Dear Father,
Ilse and I argue almost every other day.
Some of the things that she spouts are simply incomprehensible.
Like, "If you keep on pouting, you're going to turn into a cat."
But I really enjoy myself when I'm with her.
Also, I met this boy called Teddy.
He's a boy with gentle eyes, soft chestnut hair, and a talent for drawing.
Teddy hasn't been feeling well, so he's taking a break from school.
Every week, Doctor Burnley makes a house visit.
It seems you've gotten a lot better.
Did you come across something interesting outside?
Though, your face is still rather pale.
It would do you good to go outside and get some sun.
I was told he lives alone with his mother.
Teddy's mother, Mrs. Kent, is a pretty strange person.
I think she's a rather comely woman.
But she always wears a scary expression on her face, so I doubt anyone has noticed her beauty.
I think that even she has forgotten about her own beauty.
Emily! Emily!
Coming!
One last word...
Father, even though Mrs. Kent is a little weird, I really like Teddy.
Good day, ma'am.
Umm... We're here to look for Teddy...
Teddy can't play with you girls.
But it's better for him to spend some time outdoors!
That's what your father said.
But Teddy is sleeping now, so he can't come out to play.
Ilse.
Hmm?
He's not sleeping!
This way!
Does this mean that his mum lied to us?
I think she doesn't want Teddy to play with us.
Why is that?
I don't know.
Emily?
Hello.
Though this is the second time we're meeting, we haven't been introduced.
I'm Emily Byrd Starr.
Emily... I'm Teddy.
You know Ilse, right?
Right.
Emily!
Mother is coming.
I'd like for us to be friends.
Yes, I'd like that, too.
I'd like to see more of your sketches.
Pleased to make your acquaintance.
Likewise.
Teddy, what are you doing?
I'm just letting some air into the room.
You'll catch a chill.
His sketches are amazing; it's as if they're really alive.
When I take a deep breath, I can almost smell the fresh dew on the plants.
Oh, really?
We became friends.
Curse it!
What are you so irritated about?
Because you keep talking about that milksop!
Milksop?
He draws. He reads. I bet he even writes poetry.
Such a studious type can't be anything other than a milksop.
Well, excuse me for being the studious type!
I happen to like writing poetry.
I like to read, too.
And I also think that people who can draw are really talented.
I never knew that you had such opinions!
Curse it.
There's no one home.
Hello, Emily, Ilse.
We've come to ask you out to play. Where's your mother?
She's gone to town today.
She goes there for work, a few days every week.
So you can go outside today?
Why do you have to hide it in a place like that?
Let's go.
It looks just like the real thing.
Thanks, Ilse.
Are these sketches of your yard?
I don't get out much to draw, so I drew these secretly in the barn.
In the barn? Why?
Mother gets upset every time I draw.
She should be glad that you have such talent!
Something is definitely off here!
Teddy, you need to tell your mother clearly that you want to draw.
Emily, you're really passionate.
It's just that it'll be such a waste.
The Wind Woman.
A little flower, so lovely.
She sits on the meadow, gazing upon the blue, open skies.
The clouds, up in the skies, are reflected in her blue eyes.
That's such a lovely poem.
Did you just make that up?
Yes, when I look at this picture, the words just come naturally to me.
Teddy, you're amazing!
There is life in your pictures!
The wind, air, light, and the sound of water running down the stream.
I want to write a poem about such things!
A poem through which the life of the world flows!
We agreed on more than this.
If you aren't satisfied, you can take your business elsewhere.
Thank you for your purchase.
I wonder if the rumours, about her being a refugee, are true.
I heard the same thing.
Such a terrifying look...
I guess the rumours must be true.
Is this read as "Emily"?
E... E... mily...
That's good to hear.
Yes, it is.
Are you having a spat with Perry?
Not at all.
Perry doesn't like studious people like me.
Whitman's "Leaves of Grass"! I always wanted to read this!
And Hawthorne's collection of short stories!
If I remember correctly, some of them were published with pictures.
You can lend those to Teddy.
Thank you, Cousin Jimmy.
Emily...
Perry, what are you doing?
Umm... I'm...
Have you seen Emily?
Emily went that way with Mr. Jimmy, a while ago.
That's Emily's textbook. Did she lend it to you?
No, she left it behind, so I...
All right, I shall return that to her.
I beg your pardon, ma'am. I read her book without permission, so I'll have to return it myself.
Very well.
Emily.
Aunt Elizabeth.
What are you doing here?
Cousin Jimmy brought me here to read.
Stop reading all these novels and poetry.
They're of no practical use.
Reading such fabrications will only make one depraved.
That's not true!
I shall have no objection if you read literature on history and tradition.
You should study those-
Aunt Elizabeth!
Emily!
You are not to read novels or poetry. Are we clear?
And that includes writing, as well.
It's nearly time for supper. Come along now.
Mother.
What's wrong? You can't sleep?
No, I just woke up for a bit.
You're still working?
Yes, I'm almost finished.
I shall make you something warm to drink.
Teddy!
What's wrong, Mother?
Thank you, Teddy. You really don't have to.
I don't need anything else, as long as you're with me.
Father, I told Teddy that he ought to tell his mother that he wants to draw.
But Aunt Elizabeth has forbidden me from reading novels and writing poetry.
The books that Cousin Jimmy showed me were really incredible.
They made me feel like my horizons really expanded.
So that's why, when Aunt Elizabeth locked the bookshelf, it felt like my heart was being locked down, too.
That was when I realised how books and drawings can move the hearts of people,
and how much all this really means to me.
Hello, can we see Teddy?
Teddy can't play with you girls.
Are you going to lie to us again, saying that he's asleep?
I know you were lying to us the other day!
You were peeking into our house? Such shameless behaviour!
If you don't want people to peek, you should just draw all the curtains!
How dare you!
You're one to talk! I know you were spying on us through the window!
We just...
We just want to play with Teddy.
I want to talk to him, see the pictures he draws, and let him listen to the poems I write.
That's all.
Drawing and poetry are parts of our hearts!
If we can't even do that, we shall have lost our personalities!
Teddy's drawings?
Teddy.
Emily.
I don't really know why, but what you just said has inspired me a little!
I wonder if I have something like that, which is a part of my heart.
I'm sure you do.
Emily!
Perry.
Were you drawing behind my back?
I'm sorry, Mother.
But...
Don't make excuses!
You just have to do as I tell you.
I'm only concerned for your happiness.
I'm content as long as you're by my side.
Then why were you crying?
I wasn't crying.
I don't want you to cry.
Teddy!
As Emily said, "Drawing and poetry are parts of our hearts!"
I understand too, that drawing is a part of me.
If I can't draw, then I'm not really myself.
I want to create my own happiness with my own hands.
I want to make you smile, and to be happy.
Teddy!
What do you want?
Perry, what are you here for?
I can't draw, or write poetry like you.
Oh! My book!
I'm sorry. You left this behind and I picked it up.
What are you doing?
I can't read or write.
This is read as "Emily", right?
I saw this written on the back of the book and practised writing it.
That's why I got jealous when you spoke about drawings and poetry, and said all those mean things.
I'm sorry, Emily!
I think you're really admirable!
Perry...
I want to study, so that I can become the President someday!
There's no President in Canada.
How can you become something that doesn't exist?
Eh?
How about becoming a Senator and going into Parliament?
Senator Perry.
A Senator... Right, I'll become a Senator!
If even you can become a Senator, then there's nothing I can't become.
What was that?
You know what?
I don't really care what I become as long as I'm still myself.
What the heck?
I want to become a writer!
A writer?
Yes, I want people all over to read the stories and poems that I write.
I want to write stories that are so captivating that the reader will want to keep it all to himself.
I want...
I want to keep on drawing, even after I grow up.
Your mother agreed to let you?
Really?
Yes, thanks to you two.
I shall keep on drawing.
I'm Teddy.
I'm Perry Miller.
So I hear you're an artist.
I am.
Amazing!
Can I draw a picture of all of you?
I have an uncontrollable urge to draw.
You will?
Well, if you put it that way, I can't say no.
Just act natural, like always.
Can you put all four of us in it?
Put yourself into the picture, too.
Sure.
The four children in the picture are smiling away...
looking forward to the days filled with hope ahead.
I shall be acting in a play with Ilse.
And what's more: I'm the playwright!
I shall make it a success, for certain!
On the next episode of Emily of New Moon:
First Time on Stage.
Watch for it!