(crickets chirping)
(birds calling)
(bright music)
(upbeat music)
- There we are. - Thank you.
- Miss Sara, come back here.
Slow down!
Buying that dress was sheer extravagance.
- Nanny Louisa!
Please don't fuss so.
Now you know papa promised me the dress of my choice.
And besides, the shopkeeper said
that it was the color of moonlight.
Couldn't you just imagine yourself
in a dress that looked like moonlight?
- Certianly not.
You could see right through it.
Your father spoils you.
There is nothing less becoming
to a young lady than puffed up airs.
- Oh, look, Nanny Louisa.
Papa's home.
- Wait, wait.
Miss Sara, wait for me.
- Hello, Miss Sara.
- Good afternoon, Stefan.
- Have you heard the news?
- Papa, Papa!
- Damn, the company can't be bankrupt.
What do I pay you two for?
- Now look here Stanley, you've got to control yourself.
You can't make an exhibition like this.
- [Stanley] Make an exhibition like this?
- [Sara] Papa, you're back.
- Sara. - I've missed you so much.
- Well, yes, I've missed you too.
I didn't expect to see you until later this afternoon.
Well, let's have a look at my little girl, hm.
- How was England?
- Well, uh you know Mr. Bartholomew, my lawyer.
- How do you do?
- And Mr. Heinrich, my vice president.
- Hello, Sara.
My, haven't you grown.
- And, uh, this is Mr. Stewart.
- How do you do, Mr. Stewart?
When are they leaving so we can talk?
- Well, I'm afraid I can't talk to you right now, Sara.
I've got to work late tonight.
- But Papa. - Come along dear.
Your father will be along shortly, won't you, Mr. Stanley.
- I'll look in on you later, before you go to sleep.
Now run along and have supper.
There's a good girl.
- Stanley Imports has been sucked dry.
- And that embezzler has been wily enough
to put you solely in the seat of suspicion, Blair.
- But he's been my accountant for years.
I've trusted the man implicitly.
- Mr. Abernathy has simply disappeared.
- There is going to be a lot of press
when this news hits the stock market.
- Well I'm afraid you gentleman will have to deal with it.
I can't cancel my meeting
with the shareholders in Toronto this Thursday.
- I'm afraid you haven't understood the conditions
of your bail, Mr. Stanley.
You are under house-arrest.
- Preposterous!
I won't be a prisoner in my own house.
- I don't think you understood him, sir.
You're under house-arrest.
(somber music)
- [Louisa] What's all this cook's been telling me
about Mr. Abernathy and bankruptcy?
and goodness knows what.
- I'm not hungry.
- [Louisa] You've got to eat something.
You get cranky when your stomach is empty.
- Now, now, don't fuss.
- Now, now, Blair Stanley.
You explain to me what is going on here.
- I came home today to be slapped
with a warrant for my arrest.
- Oh surely, no court of law is gonna
take his word against yours.
- Sara has to be protected from this at all costs.
- Ruth had relatives on Prince Edward Island.
She'd be away from scrutiny there.
- Over my dead body.
I will not give that over-bearing sister
of Ruth's the satisfaction of knowing my true circumstance.
- Well she needn't know.
Sara could stay with the other King family.
You cable your brother-in-law, Alec King.
Tell him you've been called away
on an extended business venture
and that this presents the perfect opportunity
for Sara to get to know some of her mother's people.
Oh, now, swallow your pride, think of your daughter.
Come on now.
She's waiting for you to say goodnight to her.
(gentle music)
- Sara I hope this little financial matter can be cleared up
within the month.
And then I'll send for you immediately.
- But why can't you come with us?
- I would if I could.
But you know how much your mama would have loved you
to meet her family in Avonlea.
I suppose it would be interesting to be with a real family.
I mean a big one with aunts and uncles and everything.
Won't it?
- That's my girl.
- I'll miss you, Papa.
- Oh, I will miss you too, Sara.
You look more and more like your mother everyday.
I love you, Sara.
- [Sara] Goodbye, Papa.
- Sara, I told you to put your wrap on.
Goodness knows it's drafty in train stations
and I won't have you catching your death
before the journey even begins.
Hop in now.
Now don't you worry, I'll take care of her.
(somber music)
(birds chirping)
(train chugging)
(train whistling)
I distinctly asked for a private compartment.
What is this railway coming to?
This would never have happened in the old country.
- What are you reading?
- It's a book on rocks and minerals.
- Oh. - I love the subject.
My father is a geologist in South America.
- Are you traveling alone, child?
(mouse squeaking)
(Louisa screeching)
- My mouse! (Sara screaming)
- Sara, get back! (Louisa screaming)
Well, this is a fine kettle of fish.
- Did you find your mouse?
- No.
- Sara, dear, it's not wise to talk to strangers.
Trust only your blood relatives and your ol' Nanny Louisa.
(wheels clattering)
- Well, well, well Sara Stanley?
- Yes?
- And you are Alec King, I assume?
- The very one, and you madam?
- I am Louisa J. Banks.
Sara's governess.
- Oh Andrew King, is that you?
Come on over here and join us lad.
You were just a wee tyke when I last saw your father.
Well, don't look at me like I've got two heads.
You two are the long lost King cousins.
- [Both] Cousins?
- Cousins.
- Welcome to Prince Edward Island.
(bright music)
- Now I know why mama loved her Prince Edward Island
so much, Nanny Louisa.
Don't you think?
- [Louisa] So this is the village of Avonlea.
I daren't wink or I might miss it entirely.
- Did your father ever tell you, Andrew,
how he almost drowned in the village pond?
Ruth jumped in, clothes and all, and saved him.
- Really? - Mm.
- There will be no swimming in ponds, Sara.
Lord knows what kind of infections it will lead to.
- [Sara] Well, if I can't swim in ponds
then I'm going to climb trees.
- [Louisa] Oh, Sara Stanley, will you sit down!
You'll fall out and that will be the end of you.
- They're here.
They're here.
- [Alec] Well, here we are.
Welcome to the King farm.
- [Sara] So sweet and small.
Just like a little doll house.
- [Louisa] It looks comfortable enough, I suppose.
Sara you be very careful, these steps are dangerous.
- Sara, Andrew, hello.
Welcome, welcome, this is Felicity and Felix.
And you are? - I am Louis J. Banks.
And I presume you are Janet King.
- Yes, how very nice to meet you.
- I expect you'll see to the bags.
Come along, Sara.
(gentle music)
- Who is that woman?
- She's Sara's nanny.
She thinks she's staying.
- Where in creation did she get that idea?
The gall of that Blair Stanley.
Hasn't changed a bit.
I hope you've told her we haven't the room, Alec.
- Well not um (throat clearing).
- I think he looks like he reads too much.
I don't want him in my room.
- All right, children.
Come on, gather around.
Let's all get to know each other.
- Imagine having a nanny.
- [Cecily] I like her, and I think Andrew's handsome.
- Cecily, that's just because you're used
to looking at Felix.
But she certainly isn't pretty.
- [Felix] Of course she's not pretty, Felicity,
she looks like you.
- Well Sara, it's lovely to meet you finally,
even under such peculiar circumstances.
Telegrams out of the blue.
- There's nothing peculiar about it.
Sara's father has some business he must attend to,
that may take him out of the country
for an extended period of time.
And it was always her mother's wish
that Sara should meet her island relatives.
Uh, would you be good enough to tell us
if there's a place where we might wash our hands.
We're covered in dust.
I do hope you have indoor facilities.
- It's just in the hall.
- Thank you.
- When are you going to tell her, Alec?
- Well all in good time.
- Oh, oh, I wonder, would you be good enough
to make a wee bite for Sara?
The poor child is famished.
And would you bring in our luggage please?
- Oh, I should take you both over
to Hetty's house before sunset
or they'll wonder what's happened to us.
- Oh, but, uh, didn't Mr. Stanley make it clear
that we should stay here.
- Oh well we really haven't the room,
but you'll be very close by.
Hetty and Olivia live in the other farm
at the end of the property.
- Sara and I are not flotsam and jetsam
to be moved about at will.
Under no circumstances will we stay with Hetty King.
(gentle music)
- Here we are.
This is Rose Cottage.
Hetty, company's here.
- Ooh, this is Ruth's daughter.
Well, certainly more Stanley in the face than King.
Hello Sara.
That is your name, isn't it?
Since there wasn't room for you at the King Farm,
your father should be very grateful
that Olivia and I deigned to take you on.
Put ourselves out more than he ever did for us.
Mind you, I don't expect a thank you
and who might you be, madam?
- I, dear woman, am Louisa J. Banks.
Sara Stanley is my charge.
- Oh, she's in our charge now
and since we didn't expect you,
I'm sure you won't mind if Alec King escorts you
to the rooming house in Avonlea.
You'll be comfortable enough there,
until you can make arrangements to return to Montreal.
- My dear Miss King, I have been Sara's governess
since she was a baby
and her father has entrusted her safekeeping to my care.
I have no intention of leaving her now.
- My good woman, this is not a hotel.
- Quite clearly.
- My goodness, Sara.
Let me look at you.
Why, you are the very image of our dear sister Ruth.
Oh, good afternoon, Miss?
- Louisa J. Banks.
I wonder if you would be good enough
to take us up to our room.
This child needs rest.
- Oh, you're absolutely right.
Hetty, how could you keep this poor child standing here
when you can see she's bone-tired.
We'll save our get-to-know-yous til later.
Come along Sara, I'll show you to your room.
I hope you like it.
- Excuse me, I will take her to her room.
- Oh, I'll show you the way.
- I assure you there's no room for you to stay here
unless you don't mind sleeping in the chicken coop.
- I will sleep on the floor of Sara's bedroom, if necessary.
And may I remind you
that we have had no proper nourishment since Halifax.
Would you attend to that, please?
Excuse me.
- Hetty, really, you know, she's uh,
well, she's not that bad I mean couldn't you uh--
- Absolutely not.
- [Olivia] I do hope you'll be comfortable.
- Oh, thank you.
Yes, I'm sure it will be fine.
We can both fit in a pinch.
- [Olivia] Isn't it a beautiful view?
You can smell the ocean when the wind is right.
- Sara, come away from that window, you'll catch your death.
Goodness knows what this damp air will do to me.
- This is your pitcher and washbasin, Sara.
And you can put--
- You mean to tell me that there is no running water?
- Oh, I'm afraid not on this floor, Miss Banks.
Well, I hope you'll both be very comfortable.
I'll see you after your nap, Sara.
- I was not expecting such primitive conditions.
- Do you think Mama ever slept in this room, Nanny?
- Hmm?
- I wonder if those are the same frogs
that Mama used to listen to as a girl.
- That's hardly likely.
They're not likely to be the same frogs.
- You're right, they'd be the grandchildren at least.
(Louisa laughing)
(crickets chirping)
- I'm sure Blair only intended her
to be here for a short time.
- A short time.
Don't be naive, Olivia.
- Sara is accustomed to take a cup of chamomile tea
before she goes to sleep.
Is there hot water in the house?
- There is if you boil it.
- I'll put the kettle back on.
Would you care for a cup, Miss Banks?
- Oh, no, I won't put you to any trouble.
I hope you wash your dishes in hot water.
They don't come thoroughly clean otherwise.
- We always wash our dishes in hot water
and I thank you not to interfere.
- I am simply looking after Sara's well being, Miss King.
- You needn't worry, we will take care of Sara as our own.
- [Hetty] Much as I wish we weren't saddled with the child
in the first place, we're prepared to keep her.
It's our duty to Ruth.
And I am not one to shirk my duty.
- [Olivia] Hetty, it is not just duty--
- [Louisa] And it is my duty to take care of Sara
and I do not neglect my duty, either.
- She is our flesh and blood
and therefore we have some responsibility for her.
However, yet another mouth
to feed was not part of the bargain.
- Oh, I assure you, I can pay for my keep
if that is what is worrying you.
- No amount of money would be enough
to put up with someone whose airs and graces
far outweigh her common sense.
- Blair warned me about how you do your duty.
Don't delude yourself.
You're doing this out of guilt
because you turned your back on your sister, Ruth,
because she chose to leave
this godforsaken island and marry him.
Flesh and blood has nothing to do with it.
- Let me tell you about Blair Stanley.
That man dragged poor Ruth halfway around the world and back
with no thought to her health.
- She accompanied him, gladly.
- And she paid for his heedlessness with her life.
- How dare you say that?
Ooh, I couldn't have believed there could be such a viper.
- How dare you speak to me like that in my own home?
You will be leaving in the morning,
if I don't throw you out first, you hear?
- Hetty, everything will seem very much clearer
after a good night's sleep.
- I'm warning you now.
If you don't choose to leave I will tell the child the truth
about Blair Stanley's situation
and why she's here in the first place.
- What do you mean situation?
- You know exactly what I mean.
- Blair has a little financial matter to arrange,
that is all.
- Hm, a little financial matter, my ante.
Even as far away as PE Island, we are still washed
by his sins and left to pick up the pieces.
Hah.
Embezzlement scandal rocks
Blair Stanley Enterprises of Montreal.
Chairman Blair Stanley arrested for theft.
So you see, it's up to you, isn't it?
You want the child to face that scandal
or would you rather leave Avonlea quietly and quickly.
- I will leave gladly, but with the child.
- We'll see about that.
- Hetty, do you really think that was necessary?
(somber music)
- You wouldn't leave me here, would you, Nanny?
- Of course not, dear.
They won't push your old nanny out.
- Was that newspaper telling the truth?
- Well newspapers rarely tell the whole truth, Sara.
You see, they feel obliged
to make a story out of everything.
(gentle music)
There is nothing for you to worry about, my dear.
All you have to do is go to sleep.
Tomorrow is going to be a very busy day.
(birds chirping)
We'll be at that train station within the hour.
- Oh no, you don't.
As I suspected.
Trying to take the child with her.
We've caught her red-handed.
All right, Constable Jeffries do your duty.
- Uh, are you a lady by the name of Miss Louisa J. Banks?
- I am sir, and who might you be?
- Abner Jeffries, ma'am.
Appointed Chief Constable of Avonlea.
It seems that we have a slight problem here with the--
- Oh, this is no slight problem, Abner.
This is a clearcut case of kidnapping.
- Kidnapping!
Is the woman mad?
- What's all the fuss about?
- Yes, as Alec will attest, we received this,
uh, telegram not a week ago,
from Sara Stanley's father, Blair Stanley.
And it clearly states that we, Kings,
are to be entrusted with the care
of the child who stands before you.
It's all right there.
- It appears that your sister, Miss King here,
has proof in the form of the aforementioned telegram
that the child is to stay with her relative.
Therefore it is my duty,
as a humble representative of the court of law of PE Island,
to ask Miss Banks to--
- Oh, get on with it, Abner.
Don't be such a wind-bag.
- You'll have to leave.
- Oh, I am not leaving without the child.
- [Olivia] Hetty, what's going on?
- Now really, this has gone far enough.
The poor child's caught in the middle.
- Stay out of it, Alec.
Uh, this person is simply an employee of Blair Stanley
who is entrusted only
with the child's safe delivery to our door.
As you can plainly see she was about to spirit her away.
I want her off our land and off the island.
- I am simply returning the child safely to her father
because you are not fit to take care of a dog,
let alone a child.
- Hetty, be reasonable.
She's only here for a visit.
- A visit, my ante.
Her father's going to jail.
She'll be here 'til the cows come home.
- That's not true!
How dare you say such a thing about my father.
You are a mean-mouth, pinched-face old woman
and I won't listen to you.
- [Hetty] How you let children behave in Montreal,
is it, Miss Banks?
- Would you get out of my way?
- Miss Banks, be reasonable.
Sara's been placed in our care.
- Stop her, Abner. - Miss Banks.
If you come to the train station quietly with me now,
we can let the whole thing drop.
No harm done.
But if you persist in this matter, I'm afraid,
I'll have to charge you
with the aforementioned kidnapping.
- Never before in my life have I witnessed
such a miscarriage of justice.
I am a Christian woman and I will go,
but you have not heard the last of this, I promise you.
Now, Sara, you know I wouldn't leave you for the world,
but I have no alternative.
Now, your father needs you to be strong for him.
- What about me?
What am I gonna do?
- Oh now, no one's going to harm you.
- Nanny, I won't let you go.
(gentle music)
- Someday, Hetty, this is all gonna come back on you.
You never gave one thought toward that child
and I want you to know that I'm not party to any of this.
- Now, now, dear.
- Now, come along, ma'am.
- Let her go.
- It's all right now, Sara.
Don't carry on.
Be a good girl.
- [Sara] Nanny!
- Now remember be a good, brave girl.
- As the eldest in the family,
I'm used to making unpopular decisions.
- Nanny.
(melencholy music)
Nanny.
Nanny. (crying)
(Sara sobbing)
(door knocking)
- Sara.
Sara, dear, please come downstairs
and have something to eat.
- I'll starve before I eat at the same table
with that horrible woman.
- But you'll become ill.
- Olivia.
You'll hear no more begging from us, young lady,
and the larder is locked up.
So it will do you no good to feign hunger by day
and sneak food at night.
If you're hungry, there are berries in the fields.
Sara?
(book thuds) (gentle music)
- Oh, Mother.
I know you loved this island,
but how did you ever get along with your own family?
- Oh, excuse me.
I thought you were Felicity King.
- Who are you?
- Peter Craig.
I'm the hired hand that works
for your Aunts Hetty and Olivia at Rose Cottage.
And you're from Montreal, aren't ya?
- How did you know that?
- Oh, everyone knows everything about everyone in Avonlea.
Do want me to show you around?
Might as well since you're gonna be here for a while.
Come on, I'll race you to the pond.
- I don't want to see anything of Avonlea.
- Aw, you're just saying that
because you city folk can't run.
Come on.
(bright happy music)
- You said so yourself
that her father had no business in sending her.
It's plain as plain that she has no intention of fitting in.
Just one look at her and you know
that she thinks she's just too good for us.
- Felicity King, blood is thicker than water
and I expect you to set an example
by being pleasant to Sara.
She's to be pitied really
by what her father has caused her to go through.
We have a good mind to take her back here
despite our cramped conditions
and despite what Aunt Hetty's--
- Good afternoon, Janet.
I'd like to speak to Alec, if I may.
- Oh, no, Hetty uh, he's in his study
and he's not to be disturbed.
He's quite upset about this fuss, uh, over Miss Banks.
- Heh, I've only come to tell him
that my actions were not unfounded.
The child's proven to be ill mannered,
conniving as if she's possessed.
I'd advise you, Janet,
to keep your children away from her
till she's settled down under my hand.
- Oh now Hetty, really, she's only a child.
- I think Alec'll come around to my point of view.
Alec King?
- What does she want?
- If Aunt Hetty keeps all this up,
then Mother and Father will want Sara moving
in with us by supper time.
- Good, then I won't be the only one
that has to share a room with a pushy stranger.
- We're just going to have to take our aunt's advice
and stay away from the both of them.
- I was supposed to come out and find you, you know.
You'd better be getting back.
Your Aunt Hetty will be cross.
And if she finds out you were out here playing with me,
I'll be in trouble.
- I'm not afraid of my Aunt Hetty.
(bright music)
- Hetty, I still think that there are better ways
to deal with this situation without starving the poor thing.
She's as thin as an iron railing.
- I know how to deal with children, Olivia.
I wouldn't have any control in my classroom if I didn't.
- This is not just any child, Hetty.
This is Ruth's daughter.
- And just as Blair Stanley ruined Ruth's life
so now he's cast her child on us
like a a pebble on the beach.
At least this time we'll have a chance
to repair what harm has been done.
Aha, I suppose you're hungry, aren't you?
- Not in the least.
- But you haven't had enough to eat in the last few days
to keep a bird alive.
- Sara Stanley, you will speak to me now.
Because I have some questions I'd like answers to.
It's obvious to me you haven't had a proper upbringing.
I certainly have my work cut out for me, but like it or not,
you're here to stay it's never to late to start learning.
You'll do the dishes each evening,
keep your room clean, and help with the chores on the farm.
- Like it or not, I won't be staying here very long
and I have no intention of letting you tell me what to do.
- We'll see.
Oh what level are you in school?
- I don't go to school.
- That's preposterous.
- Father doesn't approve of traditional education.
I've had tutors.
- Tutors.
What in heaven's name do they tutor you in?
- English literature, art, music, dance.
- What about mathematics and geography?
- Father feels that the best lesson in geography is
to see the world for yourself.
- So you have no knowledge of the basic curriculum, huh?
- I won't be here long enough
to be bothered with going to school.
- Oh, you think so, do you?
Well, we shall start on Monday
and just because I happen to be your aunt,
there will be no favoritism, I can tell you that.
(bell ringing)
(girls giggling) (gentle music)
- Excuse me, that's my desk.
Do you mind?
- I'm sorry.
- There's a desk right here.
- I heard her father's rich.
- My ma says she buys all her clothes from Paris.
Is that true, Felicity?
- I wouldn't know, I'm sure.
Anyway she's a distant relative and no concern of mine.
(ruler rapping)
- Class, I'd like you to say hello
to Sara Stanley and to Andrew King.
They're new to Avonlea.
I hope you'll make them feel welcome
and at home for the remainder of the school year.
Now, Sara would you recite the two times table for me?
Well, Sara?
Don't stare at me as though I've lost my senses.
- I don't know what you mean.
(children laughing)
- I suppose you'll have to sit with the level one children
until you know what I mean.
(children laughing)
- If that's what you wish.
- And not only will you sit with the level one students
but you will stay after school
and practice your times table till you do know what it is.
Andrew King.
Will you recite the twelves time table for me?
- 12 times one is 12, 12 times two is 24,
12 times three is 36, 12 times four is 48,
12 times five is 60, 12 times six is 72,
12 times seven is 84, 12 times eight is 96,
12 times nine is 108, 12 times 10 is 120,
12 times 11 is 132, and 12 times 12 is 144.
- Excellent.
Excellent.
- [Clemmie] I wish I could wear dresses like that.
But my ma would never let me.
- I just wish her father would come and get her real fast.
- My ma said that there's not much hope of that.
She says her father's a scandal whatever that means.
- It means, Clemmie,
that her father has tarnished our family's good name.
I am ashamed to be related to her.
- I like Sara and Andrew.
I don't think you should talk that way about them.
- I don't think you should talk that way about them.
Don't be such a little do-gooder, Cecily.
- I don't want to walk with you no more.
Come on, Clemmie.
(somber music)
- Maybe we should show them who's boss, Felicity.
- Hm, I must say Sara, you catch on very quickly,
when you apply yourself, that is.
Well, you may leave now.
Mind you, go straight home.
No dillydalling.
And tell Aunt Olivia I should be home shortly.
- What are you doing here? - [Andrew] Waiting for you.
- Oh, Aunt Janet says you're starving yourself.
- So, who cares, anyway?
- [Andrew] They're all talking about your father.
- Don't you dare say anything about my father.
Whatever you heard is a pack of lies, understand?
- Look, I understand.
And I don't like them anymore than you do.
Wanna walk home with me?
- Oh all right.
(crickets chirping)
(cows mooing)
- Look who's coming, Felix, Miss La-de-dah.
- [Felix] And Little Lord Andrew, the know-it-all.
- [Felicity] Now remember, Felix, you have to pretend
like you're nice to them.
- [Felix] Hey Sara, Andrew, come over here.
The cat had kittens.
Do you want to come and see them?
They're in the barn, come on.
- Now you know what to do, Felix.
(dramatic music)
- Hey, you two, where are you?
(bright music)
- Felix, Felicity, where are you?
- They're up here.
Come on, hurry up.
The mother is taking the last kitten away.
(Felix and Felicity laughing)
(pig oinking)
(dramatic music)
- I'm gonna tell Uncle Alec, that's what I'm gonna do.
They're in for it now.
- Listen to me, Andrew.
Let's not get angry, let's get revenge.
- Yeah, maybe we can think of some way to get back at them.
- [Peter] What happened to you two?
- Felix and Felicity played a stinky trick on us.
- And we're gonna kill them if we can think of anything.
- I know someone who might be able to help you.
- Who?
- Peg Bowen, the witch.
- A witch?
Do you think she can cast a spell on them?
Can you take us to her?
- [Olivia] Hello, Hetty, how'd the day go?
- It went as expected.
- [Olivia] Well, how was Sara's first day?
- Well it's clear as clear she has huge gaps
in her education,
but I will say she's a clever little thing.
- Oh, I felt she was, the minute I looked at her.
- A school teacher has to base her assessments
on more than just feelings, Olivia.
- Oh, I'm sure you do, Hetty.
- At any rate I'm profoundly relieved she isn't all Stanley.
And she isn't all any way the wind blows
like Ruth was either, but do you know Olivia,
I kept her after school to work on her arithmetic
and I looked up and caught her staring at me
and I swear it was like looking into Ruth's eyes.
Mm, it gave me quite a turn.
- She has Ruth's spirit.
- She's bold enough, but not forward.
Knows how to keep her own counsel.
There certainly is a generous helping of the King pride.
- Sounds like some of that King pride talking now, Hetty.
- Well, uh, where is the child?
Upstairs, I hope, working on her times tables.
- No, she's not at home.
I assumed you knew where she was.
- But she left me more than an hour ago.
- She's probably just playing with Felix and Felicity.
- Without telling us where she is?
How like a Stanley, running off.
Well this house has rules
and they're gonna be laid down hard when she gets home,
I can tell you that.
- Children are children, Hetty.
(Hetty muttering)
It's good to see she's starting to fit in.
(mystical music)
- Remember now, don't speak too loud
and don't ask too many questions.
She don't like when you ask too many questions, all right?
- I don't think we should be here, Sara.
- Andrew, don't be such a scaredy cat.
- [Peter] Sh.
- Well, well.
I was wondering when you were going
to pay me a visit, Sara Stanley.
- But how did you know who I was?
- What can I do for you?
- We want to play a trick on Felix and Felicity King
and we need your help.
- Ah, yes, them King children deserve a comeuppance.
They never been much charitable to old Peg.
- We don't really want to hurt them, just get back at them.
- We want you to put a spell on them.
- (laughing) I think your cousins should try
some of my magic seed.
You'll find, Sara Stanley, that trickery of the mind is just
as potent as trickery of deed.
Don't you agree, my puss?
(cat meowing) - If I didn't know better,
I'd swear you were concerned about her.
- What in the name of Providence?
Sara, what have you been doing?
Oh, no, don't tell me.
Maybe people in Montreal run around
in all states of undress, but they do not in Avonlea.
(sighs) Go on.
Get upstairs, make yourself decent.
And then come back and help get dinner ready.
Don't slurp, Peter, or you'll have to eat with the chickens.
(Sara slurping)
- Well, Sara, tell me all about school.
Did you see Felicity?
- Yes.
- I hope you two will be just great friends
once you get to know each other better.
Now I really must make acquaintance with Andrew.
Janet says he's a very serious boy.
Sara, do you know that your mother
and Andrew's father were born exactly one year apart.
- Oh Olivia, don't prattle on so.
If you ate as fast as you talked,
you'ld have finished your soup like the rest of us.
- Oh, excuse me, I'll gather up the plates.
- Make yourself useful, Sara.
Go on, help your aunt Olivia.
Be careful with those plates.
They're grandmother Elizabeth's dishes
and they've been in the family for three generations.
I'd hate for your carelessness
to put an end to their immortality.
And Sara, could you bring the chicken
and put it on the table, please?
She's been waited on hand and foot all her life,
it's about time she learned
that that is an exception
not the rule.
- Oh dear.
(crickets chirping)
- There's no use crying over spilled milk, child.
- I'm sorry.
I'm sorry I broke great-grandmother's platter.
It was an accident.
- I must say I'm glad
to hear you didn't just throw the chicken at me on purpose.
How you could have been so clumsy is beyond me.
- I've never had to serve at the table before.
The maids always did it.
- I'm sure they did.
But you won't find maids in Avonlea.
It's quite different here.
- You don't have to tell me again.
To you I'm just a responsibility.
- Don't talk such nonsense, child.
- It's true.
You told my Nanny Louisa.
- Well, that night we were all very unprepared.
Sometimes, sometimes people say things they don't mean.
- I don't fit in here.
- Writing these endless letters to your father.
Well, they won't help you in the least.
I don't know why you bother,
since providence knows that they may never reach him.
- I miss him. (sniffling)
I want Nanny Louisa.
- You're too big a girl to need a nursemaid.
- You took her away from me.
- There's really no need for such an outburst, Sara.
- You don't know what it's like
to have someone taken away from you.
- Yes, yes, I do.
It was that way for me when your mother died.
(gentle music)
Finish your letter if you must, then come downstairs.
Perhaps we can read together.
I have some interesting books on the parlour shelves.
Many of them are your mother's.
And Sara, great-grandmother Elizabeth's platter wasn't one
of my favorites, so.
- Look at these magic seeds.
Felicity, it is within my power
to have all the knowledge in the universe.
- They just look like ordinary old seeds to me.
- Forget it, I knew you wouldn't believe me.
I'm sorry I even told you in the first place.
- [Felicity] Well, where did you get these magic seeds?
- A witch gave them to me.
- A witch?
- You go into a graveyard at midnight and eat one of these.
- A graveyard!
- It's the only way it'll work.
And you have to promise not tell anybody.
- I promise.
- But you have to promise.
- I promise I won't tell anybody.
- Felix, not 'til midnight!
- All right, All right.
(bright music)
(gentle music)
I wish I had all the money in the world.
Maybe I could be a millionaire
so I wouldn't have to listen to Andrew brag
about his stupid father.
- I wish that I had a long, slender neck, but no freckles.
I wish that I was the most beautiful woman in the world
and that a handsome king would travel
to Prince Edward Island and ask me to be his queen.
- Felicity.
- Felix.
What are you doing here?
- Mind your own business.
What are you doing here?
(Andrew and Sara laughing)
You scullywaggers.
- You should have seen yourself, Felicity.
All the wishing in the world couldn't have made you
that beautiful.
- Good evening, your royal highness.
- I wish I had a long slender neck.
- What in Providence's name is going on?.
- Run, it's Abner Jeffries.
Run, come on, quick.
Don't let him catch you.
(gentle music)
- I don't know who the instigator was,
but I mean to get to the bottom of this.
- Well you can be sure that it wasn't one of my children.
- [Hetty] Are you intimating that Sara would think
to do such a thing on her own?
- I'm only saying that--
- Ladies and Alec, if I may be allowed to speak.
The Reverend Leonard was not pleased
to be woken out of a deep sleep by these young vandals.
And I must say I am some tired of being pulled out of bed
at all hours to deal with your family's affairs, Miss King.
And as I'm sure you people are all aware of,
desecrating church property is a very serious offense
and one, I might add, the law does not treat lightly.
- Oh, come on, Abner, we've all been dragged out of bed.
If you'll dispense with the formalities,
maybe we'll get some sleep around here.
- Alec, sh. - Oh, Alec's right.
Now all of you go into the parlour and wait.
This is for the family to deal with, Abner Jeffries,
not the law and we'll determine a suitable punishment.
- Perhaps I can think of something.
- I will never forgive Father
for suggesting this as a suitable punishment.
- It's all your fault, you and your magic seeds.
- It would serve you right if we both got sick
and died from eating it.
- You deserved it.
- I wish you would go back from where you came from,
you little know-it-alls.
- You've made that very clear, Felix King,
since the day we arrived.
- You've made it clear that you do not want to be here.
- We have not.
- You're the ones that started it.
- Oh sure, Miss High and Mighty,
flouncing around in your little lace dresses,
nose in the air.
Well soon that will all change
when your father gets put behind bars.
- Don't you dare say that, you,
say you're sorry about what you said about my father.
- [Felicity] No, I will not apologize.
- [Cecily] Stop it, let go of my sister.
- Stop it.
- Let go of me, Felix. - I hate you!
Don't tickle me please, stop it.
(birds chirping)
- Hetty, letters from Montreal.
One for you.
And one for Sara.
(dramatic music)
It's not bad news, is it?
- You best go, fetch Sara, Olivia.
(children laughing)
- Sara, Sara, A letter has arrived for you.
It's from Montreal.
Well?
- It's from my Papa.
Nanny Louisa has been taken ill.
- Oh dear.
- Until she is better, she isn't here to care for you.
I'm sorry things ended up as they did with your Aunt Hetty.
Don't be cross with me, Sara.
I only wanted to protect you from my own shame.
And I know in time I shall clear our name.
Montreal is your home and you may return at any time.
Somehow we'll manage together.
I know how unhappy you must be right now,
but please believe in me.
I love you always, Papa.
- You don't have to go if you don't want to, do you?
- What are you going to do?
- Can we go back to Rose Cottage, Aunt Olivia?
- Certainly, dear.
(gentle music)
Sara, it's your decision to make,
but I want you to know that I will miss you terribly.
- Aunt Hetty will be glad to see the end of me,
especially after all the trouble I've caused.
- Don't take her at her word, Sara.
You have natural gumption and Hetty admires that,
despite what she says.
I know she'll miss you too.
- You really think so?
- Yes, I do.
You know, you can't imagine
how much you remind me of your mother.
She had natural gumption too.
Oh please stay, Sara.
You belong here more than you know.
- Well, Sara Stanley, I suppose I'm losing a student
and a good one at that, as it turned out.
- I've decided to stay.
- And, I'm sure, given the chance you'll want
to be off just as, what did you say, child?
- I said I'm staying.
- Sara Stanley, you come back here.
Don't track that hay into the house, do you hear me?
And I'll thank you to pick up
all the things you've just dropped and have forgotten about.
I'll not stoop and carry after you, child.
Do you hear me?
Sara?
(bright music)
(crickets chirping)
(bird calling)
(gentle music)