02x10 - The Growing Good of the World

[bunniefuu]

MUFFLED SOUND

Here!

Alright. Hold it on here, alright?

Everyone! Students, gather your things
and be on your way.

- Class is dismissed for today.
- Oh, dear...

- Let's get you home.
- Alright, Billy, I need you to stay still.

OVERLAPPING CHATTER

ANNE SOBS
I'm sorry.

Cole, I'm so, so sorry.

Everything I care about... is gone.

No sculpting, no school...

I don't...

I don't think there's a place for me here.

I don't think there's any place
for me in this world.

ANNE:
It is not what we get out of life...

but what we put into it.

And you bring so much.

We'll figure it out.

Alright?

We will.

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 ♪

And I never like to be the bearer of bad news
but I had to make the sacrifice.

I saw what I saw and you needed to know.

This is a lot to digest.

I'll have to speak with my husband.

I'm sure he's not to blame.

Miss Stacy is unbridled, this we know.

SHE GASPS
Speak of the devil.

SHE SIGHS

Billy!

Oh, my word! What happened?

CROWS CAW

THEY SNIFFLE

Did you find Cole?

He must be as shattered as...

Nothing will ever be the same.

HAMMER KNOCKS

- Watch your fingers.
- You watch them!

You're the one with the hammer.

BASH:
There. Good.

What's next?

You sure you don't mind?

I got quite the list.

There's a lot needs fixing
around here for a long time now.

You can take advantage of me, I don't mind.

Maybe you'll reduce the rate of my room,
so I could stay another night?

They're gonna wonder
what's become of me at the laundry.

I haven't missed a day in six years.

Let 'em wonder.

What's next?

The chimney's been smoking something awful.

I'll take a look,
if you'll put up some coffee.

HE GRUNTS

If we ever have a Story Club again

I shall write the most tragical tale
about all of this.

DIANA:
Coming, Anne?

I'm gonna stay for a little while.
I'm hoping to see my fox.

I'm so sorry, Anne.

So very, very sorry.

This is all my fault.

- I ruined things for Cole, for you.
- I wanted you to like me and I was selfish.

- I should never have gone...
- OVERLAPPING DIALOGUE

BOTH:
...if I could take it all back, I would.

Do you know if...

Will Cole be punished?

It's clear Billy's actions
precipitated the incident.

I, on the other hand, am on probation.

- Probation?
- Yes.

In addition to my suspect
teaching methods

and lack of control over the classroom...

That had nothing to do with you.

Apparently "homewrecker" has been added
to the list of infractions.

I don't understand.

Neither do I.

People think what they want to,
despite the truth.

I figure the writing's on the wall.

What do you mean?

I expect to be let go.

In any case, until they decide my fate,
I won't be teaching.

COW MOOS
- CHICKENS CLUCK

She's going to be so 'appy.

- Anne?
- She fell!

Anne!

Are you alright?

Thank you, Matthew.

Thank you...

Oh!

Oh.

There, there, now.

Come on, everything's alright.

ANNE:
No! Nothing is!

What's happened? What's wrong?

SHE SOBS

There, there.

I don't know what I'm doing
here anymore, Dad.

What am I supposed to want?

I wish you were here.

How am I supposed to do all this by myself?

SHE SIGHS
My word...

I'm about to be late for work.

Guess the girls won't complain.
At least I'm going in today.

I'll walk you.

I want to investigate,
see what's around here for work.

Allow me.

You vying for a prize or something?

Just trying to earn my keep.

What makes you think
I'm going to keep you?

What I want to know is how it is that someone
didn't snap you up and marry you?

We should go.

Not much to it, I'm afraid.

You must find it underwhelming
after everywhere you've been

the exotic ports of call.

This place ain't no worse than some.

But why choose this if you've got options?

You want a better life.

I do.

You could go anywhere.

I could.

The Bog ain't nothin' but hardship.
Nothin' but trouble.

But you're here.

Like I said, trouble.

Look at this beauty.

Tells me a story of hope in this place.

MARY:
I suppose so.

Comfort, anyway.

I should go. See you later, then?

I'll get fixings for supper.

CHILDREN CHATTER

INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE

MAN: Lower school children
will practise their cursive

beginning with the letter "A".

Upper school children
should read chapter... nine.

But we already read that chapter
when Mr Phillips was here.

Repetition is the key to learning.

Now hold your tongue.

I will brook no further disruption
in this classroom.

DOOR SLAMS
- Oh!

Wait until you hear!

If you could refrain from scaring
the life out of me

I might be better able to converse.

There's going to be a Town Hall meeting
tomorrow night!

We're holding a vote on removing Miss Stacy.
Time for that trollop to go!

Trollop?

- That's a nasty thing to say, Rachel.
- It's true enough, that's what.

She went riding with Harmon Andrews,
just as pretty as you please.

Oh, for heaven's sake!
You don't know if there was impropriety.

She's a spinster in her childbearing years.

Heaven forefend.

An attractive woman gallivanting
with a married man!

No one has you b*at for hearsay.

I saw it with my own eyes!

And you'd better believe I went straight
to his wife to tell her, too.

Miss Stacy assigned Anne an essay
on the perils of gossip.

I daresay you could benefit
from the same lesson.

I shouldn't expect you to understand
anything about perilous threats to husbands.

Of course not, what would an "old maid"
like me know?

RACHEL: I won't apologise for having
a powerful opinion!

MARILLA:
How about for having a powerful prejudice?

Prejudice?

You insult me.

Well, I believe it's my turn.

RACHEL: My opinion
is that your perspective is limited

because you haven't lived a full life!

So, without a husband,
I may as well be considered an invalid?

If you stepped outside your own door
once in a while

you'd know better what was going on
right under your nose!

- What is that supposed to mean?
- Without me

you'd never know a thing that's going on
in Avonlea.

All tucked away in your little coffin
here at Green Gables.

You sure love to stop by my coffin,
unannounced and uninvited!

I have put up with your judgements
and your assumptions...

- I'm "put up with", am I?
- Your gossip and...

- your bullying for years!
- Bullying?

I never did take you to task for the way
you spoke to Anne the first day you met her!

- She was being impertinent!
- You were unkind!

Just as you're being now.

Well!

I think perhaps you're in a coffin
of your own, a mental one.

You're close-minded, Rachel!

You know what I am?

I am... leaving!

Fine by me.

I'll ask permission via letter
before I visit again.

If I ever visit again!

Be sure to close the casket on your way out!

DOOR SLAMS

There has to be something
we can do to save Miss Stacy.

If this was a story, what would the hero do?

But we're not heroes,
Anne, we're just girls.

- Don't be ridiculous.
- I'm not ridiculous.

A hero is a person and that person...

All I meant was that there's nothing
we can do!

The hero accepts the Call to Adventure.

So, we have to find a way to convince
the town to accept Miss Stacy

and let her stay.

Not now, Moody.

The Town Hall meeting is tomorrow night.

Next to trying and winning,
the best thing is trying and failing.

Either way, I say we try.

Whatever you're planning, I want to help.

Everything went wrong
after I dropped the lightbulb.

I've got it!

I know what we're gonna do!
Huddle up.

THEY LAUGH

Here's what has to happen tomorrow...

You cannot let the narrow thinking of others
chart your path!

You're packing?

Come in.

Believe me, if I could stay, I would, but...

the tide has turned against me.

Well, I happen to know
a young red-headed girl

who had a lot to offer this community

but was judged and blamed
and tormented, too.

Was it that difficult for Anne?

Folks said all kinds of things against her,
and thought the worst.

But she never gave up on herself.

Well, I'd best be off.

I'll see you at the Town Hall meeting.

I wasn't invited.

A strong woman I'm acquainted with once said
that adversity can be a blessing.

- Cole.
- What?

Cole's here.

- He's got a lot of nerve.
- BILLY: I'll handle it.

What do you want, freak?

I wanted to apologise.

I'm sorry for my actions.

Sorry about... what happened.

That's not the kind of person
I ever want to be.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that.

Great. Good.

And now you should
get the hell out of here.

Hey, Billy?

You might want to think about why you like
to destroy things that aren't yours.

I don't have to think.

Yeah.

That's clear.

I think you and me
should spend our lives together.

No...

If you feel about me
the way I feel about you

then will you marry me, Mary?
That's no good at all!

Ah...

I've missed you so much.

I can't tell you how worried I was
when you didn't come home.

I love you, sweetheart.

I love you.

Bash?

Bash!

Who the hell is that?

Hyah, hyah!

THEY GIGGLE

Alright. Everybody ready?

Yes?

I can't tell if I'm scared or excited!

We're going to get in so much trouble!

What's our battle cry?

- What?
- No idea.

Save Miss Stacy.

ALL:
Save Miss Stacy!

Get in, we're going to Charlottetown.

- Now?
- Yes?

- Why?
- ANNE: I'll tell you on the way.

You're coming with us,
you need to see Miss Barry.

She'll have some advice for you,
I'm sure of it.

- You're driving there?
- We're taking the train.

I don't have any money.

Neither do we.

Then how...

It's a caper. It'll be fine.

I'm already in enough trouble.

So how much worse could it get?

TRAIN CONDUCTOR:
All aboard!

We're hopping a freight car?

I can't breathe.

We're all going to die.

It'll be fine. People do it all the time,
I read about it in a book.

A book? You've never done it?

How hard could it be?

Just gotta get the timing right...

I'll go first.

It'll be fine.

- Hey, we shouldn't...
- Anne!

SHE MOUTHS

Now, Ruby.

No.

No...

No!

DIANA:
Come on, Ruby.

ANNE:
Be careful!

SHE GRUNTS
- Got it?

ANNE:
Alright.

Come on, come on.

Go on.

THEY GASP

- Come on! Hurry!
- I don't like this!

- Let's go, let's go.
- Hurry, hurry!

Come on.

TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS

THEY LAUGH AND CHATTER

STEAM HISSES

BELL RINGS

TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS

INDISTINCT CHATTER

- THEY GASP
- What?

What are you doing here?

I figure I should ask you
the same question.

I hope you find Sebastian.

I hope he'll forgive me
for being so selfish.

I'm sure you can make things right.

As someone who's used to
putting their foot in it

- I can tell you an apology can go a long way.
- Oh, yeah.

Well, good luck
with your mission to save Miss Stacy.

- I can't believe you hopped a freight.
- Me neither.

- See you on the other side of the w*r.
- See you.

You know Gilbert has a crush on you, right?

What? No, he doesn't!

See you at the afternoon train.

Say hello to Aunt Jo for me!
And it's not true!

What's not true?

Nothing. Cole was just being ridiculous.
Let's go!

I know you.

Hello again.

What's all this then?

Let's talk numbers.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Gilbert.

Have you seen Bash?

I was hoping he was here.

He was, but...

And he saw my son and ran off
before I could explain.

I never told Bash I had a child,
let alone a grown one.

GILBERT:
May I ask why not?

Because she's ashamed of me.

Gilbert, this is my son, Elijah.

Oh, Elijah, pleasure.

I'm not ashamed of you.

'Cept when you run
with the wrong crowd like you been doing.

You wanna speak this now?

- I'm going.
- You just got here.

I got business.
Can't get no peace here, no how.

You frettin' all night over some man.

"Business".

He's bootleggin'.
I hate this place sometimes.

Is that why you didn't tell Bash?

I didn't tell him because...

I was worried that he would think less of me
if he knew I'd...

had a child out of wedlock.

That's the truth of it.

You must have been a baby yourself.

Sorry if that sounded forward.

It wasn't my choice

but folks like to judge.

Bash would understand.

I know he would.

Do you have any idea
where he might've gone?

He barely knows The Bog.

I went looking for him last night, but...

- It was freezing last night.
- It was.

Poor Sebastian, he hates the cold.

Yeah.

He hates the cold...

Oh!

Does anyone else feel
as triumphant as I do?

THEY GASP
- Moody!

- Oh! Oh, no.
- Moody, are you alright?

- Yes.
- Are you sure?

- No...
- No, no, no...

INDISTINCT CHATTER

Have you seen Sebastian?

Gimme my five bucks back.

We didn't wanna turn him out but we didn't
wanna scare off the customers neither.

- He's here?
- Mmm-hm.

Where?

JOCELYN:
Drunk as a skunk.

MARY:
Oh, Sebastian!

Hey, Bash, wake up.

Wake up. Bash!

Mary, honey, you don't wanna
get mixed up with the likes of him.

- I do.
- JOCELYN: He's a drunkard!

BASH:
I'm not a drunkard.

I'm heartbroken.

It's not what you thought.

GILBERT:
That man you saw was Mary's son.

BASH:
Her son?

Your son...?

Does that mean you can marry me?

SHE LAUGHS

Marry you?

WOMEN LAUGH

What're you doing here, Blythe?

Oh.

I guess I have a wedding gift for you.

This is the deed to the farm.

I'd like you to sign onto it
because you're my partner.

My family.

I want you to have a stake in the land,
fair and square.

We're in this together.

We are.

And hey, I'm sorry.

I'm not changing the plan.

How did the madcap caper go?

My, my, this is a dreadful turn of events.

What're you going to do?

I might be out of ideas.

But you're never out of ideas!

Ahem.

It's all my fault. Again.

It was an accident.

My whole life is an accident.

Rollings, do we have any ladders?

I'm giving you children
train fare to get home.

You've had enough adventure for one day.

Thank you, Aunt Josephine.

You won't tell Mother and Father
about all this, will you?

And reduce your opportunities
for other enriching adventures?

- Never.
- DIANA LAUGHS

Cole's going through so much.

Were you able to comfort him?

JOSEPHINE:
He knows I understand him

and support him.

I know I... disappointed you.

At your soirée.

I got the impression
that I'd disappointed you.

No, it's just...

at the time, I didn't know
how much I didn't know.

And now?

I'm sorry.

My thinking was narrow.

I understand so much more now.

Life is short and the world is wide,
dear heart.

- INDISTINCT CHATTER
- TRAIN CONDUCTOR: All aboard!

ANNE:
Go, go!

- Here, I can take that.
- Thank you.

Cole! Hurry, you'll miss it.

Hurry! What are you doing?

I'm not going back.

What?

Aunt Jo said I could live with her.

But your family...

I know.

But I can be free here, myself.

I need to be who I am.

TRAIN CONDUCTOR:
All aboard!

TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS

I'll miss you.

TRAIN CONDUCTOR:
All aboard! Final call!

TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS

Go.

Go.

It'll be fine.

This is good!

TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS

TRAIN CHUFFS

BELL RINGS

SEABIRDS CRY

MRS ANDREWS: Therefore, we are of
the opinion that Miss Stacy has proven

that she is neither qualified

nor an appropriate person to shape
the young minds of Avonlea.

Thank you, Progressive Mothers.

Thank you.

Minister...

please remind our fine community
what we should expect from a teacher.

A teacher is expected

to enforce rules and keep order.

They must teach obedience, faith

respect for elders, and morality.

These are the tenets of education.

- Children should be silent.
- THEY GIGGLE

Show respect, be honest.

Careful.

MINISTER:
Punctual, clean, and tidy.

THEY CHATTER

The goal of education is to create
a better workforce

with an emphasis on good behaviour

and the ability to follow directions

and utilise memorisation.

There is no place for nonsense games
and activities.

Memorisation and recitation

ensure proper education.

No, like this...

Understanding "concepts" or ideas

- is not valuable in our goal...
- MACHINERY WHIRS

DISTANT THUD

HUSHED MURMURS

DOOR OPENS

RACHEL:
Miss Stacy!

if you don't mind,
we're conducting a meeting!

I don't recall your presence
being requested!

Indeed, my presence was not requested

but I feel I have a right
to speak on my own behalf.

CROWD MUTTERS

It would be easier on all of us if I left.

You cannot imagine that I want
to cause dissent in your community.

Or that I appreciate being accused
of purposefully doing so.

I am here tonight because I asked myself
a question that I ask you now.

What is the most important thing to focus on
regarding your children's education?

Petty jealousy?

Prejudice?

Fear?

The important question to ask yourself is

are your children learning?

I believe the answer is "yes."

We have to hurry.

MISS STACY:
Change is uncomfortable

because the future is unknown.

Yet the future is riding in fast,
like a train.

And to the best of my ability

I am here to bring your children
forward to meet it.

I understand my methods are unusual

but hands-on learning and active engagement

have proven more effective
than rote memorisation.

Why not encourage them
to think for themselves?

Why teach only what has come before?

Recently, somebody dreamed the telegraph

electricity, a steam engine!

Not that long ago,
I bet train travel felt too fast

a dangerous innovation

but can you imagine your lives
without it now?

Dreamers change the world.

Curious minds propel us forward.

My intention is to build strong students

with bright futures, not just for them,
but for everyone.

That is why I'm here.

HUSHED MURMURS

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

What you've just witnessed is the effect
of Miss Stacy's methods in action.

She taught us about electricity

but she also showed us
the spirit of enthusiasm and curiosity

that we needed to make this happen.

Miss Stacy is an inspiration.

We learned more from her in a week
than we learned in a year.

Tell me and I forget.

Teach me and I remember.

Involve me and I learn.

Different isn't bad.

It's just not the same.

HUSHED MURMURS

Ahem. There's always...

another way... to look at things.

I returned to Avonlea because I needed
what has always been here.

But why would I stay if I can't grow?

Miss Stacy supports my ambition
to become a doctor.

I believe that she is our chance
to help us realise our dreams

and become more than we are now.

As someone who lived without change
for the bulk of my life

and then had great change thrust upon me

I can attest that it is the only way
to grow and learn.

Let's put this to a vote.

All in favour of keeping Miss Stacy?

FAINT VOICES IN CROWD:
Hear, hear.

FAINT VOICES:
Yes.

CROWD:
Yes...

THEY LAUGH

We did it!

CROWD MURMURS

CROWD CHEERS AND WHISTLES

INDISTINCT CHATTER

THEY GIGGLE

THEY CHATTER

ANNE:
Good morning, Miss Stacy!

We're so excited to have you back!

SHE KNOCKS

No letter?

Just some flowers
from my mental coffin.

I'll put up some tea.

Did you hear the news?

We're taking a trip to Charlottetown.

Have you a mind to tell me why?

I do indeed.

INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE

Can we visit Cole and Aunt Josephine
while we're in Charlottetown?

MARILLA:
I suppose we might.

But may I remind you that you are still
under punishment for your little adventure.

It was worth it.

I agree.

- Go.
- HORSE NICKERS

Step up. Step up...

BASH:
I, Sebastian, take thee, Mary

to be my wedded wife.

To have and to hold from this day forward

for better or for worse

for richer or for poorer,
in sickness and in health

to love and to cherish

till death us do part.

MINISTER: And Mary, wilt thou have this man
to be thy wedded husband

to have and to hold from this day forward

for better or for worse

for richer or for poorer

in sickness and in health

to love and to cherish,
until death you do part?

I will.

MINISTER: I now proclaim Sebastian and Mary
husband and wife.

It was a lovely service.

It was. Lovely.

Remember when I said that an apology
can go a long way?

For the short time
we have left in class together

I resolve to be less obnoxious.

- Oh, well, I'll be sticking around...
- I'm really glad you found your vocation...

OVERLAPPING DIALOGUE

BOTH:
What?

- You first.
- No, you go.

I'm gonna stay and work the farm
with Bash like we planned.

College will wait its proper turn.

So, you're not leaving school early?

I want to be with my family.

Your turn.

I've decided
I'm going to be a teacher.

Just like Miss Stacy.

Tragical romance and all?

Remains to be seen.