse?

It's about three years ago.

I was teaching the dyke in Batang Lupar, and we suffered a terrible

typhoon, and...

The schoolhouse was nearly destroyed, and my back, along with it.

I had no idea.

I didn't know what my back could bear, and now I've done it worse than ever.

Shh.

There's no sense blaming yourself.

Viola, I came to tell you I'm sorry.

For? For doubting you.

I feel I failed you somehow.

I know what a caring person you are.

Just keep me company.

Make me laugh.

That's done it for me again.

Three out of five.

Oh, what do you say, Booth?

Shall we make it four out of seven?

Oh, I don't know, Miss Hetty.

It doesn't sound like this storm's going to blow itself out.

Maybe I should take a chance and go home.

Oh.

Oh.

Good grief.

By the looks of it, you'll not be going anywhere, young man.

Oh, you get the... lost ten feet from the door in a storm like this.

Oh, dear. Well, I suppose you'll have to put up here for the night on

the sofa.

Now, you stay where you are.

I'll fetch your blankets.

Come along, Sarah, dear.

Sarah, bedtime.

Come on.

Good night.

Good night, Sarah.

Good night, Bill.

I think she's finally asleep.

Oh, what a shame this happened. She was merely sweeping the carpet.

It doesn't take much.

The doctors have warned her that her spine would never be as strong as it

that overexertion would lead to a relapse of this nature.

She's so active.

She lives with almost constant pain, but never lets on how greatly she suffers.

That's Viola's way.

She clings to the philosophy that the Lord gave us life, and we praise him by

the fullness with which we live it.

And I complain if my feet are tired.

That accident was the kind of experience that has broken many, but not Viola.

She worked so hard to build the trust of her young charges, trying to instill an

understanding of God's infinite mercy.

Two days after she was injured, she asked that the children be brought to

the infirmary in the afternoon.

And in the morning...

She had a nurse's aide go down into the market on the port to fetch her the

brightest, most vividly colored bed jacket money could buy.

Of course, there was no such thing to be had on such short notice, but the girl

did the best she could.

And that afternoon, Violet taught from her hospital bed that life is precious

and wonderful.

And not a child there has ever forgotten it.

or that flaming red kimono.

Did you write this?

It's a... It's very, very beautiful.

It's as if you can see what I dream.

You've made up this... perfect, safe place full of love.

A lot like a home.

I hope Mother and Father and I find one day.

It's not made up, actually.

Avonlea, the village you're writing about.

Yes, it is.

With some creative license, of course.

The people in the family are the kings?

Bits and pieces.

Bits of my mother, of Sarah's mother, Ruth.

Bits of the living and of those who live on inside us

here.

It's an incredible gift you've created for your family.

And I think Sarah is very lucky to have you as an aunt.

Life is a precious gift.

So too is joy.

Despair is a sin, but joy, the joy of life, is a blessing from God.

As we read in Philippians chapter 4, rejoice in the Lord always, and again I

say, rejoice.

Amen.

Well, may I have the pleasure of escorting you two ladies home?

Oh, that's kind of you both.

No, no, you two go on alone.

Go on.

I'll stay here.

Get up with the neighbors. Yes.

I see Mrs. Elliot's taste in hats has rubbed off on you, Janet.

That and a lot more, I should hope, you lady.

And what is that supposed to mean?

Well...

Reverend,

we're, uh...

We're so sorry to hear about your wife's ill health.

Some of us have done her a terrible disservice.

What we'd all like to do is to leave any harsh words behind us and say how

pleased we would be if you and your wife would stay on as long as you will.

Thank you, Bert. And thank you all for your good wishes.

I'll pass them along to Viola.

But I'm sorry to tell you that shortly after you wired the presbytery...

I received word from Knox Presbyterian in St. John, New Brunswick.

They are also in need of a minister, and my family and I would be welcomed

there.

But we'd like you to stay on now to be sure, Reverend.

There's really no need.

I'm afraid there is.

Viola would be near a hospital where she can get proper attention.

Her condition is worsening, and she'll need medical care that isn't available

here.

I wired them yesterday to accept.

Viola, wait right here.

The ladies of the church women's committee all got together and we

and we got you this.

We felt that as the new minister's wife at Knox Presbyterian, you should have a

proper hat.

Oh, it's just, it's perfect.

Thank you.

Now, Janet.

You promised.

I know.

You've become a very good friend to me.

And you to me.

We'll write.

And I'll find a way to visit.

Our paths will come together again, Sarah.

They will.

I promise.

I just wish that our last moment together didn't have to be so public.

I don't see anyone now, do you?

Not a soul.

Find ice cream.

You and me.

safe trip!