02x01 - Youth Is the Season of Hope

[bunniefuu]

BIRDSONG

ANNE:
Goodbye, Belle.

ANNE GIGGLES

SHE GRUNTS

SHE SIGHS

Thought you might like this.

Perspective is wonderful.

It's wonderful.

GEESE HONK

BIRD SINGS

WOODPECKER PECKS

BIRDS SING

FROGS CROAK

OWL HOOTS

FROGS CROAK
- BIRDS CHIRP

WOODPECKER PECKS
- OWL HOOTS

OWL HOOTS

SHE LAUGHS

ANNE CRIES
- WATER SPLASHES

SHE LAUGHS

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 ♪

Oh, Matthew,
I've had just the best afternoon!

Can you imagine that of all the trees
on Prince Edward Island

I managed to find the oldest
and kindest one?

I could.

How many species of birds
would you say there are?

- Because I'm sure I heard at least...
- Gracious me, what's happened to you?

- I was on a big...
- Adventure. Yes. I see.

I'll thank you to spare me the details.

You're not coming inside with those
filthy boots on, that's for sure and certain.

Take them off.

Then you can go right upstairs

and change out of those wet clothes
before supper.

Be quick about it
before you catch your death!

SHE SCOFFS
Adventure.

MR DUNLOP:
A little piece of heaven on earth.

I churned some fresh butter today.

Hallelujah.

I've truly found paradise
here at Green Gables.

- Afternoon, Mr Dunlop.
- Afternoon, dear Anne.

Take your needlepoint, please.

I wouldn't be doing needlepoint
if I wasn't out of paper.

There'll be plenty more
when school starts up again after harvest.

But needlepoint provides so little scope
for the imagination!

BELL RINGS

MARILLA:
I wonder what's become of Nate?

- Well, I guess we should make a start.
- DOOR OPENS

NATE:
My apologies. So sorry I'm late.

HE SIGHS

I got lost in my work. Again.

We were getting worried, is all.

NATE:
Please don't hold it against me.

Shall I say grace?

Oh my, it's been a long time
since we've said grace in this household.

It does seem like there's
an awful lot to be grateful for

especially now at harvest time.

Grace would be very nice.

NATE CLEARS THROAT

Dear Lord, we thank you for...

Uh, could you please say
"Gracious Heavenly Father"?

Anne!

It sounds so much more romantical.

Gracious Heavenly Father...

please bless this table and the Cuthberts
for taking us into their home.

We give thanks to you for this food
and for the hands that have prepared it.

We ask your blessings upon this meal

that it will nourish our bodies
and refresh our souls.

And bless those who are here,
and those who are in our hearts.

And all those who are not as fortunate
on this day.

- Amen.
- MARILLA: Amen.

WORKERS SHOUT
- MACHINERY WHIRS

MAN:
Come on. Pick it up! Pick it up!

Get up and move!

WORKERS SHOUT
- MAN COUGHS

Feed the lady, Trinidad!

No one payin' you to take a vacation!

GILBERT SINGS:
♪ Oh, when I was a little boy ♪

♪ My mother often told me ♪

♪ Way haul away... ♪

Don't make that man vex.

Or me.

♪ And if I never kissed the girls... ♪

You ain't funny.

I wasn't trying to be funny.

Well, maybe a little.

FIREMAN:
Maybe you boys want some different job?

- Is that what you want?
- MAN: Sorry, sir!

Sometimes the music in my soul
just needs to come out.

FIREMAN:
You want the slit trench?

- That suit you better?
- We're good, sir! Everything's fine!

Coming to you, sir.

GILBERT: I suspect latrine duty
would be particularly repugnant!

- MAN: Don't act doltish nah.
- FIREMAN: What's that?

You want no job? That it?

We're going real good, sir.
We does like to make she go.

This work be a privilege.

No more jawin'.

KNOCK ON DOOR

DOOR OPENS

Hope I'm not disturbing you.

Just about to head out.

Is there any chance
I could come with you today?

I'm sure I could get my chores done quickly,
and since school is out for harvest

I don't have anywhere else to be.

I don't think you'd find digging dirt
all day very interesting.

But I would.

Please? I never get to see what you're doing

and I think the science of rocks and such
is positively fascinating.

When I first came to Prince Edward Island,
I marvelled at the red roads, I truly did.

If you hadn't come to stay,
I would have never known why they're red.

The words "iron oxide"
give me such a thrill.

They sound so scientific!

SHE GASPS
It's a whole universe.

And to think your employer,
far away in America

might want this very soil
more than anything.

- Isn't the world a remarkable place?
- You never stop talking.

GIRL: And then, Princess Cordelia
raised her big bad p*stol

and pointed it at the kitten!

What?

Oh, Princess Cordelia,
please spare me my life!

MUFFLED SCREAM
- The kitten was destined to die.

Anne, stop talking!
You're supposed to be asleep.

Anne Shirley! Come here.

Esther! Bring the books.

One hour. Maybe two.

We'll see.

Not. One. Word.

You could do all the talking.

You can regale me with every bit
of information you ever knew

about rocks and soils and minerals...

You know Miss Marilla will have my hide.

I can't steal you away
right when there's extra work to be done.

But harvest is tomorrow.

I tell you what...

if you read this,
you'll know everything I know and more, hm?

SHE LAUGHS
- Best and final offer.

You'll live to regret lending this to me
cos I'm going to learn everything

- there is to know about... geology.
- I have no doubt.

I'll have to ask you , questions,
if you don't mind.

Fair warning.

SHE SIGHS

Geology...

FINGERS SNAP
Out.

NATE CLEARS THROAT
- Oh, my word.

Sorry. Did I scare you?

I-I... I thought you were gone.
I would never have...

I had a small, red-headed delay.

My, my...

your hair smells as fresh
as a summer breeze.

Well, I'm off.

Sorry for the intrusion.

MR DUNLOP HUMS A TUNE

♪ I'm gonna stake my claim in Avonlea ♪

♪ Why not bet on me? ♪

Put your money where your mouth is!

♪ You should bet on me... ♪

Today's the day, yes?

Today's the day. Finally.

Time to bait the hook.

Ah, bountiful harvest.

Love me some full pockets looking to spend.

MARILLA:
Anne, for heaven's sake!

Take the pail to the barn!

Yes! Sorry!

- She's a character, that one.
- She's a case, I should say!

- What are you doing?
- Working. What are you doing?

What does it look like I'm doing?

- Something boring that isn't work.
- Hardly.

Nate gave me this book.

Something's wrong with that guy.

What? Why do you say that?

I-I dunno... I just...

Well, this book is extremely interesting.

And Nate happens to understand
that reading is a necessity.

ANNE: I'm a rabbit!
LAUGHTER ECHOES

GIRL:
Anne, stop it now. Stop!

ANNE:
I'm a rabbit, see?

I'm a fluffy little bouncing bunny rabbit!

SHE LAUGHS

WOMAN SNORES

Reading is my life's blood.

I-I mean, look.

Look at this sentence. Isn't it glorious?

Sometimes you're not very nice.

What do you mean?
Why are you.. Jerry!

No school for me, remember?

- I could teach you to read.
- Don't bother.

Words are made up of letters
from something called the alphabet

and there are letters in it,
the alphabet

and it has infinite combinations
to make up every word that there is.

Maybe let's start with your name.

Um, so, this is the letter "J".

This is "E"...

HORSE WHINNIES

HE YELLS

HE YELLS

HE YELLS

I say! You need some assistance?

Sorry, I, um...

Mr Barry, right?

Right indeed. And you are?

Nathaniel. Nate.

- I've been boarding at Green Gables.
- MR BARRY: Yes. The, um, geologist?

NATE:
Unfortunately, yes.

MR BARRY:
So, what seems to be the trouble?

I... I really shouldn't say.

It's just so frustrating, is all.

NATE SIGHS

Maybe you've heard I, um...

I work for a big chemical company.

They hired me to extract
iron oxide from the soil.

So that's what this is all about, eh?

Looks like you're headed to China.

Well, feels like it sometimes.

- This is, uh, unowned land, correct?
- Yes, that's right.

I own acres going across
the other side.

NATE:
And they're gonna take it!

Not yours. This, this here. This...

I'm sorry.
I don't mean to keep popping my cork.

No, no, no. Not to worry.

The thing is, is, um...

I've found gold.

There, I said it.

I'm pretty sure it's a big find, too.

I sent a soil sample out to New York
for independent testing.

I'm waiting to hear.

I did it without
my "dear" company's knowledge

cos once they know...

they'll grab all the land rights.

Could be worth millions.

Quite.

Sorry to burden you, but...
NATE CLEARS THROAT

it felt good to finally say it aloud.

In confidence.

Ah.

Everyone here in Avonlea sure are good folk.

Shame for y'all not to have the profits.

The gold could be everywhere.

See you soon, Mr Barry.

Ah! Call me William, please.

William. Well, bye for now.

MR DUNLOP SINGS:
♪ When I was a little lad ♪

♪ My mother often told me... ♪

ALL:
♪ Way, haul away ♪

♪ We'll haul away, Joe ♪

MR DUNLOP:
♪ And if I did not kiss the girls ♪

♪ My lips would all go mouldy ♪

ALL:
♪ Way, haul away ♪

♪ We'll haul away, Joe ♪

GILBERT:
♪ And if I did not kiss the girls... ♪

MAN:
Two days of this.

Fireman's not the only one
who don't appreciate that song.

I was just joking around.

Well, don't.

You're right, you're right.
Fireman is an easy target.

That's not why.

What's eating you?

I been trimmer for ten years. More.

This is all I have.

I can't move up. This is it for me.

And there ain't nothin' for me on dry land.

You a white boy.

You got options.

You're a tourist, Blythe.

I need this.

Don't lose this work for me. Understand?

Yeah.

Yeah... I'm sorry.

And you don't sing worth a damn.

Says you.

HE LAUGHS

Ah! Isn't this just the most beautiful day
there ever was!

I love autumn. I just love it.

I'm so glad I get to live in a world
where there are Octobers, aren't you?

I'm still trying to understand why
you haven't been to the beach

since you were children.

- Never really thought of it.
- Never thought of it?

Never really had an opportunity, I suppose.

ANNE:
But you've had every opportunity!

For years!

I love you both very much,
but this is positively mystifying.

Mystifying!

I've been longing to go every day
for all of my years

but I've never had the chance.

I can't wait to find out
what we've all been missing

cos I'm quite sure we've been missing a lot!

- Oh, stop.
- MATTHEW: What?

Stop the buggy. Stop!

- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
- Whatever is the matter, Anne?

Uh, wait here. I'll be right back.

MARILLA:
Anne!

Anne!

What the devil?

Anne!

ANNE:
Isn't it glorious?

SHE SQUEALS

ANNE GIGGLES
- Anne...

What are you doing? Come back here!

Anne! Oh, oh, look at this...

Matthew! Matthew, stop her.

It's dangerous.

Anne! Come back here this instant!

- Come on! Come in!
- MARILLA: No. It's cold!

Anne... Matthew, will you stop her?
Just... Oh!

Bring her back here!

Oof!

Ah!

- Pretty cold, eh?
- It's perfect!

MARILLA:
Anne!

- Matthew, come back here.
- Come in!

- MARILLA: Don't be silly.
- Come on, Marilla, come in!

ANNE CRIES

Matthew! Matthew!

MARILLA WHIMPERS

Matthew!

- Save her!
- Anne...

I got so excited I forgot I can't swim!

Is she alright?

Anne, are you alright?

I'm fine!

MATTHEW:
You wanna learn?

Lift your legs. Kick with your legs.
Kick, kick, kick.

Paddle with your hands.

There. Very nice.

- Whoa!
- ANNE SHRIEKS

SHE SQUEALS

Can the first thing we do
with all the harvest money

be to buy back Burty the horse?

I miss him.

I'm fairly certain that we'll have enough.

I love it here.

I love looking out at the horizon

and imagining all the other places
there are in the world

and all the possibilities.

FERRY WHISTLE BLOWS

INDISTINCT CHATTER

DOOR OPENS

You don't see me barging into your room
whenever the mood strikes me.

Sorry. The temptation was irresistible.

Oh, Nate, we had such a marvellous time
at the beach yesterday!

I feel positively irrepressible!

Oh, um, the book keeps falling open
to this chapter on gold

and then I noticed that it seems to be
the only one that's, well, beloved.

It looks like you've read this chapter
over and over and over again.

There's coffee stains and smudges
and underlines and...

And then I noticed this little map you drew
with dimensions and plans...

I can't talk about it!

I'm sorry.

It's just that... I'm in a moral quandary.

I'll know soon what to do. I...

I want, above all, to do the right thing.

- Can you understand that?
- Yes.

But can I just...

I...

I need you to hold a good thought
and don't say anything to anyone

until I figure things out

and end this turmoil in my heart.

Can you do that for me?

Shh.

Shh.

- DIANA: So just write another Bert story.
- RUBY: Another Bert story?

You always write a version
of the same thing.

No, I don't.

About a dashing hero named Albert,
Herbert, Rupert, Pilbert...

Pilbert? That's ridiculous.

I would never write a story
about a boy named Pilbert.

It's not like we can't tell...

- Well, you always m*rder everyone...
- That all of your stories are about Gilbert.

No, they're not!

How else am I supposed to deal with the fact

that he's been gone
for eight months and three days

and he may never come back!

DIANA SIGHS

Anne, please take your nose out of that book
and help me here.

How about... a tragical tale

of a sad and handsome scientist

who one day stumbles upon a secret
that could save the world?

DIANA:
Oh, Anne!

However do you think
of such amazing things all the time?

I draw from life, Diana. I draw from life.

DIANA LAUGHS

Oh, I-I almost forgot.

I've had a letter from Aunt Josephine.
She's very keen to read some of our stories.

Let's only send her our very best.

Well, then we should send her all of Anne's.

Let's send her one each, to be fair.

Welcome.

- Anne.
- ANNE: Thank you.

COCKEREL CROWS

Ah!

Voila. The alphabet!

Now we can really get started.

I was thinking about it.

But I don't really need to know how to read.

Um, thanks anyways.

Of course you need to know how to read.
Reading is... is everything.

Every book has a whole world inside it.

There's adventure, romance...

Ships, gunfights, knights on horseback!

You never know what's gonna happen
until you begin.

You can be anyone, go anywhere!

Reading can save your life.

Alright. I'll try it.

Yes! Uh, I'm currently out of paper,
but I brought some visual aids.

"A" is for apple.

And those letters are here.

- "A", "P", puh...
- Puh.

- ...another "P".
- BOTH: Puh.

- "L"...
- JERRY: "L".

E". Apple.

I can't stand that nosy little kid.

She's not so bad.

She's a pain in my ass.

I had to tap dance today, Jonesey.

I had to navigate
around her evil little mind.

- She's seconds away from tipping the grift.
- Uh, she's just a girl.

Curiosity k*lled the cat.

So use it.

HUSHED DISCUSSION

Good idea. Yeah.

Yeah, let's k*ll the cat.

ANNE GASPS

MR DUNLOP:
Careful now, careful.

Let's make my Great Aunt Beatrice proud.

Ha-haa!

A thing of beauty, eh? Sing it with me now.

THEY SING OPERATICALLY:
♪ Ha-haaaa! ♪

And now the fun part, decorating!

- And I can choose anything I want?
- If you can dream it, we can do it.

You can't decorate a pie!

Can't we?

Oh, can't we?

While I was fighting in the Boer w*r

I lost all hope of ever experiencing
simple pleasures again.

- Was it very terrible?
- It was...

It was unspeakable.

It was...
HE INHALES SHARPLY

I lost my family, my parents and my sister,
during my years away.

It's been difficult to bear.

Jane Eyre said,
"You cannot at all imagine the craving I have

for fraternal and sisterly love."

It made me feel ever so comforted
to know that she felt as I did.

So I know a bit of how you feel
and I'm sorry that you feel it.

I could be your sister!

Your very little sister.

It's done me such a world of good,
being here at Green Gables.

I'm starting to wish
I could stay in Avonlea forever.

Wouldn't that be nice?

- How about autumn leaves?
- Brilliant.

Place them anywhere you want.

♪ This is going to be a masterpiece ♪

BOTH SING:
♪ A masterpiece, a masterpiece ♪

♪ This is going to be a masterpiece of pie ♪

♪ Of pie! ♪

- ♪ A piece of pie! ♪
- ♪ A piece of pie! ♪

COWS MOO

BAG THUDS

Hey, little man.

JERRY:
Allo.

What, you trying to better yourself?
Huh? Huh?

Ooh, close but no cigar.

Now, gimme that.

You wanna get somewhere in life,
you gotta pay attention to the details.

See this "Q"? It's supposed to have a tail.

You missed it, pal.

I wasn't finished.

A tail like a little French... pig.

Aren't you bored of this yet?

WOMAN:
Someone is bored of their chores.

Little thief!

Come out from there!

Don't you know it is wicked to covet,
wicked to steal?

You risked so much to take this.

You must have wanted it very, very badly.

Well then...

It's all yours.

NATE CLEARS THROAT

You're bored of this, right?

Nope. I'm not finished yet.

And I like geology. It's not boring at all.

Good.

Good. See you kids later.

ANNE:
Something wrong?

He is a bad man.

ANNE:
What happened?

Nothing, nothing.

I don't know.

I'm going.

Don't you want your lesson?

Not today. Bye.

MARILLA CLEARS THROAT

Excuse the interruption, Nathaniel.
Any clothes that need mending?

Uh...

Can I give you the shirt off my back?
I ripped a cuff today.

You sure take good care of me.

I-i-it won't take long.

Much obliged!

Honestly, William, you're making me dizzy.

I've never seen you like this.

Won't you tell me what's the matter?

As you can see, I'm trying to think.

I'd be very happy to help you.

I've got two perfectly good ears,
right here, ready to go.

Darling, what's on your mind?

I'd offer you a penny for your thoughts
but I haven't any money.

William!

I just want to do something
that matters for once.

MR DUNLOP CHUCKLES

Care to join us?

We were just jawin'.

- Want your chair?
- No, no, no.

It's fine.

Just fine.

Checked in with that French kid again today.

Crazy how it never, ever clicks for him.

NATE LAUGHS
The little frog just doesn't remember!

MR DUNLOP:
We sure are a couple of lucky stiffs.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say
it's safe to stop poking that bear.

Don't tell me what to do.

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

Well, well, what's all this?

It's just, uh...

Don't open it now. Goodnight!

SHE GIGGLES

It's an apron!

I hope you like it!
SHE GIGGLES

Everyone in Avonlea sure could make
a fortune from the gold I found!

MR DUNLOP:
You have to tell the town!

It's only fair.
They could all strike it rich.

NATE:
I know, I know!

The money from the gold should go
to the townsfolk, not the company.

I wanna do the right thing.

I love it here!

The Cuthberts are some
of the finest people I know.

I agree.

Ah, I'm so torn. What a moral quandary!

Do I do my job and tell my company
or do I go with my heart and tell the town?

MR DUNLOP: Only your conscience
can guide you to the right decision.

Anne!

Anne!

Take some of this abundance to Rachel.

Not those.

Where's Mr Cuthbert? The fields?

Um, in the barn, I think?

- Want me to take it?
- No, no, I'll go.

I could use the exercise.

That's for your family.

Merci!

- ANNE: Hello, Mrs Lynde!
- Hello, Anne.

- What have we here?
- An overabundance of scones.

Mr Dunlop's been teaching me to bake.

Both our boarders are nice, very nice.

- I suppose I should be going.
- Is something the matter?

Is something weighing on you, dear?

Come, come,
it's not healthful to hold things in.

Bad for the heart.

I don't charge for my advice,
even though it's worth a fortune.

It's a secret. I...

Ooh!

Go on, dear.

It's safe with me.

Alright!

CROWD CLAMOURS
- Alright!

He is trying to answer!

- MAN: What if there's no gold?
- CROWD CLAMOURS

Give the man a chance!

CROWD CLAMOURS

PIANO PLAYS DISSONANTLY

CROWD HUSHES

Now then... one at a time.

Everybody, please sit.

This community will be polite and respectful
of what this man is trying to tell us.

NATE:
Sir? Yes, you, sir. Thank you.

My name is Thomas Lynde

and my wife and I want to know
where you sent the gold sample.

RACHEL:
Yes, we do.

I sent the sample to an independent company
in New York for testing and confirmation.

As I said,
I didn't want my employer to know.

Where's the proof?

How do we know you're telling the truth?

RACHEL: How do we know what's real
and what is fool's gold?

NATE:
I'm glad you ask.

I have here a certificate
I received in the mail from New York.

This Soils Report certifies
that there is indeed...

gold in Avonlea.

I mentioned I had taken this action earlier
to William Barry.

MR BARRY:
Nathaniel told me in strictest confidence.

He was in a moral quandary
and it all came out.

There really is gold in Avonlea.

Father's quite preoccupied at the prospect.

Do you really think
we'll all be rich like you, Diana?

RACHEL:
Oh, yes, Mr Andrews?

And just how do we proceed?

Each landowner would send in a sample
of their soil to New York for testing.

Now, I warn you, it's expensive.

- It's... $ per test.
- CROWD CLAMOURS

MAN:
Money, I knew there was a catch!

NATE:
It's an investment, fair enough.

But an investment in the future.

That's close to half
what most folks make in a year.

The reward for mining this land, your land,
is incalculable.

I have to write to Gilbert.
I have to let him know about the gold.

- Gilbert? But you don't even know where he is.
- I think I have a way I can find out.

Anne!

$ is a substantial amount of money.

Perhaps I could offer some assistance
for those in need?

NATE:
If it seems like an overwhelming proposition

you could consolidate everyone's payment

and send it in all together, as a community.

I'd be happy to do that for you.

CROWD MURMURS

MAN:
Who exactly are we sending our money to?

Look... I don't have a horse in this race.

I'm not trying to push this, I'm really not.

I'm not from here and I don't mean
to poke my nose in your business.

This is your decision. Individually.

I'm just...

I'm trying to offer you an opportunity.
It just seemed like the right thing to do.

HUSHED MURMURS

MR DUNLOP:
Put your money where your mouth is!

- I beg your pardon?
- You heard me plain.

I'm not from here either

but I'll say out loud, here and now,
I love this town.

I love Avonlea,
and I intend to set down roots.

I want to be here, gold or no.

What about you, Nathaniel?

I-I...

Are you just gonna walk away?
Stick with that company you work for?

A company without morals

that would steal the profit
from the mouths of good people.

CROWD AGREES
- It's my job, it's all I have.

- So quit!
- What?

Make your fortune here. Bet on Avonlea!

MAN:
Yeah!

Why not be in charge of this...
this mining operation?

You seem to know the business.

MR BARRY: You've proven
that we can count on you, Nathaniel.

You are a moral man.

I would feel much better about this endeavour
if you undertook to oversee it.

What say you? Will you do it?

If there is a vast fortune here,
what have you got to lose?

I'm not a betting man...

but I'll bet on Avonlea.

- I'll quit my job!
- CROWD CHEERS

CROWD APPLAUDS

ANNE:
Paper... Paper!

Perfect.

What's this?

New York City...

MARILLA:
We're home!

Glad to see you're all tucked in,
safe and sound.

- Nothing amiss?
- Amiss?

MARILLA: Didn't get into any trouble
while we were out?

ANNE LAUGHS

I've decided to write a letter
to Gilbert Blythe.

Seems only fair he should know
about the gold.

What if it runs under his farm?

You're a kind and thoughtful girl, Anne.

Do you know where he is?

He was planning to get work
on a steamer outside of Charlottetown.

Thought maybe Aunt Josephine might be able
to help me figure out which one.

You know, from the list thingy, the...

- the... the ship...
- Ship's Manifest.

ANNE:
Yes.

Doesn't that sound romantical?

The-the Manifest,
not the letter to Gilbert!

Goodnight.

Did you say your prayers?

I will.

DOOR SHUTS

SHE PANTS

Gracious Heavenly Father...

...I hardly know where to start
regarding everything I'm grateful for.

As for the things I want, I guess
I'll just name the two most important...

HE LAUGHS

Please let there be gold in Avonlea

so that there's no more hardship for anyone.

And please, please
help me get my letter to Gilbert.

And please be sure
I don't misspell any words.

Amen.

Oh, and I'll replace Nate's paper.