Avonlea (1990) s03e03 Episode Script
Another Point Of View
I know them all! Go ahead, try me.
You should, Felix.
We've been over them a million times.
- Father will kill me if I fail! - I know all the answers.
Aren't you special, Cecily! Honestly! All you have you do is memorise the book.
Easy for you to say, Felicity.
You're her favourite.
She doesn't pick on you.
I can say them all in my sleep.
- Kings and Queens, it's not so hard.
- Miss King is what's hard! Sure hope she doesn't call on me.
No.
Edward Ray, sit down.
You were well advised to read the lesson before coming to class.
I expect better, children.
Indeed, I do.
Need I remind you that the finals for the competition are in two weeks time! And the honour of Avonlea rests on your shoulders! Now Cecily! Who lost England to the Danes? Too long! Sit! Sally Potts! The answer, please.
The English King who lost the country was um Sit! Alphie Bugle! Sit! Felix King! Up, up, up, up, up! Perhaps, you'll name for us the King of England, who lost his country to the Danes? Aethelred.
It was a man Aethelred.
Eth? Ethel? Aethelred.
with a girls name! Ethel! Felix King! Really, your mind is very like your desk! Yeah, a square made of wood! Boys! That's enough! Edward Rae! There's certainly nothing to laugh about, Edward Rae, as you will note from the results of these history examinations.
"D"?! And neither do the rest of you, for that matter.
Felix King.
"D" minus?! Felicity.
- Elvira? - Hmm.
What do you think of this one? Oh, my! That's quite daring, don't you think, Janet? Mm-hmm.
You don't have to tell me! She is absolutely outrageous! I'd like to tell her what for! Always thinks she knows more than the rest of us.
- Now, whatever is the matter? - Hetty King! She's driving my poor Alphie to dyspepsia! My Sally has taken to her bed with a hot water bottle! - Something's got to be done! - You won't budge Hetty.
I know of only person who could do that.
Alec.
- Your hair looks lovely, mother.
- Do you think so, dear? Hmm.
It's lovely.
Now how was school today, children? Well? I'm not going back! Cecily, dear! It's not my fault! Aunt Hetty makes me nervous! Felix! What is gotten into them? Felix got a D minus on his history exam, and Cecily didn't do much better.
Ah! I, however, received an "A".
I don't know what they're all complaining about.
Alec? Alec? Are you awake? Janet, it's late.
I'm tired.
Whatever it is, I'm sorry.
Everybody is upset about Hetty.
She's pushing the children too far, she actually frightens them.
That is ridiculous! Huh! I got an earful in the General Store today.
Half the parents in town are upset and angry and they can't all be wrong.
The children aren't the problem, - it's your sister.
- Isn't it always?! We should do something.
Right now, Janet, I am going to get some sleep.
Now, the first order of business is to elect a new member to the school board.
Are there any nominations? Or indeed volunteers for this challenging position? I'll say it's a challenge! Well, there must be someone.
Mrs Potts! Yes, you make an excellent candidate! I No, no Uh Well I fully appreciate how challenging this position is We've all thought about it, it was to discuss recently Get on with it! I nominate Alec King! - I second the nomination! - Yes! Alec King! Well! Apparently it's unanimous, Alec.
Congratulations! We all know that you'll hold up your end, Alec King.
I think you'll have no option but to accept, that's what.
I don't know what to say.
Thank you, I'll do my best.
Um there is there is one matter I would like to discuss Alec, there are rules to abide by, you know.
Agenda Forget the rules! I want to hear what Alec has to say! Well, thank you.
Well, Hetty, I, um I believe that you are an exceptional teacher, with many years experience and you've done an exceptional job, but sometimes II think that you except too much from the students.
And just which students do you have mind? - As if I couldn't guess! - That's not the point.
You think children are all the same, and they all learn the same.
It's not so.
They're not all peas in a pod! YouYou could help them more.
You could try new approaches! Modern methods! That what I say.
My teaching methods are based firmly on the classical principles of education.
Oh, clearly you've not the slightest idea of that which you speak! I knew it was a mistake to try to talk to you.
If the three R's are good enough for the rest of the country, dare say, they'll have to suffice for Avonlea! The three R's? There is more to education than recitation, repetition and repression! - Yes! Exactly! - Yeah! You tell her! You tell her she has three months to improve her performance, like she told my Jane! We want an open discussion! More say in our children's education! We have rights! They're our children! Order! Well, Hetty King, I think everyone's made their position crystal clear.
Oh, yes! Quite clear! Thank you, Rachel.
Well, if I have lost the support of the school board, as it appears, then I can no longer teach in Avonlea! I hereby tender my resignation! - This is an awful situation! - I never dreamed she'd quit.
Your own sister! How could you?! Oh! You are the one who said we had to do something! Well, I never meant for you to take her job away! I only meant for you too make her see reason! It was her decision entirely! A professional disagreement! Who's going to teach school? Anyone would be better than Aunt Hetty.
Felix! Now, don't worry, Janet.
I've organised a search.
I'm placing an advertisement in a Charlottetown newspaper.
Oh! Well, I did teach at Kingston for fifteen years Um Mrs Lynde? Could you sit up straight? Mr Gillis, stop playing with that pencil.
And Mr King! Pay attention.
Oh, I'm sorry, Miss Grindstaff.
And now, as I was saying, I did teach at Kingston for fifteen years and You want to check my credentials.
Could you please tell us something of your teaching experience.
Yes.
I um Well Experience? Yes! I Yes! Yes.
Where did you study at? Excuse me.
You meant to ask "where did I study?" That's what I did ask.
No.
You said "where did you study at?" One cannot end a sentence with a preposition.
No reckoning made, but sent to my account Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother's hand.
Of life, of crown, of queen, at once dispatch'd.
O, horrible! Horrible! Most hooooorrible! You're telling me?! Alas! They killed me! Get off the stage! Boo! That's the third tomato this week, Dimple.
You're fired.
You don't mean that, Harry.
Look! I'll do it differently.
It'll be a brand new performance.
Never before seen or heard! It can stay that way.
Alistair, I'm sorry.
They don't like Shakespeare.
And they don't like you.
If you ever doin' a nice Gilbert and Sullivan, let me know.
And, Alistair, if I were you, I'd find another line of work.
"In the pivotal role of the ghost of Hamlet's father, Mr Alistair Dimple could be upstaged by dust.
" - What other choice do we have? - How about number eight? Huh! The one who took three minutes to tell us his name? I hate to say it, but we'll have to ask Miss King to return.
If you hadn't started this ruckus, we wouldn't be in this mess now! Listen, Alec, I've got a business to run.
I can't spend all day on my backside! You created this problem and you solve it! We'll have to advertise in Halifax.
I can't sit through another day of teacher interviews.
I think we're gonna have to ask Hetty King to reconsider.
Huh! We'll have to go down on our knees and beg her, before she agrees to comes back.
Be sure to rub it in well, now, Sara.
Yes, Aunt Hetty.
Then leave them be for just three minutes, you know.
I know.
Hello! Aunt Olivia?! My! Hello, Sara.
- Well! - My, my, Olivia! What brings you all the way over here? Sent by Alec, I suppose, are you? Alec? Of course not! I just brought over some pickles and chutney I've put up.
Would you hold that, Sara? Well that's very kind of you, I'm sure.
Thank you.
- Hetty - We really are very busy, Olivia.
Sara, back to work.
Oh, it's astonishing the way a house will fall apart, if you don't pay thethe strictest attention.
- Hetty, I know you're upset - Upset?! Me?! Whatever about Hetty, if you wanna teach, you just go over and tell the schoolboard, right now! It is of no consequence to me, Olivia.
If the consensus is to let me go, then I shall put my freedom to good advantage.
You may be sure! Oh, great many things I wish to do with my life.
Plans, you know.
Alright, Hetty.
Have it your way.
- Goodbye, Sara.
- Goodbye, Aunt Olivia.
Sara.
Thirty candidates and not a single possibility.
I can't believe it! What a disaster!! If you don't mind my asking, why are you so fretful in these enchanting surroundings? Teachers.
Teachers.
Can't trust them.
Ha! It's a sad thing, friend, when trust is lacking in modern life.
But it is always darkest before the dawn! And this may yet turn out to be your lucky day.
Alistair Dimple, at your service.
Professor of the Instructional Arts.
Master of Elucidation.
- And furthermore - Ah, ah, hold that thought, Professor.
Come with me.
Allow me.
Professor Dimple, why did you apply for this position? From the moment I first set eyes upon your lovely little gem of Avonlea I knew that today would be Providential.
I can unravel the tangle you momentarily find yourselves in and, rebuild the faith that the pedagogues have so cruelly ripped from Avonlea.
Hire him! - Well, shouldn't we ask for - My credentials, Mr King? I shall write to Canterbury College of the Instructional Arts in England and have them forward my certificates and references today.
Sara! Now, you've done it! Good morning! I am Professor Dimple.
And who might you be, boy? Uh Felix.
Felix King, sir.
Felix, I will need your help this morning.
Tell me.
What did you study with Miss King, at this time of day? Uh History, sir.
Then we shall do that now.
And could you share with us exactly what you were studying? Oh, no! Don't you know what you were studying, Felix? Uh It was the Kings and Queens of Britain, sir.
The Ethel's, but I can't tell you them.
I can't remember them.
No matter how hard I try.
Must have happened about a thousand years ago.
And they were all the same.
I can, Professor Dimple.
Felicity King.
And I am fully prepared to represent Avonlea in the History Bee.
The first commonly accepted King of England was Alfred I'm sure you know them all, Felicity, but a list of dead people is of no benefit and little importance to anyone who is not in the direct line of succession.
To understand history you must understand the people who lived it.
Think of each King or Queen as if they were here in the room, talking to us.
Discover how each of them is unique, just like anyone else you meet.
I think he is strange.
Sounds a whole lot better than Aunt Hetty, to me.
Got to give him a proper chance, Felicity.
I think Professor Dimple will prove most interesting.
Why hasn't the bell rang yet? Maybe he likes recess.
Twenty minutes is quite long enough.
Leave it to Felicity to wreck a good time.
Et tu, Brutus? He's alive! The last words of Julius Caesar, first Roman Emperor to visit the British Isles.
He was stabbed by his friends, while walking to work one day.
And who, Gus Pike, did he find in Britain? - People? - Absolutely correct.
But not just any people.
Druids painted blue.
Blue?! They were blue?! Blue and bloody.
And worshiping trees and practising human sacrifice! Gus Pike! You shall be our conquering Roman Emperor, Julius! Would you select your Praetorian guards? You, you, you, you, you and you! And who would like to be the oak worshiping druids, gathered at Stonehenge, to sacrifice their next victim? Master Felix King! And your victim, Felix? Don't even think it, Felix! He said the British Royals were of little importance.
And then he stabbed himself! What?! He did what?! Well, he was only acting.
But it looked very real.
He scared the younger children to tears! And that was before the human sacrifice! Human sacrifice?! Oh, good lord, Felicity! Hard to believe that even your father permits such a man to teach school! Well, no one seems to notice this bizarre behaviour.
- Except for myself.
- Oh! Someone really ought to keep an eye on Professor Dimple, Aunt Hetty.
Who knows what he'll do next? Thank you, Felicity.
Someone shall.
Come on.
Alright, Britons! Out of your tents and ready yourselves! Vikings! Row! And row! And row! How do you think Aethelred felt when the Vikings sacked Canterbury Cathedral? A thousand years ago the Vikings were the best shipbuilders and sailors in the world.
All Europe trembled before their fierce and rapacious attacks.
Now Vikings! Prepare to attack! Felix! You're Erik Erikson! Gys! Leif, the Lucky! Edward! You'll be Eric, the Red! Rupert Gillis! Aethelred, the Unready! First King of England! Perhaps you want to nap under that tree? Shouldn't I prepare my troops for battle, sir? Of course not! Why do you think you are called 'The Unready'? Felicity! You'll be Erika, the Viking Queen! I refuse to put that disgusting thing on my head! Alright! Who'll be the Viking Queen then? I will.
Erika, Queen of the fiercest warriors that ever lived.
- Now, Vikings - Attack! Show no mercy! Take the wedge first! Now ship her.
Carry on! Come on, you Britons! Praetorians, defend yourselves! What?! My best saucepan! What happened to it? Felix! What happened to you?! Oh! History! It's wonderful! History did this to you and my pot?! I'm a little confused, Felix King.
And more than a little angry.
Are you alright? Oh, it's just a little scratch.
Honest! Girls! You're both filthy! Professor Dimple recreated the Viking attack on the Britons in the 9th century.
I was Erik Eriksson.
After conquering Britain, I discovered America! I was captured! Professor Dimple is a rude unmannered brute with no consideration for the finer feelings in life.
And the Vikings were just plain dirty! Rachel! Rachel Lynde! I have never seeing anything like it! Oh, Rachel! They were having a pitched battle there! Behind the schoolhouse! Children beating each other senseless! Really! I'm sure it was just a game, Hetty King.
Defies every principle ever learned in teacher's college.
You don't know everything there is to know under the sun, Hetty King.
And you made an issue out of this, when you resigned! Why couldn't you listen to Alec? Why, I am amazed! I I'd thought you of all people, Rachel Lynde, would've had the children's best welfare at heart! But I see there's not a soul in this town with an ounce of common sense, so umm good day to you! Olivia.
Still got a bee in her bonnet about the new school teacher.
- Oh! Have you seen Professor Dimple? - In the General Store.
Thank you.
Chalk.
Paints, paper.
Bandages.
Are you redecorating the schoolhouse, Professor Dimple? No, no, no, no, no, no! Professor Dimple? Olivia Dale, with the Avonlea Chronicle.
A member of the press.
Charmed, Ma'am.
What may I do for you? Oh, well, I was hoping I could secure an interview with you, for the paper.
An interview Well, I'm hardly a celebrity, Mrs Dale.
On the contrary, Professor! The whole town's abuzz about you.
They want every little detail, that's what.
We'll try to arrange a convenient time, Mrs Dale.
Oh, well actually, I was thinking tomorrow, right after school.
Ah, school! So challenging So rewarding! Lessons to prepare, you know.
Allow me, Professor.
I adhere to a very nouveau programme.
A pastiche of the most modern methods.
My class was a cream of a generation.
A woman such as yourself, Mrs Lynde, can appreciate the subtle humanness nuances of such a legacy.
Yes! Absolutely! Why, I'm a human myself, Professor.
"Was this the face that launched a thousand ships," "and burnt the topest towers of Ilium?" Helen of Troy, the most beautiful woman in the world.
Over whom the Trojan war was fought and raged on for ten years! "And look!" "The Greeks have sent us this gift of peace!" Felicity, that's your cue.
I refuse to be a raving lunatic, even in pretence!! You're not a lunatic, Felicity.
You're the Prophetess Cassandra.
"Look not a gift horse in the mouth.
" Let go of me! - Got you! - Catch her, Felix! This is ridiculous! Don't spoil things, Felicity! Yeah, you're suppose to start shrieking! I will not shriek! Oh, horrible, horrible! Most horrible! - Mr Dimple.
- Mr King.
Well, II hear some very fine things about you, sir, from my children.
Oh, thank you.
Wonderful family you have, Mr King.
Very bright, curious.
Yes, well, they've really changed since your arrival.
I understand your methods are quite different to those of my sister's.
Ah, yes, Miss King, of course! And how is Miss King? I had hoped we might chat.
Well, I wouldn't know.
She's not really speaking to me.
- Because of me, sir? - I suppose.
But it's it's really the whole situation.
She's taught for almost thirty years.
My, my! That's very impressive! But overwhelming.
She deserves a sabbatical.
- A what? - A time off.
Imagine giving off yourself, day in, day out for thirty years.
All those minds enlightened over all those years.
I've never really thought of it like that.
She deserves time to reflect, to collect her energies.
To apply her knowledge in other ways.
But we'll have to coax it out of her, won't we? Coax isn't exactly the right word, when it comes to Hetty.
Oh! Your credentials! Professor Dimple? Door is locked! Where's Felix? I thought he was with you.
No school? Don't push, Edward! Gus, do you see anything? Hello? Professor Dimple? - What's all this? - It's a tomb! Egypt? Welcome to the tomb of the great Pharaoh! Touch me and you'll live to regret it, Felix! To understand history you must understand And thrusting the venomous snakes to her breast, Cleopatra cried for them to drink deep, of the royal blood of Egypt.
And died, mourning her lost love, the roman, Marc Anthony.
That's so romantic! And so, passed the time of the great Pharaohs, their lives surrounded in a mystery of their monuments.
So much for antiquities! Onward to history! Mr Bugle! Our Henry the Eighth.
And our beautiful Queens of England! Catherine of Aragon.
Anne Boleyn.
Jane Seymour.
Anne of Cleves.
Catherine Howard.
Catherine Parr.
Divorced.
Beheaded.
Died.
Divorced.
Beheaded.
And Lived.
- Good day, Sara.
- Professor Dimple! Miss King! Mr Dimple.
I've been meaning to come by and ask if we might have a chat.
You're here now.
So I take it you've got something on your mind.
The classroom is a daunting place, Miss King.
All those bright expectant faces turned up, waiting for illumination.
I find it a great adventure into the imagination.
Do you? Education requires facts, Mr Dimple, not fiction.
Ah! But the elucidation of those facts, Miss King? Teaching is a profession the requires the educator to be original, to present facts and figures in a palatable, even interesting manner.
It takes its toll.
Oh-ho! Yes.
It most certainly does that.
Miss King, let me be perfectly honest.
I know how you feel.
Let me assure you that this position is of paramount importance.
It is the very sustenance of my life.
I'll do my very best, not to let the children down.
I find, however, that the good parents never realise the effort.
No, they don't.
The good parents, as you call them, continually take me take us for granted, do they not? There should be a period of rejuvenation for educators.
Say, every few years.
Time to gather new energies, make other contributions.
HowHow do you mean "other contributions"? I can see a great work in you, Miss King.
Ooh! A great work, you say? The history of the island, perhaps? A history of the families of the island.
Of the important families of the island.
Well, that's true.
The King family does have a notable tradition in these parts.
Surely you would want future generations, future King generations to view with a pride, their place in the founding and building of this province.
It's a thought, Professor.
A good thought.
Thank you.
By the by, I do wish you every success in your new position at the Avonlea school, one I enjoyed for many years, you know.
Thank you, Miss King.
- Good day.
- Good day.
- Sara.
- Bye, Mr Dimple.
"Michael! Michael!" "How long is the ceiling going to take?" Pope Julius commissioned Michelangelo to paint The Sistine Chapel.
At the same time, Francis the First was on the throne, in France and collecting art and artists.
He offered a home to Leonardo Da Vinci, who packed up all his little sketches and paintings, like the 'Mona Lisa', and moved to a lovely little chateau in the Loire Valley.
A little more blue in that sky, Felix.
And who was on the throne in England? Sara Stanley.
Henry VIII.
Collected wives.
Quite right, Sara.
Quite right.
Alec! - Oh, Alec! - Olivia, what is it? - What's the matter? - Read this! Look, second last page.
Read this.
- "Upstaged by dust.
" - What are we gonna do? I better have a talk with Mr Dimple.
Well now let's keep this between ourselves, Olivia.
Whatever you do, don't tell Hetty.
Oh, no.
Edward Rae, who was the first King of England? Alfred the Great.
He ate cakes in the woods.
Clemmie Rae, who won the battle of Agincourt? Henry V.
He gave up his best friend, Falstaff, to become King.
Sally Potts, what Houses fought the 'War of the Roses'? The Lancaster's in red, York in whites.
Alphie Bugle, who inherited the throne from Elizabeth? James VI of Scotland became James I of England.
He had the Bible translated to English.
Felix King, who lost England to the Danes? Aethelred The Unready.
He took a nap.
You are perfection itself.
I cannot possibly decide who among you should represent the school.
You're all a fount of wisdom.
So, we shall draw names for the honour.
Professor! Professor Dimple! I must have a word with you! Excuse me, excuse me.
It's about the Canterbury College of the Instructional Arts.
I must prepare my opening remarks, excuse me.
- Umm - Alec King! The children look positively intelligent.
We have to talk about the Professor.
I've just received word that he's no ordinary teacher.
There's not an ordinary bone in the man's body.
No, no.
You don't understand.
You see I understand that Professor Dimple has crammed more into Rupert's head than I would've thought possible.
- True.
- And, we are going to trounce Markdale.
Count on it! Alec! - A word with you.
- Hetty, I'm sorry.
I should never have let things go so far.
You were right.
Oh, no! I was wrong! How foolish of me to allow a school to occupy my every thought when there's so much else to life, don't you think? No.
I should've listened to you about Professor Dimple.
Oh, Professor Dimple isisis an excellent man.
Discerning, subtle, perceptive.
What? No, no.
That's ridiculous.
- The man is nothing but a - How like you, Alec King! Might've expected such a response from you, untrained as you are in education.
Incapable really of making a proper evaluation.
Look how you judged me.
Not that I hold a grudge.
But, if you say one word against Professor Dimple I shall make every day of your life a misery! You can count on it.
- Alec.
Alec, is anything wrong? - Well, yeah, it is Mr Dimple.
- Oh, what is it? Is he alright? - Well Father? Father, where is he? We're supposed to start soon! Well he must be backstage.
You better go.
- We'll talk about it later.
- Darling, how Good parents, friends and relations! There is nothing more important than history.
It marks the ebb and flow of time and our places in that infinite spectrum.
Tonight in the Avonlea town-hall a point of history will be made.
The opposing teams match wit and wisdom for the honour of their mates and schools.
And so, to the contest and to the victors, their moment in time.
For each correct answer 10 points.
Teams have the opportunity to answer incorrect responses and earn an additional 5 points.
First question to Avonlea School.
Who was the first Roman Emperor to visit the British Isles? Oh, no! I knew he'd never remember! Your answer, please.
Oh! I remember! He travelled to Rome with a man painted all blue! - Julius Caesar! - Correct! Markdale! In what year and at what place did the War of the Roses end? Um - At a field.
- Incorrect.
Avonlea? Bosworth Field, because Richard lost his horse.
Correct! Alec! Look at your son! He's a changed boy! Avonlea.
What English Monarch went on the Crusades? Richard Cur de Lion.
He made Robin Hood a knight.
Correct! Markdale.
Who opposed Henry II and was killed on the steps of Canterbury Cathedral? - Thomas Becket.
- Correct! Avonlea Excuse me, dear.
I'll be back before long.
What charter ended the barons' revolt of 1215? The Magna Carta.
The didn't like paying all them taxes.
- Correct! - Bravo! Mr King! Lovely night for a bit of air.
After the tension of a performance, I like to get out for a bit.
It's calming.
- With your suitcase, Professor? - Research.
It's very valuable.
I received your credentials.
You have bamboozled the schoolboard, the town; the province; the children and their parents and myself.
From one point of view, that's true.
Yet, have I done any harm? I thought about that, and I have to conclude that no harm has been done.
If anything, you've done the opposite.
All the children might have a few more scratches on the outside, but on the inside, they have a new curiosity to learn.
I don't know how, but you managed to inspire.
Why, my sister has become your staunchest defender.
Inspiration and imagination.
First principles of dramatics.
So, why did you do it? Lack of funds, between engagements.
Well, I'm afraid we can no longer employ you here.
What are you going to do? I'll think of something.
What about you? Ah! I have discovered, Mr King, that all the world is a stage.
All the men and women merely players.
They have their exits and entrances.
And one man at a time plays many parts.
Good luck, Mr Dimple.
And, for what it's worth, I think the theatrical reviewer of this newspaper has much maligned you.
Thank you, Mr King.
Thank you, indeed.
"Onward, Christian soldiers!" "Marching as to war.
" Well unfortunately Professor Dimple has been suddenly recalled to Canterbury to, uh, fill the shoes of the recently deceased principal.
He sends his deepest apologies.
- Oh, that's awful! - What do we do now? Fortunately we have an outstanding teacher right here, in our own Hetty King.
I appreciate your new found confidence in me, Alec, but Professor Dimple has asked me to return with him to the Canterbury College of the Instructional Arts.
We discussed writing a book together, you see, about the unique situation facing students and teachers.
Then understand what a challenge that will be for two such educators as Alistair and myself.
Oh, I do understand.
Perfectly, Hetty.
But, I beg you, consider the town, our children.
Canterbury can survive without you, but Avonlea can't.
For the children, yes.
Of course you're right, Alec.
Mustn't be selfish.
Can't turn my back on Avonlea, can I? Well, then Professor Dimple simply will have to do without me.
We are ever in your debt.
Come on! - Come on! - This is so wonderful! Olivia! Don't doddle, come on now! What smells so delicious in here? Felix, what's the matter? I think I feel sick.
Could be the plague! He doesn't want to go to school.
Come on, Felix.
Personally, I can't wait to resume my proper education.
- Please may I be excused, mother? - Yes, you may.
You may all be excused.
The return of Hetty the Terrible! Felix! Don't talk that way about your Aunt! Hurry up! You'll all be late.
They look like they're going to an execution.
That's the way I always felt.
Ah, Class! Attention, please! Today we begin our study of the exploration of the New World.
Now, then Felix King.
What can you tell us about the voyage of Columbus? CColumbus? Come, come now, Felix.
We are waiting.
Um Um he he traveled he he traveled on a ship Ooh! Really, Felix King! Will you never learn?! I suppose not.
II suppose the only way you will learn is to play the part of Christopher Columbus.
Mmmm? When we re-enact the voyage.
Is that it? Yes, Ma'am! Well, then, Columbus, as I hope many of you already know, was the first explorer to settle in the New World after the Vikings! Gus Pike.
You'll be King Ferdinand II.
And Felicity, you'll be Queen Isabella of Castile.
You should, Felix.
We've been over them a million times.
- Father will kill me if I fail! - I know all the answers.
Aren't you special, Cecily! Honestly! All you have you do is memorise the book.
Easy for you to say, Felicity.
You're her favourite.
She doesn't pick on you.
I can say them all in my sleep.
- Kings and Queens, it's not so hard.
- Miss King is what's hard! Sure hope she doesn't call on me.
No.
Edward Ray, sit down.
You were well advised to read the lesson before coming to class.
I expect better, children.
Indeed, I do.
Need I remind you that the finals for the competition are in two weeks time! And the honour of Avonlea rests on your shoulders! Now Cecily! Who lost England to the Danes? Too long! Sit! Sally Potts! The answer, please.
The English King who lost the country was um Sit! Alphie Bugle! Sit! Felix King! Up, up, up, up, up! Perhaps, you'll name for us the King of England, who lost his country to the Danes? Aethelred.
It was a man Aethelred.
Eth? Ethel? Aethelred.
with a girls name! Ethel! Felix King! Really, your mind is very like your desk! Yeah, a square made of wood! Boys! That's enough! Edward Rae! There's certainly nothing to laugh about, Edward Rae, as you will note from the results of these history examinations.
"D"?! And neither do the rest of you, for that matter.
Felix King.
"D" minus?! Felicity.
- Elvira? - Hmm.
What do you think of this one? Oh, my! That's quite daring, don't you think, Janet? Mm-hmm.
You don't have to tell me! She is absolutely outrageous! I'd like to tell her what for! Always thinks she knows more than the rest of us.
- Now, whatever is the matter? - Hetty King! She's driving my poor Alphie to dyspepsia! My Sally has taken to her bed with a hot water bottle! - Something's got to be done! - You won't budge Hetty.
I know of only person who could do that.
Alec.
- Your hair looks lovely, mother.
- Do you think so, dear? Hmm.
It's lovely.
Now how was school today, children? Well? I'm not going back! Cecily, dear! It's not my fault! Aunt Hetty makes me nervous! Felix! What is gotten into them? Felix got a D minus on his history exam, and Cecily didn't do much better.
Ah! I, however, received an "A".
I don't know what they're all complaining about.
Alec? Alec? Are you awake? Janet, it's late.
I'm tired.
Whatever it is, I'm sorry.
Everybody is upset about Hetty.
She's pushing the children too far, she actually frightens them.
That is ridiculous! Huh! I got an earful in the General Store today.
Half the parents in town are upset and angry and they can't all be wrong.
The children aren't the problem, - it's your sister.
- Isn't it always?! We should do something.
Right now, Janet, I am going to get some sleep.
Now, the first order of business is to elect a new member to the school board.
Are there any nominations? Or indeed volunteers for this challenging position? I'll say it's a challenge! Well, there must be someone.
Mrs Potts! Yes, you make an excellent candidate! I No, no Uh Well I fully appreciate how challenging this position is We've all thought about it, it was to discuss recently Get on with it! I nominate Alec King! - I second the nomination! - Yes! Alec King! Well! Apparently it's unanimous, Alec.
Congratulations! We all know that you'll hold up your end, Alec King.
I think you'll have no option but to accept, that's what.
I don't know what to say.
Thank you, I'll do my best.
Um there is there is one matter I would like to discuss Alec, there are rules to abide by, you know.
Agenda Forget the rules! I want to hear what Alec has to say! Well, thank you.
Well, Hetty, I, um I believe that you are an exceptional teacher, with many years experience and you've done an exceptional job, but sometimes II think that you except too much from the students.
And just which students do you have mind? - As if I couldn't guess! - That's not the point.
You think children are all the same, and they all learn the same.
It's not so.
They're not all peas in a pod! YouYou could help them more.
You could try new approaches! Modern methods! That what I say.
My teaching methods are based firmly on the classical principles of education.
Oh, clearly you've not the slightest idea of that which you speak! I knew it was a mistake to try to talk to you.
If the three R's are good enough for the rest of the country, dare say, they'll have to suffice for Avonlea! The three R's? There is more to education than recitation, repetition and repression! - Yes! Exactly! - Yeah! You tell her! You tell her she has three months to improve her performance, like she told my Jane! We want an open discussion! More say in our children's education! We have rights! They're our children! Order! Well, Hetty King, I think everyone's made their position crystal clear.
Oh, yes! Quite clear! Thank you, Rachel.
Well, if I have lost the support of the school board, as it appears, then I can no longer teach in Avonlea! I hereby tender my resignation! - This is an awful situation! - I never dreamed she'd quit.
Your own sister! How could you?! Oh! You are the one who said we had to do something! Well, I never meant for you to take her job away! I only meant for you too make her see reason! It was her decision entirely! A professional disagreement! Who's going to teach school? Anyone would be better than Aunt Hetty.
Felix! Now, don't worry, Janet.
I've organised a search.
I'm placing an advertisement in a Charlottetown newspaper.
Oh! Well, I did teach at Kingston for fifteen years Um Mrs Lynde? Could you sit up straight? Mr Gillis, stop playing with that pencil.
And Mr King! Pay attention.
Oh, I'm sorry, Miss Grindstaff.
And now, as I was saying, I did teach at Kingston for fifteen years and You want to check my credentials.
Could you please tell us something of your teaching experience.
Yes.
I um Well Experience? Yes! I Yes! Yes.
Where did you study at? Excuse me.
You meant to ask "where did I study?" That's what I did ask.
No.
You said "where did you study at?" One cannot end a sentence with a preposition.
No reckoning made, but sent to my account Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother's hand.
Of life, of crown, of queen, at once dispatch'd.
O, horrible! Horrible! Most hooooorrible! You're telling me?! Alas! They killed me! Get off the stage! Boo! That's the third tomato this week, Dimple.
You're fired.
You don't mean that, Harry.
Look! I'll do it differently.
It'll be a brand new performance.
Never before seen or heard! It can stay that way.
Alistair, I'm sorry.
They don't like Shakespeare.
And they don't like you.
If you ever doin' a nice Gilbert and Sullivan, let me know.
And, Alistair, if I were you, I'd find another line of work.
"In the pivotal role of the ghost of Hamlet's father, Mr Alistair Dimple could be upstaged by dust.
" - What other choice do we have? - How about number eight? Huh! The one who took three minutes to tell us his name? I hate to say it, but we'll have to ask Miss King to return.
If you hadn't started this ruckus, we wouldn't be in this mess now! Listen, Alec, I've got a business to run.
I can't spend all day on my backside! You created this problem and you solve it! We'll have to advertise in Halifax.
I can't sit through another day of teacher interviews.
I think we're gonna have to ask Hetty King to reconsider.
Huh! We'll have to go down on our knees and beg her, before she agrees to comes back.
Be sure to rub it in well, now, Sara.
Yes, Aunt Hetty.
Then leave them be for just three minutes, you know.
I know.
Hello! Aunt Olivia?! My! Hello, Sara.
- Well! - My, my, Olivia! What brings you all the way over here? Sent by Alec, I suppose, are you? Alec? Of course not! I just brought over some pickles and chutney I've put up.
Would you hold that, Sara? Well that's very kind of you, I'm sure.
Thank you.
- Hetty - We really are very busy, Olivia.
Sara, back to work.
Oh, it's astonishing the way a house will fall apart, if you don't pay thethe strictest attention.
- Hetty, I know you're upset - Upset?! Me?! Whatever about Hetty, if you wanna teach, you just go over and tell the schoolboard, right now! It is of no consequence to me, Olivia.
If the consensus is to let me go, then I shall put my freedom to good advantage.
You may be sure! Oh, great many things I wish to do with my life.
Plans, you know.
Alright, Hetty.
Have it your way.
- Goodbye, Sara.
- Goodbye, Aunt Olivia.
Sara.
Thirty candidates and not a single possibility.
I can't believe it! What a disaster!! If you don't mind my asking, why are you so fretful in these enchanting surroundings? Teachers.
Teachers.
Can't trust them.
Ha! It's a sad thing, friend, when trust is lacking in modern life.
But it is always darkest before the dawn! And this may yet turn out to be your lucky day.
Alistair Dimple, at your service.
Professor of the Instructional Arts.
Master of Elucidation.
- And furthermore - Ah, ah, hold that thought, Professor.
Come with me.
Allow me.
Professor Dimple, why did you apply for this position? From the moment I first set eyes upon your lovely little gem of Avonlea I knew that today would be Providential.
I can unravel the tangle you momentarily find yourselves in and, rebuild the faith that the pedagogues have so cruelly ripped from Avonlea.
Hire him! - Well, shouldn't we ask for - My credentials, Mr King? I shall write to Canterbury College of the Instructional Arts in England and have them forward my certificates and references today.
Sara! Now, you've done it! Good morning! I am Professor Dimple.
And who might you be, boy? Uh Felix.
Felix King, sir.
Felix, I will need your help this morning.
Tell me.
What did you study with Miss King, at this time of day? Uh History, sir.
Then we shall do that now.
And could you share with us exactly what you were studying? Oh, no! Don't you know what you were studying, Felix? Uh It was the Kings and Queens of Britain, sir.
The Ethel's, but I can't tell you them.
I can't remember them.
No matter how hard I try.
Must have happened about a thousand years ago.
And they were all the same.
I can, Professor Dimple.
Felicity King.
And I am fully prepared to represent Avonlea in the History Bee.
The first commonly accepted King of England was Alfred I'm sure you know them all, Felicity, but a list of dead people is of no benefit and little importance to anyone who is not in the direct line of succession.
To understand history you must understand the people who lived it.
Think of each King or Queen as if they were here in the room, talking to us.
Discover how each of them is unique, just like anyone else you meet.
I think he is strange.
Sounds a whole lot better than Aunt Hetty, to me.
Got to give him a proper chance, Felicity.
I think Professor Dimple will prove most interesting.
Why hasn't the bell rang yet? Maybe he likes recess.
Twenty minutes is quite long enough.
Leave it to Felicity to wreck a good time.
Et tu, Brutus? He's alive! The last words of Julius Caesar, first Roman Emperor to visit the British Isles.
He was stabbed by his friends, while walking to work one day.
And who, Gus Pike, did he find in Britain? - People? - Absolutely correct.
But not just any people.
Druids painted blue.
Blue?! They were blue?! Blue and bloody.
And worshiping trees and practising human sacrifice! Gus Pike! You shall be our conquering Roman Emperor, Julius! Would you select your Praetorian guards? You, you, you, you, you and you! And who would like to be the oak worshiping druids, gathered at Stonehenge, to sacrifice their next victim? Master Felix King! And your victim, Felix? Don't even think it, Felix! He said the British Royals were of little importance.
And then he stabbed himself! What?! He did what?! Well, he was only acting.
But it looked very real.
He scared the younger children to tears! And that was before the human sacrifice! Human sacrifice?! Oh, good lord, Felicity! Hard to believe that even your father permits such a man to teach school! Well, no one seems to notice this bizarre behaviour.
- Except for myself.
- Oh! Someone really ought to keep an eye on Professor Dimple, Aunt Hetty.
Who knows what he'll do next? Thank you, Felicity.
Someone shall.
Come on.
Alright, Britons! Out of your tents and ready yourselves! Vikings! Row! And row! And row! How do you think Aethelred felt when the Vikings sacked Canterbury Cathedral? A thousand years ago the Vikings were the best shipbuilders and sailors in the world.
All Europe trembled before their fierce and rapacious attacks.
Now Vikings! Prepare to attack! Felix! You're Erik Erikson! Gys! Leif, the Lucky! Edward! You'll be Eric, the Red! Rupert Gillis! Aethelred, the Unready! First King of England! Perhaps you want to nap under that tree? Shouldn't I prepare my troops for battle, sir? Of course not! Why do you think you are called 'The Unready'? Felicity! You'll be Erika, the Viking Queen! I refuse to put that disgusting thing on my head! Alright! Who'll be the Viking Queen then? I will.
Erika, Queen of the fiercest warriors that ever lived.
- Now, Vikings - Attack! Show no mercy! Take the wedge first! Now ship her.
Carry on! Come on, you Britons! Praetorians, defend yourselves! What?! My best saucepan! What happened to it? Felix! What happened to you?! Oh! History! It's wonderful! History did this to you and my pot?! I'm a little confused, Felix King.
And more than a little angry.
Are you alright? Oh, it's just a little scratch.
Honest! Girls! You're both filthy! Professor Dimple recreated the Viking attack on the Britons in the 9th century.
I was Erik Eriksson.
After conquering Britain, I discovered America! I was captured! Professor Dimple is a rude unmannered brute with no consideration for the finer feelings in life.
And the Vikings were just plain dirty! Rachel! Rachel Lynde! I have never seeing anything like it! Oh, Rachel! They were having a pitched battle there! Behind the schoolhouse! Children beating each other senseless! Really! I'm sure it was just a game, Hetty King.
Defies every principle ever learned in teacher's college.
You don't know everything there is to know under the sun, Hetty King.
And you made an issue out of this, when you resigned! Why couldn't you listen to Alec? Why, I am amazed! I I'd thought you of all people, Rachel Lynde, would've had the children's best welfare at heart! But I see there's not a soul in this town with an ounce of common sense, so umm good day to you! Olivia.
Still got a bee in her bonnet about the new school teacher.
- Oh! Have you seen Professor Dimple? - In the General Store.
Thank you.
Chalk.
Paints, paper.
Bandages.
Are you redecorating the schoolhouse, Professor Dimple? No, no, no, no, no, no! Professor Dimple? Olivia Dale, with the Avonlea Chronicle.
A member of the press.
Charmed, Ma'am.
What may I do for you? Oh, well, I was hoping I could secure an interview with you, for the paper.
An interview Well, I'm hardly a celebrity, Mrs Dale.
On the contrary, Professor! The whole town's abuzz about you.
They want every little detail, that's what.
We'll try to arrange a convenient time, Mrs Dale.
Oh, well actually, I was thinking tomorrow, right after school.
Ah, school! So challenging So rewarding! Lessons to prepare, you know.
Allow me, Professor.
I adhere to a very nouveau programme.
A pastiche of the most modern methods.
My class was a cream of a generation.
A woman such as yourself, Mrs Lynde, can appreciate the subtle humanness nuances of such a legacy.
Yes! Absolutely! Why, I'm a human myself, Professor.
"Was this the face that launched a thousand ships," "and burnt the topest towers of Ilium?" Helen of Troy, the most beautiful woman in the world.
Over whom the Trojan war was fought and raged on for ten years! "And look!" "The Greeks have sent us this gift of peace!" Felicity, that's your cue.
I refuse to be a raving lunatic, even in pretence!! You're not a lunatic, Felicity.
You're the Prophetess Cassandra.
"Look not a gift horse in the mouth.
" Let go of me! - Got you! - Catch her, Felix! This is ridiculous! Don't spoil things, Felicity! Yeah, you're suppose to start shrieking! I will not shriek! Oh, horrible, horrible! Most horrible! - Mr Dimple.
- Mr King.
Well, II hear some very fine things about you, sir, from my children.
Oh, thank you.
Wonderful family you have, Mr King.
Very bright, curious.
Yes, well, they've really changed since your arrival.
I understand your methods are quite different to those of my sister's.
Ah, yes, Miss King, of course! And how is Miss King? I had hoped we might chat.
Well, I wouldn't know.
She's not really speaking to me.
- Because of me, sir? - I suppose.
But it's it's really the whole situation.
She's taught for almost thirty years.
My, my! That's very impressive! But overwhelming.
She deserves a sabbatical.
- A what? - A time off.
Imagine giving off yourself, day in, day out for thirty years.
All those minds enlightened over all those years.
I've never really thought of it like that.
She deserves time to reflect, to collect her energies.
To apply her knowledge in other ways.
But we'll have to coax it out of her, won't we? Coax isn't exactly the right word, when it comes to Hetty.
Oh! Your credentials! Professor Dimple? Door is locked! Where's Felix? I thought he was with you.
No school? Don't push, Edward! Gus, do you see anything? Hello? Professor Dimple? - What's all this? - It's a tomb! Egypt? Welcome to the tomb of the great Pharaoh! Touch me and you'll live to regret it, Felix! To understand history you must understand And thrusting the venomous snakes to her breast, Cleopatra cried for them to drink deep, of the royal blood of Egypt.
And died, mourning her lost love, the roman, Marc Anthony.
That's so romantic! And so, passed the time of the great Pharaohs, their lives surrounded in a mystery of their monuments.
So much for antiquities! Onward to history! Mr Bugle! Our Henry the Eighth.
And our beautiful Queens of England! Catherine of Aragon.
Anne Boleyn.
Jane Seymour.
Anne of Cleves.
Catherine Howard.
Catherine Parr.
Divorced.
Beheaded.
Died.
Divorced.
Beheaded.
And Lived.
- Good day, Sara.
- Professor Dimple! Miss King! Mr Dimple.
I've been meaning to come by and ask if we might have a chat.
You're here now.
So I take it you've got something on your mind.
The classroom is a daunting place, Miss King.
All those bright expectant faces turned up, waiting for illumination.
I find it a great adventure into the imagination.
Do you? Education requires facts, Mr Dimple, not fiction.
Ah! But the elucidation of those facts, Miss King? Teaching is a profession the requires the educator to be original, to present facts and figures in a palatable, even interesting manner.
It takes its toll.
Oh-ho! Yes.
It most certainly does that.
Miss King, let me be perfectly honest.
I know how you feel.
Let me assure you that this position is of paramount importance.
It is the very sustenance of my life.
I'll do my very best, not to let the children down.
I find, however, that the good parents never realise the effort.
No, they don't.
The good parents, as you call them, continually take me take us for granted, do they not? There should be a period of rejuvenation for educators.
Say, every few years.
Time to gather new energies, make other contributions.
HowHow do you mean "other contributions"? I can see a great work in you, Miss King.
Ooh! A great work, you say? The history of the island, perhaps? A history of the families of the island.
Of the important families of the island.
Well, that's true.
The King family does have a notable tradition in these parts.
Surely you would want future generations, future King generations to view with a pride, their place in the founding and building of this province.
It's a thought, Professor.
A good thought.
Thank you.
By the by, I do wish you every success in your new position at the Avonlea school, one I enjoyed for many years, you know.
Thank you, Miss King.
- Good day.
- Good day.
- Sara.
- Bye, Mr Dimple.
"Michael! Michael!" "How long is the ceiling going to take?" Pope Julius commissioned Michelangelo to paint The Sistine Chapel.
At the same time, Francis the First was on the throne, in France and collecting art and artists.
He offered a home to Leonardo Da Vinci, who packed up all his little sketches and paintings, like the 'Mona Lisa', and moved to a lovely little chateau in the Loire Valley.
A little more blue in that sky, Felix.
And who was on the throne in England? Sara Stanley.
Henry VIII.
Collected wives.
Quite right, Sara.
Quite right.
Alec! - Oh, Alec! - Olivia, what is it? - What's the matter? - Read this! Look, second last page.
Read this.
- "Upstaged by dust.
" - What are we gonna do? I better have a talk with Mr Dimple.
Well now let's keep this between ourselves, Olivia.
Whatever you do, don't tell Hetty.
Oh, no.
Edward Rae, who was the first King of England? Alfred the Great.
He ate cakes in the woods.
Clemmie Rae, who won the battle of Agincourt? Henry V.
He gave up his best friend, Falstaff, to become King.
Sally Potts, what Houses fought the 'War of the Roses'? The Lancaster's in red, York in whites.
Alphie Bugle, who inherited the throne from Elizabeth? James VI of Scotland became James I of England.
He had the Bible translated to English.
Felix King, who lost England to the Danes? Aethelred The Unready.
He took a nap.
You are perfection itself.
I cannot possibly decide who among you should represent the school.
You're all a fount of wisdom.
So, we shall draw names for the honour.
Professor! Professor Dimple! I must have a word with you! Excuse me, excuse me.
It's about the Canterbury College of the Instructional Arts.
I must prepare my opening remarks, excuse me.
- Umm - Alec King! The children look positively intelligent.
We have to talk about the Professor.
I've just received word that he's no ordinary teacher.
There's not an ordinary bone in the man's body.
No, no.
You don't understand.
You see I understand that Professor Dimple has crammed more into Rupert's head than I would've thought possible.
- True.
- And, we are going to trounce Markdale.
Count on it! Alec! - A word with you.
- Hetty, I'm sorry.
I should never have let things go so far.
You were right.
Oh, no! I was wrong! How foolish of me to allow a school to occupy my every thought when there's so much else to life, don't you think? No.
I should've listened to you about Professor Dimple.
Oh, Professor Dimple isisis an excellent man.
Discerning, subtle, perceptive.
What? No, no.
That's ridiculous.
- The man is nothing but a - How like you, Alec King! Might've expected such a response from you, untrained as you are in education.
Incapable really of making a proper evaluation.
Look how you judged me.
Not that I hold a grudge.
But, if you say one word against Professor Dimple I shall make every day of your life a misery! You can count on it.
- Alec.
Alec, is anything wrong? - Well, yeah, it is Mr Dimple.
- Oh, what is it? Is he alright? - Well Father? Father, where is he? We're supposed to start soon! Well he must be backstage.
You better go.
- We'll talk about it later.
- Darling, how Good parents, friends and relations! There is nothing more important than history.
It marks the ebb and flow of time and our places in that infinite spectrum.
Tonight in the Avonlea town-hall a point of history will be made.
The opposing teams match wit and wisdom for the honour of their mates and schools.
And so, to the contest and to the victors, their moment in time.
For each correct answer 10 points.
Teams have the opportunity to answer incorrect responses and earn an additional 5 points.
First question to Avonlea School.
Who was the first Roman Emperor to visit the British Isles? Oh, no! I knew he'd never remember! Your answer, please.
Oh! I remember! He travelled to Rome with a man painted all blue! - Julius Caesar! - Correct! Markdale! In what year and at what place did the War of the Roses end? Um - At a field.
- Incorrect.
Avonlea? Bosworth Field, because Richard lost his horse.
Correct! Alec! Look at your son! He's a changed boy! Avonlea.
What English Monarch went on the Crusades? Richard Cur de Lion.
He made Robin Hood a knight.
Correct! Markdale.
Who opposed Henry II and was killed on the steps of Canterbury Cathedral? - Thomas Becket.
- Correct! Avonlea Excuse me, dear.
I'll be back before long.
What charter ended the barons' revolt of 1215? The Magna Carta.
The didn't like paying all them taxes.
- Correct! - Bravo! Mr King! Lovely night for a bit of air.
After the tension of a performance, I like to get out for a bit.
It's calming.
- With your suitcase, Professor? - Research.
It's very valuable.
I received your credentials.
You have bamboozled the schoolboard, the town; the province; the children and their parents and myself.
From one point of view, that's true.
Yet, have I done any harm? I thought about that, and I have to conclude that no harm has been done.
If anything, you've done the opposite.
All the children might have a few more scratches on the outside, but on the inside, they have a new curiosity to learn.
I don't know how, but you managed to inspire.
Why, my sister has become your staunchest defender.
Inspiration and imagination.
First principles of dramatics.
So, why did you do it? Lack of funds, between engagements.
Well, I'm afraid we can no longer employ you here.
What are you going to do? I'll think of something.
What about you? Ah! I have discovered, Mr King, that all the world is a stage.
All the men and women merely players.
They have their exits and entrances.
And one man at a time plays many parts.
Good luck, Mr Dimple.
And, for what it's worth, I think the theatrical reviewer of this newspaper has much maligned you.
Thank you, Mr King.
Thank you, indeed.
"Onward, Christian soldiers!" "Marching as to war.
" Well unfortunately Professor Dimple has been suddenly recalled to Canterbury to, uh, fill the shoes of the recently deceased principal.
He sends his deepest apologies.
- Oh, that's awful! - What do we do now? Fortunately we have an outstanding teacher right here, in our own Hetty King.
I appreciate your new found confidence in me, Alec, but Professor Dimple has asked me to return with him to the Canterbury College of the Instructional Arts.
We discussed writing a book together, you see, about the unique situation facing students and teachers.
Then understand what a challenge that will be for two such educators as Alistair and myself.
Oh, I do understand.
Perfectly, Hetty.
But, I beg you, consider the town, our children.
Canterbury can survive without you, but Avonlea can't.
For the children, yes.
Of course you're right, Alec.
Mustn't be selfish.
Can't turn my back on Avonlea, can I? Well, then Professor Dimple simply will have to do without me.
We are ever in your debt.
Come on! - Come on! - This is so wonderful! Olivia! Don't doddle, come on now! What smells so delicious in here? Felix, what's the matter? I think I feel sick.
Could be the plague! He doesn't want to go to school.
Come on, Felix.
Personally, I can't wait to resume my proper education.
- Please may I be excused, mother? - Yes, you may.
You may all be excused.
The return of Hetty the Terrible! Felix! Don't talk that way about your Aunt! Hurry up! You'll all be late.
They look like they're going to an execution.
That's the way I always felt.
Ah, Class! Attention, please! Today we begin our study of the exploration of the New World.
Now, then Felix King.
What can you tell us about the voyage of Columbus? CColumbus? Come, come now, Felix.
We are waiting.
Um Um he he traveled he he traveled on a ship Ooh! Really, Felix King! Will you never learn?! I suppose not.
II suppose the only way you will learn is to play the part of Christopher Columbus.
Mmmm? When we re-enact the voyage.
Is that it? Yes, Ma'am! Well, then, Columbus, as I hope many of you already know, was the first explorer to settle in the New World after the Vikings! Gus Pike.
You'll be King Ferdinand II.
And Felicity, you'll be Queen Isabella of Castile.