(crickets chirping)
(birds calling)
(dramatic orchestral music)
(bright music)
- [Olivia] Good morning, ladies!
Oops!
- Will you look at that ridiculous contraption?
Beyond my powers of reason what she sees in that man.
Olivia, congratulations on your fundraising.
- The Improvement Society is so pleased.
- Thank you, ladies.
We have the money right here.
- What a great bicycle!
Where'd you get that, Mr. Dale?
- That's quite a machine.
It come from the catalog, Jasper?
- Oh, no.
- He built it himself out of two old bicycles.
- You don't say.
- Isn't it wonderful?
He's so clever, he never ceases to amaze me
with all the different things he's invented.
- Olivia.
- Jasper, don't be so modest.
He has an appointment with Mr. Lawson this morning
to demonstrate his latest invention.
They're gonna sell hundreds at the general store.
- Hundreds of what, Jasper?
- Nothing, really, just kitchen tools.
- Well, it's not just a kitchen tool.
It's a labor saving device.
Thank you.
Well, I'd best get this safely over
to the newspaper office.
Mrs. Potts, Mr. MacKay.
Good luck, Jasper.
- I certainly have to see this.
(Mrs. Potts laughs)
- Morning Mr. Tyler.
I'll just put this in the safe if I may.
- Congratulations, Olivia.
If I ever need a fundraiser, I'll know who to go to.
I'll be away for a week or so.
- Away?
- To Halifax to meet with the newspaper there.
I'm going to try and share a wire service,
it might improve our circulation.
- Oh, well you'll miss the presentation
of the renewal fund check.
- I'm afraid so.
You'll have to do the honors there.
I'm leaving you in charge of the paper.
- I've been printing this paper for 30 years.
I don't need any supply editor, Mr. Tyler.
- Oh, come on now, Mr. Pinker.
Miss King needs your cooperation.
- I'm honored and flattered that you think I'm capable.
- Of course you're capable.
Practice'll do you good.
If I ever decide to sell this paper,
you'd be a good candidate as editor.
- Well, Mr. Tyler, I don't know.
- [Tyler] You have to set goals for yourself, Olivia.
- Oh, I do.
I promise you that I will challenge myself
to find ways to dramatically increase
this newspaper's readership in your absence.
(clattering)
Oh, don't worry.
Everything'll be fine.
Won't it, Mr. Pinker?
- Hmm.
- And you say you can toast up to a dozen slices
in the same time it takes to do one with a toasting fork?
Automatic?
- (stammering) Oh, continuously.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's correct, yes.
Um, the rack is hinged, Mr. Lawson,
as you can see.
That is uh-- - Oh.
- At the top.
And hinged at the bottom so you can
remove any given slice without--
(all exclaiming)
- Oh, it's...
Ow!
- [Mrs. Potts] Oh no!
He's going to burn the store down!
- [MacKay] Put it outside!
- [Mrs. Potts] Jasper, I'll stick to my old ways,
thank you very much. (laughs)
(sizzling)
- Jasper, I have the most wonderful news!
I'm so pleased I could burst!
Did everything go all right?
- It might make a good rug beater.
- I'd stick to taking pictures if I were you, Jasper.
- Leave the inventing to the Wright brothers.
- I'll have you know that Jasper's
outdone the Wright brothers.
- Olivia.
- Well, you have.
He has!
Why, soon everyone in Avonlea will be able to
put away their horses and buggies
because we'll simply get into Jasper Dale's
amazing flying machine and go anywhere we want
just like the birds.
- (laughs) You don't say, a flying machine?
Just how does that work, Jasper?
- Uh, well, uh, it's like a bicycle,
but it's based on aerodynamic principle.
- A bicycle that flies?
- Yeah, this is the idea.
- Well, he's gonna test it out first thing tomorrow morning
over on the big hill.
- Uh-- - Aren't you, Jasper?
- No, now, it depends on the weather.
Haven't really decided.
- Ooh!
- Oh gosh, bolt must have come loose.
- There's a screw loose somewhere,
that's for sure! (laughs)
(all laughing)
- [Felicity] Oh, Sarah, I didn't realize that
putting together a newspaper was so much work.
- I got Aunt Hettie's flour.
But wait till I tell you what Jasper made!
- Felix, if you don't mind, we're working on our paper.
- Oh, let me see!
- No, it's not ready.
We're still planning it for its first publication.
- We're going to make lots of money
and you can buy one when it's published.
- Oh, Felicity's etiquette tips!
You should offer your arm to a lady
when seeing her home.
But don't keep her standing too long at the gate
when you say goodnight.
- Give that back.
- Oh, please, Felicity, can I buy this newspaper?
It's so exciting.
Here, take all my money.
- If you're so smart, Felix,
why don't you try writing something?
- If I did anything for your dumb paper
you'd have to pay me.
I'd have to dream up something exciting
to happen in this pokey old village.
(Felicity sighs)
(Sara laughs)
(bright music)
- I know you're disappointed, Jasper,
but not everyone is as small-minded and unimaginative.
- Good Lord, what's that?
One of your delightful little confections,
I suppose, Jasper.
- Uh, no, it's a... (stuttering)
- Invention?
- [Jasper] Invention, yes.
- Hmm, confection.
You'll never get anywhere, frittering your life away,
you know?
Too much time on your hands, that's what.
- Miss King.
- Excuse me, Aunt Hettie.
- [Jasper] Don't suppose you'd--
- [Hettie] Don't be late for supper.
- Like to try--
- Oh, Mr. Dale, I would!
- Oh, come on, Felix.
Ready?
- Yep.
- Go!
- Sara, how's your newspaper enterprise coming along?
- It's not Sara's idea, it's mine.
- I thought we were partners, Felicity.
Aunt Olivia, we need some professional advice.
We have nothing very exciting for our front page.
- [Felix] Or any of the others!
- Well, Jasper'll give you something exciting
to write about tomorrow.
If you can get up early enough.
Jasper, may I tell the children?
- Oh, why not?
You've already announced it to the rest of the village.
- Oh, I'm sorry, Jasper, I don't mean to embarrass you.
Forgive me?
I know I'm biased, but I'm just so proud of your creativity.
- [Felix] You're going all red, Mr. Dale.
(Felix laughing)
- Hang on to that rope, Felix, hang on!
- Oh!
- This'll be a great first page story, Sara.
- Jasper, are you sure this is safe?
- Hmm?
- I don't want you to get hurt.
- It'll work if I can get up enough speed.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
- [Felix] Well, the wind's coming up, Mr. Dale.
- Jasper, will you wear my scarf for good luck?
- Of course.
- Oh!
- [Felix] Mr. Dale, do you really think
this is gonna work?
- Let go of the rope!
- [Felix] Here we go, Mr. Dale!
(whimsical music)
- [Jasper] I can't see, I can't see!
- Why, the man must be mad.
(Jasper shouting)
(crowd exclaiming)
- [Olivia] Jasper, are you all right?
Jasper!
- I'm all right.
All right.
I'm fine.
Just fine.
- Oh!
- [Man] Whoa, watch yourself!
- [Olivia] Jasper, are you really all right?
- (stammering) I'm fine.
(melancholy music)
- Thank goodness he landed on something soft.
- Like his head.
- Jasper, wait!
- [Sara] Poor Mr. Dale.
- [Felicity] Poor Aunt Olivia.
- Did you know that Harriet Benchley's daughter
had a mad crush on a minister from Carmody?
(Mrs. Lawson gasps)
A Methodist, no less.
She wouldn't listen to common sense advice from anyone.
I had a long talk with her and her poor mother.
- (gasps) Felix, stop it!
- It reminds me of Olivia's crush on Jasper Dale.
And you know what they did to poor Ruby Benchley?
- Leave us alone!
- [Mrs. Potts] They had to send her away
and they were all just sick about it.
- [Mrs. Lawson] Well, they are engaged to be married.
- I wish someone would send you away.
- Mrs. Potts would give advice to a tree
if it would listen.
- [Mrs. Potts] I ask you, Hettie,
how could Olivia ever be with the likes of Jasper Dale?
- Why does she have to pick on Jasper?
- The girls in Avonlea are not like
what we were in our day.
- [Mrs. Lawson] Oh, no.
- She should try writing a column like the one in here.
Mother just adores these letters.
It's the only reason why she even buys this magazine.
- Felicity, you're brilliant!
That's what this newspaper needs
to make people want to buy it!
Advice for people's problems.
(Felicity and Sara laughing)
- Stop it!
You're tongue wagging may be good grist
for the Avonlea gossip mill,
but I've had my fill of it, thank you.
- I'm only telling the truth, Hettie,
and I can see it hits too close to home for you.
- Felix King, what?
- [Mrs. Potts] Hettie, you should have seen
the spectacle Jasper made of himself this morning.
- Out, all of you!
Now.
- [Mrs. Potts] Not to mention the fiasco at the
general store yesterday. - This minute!
- [Mrs. Potts] Labor saving device, indeed.
- Go! (Mrs. Potts laughing)
- [Mrs. Potts] Oh, there's nothing like gas
and burning toast at the same time. (cackling)
(Hettie stifling laugh)
- Those folks are gonna be laughing
out the other side of their faces someday,
because I know you can do it.
- Olivia King, you are too optimistic
for both our own good.
That's...
- Oh, sorry.
Well, I'll just get my folder and I'll be right back.
- [Hettie] More tea, ladies?
- [Mrs. Potts] Thank you, Hettie.
And a few more of those apple turnovers would do nicely.
- We'll call it Madame X's advice
and we'll write about real life problems.
- Oh, look!
Let's go ask Jasper if he'll let us have another ride.
Can we ride your bicycle, Mr. Dale?
- Certainly, Mr. King, go right ahead.
- I'll take the front, Felicity.
All you have to do is pedal.
- [Sara] My turn next.
(ladies laughing inside)
- [Mrs. Lawson] There's no saving Ruby Benchley.
- Well, ladies, to the business at hand.
Now that we have the money to paint the schoolhouse,
who shall we hire to do it?
- [Mrs. Potts] Maybe Jasper Dale could
fly around it with a paint brush. (cackling)
Though seriously, can you imagine anyone
trying a stunt like that?
I was stunned.
What a branch to add to the King family tree.
- [Mrs. Lawson] It's a pity for Olivia, too.
She's come such a long way.
- [Hettie] Well, just what are you trying to say?
- Surely you agree it's a shame for her
to throw herself away at a man like Jasper Dale.
Compared to Edwin Clark, the man's a worthless dreamer,
as mad as a march hare.
- [Mrs. Lawson] Oh, Olivia's prospects could have been
so much brighter.
- Whatever my feelings about Jasper Dale,
it is Olivia's business.
Far be it for me to interfere.
That's all I'm going to say on the matter.
So now if you ladies will just hush up,
we can get back to business.
- [Felix] Felicity, you're not pedaling fast enough!
- [Felicity] Felix, steer straight!
- [Felix] I got it, Felicity, I got it! (laughs)
- [Felicity] Woo, here we go!
(Felix laughing)
- It's a wonderful bicycle, Mr. Dale.
We really did enjoy your flying machine
and it'll be on the front page of our newspaper.
Felix, get off, Mr. Dale wants his bicycle!
- No, keep it.
Keep it, it's all yours.
- Really?
- Yeah. - Do you mean it?
- Now, Hettie, we're only concerned about
your reputation and Olivia's welfare.
Who would want her to throw away her whole life?
- Hmm.
Now, according to my calculations,
the school renewal fund totals 84 dollars and 16 cents.
- Have you seen Jasper?
- He left.
- And guess what, he gave us his bicycle!
- Did he say where he was going?
- No, he just hurried away like he had
something important to get to.
(Olivia sighs)
(dramatic music)
- Weddings have no place on the front page, never have.
Mr. Biggins grew a 20 pound squash, now that's news.
- But there isn't a picture
to go with the 20 pound squash story.
It's my firm belief that a picture on the front page
sells more papers.
- Maybe Jasper Dale could take a picture
of the 20 pound squash.
- But I haven't seen Jasper.
He hasn't been in for the last two days,
so as our deadline is rapidly approaching,
Mr. Pinker, I must insist that you print
this picture and story on the front page.
- Whatever you say.
Boss.
- Just thought I'd um, pick up these plates and things.
I need them at home.
- Jasper?
- Yes?
- You have lots of plates at home.
Aren't you planning on doing any more work with us?
I um, was wondering why you left so suddenly
the other day without saying goodbye.
Did I do something?
- No, I just, uh, remembered about something
I had to do.
- Better come and check the front page, Miss King,
I wouldn't want to get it wrong.
When you have a minute.
- What time may I expect to have you come by Saturday
to leave for the school renewal celebration?
I'm to present a check, remember?
- Oh, uh...
I meant to tell you, I won't be with you.
Got a family reunion to photograph in Markdale.
- A family reunion?
- You go without me.
It's better than you do.
- Jasper.
- Good afternoon.
- Good day.
- Good day to you, sir.
Afternoon.
- Hey Ed, what about that race in Summerside tomorrow?
What horse would you pick as the favorite?
- I don't think I should even wager a guess.
- Oh, come on now, you've had some pretty good luck lately.
- Well, that's a matter of opinion.
Elvira made me put my last ill gotten gains
straight into the church collection plate.
- (laughs) Well, at least God must be on your side by now.
- (laughs) I suppose.
No, my betting days are over.
It's as bad a habit as liquor
and it's as hard to break, too.
Galloping Consumption, but the only reason
I'm telling you, Bert, is we've let you
run up quite a tab here lately.
- Oh, and I'll repay it, Ed, that's a promise.
I'm good with money.
Didn't I do your account books year before last?
And the newspaper's as well.
All I need is a lucky break.
- Well, if you'd spend more time doing a hard day's work
and less time with the horses,
you wouldn't need a lucky break.
- Yeah, you're right.
Galloping Consumption, did you say?
- [Ed] Don't you tell a soul I told you.
- Thank you, dear.
Fire's getting a little low.
(Alec snoring)
Oh well, Alec, could you get a little more wood,
please, dear?
Alec.
Oh, Alec!
- (clears throat) Hmm?
- Really!
Well, I finally finish clearing away the dishes
and you and I have a little time
to be together and all you can do is sleep.
I'm the one who's supposed to be tired these days.
- (stammering) I wasn't sleeping.
- Oh, yes, you were.
Just like every other night.
Time was you used to look forward
to our little chats together.
Now I sit and sew and you snore!
(bright music)
- (laughing) What do you think of this?
- "Madame X, my gambling problem
"is driving me to wrack and ruin."
Sarah!
"And destroying my happy home.
"Signed, Desperate."
(Sara laughing)
Mr. Lawson said this?
- Not exactly.
- He sounds more like his wife. (laughs)
- It doesn't hurt to exaggerate a little.
- Listen to this.
"Dear Snoring Is Boring," (Sara laughs)
"Whining is far more boring than snoring.
"Your husband has obviously had just about enough of you
"and takes refuge in sleep."
- I know, stop your whining and he'll stop snoring.
- Oh, that's good. (Sara laughing)
This is so messy.
My hand is so tired after alL this writing.
- Well, I can write out these newspapers
tomorrow in school.
- All right. - Goodness, Felicity!
It's high time you were on your way home
and Sara, it is bedtime.
- See you in the morning, Sara.
Or should I say, Madame X?
(Sara laughs)
- Madame X. (chuckles)
Who is Madame X?
Now, off you go, Felicity.
I don't want Janet to think I condone late nights.
- Goodnight, Aunt Olivia.
- Night, Felicity.
- You missed dinner, Aunt Olivia.
- Oh, I had some things to catch up on.
'Night, Sara.
- Uh, Sara.
Goodnight.
- Goodnight.
- You are late, Olivia, hmm?
I've kept your supper warm for you.
- Thank you, I'm really not very hungry.
I have to put all these articles in order
for the deadline tomorrow.
Oh, Hettie, I just don't know what to do.
- About what?
- Jasper.
What's to do?
- I still don't understand why he left
the other day without even saying goodbye.
He must have been upset.
- I imagine anyone who just catapulted himself
into a haystack would be somewhat--
- He left the bicycle behind, Hettie.
He built that bicycle for us.
It was for the two of us.
And now he doesn't seem to give two hoots about me
and I don't know why.
I just want to know why.
- Here, eat your supper.
And then I'll make you a nice cup of tea.
- My fiance is painfully shy
and is now ignoring me.
I hope it is nothing I have done to offend him.
What should I do?
Signed, Desolate.
(bright music)
Dear Desolate, have a heart to heart talk
with your intended.
Your future happiness depends on it.
Signed, Madame X.
- Oh, hurry, Sara, we'll both be late for school.
I'm leaving in two seconds.
- I have to get my reader.
(clattering) - Oh!
Sara!
- Overslept, did you?
Good grief, girl, you look like the wrath of God.
- Thank you, Hettie.
I didn't get a wink of sleep.
- Sara, hurry up, I'm not waiting a moment longer.
- Aunt Hettie, have you seen my letters?
They were right here.
- I can't keep track of everybody's belongings.
Come along now.
- Maybe you picked them up.
Maybe I left them upstairs.
(gentle music)
- [Olivia] Jasper?
Jasper, are you there?
Jasper, I just want to speak with you.
I thought you and I could talk to each other.
What's wrong?
Have I done something to offend you?
Oh, Jasper.
- Whew, it's getting cold out here.
You need a coat, son. (laughs)
How are you?
I haven't seen you for a while.
- [Mrs. Lawson] And we decided to advertise
in your paper instead.
- Good.
Well, that takes care of that, Mrs. Lawson.
I know you'll like your new front page advertisement.
- It's a pleasure doing business with you, Olivia.
And you must be pretty proud of yourself.
So new at the job and...
Oh, here come the papers right on time.
Edward, pull one out and let's see
our new front page advertisement.
Oh, it's wonderful, Olivia.
Oh, and I like the typeset.
And what's this?
New column by Madame X.
- Madame X?
I don't know anything about a Madame X.
- What a quaint idea, it's just like the women's magazines.
Edward, listen to this.
"Dear Madame X, I run a successful business
"but my playing the horses may be the ruin of me.
"My gambling problem is driving me to wrack and ruin
"and destroying my happy home.
"Signed, Desperate."
Edward Lawson, why would you write such a thing?
- Elvira, I didn't.
I would never--
- May I see that, please?
- Oh, I see, Olivia.
You did this on your own.
We counted you as a friend.
I cannot fathom such insensitivity,
exploiting people's private problems
for your own personal aggrandizement.
- Mrs. Lawson, I promise you I know nothing whatsoever
about this column.
- You're the editor, aren't you?
- Yes.
Well, I'll get to the bottom of this.
(Janet laughing)
- Alec, this is unbelievable.
Anyone can tell she's referring to the Lawsons.
- Read on, Janet, I'm sure you'll find
the next letter equally amusing.
(Janet laughing)
- "Dear Madame X, my husband has become very boring lately.
"He's always falling asleep.
"Dear Snoring Is Boring,
"whining is far more boring than snoring."
Oh, Alec, I didn't write this letter.
Oh, but I'll have Olivia's head for doing it!
Oh!
How could she write such a thing?
I never said a word to her about--
- About how boring I am?
- Oh, Alec, I had nothing to do with that letter.
- Did you see what happened to our Madame X column?
It's in the Avonlea Chronicle.
Better find Aunt Olivia, come on.
(gentle music)
- Oh, there you are, Mr. Pinker.
I don't care if we did sell
more newspapers than ever before.
I just don't understand how you could possibly
have made such a blunder.
Now, where in creation did this Madame X
nonsense come from?
- From your folder.
- From my folder?
- Mr. Tyler always checks the paper
before I go to press, Miss King,
just to catch any little mistake.
- Any little mistakes, Mr. Pinker?
I don't call--
- However, Mr. Tyler generally has his mind on his work,
not his personal affairs.
- You're right, Mr. Pinker.
It was my responsibility, I'm sorry.
I have no one to blame but myself.
You go ahead, I'll just tidy up a bit and lock up.
- The boss always likes me to lock up.
There's a trick to that front door
and if you don't get it just right, it--
- I know, I know.
You pull it toward yourself and then lock it.
I've done it many times before.
Please leave, I'll take care of things.
- Fine, then.
Goodbye.
(gentle music)
(Olivia sighs)
- "My fiance is painfully shy and is now ignoring me.
"I hope it is nothing I have done to offend him."
I think Olivia King herself is Madame X.
- Why would Olivia write about herself?
I am dead sure the last one was about her and Jasper Dale.
- That was just to throw us off the trail.
- Oh, I don't know about that, Clara.
I figured Madame X could possibly be you.
- Me?
You must be joking, Sarah.
It was probably you.
A skunk always smells his own smell first. (laughs)
- Clara Potts!
(both laughing)
- This one is funny.
- It is funny.
I love it.
(gentle music)
- Your tip didn't pay off like you said.
- Well, I'm not a soothsayer, Bert.
I'm sorry, but you're gonna have to make good on your debt.
Elvira is getting pretty angry.
And this whole thing hasn't helped it a bit.
- Right, I will.
Just give me a couple of days.
You can tell Olivia to mind her own beeswax.
Soon the whole town will be in an uproar
and then nobody'll buy the blasted paper.
(gentle music)
- We just didn't want to see you get the blame
for something that was Sara's idea, Aunt Olivia.
- You must have picked up our letters by mistake.
I'm terribly sorry for any trouble we might have caused.
- Oh, Sara.
- I didn't want anything to do with it in the first place.
- It was only meant to be fun.
We never had any real intention of publishing our newspaper.
We were only going to distribute it in class.
- It was probably just as much my fault as yours.
I was in too much of a hurry.
- I don't see why you children would want to
write about such nonsense in the first place.
- To make some money.
- Well, it seems that even our most private moments
are under scrutiny.
- [Hettie] Mm-hmm.
- Alec, what do you think we ought to do about this?
(Alec snores)
Alec!
(all laughing)
- Snoring is boring!
- Yes, snoring is boring! (laughs)
(gentle music)
- I knew I should have locked up last night.
Because you obviously didn't do it properly.
Somebody broke in here and stole everything
that was in the safe, including your
precious renewal fund.
- But how?
It was locked!
- You were the last one to open it.
Maybe you didn't lock it up any better
than you did the front door.
- I can't believe it.
How could Olivia be so careless?
- Well, Mr. Pinker said she must have
left the safe wide open.
- What's this about?
- Haven't you heard?
The newspaper was robbed last night
thanks to Olivia's carelessness.
Whoever it was took all the money,
including the school renewal fund.
- She couldn't have.
- He'll have to go some way to prove that.
- (crying) Everyone in Avonlea is mad at me!
It's my fault.
- You didn't take the money.
- (crying) No, but I was the last one to leave.
And I was so upset I probably didn't lock it up properly.
- Now, now, there.
Of course you did, Olivia.
You're not a total fool.
- Yes I am!
And all those donations.
No one will ever trust me again!
Jasper was right.
He was right to change his mind.
He doesn't want to be saddled with someone like me. (crying)
- Shh.
(gentle music)
(tapping)
(Jasper whistling)
(lid clacks)
- Mister Dale?
- Ah! (clattering)
(camera flashes)
Hello, Sara Stanley.
You, uh, surprised me.
I'm trying to take a photograph of the bird over there
from here.
How are you today?
- I'm fine, thank you.
- Good.
- Aunt Olivia's beside herself.
Don't you care about her anymore?
- It's not that um, I don't care.
It's just uh--
- She misses you terribly.
- Well, I think...
I think she'd be better off with someone else.
She doesn't need the attentions
of a worthless dreamer.
- Yes, she does.
I mean, she needs your help.
- What do you mean?
Hold that, thank you.
- Haven't you heard about the Chronicle robbery?
- Yeah.
- Are you going to do something about it?
- Yeah.
Tonight.
Thank you.
(camera flashes)
- Now, let's go over it again.
I spread the word there's a detective
coming in from Halifax tomorrow with a...
With a...
- A method of detecting and identifying fingerprints
that is 99 percent effective.
- 99 percent?
- Yes.
- And tomorrow he is going over the
newspaper office safe with a fine tooth comb.
- Yes.
- Won't the thief come in and try to get
rid of his fingerprints?
- Yes.
This is the point.
- Okay.
I'll spread the word then.
- Good, good.
- [Sara] It's locked.
- Well, you didn't have to drag us out of our beds
in the middle of the night.
We're only going to get in trouble.
- I don't want to have anything to do with this.
- Look, I have a hunch.
In all the detective books I've ever read,
the guilty party always returns to the scene of the crime.
- Why?
- Felicity, I don't know why, they just do, that's all.
- Well, you'd have to be pretty stupid to do that.
- So she starts here at the safe, huh?
All right then she goes across to the hook.
Yeah, uh-huh, uh-huh.
Then she's across to another hook, good,
and then up through a mousetrap.
Why a mousetrap, Jasper, huh?
I hope you have more success with this here contraption.
Not like that flying bicycle of yours.
(dramatic music)
(thudding nearby)
What was that?
- Shh!
- [Sara] Lift it up. - [Felicity] Lift.
- [Sara] There.
Hold it steady.
- [Felix] Okay.
- [Sara] I'll let you in from the inside.
(window creaking)
- [Felix] See anything, Sara?
- The back door was open.
- Ow!
- [Felicity] Maybe we're too late.
- Oh!
- [Sara] Felix! (camera flashes)
- Ow!
- Stop in the name of the law!
- Here!
(Felix shouts)
Felix King!
- What do you children think you're doing?
- We're trying to catch the thief.
What are you doing here?
- I'll explain it all later.
Just keep quiet.
Oh, I have to set it up all over again.
- Into the next room.
(gentle music)
(keys jangling)
- Blow out the light.
- Sara?
Are you in here?
- We're over here, Aunt Olivia.
- (sighs) Sara, I suspected you children
were up to something when I saw you
sneaking out of the house.
Jasper?
Jasper, what are you doing here?
- We didn't know they were here.
- We were hoping the culprit would return
to the scene of the crime.
And so far you are the only contender, Olivia.
- Well, I know exactly who did it.
It was Mr. Pinker and he's trying to incriminate me
because he's jealous.
- Well, I'm not so sure about that.
- Now, Miss King, we all know how upset you've been
over this incident, but this is no place
for the likes of you.
Please get the children out of here and go home.
- But we want to stay.
- Can't we help?
- No, no, just go away quietly.
You'll just be in the way.
- Jasper Dale, I feel that we have just as much
business knowing who stole the money
as you and Abner Jeffries.
After all, I'm the one who is being maligned
by injustice.
- I didn't mean that I didn't want you here.
- Miss King, please, come along.
(dramatic music)
(door rattling)
- [Jasper] Quick, Olivia.
- Oh! - Shh, shh.
(suspenseful music)
(camera flashes)
Stop, thief!
Abner, around to the back.
- Stop in the name of the law!
Ah!
- I got him, I got him, I got him!
- Felix, get off of me!
Get off of me you young pup!
- Oh, now we'll never know who it was!
- That's just great, Jasper Dale.
I don't know why I let myself get talked
into such a harebrained scheme as this!
- I've got the...
- You three go on home.
Go on.
- I've got the photograph.
- I'll believe it when I see it.
- Right this way, Abner.
In.
- Oh, Felix?
Drat, it didn't work.
- No, just hang on, hang on.
I probably got them mixed up.
- Jasper, I just know it was that Mr. Pinker.
How can we prove it?
- Wait, just have patience.
Just, quiet now, Olivia.
(dramatic music)
- Oh my goodness!
Bert MacKay?
- I thought so.
I thought so.
Just wait till I get this over to Abner Jeffries.
(bright music)
- Bert MacKay stealing to pay his gambling debts.
Though they say he was once Mr. Tyler's accountant
at one time.
- Hmm.
Trust Jasper Dale to figure out that Bert MacKay
knew the combination to the safe.
I always said that Bert was no good.
- Hello, Mr. Pinker.
- Olivia.
Miss King.
I understand an apology is in order.
I should never have thought that you...
What I'm trying to say is I made things
a little difficult, I guess.
I had no need to, I was...
- Well, Mr. Pinker, I must admit
I had my doubts about you, too,
so I suppose we're even.
Oh, excuse me.
- [Abner] Miss King.
(crowd clapping)
- And now, after some delay,
(Mrs. Potts laughs)
I am very pleased on behalf of the Avonlea Chronicle
to present this check to Mrs. Clara Potts,
the President of the Women's Improvement Society,
who was the inspiration for the school renewal fund.
Mrs. Potts.
(crowd clapping)
- Thank you, Olivia.
I notice in this issue that Madame X is noticeably absent.
Whoever she is, Olivia, and we all have
our own thoughts on that subject,
we would like to see her back.
- Olivia!
- I would also like to say that this money
can now go to new supplies and books.
And now, Constable Jeffries, you wish to say a few words.
- (clears throat) I would like to publicly thank
Jasper Dale for his ingenious camera device
that enabled us to restore peace to our fine community.
(crowd clapping)
And uh, Jasper, let me know
when that flying machine of yours is all fixed up.
I'll be your first customer!
(crowd clapping)
- Congratulations Jasper.
You seem to be quite the celebrity.
(gentle music)
- How did you ever think of Bert MacKay, Mr. Dale?
I would have never suspected him.
- Well, guess it was luck.
- Jasper overheard him talking to Mr. Lawson
in the general store and he figured
he'd be desperate for the money with all his bad debts.
- Will he go to jail for long?
- Oh, I suppose that'll be up to the judge.
- Sara, would you run along?
I'd like to speak to Jasper for a moment.
- Remember what Madame X says.
It's time you two had a heart to heart talk.
- Thank you for clearing my name, Jasper.
Well, maybe you've been right all along.
I do jump to conclusions too quickly.
- No, Olivia, uh...
Perhaps Madame X is right, we should talk.
I want you to understand--
- I do understand, Jasper.
I know now why you don't want me around all the time.
I'm too excitable and I just get in your way.
- No.
- I thought that I was the girl you were looking for.
- No, no, no, no, that's not it at all.
It's not that I don't want you around.
- Please don't make excuses, Jasper.
- It's, I am the one who is not good enough for you.
You see, I know what they think,
all those old village gossips, and they're right.
You should have accepted Edwin Clark a long time ago.
I've fooled myself for a while,
but in the end I'd just be like one of my
cockeyed inventions, I'd be doomed to failure.
- Jasper, don't.
- And I care about you too much to stand in your way.
All your dreams, running a newspaper.
- Jasper, you could never stand in the way of my dreams.
I don't care what Mrs. Potts and Hettie
and all those other gossips think.
Without you, I haven't even the heart to dream.
I need you, Jasper.
- Are you sure?
- Of course I'm sure.
I promised to marry you, please let me keep my promise.
- I love you, Olivia--
King.
(bright music)
(crickets chirping)
(bird calling)
(dramatic orchestral music)