[laughter]
Doesn't it just feed your heart when the air's so crisp?
Every breath feels so alive!
It's the perfect day for a tragical romance!
-Lord Tennyson would approve! -[laughter]
Whomever plays Elaine must lie in the flat and float to Camelot
while the others mourn her death most sorrowfully.
I find it helpful to think of something that makes you sad in your own life.
Of course you must be Elaine, Anne.
Oh, it would be ridiculous to have a redheaded Elaine.
It ought to be Ruby. She has lovely, golden hair.
And Elaine had "all her bright hair streaming down."
-[laughter] -Oh, I couldn't.
To lie and pretend I was dead-- I'd die of fright!
This was your idea, Anne.
You're obsessed with Elaine.
Oh, it's true. And each time I read the poem,
I'm devoured by a secret regret that I was not born in Camelot.
Those days were much more romantic than the present.
-I will be Elaine, then. -[laughter]
Diana?
-Well, I never... -[distant laughter]
Diana!
Ruby, you must be King Arthur.
Jane, Guinevere and Diana must be Lancelot.
I need a flower.
She does really look dead.
My mother says that all playacting is abominably wicked.
[Anne] Ruby, you shouldn't mention your mother.
It spoils the effect, because this was hundreds of years
before your mother was born.
We must kiss her quiet brows.
Sister... farewell forever.
Now she's ready. Farewell, Elaine the lovable!
[Mrs. Barry] Diana!!
-[Diana] Mother! -Child, come out of there at once.
I've been calling. You were to be practicing lessons,
and here I find you engaged in perilous, senseless... whatever this is!
We were practicing lessons, in a way.
We're studying the poem Lancelot and Elaine at school,
-and we decided to re-enact it-- -Diana, home. Now.
The rest as well, before you catch your death.
The girls just got here and we were simply--
Now! I will be heard!
Anne, be on your way, please.
Come along now, Diana. Come along, girls.
[Anne sighing] So much for romance.
♪ First thing we climb a tree ♪
♪ And maybe then we'd talk ♪
♪ Or sit silently ♪
♪ And listen to our thoughts ♪
♪ With illusions of someday ♪
♪ Casting a golden light ♪
♪ No dress rehearsal ♪
♪ This is our life ♪
♪ You are ahead by a century ♪
-[cattle lowing] -[horse snorting]
Is it addressed to Anne Shirley-Cuthbert from a faraway port?
I'm afraid not.
[horse whinnying]
We've got post! I thought for a moment it might be from Gil--
That it might be for me.
But... Open it!
It must be important.
Is that not your second letter from Miss Jeannie?
Third.
[Anne] I'm ever so aimless with Diana not allowed out to play.
Mrs. Barry is being quite harsh. We weren't in peril.
It's not like we were ever in any real danger.
Not like when the boarders were here.
We were re-enacting the most romantical poem ever.
Dear Lord, will you ever learn any sense?
[Anne] No need to ask the Lord, Marilla. I believe the prospect
of me becoming sensible is actually brighter now than ever.
You see, I've come to the conclusion
that there's really no use trying to be romantic in Avonlea.
It may have been easy in Camelot hundreds of years ago,
but romance is not appreciated anymore.
[Marilla] It's a day late and a dollar short for your newfound "sensibleness."
I dare say Mrs. Barry was right to call your pond business dangerous.
Seeing as you can't seem to keep out of trouble,
you will confine yourself to indoor chores.
But, Marilla--
Well, now, that was a good few days ago.
We all need to stop gallivanting around
like nothing bad could ever happen in Avonlea!
Don't give up all your romance, Anne. A little of it's a good thing.
[Mrs. Barry] Oh, for heaven's sake. They're going to need to go higher.
-You'll have to move the rod. -[clattering]
Yes... it was too peaceful in here.
Why don't you go for a trot, dear? You haven't left the house in days.
I'm quite alright, thank you.
Despite the glare from the gaudy drapes you seem to have spent our nest egg on.
I'm sure I don't need to remind you that I purchased these drapes
before you lost our money.
Around the time you were telling me to stay out of our finances
and trust that you were going to make us rich.
Would you excuse us for a moment, please?
We'll never return to England now, will we?
We're stuck here!
What about the girls? What about their future?
This is something that happened to our whole family.
You cannot just refuse to engage--
At least I was trying to do something,
while you flit around all day doing nothing.
[footsteps]
[cattle lowing]
"Matthew, I'm sure I've made it clear by now,
but I've been thinking of you since we reconnected last year.
If you could find it in your heart to respond,
it would mean the world to me.
You are a special man.
Yours, Jeannie."
Have you ever heard anything more romantic?
-[girls giggling] -What does it mean?
Don't you see?
A widow, who believes her days of love are behind her,
is suddenly reacquainted
with the kindest, most wonderful man, who she knew in school,
only to discover
that he has lived his whole life without the bliss of true love.
They knew each other in school?
Why, Gilbert and I knew each other in school.
Maybe Matthew's been waiting for Jeannie this whole time.
Why isn't he writing her back?
He doesn't have the words.
It would be awful to live a life without true love.
I will be an agent of romance.
How can you be sure that Matthew and Jeannie are in love?
Did you ever go courting, Matthew?
Uh.... c-can't say as I did, no.
Well, do you... believe in true love?
Well, now... I got no reason to, uh...
disbelieve it, I suppose.
But did you ever feel the ache of love in your own heart?
I wonder if Marilla isn't the one that y--
I want to talk to you.
Alright, then.
Uh, well, then...
Anne...
if you're having... uh...
feelings...
a-about a... a... a boy--
[chuckling] Not me!
[footsteps]
Oh, uh, excuse me, Anne.
Jerry, let me give you some instructions about the hay.
[Bash] Blythe, you ready? One rum, one babash.
Ooh! Oof.
You sure that's not gonna kill you?
No. That's what makes it good. The danger.
Got to taste death to feel alive, Blythe.
Not for you, though, first-timer.
Babash-- local delicacy. You'll be sprouting like a weed.
[chuckles]
Man, seeing the world, trying new things.
What could be better?
Gold.
Some girl tell you there might be gold on your land and you'd rather move coal.
I wouldn't say that girl's the most reliable narrator.
You are crazy! If I had somebody pretty back home,
gold or no, I'd be up outta here.
It's not like that with Anne. She's just a friend.
[chuckling] Yeah.
A friend that make you smile and act like a moke. Be a man.
I am.
Only a boy can't admit when he's gone over a lady.
Would a boy stare danger right in the eye?
-And swallow it? -Hey. No, no!
Oh.
Oh...
-Oh. Oh! -Oh.
[groaning]
There there, doux-doux. You're a man in truth.
Come, come.
[Rachel] Marilla's got a mind to make a new dress, has she?
She'd do well not to let folks see her spending money
at a time when many lost theirs.
I'm not sure a dress made by Marilla will make people think of money.
Although, a store-bought dress from Jeannie's shop, on the other hand.
It was ever so nice of Matthew to ask Jeannie to make me a dress last year.
Did they know each other well? In school?
Can't say I remember much, seeing as it was decades ago.
I do recall that he walked her home a few times.
But after his brother Michael died, that was the end of everything.
The end of everything? How so?
It changed the course of all the Cuthberts' lives.
And Matthew,
he went into that barn... and he never came out.
Love thwarted by tragedy.
Dearest Jeannie,
I am deeply sorry...
it has...
taken so long...
to answer your letters.
Do not move.
Minnie May. Minnie May, what are you doing?!
Stop it, Minnie May!
Social Etiquette?
-Girls! -It was... it was Minnie May!
-Diana did it! -Hush!
I can see this book has arrived not a moment too soon.
If you can't be finished in Paris, you will be taught at home.
It's time to learn to be proper ladies.
Childhood... is over.
Girls.
Yes, well... isn't that something.
Changing the world, are we, dear? One curtsy at a time?
[sighing]
It's been a while since I've seen you out of the house, Marilla.
I've been curious to see how the Cuthberts have been faring
since the golden boy made off with all our savings.
Of course I do understand why you haven't been out and about.
And it's likely best you stay away from the church
on account of the whole town is still quite sore.
We were made to look like fools,
and folks are suffering.
It's not just the Barrys.
Close on half the congregation had given Nate their money before he made off.
[muffled] Do you think that's gonna make for an easy winter?
[Nate] There is indeed gold in Avonlea.
A hundred and fifty dollars per test...
[Matthew] That's close to half of what most folks make in a year.
[Anne] We're in such danger, Marilla!
[Rachel] I didn't think it was right to sit here,
serve tea and not say something.
I do blame myself.
I brought them here, allowed them in.
Well, now,
anyone with your dire financial straits last Christmas
would've done the same thing. It's not your fault.
That's what I say. All will be forgiven in time.
Apart from the minister.
He had his heart set on a new chaise lounge
from which to better talk off the ear of the Lord.
Be a few moons before you're back in his good books. [chuckling]
We'll put it behind us.
[man] Wares for sale! Wares for sale! Something for everybody!
Uh!
Uh...
beautiful day, ya?
[chuckles]
[Anne] Oh. Where are these from?
Oh, wait. A Russian tsar,
Anatoly, pulled these off his dying brother in battle.
And his brother, who was a pacifist,
who went to war only to protect greedy Anatoly,
and who, in death, taught the tsar to lead with love.
-[laughter] -Such an interesting, um, uh--
-Imagination? -Hm!
Yes, I get that quite a bit.
Oh, what's this?
That... belonged to my wife.
She give in hope I sell and we together sooner.
Where is she?
She and my children still in Germany.
I work night and day to bring them here.
Not good for Jewish people there.
Treated like, uh...
You must miss them so.
Now I know what it is to have a family,
I cannot fathom what it would be like not to see them every day.
Oh, I would die to be able to give my bosom friend something like this.
It's broken.
I think broken things have such a sad beauty.
After years of stories and triumph
and tragedy infused into them,
they can be much more romantical than new things
that haven't lived at all. [chuckling]
Oh, I don't have any money.
It's yours.
[Marilla] You! Get away from her!
-Wha-- -How dare you trespass?!
Uh, but... but...
-Marilla... it's alright! -Madam, I--
Off my land!
[grunting]
He's a peddler, he's kind.
-Anne! -It's fine. I go. I go.
Anne Shirley-Cuthbert!
How many times have I warned you about speaking to strangers?!
-And Italians at that! -He's not Italian and he gave me--
You can't just go around inviting strange men into the house!
I didn't invite him in.
Go to your room, please.
[horse trotting]
[panting]
[laughing]
There you are, miss.
Dearest Jeannie...
My...
darling...
Jeannie.
Have you heard...
of... a calla lily?
[Marilla] Anne! School!
[Anne] I never want to be a lady.
If little girls could understand the vulgarity of putting heads together
and giggling as if the whole world was a ridiculous affair,
they would refrain from such unmitigated nonsense.
"No laughing. No waddling.
Only look straight ahead of you when walking.
Burping is social ruin"? Ah...
We can no longer afford finishing school in Paris,
so Mother's determined to finish me herself.
She says childhood is over.
But... but how can you be done having a childhood
when I've only just begun?
Oh, Anne.
[gasping]
-Sorry. -It's alright.
We've only just learned that our friendship has been sentenced to death.
Is there a ridiculous, hateful book that teaches boys to be men?
If there was, it... wouldn't help me.
What do you mean?
Nothing. Sorry.
[burping]
[whispering] Social ruin! [laughing]
-[Anne laughing] -[Diana snorting]
Shhh.
I'm sorry.
-Have another one for you, Mr. Cuthbert. -Yeah? Much obliged.
Seems there's been a flurry of post of late.
Don't suppose it'd kill you to respond to Jeannie.
That'll be all for me, then.
Good night.
[Matthew grunting]
"In answer... to your question..."?
-[sighing] -[rooster crowing]
To your question...
[crow cawing]
[cattle lowing]
[knocking]
[door opening]
Yes! Rescue me from geometry,
the most uninspired form of torture.
I know...
you've written to Jeannie.
I want to tell you...
It's not right.
I wasn't... I wasn't trying to go behind your back.
I just...
Y-you can't... live a life without true love--
It's not your affair to meddle in.
Jeannie is...
Folks have...
real feelings.
What you did...
it's not right.
[door closing]
This is cold again.
Minnie May, stop chewing so noisily. You sound like an animal.
Don't stare when someone is scolding their child.
It's extremely rude.
I see the finishing is going well.
At this rate, they'll be married to fishmongers before we know it.
What's wrong with Mr. Cuthbert? Everything is better now.
We... we caught the bad guys.
Is he sad that people lost money?
-Is he... is he sick again? His heart? -It's none of your business!
[exclaiming]
[panting]
[crying out]
[sobbing]
[gasping]
Have you ever hurt someone so badly that they couldn't love you anymore?
[chittering]
[sniffling]
[owl hooting]
[Diana] How could you do such a thing?!
Do you have any control?
You'll be fortunate if you can get a fishmonger to marry you--
-Diana! -What?!
You wet the bed.
How come no one loves each other anymore?
I'm sorry.
[Minnie May sobbing]
[whimpering]
I'm so sorry.
[sniffling, breathing shakily]
Can we have a conversation, please?
If you could forgo the wounded-bird act.
There is too much stress and anger in this house.
If we don't stop being enemies and start speaking to one another,
we're going to ruin our girls.
I'm not the one playing the drill sergeant with them.
I understand I have a role in this!
But it doesn't change the fact that we need to talk!
And what is it you would like to talk about, dear?
What would you like to force me to say, aloud, in front of you?
That I'm a fool? That I'm ashamed?
That I've made a huge mistake?
Yes.
Because then I'd be able to tell you I would've agreed with you.
If you'd asked for my thoughts on the gold or the investment idea,
I would've agreed.
And then we could've both been fools together.
But you insist on taking this all upon yourself-- then and now!
I just... wanted to do something that mattered for once...
in my... sorry... irrelevant life.
I don't want us to not make mistakes.
I just want to be included.
I want us to be partners.
[Anne] "I know how hard it is for you to express yourself.
That has never been my weak point.
And then I thought back to when you told me
not to give up all my romance.
And that, together with what Mrs. Lynde told me
about when Michael died and how hard--"
I can well understand all that.
I just wish you hadn't done it.
-[bell clanging] -[background chatter]
[Bash sighing]
Make haste sending that love letter, Blythe.
[scoffing] It's not a love letter.
-Right. I forgot. -I'm serious. It's not a love letter.
[Bash] How long they say till she gets your love letter?
[Gilbert] It's not a love letter. Maybe a month?
-[chickens clucking] -[vendor hawking wares]
[woman screaming]
-[man] Help! -[woman screaming and sobbing]
Ah! Please!
You, you don't come back here again!
Please! [sobbing]
No! Pl...
-What's wrong? What is it? -She's in labor!
-Miss, where's your family? -[crying out]
She ain't have one, and her brothel mother just threw her out!
-[Gilbert] There a doctor coming? -[Bash] Hey!
-Miss? Is a doctor on the way? -Open this door! You can't do this!
-Open the door! -Miss?
-[crying out] -[Bash] Open this door!
You can't do this! Open the door!
Open the door!
[panting and sobbing]
[crying out]
-[Gilbert] Miss? -[screaming]
Miss?
-[woman groaning] -Miss.
-[sobbing]
I know you must be scared.
[sobbing]
What's your name?
Ru... Ruth.
Ruth, I'm Gilbert.
[crying out]
Your waters have broken.
Ah! Yes! Yes!
-We have to get help. -No time. This is happening now.
-I need your babash. -[Ruth screaming]
I need to sterilize.
Crazy? You ain't delivering that baby.
What on the green earth makes you think you--
-I've done it before! -On a farm! Cows! This is different!
-I know that! -[Ruth sobbing]
You can go and find help, or you can help me in here.
[Ruth screaming]
[Ruth panting]
-What are you doing?! -Ruth, your baby's coming now.
No. No, you stay away from me! [sobbing]
-We're here to help. -You keep that white man away from me!!
I know. This pasty fella trying to come at you?
I was not sure when I met him neither. He'll talk your ear off
and don't know much about the world. But he knows birthing.
He's my brother and I trust him.
If your baby's coming, he can't leave you.
-I can go for help. -No! No, no, no, no, no...
We're here for you, in truth, if you'll have us.
[screaming]
-Wh-what now, Blythe? -[screaming]
-Blythe! -[screaming]
Dilation! I need to see that her body is prepared. Help her down here!
-[screaming] -Ruth, I'm gonna need you to lie down.
Alright?
[sobbing]
Get behind her. Support her.
-Good. -[sobbing]
Begging your pardon, miss?
Alright.
[screaming]
Alright. It's time. Alright, uh...
What?! What is it?! What?
Your baby's breech.
What is that?! [sobbing]
It-it's not in a deliverable position. I'm gonna need to adjust it.
-[screaming] -Hold onto me, Ruth!
-Hold onto me! -[screaming]
Ruth. Ruth.
Do you want to know something?
I was a breech baby too,
and I lived to tell the tale.
He was in his mother just like your baby is in you now.
Look at him! Strong, strapping lad. Well, he kind of skinny, but...
[Ruth screaming]
[no audible dialogue]
[screaming]
[sobbing]
It's moved! The baby is ready! You'll have to start pushing now!
-I can't, I can't! It hurts! -Yes, you can!
-Push, Ruth. You're doing so well! -Ready? Push!
-Push! -[screaming]
-Push! -Push!
-Push, Ruth! -[screaming]
Come on, Ruth, you can do it!
Almost there. One more, one more! Push!
[screaming]
[baby crying]
[Gilbert exclaiming]
[baby fussing]
[Bash] You see that face? She's beautiful.
Thank you.
Any idea where Matthew's off to?
Well... I think I've ruined everything.
[man] Whoa!
Come on, change, boys.
Let's change. Switch it up!
Wouldn't mind having one of those.
A struggling, wailing lil' fella.
Throw the ball with. Bouff when he backchats.
I could see that for you.
Got no way to raise him up right. You need land for that.
What kind of strange child were you anyway, Blythe?
Needing to know about your own breech birth.
I didn't want to know about my birth. I wanted to know about my mother.
So I asked my father.
She died giving birth to me.
Sorry. My brain is slow.
It's alright.
Didn't want Ruth to know that part.
I don't want to be a farmer.
You said that before. Now you're sure?
Guess there's other things calling out to you.
Eh... Doc?
[both chuckling]
-[sniffling] -It's a powerful thing
to have done someone wrong...
when you truly didn't intend it.
I tried to apologize, but it didn't fix anything.
[sniffling]
I allow we must...
let people feel how they need to...
and process in their own time.
Would you like to talk about the letters, Matthew?
Uh, yes, uh... I would, yes.
Uh...
I meant to write you back, but I, um...
Were you able to tell it was Anne writing? It was not me.
I only... I just found out about it.
Oh, goodness.
Oh, of course.
Now that you mention it, I should've put it together.
Jeannie, I'd like to apologize--
I... I did feel that the letters were unlike you, but...
I suppose part of me hoped...
I should've answered you straight away. I mean, that's my fault in it.
I didn't intend to make you uncomfortable, Matthew.
It's just...
It's just been so nice to reacquaint.
I had thought of you...
after I left school,
over the years.
And I did appreciate the letters. It's only...
it took Anne so long to get here and...
You want to spend the time you have left with her.
[Jeannie] To be quite honest, I felt overwhelmed
when you did respond and compared me to calla lilies.
[Jeannie laughing]
-She does have a way with words. -I'm not certain that I want to know.
Children make mistakes and not always
with the best of intentions, unlike your Anne.
She didn't have an easy go of it. You know, before.
She's certainly been blessed with a life with you at Green Gables.
We could go back if you like.
Or there's a lovely trail up ahead.
W-wouldn't mind seeing that trail, if you've got the time.
[birdsong]
[girls panting]
-[Mrs. Barry] Ah! -[Mr. Barry] Aha!
[laughter]
[laughing]
[laughter]
-Whoa. -[laughter]
[horse chuffing]
Whoa, whoa.
I'm sorry, Matthew.
I just didn't want you to miss out on love.
[Matthew chuckling] I don't know how...
you could think that, uh...
I don't have...
love.
I have you.
[birdsong]
I'm free to be a girl!
Mother says there's plenty of time to become a lady.
And at least for a little while longer, we can play!
Oh, Diana, if you'd come and told me
a Fairy Queen had come to stay in your house,
-I couldn't be happier than this moment! -[laughter]
Oh, I have something for you!
[gasping]
Oh.
We can each have a part.
And it will only be whole when we're together.
-[exclamations] -[grunting]
You're no match for me, Prince Wisteria!
-That's what you think, Princess Cordelia! -[both shouting]
[laughter]