Road to Avonlea

- There we are. - Thank you.

Miss Sara, come back here.

Slow down!

Buying that dress was sheer extravagance.

Nanny Louisa!

Please don't fuss so.

Now you know papa promised me the dress of my choice.

And besides, the shopkeeper said

that it was the color of moonlight.

Couldn't you just imagine yourself

in a dress that looked like moonlight?

Certianly not.

You could see right through it.

Your father spoils you.

There is nothing less becoming

to a young lady than puffed up airs.

Oh, look, Nanny Louisa.

Papa's home.

Wait, wait.

Miss Sara, wait for me.

Hello, Miss Sara.

Good afternoon, Stefan.

Have you heard the news?

Papa, Papa!

Damn, the company can't be bankrupt.

What do I pay you two for?

- Now look here Stanley, you've got to control yourself.

You can't make an exhibition like this.

Make an exhibition like this?

Papa, you're back.

- Sara. - I've missed you so much.

Well, yes, I've missed you too.

I didn't expect to see you until later this afternoon.

Well, let's have a look at my little girl, hm.

How was England?

- Well, uh you know Mr. Bartholomew, my lawyer.

How do you do?

And Mr. Heinrich, my vice president.

Hello, Sara.

My, haven't you grown.

And, uh, this is Mr. Stewart.

How do you do, Mr. Stewart?

When are they leaving so we can talk?

- Well, I'm afraid I can't talk to you right now, Sara.

I've got to work late tonight.

- But Papa. - Come along dear.

Your father will be along shortly, won't you, Mr. Stanley.

- I'll look in on you later, before you go to sleep.

Now run along and have supper.

There's a good girl.

Stanley Imports has been sucked dry.

And that embezzler has been wily enough

to put you solely in the seat of suspicion, Blair.

But he's been my accountant for years.

I've trusted the man implicitly.

Mr. Abernathy has simply disappeared.

There is going to be a lot of press

when this news hits the stock market.

- Well I'm afraid you gentleman will have to deal with it.

I can't cancel my meeting

with the shareholders in Toronto this Thursday.

- I'm afraid you haven't understood the conditions

of your bail, Mr. Stanley.

You are under house-arrest.

Preposterous!

I won't be a prisoner in my own house.

I don't think you understood him, sir.

You're under house-arrest.

- What's all this cook's been telling me

about Mr. Abernathy and bankruptcy?

and goodness knows what.

I'm not hungry.

You've got to eat something.

You get cranky when your stomach is empty.

Now, now, don't fuss.

Now, now, Blair Stanley.

You explain to me what is going on here.

I came home today to be slapped

with a warrant for my arrest.

Oh surely, no court of law is gonna

take his word against yours.

- Sara has to be protected from this at all costs.

- Ruth had relatives on Prince Edward Island.

She'd be away from scrutiny there.

Over my dead body.

I will not give that over-bearing sister

of Ruth's the satisfaction of knowing my true circumstance.

Well she needn't know.

Sara could stay with the other King family.

You cable your brother-in-law, Alec King.

Tell him you've been called away

on an extended business venture

and that this presents the perfect opportunity

for Sara to get to know some of her mother's people.

Oh, now, swallow your pride, think of your daughter.

Come on now.

She's waiting for you to say goodnight to her.

- Sara I hope this little financial matter can be cleared up

within the month.

And then I'll send for you immediately.

But why can't you come with us?

I would if I could.

But you know how much your mama would have loved you

to meet her family in Avonlea.

I suppose it would be interesting to be with a real family.

I mean a big one with aunts and uncles and everything.

Won't it?

That's my girl.

I'll miss you, Papa.

Oh, I will miss you too, Sara.

You look more and more like your mother everyday.

I love you, Sara.

Goodbye, Papa.

Sara, I told you to put your wrap on.

Goodness knows it's drafty in train stations

and I won't have you catching your death

before the journey even begins.

Hop in now.

Now don't you worry, I'll take care of her.

I distinctly asked for a private compartment.

What is this railway coming to?

This would never have happened in the old country.

What are you reading?

It's a book on rocks and minerals.

- Oh. - I love the subject.

My father is a geologist in South America.

Are you traveling alone, child?

My mouse!

Sara, get back!

Well, this is a fine kettle of fish.

Did you find your mouse?

No.

- Sara, dear, it's not wise to talk to strangers.

Trust only your blood relatives and your ol' Nanny Louisa.

Well, well, well Sara Stanley?

Yes?

And you are Alec King, I assume?

The very one, and you madam?

I am Louisa J. Banks.

Sara's governess.

Oh Andrew King, is that you?

Come on over here and join us lad.

You were just a wee tyke when I last saw your father.

Well, don't look at me like I've got two heads.

You two are the long lost King cousins.

Cousins?

Cousins.

Welcome to Prince Edward Island.

- Now I know why mama loved her Prince Edward Island

so much, Nanny Louisa.

Don't you think?

- So this is the village of Avonlea.

I daren't wink or I might miss it entirely.

Did your father ever tell you, Andrew,

how he almost drowned in the village pond?

Ruth jumped in, clothes and all, and saved him.

- Really? - Mm.

- There will be no swimming in ponds, Sara.

Lord knows what kind of infections it will lead to.

Well, if I can't swim in ponds

then I'm going to climb trees.

- Oh, Sara Stanley, will you sit down!

You'll fall out and that will be the end of you.

They're here.

They're here.

Well, here we are.

Welcome to the King farm.

So sweet and small.

Just like a little doll house.

- It looks comfortable enough, I suppose.

Sara you be very careful, these steps are dangerous.

Sara, Andrew, hello.

Welcome, welcome, this is Felicity and Felix.

And you are? - I am Louis J. Banks.

And I presume you are Janet King.

Yes, how very nice to meet you.

I expect you'll see to the bags.

Come along, Sara.

Who is that woman?

She's Sara's nanny.

She thinks she's staying.

Where in creation did she get that idea?

The gall of that Blair Stanley.

Hasn't changed a bit.

I hope you've told her we haven't the room, Alec.

Well not um (throat clearing).

I think he looks like he reads too much.

I don't want him in my room.

All right, children.

Come on, gather around.

Let's all get to know each other.

Imagine having a nanny.

- I like her, and I think Andrew's handsome.

Cecily, that's just because you're used

to looking at Felix.

But she certainly isn't pretty.

- Of course she's not pretty, Felicity,

she looks like you.

- Well Sara, it's lovely to meet you finally,

even under such peculiar circumstances.