Avonlea (1990) s01e01 Episode Script

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.
Besides, the shopkeeper said that it was the color of moonlight.
Couldn't you just imagine yourself in a dress that looked like moonlight? Definitely 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! Make an exhibition like this? - 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, lets have a look at my little girl.
- 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.
What's all this cook's been telling me - about Mr Abernathy and bankruptcy - and goodness knows what.
- I'm not hungry 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 going to 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're being 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.
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.
I know.
I will miss you too, Sara.
You look more and more like your mother everyday.
I love you, 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.
Don't you worry now, I'll take care of her.
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? My mouse! Sara! Get back! 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.
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 have two heads.
You two are the long lost King cousins.
(Both) Cousins? Cousins.
Welcome to Prince Edward Island! Oh, now I know why mama loved her Prince Island so much, Nanny Louisa! Don't you think? 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?? - There will be no swimming in ponds, Sara.
Lord knows what kind of infections it will lead to.
Well, if I can't swim in ponds then I'm going to climb trees.
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! Well, here we are! Welcome to the King farm.
So sweet and small! Just like a little doll house.
Well, 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.
- 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 uh I think he looks like he reads too much.
I don't want him in my room! Okay, children! Come on, gather around.
Let's all get to know each other.
Imagine having a nanny! I like her, and I think Andrew is handsome! Cecily, that's just because you're used to looking at Felix.
But she certainly isn't pretty.
Of course she isn't pretty, 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 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 bite for Sara? The poor child is famished.
Oh, and could you bring in our luggage please? Oh, I 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! 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 are able 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 will 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 for 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! 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.
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 You mean to tell me 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 are not likely to be the same frogs.
You're right, they'd be the grandchildren at least.
I'm sure Blair only intended her to be here for a short time.
A short time! Don't be naïve, 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'm simply looking after Sara's well being, Miss King.
You needn't worry, we'll take care of Sara as our own.
Much as I wish we weren't saddled with the child in the first place, we are prepared to keep her.
It's our duty to Ruth.
And I am not one to shirk my duty.
- It's not just duty, Hetty - 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? 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.
There is nothing to worry about here.
All you have to do is go to sleep.
Tomorrow is going to be a very busy day.
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.
Alright, Constable Jeffries do your duty.
Well uh.
.
A-Are you a lady by the name of Miss LouisaLouisa 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 what's all the fuss about? - Yes, asas Alec will atest, 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, has proof in the form of the aforementioned telegram that the child is to stay with her relatives.
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! Hetty, what's going on? Now really! This is going far enough! The poor child is 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! Is that 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 will 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! 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 alright now, Sara.
Don't carry on.
Be a good girl.
Nanny! Now remember be a good, brave girl.
As the eldest in the family, I'm used to making unpopular decisions.
Nanny! Nanny! Nanny! Nanny! Nanny! 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 field.
Sara? 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? I 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.
Aww, you're just saying that because you city folk can't run.
Come on! 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 sec - Good afternoon, Janet.
I'd like to speak to Alec, if I may.
Oh! 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 uh 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, uh, keep your children away from her till she's settled down under my hand.
Oh now Hetty, no really! She's only a child! I think Alec will 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, then I'll be in trouble.
I'm not afraid of my Aunt Hetty.
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 that 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.
Ah 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.
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.
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 of no concern of mine.
Class, I'd like you to say hello to, uh, Sara Stanley and 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! I suppose you'll have to sit with the level one children until you know what I mean.
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 x 1 = 12, 12 x 2 = 24, 12 x 3 = 36, 12 x 4 = 48 12 x 5 = 60, 12 x 6 = 72, 12 x 7 = 84, 12 x 8 = 96, 12 x 9 = 108, 12 x 10 = 120, 12 x 11 = 132, 12 x 12 = 144 Excellent! Excellent! 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! Maybe we should show them who's boss, Felicity.
Hmm! I must say Sara, you catch on very quickly, when you apply yourself, that is.
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? - Waiting for you.
Oh! Aunt Janet says you're starving yourself.
So? Who cares, anyway? 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 alright.
Look who's coming, Felix! Miss La-de-dah! And Little Lord Andrew, the know-it-all.
Now remember, Felix, you have to pretend like you're nice to them.
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.
Hey, you two! Where are you? Felix! Felicity, where are you? They're up here! Come on! Hurry up! The mother is taking the last kitten away! I'm going to tell Uncle Alec, that's what I'm going to do.
They're in for it now! Listen to me, Andrew.
Lets not get angry, lets get revenge.
Hah! Maybe we can think of some way to get back at them! What happened to you two? Felix and Felicity played a stinky trick on us.
And we're going to 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? Hello, Hetty! How'd the day go? It went as expected.
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 when she looked me in the eye I kept her after school to work on her arithmetic and I looked up and caught her staring at me and I swear it's like looking into Ruth's eyes! 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! It's good to see that she's starting to fit in.
Remember now, don't speak too loud and don't ask too many questions.
She don't like it when you ask too many questions, alright? I don't think we should be here, Sara! Andrew! Don't be such a scaredy cat! 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.
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? 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.
Go on! Get upstairs and 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.
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 II 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 would have finished your soup like the rest of us.
Oh! Excuse me! I'llI'll gather up the plates.
Make yourself useful, Sara.
Go on, help your aunt Olivia.
Be careful with those plates.
They are 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! 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, thatthat night we were all very unprepared.
Sometimessometimes people say things they don't mean.
I don't fit in here.
What is this? 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! 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 aan 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.
Finish your letter if you must, then come downstairs.
Perhaps we can read together.
I have some interesting books in 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.
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 will 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! Alright, Alright! 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 would ask me to be his queen.
Felicity! Felix! What are you doing here? Mind your own business! What are you doing here? You scullywaggers! You should have seen yourself, Felicity! Not all the wishing in the world couldn't have made you that beautiful! Good evening, your royal highness! "I wish I had a looong slender neck!" What in Providence's name is going on?! Run! It's Abner Jeffries! Run! Quick! Come on! Don't let him catch you! Whoever the instigator was, but I mean to get to the bottom of this.
You can be sure that it wasn't one of my children! Are you intimating that Sara would think to do such a thing on her own? - Well, I'm 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 would dispense with the formalities, maybe we will get some sleep around here.
- Alec! Shh! - 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, uh, we'll determine a suitable punishment Perhaps I can think of something.
I'll 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 die 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 are the ones that started it.
Oh sure, Miss High and Mighty, prancing around in your little lace dresses, nose in the air.
We'll assume 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! - No, I will not apologize! - Stop it! Let go of my sister! - Stop it! - Let go of me, Felix! Stop it! Don't tickle me please! Stop it! Hetty, letters from Montreal.
One for you.
One for Sara.
It's not bad news, is it? You best go, fetch Sara, Olivia.
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.
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 will 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 your things you just dropped and have forgotten about.
I won't stoop and carry after you, child.
Do you hear me?