02x04 - The Painful Eagerness of Unfed Hope

[bunniefuu]

ANNE AND DIANA GIGGLE

Doesn't it just feed your heart
when the air's so crisp?

Every breath feels so alive!

It's the perfect day
for a tragical romance.

Lord Tennyson would approve.

GIRLS GIGGLE

Whomever plays Elaine must lie
in the flat and float to Camelot

while the others mourn her death
most sorrowfully.

I find it helpful to think of something
that makes you sad in your own life.

Of course you must be Elaine, Anne.

Oh, it would be ridiculous
to have a redheaded Elaine.

It ought to be Ruby,
as she has lovely golden hair

and Elaine had
"all her bright hair streaming down"!

THEY GIGGLE
- Oh, I couldn't.

To lie and pretend I was dead,
I'd die of fright.

This was your idea, Anne.

You're obsessed with Elaine.

Oh, it's true.

And each time I read the poem

I'm devoured by a secret regret
that I was not born in Camelot.

Those days were much more romantic
than the present.

I will be Elaine then.

THEY GIGGLE

Diana?

Well, I never.

- GIRLS GIGGLE IN DISTANCE
- Diana!

Ruby, you must be King Arthur.

Jane, Guinevere,
and Diana must be Lancelot.

I need a flower.

She does really look dead.

My mother says that all playacting
is abominably wicked.

Ruby, you shouldn't mention your mother,
it spoils the effect

because this was hundreds of years
before your mother was born.

We must kiss her quiet brows.

Sister...

farewell forever.

JANE:
Now she's ready.

Farewell, Elaine the lovable!

MRS BARRY:
Diana!

- DIANA: Mother?
- Child, come out of there at once.

I've been calling!

You were to be practicing lessons

and here I find you engaged
in perilous, senseless...

Whatever this is!

We were practicing lessons,
in a way.

We're studying the poem Lancelot and Elaine
at school and we decided to...

Diana. Home. Now.

The rest of you as well,
before you catch your death.

- The girls just got here and we were...
- MRS BARRY: Now!

I will be heard!

Anne, be on your way, please.

Come along now, Diana. Come along, girls.

ANNE SIGHS
So much for romance.

MUSIC: "Ahead by a Century" by Tragically Hip
♪ First thing, we'd climb a tree ♪

♪ And maybe then we'd talk ♪

♪ Or sit silently ♪

♪ And listen to our thoughts ♪

♪ With illusions of someday ♪

♪ Cast in a golden light ♪

♪ No dress rehearsal ♪

♪ This is our life ♪

♪ You are ahead by a century ♪

- ♪ This is our life ♪
- ♪ You are ahead by a century ♪

Is it addressed to Anne Shirley-Cuthbert
from a faraway port?

I'm afraid not.

We've got post.

I thought for a moment it might be
from Gil... That, uh, it might be for me.

But... open it.

It must be important.

Is that not your second letter
from Miss Jeannie?

Third.

I'm ever so aimless
with Diana not allowed out to play.

Mrs Barry is being quite harsh.

We weren't in peril.

It's not like we were ever
in any real danger.

Not like when the boarders were here.

We were re-enacting
the most romantical poem ever!

Dear Lord, will you ever learn any sense?

ANNE:
No need to ask the Lord, Marilla.

I believe the prospect
of me becoming sensible

is actually brighter now than ever.

You see, I've come to the conclusion

that there's really no use
trying to be romantic in Avonlea.

It may have been easy in Camelot
hundreds of years ago

but romance is not appreciated anymore.

MARILLA: It's a day late and a dollar short
for your newfound sensibleness.

I daresay Mrs Barry was right
to call your pond business dangerous.

Seeing as you can't seem
to keep out of trouble

- you will confine yourself to indoor chores.
- But Marilla...

Well, now, that was...
It was a good few days ago.

We all need to stop gallivanting around

like nothing bad could ever happen
in Avonlea.

Don't give up all your romance, Anne.
A little of it's a good thing.

MRS BARRY: Oh, for heaven's sake!
They're going to need to go higher.

You'll have to move the rod.

METAL CLATTERS

Yes...

it was too peaceful in here.

Why don't you go for a trot, dear?

You haven't left the house in days.

MR BARRY:
I'm quite alright, thank you.

Despite the glare from the gaudy drapes
you seem to have spent our nest-egg on.

I'm sure I don't need to remind you

that I purchased these drapes
before you lost our money.

Around the time you were telling me
to stay out of our finances

and trust that you were going
to make us rich.

Would you excuse us for a moment, please?

We'll never return to England now, will we?

We're stuck here!

What about the girls?
What about their future?

This is something
that happened to our whole family.

You cannot just refuse to engage...

At least I was trying to do something

while you flit around all day doing nothing.

CLASSICAL ROMANTIC MUSIC

MUSIC FADES OUT

CLASSICAL ROMANTIC MUSIC

MUSIC FADES OUT

CLASSICAL ROMANTIC MUSIC SWELLS

MUSIC FADES OUT

CLASSIC ROMANTIC MUSIC RETURNS

ANNE:
"Matthew, I'm sure I've made it clear by now

but I've been thinking of you
since we reconnected last year.

If you could find it
in your heart to respond

it would mean the world to me.

You are a special man.

Yours, Jeannie."

Have you ever heard anything more romantic?

- What does it mean?
- Don't you see?

A widow,
who believes her days of love are behind her

is suddenly reacquainted
with the kindest, most wonderful man

who she knew in school, only to discover

that he has lived his whole life
without the bliss of true love!

They knew each other in school?

Why, Gilbert and I knew
each other in school!

Maybe Matthew's been waiting
for Jeannie this whole time.

Why isn't he writing her back?

He doesn't have the words.

It would be awful
to live a life without true love.

I will be an agent of romance.

How can you be sure
that Matthew and Jeannie are in love?

Did you ever go courting, Matthew?

Uh...

Can't say as I did, no.

Well, do you believe in true love?

MATTHEW COUGHS
Well now...

I got no reason to disbelieve it, I suppose.

Did you ever feel
the ache of love in your own heart?

- I wonder if Marilla isn't the one that you...
- I want to talk to you.

Alright then. Uh... Well then...

Anne, if you're having...

Uh, feelings...

Uh... Uh, about a... boy...

Not me!

Oh, uh, excuse me, Anne.

Jerry, uh, let me give you
some instructions about the hay!

- BASH: Blythe, you ready?
- GILBERT: One rum, one babash.

INDISTINCT CHATTER

Ooh...

Oof.

- You sure that's not gonna k*ll you?
- No, that's what makes it good. The danger.

Got to taste death to feel alive, Blythe.

Not for you though, first time.

Babash, local delicacy,
you'll be sprouting like a weed.

Man. Seeing the world, trying new things...

- what could be better?
- Gold.

Some girl tell you
there might be gold on your land

and you'd rather move coal?

I wouldn't say that girl's
the most reliable narrator.

You are crazy.

If I had somebody pretty back home,
gold or no, I'd be up outta here.

It's not like that with Anne.
She's just a friend.

Yeah, a friend that make you smile
and act like a mok.

- Be a man.
- I am.

Only a boy can't admit
when he's gone over a lady.

Would a boy stare danger right in the eye?

- And swallow it?
- Hey. No, no!

GILBERT GROANS

Oh. Oh...

GILBERT GROANS

There, there, doux-doux.
You're a man, in truth.

Come, come.

RACHEL: Marilla's got a mind
to make a new dress, has she?

She'd do well not to let folks
see her spending money

at a time when many lost theirs.

I'm not sure a dress made by Marilla
will make people think of money.

Although, a store-bought dress
from Jeannie's shop, on the other hand...

It was ever so nice of Matthew
to ask Jeannie to make me a dress last year.

Did they know each other well? In school?

Mm, can't say I remember much,
seeing as it was decades ago.

I do recall that he walked her home
a few times.

But after his brother Michael d*ed,
that was the end of everything.

The end of everything? How so?

It changed the course
of all the Cuthberts' lives.

And Matthew?

He went into that barn
and he never came out.

Love thwarted by tragedy.

ANNE:
"Dearest Jeannie.

I am deeply sorry...

it has taken so long...

to answer your letters..."

Do not move.

Minnie May...
Minnie May, what are you doing?

Stop it, Minnie May!

Social Etiquette?

- Girls!
- It... It was Minnie May.

MINNIE MAY:
Diana did it!

I can see this book has arrived
not a moment too soon!

If you can't be finished in Paris,
you will be taught at home.

It's time to learn to be proper ladies.

Childhood is over.

Girls.

Yes, well, isn't that something?

Changing the world are we, dear,
one curtsey at a time?

It's been a while since I've seen you
out of the house, Marilla.

I've been curious to see
how the Cuthberts have been faring

since the golden boy made off
with all our savings.

Of course, I do understand
why you haven't been out and about.

It's likely best you stay away from church

on account of the whole town
is still quite sore.

We were made to look like fools.

And folks are suffering.

It's not just the Barrys.

Close on half the congregation had given
Nate their money before he made off.

VOICE ECHOES: Do you think
that's gonna make for an easy winter?

NATE (VO):
There is indeed gold in Avonlea.

$ per test...

MATTHEW: Close to half
what most folks make in a year.

ANNE:
We're in such danger, Marilla.

RACHEL: I didn't think
it was right to sit here, serve tea

and not say something.

I do blame myself.

I brought them here...

allowed them in.

Well, now.

Anyone with your dire financial straits
last Christmas

would've done the same thing.

It's not your fault, that's what I say.

All will be forgiven in time.

Apart from the Minister.

He had his heart set on a new chaise lounge

from which to better talk off
the ear of the Lord.

Be a few months before you're back
in his good books.

RACHEL CHUCKLES

We'll put it behind us.

MAN:
Wares for sale! Wares for sale!

Something for everybody!

Wa...

Uh... Beautiful day, huh?

ANNE GASPS
Where are these from?

Oh, wait. A Russian Tsar.

Anatoly, pulled these off
his dying brother in battle!

His brother, who was a pacifist

who went to w*r
only to protect greedy Anatoly

and who, in death,
taught the tsar to lead with love.

- Such an interesting, um... Uh...
- Imagination?

Yes, I get that quite a bit.

Oh, what's this?

That belonged to my wife.

She give in hope I sell,
and we together sooner.

Where is she?

She and my children, still in Germany.

I work night and day to bring them here.

Not good for Jewish people there.

Treated like, uh...

You must miss them so.

Now that I know what it is to have a family,
I cannot fathom what it would be like

not to see them every day.

Oh, I would die to be able to give
my bosom friend something like this!

It's broken.

I think broken things have such
a sad beauty.

After years of stories and triumph
and tragedy infused into them

they can be much more romantical

than new things that haven't lived at all.

Oh, I don't have any money.

Is yours.

MARILLA:
You! Get away from her!

- How dare you trespass!
- MAN: I... but...

ANNE:
Marilla, he... It's alright!

- MAN: Madam, I...
- Off my land!

He's a peddler, he's kind.

- Anne!
- MAN: It's fine. I go.

I go.

Anne Shirley-Cuthbert.

How many times have I warned you
about speaking to strangers?

- And Italians at that!
- He's not Italian and he...

You can't just go around
inviting strange men into the house!

I didn't invite him in.

Go to your room please.

MAN:
There you are, Miss.

ANNE:
"Dearest Jeannie..."

"My darling Jeannie...

Have you heard...

of... a calla lily?

MARILLA:
Anne! School!

ANNE:
I never want to be a lady.

"If little girls could understand
the vulgarity

of putting heads together and giggling

as if the whole world was
a ridiculous affair

they would refrain from
such unmitigated nonsense."

No laughing. No waddling.

"Only look straight ahead of you
when walking."

"Burping is social ruin"? I...

We can no longer afford finishing school
in Paris

so Mother's determined to finish me herself.

She says childhood is over.

But...

But how can you be done having a childhood
when I've only just begun?

Oh, Anne...

- Sorry.
- It's alright.

We've only just learned that our friendship
has been sentenced to death.

Is there a ridiculous, hateful book
that teaches boys to be men?

If there was, it wouldn't help me.

What do you mean?

Nothing. Sorry.

MR PHILLIPS BURPS

ANNE WHISPERS:
Social ruin!

ANNE GIGGLES

THEY SNORT AND LAUGH

Shh!

- Shh!
- I'm sorry.

- MAN: Have another one for you, Mr Cuthbert.
- Much obliged.

Seems there's been
a flurry of post, of late.

Don't suppose it'd k*ll you
to respond to Jeannie.

That'll be all for me then.

Goodnight.

MATTHEW GRUNTS

"In answer to your question"?

- MATTHEW SIGHS
- COCKEREL CROWS

"To your question"?

KNOCK AT DOOR

Yes! Rescue me from geometry,
the most uninspired form of t*rture.

I know...

you've written to Jeannie.

I want to tell you...

it's not right.

I wasn't...
I wasn't trying to go behind your back.

I just...

You... you can't...
live a life without true love...

It's not your affair to meddle in.

Jeannie is...

Folks have...

feelings.

What you did...

it's not right.

DOOR SHUTS

MINNIE MAY CHEWS NOISILY

This is cold again.

Minnie May, stop chewing so noisily.
You sound like an animal.

Don't stare when someone
is scolding their child.

It's extremely rude.

I see the finishing is going well.

At this rate, they'll be married
to fishmongers before we know it.

What's wrong with Mr Cuthbert?

Everything is better now.
We... we caught the bad guys.

Is he sad that people lost money?

Is he... is he sick again? His heart?

It's none of your business!

ANNE PANTS

ANNE CRIES OUT

SHE SOBS

SHE GASPS

Have you ever hurt someone so badly
that they couldn't love you anymore?

BIRD CRIES

DIANA:
How could you do such a thing!

Do you have any control?

You'll be fortunate
if you can get a fishmonger to marry you!

MRS BARRY:
Diana!

You wet the bed.

How come no one loves each other anymore?

I'm sorry.

MINNIE MAY SOBS

I'm so sorry.

Can we have a conversation, please?

If you could forego the wounded bird act.

There is too much stress
and anger in this house.

If we don't stop being enemies
and start speaking to one another

we're going to ruin our girls.

Well, I'm not the one playing
the drill sergeant with them.

I understand I have a role in this.

But that doesn't change the fact
that we need to talk.

And what is it you would like to talk about,
dear?

What would you like to force me to say,
aloud, in front of you?

That I'm a fool? That I'm ashamed?

That I've made a huge mistake?

Yes.

Because then I'd be able to tell you
I would've agreed with you.

If you'd asked for my thoughts
on the gold or the investment idea

I would've agreed.

And then we could've both been
fools together.

But you insist on taking this
all upon yourself.

Then and now.

I just wanted to do something
that mattered for once...

in my sorry, irrelevant life.

I don't want us to not make mistakes.

I just want to be included.

I want us to be partners.

I know how hard it is
for you to express yourself.

That has never been my weak point.

And then I thought back to when you told me
not to give up all my romance

and that together with what Mrs Lynde told me
about when Michael d*ed and how hard...

I can well understand all that.

I just wish you hadn't done it.

Make haste sending that love letter, Blythe.

- It's not a love letter.
- Right. I forgot.

GILBERT:
I'm serious, it's not a love letter.

BASH: How long they say
till she gets your love letter?

GILBERT:
It's not a love letter.

Maybe a month.

WOMAN SCREAMS

WOMAN WAILS

- Please!
- You...

You don't come back here again.

SHE SOBS
Please!

No!

What's wrong? What is it?

GILBERT:
She's in labour.

- Miss, where's your family?
- SHE SCREAMS

She ain't have one
and her brothel mother just threw her out!

- GILBERT: Is there a doctor coming?
- BASH: Hey!

- Miss, is there a doctor on the way?
- BASH: Open this door!

- You can't do this! Open the door!
- Miss...

BANGING ON DOOR
- BASH: Open this door!

You can't do this! Open the door!

Open the door!

WOMAN SOBS

SHE SCREAMS

- GILBERT: Miss!
- SHE SCREAMS

Miss!

Miss...

Miss?

I know you must be scared.

SHE WHIMPERS

What's your name?

- Ruth.
- Ruth. I'm Gilbert.

SHE YELLS

- Your waters have broken?
- Yes! Yes!

- We have to get help.
- No time. This is happening now.

I need your babash.

I need to sterilise!

You crazy? You ain't delivering that baby.

What on the green earth makes you think
you got any...

- I've done it before!
- On a farm! Cows! This is different.

I know that!

You can go and find help
or you can help me in here.

WOMAN SCREAMS

What are you doing?

Ruth, your baby's coming now.

No... No, you stay away from me!

We're here to help.

You keep that white man away from me!

I know.
This pasty fella trying to come at you.

I was not sure when I met him neither.

He'll talk your ear off
and don't know much about the world

but he knows birthing.
He's my brother and I trust him.

If your baby's coming, he can't leave you.
I can go for help.

No, no! No, no, no, no.

We're here for you, in truth,
if you'll have us.

SHE SCREAMS

W-what now, Blythe?

- Blythe?
- SHE SCREAMS

Dilation.
I need to see that her body's prepared.

Help her down here.

Ruth, I'm gonna need you to lie down,
alright?

Get behind her. Support her.

Good.

Begging your pardon, Miss?

SHE SCREAMS

Alright. It's time.

Alright. I...

What? What is it?

What...

Your baby's breech.

What is that?

It's not in a deliverable position.
I'm gonna need to adjust it.

SHE SOBS

SHE SCREAMS
- Hold onto me, Ruth.

SHE WAILS

- Hold onto me.
- SHE SCREAMS

Ruth. Ruth, you want to know something?

I was a breech baby too

and... and I lived to tell the tale!

He was in his mother
just like your baby is in you now.

Look at him!

Strong, strapping lad.
Well, he kind of skinny...

SCREAMS ECHO

VOICE MUTED

SHE SCREAMS

It's moved! The baby's ready.

You'll have to start pushing now.

I can't, I can't. it hurts!

- Yes, you can!
- Push, Ruth.

You're doing so well!

- Ready? Push!
- Push!

SHE CRIES

- Push!
- Push!

- Push, Ruth!
- SHE SCREAMS

VOICE ECHOES:
Come on, Ruth, you can do it!

VOICE MUTED

Almost there. One more. One more. Push!

SHE GASPS

BABY CRIES

BABY CRIES

BASH:
You see that face? She's beautiful.

Thank you.

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

Any idea where Matthew's off to?

Marilla... I think I ruined everything.

BELL RINGS

MAN:
Port change, boys!

Let's change. Switch it up!

Wouldn't mind having one of those.

A struggling, wailing little fella.

Throw the ball with,
bouff when he backchats...

I could see that for you.

Got no way to raise him up right.
You need land for that.

What kind of strange child
were you anyway, Blythe?

Needing to know
about your own breech birth.

I didn't want to know about my birth.
I wanted to know about my mother.

So I asked my father.

She d*ed giving birth to me.

Sorry... My brain is slow.

It's alright.

Didn't want Ruth to know that part.

I don't wanna be a farmer.

You've said that before. Now you're sure?

Guess there's other things
calling out to you? Eh, Doc?

BASH CHUCKLES

It's a powerful thing
to have done someone wrong

when you truly didn't intend it.

I tried to apologise,
but it didn't fix anything.

I allow we must let people
feel how they need to...

and process in their own time.

Would you like to talk about the letters,
Matthew?

Uh, yes, uh...

I would, yes.

Uh...

I meant to write you back, but I, um...

Were you able to tell it was Anne writing?

It was not me. I only...
I just found out about it.

Oh, goodness.

Oh, of course.

Now that you mention it,
I should have put it together.

Jeannie, I'd like to apologise...

I did feel that the letters were unlike you,
but I suppose part of me hoped...

I should've answered you straight away,
that's... That's my fault...

I didn't intend to make you uncomfortable,
Matthew.

It's just...

It's just been so nice to reacquaint.

I had thought of you.

After I left school.

Over the years.

And I did appreciate the letters.
It's only...

It took Anne so long to get here.

You want to spend
the time you have left with her.

To be quite honest,
I felt overwhelmed when you did respond

and compared me to calla lilies!

SHE CHUCKLES

- She does have a way with words!
- I'm not certain that I want to know.

Children make mistakes,
and not always with the best of intentions

unlike your Anne.

She didn't have an easy go of it, you know.
Before.

She's certainly been blessed
with a life with you at Green Gables.

We could go back, if you like.

Or there's a lovely trail up ahead.

I wouldn't mind seeing that trail,
if you've got the time.

MRS BARRY YELLS
- GIRLS GASP

THEY LAUGH

SHE LAUGHS

HE LAUGHS

MR BARRY:
Whoa!

THEY GIGGLE

MATTHEW:
Whoa, whoa.

I'm sorry, Matthew.

I just didn't want you to miss out on love.

I don't know how... you could think that...

I don't have... love.

I have you.

ANNE SIGHS

I'm free to be a girl!

Mother says there's plenty of time
to become a lady

and, at least for a little while longer,
we can play!

Oh, Diana, if you'd come in and told me
that a fairy queen

had come to stay in your house,
I couldn't be happier than this moment!

Oh, I have something for you!

Oh...

We can each have a part.

And it will only be whole
when we're together.

ANNE:
You're no match for me, Prince Wisteria!

DIANA:
That's what you think, Princess Cornelia!

THEY GIGGLE